IMPACT REPORT 2025
SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT
The Heart of 49er Success
TRUIST SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Students like Shameer Garrett (pictured right) benefit from the Truist Scholars program, a four-year renewable $5,000 scholarship, which opens doors to exciting opportunities beyond the classroom. Scholars gain access to exclusive career treks to the Truist Headquarters, where they gain firsthand insights into professional environments. Additionally, they are guaranteed admission into experiential learning programs developed through our innovative partnership with Truist.
FOUR-YEAR RENEWABLE SCHOLARSHIPS:
$1,960,000
97 AWARDED TO RECIPIENTS
SCHOLAR SPOTLIGHT:
SHAMEER GARRETT
HOMETOWN
Rocky Mount, NC
MAJOR Management Information Systems
STUDENT INVOLVEMENT
• Black Organization Alliance Board
• Building Black Students mentor at Title 1 schools
• Association of Information Systems
• National Association of Black Accountants
• Students Achieving First Year Excellence (SAFE) mentor
CAREER ASPIRATIONS
“I aspire to leave a mark on the banking industry and society in general.”
A huge thank you to Truist for recognizing my potential. This investment in my education is not just an investment in my future but in the community as well!
Truist Scholars attending a Career Trek with alumni LPD Analyst at Truist.
TRUIST STUDENT ACCELERATOR PROGRAM
The Truist Student Accelerator Program Scholarship supports students enrolled in select majors such as Finance, Business Analytics, Data Science, and Computer Science, helping them reach their academic and professional goals. It offers renewable two-year scholarships that cover tuition, fees, and a book stipend, available to outstanding juniors and seniors.
2024-2025 RECIPIENTS
AARIN H. PATEL, Finance (Charlotte, NC)
MARLEY D. TATUM, Finance (Indian Trail, NC)
HARSHIL FALDU, Finance with RMI Concentration (Charlotte, NC)
CODY T. BARRY, Finance with RMI Concentration (Cornelius, NC)
JAI T. FULLENWIDER, Business Analytics (Charlotte, NC)
ESHA SINGH, Business Analytics (Mooresville, NC)
PRECIOUS GILBERT, Data Science (Charlotte, NC)
ALEX LANDEROS HERNANDEZ, Computer Science (Lenoir, NC)
$348,340 TWO-YEAR RENEWABLE SCHOLARSHIPS:
14 AWARDED TO RECIPIENTS
AVERAGE GPA
3.86
Truist scholars and alumni kicked off the semester at the Back-toSchool Scholarship Celebration with recruiting tips, networking, trivia games, and a special welcome for new scholarship recipients.
SCHOLAR SPOTLIGHT: CODY BARRY
HOMETOWN Lake Placid, New York
MAJOR Finance, RMI Concentration and a minor in AI
STUDENT INVOLVEMENT 2024 Truist Immersive Event Participant, Earth Club, and Gamma Iota
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your generosity and support. Truist is a place I aspire to work for and this scholarship means so much coming specifically from that place which I admire.
“
STUDENT-TO-TEAMMATE
Developing Talent Pipelines
CAREER & COLLABORATION HUB
TOGETHER WITH TRUIST
The University Career Center at UNC Charlotte is key to helping students grow and prepare for their future careers. It offers useful guidance on job searches, resume writing, interview techniques, and networking to ensure that students are prepared for the workforce. Students receive individualized support from expert staff and peer mentors to help them achieve their professional goals. Thanks to the generous support of the Career and Collaboration Hub, the Career Center can provide these necessary resources and a robust support structure, ensuring that students are well-prepared to succeed in their chosen careers.
25+
UNIVERSITY-WIDE EVENTS WITH TRUIST TEAMMATES
6,400+
STUDENT ENGAGEMENTS AT THESE EVENTS
INTERNSHIP AND ANALYST PROGRAM ENGAGEMENT
A total of 20 scholars applied to Truist’s internship or analyst programs, contributing to 45 applications submitted overall. This marks a significant increase in interest compared to the 6 scholars who applied during the previous recruiting season.
SCHOLAR-CANDIDATE ACTIVITY
33 RESUMES REVIEWED BY RECRUITERS
7 RESUMES ADVANCED TO HIRING MANAGERS
3
VIDEO SCREENINGS COMPLETED
1 LIVE INTERVIEW
This data highlights the growing interest and participation in Truist’s career pathways, reflecting a strong alignment between our scholars’ aspirations and Truist’s professional opportunities.
Faculty and community members explored career and talent skills with UNC Charlotte’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, featuring insights from Dr. Justin Webb, Saliseah Scales, and Banu Venkat of Truist.
