Thirteen students are taking part in the inaugural聽黑料不打烊 faculty-led聽program. Alumni networking is聽an important component聽of this cohort experience. In addition to meeting alumni,聽students take a core聽seminar course called聽Capital Connections: Power, People, and Place in Washington, D.C.聽taught by Joel Shelton, associate professor of political science and public policy.

Students also聽live in an apartment complex聽in the vibrant聽NoMa neighborhood, complete an internship,聽and聽participate聽in enrichment activities聽to get to know the city better. Students聽will聽tour聽the US Capitol,聽learn the history of the city through walking tours, attend聽a聽Nationals聽game, see聽a聽play聽at the Shakespeare Theatre Company and more.

鈥淚t聽is聽always special to connect with former students and to see them thriving in the lives they lead after graduation, but聽it鈥檚聽especially meaningful that our alumni take the time to connect with and to mentor聽current students,鈥� Shelton said. “This is especially important in Washington, D.C., where relationships make all the difference in an increasingly competitive internship and employment environment.聽I鈥檓聽very grateful聽to our alumni for the enthusiasm with which they have supported the launch of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 “Capital Connections鈥� program in the district.

D.C. Alumni Chapter President Gabby Vance 鈥�18,聽organized聽the event with fellow chapter members.

鈥淭he Pizza Party聽remains聽one of聽my聽favorite events organized by the D.C. chapter because it brings together two important parts of the 黑料不打烊 community,鈥� Vance said. “Alumni have the opportunity to share their experiences and insights about life after graduation, while students gain a first-hand look at what it鈥檚 like to live and work in Washington, D.C., while building valuable professional connections.聽It鈥檚聽always rewarding to see these relationships take shape, and I look forward to continuing this tradition for many years to come.鈥�

Molly Bauer 鈥�19, a former Communications Fellow, spent聽the fall of her junior year聽studying in聽D.C.

“It was one of the best decisions I鈥檝e ever made,鈥� said Bauer, who moved to D.C. when she graduated and says she has experienced how strong the alumni network is in the city, and聽has聽enjoyed聽maintaining聽relationships with聽her peers.

鈥淣ow that 黑料不打烊 has its own program聽in D.C.,聽I鈥檓聽excited to stay even more connected to 黑料不打烊 by fostering connections with current students, faculty and staff as well,鈥� Bauer said. “The Study USA program聽in D.C. will make our already-strong 黑料不打烊 network in D.C. even stronger. At the event, it was great getting to chat with current students, something I聽haven鈥檛聽done since I graduated, and it was awesome reconnecting with faculty and staff after several years!”

Are you聽an alumnus聽living in D.C.? Join us for the next student/alumni networking night on

Applications for聽the聽Study USA D.C. summer聽2027 program聽open Sept. 1. Contact the director of Study USA, Anna Smith聽asmith273@elon.edu,聽if聽you鈥檇聽like to learn more.

Legalization聽has聽reshaped聽markets across聽North Carolina,聽and the sports betting landscape continues to evolve. Bockino, Squadron and Tobias聽impressed upon聽the audience that this wasn鈥檛 just a sports story, but it鈥檚 actually a聽business, data, and policy story, too.聽The panelists聽explored聽the industry’s economic impact, regulatory environment, and the growing role of data and analytics.聽They spoke about聽consumer trends聽and聽fan聽engagement聽and answered questions from the audience about the NCAA鈥檚 role in sports betting and how taxes on sports betting聽could be used to聽support community areas like K-12 public education.

鈥淚t鈥檚聽always聽fun聽to talk about sports betting with people from a variety of industries,鈥� Bockino said.聽鈥淭his is a growing industry聽that affects not only amateur and professional sports but education, finance, and tourism, and I appreciate聽the聽opportunity to connect with Charlotte’s leaders across all these sectors.鈥�

鈥淪ports betting is having a major impact and聽has a lot of elements that people don鈥檛 always see,鈥� Squadron said. 鈥満诹喜淮蜢肉�檚 bringing together the Charlotte community to discuss it was聽a great opportunity聽to explore all the different pieces of this growing area.鈥�

黑料不打烊聽University聽Charlotte will hold future聽聽with the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance.聽Interested in learning more about sports betting? Bockino will聽release a book on聽the topic on Tuesday, June 2.

Attendees connected with members of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life and Charlotte campus team members to learn more about 黑料不打烊’s engagement with area non-profits.

