HPU Welcomes New Students to Campus

As HPU’s largest student body in history arrives, move-in weekend brings 20,000 visitors to the city and $5.15 million in economic impact. 

HIGH POINT, N.C., Aug. 19, 2023 – High Point University’s campus is buzzing with high energy this weekend as hundreds of faculty, staff and upperclassman volunteers welcome new students to campus. On Aug. 21, 6,040 undergraduate and graduate students will begin classes, representing the largest enrollment in the university’s history.

Volunteers swiftly unloaded vehicles and helped move 1,600 new students into residence halls while the HPU Marching Panthers cheered for the Class of 2027 as they arrived throughout Friday and today. As is tradition, the process made move-in seamless for HPU’s newest family members.

HPU’s freshman class has achieved the following:

- Highest average unweighted GPA

- Highest average SAT score

- Largest international student population

- 20% of the class are first generation students.

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.”

$5.15 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 $5.15 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 of the reactions from HPU freshmen and their parents.

“We discovered HPU because some friends in Colorado knew about it and told us we should check it out,” said Hannah Schumaker, a freshman from Littleton, Colorado. “As soon as I stepped on campus, I knew this was where I wanted to be because of how much this university cares for the students. I think HPU just provides the best opportunities for those who come here.”

“This university is an excellent launch pad for my daughter's future,” added Hannah’s mom, Sarah. “I love that it's a God, family and country school. I love that her values are going to be honored here.”

“The campus community made me want to commit to HPU early and enroll,” said Dan Taylor, a freshman from Baskin Ridge, New Jersey. “I'm also going to major in finance, and I've known that for a while. That along with the entrepreneurship program really made HPU an easy choice for me.”

“I've known that I wanted to come here since I was in the 8th grade,” said Elana Robinson, a freshman from Fort Washington, Maryland. “My brother actually decided that he wanted to come here when he was on my tour during my junior year of high school and his senior year of high school. HPU is so serene, peaceful and calm, but also welcoming. Every person you meet will say hello in passing and greet you. I knew HPU wasn't too big, and I never wanted a huge university. I grew up in a small school, so HPU gave me that comfortable environment while also offering me all the opportunity of branching out and meeting plenty of new people."

“It's hard to pick what I'm most excited to experience,” Robinson, a biology major with a pre-med track, added. “It's between my science labs and having access to such new, state-of-the-art spaces and tools and then the chance to meet so many different people from different places. I'm especially looking forward to working with the Women's L.I.F.T Fellowship program and the opportunities that being part of that program will bring.”

“I first toured HPU with my brother, who's now in his third year here, and what always stood out were the relationships between professors and students,” said Anna Synodinos,” a freshman who went to high school in Holden, Massachusetts, but grew up in South Africa. “I'm most excited about the mentorship opportunities here. When you hear that people like the co-founder of Apple work with students here, it's hard not to be excited for that. I know that I'm going to find my new family here, and that's what I'm most excited for.”

“I knew I wanted to study interior design, and High Point being the interior design capital of the world was definitely a benefit,” said Olivia Wenzel, an interior design and entrepreneurship major from Wrentham, Massachusetts. “It had an accredited interior design program, as well as the entrepreneurship major. That’s what truly brought me here.”

“The moment I walked on this campus, I told my dad I think that’s home. That’s where I want to go,” Wenzel added. “We looked at two more schools after that, but I would leave the other schools and say none of them have compared to High Point University.”

Having Success Coaches plus mentors, friendly faculty and staff members was what attracted Griffin Bramble, a business administration major and Business Fellow from Charlotte, North Carolina.

“I toured different colleges and none of the colleges stood out when compared to High Point University,” said Bramble. “The other colleges didn’t make it clear that they cared as much or emphasize their support system as much as I would like, and it didn’t make me feel as confident in my choice to go there. Also, I’ve heard that the business administration and marketing programs here are quite good. I don’t think it’s recognized enough. For everything HPU offers and what I’ve seen and experienced so far, I think it should receive much more notoriety like other big schools in the South.”

Bramble’s mother, Julie, said she loves that HPU is focused on students.

“I love that he’s not a number, he’s a name and that makes a mom feel good,” she said. “It’s beautiful here. That catches you the second you pull up.”

“I’m excited to go to all my classes,” Bramble added. “HPU has around 20 people in an average class size. That’s perfect for me, compared to big auditoriums with hundreds of people.”