HPU Freshmen Build 150 Bikes for Local Children
HIGH POINT, N.C., Aug. 18, 2025 – High Point University freshmen celebrated their first weekend on campus by giving back to the community and surprising local children with new bicycles.
After moving into their dorms on Aug. 15-16, HPU’s record number of new students worked together as teams to build 150 bicycles on Aug. 17. A few hours later, they presented the bikes to children from several nonprofit organizations: D-UP Inc., Growing the Distance and the Community Writing Center.
The children were excited when they saw new pink-and-blue bikes waiting for them inside the James H. and Jesse E. Millis Athletic Center. HPU freshmen helped as the children put on their safety helmets and began riding their new bikes inside the Millis gymnasium.
“The project offers our students a meaningful way to give back to the community and get acquainted with their new home at High Point University,” said HPU President Nido Qubein. “It’s quite an experience for our new students to have during their first couple of days on campus, and it immerses them into our culture of service, teamwork, communication and responsiveness.”
This is the seventh year that HPU freshmen have built and surprised local children with new bikes. This event is one of many ways the HPU family contributes 500,000 hours of service each year. Those hours translate into an impact of $15 million in the community, according to the United Way’s calculations.
“I want to thank the leadership at HPU for organizing this bike building event,” said Jakki Davis, co-founder and executive director at D-UP Inc., who invited students to continue connecting with and serving at the nonprofit that’s located near campus on Washington Street. “Today, what you’ve done is very inspirational. You took the time before you even cracked a book or opened a laptop to show this community how you care, and we appreciate that so much. This is what community is about. Your service across this city is appreciated.”
Peter Chapman, a freshman from Boca Raton, Florida, enjoyed working with his new classmates to build a bike for local children. The large team-building exercise was held the day before the first day of classes at HPU.
“I like building stuff, and it’s great that we’re giving these bikes to kids,” said Chapman, who is majoring in biochemistry. “It’s an activity with a lot of teamwork and puzzle solving involved, but it’s all about the importance of doing kind things for others.”
Hailey Smith, who is from Edgewater, Maryland, runs her own nonprofit organization. She appreciated the opportunity to work with Chapman and other freshmen to build a bike and bring a smile to a child’s face.
“Giving back is important to me, and I’ve learned that no matter who you are, you can make the community better,” Smith said. “I’m so excited for the kids today.”
Gabby Hill, from Portland, Oregon, enjoyed teaching Malia Campbell how to ride her new bike.
“I had so much fun meeting you today, and I hope I get to see you again,” Hill told Campbell as she gave the girl a final fist-bump after about an hour of spending time together and riding bikes in the Millis Center.
“I knew I was going to build a bike today, but I had no clue how to do it,” said Jonathan Williams, a freshman from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. “In the end, it was fun. It was good team building and a great way to meet new people. Helping people is great, especially giving kids the opportunity to have a bike. It feels good, it helps us prepare for our future, it helps others, and it gets us ready for that community service mindset.”