Research and Innovation: July 2025
Three HPU Doctor of Physical Therapy faculty and 16 physical therapy students traveled to Belize to provide pro bono physical therapy services to the children and adults of Belize City, San Ignacio and Belmopan.
HIGH POINT, N.C., July 24, 2025 – High Point University students, faculty and staff frequently conduct, publish and share research and creative works in a variety of ways. Below is a recap of recent research and innovative initiatives.
HPU Physical Therapy Students Provide Free Care in Belize
Three HPU Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) faculty and 16 physical therapy students traveled to Belize to provide pro bono physical therapy services to the children and adults of Belize City, San Ignacio and Belmopan. This is the third year the DPT program has traveled to Belize for an international service trip.
“Belize is a country with significant physical therapy need and a lack of these important services,” said Dr. Rebecca Medendorp, director of clinical education at the HPU Department of Physical Therapy. “For the students, this is a time where they put the skills they have learned into practice with real patients, who have significant need and no access to their skilled services. The students are also exposed to other cultures, languages and health care models outside of the U.S. models of health care delivery. It is important to see these differences to help shape health care policy and reform on a local, national and international level. This experience also sparks their continued passion for the field of physical therapy. They feel and see that they are making a difference in the life of a patient, and this is such a great experience for the student reinforcing their professional choices and fueling the concept of a service-minded future clinician.”
Physical therapy student Gabrielle Axson said she learned from this experience of helping people in Belize and that it will be beneficial for her future career.
“Unfortunately, the people of Belize don’t have the same access to health care as we do, so they were very receptive to any services we had to offer,” said Axson, who is from Orangeburg, South Carolina. “This experience was a great opportunity to be able to practice all the skills I have learned throughout my time in the PT program at High Point University. I want to go into pediatric physical therapy, and I was able to work with so many pediatric patients on this trip. This experience is also a cool way to put your PT skills into practice in a new environment.”
The experience also made a lasting impression on Angelina Macchio, a second-year DPT student.
“The Belize service trip was an unforgettable and transformative experience that deepened my understanding of real-world physical therapy practice,” said Macchio, who is from Manhasset on Long Island, New York. “It offered a unique opportunity to immerse myself in a different culture and health care system, broadening my perspective both personally and professionally. Collaborating with local therapists and treating a diverse patient population enhanced my clinical skills, expanded my knowledge of the field and strengthened my confidence as a future clinician. This experience was invaluable in advancing my career, providing insight into patient rapport, differential diagnosis and the importance of adapting to available resources.”
Historical Gaming Society Studies Major Battle
Alumni returned to campus on July 12 for the History Department’s Historical Gaming Society reunion and participated in a battle simulation. Established more than 20 years ago, the Historical Gaming Society meets weekly during the school year to study battles and play a variety of games from different periods of history.
This was the society’s second annual reunion, and it was larger than the first, said Dr. Frederick C. Schneid, the Herman and Louise Smith Professor of History. Alumni traveled from as far as Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
“It is great to see former students, to reconnect and enjoy the fellowship that developed during their years at HPU,” Schneid said. “More than 20 alumni returned to campus to visit with each other and participate in a simulation of the Battle of Sadowa-Koniggratz, July 3, 1866. It was one of the seminal battles of the 19th century that determined the fate of Germany. The battle was quite massive, and we played only the southern flank of the fighting involving more than 70,000 men, represented by hundreds of hand-painted historical miniatures.”
Daniel Keith, a Class of 2020 HPU history alumnus who works at the Pentagon as a Latin America military and political analyst, traveled from Washington, D.C., for the reunion. Attending it last year was his first visit to campus since 2021.
“When the chance came to attend a second one, I jumped at it,” said Keith, who is from Uniontown, Pennsylvania. “A lot of us have very fond memories of our time at HPU and a big part of that is participating in the historical simulation games held throughout the semesters. This reunion not only gives us a chance to reconnect with old friends but also the professors who helped foster our shared love of history.”
After helping with organization of the first alumni history game last year, returning for a second one was thrilling for Stephen Wilson, a Class of 2020 history alumnus who earned his master’s in communication and business leadership in 2021.
“This game was one of the staples of my HPU experience and to have this reunion becoming a staple is an absolute joy,” said Wilson, who is originally from Nashville, Tennessee, and now lives in Concord, North Carolina. “I keep in touch with many of the people who are returning, however there is something about everyone returning and being in person that makes it much more memorable. The majority of the people attending this year comprised one of my core group of friends I made at HPU. It always excites me to get to hang out with them in person and reminisce about how we became friends in no small part thanks to the games we had when we were in school.”
