HPU Students Teach in South Africa, Serve on Asheville Pilgrimage

Two professors and 14 HPU Stout School of Education students spent two weeks in South Africa putting their teaching skills to positive use.

HIGH POINT, N.C., Oct. 24, 2023 – A group of High Point University education students and faculty recently taught students in South Africa, while other students spent their fall break following their faith journey through a pilgrimage in Asheville, North Carolina.

Students Teach and Learn in South Africa

Two professors and 14 HPU Stout School of Education students spent two weeks in South Africa putting their teaching skills to positive use. They worked with students from pre-school and K-12 at Orange Grove Schools (OGS) in Tarkastad, which is located in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.

HPU students tutored children, graded papers, taught dance and read aloud from the books they brought with them to donate to each classroom. The group traveled through much of Cape Town and the eastern provinces learning about the culture, trying various cuisines and examining the history of South Africa. They also took part in a local cooking class and dined with Lionel Davis, a former political prisoner who was imprisoned on Robben Island with Nelson Mandela, the late anti-apartheid activist who served as South Africa’s first democratically elected president.

Dr. Tara Shollenberger, assistant professor of leadership studies, said the trip was more than just a sightseeing tour. It was a transformative experience that offered HPU students an opportunity to engage with a different culture, gain a global perspective and use the knowledge and skills they’ve developed in the Stout School of Education. Shollenberger and Dr. Hilary Tanck, an assistant professor of educator preparation, accompanied students on the trip.

“HPU students were able to apply skills they have developed in the education program by working one-on-one with students, reading aloud and donating their favorite book, teaching mathematics lessons and facilitating after school activities,” said Shollenberger. “In an increasingly interconnected world, the ability to understand and navigate different cultures is a vital skill. The South Africa trip helped HPU students become global citizens who are better equipped to engage classrooms through the lens of global challenges, social justice and economic disparities. This trip serves as a catalyst for future collaborations and initiatives between HPU and OGS. The experiences and insights gained will likely inspire students to continue their engagement in global projects, furthering the university’s commitment to creating responsible global citizens.”

 Students Explore Faith in Asheville

 The annual fall pilgrimage brought together 13 HPU students from differing majors who traveled to Asheville as a way to focus on faith in their lives.  The pilgrimage was led by Rev. Drs. Preston Davis, vice president and minister to the university, and Chris Franks, chair of the religion and philosophy department.

“I am always deeply touched by accompanying students on these pilgrimages, to see the way God’s spirit moves in their lives and how they become more deeply aware of God’s calling on their lives,” said Davis. “Each student comes alive on these pilgrimages to the possibilities of how they can better serve humanity.”

Students were introduced to Molly Courcelle and Philip DeAngelo, two Asheville artists whose work is influenced by their Christian faith.

Students also served alongside the community at Haywood St. Church, a congregation formed intentionally for those experiencing homelessness. Students experienced a variety of worshipping communities to better understand how faith influences the lives of those congregations. The students gained a better understanding about those who live in poverty in the Asheville area, Davis said.

HPU student Carly Zimmerman participated in the pilgrimage this year and last.

“This trip is always extremely inspirational and works as a spiritual reset during the semester,” said Zimmerman. “I was able to talk with God and realize that I had some questions to pray over. I loved serving at Haywood Street because it is unlike any other volunteering I have done before. The staff values treating the customers with love and respect. They have a ‘relationship above all else’ mantra that means if you are serving someone and they what to talk or you would like to eat with them, then sit down, even if you are in the middle of a task. The stories I hear are incredible and frustrating at the same time because our society is not set up to help homeless people get back on their feet.”