Queen City Internship Grant recipients reflect on their fall experience in Charlotte | Today at Elon
Six fall Study USA Charlotte students were awarded funds for the Elon University Queen City Internship Grant.
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The third Study USA Charlotte fall program is coming to a close this week. Eighteen students took part in the fall cohort and six of them received Queen City Internship Grants.
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’s National Campus Programs in coordination with the Student Professional Development Center (SPDC).
Zach Smith interned with the American Cornhole League (ACL). Thanks to the Queen City Internship Grant, Smith said he “had the opportunity to explore my passion for sports media and identify the type of role I want to pursue after graduation. I am incredibly grateful for this experience and the support that made it possible.”
The internship and the Study USA Charlotte program allowed him to connect what he’s learned in his sport management and communications coursework to a real-world work environment.
“I built strong connections with my co-workers in the ACL office, whom I can 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’s internship at the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) “has been nothing short of incredible.” During her time at the ACC, she “made lifelong connections, gained invaluable experience, and learned a great deal about collegiate athletics.” 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. 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 “showed 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 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 “working 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.”
He sees the connection to what he’s learned in his courses at Elon, especially in areas like storytelling, brand integration, and event production. Eppolito said the experience has “strengthened 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.”
At the Carolina Ascent, 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 “helped show that what I am doing isn’t going unnoticed and has impacted me in a great way.”
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 “showed me that my hard work is important and has helped me gain experience in the sports industry.”
Blake Mobley also worked in marketing during this internship. He interned with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and “gained an entirely new appreciation for the world of sports marketing.” This opportunity showed Mobley “what 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.”
Mobley reflected that strong attention to detail is critical.
“Whether it’s 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.
“I’ve 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’ll always be grateful for,” Mobley said.
Applications for the fall 2026 Study USA Charlotte program are open until February 15.
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