HPU Supports Five AmeriCorps VISTAs in Serving the Local Community
High Point University welcomed five recent college graduates as AmeriCorps VISTAs (Volunteers in Service to America) who will dedicate a year of service in the city of High Point. From left were Jesse Cruz, Gabriela Merlos, Toheed Zaman, Zaira Arfeen and Christian Taylor outside Roberts Hall on the HPU campus.
HIGH POINT, N.C., Oct. 1, 2025 – High Point University welcomed five recent college graduates as AmeriCorps VISTAs (Volunteers in Service to America) who will dedicate a year of service in the city of High Point. This is the 13th year that HPU has hosted VISTAs to provide thousands of hours of service to community organizations.
“AmeriCorps VISTAs in High Point are more than recent graduates — they are proven leaders who choose to continue serving the community they love,” said Kimberly Drye-Dancy, executive director of HPU’s Center for Community Engagement. “Their commitment strengthens partnerships, builds opportunity and leaves a lasting impact on both the university and the city.”
This year’s VISTAs are:
Gabriela Merlos, a Class of 2021 HPU alumna from Port Chester, New York, serves as the AmeriCorps VISTA leader at HPU’s Center for Community Engagement.
“I’m returning to service because of my deep commitment to the community and the privilege of stepping into a leadership role,” she said. “This opportunity allows me to support our VISTAs by ensuring they have the tools, resources and guidance they need to make a meaningful impact. I believe growth is a lifelong journey, and we are always students, always learning. That inspires me to continue developing my leadership abilities while uplifting others. My goal is to bring meaningful value to our cohort, encourage participation in leadership workshops and be a reliable, empathetic presence. I fully believe in my team’s potential to do amazing things in and for our community, and I’m honored to walk alongside them in that journey.”
Zaira Arfeen, a 2024 HPU alumna who earned a Bachelor of Science in exercise science, is serving for a second year as a food justice VISTA with the Greater High Point Food Alliance (GHPFA).
“I chose to serve as a VISTA because I am passionate about addressing the needs of our community, specifically by improving food systems to ensure access to food,” said Arfeen, who is from Greensboro, North Carolina. “Over the past year with the Greater High Point Food Alliance, serving as a VISTA has been an incredible experience. I have had the opportunity to collaborate with partner organizations, residents and local leaders who are all committed to building a more food-secure community. As I begin my second year, I look forward to building on these experiences and continuing to work toward sustainable solutions to food insecurity in Greater High Point and beyond.”
Christian Taylor, a 2025 HPU alumnus with a Bachelor of Arts in game design and a minor in social innovation, is a VISTA at D-Up, Inc., a local nonprofit and afterschool program that teaches children to live healthier lives.
“I wanted to be a VISTA because I enjoyed my time serving as a member of the Bonner Leader Program during my four years of undergraduate studies,” said Taylor, who is from Greensboro. “As a VISTA, I hope to better develop my skills as a professional and learn how to serve more behind the scenes through community development and capacity building. It is a new experience, and I am nervous about the new role, but I am looking forward to everything I can learn to give to my site and the program overall.”
Jesse Cruz, a 2025 HPU alumnus with a B.A. in game design who is pursuing his master’s in communication and business leadership, serves as the student engagement VISTA at HPU’s Center for Community Engagement and as the museum coordinator at the Nido & Marina Qubein Children’s Museum.
“I want to be a VISTA because service has always been a part of my life, and I look forward to an opportunity where I can serve and develop myself professionally,” said Cruz, a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, who has moved around his entire life as a military child. “Being a VISTA means I get to stay in the High Point community for another year and serve while still completing my master’s program, so it was really a no-brainer.”
Toheed Zaman, a 2025 HPU alumna who earned a B.S. in neuroscience with a minor in civic responsibility and social innovation, serves as a VISTA at the High Point Schools Partnership. Originally from Pakistan, she has lived in High Point since moving to the United States 12 years ago.
“As a former Bonner Leader during my undergraduate years, I have always been committed to community service,” Zaman said. “I want to continue that service through AmeriCorps VISTA, with a focus on building stronger communities, creating opportunities and empowering people to succeed. Helping others and seeing a smile on their faces brings me peace and purpose. As an HPU VISTA, I hope to drive positive changes in the community so that individuals can pursue their dreams and showcase their talents without unnecessary obstacles. I believe in a vision of community where everyone feels safe, supported and equipped with the resources they need to thrive. By contributing to this mission, I want to help people fulfill their own American dream and set an example of what a just, inclusive, and flourishing society can look like.”