Moe Winter 2015 by University Communications

WINTER 2015

CONTENTS The Magazine of Elon | winter 2015

LIFE IN THE FAST LANE BY ROSELEE PAPANDREA

A lifelong racing fan, Annette Randall ’05 has managed to shape a career around her favorite pastime.

A RUNNING START BY KEREN RIVAS ’04

An All-American and one of Elon’s most successful student-athletes, Luis Vargas Hernandez draws inspiration from his parents’ journey.

FORBIDDEN LOVE BY ROSELEE PAPANDREA

There was a time when romantic relationships between Elon students were not as common as one might think.

22 COVER STORY

WHY DO WE SERVE?

Looking for ways to channel your energy into a creative force for good? Learn how others from Elon find fulfillment in giving back to their communities.

WATER WARRIOR BY KRISTIN SIMONETTI ’05

After a series of injuries put his active military career on hold, U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Jamie Sclater ’02 has discovered newfound purpose in swimming.

A BEAM OF HOPE BY ERIC TOWNSEND

Jessica Shepps ’12 and her mother, Stacy, helped a North Carolina nonprofit that works with cancer patients expand its presence in the mid-Atlantic.

2 Under the Oaks 11 Long Live Elon 13 Phoenix Sports

15 Point of View 31 Alumni Action 35 Class Notes

I AM ELON BY KIM WALKER

A campus tour guide, Sean Barry ’16 lights up when he leads a group into the Koury Business Center. “This is my very favorite building on campus,” the accounting major proudly says. Originally interested in a career in finance, Sean recalls watching classmates in an introductory accounting class struggle through the work and thinking to himself, “Wow, I’m actually loving this.” A major in accounting became the clear choice for him, and he plans to use those skills as an entrepreneur after graduation. Many of Sean’s experiences at Elon have blended fortuitously. As a Leadership Fellow, he was grouped with students who became his best friends. As junior class president, he is realizing a newfound passion, the Student Government Association. The Delta Upsilon fraternity offered him a nice fit within

Watch the full story at

elon.edu/magazine Greek life, and he even bowls with Campus Recreation. “The best part of being a student here is the abundance of opportunities Elon gives students,” he says. “I have found what I love and things that make me happy here.” During Winter Term, Sean spent more than 20 hours a week working in the Office of Admissions, mostly walking visitors around campus. Recently he ran into a student who told him how significant the tour was in his decision to come to Elon. “I’m a salesman for Elon, selling something I truly love, and it’s really gratifying to hear those success stories,” he says. Sean is Elon. Visit elon.edu/magazine to see more of Sean’s story, part of our “I Am Elon” multimedia series featuring Elon students in their own words.

UNDER THE OAKS

▶ from the PRESIDENT

Headlines we’d like to see in 2020

his year marks the halfway point for the decade-long Elon Commitment strategic plan, an opportunity to take stock of our progress and determine the university’s priorities for the next five years. How will we have advanced Elon as a premier national university? Elon is a place where vision comes to fruition because of tenacity, hard work, dedication and teamwork, but mostly because so many smart

facebook.com/leomlambert

Leo M. Lambert President

Elon Alumni Network placing record number of seniors in jobs

New science facilities promote hands-on learning, faculty-student research

Elon teacher-scholar-mentors lead national conversations about great practices in undergraduate education

School of Law lauded for innovation, practice-ready graduates

ENDOWMENT VALUE SURPASSES $300 MILLION 2 the MAGAZINE of ELON

New retail, housing create a thriving Town of Elon New business building supports growing entrepreneurship, sales programs

Phoenix claims first win in NCAA basketball tourney

SCHAR CONVOCATION CENTER OPENS WITH A VISIT BY U.S. PRESIDENT Elon celebrates 15 years as Kiplinger’s “best-value” university

twitter.com/headphoenix

and caring people have formed such an authentic and innovative community dedicated to learning and personal growth. Let us continue, together, the important and noble work of building a great university.

UNDER THE OAKS

NATION’S TOP-RANKED COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM DEDICATES NEW FACILITIES 2,500 ALUMNI ENGAGED ON CAMPUS, IN CHAPTERS WORLDWIDE

Need-based financial aid has more than doubled this decade Center for Engaged New Asia Center Learning leads national focus on extends Elon’s reputation as #1 undergraduate for study abroad education

Elon alumni claim Pulitzer Prize, Tony Award, Emmy

Surge in students from Latin America, Asia triples international enrollment

Residential campus plan sparks dynamic intellectual environment

Parents endow Center for Access and Success

Elon student wins first Rhodes Scholarship; new Fulbright record set

Elon is a national leader New Los Angeles facility expands Elon programs on in building interfaith understanding West Coast

International language programs are flourishing

Record-setting fundraising campaign focused on student success

SCHOLARSHIPS, NEW PROGRAMS ENSURE 100% ACCESS TO GLOBAL STUDY What headlines would you like to see? We’d like to hear your ideas about key goals and priorities for Elon’s next five years. Send your 2020 headline suggestions to themagazineofelon@gmail.com.

winter 2015 3

UNDER THE OAKS The Magazine of Elon winter 2015 | Vol. 77, No. 1 The Magazine of Elon is published quarterly for alumni, parents and friends by the Office of University Communications. © 2015, Elon University ED I TO R

Keren Rivas ’04 D E SI G N ER

Garry Graham PH OTO G R A PH Y

Kim Walker Belk Library Archives and Special Collections ED I TO R I A L S TA FF

Holley Berry Katie DeGraff Philip Jones Roselee Papandrea Eric Townsend S T U D EN T CO N T R I B U TO R S

Natalie Brubaker ’15 Shakori Fletcher ’16 V I C E PR E SI D EN T, U N I V ER SI T Y CO M M U N I C AT I O NS

Daniel J. Anderson ED I TO R I A L O FFI C E S

The Magazine of Elon 2030 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244-2020 (336) 278-7415 elon.edu/magazine

A HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN ELON’S FUTURE

B OA R D O F T R US T EE S, C H A I R

Dr. William N.P. Herbert ’68

Charlottesville, Va.

ELO N A LU M N I B OA R D, PR E SI D EN T

Christian Wiggins ’03

Charlotte, N.C.

YO U N G A LU M N I CO U N C I L , PR E SI D EN T

Jennifer Hiltwine ’09

When Elon announced a record-setting $12 million commitment to the university by parents Dwight and Martha Schar of Palm Beach, Fla., members of the campus community felt an immediate charge of energy. This largest single gift in Elon history accelerated plans for new School of Communications facilities, and provided a jumpstart to planning for the long-anticipated convocation center.

Sterling, Va.

PA R EN T S CO U N C I L , CO - PR E SI D EN T S

Owen & Beth Dugan P’15 P’16

Wellesley, Mass.

B OA R D O F V ISI TO R S, CO - C H A I R S

Russell R. Wilson P’86 & P. Scott Moffitt P’14

Burlington, N.C.

SCHO OL OF L AW ADV ISORY BOARD, CHAIR

David Gergen

Cambridge, Mass.

S C H O O L O F CO M M U N I C AT I O NS A D V IS O RY B OA R D, N AT I O N A L C H A I R

Brian Williams p’13

New Canaan, Conn.

S C H O O L O F CO M M U N I C AT I O NS A D V IS O RY B OA R D, C H A I R

Michael Radutzky P’12 P’17 Summit, N.J.

M A R T H A A N D SPEN C ER LO V E S C H O O L O F B USI N E SS A D V IS O RY B OA R D, C H A I R

William S. Creekmuir p’09 p’10

Atlanta, Ga.

PH O EN I X C LU B A D V IS O RY B OA R D, C H A I R

Mike Cross

Burlington, N.C.

4 the MAGAZINE of ELON

“

he Schar family is making a generous and powerful investment in Elon’s future,” said Board of Trustees Chairman William N.P. Herbert, M.D. ’68. “Their gift will impact generations of students and increase the university’s momentum as it gains even greater national recognition for excellence.” President Leo M. Lambert was especially gratified to receive this major gift from parents. “They know Elon’s values firsthand and they are providing an unprecedented vote of confidence in the work we do to prepare tomorrow’s leaders,” Lambert said. “We are deeply thankful to the Schar family and look forward to using these new resources to benefit students and build an even better Elon.”

The story of the Schars’ historic commitment began in the 1990s, when Dwight’s business associate, Elon trustee Bill Inman, and his wife, Patty, related the Elon experiences of their daughter, Jacklyn ’00. The Schars kept Elon in mind and took a closer look more than a decade later when their oldest son, Stuart, began his college search. The family was seeking an excellent school of under 10,000 students outside an urban area, and Elon fit nicely. Stuart applied to six colleges, but after visiting campus and meeting former admissions vice president Susan Klopman and athletics development director John Keegan, his decision was made. When Stuart enrolled in fall 2012, the family continued to be

UNDER THE OAKS { Architect renderings of the new School of Communications facilities and a concept for the multipurpose convocation center set for a basketball game. }

impressed by the people at Elon. And when Stuart’s brother, Spencer, started his college search this year, Elon remained at the top of the list; he will join his brother on campus next fall. “We met members of Elon’s staff at Family Weekends, football games and other visits to campus,” Martha said. “Our admiration for the school continued to grow with each new person we met, including our son’s academic adviser, Jim Donathan, who has been helpful, insightful, engaging and simply delightful.”

A family committed to education

Dwight is founder and chairman of the board of NVR, Inc., based in Reston, Va., the fifth-largest homebuilding company in the nation. The firm includes the building operations of Ryan Homes and NVHomes, as well as NVR Financial. Dwight and Martha are generous philanthropists with a long history of support of education, athletics and health, and of charities meeting the fundamental needs of children and families. Martha has served on the board of directors for the Rosarian Academy, a private Catholic school in West Palm Beach, Fla.; Wesley Housing Development Corporation, a nonprofit group in Alexandria, Va., that promotes affordable housing; and Childhelp, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse. Dwight has served as a trustee of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation, as a member of the Virginia Business and Higher Education Council and on the board for the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. He has been a trustee for the George Mason University Foundation, the Virginia Foundation of Independent Colleges and his alma mater, Ashland University in Ohio. At Ashland, the colleges of education and nursing and health sciences, along with the athletic complex, are named in his honor. With their strong interest in education, the Schars were soon talking with Keegan about ways they could make an impact at Elon. “Providing funds for both the communications school and convocation center balances our interests of giving to university priorities that will enhance the campus for all students,” Dwight said. “Although the need for the new communications facilities is important, it was evident that a convocation center where the

“We cannot think of a more worthy use of our charitable dollars.”

full student body could gather is also one of Elon’s immediate needs. We recognized the importance of the campus having a space that would support significant events and Elon’s growing Division I athletics programs.”

The impact of philanthropy

The Schars’ gift is the largest in the campaign for the School of Communications, which will more than double the school’s space and consolidate academic programs and student media into a unified quad. The campaign was announced last October and additional gifts were received following the Schars’ gift, allowing the university to consider moving up the construction timetable. If fundraising is completed, building may get under way in June with new facilities opening in fall 2016, including a twostory main building and atrium, a separate communications pavilion and remodeled facilities in McEwen and Long buildings. The Schars’ lead gift for the convocation center coincides with planning for the second half of the university’s strategic plan, the Elon Commitment. The timeline for continued fundraising, building siting, design and construction will be set by the board of trustees. The multipurpose arena will meet the needs of the Phoenix basketball and volleyball programs and provide a venue for major campus events, including convocations, regional and national conventions, performances and other special occasions. “The Schars’ tremendous gift allows us to begin to design and plan this exciting campus facility, and sets a strong foundation for our fundraising efforts,” said Dave Blank, director of athletics. “We look forward to realizing our dreams, developing a convocation center that will be an outstanding asset for Phoenix athletics programs and the entire university.” The Schars’ support demonstrates their belief in the quality of education their sons will receive, and for Elon’s stewardship of its resources. “No one who has worked hard for his or her money gives it away lightly,” Martha said. “We believe our gift to Elon University will enhance the educational experience for our children, for our friends’ children and for other students who choose to attend the school. We cannot think of a more worthy use of our charitable dollars.” winter 2015 5

UNDER THE OAKS

DPT graduates largest class

lon leaders conferred degrees on 58 graduate students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, its largest class in program history, during a December ceremony in McCrary Theatre. “The quality of this physical therapy program and our School of Health Sciences is a point of pride for this entire university and the broader community,” President Leo M. Lambert said. “Your work, along with the contributions of students in our Physician Assistant Studies program, is a powerful example of what can happen when engaged learning and compassionate care come together.”

{ From left: DPT graduates Caroline Broujos and Hayley Price with Pat Drehoff, the grandmother of fellow graduate Kaylor Drehoff, whom the students fondly refer to as “mom mom.” }

TOPPING THE CHARTS Affordability. Service. Undergraduate research. Study abroad. Civic engagement. These are some of the areas that have garnered national recognition for Elon in recent months. ՔՔIn its 2015 ranking of the 100 top values in private

colleges and universities, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine ranks Elon #18 in total cost and #35 in overall best value. The ranking is the ninth consecutive top-50 best value recognition of Elon by Kiplinger’s.

ՔՔ The Corporation for National & Community

Service named the university to its 2014 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for service efforts to America’s communities. Elon has made every list since the annual honor was first created in 2006.

ՔՔThe Council on Undergraduate Research recog-

nized Elon among the nation’s top 57 schools that promote high-quality faculty-undergraduate collaborative research and scholarly work. Schools were selected based on the number and/or per-

centage of students participating at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research over the past four years.

ՔՔ In its Open Doors 2014 report, the Institute of

International Education ranked Elon the #1 master’s-level university in the nation for the total number of students (1,254) who studied abroad during the 2012-13 academic year.

ՔՔThe Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement

of Teaching selected Elon to receive its 2015 Community Engagement Classification in recognition of the university’s ongoing commitment to bettering the world through the creation of high-impact civic programs. Elon received the same distinction in 2006. The reclassification is valid through 2025.

“We have millions of nonprofits in the country and many of them aren’t having much of an impact. ... We need to find things that work and do them at a much larger scale to change society.” —Habitat for Humanity Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Reckford during an October event as part of a yearlong focus on opportunities for Elon students considering service programs after college.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Senior Meredith Berk has been recognized for outstanding leadership and service by North Carolina Campus Compact, a statewide network of colleges and universities that are committed to community engagement. Berk, a public health studies major, is one of 18 recipients of the network’s Community Impact Student Award, given annually to one student leader at each member school. 6 the MAGAZINE of ELON

Henry Kean ’14, a graduate student in Elon’s Interactive Media master’s program, was part of a team that captured first place during Triad Startup Weekend, a 54-hour competition held Nov. 21-23 on Elon’s campus. Collaborating with two University of North Carolina at Greensboro students, Kean developed a business model for “RE-Mind,” a tool that makes music therapy more affordable and accessible to Alzheimer’s patients and caregivers.

Junior Michael Bodley, a journalism and political science double major, has been selected to represent Elon in the 2015 Carnegie-Knight News21 Initiative, one of the most prestigious student journalism summer programs in the United States. Bodley will travel to Phoenix for a 10week investigative reporting assignment at the digital media complex of the Cronkite School at Arizona State University.

Junior finance major Brett Leister was a member of the winning team in the X-Culture Symposium business competition in October. Twelve teams, each consisting of students from different universities, worked on one of two international business challenges. Leister’s team won the Latin America challenge.

CAMPUS

UNCOMMONS BY PHILIP JONES

Jim Barbour has been shaping Elon students since

the fall of 1990. He’s been shaping wood for much longer than that. As an associate professor of economics and department chair, Barbour is no stranger to being a craftsman. He molds young minds, challenges them and watches them transform as they apply concepts learned in the classroom. It’s important, satisfying work. But it’s not enough for Barbour. While that work often yields remarkable results, it’s not something he can physically wrap his hands around. For that, Barbour relies on what happens in the backyard shop he built with the help of his son. It’s his turnery, the place where he’s handcrafted thousands of objects out of wood. His tools range from historical to high-tech and include lathes, drill presses, saws and computerized laser cutters. With them he’s made everything from the cabinets in his kitchen, to boxes that hold engagement rings, to the heraldic staffs held by marshals as they lead graduates and faculty members during the processional at Commencement. Like many of his pieces, the staffs were made from wood collected on Elon’s campus. More specifically, they incorporate wood from an oak that fell during a 2000 storm. “They’ll be here forever,” he says of the staffs, a legacy that makes him proud. Turning, as it’s called, is in Barbour’s blood. He saw his father and grandfather do it, and he got his first hands-on experience when his dad had him repair a wooden toy he’d broken when he was eight years old. (Barbour still has that replacement part, by the way.) “It’s fun,” he says. “It’s just that simple.” But it’s also something he needs. “To be able to reach out and touch something you made … that is something that I think we as human beings need. And I think that is something that we, as academics, don’t often get.” To see some of Barbour’s creations, visit his website, shopdogturnery.com.

