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The distance between ���ϲ�����’s campus and a professional career in Charlotte has never felt closer.

That was the sentiment shared by many of the 45 first-year Communications Fellows who traveled to the Queen City in November for a full-day immersion experience. The annual fall trip, a hallmark of the Communications Fellows program, has several objectives: career exploration, personal and professional growth, and fostering camaraderie. This year’s expedition to Charlotte checked all those boxes.

Led by faculty members David Bockino, Colin Donohue and Staci Saltz, the Fellows received an up-close look at the city’s vibrant communication and sports industries, making stops at WSOC-TV, Pillar4 Media and NASCAR’s headquarters. The students also attended alumni wisdom sessions at the ���ϲ����� Charlotte national campus, where they interacted with eight ���ϲ����� graduates working in the region.

“This trip was a great chance to show our first-year Fellows everything that Charlotte has to offer, including our new facility and growing professional opportunities across both the communication and sport industries,” said Bockino, director of the Communications Fellows program. “And I’m particularly grateful to our alums who gave up their valuable time to share advice and wisdom about ���ϲ����� and beyond.”

Following an early-morning departure from campus, the students arrived in Charlotte and divided into three groups.

For students interested in the news industry, they visited WSOC-TV, touring the ABC affiliate’s newsroom and broadcast studio. The students met with reporters, producers and directors who shared insights about their careers and the industry.

The conversations covered various topics, including building sources, generating story ideas, and avoiding burnout. One piece of advice from Kim Holt, news manager at WSOC-TV, stood out to several students: “I say, ‘Yes,’ when I can, so I can say, ‘No,’ when I have to.”

Students aspiring to work in public relations, design or advertising visited Pillar4 Media, a digital content agency in Charlotte. Meanwhile, those with an interest in the sport industry toured NASCAR headquarters, which has hosted several ���ϲ����� students as interns in recent semesters.

Following the morning visits, the three student groups reconvened at the university’s South End campus for conversations with alumni. These sessions provided valuable insights on navigating college, launching careers, understanding industry trends, and achieving work-life balance. Participating alumni included:

• Ashley Fahey ’13, Managing Editor, American City Business Journals
• Gayatri Chopra ’23, Communications Specialist & Copywriter, Messer Financial Group
• Savannah Lowry ’22, Senior Account Executive, GCI Health
• Jared Bunder ’22, Associate Engineer, Game Creek Video
• Lauren Belk ’21, Media Relations & Partnership Services Representative, Legacy Motor Club
• Taylor Truitt ’23, Associate UX/UI Designer, Pillar4 Media
• Emily Thomas ’22, SEO Associate, Pillar4 Media
• Ian Kunsey ’19, Manager of Long Form Video Content, Charlotte FC

A key takeaway from these discussions was the importance of building connections, whether in person or through LinkedIn, and maintaining those relationships over time.

Ellie Levin ’28 took this advice to heart.

“A piece of advice that resonated with me is to not be afraid of networking, especially with alumni,” the first-year strategic communications major said shortly after the trip. “So much so, that I reached out to Lauren Belk and have a meeting with her tomorrow over the phone.”

The daylong trip to Charlotte concluded with a group bonding activity at Topgolf, where students and faculty showcased their golf skills and shared laughs.

following the trip, Communications Fellow Gabriela Maldonado ’28 thanked the alumni for sharing their insights and encouragement. “Their advice and encouragement were truly inspiring,” the journalism and business administration double major wrote.