Working with student employees is incredibly rewarding, providing a chance to watch freshmen and sophomores mature into career-ready adults. Even after graduation, many alumni—like Alicia Maupin—stay connected, sharing stories of how their student jobs provided transferable skills and a valuable community.

The new Bandwidth campus in Raleigh is a remarkable sight. With an intentional design centered on employee engagement and wellness—from the sprawling barn to the vibrant fitness center—the space breathes life into the company’s core philosophy. My visit in October wasn’t just about seeing the amenities; it was about catching up with an alumna, Alicia Maupin, and witnessing firsthand how her NC State student experience shaped her successful career.

I was eager to see Alicia, whom I first knew as a student employee at the Wellness and Recreation Center (WellRec). As a Technical Operations Manager at Bandwidth today, she’s a perfect example of the transformation we see in our student staff.

A Tour and a Catch-Up

When I found Alicia, the campus was buzzing—colleagues moving with purpose, grabbing lunch or preparing for a quick workout. It felt alive, much like the bustling atmosphere of Carmichael Gym. I got checked in as a guest, and we started our tour, which eventually led us to the Bandstand cafeteria.

Over a delicious Asian bowl, Alicia and I chatted, catching up on life, kids’ Halloween costumes and reflecting on her time at NC State. She laughed, remembering her time working at WellRec, which was so impactful that she took a picture in her cap and gown in the equipment room with the washing machine.

Her initial expectations for working at WellRec were simple: “That it would be a fun way to meet other students and build on my previous experience.” But the job, which evolved from Facility Assistant to Facility Operations Program Assistant, where she helped lead a team of over 100 students, became so much more.

She shared a defining memory from an early morning opening shift as a Facility Supervisor: “I very specifically remember walking up the back staircase near racquetball courts and thinking, ‘if I could be this happy at work every day forever, that would be a really cool thing.’” It was this feeling of joy and purpose that set her professional compass.

The Whole Person and the Full Circle

It was during our walking tour that Maupin articulated the powerful connection between her past and present, referring to Bandwidth’s value of the “whole person”—the idea that employees can have meaningful work and a full life by enriching the body, mind and spirit.

Maupin noted, “The similarities between WellRec and Bandwidth continue to surprise and delight me.” Her path to Bandwidth was a direct result of her student job. “A huge reason I ended up here was because my freshman year, Bandwidth leased buildings on Centennial campus, and I swiped patrons into the gym,” she said. “Bandwidth employees ‘Bandmates’ were affiliate members, and I got to see this huge group of happy people roll in Monday-Friday… I remember thinking, well, if I ever work a corporate job, I would want it to be somewhere as fun as that.”

Five years later, she was hired by a recruiter who was a former WellRec student employee and colleague from Group Fitness.

Transferable Skills: From Towels to Tech Ops

Maupin continued to highlight her experiences at WellRec and how she uses them daily in her current role. “Every good professional skill I have, I learned from working at the gym,” she said.

Maupin currently leads a team that works 13 hours of operational coverage a day, five days a week and serves on call 24/7. She shared how her student job prepared her for this demanding schedule: “Working in a similar environment of extended hours and rotating staff at Carmichael gave me the foundation needed to understand how to lead a team with whom I don’t always overlap in the office.”

She also credits her time at WellRec with teaching her how to make tasks fun and engaging for her team. “At WelRec, we would make silly videos to help train on mundane tasks (changing chemicals, folding towels), but it was effective,” she shared. “I use that same method now and have been known to run around Bandwidth bleating like a goat for my team or dressing up as an astronaut.”

The Golden Goat Recognition

The “bleating like a goat” reference is more than just a joke; it’s part of Alicia’s unique recognition system.

“When one of my team members crushes a problem or displays superb customer care, I’ve been known to pop up and give one GOAT sound. Think ‘behhhh,’” Maupin said, explaining the sound stands for “greatest of all time.”

This practice has evolved into an official, traveling award. Maupin found a “little golden gal” figurine that now serves as the team’s GOAT recognition. The goat is given at random to celebrate an achievement that is “above and beyond.” It stays on that team member’s desk for a week before returning to “pasture” until its next appearance.

Maupin has also introduced a “Guest Goat” series, where someone outside of her department speaks to her team about their mission and possibilities for collaboration. The goat (and a sticker) is then given to that speaker for a week and called the “Golden Guest Goat.”

Giving Back

Maupin, who also supports Bandwidth Cares, the company’s philanthropic arm. In this role, Alicia helps to facilitate team engagement through philanthropy. She shared a few of her favorite events: “global Spirit Weeks (think adult summer camp where all money raised goes to local branches of Big Brothers Big Sisters); an all-Operations team building and leadership development week; and co-leading a trip to Western NC after Hurricane Helene hit my hometown and other mountain communities.”

The work that Wellness and Recreation does goes beyond just the facility. It is building a community, offering belonging to student employees and gym users, and it is growing leaders who will continue to serve the Triangle and beyond.

“A gift to WellRec is a gift to another nervous freshman who is looking for their community and will find it within Carmichael,” Maupin passionately stated. The connections we build and the skills we teach truly do shape future leaders.

Most recently, Alicia donated to the Campbell and Dodson Family Fund Endowment. She shared,” I got to work with Tyler and Susie during my time at WellRec. Tyler trained me to be a Facility Supervisor and then Program Assistant, where I got to work alongside him. When I think about why WellRec felt like a home to me during my years at State, it is because it was being led by people like Tyler and Susie. I hope my gift will allow both current and future student employees to know that they are not only supported but are a part of a beautiful community that the Campbells were so integral in sustaining.”

Be WellRec’s golden goat and donate today.

A Meaningful Visit

The company’s focus on the “whole person” stuck with me, and on the drive home, I was energized for getting back on campus and continuing the amazing work we do to prepare students for their careers by providing a place for them to move, reduce stress, gain experience and build community.

Thank you, Alicia, for the wonderful tour of the Bandwidth campus. It was inspiring to see your success and to hear how the values and skills you developed at WellRec continue to drive your career and your passion for building community. We look forward to seeing the great work you and your team accomplish next.