Hinton Cox '24

From working in a pork processing plant after the initial COVID –19 outbreak in 2020 to graduating from UNCW in fall 2024, Hinton Cox didn’t quite know what his future would hold, but his calling was always surging within.  

After high school, Cox attended his local community college online while working full time at the Pikeville, North Carolina pork processing plant. His time there shifted him toward the next gear of his life. 

“Even though I was in school, I still had no idea what I wanted to do as a career,” Cox said. “But I knew it wasn’t going to be in pork. During this time, I discovered a love for physical fitness and health. I was struggling with my physical and mental health.” 

As Cox began understanding physical fitness, healthy living and fitness education started to catch his interest. Active and on the move from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, he realized the lifestyle he enjoyed and found joy in teaching others at the plant about physical health and fitness. Soon after, Cox attended UNCW to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Healthful Living and Fitness Education. 

“Physical education and health are for everyone,” Cox said. “Not everyone has the same abilities, but creating a positive environment will allow students to try their best even if it looks different than others. Physical activity can improve many aspects of one’s life. Not only can it improve your physical well-being, but it will improve your mental well-being.” 

In his final semester, Cox interned as a teacher, doing everything a regular teacher does, from creating and teaching lesson plans to attending meetings. His goal is to receive his North Carolina K-12 teaching license and become a health and physical education teacher. 

“Health class helps you understand yourself completely,” Cox said. “We cover everything from how your past affects your decisions to developing skills that make us productive members of society. Sharing my experiences with students will hopefully inspire them, especially ones who feel they do not have a future. My main goal for my health classes is to get students to understand that they do not have to be their past, and they control their outcome in life.”