What faculty or staff member do you think is uncommon? Send a suggestion to themagazineofelon@gmail.com.

UNDER THE OAKS

BOARD OF TRUSTEES ELECTS TWO NEW MEMBERS

usiness leaders Ed Moriarty P’15 P’18 and Eric Sklut P’14 have been elected to the Elon University Board of Trustees. Moriarty is the head of Merchant Banking & Real Estate Investing for Morgan Stanley. He has been an active member of the Elon President’s Advisory Council since 2012. He and his wife, Jill, live in Far Hills, N.J., and are the parents of four children, including Elon senior Meaghan and Elon freshman Cole. The family has supported the School of Health Sciences, Campus Catholic Ministry, the Phoenix Club and the campaign for the new School of Communications building. Sklut owns Perfection Automotive Inc., an automotive parts enterprise that makes custom products for highline and luxury vehicles. He and his wife, Lori, have been generous supporters of Hillel, Jewish life and Jewish Studies at Elon. They endowed the Lori and Eric Sklut Emerging Scholar in Jewish Studies and named the Sklut Hillel Center through their lead gifts in the creation of a permanent campus home for Jewish students. The couple also served as the inaugural co-chairs of Elon’s Jewish Life Advisory Council and continue to participate actively on the council. Their son, Mason ’14, majored in media arts and entertainment with a focus on cinema.

8 the MAGAZINE of ELON

Expanding Arts West and Danieley Neighborhood

onstruction of two projects at Elon’s Danieley Center residential neighborhood and an addition for the Department of Music at Arts West building is underway. Projected to be completed for the opening of the 2015-16 academic year, the projects include a 14,850-square-foot multipurpose recreation facility on the north edge of the Danieley Center between University Drive and the residence halls. The building will feature a gymnasium for intramural activities and campus-wide student events. There will also be a 1,200-square-foot fitness center, two offices and a catering kitchen. Nearby, a 4,000-square-foot addition will be constructed to the east side of Violet Hoffman Daniel Commons Building. The new construction will add a large gathering/meeting room, five offices and a demonstration kitchen. In the exist-

SYLLABUZZ

ing Daniel Commons, an office pod will be replaced with an Einstein Bros. Bagels restaurant, which will join Qdoba Mexican Grill. The newly configured Daniel Commons will include an outdoor patio. On the west side of campus, a renovation and construction project will provide 10,750 square feet of space in the Arts West building for Elon’s growing music production and recording arts program. Spaces in the building formerly occupied by the print shop and library storage will be renovated, and an expansion will be added to the east side of the building behind the new Scott Studios. The new facilities will include two recording studios with a large ensemble recording room and two isolation recording rooms, a music tech classroom with a recording isolation room, a seminar room, a classroom, three practice rooms, a small ensemble room and 11 offices.

BY KATIE DEGRAFF

MTH 371: The Mathematics of Secrets

any of us are tethered to our computers and phones—we email, shop, bank and share family photos electronically. We enter credit card information, transfer money from saving to checking accounts and email baby photos to grandparents in different time zones. We do it readily and often without a second thought, but how exactly does our private information stay that way? It’s simple. Math. Whether we realize it or not, math is the backbone of online communication. As information leaves its point of origin, it is encrypted to protect us from prying eyes and identity theft. Upon arrival, the information is then decrypted and the transaction is complete. The complexity of the encryption ensures that information remains private while also providing the benefit of speedy results. To capture math’s utility, Assistant Professor of Mathematics Chad Awtrey set out to create a cryptography class. He wanted to build a course suited for a general audience that would build skills transferrable to a number of careers. He also wanted to demonstrate that

math has direct applicability—it’s far from just theoretical knowledge. “Lots of universities have cryptography classes,” he says, “but I wanted to create a course that was decidedly Elon, one that was engaged, that was active and was focused on critical thinking through writing.” Rather than a traditional lecture format, Awtrey’s course is broken into modules. Students meet in computer labs and work through basic algorithms to understand the “how” and the “why” of their functionality. Each module begins with background readings and computational exercises related to cryptography, which lead to research questions that require the students to generate data and formulate answers to the proposed questions. Rather than simply reporting their conclusions, students then write arguments to document the validity of their answers. The writing piece of the puzzle is critical, Awtrey says. No matter what students’ ultimate professional goal, they benefit

MULTICULTURAL CENTER NOW KNOWN AS THE CREDE

lon’s Multicultural Center has changed its name to The Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education, or The CREDE for short. The name change is an effort to better reflect the center’s focused mission and goals as the university’s dedicated resource for race- and ethnicity-related advocacy, services and programs. Under the direction of Randy Williams, a veteran college administrator with expertise in managing student life programs, the newly organized center builds upon the foundation of the Multicultural Center and creates cross-campus collaborations with other departments and organizations. The center manages Hispanic/Latino, Asian and African-American resource rooms as part of its ongoing missions to foster understanding and pride in identities. It also oversees El Centro de Español. While The CREDE exists as a physical space in the Moseley Center, its staff is focused on advancing diversity education for students throughout campus. In addition to offering an inclusive environment for underrepresented and historically marginalized racial and ethnic students, faculty and staff, the space will serve as a central resource for all Elon students interested in social justice and inclusion advocacy.

STUDYING AROUND THE WORLD More Elon students than ever before traveled overseas in fall 2014 to participate in global experiences. Here is a snapshot of Elon’s study abroad program by the numbers.

400+

The number of students who took part in a study abroad program in fall 2014. In comparison, 56 traveled abroad in fall 1999.

35 $150,000

The number of countries students visited, including China, Costa Rica, Italy and Morocco.

from using writing to present and defend their answers to each research question. In the process, they not only learn the basics of number theory but also about several problems that have research implications. “Many people think all of mathematics is already known,” Awtrey says. “In reality, there are many unsolved problems out there, some even have substantial monetary awards attached to them. Mathematics offers many exciting research opportunities, especially for Elon students.”

ABOUT THE PROFESSOR Chad Awtrey’s main research interests lie in algebraic number theory, p-adic fields and computational Galois theory. An Elon faculty member since 2010, Awtrey actively engages students in undergraduate research and received the 2014 Early Career Mentoring Award from the Division of Mathematics and Computer Science within the Council on Undergraduate Research. He serves as councilor for both the council and Pi Mu Epsilon, the national mathematics honor society.

RECOMMENDED READING The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography by Simon Singh

Money available in Global Education Center Access Scholarships for students with demonstrated financial aid. The annual scholarship will triple in size by fall 2016.

72% 990+

The percentage of members of the Class of 2014 who studied abroad at least once during their collegiate career.

The number of students, faculty and staff who studied overseas or across the United States in January 2015, with programs in such places as India, Malawi and Vietnam. See photos from some of these courses in this issue’s inside back cover. Source: The Isabella Cannon Global Education Center

winter 2015 9

UNDER THE OAKS

CAMPUS HAPPENINGS

calendar

PREVIEW

For a complete list of events, check the E-net calendar at elon.edu/e-net/calendar.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY, MARCH 13-15

Ready.Set.Go! Elon Dance Company Spring Concert Innovative and original choreography focuses on the themes of movement and energy. THURSDAY, APRIL 2

Neil deGrasse Tyson: “The Sky is Not the Limit” Astrophysicist, director of the Hayden Planetarium and research associate at the American Museum of Natural History, Tyson shares his passion and knowledge about the workings of the universe during Elon’s Spring Convocation.

CHARLIE COOK TO DELIVER 2015 COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

ationally acclaimed political commentator Charlie Cook P’15 will deliver Elon’s 125th Commencement address May 23. Considered one of the nation’s leading authorities on U.S. politics and elections, Cook was a co-recipient in 2010 of the American Political Science Association’s prestigious Carey McWilliams award to honor “a major journalistic contribution to our understanding of politics.” In the spring of 2013, he served as a Resident Fellow at the Institute of Politics at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Cook founded the Cook Political Report in 1984 and became a columnist for Roll Call, the newspaper of Capitol Hill, in 1986. In 1998 he moved his column to National Journal. He has served as a political analyst and election night analyst for CBS, CNN and NBC News and has been a frequent political analyst for all three major broadcast news

FACULTY/STAFF SPOTLIGHT Associate Professor of Physics Ben Evans has received a full-year, full-pay sabbatical. The A.L. Hook Emerging Scholar in Science and Mathematics will spend 2015-16 working with a research team at Duke University on new methods for sorting and studying cells using technology developed at Elon. The university awards sabbaticals to faculty members who propose a significant research project in their fields and demonstrate a record of scholarly excellence.

THURSDAY-SUNDAY, APRIL 16-19

Department of Performing Arts presents Servant of Two Masters Goldoni’s hilarious masterpiece of the Commedia dell’Arte has been adapted to address 21st century culture. SATURDAY, MAY 2

The President’s Music Concert President Leo M. Lambert hosts this popular musical extravaganza featuring Department of Music students, faculty, staff and alumni.

10 the MAGAZINE of ELON

networks. He also has appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press” and ABC’s “This Week.” The father of Elon senior strategic communications major Jeffrey Cook, Charlie Cook’s relationship with the university dates to his first visit in 2003. Since then, he has forged relationships with faculty and made regular appearances on campus during election years to offer perspective on prevailing political attitudes of the day.

Assistant Professor Amy L. Allocco, the university’s Distinguished Emerging Scholar in Religious Studies, will travel to India next academic year thanks to a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Allocco will interview families who seek protection and strength from spirits conjured during elaborate public ceremonies. She was among 157 applicants from around the country who applied for research funding through the American Institute of Indian Studies.

Elon University professors Janna Anderson (communications), Heidi Frontani (geography) and Tom Henricks (sociology) have been selected as Senior Faculty Research Fellows for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 academic years. All three professors will use the award, which comprises a two-course reassignment for both years, plus $2,000 per year in research funding, to complete work on upcoming books. Scott Wolter, associate professor of engineering, received a $20,281 grant from Duke University/Intellectual Ventures for his project, “Investigation of anode embodiments for a field emission heat engine.”

LONG LIVE ELON

THANK YOU! University donors continue to show their support for a campaign to expand academic facilities for Elon’s School of Communications.

Launched in October 2014, the campaign to fund construction of two new buildings and extensive renovations to McEwen and Long buildings has now surpassed the $13 million mark. As a result, Elon now aims to reach the campaign’s $15 million goal by May 31. The campaign was initially slated for completion by the end of 2015. Construction will begin after the fundraising goal has been met. Elon is grateful to the following donors for their support of the campaign:

{ A planned gift from the estate of Bill Grant will support talented music majors. }

ESTATE GIFTS ENDOW

NEW SCHOLARSHIPS

Gifts totaling more than $1.3 million from two estates will provide new scholarship support for Elon students. The gifts were received in fall 2014 from the estate of Margaret “Peggy” Leister ’67 of Towson, Md., and from the estate of Muir William Grant of Burlington, N.C.

he Leister endowment will provide scholarship aid for students with disabilities, while the Grant endowment supports students pursuing studies in music. “Peggy Leister and Bill and Lorraine Grant demonstrated great vision in planning their estates to further the passions of their lives,” Elon University President Leo M. Lambert said. “These planned gifts will make possible a transformative college experience for generations of deserving young men and women.” The gifts, Lambert added, are the leading edge of a growing number of planned gifts that will greatly expand the university’s endowment in the decades ahead. Elon has an exceptionally young alumni body, with more than 90 percent of all graduates in the university’s history still living. With a planned gift totaling more than $800,000, Leister, who was born with spina bifida and scoliosis, has supplemented her previous gifts to the university in support of Elon students with disabilities who have financial need. The Educational Opportunities Fund for Students with

Disabilities, first established in 1993 and supported with annual contributions by Leister, will provide significant student scholarships. Her mother, Isabella Leister, also supported the endowment with gifts from her estate. A separate endowment created by Leister will expand a fund for students who require special assistance, learning resources or equipment during their studies. Leister died in April 2013. A planned gift from the estate of Bill Grant will create the Muir William Grant and Lorraine Fogleman Grant Odyssey Scholarship, which will support talented music majors. Elon’s Odyssey Scholars Program is a selective program that benefits talented students with high financial need who are academically strong, civically engaged and leaders in their communities. The new Odyssey award will join an existing scholarship that the couple established in 1995 to benefit students studying in music, music performance or music education. Odyssey scholarships are created with endowment gifts of $500,000 or more. Lorraine Grant passed away in April 2008 and Bill Grant died in July 2013.

Wes and Cathy Elingburg P’11 PG’12 (Greensboro, N.C.), whose son, Nolan, received both undergraduate and graduate degrees from the School of Communications. The Elingburgs’ gift will name the Interactive Media program’s student commons located on the first floor of Long Building. The couple is recognized as part of the Numen Lumen Society for donors who have given $1 million or more to the university, and Wes Elingburg is an Elon trustee. “It was a family decision to participate in the School of Communications campaign. We specifically wanted to support the iMedia program, which provides a very solid foundation for those students wishing to pursue a degree in that field. Nolan benefited greatly from this program and he is now employed with Duke University’s athletics department as the assistant director of the Blue Devil Network. The Elon School of Communications continues to impress and is one of the finest communication schools in the country.”—Wes Elingburg P’11 PG’12 Chris and Alice Holbrook P’16 P’18 (Greenwich, Conn.), who have made a major commitment in support of the campaign. A featured space within the school’s new facilities will be named in recognition of their generosity. The Holbrooks are members of the Elon Parents Council. “World-class institutions need world-class facilities. Elon has identified the School of Communications as a core program whose needs were not being met by the current facilities. We believe strongly in the school’s administration and their well-considered strategic plan. It is a privilege to be able to support this next step in the university’s evolution.” —Chris Holbrook P’16 P’18 Learn more or make a gift at elon.edu/communicationscampaign.

winter 2015 11

LONG LIVE ELON

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

To learn more about how you can become a sustaining donor with recurring monthly or annual contributions to Elon, visit elon.edu/makeagift.

{ Connor O’Donnell ’14 }

AS EASY AS ONE, TWO, THREE BY MEGAN MCCLURE

t’s a day Elon graduates fondly recall: walking across the stage Commencement morning, receiving their diplomas and transitioning from students to alumni. For 2014 senior class president Connor O’Donnell, that day brought a little extra stage time. One of the highlights came during a ceremony just before Commencement, as O’Donnell presented President Leo M. Lambert with a check for the proceeds from Elon’s senior class giving campaign. In the message O’Donnell shared with his fellow graduates that day, he drew a surprising connection between his philosophy on giving back to Elon and an unlikely subject: Netflix, a television and movie subscription service that users pay for on a monthly basis. “I thought of the Netflix concept because I don’t miss the small fee I pay to Netflix every month, but I still reap the benefits of the service. It’s similar to giving to Elon,” says O’Donnell, who donates to the university through Elon’s sustaining donor program. “You won’t miss the small amount you’re

12 the MAGAZINE of ELON

giving each month, but it makes a difference to the students who can do things like study abroad because of your donation.” In his new post-graduate life, O’Donnell maintains a hectic pace working as a technical recruiter with The Select Group in Raleigh, N.C., and staying in touch with the core group of friends he met just days after arriving at Elon. As a sustaining Elon donor, O’Donnell appreciates the simplicity that the automatic contribution provides as well as the greater impact he makes by spreading his contribution out over the year. “Giving to Elon is a simple thing,” he says. “Even if you can only afford a small amount every month, those gifts add up over the year and make a difference without hitting the wallet too hard.” Like many of his classmates, O’Donnell made his first gift to Elon as part of the senior class giving campaign. Together, the Class of 2014 set a new record for senior giving, participating at a rate of 41 percent. “I think our class had the maturity to realize that our contributions matter and

will allow others to have the same opportunities if not better opportunities,” O’Donnell says. “We had the foresight to realize that a small donation today will lead to a huge impact tomorrow. I was really proud of all that our class accomplished, but I’ll be even more proud to see the Class of 2015 and the Class of 2016 strive to beat our record. Ultimately it just benefits the university.” Most importantly, his contributions pay tribute to a life-changing Elon experience that for O’Donnell included a study abroad trip to South Africa and membership in Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, in addition to his leadership in student government. “So many things at Elon bettered me and allowed me to grow,” he says. “The opportunities at Elon are pretty much limitless, which is something you don’t get everywhere. Now that I’m out in the real world, I’m appreciating all the lessons and experiences that Elon gave me. That’s the true mark of an amazing university.”

