Destination: SUCCESS. Starting Point: YOU.
99% of HPU graduates are employed or continuing their education within 180 days of graduating. HPU is committed to preparing students with the tools and experience that outlast inevitable technological changes. In this series, HPU takes a deep dive into some of the students that make up that 99%.
Below, you’ll find videos of student success stories for the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication. These are just a glimpse of the many HPU students who have gone on to lead lives of success and significance. Each story is different, but the theme is similar: HPU students graduate ready to take on the world as it is going to be!
Excelling at ESPN
Just two years after graduating from High Point University, Thomas Hart is thriving as an Associate Director for live events at EPSN in Bristol, Connecticut. He even won an Emmy Award for his incredible work on the SEC on ABC for a live series! As a Sports Media major at HPU, he learned from a professor who directed the TODAY Show for 20 years, and he was prepared with the tools and experiences he needed to succeed.
Soaring Beyond: Amy’s Journey from HPU to the Smithsonian
Amy Stamm, a Strategic Communications graduate from High Point University, turned a museum internship into a dr eam career at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. From campus involvement to real-world projects and life-changing mentorship, Amy’s HPU experience gave her the tools and confidence to thrive—and now she gives back by guiding the next generation of students to be extraordinary.
Taking on the Major Leagues
Cameron Scott, a journalism and communication major, worked as a player relations intern for the New York Mets. The appearances and events he managed brought Scott face to face with celebrities and media legends, including Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks, pop stars Andy Grammer and Demi Lovato, ESPN’s Karl Ravech and legendary broadcaster Bob Costas.
Scott’s experience at the Mets, along with his internship with Fox 5 New York, provided him valuable insight into the sports and entertainment industry. Today, Scott is the coordinator of baseball development and co-chair of MLB H.Y.P.E. for the Major League Baseball organization.
He also credits the hands-on, practical training he’s received at HPU for preparing him for a career in sports.
Scott’s experience at the Mets, along with his internship with Fox 5 New York, provided him valuable insight into the sports and entertainment industry. Today, Scott is the coordinator of baseball development and co-chair of MLB H.Y.P.E. for the Major League Baseball organization.
He also credits the hands-on, practical training he’s received at HPU for preparing him for a career in sports.
Lessons, Line Changes and Live Coverage
Lyndsay Rowley shares how she turned a local news internship into her dream career in sports broadcasting. Now a television host/reporter for the Nashville Predators, Lindsay credits High Point University’s strong academic foundation and faculty mentorship for empowering her career switch and giving her the confidence to chase bold goals. For Lindsay, choosing to be extraordinary means making the brave decision to go the extra mile—no matter how early the morning or high the stakes.
From HPU to NBC: Grant Hines’s Rise from Campus to Capitol
Grant Hines turned his passion for journalism into a national news career, landing a role at NBC News in Washington, D.C. With mentorship from media professionals, real-world experience in the classroom and earning a master’s degree in communication and business leadership, Grant credits High Point University for empowering him to rise above the competition.
Setting the Standard
Kate Hudson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and John Krasinski walk into a room. It might sound like the beginning to a joke, but it’s actually a dream turned reality for High Point University alum Jodi Guglielmi.
A 2015 graduate, Guglielmi is a breaking news editor for Rolling Stone Magazine in New York City. Prior to her roll with Rolling Stone, she also worked with People Magazine.
Even while attending Hollywood’s most exclusive affairs, Guglielmi often finds herself right back in Dr. Bobby Haye’s copy editing class in the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication. She consistently goes back to the fundamentals of journalism she gained at HPU.
Watch more about Guglielmi’s impressive climb in the journalism industry here!
A 2015 graduate, Guglielmi is a breaking news editor for Rolling Stone Magazine in New York City. Prior to her roll with Rolling Stone, she also worked with People Magazine.
Even while attending Hollywood’s most exclusive affairs, Guglielmi often finds herself right back in Dr. Bobby Haye’s copy editing class in the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication. She consistently goes back to the fundamentals of journalism she gained at HPU.
Watch more about Guglielmi’s impressive climb in the journalism industry here!
