HPU Welcomes Record Number of New Students and Record Enrollment

Above: High Point University President Nido Qubein (center) and student volunteers welcomed new students to campus throughout the weekend.

HIGH POINT, N.C., Aug. 17, 2024 – The High Point University campus is buzzing this weekend with high energy, live music and the cheers from hundreds of faculty, staff and student volunteers who are welcoming 1,650 new students to campus for the fall semester.

These new students represent a banner year for HPU that includes:

• Welcoming 1,650 new students, the largest group of new students in HPU’s history
• Welcoming more than 6,300 students, the largest total enrollment in history
• Opening the Workman School of Dental Medicine, the state’s only private dental school
• Opening the Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law
• Celebrating HPU’s centennial anniversary

Volunteers swiftly unloaded vehicles and helped move new students into residence halls while the HPU Marching Panthers band cheered for the Class of 2028 as they arrived throughout Friday and today. As is tradition, the process made move-in seamless for HPU’s newest family members.

The celebration continues Sunday with Opening Convocation at 9 a.m., when HPU President Dr. Nido R. Qubein will lead the keynote address at the Qubein Arena and Conference Center. President Qubein was also on campus this weekend greeting new students and families.

“Welcome to the HPU family and to a turning point in your life,” Qubein told a group of students. “We are fully committed to your success on your educational journey, and we look forward to watching you grow and flourish as you embrace the opportunities ahead.”

Classes begin on Monday, Aug. 19, when HPU students will also surprise local children with 150 bicycles they are building this weekend.

$6.23 Million Economic Boost for the City

HPU’s Move-In Weekend brings in more than 20,000 people to the community, boosting the economy for local restaurants, hotels and shops.

“Move-In weekend is an impactful boost to our local economy as 20,000 visitors generate an estimated $6.23 million of economic impact in our city and surrounding communities,” said Melody Burnett, president of Visit High Point. “Our area businesses are rejoicing in this homecoming as HPU students and families are valued customers. Local hotels, restaurants and retail will have a banner weekend.”

Overheard at HPU Move-In Day

Below are some reactions from HPU freshmen and their parents throughout move-in weekend.

Sofia Visconti, a business entrepreneurship major from Boston, Massachusetts, said she fell in love with HPU after she researched it and toured the campus on recommendation from a friend of her mother.

“All of the academics and opportunities were really big and piqued my interest,” Visconti said. “There really wasn’t another school that I loved as much as coming here. That’s why I decided to apply Early Decision. It was my first choice and my top pick.”

Gabi Lowe from Atlanta, Georgia, chose HPU because of the opportunities provided to prepare her for her future.

“When I learned about all the academic opportunities here and how HPU wants you to succeed as a person and throughout your life, it was a no-brainer for me,” said Lowe. “Just learning how your professors and success coaches are invested in you, I think HPU will give me the best opportunity in my career and in life.”

“I chose HPU because of the close family aspect,” said Colin Murray, from Aurora, Ohio, who has a sibling also attending HPU. “I like how everybody walks around and smiles talking to each other, and no one is really a stranger. I applied Early Decision because I knew this was the place I wanted to be. My sister is here, she’s a senior, and she’s had three great years so far. I’m looking forward to getting involved in fraternities and club sports, and I’m majoring in biology.”

Michael Santoro of New Jersey, the dad of freshman Christa Santoro, said his family appreciates HPU for many reasons, including celebrating the values of God, family and country and instilling life skills in students.

“I spent 30 years in corporate America, and the life skills that are promoted here are what I’ve yearned for as a person who’s hired people, who’s interviewed people, and who’s watched the younger generation. The communication techniques and the skills that are needed to get ahead are invaluable.”

“I had visited 20-30 schools and when I came to High Point University, I felt like my future would be in the best hands if I went here,” said Mia Thomas, a broadcast journalism and vocal music major from Madison, Connecticut. “I felt I would be capable of everything that I could accomplish and be prepared for the world ahead of me.”

“There was no other school that compared to this school,” she said. “The campus is beautiful. The professors I talked to regarding the majors I wanted to go into and the students I talked to regarding the club sports – everyone just made me happy. They were my people.”

Donovan Schall, a business major from Minneapolis, Minnesota, said he was attracted by the experiential education focus at HPU. After visiting other universities, Schall said HPU offered more.

“It’s more hands on, so I’ll have more real-world experience from that type of education,” he said. “There’s not really another college like it.”

His parents, Mike and Kelly Schall, said they felt comfortable about moving their son in despite the distance from home largely because of HPU’s culture of putting the student first.

“We’ve just been super impressed with the process from beginning to end,” Mike Schall said. “I own a business so I may be a little more aware of the importance of engaging the students and the families. Putting the student at the forefront is really important to us.”

Many parents on campus this weekend moved in their second or third student, including Elaine Cuervo of Florida, who now has two sons attending HPU.

“As parents of a junior and having already spent two years here, we’re very happy our other son is joining our older son,” she said. “We know they’re not only being challenged academically but they’re happy, too, and making good friends. For us, it’s a blessing that they’re both here, and we look forward to visiting campus because it’s a beautiful and special place.”

“My reason for coming to HPU is my brother is a junior, so for the last two years of visiting him Family Weekends and other events, I could just envision myself being here,” said Julian Cuervo, who moved into the R.G. Wanek Center as a freshman today. “I’m going to major in business administration, and that’s another plus because that’s great here because the university gives a lot of opportunities for internships, so I thought I might as well take advantage of that and come to a special place like this.”

“HPU feels like home and like a safe environment,” said Steve Lawson, whose son, Maddux, moved into Blessing residence hall on Friday, and whose oldest son, Jordan, is a returning student. “It feels like everybody cares. For Jordan, he couldn’t wait to get back to campus as a sophomore. For Maddux, we couldn’t wait for him to get here and begin and experience what his brother already experienced.”