Destination Success | Grant Hines | Watch HPU

Chapters & Transcript

0:00

Hi, my name is Grant Hines. I'm from Owings Mills, Maryland. I received my BA in journalism in 2023 and my MA in communication and business leadership in 2024 from High Point University. I am going to NBC News to be a desk assistant in their Washington Bureau.

One of my goals was to just work with the best of the best I saw at High Point University through our innovators and residents, through our alumni, by getting involved, by excelling in academics, by networking with people. This guy truly is the limit, and uh you never know where you can end up.

0:46

During my time in undergrad I got to meet Byron Pitts. He's our journalist and residence and co-anchor of Nightline on ABC. We got to spend a whole day together, actually, and we just got to talk about our as my aspirations and what it means to be in the industry right now.

Obviously, it's a changing industry. He's been in the industry his entire career, uh something over like 20 years, so it was just really nice to get that time with him one-on-one where I may not get that anywhere else. But here at High Point University I get that experience, and I obviously remember that for the rest of my life.

1:21

I wouldn't be where I am today if it hadn't been for my mentor, so Dr. Elton Tawi. I took several classes with her starting with my entry level journalism class. She really pushed me every day to be the best I can.

Having professors like her and professors like Joe Michaels who I've known since I was a freshman.

1:40

So Joe Michaels is our broadcaster and residence and former director of the Today's Show on NBC. I ended up taking several classes with him where I learned the basics of multi-camera production, which is the production style of most newsrooms and most newscasts.

Um, I even got to go on several trips with him to the broadcast association conference in Las Vegas, and then just our interactions outside of class. He has a million stories that he can tell you, and it's really those interactions that are meaningful. It's not just sitting in class listening to a lecture. It's those practical skills and it's those stories that really inspire you.

And then Professor Ken Medlin who really taught me the chops of what it means to be in journalism. It was really the core of journalism that is what I learned in his class, and I'll be forever grateful for him and all those mentors that taught me the fundamentals and how to just be better at my craft.

2:36

Starting junior year I decided that I would stop by the career in professional development office. So I stopped by, got connected with one of the career advisors and we set a plan from day one up until I got my first internship. It was this is what I need to do and these are the steps that I need to take.

And so I was diligent. I followed through and I stuck to my plan and I ended up getting an internship. So that was really rewarding because it showed me that if I was consistent and I worked hard and I was really dedicated to getting an internship, it's really possible.

3:10

So I decided to do the tuition-free Masters in communication and business leadership simply because it was an opportunity that I could not pass up. In today's environment, the world is becoming more competitive, so I figured with my Master's degree it was going to benefit me in ways that I may not realize now. So that's why I decided to stay and pursue that.

3:31

I was at the National Association of Black Journalists conference in 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama, and somebody from NBC News had reached out to me as I was preparing to leave. And long story short, uh they wanted me to be a part of the desk assistant program in Washington DC.

I followed through, I kept in contact with them, and then that's how I got the job once I graduated from the CBL. Following through and keeping those connections are really important because you never know what could pan out.

4:01

What I miss most about being on campus every day is driving on the campus, seeing the beautiful environment, seeing my colleagues and my professors and people that I work with, and just being in that warm friendly environment where I'm inspired every day uh by my surroundings and the people that I'm with.

4:18

So High Point University has a call to action to choose to be extraordinary. And for people that can mean different things. But for me it means that I'm setting myself apart by connecting with professors, by getting involved in things that I've never done before, by taking the extra step to make sure that my work uh is the best that it can be because I went to High Point University and I know I can stand out.

I definitely followed that call of choose to be extraordinary.

Grant Hines shares his journey from High Point University to NBC News, highlighting how HPU's innovative approach to education—featuring accomplished journalist residents, personalized mentorship from faculty, and career development support—prepared him for success. Through strategic networking, academic excellence, and a commitment to professional development both during his undergraduate and master's programs, Grant secured an internship and ultimately a desk assistant position at NBC News. His story exemplifies HPU's call to choose to be extraordinary by engaging with industry leaders, building meaningful mentoring relationships, and consistently striving for excellence.

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Destination Success | Grant Hines

Destination Success | Grant Hines

How does High Point University prepare students for success?

How do High Point University students learn from Byron Pitts?

How do HPU professors provide personalized mentorship?

What do HPU students learn from Joe Michaels?

How does HPU help students secure professional internships?

Why pursue a Master's degree at High Point University?

How do HPU graduates network to secure full-time careers?

What is the daily campus experience like at HPU?

What does it mean to choose to be extraordinary at HPU?