The Magazine of Elon, Summer 2009

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M A G A Z I N E

S U M M E R

10 years

and counting for President Lambert

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President emeritus Earl Danieley ’46, at left, looked on in June as Holland House, once the official residence of Elon’s president, was moved nearly half a mile from main campus and over the railroad tracks to its new home on South Campus.

The move took two weeks of preparation and two days to complete.

Holland House was moved from Haggard

Avenue to make room for a plaza at the front of the Academic Village.

Crews contended with utility poles, tree branches and, in true Elon fashion, an eastbound Amtrak train before setting the house down next to Holt Chapel. Danieley, the home’s original tenant, was among those who gathered to watch the big move.

“I’m so happy that the university is keeping the building,” he said.

“It will be located in a nice place. It will be used for another generation.

To me, that’s wonderful.”

Holland House will become the home of the new Catholic Newman Center at the university.

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The Magazine of Elon

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Summer 2009, Vol. 71, No. 3 Editor Jaleh Hagigh Designer Christopher Eyl News Editor Eric Townsend Photographer Grant Halverson

Features

Copy Editor Kristin Simonetti ’05 Class Notes Holley Berry Student Writers Sarah Costello ’11 Bethany Swanson ’09

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

336-278-7415

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Editorial offices The Magazine of Elon 2030 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244-2020 Class Notes Elon Office of University Relations 2030 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244 E-mail: alumniclassnotes@elon.edu

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Elon Web site www.elon.edu Magazine Web site www.elon.edu/magazine

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Board of Trustees, Chair Allen E. Gant Jr., Burlington, N.C. Elon Alumni Board, President Bill Coffman ’86, G’88, Greenville, N.C. Young Alumni Council, President Caroline Sage ’02, Atlanta, Ga. Parents Council, Co-Presidents Dave & Ellen Kay P’10, P’12, Oakton, Va.

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Hiding in Plain Sight

BY JALEH HAGIGH

One of Elon’s oldest artifacts — the bell that hung in the Old Main administration building — makes a comeback.

Preserving Jewish History

BY ERIC TOWNSEND

Students rescue dozens of abandoned Yiddish books, including several rare texts, during a service trip to Uruguay.

Faculty Profile Great Expectations

BY KRISTIN SIMONETTI ’05

In the classroom and in her research, Laura Roselle leads by example.

Cover Story Still Soaring President Leo M. Lambert reflects on his 10 years at Elon and the ambitious plans for the university’s future.

Alumni Profile Strike Up the Band B Y D AV E H A RT

Alumni band members dust off their instruments and reminisce as the campus prepares to celebrate 100 years of Elon’s marching band.

Board of Visitors, Chair Alva S. McGovern ’72, Atlanta, Ga. School of Law Advisory Board, Chair David Gergen, Cambridge, Mass.

Love School of Business Advisory Board, Chair Peter Tourtellot, Greensboro, N.C. School of Communications Advisory Board, Chair Don Bolden, Burlington, N.C. Phoenix Club Advisory Board, Chair Amy Thomas Hendrickson ’69, Raleigh, N.C. Director of Alumni Relations Sallie Hutton ’92 Director of Parent Programs Maggie Byerly

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ELON News PHOENIX Sports ALUMNI Action

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CLASS Notes MAKING A Difference

ELON News

Reflections on 10 years niversity presidencies are often chronicled by the opening of new buildings, new programs and accolades that come to an institution.

And while significant, these accomplishments often do not capture many important aspects of an institution’s progress. Elon’s success is due in large measure because so many talented people share in its leadership.

Presidential transitions sometimes can be perilous for universities. One of the most important — but perhaps unsung — successes of the past decade was the smooth transition in the Elon presidency following the long and successful tenures of Fred Young and Earl Danieley. I am in both Earl’s and Fred’s debt for their unrelenting support of the university and its continued development, and of me personally.

For much of this decade, I have had the privilege of working with the best executive leadership team in the country that Fred assembled — Gerry Francis, Nan Perkins, Alan White, Gerald Whittington, Smith Jackson, Susan Klopman, Dan Anderson, Sara Peterson — and each has made profound contributions to our progress as a university. New faces have joined the group — Steven House, Dave Blank, Jim Piatt, Lisa Keegan — and have brought new energy and fresh insights. And, of course, the staff of the president’s office — Jo Williams, Sandra Fields, Carolyn Ent and Robin Plummer, and formerly Helen Ellington — prove the point that it “takes a village to raise a president.”

The board of trustees, and particularly those individuals who have chaired the board during my time at Elon — Bob LaRose, Gail Drew, Zac Walker, Jim Powell, Noel Allen and Allen Gant — have made astoundingly important leadership contributions. Being a trustee at Elon is a labor of love, and the 2

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board’s steadfast commitment to excellence has been a constant source of inspiration and learning for me.

Another thrill I have experienced over the past 10 years has been the tremendous expansion of the faculty and staff, now numbering more than 1,100. These are the people who work closest with the students and who create one of the most special environments in the nation for learning. Their creativity, passion, commitment to excellence in teaching and scholarship, and genuine concern for students and their learning have led Elon to the forefront of the most innovative institutions in the nation in undergraduate education. They are my respected and valued colleagues and have taught me a great deal about Elon’s enduring values.

I have also been profoundly touched by the actions of Elon’s many generous supporters — too numerous to mention by name — whose acts of philanthropy shape the campus each day. I think of their leadership and generosity each time I enter a building or a room bearing their names, or meet a student holding a scholarship that provides an opportunity for a life-changing education. I know most of these supporters personally, many have become dear friends, and I have been awed by their unselfish commitment to our values as a community.

In reflecting on the past 10 years at Elon, I have two overwhelming impressions. The first

Leo M. Lambert

is about the incredible speed of life. Laurie and I arrived at Elon with Callie in eighth grade and Mollie in fifth; our older daughter is now married and in her third year of medical school and the younger is about to begin her last year of college. There is nothing like watching your children blossom into adults to remind you that time passes quickly.

Personal loss has also punctuated our happy time at Elon. Both Laurie and I have lost our fathers while here, my sister Louise passed away following her heroic battle with epilepsy and cancer, and my mother is now on the difficult journey of Alzheimer’s disease after a lifetime of taking care of others. All these life changes — seeing a daughter married, saying goodbye to a parent — have only reminded us how unbelievably lucky we are to have wonderful, loving, supportive families to share in celebrating the joys and mourning the losses that every family faces. We have been doubly blessed to feel the love and support from the Elon family at every step.

