The Magazine of Elon, Summer 2010

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M A G A Z I N E

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academy:

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CONGRATULATIONS!

The Phoenix overcame a 2–1 deficit with five runs in the final inning to defeat UNC-Greensboro for the SoCon title on May 21.

Breaking through

Fans joined the team May 23 at an NCAA tournament selection show watch party.

In addition to celebrating their Southern Conference tournament title in May, Phoenix so ball players also shared a significant moment in Elon athletics history.

The squad became the first Elon women’s team to win a conference championship since 1999, when women’s soccer took home the Big South title.

Phoenix so ball also became the first Elon women’s sport to claim a SoCon championship since the university joined the conference in 2003–04. By virtue of its SoCon title, the Phoenix earned the university’s first berth in the ncaa Division i So ball Tournament, competing in the Athens (Ga.) Regional.

Despite falling to Radford and Georgia in the double-elimination regional, the Phoenix (38–21 overall, 15–9 SoCon) treasured the experience.

“We were just so excited, all 16 players, coaches and fans, everyone was just so excited to be there,” said junior second baseman Jackie Gonzalez. “You can’t ask for anything be er than that.”

EDITOR

features

summer 2010 vol. 72, no. 3

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alumni profile

healing hands by kristin m. simonetti ’05 Tiffani Bacon G’03 puts her physical therapy skills to the test in Haiti.

Kristin M. Simone i ’05 DESIGNER

Christopher Eyl NEWS EDITOR

Eric Townsend PHOTOGRAPHER

Kim Walker COPY EDITOR

Keren Rivas ’04 CLASS NOTES

Holley Berry

faculty profile

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yin and yang by dave hart Casey DiRienzo and Tina Das merge diverse strengths and personalities to form a successful partnership.

STUDENT WRITERS

Sarah Beth Costello ’11 Robert Wohner ’11 DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSITY RELATIONS

Daniel J. Anderson The Magazine of Elon is published quarterly for alumni, parents and friends by the Office of University Relations.

336-278-7415 EDITORIAL OFFICES

The Magazine of Elon 2030 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244-2020

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early adopters Inaugural graduates set high standards for Elon’s interactive media master’s program.

Class Notes Elon Office of University Relations 2030 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244 E-mail: alumniclassnotes@elon.edu Elon website www.elon.edu Magazine website www.elon.edu/magazine

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cover story

a higher education by eric townsend The Elon Academy began as a college access and academic enrichment program. It evolved into so much more.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES, CHAIR

Mark T. Mahaffey, St. Petersburg, Fla. ELON ALUMNI BOARD, PRESIDENT

Kelli Palmer ’98, Charlo esville, Va. YOUNG ALUMNI COUNCIL, PRESIDENT

Christian Wiggins ’03, Charlo e, N.C. PARENTS COUNCIL, CO-PRESIDENTS

Robert and Kay Norris p’11, Charlo e, N.C. BOARD OF VISITORS, CHAIR

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back to the future Alumni Gym’s renovation shines a spotlight on its rarely told history.

Clifford B. Hardy Jr. ’62, Tampa, Fla. SCHOOL OF LAW ADVISORY BOARD, CHAIR

David Gergen, Cambridge, Mass.

LOVE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADVISORY BOARD, CHAIR

William S. Creekmuir p’09, p’10, Atlanta, Ga. SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY BOARD, CHAIR

Don Bolden, Burlington, N.C.

departments

PHOENIX CLUB ADVISORY BOARD, CHAIR

Mike Cross, Burlington, N.C. DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

Sallie Hu on ’92 DIRECTOR OF PARENT PROGRAMS

Maggie Byerly

Elon News

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Class Notes

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Phoenix Sports

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Making a Difference

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Alumni Action

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contents

the magazine of elon

climbing still higher:

Leo M. Lambert

THE ELON COMMITMENT STRATEGIC PLAN expresses Elon’s desire to support the spiritual development of all students and encourage religious tolerance and understanding » Raise funds to launch a physician assistant graduate program and provide expanded space for the existing doctor of physical therapy proMost visible on campus this summer are project will provide a major boost to Phoenix gram, both of which meet great societal needs several construction projects. Three new athletics until the convocation center envi- » Plan, in cooperation with the Town of Colonnades residence halls and five new Greek sioned as part of the Elon Commitment is Elon, to create a more vibrant retail district houses in Loy Center represent the start of a realized later in the decade. Alumni Field near campus that will attract private enterprise major initiative to add 1,600 beds in new con- House adjacent to Rhodes Stadium is on and provide appealing services to the campus figurations of living and learning communities, schedule for a December 2010 opening. The community substantially increasing the percentage of stu- playing surface at Latham Park is undergoing » Welcome Tim Peeples as a new associate dents living on campus. Architectural planning a complete renovation, adding a new artificial provost for faculty affairs to support and turf infield and an irrigated outfield. advance greater opportunities for faculty scholWhile construction projects evolve before arship and creative endeavors, one of the best our eyes each day, much less visible but criti- investments we can make in strengthening the Critically important cally important work is being done to move campus learning environment and advancing work is being done Elon from the cusp of national recognition Elon’s reputation for first-rank academics to a university of national stature by the end » Launch a new faculty and staff leadership to move Elon from of this decade. Among the initiatives are the development program, because in order to the cusp of national achieve our institutional ambitions, strong following: leadership at every level of the university must recognition to a » Complete a review of the general studies be carefully cultivated. university of national curriculum, ensuring Elon’s excellent and innovative undergraduate foundation prepares The ascent envisioned in the Elon stature by the end students for leadership as global citizens Commitment is steeper and more challengof this decade. » Expand the national and international fel- ing than any of our previous strategic plans. I lowships advising office, providing students am confident that by our common vision, our with support as they compete for prestigious continued quest toward excellence, and our is also under way to replace the Harper Center graduate fellowships natural instinct to be creative and innovative and Story Center residential complexes near » Begin an international fellows program in all things, we will achieve the next summit.

Lake Mary Nell with creative new housing to attract more undergraduate students from and dining options. around the world to Elon, enriching the learnLeo M. Lambert Alumni Gymnasium is undergoing a ren- ing environment for all President ovation thanks to a major gift from trustee » Complete planning and design of a camJeanne Robertson and her husband, Jerry. This pus multi-faith center, a visible symbol that

Following the board of trustees’ approval of the Elon Commitment strategic plan last December, work on new projects and programs is already under way.

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Elon News

Top students awarded Lumen Prize Thirteen juniors received the 2010 Lumen Prize, the university’s premier award that includes a 15,000 scholarship to support and celebrate students’ scholarly and creative achievements.

Lumen Scholars work closely with their faculty mentors over the final two years of study at Elon. The Lumen Prize funds course work, study abroad, research, internships, and creative productions and performances.

The 2010 winners are: Mary Bedard, of Charlotte, N.C.; Lauren Deaver, of Franklin, Mass.; Kelly Giffear, of Sewell, N.J.; Meagan Harrison, of Kinnelon, N.J.; Daniel Koehler, of Arnold, Md.; Kelly Little, of Charlotte, N.C.; Katherine MacDonald, of Doylestown, Pa.; Jessica McDonald, of Morehead City, N.C.; Ruth Robbins, of Los Angeles; Lauren Stranahan, of Chapel Hill, N.C.; Bryan Strelow, of Roanoke, Va.; Jensen Suther, of Concord, N.C.; and Brittany White, of Charlotte, N.C. Psychology professor Paul Fromson, who chairs the Lumen Prize selection committee, praised the intellectual curiosity and real-world application of the students’ proposals.

“These are significant pieces of work they have chosen to undertake, work that will contribute to their disciplines, their professions and their communities,” Fromson said.

Visit www.elon.edu/lumenprize for more information about the Lumen Prize and the students’ projects .

President Leo M. Lambert, right, with the 2010 Lumen Scholars and professor Paul Fromson, left

elonthon fundraiser tops $100,000

Student leaders for elonthon 2010 presented a check for more than $100,000 to representatives of Duke Children’s Hospital and Children’s Miracle Network at College Coffee on May 11. The total smashed previous fundraising records for Elon’s annual dance marathon, which has been held on campus since 2003.

About 1,100 students, faculty and staff took part in this year’s elonthon, enjoying music, games and, of course, dancing, for 24 consecutive hours.

Throughout the event, participants had a chance to listen to and meet patients and families who have benefitted from treatment at Duke Children’s Hospital.

“To be able to help the kids at Duke Children’s Hospital and participate in a campus-wide philanthropic event is a privilege, and we couldn’t be happier with the funds raised this year,” said senior Michael Duff, elonthon’s executive director.

Former president of Pakistan to speak at Fall Convocation Once described by TIME Magazine as holding “the most dangerous job in the world,” Pervez Musharraf, former president of Pakistan, will deliver the address Oct. 12 at Elon’s Fall Convocation. Musharraf will offer insights about his native land, one of the United States’ most important allies in the global war on terror, as well as the complicated relationship between the Islamic and Western worlds.

Following a distinguished military career, Musharraf, a general in the Pakistani Army, became the nation’s chief executive following a nonviolent

coup in October 1999. After ascending to the presidency in June 2001, Musharraf became one of America’s chief allies in the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks.

In addition to strengthening ties with the West, Musharraf worked to build a democratic, non-fundamentalist Islamic Pakistan. He empowered citizens through a local government system that did not previously exist, increased representation of women in Parliament, allowed multiple television channels for the first time in the nation’s history, and allowed

electronic and print media to operate independent of the government.

After a period of political upheaval in 2007–08, Musharraf resigned in August 2008 under impeachment pressure from Pakistan’s newly elected coalition government. Since leaving the presidency, he has delivered speeches around the world encouraging understanding of his country’s fight against extremism and its critical role in the war on terror. In 2008, he published a memoir, In the Line of Fire.

Pervez Musharraf

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Elon News

“Today you put behind you 16 years of formal education, but you now become students of life. Reflect back on these years and see how you have grown, where your passions (l-r) J. Todd Lee, Jeffrey Pugh, April Post and Eric Hall

are and how you can be a

Faculty recognized for excellence Four Elon faculty were honored May 12 for achievements in scholarship, teaching, mentoring and service at Elon’s annual faculty-staff awards luncheon.

Jeffrey C. Pugh, Maude Sharpe Powell Professor of Religious Studies, received the Distinguished Scholar Award. The author of four books, Pugh is renowned among colleagues in his field for advocating approaches to religious and Christian studies that have contemporary applications. As he has achieved prominence in his field, he also has encouraged his Elon colleagues to engage fully in their scholarly pursuits.

“The significant gains in academic intensity and intellectual depth that have marked Elon’s recent history could not have occurred without the work of faculty members like Jeffrey Pugh,” said a colleague.

J. Todd Lee, professor of mathematics, received the Daniels-Danieley Award for Excellence in Teaching. Lee has an infectious enthusiasm for mathematics and advocates an inquiry-based approach to teaching, two qualities that have enhanced the classroom experience for Elon students.

“He never tells you if you are right or wrong without showing him proof you are sure of your answer,” a student said. “It’s never a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ but also a ‘why,’ which makes all the difference.”

Eric Hall, associate professor of exercise science, received the Ward Family Excellence in Mentoring Award. An accomplished scholar, Hall has spent his past 10 years at Elon instilling a love of research in his students. In the past year alone, he mentored two students in research that won first prize in a prestigious regional conference in their field.

“Dr. Hall taught me the research process and constantly made himself available to assist me,” said a student. “He was hands-off when necessary, so I could make my own mistakes and then learn from them.”

April Post, lecturer in Spanish, received the Periclean Award for Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility. A 2001 Elon alumna, Post returned to Elon in 2004 and teamed up with one of her former professors to establish the Amigos Club. The club pairs Elon students with English learners in the Alamance-Burlington School System, engaging them in service, cultural and educational activities.

“She has used her skills and talents as a participant and a facilitator to introduce students to worlds they might not have explored on their own,” said a colleague.

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positive member of humanity.”

Laith al-Majali ’05, an award-winning filmmaker, delivered the address at Elon’s 120th Commencement on May 22. Visit www.elon.edu/magazine for a video excerpt from Majali’s address.

Elon News

Federal grant supports campus energy initiative

Elon will receive up to $200,000 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help with the installation of solar thermal systems in campus buildings.

Colonnades Dining Hall will get a 30-panel solar thermal system, and similar systems will be installed in additional residence halls using the federal funds.

Elon’s solar project is among 18 initiatives to be funded throughout North Carolina using a total of $2.3 million in federal grants. The solar thermal systems, along with the project currently under construction that will use geothermal technology to provide heating and cooling to the three new Colonnades residence halls, represent another step toward Elon’s goal of reducing its carbon footprint.

Railway underpass opens

Work crews finished a new pedestrian tunnel under the railroad tracks on campus in May, fully opening Lebanon and Trollinger avenues to traffic just in time for Commencement.

Construction on the underpass, which links main campus areas to South Campus, began in August 2009.

The tunnel is approximately 12 feet wide and 45 feet long and runs 15 feet below the tracks. It includes stairways and accessibility ramps on both sides of the tracks, as well as six security cameras. The project was jointly funded by the North Carolina Railroad Company and the university.

Elon among nation’s ‘greenest’ universities

Elon is ranked one of the “greenest” schools in the nation in The Princeton Review’s Guide to 286 Green Colleges.

The guide, produced in partnership with the United States Green Building Council (usgbc), noted several criteria in its list, including commitment to the usgbc’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design building certification program, environmental literacy programs, formal sustainability committees, use of renewable energy sources, and recycling and conservation programs. The Princeton Review highlighted Elon’s Eco-Reps

Crowe honored for ‘groundbreaking scholarship’ David M. Crowe, professor of history, received the Richard Stites Senior Scholar Award at the annual meeting of the Southern Conference on Slavic Studies in March. The award recognized Crowe’s “rich, diverse body of groundbreaking scholarship” in the field of Slavic, East European and Eurasian studies.

“As academics, we live in a very critical world and to receive that kind of recognition and praise is both humbling and gratifying,” David M. Crowe Crowe said.

One of Elon’s most prolific scholars, Crowe is the author of three important books in the field of Slavic studies: The Holocaust: Roots, History and Aftermath; A History of Gypsies of Eastern Europe and Russia and Oskar Schindler: The Unknown Account of His Life, Wartime Activities and the True Story of The List. The books were the focus of a special panel in Crowe’s honor at the SCSS meeting.

The award also highlighted Crowe’s leadership and service to his profession. He is president emeritus of the Association for the Study of Nationalities at Columbia University, chair of the North Carolina Council on the Holocaust and a member of the Education Committee for the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. A popular faculty member among his students and colleagues at Elon, Crowe was the inaugural recipient of the university’s Distinguished Scholar Award in 2000.

peer education program, community garden and environmental awareness events such as Campus Sustainability Day, Earth Week, and the annual powerless and RecycleMania competitions.

Elon Law establishes national moot court competition

Faculty, staff and members of the Elon University School of Law advisory board gathered in April to announce the creation of the Billings, Exum and Frye National Moot Court Competition.

The tournament was named for Rhoda Bryan Billings, James G. Exum Jr. and Henry E. Frye, three former chief justices of the North Carolina Supreme Court and members of the school’s advisory board. George R. Johnson Jr., dean of the school, said the competition will honor the leadership,

professionalism and service the three justices have exhibited throughout their careers.

The inaugural competition will be held in spring 2011. It will focus on constitutional law and public policy, celebrating student excellence in oral and written appellate advocacy.

Law students from across the country will be invited to compete for the Chief Justices’ Cup, which will be presented to the best-performing moot court team.

(l-r) Henry E. Frye, Rhoda Bryan Billings and James G. Exum Jr.

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Elon News

Alumni selected for prestigious new posts In June, two Elon alumni, Navy Vice Adm. William E. Gortney ’77 and Deborah A. Yow-Bowden ’74, achieved significant milestones in their respective careers.

President Barack Obama nominated Gortney to serve as director of the joint staff, a position that will have him answering directly to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. After confirmation by the U.S. Senate, Gortney will assist in managing the joint staff under Adm. Mike Mullen.

Gortney currently serves as commander of the U.S. Naval Forces in Central Command and as commander of William E. Gortney ’77 the 5th Fleet in Bahrain. The post has been his third command tour in the U.S. Central Command area of operations, supporting maritime security and combat operations for operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

He holds a master of arts in international security affairs from the Naval War College and has flown more than 5,000 mishap-free hours in the A-7E Corsair II and FA-18 Hornet.

Yow-Bowden was named director of athletics at North Carolina State University, becoming the first woman to head the Wolfpack athletics program. A North Carolina native and a member of the Elon University Board of Trustees, Yow-Bowden was named one of “The 10 Most Powerful People in College Sports” by The Chronicle of Higher Education in 2007. Since she became director of athletics at the University of Maryland at College Park in 1994, the Terrapins have won 20 national titles in various sports. She has served as president of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and on the NCAA Management Council and the NCAA Division I budget committee.

Prior to her appointment at Maryland, Yow-Bowden served as athletics director at St. Louis University and held administrative posts at the University of Florida and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Deborah A. Yow-Bowden ’74

Professor authors book on India and World Bank

A new book by Jason Kirk, assistant professor of political science, examines the complex historical relationship between the World Bank and its largest borrower, India, while suggesting ways Jason Kirk for the bank to adapt to new economic realities in the 21st century.

Published this spring by Anthem Press, India and the World Bank: The Politics of Aid and Influence tracks the development of India’s economy since its independence from Great Britain in 1947. In April, Kirk was invited by the World Bank’s India Club to speak about the book in a presentation moderated by the bank’s country director for India. The presentation came on the eve of the annual spring meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C.

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U.S. Sen. Kay R. Hagan, D-N.C., speaking at Elon University School of Law Commencement on May 23.