PHOENIX SPORTS

▶ elonphoenix.com

‘CANCER NEVER

CONQUERED ME’ BY NATALIE BRUBAKER ’15

Feb. 19, 2014, was an emotional day for the Elon women’s soccer team. That was the day they sat facing their teammate and 2013 Southern Conference Player of the Year, Nicole “Colie” Dennion, as she struggled to fight back tears.

{ Top: Nicole Dennion, right, with fellow teammate Mel Insley. Below: Dennion was named the 2013 Southern Conference Player of the Year. }

ust two days prior, Dennion had been diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma—bone cancer—and she had to tell her team. Known for being strong, fiercely competitive and intimidating, she was now sitting in front of her teammates looking vulnerable and scared. “As I spoke to my team, I tried not to cry, not to break down,” Dennion says. But if there was anyone with whom she could let her guard down, it was this group. “Even before we found out about Colie, we’ve just always had a bond that really makes our team something special,” says her best friend and teammate Katie Boyle. “After Colie told the team, the bond grew even stronger.” Soon after her diagnosis, Dennion returned home to New Jersey for treatment, surgery to remove a tumor on her side— along with three ribs—and regular chemotherapy sessions. Despite her distance from campus, she says she still felt connected to the team. It’s a bond that prompted Elon women’s soccer head coach Chris Neal and his players to initiate a campaign to raise money to help Dennion with medical expenses. The campaign, called Kickin’ It With Colie, has raised more than $35,000. Neal and his players have surpassed their initial goal of $20,000 and are now working toward raising double

that. “We all promised that we would do anything to help and that she wasn’t in this alone,” Boyle says. To help raise the money, Dennion’s teammates participated in Relay for Life at Elon and sold T-shirts with the same phrase posted in their locker room, “Never BacK Down,” emphasizing her initials, along with the motto, “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” They also made stickers for cars and laptops, and bracelets that they wore during games. “Every practice and game we play, we play for Colie and until she is back on the field with us again, it will continue to be that way,” Boyle says. Although support for Dennion started with her teammates, it certainly hasn’t ended there. The backing from the greater collegiate soccer community has been equally impressive. “I could write a book about all the support and encouragement I have gotten from others, especially the soccer community,” Dennion says. Women’s soccer teams from across the country have rallied around her by writing her jersey number on tape worn around their wrists or by raising money. A professional women’s soccer player even reached out to her to offer encouragement. “I have received cards and messages from Elon alumni and Elon family members. … To say the least, there has been an outpouring of support,” Dennion says. She was deemed cancer free in August, and recently finished physical therapy and chemotherapy. She returned to Elon this spring semester. While conquering cancer is no small feat, Dennion says she never considered a different outcome. “My mentality from the beginning was always, ‘I’m going to beat this. I’m going to win. I’m going to come out victorious,’” she says. “I was definitely scared; it was the scariest time of my life, but there was never a doubt in my mind that I could beat it.” Dennion no doubt first learned that tenacity on the soccer field. As player of the year, she enjoyed proving herself to any opponent who thought they could stop her, scoring 15 goals in her sophomore season. “On the field, Colie is fearless. You just watch her and it’s evident how much she loves the game,” Boyle says. While Dennion is excited to be back on campus, she is most excited to be with her team and return to the soccer field. “It’s going to be a special day when I step out on the field for the first time again,” she says. “Cancer never conquered me.” WINTER 2015 13

PHOENIX SPORTS

▶ elonphoenix.com

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT MATT MATHENY BY KATIE DEGRAFF

n his six seasons as head coach of the men’s basketball team, Matt Matheny has focused on much more than the scoreboard. He’s expanded the scope of recruitment, built an academically strong team and inspired enough loyalty that not a single one of his players has transferred to another school. And that’s on top of an impressive on-court record, including an at-home .750 winning percentage over the past three years. Last year Matheny helped the senior class, his first recruiting class at Elon, to a total of 68 wins—the most by a senior class during the school’s Division I era. As Matheny leads his team through their first season in the Colonial Athletic Association, he took a few minutes to sit down with The Magazine of Elon to share five things about himself.

He has a recurring dream. Matheny wants to take his team to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. It’s not a hope, it’s not a wish, it’s a “firm goal,” he says. For every year he’s coached at Elon, Matheny has saved a copy of USA Today’s NCAA March Madness Cinderella story. The stack of newspapers sits in his office as a reminder of that dream and his commitment to get there. In 2008, while he was associate head coach at Davidson College, his team made it to the tournament’s Elite Eight round. A poster hangs in his office commemorating that run with the words “Get Better, Have Fun, Play to Win.” It serves as a daily source of inspiration.

14 the MAGAZINE of ELON

He was a college basketball walk-on. Matheny, who was born in Shelby, N.C., and raised 65 miles up the road in Statesville, was recruited to play for Davidson College. But not for basketball. He lettered four years as a quarterback and wide receiver for the football team. Basketball held his heart, so he walked on to the team and played point guard for two years. He graduated in 1992 with a degree in history and had plans to attend law school before he was invited to play football internationally.

Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Matheny does. Deggendorf, Germany, was home for two summers after college while he played football (he returned to Davidson in the fall for a coaching position). And while he says his German isn’t as good as he might like, he fell in love with Europe and with Germany in particular. A few years ago, the basketball program studied abroad and some of Matheny’s former teammates came to see the team. “One of the best things we do (at Elon) is give students the opportunity to study abroad,” he says. “To experience a new culture, to get out of your comfort zone, that’s a life-changing experience.”

He’s a whiz in the kitchen. Matheny and his family live one mile from campus and he makes it a point to host regular team meals at his house. There are back-to-school dinners, practice kick-off meals and Thanksgiving gatherings. And sometimes there are meals shared together just because. The players come to his house to play pool or hang out with his kids, Brock and Ava, while playing Xbox.

He’s not sure what life will be like in the CAA. And he’s OK with that. As Elon works through the first season competing in the CAA, Matheny is comfortable not having all the answers to how the team’s style of play might have to change. He’s confident enough in his players to know that they’ll do whatever it takes to rise to the occasion. “I love this team,” he says. “They’re hardworking, they listen and they’re motivated.” His players hail from all over the country. They’re diverse in the way they think, the way they react and their approach to adversity. “We have to try different things if we want to accomplish something that hasn’t been done before.”

God sees people, never color BY CHARLOTTE SMITH

When I stopped on a Burlington, N.C., street in fall 2011 to let some cars pull out of a restaurant parking lot, I simply thought I was doing something nice. It was the sort of small-town courtesy I had been taught growing up in rural North Carolina. The next thing I knew, a man behind me was honking his horn. He then got out of his car, stomped up to my window and screamed repeatedly, “N____, gotta get out of the way!”

y first reaction was total shock. I had never experienced such blatant racism. I was angry. I wanted to retaliate and yell back. But the first words that came out of my mouth were, “God bless you.” And those same words came out again and again as he continued yelling. He returned to his car and I followed him to get a license number from his out-of-state plate. Soon he was on the highway and gone. At the time, I was new to the area and tried to make sense of what had happened. To express my feelings, I turned to my love of music. I had always gotten a sense of peace when I wrote poems as a youngster, and later when I set lyrics to song. So a composition seemed the best way to find some healing. In the days following the incident, I deeply considered the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who wrote: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Armed with that inspiration, a song began to form in my mind. Titled “Lord Give Us Your Heart,” it became a prayer to ask God to allow us to see the world as he intended it to be. “We are sisters, we are brothers,” I wrote. “God sees people, never color.” With the song taking shape, I soon found powerful support from members of the Elon community who wanted to stand with me against this kind of hatred. My personal composition became a team effort with the help of Todd Coleman, a talented musician and arranger and a member of Elon’s music faculty. He recruited Kennedy Caughell ’12, a brilliant vocalist and graduate of Elon’s music theatre program, along with several other student voices. We began recording in a campus studio and the arrangement came to life. We were proud of the finished production, but the right time to release it publicly didn’t come until recently, when our nation became embroiled in racial issues ignited by the deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., and Eric Garner in Staten Island, N.Y. Todd and I conferred and agreed that our piece provided a message of love, healing and reconciliation. We shared the song via Elon’s social media in January, and the reaction has been strong and affirming. Of all my compositions, this piece is my favorite. I hope it opens the eyes of good people who want to fight racism and bring about changes in our world. I encourage you to take a few moments to listen to the song at elon.edu/magazine. And if you feel moved, would you share it with others? Our world will benefit immensely if each of us takes time to spread a little love and understanding every day. As my lyrics explain, “love is a force that can’t be stopped, but we have to keep it in our hearts, because what we pass along will shape generations to come.” God bless you!

Lyrics: Lord Give Us Your Heart

Charlotte Smith was named Elon’s head women’s basketball coach in June 2011. She previously served nine years as an assistant coach at her alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she had an All-American career topped by a last-second shot that earned UNC the national title in 1995.

Let us have eyes to see the way you did from creation’s start Give us your eyes Lord give us your heart (repeat)

Verse We were made in God’s image created in likeness, that includes you and me But when hatred is prevalent our world is divided it destroys the unity (repeat) So open the eyes of our mind Lord reveal your perfect design for humanity, for humanity Chorus For we are sisters, we are brothers let us show love for one another we are sisters, we are brothers God sees people never color Let us have eyes to see the way you did from creation’s start Give us your eyes Lord give us your heart (repeat) Bridge Love is a force that can’t be stopped but we have to keep it in our hearts ’cause what we pass along will shape generations to come Peace is a force that can’t be stopped but we have to keep it in our hearts ’cause what we pass along will shape generations to come Chorus ’Cause we are sisters, we are brothers God sees people never color we are sisters, we are brothers let us show love for one another (repeat)

winter 2015 15

A LIFELONG RACING FAN, ANNETTE RANDALL ’05 HAS MANAGED TO SHAPE A CAREER AROUND HER FAVORITE PASTIME. IIIIII

16 the MAGAZINE of ELON

IIIIII LIFE IN THE FAST LANE

{ Above: Annette Randall ‘05 holding the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup. Left: Randall, far right, celebrates Kevin Harvick’s first championship win. }

BY ROSELEE PAPANDREA

or most of her life, Annette Randall ’05 has spent the majority of her weekends at the racetrack. As a child, she and her father spent Saturday evenings at a short track 30 minutes from their home in Stafford, Va., socializing and watching races. When she arrived at Elon, the communications major spent weekends between March and October at one racetrack or another in North Carolina. “I enjoyed the competition and watching people race,” she says. “It’s a very family-friendly atmosphere, and you become very close with folks.” It’s not surprising that Randall, the former director of communications for The Elevation Group, whose clients include several NASCAR sponsors, still spends most weekends—more than 30 a year—at the track. Her jaunts have taken her all over the country. In early December, she found herself at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas living out a dream and celebrating with driver Kevin Harvick, winner of the 2014 Sprint Cup championship. “At times, it’s very surreal,” she says. It was Harvick’s first championship and for Randall, who then managed public relations for Budweiser’s racing program, it was also her first time at the helm of media relations for a champion driver. “Winning the championship is the ultimate goal for anyone in this sport so it was pretty incredible to be a part of that,” Randall says. She started the 2014 season at Daytona International Speedway with Harvick, but it wasn’t until they neared the end of the season that her workload started changing. “Once he locked himself into the potential to go for it, it ramped things up leading to the final races,” she says. Media requests increased and managing Harvick’s schedule quickly became more involved. When he secured the championship

at the final race of season, the Ford Ecoboost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 16, Randall handled the whirlwind tour of appearances on the East Coast that included “The Late Show with David Letterman” and “Live with Kelly and Michael,” as well as an ESPN “Car Wash” tour with its rounds of TV and radio shows and other digital media opportunities. In early December, there was a West Coast media tour that included “Jimmy Kimmel Live” before spending a week in Las Vegas doing guest appearances as a lead up to the championship banquet on Dec. 5. “This is an ideal scenario, something you dream about and hope that you’ll be in this position,” Randall says of her experience working with a NASCAR driver. “I don’t think it’s anything you just assume is going to happen.” It certainly was not something she had in mind when she first received admissions materials from Elon during her college search more than 15 years ago—though the Business of NASCAR course offered in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business definitely drew her attention. “I thought, ‘How cool is that.’ It was interesting and unique,” she says. A visit to campus convinced Randall that Elon was the place for her, and as it turned out, the university provided the foundation she needed to combine her love of racing with a career in communications. Internship opportunities and plenty of hard work while at Elon enabled the lifelong racing fan to begin shaping a career around her favorite pastime. Following her junior year, she interned at Charlotte Motor Speedway. She spent that summer writing press releases for car shows and other events. She made a lasting impression and the head of the communications department asked her to come

back during the school year to work a few Sprint Cup weekends. “It was good exposure,” she says, reflecting back on the trajectory that put her in the winner’s circle at the end of the 2014 NASCAR season. “I helped with press kits, wrote stories, proofread race advances and helped facilitate interviews.” The experience allowed her to network and helped her land an internship at Hendrick Motorsports in Charlotte and eventually one in the publications department at NASCAR, a position she held until she started her first job at a public relations agency in the Queen City. She ended up back at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2008 and joined The Elevation Group in 2010 as an account manager. She became the company’s director of communications in 2012. Randall says working with NASCAR is very satisfying. Whether it is seeing a pitch to the media turn into a finished product or standing in victory lane after a race, she still finds her work thrilling. Weekends can be intense during the season. She is usually flying out somewhere on a Thursday and returning to Charlotte on Monday morning. During the week, she sets up media events and appearances. Every season doesn’t end in a championship, but she still savors all the moments. After all, she’s still spending every weekend at the races. “It’s kind of fun to live out your dream from your childhood and getting to meet people that I once looked up to,” she says. “These are some of my heroes as a child.” As the 2015 season gets underway, Randall is starting a new job with the True Speed Communication agency where she will work with NASCAR driver Danica Patrick and the No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Team. “Getting to this point has been great,” she says. “I think now it’s just a matter of potentially broadening my horizons a bit.” winter 2015 17

A RUNNING START BY KEREN RIVAS ’04

18 the MAGAZINE of ELON

An All-American and one of Elon’s most successful studentathletes, Luis Vargas Hernandez draws inspiration from his parents’ journey.

{ Senior Luis Vargas Hernandez competed Nov. 22 in the NCAA Cross Country Championships and finished 25th, becoming the first All-American athlete in the men’s cross country program. }

udith Hernandez and Efrain Vargas often wonder how different their youngest son’s life would have been if they had not left the southwestern town in Mexico they called home. Would he have discovered he was a good runner in high school? Would he have been given the opportunity to attend a private university or pursue graduate school? Born and raised in Izúcar de Matamoros, a town in the state of Puebla, Mexico, where jobs revolve around planting and processing sugar cane, Luis Vargas Hernandez was facing a different future, one that likely did not include becoming a stellar cross country runner. His parents know it well. That’s why they take great pride in their son’s collegiate accomplishments. Besides breaking record after record since setting foot on Elon’s campus and joining the men’s cross country team, Luis garnered All-American honors—the program’s first—at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in November after finishing 25th at the meet in Indiana. Like countless times before, waiting for him as he crossed the finish line that day was his family. “I was very happy that they were able to come because it was the national race and my last race in cross country,” says Luis, who will graduate in May with an accounting degree. “I was happy to share that moment with them.” For his parents, it was confirmation once again that their decision to leave behind everything they knew all those years ago was worth it. “When I get news from old friends and learn what has become of some of them, I wonder what would have happened to our children if we would have stayed there,” Yudith says. “I don’t regret we left our country to look for a better opportunity for our family.” It’s a decision that has affected Luis’ life in more ways than he can ever know.

