Alumni Awards

The High Point University Alumni Association is proud to honor their 2011 & 2012 Alumni Award winners.

2012 Alumnus of the Year

Donny Lambeth '72

When Donald Lambeth graduated from High Point University in 1972, he applied for a job as cost accountant at North Carolina Baptist Hospital. Since then, he has held sixteen different positions at the hospital, all of which were offered to him. He eventually worked his way up to the role of the hospital president, but he prides himself on knowing employees of all levels; everyone knows him as “Donny.”

An innovative leader, he worked to get the top administration involved with the employees by spending a minimum of eight hours a week doing rounds on the hospital floors. Donny was also the leader in the campaign that has resulted in a $100 million hospital in Davie County built by Wake Forest Baptist, the largest investment in Davie County history.

This past May, Donny retired from the hospital after forty years and is currently running for the North Carolina House of Representatives. Despite his involvement in the hospital and the election, he is very involved in giving back to the community.

Education is a passion for Donny. He has been reelected every four years as the Chairman of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board since 1994. Under his guidance, Winston-Salem public schools have largely avoided the controversies that have marked other large urban districts. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Hospital Association and is a leader of the United Way campaign.

Donny and his wife Pam, also a High Point alum, are leaders in their church, Hopewell Moravian. They were delighted when their daughter Kristen graduated from HPU in 2010. Due to his success, the High Point University Alumni Association is pleased to bestow the Alumnus of the Year Award to Donny Lambeth.

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2012 Alumni Service Awards

Nancy McLean MPA '06

When the Reverend Nancy McLean began attending High Point University’s master’s program, she had a dream. Nancy took notice of homeless high school students in Guilford County and wondered how they found places to study and where they stayed at night. She began working on her plans in classes, developing a business plan for non-profit organizations and writing a term paper on fundraising.

Slowly, with the help and encouragement of High Point professors and fellow classmates, her dream became a reality with Joseph’s House. The only shelter of its kind in the area, Joseph’s House is a faith-based nonprofit organization that relies heavily on the generosity of its partners and donors to continue its mission of mentoring Guilford County’s young men towards productive and self-sufficient lives. In 2005, a year before her graduation, Nancy began Joseph’s House out of her own home. The program is now located on Bessemer Avenue in Greensboro and offers food, shelter, employment training, clothes, and counseling to youths aged 18 to 23 in the Triad. After growing up in Greensboro, Nancy traveled with her husband while he was on active duty in the US Air Force. Along the way, she earned an Associate Degree from Western Oklahoma State College, a Bachelor of Social Work from NC A&T, and finally a Master of Public Administration from High Point University. Nancy’s passion for helping others as well as her devotion to her hometown led her to return here and begin Joseph’s House.

In the past six years, many youth have found help and guidance here. One such young man is Terrance Mosley, who found himself homeless going into his senior year of high school and had to drop out. With the help of Joseph’s House, Terrance was able to not only graduate, but to get a job and earn enough money for his own apartment.

High Point University Alumni Association is honored to present this award to Nancy McLean.

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Gary Meyn '80

Since graduating from High Point University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education, Gary Meyn has been dedicated to the healthcare field. He volunteered in a New York hospital physical therapy wing, and later in patient care as a Physical Therapy Assistant in the U.S. Army and Air Force Reserves. After earning his Master’s in Health Services Management from Webster University in Texas, Gary began managerial work in the healthcare field, all while continuing nonprofit volunteer work.

Gary’s involvement in volunteer work helped him obtain an election into the Executive Service Corps Board. Gary has also been a member of the prominent South Texas Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives. His dedication to the organization and skill in management led to board positions, invitations to leadership conferences, as well as his Chapter’s highest award in 2009.

Gary has held many positions in healthcare, including president and founder of Medical Assessment Services, Inc. In August Gary accepted the position with Hill County Memorial Hospital as the Director of Physician Services. Prior to this position, he was Business Administrator for the Department of Orthopaedics and the Division of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio for over 8 years. Gary feels that his participation in these worthy organizations has enriched his career and life and is a tribute to High Point University, which provided him with a base of knowledge with which to grow. High Point University Alumni Association is proud to honor Gary Meyn with the Alumni Service Award.

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2012 Young Alumni Achievement Award

David Bain '02

Despite graduating from High Point University only a decade ago, David Gouge Bain already has an impressive list of accomplishments.

As a student, David double majored in political science and philosophy, yet still found time to participate in the Student Government Association and serve as a resident director and University Ambassador.

In 2005, just three years after his graduation, he earned a commission in the United States Marine Corp. David then attended law school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law before reporting to the Basic School in 2007.

