HPU Students Win First Place for Private Schools in the N.C. Collegiate Hunger Challenge
A team consisting of High Point University student ambassadors Khayla Gattison and Mitamba Msenwa and their AmeriCorps VISTA mentor, Terry Dixon, recently won top honors in the North Carolina Campus Engagement (NCCE) Hunger Challenge. HPU President Nido Qubein, Kimberly Drye-Dancy, executive director of HPU’s Center for Community Engagement, Gattison, Msenwa, Dixon and VISTA Nyila Johnson accepted the $5,000 award from Kevin Durkee, manager of Food Lion Feeds.
Through their efforts, 4,000 canned goods will be donated to High Point residents.
HIGH POINT, N.C., Feb. 25, 2025 – A team consisting of High Point University student ambassadors Khayla Gattison and Mitamba Msenwa and their AmeriCorps VISTA mentor, Terry Dixon, recently won top honors in the North Carolina Campus Engagement (NCCE) Hunger Challenge.
HPU was named the Hunger Champion for the private/independent campuses category after collecting more than 4,000 canned goods that will be donated to High Point residents who are facing food insecurity. Since 2010, NCCE has helped college communities increase awareness about food insecurity and address the issue.
As the top prize winner in its sector, HPU was awarded $5,000 to support its on-campus food pantry. Kevin Durkee, manager of Food Lion Feeds, presented the check to HPU President Nido Qubein, student leaders from HPU’s Volunteer Center and Kimberly Drye-Dancy, who serves as executive director of HPU’s Center for Community Engagement, at NCCE’s annual Pathways to Achieving Civic Engagement (PACE) Conference on Feb. 12.
“In the city of High Point, food insecurity is a significant issue that affects many residents,” said Msenwa, a senior neuroscience major from Greensboro, North Carolina. “The Hunger Challenge is an important initiative because it provides an opportunity to give back to our community and make a tangible difference in addressing this issue. By fostering collaboration among students and community members, the Hunger Challenge has organized impactful events and collected food donations to ensure those in need have access to essential resources in High Point.”
The Collegiate Hunger Challenge was created by Food Lion Feeds and NCCE, a collaborative network of colleges and universities committed to preparing students for civic and social responsibility. The partnership awarded a $10,000 overall prize and a $5,000 prize to the top team from each sector – four-year public colleges, four-year private/independent institutions and community colleges.
Fourteen North Carolina colleges and universities competed to earn points by organizing events that raised awareness about hunger and food insecurity on and around campus over the course of the challenge, which ran from Sept. 9 through Dec. 20, 2024. Collectively, the participating schools increased awareness and made an impact on hunger and food insecurity through efforts that resulted in:
- More than 40,000 food items collected
- More than 140 awareness events hosted
- More than 2,000 social media posts amplifying the cause
- More than 13,500 students, staff, faculty and individuals directly impacted
Gattison, a senior sociology major with a minor in criminal justice, said working with the Hunger Challenge has been an eye-opening experience that deepened her understanding of food insecurity and the importance of community-driven solutions.
“Through this initiative, I’ve learned that addressing hunger goes beyond just providing meals. It’s about creating sustainable change and fostering connections between people and resources,” said Gattison, who also is from Greensboro. “Partnering with Food Lion and seeing the direct impact of our efforts has reinforced my commitment to service and advocacy.”
Chakyia Lee, who served as president of the student-led Volunteer Center in fall 2024, was instrumental in the success of this project.