Finding the trails Life in the United States hasn’t always been easy for Luis and his family. After jobs “dried up” in their hometown, Efrain, who worked in hospitality, decided to emigrate north in 1999. His sister-in-law, Isabel, lived in North Carolina, so he headed to Cary. The rest of the family, which then included Luis, 6, and older brother Eduardo, 11, followed later that year. WINTER 2015 19

Like many immigrant families, they had to get used to life in a new land with a different language and cultural norms. “Those early years were tough,” Efrain recalls. “We were staying with friends, without clothes, without any possessions.” He was accustomed to working in high-end restaurants, but now had to take any job he could find. For the children, adjusting to school was difficult. It took a long time for them to be accepted, Yudith says. “They were very confused; they didn’t know what was going on,” she adds. “They didn’t understand why all the teachers were named ‘Miss.’” With the support of new friends and Yudith’s sister, they soon started to find their way. They were able to rent an apartment; Efrain got a steady job in construction and the family, which now included daughter Ashley, eventually bought a house and settled in Angier, N.C. Having missed soccer tryouts in the eighth grade, Luis decided to join his school’s cross country team. Yudith and Efrain were surprised to hear their son wanted to run—after all, he never showed any interest in the sport. “Even as a child, he was very docile, very quiet,” Efrain says. Still Luis began running on the treadmill in his garage and with the right guidance from his high school coach, he blossomed. He started winning races and going to championships. Soon college offers appeared in the mail. Efrain accompanied Luis to visit a couple of universities, but soon realized they could not afford to pay for college. A technical career at the local community college was the only realistic choice they could offer him. Then a letter came from Elon offering Luis a full athletic scholarship. Suddenly the future seemed brighter, though they never imagined how far running was going to take him.

A rising star

uring his first year at Elon, Luis set a new school record (24:49.07) at the Southern Conference Championships, placing 10th—the best finish for an Elon male athlete in program history. He was named to the All-SoCon First Team in 2012 and 2013 and set a new school record in the 10K (31:35.37) at the 2012 Southeast Regional Championships, a record he broke in 2014 (29:46.5). He also won the Elon Invitational in 2013 and 2014 and was named to the 2013 NCAA All-Southeast Region. During the 2014 season, Luis won six out of the seven races in which he competed, including capturing the individual title at the Colonial Athletic Championships after clocking a time of 24:11.37 in the men’s 8K

20 the MAGAZINE of ELON

A RUNNING START

{ The Vargas Hernandez family: (from left) Ashley, Efrain, Luis and Yudith. }

race, breaking his own school record. Besides becoming the program’s first All-American after his performance at the national championships, he was also the Southeast Regional champion in the men’s race and was selected as the region’s Athlete of the Year. Most recently he was named the CAA Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Year. “He has risen from being a good college runner to one of the best in the entire NCAA and I hope that shows others that it is possible for them as well,” cross country coach Nick Polk says. “He will be the standard that others will have to live up to in the future, not just by athletic performance but by how he trained and carried himself.” Luis’ talents and ability have inspired not only the men’s cross country team, but the women’s team and the athletics department as a whole, Polk adds, something that was evident in a “Good Luck” video the department produced prior to the national meet. It featured messages of support from student-athletes, faculty and staff. “It was probably the biggest motivation factor that I had” going into the meet, Luis says. “I watched it right before my race and it gave me a feeling that I can’t describe. I will always treasure it.” The support he has received at Elon has not gone unnoticed at home. “We’ve always encouraged our children to achieve greater things than we as parents have,” Efrain says with a sparkle in his eyes. “He is the first member of our family to graduate from college. We are so proud and eternally thankful to Elon for giving him that opportunity, for believing in him. It has made a profound difference in the life of our son.” It’s also evident his parents’ fighting spirit has shaped Luis’ determination on and off the course. Though they don’t want to take any

PHOTO BY: LIGHTPATH IMAGES

credit for their son’s accomplishments, he knows that without their support, he wouldn’t have gotten far. He finds inspiration in their journey. He has seen his father’s efforts to learn English by taking night classes, and go from being an entry-level construction worker to a production manager. He has seen them struggle to communicate in a foreign language, but also adopt this new land as their own without forgetting where they came from. Sometimes Efrain and Yudith still can’t believe all that Luis has accomplished on the course. Nor do they take it for granted. “There are so many kids born here who have the opportunity to do so much but don’t take advantage of those opportunities,” Yudith says. “It cost [Luis] a lot. We are an immigrant family who has been blessed to be in a country that welcomed us and find people who have supported us.” With the cross country season behind him, Luis is focusing on track and field, in which he runs unaffiliated. “I hope to accomplish even better things in track,” he says. “There are a lot of goals and things I want to accomplish that I haven’t been able to before, so it’ll be exciting to see how far I can push my limits.” While they don’t know how far Luis will go with the experiences he has gained at Elon, they know that whatever he does after college, it will be something special, whether it’s graduate school—he wants to pursue a master’s degree in accounting and has received offers already—or running at the Olympic Games representing their native land. Whatever happens, they will continue supporting him. “He has inspired me to run,” Efrain says. “After his first year of running, I started running with him. Now he is my coach. … He’s my inspiration and motivation.” Yudith shares that sentiment. “When I see him running, I get so excited, I want to start running alongside him,” she says. In many ways, she has.

From the ARCHIVES

FORBIDDEN LOVE

There was a time when romantic relationships between Elon students were not as common as one might think. BY ROSELEE PAPANDREA

hen Leland I. Gay of Norfolk, Va., and Edna “Marie” Winn of Baltimore attended Elon College in the early 1900s, the odds of finding love at the school were slim. Granted, Elon was among the few colleges at the time that accepted both men and women. It was believed then that women could benefit by attending classes with men as long as they sat on opposite sides of the room. But it was controversial and social norms and the school’s reputation were always at stake, which meant out-of-class contact between male and female students was strictly monitored. Despite the limited contact, love still blossomed for Leland and Marie—even when faculty and staff did their best to keep the couple apart. The details of this love story are chronicled in the 1907 faculty minutes found in the Elon University Belk Library Archives and Special Collections, and they offer a glimpse into a time when romantic relationships were not all that common on coeducational campuses. The relationship between Leland and Marie apparently advanced during spring semester that year. In March 1907, the couple received five demerits for passing notes and were denied social privileges for a month because they were walking and talking together on Lebanon Avenue, an event labeled in the minutes as a “clandestine meeting.” Chatting on campus seems innocent enough now, but according to Elon’s regulations of the day, students of the opposite sex were not allowed to talk to one another unless a chaperone was present. Written correspondence was strictly forbidden without the consent of a parent or guardian, and women were only allowed recreation on the eastern half of campus. There were a handful of days when the “rules relative to young men and women were suspended” and they had the “privilege of the campus.” Those included Thanksgiving, Washington’s Birthday, the week of Commencement and Easter Monday. According to faculty minutes, on that year’s Easter Monday, which fell on April 1, Leland was permitted to call on young ladies from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Marie was allowed to receive company for the same hours. The minutes don’t say whether the two actually met that day, however, the events that transpired the following month hint that a plan may have been put into place around that time. By early May, it was clear to faculty the relationship between Leland and Marie was serious. Rumors emerged that they planned to marry, so

faculty wrote to Marie’s father, F.J. Winn, in Portsmouth, Va., to inform him of “conditions and to take precautions against the elopement.” In a letter received May 17, F.J. Winn made it clear he didn’t want the marriage to take place. The faculty sent him word he should take his daughter home at once. Less than a week later, faculty learned Marie had received a letter from her father. His instructions were clear: She was not to marry Leland. But rumors continued. Faculty believed that on May 28, Leland and Marie intended to elope by taking a 9 p.m. train to Greensboro, N.C. That news prompted then-Elon College President Emmett L. Moffitt to send a terse telegram to F.J. Winn on May 24: “Come to Elon tomorrow without fail.” Winn refused. “Your telegram received late this morning. Utterly impossible for me to come to Elon at this time. Be easy. NO marriage will take place between Mr. Gay and my daughter before my consent is given.” Winn was confident Marie would abide by his wishes. The faculty was not so sure and voted on May 27 to put a guard outside Marie’s room in West Hall. She was under “surveillance” until a woman, who claimed to be her aunt from Maryland, showed up on campus to take her to Baltimore. Moffitt wired Winn to let him know. Winn said Marie should leave with her aunt. The minutes say they left for Baltimore at 5 p.m. on May 29. That’s where the narrative in the faculty minutes ends, but Leland and Marie’s relationship did not. In fact, the train Marie and her aunt boarded that day headed to Greensboro, N.C., not Baltimore. According to a May 30, 1907, wedding announcement in The (Greensboro) Daily Industrial News, Leland and Marie got married at 9 p.m. on May 29 in St. Barnabes Episcopal Church in the presence of several friends. Carl H. Herndon was Leland’s best man and the “dame of honor” was a Mrs. A. W. German of Lutherville, Md., probably Marie’s aunt. Following the ceremony, Leland and Marie left on northbound train No. 34 for Baltimore with plans to go to Leland’s home in Norfolk. According to Ancestry Library records, in June of the following year, they had Leland Ishmael, the first of four children. Sara, Sterling Edward and Louise followed over the next six years. It is unclear what became of Leland and Marie’s relationship. Records show Leland remarried in 1920, but Marie’s fate is unknown. One thing is certain: this couple defied the odds with a love that blossomed at Elon. winter 2015 21

COVER STORY

HANDBOOK

OBA

L CITIZE

Looking for ways to channel your energy into a creative force for good? Learn how others from Elon find fulfillment in giving back to their communities.

22â&#x20AC;&#x192; the MAGAZINE of ELON

Introduction by the Rev. Richard McBride, Elon University Chaplain Emeritus

ERVICE IS IN OUR DNA.

The Christian Sun, a newspaper of Elon’s founding denomination, proudly announced shortly before Elon first opened its doors that its graduates would be “shining lights in the church and blessings to society.” So they have been. From its earliest years, Elon has welcomed students who later distinguished themselves in the ministry, the classroom, the boardroom and the community, volunteering their time and talents to make the planet a better place. There’s no shortage of challenges in the world. Poverty. Illiteracy. Disease. Conflict. Seeking solutions requires creativity, compassion and, perhaps most importantly, knowledge grounded in critical thinking and global engagement. Sound familiar? These traits have been present in an Elon education for generations and can be found today in dozens of academic service-learning courses and volunteer activities through the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement, as well as other organizations on campus. Just this past fall, Elon President Leo M. Lambert declared 2014-15 a “year of service” with speakers and programs aimed at preparing students to make service a lifetime value. In his 1977 book Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness, Robert Greenleaf offered one of the finest definitions of service that I know. Genuine service means “that other people’s highest priority needs are being served. The best test, and difficult to administer, is this: Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants? And, what is the effect on the least privileged in society? Will they benefit or at least not be further deprived?” The best service we can provide, then, always relies upon a genuine partnership—a solidarity between helpers and those being helped. At its core, service asks us all to reflect on the impact of what we do. Many of the essays you’ll read in the following pages reflect how different members of the Elon community have taken actions that get to the heart of Greenleaf ’s wise observations. My hope for you is to find inspiration here, and to channel that energy into a creative force for good. It’s who we are. It’s in our DNA.

{ Students collect books as part of a “Day of Service” in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. }

From college to service BY CAITLIN O’DONNELL ’13, SIXTH-GRADE SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER AT COLLETON COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL, WALTERBORO, S.C. (TEACH FOR AMERICA CORPS MEMBER)

can still remember the moment my post-grad plans started to deviate from the path I had so carefully envisioned. I was three weeks into a top-notch internship, hundreds of miles away from home, when it hit me like a pile of bricks: What my head had planned for so long no longer aligned with the direction my heart was leading me. And the place my heart led to was a destination I hadn’t considered in almost a decade. For a career that was comfortable, suited my skill set and fell in line with everyone’s expectations, including my own, I was right on track. But for a career that complemented my values and pushed me beyond my comfort zone into an experience steeped in selflessness and the service of others, I needed to change course. Almost a year and a half since this “Big Decision Summer,” I am so thankful that I chose the latter and entered the classroom as a corps member with Teach for America. I am proud that my post-grad years have been defined by pushing others toward their goals and a brighter future. For those considering a similar path of service, keep your values, not your desires, at the forefront of your mind. Think beyond additional lines on your résumé. As I began to consider a career in the classroom through TFA, I was consistently draw n to my favorite Bible verse, which comes from 1 Corinthians: “Let love be your highest goal.” For me, I felt I could best live out this personal mission at the helm of a classroom. While Teach for America is a two-year commitment, I am in the process of becoming fully certified and plan to remain in the classroom, in some capacity, for years to come. What makes service after graduation special is that each person’s experience will be different and meaningful in its own way. No matter what degree you bring to your post-grad career, put your skills, knowledge and experience to good use. With degrees in journalism and history, it wasn’t initially clear to me how I’d utilize the expertise I spent four years developing. However, as I first began my career in the classroom, I intentionally took time to identify my strengths and target ways to incorporate them into my teaching. My experience organizing ideas through the inverted pyramid style of news writing allows me to write lesson plans that are focused, tight and well organized. My time as an editor of The Pendulum strengthened my ability to guide a large group of unique individuals toward a common goal. Whatever your reason for considering a path of service and wherever your story takes you, find joy in the journey and travel along it with a purpose and for a purpose. winter 2015 23

Service as a second career BY FRANK LYON ’71, DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR AMERICARES AND ELON UNIVERSITY TRUSTEE

ver the past 42 years, I helped build BK International Insurance Brokers of Greenwich, Conn. It was rewarding work and our company eventually became an attractive acquisition for a large corporation. I could have stayed on in an executive role, but the company’s sale provided a perfect opportunity to begin a new chapter in my life. I retired on a Friday and couldn’t wait to start work the following Monday, devoting my full energy to support AmeriCares’ humanitarian mission. The past year has been spectacular, and my new job is no surprise to my family and friends. I developed a passion for service as an Elon student and made sure I carved out time in my career to be an active volunteer. The opportunities came through the mission program of New Canaan Congregational Church. We build houses in impoverished areas of Appalachia, the Caribbean, Africa and hurricane-damaged areas of the Gulf Coast. When our group wraps up work on a project, I usually don’t want to leave and head home feeling guilty that I feel so good—it’s invigorating to help people who are facing tremendous challenges. The church work has been amazing, but I hungered for even more. So I was among the first volunteers for AmeriCares when it was founded in New Canaan in 1982. This nonprofit disaster relief organization has provided more than $11 billion in medical and humanitarian aid to people in 164 countries. I’ve been involved in earthquake relief in Turkey, India and Central America, and we are currently supporting the fight against Ebola in West Africa. I truly feel like I am the luckiest man in the world to have the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. As I complete my first year as an AmeriCares staff member, I’ve reflected on the role of service in my life. I’m a Type A personality and not the kind of guy who is satisfied to simply mail in a check to support a worthy cause. Pounding nails, getting dirty and dead-tired, and living in primitive conditions keeps me level and grounded, and helps me understand what life is all about. I’ve met amazing people around the world and been humbled at the depth of the human spirit in the worst situations. These days I combine my service in disaster zones with the important work of raising money for AmeriCares. Most days I put on a suit to meet with donors. But I’m always anxious for the next chance to grab a hammer and rebuild a house. At age 66, the furthest thing from my mind is relaxing on a beach and reading a book. I have the spirit of a 20-year-old and I want to stay at this work for as long as I can.

{ Students participate in a Habitat for Humanity build. } 24 the MAGAZINE of ELON

Finding your way in college through service BY RACHEL LEWIS ’15 AND MARIA RESTUCCIO ’15, INTERNS WITH THE KERNODLE CENTER

ike other college students, we arrived at Elon more than three years ago with identities and perspectives shaped by our lives at home. We soon met new people and tried new things, but most important of all, we challenged ourselves to step out of our comfort zones and explore a new community. How? Service. Service expanded our academic studies as we engaged with our new community. It strengthened our worldview, a critical first step in helping us find our identities as young adults. Going into a community different from the one in which you were raised helps you recognize differences in perspective, encouraging you to see that your idea of “normal” isn’t necessarily normal at all. Working at a soup kitchen or emergency shelter, for example, can teach volunteers that not everyone makes enough money to survive in our society. Likewise, weekends with Special Olympics athletes can show that not every individual has the same abilities—and that service is often about relationship building. Regardless of where you live, there are ways to make volunteering a lifelong habit. Here are four ideas for getting involved, staying involved and growing the relationships that you develop through service: 1. B ring a friend. Going with a friend can help you reflect openly and honestly about this shared experience. 2. L et service supplement your lifelong learning. Words like “power” and “privilege” can seem abstract until you see them in action in your community. 3. Uncover hidden passions via service. Your service doesn’t have to directly align with your studies or career goals. 4. R ecognize your skills and use them to serve a community organization. We know we didn’t “change the world.” However, our education and volunteer experiences sparked conversations about social justice and citizenship that helped us understand the privilege of a college education and our responsibility to use that education to make our communities even stronger. We hope that you’ll join us.

