Students Build Career Connections During ‘HPU in the City’ Program

High Point University students traveled to New York City, Dallas, Atlanta and Boston during their fall break to meet professionals and get a behind-the-scenes look at careers in business, banking, professional sports, broadcast journalism and other industries. Pictured are students who toured Goldman Sachs while in New York City.

HIGH POINT, N.C., Oct. 24, 2025 – High Point University students traveled to New York City, Dallas, Atlanta and Boston during their fall break earlier this month to meet professionals and get a behind-the-scenes look at careers in business, banking, professional sports, broadcast journalism and other industries.

Nearly 60 students and 25 companies took part in the “HPU in the City” program, which was started in 2015 and is co-sponsored by HPU’s offices of Career and Professional Development, Admissions and Institutional Advancement. Students had the opportunity to network in each city with corporate representatives and alumni, as well as meet with alumni and prospective families during receptions hosted by the university.

HPU in the City – New York City

A highlight of the visit included Byron Pitts, co-anchor of ABC News’ “Nightline” and HPU’s Journalist in Residence, leading a behind-the-scenes tour of Disney Studios, home to ABC News and “Good Morning America.” Students also networked with executives of Bloomberg Media, BNY Mellon, Citi Group, Goldman Sachs, KPMG and Webster Bank.

Jake Guttman, a junior majoring in advertising, public relations and strategic communications and psychology, said visiting top companies in New York City changed his perspective about careers in finance and consulting being numbers-driven paths far removed from the work he plans to pursue in media and communications. He discovered every organization thrives on communication, teamwork and storytelling.

“One of my biggest takeaways is the value of building and maintaining relationships,” said Guttman, who is from West Islip, New York. “Networking isn’t just about exchanging business cards. It’s about forming genuine connections, just like many of the professionals we met described.”

The experience fundamentally shifted the perspective of Caroline Clifton, a junior fashion merchandising major, about what defines a successful and fulfilling career, moving her focus away from job function and toward personal value. Advice from BNY Mellon executives to “build your own brand” resonated with her.

“One of the most impactful realizations was the power of self-authorship – the understanding that a career is not a static role but a dynamic, self-directed journey,” said Clifton, who is from Lewisville, North Carolina.

HPU in the City – Dallas

Students visited with executives from the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, Austin Industries, JPMorgan Chase, Gartner, FleishmanHillard and Toyota North America.

“Throughout the trip, I noticed the differences in how companies approached their daily operations,” said Charlie Shackelford, a senior sales major from Memphis, Tennessee. “Some moved at a fast pace with constant meetings and brainstorming sessions, while others focused more on paperwork or data analysis. Observing these rhythms helped me imagine what kind of work environment I might thrive in personally.”

Keegan Broderick, a junior marketing major, said the experience shifted how he views entire industries.

“As someone looking for sales or marketing internships, I would never have thought to apply to a company whose main business is something like construction for sales or marketing roles,” said Broderick, who is from Fishers, Indiana.

Figuring out the different ways that she can fit into any industry was one of the biggest takeaways for Elizabeth “Liz” Phillips, a senior advertising, public relations and strategic communications major.

“When we were at the Dallas Mavericks, one of the panelists mentioned that he found happiness in his career when he took his talent, which in his case was accounting, and combined it with his passion, which is basketball,” said Phillips, who is from Bluffton, South Carolina.

HPU in the City – Atlanta

Students visited with executives of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Chick-fil-A, Georgia Pacific, Northwestern Mutual, FleishmanHillard and Visa.

“This experience gave me valuable exposure to different industries and company cultures while helping me better understand what I want in a future career,” said Ariel Trzebiatowski, a junior marketing major from Harrisburg, North Carolina. “HPU in the City not only strengthened my passion for marketing and data analytics but also motivated me to keep building my skills and connections as I prepare for my future career.”

Erikah Freeman, a sophomore pre-nursing major, also found the trip motivational for her career.

“This trip showed me that no matter where I end up, I want to be part of something that puts people first, just like all these companies do in their own way,” said Freeman, who is from Concord, North Carolina. “It motivated me to stay focused on my goal of becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist but also stay curious and open-minded about the many paths that could help me grow along the way.”

HPU in the City – Boston

Students networked with executives of Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, Bain Capital, FleishmanHillard, CDM Smith, Community Care Cooperative, Boston Scientific and State Street.

“This trip influenced how I think about my own professional goals and how I define success,” said Olivia Wall, a junior business administration major from Boston. “Before the experience, I mainly viewed business through a financial and analytical lens. After hearing from professionals across so many industries, I gained a more complete understanding of how numbers, communication and innovation work together.”

The trip also had an impact on Jack Paris, a sophomore finance and sport management major.

“My perception of careers and industries has changed because before this trip I thought companies followed a strict hierarchy, but that isn’t really the case,” said Paris, who is from Mint Hill, North Carolina. “I noticed that there is a lot of cohesiveness between the different levels of employees that collaborate on different projects and assignments.”