From ESPN to the MLS All-Star Game, Oliver Pili '30 shares how his experiences at Queens began long before he became a Royal.
Oliver Pili’s ’30 connection to Queens University started well before he officially enrolled.
While a high school student at Bradford Prep in Charlotte, Pili visited Queens with his teammates to watch a men’s volleyball match. With a camera in hand, Pili made a quick dash onto the court to snap some photos – and to the delight of family and friends, one of those moments landed him in a clip featured on ESPN.
Pili’s passion for visual media began almost by accident while on the yearbook committee in high school. He was handed a camera and tasked with taking photos. What started as a simple assignment quickly turned into an outlet for his creativity. By junior year, he was serving as the editor of Bradford Prep’s yearbook, photographing sporting events and building deep connections across his school community.
“Photography has taught me to stop for a second and take everything in, to take mental screenshots,” Pili said. “I like being behind the camera, seeing and helping everyone grow in their own way, and capturing timeless moments.”
At Queens, Pili plans on majoring in sport communication or multimedia storytelling and is interested in supporting Royals athletics. After enrolling in classes in Queens’ Knight School of Communication, Pili had access to its student portal, a resource maintained by faculty to connect students with experiential opportunities off campus. This led him to an opportunity for hands-on media operations experience at the MLS All-Star Game at Bank of America Stadium in July.
“I am always sifting through local opportunities for our students and trying to make that information as accessible as possible,” said Christopher Garcia, assistant professor of sports media. “Students are overloaded with information, so the key is having direct channels, like our internship portal, and encouraging them to engage with faculty and staff for guidance so they can make the most out of these opportunities.”
The MLS All-Star Game was a natural fit for Pili. Born in England before moving to Charlotte at age 2, Pili knows the area inside and out, from local spots like Camp North End to music venues like The Fillmore.
He is eager to step into the role of local tour guide for his new roommate, who is coming to Queens from Virginia. “There’s just so much culture in the city, and I love it,” Pili said. “There’s always something to do.”
Beyond his creative work, Pili is drawn to Queens’ tight-knit community and small class sizes, echoing his high school experience where teachers formed meaningful connections with their students.
Pili also embraces the university’s spirit of service. His dedication to helping others began in high school, where he spent time packing meals for local Charlotte outreach and assembling food relief shipments for international aid.
“We take for granted so much that we don’t realize,” Pili reflected. “It’s really important to dedicate your time to helping others.”
Pili believes deeply in giving back and looks forward to participating in more service opportunities on campus and in the community.
At Queens, Pili has clear intentions: “I hope to build long-lasting relationships, gain internship experience, and take advantage of every opportunity Queens gives me to the max.”