Picture this: 10 super-talented students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the US are about to dive into an epic summer internship. They’re gearing up for a 10-week deep dive into the world of marketing and communications with Chevrolet in Detroit.
This immersive gig isn’t just about coffee runs and photocopying. These fellows will create content and get up close and personal with the tech powering the auto industry. Plus, they’ll team up with National Newspaper Publication Association (NNPA) journalists and Chevy marketing peeps, testing out the all-new 2024 Chevrolet Trax on a fantastic group road trip.
They’ll also document their journey on social media because what’s an adventure without some Instagram love, right? Chevy and the NNPA are hosting this hands-on experience for the seventh year, calling it Discover the Unexpected (DTU).
HBCU grads will mentor the students, sharing their pro tips and cheering them on every step of the way. Big names like the TV host, actor Terrence Jenkins, and STEM advocate Justin Shaifer are returning for their third year as DTU ambassadors. ESPN sports journalist and HBCU alum Tiffany Greene will also join the mentorship crew.
Terrence J perfectly summed up the vibe: “Having support and opportunities during your college years is invaluable and will set you on a path of lifelong success. As a proud HBCU graduate, I am thrilled to collaborate with Chevrolet and the NNPA again to uplift the next generation of talented journalists, marketers, and content creators.”
Two DTU grads, Raza El and Ashley McJunkin, are kicking off their pro careers at General Motors this summer. Ashley can’t wait to join the team, saying, “My DTU experience confirmed that this is what I want to do, and this is the team that I want to be a part of.”
Chevy’s CMO, Steve Majoros, is pretty stoked about the growth of DTU, sharing, “DTU reinforces Chevrolet’s commitment to HBCUs, allowing students an opportunity to gain experience, mentorship, and support to set themselves up for a successful future.”
NNPA’s CEO, Dr. Benjamin Chavis, champions the DTU program, saying, “This is a life-changing opportunity for HBCU students, preparing them for their professional careers.”
The internships will run from June 5 to August 11, starting with a three-day boot camp in Detroit. After the program, each fellow will be awarded a cool $18K in scholarships and stipends, totaling over $750,000 to date. You can find out more about Discover the Unexpected at https://www.nnpa.org/chevydtu/.
