New N.C. A&T Alumna Uses Aggie Experience to Promote Global Education

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 21, 2025) – When she arrived at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University four years ago, Re’Onna Vines sought to grow her clothing brand and study abroad.

Now, having graduated May 10 with a B.S. in public relations from the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Vines is extending her transformational Aggie experience to others on an international scale.

Though she was born and raised in Atlanta’s Techwood Homes community, historically known as the first public housing project in the country, Vines’ family roots run deep in North Carolina, particularly in Princeville — one of the first towns established by freed Black people after slavery — and Tarboro.

One of four children in her family, Vines distinguished herself in high school and had multiple offers of admission from exceptional institutions, including many notable historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). But she said her connection to the state, combined with the allure of attending the nation’s largest HBCU, ultimately drew her to N.C. A&T.

“I didn’t really know much about A&T until move-in day freshman year,” said Vines. “We hadn’t been able to tour schools because of COVID, so I hadn’t really seen the campus. But I quickly became immersed in the culture of pride, resilience and community that defines this university.”

At A&T, Vines was inspired to elevate her clothing brand from Flier Attire to Flier Inspired, providing resources for students to explore global education, and embraced opportunities to broaden her horizons exponentially.

“During my time here, these dreams evolved and came to life in ways I never imagined. I’ve maintained Chancellor’s List [academic] honors, founded Humans First, an organization focused on bridging the gap between students and our University Police Department, and studied abroad twice. My first experience was a summer program in San Jose, Costa Rica, in 2023 and my second was in Barcelona, Spain, in Fall 2024.

“My experiences abroad exposed me to the stark disparities in access to these opportunities — I was the only HBCU student in both programs. That realization sparked the evolution of my business into Flier Inspired, a platform designed to help students, especially those from underserved backgrounds, win scholarships and study abroad. What started as selling attire, defense keychains and syllabus organizers on campus grew into offering coaching services in time management, public speaking and scholarship preparation. Today, Flier Inspired is committed to equipping students with the resources, knowledge and confidence to reach new heights — academically, professionally and personally.”

Vines said her global experiences wouldn’t have been possible without generous support from the Gilman International Scholarship and the Weaver Endowment Scholarship. Thanks to this funding, she was able to immerse herself in the Spanish language and expand her perspective.

“That [support] changed everything for me,” she said. “While in Spain, I traveled to seven countries, gained an irreplaceable educational experience, and built relationships with friends around the world.”

Vines earned several other scholarships over the course of her academic career. These provide not just financial assistance, she said, but truly life-changing support for students’ persistence and success to graduation.

“I’ve been fortunate to attend, and now graduate from, A&T debt-free, thanks to a mix of A&T endowment scholarships and private funding,” she said. “I’m proud to be a UNCF Target Scholar, Ernst & Young College MAP (Mentoring for Access and Persistence) Scholar, Achieve Atlanta Scholar, Thurgood Marshall College Fund Scholar and a City of Atlanta Mayor’s Youth Scholar. These scholarships lifted the financial burdens that often weigh students down and enabled me to fully explore my passions. I am extremely grateful for this support and it fuels my aspirations to help others have these opportunities as well.”

Vines spoke at A&T’s endowed scholarship luncheon May 2 where more than 400 guests gathered to celebrate the donors and beneficiaries of scholarship endowments. She emphasized the importance of scholarships in all forms, which can determine whether a student is able to go to college.

“Looking back, I know none of this would have been possible without N.C. A&T,” she said “This institution gave me the foundation, network and environment to chase my dreams. Because my financial needs were met, I had the space to focus on my passions, and that’s the same gift I hope to give to others through Flier Inspired.”

Vines has begun her third fully funded global experience — an internship with CIEE in Barcelona to assist their high school study abroad students and contribute to their social media and blog efforts.

“Following that, I’ll begin a full-time role as a business analyst with Accenture in Atlanta,” she said. “And, of course, I plan to continue pouring into Flier Inspired, supporting students like me every step of the way.”