Martin Center Madness: spotlighting competition, community and mentorship
March 12, 2026
On Friday, March 13, the College of Charleston’s Martin Center for Mentorship in Communication and the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce come together to host Martin Center Madness, a dynamic event designed to celebrate mentorship, community engagement and the spirit of connection that defines both organizations.
The meeting will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the School of Education, Alumni Center, 86 Wentworth Street, Charleston.
Inspired by the excitement of NCAA basketball tournament season, Martin Center Madness combines friendly competition with purposeful, skill-building activities. Participants will respond to a communication challenge while connecting with mentors, building relationships with peers and testing their ability to pitch workable solutions in a fast-paced sprint environment.
“We are deeply grateful to the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce for their partnership and for providing a meaningful, live prompt that allows our students to engage with authentic community needs,” said Beth Goodier, director of the Martin Center for Mentorship in Communication. “With the guidance of our Department of Communication faculty and National Advisory Council members as mentors, this event reflects the very heart of our mission: experiential learning, mentorship and strong community collaboration.”
The partnership brings together academic insight and business expertise, creating an environment where students can apply classroom knowledge to a real-world challenge. By collaborating with business leaders, participants gain valuable exposure to professional expectations while strengthening their creative and strategic skills.
“We’re excited to partner with the College of Charleston for Martin Center Madness and give students the opportunity to work on real-world communications challenges,” said Erin Aylor, senior vice president of marketing and events for the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce. “Experiences like this help strengthen their skills and better prepare them for the workplace. By partnering with the college, we’re creating meaningful learning opportunities that connect students directly to the needs of our business community.”
The Martin Center for Mentorship in Communication exists to cultivate meaningful mentor relationships that empower students to grow personally and professionally, and Martin Center Madness serves as a high-energy extension of that mission, reminding participants that success rarely happens alone.
Please see agenda below.
Event Agenda:
10:45 a.m.: Team Check In
11:00 a.m.: Networking Lunch and Welcome
11:30 a.m.: Team Challenge Review and Sprint Start
1:30 p.m.: Pitch Presentations Begin
2:00 p.m.: Awards Ceremony
About the Martin Center
The Martin Center for Mentorship in Communication was founded in 2023 with a mission to inspire and develop a future generation of leaders and mentors among today’s outstanding communication students, and to foster more robust relationships between those who educate and those who practice in the communications field. https://charleston.edu/