45
STUDENT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED DURING THE 2024 RECRUITING SEASON
ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT
STUDENTS HAVE VISITED TRUIST HQ IN 2024
ENHANCING CAREER PATHWAYS
Internship and Analyst Program engagement is a key component of our efforts at UNC Charlotte to build a robust talent pipeline through our partnership. These programs offer students valuable industry experience, foster their career development, and connect them with professional opportunities that align with their career aspirations.
TOP EARLY CAREER PROGRAMS
> Technology & Innovation
> Internal Audit
> Credit
UNC Charlotte Alumni Association in partnership with Truist has launched a new Affinity Network to bring together alumni at Truist, helping them connect, engage, and grow in their careers. It offers opportunities for community service, professional development, sharing insights and best practices, and building strong networks. The network also creates pathways for job opportunities for both current students and alumni.
> Spring 2024: Hosted the first Truist Affinity Network meetup at Halton Arena during a 49ers Men’s Basketball game, with alumni enjoying Niner Club access.
> Fall 2024 Homecoming: Over 40 Truist teammates gathered at the Homecoming football game.
For the Love of Charlotte, the university’s largest and most ambitious fundraising campaign to date, was publicly launched at the Homecoming Halftime Show. Campaign Chairs, including Dontá Wilson of Truist, are pictured.
UNC Charlotte Truist Partnership 2025 | 7
INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT
Innovation in Action
SCHOOL OF DATA SCIENCE
, supported by Truist, is a standout event designed to inspire and empower women in data science. The WiDS Conference provides attendees with the tools and knowledge needed to advance in their careers while fostering a strong community of women who are shaping the future of
, the largest data science conference in the region, held annually at UNC Charlotte. This conference brings together experts, industry leaders, and students for presentations, discussions, and networking sessions focused on the latest trends and innovations in
WOMEN IN DATA SCIENCE CONFERENCE
1,000 ATTENDEES including students, faculty, and industry experts
“Moving Beyond the Bling! Balancing New Technology, Business Value and Doing What is Right”
SANGEETHA MENON, Head Cloud Data Analytics, AIML & Reporting Platforms
LEKHA BANERJEE, Head Data & Analyticss
KARRIN RUSSO, VP Enterprise Technology Risk Advisory Senior Managers
PARISIA CLYBURN-PATTON, SVP Senior Technology Risk Advisory Leaders
“Swifties for Data Science: Analyzing the Impact of Taylor Swift on the NFL”
HOLLY SOWINSKI, Data Governance Innovation & Analytics Manager
ANALYTICS FRONTIERS CONFERENCE >
TOM MAZZAFERRO, Chief Data and Analytics Officer, delivered remarks at the 2024 Analytics Frontier Conference.
TRUIST BUSINESS INNOVATION AND RESEARCH PROGRAM
Truist’s investments have been instrumental in advancing research on leadership and team effectiveness through AI and interdisciplinary collaboration. Leveraging this research, UNC Charlotte’s Center for Leadership Science was also able to secure a $692,881 federal grant from the U.S. Army Research Institute for Behavioral and Social Sciences. This achievement enables further development of innovative solutions for evaluating and enhancing leader behaviors in virtual settings.
TRUIST INVESTMENT:
$360,000+
TRUIST RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM
In Spring 2024, UNC Charlotte held its inaugural Truist Research Symposium to introduce and present last year’s Truist Business Research and Innovation grant awardees. The symposium featured an impactful keynote address by Sherry Graziano, Head of Digital, Client Experience, and Marketing at Truist, with an introduction by John Daniels, Vice Chancellor for the Division of Research. It also included compelling presentations from faculty experts, showcasing innovative research and projects supported by grant funding.
These presentations offered awardees a platform to share their findings, discuss the broader impact of their work, and highlight how their research is advancing knowledge across various disciplines.
FACULTY RESEARCH PROJECTS SELECTED IN SUMMER 2024.
> “AI Mentors and Access to Capital for Disadvantaged Entrepreneurs”
> “Enhancing Social Media Content Moderation through User Engagement and Domain Knowledge”
> “Leading and Following with Emotion: An Investigation of Emotional Expression in Virtual Meetings”
Faculty members and research leaders at the University attend the Truist Research Symposium, showcasing their groundbreaking work and fostering collaboration across disciplines.
Sherry Graziano (middle) at the Truist Research Symposium networking breakfast.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Collaboration with Industry Leaders
TRUIST IMMERSIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE
Forty-eight Charlotte students arrived at the Truist Innovation & Technology Center in Uptown, ready to tackle a real-world challenge the financial services company and its clients face.