Hagan encouraged the Class of 2010 to become leaders in shaping the law for the betterment of society.

Elon News

African-American alumni set goals for 2010–11

More than 50 African-American alumni of the past four decades gathered on campus April 23–24 for the first African-American Alumni Summit. The group focused on ways Elon’s more than 1,200 African-American alumni can partner with the university to engage in the life of the campus, particularly for African-American students.

Mike Duggins ’92, president of the African-American Alumni Group, led the alumni in setting a number of goals for the 2010–11 academic year, including: » Creating a leadership structure for the African-American Alumni Group no later than Homecoming 2010 » Having an alumni presence at s.m.a.r.t. (Student Mentors Advising Rising Talent) Orientation at the opening of school in August 2010 » Fully endowing the African-American Alumni Scholarship by May 2011 » Creating a website for the African-American Alumni Group.

At the conclusion of the summit, alumni attended the annual Phillips-Perry Black Excellence Awards Dinner held in Alumni Gym, where more than 100 students received awards for academic excellence.

Members of the African-American Alumni Group discuss their goals for the coming year.

Three elected to board of trustees “It was you, the students of Elon, who counseled low- and moderate-income citizens at your school’s tax clinic, who joined student organizations, co-sponsored public forums on the law and participated in your own community service initiatives. I can tell you that type of work does

The Elon University Board of Trustees elected three new members at its spring meeting. W. Eric Hinshaw of Durham, N.C., Dalton L. “Mac” McMichael Jr. of Stoneville, N.C., and James K. Sankey of Charlotte, N.C., will join the board at its fall meeting in October.

Hinshaw has served as chairman of the board and CEO of Kingsdown, Inc., since 1982. In 2009, he received the Frank S. Holt Jr. Business Leadership Award from Elon’s Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, the university’s highest honor for business leadership. An Alamance County native, Hinshaw graduated from Duke University, where he is a past member of the advisory board for the Fuqua School of Business and a winner of the prestigious Charles A. Dukes Award.

McMichael is founder and president of McMichael Mills, Inc., which manufactures high-quality covered elastic yarns. He is the brother of fellow trustee Gail Drew, father of 1999 graduate Paul Brigman and son of the late Dalton L. McMichael Sr., a generous Elon benefactor for whom the university’s science center is named. Through the McMichael Family Foundation, Mac McMichael and his siblings have made major gifts to support scholarships for students at Elon University School of Law. Sankey is president and CEO of InVue Security Products, which sells to top global retailers in more than 50 countries and has offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. He is member of the board of trustees of Theranova, a humanitarian prosthetics and orthotics clinic in Romania, and previously has served on the board of Providence Day School in Charlotte, N.C. Sankey and his wife, Beth, live in Charlotte and are parents of two Elon students.

not go on at every law school.

It’s what is going to make you stand out from your peers from other law schools.”

W. Eric Hinshaw

Dalton L. McMichael Jr.

James K. Sankey

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Update

BY JALEH HAGIGH

EVER ELON CAMPAIGN ENTERS FINAL STAGE The final phase of Ever Elon: The Campaign for the Future of Our University is under way. As of late June, donors had contributed more than $78 million in gifts and pledges toward the $100 million goal. Alumni, parents and friends have responded generously to the primary Ever Elon goal to build the endowment to support students, faculty and facilities.

scholarships, faculty and engaged learning programs such as study abroad, research and service learning; $20 million for annual giving of all types; and $10 million for building the campus. During the campaign, supporters have created more than 125 new endowed scholarships while other donors have contributed to existing scholarship funds, ensuring “Ever Elon has been the university’s larg- campaign have made in transforming this in- that Elon remains accessible to students from est and most transformative fundraising cam- stitution. The need is still great and the op- a variety of backgrounds and experiences. paign to date,” says Chuck Davis, campaign portunities are plentiful for everyone to make As part of efforts to complete the camdirector. “Now is the time for all friends of a difference.” paign next year and build a stronger culture this remarkable institution to come together Progress has been made in meeting the of philanthropy for the future, the university to help us meet the $100 million goal. We Ever Elon objectives, which include rais- will focus on increasing participation in anhave seen the impact that early gifts to the ing $70 million for endowment to support nual giving, particularly among alumni. In

Ever Elon: The Campaign for the Future of Our University TOTAL CAMPAIGN GOAL

100,000,000

As of June 22, the Ever Elon Campaign has reached 78 percent of the 100 million

TOTAL COMMITMENT TO DATE

goal with 78,816,105 raised in cash and pledges. Endowment includes designated

78,816,105

and undesignated planned gifts, and operations includes annual gifts of all types.

ENDOWMENT GOAL

70,000,000

RAISED TO DATE

48,754,078

Call to action The final push is on, and Elon is counting on its loyal benefactors to make a commitment to the campaign and help the university reach the 100 million goal.

ANNUAL OPERATIONS GOAL

20,000,000

RAISED TO DATE

20,068,269

CAPITAL GOAL

10,000,000

TO MAKE A GIFT NOW, VISIT

www.elon.edu/makeagift

RAISED TO DATE

9,993,758

Learn more at www.everelon.org

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the magazine of elon

Frank Lyon ’71 announces the establishment of the Weymouth Scholarship at April’s celebration of the inaugural class of Elon Academy scholars. The scholarship will provide assistance for scholars planning to attend college.

addition to the traditional options of making annual gifts to support the Elon Fund, Phoenix Club or Elon University School of Law, alumni will have the opportunity to make gifts to support the schools of communications and education, the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business and Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences.

lyons support elon academy Elon trustee Frank R. Lyon ’71 and his wife, Natalie, of New Canaan, Conn., have made a generous gift to continue their support for the Elon Academy, an academic enrichment program for Alamance County high school stu- Weymouth, Natalie Lyon’s mother. Frank dents with significant financial need and no Lyon announced the gift in April during a family history of attending college. campus reception celebrating the inaugural The Lyons have endowed a scholarship to academy class (see related story on page 20). help students attend college following gradu“I am the luckiest guy in the world,” Lyon said. “All my life I’ve been in the giving-back mode, and I’m not about to stop now.”

The Lyons have been generous donors to Elon, contributing to scholarships, the Phoenix Club and the Ernest A. Koury Sr. Business Center. The couple are members of The Elon Society President’s Circle and the Palladian Society.

“I am the luckiest guy in the world. All my life I’ve been in the giving-back mode, and I’m not about to stop now.” – frank lyon ’71

fundraising under way for multi-faith center

ation from the academy, a three-year program that combines monthlong summer sessions on Building a multi-faith center is one of several campus with academic and cultural activities capital projects in the campaign. Fundraising throughout the year. The academy seeks to in- has begun for the center, which will offer spire students to attend four-year colleges or students a welcoming place to practice their universities and to assume leadership roles in faiths and learn about other religions. Elon their communities. will raise $2 million for the center, which will This is the couple’s second major gift in be prominently located on campus. as many years to support the academy. Their “The multi-faith center will be a model most recent gift will endow the Weymouth for other institutions to emulate,” says Smith Scholarship, named for the late Katharine Jackson, vice president for student life and

dean of students. “The center will be designed to prepare students for lives of service, leadership and reconciliation in a diverse world.”

The center affirms Elon’s commitment to nurturing a diverse campus community and preparing students to thrive in an increasingly multicultural world. Programs and activities will promote interfaith understanding and spiritual growth and encourage the study of religions, enabling students to see the impact of religion and culture on the world. Religious community houses near the center also are planned to allow students of similar fa faiths to gather for discussions and programs. s.

The multi-faith center will include de a cchapel, prayer and meditation spaces, a multipurpose multipur e room, study and lounge areas, and nd a kitc kitchen hen equipped to meet the dietary needs eds of vario various ous ou faith traditions. The multi-faith h center w willl serve as the new home for Elon’s Truitt Cen Center nter for Religious & Spiritual Life, which coordico nates the university’s religious and nd sp spiritual life programming for Elon’s predominantly dom minantly Christian faith communities and emerging faith communities, including students dents whoo identify themselves as Jewish, Muslim slim and d Hindu.

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Phoenix Sports

elonphoenix.com

The Rookie

BY JEN BLACKWELL

Senior Urysla Co!on shines in first and only season with Elon track and field A week a er finishing her Elon basketball career, former Phoenix forward Urysla Co on donned a new uniform, one she hadn’t worn in nearly four years. Co on spent the last three months of her collegiate athletic career as a walk-on member of the Elon outdoor track and field team.

three is the magic number 3 – Meet titles for Co on during the 2010 season (Coastal Carolina and Liberty invitationals, SoCon Championships)

3 inches – Co on’s margin of victory in the SoCon Championships

3rd place – Co on’s finish in the 2006 North Carolina State High School Championships (42-9)

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“I threw the shot put in high school and even finished third at the North Carolina state meet, but when I signed to play basketball at Elon, it was all hoops all the time,” says Cotton, who competed for Apex High School near Raleigh, N.C. “After my senior season of basketball, I talked to the track coaches about walking on and, luckily, they were very receptive and welcomed me with open arms.”

Matt Roden, the assistant track coach who works with Elon’s throwers, was one of those coaches.

“As a coaching staff, we were aware of how well Urysla threw the shot put in high school, so we were pleased when she asked us to be a part of our team this spring,” Roden says. “She had a little rust we needed to work through early on, but once everything started to click, it was a lot of fun watching her throw.”

Cotton enjoyed immediate success, shattering the previous Elon record by nearly three feet with a throw of 44-9¾ on her way to the shot put title at the Coastal Carolina Invitational, the first outdoor track meet of the season. For her efforts at the meet, Cotton was tabbed the Southern Conference Field Athlete of the Week and later earned conference Field Athlete of the Month honors for March.

“I knew that I had the confidence of my teammates, but I was still nervous going into my first track meet,” Cotton says. “After each throw, I felt like I could throw it farther. When I was crowned the champion at the Coastal Carolina meet, I couldn’t believe it!”

Despite not throwing the shot put since high school, Cotton contends that playing Division I basketball helped her develop into a stronger, more successful shot putter. Training with the Phoenix women’s basketball team helped her keep in shape and develop a competitive edge that she used throughout the track season, even through a nagging shoulder injury.

“I learned that you had to play through the pain if you wanted to succeed,” she says.

“I didn’t have a choice but to push myself because it was just me against myself in the shot put circle.”

Cotton capped off her impressive two-sport career at Elon with a throw of 43-11¼ at the Southern Conference Championship meet, earning the shot put title.

“I had so much confidence going into the SoCon meet,” she says. “It’s difficult to put into words how I felt when I won. It was unbelievable.”

Phoenix Sports

Expect ‘grit’ from Phoenix soccer in 2010 Elon goalkeeper Clint Irwin enters his senior year this fall as captain of the men’s soccer squad. He reflects on his time training with a professional team this summer and shares his expectations for Phoenix soccer’s upcoming season.

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1. Jimmy Reyes 2. Ken Ferrer 3. Thomas Girdwood 4. Justin Hilt 5. Mike Melillo 6. J.D. Reichenbach 7. Daniel Britt

q: Who did you train with this summer?

Phoenix baseball sends 7 to pros

irwin: I trained with the Carolina Railhawks under-23 team this sum-

BY CHRIS RASH

mer based in Cary, N.C. The coach there, Dewan Bader, also coached Greg Mader (Elon senior) and Gabe Latigue (sophomore) during their club soccer years. He has a good relationship with Coach (Darren) Powell, so I think that helped in making the connection. q: What is your daily routine like when playing summer soccer? irwin: I tended to stay pretty busy. A typical day consisted of either run-

ning or lifting in the morning with current Elon players that were here on campus. Coach Powell and Coach (John) McCallister put together a program to make sure we’re ready for the season and we followed that pretty closely. I was able to spend the midday hours watching a lot of World Cup soccer, and at night, I traveled to training with the Railhawks in Cary. I’d get back around 10 p.m., go to sleep, wake up and do it all again. q: As a captain, did you keep up with the team’s underclassmen to

make sure they were sticking with their summer training plans? irwin: With the other captains, I kept in touch with our teammates

pretty well. Whether it was through text or by a phone call, we kept tabs on what everybody was up to, made sure everyone was staying fit and getting some touches in. This group had been very dedicated during offseason training and the coaches and captains had tremendous trust in the guys that they would stay in good condition for the season.

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or Elon baseball, success might be repetitive, but it never gets old.

For the third consecutive year, the Phoenix qualified for the ncaa Division I Tournament and saw a handful of players selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Dra . On the heels of its 38-win regular season, the Phoenix earned the No. 3 seed in the Atlanta Regional before bowing out to Alabama and Mercer.

Junior le -hander Jimmy Reyes, the ace of head coach Mike Kennedy’s pitching staff, was the first of the Phoenix to be selected. The Texas Rangers chose Reyes in the seventh round.

“This is bi ersweet for me. Elon has been everything I could have asked for and more,” Reyes said. “These coaches have been able to bring in guys who weren’t projected to be taken in the first 10 rounds and they got the best out of them.”

Also dra ed were junior pitcher Thomas Girdwood (15th round, Minnesota Twins); senior pitcher Daniel Bri (29th round, Milwaukee Brewers); senior catcher Mike Melillo (31st round, Milwaukee); junior pitcher Ken Ferrer (35th round, Cleveland Indians); and senior outfielder Justin Hilt (36th round, Arizona Diamondbacks). Following the dra , senior pitcher J.D. Reichenbach signed a free-agent contract with Cleveland.

q: What are your expectations for the 2010 Phoenix soccer season? irwin: I think the 2010 squad will be a little bit different from what fans

are used to seeing under Coach Powell. The years that I’ve been here, we’ve gotten a reputation for playing some nice passing soccer. I think fans will still see that, but they will also see more grit and determination. That’s not to say that past teams have been lacking in this area, but I think this group will rely more on it. Also, with the amount of starters we lost (to graduation), there will be some younger faces out there.

Read Erica Roberson’s complete interview with Clint Irwin and view the 2010 Phoenix men’s soccer schedule at elonphoenix.com

need your football fix? » Be sure to visit elonphoenix.com for daily preseason camp updates, the 2010 schedule and ticket information for Elon’s five home contests. the magazine of elon

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healing hands tiffani bacon g’03 answers call to help in haiti

BY KRISTIN M. SIMONETTI ’05

Si ing in front of the tv one night last January changed Tiffani Bacon’s life.

A 2003 graduate of Elon’s physical therapy graduate program, Bacon had recently opened her own pediatric physical therapy practice in Charlotte, N.C., where she lives with her husband, Byron, and their son, Xavier. While watching a cnn special about the plight of Haitian children after the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Port-auPrince on Jan. 12, she found herself profoundly moved.

“They didn’t have milk. They didn’t have clothes. They didn’t have the basics,” Bacon recalls. “There weren’t enough adults to help care for the now-orphaned kids. As a mother, I felt I needed to help.”

She didn’t just want to help from home; she wanted to be on the ground in Haiti putting her skills as a pediatric physical therapist to work for the quake’s victims. After scouring the Internet and tapping into her professional network, she discovered Hands of Light in Action, a nonprofit disaster relief organization founded by a physical therapist.

Within weeks, Bacon embarked on the first of two 10-day tours of duty with Hands of Light at a hospital in Fond Parisien, a town about 30 minutes east of Port-au-Prince.

“Someone needed to go. Very few people were in the position to help, or maybe they were too scared,” she says.

“I was terrified, but my desire to help was stronger than my fear.”

Bacon left Feb. 1 for her first trip to Haiti. With the airport in Port-au-Prince closed to commercial airlines, she flew into Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where she met four other Hands of Light volunteers. Still seven hours away from Fond Parisien, the crew rented a van and drove into Haiti.

Bacon recalls her first impressions of the patients at 12

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Tiffani Bacon G’03 in Haiti with one of her patients

Read more about Bacon’s experiences in Haiti at tinyurl.com/tiffanibacon Photo by Justin Ide

Love-A-Child Disaster Hospital, which treated quake victims of all ages.

“This horrible thing had just happened, yet the Haitians were rejoicing for living, for having what little they had,” she says. “They felt the urgency to move forward, and that gave me strength.”

While the hospital’s patients were fortunate in many respects – the orphanage turned makeshift hospital had clean, running water and some electricity – there was a dearth of medical supplies, especially for children. The Hands of Light volunteers, already paying their own travel and food expenses, brought as many supplies as they could, often enough to leave some behind for the next wave of volunteers.

Bacon spent most of her time helping with wound care and the rehabilitation of children who lost one or several limbs in the quake. But she played an important emotional role in the children’s lives, too.

“I was one of the first responders to this hospital who was of African descent. Some mistook me for being Haitian, and many kids would call me ‘Mommy,’” she says. “It didn’t hit me until I came back to the United States and had time to reflect. These children had lost their mothers, some saw their mothers die, and I reminded them of their respective mothers. It was a big deal.”

After returning to the United States, Bacon maintained contact with Hands of Light throughout the spring. In late May, she took a second trip to Haiti with a group of volunteers from the master of physical therapy program at Western Carolina University. This time, the Port-au-Prince airport had opened, and Hands of Light volunteers were able to fly directly to Haiti.

“The airport was the scariest part of the trip,” says Bacon, who didn’t visit the capital city during her first trip to Haiti. “When you exit the airport, there are so many who are desperate. You really have to keep track of your belongings.”

On the 45-minute ride from Port-au-Prince to Fond Parisien, the volunteers had the chance to observe the capital and its environs in various stages of reconstruction. But when the team arrived at the Love-A-Child Hospital, Bacon noticed a dramatic change, particularly for a young girl she’d treated in her previous trip.

“She lost her lower right leg in the quake, and the first time I was there, she was just learning how to use her crutches. She was scared and nervous and just wanted to sit around,” she says. “When I saw her again, she was up and moving around and dancing. She’s the life of the party, she’s doing so well.”

