High Point University 

HIGH POINT – High Point University has received a $1 million gift from philanthropists Rob and Susan Culp and their family for a future planetarium on campus.

Rob Culp is executive chairman of Culp Inc. and treasurer of the High Point University board of trustees. Susan Culp serves on the board of visitors at the university and is a member of the board of directors at UNC Health Care.

The Culps say they feel privileged to support this effort.

“High Point University instills hard work, personal initiative and perseverance in their students,” said 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 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.”

The planetarium, which will accompany a new $60 million academic facility for undergraduate sciences and an adjoining conservatory, will honor the Culp family’s legacy.

The three-story, 6,000-square-foot planetarium and lecture room 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 science, technology, engineering and mathematics lessons for university students, as well as elementary, middle and high school 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.