Students in the third fall cohort of the Study USA Charlotte program had a dynamic and eye-opening semester in the Queen City
During the fall semester of the Study USA Charlotte program, students spent most of their time gaining hands-on experience in the sports industry by interning throughout the Charlotte metro area. Students were treated like professional colleagues in an array of reputable organizations including the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Carolina Ascent, NASCAR, Charlotte Checkers and The American Cornhole League.
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 Elon’s main campus in Elon, 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.
“Through 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.”
Students made connections through their internships, but also through programming organized by Associate Director of Elon Charlotte Karen Neff. One of the student’s 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.
“There is a lot of opportunity here, but you have to put 100% of your effort into it,” said Jack Gill, class of ‘27. “I’ve 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.”
This program also offered students many chances to network with successful Elon alumni. Neff hosted three “Food for Thought: Alumni Insights” networking events. Each event took place over lunch, creating a more casual environment for students to converse with high-ranking alumni. Neff and Elon 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 “Take a Professional to Coffee” program, where Elon 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 Elon 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.