My second impression is that the opportunity to serve Elon over the past 10 years has been the privilege of a lifetime for Laurie and me. Next to our family, the work that we do at Elon has been the most special and rarest of privileges — one that we truly cherish. We look forward to the chapters ahead.

Leo M. Lambert President

ELON News

FIRST CLASS ENROLLS IN INTERACTIVE MEDIA PROGRAM

Thirty-eight students have enrolled in the charter class of Elon’s newest graduate program, a master of arts in interactive media, which will prepare graduates to think strategically across media platforms using text, audio, video and graphics.

Students gathered Aug. 3 for orientation.

The one-year, full-time program will prepare graduates to plan and create innovative interactive media content. They also will learn to manage information for interactive news, entertainment and persuasive communications.

Applications are currently being accepted for the class of 2010. For more information on the interactive media program, contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at 336.278.7641 or gradadm@elon.edu.

GYLLENHAAL WINS TOP PRIZE IN COLLEGIATE TV CONTEST

Senior Randy Gyllenhaal took first place in the William Randolph Hearst Foundation’s National Television Broadcast News Championship in June following a two-day competition in San Francisco.

Gyllenhaal was one of five finalists in the Hearst Journalism Awards Program. The finalists were selected following a yearlong competition involving students at 110 member colleges and universities of the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication with accredited undergraduate jour- Randy Gyllenhaal nalism programs.

Finalists were given two days to conceive, shoot and edit a tv news story on an economic topic of their choice in the San Francisco area. Gyllenhaal’s award-winning story focused on the fishing industry in the Bay Area. He received a $5,000 prize for first place.

To see Gyllenhaal’s story, go to www.elon. edu/magazine.

l-r Glenda Crawford, Laura Roselle, Connie Book and Keith Dimont

Faculty and staff honored for excellence Four Elon faculty and staff members were recognized May 13 for outstanding teaching, scholarship, mentoring and service at the annual faculty-staff awards luncheon.

Glenda Crawford, professor of education, received the Daniels-Danieley Award for Excellence in Teaching. Colleagues and students praised Crawford for leading lively discussions and inspiring creativity in the classroom.

“Due to her deep knowledge of the subject matter she teaches, as well as her awareness of how to bring such content ‘to life,’ Glenda is easily able to teach content in a meaningful and engaging way,” wrote a colleague who nominated Crawford for the award.

Crawford has written five books addressing the unique relationship between adolescents and learning. She regularly shares her expertise by participating in professional conferences and meetings. In addition, she launched the Amigos Project, which fosters interaction between Hispanic middle school students for whom English is a second language and Elon senior education majors.

Laura Roselle, professor of political science, was named Elon’s Distinguished Scholar. Roselle has written two books, co-authored a third and edited two additional books, and has written numerous published articles. Her scholarship focuses on political communication and the relationship between communication and international relations theory (see story on page 16).

Connie Book, associate dean of the School of Communications, received the Ward Family Excellence in Mentoring Award. Book has mentored more than 100 students in their research projects over the past decade and supervises an internship program in the School of Communications.

“She is a role model in every sense,” said a student who nominated Book. “I look up to her intellect and work ethic but also to her kindness and gentle nature.

She has encouraged me to think far beyond my self-imposed limitations and has inspired me to stretch all of life’s possibilities.”

Keith Dimont, supervisor of automotive services, received the Periclean Award for Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility. Dimont has worked extensively with Amber’s House of Dance in Burlington, N.C., building props and working backstage during performances. He also built basketball hoops free of charge for Western Alamance High School’s summer basketball camp, volunteered at community festivals and collected food for those in need.

“So many call on him for one thing or another because they know that he is there for them,” wrote a colleague. “Just ask, and it is done.”

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ELON News

ALUMNA AWARDED NATIONAL FELLOWSHIP

CLARK LEADS CULTURAL AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS

to Elon, he served in Blowing Rock, N.C., Kelly Erin McCarty ’09 has received a dacor Jeffrey D. Clark has been named executive as executive director Bacon House Foundation fellowship for director of cultural and special programs. He of the Blowing Rock graduate study in international affairs. The succeeds George Troxler, professor of history, Community Arts fellowship award of who stepped down in May as dean of cultural Center Foundation. up to $10,000 will and special programs.

He has served as assist McCarty as Clark’s responsibilities include coordinat- originating producshe pursues a gradu- ing convocations, commencements and other tion manager for five Jeff Clark ate degree in the field major campus events, as well as bringing per- Broadway shows and of human rights and formers and guest speakers to the university. is a founding member of the Production Mansocial justice.

He has more than 13 years of experience or- ager’s Forum, an international organization McCarty is one ganizing cultural programs. Before coming that assists production managers. of 10 students to receive the selective award from the DipKelly Erin McCarty ’09 lomatic and Consular Officers, Retired (dacor), which solicits nominees from up to 10 institutions each year.

An international studies and Spanish major from Raleigh, N.C., McCarty will attend Arizona State University this fall. She plans to start a nonprofit organization that will support artists and art projects in countries that have experienced political violence or President Leo M. Lambert, at genocide. right, with the 2009 Lumen The former Honors Fellow presented her Scholars and professor Paul Fromson, second from the left. thesis, which examined Argentina’s reaction to recent political violence, at conferences in the United States, the United Kingdom and Outstanding students awarded Lumen Prize Mexico. At Elon, McCarty was a Presidential Thirteen Elon juniors have received the 2009 Lumen Prize, the university’s top Scholar, member of Phi Kappa Phi and named undergraduate academic award that includes a 15,000 scholarship to support to the President’s List or Dean’s List every sestudents’ scholarly achievements and research proposals. mester during her academic career.

ELON RECEIVES SERVICE AWARD

The university has been named one of five recipients of The Washington Center’s inaugural Higher Education Civic Engagement Award, which recognizes programs that allow students to learn while serving the community.

The award recognizes the following university programs: academic service learning, the Social Entrepreneurship Scholars, Elon Academy, Elon University Poll and Project Pericles, as well as the university’s Kernodle Center for Service Learning.

Based in the nation’s capital, The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars provides select college students and recent graduates with challenging opportunities to work and learn in Washington.