In addition to her work on the ground in Haiti, Bacon has been active in domestic efforts to support the victims of the Haiti quake. She recruits and supports Hands of Light volunteers, one of whom is Jen Roberts, a third-year physical therapy student at Elon who traveled to Haiti in July (see q&a at right). Bacon also has participated in fundraising efforts, including an event called Footsteps for Haiti held on Elon’s campus in May. While she doesn’t have plans to return to Haiti in the near future, Bacon says the nation is never far from her thoughts. She keeps in contact with some of her patients and fellow volunteers via Facebook, email and phone calls and says that another trip to Haiti isn’t completely out of the picture.

“I go back and forth with going back. Sometimes I say, ‘That was it,’ and at other times I say, ‘I have to go back,’” she says. “I cherish my Haitian family – I can’t abandon them. Eventually, I will go back. I must!”

Another helping hand Jen Roberts, a third-year physical therapy student at Elon, traveled to Haiti with Hands of Light in Action in July. Before leaving, she spoke about her expectations and preparations for the trip.

How did you get involved with Hands of Light in Action?

Tiffani Bacon sent an e-mail out to all the North Carolina Physical Therapy Association members and I replied to her to say I was really interested in a group that would take a student. She put me in contact with the right people, Jen Roberts G’10 and I gave her the dates I’d be interested in going to Haiti. Nancy Malone, founder of Hands of Light, said she’d be happy to supervise me, and it evolved from there.

How have you prepared for your trip?

Th is spring, I observed outpatient treatment at Moses Cone Hospital with one of the professors here, Dr. (Robin) Waldron. She does a lot with prosthetics and orthotics, so I’ve been able to work with people with amputations. From the e-mails I’ve been getting about my trip, the job will require pretty much everything you could think of that involves physical therapy: trying to get people up, teaching people about scar management, bandaging, working with everyone from little kids to grandmothers. It’ll be long days, lots of work, just trying to use all the skills I’ve gotten in school for three years to help out. It should View photos and read be really exciting.

Roberts’ reflections on her work in Haiti at www.elon.edu/magazine

What has been your family’s reaction to your plans?

My family is really excited. I have two in-laws who were in the Peace Corps in Africa, so they’re used to traveling around the world. My husband is really supportive, and because organizations are looking for all kinds of volunteers, I’m trying to talk him into going down there with me in the winter when he’s less busy. He would definitely consider it.

Why do you think this is an important experience for you to pursue right now?

I felt drawn to this. I felt like this was a situation where I could make a difference. I always thought when I started the physical therapy program that I’d like to be traveling the world going to different countries, helping those in need. I am looking forward to getting down there and helping anyone I can. It’s going to require rudimentary skills, being able to think on my feet and to be ready for anything I’m able to provide. I think it’ll be a very humbling experience. the magazine of elon

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BY DAVE HART

YIN & YANG CASEY DIRIENZO AND TINA DAS FORGE A SUCCESSFUL SCHOLARLY PARTNERSHIP

Casey DiRienzo, left, and Tina Das

mild-mannered and soft-spoken. Pausing to gather her thoughts before answering a question, she has an air of quiet thoughtfulness.

By contrast, Das, who was born in India and came to the U.S. to pursue her graduate studies, radiates energy the moment she walks in a room. She says what’s on her mind, forcefully and without hesitation.

“I was brought up under the British style of Well, she didn’t physically turn to her. She A somewhat unorthodox collaborative tech- teaching,” Das says. “It’s very top-down, sarpicked up the phone. nique, perhaps. But it works. Over the past castic, tough. Pushing hard is what I do. Casey “You were at home, in the kitchen cook- several years, Das, professor of economics, and does, too – she just does it gently.” ing, and I could hear all this activity going on,” DiRienzo, associate professor of economics For all their differences in personality, DiRienzo reminds Das as they sit together in and associate dean of the Martha and Spencer Das and DiRienzo have found in one another DiRienzo’s office in the Koury Business Center. Love School of Business, have produced 20 co- academic kindred spirits and good friends.

“I said, ‘I can’t write this paragraph.’ And you authored works, including academic journal That has led to their fruitful collaboration as basically wrote it out loud to me right there publications, several conference proceedings researchers. over the phone. You were stirring a pot of and an invited book chapter.

“They make a great team because Dr. Das something on a hot stove and shouting at me At first glance, they’re an unlikely pair. loves the theory, and Dr. DiRienzo likes the about Malawi.”

DiRienzo, born in Carmel, Calif., is modeling techniques,” says Jeremy Kitts G’09,

Casey DiRienzo was having difficulty writing a passage in an international economics research paper she was working on with colleague Tina Das. It just wasn’t coming together. Frustrated, she turned to her co-author.

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who worked with the duo on an external grant and co-authored a paper with them. “They complement each other because each excels at that part of the work the other doesn’t care for. They can have several papers going at one time, and they know exactly what to expect from one another.”

Das grew up in India and attended Presidency College, where she studied economics. Her family wanted her to accept an arranged marriage and go to medical school to become a physician. Das had other ideas.

“My family was disappointed, but they came around,” she says. “My father said, ‘If you get into graduate school, I will help you.’”

She won a Taft Fellowship to attend the University of Cincinnati, where she earned a master’s degree and her Ph.D. “When I got my doctorate, my family was very proud,” Das says. “They wanted me to be a doctor, and now I could put ‘Dr.’ in front of my name.”

She taught at Cincinnati, Marquette and Kenyon before joining the faculty at Elon in 1996. She teaches a range of graduate and undergraduate economics courses and has led study abroad courses in London and Ireland.

DiRienzo came to North Carolina with her family in 1982. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Ohio State, where she “sort of stumbled into economics. I wanted to become an actuary, but I didn’t like all the math.” She then returned to complete her master’s and doctorate at North Carolina State, where she also began student teaching and found her calling.

“I love watching those light bulbs go off,” she says. “When you work with a student who thinks, ‘I can’t do that,’ and you watch them learn that, yes, they can, it’s incredibly rewarding. They see doors open that they thought were closed.”

She found a position as an assistant professor at Elon in 2002 and was named associate dean of the Love School of Business last year.

It didn’t take long for Das and DiRienzo to discover their shared interests, especially in international economics, and to develop their relationship as collaborators.

“I was working on a paper with two other authors and I was struggling with some technical issues on it,” Das says. “I asked Casey for some help.”

“She shouted at me from down the hall,” DiRienzo clarifies.

“We got on really well, we just totally jelled,” Das says. “We became good friends, and then we started taking these walks across campus.”

They would walk for several miles, meandering around Elon. As they walked, they talked, brainstorming ideas, questions and avenues of possible research into international economic issues. Do countries with more access to information have less corruption? How does the amount of ethnic diversity in a given nation affect its economic competitiveness? What is the relationship between freedom of the press and a nation’s ability to attract tourists?

“It sounds as if we focus on 800 different topics, but there are common threads through all of our work,” DiRienzo says, identifying the threads as corruption, diversity, tourism and terrorism.

In one study published in the Journal of Travel Research, Das and DiRienzo addressed the relationship between a nation’s degree of press freedom and its tourism competitiveness.

The pair expected to find that countries with greater freedom of the press would have more successful tourism industries than those with less press freedom.

Using an economic measure called the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index, they found their hypothesis was indeed true, but only to a point.

“Countries with the most press freedom do well, and as press freedom decreases, so does tourism competitiveness – until you get to countries with the least press freedom, and then it goes back up,” Das says.

“We wondered, how can that be? The answer is that those countries are the most effective at controlling the messages they send to the world. They’re good at channeling the message.

The Chinese, for example, channel the message that you want to see the Great Wall.”

John Burbridge, professor of operations and supply chain management, has worked on several papers with Das and DiRienzo. One such collaboration produced a 2007 article, “Corruption and the Role of Information,” which was published in the Journal of International Business Studies. The trio worked together on another article, “Does Diversity Impact Competitiveness?” which appeared in Competitiveness Review and was named a 2008 Highly Commended Award Winner by the Literati Network Awards for Excellence.

“Their scholarship is excellent. Tina is always coming up with new ideas, and Casey

does a wonderful job putting it all together,” he says. “They have made valuable contributions to the store of information about the competitiveness of nations.”

While DiRienzo has found herself tasked with additional duties over the past year as associate dean of the Love School of Business, she and Das show no signs of slowing down their scholarly pursuits. In July, they made a presentation in Greece based on research about diversity and global tourism competitiveness at the International Conference on Cultural Heritage and Tourism. Through it all, both Das and DiRienzo realize they are fortunate

“They complement each other because each excels at that part of the work the other doesn’t care for … they know exactly what to expect from one another.” – jeremy kitts g’09 to have found someone they can collaborate with so effectively – no matter what challenges the day brings.

“It has made such a difference,” DiRienzo says. “If I hadn’t found Tina, I’d probably still be writing about corn.”

“What’s wrong with writing about corn?”

Das says. “You should be proud of that. She wrote a book about corn.”

Sure enough, DiRienzo goes to a cabinet and pulls out a copy of Spatial Relationship of Crop Yields: The Implications for Crop Insurance, a book based on her doctoral dissertation.

“With most insurance, like car insurance, the risk is spread over the whole pool of insured people,” DiRienzo says, explaining the book’s topic. “If I have a wreck, the insurance company can afford to pay for it because most of the people who pay into the system don’t have wrecks.

“But it’s different with crop insurance. If a farmer in Iowa loses his crop because of a flood, all the other farmers in the area have been affected too, and the insurance company has to cover all of them. My book looks at that spatial correlation over distance: How far do you have to go before that doesn’t take effect?”

“Ah, that’s fascinating,” Das says. “Now I finally know what you do.”

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EARLY ADOPTERS Inaugural class sets the standard for Elon’s interactive media graduate program

For the 36 charter members of Elon’s Master of Arts in Interactive Media program, Commencement on May 20 marked the end of an intense academic journey. This inaugural class of students began the one-year, full-time master’s program in August 2009. They came together from diverse backgrounds, students of all undergraduate majors and professionals of all walks of life. They spent long hours studying communications theory and worked in the new Powell Building studios well into the night, sharpening their knowledge of complex and powerful technology tools. They traveled to Panama, Costa Rica and London, merging theory and practice to provide effective communications campaigns for nonprofit organizations.

“These students approached the massive workload that a 36-hour, 10-month intensive program demands and conquered it,” says David Copeland, A.J. Fletcher Professor of Communications and director of the interactive media program. “It’s a testament to their work ethic and desire to succeed. They’ve established a high bar for all future classes.”

changes in the industry that have occurred in the past year. The program’s graduates, too, realize that while their formal education in interactive media may be complete, their learning is far from over.

“Interactive media are part of an industry that’s still defining itself,” says inaugural class member Dave Hollander. “We have a chance to

Copeland and the interactive media faculty also faced a daunting challenge over the past year: to build a graduate program from the ground up that prepares students to enter a field that changes in the blink of an eye. While these faculty have laid a solid foundation, they already are adapting the curriculum to meet

fi nd our own niche within it and to help mold that definition.”

Before leaving campus to embark on their careers, Hollander and three fellow iMedia alumni sat down with Magazine of Elon editor Kristin Simone i ’05 to reflect on their experiences in the program.

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dave hollander linda misiura karen hartshorn conor britain

karen hartshorn Life before graduate school: B.A. in English from Elon, 2009 What’s the biggest difference between attending Elon as an undergraduate and as a graduate student?

As an undergraduate, my friends and I pursued different academic paths, so most of our common interests were social. In graduate school, there are 36 students who have the same academic interests and career goals as you, which builds stronger friendships and future networking possibilities.

You’re with people who have already been in the workforce, people ages 22 to 63, which is more like what you’ll be experiencing in the working world. It’s not 4,000 19- to 22-year-olds anymore.

karenhartshorn.com

What made you choose to enter the interactive media program a er pursuing your English degree?

Along with my literature major, I studied religion and other liberal arts subjects. I graduated with excellent writing, speaking and people skills, but I didn’t have the computer skills that were becoming mandatory for many careers. Since I didn’t have a defined specialty, I enrolled in the interactive media program. At first, I didn’t know what I was ge ing myself into – I hadn’t taken any communications classes as an undergraduate, and I didn’t know any of the so ware programs. I came in completely blank but quickly learned to adapt.

experience over the past year?

Public Opinion and New Media with Kenn Gaither. The course focused on new media strategy, and we learned how to apply various communication theories for the purpose of online interactivity.

One of the things I love about this program is that it’s half production, half theory. We’re learning how to produce new media, but we’re also learning why we’re producing the content we are creating, for which audiences and for which reasons. If you don’t know the theory, you’re not going to make the right decisions during the different stages of production.

What are you doing a er graduation?

Was there a course, project or professor that you consider most valuable to your

I have a full-time internship at the online retail supplier redcats Group usa. They own

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dihollander.com

smaller online clothing companies and manage their websites. I’m going to be designing Flash components for their websites and will help manage their online branding. When I finish the internship, I hope to enter the food industry to manage the online branding of big food companies.

How much did the past year impact your career path?

The only thing on my resume now that was on there when I graduated in 2009 is my academic section, my undergraduate degree.

Everything on my resume right now is because of Elon, because of graduate school. With every single business in the world on the Internet now, as a communicator, it’s really important to have the skills that the interactive media program teaches. Enrolling in the interactive media program is the best decision I ever made for myself. I want to come back next year!

dave hollander Life before graduate school: Former television producer/director for KJZZ-TV, Salt Lake City, Utah ■ YMCA swim coach, Greensboro, N.C. ■ B.A. in philosophy and religion, sociology and anthropology from Colgate University, 1995 What were some of the hardest skills or technologies you had to pick up coming from a broadcasting background?

As a tv producer, it’s drilled into you to present material in a specific order and in a specific way, to guide the viewer through it. Here, with the tools we have, you don’t need to do that. It’s a huge advantage if you can present information to an audience so they can digest it the way they want to. It’s been a big transition for me mentally not to spell things out and to let the stories tell themselves. Even though I’m working with these tools with interactive capabilities, I have to keep reminding myself to use the tools to design the project in a way that takes advantage of them.

What was your favorite project?

The fly-in over Winter Term was just an awesome experience. I went to Panama and worked with the fl-jadis group, a nonprofit organization created by a couple of parents that works with young adults with disabilities. Their commitment to their children and to their friends’ children was really inspiring.

We were there to give them a Web presence because they had no way of telling anyone about themselves. We created a website and fi lled it with as much multimedia as we could. We used videos and photos to tell the stories, really trying as much as possible to put it in their words. It’s a project that’s still ongoing. What we’ve learned is that fulfilling an assignment for a class is one thing, but it’s another to finish a project. A couple of my classmates and I commi ed to seeing the project through to completion.

Project: A comprehensive Web presence for OI Panama, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping families of children suffering from the genetic bone disease Osteogenesis Imperfecta Role: Web Developer Tools: Adobe’s Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Illustrator and Flash

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How do you feel the past year has prepared you for your career?

It’s equipped us with an understanding of the trends that are happening now, a glimpse of what might be happening in the future and the ability to be flexible.

It’s reawakened for me the concept of education and continued learning. So o en you get into a job and you fall into that trap of thinking you know everything. This program has taught me that you have to continually update your skills and understand what’s going on around you.

Project: A website for FL-JADIS, which provides job training and social and cultural opportunities for young adults with disabilities in Panama Role: Project Manager/Field Producer/ Lead Video Editor Tools: Apple’s Final Cut Pro, Adobe’s Illustrator

What has been the most valuable aspect of the program for you?

One of the most helpful things about this program is how diverse our classmates are. They’ve come from such different backgrounds and will be going in different directions, yet we have this bond and similarity in interests that transcend the specifics and the particulars. It’s rewarding to collaborate and to work in groups, to simulate as much as possible what it might be like to work with others in an agency se ing.

lindamisiura.com

linda misiura Life before graduate school: Marketing manager for a spa in Cary, N.C. ■ B.A. in English and dance from Cedar Crest College, 2007 How does a person who majors in English and minors in dance choose to study interactive media?

It started when I was in high school, but I wasn’t really thinking about it as a career. In one of my technology courses, we learned basic html web design. Then in college, for my senior project, I redesigned part of the communications department website. I still didn’t consider going into web design or anything like that. I really thought I was going to focus on writing

conorbritain.com

conor britain Life before graduate school: B.A. in broadcast communications from Elon, 2009 What has been your favorite experience from the past year?

I had taken a couple of classes my senior year and found Flash was a powerful way to tell stories in new ways. There was a course in the fall called Producing Interactive Media that dealt heavily with Flash. The class took a broad perspective because people were coming in with different experiences with media. I kept myself challenged doing projects that were going to push things in ways that I wanted to go. I’d see something online and could ask, “Hey, how do we do this?” And we’d be able to tackle it.

What would you put in the front of your portfolio right now?

There was a project I did for Janna Anderson’s class that won second place at the bea (Broadcast Education Association) convention for interactive production. The project itself was about the interactive documentary — what people have done to combine interactivity with documentary filmmaking and where that combination can go. It allowed me to organize projects in a new light, and for people who see it, they might come away knowing a

for marketing or pr. I moved to Carrboro (N.C.) and was looking for a job and found one at a spa in Cary, as their marketing manager. I redesigned one of my boss’ brochures and she asked, “You can do print, can you do web stuff, too?” So I taught myself that, then I joined the program last year.

What was your favorite course or experience from the past year?

My favorite project is the one I just fi nished for our media issues class. We could do anything we wanted, so I designed a multimedia piece about energy use and the Internet. It’s an animated infographic that tells people facts they wouldn’t normally think about energy use and offers ideas they can put into action.

What was the most valuable skill, theory or project you worked with in the past year?

I’m used to doing things on my own.

