Student Stories

Maya Barbee Closes Charlotte Career with Niner Pride
Maya Barbee, a double major in sociology and Spanish, is set to walk the stage at Halton Arena at spring commencement, closing the book on her time at UNC Charlotte. Barbee, an academic overachiever bursting with 49er spirit, says the moment will be bittersweet. “It doesn’t feel real yet, but I’m excited to start a […]

Bryson Foster ’23 Shows the Power of Positivity and a Mighty Pen
Award-winning Communications major follows his passion for sports journalism Bryson Foster ’23 became a lifelong sports fan in 2009 when he witnessed outfielder Jonny Gomes hit three home runs while attending his first-ever major league baseball game. Foster’s family took him to the Cincinnati Reds home game during a stay for some medical appointments at […]

Syreeta Taylor is Ringing the Bell to Mark a Milestone and a Family Legacy
On December 14, Syreeta Taylor will conclude a journey for her master’s degree that is many years in the making. Taylor began coursework for a graduate certificate in special education in 2016 and took extra classes to apply towards a master’s degree in the same field. She worked with faculty in the Cato College of […]

Jeremiah Morris Built a Network of Support to Thrive
Jeremiah Morris rattles off the names of students and faculty he’s connected to without missing a beat. In fact, Morris can’t walk around campus without friends coming up to hug him or say hello. He built an extended network of support he needed at UNC Charlotte to push through and thrive in his education. Morris […]

Meet Luci Flores, Spanish major and First-Gen Student
Luci Flores is a first-generation college student from Wilmington, North Carolina and a proud Mexican American. She is a double majoring in Spanish and public health. Stepping out of her comfort zone, she is driven by her mother’s dreams and her ambitions to attend college. With graduation around the corner, Flores reflects on her journey, […]

Meet Princela Flores, Communications major and First-Gen student
Princela Flores, a junior in the Honors College, is majoring in communications with a focus on public relations. As a first-generation student and daughter of parents from El Salvador, she has built a strong support system on campus, immersing herself in clubs, honors societies and her sorority. She is dedicated to making her mother proud […]

Doctoral Geography student wins distinguished dissertation award
Providence Adu ’24, who earned a Ph.D. in geography, has been awarded this year’s Graduate Dean’s Distinguished Dissertation Award for the dissertation “Analyzing Housing Market Dynamics and Neighborhood Change: A Case Study of Charlotte, North Carolina.” Utilizing the rapidly growing city of Charlotte as a case study, Adu established a framework incorporating spatial statistics tools, natural […]

Gold Reel Film Festival: X Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Student Film Festival, As Part Of Film Studies Offerings
Gold Reel Film Festival: X marks the tenth anniversary of the UNC Charlotte student film festival on Friday, April 21 at 6 p.m., celebrating student films at the fabulous Independent Picture House. Students in Rodney Stringfellow’s “Film Festivals: Production & Theory” class in the Film Studies program, part of Interdisciplinary Studies, have organized the festival to showcase films created by over two dozen student filmmakers.

Non-Traditional Students Benefit From Scholarships, Other Support Through OASES
Scholarship recipients Zach Bessant and Toni Moss have benefitted from scholarships and other life-changing opportunities offered through OASES. They shared their stories at the recent OASES scholarship event.

Political Science, History Major Engages In Scholarship, Service
Christian Rios is a double major in political science and history with a minor in American studies. His involvement on campus ranges from being a Niner guide, previously a Student Senator and now the current Student Government Association chief of staff. He also participates in the Mock Trial club and works in the Popp Martin Student Union as a reservation specialist. As a senior, he will be the first in his family to obtain a high school diploma and to graduate with a bachelor’s degree.