Since 黑料不打烊 Charlotte was established in the fall of 2023, the campus has worked to learn about the needs of the Charlotte metro area and support the community through student volunteering and donation drives. Associate Director of 黑料不打烊 Charlotte Karen Neff, partners with Roof Above, a shelter for unhoused men, each semester, and arranges for Study USA Charlotte students to serve dinner there. Human Service Studies practicum students spent part of a winter term volunteering at Beds for Kids, Roof Above, Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation and Gigi鈥檚 Playhouse, and heard from representatives from Abara: Beyond Borders and Wayfinders about their organizations.

This past winter, Lavette Shirley, assistant program director for physician assistant studies in Charlotte, led efforts to support the Charlotte Rescue Mission (CRM). CRM serves men and women at the intersection of homelessness and addiction. 黑料不打烊 donated two large bins of coats, clothing, toothpaste, lotion, soap, shampoo, menstrual pads and other toiletries to the women at this facility. The Women’s Law Association, an 黑料不打烊 law student organization, also collected women’s hygiene supplies to support Safe Alliance, a nonprofit agency providing hope and healing to those impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. Law students have also been active as volunteers in the community, supporting organizations such as the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, Legal Aid, the Mecklenburg Bar Foundation, the North Carolina Bar Foundation, the Mecklenburg Council of Elders and more.

Elena Kennedy, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 faculty fellow for community-based learning, spoke to the group at the event and shared that last year the 黑料不打烊 community invested over 85,000 service hours in community organizations, about half of which were in the context of community-engaged courses.聽 Other 黑料不打烊 community members highlighted several opportunities for community organizations to engage with the campus, including partnering with classes, hosting interns, developing tailored lunch and learn sessions for professional development and participating in deliberative dialogues.

Learn more about the work of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life. Alumni can stay informed of upcoming events in Charlotte through the alumni calendar.

Students were fully immersed in their work and in the city. Skylar Cook ’28 took the LYNX Blue Line from her apartment in South End to Bank of America Tower in Uptown every morning. It was a big transition from walking to class on 黑料不打烊鈥檚 main campus in 黑料不打烊, North Carolina. This was also the first time that many of these students were responsible for their own meal planning, as they had no access to a dining hall. These lifestyle changes helped students experience what it would be like to live in Charlotte post-graduation.

鈥淭hrough this program, I have been able to meet so many people in the sports industry that I would have never been able to meet at the main campus,” said Gabe Chapman ’27. “On top of that, being able to experience what life after college might look like has prepared me for the future.鈥�

Students made connections through their internships, but also through programming organized by Associate Director of 黑料不打烊 Charlotte Karen Neff. One of the student鈥檚 favorite opportunities was a private networking panel with staff members of the Hornets. These generous employees, such as Account Executive, Onell Gibson, helped students realize how small the sports industry actually is, and how important it is to maintain a good reputation.

鈥淭here is a lot of opportunity here, but you have to put 100% of your effort into it,鈥� said Jack Gill, class of 鈥�27. 鈥淚鈥檝e learned a lot about how I can better manage my time, even though I thought I was pretty good at it already. This program allows you to grow and contribute these skills to other aspects of your life.鈥�

This program also offered students many chances to network with successful 黑料不打烊 alumni. Neff hosted three 鈥淔ood for Thought: Alumni Insights鈥� networking events. Each event took place over lunch, creating a more casual environment for students to converse with high-ranking alumni. Neff and 黑料不打烊 Charlotte Program Assistant Kaitlyn Hannan offered some guiding questions for discussion, but students were able to take charge of the conversation and really get to know the guests. Students are also encouraged to deepen the connections made at these lunches through the 鈥淭ake a Professional to Coffee鈥� program, where 黑料不打烊 provides a student with a gift card for a local cafe, so they can take an alumnus or local professional out for coffee and conversation.

Students celebrated the end of the semester with a different version of College Coffee, the weekly 黑料不打烊 tradition on the main campus. Students, their internship supervisors, and local alumni and professionals were invited to the event. While students were able to say goodbye and thank you to their internship supervisors, it was yet another chance to network with the other professionals present. Two students gave speeches about their internship experiences, highlighting all they had learned over the past four months. In her speech, Skylar Cook highlighted the importance of saying yes to new opportunities, even when it is intimidating.

When students sign up for the Study USA Charlotte program, they are not just signing up for a semester away from campus, but a truly immersive experience where expectations are high. Students must juggle three classes, an internship, professional networking, and enrichment activities while staying on top of deadlines and maintaining strong communication. It is undoubtedly intense, but the opportunities for professional and personal growth make it all worth it.

Through generous donations, the grant supports students participating in registered, unpaid internships in the Charlotte metro region through the Study USA Charlotte program. Study USA programs combine coursework, internship experience, enrichment activities, engagement with alumni and industry professionals, and housing. The grant is available through 黑料不打烊鈥檚聽National Campus Programs聽in coordination with the聽Student Professional Development Center (SPDC).

