Seven students began the Elon in Charlotte summer program this May, a professional launching pad and way for students to explore a new city before moving after graduation.
Seven Elon University students began the Elon in Charlotte summer program on May 28. Students in the program take one class together (Urban Design in Charlotte), intern at unique local organizations, network with alumni through lunch and learns and special events and spend their weekends exploring the Charlotte area and community on university-planned excursions. Programs like Elon in Charlotte serve as professional launching pads and a great way for students to get to know a new city they may be interested in moving to after graduation. Charlotte is the newest city in the Study USA and National Campus portfolio.
“Coming into Elon, I would have never thought that I would be interning for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), that being the league that I have been so passionate about for as long as I can remember,” said Jack Prahinski ’25, a journalism major and one of two students interning with the ACC.
Prahinski is highly involved with different communications organizations at Elon throughout the school year.
“The only reason I am here in Charlotte is because of what I have learned through my time with Elon Athletics communications and Elon student media outlets like Rising Phoenix and Elon News Network, as well as the many influential peers and mentors that those organizations are made up of,” Prahinski said.
Rising junior and sport management major Christian Atwater ’26 commented on the experiential education she is receiving in her internship. “During the first week, my experience at the ACC has been very immersive into the company culture and work they do. Since my experience is shorter because I’m doing the internship during the summer, they have allowed me to jump right into helping out with bigger projects and interact with various departments throughout the company. I’ve gained a lot of knowledge and insight in these first few days, so I am excited to see what the rest of the summer holds.”
Three students are interning at Queens University of Charlotte with Athletic Communications.
“It has been a pleasure meeting the women’s basketball coaching staff,” said Manny Peralta ’25, a sport management major. “Another highlight has been the opportunity to create profiles on teams in the ASUN conference. I look forward to the new experiences I will gain from this opportunity.”
In addition to professional development events this summer where students will meet with alumni to learn about networking, professionalism and professional communication, students will also be visiting the U.S. National Whitewater Center, attending a Charlotte FC game and attending events with other local interns as part of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance’s Intern CLT Internship Program.
The summer program continues through July 27. The Fall Elon in Charlotte program begins Aug. 23. Students interested in learning about future opportunities in Charlotte, contact Associate Director of Elon Charlotte Karen Neff at kneff2@elon.edu.