David married in 2008 before deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a military transition team advisor to the Iraqi Army in Mosul, Iraq. While overseas, he led 45 combat missions and integrated U.S. forces into the Iraqi Army’s Mosu; operations. He received the Navy Commendation Medal and a letter of commendation from Vice Admiral McHaven, US Navy. David returned from Iraq in 2010, just in time for his daughter Lexi’s first birthday and the birth of his second daughter, Catie. David deployed again in 2011 and is currently a Testing and Evaluations Officer at the Marine Corps Systems Command. Because of his continued commitment to his career, the High Point University Alumni Association is please to present this award to David Bain.

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2011 Lifetime Achievement Award

Floyd T. Craven '59

Floyd T. Craven may have graduated from High Point University in 1959, but he’s remained actively engaged on campus in many ways.

He married his wife, Faye, and quickly started his professional career as a certified public accountant. He partnered and began Craven Blue Public Accountant Firm in High Point, all while starting a family.

Despite his busy career, he always found time to give back to HPU. Over the years, he has served as former president of the alumni board, a member of the Board of Visitors, and past treasurer and current member of the Board of Trustees.

Others notice his passion too. In 1998, James Foscue, class of 1932, honored Floyd, who served as his accountant. James said he wanted to honor Floyd for his professional service and friendship by endowing and naming the HPU Investment Club, “The Floyd T. Craven Investment Club.”  The organization exists to educate undergraduate students in areas of finance and investment analysis and provides students with the opportunity to invest university dollars in the stock market.

Floyd’s passion for HPU athletics is unwavering.  He attends every basketball game, even during tax season, and currently sits on the Panther Club Board of Directors.

Floyd is a native of High Point. He was also a board member of the local YMCA and Rotary Club. It’s safe to safe that his bond with his alma mater continues to grow stronger over time. This is why the High Point University Alumni Association is proud to honor the lifetime achievements of Floyd T. Craven.

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2011 Alumnus of the Year Award

Susan S. LaSalla '65

In February 2009, Susan LaSalla retired from NBC News after 42 years of service, but not before doing her part to create in-depth coverage of the some of the most pivotal events in America’s history and taking home an Emmy Award.

LaSalla began her career with NBC News in 1967 and paid her dues over a 13-year period as a researcher, production assistant, desk editor and finally a producer. One of her first assignments was to cover Geraldine Ferraro when she was selected Walter Mondale’s running mate.

In her last position, Susan was responsible for NBC correspondents stories and interviews – live and taped – with numerous Presidents of the United States, Cabinet heads, Congressional members and most anything that happened in our nation’s capital.

She joined The Today Show in 1996 where she oversaw coverage on location with Matt Lauer in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, coverage of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and coverage of the Second Gulf War in Doha, Qatar.

Also on the agenda were shows in St. Petersburg, Russa; Havan Cuba; several interviews with former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush; and the first live broadcast off the deck of an aircraft carrier – the USS Theodore Roosevelt.

There were many years of political campaign coverage for Susan, and she covered 16 national political conventions in all, eight of which she was the senior producer for The Today Show.

But her hard work paid off. Susan is a 2007 Daytime Emmy Award winner and a 2010 Daytime Emmy Award nominee.

Susan is a native of North Caroline, but today, she lives in Washington, D.C. where she can still watch the latest political stories unravel. She currently serves on the board of directors and is former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as serving on General Hugh Shelton’s Leadership Council in Raleigh that aims to develop and strengthen leadership skills in young men and women. Because of her continued commitment to her career, the High Point University Association is please to present this award to Susan S. LaSalla.

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2011 Young Alumni Achievement Award

Jonathan R. Miller '06

Jonathan has spent the first five years of his professional career showing the world that age is just a number, and young people can accomplish amazing things.

Immediately after graduating from HPU in 2006, he returned to his hometown in West Virginia and ran for a seat in the state legislature. Jonathan won that first election and served as the youngest elected member of the House of Delegates. His victory came amidst an election year where Republicans were beat up statewide and nationwide, making his victory even more incredible.

In 2008, he faced no opposition in his bid for re-election and served another two-year term as a Delegate for southern Berkley County.

Jonathan has also represented WV on a diplomatic trip to Taiwan and was recognized as an "Emerging Political Leader" by the State Legislative Leaders Foundation, the Atlantic Bridge Foundation, and the American Legislative Exchange Council.

The Republican National Committee has named Jonathan as one of the Republican Party's "40 And Under", which recognizes the party's rising stars. Jonathan has also been recognized as a Ronald Reagan Future Leader, received the Congressional Recognition of Service Award, and has worked for the Republican Party and Republican candidates on the local, state, and national level.

Today, Jonathan lives in Inwood with his wife, Kimberly.  In May, Jonathan announced he’s campaign for US Congress.  The High Point University Alumni Association is delighted to bestow the Young Alumni Achievement Award to Jonathan R. Miller.

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