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Lumen Scholars will work closely with their faculty mentors during the next two years to complete their research projects. The Lumen Prize supports course work, study abroad, program development, creative productions and performances, and research and internships domestically and abroad.

The 2009 winners are: Andrew Black, of Ashburn, Va.; Amanda Clark, of Auburn, N.Y.; Kaitlyn Fay, of New Milford, Conn.; Taylor Foshee, of Arlington, Va.; Christopher Jarrett, of Richmond, Va.; Elizabeth Leman, of Ashburn, Va.; Maggie Pahos, of Hinsdale, Ill.; Caroline Peckels, of Pinehurst, N.C.; Anthony Rizzuto of Wilmington, N.C.; Molly Strayer, of Lusby, Md.; Amber Woods, of Knoxville, Tenn.; McKenzie Young, of Huntington, W.Va.; and Renee Zale, of Hopkinton, Mass.

Psychology professor Paul Fromson, who leads the Lumen Prize selection committee, says the quality of undergraduate research continues to improve at Elon.

“I feel confident that our 2009 Lumen Scholars will prove that our faith in them was well placed, and that they will make noteworthy contributions to their disciplines, to the campus community and to the world around them,” Fromson says.

For more information on the Lumen Prize and the students’ research projects, go to www.elon.edu/lumenprize.

ELON News

“All of you now have shown us your wisdom, your courage, your service to others and your dedication to leadership. You have those qualities deep within you. What we ask of you now is to remember who you are and remember to give back, and we will all remain proud of you for the rest of our lives.”

Former presidential adviser David Gergen gave the keynote address May 24 at the Elon University School of Law’s inaugural Commencement. Gergen, chair of the law school advisory board, highlighted Elon Law’s founding principles of engaged learning, service and leadership.

CHAGANI RECEIVES LIN TV SCHOLARSHIP

Richmond ’ receives Elon Medallion

Junior Josh Chagani has been selected to participate in the lin Television Corporation Minority Scholarship and Training Program for 2009. The scholarship will pay up to $20,000 annually for tuition, fees, books, and room and board during Chagani’s junior and senior years.

In addition to the scholarship, Chagani, of Hobe Sound, Fla., participated in lin’s training program at a lin-owned tv station this summer and will have a similar opportunity during summer 2010. Based on his performance, he will be offered a minimum of two years employment at one of the 27 stations Josh Chagani owned by lin, the parent company of The cw network.

Chagani, a communications and computing science double major, is active in several organizations at Elon, including the Periclean Scholars Class of 2011 and Cinelon, the university’s student film society. He serves as an Elon Ambassador, performs on the varsity cheerleading team, works for Elon Student Television, and volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and Loaves and Fishes, which provides meals to people in need.

L’Tanya Burch Richmond ’87, former director of Elon’s Multicultural Center, received the Elon Medallion in April for her extraordinary service to the university.

The Elon Medallion is the university’s highest honor and is awarded at the discretion of the president.

Richmond received the medallion at the university’s annual Phillips-Perry Black Excellence Awards ceremony.

“I am honored and I am humbled,” she said. “When I came to Elon to work, I came because I wanted to make a difference in the student community. I have so many students, parents, faculty, staff, and friends and family to thank for giving me the opportunity to do not just work that I was passionate about but work that in many ways has been my ministry.”

L’Tanya Burch Richmond ’87 Richmond serves as director of multicultural affairs at Smith College in Massachusetts. She began her career at Elon as an admissions counselor and placement officer in 1988. She later served as assistant and associate director of admissions before being promoted to director of minority affairs and director of the Multicultural Center.

Richmond directed the Leon and Lorraine Watson North Carolina Scholarship Program, which makes an Elon education possible for North Carolina students with high financial need, including some first-generation college students. She also directed The Honorable Thad Eure North Carolina Achievement Scholarship Program.

Her research into the history of Elon’s African-American students led to the creation of the Wall of Fame in the Multicultural Center. While pursuing her master’s degree at Duke University, Richmond used her research as the subject for her thesis, “Elon’s Black History, A Story to be Told.” To hear from Richmond, go to www.elon.edu/magazine.

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ELON News

including much of the steel and drywall. Photovoltaic solar power cells and the heating system on the roof will help generate on-site power, representing the first building to use renewable energy on campus, reducing the need for fossil fuel-based energy.

A display screen in the lobby shows realtime energy and water consumption in the building, as well as information about the facility’s other green features. The landscaping was designed to minimize irrigation, and most plumbing fixtures are low-flow.

The building is named for Carl and Martha Lindner of Cincinnati, Ohio, who made a $2.5 million gift to the Ever Elon Campaign.

Construction crews began work in July on a new plaza that will grace the entrance to the Academic Village. The plaza, which runs along Haggard Avenue, is 210 feet long and Lindner Hall anchors Academic Village 80 feet wide, and will accommodate crowds of Lindner Hall opened in June as the cen- computer lab, faculty offices and space for 1,700. It will be finished with Elon bricks and terpiece to the Academic Village and the student-faculty mentoring. A 39-foot steeple include a seating wall and electrical power to “greenest” academic building to date at Elon. tops the building, accented by a copper dome support sound and lighting services.

The 30,000-square-foot building is the new and spire, eight windows and clock faces on The plaza is scheduled for completion in administrative home of Elon College, the Col- the north and south sides. mid-August and will be the new location for lege of Arts and Sciences. It also houses the Environmental sustainability was a driv- the university’s weekly College Coffee gatherhistory and geography, and sociology and an- ing force in the design and construction of ings. The plaza will cover part of the space thropology departments.

Lindner Hall. Close to 90 percent of construc- previously occupied by Holland House, which Lindner Hall features a spacious first- tion waste was recycled. Materials containing was moved in June to South Campus. floor reading room, high-tech classrooms, a recycled content were used whenever possible,

New center connects law and humanities The law touches virtually every field of study, from art and biology to political science and psychology.

That interaction is the focus of Elon’s Center for Law and Humanities, a new academic initiative that teaches students to use lessons learned in the arts and sciences to examine the way legal questions affect society.

The center bridges programs on Elon’s main campus with those at the Elon University School of Law in Greensboro. The joint effort between the law school and Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, invites scholars, legal practitioners and policymakers to speak with students about these connections. Undergraduate and law school courses in law and humanities underpin the programming.

“Almost any discipline that students are going to study has interaction with the law,” says Eric Ashley Hairston, professor of English and of law and humanities, and director of the center.