Project: A visual representation of research about the positive and problematic intersections of documentary film and interactive media Role: Director/Designer Tools: Adobe’s Flash, Illustrator and Photoshop

li le bit more about what the interactive documentary is.

interview for it. I’m so excited to be going there; this company does amazing things.

What will you be doing a er graduation?

What is one of the biggest things you’ll take from your experience in the program?

You always have to be open to

I’m heading to California where I have a job at a company called Red Interactive in Santa Monica. I had my eye on them earlier in the year as one of the places where I’d be interested in working. I got in touch with one of the people there and asked some questions, making the initial contact.

When I was visiting a friend in Los Angeles over spring break, I got in touch with them again. It turned out they had an open interactive designer position, and they’d checked my online portfolio and asked if I would come in and

learning. We’re in a field that changes so fast that it’s really not about what you’re learning today, it’s about what you’ll be learning tomorrow. It’s been stressed to us that we need to keep up with trade magazines and we have to be networking with people in the industry. The interactive design community is particularly tight-knit. People are always sharing ideas and projects, and that’s how I like to work.

I’m very much a person who says, “Well, I can do that by myself. I’ll do every piece of it.” It’s not because I want to do it myself but more because that’s how I work. In this program, we were put together with 36 talented people and put in small groups to work with each other. Time after time, it continually surprised me that I could count on other people to do things and do them well. It was great to be able to work as a team.

What is one of the biggest things you’re going to take from this program?

I think the program prepared me well to work with other people, recognize the skills that other people have and be able to use those skills.

Sometimes the professors would be there to help us, but sometimes other students were just as helpful. That’s a valuable life lesson — to be able to ask people questions and find resources no ma er what their title is or what their background is.

Project: Websites for EARTH University’s La Flor campus in Liberia, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, and its Down to Earth program, which promotes biodiversity and sustainability studies Role: Creative Director Tools: Adobe’s Flash, Illustrator and Photoshop

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A Higher Education

BY ERIC TOWNSEND

President Leo M. Lambert with members of the Elon Academy’s Alpha Class

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The Elon Academy started as a college access program for academically talented, low-income high school students in Alamance County. It evolved into so much more.

F

or many high school students, college isn’t a question of “if,” it’s a question of “where.” That’s easy to ask when you come from a family with the financial means to pay for higher education or, perhaps more importantly, there’s a history of family members who have attended college.

But what happens when students aren’t even asking “if?” What if they have lower ambitions? Go to class. Come home. Go to a part-time job. Graduate from high school.

Get hired doing something that pays the bills.

Begin the cycle anew when they start their own families.

Enter the Elon Academy, a college access program that welcomed its first class of scholars in 2007. The Alpha Class, as they’re known on campus, came to Elon for four weeks each summer, beginning after their freshman year, to take classes, attend cultural programs and learn about navigating the college admissions process. It’s not what you might expect from a group of talented students whose Alamance County classmates might have been watching movies, playing video games or earning money at McDonald’s over the summer.

When the Alpha Class gathered on campus one final time just weeks before their respective high school graduations, it was with a mix of anxiety and jubilation that they shared their hopes for the future. The celebration on Elon’s Phi Beta Kappa Commons in the Academic Village brought together the educators, benefactors and pioneering students who made the Elon Academy what it is today and offered a glimpse of what it will look like in the future.

“People don’t realize how powerful (the Elon Academy) is. It teaches kids they can do things and can be successful, that they can dream as big as they want and reach their goals,” said Destinee Lewis, an Alpha Class scholar from Eastern Alamance High School who plans to

attend the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. “It doesn’t matter whether you’re financially able to go to college, they will help you find a way to go. That’s the biggest obstacle for a lot of kids.”

For Lewis and the 21 other members of the Alpha Class, the power of the Elon Academy is most visible in the offers of college admission they’ve each accepted. But it also appears in something less quantifiable – the invaluable gift of self-confidence.

He tasked Professor Deborah Long with devising not only ways to help Cummings, but also to develop a college access program for academically promising, low-income high school students from across Alamance County.

Modeled after similar programs at Princeton, Furman and Vanderbilt universities, the Elon Academy gives these students the support they need to pursue a college education. The program, which is tuition-free, has a special emphasis on serving students who are the first generation of their families to attend college.

Elon Academy offers classes in critical subject areas, including math, English, social studies, science and technology, with university faculty members teaching in each area.

Research shows that low-income students The academy has become a refuge for bright have the odds stacked against them when it students hesitant to speak up in high school comes to quality schooling. Only a quarter of for fear of ostracism. Long and Elon student them ever earn a college degree, according to volunteers have witnessed increased confidence American Community Survey estimates from among scholars, who help create a stronger cul to . Even worse, just  percent of ture of learning in their high schools. low-income eighth graders whose parents did “The academy gives students a reason to not attend college will earn an undergraduate want to do well. Sometimes you may have a degree. parent at home pushing you, but sometimes That makes the 100 percent success rate of you may not,” said Elon senior Tavianna the graduating Elon Academy scholars even Williams, who has worked with scholars for more impressive. two summers. “The Alamance-Burlington The academy got its start four years ago School System is struggling with major budwhen a North Carolina Superior Court judge, get cuts, and it’s easy to get caught up or in a bold move to address poor school per- overwhelmed by the lack of resources. Elon formance, threatened to close several of the Academy provides support to counteract that.” state’s worst performing high schools. His list But students in the Elon Academy are held included Hugh W. Cummings High School to a high standard. Maintaining good grades in Burlington, N.C. Dismayed by the idea of in their high schools is a requirement. Assistant a failing school in the university’s backyard, academy director Darris Means ’05 and assistant Elon President Leo M. Lambert challenged his professor Kim Pyne work with Long to track faculty and staff to lead community outreach each scholar’s academic performance. efforts.

“If you slip even a little bit in a class, they’ll “That was a critical spark,” Lambert said of let you know about it,” said Scott Simmons, the judge’s threat. “I think some drastic actions a graduate of Southern Alamance High cause you to sit up and take notice. It certainly School who this fall will attend East Carolina got my attention.”

The ‘critical spark’

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staff who will maintain regular contact with scholars through at least their first two years of college. These staff members plan to visit “People don’t realize how powerful (the scholars on their campuses, provide emergency funding as needed and stay in touch with famiElon Academy) is. It teaches kids they lies still living in Alamance County. can do things and can be successful, Then there’s “Phase iv.” The Elon Academy Alumni Program will bring scholars back to that they can dream as big as they their communities as inspiration for younger want and reach their goals.” – destinee lewis generations of students who dream of attending college. That also begins this fall.

“My parents are just as amazed as I am with the opportunities the Elon Academy University. “I have gotten a little kick in the ii” of the program, in which students took a has given us,” said Frank Garcia, a graduate butt once, a ‘you need to step it up a little bit.’” college writing workshop to earn transfer cred- of Cummings High School who will attend Outside of major subject areas, Elon fac- its. They also attended a three-day retreat with Elon. “We feel that in any way we can, we’d ulty and staff work with students on college Elon’s admissions, counseling and academic like to give back.” planning and counseling, arts and cultural advising staff to prepare for the challenges of programs, health and social skills, and com- freshman year. munity service and leadership. Elon students What are those challenges? First, on many serve as counselors to the academy students, campuses, scholars will meet classmates from providing support and encouragement dur- more affluent families, where social interaction ing the summer and throughout the school between the two groups can be awkward.

The success of the academy has been a way for year. Scholars also make visits to colleges and “The Elon Academy is not just an academic the university to deepen its relationship with universities throughout North Carolina as part enrichment program,” said Elon senior Patrick the Alamance County community. Lambert of the program.

Holloway, who has worked for two summers notes that local citizens sometimes view Elon “My mom didn’t go to college, and my with the Alpha Class. “It’s also a social enrich- as a privileged, gated community, a perception grandmother went long after she got married. ment program, teaching basic social norms, the university can ill-afford. What’s more, he The only person who had gone to college was like how to shake a hand: use a firm grip, and said, is that the school system plays a vital role my uncle,” said Brittney Burnette, a graduate look the person in the eye. Little things you in helping Elon attract and retain high-caliber of Williams High School in Burlington and and I take for granted.” faculty for its own students. a future nursing major at ecu. “I had no clue Long cites research from other college “The quality of public education in about the application process. When I came access programs that shows scholars some- Alamance County is a paramount concern,” to the academy, they showed us all kinds of times feel guilty for leaving their parents and Lambert said. “We all have skin in the game, ways to apply for scholarships and how to keep siblings behind to further their own educa- and it’s important to speak up and act on my grades up.” tion. In the Elon Academy, a few scholars behalf of quality public education.”

Beyond the students enrolled in the pro- serve as translators for parents who don’t speak Edna Truitt Noiles ’4 4 and her husband, gram, the Elon Academy touches the lives of English. Others work part-time to help with Doug, who provided the initial start-up gift of other Alamance County teenagers. Eight stu- household expenses. Some are charged with $220,000 to fund the first year of the academy, dents from Cummings High School enrolled watching younger siblings while their parents say the prospect of helping local youth through in credit bank classes at Elon last year. These work two jobs. In rare instances, scholars per- the Elon Academy resonates with them. classes help students earn college credit before severe through a loved one’s mental illness or “For years, we have seen the disappointing their high school graduation and aren’t limited drug abuse. performance of our public schools,” Doug to the Elon Academy scholars.

“I don’t think anybody realized the amount Noiles said. “Remembering my formative “Our Elon Academy students spread the of one-on-one support that our students need,” years, I had come to believe that improvement word and tell others what’s possible,” Long said. Long said. “They’re taking care of their fami- had to begin at the kindergarten and primary lies in many ways, emotionally and financially, grades where study habits are formed. But in some cases. It’s amazing what these kids this approach can’t work unless there is timely are doing.” improvement in the upper grades.”

This fall, “Phase iii” of the Elon Academy Added Edna Noiles: “We met some of the takes off. Through the College Success students and some of the parents. We know Graduation does not signal the end of the Program, scholars and their families will some of their dreams and hopes, enough to scholars’ involvement with the Elon Academy. receive academic, social, mentoring and advis- know there are other students in the Alamance This summer, Long and her team hosted “Phase ing support from Elon Academy faculty and County schools who dream of an opportunity

Extending its reach

The next steps

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Elon Academy’s Alpha Class scholars were accepted by the following colleges and universities Appalachian State University

Lenoir-Rhyne University

Salem College

boone, n.c.

hickory, n.c.

winston-salem, n.c.

Bates College

Louisburg College

Smith College

lewiston, maine

louisburg, n.c.

northampton, mass.

Catawba College

Mary Baldwin College

University of North Carolina at Asheville

salisbury, n.c.

staunton, va.

Clemson University

Middlebury College

clemson, s.c.

middlebury, vt.

East Carolina University

Mount Holyoke College

greenville, n.c.

south hadley, mass.

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Elon University

North Carolina A&T State University

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Ferrum College ferrum, va.

Furman University greenville, s.c.

High Point University high point, n.c.

Johnson C. Smith University charlotte, n.c.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Charlo e University of North Carolina at Greensboro

greensboro, n.c.

North Carolina State University raleigh, n.c.

Northwest Missouri State University maryville, mo.

Radford University radford, va.

Saint Augustine’s College raleigh, n.c.

University of Tampa Wake Forest University winston-salem, n.c.

Western Carolina University cullowhee, n.c.

Wingate University wingate, n.c.

Winston-Salem State University winston-salem, n.c.

like this. One of our concerns now is: How do we sustain what Dr. Lambert and Dr. Long envisioned and have started?”

Listen to Alpha Class scholars speak about their experiences in the Elon The Elon Commitment strategic plan calls for the Elon Academy to become a national Academy at elon.edu/magazine model of university-school partnership. Long already is exploring a possible middle school program for promising students before they reach ninth grade.

Efforts also are under way to create scholar- them cares about them and wants them to ships for Elon Academy graduates heading to succeed. college. At the April celebration for the Alpha “There are a lot of kids out there who need Class, Elon University Trustee Frank Lyon’ 71 this program, not just in Alamance County, announced his family’s gift of $500,000 for but in America.” that purpose.

Parents of Elon Academy scholars also laud “The self-confidence, what it does for these the effects it has had on their children. kids, is unbelievable,” says Lyon, who with “She’s always been a child who has known his wife, Natalie, has made substantial gifts what she’s wanted, but since the Elon Academy, to Elon Academy since its founding. “They feel she’s not afraid to get in front of a class and comfortable on campus. The group around speak,” said Charlie Crutchfield of his

daughter, Stacey, who will enroll at Elon this fall. “To see the confidence level in her, knowing there’s an opportunity to go to college and get an education, it’s important she knows it’s there.”

That confidence is being sown in the next generation of scholars. Days after the Alpha Class graduated from their high schools in June, the Elon Academy welcomed 26 rising high school sophomores to campus as part of the Delta Class. Sitting under a tree during a special College Coffee, Donovan Ortiz, a sophomore at Williams High School with an interest in aerospace engineering, spoke about his goals.

“My dad always wanted to work for nasa.

If I accomplish this, I’ll be fulfilling his goal, too,” Ortiz said. “You don’t know how excited he was when I got into the academy. His dream is for me to break the cycle.”

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BACK TO THE FUTURE

Alumni Gym’s renovation shines a spotlight on its past

F

or the denizens of Koury Athletic Center, early summer typically offers a welcome respite from the comings and goings of student-athletes and coaches, as well as the marathon schedule of practices, games and events held in Alumni Gym. No such peace and quiet came this year.

Work began in mid-June on renovations to Alumni Gym made possible by a major gift from Elon trustee Jeanne Robertson and her husband, Jerry. Over the next two summers, Alumni Gym, a venue for Elon athletics teams, convocations and other large campus events, will be getting a facelift. Improvements will include new seating, lighting, sound and video systems, and the reopening of the building’s original south entrance.

Did you know that Alumni Gym once had an entrance facing Haggard Avenue? If you came to Elon after 1992, you probably didn’t.

That’s just one of several tidbits about Alumni Gym that go unnoticed by unsuspecting students, faculty members and alumni. Read on for a peek into the rich history of this building, a staple of the campus landscape for 60 years.

Larry McCauley (left), former director of Physical Plant, speaks with a colleague in Alumni Gym in a photo dated from the 1960s.

“The Elon College gymnasium is to be erected as a memorial to our men and women who served in World Wars I and II. We should not – and we must not – forget those who served and who died. What better monument can we build in their memory? A gymnasium in which strong bodies are built, good sportsmanship is taught and our American way of life is practiced!”

L.E. Smith, President of Elon College, 1931–57

Artist’s rendering of Alumni Gym, ca. 1949

1945

may 1946

february 1949

may 28, 1949

College administrators begin making plans to expand the campus. A new gymnasium to benefit student health and Elon’s physical education program is included in the plans.

During the annual General Alumni Association (GAA) meetings at Commencement, alumni propose to lead fundraising for the gym.

The estimated total cost of construction is 150,000; Elon has more than 1,500 living alumni. To raise the money, the GAA asks that each alumnus “contribute at least two percent of his income each year for the next five years.”

With more than 80,000 raised in gifts and pledges toward the gym’s cost, trustees authorize construction to begin “immediately after the winter weather and not after March 1.” To save money, Elon serves as its own contractor and offers several students a chance to work on the project for 75 cents per hour. Students in Professor A.L. Hook’s physics classes help design Alumni Gym’s original electrical wiring.

During the annual GAA meetings, the college lays the cornerstone of Alumni Memorial Gymnasium.

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did you know?

Alumni Gym was not air conditioned until its 1992–94 renovation.

The original architectural plans for Alumni Gym publicized in fundraising materials depicted a Georgian façade similar to that of Whitley Auditorium and a swimming pool, which was to be located at the north end of building (Beck Pool was eventually built as part of the Jordan Gym complex in 1970).

Four United States presidents have spoken in Alumni Gym: Lyndon B. Johnson (1962), Gerald Ford (1986), Jimmy Carter (1989) and George H.W. Bush (2001).

Sports camps held in Alumni Gym in the 1970s and ’80s featured college basketball stars Michael Jordan, Pete Maravich and Danny Manning.

Alumni Gym has been a venue for numerous musical performers over the years, from Linda Ronstadt and Hall and Oates to Maroon 5 and Lupe Fiasco.

Alumni Gym as it appeared after the 1992–94 renovations. Note the closure of the south entrance hallway behind the basket at left.

“Every Elon alumnus is requested to return to the campus for this dedication ceremony. It is the most outstanding alumni event in the history of Elon College.”

A student works inside the gym as it’s built, ca. 1949

Compiled by Kristin Simonetti ’05, editor of The Magazine of Elon. Photos courtesy of Katie Nash, University Archivist.

Elon Alumni News, November 1950

january 14, 1950

december 2, 1950

1992–94

2010

Alumni Gym’s doors open to the public for the first time as more than 2,000 fans attend the Elon vs. Catawba men’s basketball game. The January 1950 issue of Elon Alumni News reports that graduates returning to see the arena “were dumbfounded and could not believe that such a structure would ever be erected on Elon’s campus.”

Elon dedicates Alumni Gym during a ceremony at halftime of the Elon vs. University of North Carolina men’s basketball game. The Class of 1950 unveils its gift to the university, a bronze plaque listing the names of the 37 Elon alumni who died in World Wars I and II to whom the building is dedicated.

Alumni Gym undergoes major renovations as part of the construction of Koury Athletic Center. Renovations to the gym include the closure of the building’s original south entrance.

Work begins on a second round of renovations to Alumni Gym that will provide new seating and many technological upgrades.

Visit www.elon.edu/magazine to view Alumni Gym photos and documents from the Elon archives.

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Alumni Action

Alumni support makes a difference summer 2010 at elon – traffic is lighter, campus is quieter and Sallie Hutton ’92 preparation for the year ahead has already begun. As we focus on the next academic year, let me offer a heartfelt thank you to our volunteers, faculty, staff, alumni and students who helped make the 2009-10 academic year a success for the Elon Alumni Association.