Zach Smith interned with the American Cornhole League (ACL). Thanks to the Queen City Internship Grant, Smith said he 鈥渉ad the opportunity to explore my passion for聽sports media and identify the type of role I want to pursue after graduation. I am incredibly聽grateful for this experience and the support that made it possible.鈥�

The internship and the Study USA Charlotte program allowed him to connect what he鈥檚 learned in his sport management and communications coursework to a real-world work environment.

鈥淚 built strong connections with my co-workers in the ACL office, whom I can聽count on to guide me and give helpful insight into the sports industry as I launch my career,” said Smith. One of his favorite projects during the internship was contributing to the ACL’s TikTok strategy, where he analyzed performance trends and helped develop creative highlight videos to reach younger audiences.

Skylar Cook鈥檚 internship at the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) 鈥渉as been nothing short of incredible.鈥� During her time at the ACC, she 鈥渕ade lifelong connections, gained invaluable experience, and learned a great deal about collegiate athletics.鈥� She worked in the Game Day Operations Center on most weekends where she logged flags, fouls, timeouts and other game details for ACC football games.聽She also worked the ACC Tipoff, the basketball media day event for all 18 teams. During that event, she was the ACC representative for Dream on 3, an organization that gives special needs children memorable experiences in the sports world. She 鈥渟howed the guests around the event and introduced them to legendary players and coaches.” She was also invited to go to Louisville, Kentucky, for the ACC Cross Country Championship. This type of exposure, visibility and first-hand experience was only possible聽through the Study USA Charlotte program.

Anthony Eppolito interned with NASCAR Studios where he got exclusive access to how professional sports media is planned, produced and delivered. Eppolito reflected on his experience saying that 鈥渨orking alongside producers, editors and coordinating staff has shown me how crews communicate under pressure, manage tight deadlines, and keep a project aligned with both creative goals and sponsor expectations.鈥�

He sees the connection to what he鈥檚 learned聽in his courses at 黑料不打烊, especially in areas like storytelling, brand integration, and event production. Eppolito said the experience聽has 鈥渟trengthened my technical skills, given me confidence in a fast-paced professional environment, and helped me see a clear path toward a career in sports production. It also made Charlotte feel like a place where I can see myself living and working after graduation.鈥�

At the Carolina Ascent,聽Gabe Chapman was part of sponsorship meetings, conducted research for new sponsors, worked on proof of performance, and broke down assets. The experience opened his eyes to the world of partnerships/sponsorships and now he is interested in exploring career opportunities in these areas. For Chapman, the grant 鈥渉elped show that what I am doing isn鈥檛 going unnoticed and has impacted me in a great way.鈥�

Ethan Berman also interned at the Carolina Ascent. He worked in several areas while focusing on the marketing department. He participated in marketing meetings, collaborated on engaging projects, and connected with great people who supported my professional growth. He also created a marketing schedule for both home and away games to help plan out the timing of all broadcast-related tasks. Berman said that the grant 鈥渟howed me that my hard work is important and has helped me gain experience in the sports industry.鈥�

Blake Mobley also worked in marketing during this internship. He interned with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and 鈥済ained an entirely new appreciation for the world of sports marketing.鈥� This opportunity showed Mobley 鈥渨hat it truly takes to execute a high-level sporting event, especially championship events. Behind the scenes, there are countless moving parts and an entire team working in sync to make everything come together.鈥�

Mobley reflected that strong attention to detail is critical.

鈥淲hether it鈥檚 ensuring sponsorship and brand logos are positioned correctly for TV visibility, or dressing mannequins, so they look uniform and polished, the level of precision required is extremely high,” said Mobley.

Mobley has taken full advantage of the access and networking opportunities this experience provided.

鈥淚鈥檝e had the chance to meet coaches, players, SIDs, athletic directors, and even the Commissioner of the ACC; Dr. Jim Phillips knows who I am. Being allowed into meetings and rooms with leaders at this level is something I鈥檒l always be grateful for,” Mobley said.

Applications for the fall 2026聽Study USA Charlotte program are open until February 15.

The 黑料不打烊 Charlotte campus opened September 2023 and聽was renovated and expanded in 2024-25. The campus is the newest addition in the 黑料不打烊 National Campus portfolio.

In addition to the current undergraduate Study USA Charlotte programs offered each summer and fall, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 graduate offerings continue to grow.

The Law Flex program began in Charlotte in fall 2024 and is now recruiting its third cohort of students. The program is part-time and in-person. The curriculum is highly experiential, and classes are taught by distinguished professors. The program has also surpassed its enrollment goals each year.