WHY DO WE SERVE?

Translating faith into meaningful service BY THE REV. ERIN M. KEYS ’05, FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF GREENWICH, CONN.

PHOTO BY: SCOTT MUTHERSBAUGH ’06/THE TIMES-NEWS

{ Maria Restuccio ’15 volunteers at a Special Olympics swim meet. }

Don’t be ‘toxic’ with your charity BY TOM ARCARO, PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY AND DIRECTOR OF ELON’S PROJECT PERICLES

ur world needs people who are privileged to have a university degree and are committed to something larger than themselves. It needs people with a sense of social responsibility, an embrace of their obligations as global citizens and a will to learn more about their connections to others around the world. That said, not all charity or service is good. Some is downright counterproductive or, dare I say, reckless. Here’s advice on avoiding what we call “toxic charity,” based largely on my experiences overseas but with universal lessons that affect local communities, too. First, be sober about your motivations. Why did you apply to a program or volunteer for a project? If it was to “save some poor people” in, say, Africa, please stay home. With this motivation your experience is more about you than about others. If you desire to work with people because you deeply understand that your liberation is bound up in theirs and, ultimately, there is not an “us” and a “them” but rather just an “us,” then go forward. You already realize that you should never do “for” others but rather do “with” and, ultimately, “be with” those people. Partner, don’t patronize. Then, be clear about your expectations. You will not, I am quite certain, save the world, or even one small town or village. Development work is complicated and devilishly difficult to assess over time. You can touch some lives, but without considerable research, especially into local cultures and people, the touching you do may do more harm than good. You may run into corruption, pettiness and human frailty. You will definitely run into organizational and bureaucratic challenges that may undermine your efforts. Set as your goal to have at least a net positive impact on the lives with which you intersect. Next, be prepared for the impact that this experience will have on you. If you avoid living in a bubble and truly merge your world with the local community, your fundamental identity will change. If you serve overseas, your reentry shock coming back to American life will be dramatic, and for a time you will feel that you no longer belong. Needless to say, the longer you remain in the field, the more acute this phenomenon becomes. You will eventually recalibrate and strain past relationships to determine which new ones you forge. Finally, be responsible. I know this sounds obvious, but if you commit to development work, do it to the best of your ability. Anything less than your best shows disrespect to your hosts, to your organization and, perhaps most importantly, to yourself. Work for dignity in your life and in the lives of others.

n Christianity we are taught our highest calling as individuals is to love God with all our heart, soul and mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We embody this calling by giving of ourselves in different ways, striving to have every action, as much as possible, be a reflection of God’s love. But Christianity is by no means the only religion that emphasizes service. At the core of almost every religious teaching is the belief that our well-being is connected to the well-being of our neighbor. Charity is one of the five pillars of Islam. Zakat is the Arabic word used for charity; it literally means purification. It is through Zakat that Muslims believe one’s heart is purified from greed and realigned with God and service to neighbor. In Judaism the Hebrew word Tzedakah has come to mean acts of charity and service, and is a foundational component of the Jewish faith. Tzedakah also means justice and fairness and extends to treating others as equals. In my own work with faith communities, service has taken many forms, from generous donations to weeklong service trips. However, what I have found is that, by far, the most challenging act of service—and often the most impactful—is to be kind to those we encounter every day. It sounds overly simplistic and, in light of the never-ending need in our world, can seem like an “easy way out.” Consistently practicing kindness is anything but easy. It takes tremendous dedication of mind and heart, and a constant willingness to put the other before oneself. I have witnessed small acts of kindness going much further than we would ever expect. To someone in need, someone who is hurting, to be treated with dignity and love can renew their spirit in a way that little else can. Moreover, treating others as we would like to be treated changes us. It makes us more compassionate, more loving, more forgiving. Because, again, at the core level, what we all need is to feel valued for who we are, regardless of the other factors like socio-economic status, race, age, etc., that can define us. To be able to recognize this particular need in others is something anyone can do. You do not need to be rich or have extra time to volunteer. Which is why the Golden Rule is at the center of every religious instruction. Because service is not just about what you do for your neighbor, but how well you love them.

WINTER 2015 25

Army Strong: Serving your country BY COL. JOHN BRADSHER ’88, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND TRAINING AT INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY COMMAND (INSCOM)

{ Students work with local pre-K children on reading skills as part of The Village Project. }

Introducing children to a lifetime of service BY CHERREL MILLER DYCE, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF EDUCATION

here are many things we learn within the ecosystem of our families and communities: morals, values, cultural traditions, the framework of faith, the value of work, how to treat others. Service is no different, and as the old adage goes, “charity begins at home.” Teaching children the authentic meaning of service requires us to model and communicate such meaning in our daily routines. Never mind the self-help guides. I recommend the tools that my grandmother, a farmer from rural Jamaica, used for teaching me the meaning of service. Her concept utilized the five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. Though the five senses might seem simple and mundane, developmental psychologists and early childhood educators have documented the ways in which children learn every day by using these points of entry. My grandmother, a valorous community advocate, likewise relied on senses to instill in me from a very young age my love of service. Here are examples of what I mean: Sight: Children are keen at watching what you do and then imitating your actions. Let your children see you helping others, whether it’s a neighbor, someone in the grocery store or a stranger on the street. Take these moments to model for your children the importance of valuing humanity despite their current conditions. Hearing: Children are always listening, so be mindful of your conversation, and purposefully include service talk whenever possible. When a conversation comes up about school or a TV commercial, or even when you are driving by a person who appears homeless, use these moments to instill the importance of helping others. Smell: My grandmother was known for feeding those who were hungry. Take the time to cook your family’s favorite meal and share it with others. Whether it’s an elderly neighbor who will be the recipient or a faith-based ministry, allow children to experience the smell of service. Taste and Touch: Let children see you breaking bread or sharing a meal with others in need. Give the child the opportunity to deliver a portion of this meal to someone who is less advantaged or less fortunate. It develops an appreciation and comfort in reaching out and providing assistance within the general community. Teaching service begins at home. Once the foundation is set, everything else falls into place. The path is paved for children to embrace societal differences and reach even higher levels of excellence in their future schooling and careers. 26 the MAGAZINE of ELON

hy does one serve his or her country in the military? Everyone has the opportunity to serve: you can serve in your community, your local church and schools. But serving in the military is a very different kind of service. To understand why I serve, we must first look back on how and why I entered the Army. As an Elon student-athlete in the mid 1980s, I was part of a team, and the team was bigger than one person. As I researched my options for post-college employment, the Army moved to the top of my list because its values and culture aligned with my values. The Army is a team of teams, and people are its No. 1 asset. I joined the ROTC program and that began my experience of military service. My wife, Ret. Lt. Col. Tanya Bradsher, who now serves as assistant secretary for public affairs in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, also had the experience of serving in the Army, first as a military dependent and later as an officer. Having grown up in a military family, she learned at an early age to appreciate the sacrifice and dedication military service requires. There is no other job in which you are trusted with America’s sons and daughters to protect, train and, if called upon, fight the nation’s wars. We both serve for the soldiers and their families. Military service is all about something bigger than oneself—it is truly not about the “I” but all about the “we” in military service. You volunteer to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Only 1 percent of Americans wear the uniform. That alone makes military service a very different type of service. As a dual military family, we had to balance two deployments to Iraq and many nights away from home with our marriage and children. There were many sacrifices over 20-plus years of military service, but they were all worth it. No matter how you serve, serve. There is no greater feeling than helping others on the battlefield or in your community.

Living as an engaged global citizen BY MARY MORRISON, DIRECTOR OF ELON’S KERNODLE CENTER FOR SERVICE LEARNING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

hallmark of an Elon graduate is his or her commitment to community engagement. When we think of volunteer efforts, the first thing that comes to mind is often direct service—tutoring a child, building a house or serving meals. But nonprofit organizations, like for-profit businesses, also need accountants, graphic designers, lawyers, writers and technology experts. Ultimately, graduates are challenged to ask themselves how an Elon education can best meet community needs. It took me a long time to accept that my niche in service was indirect service. I now realize that for every hour I could spend tutoring a child, I could use that hour recruiting 10 people to tutor 30 children. I understand that my talents lie in streamlining the system, identifying additional resources and thinking strategically about how to meet goals. In short, my best contribution involves using my skills to address the missions of organizations. If you wonder whether you’re using your own skills the best possible way, start by identifying an issue in your community that you care about and find out what organizations are addressing that need. Contact the organization and meet with the volunteer coordinator. Set up a time to visit the organization to learn more about its work. Bring your résumé and a willingness to partner with the organization. The process of finding a fit between your skills and the organization’s needs is similar to any job interview. Start with a limited but consistent commitment until you get to know the organization better and the staff gets to know you. It won’t take long before you know if the organization is right for you. Volunteering with a nonprofit is only one way to serve your community. City and county governments need residents to serve as well. It can be a fascinating experience to serve on the economic development commission, the water resource board or the human services advisory committee. You can also get involved in political organizations. If you think you might like to run for the school board or the city council one day, start attending their meetings. The local chamber of commerce, civic organizations and religious groups all offer opportunities for community engagement. Being an engaged, global citizen means using the skills and abilities you developed at Elon to make a difference in the lives of others. To quote Frederick Buechner, “Vocation is where our greatest passion meets the world’s greatest need.”

WHY DO WE SERVE?

A SNAPSHOT OF

SERVICE AT ELON IN 2013 14

127,656

THE NUMBER OF HOURS OF SERVICE COMPLETED BY STUDENTS

11,151

THE NUMBER OF POUNDS OF FOOD COLLECTED AND DONATED THROUGH CAMPUS KITCHEN

3,100

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENT VOLUNTEERS

250

THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN 14 SERVICE PROGRAMS DURING SEMESTER BREAKS

THE NUMBER OF FACULTY MEMBERS WHO RECEIVED GRANTS TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS

RECOMMENDED READING ՔՔ We Are The Ones We Have Been Waiting For by Peter Levine ՔՔ The Impossible Will Take A Little While by Paul Rogat Loeb ՔՔ Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation by Parker J. Palmer { Students pack meals as part of a Stop Hunger Now event. Above: Elon students work with elementary school students in India. } WINTER 2015 27

THE WATER

WARRIOR

5 F I V E.

28 the MAGAZINE of ELON

After a series of injuries put his active military career on hold, U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Jamie Sclater ’02 has found strength—and healing—in the pool. BY KRISTIN SIMONETTI ’05

THAT NUMBER carries special meaning for Jamie Sclater ’02, for that’s the number of medals he earned—two gold, two silver, one bronze—at the September 2014 Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, Colo. But another number has significance to Sclater’s dominance at the games, a competition for wounded, ill and injured U.S. servicemen and women. That number is four: the major surgeries he endured in the past two years and the reason he’s qualified to compete as a Wounded Warrior. Sclater’s injuries began in 2012, when he spent months training to join a U.S. Navy Special Warfare Unit team. After a series of long muck runs, he experienced searing pains in his right leg. He recalls the continuous ache he felt as he attended Elon’s 2012 Top 10 Under 10 Awards ceremony, during which he was honored for his Navy service. When he returned to duty, his pain worsened, and a routine screening by the Navy diagnosed the cause: a ruptured disc in his lower back due to wear and tear—he had pushed himself beyond what his body could handle. He underwent surgery that August, something that delayed his career plans but hardly deterred him. “I did everything I could—stretching, diet, hydration; getting in the gym and slinging weights,” he recalls. Workouts and physical therapy appointments wedged into a tight work schedule built Sclater up to the point where he began a light running regimen. One morning in October 2013, he woke up to start another day of training. “A soon as I got out of bed, I felt it,” Sclater recalls. An unbearable pain radiating throughout his body. “I had a panic attack, but I was able to call for help. I had emergency surgery to repair another severely ruptured disc in my spine.” The initial injury affected Sclater’s right leg; this one ravaged his left, leaving him with drop foot, a condition in which the tendons

of the lower leg can’t keep the front of the foot upright on its own. He wears a brace to normalize his walking gait. Weight-bearing activities, required for sniper duties with the Special Operations Unit, were now out of the question. “It was so taxing on my mind,” he says. “Even the process of getting up and going to work was too much.” His doctor and his psychologist noticed his struggles and, in December 2013, pulled him from active duty. They gave him deceptively simple orders: Sclater’s new full-time job would be to rehabilitate and get healthy. That’s when Michael Kleinert, the swimming coach at the Wounded Warrior Battalion-West Regiment at California’s Camp Pendleton, remembers meeting him for the first time. “One of the lifeguards pointed out this guy who’d get in the pool after we left,” Kleinert says. “The guy obviously could swim well, so I started talking to him.” The partnership began with Kleinert giving Sclater a few training pointers. Soon afterward, Sclater joined Kleinert’s team. “I was thinking, ‘What can I do that will keep me in the physical shape I need to stay actively engaged in the military?’” Sclater recalls. “The answer was: the pool. So that’s where I went.” Sclater swam in his childhood and even ranked in his Northern Virginia summer league as a teenager. Despite more than a decade out of the water, he has flourished under Kleinert’s tutelage and the care of the Wounded Warrior Battalion’s doctors and athletic trainers. He participated in the Marine Corps Warrior Trials with Kleinert’s team in March 2014, performing well enough in the pool and on the shooting range to qualify for September’s Warrior Games. Then another setback. Sclater required more surgery to fuse two vertebrae in the area of his original 2012 injury—a particularly intense operation mere months before the Warrior Games. “I wasn’t really sure how he

“ ONE OF THE

was going to come out of that one,” Kleinert acknowledges. “I don’t think he was sure, either.” Yet Sclater came out blazing, winning gold medals in the 100-meter freestyle and 50-meter breaststroke events. He earned silver medals in the 50-meter freestyle and backstroke events. For good measure, he added a fifth medal: a bronze in shooting. Lost in Sclater’s medal haul? His time in the 50-meter breaststroke was just a half-second shy of the American record in his classification. (Sclater participates in the International Paralympic Committee’s SB9 category, which includes breaststroke swimmers with limited physical impairment, such as significant loss of joint function.) Despite facing another surgery right after the Warrior Games to repair discs in his neck and nerve damage to his right arm, Sclater jumped right back in the water to train for a U.S. Masters meet in San Diego on Nov. 23. Sclater competed as the only Paralympic athlete in his age group, but that detail didn’t matter. He took the top spot in three events: the 50-, 100- and 200-meter breaststroke. “I never thought of him as a swimmer, but after seeing him in the pool, it seemed completely natural to him,” says Dan Evans ’04, a Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity brother of Sclater’s who attended the meet. “Jamie has served his country and his school proudly as a warrior and an athlete. I look forward to seeing what he does next.” What’s next might be a pretty big deal: Sclater’s Warrior Games finishes may qualify him for the Can-Am Paralympic World Championship Trials in Toronto in March. It’s a challenge he can’t wait to train for. “I don’t want to give up because, who knows? That surgery in October might be the last surgery I ever need,” he says. “If I keep pushing forward, maybe this is an opportunity to go back to do something normal again.” “Normal” for him may be a relative term. A Warrior Games-like showing in the Can-Am meet opens the door to July’s Paralympic World Swimming Championships in Scotland. That, in turn, may lead to a spot on Team USA’s roster for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. For now, though, Sclater’s focus is on the near term and the newfound purpose swimming has brought to his life. “When I walk out onto that pool deck, I hope I’m representing everyone I’m connected to—the Navy, the Marine Corps, the guys I’ve served with, Elon University, my Lambda Chi Alpha brothers and my family—in the best way that I can,” he says.

