HPU Names Strickland Trailblazer Award Winner

High Point University students who were finalists for the Elizabeth Miller Strickland Trailblazer Award smiled after being presented certificates during an award dinner inside Congdon Hall. Pictured from left were Norah Cook, Hailey Condron, Isabel Marshall, Isabel Clark, Sophia Cina, Madison Pezik, Catherine Gallagher and Zaria Owens. Meghan Kealey and Lauren Vossen were unable to attend the awards dinner.

Atlanta Hawks’ Executive Melissa Proctor Inspires Students at Strickland Women’s Leadership Summit

 HIGH POINT, N.C., April 8, 2026 – High Point University presented Sophia Cina, a Class of 2025 alumna, with the sixth annual Elizabeth Miller Strickland Trailblazer Award during the March 16 award dinner in the Anne Kerr Walker Ballroom.

The award was established by Elizabeth Miller Strickland in August 2020 as part of her $12 million gift to HPU. Each year, the award goes to a graduating female student who epitomizes hard work, passion for service, perseverance and determination. The recipient and nine finalists receive recognition and a monetary award for their extraordinary accomplishments as community pioneers.

Cina graduated in December 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in biology on the pre-Physician Assistant (PA) track. She was co-president of the inaugural Strickland Women’s L.I.F.T. (Leading and Inspiring Female Leadership Trailblazers) Fellowship Executive Board from 2024–25. She currently is gaining patient care hours and clinical experience in her hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada, as she prepares to apply to PA programs with the goal of specializing in aesthetic dermatology. She is also involved in volunteering at local hospitals and plans to pursue a master’s degree in healthcare management in the future.

“Being selected for the Elizabeth Miller Strickland Trailblazer Award is truly an honor that is difficult to put into words,” Cina said. “To me, this recognition represents more than an award. It is an opportunity to continue empowering and uplifting others, especially women striving to find their voice and pursue their goals. I want every girl and woman to know that if you believe in yourself and are willing to work for it, nothing can stand in your way. Do not wait for the perfect moment. Go out there and make it happen.”

Throughout her time at HPU, Cina was an excellent student who led initiatives centered on mentorship, sisterhood and professional development. She served as a social media ambassador and campus reel intern, creating digital content to inspire prospective students and foster a sense of belonging within the university community. She worked as a resident assistant and library student assistant, as well as volunteered at the Nido and Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum, focusing on curiosity-led learning and mentoring students from diverse backgrounds.

Chosen to represent the L.I.F.T. Fellowship at Strickland’s Celebration of Life, Cina presented an original poem that symbolized a commitment to carrying forward her values of drive and grace. She also published a memoir, “Not Smart, Driven,” in 2024 to share her story and help empower women to overcome self-doubt and recognize their inherent capabilities.

“Mrs. Elizabeth Miller Strickland was an incredible leader and role model, and I feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to know her, as well as her daughter, Cynthia ‘Cinny’ Strickland Graham,” Cina said. “Her legacy continues to inspire me to lead with intention, give back and make a meaningful impact. I would also like to personally thank Dr. Rhonda Butler, former director, for her instrumental role in founding the Elizabeth Miller Strickland L.I.F.T. Fellowship, as well as the incredible council of women who have served as mentors and a constant source of support to me. This fellowship truly shaped my entire college experience and made North Carolina feel like a home.”

Strickland Trailblazer Finalists

In addition to Cina, the other nine Trailblazer Award finalists included:

• Isabel Clark, a senior accounting major with a minor in social innovation. She is currently studying for the certified public accountant (CPA) exam and has a secured position at a tax firm after her graduation in May. As a Bonner Leader Scholar, she managed data entry for West End Ministries’ food pantry to generate critical reports required for government grant funding. She also assisted with creation, preparation and execution of educational programs at the Nido and Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum.
• Norah Cook, a senior exercise science major on the pre-optometry track, who co-chartered and led the HPU Pre-Optometry Club as itsinaugural president. She serves as an undergraduate research assistant for the HPU School of Optometry, performing data analysis and refinement of publications for the founding dean and faculty. She is applying for a U.S. Navy commission after optometry school with a goal of increasing female representation in the military medical field.
• Hailey Condron, a senior exercise science major with minors in psychology and women’s leadership. She serves as the president of the Strickland Women’s L.I.F.T. Fellowship Executive Board. She was recently accepted into an occupational therapy graduate program with a goal of specializing in pediatric burn rehabilitation, utilizing play-based therapy for physical and emotional recovery.
• Catherine Gallagher, a senior pursuing a dual major in psychology and dance. She successfully bridged the gap between cognitive science and dance through a two-year study on movement memory and was awarded the 2024 Scholarly Interdisciplinary Research Grant. Her goal is to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology to specialize in interventions for survivors of interpersonal violence and sexual assault.
• Isabel Marshall, a senior pursuing dual majors in biology and music with a minor in history. She is president of HPU’s Natural Sciences Fellows, served as a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Charleston, South Carolina, and is a certified patient care and medical technician who volunteers as a triage nurse at the High Point Community Clinic and assists residents at Dayspring Assisted Living. Her goals include working as a pediatrician in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), focusing on ensuring equitable healthcare access for underserved children and providing families with hope during recovery.
• Zaria Owens, a senior exercise science major with minors in media production and entrepreneurship, is a certified clinical medical assistant (CCMA) with externship experience at Reliance Health & Home Physician Services. She is founder and CEO of Charlie’s Hope Foundation, which she established in 2020 to combat hunger, homelessness and poverty.
• Madison Pezik, a senior psychology major on the pre-PA track, with plans to specialize in emergency medicine. She serves as a primary patient care provider and adjunct EMT instructor, teaching hands-on skills and medical protocols to new students. She is president of the HPU EMS Club, an organization with more than 200 members, delivering biweekly medical training and overseeing financial and marketing committees.
• Meghan Kealey, a senior event management major with a minor in business administration, works as an event manager for SociaLife Weddings & Events and has secured a full-time post-graduation offer from SociaLife, with a long-term goal of taking over the company as the lead owner. She also managed complex timelines and budgets as an assistant event planner at Riverwinds Restaurant, where she established a foundation of high-volume hospitality. As president of Big Brothers Big Sisters, she transformed the HPU chapter by doubling its impact from 50 to more than 100 mentor matches.
• Lauren Vossen, a 2025 alumna who earned her Bachelor of Science in neurobiology with a minor in psychology, serves as a medical scribe at Salem Chest Specialists. She was an honors ambassador for HPU’s Honors Scholar program and team captain for its cross country and track and field teams, balancing 20 hours of weekly training with high academic performance and annual community service. Vossen previously worked as a behavior technician for children with autism and plans to enter PA school with a career focus on medically underserved areas in the U.S.

Atlanta Hawks’ Executive Speaks at Strickland Women’s Leadership Summit

HPU students found inspiration for the next steps in their personal and professional journeys from Melissa M. Proctor, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena.

Proctor began her journey as the first “ball girl” for the NBA’s Miami Heat while still in high school. Today, she leads marketing, brand strategy, fan experience and community initiatives for the Hawks. Along the way, she held strategy positions at Turner Broadcasting Network, built a reputation as a creative brand leader and wrote a bestselling book, “From Ball Girl to CMO.”

Her career path was more of a jungle gym than a straight line, Proctor told students during the fifth annual Elizabeth Miller Strickland Women’s Leadership Summit on March 17 at the Hayworth Fine Arts Center.

Proctor watched basketball while growing up in Miami, Florida, as a first-generation American and noticed no women were working on the sidelines at the games. When she repeatedly contacted the Heat’s equipment manager, he respected her persistence and allowed her to take the volunteer ball girl role he described as grunge work with no pay.

“You had to look for the gaps and figure out how to fill them,” she said.

Proctor advised students to respect the hustle, be open to change, be authentic and stay true to who you are, remember that everything happens for a reason and find ways to be an asset to the community.

While on stage, she participated in a Q&A with moderator Noelia Velazquez, a sophomore journalism major and L.I.F.T. scholar from Greenville, North Carolina, who asked Proctor how she used marketing to connect business, commerce and community interests. Proctor explained how mentors within the NBA executive ranks helped her find a place that allowed her creativity to boost the team’s connections in serving the surrounding community.

“The interesting thing about the NBA is that every team is structured differently. Owners are different, and every CMO around the league may have a very different job than I have,” Proctor said. “It all is connected to really building an experience for our fans.”

As chief marketing officer for the Hawks, she helped redesign uniforms and rebrand the team multiple times. She ushered in greater community connections when the Hawks partnered with State Farm to increase food security and install more than 25 basketball courts across Atlanta, and with the Martin Luther King Jr. Foundation to educate the next generation. The Hawks announced on MLK Day that they will revive their 2020-21 uniforms, which honored the civil rights leader, during the 2026-27 season.

“Your journey from being the first ball girl for the Miami Heat to serving as the chief marketing officer for the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena is a powerful example of what persistence, creativity and competence can lead to,” Velazquez said.

Proctor’s encouragement to remain persistent and never give up resonated with Zaria Owens, a senior exercise science major.

“I liked the part where she said, ‘What God has for you, He has for you,’” said Owens, who is from Griffin, Georgia. “Just her resilience and her creativity, never taking ‘no’ for an answer and being a trailblazer in that way, her story was really inspiring. I loved it.”

Ali Cranfill, a junior psychology major on the pre-law track, said she learned from Proctor’s advice to not let fear of rejection stop you from trying.

“I loved when she was saying, ‘It’s not a ‘no’ until you ask and ‘no’ is the worst thing that could happen,” said Cranfill, who is a L.I.F.T. Fellow from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. “She reminded us that the benefit is going to outweigh what’s not going to happen. That was inspiring to hear.”