• by Tanya Gazdik , June 8, 2023

TV host, actor and mentor Terrence J poses for a photo with the 2023 Chevrolet Discover the Unexpected HBCU fellows. Photo credit: Jo Lynn Lewis

Chevrolet and the National Newspaper Publication Association are kicking off  the seventh year of an internship program for students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities .

Ten students will gather in Detroit to start a 10-week immersive internship in marketing and communications, learning content creation and familiarizing themselves with the technological advancements that power the automotive industry. 

The “Discover the Unexpected” internship program aims to foster the next generation of marketers and journalists to create a future diverse pipeline. Television host and actor Terrence Jenkins (known as Terrence J) returns to DTU for his third year as an ambassador.

The students will work alongside journalists and Chevrolet marketing teams while experiencing the all-new 2024 Chevrolet Trax on a group road trip to grow their professional skills, collaborate on assignments and document their journey on social media.

The internships take place from June 5 to August 11, commencing in Detroit with a three-day boot camp. Upon completion of the program, Chevrolet and the NNPA will award each fellow $18,000 between scholarships and stipends, totaling over $750,000 to date.

The 2023 DTU mentors and ambassadors, all HBCU graduates, will provide professional insight, encouragement and advice to students throughout their internship. 

"Having support and opportunities during your college years is invaluable and will set you on a path of lifelong success,” Jenkins says in a release.

This summer, two DTU alumni will start their professional careers at General Motors. Raza El, a two-time DTU fellow, will join GMC as an SUV and truck analyst. 

“I presented to the CMOs of GM and Chevrolet, and the research I did was actually used,” El says. “It was work that I could put my name on even as an intern.” 

Ashley McJunkin will join Chevrolet as the Silverado assistant advertising marketing manager. 

“I loved my team, the work environment, culture and values,” McJunkin says. “My DTU experience confirmed that this is what I want to do, and this is the team that I want to be a part of.”

Steve Majoros, Chevrolet chief marketing officer, says the DTU program has grown over the years. 

“DTU reinforces Chevrolet’s commitment to HBCUs, allowing students an opportunity to gain experience, mentorship and support to set themselves up for a successful future,” Majoras says in a release. "DTU helps us keep a finger on the pulse of the younger and more diverse buyers who will drive our future and strengthen the diversity of our marketing talent.”