HPU Presents Kahn Extraordinary Staff Awards to Three Employees
Three High Point University staff members were recently awarded the annual Kenneth F. and Jana S. Kahn Extraordinary Staff Awards for their service to students and students’ families. Pictured from left to right are Willette Jones, Nehemiah Sonner and Chris Coleman, after receiving their awards.
HIGH POINT, N.C., April 16, 2025 – Three High Point University staff members were recently awarded the annual Kenneth F. and Jana S. Kahn Extraordinary Staff Awards for their service to students and students’ families.
Award recipients Chris Coleman, Nehemiah Sonner and Willette Jones each received $5,000 funded by the Kahn family endowment and applause from their co-workers during a campus-wide staff meeting on April 8. HPU President Nido Qubein presented checks to each of the award recipients, who were joined on stage by members of their family.
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 40 individual staff members were nominated for the awards this year by faculty, staff and students. He introduced Coleman, manager of the university’s mail center and logistics, as a staff member who works nonstop to make sure students, faculty and staff receive packages on time. Coleman manages tens of thousands of shipments, is always available to answer questions regarding mailings and has no hesitation in making things happen, Shea said.
“I just feel appreciated, and I’m still surprised,” said Coleman, who has managed the mail center for nearly five years. “From day one, I have tried to treat students as if they were my kids. I treat people the way that I would want to be treated, and I provide the school with the best I can offer.”
Sonner, a campus security officer, was described as “the definition of a caring person” by one nominator, Shea said. Another nominator said Sonner always smiles and is cheerful when he approaches cars to check IDs – no matter the weather. Another nominator recalled bringing her family to campus to see the Christmas decorations and being so impressed by Sonner’s friendly welcome at the entrance that she applied and got a job at HPU.
“He left a strong enough impression to make me want to work here and be surrounded by such kind and caring people,” Shea read from that staff member’s nomination.
Students who nominated Jones, a member of HPU’s Dining team, said morning visits to her kiosk start their days off in the right way. One student said Jones welcomes students with a smile on her face, an encouraging word and her positive attitude.
“I’m just busy trying to look out for everybody and making sure they have a good day,” Jones said. “I tell the students I’m proud of them, that they are going to be world changers. As a mother myself, I make sure those students are safe and fed. I just want to keep them uplifted in the morning. They’re always so kind, thankful and polite.”