This spring, we wrapped up work on the Alumni Association’s 2007-10 strategic plan. Looking over our accomplishments, we all have a lot to be proud of and excited about. Our accomplishments include: Creating a young alumni program

Establishing the Young Alumni Council Launching the Young Alumni Party at Homecoming and the IGNITE young alumni giving program Adding a staff position to manage programs and communications for young alumni Revamping Elon’s network of alumni chapters

Standardizing guidelines for chapter structure and programs Adding a staff position to manage chapters and programming Developing Homecoming into a premier weekend for alumni

Increasing focus on affinity reunions Including academic departments and programs in the weekend’s programming Promoting awareness of the Alumni Association among students

Enhancing programming throughout the senior year, culminating in an expanded Commencement Week schedule during which seniors celebrate their time at Elon Introducing and expanding the “Destination” series, an opportunity for alumni to share with undergraduates what it’s like to live and work in particular cities Steadily increasing the participation of seniors in the Senior Class Gift campaign The Alumni Association’s new strategic plan will guide us through 2015. Several priorities of the 2010 plan will be continued, but additional priorities merit focus, including recognizing alumni and highlighting the culture of service among Elon graduates; enhancing career services, regional programs and philanthropic support of our alma mater; and using developing technology to communicate with alumni in important and meaningful ways.

To make progress in these areas, we need your support. In many conversations with alumni, I’m asked, “How can I help Elon?” My answer always involves several options: Attend Elon events happening in your area; if there aren’t any, help us plan one Return to campus for Homecoming Serve as a networking contact for alumni and students by registering for the Elon Career Network at www.elon.edu/careerservices Partner with faculty and staff to share your career expertise and professional advice in the classroom Volunteer for a reunion committee, the Elon Alumni Board or the Young Alumni Council Support Elon philanthropically with an annual monetary gift.

Perhaps most importantly, encourage your network of Elon peers to get involved, too. The Alumni Association is here for you. What are you waiting for? Reconnect today!

As always, I welcome your feedback, suggestions and offers to get involved at any time. E-mail me at shutton2@elon.edu or call 877.784.3566.

Long Live Elon!

Sallie

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WELCOME HOME! Help introduce members of the Class of 2010 to your city by joining the Elon Alumni Association and graduates of all eras at annual Welcome to the City events, which kick off in August.

Share insights about your city’s best restaurants and events with Elon’s newest graduates. Bring your resumes and business cards to take advantage of this great networking opportunity. Come ready to have a great time and learn more about how your local alumni chapter can help you stay connected to Elon.

RSVP at www.elon.edu/webservices/ alumni or call (877) 784-3566.

When & Where:

Baltimore: September 25, 3 p.m., Riverside Park Boston: August 26, 6 p.m., McFadden’s Charleston: September 17, 6 p.m., Henry’s Downtown Charlotte: August 17, 6:30 p.m., Icehouse in Dilworth Chicago: August 28, 11:30 a.m., Lincoln Park Grove 3 Los Angeles: August 16, 7 p.m., Location TBA Nashville: September 18, 5 p.m., Arington Vineyards New York City: August 26, 7 p.m., The Delancey Philadelphia: September 30, 6:30 p.m., River Club Richmond: August 26, 6 p.m., Legend Brewing Company Eastern Triad: August 23, 7 p.m., Dick and Jane’s Tapas and Martini Bar Western Triad: August 12, 7 p.m., Natty Greene’s, Greensboro Triangle: September 9, 7 p.m., Natty Greene’s, Raleigh Washington, D.C.: September 29, 7 p.m., Clarendon Grill

Alumni Action

Affinity Reunions Class of 1960 50th Reunion friday activities

Celebrate Our Heritage at Homecoming 2010

Golden Alumni Luncheon: The classes of 1959 and earlier are invited to attend as members of the Class of 1960 are inducted into the Golden Alumni Group.

50th Reunion Reception and Dinner

Young Alumni friday activity

Make plans now to return to campus Oct. 22–24 to celebrate your Elon heritage.

The classes of 1960, 1965, 1970, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005 will mark milestone reunions, and all alumni are invited to reminisce about their college days while enjoying the sights and sounds of today’s Elon. The full Homecoming schedule and additional details will be available online at www.elon.edu/alumni in September, but you can sneak a peek now at the activities planned for this year.

Young Alumni Party at The Lighthouse

African-American Alumni Group: ‘We are Family!’ friday activities

Calling All Greeks: Gather at the NPHC Garden for songs and chants.

Family Game Night: Join us for a night of family, fun and food. saturday activities

All in the Family Tailgate African-American Alumni Scholarship Banquet and Afterparty: Come in your semi-formal best and help us leave a legacy for our family. sunday activities

Gospel Choir Service: Worship with the Elon Gospel Choir and The Rev. Sir Walter Mack ’89.

Family Meeting: African-American Alumni Group leaders will be introduced immediately following the service and provide an overview of their goals for the coming years.

Tau Zeta Phi 90th/Sigma Sigma Sigma 40th Anniversary

For all alumni

saturday activities

Friday

Heart of Gold Awards Brunch Honoring Jo Watts Williams ’55 Pregame Tailgate with Kappa Sigma Fraternity Reunion Party featuring Liquid Pleasure

Phoenix Phest: Join your fellow alums for live music and refreshments to kick off Homecoming 2010.

Saturday

Stop Hunger Now Service Event Pregame Tailgate: Reserve your spot in the Moseley Center parking lot for just 5 by phone at 877.784.3566 or online at www.elon.edu/alumni.

Elon Phoenix vs. Wofford Terriers Football Game: 1:30 p.m. in Rhodes Stadium. Tickets are available as part of the Homecoming package.

Elon Bands/Fire of the Carolinas 10th Anniversary friday activities

Reception and Practice: Alumni members of the Elon’s bands, especially the Fire of the Carolinas marching band, are encouraged to attend.

Reunion Dinner

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Alumni Action

alumni on the town asheville, n.c. More than 50 Elon alumni and parents attended an event in May at Asheville’s newest microbrewery, Craggy Brewing Company, owned by Elon alumnus Bill Drew ’96. Attendees enjoyed an update on campus happenings from President Leo M. Lambert and Phoenix basketball coaches Matt Matheny and Karen Barefoot. charlotte Several Elon faculty and staff took a trip down I-85 in April to meet Charlotte alumni for a social at Sullivan’s Steakhouse. President Lambert and representatives of Elon law school, athletics, alumni relations and university advancement offered updates on the university.

“It’s great to hear about the positive happenings at Elon,” said Barry Baucom ’75, who attended the event with his wife, Louise Damon Baucom ’75.

Charlotte alumni also attended a wine and culinary experience at Press Wine/ Food in May and a Father’s Day concert at Symphony Park in June. los angeles A lu m ni joined President Lambert and students in the Elon in L.A. summer program June 22 at an Evening for Elon at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

“This event demonstrated the power of an engaged alumni chapter,” Lambert said.

“By staying involved in the life of the university, alumni can play a crucial role in assisting student interns, such as those in the Elon in L.A. program, along with recent graduates and other fellow alumni. All of us benefit from a strong and committed alumni network.”

Earlier in June, Elon alumni joined counterparts from other universities for an entertainment industry mixer at south in Santa Monica. Candra Nazzaro ’06 reports that more than 150 people attended the event, and that “alumni of the other schools said they had a great time and would love to do another event with Elon in the future.” triangle Megan Livengood ’03 took home the award for best hat at the chapter’s

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annual Kentucky Derby Party at Angus Barn. More than 50 alumni attended the May 1 event dressed in their Derby best. In June, area alums participated in the Komen Race for the Cure in Raleigh. The Triangle chapter sponsored a team along with students from Elon’s MBA program. washington, d.c. On June 11, alumni and parents joined Elon coaches Pete Lembo and Matt Matheny for the chapter’s first charity golf tournament.

The foursome of Brian Agee ’99, Angie Baskette ’01, Brant Chimel ’99 and Ryan Tighe ’02 narrowly defeated the team led

by Jeff Casullo ’09 for the tournament title.

At a post-round dinner, chapter leaders presented a $1,000 check to the Phoenix Club to support Elon’s student-athletes.

“We are very lucky to have Coach Lembo and Coach Matheny as part of our Elon family and are proud to show them our support,” Agee said.

D.C. alums participated throughout the spring in service events in and around the nation’s capital with Rebuilding Together Alexandria, Hands on D.C.’s “Work-aThon” and the annual Komen Race for the Cure on the National Mall. But it wasn’t all work for D.C. alumni; they gathered June 19 for a barbecue before attending the Nationals vs. White Sox baseball game.

chapter notes Atlanta: In May, more

than 25 alumni came out to celebrate the unofficial start of summer at Eclipse Di Luna.

Baltimore: Alumni held a social at Little Havana in May and met in June for a chapter planning session and barbecue at the home of Trish Mateer ’05 and Dan Malseed ’06.

Chicago: Chapter members gathered in June for an afternoon of WhirlyBall, a hybrid sport of hockey, lacrosse and basketball in bumper cars. New York: Alumni joined Brett Woodard of Elon Career Services on June 24 for one-on-one career counseling appointments by day, then gathered for a networking social in the evening.

BY LAUREN KELLY ’08

1

2

3

4

1) 2) 3) 4)

asheville, n.c. los angeles triangle washington, d.c.

Alumni Action

Athletics alumni to be honored Get away with the Alumni Association

Return to campus on Saturday, Sept. 11, as Elon celebrates four of its greatest student-athletes at the annual Elon Sports Hall of Fame ceremonies. Glenn Smith ’76 (tennis), Lamar Adams ’92 (football), Robert (Eskilsson) Reinart ’97 (tennis) and the late Whitney Bradham ’56 (football) will be inducted at a 1 p.m. ceremony in Whitley Auditorium emceed by David Hibbard ’89. The four will also be honored at halftime of the evening’s home football game against Shaw.

The induction ceremony is free and open to the public. Tickets for the game may be purchased at www.elonphoenix.com.

Holiday Markets on Germany’s Rhine and Main Rivers Nov. 26–Dec. 4, 2010

Get a head start on the holidays with this seven-day cruise on the M.S. Amadeus Diamond. Visit eight historic cities and towns adorned for the holidays and enjoy the sights, sounds and scents of the Christkindlmarkts, a centuries-old German tradition. Prices range from $2,245 to $3,045 per person for double occupancy. Airfare is not included.

2010

coming events

august 19 ■ charleston chapter riverdogs vs. rome braves baseball game,

september 26 ■ nyc chapter tunnels to

towers race

7 p.m. Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park

Springtime on the Mediterranean august 26 ■ nashville alumni sounds vs.

April 15–26, 2011

Sail along the coasts of Spain, France, Monaco and Italy aboard the luxurious midsize Marina, Oceania Cruises’ newest ship.

The 10-day cruise departs Barcelona, Spain, and includes stops along the famed French Riviera, glamorous Monte Carlo and Italy’s enchanting Amalfi Coast before concluding in Rome. Prices range from $6,998 to $13,998 per person for double occupancy. Airfare is not included.

october 2 ■ chicago chapter aids run/ walk, Grant Park – Columbus and Balbo

new orleans zephyrs baseball game, 6 p.m.

Herschel Greer Stadium

september 4 ■ triangle chapter elon at duke football game, 7 p.m. Wallace Wade

october 9 ■ charlotte chapter walk now for autism, 9 a.m. Charlo e Motor Speedway ■ d.c. chapter wine 101, 1 p.m. Philip Carter Winery, Hume, Va.

Stadium

september 14 ■ evening for elon in south

october 14 ■ triangle chapter food drive social/networking event, 7 p.m. Carolina Ale

boston, va., 6:30 p.m. Home of Walter Bass ’62 and

House, Brier Creek

Barbara Day Bass ’61

october 16 ■ baltimore chapter moveable september 18 ■ chicago chapter picnic

and frank lloyd wright walking tour, 2 p.m. Oak Park ■ richmond chapter elon at richmond football game, 1 p.m. E. Claiborne

feast service event ■ d.c. chapter light the night service event october 22–24 ■ homecoming 2010, Elon

Robins Stadium

october 22 ■ chicago chapter

Zambia service and safari May 18–June 3, 2011

Join Elon’s Periclean Scholars program for a service project in the village of Kawana, Zambia. Alumni will work with professors, students and local medical personnel to set up a clinic for the village. Afterward, enjoy a three-day safari in Botswana. The cost is $3,500 covering all expenses, including a donation to Habitat for Humanity to cover the cost of building materials. for more information:

Visit www.elon.edu/alumni or contact the Alumni Association at (877) 784-3566 or alumnirelations@elon.edu.

september 20 ■ d.c. chapter speaker

series, part i: j. crew suiting event, 7 p.m.

homecoming happy hour (for those unable to make it to elon), 7 p.m.

Chevy Chase Pavilion

september 21 ■ l.a. chapter life after the

october 23 ■ boston chapter homecoming in boston, 7 p.m. Kings Back Bay

bubble: speed networking, 7 p.m. september 23 ■ charlotte chapter greek

fraternity/sorority mixer, 6:30 p.m. Taco Mac in Piedmont Town Center ■ nyc chapter elon business fellows reception, 6:30 p.m.

Thomson Reuters

november 4 ■ baltimore chapter financial speaker series with wade barnes ’04 november 6 ■ charleston chapter elon at the citadel football game, 2 p.m. Johnson Hagood Stadium

living in london? Enjoy a taste of southern hospitality in England’s capital on Sept. 24 at the Elon Alumni Association’s fi rst overseas event.

Alumni, parents and students studying abroad in London are invited to join hosts Doug and Tracy Glass P’11 for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and a visit from President Leo M. Lambert via Skype.

november 13 ■ charlotte chapter elon

vs. furman football game, 1:30 p.m. Rhodes Stadium

november 14 ■ l.a. chapter run for her:

ovarian cancer research and awareness walk, 9 a.m. Pan Pacific Park

visit www.elon.edu/alumni for updated dates and times and additional events for alumni in your area.

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he has enjoyed the love and support of their four children during this difficult time.

Class Notes correction: In our spring 2009 issue, we spotlighted alumna Dionne Eleby and her work with Step Afrika! We listed her class year as 2009 when, in fact, she is a proud member of the class of 2008. We apologize for the oversight.

’30s

’40s

Mary Rawles Jones ’31 remembers how strict campus officials were about dating and spending time together. Young men would have to wait for their dates in sorority rooms. Then the young ladies were lined up and marched over to meet with their young man. After the date, the women lined up again to be led back to their dorm rooms. Mary also worked in the library carrying notes from one section of the library to the other. In those days, the library was divided by a four-foot-tall partition, and the ladies were on one side and the men were on the other. It was the only way they were allowed to communicate with each other during the week; needless to say, the library was a very popular place.

Virginia Neal Peebles ’40 is a retired teacher. She lives in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Sara Virginia Hook Burton ’37 is the daughter of the late Professor A.L. Hook. She remembers how as a youth she watched the Elon community roll up its collective sleeves to pitch in and rebuild the school after the fire.

She helped lay some of the first bricks.

Later as a student, she was very active in musical theatre. Her granddaughter, Jennifer Avery Semrick ’95, continued the family tradition and was in the second graduating class after the music theatre major was established.

Blanche Somers Jeffries ’38 has many fond memories of her time at Elon.

She enjoyed being part of the choir and traveling to give concerts. She encourages students to take advantage of the many opportunities for personal growth that Elon provides.

Blanche lives in Burlington, N.C. Jesse W. Harrington ’39 is impressed with how the small denominational college he attended has grown into a highly respected university. He enjoys looking back on his Elon days and recalls the warm atmosphere and how everyone would gather in West Dormitory before the evening meal.

Jesse also remembers running for senior class president and how thrilled he was when he won the election, as well as when he met his wife, Edna Barrier Harrington ’42. They reside in Wilmington, N.C. 30

the magazine of elon

James W. White ’40 is grateful to Elon for giving him the foundation he needed to pursue his future livelihood and for the opportunity to broaden his musical horizons with a minor in music. He is also thankful for the many friends he made and cherishes those memories. He lives in Burlington, N.C.

Sylvia McAdams Burwell ’54 enjoyed meeting new people, attending dances and cheering for Elon’s sports teams as a student. She met her sweetheart, Nat Burwell ’54, and in 1958 moved to Florida. After 50 years away, the couple recently returned to Burlington, N.C., and are now living in town.

Jack R. Lindley ’56 was not your traditional student. While he was attending Elon, he was already married and had children, so he didn’t have a lot of time for campus life. That

didn’t keep him from developing a deep affection for his alma mater. He is so proud of what Elon has accomplished academically, athletically and aesthetically. Jack lives with his wife, Dorothy, in Burlington, N.C. James M. Sikes ’56 lived in the same house as Professor Gilbert Latham, who took time out of his busy schedule to help James become a successful student. He appreciates the wisdom and guidance he received and knows that Dr. Latham was instrumental in helping him become successful later in life. James lives in Burlington, N.C. H.M. “Hillery” Motsinger ’58 is the founder of NewLife Behavior

Margaret Hopkins West ’42 enjoyed the small campus and close friendships she made as a student. She took great pride in knowing everyone by name. She has wonderful memories of the special trips the church choir took and marvels at how much Elon has grown since she was a student.

Margaret lives in Hampton, Va. Barbara Ann Haynes Francis ’49 says she values the many opportunities she had at Elon to meet people and make new friends. It is her sincere hope that Elon will stay true to the values and traditions of its past while embracing the growth opportunities of the future, and she’s thrilled that Elon now has a Phi Beta Kappa chapter. Barbara lives with her husband, Ernest, in Newport News, Va.

CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITIES CAN PROVIDE INCOME FOR LIFE a charitable gift annuity of $10,000 or more to Elon will guarantee you a fixed income for the rest of your life. With market interest rates near historic lows, a gift annuity is an attractive way for you to increase your income and make a gift to Elon at the same time. You will receive immediate tax benefits and can defer capital gains. The payment rate of a charitable gift annuity depends on your age at the time of the gift — the older you are, the higher the rate. rates as of july 1, 2010

’50s John D. Vance ’51 recalls the wonderful plays and concerts he was a part of and how much he enjoyed performing in Whitley Auditorium.

He cherishes the memories of being a part of the choir and making friends.

He is thrilled with the progress Elon has made through the years and feels that it is the most beautiful campus in the world, “bar none!” He lives in Leesburg, Fla. John W. Hurst ’53 is retired from his career as an automotive engineer with Chrysler Corporation in Detroit. He currently lives in Emerald Isle, N.C. In February, John’s wife, Patricia, passed away after a two-year struggle with als (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), but

ONE BENEFICI A RY

T WO BENEFICI A R IES

AGE

A NNUI T Y R AT E

AGES

A NNUI T Y R AT E

60 65 70

5.2% 5.5% 5.8%

60/65 67/67 71/73

5.0% 5.2% 5.5%

Annuity rates are subject to change. The annuity rate remains fi xed once your gi is made.

To calculate a gift annuity for you, your spouse or a family member, go to www.elon.edu/giftplanning.

Talk with us today about how you may benefit from a life income gift to Elon and other gift planning opportunities. please contact: Jamie Killorin, CPA/PFS, CFP®, Director of Gift Planning 877.784.3566 • jkillorin2@elon.edu • www.elon.edu/giftplanning

Class Notes International Ministry. In 1984, Hillery, an educator and counselor, began to write a curriculum that would assist prison inmates in changing their attitudes and actions. After four years of writing and teaching the inmates, Hillery stopped teaching and began training others to teach the curriculum. Through his NewLife ministry, Hillery has had many opportunities to travel abroad to Africa, Asia and Central and South America to train missionaries and church leaders. He lives with his wife, Nancy, in Dallas, Texas.

Vincent R. Bujan ’59 is grateful to Elon for accepting him as a freshman in 1955.

While Elon is a bit larger and a lot of attention has been paid to its buildings and the university grounds, he knows that what makes Elon a special place are the people such as President Emeritus J. Earl Danieley ’46, “who after 60 years at the school still walks around the campus calling people by name.” Vincent knows that Elon will continue to make it possible for students to blossom and reach their full potential. He lives in Marietta, Ga. Robert S. “Bobby” Loy Jr. ’59 is a proud Elon alumnus. He is excited about all of the new buildings, especially the new golf center and Rhodes Stadium. He encourages students to work hard and to remember that “you can never get too much education.” He lives in Sanford, N.C. Charles L. Swicegood ’59 has always known that Elon is a great school and he is proud that it just keeps getting better. He fondly remembers his days on campus and playing sports and the many good friends he met, like Bill Matze ’50 and his wife, Dolores “Dody” Evans Matze ’51, and the late James “Hank” Hamrick ’55.

He hopes that current students will enjoy their time at Elon as much as he did, because it goes by in a flash.

Charles lives with his wife, Carolyn Landgrave Swicegood ’63, in Indian Lake Estates, Fla. John R. Thomas ’59 and Shelby Gunter Thomas ’62 celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Dec. 27, 2009. They live in Ashland, Pa.

’60s reunion ’60 Nancy Sharp Kimmerle ’68 proves that it’s never too late to go back to school. She recently earned a graduate certificate in adult literacy from

the University of Virginia, more than 30 years after she earned her master’s degree from Old Dominion University. She surprised herself by doing much better in class this time around. Nancy is a teacher for Chesapeake Public Schools and lives in Virginia Beach, Va.

She got her degree in education but has worked in many different jobs since, including pharmaceutical sales, health and safety, and a stint working in public relations for the New Orleans Saints. Currently, Joanne works at New Tech Fitness at Virginia Tech and is a teaching consultant for Safety Performance Solutions.

Ronnie Vaughan Jackson ’76 is a concert and festival producer for the Life & Faith Tour, a Christian festival with a fundraising component. The tour started out as a way for Ronnie, a former firefighter, to help raise money for the local fire department in Kenbridge, Va. What started out as a cookout with local entertainment Paul Bleiberg ’69, George Simon ’69 and Paul Sebo has grown into a major fundraising event with headlining acts such as Paul Bleiberg ’69 and George Simon Travis Tritt and Alabama. This year’s ’69 found themselves enjoying an im- lineup will include Diamond Rio, promptu reunion with one of their Amy Grant, MercyMe, the band Elon professors, Paul Sebo. The trio of Elon alumnus Chris Hendricks were on vacation in Myrtle Beach, ’07 and more. For more informaS.C., at the same time. They met up tion, visit www.lifeandfaithtour.com. in a restaurant and enjoyed a couple Ronnie lives in Durham, N.C. of hours reminiscing about their Elon days.

Wes Strickland ’77 continues to work tirelessly for the Village Medical Project of Sierra Leone, which came ’70s about after late-night conversations with his close friend and former Elon Conway “Buck” Bayliff ’70 has roommate from Sierra Leone, Aiah been named director of national so- Gbakima ’76. Using medicine and lutions for Professional Computing other medical supplies brought from Resources, a provider of technology British Columbia, Canada, and the management solutions. His wife, United States, volunteers treat pregBarbara Bohannon Bayliff ’70, is re- nant women and young children tired, enjoying playing a lot of tennis to reduce Sierra Leone’s infant and and being a grandmother. The couple under-5 mortality rates, which rank live in Phoenix, Ariz. among the highest in the world.

They also bring basic health care to Stafford R. Peebles Jr. ’70 is an at- the villagers, many of whom suffer torney at Peebles Law Firm, pc. He from malaria and other parasitic dislives with his wife, Judy, in Winston- eases. During October and November Salem, N.C. 2009, Wes and his team were able to increase the number of villages visited Deborah “Debbie” McDaniel ’71 from four to six and provided mediretired after 30 years of teaching cal services to 220 more people than at James Island Middle School in were treated in the previous year. For Charleston, S.C. She has relocated to more information about the Village Cedar Park, Texas, where she keeps Medical Project, contact Wes at delibusy volunteering with Weimaraner cado@island.net. When not raising Rescue of Texas. She provides foster money for the project, Wes and his care to animals needing new homes. wife, Joanne, stay busy running their restaurant, Delicados. They opened Joann Lockwood Doyle ’71 retired in June 2009 after 37 years with Volusia County Schools in Daytona Beach, Fla. In January, she celebrated her 60th birthday and completed the Disney Princess Half Marathon later in the spring. She lives with her husband, John, in Ponce Inlet, Fla. Joanne Dean ’73 is grateful to Elon for the preparation she received to go out and make her way in the world.

Joann Lockwood Doyle ’71

their seventh location in June and live in Nanaimo, British Columbia.

Gregory E. Hicks ’79 retired July 1 as assistant superintendent for human resources and finance for Orange County Schools. He lives with his wife, Marilyn, in Hurdle Mills, N.C.

’80s reunion ’85 David A. Vaughan ’81 retired in April as assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He spent 31 years working in higher education, and one of the highlights of his career was being inducted into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest honor bestowed on a civilian by the governor of North Carolina.

David was thrilled to have President Emeritus J. Earl Danieley ’46, his wife, Verona Daniels Danieley ’47, and Jo Watts Williams ’55 in attendance for his retirement gathering.

He lives in Burlington, N.C. Lydia Grace Brooks ’83 is a K-2 exceptional children resource teacher for Chatham County Schools. She lives with her husband, Phil, in Pittsboro, N.C. Their daughter will attend East Carolina University’s premed program beginning this fall, and their son is entering sixth grade.

Vohn Belser Murphy ’84 stays busy working three jobs: selling promotional products for Specialties Inc. and working for both Marriott and The Capital Group, llc. Her son recently graduated from high school and will be attending the Art Institute of Washington. Vohn lives with her family in Silver Spring, Md. Tammy Franklin ’85 recently moved back to North Carolina. Her husband, Hamid Qambar, recently retired. The family lives in Hillsborough, and Tammy would love to hear from old friends and her Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority sisters.

Joel W. Huffstetler ’85 is rector at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland, Tenn. He has written the introduction for a book written by Michael Mayne, who served as dean of Westminster Abbey from 1986–96. The book is titled To Trust and To Love: Sermons and Addresses

by Michael Mayne. Joel lives with his wife, Debbie, in Cleveland.

Greg Hicks ’79

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Class Notes Ron Jandoli ’86 recently made a career move. After 20 years as a sportswriter for The Star-Ledger (N.J.) covering the pga and lpga tours as well as high school sports, Ron felt he needed to make a change because of the decline of the newspaper industry.

He is now an editor and website/media relations coordinator for a preparatory school. He lives in Brick, N.J. Wes Durham ’88 received the 2009 Georgia Sportscaster of the Year award from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association in May. This was the sixth time the nssa has honored Wes for his work. He will begin his 16th year as the radio play-by-play announcer for Georgia Tech football and basketball this fall, as well as his seventh season as the radio voice of the nfl’s Atlanta Falcons. Wes lives in Atlanta, Ga. Karen Zeller Moore ’88 has been named international vice president of marketing for CeloNova Biosciences.

She lives with her husband, Tom, and their twin 18-month-old daughters, Sierra and Madison, in Milton, Ga. Crystal Morrison Taylor ’88 is a counselor at Woodlawn Middle School and has been named the Alamance-Burlington School System’s 2010 School Counselor of the Year.

This past year, she was instrumental in guiding a “Stuff the Bookbag” project, which ensured low-income students who might not have adequate food during the holidays received snacks in a bookbag before leaving for the two-week break. She delivered donated turkeys to needy school families at Thanksgiving and

Wes Durham ’88 (right) with Jim Nantz of CBS Sports

Ruby T. Thornton ’99

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Emily Matesic ’99

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worked with school social workers to distribute toys and food items collected by Christmas Cheer. Crystal lives in Burlington, N.C. Jack H. Quarterman ’88 is chief executive officer of allkn Inc., located in the Lake Norman area of Charlotte, N.C. He lives in Mooresville, N.C. with his wife, Michelle, and their son, Patrick O’Brien, who is a senior quarterback at Mooresville High School.

Patrick is being recruited by several Division I schools, including Elon, and Jack hopes that his son will be the next superstar quarterback for the Phoenix.

Barry B. Woodard ’89 is managing partner of HomeTowne Realty Group, llc. The firm is expanding, with two new locations in the Knightdale and Clayton East Flowers area. Barry lives with his wife, Jan, in Clayton, N.C.

’90s Mark C. French ’93 has been named to the research and development committee for the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Mark lives in Bedford, Mass.

Heather Waters Philo ’93 is a teacher at Northside Primary School in Tift County, Ga., and recently was named Teacher of the Year. She lives with her husband and their three daughters in Tifton, Ga. Christine E. Allen ’95 recently was promoted to senior vice president of global human resources at Bank of

Emily Peeples Bauguss ’95 is a pharmaceutical sales representative for AstraZeneca. She lives in Concord, N.C. Anthony L. Jones ’95 has a master’s degree in criminal justice from Mississippi Valley State University.

He recently graduated with a second master’s in religious arts from the Memphis Theological Seminary and plans to begin his doctorate in the fall. He lives with is wife, Jacqueline, in Clarksdale, Miss.

Andrea Lauri Urvina ’95 has graduated from Western Connecticut State University with her nursing degree.

She lives in Danbury, Conn.

Kristy Eidam Pickurel ’96 recently accepted a position as director of development and communications for the Environmental Research and Education Foundation in Raleigh, N.C. She lives in Cary, N.C. Shari Ashton ’97 is a physician’s assistant specializing in dermatology for Dartmouth-Hitchcock in Concord, N.H. She lives in Webster, N.H., with her sons, Mason James and Asher John.

Ron Stephenson ’97 is an analyst for the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency and lives in Raleigh, N.C. In December 2009, he spent two weeks in Belarus with the American Belarussian Relief Organization. The organization arranges for groups to travel to Belarus after Christmas each year. During his visit, Ron lived with a family in Mogilev and traveled to several orphanages delivering gifts for the children. Belarus was one of the countries hardest hit by the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986.

To learn more about abro and efforts to help the children of Belarus, go to www.abro.org.

Heather M. Coffey ’98 earned a doctorate in culture, curriculum and change from the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is an assistant professor of English education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She lives in Charlotte, N.C.

Shari Ashton ’97 with patient

Heath Oldham ’00 (left) and colleagues

America. She lives in Scotch Plains, N.J.

Jaime Gilliam ’02

Kelly Rivers ’98 graduated in May with a doctorate in English from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where she will be a lecturer this fall.

She lives in Knoxville.

Emily Matesic ’99 has been promoted to Fox Valley bureau chief for wbay-tv, the abc affiliate in Green Bay, Wis. In addition to her reporting duties, Emily will oversee two reporters and three photographers. She lives in De Pere, Wis. Michelle Gurney Sartori ’99 is a brand and media licensing executive for International Gaming Technology.

She lives with her husband, Joseph, in Westwood, N.J. Calvin C. Stanley ’99 is assistant to the school director of the Clifford School, Clifford Estates, in Panyu, Guanghzhou, China, where he lives with his wife, Joanna.

Ruby T. Thornton ’99 has been promoted to avid coordinator at Stephen Decatur Middle School in Clinton, Md. avid works to improve critical thinking, organization and collaboration skills, and to put students on the path toward higher education, empowering average students to strive for academic excellence. Ruby lives in Springdale, Md.

’00s reunion ’00, ’05 Heath Oldham ’00 is promotions manager for wtvr Digital Media in Richmond, Va., where he lives. He won a 2010 Emmy Award in the category of News Promo, Single Spot, from the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Jennifer Kirby Fout ’01 graduated with a master’s degree in nursing in December 2009 from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She works as a board-certified nurse practitioner for a hematology/oncology clinic in Knoxville, where she lives.

Mary Marshall Teer ’01 graduated in May with a master’s degree in clinical counseling from Johns Hopkins University, where she worked in the psychiatry department. She has relocated to Raleigh, N.C., to pursue a career as a licensed professional counselor working with troubled adolescents.

Erin L. Way ’01 graduated in May with a doctorate in applied developmental psychology from George Mason University. She lives in Annandale, Va.

Class Notes

Spreading the word

by Robert Wohner ’11

The Christian gospels have been translated into most languages, but until recently there was no translation for the Mofu-Gudur language, spoken by a community in the central African nation of Cameroon. That changed in February 2008, when Ken Hollingsworth ’68 and his wife, Judy, unveiled a translation of the New Testament into the Mofu language, capping more than three decades of work.

Becoming a translator wasn’t always Hollingsworth’s dream. He graduated from Elon with degrees in music and English, and after completing a period of military service, he received a graduate degree in music education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He chose to pursue another graduate degree, a master of arts in linguistics, at the University of Texas at Arlington. While in school, he joined Wycliffe Bible Translators and married Judy in 1974. After finishing his degree in 1976, he and Judy headed to Africa. Since then, Hollingsworth has served in a multitude of roles.

“What do you call a linguist, dialect surveyor, literacy worker, sociolinguist, ethnomusicologist, public health promoter, pedagogy specialist, teacher, trainer, lexicographer, part-time public relations person, translator and translation consultant?” he asks.

Ken Hollingsworth ’68 at right

“I prefer ‘Bible translator,’ and that’s what I put on my tax form.”

Hollingsworth says translating scripture into native languages is a tradition that has continued since John Wycliffe’s translation of the Bible into English in 1384. Despite technological advances since the 14th century, the task of translation still requires knowledge of a language and culture, as well as “old-fashioned brain work,” especially when working with the world’s rarest languages.

“We say that a good translation is exact, natural and clear,” he says, “but when faced with unknown notions in

Jaime Blaydes Gilliam ’02 is an in- Her husband, Jonathan P. Lindberg dependent jewelry stylist for Stella & ’04, has been named a member of Dot, a company that sells boutique- the pharmaceutical learning enrichstyle jewelry at affordable prices of- ment group as part of the Triangle fered through home shows. For more chapter of the North Carolina Project information about Jaime’s business, Management Institute. The group visit www.stelladot.com/jaimegilliam. meets monthly in Research Triangle She lives in Whitsett, N.C. Park. The couple live in Raleigh, N.C. Bo Hamrick ’02 has accepted a position with Verathon Medical’s private practice division selling ultrasound diagnostic devices. He lives in Suffolk, Va. Sarah King Lindberg ’02 is an administrative support specialist in the Office of State Personnel for the State of North Carolina. In her role, she supports the deputy director, personnel commission and it support group.

Sharon Blatt Medeiros ’02 and Alan F. Medeiros ’02 live in Taunton, Mass. Sharon recently was named vice president and controller at Mechanics Co-Operative Bank in Taunton. She holds a master’s degree in financial mathematics from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and another master’s in management from Bridgewater State College. She is pursuing a third master’s degree in finance from Bentley University. Alan

a language, we can’t change certain historical facts.”

For example, in one story, the English version of the Bible says Jesus cursed a fig tree. There’s no equivalent word for “fig” in Mofu, but there is a word signifying a similar fruit. Hollingsworth’s translation offers a comparison: “Jesus saw a tree which gives fruit like a ‘gudav.’”

In addition to their translation work, the couple faced the unique challenges and joys of raising their three children in Cameroon. All three were born on the African continent.

“Our children, especially during our language-learning phrase, gave us the

opportunity to connect with the people because children were a common bond,” Hollingsworth says.

After discovering one of their daughters had a learning disability, they made the difficult decision to return to the United States in 1990 so she could receive appropriate treatment. The Hollingsworths returned to Cameroon two years later.

