FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Forty-six students from 10 of North Carolina’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have been selected to participate in the North Carolina Governor’s HBCU Internship Program this summer.
The program, which began in 2015, connects students who are enrolled in North Carolina’s HBCUs with the state’s Fortune 250 companies to allow them to gain valuable work experience that will increase their competitiveness in the job market, while allowing state businesses to recruit from an increased, diverse talent pool. Studies show that seven in 10 internships turn into full-time jobs.
North Carolina is home to 13 percent of the nation’s HBCUs, including five in the UNC system. All five University HBCUs – Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, North Carolina Central University and Winston-Salem State University – are participating in the program, as are Bennett College, Saint Augustine’s University, Livingstone College, Shaw University and Johnson C. Smith University. The UNC System administers the program on behalf of the state.
“Business leaders across North Carolina are eager to welcome a broader, more diverse array of talent to strengthen their companies and serve a growing state,” said UNC System President Peter Hans. “We’re fortunate that North Carolina has more HBCUs than any state in the nation, offering world-class companies and world-class graduates the chance to do great things together.”
The summer internships are paid, full-time positions for rising juniors or seniors who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8, are active in student and national organizations, and have the ability to communicate well.
This year’s participants and their placements are:
- Zauria Murphy, Bennett College, Lenovo
- Romya Lebetter, Bennett College, Syngenta
- LaTonyaHinton, Elizabeth City State University, Lenovo
- Benny Baker, Elizabeth City State University, Wells Fargo
- Kobbe Harwell, Fayetteville State University, Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Tiara Monroe, Fayetteville State University, Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Brian Pettiford, Fayetteville State University, Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Donovan Ferman, Fayetteville State University, Lowes Home Improvement
- Tyshawn Adams, Fayetteville State University, State Farm, Zonya Autmon
- Tawanna Mckoy, Fayetteville State University, State Farm, Ola Stinnett
- Dominika Lee, Johnson C. Smith University, Lenovo
- Alton Smith-Bey II, Johnson C. Smith University, Coca-Cola Consolidated
- Quintin Jordan, Livingston College, Lenovo
- Juliet Makena, Livingstone College, Lenovo
- Keith Watson, Livingstone College, Coca-Cola Consolidated
- A’zar Bostic, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Wells Fargo
- Hannah Roberts, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Connor Harrison, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Lenovo
- Akinlabi Mason-Hogans, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Lenovo
- Armani Regester, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Lenovo
- KiShawnda Parker, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Syngenta
- Judah Tucker, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Lenovo
- Kamar Brown, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Lenovo
- Christopher Vanderhall, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Wells Fargo
- Camryn Settles, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Parker Lord
- Deneisha Wilson, North Carolina Central University, Lincoln Financial Group
- Tierra Ferebee, North Carolina Central University, Wells Fargo
- Stephen MacDonald, North Carolina Central University, Lenovo
- Mohammad Mohammad, North Carolina Central University, Lenovo
- Maya Bell, North Carolina Central University, State Farm, John Moore
- Jaden Pledger, North Carolina Central University, Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Humza Abdeen, North Carolina Central University, LexisNexis
- Brandon Langley, North Carolina Central University, Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Mahogony Patterson, North Carolina Central University, Lenovo
- Alexis Harp, North Carolina Central University, State Farm, John Moore
- Jeremy Williams, North Carolina Central University, Wells Fargo
- Elizabeth Sanders, Shaw University, Lenovo
- McKenzie Estep, St. Augustine University, Lenovo
- Sinanzwayinkosi Ndhlovu, St. Augustine University, Lenovo
- Bernard Zandonda, St. Augustine University, Lenovo
- Nathan Wilburn, St. Augustine University, State Farm, Zonya Autmon
- Abdul Mohammed, Winston-Salem State University, Lenovo
- Sarah Jeffries, Winston-Salem State University, Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Zyquier Brownridge, Winston-Salem State University, Lenovo
- Paris Crawford, Winston-Salem State University, Lincoln Financial Group
- Hope Jackson, Winston-Salem State University, State Farm, Jackie Newkirk