High Point University senior Stephen H. Casey Jr., of Spicewood, Texas, was awarded the Brigadier General Norman C. Gaddis Leadership Award during HPU’s 14th Annual Veterans Day Celebration on Nov. 8, 2024.
HIGH POINT, N.C., Jan. 10, 2025 – High Point University senior Stephen H. Casey Jr. was awarded the Brigadier General Norman C. Gaddis Leadership Award during HPU’s 14th Annual Veterans Day Celebration on Nov. 8, 2024.
The Gaddis Leadership Award is presented to an HPU upperclassman who exemplifies the leadership and character qualities exhibited in the United States military. The award was established in September 2022 by HPU alumna Dr. Mary Jo Hall and her husband, retired Col. Emmett E. “Jay” Stobbs, Jr., to honor Gaddis. He was a distinguished U.S. Air Force officer and fighter pilot who served in World War II and the Korean War before being held as a prisoner of war for 2,124 days during the Vietnam War. He passed away in February 2024.
“HPU students continually demonstrate that our university fosters leaders dedicated to service and global impact,” said HPU President Nido Qubein. “The finalists for the Gaddis Leadership Award embody this commitment, with Stephen Casey shining through for his academic excellence and genuine leadership. These outstanding qualities align with the core values that Mary Joe and Jay aimed to honor with this award.”
Casey was recognized for being a driven leader with a strong commitment to excellence. He is pursuing dual B.S.B.A. degrees in Entrepreneurship and Military Science and Leadership from HPU. He is a Presidential Scholar with a 3.94 GPA. His study abroad experience in Sevilla, Spain, strengthened his Spanish fluency and cultural adaptability. An entrepreneur at heart, Casey founded Stephen’s Services in his hometown of Spicewood, Texas, a home refurbishing company that generated more than $50,000 in revenue from 2019 to 2021.
In 2023, Casey joined ION Solar as a sales manager. He generated more than $1.1 million in sales and tripled the customer base in the Austin/Round Rock region. As the youngest sales manager in the Texas region, he showed exceptional leadership, earning a promotion from coordinator to manager. His dedication extends to service and community. Casey earned the Department of the Army Superior Cadet Award in 2023 and graduated with honors from Air Assault School. As a leader in the Army ROTC, he was awarded the USAA Award of Excellence twice for fitness and academic performance.
Casey also has led while at HPU, where he serves as treasurer of the Entrepreneurship Club, mentored high school students through Young Life and volunteered at Kirkman Park Elementary School, teaching English and Spanish. He also is captain of the HPU ultimate frisbee team.
“As the commander of HPU’s Army ROTC Program, I am deeply honored to have received the Gaddis Award,” Casey said. “This prestigious recognition, which stands for the values of patriotism and leadership, reflects the qualities I strive to embody every day. The moment was made even more meaningful by the incredible setting — the Veterans Day Celebration — where I stood among thousands of our nation’s finest. To be recognized in the presence of heroes from all branches and ranks, both past and present, was truly humbling and inspiring. This award is not just a personal honor, it is a reminder of my responsibility as I prepare to take my next steps as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army. It motivates me to uphold the values the Gaddis Award stands for and to lead with courage, integrity and selflessness.”
HPU juniors Madison Pezik and Emma Higgins were named finalists for the Gaddis Leadership Award. Along with Casey, they received a monetary award and a military challenge coin for demonstrating academic excellence and leadership in their community. The coins recognized their extraordinary accomplishments, patriotism and leadership.
Pezik is pursuing a B.S. in psychology with a pre-physician assistant focus. She is a Presidential Fellow, a Strickland Women’s L.I.F.T. Fellow and a member of the Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society. As a research assistant at HPU’s Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy, she contributes to biochemical research aimed at identifying novel mechanisms for RNA viruses to hijack mammalian cells. Additionally, she serves as a blood program leader with the American Red Cross, where she has organized multiple blood drives and managed teams of more than 20 volunteers.
Higgins, who is the Class of 2025 president, is majoring in electrical engineering with a minor in mathematics. She is a recipient of the prestigious Presidential Founders Scholarship and serves as a student researcher in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, where she analyzes lunar surface data to identify renewable energy resources. An active campus leader, Higgins was named the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Student of the Year in 2020 for raising more than $10,000 for the cause. She also serves as a peer mentor and is an active participant in club tennis and club pickleball.
“Although all three students showed excellent leadership traits, Stephen Casey was chosen as the winner based not only on his performance as an HPU student but also on his leadership and courage proven by his successful graduation as the Army’s Air Assault School Honor Graduate,” said David Cheshier, director of Facility Operations and a member of the Gaddis Award committee.