Each year, HPU honors 10 outstanding alumni who graduated within the last 10 years. Pictured from left are Kenneth Marshall, Gabrielle Wanek, Molly O’Brien, Tyler Blackshaw, Tyler Heaggans, Michaela Burns, Thomas Langford and Shayla Fletcher. Honored but not pictured are Summer Tonsfeldt and Michaela Mucha.

HIGH POINT, N.C., Nov. 17, 2023 – High Point University recognized outstanding alumni during the 2023 Homecoming Weekend from Nov. 3-5, with thousands of HPU alumni participating in a variety of events on campus.

The surrounding community benefits from the influx of visitors during HPU’s Homecoming Weekend in addition to sporting events and more, says Melody Burnett, president of Visit High Point.

“HPU Homecoming Weekend continues to grow and make an impact on our local economy,” said Burnett. “The event drew 2,000 attendees, resulting in an estimated economic impact of $470,393. As enrollment grows on campus, so does homecoming, where community businesses, such as hotels, restaurants and retail, enjoy that economic boost each fall.”

One highlight of the weekend was the annual Alumni Awards, hosted by the Alumni Association. The ceremony honors HPU alumni who have made outstanding accomplishments and demonstrated a commitment to their community and the university.

Lifetime Achievement Award – the Honorable William D. “Bill” Goldston Jr., Class of 1947, was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, and graduated from Leaksville High School at the age of 16. Encouraged by his parents to seek more education, Goldston enrolled in Oak Ridge Military Academy, working on campus to pay his expenses.

Goldston served in the U.S. Air Force at the end of World War II before entering High Point College in 1945, where he studied Accounting. He was a drum major for the High Point College marching band and tutored another student in American history while he and his wife, Beverly, lived in married student housing.

Upon graduating, Goldston joined his father in the trucking business until his father’s death in 1952. Now with two families to support, Goldston began leasing transfer trucks, using a garage so small the driver had to let air out of the tires and take off the exhaust stack to get the truck through the door. Nevertheless, Goldston inspired confidence and attracted the support of mentors who helped him. An early customer was businessman Luther Hodges, who later became governor of North Carolina and gave Goldston’s company the necessary permits to become North Carolina’s first statewide trucking company.

Goldston sold Goldston, Inc. to Daniel Construction in 1972, remaining in charge while the company grew into a national firm with 26 terminals. When Fluor International acquired Daniel in 1977, Goldston served on Fluor’s management team until 1983.

Goldston was an active community leader in Eden and Rockingham County. He served as president of Morehead Memorial Hospital’s Board of Trustees, was president of the local Rotary Club, and served nine years on the local school board. He was Eden Jaycees Boss of the Year in 1970 and North Carolina Boss of the Year in 1971.

After retiring from Fluor, Goldston was elected to the N.C. Senate in 1984. In his eight years of service, Goldston led efforts to reform the state budget process and enact the North Carolina Highway Trust Fund, which created dedicated funding to bring a four-lane road within 10 miles of every county seat. In the 1990s, the governor asked Goldston to manage the N.C. State Port in Wilmington, where he made major operational changes, always seeking worker input.

Goldston always nurtured ties to his alma mater, HPU. He has served on the Board of Visitors (now the Board of Ambassadors). In 1995, the Goldstons endowed a scholarship in memory of their deceased son, Richard. Before Beverly died in 2016, the Goldstons also joined the Sterling Society by making provision for HPU in their financial plans. Because of his enduring achievements in business, service to the state of North Carolina, and steadfast presence as a proud alumnus, Goldston was presented with the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Alumnus of the Year Award – Levan Z. Seperteladze, Class of 1995, grew up in Tbilisi, Georgia, in the former Soviet Union. He came to the United States in 1993, and earned a Presidential Scholarship at High Point University, where he received an undergraduate degree in business administration in 2015, and a graduate degree in international management.

After HPU, Seperteladze found consistent success in the automotive sales industry, having successfully managed dealerships over a 16-year career representing Volvo, Nissan, Toyota, GM and Honda. While managing Van York Toyota in High Point, Seperteladze earned the Prestigious President’s Award on nine separate occasions.

Seperteladze began managing his own investments and trade stocks, futures and options, eventually leaving the car business to pursue trading as his full-time business. In 2021, he received the coveted Certificate of Achievement for finishing fourth place in the United States Investing Championship, a real money verified competition that gives up-and-coming traders an opportunity to showcase their talent on the world stage. In 2023, Seperteladze continued to move his trading career forward and launched his own hedge fund, Disciples Capital.

