Students Make Career Connections with Leading Employers During HPU in the City Program

High Point University students spent their fall break making career connections in New York City, Chicago, Dallas and Atlanta as part of the “HPU in the City” program. Students who toured the studios of ABC News and “Good Morning America” were pictured with GMA anchors Robin Roberts, Lara Spencer and Michael Strahan in the back row.

HIGH POINT, N.C., Oct. 22, 2026 – From Porsche and the NFL’s Chicago Bears to Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, four cohorts of High Point University students spent their fall break exploring careers and building professional connections in New York City, Chicago, Dallas and Atlanta.

More than 60 students met professionals and got a behind-the-scenes look at careers in banking, broadcast journalism, business, professional sports and other industries through the “HPU in the City” program. HPU in the City is a signature experiential learning program offered by the Office of Career and Professional Development, and a record 271 students applied to take part in it this fall.

Sixty-four students were selected through a competitive, two-round process that included a resume and cover letter submission followed by virtual interviews. The four cohorts traveled to the different cities Oct. 4-8, spending three days engaging with employers across a variety of industries.

Students connected with organizations including Chick-fil-A, Porsche, Skydance-Warner Bros. Discovery, Accenture, William Blair, Morgan Stanley, Ulta Beauty, McKesson, JPMorgan Chase, Gartner, Toyota, Scotiabank and Goldman Sachs. They got a private tour of Disney Studios, home to ABC News and “Good Morning America.” They also learned about careers in professional sports while making connections with the Bears, the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and Major League Baseball.

Beyond career exploration, HPU in the City gives students an opportunity to experience life in a major city that they may not know well and consider whether they could envision living and working there after graduation. Along the way, students strengthen their networking and professional skills while building relationships with employers and other members of the HPU community.

Networking receptions held in each city brought together students, staff, alumni, families, employer partners and prospective students, further expanding students’ professional and HPU connections.

“HPU in the City is about helping students connect the classroom to the professional world,” said Marvina Hamilton, assistant director of corporate relations and HPU in the City program manager. “We want them to explore new possibilities, learn directly from professionals and executives, experience what it might be like to live and work in a major professional market and understand the importance of relationships, preparation and curiosity in building a career.”

The experience continues after fall break through reflection and a final synthesis assignment that encourages students to turn their experiences and connections into meaningful next steps. After completing the program, students earn a Professional Networking and Workplace Etiquette microcredential, reinforcing the program’s goal of preparing students to confidently navigate the professional world and turn extraordinary access into future opportunities.

HPU in the City – New York City

A visit to MLB headquarters was the highlight of HPU in the City for senior Lauren Wylie.

“As a marketing major with a minor in social media and digital communications, I really enjoyed how marketing-focused the visit was and the opportunity to learn directly from marketing professionals,” said Wylie, who is from Seneca Falls, New York. “Hearing from our host, who works in global marketing, gave me a better understanding of how marketing operates within a major organization and how different strategies are used to reach audiences on a large scale.

“The visit helped me see how what I am learning in the classroom applies to real-world marketing careers. It also gave me a better understanding of the different opportunities available within the marketing industry and reinforced my interest in pursuing a career in marketing and social media. Learning directly from professionals and hearing about their experiences was especially valuable because it gave me a clearer picture of what I can work toward as I prepare to graduate and enter the workforce.”

Seeing the inspiring MLB workplace dynamic and the behind-the-scenes work at ABC News and “Good Morning America” were memorable for Jackson Jones, a junior psychology major with a minor in leadership studies. Spending time with Byron Pitts, co-anchor of ABC News’ “Nightline” and HPU’s Journalist in Residence, and seeing “Good Morning America” anchors Michael Strahan and Robin Roberts increased his appreciation for the people and preparation that bring these broadcasts to life.

Jones said the biggest highlight of the trip was the alumni networking mixer at a rooftop venue in New York City.

“Being surrounded by HPU alumni, parents, employers and fellow students showed me how far the High Point University community extends beyond campus,” said Jones, who is from Columbus, Ohio. “There was so much energy in the room, and it was exciting to connect with people who shared a connection to HPU while learning about their different experiences and career paths.”

The trip reinforced the importance of networking with intention, Jones said. Applying for an opportunity is only one step; researching an organization, asking thoughtful questions and connecting with people can help with understanding where you might contribute.

Jones also saw the value of the HPU alumni network and the importance of trying something new and starting a conversation. It also reinforced the importance of hard work to maximize opportunities.

“As I pursue a career in industrial-organizational psychology and plan for graduate school, I want to be more intentional about building relationships and learning how organizations support their people,” Jones said. “This experience encouraged me to seek informational conversations and approach opportunities with curiosity and preparation. HPU gave us more than a chance to visit New York City. It gave us access to people and experiences that helped me picture my future more clearly. I came back with a greater sense of possibility and a stronger commitment to taking purposeful steps toward my goals.”

