JCSU Shining Star Earns Van Wagner Sports and Entertainment Opportunity

Image
Photo of Shakoya Brown

CHARLOTTE, N.C./Feb. 20, 2018 – Shakoya Brown is a sophomore communications arts major at Johnson C. Smith University who has taken advantage of opportunities to jumpstart her career while attending the university. She is what you would call an ‘opportunist.’

In November 2017, she was awarded an internship with Van Wagner Sports and Entertainment, while serving as the university’s Coca-Cola ambassador during the 2017 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Football Championship in Salem, Virginia.

At the championship, she worked with JCSU alumna Allie Butler ’15 and the marketing asset manager for Colleges and Universities at Coca-Cola Consolidated Bottling Company. She showed up. She worked hard.  She shined bright.

As an intern, Shakoya will be responsible for creating and maintaining CIAA social media accounts, by developing a monthly social media calendar for all events during the tournament. She will also be responsible for developing content for community and national partners.

Shakoya is thrilled about the opportunity. Not only will it provide experience, but she will develop skills that will propel her in the future. 

“Interning for Van Wagner Sports and Entertainment will give me the hands-on experience that I need. Being able to work directly with this company as we prepare for the CIAA Basketball Tournament and other sport/entertainment events is exciting and an opportunity that I will cherish forever,” she said.

Through this internship, she hopes to learn about digital media marketing, project management and development. She would also like to gain insight about what it takes to establish corporate sponsorship and maintain media benefits for major companies.

Shakoya is a stellar student. She holds a 3.5 grade point average and she is involved in several campus organizations, such as the Golden Bull Activities Committee, public relations coordinator for the Student Government Association and the Women's Intercultural Exchange.

JCSU has opened a plethora of doors for me. The JCSU community provides me with reassurance that I can accomplish my goals with the right kind of motivation and hard work,” she continued. 

Related Articles

All of this year's Award recipients
Johnson C. Smith University honored a dedicated cohort of donors during the 1867 Giving Society Brunch, held Sunday, April 26, in the New Science Center Innovation Lab. As a signature moment of Founders Week, the gathering brought together alumni, faculty, staff, and community leaders united by a shared belief in the power of philanthropy and the mission of JCSU. Mr. Calvin Banks '69 moderated the event.
View Content
Mecklenburg County Manager Mike Bryant addresses the crowd during the Founders' Day Convocation
Johnson C. Smith University honored its rich history during its annual Founders Day Convocation on April 26, 2026, a culminating event of Founders Week.   Held inside the Jane M. Smith Memorial Church, the convocation brought together students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, and community leaders to reflect on the university's 159-year legacy and its continued role as a transformative institution in the Historic West Corridor.
View Content
Wide shot from the stage at Bowie for the masterclass workshop
On April 24–25, 2026, the Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) Percussion Studio achieved a major milestone with the first-ever “Exchange Masterclass” experience for the JCSU Music Program. Five talented JCSU percussion students traveled to Bowie State University to participate in a collaborative masterclass workshop with Dr. Donnie Johns and the Bowie State University Percussion Ensemble.
View Content
Back To Top