Through each of these successes, Seperteladze has remained committed to the success of his alma mater. In 2021, he joined the HPU Board of Ambassadors, and continues to provide leadership level philanthropic support each year to further the work of the HPU Center for Community Engagement and Bonner Leader program.

Seperteladze married the former Elizabeth Anne Barger, who is also an HPU graduate from the Class of 1999. They are active in their church, Hope City in Wallburg, North Carolina, and have three daughters: Natalie, Catherine and Anna. In gratitude for his generosity, professional success and constant advocacy for High Point University, Seperteladze was recognized as the 2023 Alumnus of the Year.

President’s Award – Richard W. and Toye Payne, Class of 1975, are mentors, friends and a constant source of inspiration for many in the High Point and HPU community.

Toye graduated from High Point College in 1975, with a major in Mathematics. In 1976, she joined the certified public accounting firm Dixon Hughes Goodman, which would eventually become Forvis, a Top 10 accounting firm in the country. She became a partner of the company in 1985 and continued her professional career as a CPA until her retirement in 2010.

Richard served in the U.S. Navy, is a 1972 graduate of Pfeiffer College in Misenheimer, North Carolina, and a 1999 graduate of Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, with his Master of Divinity. As an ordained minister, he serves as the Team Chaplain for Richard Childress Racing, where he is responsible for the spiritual needs of the racing team’s 450 employees.

Prior to his work in racing, Richard recruited, trained and implemented outreach programs in prisons throughout the United States as national director for Prison Fellowship ministries, and director of Feed My Sheep ministry in High Point.

Since 1998 Toye and Richard have owned Quail Creek Farm, where they raise Angus cattle, donkeys, hens and have 16 honeybee hives. The Paynes have also continually served their local communities and given back through volunteering and leadership roles across a variety of organizations.

Toye is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and remains involved in the civic life of her community, having held board positions for the Rotary Club of the Triad, Hospice of the Piedmont, American Red Cross, High Point Community Theater, the String and Splinter, Furnitureland Antique Auto Club and High Point Central Alumni Association. She also volunteers annually in the internal audit department of Samaritan’s Purse, an international aid organization, specifically working on the internal audits for their Operation Christmas Child shoebox distribution project, helping deserving children all around the world.

Over the years, Richard has served in volunteer and leadership positions of the Billy Graham Emergency Response Team, Motor Racing Outreach, the Horneytown Volunteer Fire Department Board, Childress Institute Board and the Furnitureland Antique Auto Club.

At HPU, Toye and Richard are members of the Panther Club, and Toye has been a long-time member of the Steel Magnolias, and the Alumni Board. Richard has served since 2009 as the volunteer sports chaplain for the HPU varsity athletic teams, and recently as director of the HPU Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Their generosity to HPU is felt in many areas, from athletics to scholarship programs and as members of the Sterling Society. Richard and Toye have made plans for two scholarships to be established in their name to support accounting students and student-athletes at HPU.

Each year, HPU also honors 10 young alumni who graduated within the last 10 years. This year’s Top 10 Under 10 are:

• Tyler O. Heaggans, Class of 2013, earned his bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting, completed his master’s degree in information technology at N.C. A&T State University and is currently pursuing his MBA at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. Heaggans’ connection with HPU remains strong. He has served as president of the Young Alumni Council, mentored students within the Phillips School of Business and contributed to alumni panels for various events. Professionally, Heaggans has worked for notable industry leaders, such as Credit Suisse, Target and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Currently, he works as director of Sales Data Strategy at Compass Group in Charlotte, North Carolina.
• Thomas G. Langford, Class of 2014, earned a degree in computer science with a minor in mathematics. While at HPU, Langford presented research at multiple conferences, including the Mid-Southeast Association for Computer Machinery Conference, and the Big South Undergraduate Research Symposium. These experiences led to his career as a software engineer for Gilbarco Veeder-Root, where he is the technical lead and oversees a team of nine engineers. He has won multiple company-wide innovation awards, and in 2023, was honored with the Gilbarco Veeder-Root award for outstanding contributions and customer impact to the company. Since 2017, he has served on the board of directors for the North Carolina Brass Band.
• Tyler S. Blackshaw, Class of 2015, became a B2B sales consultant for Staples, earning the rank of “Top First Year Seller.” Upon moving into a sales role the following year for The Charlotte Observer, he was named the 2016 Digital Sales Representative of the Year. Blackshaw now continues his sales success as a therapeutic specialist for Collegium Pharmaceuticals, where he has pioneered the launch of several new medications for various ailments and afflictions, impacting the medical field and improving lives. Blackshaw lives in his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina, along with his wife and fellow HPU graduate, Jessica.
• Kenneth A. “Ken” Marshall, Class of 2015, excelled as an electronic media production major and hosted a radio show, the American Dream Project, while at HPU. In addition to his work in the classroom, Marshall was a member of Elevation Church, where he served as a musician and worship leader. Marshall continues to share his musical gifts as a traveling member of the Aaron Pelsue band. He now lives in Southern California and works as a senior media producer for AT&T. Marshall is a recipient of the AT&T L&D Leadership Award, a three-time winner of its Hannah’s Hero award, a Team Sieffert Award winner, a PROUD Award winner, and a team lead and member of the company’s DE&I initiative.

