High Point University under the leadership of President Nido Qubein has been growing like kudzu, spreading across the city and drawing attention far outside of North Carolina’s borders. The latest sign of the university’s momentum is the announcement that the university has secured nearly $200 million in philanthropic gifts from families, estates and foundations.
In the last quarter alone, HPU received $37 million in new donations.
That brought the total to more than $195 million in recent philanthropic investments – money that’s already earmarked for academics, athletics, and facilities that are reshaping the campus and will continue to do so in the years ahead.
Qubein, who took over as president in 2005, has spent the last two decades remaking HPU into what he calls “The Premier Life Skills University.”
His model emphasizes not only academics but also leadership, character and practical skills for the real world.
High Point University’s supporters obviously believe in that mission, as the flow of gifts shows no sign of slowing.
“The advocacy and support HPU receives from accomplished leaders is a testament to the success HPU prepares students to achieve,” Qubein said alongside the school’s announcement of the large number of donations. “Because many families believe in and are truly invested in HPU’s mission and values, they partner with this university to further our commitment to instill premier life skills in our students. They want to be part of HPU, and we are honored to receive such impressive levels of philanthropic investments that will support generations of students to come.”
The gifts come from some well-known names in the Triad and beyond.
While several donors prefer to remain anonymous, High Point University provided details about families and estates whose contributions are leaving a lasting imprint on the campus.
Here are some new multimillion-dollar gifts:
John and Lorraine Charman – Recently added $11 million to their previous commitments, bringing their total giving to $41 million. Their name will crown the John and Lorraine Charman Library, which is now under construction. That facility, scheduled to open in 2027, will serve as the flagship library for the university.
The Wanek family – Ron and Joyce Wanek, Todd and Karen Wanek, and the entire Wanek family gave $5 million more, raising their total gifts to $35 million. The Wanek family name is already all over campus – the R.G. Wanek Student Center and the Wanek School of Natural Sciences are two examples. Ron is the founder of Ashley Furniture, while Todd is the company’s CEO and Karen is president of Superior Fresh.
David and Christy Cottrell – The Cottrells contributed $6 million to support the Women’s Entrepreneurship Program and a Japanese Garden near Cottrell Hall, which is already a hub for professional development. Their total giving now stands at $14 million.
Doug Witcher ’77 – The Triad businessman, HPU alumnus, trustee and founder of Smart Choice added $3.6 million to support a new baseball indoor hitting facility and other athletic priorities. That gift brings his total contributions to $24.7 million. HPU’s School of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences and the Witcher Athletic Center already bear his name.
Mark ’83 and Jerri Webb – The Webbs provided $1 million for engineering and athletics, boosting their total support to $11.5 million. Mark, a 1983 graduate and native of High Point, operates Interstate Foam and Supply, Inc., a Conover-based company with more than 300 employees. The Webb School of Engineering carries the family name.
Estate of Bill Goldston ’47 – Goldston left $5 million to the school. He founded Goldston Inc., a trucking firm he later sold to a Fortune 500 company, and served two terms in the North Carolina Senate, where he helped create the NC Highway Trust Fund.
Here are the new gifts in the $1 million range:
Estate of Randall Johnson – $1.1 million to support music and theater performances.
Thelma Eichholz ’62 – $1 million gift in her estate plans to fund student scholarships.
Cordia Harrington – $1 million to support the Workman School of Dental Medicine.
Robert and Dianne Hamer – $1 million to help advance HPU’s general growth.
Shane and Holly Smith – $1 million to support construction of the Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law.
The David Hayworth Foundation – Added $900,000 to the family’s already staggering $25 million in support, this time for upgrades to David Hayworth Park. The family’s name is spread across campus, from the Hayworth Fine Arts Center to the David R. Hayworth School of Arts and Design.
These gifts, both large and small, have allowed HPU to build a campus filled with amenities and perks that are often unusual in higher education. Students enjoy resort-style swimming pools, live concerts, fine dining options, an ice cream truck that makes rounds on campus, and access to guest speakers ranging from world leaders to corporate CEOs.
The school even has valet parking and a concierge service. These are touches more common at luxury hotels than on the campus of a school that not all that long ago was just a sleepy Southern college with a few thousand students.
HPU has also made a point of attracting high-profile figures to campus. Former U.S. presidents, Fortune 500 executives and national thought leaders have spoken at the school, giving students the chance to hear firsthand from people who’ve reached the top of their fields.
Qubein has frequently said his goal is to give students not just a degree but the confidence and skills to thrive in any environment.
For a city like High Point – once best known as the furniture capital of the world – HPU’s rise has become one of its main calling cards.
There have been growing pains, as some residents haven’t appreciated the way the university has transformed their neighborhoods.
With $195 million in new giving, the school has no plans to slow down: The donations will finance projects that will open in the coming years, everything from academic buildings to athletic facilities.
