HIGH POINT, N.C. — For more than 15 years, President Nido Qubein of High Point University has been handing out teddy bears to the freshman class there. Students are encouraged to give the bears to someone who has impacted their life. 

What You Need To Know 

Freshman students at High Point University are given a teddy bear before Thanksgiving break 

Students are encouraged to give the bear to someone who has impacted their life

This tradition has been going on for more than 15 years 

 The bears are donated from The Red Cross

Freshman biology major Sofia Cina knew exactly who she wanted to give her teddy bear to after hearing Qubein speak.

“She's constantly wanting to see us succeed. So this bear will be a great way to show her how much I love her and how much I appreciate what she's done for me as a student,” Cina said about her professor, Dr. Rhonda Butler. 

Butler runs the Strickland Women’s Fellowship, which is a class that helps female students’ network with female leaders in different workforces, teaches them leadership and development skills and it serves as a mentorship and coaching service for students. 

This fellowship has been instrumental in Cina’s first semester at HPU.

“My fellowship got me motivated, because when we constantly have speakers inspiring us, it just inspired me to do one more thing that challenges me and test my limits,” Cina said.

Since the class started, she’s gone to church more with her friends, exercising again and studied more for her classes. She said she views church as a place where anyone can go when they are feeling down. 

Cina says the bear represents kindness, patience and love, which is also what Butler represents to her, and that’s why she chose to give it to her.