Stop Studying!
Recently I attended a home volleyball match against UNC-Greensboro. Actually, I did more than attend because I had to announce. I enjoy announcing because it gives me a different view than the other spectators in the chosen venue. At baseball games I can see how many people are in attendance and who is there. Soccer games I have a similar bird’s eye view in the press box. For a volleyball match I have to sit facing the crowd so I can see everyone’s face and how many people are there very easily.
I speak of this merely to explain a common occurrence I have noticed. When I announce at these sporting events, I see Gerald Minis, AZ Reid, Mike Jefferson, Karolina Straby, Renee Hitchock, Amy Anzovino, Courtney Spotts, Andrea Tucker, Amy Will, Amber Manuel, Caitlyn Thys, Ayonna Thompson, Kali Burt, Shauna Marsh, Jesse Cherry…I stop the name game because I ran out of people I can recognize and I hope you have found the common theme of names. I named members of sports teams at High Point University. They attend and support their fellow student/athletes. I am not one to worship HPU athletes for taking time out from their hard schedules and paying attention to the little people. No, they actually thoroughly enjoy the games. I mention this to encourage students to go to these games.
I knew nothing of volleyball until I attended the match against UNCG. I learned a lot and am still feeling out the basics. If you are a newcomer to any HPU sports, still come out and have a good time. That is the reason they are there for you! Your tickets are FREE!! Many times, Sports Marketing personnel offer give-aways. Most events are finished in two hours. That sounds like a perfect study break to me. You have nothing else to do in the early night. Let’s be real here. Games that start at 7 p.m. end right around 9. So come on out, be wild and crazy and enjoy the games. I’m not asking for much, just trying to raise the bar…
Campus Chronicle
This is something that I wrote for my school newspaper. It does not have anything to do with sports, but gives you a little idea of what else I have written recently…This was the final copy I sent to my editor. She edited that a little more and the newspaper will hit stands Friday. Enjoy!
Gain 15 since coming to High Point? President Qubein has gained 191 million since he came to campus. Feb. 2005 the Board of Trustees approved a $34 million transformation campaign. The campaign grew to $80 million, then $100 million by 2006. Fall 2007 the University is amidst a $225 million transformation. “With all of this work scheduled to start, it will be even harder to leave,” Senior Julie Johnston believes.
The first portion of the transformation has taken place. Already students enjoy the addition to the Slane Student Center, Blessing Hall, and York Hall. All dorms have been renovated. Future businessmen and women are attending class in the Philips School of Business. Around campus many tired classrooms have been renovated.
The additional portion of the money has been allocated for many new buildings that the campus needs. The Nido Qubein of Communications has prep work started for a scheduled open of Fall 2008. Across OA Kirkman, digging has begun for the Plato Wilson Family School of Commerce and also scheduled to open next year. On Aug. 28 administration attended a public hearing on behalf of building two additional dorms in between U-Ville and Christ United Methodist church. The new residence halls will hold 500 students collectively and have a pool house and small snack bar. Across North College the University wants a 12-court tennis facility with a clubhouse. The new tennis facility will be up to NCAA Division I standards and host future tennis matches. One of the most anticipated additions to campus will be the three-story restaurant across from Norcross Graduate School.
“I can’t wait for the restaurant to open to have more space to eat,” Freshmen, Clara Simmons states. Also in the works are additional parking facilities, Brayton School of Education and updating all classrooms.
Academic Life is also improving. HPU students are experiencing additional classroom space and new classes. Technology has been introduced to classrooms to enable teachers to take classes to the 21st century. Next year the Nido Qubein School of communications will have a gaming degree. The Plato Wilson Family School will host majors in entrepreneurship, marketing, and management. Study abroad opportunities have increased. Venues now include Swansea, Wales, Florence, Italy, London and Chongking, China. Future study abroad countries are Australia, Ireland and Japan. Study America opportunities include summer in Alaska and alternative spring and fall breaks.
Student Life programs are multiplying. This year HPU hosted its first headline band concert. “It was amazing that a school our small size was able to bring a band of status.” Sophomore, Brittany Loomis says. Jack’s Mannequin rocked the student body for Derby Day in front of Roberts Hall. In addition, students enjoy cooling off in the pool during hot days and enjoying an ice cream on their way to an afternoon class. This year, arriving students received free towels, backpacks and headphones.
With all of this transformation comes responsibility to accommodate growth and live up to 225 million promises. “Just like Nido says, ‘this is a great time to be at High Point University!’” Sophomore, Domenique Black proclaims.
This That and the Other
Long time no write! I’m sorry it has been so long since I have written for those who might check this out. I’m working on a few things here at the University to get this some more publicity.
Well, soccer has started and the women’s team won their first scrimmage. Easy win over visiting Catawba, 4-0. They looked good and because I do not know much about soccer we will leave it at that. My only complaint is finding someone to cross the ball more. They didn’t have much of a hard time bringing the ball into the opposing teams side of the pitch but they couldn’t get it into the middle for some shots on goal. When the shots came the goals did as well with two quick goals five minutes apart.
Now, to the sport I know about the most…The men’s basketball team is shaping up. I know that seems crazy with the season over two and half months away. I have seen Arizona Reid and Mike Jefferson around campus along with Tim Burns, Joey Taylor, Matt Boswell, and the two of the newest members of the team. I had the honor to see what coach Bart Lundy called, “the greatest shooter in Alabama,” Alquan Mendenhall. He was with a fellow guard from Montreal, Canada, Ibrahim Appiah. This is my take on who I have seen so far.
Mendenhall looks like a shooter and coach Lundy says he is, he must be. Lundy has recruited some of the best shooters in the league with Eugene Harris, Troy Bowen, and Matt Davidson. Well, two of the three mentioned are no longer with the team. Mendenhall needs to step up big for when Burns, Harris and “Mr. Prezident” Jefferson needs to sit down for a breather. Appiah has size similar to AZ (one inch shorter), body type of Cruz Daniels (7 inches shorter, 20 pounds smaller) but the position of his teammate from Alabama. Now if he can run the wing this could be interesting.
I did not have the chance to meet with the other new arrivals. I’m sure I will soon and after talking to Appiah, Mendenhall, Jefferson and Reid, this could be the year Panther fans have waited for. Watch out women’s basketball, the men want a banner too in Millis!