Nothing but Net
HPU alumna Annie Borovskiy encourages students to seize every opportunity and boldly pursue their careers. Explore her inspiring journey, where the Innovators program and HPU’s exceptional faculty played crucial roles in her success. Discover how mentorship from professors and industry leaders, including Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall, shaped her path. Now an Inside Sales Representative with NBA team the Brooklyn Nets, Annie’s story is a testament to the power of connections and the value of embracing every chance for growth at HPU. Dive into her experiences for valuable insights and motivation!
Going Beyond the Textbook
Summer Tonsfeldt, a 2014 graduate, exemplifies what an extraordinary education at HPU can do.
As an undergraduate, Tonsfeldt managed to fit in five internships, a semester abroad and a multitude of extracurricular activities – like attending the Republican National Convention to interview political leaders and watch Mitt Romney deliver his speech – all within three and a half years. She’s worked alongside brands like Disney, Amazon, FXNow and NFL.
She received a degree in strategic communication and a minor in human relations from HPU. Following graduation, she put all of her previous experience to practical use as a public relations undergraduate associate at Disney Consumer Products in California. Today, she works with NBC Peacock as a Manager for Digital Distribution and Partner Marketing. Hear from Tonsfeltd on her journey!
As an undergraduate, Tonsfeldt managed to fit in five internships, a semester abroad and a multitude of extracurricular activities – like attending the Republican National Convention to interview political leaders and watch Mitt Romney deliver his speech – all within three and a half years. She’s worked alongside brands like Disney, Amazon, FXNow and NFL.
She received a degree in strategic communication and a minor in human relations from HPU. Following graduation, she put all of her previous experience to practical use as a public relations undergraduate associate at Disney Consumer Products in California. Today, she works with NBC Peacock as a Manager for Digital Distribution and Partner Marketing. Hear from Tonsfeltd on her journey!
Obtaining Experience at the Orlando Magic
There isn’t an opportunity at High Point University that Wendell Epps didn’t seize. You can tell that much from his LinkedIn profile.
The Class of 2023 graduate and sports media major posted about a new internship he landed, industry experience from which he learned, or conference he attended seemingly every day. So it came as no surprise to his friends and professors when, days before graduation, Epps accepted a job with the Orlando Magic NBA team as their Radio Graduate Associate. In doing so, he accomplished the ultimate dream he’d been working so hard to achieve. Being able to communicate with others and differentiate himself from the competition are life skills that resonated most with Epps during his four years at HPU, and looking ahead, he knows those life skills will play key positions in his sports media career.
“The opportunity was there immediately, and I took it and ran with it,” says Epps.
The Class of 2023 graduate and sports media major posted about a new internship he landed, industry experience from which he learned, or conference he attended seemingly every day. So it came as no surprise to his friends and professors when, days before graduation, Epps accepted a job with the Orlando Magic NBA team as their Radio Graduate Associate. In doing so, he accomplished the ultimate dream he’d been working so hard to achieve. Being able to communicate with others and differentiate himself from the competition are life skills that resonated most with Epps during his four years at HPU, and looking ahead, he knows those life skills will play key positions in his sports media career.
“The opportunity was there immediately, and I took it and ran with it,” says Epps.
Bridging Experience and Entertainment
Working in member relations and awards at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Hayley Bolding reached for the stars and has now landed among them.
After graduation in 2017 with a bachelor’s and again in 2018 with a master’s in strategic communication, Hayley left HPU for Los Angeles, California ready to set the stage. Thanks to the activities, mentors and experiences she developed at HPU, she had the know-how and interpersonal skills to land a job at one of the most sought-after awards bodies in the entertainment industry.
Learn more about her time at HPU with this video!
After graduation in 2017 with a bachelor’s and again in 2018 with a master’s in strategic communication, Hayley left HPU for Los Angeles, California ready to set the stage. Thanks to the activities, mentors and experiences she developed at HPU, she had the know-how and interpersonal skills to land a job at one of the most sought-after awards bodies in the entertainment industry.
Learn more about her time at HPU with this video!
Navigating to the NBA
Mikaela Campbell joined the NBA in New York City right out of college in their two-year associate program. Since then, she’s exceeded expectations and grew her career in the sports industry.
Now, she’s a manager with the national sports organization.
She credits her advisor, professor and the head of the sport management department, Dr. Jenny Lukow for helping her get where she is today.
