HIGH POINT, N.C., Aug. 16, 2021 – High Point University is welcoming nine of its recent graduates, two of whom are Bonner alumni, as AmeriCorps VISTAs, who will dedicate a year of service to the city of High Point. For the ninth year, High Point University is hosting these AmeriCorps VISTAs (Volunteers in Service to America) to provide thousands of hours of service to local organizations.
Each VISTA works with a nonprofit in the city to build sustainable programs in either food insecurity or education. The VISTAs will serve as a vital part of the university’s new Center for Community Engagement, connecting students and faculty to service opportunities in the city.
HPU invests nearly $200,000 annually to provide housing, meals, office space and access to student volunteers to carry out projects with their partner agencies. The Greater High Point Food Alliance, Resilience HP, Growing HP, City of High Point Neighborhood and Community Development Division, and the High Point Schools Partnership are a few of the groups with which the VISTAs will work.
Reverend Dr. Joe Blosser has led the HPU VISTAs since HPU began serving as a host site. He’s also the director of Service Learning at HPU and associate professor of religion and philosophy.
“I love the chance to mentor and guide recent HPU graduates as they devote a year of their lives to giving back to this community that has supported them throughout college,” says Blosser. “One of my favorite things is watching these former students fall in love with the city of High Point through their service and then decide to make it their home as they graduate and start their professional careers.”
Two of this year’s VISTAs are HPU Bonner alumni including:
Gabby Kozlowski graduated from HPU with a B.S. in psychology and a triple minor in civic responsibility & social innovation, women’s & gender studies and nonprofit leadership and management.
In her four years at HPU, she served as a Bonner Leader and became very familiar with the Macedonia neighborhood while serving at the Macedonia Family Resource Center.
As a VISTA, she’ll be serving at the city of High Point’s Neighborhood and Community Development Division looking to enhance the quality of food systems in High Point.
“My four years as a Bonner Leader afforded me the opportunity to become familiar with the nonprofit sector,” says Kozlowski. “I’m excited about serving as a VISTA because I will be exposed to the government side of policy and service. I’m ecstatic to be exposed to the types of decisions that are made that affect nonprofits, and I’m excited to expand my network and enhance my communication skills while immersing myself as fully as possible into the High Point community.”
Natalie Lucas is a 2020 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design. While she was at HPU, she worked at the Community Writing Center as a part of the Bonner Leader Program for four years. She’s also a freelance designer.
Lucas says what made her want to return as a VISTA was the positive impact of her four years as a Bonner Leader at HPU and all the community opportunities they were able to engage in.
“High Point is my home,” says Lucas. “The community in which I, as a VISTA, will serve this year is filled with my neighbors, friends, family, and people who may have impacted me in some way throughout my life. I’m really excited to be back and involved with the Bonner Program and the Community Writing Center after a year like 2020.”