Students Toured Carowinds for Industry Networking

The UNC Themed Entertainment Association hosted a field trip to the Charlotte park for students.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Theme Parks

Screen-print poster illustration showing a stylized steel roller coaster track and structural beam, evoking theme park engineering and career exploration. — Students from UNC, Duke, and N.C. State visited Carowinds in Charlotte this week to explore professional career paths within the themed entertainment industry. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Approximately 75 students from UNC, Duke, and N.C. State visited Carowinds to explore themed entertainment careers. The group engaged with park leadership and toured ongoing infrastructure projects.

Why it matters

The trip aimed to inspire students to pursue professional paths within the themed entertainment industry. By connecting with executives and touring active construction sites, attendees gained firsthand technical insights.

A total of 75 students participated in the park tour, which included a look at the upcoming Rip Roarin' Falls water ride construction site. The event also provided behind-the-scenes access to the Thunder Striker roller-coaster.

The players

Bridgette Bywater

She serves as the president of the Carowinds amusement park in Charlotte.

Chris Foshee

He is the regional public relations manager for Six Flags who guided the student tour.

Andrew Stilwell

He is a journalist who provided the initial suggestion to pitch the field trip event to park management.

The details

Students participated in ride tours, a Q&A session with park leadership, and a technical walkthrough of a haunted maze. Attendees viewed design elements of the Jason: Blood Reign attraction with the lights on to understand operational production.

The UNC Themed Entertainment Association chapter was founded in 2025.
The student field trip took place on September 26, 2026.
Carowinds expects to open the Rip Roarin' Falls water ride in 2027.

Roadmap

This event reflects the broader industry trend of building pipelines between university programs and professional entertainment venues. By engaging with student organizations, parks can cultivate future technical talent to sustain long-term operational growth.

Visitors to Carowinds may notice ongoing construction efforts throughout the park as it prepares for new attractions. Those tracking park expansions can look forward to the 2027 opening of new aquatic facilities.

The takeaway

Networking events at major venues help students demystify the complex technical production processes used in modern entertainment. Aspiring professionals can benefit from seeking out direct access to executive Q&A sessions to understand industry career requirements.