During the Truist Immersive Learning Experience, the students were challenged to absorb and apply human-centered design thinking and rapid prototyping strategies to build a seamless and secure payment concept for Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa. Supporting them were executives from Truist and from the bank’s technology partners AWS, Verizon and Wicket, and its client IHG Hotels & Resorts.
This experience became a launchpad for growth where students transformed knowledge into action. By Saturday afternoon, they weren’t just presenting ideas; they were delivering bold, future-focused solutions. Through collaboration, they gained real-world skills, forged meaningful relationships, and built the confidence to lead. Their imaginative approaches and team-driven mindset impressed industry professionals and showcased the power of experiential learning.
Drawn from across multiple academic disciplines (including the Belk College of Business, College of Computing and Informatics, Klein College of Science, and the School of Data Science) these students proved that innovation thrives at the intersection of ideas.
135+
STUDENTS APPLICATIONS RECEIVED FOR PROGRAM
100+
EXTERNAL PARTNERS AND TRUIST TEAMMATES IN ATTENDANCE
Immersive students engage in hands-on learning with Design Thinking mentor Shannon Vanderhill.
Tharun Kumar Reddy Vattam, a cybersecurity graduate student at Charlotte, shakes hands with Truist executive Dontá Wilson.
Students at the immersive event present their ideas to Kim Moore-Wright of Truist, showcasing their innovative solutions and collaborative learning experience.
FRESH STARTS
Foundations for First-Year Student Success
STUDENTS ACHIEVING FIRST-YEAR EXCELLENCE
SAFE (Students Achieving First-Year Excellence) is a peer mentoring initiative designed to assist first-year students in their transition to UNC Charlotte. The SAFE Voyage program, held the week before classes start, helps students familiarize themselves with campus and introduces them to academic and student support services while also providing networking opportunities with faculty, staff, and fellow students. By participating in Voyage, students are automatically enrolled in the year-long SAFE program.
The program aims to reduce academic, social, and financial challenges by encouraging students to engage with support services, offering peer-to-peer mentoring, providing additional academic advising, and increasing awareness of campus resources. SAFE is a key retention strategy at UNC Charlotte.
180 STUDENTS
4 COORDINATORS
36 SAFE MENTORS
1 GRAD ASSISTANT
$41,000 INVESTMENT TO-DATE
NINERS LEADING THE CHARGE
TRUIST LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE
Three professional staff members from UNC Charlotte participated in the Truist Summer Sizzle: a dynamic, high-impact professional development experience hosted by the Truist Leadership Institute. This immersive program provided staff with cuttingedge leadership strategies and hands-on training in best practices for facilitating the university’s Emerging Leadership Certificate. Through this experience, staff members not only expanded their own leadership capacity but also deepened their ability to cultivate leadership in others. Their growth directly supports the university’s mission to empower the next generation through leadership development.
“ “
Attending the Truist Summer Sizzle was a transformative experience in my leadership journey. The program challenged me to think more strategically, communicate with greater impact, and lead with intention. I left feeling more confident—not only in my ability to support student leaders through the Emerging Leadership Certificate, but also in charting my own path as a leader in higher education.
KOURTNEY PETERSON, Truist Partnership Program Specialist
EMPOWERING STUDENT-ATHLETES
Building Champions On and Off the Field
UNITED IN GOLD, SPONSORED BY TRUIST
The United in GOLD program, sponsored by Truist, has made a tremendous impact, providing mental health resources, personal development skills, experiential learning, and community service support for student-athletes. This program has not only supported academic success but has also helped athletes excel in their respective sports.
Notable Achievements of Student Athletes:
> Five conference championships
> 259 AAC Academic All-Conference Honorees
> Eight NCAA tournament appearances
COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS DURING FALL 2024 $100,000 IN FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO-DATE
STUDENT-ATHLETES IMPACTED
SUPPORT PROVIDED FOR ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT:
> FINANCIAL LITERACY
SESSION: Charlotte Athletics hosted a financial literacy workshop with Niner Finances, helping students gain essential knowledge for managing their finances effectively.
> MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT: Charlotte Athletics held a fun and educational “Mental Health Jeopardy” event, raising awareness on mental health issues and promoting wellness among students.
> NINER UNIVERSITY
ELEMENTARY SERVICE: Student athletes volunteered to help welcome back students at Niner University Elementary.
> CHARLOTTE ATHLETICS EXECUTIVE WOMEN SPORTS NIGHT supporting women in sports
> STUDENT-ATHLETE CAREER FAIR and Networking Night
Senior Rhyan Young participates in the ‘Truist Life, Money, and Choices’ financial literacy simulation facilitated by Truist teammates.
