If the United States government could raise money from the private sector as well as High Point University (HPU), the country would be debt free and have a zero tax rate, but, alas, that is not to be.
In the meantime, however, HPU over the years has had a string of big announcements regarding very generous donations from alumni and other supporters of the school.
On Wednesday, March 13, the school announced it was receiving $20 million from alumnus and well known business and community leader Doug Witcher.
The School of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences will be named after Witcher, which is probably not a coincidence.
Named the university’s Alumnus of the Year in 2017, Witcher graduated with an education degree in 1977. At that time, it was sleepy little High Point College.
He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of HPU that’s getting a reputation worldwide.
Witcher is founder and CEO of Smart Choice – a Triad-based insurance network with more than 10,000 independent agencies and 100 carrier partners.
High Point University President Nido Qubein was, needless to say, very pleased with Witcher’s gift.
“High Point University alumni support their alma mater in such incredible ways, and Doug Witcher has always been willing to stand up and help carry on the mission of this university,” Qubein said. “He has been a phenomenal example of a graduate who has gone on to do amazing things with his life, and he continues to show his support for this university through his work on our Board of Trustees and his generous gifts over the years.”
This isn’t the first time the successful businessman has opened up his wallet for the school. In 2020, he gave a $2 million gift to establish an endowed fund that will support ongoing maintenance of the Witcher Athletic Center. That’s a 36,000-square-foot facility that opened eight years ago.
Witcher also donated $2 million to HPU in 2013.
He explained the new $20 million gift.
“My most recent gift to the university is, in part, honoring Luke 12:48, ‘To who much is given, of him much is expected,’ Witcher said. “In other words, this university has given me so much, and I’ve always felt I need to be a good steward to this school. I’d like again to thank Dr. Qubein and everyone else who was involved in conveying this honor to me.”
Witcher has been very public about how he overcame dyslexia thanks to his mother, teachers, tutors and others who cared about him.
The School of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences is HPU’s third-largest academic school in terms of undergraduate enrollment with 738 students, behind only the Earl N. Phillips School of Business and the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication.