“We never really gave up on the work,” he says. “Neither of us was ready to quit at the time.”

After another stay in the United States from 1997 to 2000, the couple returned to Cameroon to finish translating the New Testament. In 2008, he and Judy celebrated the completion of that work with the Mofu, local churches and representatives of Wycliffe Bible Translators.

For Hollingsworth, his and Judy’s 30-plus years of work with the Mofu has significance that reaches further than the boundaries of the Christian faith. They have positively affected the community’s quality of life.

“We have seen the literacy rate jump from an estimated four percent to near 20 percent, when 25 percent literacy is considered the maximum in a culture like the Mofu’s,” he says. “We’ve been able to introduce use of their ‘Mother Tongue’ in the first three grades of Mofu schools in the past 10 years and are now seeing the fruit of that in the lives of the pupils who started in our school.”

is an attorney at Brennan, Medeiros & Brennan.

scare or the civil rights movement.

Her students presented information and gathered donations to fund Matthew D. Myatt ’02 is a senior trips for veterans to visit the World associate for Village Realty and was War ii Memorial in Washington, named the company’s Outer Banks D.C. Working with Rotary 7690 in Sales Agent of the Year. While many Winston-Salem, students and facin the real estate field have struggled, ulty at Reynolds raised more than Matt says that the secret to success $4,500 – enough for nine veterans to in this kind of economy is accessibil- visit the memorial. Lundon lives in ity and a Blackberry smartphone. He Winston-Salem. lives with his wife, Jenny, in Southern Shores, N.C. Elizabeth Mazzuchi Caruso ’03 will be relocating with her family to Lundon B. Sims ’02 teaches United Matamoros, Mexico, in September.

States History at R.J. Reynolds High Her husband, Andrew, has been acSchool in Winston-Salem, N.C. This cepted into the Foreign Service, and past year, she asked her students to Mexico will be his first assignment. propose projects that would educate the public about World War Megan C. Livengood ’03 accepted ii, the Great Depression, the Red a position as a survey specialist with the magazine of elon

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Class Notes rti International. She will work on an operations team conducting a national drug, alcohol and mental health study. She lives in Durham, N.C. Ryan Notch ’03 and Sarah Emerson Notch ’02 live in Walnut Creek, Calif., with their son, Ethan. Sarah is a behavioral specialist for the Orinda School District and Ryan is a photographer. He graduated in May with a master’s degree in photography from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. He owns a photography business called Ryan Notch Photography.

Mark Gustafson ’04 is a consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton. He received the Values in Practice Award, the firm’s highest professional recognition. The award recognizes staff members who model the firm’s core values in their work, their interactions with clients and colleagues, and in their personal conduct. These core values include professionalism, fairness, integrity, respect, trust, client service, diversity, entrepreneurship, excellence and teamwork. Mark lives in Washington, D.C. Daniel L. Hampton ’04 has been promoted to assistant vice president in the government contractor banking unit for Alliance Bank in Washington, D.C. He specializes in working with companies that provide goods and services to federal and state governments. He lives in Leesburg, Va. Andrew Mackey ’04 has a master’s degree in environmental management from Duke University. He recently completed a trip around the world and now manages a manufacturing and design firm in Atlanta, Ga. He is thrilled that his brother, Thompson Mackey ’10, is now a fellow Elon alumnus.

Maggie Shaw ’04 manages a Baltimore-based nonprofit and is pursuing a master’s degree in culinary arts. She is working to develop her own organization that will provide low-income communities information and inspiration through cooking, nutrition and vocational skill workshops. She lives in Monkton, Md. Lauren Vater Phipps ’04 and her husband, Michael, hosted friends Mark Hendrix ’04 and his wife, Kendra, and Jeff Hendrick ’02 and Katie Fink Hendrick ’04 at their home in Hong Kong. The friends toured Hong Kong and Phuket, Thailand, in May. 34

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University in Chicago, Ill., where he lives.

Beth Roberts ’07 has been accepted into the Peace Corps. Her first assignment will take her to Mali, where she will work in community and smallenterprise development. Her home base is Paris, Ky. Elizabeth Mazzuchi Caruso ’03, husband Andrew and daughter Olivia

Lauren Vater Phipps ’04, Mark Hendrix ’04 with wife Kendra, Jeff Hendrick ’02 and Katie Fink Hendrick ’04

Donna M. Vanhook ’07 graduated in May with a master of divinity degree from Shaw University Divinity School. She lives in Burlington, N.C. Andrew Bennett ’08 is president-elect of the Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club, the nation’s third-largest professional group. He lives in Cleveland, Ohio.

Dorian Wanzer ’09

Dwayne Waite Jr. ’08

Katie Sherman ’04 worked as a freelance writer in Vancouver, Canada, covering the Winter Olympics.

During her adventure, she was able to attend the closing ceremonies and met U.S. figure skater Rachael Flatt. After the games, she traveled to Whistler, Banff and Tofino, Canada, before heading south to Monterey, Calif. Katie lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. Neil Wright ’04 graduated in May with a master’s degree in building construction science and management from Virginia Tech. He lives in Blacksburg, Va. Amy Jo Jenkins ’05 is the aquatics director for the U.S. Navy base in Yokosuka, Japan. In January, she was pleased to meet up with the firstever Elon Winter Term study abroad course in Japan.

Kathleen Niple ’05 graduated with a master’s degree from Boston University. She lives in Brighton, Mass.

Mary M. Caruso ’06 will graduate this summer from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a doctorate in chemistry. She has accepted a position as a product development engineer for 3m Company in St. Paul, Minn., where she plans to live.

Raechel S. Hester ’06 graduated in May with a master’s degree in college student personnel administration from James Madison University.

She has accepted a position at Wake Forest University in the career services office.

James W. Lynch ’10

Laura Weisiger ’06 works for the digital media group at Media General Inc. in Richmond, Va., where she lives. She is on the board for Elon’s alumni chapter and is a member of the Junior League of Richmond.

Sean White ’06 has been promoted to senior marketing specialist with Red Hat in Raleigh, N.C. He will support Red Hat’s marketing programs, campaigns and activities for the company’s consulting and training businesses. He and his wife, Heather Krebs White ’06, live in Raleigh.

Jennifer R. Budd ’07 graduated in May with a juris doctor from Rutgers School of Law – Camden.

She has accepted a position as a law clerk to the Hon. Edwin Stern, the presiding judge of the New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division in Morristown, N.J. Jennifer lives in Haddonfield, N.J. Clifton R. Johnson ’07 graduated in May with a master’s degree in public affairs from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He is assistant director of the Moseley Center for scheduling and conferences at Elon. He lives in Burlington, N.C. Mark S. Mizell ’07 joined the U.S. Marine Corps reserves in July 2009 and graduated from recruit training at Recruit Depot in San Diego, Calif., in October. He finished combat training at Camp Pendleton in November and this April was promoted to lance corporal. Mark currently is pursuing a degree as a paralegal at Loyola

Alexandra G. Fippinger ’08 graduated in May from the University of South Carolina with a master’s in higher education administration. She will be working as the coordinator for volunteer programs in the university’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

She lives in Columbia, S.C. Brad Hartland ’08 recently was promoted to chief Macintosh specialist at HealthCareForEveryone in Washington, D.C. Andrew Hurwitz ’08 is a mentor for city year in Seattle. He works with inner-city at-risk youth in the classroom and in after-school sports.

Rev. Edward L. Marsh ’08 has been appointed pastor of Friendship United Methodist Church. He lives in McLeansville, N.C. Ashleigh J. Palmer ’08 graduated with a master’s degree in accounting from Miami University. She lives in Lake Bluff, Ill. Sarah Louise Schupp ’08 graduated magna cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in May with a master’s in student personnel administration in higher education. She lives in Strongsville, Ohio.

Kaitlin M. Szulik ’08 was promoted to client services coordinator with the Carolina Hurricanes after spending a year and a half with the organization’s promotions and fan development division. She lives in Raleigh, N.C. Jacqueline Spry ’08 graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a master’s degree in social work. She lives in Wilmington, Mass.

Class Notes

Honoring an unsung hero

by Kristin M. Simone i ’05

Walking around Elon’s campus 60 years after they graduated, Landon Walker ’39 and James White ’40 found themselves outside a familiar place: the band director’s office. Walker served as Elon’s director of bands as a student. Following a gift from White, the office now bears Walker’s name.

“He’s one of my best friends,” says White, who has known Walker since the two sang together in the chorus at Charlotte Central High School. “He’s one of the unsung heroes of the band program here.”

Also an outstanding horn player in the Charlotte Central band, Walker went to Washington, D.C., with the group to play in President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first inaugural parade. At the same time, Elon President L.E. Smith was searching for an individual to take over the school’s band program, which had been disbanded at the start of the Great Depression. Smith read about the Charlotte Central band’s appearance in Washington in the newspaper and contacted its director, L.D. Sides, a 1920 Elon alumnus.

“He called Mr. Sides and asked, ‘Have you got a graduating member of the band who could come to Elon and restart our band in exchange for tuition, room and board?’” Walker recalls. “Mr. Sides gave him my name, and I got the job.”

But Walker didn’t come alone.

Dwayne Waite Jr. ’08 has finished moving his marketing agency, jdw: The Charlotte Agency, into its new offices in Charlotte’s Area 15 development. Area 15 is an evolving piece of art with studio spaces for artists and other professionals. Dwayne’s agency serves as the primary marketing representative for Area 15 and serves 20 organizations in the facility. He lives in Charlotte, N.C. Laura D. Martin ’09 participated in a fitness certification and training program through an international faith-based organization called Youth With a Mission. She became a certified physical trainer and learned how to use fitness as a tool in the mission field. Laura participated in the foundation’s missionary training school

“The choral director asked me if I could recommend a tenor for his chorus,” Walker says. “I immediately thought of James and told the director about him, so he was able to go to Elon also.”

After graduating from Elon, Walker served in the U.S. military during World War II then continued his music career as director of bands at Reidsville (N.C.) High School. He later moved with his wife, Penny, and their family to Hickory, N.C., where the couple live today. White joined Walker and Penny in May to visit campus and see the plaque outside the band director’s office that recognizes Walker’s contributions to Elon’s band program.

“We have been good friends all of these years. He, his late wife, Sara, my wife, Penny, and I got together whenever we could,” Walker says. “You will never find a finer, more generous or upstanding gentleman anywhere.”

White made his gift to the Renold O. Schilke Endowed Trumpet Scholarship, which is given annually to a member of the university band interested in playing the trumpet. White says his gift honors not only Walker’s contributions to Elon’s bands, but also his commitment to the countless student musicians he mentored as a teacher and director.

“I like to think of Landon every time I see the movie ‘Mr. Holland’s Opus,’” White says with a smile. “He had a great impact on students’ lives.”

and has begun her first assignment in Morocco.

Dorian A. Wanzer ’09 is pursuing a master’s degree in public administration from Rutgers University. She is a two-time recipient of the James E. Webb Public Administration Fellowship. This summer, she is working at the Smithsonian’s Office of Equal Employment and Minority Affairs in Washington, D.C. James W. Lynch ’10 interned in Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa, during his final semester at Elon this spring. He worked with a firm that was handling marketing for the 2010 fifa World Cup and returned to the U.S. just before the start of the tournament. He will work

Landon Walker ’39, left, and James White ’40

Walker (front row, far right) and White (second row, far right) with the 1935 Elon band

for Teach for America as a science in- including Kara Gregson Sheppard structor in Charlotte, N.C., this fall. ’93. Christine is a Web managing editor for vpi Pet Insurance. The couple reside in Yorba Linda, Calif.

weddings

’70s Joanne Dean ’73 and E. Scott Geller, 7/4/10. The couple reside in Blacksburg, Va.

’90s Christine L. Gowen ’93 and Bob Paulhus, 4/30/10. The couple were married in a vineyard in Napa Valley, Calif., with a small group of family and friends in attendance,

Ari Graham ’97 and Andrew Stoddard, 5/30/09. Elon alumni in attendance were: Stephanie O’Brien ’98, Petra Rosenbaum Marino ’97, Craig Marino ’98, Beth Everett Murphy ’97, Shelley Camper Spell ’97, Ken Spell ’98, Kate Murphy Jordan ’97 and Justin Jordan ’96.

Ari is director of meetings and client events at Fidelity Investments. The couple live in Mansfield, Mass.

Pamela Ellen Sidney ’97 and Andrew S. Reising, 4/17/10. Pamela is a technology facilitator for WinstonSalem Forsyth County Schools. the magazine of elon

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Class Notes The couple reside with their children, Maximillien and Bradley, in Clemmons, N.C. Patti Lynn Davies ’99 and Guillermo A. Uribe, 7/25/09. Patti is a teacher at Charlotte Catholic High School.

The couple were blessed with their first child, Cruz Antonio, on 2/23/10.

They live in Charlotte, N.C.

’00s Lauren Fernicola ’01 and Robert Till, 7/25/09. Elon alumni in attendance were: Matt Bastoni ’01, Susan Braccini DiRoma ’04, Catie Krol Morici ’01, Pam Braccini Pizanie ’01, Sally Rich ’01, Kristan Schaaf ’01, Cynthia Maynard Ward ’01, Janelle Derr Wilson ’01 and Nat Woods ’02. Lauren is a teacher at Brookdale Avenue School. The couple live in Caldwell, N.J. Melissa Dodge ’02 and Jon Nelson ’03, 5/8/10. The couple were married in Charleston, S.C. Elon alumni who participated in the wedding were: Keith Brewer ’99, Ryan Fairchild ’03, Chris Gaylor ’03, Tricia Hiott Collins ’03, Steve Pahner ’03 and Katie Simons Pahner ’02. Elon alumni in attendance were: Bailey

Benzle Sullivan ’03, John Coleman Paula Swan Scherer ’03 and Steven financial analyst for Mercer Capital. ’02, Dan Evans ’04, Ryan Garland Bartlett Sizemore ’04, 11/14/09. Paula The couple live in Memphis, Tenn. ’03, Katie Glasnapp Fairchild ’03, teaches psychology at Riverdale High Dan Hanson ’05, Amy Johnson School and Steven is a financial ad- Kelly Marie O’Donnell ’04 and Garland ’03, Sean Maroney ’02, viser at Merrill Lynch. The couple live Christopher J. Voges, 5/1/10. Kelly Mary Scot McAllister Boyce ’02, in Fort Myers, Fla. teaches English as a second lanZac Palmer ’04, Jamie Sclater ’02, guage for the Berkeley County Marianne Smith Stern ’01, Dave Nicholas A. Schmidt ’03 and Stacy School District. The couple live in Stern ’97 and Craig Whitham ’05. A. Stock ’03, 5/10/09. Elon alumni Charleston, S.C. Jon is a network engineer and Melissa in attendance were: Jen Clair ’03, works in public relations and market- Katie Clair ’05, Dixie Poole Jensen Scott Myrick ’06 and Jessica ing. They live in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. ’03, Kelly Lawson ’03, Jennifer Gall, 5/1/10. The couple live in Sweeney Syno ’03, Jennifer Holt Bloomington, Ind. Ross T. Gravely ’02 and Jennifer ’04, Molly Steinberg Howard ’06, Hall, 12/5/09. Ross is a certified Megan Kuly ’03, Beth Armstrong Karaline “Kara” Nicole Hawkins ’07 public accountant for Stout Stuart ’02, Brian Cancellieri ’02, Ashley and Alexander W. “ Webb” Bond ’08, McGowan & King, llp. The couple Geary ’05, Emily Syzdek ’05, Adam 8/1/09. The couple were married in Dice ’04, Brian Almeida ’04, Layne Beaufort, S.C. Elon alumni who live in Burlington, N.C. Thornton Rainey ’03, Logan Martin participated in the wedding were: Laura E. Chaffee ’03 and Mike Baran, ’03, Darrin Rainey ’02, Adam Kristin Smith ’07, Devon Lewis ’07, 7/10/09. The couple were married at Bodenhammer ’04, Ed Barney ’03, Andrew Wilder ’09, Bo Hardegree Disney World surrounded by fam- Stephen Leocha ’73, Alec Hilliard ’10, Patrick Holloway ’10, Kristin ily and friends. The ceremony con- ’05, Jesse Bowman ’03, James Mandella ’07 and Ashley Shelton cluded with a grand finale of fire- Geary ’05, Graham Grosvenor ’04, ’07. Kara is a teacher for the Pinellas works. Alaina Rodriguez ’03 served Theresa Gosnell ’03, Chris Howard County School System and Webb is as maid of honor. The couple reside ’06, Matt Syno ’00, John Kuly ’02 a commercial account executive for and Erik Jensen ’04. Nicholas is a Brown and Brown Insurance Agency. in Orlando, Fla. store manager for Verizon Wireless in They live in St. Petersburg, Fla. Kathleen Iwancio ’03 and Mark Baltimore, Md., and Stacy is a Web Lovin, 7/18/09. Kathleen graduated consultant for Hopkins Sales Co. Kelly Jeanne Jeffrey ’07 and Brian Hage, 3/20/10. Kelly is a marketin December 2009 with a doctorate They live in Denton, Md. ing administrator for the Simon in mathematics from North Carolina State University. The couple live in Chaya Compton ’04 and James Property Group. The couple live in Glendon, 10/17/09. Chaya is a Indianapolis, Ind. Raleigh, N.C. Zachary T. Pope ’07 and Lauren Lowell, 5/7/10. Zachary is an emergency management coordinator for Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas, where the couple reside.