“Ultimately, these diverse populations must understand their

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relationship to the law, and the law should contemplate itself in this larger social and intellectual community.”

For example, in literature, there are libel and copyright statutes, while medicine has patient confidentiality rules, Hairston says.

Hairston conceived the idea for Eric Ashley Hairston the center after studying AfricanAmerican authors who commented on social issues. He noted that many of the authors had a legal background, which gave them unique insights into the human condition and how it is formed by legal developments.

The center, based in Greensboro near the law school, is the most recent example of Elon’s emphasis on connecting its professional programs with its arts and sciences programs.

ELON News

Faculty author new books

“My hope for this class is that you will not think of your college years, as some do, as the best years of your life, though I pray they have been very good years. Rather, think that your time at Elon is launching you into a future where ‘the best is yet to be.’”

The Rev. Richard McBride delivered the address at Elon’s 119th Commencement on May 23. McBride retired at the end of May after serving as Elon’s chaplain for a quarter century.

Faculty members haave written books that examine Christian anarchists in the 20th century, media cove erage of NASA A’s early years and effective law scchool teaching.

Elon Law profe essor Howard Katz has coauthored Strategies and Techniqu ues of Law Howard E. Katz School Tea aching, wh hich provides comprehe ensive advvice on how to o plan, design and teach h law coursses effectivelyy. Katz says the strategic design of a course is as important as teaching technique es. He offers advice on choosing textbookss, designing a syllabus, orchestrating the classroom exp perience and creating the final exxam.

In Meedia, NASA A, and America a’s Quest for the Moon, Harlen Makemson, associaate professor Harlen Makemson of commu unications, examines NASA’s struggles to provide e American ns with consistent and complete e information about the e lunar program. He also fo ocuses on the e relationship between the agenccy and the me edia, and the public’s re eaction to television and newspaper accounts of space missions.

Tripp p York, instructor of relig gious studies, explores the lives off Christian an narchists who Tripp York attempted to addre ess materialism m, racism and militarism m in Living on Hope Whille Living in Babylon: The Christia an Anarchists of the 20th Century. York exam mines the anarchists’ efforts to confront what Martin Luther King Jr. called the “triple e axis of evil.”

Elon nears fundraising goal for new field house Thanks to Elon’s generous benefactors, the university is close to reaching its fundraising goal to build a new athletics field house, which will serve student-athletes who compete in 16 men’s and women’s sports.

The field house will be located at the north end of Rhodes Stadium. Construction on the facility will begin once the uni-versity raises the final $500,000 for the project.

“We are at a critical stage in this effort to build an outstanding facilityy for our talented student-athletes,” says Dave Blank, Elon’s director of athletics..

“For Elon to be truly competitive in Di-vision I athletics, we need to provide first-rate facilities for our athletes. We are looking for additional supporters to join us in this drive to excellence.”

During the summer, crews began initial space for student-athletes to study; and a large work on the project, including construc- strength and conditioning room. It also will tion of a road and parking lot leading to the provide office space for the athletics director planned 30,000-square-foot facility, which and coaches in the football, baseball, soccer, will be designed for student-athletes to study cross country, and track and field programs, and interact with their teammates. as well as other athletics staff.

The facility will include a large team meetIn addition, a large second-floor room ing room and locker room for football; a overlooking the stadium will provide an inconference room; an advanced athletic train- viting venue for special university events and ing room, including a hydrotherapy area; meetings, as well as pre-game receptions.

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Update

Donors support priorities of Ever Elon Campaign Alumni, parents and friends continue to generously support the Ever Elon Campaign, demonstrating their belief in its goals to build the endowment, increase annual and planned gifts, and preserve and build the campus.

As of late July, donors had contributed more than $66 million in cash and pledges toward the $100 million comprehensive campaign goal.

Recent major gifts from Elon parents have supported construction of Lindner Hall, the centerpiece to the Academic Village and the new administrative home of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences (see story page 6).

In addition, donors have made generous planned gifts to the campaign, enabling them to meet their long-term estate-planning goals and leave a legacy at Elon. About 20 percent of the $66 million raised to date by the Ever Elon Campaign has been committed through planned gifts, which are critical to securing Elon’s future.

inmans support outstanding facilities Elon trustee William J. “Bill” Inman and his wife, Patricia, of McLean, Va., have made a $500,000 gift to support construction of Lindner Hall, which opened earlier this summer. In recognition of their generosity, the spacious first-floor reading room has been named in their honor. The Inman Reading Room, accented with dark wood and antique brass fixtures, offers students an attractive setting for quiet study and reflection.

The Inmans were inspired to make their gift because of the experience of their daughter, Jackie, a 2000 Elon graduate, who benefitted from Elon’s study abroad program and excellent faculty mentors.

“The educational system that Elon has undertaken in the past 20 years or so is second to none,” Bill Inman says. “What the students get out of their education is just spectacular.”

The couple say they believe strongly in the campaign goals, including increasing the number of need-based scholarships through endowment building.

“Elon can’t give the financial assistance it wants to give to students because of its low endowment,” Inman says.

He says Elon must develop a stronger culture of giving, particularly among alumni who represent the future of the university.

The Inmans have generously supported Elon through the years, including making gifts to Rhodes Stadium and the Ernest A. Koury Sr. Business Center. They are members of the Phoenix Club, Aesculus Society and The Elon Society President’s Circle.

reiflers help preserve ‘a very special place’ Parents Council members Brad and Ash Reifler, of Millbrook, N.Y., also have supported Lindner Hall with a major gift.

The Reiflers say their daughter, Kelsey, an Elon sophomore, has flourished at the university and they want to make the same opportunities available to more students.

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Sean Jeffcoat

“Ash and I feel that under President Lambert’s leadership and vision, Elon has created a very special place for those who are curious in a variety of academic areas,” Brad Reifler says. “Kelsey has had an incredible experience of growth, self-awareness and independence, yet she has never felt lost or overlooked and feels a wonderful sense of community at Elon. We are grateful such a place exists and are proud of our association with Elon.”

Brad and Ash Reifler

Reifler is a former founding partner, chairman and CEO of Pali Capital Inc., a global financial services firm. He currently serves as CEO of Forefront Advisory. The Reiflers are members of The Elon Society Founder’s Circle.

donors make generous planned gifts Order of the Oak, Elon’s planned giving recognition society, welcomes new members John R. Hill ’76 and his wife, Lesley, of Severna Park, Md., who have made a major planned gift commitment to the campaign.