“She always made me excited and eager to not only learn more, but to share my knowledge with others. I could always count on her to be honest with me when I needed it and give me the courage and connections to seek the experiences I was looking for. Whether it was in her class or through a quick email, she never failed to keep me motivated, and I cannot thank her enough for that.”
Learn more about Campbell’s journey!
Now, she’s a manager with the national sports organization.
She credits her advisor, professor and the head of the sport management department, Dr. Jenny Lukow for helping her get where she is today.
“She always made me excited and eager to not only learn more, but to share my knowledge with others. I could always count on her to be honest with me when I needed it and give me the courage and connections to seek the experiences I was looking for. Whether it was in her class or through a quick email, she never failed to keep me motivated, and I cannot thank her enough for that.”
Learn more about Campbell’s journey!
Identifying Opportunities
Kenneth “Ken” Marshall excelled as an electronic media production major and hosted a radio show, the American Dream Project, while at HPU. With a passion for music, Marshall shares his musical gifts as a traveling member of the Aaron Pelsue band. He now lives in Southern California and works as a senior media producer for AT&T. On top of that, Marshall is the founder of open, a nonprofit organization he established while at HPU focused on arts, education and exploration through community-based programming. Additionally, he works on publication merchandising strategy as the creative director of Marshalling Resources.
Hear more about his time at HPU in this video!
Hear more about his time at HPU in this video!
From Camcorder To Control Room
Emmy Beck-Aden graduated ready to take on the challenges of working in the Entertainment industry, and HPU helped her get there.
For as long as she can remember, Emmy Beck-Aden wanted a video camera in her hands. She started out at age 8 with the family’s camcorder.
Today, Beck-Aden is a Class of 2022 HPU graduate working in the NBCUniversal Page Program in New York City. She serves in a diverse array of assignments with departments throughout the company, including production, business development, public relations and digital.
Just a few of the shows she’s had assignments on include “Saturday Night Live,” CNBC’s “Halftime Report,” “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and “Late Night with Seth Myers.”
Watch this video to learn more about Beck-Aden’s HPU journey.
Update: Since the filming of this video, Emmy Beck-Aden has completed her NBCUniversal Page Program rotation and accepted a role as the production coordinator for CNBC's "Mad Money with Jim Cramer."
For as long as she can remember, Emmy Beck-Aden wanted a video camera in her hands. She started out at age 8 with the family’s camcorder.
Today, Beck-Aden is a Class of 2022 HPU graduate working in the NBCUniversal Page Program in New York City. She serves in a diverse array of assignments with departments throughout the company, including production, business development, public relations and digital.
Just a few of the shows she’s had assignments on include “Saturday Night Live,” CNBC’s “Halftime Report,” “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and “Late Night with Seth Myers.”
Watch this video to learn more about Beck-Aden’s HPU journey.
Update: Since the filming of this video, Emmy Beck-Aden has completed her NBCUniversal Page Program rotation and accepted a role as the production coordinator for CNBC's "Mad Money with Jim Cramer."
Building a Career with the Chicago Bulls
The road to success was not a straight line for Cassandra Diaz. Diaz came to HPU from Wadsworth, Illinois, as a sport management major and set her sights on the NBA.
By 2017, Diaz’s LinkedIn profile was nearly a mile long and included impressive stints at the Greensboro Swarm, IMG College and Madison Square Garden. Each experience was a step toward her NBA goal.
In spring 2018, her hard work turned into an internship from the NBA, where she worked in New York City for the summer. Now, Diaz works for the Chicago Bulls NBA team in corporate partnerships.
Diaz’s journey illustrates how HPU students land top-tier internships and careers across the country. Learn more today!
Update: Since the filming of this video, Cassandra Diaz has launched a new role in her career as director of sponsorship sales (Midwest) at Live Nation Entertainment.
By 2017, Diaz’s LinkedIn profile was nearly a mile long and included impressive stints at the Greensboro Swarm, IMG College and Madison Square Garden. Each experience was a step toward her NBA goal.
In spring 2018, her hard work turned into an internship from the NBA, where she worked in New York City for the summer. Now, Diaz works for the Chicago Bulls NBA team in corporate partnerships.
Diaz’s journey illustrates how HPU students land top-tier internships and careers across the country. Learn more today!
Update: Since the filming of this video, Cassandra Diaz has launched a new role in her career as director of sponsorship sales (Midwest) at Live Nation Entertainment.
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