Grace Miles, a spring 2026 Auburn University Honors College graduate, turned a simple LinkedIn message her junior year into nearly $200,000 in revenue as a campus manager for Fresh Prints, an achievement that stands out on a campus known for its entrepreneurial energy and strong Greek life.
Her Auburn experience
Originally from Roswell, Georgia, Miles has lived across the South, but Auburn quickly became home. As a public relations major in the College of Liberal Arts, she embraced what she describes as the “classic college experience,” which helped shape her early sense of independence.
She spent her undergraduate years immersed in Auburn traditions, attending home football games, spending weekends with friends and finding community in the everyday rhythm of classes and campus life. As a student in the Honors College, Miles appreciated the opportunity to explore niche academic interests, as well as the benefits of early registration and access to additional support as she navigated her academic path.
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Her business journey
Miles’ Fresh Prints journey began with a cold direct message on LinkedIn the summer of 2024. She interviewed, landed the role and immediately committed to building something meaningful.
Fresh Prints is a custom apparel company that produces custom shirts and hoodies for Greek-letter clubs, clients and organizations.
Her success, she said, came down to communication and reliability. She responded quickly, stayed available and built trust with clients across sororities, fraternities and student organizations. Even while studying abroad in London, she carried her laptop everywhere — “even to the pub” — to remain accessible.
Balancing classes, Honors commitments and a growing business required discipline. Miles relied heavily on organization, often working between classes and late into the evenings. According to Miles, Auburn’s “work hard, play hard” culture made it feel possible to take on significant responsibilities while still enjoying campus life.
Through Fresh Prints, she developed confidence, negotiation skills and resilience. She learned to reach out to strangers, follow up consistently and manage large orders with professionalism. Handling deals exceeding $10,000 taught her to trust her abilities and advocate for both her clients and her company.
Not every order went perfectly, but she credits Fresh Prints’ support for helping her navigate challenges and keep clients satisfied. A standout moment came early on, when her manager assigned her to oversee most of the fraternities at UCLA, a sign that her work was being recognized.
This summer, she is back in Roswell before moving to Washington, D.C., where she will pursue a master’s in political communication at American University.
Her time at Auburn
Miles said her Honors College experience strengthened her critical thinking and creativity, skills she used daily in her business. It also helped her discover a passion for political communication research, which shaped her postgraduate plans.
She added that the Honors College gave her the discipline, organization and academic confidence needed to balance coursework, leadership roles and the demands of managing a high-volume business.
Miles’ advice to other Auburn students is simple: dive in.
“Half the battle is believing you can do it,” she said. “I’d regret not trying more than I’d regret failing.”