Additional planned gift commitments have been made by Order of the Oak members Dr. William N.P. “Bill” Herbert ’68, an Elon trustee, and his wife, Marsha, of Charlottesville, Va.; trustee emeritus Dr. R. Leroy Howell ’51, of Suffolk, Va.; and Dr. Wayne T. Moore ’49, of Burlington, N.C. The university is grateful to these friends for their additional support for the Ever Elon Campaign.

Veteran football squad to keep its ‘foot on the gas pedal’

BY CHRIS RASH

H

ead football coach Pete Lembo looks to a veteran squad, including eight returning starters on offense and nine on defense, to build on last year’s success.

The Phoenix finished the 2008 season 8–4 and ranked 17th nationally in the final poll of The Sports Network and 19th in the Football Championship Subdivision (fcs) Coaches poll. In addition, several players set conference and program records.

Under Lembo, the team boasted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1999–2000. The team was ranked in the top-40 nationally in passing offense, total offense, scoring defense and total defense, and for the first time defeated three fcs top-25 teams in the same season (Georgia Southern, Furman and The Citadel).

Quarterback Scott Riddle was a Second Team All-Southern Conference performer in 2008 and became Elon’s all-time career leader in completions, passing attempts, passing yards, touchdown passes, touchdowns responsible for and total offensive yards. The junior All-America candidate also set a new league standard

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PHOENIX Sports

Camp, sophomore Darrius McQueen, redshirt freshmen Aaron Mellette, Chris Harris, Zach Blank and Vincent Pompliano, as well as freshmen Rasaun Rorie and Jeremy Peterson.

The Phoenix returns its entire starting offensive line, including seniors David Harrison, Chris Werden and Jeff Allen, and juniors Corey O’Shea and John Rubertone. Harrison and Werden received All-SoCon honors in 2008. Senior Dave McClain, junior Mark Hoffer and sophomores Rodney Austin, Logan Hardin and Ned Cuthbertson also will see action this fall.

The Phoenix also boasts an experienced defensive front led by All-Southern Conference

selection Eric Ludwig, a senior, who will be joined by classmates Brandon Ward, David Hunt and Jordan Gibson. Also in the rotation will be seniors Andre Campbell and Jordan Daniel, and sophomores Khiry Mullins and Khirey Walker.

This year’s 11-game schedule includes five home contests and a meeting with a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent when Elon takes on Wake Forest Sept. 19. The Phoenix opens the season Sept. 5 by hosting Davidson.

Football season tickets can be purchased at www.elonphoenix.com or by calling the Elon Athletics Ticket Office at 336-278-6750.

GOOCH, MILLS NAMED BASNIGHT OUTSTANDING ATHLETES

team mvp and was named the 2006 Southern Conference Freshman of the Year.

Mills earned All-SoCon accolades this year for the third consecutive season after posting her second straight runner-up finish at the SoCon Tournament.

During the 2008–2009 season, Mills posted six top-five finishes. The three-time team mvp also claimed individual titles at the Lady Seahawk Classic at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and the Mimosa Hills Intercollegiate, as well as two SoCon Golfer of the Week titles.

Gooch, of Gauteng, South Africa, and Mills, of Pointe-Claire, Canada, graduated in May.

Pete Lembo

by throwing for at least one touchdown in 22 consecutive games.

Wide receiver Terrell Hudgins became the all-time career leader for Elon and the SoCon in receptions, touchdown catches and receiving yards, and earned First Team All-SoCon honors from the league’s coaches and media.

“A lot of people have worked very hard for three years to get us to this point,” says Lembo, who will begin his fourth season leading the Phoenix. “Now we have to keep our foot on the gas pedal and continue to find creative ways to get better in this ultra-competitive conference.”

Joining Riddle at quarterback this season are junior Donny Kirby, redshirt freshmen Thomas Wilson and Shay Newcomer, and sophomore Chris Shafto.

Elon’s pool of running backs may be one of the deepest in the conference. The squad returns its top four leading running backs, junior Brandon Newsome and sophomores Dontay Taylor, A.J. Harris and Jamal Shuman.

Junior Jake Goldsberry, redshirt freshman Thonda Taylor and freshman Matt Eastman will compete for the fullback slot.

At wide receiver, Hudgins, a senior, will get help from juniors Sean Jeffcoat and Lance

For game schedules and the latest Phoenix news, go to www.elonphoenix.com

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THE MAGAZINE OF ELON

Damon Gooch ’09

Damon Gooch, an All-Southern Conference men’s tennis standout, and Danielle Mills, an All-SoCon women’s golfer, received Elon’s Stein H. Basnight Outstanding Athlete Award for 2008–2009.

Gooch was a four-year All-SoCon performer in singles and doubles competition.

He earned Elon’s first individual berth to the ncaa Division i Tournament in singles and was part of the first doubles team in school history to earn a spot in the same tournament.

Individually, Gooch achieved a national ranking as high as 56th in singles.

Gooch capped his Elon career this year by teaming up with Philip Nemec, and the duo climbed as high as 20th in the national doubles rankings. Gooch was a three-time

Danielle Mills ’09

PHOENIX Sports

Baseball caps season with top- ranking

BY CHRIS RASH

The Phoenix baseball team finished the 2009 season with the Southern Conference regular season title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The team accomplished both feats for the second consecutive year.

The team also boasted a program-record seven players drafted by major league teams, surpassing last year’s record of three players drafted in the same season.

The Phoenix, which posted a 41–18 record, ended the season ranked 24th in the nation in the Baseball America Top-25 Poll — the first final top-25 national ranking for Elon’s baseball program at the NCAA Division I level.

The Phoenix captured its second straight SoCon regular season title with a 27–6 victory over Western Carolina on May 9. The team then battled through the 2009 SoCon Tournament with wins over Furman, Western Carolina and The Citadel before losing 7–3 to Georgia Southern in the winner-take-all tournament final.

Neal Pritchard The season continued when the Phoenix earned its fourth berth to the NCAA Tournament. Seeded No. 2 in the Atlanta Regional, Elon dropped its first game against Southern Mississippi, then defeated Georgia State before being eliminated by 13th-ranked Georgia Tech. Senior infielder Bennett Davis and sophomore pitcher Jimmy Reyes earned spots on the Atlanta Regional All-Tournament squad.