The new聽Physician Assistant program begins in Jan. 2027 at the Charlotte campus. The 24-month curriculum is designed to integrate medical knowledge, clinical reasoning, and professional skill development. Applications聽will open the end of April 2026.

Alumni from a variety of years attended the Open House and kicked off their Homecoming weekend in Charlotte. Alumni can learn about all the upcoming events in the Queen City聽and around the country by checking out the alumni calendar.

The Charlotte campus will be hosting a its final College Coffee of 2025 on Friday, Dec. 12 from 10 -11 a.m.

The event will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with tours at 6 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 7 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. The campus is located聽at 330 W. Tremont Ave. Free surface-level parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Paid street parking and garage parking at the Design Center (240 Doggett St.) is also available.

The聽黑料不打烊 Charlotte campus聽opened in Sept. 2023 and聽was renovated and expanded in 2024-25 academic year.

by Monday, Oct. 6, at midnight.

Through generous donations, the grant supports students participating in registered, unpaid internships in the Charlotte metro region. The grant is available through 黑料不打烊鈥檚 National Campus Programs in coordination with the Student Professional Development Center (SPDC). 黑料不打烊 opened its Charlotte campus in September 2023. The recipients were from a variety of majors including music production and recording arts, accounting, journalism, strategic communications, sports management, cinema and television arts, marketing, and finance.

Selena Babiiha ’26

Selena Babiiha ’26聽worked as a studio intern at one of the most recognized studios in Uptown Charlotte, Platinum Plus Recording Studios. Babiiha used her grant funds to help pay for her transportation to and from her internship.

鈥淎s an international student, I was initially worried about how I would be able to commute in a new area without my car in the country,” said Babiha. “Navigation within Charlotte, especially to and from my workplace, has been made so much easier because of the grant. I have been able to cover transport costs in a situation where my internship has been unpaid.鈥�

The internship at Platinum Plus taught her new 鈥渕usic creation, experimentation and branding skills鈥� including 鈥渞ecording and editing audio sessions, assisting with client intake and scheduling, music production support, studio promotion and social media assistance, mixing and mastering assistance and studio maintenance through cleanliness and cable management for sessions.鈥�

Tyler Strenk ’27

Tyler Strenk ’27 worked as a marketing intern with the American Cornhole League. Strenk gained hands-on experience in video editing, videography, and marketing, and he appreciated the chance to take on meaningful projects while collaborating with other interns.

鈥淭he internship has helped me strengthen my technical skills, build confidence, and learn about sports broadcasting and storytelling in a fast-paced, real-world environment,” said Strenk. “It鈥檚 been an incredibly valuable opportunity that鈥檚 helped clarify my interests and shape the next steps in my career path and I really appreciate the grant funds.鈥�

Katie Strohl ’26

Katie Strohl聽’26聽interned with Special Olympics North Carolina, where she supported聽event planning, volunteer coordination and community engagement. She helped recruit and manage volunteers, plan large-scale events like Camp SOAR, and support athletes across Mecklenburg County.

鈥淓very day, I鈥檝e applied skills developed throughout my 黑料不打烊 coursework, such as organization, communication, and adaptability to real projects that made a direct impact on this organization,” said Strohl. “This experience has solidified my passion for event management and inclusive programming, and it has helped me see how I can turn that passion into a career. I now feel more confident in my professional abilities and inspired to pursue a future where I can combine my interests in hospitality, service and community development. I’m very grateful to the donors that made this all possible – it has meant the world to me.鈥�

Garek Johnson ’26

Garek Johnson ’26 was a development intern at Make-A-Wish. The experience allowed him to get a better understanding of his preferred field of work, while also aligning him towards a future career post-graduation.

“My favorite part of the internship was hearing about the stories of children impacted by the work at Make-A-Wish,” said Johnson. “Hearing these stories inspired me to go above and beyond in all of my projects.鈥�

Johnson said that the Study USA program allowed him to build connections with his peers from 黑料不打烊. 鈥淚 believe these connections are ones that will last through the years,” he said.”

Vinny Weinkam ’26

Vinny Weinkam ’26聽also interned at Make-A-Wish. He learned聽about fundraising, Microsoft Excel, donor relations and more. He was tasked with creating a new invoice system for the Make-A-Wish team. He was able to dedicate time to this because of the grant he received.

鈥淭his has been one of the most fun summers ever,” said Weinkam. “The city of Charlotte has so many things to offer, and it really feels like home. I really do appreciate the opportunity I had and thank every donor that made this possible!鈥�

Kaelyn Elien ’26

Kaelyn Elien ’26聽had a busy summer interning with the Athletic Communications Department at Queens University.