Marshall is the founder of open, a nonprofit organization he established while at HPU focused on arts, education and exploration through community-based programming. Additionally, he works on publication merchandising strategy as the creative director of Marshalling Resources.

• Molly Phalen O’Brien, Class of 2015, majored in strategic communication. At her graduation, she was honored as the recipient of the University Award for Achievement.

After leaving HPU, O’Brien began working in sales for Boston Scientific Corporation, where she has worked her way up to a role as a senior territory manager. She achieved in 2022 the prestigious Founder’s Award, recognizing the top territory manager based on performance and productivity. Molly married Nick O’Brien, HPU Class of 2015, in May, and they currently live in Dallas, Texas. She also serves on the HPU Alumni Board, and this summer, joined the Dallas chapter of Lasagna Love, a volunteer organization focused on providing meals to families in need.

• Summer L. Tonsfeldt, Class of 2015, began building her skills in media and public relations through her major in strategic communication and minor in human relations at HPU. Tonsfeldt is now a manager for Partner and Distribution Marketing for NBC Entertainment and its streaming service, Peacock, in Universal City, California, where she has worked since 2018. There, she helps lead marketing campaigns and has managed key relationships with media partners like Apple, Amazon, Roku and VIZIO. Before coming to NBC, Tonsfeldt worked in the PR field for Disney and Rogers and Cowan PMK in Los Angeles, where she was able to help provide support during notable events, such as VidCon, South by Southwest, Lollapalooza, the SAG Awards and the Primetime Emmy Awards. In addition, Tonsfeldt has her realtor license, and has freelanced as a movie producer and actress. She is also active helping stage volleyball tournaments and is an avid traveler.
• Michele E. Burns, Class of 2016, was a computer science major at HPU and has leveraged the experiences gained on campus into both an internship and now a full-time career in the computer science field with the U.S. government. While at HPU, Burns served on the Board of Stewards at the David Hayworth Chapel, was a member of Phi MU and developed a love of travel through mission trips to New Jersey, Guatemala and a Maymester trip to New Zealand. Burns is on the HPU Young Alumni Council and has served on the board of directors for the Junior League of Annapolis. She also currently serves as the president of Impact100 Greater Chesapeake, an all-women nonprofit organization providing transformational grants to her local community.
• Shayla S. Fletcher, Class of 2016, graduated with a degree in strategic communication, specializing in advertising and public relations, with a minor in marketing. She currently serves as an event and entertainment manager for the D.C. United soccer club in her hometown of Washington D.C. Additionally, she puts her entrepreneurial mindset to work alongside her love for skincare as the founder of Cocotier Aesthetics.
• Michaela B. Mucha, Class of 2018, served as class president and graduated with a degree in graphic design and digital imaging. Mucha is currently on the Disney+ Global Brand and Creative Marketing team, where she leads design and upholds design standards globally for the world’s leading streaming service, Disney Plus, along with developing award-winning, disrupting creative marketing campaigns for Disney Plus and the Disney Bundle. Her extensive volunteer work has included active participation as a mentor in the annual AIGA New York Mentorship Program, as well as previous involvement in NYC Pride, Toys for Tots, Disney VoluntEARS, AIGA LA, the U.S. Army, and the Food Recovery Network at HPU, where Mucha was president of the chapter for two terms. Additionally, Mucha continues to serve as a mentor to dozens of aspiring designers (including current HPU students and fellow alumni) and has earned recognition as a Top 1% Super Mentor by ADP as a result.
• Gabrielle E. Wanek, Class of 2019, majored in communication, with a minor in creative writing. In the winter of 2018, Wanek became a team lead at Ashley Furniture, honing her skills in working with others to accomplish their goals. In the spring of 2020, she put her communications degree to work in a more specific way as she transitioned to working as a website designer at Superior Fresh. She moved to Florida and began taking courses to become a life coach. Since that time, Wanek has published a book, “Embrace the Black Sheep,” finished her courses and is now a certified life coach, continuing her dedication to helping and serving others. She is also currently working on two more books while embarking on starting another business.