Earlier in the season, head coach Mike Kennedy ’91 earned his 400th career victory when the Phoenix defeated The Citadel 17–5 in Charleston, S.C. SoCon coaches voted Kennedy the 2009 SoCon Coach of the Year, and junior infielder Chase Austin was named the league’s Co-Player of the Year.

Sophomore closer Thomas Girdwood and senior outfielders Pat Irvine and Cory Harrilchak collected First Team All-SoCon accolades from the coaches, while Austin and Reyes claimed second team distinction. Honors also went to infielder Zeth Stone and relief pitcher Jordan Darnell, who were named to the SoCon All-Freshman Team.

The SoCon Media Association handed out all-league honors to Irvine, Reyes, Girdwood and Harrilchak, and also recognized Kennedy as the league’s Coach of the Year.

Elon shattered numerous program records during the regular season and finished the year at or near the top of the NCAA Division I ranks in several statistical categories. The Phoenix set new records for runs (604), hits (711), doubles (137) and RBI (558). The team led the nation with 138 home runs and ranked second in scoring (10.2 runs per game), total runs (604) and slugging percentage (.596) among Division I teams.

Several players also set program records. Austin set a new school record with 23 homers and became the second Elon player to hit 20 or more home runs in a season. He also drove in 82 runs, matching the program record set by teammate Davis in 2008, and set program Bennett Davis marks with 178 total bases and 92 hits in 2009.

Harrilchak’s 86 hits this year were the third-highest total ever for an Elon player. Irvine set a single-season school record with a .789 hitting percentage and finished his career ranked among the program’s career top-10 in games played (202), runs (161), homers (31) and RBI (147).

The following players were selected in this year’s major league draft: Austin (Florida Marlins), Harrilchak (Atlanta Braves), senior catcher/first baseman Dallas Tarleton (Colorado Rockies), Irvine (Pittsburgh Pirates), senior pitcher Tom Porter (San Diego Padres), junior outfielder Justin Hilt (Oakland Athletics) and Davis (Tampa Bay Rays).

THE MAGAZINE OF ELON

11

historic bell reclaims its place in elon history

BY JALEH HAGIGH

S

ometimes, even the most treasured relics from the past can remain invisible.

“We remembered that in our old fraternity room there was a rather ragged looking old bell that was sort of in the way,” Beck says.

Working with Troxler, Beck brought in Leon T. Jordan, a metallurgist and former Take the bell that once hung in the tower professor of material science and engineerof Elon’s Old Main Building. After crash- ing at North Carolina State University, who ing into the hot rubble of the 1923 fire that examined the bell in January. According to devoured the administration building, the his report, Jordan said it was obvious that the bell was stored in various locations on and bell had been subjected to intense heating foloff campus. For nearly 90 years, the bronze lowed by immediate cooling. Portions of its relic, cracked and disfigured by flames, has surface had melted and then quickly cooled, been a silent witness to Elon’s progress. Few causing it to sag. knew its significance.

The “deformation and cracking” of the Now, a new generation will have the bell, he added, were the result of it falling chance to appreciate what the bell means from great heights. “In my opinion, the bell

that the firemen got water to it immediately saved it.”

The spotlight faded on the bell following the fire. Records show it was stored in Carlton as early as 1936. In 1972, it moved to the basement of Duke building when the third-floor room in Carlton was converted to a classroom.

Stanley Greeson, former assistant director of the physical plant, remembers seeing the bell whenever he had to check the basement of Duke for flooding.

“We thought it was just an old bell,” says Greeson, who retired in May after 28 years at Elon.

The artifact remained in Duke until the building was renovated following the opening of McMichael Science Center in 1999. Eventually, it wound up at the physical plant office, where it sat on a skid on the loading dock for about a year.

“It was always in the way,” Raymond Beck ’75, at left, put chuckles Jimmy Crawford, a carhis Elon education to use penter in the physical plant. “Evresearching the bell that hung eryone complained about having in the tower of Elon’s Old Main to move the skid to bring someBuilding, which was destroyed thing in.” by fire in 1923. Says Beck, “This At one point, Crawford was is what Elon trained me to do.” allowed to take the bell to his Burlington home. He covered it and placed it outside his workto Elon’s history. This fall, the bell will be is definitely the one from the 1923 fire of the shop where he refinishes furniture. He brought installed on campus, possibly in the rotunda Old Main (Administration) Building.” it back to campus several years later at the of Alamance building, for all members of the The yolk, wheel and clapper didn’t survive university’s request.

Elon community to see — and touch. because they were made of iron that melted “I know some people melt stuff like that, Much of the credit for revealing the bell’s at lower temperatures or became brittle from but I don’t,” Crawford says. “I figured one lineage goes to Raymond Beck ’75, of Cary, the heat of the fire, Beck says. day we’d use it again. It’s a miracle that the N.C., who served as North Carolina’s state “We’ve put enough research together that bell survived for the last 30 to 40 years. It’s a capitol historian from 1977 to 2008. we can dispense with the speculation that has wonder it didn’t go out in surplus property.”

Last year, while researching the history of been swirling around this thing for decades Today, the bell sits in the physical plant Elon’s marching band, Beck found references and say once and for all, ‘This is the Old Main annex, waiting to make its big comeback this to the fire and the bell in the March 12, 1959, bell,’” Beck says. fall. Troxler, professor emeritus of history, says edition of the student newspaper Maroon and The fact that the bell survived the fire was the bell deserves celebrity status.

Gold. The story noted that the bell had been never in dispute. According to the March 30, “The bell was the center of campus life stored in the college’s church history room 1923, edition of Maroon and Gold, “The old before the 1923 fire,” he says. “It called stuon the second floor of Carlton building, then bell … was dug from the ruins of the tower dents to classes and to chapel, and I’m pleased Elon’s library. Later, the church history room last Thursday … and it is hoped that the bell that we are preserving one of the few artifacts moved to the new McEwen Library, and the will be preserved. It has been suggested that from our pre-1923 heritage. It is a visible link bell moved to the third floor of Carlton. it may be possible to use it again, but this is to our past and a reminder of the rebirth of Beck was intrigued. He remembered see- somewhat improbable.”