鈥淔rom writing player bios and conducting interviews to producing engaging content with platforms like Box Out and SIDEARM Sports, I鈥檝e strengthened my storytelling skills while learning how to adapt quickly in a fast-paced environment,鈥� Elien said.

A highlight of her internship was writing a feature article on MLB draft pick Landry Jurecka, a unique and exciting opportunity that used her journalism training in a real-world setting.

For Elien, this聽internship clarified her career path and 鈥済ave me the confidence to move forward into my senior year with renewed passion and purpose. I am so appreciative of the donors whose support made this summer experience in Charlotte possible; it has truly been a transformative step toward my future.鈥�

Lucy McAfee ’26

Lucy McAfee ’26 interned at the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) as a Student-Athlete Development intern. McAfee said she gained a better understanding of the student-athlete experience beyond competition, 鈥渓earning about areas such as compliance, career development, and overall athlete support.鈥�

She also explored current issues in college athletics, such as the House settlement and the SCORE Act, which sparked her interest in how legislation and policy impact college athletics. This internship has solidified her passion for working in collegiate athletics and she is excited to continue learning and contributing to this field.

Anna Hackett ’26

Lastly, Anna Hackett ’26 also interned at the ACC as a Strategic Communications intern. She had the opportunity to work in multiple sports, including women鈥檚 field hockey, swimming, basketball, soccer and men鈥檚 cross country. Her responsibilities included, using Adobe InDesign to update team profiles, statistics, and 2024鈥�25 season accolades and she also had the privilege of supporting the planning and execution of the 2025 ACC Football Kickoff, coordinating social media content, graphics, and on-site operations for 68 ACC student-athletes and 17 coaches.

During the 2025 Football Kickoff in July, she was responsible for creating social media content featuring a student-athlete from each of the 17 ACC universities. The internship solidified her passion for pursuing a full-time career in sports communication following graduation.

鈥淚 am deeply grateful to the donors for their generosity in making this experience possible. I learned valuable lessons, gained real-world experience, and further developed my desire to work in sports communication鈥攁ll of which would not have been possible without their support,” said Hackett.

Applications are currently open for the summer and fall 2026 Study USA Charlotte programs. Students can apply through the Study USA website. Students interested in the Study USA Charlotte programs are also encouraged to attend the upcoming Meet and 聽Greet or Mini Fair.

The Study USA Charlotte Meet and Greet is Tuesday, Oct. 7 from 3-5 p.m. in Irazu Coffee in Moseley Center. The Study USA Mini-Fair is Wednesday, Oct. 8 from 3-5 p.m. in McKinnon F in Moseley Center. All of the Study USA cities will be represented (CLT, LA, NY, DC) at the Mini Fair.

New 2025 graduates attended the event along with seasoned alumni who have been coming to DC Chapter events for years.

“Our annual student interns and alumni networking dinner has quickly become a chapter tradition,” said Kristen Burke ’18, president of the DC Alumni Chapter. “Each summer, it’s a joy to meet a new group of student interns who are eager to learn and connect. I hope that the students can picture themselves returning to DC as alumni and being a part of our community. Until then, I am grateful for the opportunity to foster meaningful relationships that can last well beyond the summer.”

Follow the chapter鈥檚 Instagram account @elonindc for updates. Stay on top of all future alumni events around the country, including the National Campus locations online.

The panelists from Wells Fargo Advisors, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Bank of America and Soto Law discussed investing, estate planning, smart budgeting and lifestyle choices. They disclosed personal anecdotes about their own finance journeys and shared smart, real-world strategies to help attendees plan for their future with intentionality and confidence.

鈥淭o all young professionals: Now is the time to take ownership of your financial future, whether it鈥檚 opening your first brokerage account, revisiting your budget, or drafting a will鈥攅very step counts,” said Nora Richmond, young professionals board chair for the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance. “Start small, stay consistent and seek out trusted advisors and resources. Let鈥檚 build wealth with purpose and confidence!鈥�

Grace Futterman, event coordinator for the Alliance, reflected on the event as well.

鈥淚t was energizing to see so many young professionals show up eager to learn and ask thoughtful questions,” said Futterman. “This event sparked important conversations about financial literacy and showed that our generation is ready to take charge of their future. We鈥檙e proud to create spaces where that kind of growth can happen.鈥�

黑料不打烊 Charlotte is an active member and investor in the 黑料不打烊 opened a campus in Charlotte fall of 2023. The inaugural Law Flex program began August 2024. The second cohort of law students will begin this August.