Dear Friend:
Preparations are underway for an exciting Commencement Weekend at High Point University. This event is always a highlight of the academic year. It will be a weekend of celebration, reflection, motivation, and gratitude.
Each year HPU is committed to bringing internationally known speakers to campus for this special occasion. This year we are proud to have two extraordinary speakers. Chuck Robbins, chair and CEO of Cisco Systems, will provide the Commencement address to graduate students on April 30, 2026. Kathryn McLay, president and CEO of Walmart International will deliver the Commencement address to undergraduate students on May 2, 2026. Past Commencement speakers have included Mr. Glenn Stearns, an internationally known businessman and star of Discover Channel’s “Undercover Billionaire,” Ambassador Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, an accomplished entrepreneur, former U.S. Ambassador to Finland and the first woman chair to the American Red Cross; Daniel Lubetzky, founder of KIND Snacks; Cynt Marshall, CEO of the Dallas Mavericks; physicist Dr. Michio Kaku; singer; songwriter Josh Groban; Wolf Blitzer, CNN’s lead political anchor and anchor of “The Situation Room”; former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; broadcast legend Tom Brokaw; Gen. Colin Powell, former Secretary of State, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and national security advisor; former First Lady Laura Bush; U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas; Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple; Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan; NASA Astronaut Dr. Buzz Aldrin; and Muhtar Kent, CEO of the Coca-Cola Company.
On this website, you will find information needed to plan your weekend. This experience is intended to honor our graduates and their families, and we trust you will find the details you seek in making it a memorable event in the life of your family.
On behalf of the faculty, staff, and administration, we look forward to celebrating this momentous occasion with you and your family.
Sincerely,
Nido R. Qubein