Elon after the fire.” ing an old cracked bell stored with some timWhen Old Main burned, the tower where For Beck, a former history major, ber in the third-floor room of Carlton where the bell hung became a blast furnace. researching the bell was a labor of love. his service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, held “Air was rushing up into the tower and “Here is one of the most historic artifacts weekly meetings. Beck called his former his- superheating this bell,” Beck says. “When the in Elon’s history hiding in plain sight. It will tory professor, George Troxler, who served as bell fell from the tower, it was in a near-molten become a touchstone for alumni and students. the group’s advisor at that time and recalled state. It hit whatever debris was on the ground, Like the phoenix, the bell came up out of the the bell. which put a huge crack in the crown. The fact fire to achieve its place in Elon’s history.”

THE MAGAZINE OF ELON

13

Preserving Jewish History

BY ERIC TOWNSEND

I

n the basement of the kehila jewish community center in Montevideo, Uruguay, is a small room stacked high with books, including a few that traveled half the globe when their owners fled the Nazis and settled in the South American nation.

For years, as older Jewish immigrants died, their children donated their book collections to the community center. With no available space — and following the Jewish practice of never destroying a book containing the word “God” — community center leaders piled the novels, biographies, sacred texts and children’s books in the cramped, damp room. Largely unnoticed, or perhaps unappreciated, was that many of the books were written in the disappearing Yiddish language.

Enter a group of Elon students, who spent spring break in Montevideo to serve the local Jewish community. The last thing they expected was to return home lugging boxes of these texts. The National Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, Mass., is glad they did.

Nancy Luberoff, who directs Elon’s Hillel organization and accompanied the students

to Uruguay in March, hopes this effort will become a model for colleges and universities to replicate.

“There’s a strong sense that these books need a resting place,” Luberoff says. “The people who got these books to Uruguay suffered so much just to get there.”

Uruguay, along with Argentina, served as a beacon for Jews fleeing Europe during Hitler’s invasion. Today, the Jewish population of Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital, is less than 20,000 in a city of more than a million people.

The city’s history made it the perfect location for a service trip for Hillel. Members of the Jewish student cultural group helped local students learn English, worked with developmentally disabled adults and pitched in to rebuild a greenhouse in a poor section of the city.

Two days before the Elon group returned home, the students visited the community center. A staff member told Luberoff that she didn’t know what she was going to do with “all those books” in the basement. Luberoff wanted a peek. Two hours later, she and

her students were sifting through the musty volumes.

Many Jews consider Yiddish to be a disappearing language, making the recovery of the books even more important, Luberoff says.

Outside ultraorthodox sects and some parts of Israel, few people speak or read the language, including the students who thumbed through the books’ yellowed pages before packing them up.

“I can read Hebrew, so anything I couldn’t read I figured was Yiddish,” says Ron Yardenay, a sophomore majoring in business and history.

“I coughed my lungs out from all the dust flying in my face as I opened them up.”

Dahlia Gutterman, a leisure and sport management major from Greensboro, N.C., says she felt honored to rescue the books.

“It was my duty to help bring them back,” she says. “We were their only hope.”

Not all the books the students rescued were from pre-Nazi Europe. Many were published between the 1940s and 1960s. There were a few gems, though. One of the four boxes delivered to the National Yiddish Book

Center this spring contained books the center had never seen.

One is a 1928 Yiddish translation of a Socialist political writer from Spain. The other text, published in 1930 in the Soviet Union, is an account of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, two anarchists executed in 1927 by the United States for robbery and murder.

Cathryn Madsen, bibliographer at the Yiddish Book Center, says the students helped the center fulfill its mission of rescuing and preserving books.

“It was so exciting that the students wanted to do this,” Madsen says. “It’s always exciting to discover some- the effort because plenty of books remain in thing we haven’t seen before. We collect any the Jewish Community Center basement. and all Yiddish books that would otherwise Students say this effort gave new meaning be discarded.” to their service trip.

Students from the University of Illinois “The books were important, with some also were in Uruguay in March and returned of them published during the Holocaust,” home with additional books for the center. Gutterman says. “I was touching a piece of Luberoff hopes to recruit other schools to join history.”

Students sent four boxes of books to the National Yiddish Book Center in Massachusetts following their trip to Uruguay. The students rescued the abandoned books. Sorting the books, above, are Amanda Gross ‘09, Dahlia Gutterman, Olivia Feldman and Ron Yardenay.

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15

GREAT expectations Laura Roselle

leads by example

BY KRISTIN SIMONETTI ’05

M

ike donofrio ’08 vividly remembers his first class with Laura Roselle. Her demanding teaching style and rigorous political science courses were legendary on campus. Donofrio quickly learned the stories were true.

“Whenever she would start class, she would say your name, look you directly in the eye and ask if you had read the assignment,” he says. “If you read, of course, you were fine. But if you didn’t, you were in serious trouble.”

Donofrio took several classes with Roselle, earning her respect and, eventually, her friendship through hard work and diligence. Like many students, he considers the political science professor one of the biggest influences in his academic career.

“For those of us who really wanted to get the most out of her classes, she would go to the ends of the earth for you,” says Donofrio, a foreign affairs specialist at the Defense Department.

Her reputation for pushing students to achieve is just one side to Roselle. She is an internationally recognized scholar on the connections among politics, communication and international relations, and she regularly is invited to share her expertise at conferences.

In May, Roselle received Elon’s Distinguished Scholar Award, which recognizes her body of scholarship, including two authored books, two edited volumes and a co-authored textbook supplement, and scores of journal articles and book chapters. She also participates and has held leadership positions in national and international associations in her field.

Roselle makes no apologies for demanding a lot from her students. Ultimately, she says, she tries to empower them.

“Sometimes the best thing I can do is not answer an e-mail and give the student some time to struggle on their own before they realize they can do it without my help,” she says.

It is that unrelenting dedication to teaching that makes 16

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Roselle so popular among students, says Sharon Spray, associate professor of political science, who has co-authored a book with Roselle.

“That’s why our honors students seek her out as a mentor and why our best students want her as part of their repertoire of professors,” Spray says. “She moves us forward in ways that are very positive.”

A SCHOLAR IN THE MAKING

Roselle’s philosophy on teaching and research was shaped beginning with her undergraduate studies at Emory University in 1982 and later as a graduate student in political science at Stanford. She credits excellent mentors and outstanding research opportunities with her early success.

