North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) and Rocky Mount Academy (RMA) are partnering to launch BGA NEXTGEN, a new media production fellowship designed to give RMA students hands-on experience in digital storytelling, video production and post-production while connecting them with college-level mentors and industry-standard technology.
The partnership marks the first collaboration of its kind between North Carolina Wesleyan University’s Bishop Gaming Association (BGA) and a K-12 school, extending NCWU’s commitment to experiential learning beyond the university campus and into the local community.
Through BGA NEXTGEN, a select group of RMA students will work alongside collegiate media specialists Chantoni Grant, NCWU Director of Esports, and Shafiq Nuijts ’26, a current NCWU senior, who will provide mentorship and hands-on instruction in digital media production.
“NC Wesleyan has given me the experience and tools to develop and hone my editing and audiovisual skills,” said Nuijts. “The fact that I am now able to pass that knowledge on to the next generation is both an honor and a privilege.”
What to expect
Students participating in the inaugural fellowship will learn DaVinci Resolve, an industry-standard platform used for professional video editing, visual effects and color grading. Rather than functioning as a traditional extracurricular club, BGA NEXTGEN is structured as a focused, project-based fellowship in which students will create public-facing media for RMA, including athletic highlight videos, hype videos, event documentaries and short-form film content.
Alec Lockhart, RMA Upper School Chemistry & Physics, Esports, Media Productions, shares “We are moving past the traditional model of a high school AV club. By partnering with NC Wesleyan, we’re giving our students a direct pipeline to collegiate-level mentorship and industry-standard tools. This partnership allows our students to treat the Rocky Mount Academy campus as their own production studio, transforming theoretical tech skills into a public-facing, professional portfolio before they even graduate.”
“BGA NEXTGEN is an opportunity to take what our students have learned through the Bishop Gaming Association and create a meaningful pipeline for younger students who are interested in digital media,” said Grant. “We want these students to not only learn the technical skills, but to understand what it means to create content for a real audience, meet deadlines and build a professional body of work.”
The fellowship will be limited to five students during its inaugural fall session. While prior editing experience is beneficial, the program is designed for students who demonstrate creativity, reliability, dedication and a willingness to learn. All necessary cameras, editing hardware and software will be provided.
About BGA
Established in 2019, the Bishop Gaming Association has grown into one of NCWU’s largest and most active student organizations, engaging approximately 80 to 100 students through competitive esports, media production, content creation and professional development. The organization has evolved beyond gaming to provide students with opportunities to develop skills in leadership, communication, teamwork, broadcasting, technology and digital media.
Through BGA Productions, NCWU students have explored areas including broadcasting, journalism, graphic design, social media management, podcasting, streaming and video production. Students have produced original programming, including BGA News, while building portfolios that connect their collegiate experiences to potential career pathways.
The association has also developed community partnerships that provide students with opportunities to gain professional experience. Collaborations with WHIG-TV, for example, have connected BGA students with internships, job-shadowing experiences and broadcast production opportunities.
The Merging of Opportunities
BGA NEXTGEN builds on that experiential learning model by giving RMA students the opportunity to begin developing their own professional portfolios before entering college.
Students who successfully complete the fall fellowship will be positioned to take on leadership roles in the spring and following academic year, helping serve as technical mentors for future participants. The goal is to create a sustainable student-led program in which each cohort helps prepare the next generation.
The inaugural BGA NEXTGEN fellowship will take place in two phases between September and October. By the conclusion of the program, participating students will have completed real-world media projects, gained experience with professional production tools and developed a portfolio that can strengthen their future college and career opportunities.
BGA NEXTGEN reflects the shared commitment of North Carolina Wesleyan University and Rocky Mount Academy to creating meaningful opportunities for students to explore their interests, develop career-ready skills and see what is possible when education and community partnerships come together.
