High Point, NC - High Point University’s newest students kicked off their first day of classes by giving back to the community and surprising local children with new bicycles.

After moving in on Friday and Saturday, HPU freshmen worked together to build 150 bikes as their very first team-building exercise on Sunday. Local children from the High Point Housing Authority were excited and happy today at noon when they got off their buses and saw new blue and red bikes waiting for them outside the James H. and Jesse E. Millis Athletic and Convocation Center. It didn’t take long before children put on their safety helmets and began riding their new bikes around Millis Circle.

Journee Morris, a third-grade student, said she was amazed to get a new bike and wanted to see more of the campus.

“I would tell other people to come here when they get older because this is a fun place to be,” said Morris.    

“This is High Point’s University and one of HPU’s most important values is service to the community,” said Lyndsey Ayers, assistant vice president for university relations. “You’ll hear and see all over our campus the scripture, ‘To whom much is given, much is required.’ Our students have learned the act of service the first weekend they moved in. They built these bikes yesterday, and it was very special to watch them work as a team. Today was a very exciting day because the kids from the High Point Housing Authority were able to get a bike, a bookbag stuffed with school supplies and visit HPU’s campus, which some of them have never done before. Our freshmen got to see that first-hand.”   

The event is one of the many ways HPU gives back to the community. This is the fifth year HPU students have built and surprised local children with the bikes. A DJ played music as the children were treated to lunch from food trucks.

“Giving to the community warms my heart,” said Nathan Brent, a freshman neuroscience major from Parkton, Maryland. “I never would have thought about moving in my first day of college and building a bike for someone else. It’s important for people to volunteer, and you never know how much impact you can have. You can create a butterfly effect.”

“It’s our first day on campus, and we thought it would be a great opportunity to help these kids,” said Dominic Aquino, a freshman sports management major from Latham, New York. “It put a smile on my face to see them with smiles on their faces. It feels good to make an impact starting on day one.”

Christopher Jacobs, a freshman computer science major from Charlotte, North Carolina, agreed it made him feel good to the see the children’s happy expressions and to make an impact on the surrounding community on his first day of classes.

HPU students, faculty and staff contribute more than 500,000 volunteer hours each year through many service projects and programs in the surrounding community.

“On behalf of the Housing Authority Board, staff and families, we thank High Point University for this amazing event,” said Angela Jimenez, CEO of the High Point Housing Authority. “What you have done today will be a memorable experience for our youth. Thank you for being a light for us and to our youth. We are forever grateful.”