Culp Family Gives $1 Million To HPU
The gift will support the future Culp Planetarium on HPU’s campus.
HIGH POINT, N.C., Oct. 30, 2017 – High Point University received a $1 million philanthropic gift from Rob and Susan Culp and their family for the future planetarium on the High Point University campus.
Rob serves as executive chairman of Culp, Inc. and treasurer of the HPU Board of Trustees, while his wife, Susan, serves on the Board of Visitors at HPU and is also a member of the Board of Directors at UNC Health Care.
Rob and Susan say they feel privileged to support this effort.
“High Point University instills hard work, personal initiative and perseverance in their students,” says Rob Culp. “Several High Point University graduates are valued employees at Culp, and we are proud to have a thriving university anchor our city.”
Their family embodies the same entrepreneurial spirit embraced on the High Point University campus.
“The Culp family grew their business from the ground up, and they took risk to find success,” says Dr. Nido Qubein, High Point University President. “Their family is important to our city, and their values align with High Point University. We appreciate the exemplary leadership they model for our students.”
About the future Culp Planetarium:
A planetarium on High Point University’s campus, which will accompany a new $60 million academic facility for undergraduate sciences and an adjoining conservatory, will honor the Culp family’s legacy. This three-story, 6,000-square-foot planetarium and lecture room space will include 125 seats and a 50-foot dome with a 4k projection screen and a state-of-the-art surround sound system. The facility will be equipped with programming to teach astronomy, earth science, anatomy and a variety of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) lessons for university students, as well as elementary, middle and high school-age groups in the community.
The future undergraduate sciences facility, planetarium and conservatory will support biology, chemistry and physics majors while complementing High Point University’s new graduate programs in physician assistant studies, pharmacy and physical therapy.