LIFEGUARDS POINTED OUT THIS GUY WHO’D GET IN THE POOL AFTER WE LEFT,” KLEINERT SAYS. “THE GUY OBVIOUSLY COULD SWIM WELL, SO I STARTED TALKING TO HIM.”

{ Bottom left: Jamie Sclater ’02 swims to a gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle at the Warrior Games in September. Top from left: An X-ray of Sclater’s lumbar spine after the 2014 Marine Corps Trials; posing with Lambda Chi Alpha’s Flat Finn and friend Jay Clancy during a hospital visit; standing with the top finishers at the trials. }

A beam of HOPE Jessica Shepps ’12 and her mother, Stacy, helped a North Carolina nonprofit that works with cancer patients expand its presence in the mid-Atlantic. BY ERIC TOWNSEND

essica Shepps ’12 was already fledgling organization. At the same familiar with breast cancer time, Shepps was looking for a cause when she first learned about to support as part of her entry into the Little Pink Houses of Hope, Miss Delaware pageant back in her a North Carolina nonprofit home state. The family connections. that brings women fighting the disease The sorority’s focus on philanthropy. to beach resorts around the country for Little Pink Houses of Hope seemed to a week of relaxation and bonding with be the perfect organization for which their families. Shepps would fundraise. Her aunt died of breast cancer. Her Patten-Coble was skeptical mother had only recently gone into because of the pageant involvement, remission after discovering cancer but she gave Shepps the benefit of the during a routine mammogram and doubt. Beauty pageant or not, here seeking aggressive treatment. Sitting was a woman who wanted to help. Not among friends at a Zeta Tau Alpha only would Shepps prove her mettle sorority event on an autumn evening by completing administrative tasks in in 2011, Shepps couldn’t believe what Burlington, but by late the following she was hearing from the founder of spring, she and her mother, Stacy, had Little Pink Houses of Hope. Work with volunteered at a North Carolina beach families to inspire optimism and love? retreat. The duo soon convinced At the beach? At no cost to the famiPatten-Coble that Delaware was the lies? “I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s the perfect location to expand Little Pink coolest thing. I want to get involved!’” Houses beyond the Carolinas. Shepps recalls. The mother-and-daughter team { Jessica Shepps ’12 and Three years later, Shepps is more secured beach houses and volunteers her mother, Stacy, hold than involved—she’s an integral part in Bethany Beach, Del., to hold a a photo of Stacy’s sister, of growing an organization that assists Cathy Wilhelm, who died retreat there three months later. It’s more than 130 families each year to been an annual program ever since of breast cancer in 2005, overcome the emotional and psychowith additional retreats also held and her daughter. } logical scars of the disease. And this just to the south in Ocean City, Md. summer marks the first time she’ll Shepps described her role with Little direct a retreat when she travels to St. Pink Houses of Hope as incredibly John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Once rewarding. Though it pains her to “I’ve watched her grow from an Elon student who there, about a dozen women and their learn of retreat guests who later suchusbands will reconnect and, in the cumb to cancer, she takes comfort in started with ‘I’d like to volunteer,’ to a young woman words of Little Pink’s mission stateknowing that she’s part of a support who singlehandedly helped bring our organization ment, “celebrate life” with time to reflect system for women and their families. to Delaware.” and activities that include fishing trips, Now that she has volunteered for sevgolf outings, surfing lessons and more. eral years—her full-time job is with Shepps will oversee the efforts of additional volunteers assigned to prepare an information technology services and staffing company in Baltimore— meals and complete errands for patients. she’s been tapped to direct the 2015 retreat in the Virgin Islands as Little Pink “There isn’t anything like this. It’s just a getaway for families,” Shepps Houses travels to the Caribbean for the third consecutive year. says. “A lot of times, breast cancer charities or organizations come with a “I’ve watched her grow from an Elon student who started with ‘I’d like to ‘catch.’ It’s great to see families get there and say, ‘Wait, there’s no counseling volunteer,’ to a young woman who singlehandedly helped bring our organizaand we just get to relax?’” tion to Delaware, to now a very compassionate woman who will be leading Shepps first volunteered for Little Pink Houses after meeting its founder, this year’s retreat in St. John,” Patten-Coble says. “She’ll be the youngest Jeanine Patten-Coble, during that October evening at the ZTA event. The retreat director we’ve ever had, and that’s because we’re confident in her sorority focuses its philanthropic efforts on promoting breast cancer aware- ability to keep our values at heart while creating an incredible time for the ness and education. Patten-Coble was on campus to spread word about her couples who come.”

30 the MAGAZINE of ELON

ALUMNI ACTION

In service to Elon for you Dear Elon alumni,

s I near the end of my term as president of the Elon Alumni Board, I realize we, your alumni leaders, rarely take the time to broadly answer the question, “What exactly does the board do?” I have chosen to focus this quarterly message on that question, as it’s paramount to understand how Elon is working to meet your needs. Put simply, the board acts as a link between the university’s administration and the alumni body. The board assists in creating and executing new ideas that bring value to both sides. Board members personally serve as partners, advocates and investors—they agree to attend regional events, provide networking opportunities to students, support the university financially, recruit volunteers and, most importantly, partner with the university to improve the alumni experience. Each summer board leaders meet with staff from the Office of Alumni Engagement to identify focus areas for the coming year. Past examples of this collaboration include the creation of the Martin Alumni Center (named for Chris Martin ’78 P’13, a past board president, and his family), as well as providing feedback to the university on how to better recognize and celebrate alumni success. The board is currently focused on five core areas:

� Communications: We’re reviewing the way Elon communicates with

alumni in print and electronically. � Alumni experience: As more alumni are returning to campus, we need to

develop a more impactful campus experience. � Lifelong learning: We are partnering with Elon to find creative ways to

bring a variety of professional development topics to all alumni. � Volunteering: We are examining the volunteer experience to find ways to

make it more rewarding and consistent. � Giving: We’re working with the advancement team to help Elon reach its

alumni giving participation goal. I hope you continue to celebrate your affiliation with Elon not only through the ever-increasing value of your degree, but also by volunteering, supporting Elon with a gift and sharing your fond memories with potential students and others. In the meantime, your alumni leaders will remain focused on creating an ideal experience to match the one we had as students. Thank you in advance for your support of our Elon! Loyally yours, Christian Wiggins ’03 Elon Alumni Board President

CALLING FOR VOLUNTEERS! ELON REUNIONS

Are you interested in volunteering for your Homecoming 2015 affinity or class reunion? Let us know! Below are all the groups and classes celebrating milestone reunions during Homecoming weekend, Oct. 16-18: Class reunions:

Affinity reunions:

1965 – 50th reunion 1970 – 45th reunion 1975 – 40th reunion 1980 – 35th reunion 1985 – 30th reunion 1990 – 25th reunion 1995 – 20th reunion 2000 – 15th reunion 2005 – 10th reunion 2010 – 5th reunion 2015 – reunion zero

Elon Gospel Choir – 25th reunion Men’s rugby – 20th reunion Sigma Sigma Sigma – 45th reunion Twisted Measure – 15th reunion Young Life College – 5th reunion Visit elon.edu/affinityreunions to learn how you can get started as an affinity reunion volunteer.

Visit elon.edu/classreunions to learn how you can get started as a class reunion volunteer.

Upcoming campus alumni events The Young Alumni Council will be

celebrating the accomplishments of 10 talented young alumni during the 5th annual Top 10 Under 10 Alumni Awards Ceremony on Saturday, April 18. The awards will be given to alumni who have recently enjoyed major professional success, made a difference in their communities or been loyal supporters of Elon, and graduated from the undergraduate programs from 2004 to 2014. Contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at alumni@elon.edu or toll free (877) 784-3566 with questions.

Elon’s 125th Commencement is May 23 and

you can be a part of this momentous event! Join members of the Office of Alumni Engagement as they hand out oak saplings to members of the Class of 2015 and welcome them to the alumni family. If you are interested in participating in this new alumni tradition, contact Jordan Bacharach ’09, coordinator of young alumni and student engagement, at jbacharach@elon.edu.

winter 2015 31

ALUMNI ACTION

on the town

LONDON CALLING

Evening for Elon goes international Elon holds its first international Evening for Elon event in London, announces new alumni initiatives

lose to 30 alumni, parents and friends attended Elon’s first international Evening for Elon event in London on Jan. 10. During the event, Elon President Leo M. Lambert shared an update on the university, including details about the School of Communications expansion. Additionally, parents and alumni were able to see the alumni video produced by Max Cantor ’10 and Tim Johnson ’09 and hear special remarks from Professor of History Mary Jo Festle. Associate Director of Alumni Engagement Durice White Galloway ’09 G’14 also announced the creation of Elon’s first international alumni chapter in London. Leaders in the new chapter include Ann Spiller ’05, Emily Favret ’09, Sean Flynn ’09 and Aaron Smith ’13. As an international chapter, London will host two events per year, including #ElonDay on March 10, and serve as a resource for engagement and networking for alumni in the United Kingdom. “Elon’s unprecedented university commitment to diversity and global engagement doesn’t end at graduation. This first event, and the announcement

32 the MAGAZINE of ELON

of an alumni chapter in London, sends a clear signal to the entire alumni body that Elon’s Office of Alumni Engagement will be supporting and advancing Elon graduates wherever they work and live in this diverse 21st century world,” Brian Feeley ’03, director of alumni engagement, said. “The ‘Elon network’ has never been more dispersed and yet it is stronger than ever.” The London Evening for Elon is the first of several international alumni initiatives planned. Others include a revitalized travel program created specifically for Elon alumni that will launch in 2016, allowing participants to take a themed course in London taught by an Elon faculty member. Additional international alumni clubs and chapters will also be created, with potential locations including Japan, China and Spain. Meanwhile, Evening for Elon events are planned stateside in the spring for Raleigh, Charlotte, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston and Washington, D.C. For more details about upcoming events, visit elon.edu/alumni or contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at (877) 784-3566.

ALUMNI ACTION

ANNOUNCING THE 2015 NATIONAL NETWORKING EVENT SERIES

n April the Office of Alumni Engagement will bring The Elon Network to 40 cities nationwide through the annual National Networking Event Series. These events provide an opportunity for Elon alumni, parents and friends to utilize the university’s many resources, engage with Elon through volunteer opportunities and create relationships to expand their professional network. More than 1,000 alumni attended last year’s events, and we expect attendance to increase this year.

2015

Here are some of the things you can expect to see: • The Elon Network Showcase, featuring free professional headshots, résumé critiques, Elon Career Mentors and more. • Guest speakers who will provide insight on topics such as digital identity in the workplace and making yourself marketable. • Open and guided networking that allows attendees to choose their preferred method of networking.

Visit elon.edu/alumninetworking to find out how to register for the event in your city. For more information, email Jennifer Boozer, coordinator of regional alumni engagement, at jboozer@elon.edu.

C H A P T E R H A PPE

N IN G S

lon chapters have been busy hosting holiday parties and service events, as well as tailgates and gatherings to support the Phoenix during its first year in the Colonial Athletic Association. See what they’ve been up to and like your city’s chapter page on Facebook to stay up-to-date on events. { Washington, D.C. }

• Congratulations to the Washington, D.C. chapter’s flag football team for winning its division title in the Capital Alumni Network. The team completed its best season yet with a 10-2 record. • The Philadelphia chapter got together Nov. 15 to give back to its community through the SHARE Food Program, packing 600 boxes of food to be distributed to people in need. • In December several chapters and clubs hosted holiday parties, including in New York City, Richmond, South Florida and Charleston. Turnout at these events represented alumni ranging from the Class of 1977 to 2013. • Alumni and students in Atlanta cheered the Phoenix on to a win at Kennesaw State on Dec. 22. { Charleston }

{ Atlanta }

TO FIND A CHAPTER NEAR YOU, GO TO elon.edu/alumni.

{ Philadelphia }

winter 2015 33

ALUMNI ACTION

ELON L VES ALUMNI COUPLES

ver the years, Elon has played Cupid for nearly 3,200 alumni. If you are part of an alumni couple, spread the love this year by making a gift in honor of your sweetheart at elon.edu/eloncouples. Include a special message for your loved one and tell us how Elon brought you together, and we’ll feature your alumni love story online. Be sure to make your gift by #ElonDay—March 10—and check out the quotes below from fellow Elon lovebirds to get inspired.

ELON L VES

“Elon holds many favorite memories involving each other; the one that stands out the most is when we both won the Greek Week dance contest in 1980.” —Rusty ’80 and Brenda Vinson ’81 Citty

ALUMNI COUPLES

“Our strongest connections to Elon came from our fraternity brothers and sorority sisters. That is how we met and to this day they are our closest friends. Our first date was during Homecoming Weekend (Dave’s fraternity Homecoming banquet) and we have been together ever since.” —Marianne ’01 and David ’97 Stern

“Elon is where we met, so it symbolizes the love of our relationship.” —Jake ’08 and Kim ’08 Emerson “Our favorite memory was meeting each other while studying in Hawaii.” —Kristen ’09 and Paul ’10 Mireck

GL B AL

Questions? Email couples@elon.edu or call (877) 784-3566.

Join us for a special #ElonDay GLOBAL COLLEGE COFFEE College Coffee is a longstanding Elon tradition that demonstrates the strength of our university and the values we share as a community. That’s why on March 10, we want you to reconnect with us and each other by celebrating a special #ElonDay Global College Coffee. No matter where you are, show you believe in your alma mater by making a gift in honor of Elon’s birthday and getting together for coffee with fellow alumni—in person or online. Be on the lookout for more information about this celebration!

MAKE A GIFT / #ELONDAY 34 the MAGAZINE of ELON

EGE COFFE L L E CO

310 1 15

CLASS NOTES

32|

M EM ORIAM

J. Rankin Parks III, the university’s oldest

living alumnus and one of Elon’s most loyal supporters over the past eight decades, died Jan. 19. He was 105. He and granddaughter Elizabeth Fisher Goad ’95 were part of the “Long Maroon Line,” a procession of 125 alumni representing every decade of living Elon graduates, to commemorate the school’s 125th anniversary during Fall Convocation 2013. Parks had been a longtime supporter of his alma mater through the creation of the Rena Cole and J. Rankin Parks ’32 Endowed Scholarship, a fund he and his wife established to support students with financial needs.

50|

Jane L. Transou Fowler

retired from the WinstonSalem Recreation and Parks Department. She is now enjoying volunteering and working on her garden. Her favorite Elon memory surrounds the many choir tours and games she attended as a cheerleader in and out of town. Professor Fletcher Moore and John Westmoreland ’41 are among the people who made her Elon experience special. Having 11 family members who have attended Elon, including her late husband, Arthur F. Fowler III ’51, and late father-in-law, Arthur F. Fowler Jr. ’28, as well as daughters Anne Fowler Gilliam ’77, Betsy F. Fowler Idol ’79 and granddaughter Jennifer Anne Gilliam ’02, Jane says, the school has always been a part of her life. ALUMNI ALBUM

51|

Caroline Laverne Russell Compton is now retired

and says Dr. Daniel J. Bowden, Dr. Ferris Reynolds and her Delta Upsilon Kappa sisters made her time at Elon special. Caroline’s son, David F. Compton ’86, is also an Elon graduate.

54|

retired as a sales training manager 27 years ago, and now teaches property-casualty classes at Morton Learning Center in Worthington, Ohio. Donald says attending Elon as a day student helped him to appreciate the opportunity Elon provided for a college education. A close association with Dr. J. Earl Danieley ’46 made his Elon experience special, and he says the relationship has grown since his time on campus, as Danieley knew his parents, and suggested he set up a scholarship in their memory. He and wife Helen Pennington ’52 established the scholarship and add to it annually, along with a matching contribution from a former employer.

58| Vincent Bujan ’59

(l-r) Allen Foster ’62, President Leo M. Lambert, Tommy Oliver ’62, Aubrey Utz ’66 & Mike York ’62

Donald S. Pennington

Allen J. Martin Jr. retired

after serving as chief executive officer of a health

55|

care company. Among the people who made his college experience special are Professor of History H.H. Cunningham, Professor of Biology Paul Reddish and Dr. J. Earl Danieley ’46. He still visits Elon as often as he can and is a member of Order of the Oak, Elon’s planned giving society. • Joseph “Eddie” Robbins is working part-time at Hobby Town USA in Greensboro, N.C. His favorite Elon memory is singing with the Madhatters. Among the people who made his college experience special are professors Dr. J. Earl Danieley ’46, Dean Alonzo L. Hook 1913, Fletcher Moore, Dewey Stowers, John F. West, John Westmoreland ’41, Mel Wooton, Dr. William Sloan and Bessie Sloan, along with William “Buster” Butler ’44. • Robert John Stauffenberg is retired and recounts his Elon experience as “four years of joy.” He says all students, especially the student-athletes, helped to make his Elon experience special.

