BravesCon 2025

On February 21 and 22, 2025, the James B. Chavis Student Center will be hosting BravesCon, UNC Pembroke's own comic-con event where fans of all things geek and pop culture come together! Experience an action-packed day filled with cosplay, gaming, art, panels, and more. Whether you’re a comic book aficionado, anime lover, or a superhero fan, BravesCon has something for everyone.

This year's partners include: Anime Club, Beyond the Lines, K-Revolution, eSports Club, and the HawksNest.

Be sure to register to receive the full schedule of events!

REGISTRATION

Registration is now open! Attendance to BravesCon is free, and we ask students, faculty, and staff to register so they receive the full schedule of events via email prior to the beginning of the event.

Please note that there will not be an opportunity for online attendance at this time.

Register to Attend

BREAKOUT SESSION SCHEDULE

Thursday, February 20, 2025

Friday, February 21, 2025

Time	Session Title	Session Description	Location
2-3 p.m.	Social Media Influencers: The Good, the Bad, & the Viral	From viral trends to multi-million-dollar brand deals, social media has redefined what it means to be a celebrity. This session explores the power of influencers, the rise of social media-driven fame, and the impact of platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube on pop culture. We’ll examine both the benefits—such as increased representation and direct audience engagement—and the darker sides, including cancel culture, misinformation, and mental health concerns. Join us for an insightful discussion on how social media shapes our perception of success, influence, and authenticity in the digital age.	SC 251
3-5 p.m.	Anime Art Studio	Unleash your creativity at the Anime Art Studio, where you can bring your favorite characters to life using a variety of artistic mediums! Whether you're painting, using clay, or experimenting with digital art, this space is your canvas to explore and create alongside fellow anime fans.	SC 208
4-5 p.m.	Voces en la Moda: Mexican Women’s Fashion as a Tool for Social Expression	Mexican women’s fashion has long been a powerful form of cultural expression, blending traditional elements with contemporary influences. In this session, we will explore how Mexican fashion, particularly through the use of specific colors, patterns, and designs, can be a form of social commentary. Through a discussion of historical and contemporary examples, we will uncover how Mexican women’s fashion is used to speak out about public issues and reflect the intersection of culture, politics, and identity. Join us as we analyze how these colorful expressions on the streets and in the media are becoming powerful statements for change.	SC 213
5-6 p.m.	Swiftly Shaping Culture: The Era-Defining Impact of The Eras Tour	This session will talk about the impact of the Eras Tour by Taylor Swift and how it became the most successful tour in history. The lecture will contain videos from the tour, analyzing each era, the fandom, the ticket buying process and statistics of the tour.	SC 251
6-9 p.m.	Multiverse Mixer	Step into the Multiverse and roll into an epic night of fun at the HawksNest! Whether you're a superhero, space explorer, or fantasy adventurer, this is your chance to connect with fellow fans while enjoying bowling, billiards, and themed activities. Wear a cosplay or rep your favorite fandom (sports jerseys included!)!	HawksNest

Saturday, February 22, 2025

Time	Session Title	Session Description	Location
10 a.m.-2 p.m.	Exhibit Hall	Browse an exciting marketplace filled with student artists selling their original artwork, comics, and crafts. Support student organizations as they host fundraisers, offering exclusive merch, games, and interactive experiences.	SC Mall
11 a.m.-12 p.m.	Learn K-Pop Dances with K-Revolution	K-Revolution will be teaching the choreography to Antifragile by popular K-Pop girl group Le Sserafim. Come get a sneak peak at what we have been working on for our talent show performance.	SC Mall
1-2 p.m.	Beyond the Margins: Book Edge Painting Workshop	Give your books a personalized touch and join us for a hands-on workshop where you’ll learn the art of book edge painting!	SC 208
3-4 p.m.	K-Dramas: Story-telling, Culture, & Impact on Youth	This session will explore the unique storytelling techniques, cultural narratives, and social themes that make K-Dramas so compelling. We will discuss how these dramas serve as a bridge to Korean culture, influence global fashion and beauty trends, and shape perceptions of relationships and success among young adults. Through an interactive discussion, we’ll examine the impact of streaming platforms in expanding K-Drama accessibility, the role of social media in fan engagement, and the evolution of narratives tackling contemporary issues like mental health, gender roles, and societal pressures.	SC 213
4-6 p.m.	JackBox Games with eSports Club	Join us as we play all of the Jackbox classics, like Murder Trivia Party, Fakin' It, and Guesspionage!	SORC, SC 225
6-9 p.m.	A Night of Fandom	Join us for A Night of Fandom - where fans of all fandoms can come together to compete for prizes! The night will begin with our Fandom Fight Club where we will debate: Who would win in a battle - One Punch Man or Goku? Who are the better mystery solvers - Scooby and the Gang or the Winchesters? Which was the better series - Twilight or Harry Potter? After fight club, we will move into Fandom Feud, where four teams of 5 will compete for prizes!	Annex

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE

Wear a cosplay or rep your favorite fandom at the Multiverse Mixer! Taking place Friday, Feb. 21 from 6-9 p.m. in the HawksNest.

This year's Exhibit Hall will be taking place Saturday, February 22, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Student Center Mall.

Join us for Fandom Fight Club, followed by two rounds of Fandom Feud! Debate and compete to win prizes on Saturday, February 22, from 6-9 p.m. in the Annex.

Bring your own book or try the first few chapters of a new book at our "Book Nook"! Taking place Thursday, February 20 from 7-9 p.m. in the Annex.

To be announced.

If you need an accommodation to access the program and/or program materials, please contact Sam Hauser at 910.775.4744 no later than five business days prior to the program. However, a good faith effort will be made for any request made less than five days in advance.

BravesCon is sponsored by the James B. Chavis Student Center.

For more information, contact Sam Hauser at shauser@uncp.edu or 910.775.4744.