N.C. A&T Student Begins Sports Journalism Internship with ESPN as Rhoden Fellow

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (July 23, 2024) – Gabrielle Heyward, a senior studying multimedia journalism at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, has begun a one-year sports journalism internship with ESPN as a Rhoden Fellow.

The Rhoden Fellowship, named for and led by Andscape editor-at-large and former New York Times award-winning columnist William C. Rhoden, is a training program for the next generation of sports journalists from historically Black colleges and universities.

Heyward, an Honors College student, is N.C. A&T’s sixth Rhoden fellow, following in the footsteps of Kamryn Jackson, Alexis Black, Alexis Davis, East Dockery and Donovan Dooley from 2024, 2023, 2022, 2020 and 2018, respectively.

“What makes this experience so special is that I get to join a legacy of Rhoden Fellows who are also Aggies,” she said. “I'm truly excited to spend my time in Connecticut this summer and gain hands-on experience and knowledge about the journalism industry.”

The Rock Hill, South Carolina native’s journey began with her selection as a 2024 Disney UNCF Corporate Scholar, where she was one of 28 students across the nation awarded a $5,000 renewable scholarship. The program provides professional development opportunities and early career access at Disney, focusing on students interested in journalism, film, television and entertainment, in partnership with Andscape, National Geographic and FX.

During the course of her fellowship, Heyward is gaining hands-on experience in producing weekly podcasts, pitching creative storytelling ideas and contributing content published on Andscape’s digital hub. She will also network with ESPN’s president James Pitaro, and learn from sports analysts such as Elle Duncan, Andraya Carter and Chiney Ogwumike, also known as the “Big 3.”

“I've been able to meet fellow journalists at ESPN and listen to their inspiring stories,” said Heyward. “They stressed how important organizations like NABJ (National Association of Black Journalists) are in shaping our academic paths and preparing us for careers in journalism.”

Heyward is an active member of various student organizations at A&T, serving as the second vice president of the National Council of Negro Women, vice president of South Carolina Aggies, student senator for the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and as a member of NABJ. She also has contributed to The A&T Register college newspaper, which she will lead this fall as editor-in-chief, while maintaining an impressive 3.8 GPA.