High Point University’s newest students kicked off the first day of classes by giving back to the community. Pictured from left to right are 5-year-old King Harris and freshman Emily Lawler, from Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania.
HIGH POINT, N.C., Aug. 22, 2022 – High Point University’s newest students kicked off the first day of classes by giving back to the High Point community.
During a team-building exercise on Sunday, HPU freshmen built 150 bikes together. Today, the HPU students surprised children from the YWCA and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater High Point by giving the bikes to them.
The local children were surprised, excited and happy when they walked into the gym and saw HPU students standing behind the bikes. It didn’t take long for many of the children to hop on a bike and start riding it.
“I just want to ride the bikes. I’m ready!” said Qasim Thomas, a 7-year-old from Asheboro, North Carolina. “I’m really excited to take this home and to ride it there too!”
“I am filled with joy,” said freshman Hailee Gosart, from Davidson, North Carolina. “I started crying when I saw the kids run in and light up when they saw the bikes in the room. This means the world to them, and I hope to be part of more events like this. It’s a meaningful experience to be a part of at HPU.”
This event is one of the many ways HPU gives back to the community. This is the fourth year HPU students have built and surprised local children with the bikes.
“My goal here at High Point University is to be able to give back to the community,” said Sydney Martin, a freshman from Vienna, Virginia. “I want to volunteer for everything I possibly can. I’m trying to be the best representation of myself, my family and my school.”
The event on Sunday encouraged students to work together by building the bikes.
“It was really fun working together and a great team-building exercise with our Peer Mentor groups,” said Matthew Parrill, a freshman from Irvine, California. “It’s really cool getting to do this on our very first day of college and to make such a great impact in someone else’s life.”
HPU’s students, faculty and staff contribute more than 500,000 volunteer hours each year through many service projects and programs in the surrounding community.
“The Bike Build is important because we give the incoming freshmen a chance to experience service learning during the first week they are here on campus,” said Gwenn Noel, associate vice president for Student Experience. “They get a chance to see how HPU makes a positive impact in the community, while working alongside their Peer Mentor and meeting other incoming freshmen. It is a great way to understand the HPU culture and the importance of giving back.”