HPU in the City – Chicago

Abbey Potter, a junior majoring in international business and French with a minor in legal studies, described HPU in the City as inspiring.

“I am so thankful for the opportunity to speak with and learn from a variety of industries while seeing how much goes into each product or service that we might see on the surface,” said Potter, who is from Lexington, Kentucky. “One of the highlights of the trip was connecting with those in the finance industry and learning about all the different career paths that are possible in that industry.”

As she prepares for future job interviews, the idea of “why not me?” is one piece of advice given to students during their visit with the Bears that resonated with Potter. She said it is invaluable to have self-confidence in any industry or career that you are working in, and she wanted to bring that lesson with her when she returned to her classes at HPU.

“Why not me?” was also a question that echoed for Kaleik Cook, a sophomore finance major with a minor in accounting, as he stood in the Willis Tower during the visit with Morgan Stanley.

“I know that I belong in those buildings/rooms, but to actually be there were next-level feelings for me,” said Cook, who is from Olyphant, Pennsylvania. “I learned to just continue being myself and always follow my passions. I also learned that there are always opportunities to get better and to never remain complacent, even if you feel like you’re ahead. The highlight of my visit was the opportunity to fully indulge myself in Chicago’s culture by visiting famous museums and monuments, enjoying the local food spots and being the light for anyone who needed it, especially by giving away a Chicago Bears hat to a homeless man and helping a worker at Portillo’s put up chairs before his shift was over.”

HPU in the City – Dallas

Theo Cullen-Ising, a junior sales major with a minor in marketing, described the HPU in the City trip to Dallas as an incredible opportunity and recommended other students take advantage of the experience if they have the chance.

“One of the biggest highlights of the trip for me was our visit to Gartner,” said Cullen-Ising, who is from Bethesda, Maryland. “As someone interested in pursuing a career in sales, I really enjoyed learning more about Gartner’s sales organization, company culture and the different opportunities available within the company. Having the opportunity to speak directly with professionals and HPU alumni at Gartner made the experience especially valuable. Hearing about their experiences and career paths gave me a better understanding of what a career in professional sales can look like after graduation.

“The trip as a whole also showed me how important it is to build genuine relationships and grow your network. Getting to meet professionals from different industries and at different stages of their careers gave us the opportunity to ask questions, learn from their experiences and make meaningful connections. It also helped me apply what I’m learning at HPU to a professional setting and gave me a better understanding of what I’m looking for as I pursue internships and eventually a career in sales.”

Samariah Whyte, a sophomore double majoring in finance and sales, said she gained valuable insight into what recruiters look for during the interview process and the importance of networking.

“Many people shared that their current opportunities came through personal connections, which reinforced how important it is to build and maintain professional relationships,” said Whyte, who is from Boiling Springs, North Carolina. “One of the highlights of my visit was connecting with current analysts at my dream company, JPMorgan Chase, and having the opportunity to learn from their experiences and advice. I also enjoyed the networking reception, where I connected with alumni across different companies and industries.

“Overall, this experience has helped me feel more confident as I continue working toward my career goals. I am grateful to have received firsthand advice from professionals in the industry and look forward to applying what I learned to my academic and professional journey.”

HPU in the City – Atlanta

Cannon Wells, a junior double majoring in finance, business analytics and economics, said the highlight of his trip to Atlanta was getting an inside look at Porsche Cars North America, which was an incredible place.

“The campus is extremely high tech, it is full of some of the coolest cars in the world, and movies like The Avengers were filmed there, which had the kid in me very excited,” said Wells, who is from Cincinnati, Ohio. “Beyond that, I had the opportunity to lead a group in a case study presentation on whether Porsche should be classified as a premium or luxury brand, and I felt that I grew a lot through that process. Digging into how Porsche positions itself taught me how much a brand’s identity shapes its business strategy and its culture. Presenting to Porsche executives in a high-stakes setting really helped build my confidence and made me feel more career ready. I will lean on this experience as a steppingstone throughout my career, and it is one I will never forget.”

Maria Ramirez Buitrago, a sophomore computer science major with minors in data analytics and global commerce, said one of her biggest highlights was visiting Accenture, a multinational management and technology consulting company.

“As a computer science student, it was really exciting to hear how they’re using artificial intelligence and how technology connects to the different companies they work with,” said Ramirez Buitrago, who is originally from Colombia and now lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. “I also loved hearing from people in different roles about their day-to-day work, their career paths and opportunities for students, especially sophomores like me.

“Something I took away from the whole trip was that there are so many directions I can go with my degree. Getting to meet people, ask questions and actually see these workplaces made those possibilities feel much more real. It also helped me think about what I’d want in a future workplace, especially a culture where I can keep learning and feel comfortable asking questions. I came back more excited about my major and more confident about putting myself out there for internships and other opportunities.”