By: Ries Allyn

“Service to others” is instilled in High Point University’s (HPU) values and emphasized through actions. On Monday, March 20th, the HPU Student Government Association (SGA) went out into the High Point, NC, community and interacted with first responders, thanking them
for their hard work.

Thanks to Those Who Serve Others
For the third consecutive year, the SGA at HPU put on this service event providing over 300 meals and gifts to the High Point Police Department, fire stations, and other local emergency responders recognizing their efforts in keeping the campus and community safe.

Unlike past years, this event was put on across many locations as SGA members hand delivered the donations to the first responders. This is a change from years prior when SGA invited first responders to campus for an event to pick up their gifts. “This started a couple years ago during the pandemic, and they (HPU SGA) originally had a drive-through on campus where they were inviting first responders to come through on campus and pick up boxed meals as a thank you for all their hard work they were doing during the pandemic.” Said Hannah Tameling, HPU SGA Vice President of University Relations, who organized the event throughout High Point.

Tameling explains the shift to physical outreach for the event, “we wanted to take a little bit more of a hands-on approach, and really try to get out in the community. So we kind of switched the plan a little, and instead came and did deliveries of boxed meals to our local first responders.”

Impact Beyond the Words “Thank you”
As HPU emphasizes the importance of service, SGA members share their sentiments and their favorite part of the event is enjoying the first responders’ company and saying thank you in person.

“It’s one of our favorite traditions to give back to those who give us so much.” Said Lizzy Eisenhardt, HPU SGA President, reflecting on how HPU has instilled the importance and value of giving back in her education. “Service is at the front line of everything we do. How can we be there for others? Benefit others? Support others that support us, and how can we give back?”

Events like this bridge the gap between the student body and community of High Point, as Firefighter Captain Jeff Thompson explains, “We (firefighters) get to see them (HPU Students) often and we always get to interact with them and they always treat us really well and with respect visiting us at the fire station like they did today, it’s always nice to feel appreciated and quite frequently High Point University makes us feel that way.”

A similar sentiment is also shared among students, “It means a lot to me, to try and break down the barriers between campus and the community, it’s a great way to remember that this is a real town and a real city, and they’re (first responders) here for us…And so being able to pay that back in a way by coming in person and looking in their eyes and get to say thank you is really special for us because they’re there for us all the time and we want to be here for them too.” Said Tameling.

This event is one of many services HPU students participate in year-round and is part of the over 100,000 community service hours the university states its students complete.