Ross Gravely ’02, Jennifer Gravely and friends Christine Gowen ’93 and Bob Paulhus

Ari Graham Stoddard ’97 and Andrew Stoddard

Lauren Fernicola Till ’01 and Robert Till and friends

Kelly Jeffrey Hage ’07 and Brian Hage 36

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Melissa Dodge Nelson ’02, Jon Nelson ’03 and friends

Paula Scherer Sizemore ’03 and Steven Sizemore ’04

Laura Chaffee Baran ’03 and Mike Baran

Nick Schmidt ’03, Stacy Stock Schmidt ’03 and friends

Kelly O’Donnell Voges ’04 and Christopher Voges

Scott Myrick ’06 and Jessica Gall Myrick

Kara Hawkins Bond ’07 and Webb Bond ’08

Jenny Turner Wood ’08 and Heath Wood

Kathryn Nicole Walkiewicz ’07 and Justin D. Smith ’08, 4/3/10. Zachary Smith ’09 served as best man and Nicole Valenti ’05 served as a bridesmaid. The couple reside in Durham, N.C. Jenny Turner ’08 and Heath Wood, 8/1/09. Elon alumni in attendance were: Stephanie Marken ’08, Lisa Bodenhorst ’08, Kourtney Cloak ’10, Brea Manguno ’09, Caroline Thompson ’07, Ashley Adams Holmes ’06, Nicole Richie ’04, Meredith Gibson ’09, Bess Davis ’08, Sarah Dollard ’07, Stacey Palios ’07, Jenna Levy ’10, Janelle Kramer ’08, Melissa Haeck ’08, Thomas “Whit” Whitlow ’08, Wade Harvey ’08, John Martin ’08, Jonathan Hatch ’08, Justin Kaka ’07, Ben DeLoose ’08 and Kristen Kennedy ’08. Jenny is a research associate for Turner Research Network.

Meg Catherine Popolizio ’09 and Christopher M. McCarthy ’09, 1/16/10. Meg is a social worker for

Class Notes

Eye on the Cup

by Eric Townsend

At first glance, Bryan James ’95 doesn’t fit the profile of your typical soccer fan.

He speaks softly. You never hear him complain about how Americans “don’t understand” the game. His shirt-andtie day job doesn’t evoke images of the rowdy crowds often seen in ESPN soccer highlight reels.

Maybe that’s why James is the perfect man to serve on a committee with Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie to convince FIFA, the international governing body of soccer, that the United States – and Philadelphia in particular – is the best place to host the World Cup in eight years. FIFA announces its decision on which nations will host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in December.

“It will be such a positive event for the city, but it will also be a positive experience for participants and their fans,” James says.

Those who know James say there’s no doubt his involvement is a good thing for the U.S. and Philadelphia bids.

Look no further than the Sons of Ben, a soccer fan club named for founding father and Philadelphia icon Benjamin Franklin. The club played a key role in the creation of the Philadelphia Union Major League Soccer franchise, which began play in March.

James, the Sons of Ben president, and a close-knit group of soccer aficionados

Lutherbrook Child and Adolescent Center and Christopher is serving in the U.S. Coast Guard. They live in Naperville, Ill.

Bryan James ’95

grew the club from its birth in a South Philadelphia tavern to their raucous presence in ppl Park, the Union’s home on the shores of the Delaware River in Chester, Pa., just south of the city.

James wasn’t always such a soccer fan. Growing up in northern Delaware, he played several sports, including soccer, but favored baseball and football.

His soccer fanhood was limited to the few game broadcasts he was able to catch on television.

It wasn’t until James returned home after college that he reignited his interest in the sport. That passion flourished when he joined a handful of fans to form Sons of Ben in 2006. Media coverage in FourFourTwo, a soccer magazine,

and in Sports Illustrated has helped the club grow to more than 5,500 fans.

“Once we got together, it became a movement, and it’s exciting to be in the stands for a game,” says the former English major.

The Sons of Ben not only rally fans at the Union’s games, but the organization also raises money and collects canned goods to assist community agencies in Chester.

“He’s very well-organized, and he runs the group like a real organization,” Nick Sakiewicz, co-owner of the Union, says of James. “It’s a group of people who have rules, a charter and have made themselves a registered nonprofit where they’re raising money for charities.

“They’re running the Sons of Ben

like a business. People see that and they want to be a part of it because it’s something positive.”

It’s that businesslike approach that James hopes pays off for the committee organizing Philadelphia’s bid to be a U.S. World Cup host city. The last time the United States hosted the tournament, in 1994, Philadelphia missed out on the opportunity.

“In the past, there was a desire to spread these games out. Philadelphia got overlooked,” James says. “We just have to make sure we don’t do anything that lets it slip through our hands this time.”

brothers Matthew, Christopher and Jonathan. Robert is vice president for student services at Limestone College.

Holly Freimark Smirnov ’93 and Max Smirnov, Montville, N.J. Son: Max Dylan. 2/9/10. Holly is a teacher.

Gayle works in marketing for InJoy Birth & Parenting Information.

’90s births

’80s John A. Davis ’86 and Georgia Davis, Raleigh, N.C. Daughter: Campbell McBride. 5/26/10. She joins older brother Moyer.

Robert A. Overton ’88 and Kristy Overton, Gaffney, S.C. Daughter: Rachel. 1/29/10. She joins older

Melissa “Clai” Marchant Piascik ’92 and Brian Piascik, The Colony, Texas.

Son: Ian Robert. 3/6/10. He joins older sister Ana Clara. Clai is a stayat-home mom.

Linda-Jean Dixon Long ’93 and Michael Long, Lighthouse Point, Fla. Son: Andrew Dixon. 1/25/10. LindaJean is director of marketing for Tenet Healthcare.

Beth Elias Suan ’93 and her husband, Alan, traveled to Taiwan in November 2009 to adopt their daughter, Emily, who was six months old at the time.

She joins older brother Brady. The Suans live in Clifton, Va. Courtney Smith Wine ’94 and Brian Wine, Cary, N.C. Daughter: Macyn Alivia. 7/13/09. She joins older sister Carys.

Gayle Smee Minden ’95 and Vaun Minden, Broomfield, Colo.

Daughter: Zoe Elizabeth. 9/16/09.

Learn more about Sons of Ben at www.sonsofben.net

Sarah Hartung ’96, Canton, Ga. Daughter: Edyta Camryn. 10/5/09.

Aimee Dick Carter ’97 and Derrick Carter, Palmyra, Va. Daughter: Landon Elizabeth. 4/27/09. Aimee is the assistant director of alumni engagement at the University of Virginia.

Angela Long Carter ’97 and Kenny Carter, Raleigh, N.C. Son: William “Will” Elliot. 3/5/10. He joins older sister Kate.

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37

Class Notes Christie Isenhour Westbrook ’97 and Randall Westbrook, Goldsboro, N.C. Son: Mark Caleb. 12/9/09. He joins older brother Luke Daniel.

Christie is a physician’s assistant at Eastern Carolina Physicians in Kinston, N.C. Nicole Ham Nagy ’98 and Thomas G. Nagy, Chester Springs, Pa. Daughter: Emma Marie. 1/26/10.

Andrea Passarelli Annas ’98 and Kim Annas, Hillsborough, N.C. Son: Samuel Mark. 11/1/09.

Dustin R. Smith ’98 and Betsy Smith, Cary, N.C. Son: Braden Robert. 10/29/09.

Alisa Rawls Minshall ’99 and Ryan T. Minshall, Mebane, N.C. Daughter: Eloise Rose. 12/24/09. Alisa is an administrative assistant for the University of North Carolina athletics department.

Courtney Gruss Gabriel ’00 and Jeffrey Gabriel, Brick, N.J. Son: Colin Jeffrey. 3/12/10. He joins older sister Cathryn Elizabeth. Courtney is a homemaker.

Pamela Braccini Pizanie ’01 and Ryan Pizanie, Wyckoff, N.J. Son: Matthew James. 3/8/10.

Bo Hamrick ’02 and Leslie Gwaltney Hamrick ’04, Suffolk, Va. Daughter: Hannah Leigh. 10/3/09. She joins older sister Emma.

Jennifer Place Schley ’99 and David Schley, Hegins, Pa. Son: Peyton Myers. 8/7/09. He joins older sisters Sydney and Espyn. Jennifer is director of special events for Goodwill Keystone Area.

Kristi Greene Slater ’00 and Terry Slater ’00, West Milford, N.J. Son: Logan Miller. 1/27/10. He joins older brother Trip. Kristi is a senior financial analyst for cbs Interactive and Terry is a golf professional for Pound Ridge Golf Club.

Alan Stein ’99 and Rebecca Stein, Rockville, Md. Twins: Jack and Luke.

3/23/10.

Brian Canto ’01 and Kristin Canto, Webster, Mass. Daughter: Keira.

12/20/09.

Bryson Vogeltanz ’02 and Emily Hill Vogeltanz ’02, Bishop, Ga. Daughter: Evyn Olivia. 6/16/09. She joins older brother Nash Allen. Evyn was born in Ethiopia and joined the Vogeltanz family on Dec. 27, 2009. Bryson works for Athens Church and Emily works for Passion Conferences.

Jeff Goodman ’01 and Tammy Goodman, Chestertown, Md. Son: Anthony Justin. 3/31/10. Jeff is a teacher for Caroline County Public Schools.

Robert C. Bain ’04 and Sarah Moffett Bain ’04, Greensboro, N.C. Son: Robert iii. 12/26/09. Robert is owner of Bain Oil Heating and Air and Sarah is a homemaker.

Janelle Dunn Joyner ’01 and Kenneth E. Joyner ’98, Blue Ridge, Va. Daughter: Eliza Rose. 1/4/10.

Lindsay Gross Hege ’04 and Brian Hege, Durham, N.C. Daughter: Lila Addison. 3/10/10.

Katherine Ammerman Ostroth ’01 and Michael Ostroth, Cary, N.C. Son: Ethan Michael. 2/24/10.

Katherine is a homemaker.

Chad B. Nason ’04 and Kimberly Volk Nason ’04, Chicago, Ill. Daughter: Liliana Marie. 12/8/09.

’00s

Danielle Onorato Jackson ’99 and Bill Jackson ’99, Raleigh, N.C. Son: Charlie Maddox. 11/3/09. Danielle is an editor at Weiss & Hughes Publishing Inc. Bill is a chiropractor at Community Chiropractic.

Jessie Balon Baun ’00 and Scott A. Baun, Myrtle Beach, S.C. Daughter: Gracelynne Elizabeth. 2/28/10. She joins older brothers Ethan and Logan.

Audrey Comly Kennedy ’99 and George Kennedy, Baltimore, Md. Daughter: Hadley Grace. 4/21/10.

Bryan R. Beaney ’00 and Arianna Denaples-Beaney, Cherry Hill, N.J. Son: James Francis. 2/21/10. Bryan works in sales for Federal Wine & Liquor.

Jenifer Blowe Riddei ’07 and Steven Riddei, Conway, S.C. Daughter: Kailyn. 10/22/09.

Manda C. Stiegel ’07 and Stephen W. Stiegel ’10, Elon, N.C. Son: Whitman Noel. 8/28/09.

Beth Elias Suan ’93, husband Alan, and children Brady and Emily

Linda-Jean Dixon Long ’93, husband Michael and son Andrew

Courtney Smith Wine ’94, husband Brian, and daughters Carys and Macyn

Aimee Dick Carter ’97, husband Derrick and children James and Landon

Aaron J. LeBauer g’08 and Andra LeBauer, Greensboro, N.C. Daughter: Sophia Jeanine. 4/4/09.

Aaron has his own physical therapy practice, LeBauer Physical Therapy.

deaths

’30s How a rd S c o t t Go rd o n ’ 3 6 , Greensboro, N.C. 3/21/10.

Janelle Dunn Joyner ’01 and Kenneth Joyner ’98 with daughter Eliza Rose

Katie Ammerman Ostroth ’01 and son Ethan

Bryson Vogeltanz ’02 and Emily Hill Vogeltanz ’02 with children Nash and Evyn

Bo Hamrick ’02 and Leslie Gwaltney Hamrick ’04 with daughters Emma and Hannah

’40s Christine Eaves Oakley ’41, Mebane, N.C. 4/9/10.

Helen Margaret Messick Willetts ’43, Wilmington, N.C. 4/9/10.

Zenas E. Fearing Sr. ’45, Portsmouth, Va. 5/1/10.

Chad Nason ’04 and Kimberly Volk Nason ’04 with daughter Liliana 38

the magazine of elon

Robert Bain ’04 and Sarah Moffett Bain ’04 with son Robert III

Lindsay Gross Hege ’04, husband Brian and daughter Lila

Hilda Mae Kirkman Hopkins ’45, Burlington, N.C. 5/27/10.

Class Notes Vernon Lee Ross ’46, Kernersville, N.C. 5/15/10.

Partricia Sanford Chilcote ’52, Charleston, S.C. 4/27/10.

Lorraine Waugh Brady ’48, Burlington, N.C. 4/30/10.

Betty Van Sharpe ’53, Graham, N.C. 5/27/10.

Dr. Harvey Pretlow Rawls ’48, Virginia Beach, Va. 4/25/10.

Philip Samuel Phelon ’55, Granville, Mass. 5/9/10.

Dorothy “Dot” Shackelford Watkins ’48, Ramseur, N.C. 4/23/10.

John William Harden Jr. ’56, Pensacola, Fla. 6/9/10.

’50s

Carl Edward Jones ’57, Graham, N.C. 6/13/10.

Deward Wilbur Hooker ’50, Cherryville, N.C. 5/9/10.

Claude Rudd “Sonny” Moore Jr. ’58, Lawrenceville, Ga. 6/6/10.

Edward Arnold Watkins ’51, Charlotte, N.C. 5/28/10.

Peggy Zimmerman Horne ’59, Burlington, N.C. 6/7/10.

’60s

’90s

Wilbur Dennis Madry Jr. ’68, Burlington, N.C. 4/9/10.

Jo Maureen Cavanaugh Fisher ’99, Goose Creek, S.C. 3/16/10.

’70s

’00s

Debra Rogers Faulk ’75, Wilmington, N.C. 4/21/10.

Brian W. Cari ’03, Albuquerque, N.M. 3/21/20.

’80s

friend

Freida Matkins Rickman ’80, Gibsonville, N.C. 5/2/10.

Stephen M. Wright ’81, Churchville, Md. 5/20/10.

Grace Bass, Lafayette, Ala. 5/14/10.

She served as associate professor of education at Elon from 1994 to 2005.

Margaret Blythe Adams ’83, Burlington, N.C. 5/27/10.

Joseph Eugene Bryson ’52, High Point, N.C. 5/26/10.

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Return this form with your news or story idea to: The Magazine of Elon 2030 Campus Box Elon, North Carolina 27244-2020 fax: 336-524-0100 phone: 336-278-7415 e-mail: alumniclassnotes@elon.edu Summer 2010

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39

Dave Turnage and Laura Roselle

Supporting Elon now and in the future dave turnage loves spending time on his computer, trading e-mails with friends and keeping up with the news. Lately, he has grown concerned about the political e-mails that are filling his inbox.

“People take these e-mails as gospel, and they don’t make an effort to research the facts or find out who is sending them,” Turnage says. “With the decline of newspapers and the opportunity for anyone to be a publisher, we as citizens have to learn how to deal with all the information that is out there. It’s critical to democracy that we have a well-educated population.”

The retired educator has made a gift to Elon to establish the Turnage Family Faculty Innovation and Creativity Fund for the Study of Political Communication.

The fund will support faculty research on

making a difference 40

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politics and the media, as well as an on-campus conference next spring that will bring journalists, faculty and citizens together to help people understand the information they receive through e-mails and blogs (online journals), and newspaper and television reports. In addition to his cash gift, Turnage has included a bequest in his estate plans that will fund the program in the future.

“It was my pleasure to make an estate gift as well as support the program with a gift now,” says Turnage, former associate dean of Alamance Community College. “I wanted to see the benefits of this program now. It’s a vehicle for doing something good.”

Political science professor Laura Roselle, an internationally recognized scholar on the connections among politics, the media

and international relations, will manage the program. Roselle met Turnage after giving a speech in Burlington. She was impressed by his passion for Elon and a healthy democracy. The idea for the Turnage Family Fund grew from their conversations.

“It’s amazing to me that someone would be so committed to trying to improve our political process and how informed we are,” says Roselle, who was named Elon’s Distinguished Scholar in 2009. “This program speaks to the mission of the university.”

Turnage says he gives to Elon because he knows it is a great investment.

“Even though I’m not an alumnus, I can see Elon is a progressive university,” he says.

“We share a lot of the same values, and I’m eager to support the university.”

To learn more about how you can support the Ever Elon Campaign and make a diff erence at Elon with a bequest or other planned gift, contact: Jamie Killorin cpa/pfs, cfp®, Director of Gift Planning Toll free 877.784.3566 // jkillorin2@elon.edu // www.elon.edu/giftplanning

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2010

CLASS OF

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over four days in may, Elon played host to more than 10,000 family and friends celebrating milestone achievements in the lives of their loved ones. More than 1,300 students from Elon’s undergraduate, law, MBA and Interactive Media programs received degrees, joining the alumni ranks to President Leo M. Lambert’s familiar refrain: “You may leave Elon, but Elon will never leave you.”

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Undergraduate Interactive Media MBA School of Law

Visit elon.edu/magazine for more photos and video

ELON UNIVERSITY Office of Alumni Relations 2600 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244-2010

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Raleigh, NC Permit # 686

Toll Free: 877-784-3566 www.elon.edu/alumni Change Service Requested

beth warner, associate professor of human service studies, takes a pie to the face from sophomore Anthony Pra at the annual Pie Your Professor event, held at the final College Coffee of the 2009–10 academic year. Warner was one of 15 faculty members who put themselves in the line of fire* for the fundraiser sponsored by Elon’s Alpha Phi Omega co-ed service fraternity.

*Disclaimer: No professors were harmed in the course of these proceedings.

See more photos of pied professors at elon.edu/magazine