Story by Rich Carson ’26
Photos by Terry Manning and Rich Carson ’26
Students at USC Upstate connected with local employers at the final Date with Data of the Fall 2025 semester. This annual event for technology and data science majors provides opportunities to network and learn about internships with local employers.
Companies such as Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, Milliken and SafeIT were in attendance, represented in many cases by USC Upstate alumni.
Date with Data challenges students to promote themselves and engage with professionals, explained Georgia McClintock, career counselor in Career Management. She noted tech fields often attract introverts who struggle in social settings. “But through their training and development through the TECHTalk Series, I’m able to go in and help develop them to get a job or internship,” McClintock said.
Many students appreciated that effort. Date with Data “is more about career building and career readiness … I want to take advantage of these situations to build my career,” said Roman Dumych, a double-major in computer science and cybersecurity.
Students also recognized its significance for their futures. “Date with Data is my first real stepping stone into getting any chance at a job or internship in cybersecurity,” said Lanaya Ray, a cybersecurity major.
However, Date with Data is not just for students. It’s also an opportunity for employers to scout for talent right at the source.
“I feel like now more than ever, there’s a real strain in the job market, and local grassroots events like this are really what gets you the job,” said Steve Lowe, a system engineer at SafeIT.
And with many company recruiters coming from Upstate’s ranks, they know how valuable the event can be for securing internships.
“I understand the experience because I was here literally four years ago, doing this experience, and I think it’s just good for us,” said Montyia Cheeseboro, ‘22, an application analyst at Milliken.
Date with Data is one of several career-related events held throughout the year to help students prepare for life after college.
To find out more information about Career Management Services, please visit here.
More photos from Date with Data ‘25 can be found on our Flickr album.