Potential in Motion
For Corey Iles (’26), the road to graduation wasn’t always clear. But after finding his place in UNT’s Mayborn School of Journalism at the University of North Texas, he connected with mentors who helped him thrive academically and professionally.
In May, Corey not only crossed the commencement stage earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a concentration in public relations, he also proudly addressed the crowd at the UNT Ring Ceremony and Eagle Ring Dive as one of the spring 2026 UNT Ring Award recipients.
These milestones served as a culmination of years of hard work, diligence and commitment during his time at UNT — instilling confidence and allowing Corey opportunities to take risks on himself.
“I transferred here from Tarrant County College, and I chose UNT because it represented a second home to me,” Corey says. “And I was really interested in PR.”
Corey’s interest in PR came after he spent his time at TCC undeclared. The courses he took there inspired him to look into the Mayborn School of Journalism and explore the PR program.
“When I transferred here, one of the main classes I had to take was ‘Fundamentals of PR,’” he says. “I had so many questions. I think the professors saw that I was very determined and ambitious, because I had no idea what I was also getting myself into when I transferred here — I didn’t know anybody, I didn’t know what classes would be like.”
As Corey dived into the coursework and began expanding his PR knowledge and skills, his relationships with several instructors, including Rebecca Poynter, Kimberly Keller and Kate Dubas, deepened.
“They challenged me to think and write strategically and nurtured my academic growth,” Corey says. “I personally like to think of my professors as second mother figures who shaped my success as mentors who believed in me when I questioned myself.”
A particular highlight of Corey’s time at UNT was a three-day crisis communications course he took with Professor Rebecca Poynter in which the students were tasked with preparing a mock press conference and handling communications surrounding a theoretical crisis situation.
“Those three days really helped me with speaking, helped me with strategizing and overall, just helped me to become a better PR professional,” he says. “I never liked fast-paced environments, because I didn’t think I would thrive, and it did catch me for a loop. But I think with this class, if you’re worried about kind of being in a fast-paced environment, it will put you right in the belly.”
Beyond sharpening his strategic communication skills, the course also strengthened his connections within the Mayborn.
“We learned a lot, and the other thing that I liked about it is that we build friendships within the Mayborn community,” he says. “So, not only were there PR students, but there were also students interested in sports journalism, there were advertising students that I made friends with, and photojournalists.”
The challenging coursework combined with caring mentorship bolstered Corey’s confidence in himself as he steps into the next phase of his life and career.
First up, he’s continuing his education by pursuing a master’s degree in digital communication analytics through the Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism.
“You have to challenge yourself,” Corey says. “If you don’t challenge yourself, you don’t grow. That’s why I want to continue to the master’s program, and maybe eventually take on something even more challenging and getting a doctorate. But I believe in challenging myself now that I see my potential here.”
And that potential has become kinetic.
Now, as Corey reflects on his UNT student journey and the ring he will wear going forward, the path ahead is wide open with opportunity.
“This ring represents more than just an achievement to me, it represents a journey of discipline, growth, determination and resilience,” Corey says. “As a non-traditional transfer and commuter student, this ring represents the personal sacrifices I made to get to this point: late night hours studying and countless miles commuting. It doesn’t just symbolize my time here at the University of North Texas, it is also a personal reflection of my transformation here.”
The UNT Alumni Association is proud to help make more UNT class ring dreams a reality through the Ring Program Excellence Endowment — established by dedicated UNT alumna Leah Woodruff Hatfield (’77).
The post Potential in Motion appeared first on UNT Alumni Association.