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 Elon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 Elon, 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.

Through generous donations, the grant supports students participating in registered, unpaid internships in the Charlotte metro region. The grant is available through Elon鈥檚 National Campus Programs in coordination with the Student Professional Development Center (SPDC). Elon 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 Elon 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 Elon. 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.

鈥淭his semester, participating in the Elon in Charlotte program has been an invaluable opportunity to further explore my professional goals,” said Lauren Winslow ’27, who interned at NASCAR. “With the support of the Queen City Internship Grant, I was able to fully dedicate myself to my internships with NASCAR as an email and performance marketing intern and with the Atlantic Coast Conference as a football game day operations intern. Each experience offered unique insights into the sports industry, from crafting impactful marketing campaigns to understanding the complexities of college football operations. These opportunities have greatly contributed to my growth and reaffirmed my passion for pursuing a career in the dynamic sports industry after graduation.鈥�

Shaan Gandhi 鈥�27 interned at the Atlantic Coast Conference. Gandhi reflected on his experience and how it strengthened his skills.

鈥淢y time at the ACC has allowed me to refine many important everyday skills needed in the workplace, including聽time management, new software and adapting on the fly (as the sports field is ever changing),” said Gandhi. “But perhaps the most important skill that the ACC internship allowed me to focus on was how to be a professional. Whether that be something as simple as an email, an in-person conversation, or how to be a good listener in meetings, these are critically important to being a good team player.”

Gadhi was given an internship project that was well-received by his peers: 鈥淭he grant I received allowed me to experience and accomplish these things, as well as experience the city of Charlotte, and I am very much appreciative of that award,” he said.

James Dyer 鈥�25 interned at the Dream Big Basketball Academy (DRBA) and the Charlotte Checkers.

“I learned a lot about how both small and larger sports organizations operate. I have learned how to work in a professional sports atmosphere and what is expected of certain people,” he said. “This helps me further my career path by letting me see how a front office might work in a professional sports team. I am grateful for these funds because they allowed me to get to my internship sites, as well as have good experiences outside of work with my coworkers.鈥澛�

Katelyn Miller 鈥�27 took advantage of the great networking opportunities her internship offered at the Atlantic Coast Conference.

鈥淲orking at the Atlantic Coast Conference has taught me a lot about the student-athlete experience and how a ‘Power Five’ conference operates. I have been fortunate enough to have met with most of the people in the office to learn what they do, and this has been helpful in figuring out what I want to do,” she said. “The Queen City Internship grant has allowed me to support myself day-to-day with professional clothing, groceries, gas and other necessities.鈥�

National Campus Programs, Study USA and the SPDC are extremely grateful to everyone who made this support possible.

Students interested in learning more about the Elon in Charlotte聽programs can check out the聽Study USA website. Applications for the summer 2025 and fall 2025 Study USA programs are due Feb. 1, 2025. Enrollment is limited. Contact global@elon.edu for questions.

The first students to receive the grant recently finished their summer experiences in Charlotte. Students from a variety of majors (sport management, business analytics, communication design, entrepreneurship and journalism) were awarded funds.

Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) intern and sport management major, Christian Atwater 鈥�26, said that her internship at the ACC was “very聽insightful in just how much work goes into supporting student-athletes. I was able to contribute to the planning and execution of meaningful projects that enhance the student-athlete experience like the Unity Tour and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee meetings while also gaining valuable professional experience in a conference office. This internship has certainly piqued my interest in exploring sport administration as a possible career聽path. I am very thankful to Elon and the Queen City Grant for providing such impactful support that enriched my summer in Charlotte and overall college experience.”

鈥淪pending the summer with the Elon in Charlotte program has been a great experience,” said sport management major聽Sebastian Schroeter 鈥�25. “I have spent two months interning in the Athletic Communications department at Queens University of Charlotte, learning from industry professionals at various events hosted by Elon faculty, and exploring what living in the city is like as a young professional. This experience and grant have given me the freedom to understand what I want in workplace, home and city environments. I am thankful to have received the grant to enhance my experience and put me on a trajectory for success!”

Jack Halpern 鈥�25, double major in business analytics and entrepreneurship and innovation聽through an internship in Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont’s Business Intelligence & Data Analytics team.

“Working alongside this team allowed me to gain guidance and support in exploring new data sources and ways of analyzing data to present it in a professional and consumable manner,” said Halpern. “My time at GISP has also allowed me to fully immerse myself in the business side of the organization and see firsthand how my studies can align with my passion for nonprofit work.”

National Campus Programs, Study USA, and the SPDC are extremely grateful to everyone who made this support possible.

Students interested in learning more about the Elon in Charlotte聽programs can check out the Study USA website. Applications for the summer and fall programs in Charlotte open October 1. More information on the Queen City Internship Grant can be found . Sport management students can learn more about opportunities here.