FAMILY VALUES.

• Position: CARING PEOPLE

Parents are some of HPU's strongest advocates. Their philanthropic support has established a caring legacy that directly impacts the lives of students. In addition to establishing new programs and facilities, many gifts provide endowed scholarships that assist with financial need and experiential learning programs that offer students access to leadership and professional development opportunities. Each gift paves the way for future advancements. The university is grateful to the families listed below, as well as every parent, student, alumni and friend who contributes.

Kushner Family Honors the Entrepreneurial Spirit

When Dede Rakestraw and her son, Sam, toured High Point University for the first time, they found the same values their family holds dear celebrated throughout campus.

Dede and her husband, Rob, hail from Chicago, where they raised five boys. The family is a strong supporter of free enterprise thanks to Dede's father, Ron Kushner, a successful entrepreneur. Ron came from humble beginnings and founded S&S Automotive Group, an after market auto company that he built from the ground up. His hard work and determination cemented the entrepreneurial spirit in their family, and they experienced that same spirit at HPU.

"There are many parallels between my father and Dr. (Nido) Qubein, (HPU president)," Dede says. "They are both self-made men and strong supporters of business."

As the Rakestraws explored campus on that first tour, they met the many people who are part of HPU's ecosystem of support.

"We knew there would always be people here that Sam could talk to if he needed help," Dede says.

Fast-forward three years later, and Sam is a thriving junior majoring in communication with a concentration in journalism. He has published writing in the Greensboro News and Record, a major metropolitan newspaper, along with the Campus Chronicle and HPU's Infinite Space--Spiritual Journeys Magazine.

The Rakestraw's made a major gift to honor Kushner, who passed away in 2015, by supporting the Kushner International Networking Marketplace in Cottrell Hall. This bright, collaborative space is where networking events and entrepreneurial speakers are hosted each year. The plaque by the door features a tribute to Kushner's success and the American dream.

"My father loved America as the land of opportunity," Dede says. "He knew that if you came here and worked hard, you could make something of yourself. High Point University believes that, too. We see...