59|

Vincent Bujan recently

returned from a 13-day trip to Europe. Among the highlights of his trip are visits to Fatima’s shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal, Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain, which is home to the ancient route known as the Way of St. James, and Lourdes, France, birthplace of St. Bernadette and home to the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. • In 1984 Ikey T. Little retired from IBM after 25 years, and last September she retired again after she sold her strawberry farm. She fondly remembers Dr. J. Earl Danieley ’46 and Professor William Reece, who she says did not blink at her—the first female student in the nonsecretarial portion of Elon’s business administration program—but rather hired her as a tutor. She credits

M EM OR IAM

The Rev. James “Jim” M. Waggoner,

a longtime Elon friend and sports historian, passed away Dec. 14 at the age of 81. Jim, who was inducted into the Elon Sports Hall of Fame in 2005, collected Elon sports data for half a century, compiling photographs, files, memorabilia and records on all sports and every student-athlete to ever wear the maroon and gold. He went on to publish a book, The Fighting Christians: Elon College Athletics Through the Years, in 1989. A collection of his Elon sports memorabilia has since become the Elon Department of Athletics Archive Room. (l-r) Charlotte Brabant ’84, Page Massie ’84, Liz Stallings ’84, E.B. Addison Hickson ’86, Leslie Rankin ’84, Sarah Petry Smith ’87, Beth Thompson ’85, Tricia Trapp Ghiglino ’87, Colleen O’Brien ’83 & Suzanne Schenk Troxler ‘85 WINTER 2015 35

CLASS NOTES

63|

Charlie Frye

participated in the 2014 Greater Greensboro Senior Games and 2014 North Carolina Senior Games and excelled in both competitions. At the Greensboro event, he took part in six events and claimed gold medals in the football throw, softball throw, horseshoes and croquet. He also won silver in cornhole and bronze in table tennis. At the state games, he finished fourth in the softball throw and cornhole. At Elon, Charlie was an NAIA All-Conference third baseman who played for the baseball team that won two conference championships and one district championship, and went to the NAIA College World Series in Texas, finishing third.

that experience for her career at IBM. Ikey has fully or partially funded three Elon scholarships, including the Sam White Theatre Endowment for theatre arts students. She has also set up a charitable remainder trust and included Elon in her estate planning.

62|

Mike York and his Kappa Psi Nu fraternity brothers reunited at the Elon vs. William & Mary football game in Williamsburg, Va., in November. Besides seeing brothers Zac Walker III ’60, Allen Foster, Tommy Oliver and Aubrey Utz ’66, he was able to reconnect with Dick Purdy ’63, whom he had not seen in more than 50 years, and even snap a photo with President Leo M. Lambert.

76|

after working 38 years in the banking industry. Her most recent job was at PNC Bank as a mortgage loan originator. She is looking forward to sewing, gardening and spending more time with her family. She lives in Asheboro, N.C.

78| ALUMNI ALBUM

Janet Hovis Henry retired

Martha Ann Harrell is a

governor’s appointee for the North Carolina Board of Nursing and was recently elected to the position of board chair. She is the first public member to hold this position in 2015. She and husband Charlie Harrell have three children and five grandchildren. Martha Ann works for Pillow Talk Designs and Charlie works at Harrell’s Automotive and Southeastern Napa Auto. They live in Fayetteville, N.C.

79|

John Atkinson was named 2014 Principal of the Year for Volusia County in Florida. Prior to his position at Pine Ridge High School, he was a principal for 15 years at the elementary, middle

Raquel Coulbourn Donaldson ’92, Tony Donaldson & friends

Tracey Helton Lewis ’93

36 the MAGAZINE of ELON

Tracy Murphy ’93 & Linda Goode Murphy ’95

65|

and high school levels. John is also a retired Navy Reserve captain. He is married to Dianne McAllister Atkinson ’81, who recently retired after 30 years in education. She served as a teacher, reading specialist and assistant principal. They live in DeBary, Fla. • Kathy Foster was appointed to Carteret County (N.C.) Combined Human Services Board of Directors. She is a psychology instructor at Carteret Community College and lives in Morehead City.

80|

Rob Finch is president and

owner of Finch & Finch Funeral and Cremation Service. He was recently elected as president of the Virginia Funeral Directors Association, leading the largest funeral service association in the Commonwealth of Virginia. • Scott Matthews was named chairman of the North Carolina War Memorial Foundation. He is a retired lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps and an Iraq War veteran. As chairman, he oversees the newly completed Carolina Field of Honor at Triad Park. He and wife Kimberly Spencer Matthews live in Greensboro, N.C.

81|

Kenneth Roach and Merinda W. Bryant were married 9/6/14. Kenneth is a financial aid officer at Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary. The couple live in Stanley, N.C. • Mary Frances “Franni” Toy is a semi-retired government employee. She is grateful to Elon for giving her the chance to invest in her mind. She particularly thanks H. House, Alan White and Janie P. Brown, who provided her with the inspiration and knowledge to achieve her potential. She lives in Florida. • Bob Trout is happy to announce that after a 34-year rewarding

M EM ORIAM

Jesse Branson, one of the most dominant

men’s basketball players to ever wear the Elon jersey, died Nov. 2. With 2,241 career points, Jesse is the all-time leading scorer of the men’s basketball program. His 20.0 points per game average is the best in program history and his 44-point performance against Wofford in 1964 still ranks as the most points in a single game in school history. After graduating from Elon, Jesse was selected in the second round of the 1965 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers and played alongside NBA great Wilt Chamberlain. After one season with the 76ers, he signed with the ABA’s New Orleans Buccaneers for one season in 1967-68. He joined Tommy Cole ’72 in 2009 as the first Elon basketball players to have their jerseys retired.

CLASS NOTES

CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITIES CAN PROVIDE INCOME FOR LIFE a charitable gift annuity of $10,000 or more to Elon will guarantee a fixed income for the rest of your life. With market interest rates near historic lows, a gift annuity is an attractive way 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 january 1, 2012 ONE BENEFICIARY

Sweet victory

T WO BENEFICIARIE S

AG E

ANNUIT Y R ATE

AG E

ANNUIT Y R ATE

60 65 70

4.4% 4.7% 5.1%

60/65 67/67 71/73

4.0% 4.4% 4.7%

Annuity rates are subject to change. The annuity rate remains fixed once your gift is made.

BY KEREN RIVAS ’04

eth Hirschy Royals ’88 never imagined the lessons she learned cooking with her father at a young age would one day earn her $1 million. “He was always with us in the kitchen experimenting,” Royals recalls. “He taught me not to be afraid to try new techniques and flavor combinations.” Royals applies that mantra often as she creates recipes to enter into cooking competitions, which she has been doing for the past 12 years since winning a contest with her oldest son. “I didn’t know there was a whole world of cooking contests out there,” she says. Soon, she and husband John Royals ’88, whom she met her first week at Elon, were traveling the country as she competed in different contests. Last summer she entered her original Peanutty Pie Crust Clusters recipe into Pillsbury’s 47th Bake-Off Contest. She did not have high expectations. After all, the mother of two from Richmond, Va., had been there before—twice, in fact. A finalist in 2004 and 2006, this was her last chance to win because contest rules prohibit contestants from participating more than three times. As luck would have it, the third time proved to be the charm for Royals, who in December was announced as the winner of the grand prize—$1 million—during an episode of ABC’s “The Chew.” “It was exciting to end on that note,” says Royals, a marketing and sales professional. It’s rumored that the contest receives 60,000 to 70,000 entries, she adds, so just being selected among the initial 100 competitors who faced off in four categories in November in Nashville, Tenn., was a huge accomplishment. Winning her category—Simply Sweet Treats—exceeded any expectations she had. “The odds were so great and there were so many recipes deserving to win,” she says. “I had such low expectations; it was really a total shock.” As for the prize, Royals plans to keep her marketing job and use the money for practical things—college tuition for her two sons, Easton, 16, and Brendan, 11, house repairs and helping people in need in her community. “There will be no wild vacations,” she says laughing, adding that the prize money is not the best thing that has come out of the whole experience. “It’s really brought me a lot of happiness to hear through emails that people are making my recipe,” she says. “I never thought I’d come up with something that would bring people together. … That’s a huge prize in itself.”

To calculate a gift annuity for you, your spouse or a family member, visit elon.plannedgiving.org.

Talk with us today about how you may benefit from a life income gift to Elon and other gift planning opportunities. please contact: Carolyn DeFrancesco, Director of Planned Giving (336) 278-7454 ■ cdefrancesco@elon.edu ■ elon.plannedgiving.org

{ A typical May Day celebration at Elon in the 1950s. }

WINTER 2015 37

CLASS NOTES career, this is his last year teaching graphic communication classes at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Va. Besides working in the classroom, Bob has also served as head cross country coach and assistant indoor and outdoor track coach. He has fond memories of being Elon’s mascot and running track to become the 800-meter record holder for the college in 1981. He’s moving to Beaufort, N.C., and hopes to visit the campus in the near future.

82|

Scott Stevenson recently

served on the Love School of Business Recruiter Advisory Panel. He presented to faculty about how Elon can best

prepare students for success in the marketplace. He is vice president of talent acquisition for Bank of America Merchant Services. He lives in Charlotte, N.C.

85|

Beth Thompson reports

she and other alumnae had a girls weekend in Tybee Island, Ga., last summer. The alumnae included Colleen O’Brien ’83, Charlotte Brabant ’84, Page Massie ’84, Leslie Rankin ’84, Liz Stallings ’84, Suzanne Schenk Troxler, E.B. Addison Hickson ’86, Tricia Trapp Ghiglino ’87 and Sarah Petry Smith ’87.

89|

Mark Harris recently

received his floral designer certification from the ALUMNI ALBUM

North Carolina Florists Association. He has served as director of convention services for 14 years at the Sheraton Greensboro/Joseph S. Koury Convention Center.

91|

co-founder and president of Trinity Healing, an Eden, N.C.-based nonprofit organization providing free lifestyle coaching and therapies for emotional, spiritual and physical wellness. She lives in Graham.

92|

Raquel Coulbourn and Tony Donaldson were married 8/29/14. Raquel was recently promoted to program analyst at the Social Security Administration. They live in Laurel, Md.

93|

Joe Brown ’96

Chad Solomonson ’93

Jennifer McCumber Curtin’98 & Jackie Gardner Allred ’94

Amy Jumba Rayman ’99, Mark Rayman & daughters Alyssa Jane & Abby Katherine

Christina Graham ’99

Megan Judy ’01 G’09, Jayson Judy ’08 G’10 & son Bryce

38 the MAGAZINE of ELON

Steve Ryan ’01

Mary Droggitis Cohen ’03 & friends

Tracey Helton Lewis was

named principal of Pilot Mountain (N.C.) Middle School in July 2014. Tracey was also appointed to the North Carolina Textbook Commission by Gov. Pat McCrory for a four-year term. An educator for 18 years, Tracey served as a principal for 11 of those years, including at Shoals Elementary School, which was named a national Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. As part of her work on the Textbook Commission, Tracey works to establish a process for determining appropriate textbooks for students in the state. She lives in King. • Tracy Murphy and Linda Goode ’95 were married 10/12/13 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Alumni in attendance included Lemont Phelps and Nicole Williamson ’95. Tracy works as an engineer and Linda is a registered nurse. They live n Durham, N.C. • Phil Powell accepted a position in guest relations at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio. • Chad Solomonson was named 2014 North Carolina 1A Soccer Coach of the Year. He coached the Community School of Davidson’s women’s soccer team to its first state title. He played on the Elon men’s soccer team 1989-93 and has enjoyed seeing the program grow.

96| Adam Levensalor ’02, Stefanie Tullett Levensalor ’01 & daughters Finley Kate, Mia & Kenzie

Melissa Allen Brown is the

Joe Brown has been named

project manager for Advance Auto Parts’ store programs - commercial operations support team at the company’s headquarters in Roanoke, Va. Joe

PHOTO BY SHANNON MCELHANEY

{ Nathan Guerette ‘10, a certified nurse-midwife, shares a moment with patient Zulmaly Ramirez and her newborn son, Ryder Knox, shortly after his birth on April 15 at Tampa General Hospital. }

lives in Rocky Mount with wife Valerie and daughter Adelynn.

98|

Jennifer McCumber Curtin,

director of public affairs for the Association of Government Accountants, and Jackie Gardner Allred ’94 are members of “Another Mother Runner,” a community that serves as a virtual aid station for women runners. They have completed several races of various distances through the past few months, and are assembling a team to compete in the 208-mile Blue Ridge Relay.

99|

The Daily Report, an ALM publication, named Christina Graham a Rising Star, a distinction given to the Atlanta area’s promising attorneys under the age of 40. Christina is a real estate attorney at Morris, Manning & Martin LLP, where she represents some of the nation’s largest multifamily developers. • Amy Jumba Rayman and husband Mark welcomed daughter Alyssa Jane on 7/23/14. She joins older sister Abby Katherine. Amy is director of development for the American Heart Association. The family lives in Irwin, Pa.

01|

Stefanie Tullett Levensalor and husband Adam Levensalor ’02 welcomed

daughter Finley Kate on 9/4/14. She joins older sisters, Mia, 6, and

Everyday trailblazer BY SHAKORI FLETCHER ’16

athan Guerette arrived at Elon in the fall of 2006 intending to pursue a career as an athletic trainer. Then one day, as he was observing an athlete’s surgery, the surgeon he was shadowing asked him: “Why don’t you look into becoming a nurse practitioner?” The comment sparked Guerette’s interest but he wasn’t sure it was the right career path for him. It wasn’t until later, when he traveled to Guatemala on a Winter Term trip focused on maternal and fetal medicine, that he started thinking about the birthing process. “I realized while I was there that these mothers were facing similar issues that women were facing back in the United States: poor access to health care and issues with patriarchal systems,” he says. “All the issues that the doctors, mothers and families there were talking about were just as relevant back home. “ Upon his return to Elon, Guerette analyzed the maternity care system in the United States as part of Professor of Human Service Studies Cynthia Fair’s Cultural Childbirth course. This is when the dots began to connect—coupled with his Guatemala experience, the implications of the course brought the prospect of a career in midwifery into sharper focus. But a question still remained in his mind: Was it possible to become a male midwife? After doing some research, Guerette decided to

reach out to the program director at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing who assured him he could take part in the program. In 2013 he became the second man in the program’s history to graduate as a certified nurse-midwife. Now in his second year at the University of South Florida’s OB/GYN group, Guerette delivers counseling and care to women from adolescence beyond menopause, including during pre-conception, pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. He also provides annual well woman exams, non-surgical gynecology and family planning/contraception management. He says a common misconception is that the term “midwife” only applies to female practitioners. “Midwife comes from an old English word meaning ‘with woman,’ so the philosophy of care is that the midwife is supposed to be with women throughout their lifespan,” he says. “A male or female can easily fit into that role if they have the right personality and the right intentions.” While he is aware he is in the minority in his profession—a recent survey by the American College of Nurse-Midwives found males account for less than 2 percent of all its members—he doesn’t see himself as a pioneer. “I think what’s most important to me in the sense of being a man and a midwife is that midwives, no matter what gender, provide safe, effective, cost-efficient and compassionate care to women—that’s what women in our country need right now.” WINTER 2015 39

CLASS NOTES

TURN YOURSELF IN! ONLINE AT …

elon.edu/classnotes

Help us keep you in touch with your classmates at Elon.

Kenzie, 4. The family lives in Norfolk, Va. • Steve Ryan recently joined KVOA-TV/News 4 Tucson as weekday evening anchor and nighttime newscaster. Prior to this position, he worked at KTVK-TV in Phoenix, KTNV-TV in Las Vegas, WBBH-TV in Ft. Myers, Fla., WALB-TV in Albany, Ga., and WECT-TV in Wilmington, N.C. His experience also includes a stint as a writer/Web reporter for CNN Headline News in Atlanta.

