Aria Mack, a WCU Communication major with an emphasis in Broadcasting and Public Relations reached out to WestBridge Vocational concerning an internship opportunity in our Fund Development Division. Chris Stuckey, The Community Engagement Liaison, supervised the internship, while Mike Rogers, Director of Fund Development assisted. Aria was involved in many projects, including employee and client video interviews, photos of the production floor and facility, plus she is working on a new brochure and other marketing materials. All these projects had the end goal of promoting and bringing awareness to WestBridge Vocational. The experiences gave Aria more insight into the day-to-day business activities of a hybrid-social enterprise like WestBridge Vocational.
Meet Aria
Where are you from, and how did you end up at WCU?
I am from Hickory, North Carolina, and purple and gold run deep for my family. I ended up at WCU well before my admissions acceptance because my family attended regular athletic events and homecomings as alumni.
Who at WCU was a positive influence?
A positive influence for me at Western Carolina University (WCU) was the entire Communication department. My professors, advisors, lab assistants, and other students because everyone was so willing to help.
Why did you come to WestBridge?
I inquired about an internship at WestBridge after reading the mission statement to see what the company did. I had to bridge the gap between people who may not have specific opportunities for those tasks.
What are some takeaways from your experience at WestBridge?
A few takeaways from WBV is how much quality work matters, examples of how a company flows to achieve goals, and how important it is that we are telling people’s stories through video, audio, and interview.
What is the essential thing you learned from your experience at WestBridge?
An essential thing I learned is that everyone deserves a chance at the opportunities their life holds, no matter the situation. Here, everyone is passionate about what they do and gives everyone the same fantastic hospitality and respect.
