Road to Hire

“Dear Road to Hire: Thank you so much for all the support and encouragement.” - Faith C.

When Faith Cole first started at Central Piedmont Community College, she was navigating a new environment and figuring out where she belonged. Over time, she found community, confidence, and opportunities that helped shape her college experience.

Road to Hire has been proud to support her journey from internships and apprenticeships to leadership opportunities on campus and beyond.

Faith graduated with her Associate’s degree from Central Piedmont Community College after serving as a TRIO SSS Scholar, Campus Activities Board member, Black Student Union Event Coordinator, and NC Global Scholar of Distinction. She also proudly represented her Liberian heritage through the African Student Club.

This fall, she’ll continue her journey at North Carolina Central University for her Bachelor’s in Kinesiology as she works toward becoming a future pediatric occupational therapist.

The road ahead is bright!

The tassels have turned, the diplomas have been earned, and the next chapter begins 🎓

We're proud to celebrate Road to Hire High School graduates from Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology and West Mecklenburg High School as they reach this important milestone.

Congratulations to these graduates and to the entire Class of 2026 across Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools! We're excited to see where their journeys lead next!

“A lot of us underestimate our potential. If someone else can do it, we can too.” - Alba A.

When Alba came to the United States from Honduras as a young child, she was learning a new language, adapting to a new environment, and navigating challenges far beyond the classroom. Even then, she was building the resilience and determination that would shape her future.

Road to Hire has been proud to support Alba throughout her educational journey as she continued to push herself, embrace new opportunities, and lead with purpose. Alba graduated from Guilford College with three majors: Education Studies, Business Administration, and Accounting, and is now preparing to complete her MBA this August.

Along the way, Alba balanced demanding coursework, graduate classes, and leadership opportunities while staying grounded in the values her family instilled in her: hard work, perseverance, and giving 100 percent in everything she does.

She is weighing what comes next: another master’s degree, perhaps in Accounting, perhaps in Divinity, at Wake Forest University. Her story is a reminder of what’s possible when hard work meets opportunity and determination.

"Road to Hire and its Golden Door Scholars program gave me a true sense of community, access to mentorship, and a support system that helped me make the most of every opportunity in front of me. Through fellow scholars, advisors, and mentors, I found the encouragement and safety net that made so much of this possible." — Miguel R.

Miguel arrived at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a full merit scholarship with a vision and the drive to see it through. Over four years, he built a career rooted in creativity, strategy, and storytelling, earning a double major in Media and Journalism, with concentrations in Advertising and Public Relations and in Psychology.

Road to Hire walked alongside him every step of the way, providing the support and guidance that helped him make the most of every opportunity in front of him. This September, he will be joining L'Oréal's Management Trainee Program in New York City, supporting CeraVe US Marketing.

From Chapel Hill to New York City, the road ahead is his.

Graduation season is here, and Road to Hire is on the ground celebrating with our Class of 2026.

This week, we cheered on graduates from Hawthorn Academy of Health Sciences, including Hiba Al Ibrahim, who served as Salutatorian and introduced the ceremony's speakers. Samira Walker, Sunia Fnu, and Husna Fnu were among the many Road to Hire participants who crossed that stage: honor cords, diplomas, and everything earned to get there.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026 across Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools!

"My career coach was not just my coach but also my friend who supported me through my college journey. She was there every step of the way, helping and guiding me through difficulties and hardships, not just with academics but life in general." — Dhanya J.

Dhanya's Road to Hire journey started in high school. Years later, she was still with us, working through a Data Science degree with a focus in Simulation and Game Development at UNC Charlotte, with the same community supporting her every step of the way.

That long-term investment paid off. She is starting her career as a Billing Solutions Analyst at Spectrum.

This is what Road to Hire's community looks like in action.

"I am incredibly thankful to Road to Hire for the guidance, mentorship, and support they have given me throughout my journey. They created a space where I always felt welcomed, encouraged, and celebrated through every accomplishment and challenge. The path to getting my nursing degree was not easy, but knowing I had people who genuinely believed in me and were always willing to help made all the difference. I will always be grateful for everything Road to Hire has done for me.” - Andrea G.

When Andrea began her journey at Wingate University, she knew the road to becoming a nurse would require perseverance, dedication, and heart. Over the past several years, she has embraced every challenge and opportunity that came her way. Road to Hire has been proud to support her throughout that journey as she worked toward her goals both inside and outside the classroom.

Last month, she graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, earned her nursing pin, and completed a minor in Spanish. Now, she’s preparing for the next step toward her future as a Medical Surgical Telemetry Unit at Atrium Health.

"I had no idea what to expect. Now, years later, I'm graduating with a nursing degree, and Road to Hire has supported me through so much more than just my college journey." — Katie M.

Katie came to Road to Hire not knowing what the path ahead would look like. What she found was a community that stayed with her through the uncertainty, the hard semesters, and every milestone along the way.

She graduated from UNC Charlotte and has accepted a Registered Nurse position at Advocate Health.

Years in the making. Worth every step.

On Wednesday, over 250 students walked into Red Ventures and committed to their future at Road to Hire's 5th Annual Commitment Day, a milestone in a journey that is only just beginning.

From eight different Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, each student declared their next step: college, university, or military service. That's not a small thing. That's years of partnership, hard work, and belief made visible in a single room.

We heard from student speakers Brian Maradiaga, Nate Dodson, Princess Borma, Kirklin Bingley, and Lucero Garcia Turrubiartez, who stopped the room with their honesty, resilience, and vision. We watched peers recognize one another not for grades but for the values they carry. We heard the Phillip O. Berry Marching Cardinals fill an arena with energy, setting the tone for everything that followed.

None of this happens without a village.

Thank you to our chaperones, teachers, and school staff who show up every single day. To our corporate partners, donors, city and county officials, and community members: your belief in young adults fuels this work. To the Equitable Foundation, your partnership has been instrumental in expanding access and developing the next generation of leaders. And to Ric Elias, founder of Road to Hire and CEO of Red Ventures, for taking the stage and pouring into our participants directly.

A special thank you to our CEO, Dr. Monique Perry-Graves, for leading this organization with the conviction that every hard-working young adult deserves an opportunity.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026. The road ahead is yours, and Road to Hire will be with you every step of the way.