Continued alumni engagement through reunions and campus events is a net positive, said Thornton Christine, a Class of 2024 alumnus who majored in history and Spanish and is now pursuing his master’s degree in statecraft and national security affairs at the Institute of World Politics. He traveled from Washington, D.C., to attend the reunion.
“For the alumni, these events allow us to reminisce about our fond memories with classmates and professors at HPU,” said Christine, who is originally from Villanova, Pennsylvania. “That benefits the university, as we’re more likely to recommend High Point University to friends and family looking for an extraordinary college experience.”
Faculty Research Awarded N.C. Biotechnology Grant
Dr. Grace Hamilton, an assistant professor of biochemistry, was recently awarded a North Carolina Biotechnology award for nearly $35,000 to continue her research related to the survival of microorganisms in space.
This funding will allow HPU to purchase supplies and equipment, create paid research opportunities for students and access cutting-edge technologies like RNA-seq, Hamilton said.
“Microorganisms could help humanity survive beyond earth,” she said. “NASA researchers have proposed using them to synthesize food and pharmaceuticals off-planet and even to grow habitats for human habitation. But few organisms stand any chance of surviving the harsh conditions that exist beyond earth. Polyextremotolerant fungi (PEF) are an exception. The Hamilton Lab is identifying the specific genes that PEF use to survive in the harshest conditions on earth, laying the foundations for life beyond earth.”
Sports Media Faculty Member Publishes Book
Dr. Nicholas Buzzelli, an assistant professor of sports media, recently published his first book, “Normalizing the Sports Journalism Niche: Coexisting in a Modern News Landscape.”
The 188-page book offers a comprehensive assessment of the current and perceived future state of sports journalism. It draws on insight from 100 interviews with sportswriters working in daily newspapers, team-run media, the subscription-based sports news network The Athletic, the Indiana sports-based Substack newsletter and SB Nation blogging. The book examines how various disseminators of written sports information coexist in the modern sports journalism ecosystem by catering to the niche. Published by Peter Lang, the book is available in hardcover, softcover and as an eBook.
“Having this book published is the culmination of a personal project that I began in graduate school,” Buzzelli said. “It took a lot of hard work and editing, but seeing this to the finish line validates the importance of sports journalism scholarship. HPU provided me with the resources needed to complete this project and be able to incorporate the book’s major themes in the sports media major courses. This book helps students navigate the complexities of working within the field by illustrating the importance of content differentiation for the continued sustainability of written sports journalism.”
Faculty Research on Older Adults Published in Medical Journal
Dr. Melike Kahya, an assistant professor of physical therapy, was one of the researchers whose study of how a combination of brain stimulation and personalized coaching can significantly increase physical activity in older adults was recently published in “The Journals of Gerontology: Series A.”
Inactive older adults who received transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to targeted areas of the brain, along with individualized behavioral coaching, increased their daily step count an average of 1,179 steps per day. That was more than twice the increase seen in older adults who received coaching with placebo stimulation, and the boost continued for three months after the program ended.
“Older adults often struggle to meet the physical activity guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which can lead to negative outcomes such as the development of comorbidities and a loss of independence,” Kahya said. “While behavior change is notoriously difficult, clinicians frequently use coaching and motivational interviewing to support individuals in adopting healthier lifestyles. However, initiating and sustaining these changes typically requires significant effort and commitment. In this study, we found that incorporating brain stimulation into coaching was more effective in promoting and maintaining physical activity among older adults. These findings offer promise that behavioral change may become more achievable for this population when brain stimulation is integrated with traditional coaching strategies.”
Kahya said the results offer hopeful news for inactive older adults who may experience barriers to increased physical activity, including depression and a lack of motivation.
HPU Physical Therapy Students Assist Special Olympics
Eight HPU physical therapy students and a recent alumnus volunteered their skills to help community members at the Summer Special Olympics in Raleigh, North Carolina, on May 31. Students Angie Macchio, Lindsey VanDerStad, Gracie Jennings, Bryce Holloway, Anna Capra, Madison Dugan, Jenny Hart, Jack Goering were joined by alumnus Dr. Karahgan Munday.
The students used their knowledge of foot biomechanics and their strength assessment skills while working with the athletes competing at the Special Olympics.
“Volunteering for the Special Olympics was an incredibly rewarding experience that deepened my appreciation for inclusive sports and the power of encouragement,” said Hart, a Class of 2026 DPT student who is from Tucson, Arizona. “It showed me how celebrating every achievement can build confidence and connection.”
Jennings, a Class of 2027 DPT student from Weston, Michigan, found the event to be an unforgettable experience.
“I had the opportunity to cheer on athletes, guide them through strength assessments and witness their incredible determination and positivity firsthand,” Jennings said. “It was truly inspiring to be part of a team that celebrated ability, encouraged confidence and promoted lifelong health.”