Great Grads 2026: Stanley St. Vilus
St. Vilus finds community, leadership and a crown at JCSU
By Joshua Nypaver
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Charlotte native Stanley St. Vilus knew he wanted to pursue an education in finance. As Charlotte is a major business and financial hub, he found a university in his backyard where he could achieve those goals. In the process, he also found community and unlocked his leadership potential.
His first impressions of the University were of the close-knit, family-friendly vibe. He also liked the fact that everyone knew each other.
“I met all my best friends at Golden Bull Academy,” said St. Vilus. “Everybody’s friendly, nice, caring, and it was definitely a place I knew I wanted to be around.”
He quickly learned college life requires more discipline than high school, but he says his parents gave him the push that he needed to make that transition, letting him know that he was “out of our nest.” They told him that everything that he does now is up to him, letting him know that “if you mess up, you’re the only one you can blame for it.”
His lowest point was during Sophomore year when the grind of schoolwork, fraternity life, and SGA was getting to him. He says two things picked him up and helped him move forward: his relationship with God and learning to prioritize his time. He also credits his parents with giving him a strong foundation in faith.
“They told me that in any situation, the first thing you do is pray. Just pray about it, then you work, you work toward what you prayed for,” said St. Vilus.
Between his growing relationship with God, instilled by his parents and their values, and his newfound time management skills, St. Vilus began to shine. He pledged Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., after the support that group had given him when he first set foot on campus.
“They were so close-knit, and when I came on campus, they sort of took me as their little brother. So, I just wanted to give back to a fraternity that gave to me,” he explained.
This transformation allowed him to become who he is now.
“I learned to grow from a little kid to a man in a sense,” he explained.
In his junior year, he was approached by the Director of Student Leadership and Engagement, Anthony Brown, about running for Mister JCSU, a role he never saw for himself.
“To be honest, I thought Royal Court was a bougie lifestyle. I used to be one of the people who are like, ‘man, all they do is wear suits, just wave and smile,’” explained St. Vilus.
Brown encouraged him by letting him know that it was about leading and representing the University, telling him he thought he would be good in the role since he was known around campus and had been an involved student.
St. Vilus began to see the role in a different light, understanding what goes on behind the scenes, and the suits and the waving and seeing it for what it is: an opportunity to lead.
During his reign as Mister JCSU, he has striven to remain humble and not to think himself above anyone else because of his title. He strived to remain relatable and approachable to his fellow students.
“You’re going to see me on the block, laughing with people. You’ll see me in the cafe doing the same stuff I was doing as a freshman, junior or sophomore,” he said. “I realized that it is the person who makes the role, it’s not the role that makes you.”
St. Vilus also noted his mentors in his collegiate journey. Dr. Cheryl Curtis was one of the first and vital to his success.
“I hated writing papers, and she always assigned writing papers. She helped me grow in that space,” St. Vilus explained. “Being able to put my thoughts to paper, I can talk all day, but she helped me transform my thoughts and words into typing.”
He also credits Ashley Bellinger, Dr. Lucinda Blue, and Dr. Maureen Leary with mentoring him and helping him to grow.
St. Villlus credits them and his alma mater with his starting position as a Global Risk Associate at Bank of America in Uptown Charlotte.
“Career services, they definitely prepared me with resume workshops, career development, and interview practice,” he said. “I feel like our career services are the best that you could run into, especially in Charlotte.”
He did say he will also miss the social life at JCSU as he prepares to leave.
“Being able to interact with the student body is something I never took for granted. Whether we partied on the block, whether we were at the plots, Humanities lawn; those are the memories that you go home, and you’re like ‘wow, that was a really good time.’” St. Vilus explained.
He does have some advice for freshmen starting at JCSU next year.
“Be uncomfortable. Put yourself in uncomfortable situations. Never think that you are too good for it to happen to you.