HPU Presents Kahn Extraordinary Staff Awards

From left, HPU President Nido Qubein presents the Kahn Extraordinary Staff Award to Jeffrey Lewallen, a Class of 2019 alumnus and operations manager of the Workman School of Dental Medicine. Pictured at right is Kevin Cain, senior associate dean for administration and finance for the Workman School of Dental Medicine.

HIGH POINT, N.C., Nov. 22, 2023 – Three High Point University staff members were recently awarded the annual Kenneth F. and Jana S. Kahn Extraordinary Staff Award for their service to students and the students’ families.

Award recipients Jeffrey Lewallen, Malcolms Lovo and Dianne Douglass each received $5,000 funded by the Kahn family endowment and applause from their co-workers during a campus-wide staff meeting on Nov. 16.

The Kahn family and University Business Magazine of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, established the awards in 2018 to honor HPU employees who provide dedicated service to the campus community and live out the university’s mission to provide students with an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people.

Rev. Dr. McKennon Shea, vice president for development, said more than 80 staff members were nominated for the awards this year by faculty, staff and students. He introduced Lewallen, a Class of 2019 alumnus and operations manager of the Workman School of Dental Medicine, as the first award recipient.

“Peers noted that he consistently goes above and beyond his job responsibilities to ensure that we operate smoothly and efficiently,” said Shea. “Whether it’s working late to resolve a critical issue, volunteering for special projects, working with contractors or mentoring new staff members, he has shown an unwavering dedication to the success of our school and to his alma mater. He always puts those who need our care at the center of everything that he does. No job is too big or too small for him.”

Being nominated by his peers and receiving the staff award from the Kahn family is meaningful, Lewallen said.

“To have my peers deem me worthy of such an honor and to be recognized in such a way is certainly heart-warming,” said Lewallen. “I would love to thank everyone who made it possible by nominating me, and to thank HPU and the Kahn family.”

Lovo, a security officer for the HPU campus police and security team, was recognized as the second Kahn family staff award recipient.

“He does his job professionally, and he strives to make sure that students, staff and faculty are safe,” said Shea. “He is usually working at our Welcome Centers, where he does his job diligently and pays attention to detail. He is constantly in contact with our campus community, answering calls for service, assisting students who are locked out of their rooms or whose vehicles need a jump start. He loves his job and takes his duties and responsibilities very seriously.”

Douglass, cashier at the Farmer’s Market on campus, fought back tears as she received the third staff award. Her peers described her as someone who has gotten to know student names and embodies HPU’s value of caring, Shea said.

“Especially for students, every interaction she has with them makes them feel like she is a ‘second mother’ they may have not known they needed but are grateful to have,” said Shea.