02|

Chris Maggi and wife Dawn welcomed son Ryan Christopher on 9/8/14. Chris works as a financial planner at Maggi Tax Advisory Group. The family lives in Tampa, Fla.

03|

Mary Droggitis and Greg Cohen were married 9/6/14. They live in Rockville, Md. • Sean Eschenbach and Caroline Eschenbach were married 8/2/14. Sean, a dentist, recently completed his residency training at the University of Washington in Seattle, and has opened a dental practice in Roanoke, Va. • Jeanette

Olli and Gilbert Mokry were married 6/27/14. Alumni in attendance included Alex Autry Keilen, John Pickett, Nicole Wright, Lauren Melfa Catazarite ’04, Sarah Slater Cheeser ’04, Eric Morse ’04, Clifton Johnson ’07 and Katie Reese ’09. Jeannette, an associate professor of mathematics at Dominican University, and Gilbert live in Chicago.

04|

Suzanne Speed Acosta and husband Adam welcomed son Wesley Adam on 9/5/14. The family lives in Miami, Fla. • Todd Harra and wife Melissa welcomed son William on 8/12/14. He joins older sister Brooke. The family lives in Wilmington, Del. • Mike Prelec and wife Melissa Rafetto Prelec ’07 welcomed daughter Lilah Anne on 10/12/13. The family lives in DeLand, Fla.

05|

and husband Andrew welcomed daughter Carolina Dove on 10/21/14. They live in Philadelphia.

DETERMINED to make a

DIFFERENCE BY SHAKORI FLETCHER ’16

For Sam White ’06, a life dedicated to service is no new task, though it’s not something she planned.

he was a sophomore at Elon in 2004 when she and other members of the Periclean Scholars Class of 2006 traveled to Namibia to document the HIV/AIDS epidemic that was ravaging the country. At the time, “HIV and AIDS were decimating the entire population of parents,” she recalls. “So many kids we met had lost one or both of their parents to this deadly disease.” Her plan was to conduct interviews and help produce a documentary and a series of public service announcements to raise awareness about the disease. A corporate communications major, she was working at a public relations firm in Raleigh, N.C., prior to the trip. She had set her sights on moving to New York to pursue a post-graduate career in that field. That would soon change. Ten years later, she is still connected to the African continent. “I knew after that trip that I really wanted to devote my life and my career to addressing a lot of these social injustices and health inequities that existed around the world,” she says. Since graduation White has trained journalists for the International

40 the MAGAZINE of ELON

Meghan Morgan DeFino

06|

Andrew Barnes and wife Lindsey Paquette Barnes

07|

Will Cash and wife Brooke Pickard Cash welcomed

welcomed daughter Caroline Elizabeth on 7/29/14. She joins older sister Hartley. The family lives in Waxhaw, N.C.

son William Butler on 10/27/14. The family lives in WinstonSalem, N.C. • Joy Hartley and James Sheets were married 1/4/14. Alumni in attendance included Molly Hall, Tess McMains, Katie Radcliffe and Emily Sexton. Joy is a physical therapist at Gentiva Health Services and James is a fighter pilot for the U.S. Navy. They live in Nevada. • Lisa Cochran Holt and husband Marc welcomed son Grant Christian on 10/26/14. They live in Woodstock, Md. • Junior Nombre and Jaclyn Fedyna ’08 were married 7/25/14. Alumni in attendance included Brandon Hayes ’05, Anthony Catalano ’06, Brittany Kendrick, Clement Ogbomo, Alisa Petit, John Romano, Tracy

{ l-r: Alumnae Aisha Mitchell ‘12 and Sam White ‘09 spoke in the fall to the Periclean Scholars Class of 2017 about their experiences as Periclean Scholars. }

Women’s Media Foundation and served in Malawi as a Global Health Corps Fellow for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Now a public health professional working for Volt Workforce Solutions on the strategy, measurement and evaluation team at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle—and equipped with a broad scope of experiences in aid development and global health—she is serving as a Periclean-in-Residence for the Elon Periclean Scholars Class of 2017, which will return to Namibia as part of its project in the near future. White, who visited campus last fall to share some insights with the students in the class, says she is thrilled to work with the next generation of Periclean Scholars. “I think it’s absolutely important for alumni to play a role in continuing to shape that program,” she says, adding alumni have institutional knowledge that can be extremely helpful to students. She plans to contact other Periclean alumni to start an advisory board. “It’s definitely a way that we can still be involved in a program that I think shaped a lot of us.”

CLASS NOTES Rood, Jenn Chickey ’08, Caity Levys ’08, Rebecca Whitelaw ’08, Jessi Dexheimer ’09, Alex Douyon ’09 and Kristine Silvestri ’10. Jaclyn is

a second-grade teacher and Junior is a credit analyst at the Investors Bank. They live in New Jersey. • Ryan Newson recently published a new book with the Baylor University Press titled The Collected Works of James Wm. McClendon, Jr. Volumes 1 and 2. Newson is a doctoral candidate at Fuller Theological Seminary and received his Master of Divinity from Wake Forest University in 2011. • Ashley Shelton {Law’10} and Gerald Murphy were married 8/30/14. They live in Alexandria, Va., where Ashley is a staff attorney for Clark Construction Group, LLC.

08|

Horsburgh ’07, Suzanne Barker, who served as a bridesmaid, Andrew Bennett, Eugene Krasnopolsky, Jack McMackin, Kim Reiber, Britany Westphal, Kelley Blakewood ’09, Stefanie Meyers ’09 and Natalie Moore ’09. Samantha is an account

director at Anthem Worldwide, a NYC brand strategy and design agency. They live in Brooklyn, N.Y. • Kyle Smith and Meredith Legin Smith

welcomed son Brody on 7/17/14. The family lives in Whitsett, N.C.

09|

Caleb D. Beyer graduated

from the Greenville Fire & Rescue Fire Academy 7 on 8/8/14 and received the Academy’s Top Scholar Fire Award. Caleb now works as a firefighter and EMT for the City of Greenville, N.C. • Troy Carlton, who is pursuing a master’s degree at N.C. State University, received the 2014 Academy of Leisure

Sciences Future Scholar Award at the National Recreation and Parks Association Congress in Charlotte, N.C. The award is given to two graduate students nationwide for their scholarly potential in leisure and recreation research. He and wife Marella Carlton ’08 live in Apex. • Bethany Swanson and Mark Saxon were married 6/7/14. Alumni in attendance included Ian Baltutis ’08, Monica Nolden Bickford ’08,

ALUMNI ALBUM

Becky Brackett and Kyle Shade were married 8/31/14.

Alumni in attendance included Clay Foster ’06, Chris Kaas ’07, Dan Cariello, Devon Cosenza, Caitlin Domenech, Josh Donde, Lauren Doxsey, Jill Dozier, Katie Duffy, Jon Hammond, Shelby Hammond, Cassie Hickey, Corey Jahner, Sara Pollock, Mike Purcell, Drew Redman, Alex Satterfield, Margo Smith, Andrew Wilen, Preston Campbell ’09, Amy Donde ’09, John Lynn ’10 and Lauren Kenney ’11. Kyle works in relationship management at State Street Bank and Trust and Becky is a social media manager at Columbus Hospitality Group. They live in Quincy, Mass. • Calley Grace recently began her role as developmental editor at Elsevier, an international publisher located in Philadelphia. In this role, Calley will work to develop new Elsevier initiatives in health technology, diagnostics and communications. • Jayson Judy {MBA’10} accepted a position in July as director of annual giving for Greensboro (N.C.) College. His wife, Megan Judy ’01 {M.Ed.’09}, continues teaching seventh-grade social studies at Greensboro Day School. They live in Greensboro with son Bryce. • Madeline Hughes, entrepreneur and founder of Poppy Style Jewelry, launched her first holiday collection in the fall. Pieces in this collection combine classic Southern style with subtle boho-chic influences. • Maggie Santry Morton and husband John welcomed son Jack on 3/23/14. The family lives in Baltimore, Md. • Samantha Schroeder and David Carlino were married 5/3/14 in San Clemente, Calif. Alumni in attendance included Mark

Sean Eschenbach ’03 & Caroline Eschenbach

Jeanette Olli Mokry ’03, Gilbert Mokry & friends

Mike Prelec ’04, Melissa Rafetto Prelec ’07 & daughter Lilah Anne

Lisa Cochran Holt ’07, Marc Holt & sons

Joy Hartley Sheets ’07, James Sheets & friends

Todd Harra ’04, Melissa Harra & children William & Brooke

Meghan Morgan DeFino ’05 & daughter Carolina Dove

Andrew Barnes ’06, Lindsey Paquette Barnes ’06 & daughters Caroline Elizabeth & Hartley

Ashley Shelton Murphy ’07 G’10 & Gerald Murphy Junior Nombre ’07 & Jaclyn Fedyna ’08 & friends

Kyle Shade ’08, Becky Brackett Shade ’08 & friends WINTER 2015 41

CLASS NOTES Pamela Kopsky Cleffi ’08, Mary Cunningham ’08, Lesley Tkaczyk ’08, Olivia Allen-Price and Kiersten Dittrich. Bethany works as the

director of communications for the Public Health Law Research Program at Temple University. They live in Philadelphia.

10|

Justine Falkowski and

Jordan Park were married 7/12/14 in Long Beach Island, N.J. Alumni in attendance included Cooper Campbell ’08, Laura

Bradford Hunter ’09 {Interactive Media ’10}, Kathleen Boyle, Jessica Sikking Campbell, Matthew Hunter {Interactive Media ’10} and Jenna Temple Rice. They live in Charleston, S.C. • Hunter Gros

hiked to the 14,410-foot summit of Mt. Rainier in Washington on 8/25/14.• Patrick Kelley and McNeill Smart were married 8/2/14. They live in Washington, D.C. • Jeremy Williams graduated as one of the inaugural members of the JD/MBA

dual degree program through Campbell University School of Law and North Carolina State College of Management. He is now practicing law at Batten Lee in Raleigh, N.C., where he specializes in health care defense and business litigation.

11|

Hilary Fogle and Chris Shafto were married 7/26/14.

Alumni in attendance included Marybeth Caulfield ’91, Robert Caulfield ’91, John Keegan ’96, Lisa Keegan ’03, Caitlin Robins ’10, ALUMNI ALBUM

Samantha Schroeder Carlino ’08 & David Carlino

Maggie Santry Morton ’08, John Morton & son Jack

Hunter Gros ’10

Thad Bogardus ’11, Lauren Ross Bogardus ’11 & friends

42 the MAGAZINE of ELON

Meredith Legin Smith ’08, Kyle Smith ’08 & son Brody

Patrick Kelley ’10 & McNeill Smart Kelley ’10

Kayla Hicken ’11 & friends

Troy Carlton ’09

Justine Falkowski Park ’10, Jordan Park & friends

Bethany Swanson Saxon ’09 & friends

Hilary Fogle Shafto ’11, Chris Shafto ’11 & friends

Alyssa Drosdak ’12

Taylor Shain ’12, Mary Yost ’12 & friends

CLASS NOTES Andrew McMicken, Hampton Thomas, Erik Kendall, Jake Goldsberry, Clark Richards, Chris Kanoy, Miller Robins, Bruce Rosell, Brittany Hallberg, A.J. Harris, Lauren Kannoy, Christina Hamilton, Brett McQuilkin, Taylor Berry ’12, Phoebe Hyde ’13 and Rachel Sterling ’13. • Thad Bogardus and Lauren Ross

were married 6/21/14. Alumni in attendance included Jeffrey Tente ’09, Katrina O’Hara ’10, Jackie Cabral, Molly Campbell, Vanessa Carey, Shannon Crawford, Kristen Fackler, Greg Flis, Brett McQuilkin, Dave Meyer, Eli Simon-Mishel, Aiden O’Connell, Billy O’Riordan, Eliza Pope, Emily Wise and Bri Taft ’13. The couple live in Buffalo, N.Y. • Kayla Hicken and Henry Frank were married 7/19/14 in Kennett Square, Pa. Riley Beetner and Julie Smith were bridesmaids and other alumni in attendance included Will Armour, Ginni Fisher, Linda Kurtz, Maggie Pahos and Rachel Perron Wood. Kayla and Henry live in Durham, N.C. • Brent Price joined the integrated marketing communications team for L’Oreal brands Redken and Pureology in New York City. Brent is also recently engaged to her boyfriend of seven years, Graham Gallagher. They plan to marry on 9/26/15 in their hometown of Charlotte, N.C. • Julie Schnabel works with the Library Education and Art Program in Oakland, Calif. The free afterschool art program allows children without ready access to art classes to paint, draw and sculpt.

12|

Alyssa Drosdak is studying

at The Ohio State College of Medicine. She was presented with her white coat on 8/4/14 and will graduate in 2018. • Taylor Shain and Mary Yost were married 4/5/14 in Mebane, N.C. Alumni in attendance included Rachel Shain ’10, Kathryn Huffman, Andy Hurst, Stuart Jones, Chris Liotta, Julia Murphy, Lizzy Appleby ’13, Will Brummett ’13, Jessica Elizondo ’13, Leslie Gilman ’13, Jocelyn Holt ’13, Sarah Hoopes ’13, Anthony Pratt ’13, Jennie Proto ’13, Scott Richardson ’13, Dave Schrot ’13, Lindsay Swenson ’13, John Tinkelenberg ’13, Meaghan Fabrycki ’14, Jeff Flitter ’14, Eryn Gorang ’14, Samantha Italiano ’14 and Daryl Shain ’14. The couple live in Denver.

A natural connection BY NATALIE BRUBAKER ’15

nlike many students who spend their summers interning in large, fast-paced cities, Palmer Brown ’13 chose to spend two summers working in Encampment, Wyo., a small town of 443 residents that serves as home to A Bar A Ranch, one of the oldest guest ranches in the country that raises Bar A beef cattle. “There’s nothing like standing in a river early in the morning or late in the evening and having that personal connection with nature,” says Brown, an exercise science graduate who worked as a wrangler and one of two expedition guides at the ranch during those summers. In the latter role, Brown led guests on personalized trips to remote cabins throughout the ranch, which boasts more than 100,000 acres. He taught guests horseback riding, fly-fishing on the North Platte River and bird hunting, and cooked them three meals a day. “With the ranch having hundreds of miles of trails, I was expected to know all of the local geography and topography by heart so that I could know the best trails to go on depending on the skill set of the specific guest,” he says. He was also responsible for maintaining the trails and barn along with providing veterinary care for the horses. The experience was so profound, Brown decided to continue working at the ranch as an expedition guide after graduation. “Wyoming grasped me in such a way that I wasn’t ready to leave yet, especially with the friendships I had

made there,” he says. Brown finished his time at the ranch in October but will return in the summer as an expedition guide. The ranch has hired Elon students and alumni as wranglers, camp counselors and expedition guides for the past three years, thanks in part to Ashton Newhall ’98. An Elon trustee, Newhall has visited the ranch with his family for the past 25 years and calls it “one of the most majestic places in the country.” He adds, “It’s a really special place to my family, and I wanted Elon students to be able to experience it as well.” Each year ranch managers Justin and Lisa Howe visit several universities in the southeast to recruit about 80 students for summer positions. In 2011 Newhall convinced them to add a visit to Elon. “We have only been recruiting at Elon for a few years, but we’ve hired some outstanding staff members,” Lisa Howe says. “The Elon students we’ve hired have been motivated, committed, wellrounded and personable.” Each job requires significant time, effort and skill, but despite the long workdays and intense responsibilities, Brown says the location makes it all worth it. While returning to the ranch was an unconventional post-graduation choice, he doesn’t regret it. “A lot of my friends were going straight into careers in big cities, but I was doing something that I love to do,” he says. “My experience at the ranch has been nothing less than life-changing.” WINTER 2015 43

Elon students

AROUND THE WORLD Close to 1,000 students, faculty and staff studied abroad and across the country during Winter Term 2015. Here are some images they sent us from Dubai, Guatemala, India, Turkey and Vietnam.

Office of Alumni Engagement PO Box 398 Elon, NC 27244 Toll Free: (877) 784-3566 elon.edu/alumni Change Service Requested

{ Senior music theatre majors Ryan Kanfer and Madison Johnson dance during a fall performance of the musical Titanic, produced by Elonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Department of Performing Arts. }

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Durham, NC Permit # 104