Meet Randell Nairn, DBA, a recent UNC-Charlotte alumna, current Senior Finance Analyst at Honeywell, and this year’s Chair of Carolina Youth Coalition's Young Professionals Auxiliary Board.

Over the last few years, recent changes to the NCAA's NIL (name, image, likeness) rules have drastically changed the landscape of college athletics. While student-athletes are now able to use their names and images in ads, appearances and promotions, many have begun to use their influence to support charitable causes they are passionate about. Carolina Youth Coalition College Fellow and current UNC Chapel Hill cheerleader, Alycea Adams, is one of them! Alycea has chosen to use her platform to partner with CYC to raise funds for the organization's upcoming College Signing Day 5K on April 29th! Proceeds raised from the college-themed race will benefit CYC's College Persistence Program which ensures that CYC Fellows attending college have the support they need to persist through college, graduate on time, and launch their career or postgraduate studies. Alycea has set a goal to raise at least $500 for the 5K and is asking for your support! You can donate to her personal fundraiser at www.carolinayouth.org/alycea . A proud Tarheel, she is pursuing a B.S. Information Science and a minor in Entreprenuership with hopes of landing a career in Corporate Technology/Management. Alycea joined CYC just before her senior year at Mallard Creek High School and has seen firsthand how she and her have benefitted from the being a part of the program. "CYC created an extended support system of knowledgeable mentors that guided me throughout the college application process. The anxiety of figuring out how to pay for school, finding out there are so many scholarship opportunities, and internship opportunities are all thanks to you guys for showing me how to search for them. CYC is truly a family and I love connecting with younger CYC students because it's awesome being a person that can give advice. The exposure to internship opportunities has been tremendous! I just finished a spring semester marketing internship with GardHouse thanks to this opportunity being offered by CYC. Even seeing CYC at the Jumpman Invitational in Charlotte, it was heart-warming seeing the students and them asking about college and how I figured things out. Being able to tell them my experience was rewarding to be able to give back," says Alycea. On why she is passionate about using her platform for good, Alycea says, "Being a cheerleader, I have a passion for getting people involved and not being afraid to speak in front of crowds. As a cheerleader, we aren't recognized as "student-athlete" under NCAA rules, so we don't have the plentiful opportunities like other varsity sports. This makes me really excited to tell my story and support this event as a Charlotte native who grew up within Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and now being a student at UNC Chapel-Hill I can use my platform to give back to others." In addition to using her social media platform to raise money and publicize the event, she will also be helping to kick off the 5K during pre-race festivities. He Help Alycea reach her goal here ! Interested in running or walking in the the Signing Day 5K and Fun Run? Visit www.carolinayouth.org/5K to register! Carolina Youth Coalition is a Charlotte-based nonprofit that nurtures and propels high-achieving, under-resourced students to and through college. Learn more at www.carolinayouth.org .