At Emory, Roselle majored in Russian, mathematics and computer science. A Russian professor recommended her as a research assistant to his wife, Ellen Mickiewicz, then dean of Emory’s graduate school. Mickiewicz was analyzing Soviet television programs and needed someone with Roselle’s expertise.

“When I saw how effortlessly she applied her deep knowledge of computer science, a skill I didn’t have, to our research, I realized this was a rare individual,” recalls Mickiewicz, the James R. Shepley Professor of Public Policy Studies at Duke University.

Roselle continued working with Mickiewicz, who also was a fellow at The Carter Center at Emory. In April 1985, Roselle served as assistant director for the center’s Conference on International Security and Arms Control. The experience was transformational for the young scholar.

“I got to meet Henry Kissinger, Zbigniew Brzezinski and Anatoly Dobrynin, and (Presidents) Carter and Ford,” Roselle says. “I was interested in the issues people were thinking hard about, and how you could negotiate internationally and communicate.”

Roselle’s work with Mickiewicz made her a top prospect for the nation’s premier graduate programs in political science.

At Stanford, she met the late Gabriel Almond, a giant in the field of comparative politics, and began assisting him with his research of Soviet politics. By the end of her first year, they had co-authored an article. She also served as a teaching assistant to former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, then a professor of political science. Rice recalls Roselle’s intelligence and drive.

“I enjoyed advising her and watching her ability to collaborate, there’s less of a need to develop into the subject matter expert she is be at a bigger place. I’m happy here.” today,” Rice says. “She has the ability to ask intellectually engaging questions and a curiosity to explore and research the unknown, traits SHARING HER EXPERTISE that certainly enhance the classroom experi- Though Roselle calls Elon home, her influence ence for her students.” in the fields of political science and international studies extends far beyond the campus.

She participates in national and inter‘I’M HAPPY HERE’ national associations, such as the American By the early 1990s, Roselle was a rising star Political Science Association and the Interamong scholars in her field, yet she longed national Studies Association (isa), and she to teach. In 1993, after completing a visiting recently served as president of isa’s Interprofessorship at the University of Nebraska, national Communication (icomm) section.

Roselle joined the political science department Her successor, Derrick Cogburn, says rising at Elon, impressed with its balanced emphasis to such a high-profile position isn’t easy. on teaching and research.

“In order to come into leadership in our Maurice Donyell “Don” Owens ’95, sections, you have to impress a key group of press secretary to U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge scholars who serve in the leadership group and (D-N.C.), was one of Roselle’s first students who make sure we safeguard our association,” and recalls she was no pushover. says Cogburn, professor of international com“A lot of other professors, being new, may munication at American University. “She’s not have tried to challenge us, but she let it very well-regarded for her scholarship, as well be known that ‘I might be new, but I’ve been as for her leadership abilities.” doing this for a while,’” he says. “We found Ken Rogerson, director of the Policy out quickly that she was very good at what Journalism and Media Studies certificate proshe did.” gram at Duke’s DeWitt Wallace Center for Roselle pursued her research with equal Policy Studies, is another colleague of Roselle’s vigor. Toward the end of her first semester at through icomm. When he sought a profesElon, she traveled to Moscow at the invita- sor to teach the growing program’s capstone tion of Harvard’s Russian Research Center to course, he turned to Roselle, who accepted study Russian television coverage of the coun- the offer and has served as a visiting professor try’s December 1993 parliamentary elections. at Duke since 2006.

After securing tenure in 2000, she returned “I have heard her students say, ‘That was to her dissertation research, analyzing Soviet a hard class, but I learned so much in it,’” and American communications strategies be- Rogerson says. “She can teach very difficult fore, during and after major wars. Her work concepts, and the students love her for it.” formed the basis of her critically acclaimed Owens says he continues to use many book, Media and the Politics of Failure: Great concepts he learned from Roselle in his work Powers, Communication Strategies, and Military as a congressional press secretary.

Defeats, published in 2006.

“It shows that Dr. Roselle taught me She also has taken advantage of Elon’s something that was useful,” he says. “I think support for interdisciplinary research and the every college student wants to know that university’s diverse faculty. She has studied pa- they’re learning stuff that they will use for the triotic images in American media with Brooke rest of their lives.”

Barnett, associate professor of communicaFor Roselle, interacting with students tions, and co-authored Research and Writing enriches her scholarship and her life. in International Relations with Spray. Elon’s “There are so many students who have strong support for faculty scholarship, along influenced me in one way or another, and stuwith its rapid growth, has kept Roselle from dents who are now friends that I stay in touch moving to a larger university. with. It’s always exciting to see what they do.

“The freedom to pursue a whole range of I think that’s so fun.” projects has kept me here,” she says. “I don’t think you necessarily can do that everywhere.

It used to be that you’d want to be at a big university because you’d want people to talk Roselle discusses her scholarship and more at to, but with changes in technology and the www.elon.edu/magazine.

THE MAGAZINE OF ELON

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President Lambert reflects on a decade at Elon

T

his year, the Elon community celebrates 10 years of President Leo M. Lambert’s leadership.

Since becoming Elon’s eighth president in 1999, Lambert has advanced an ambitious agenda to establish Elon as a top-ranked liberal arts university and a national model of engaged teaching and learning. Through his leadership, the academic climate has been strengthened by major investments in faculty development, library resources, honors and fellows programs for outstanding students, and Elon’s top-ranked programs in study abroad, undergraduate research, volunteer service and leadership education.

Lambert and his wife, Laurie, are the parents of two daughters, Callie, a student at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and Mollie, a student at Furman University.

To mark his 10 years at Elon, Lambert sat down with Magazine of Elon editor Jaleh Hagigh to discuss the university’s progress and future challenges. jh · You have been a very popular president, especially with students. Why do you think you’ve connected so deeply with the Elon community? lml · Laurie and I try to be who we are and to be visible in the life of the community and around students especially, as much as we can. We’ve really felt the embrace of this community for a decade, and not only the university community but the broader community of alumni, trustees and friends. It has been wonderful. jh · What is it about the Elon community that you have loved so much? lml · Elon is an incredibly special place, a very kind place, a very civil place, a place where people genuinely care about one another very deeply. I think those of us who are entrusted with leading this institution believe

that is a very precious asset of this university. We think a lot about how to protect that and how to make sure that as the institution continues to evolve and more people come on board, that they have an opportunity to embrace that and pass it on to new people. jh · How do you think you’ve changed in the last 10 years? lml · I think I am slightly more relaxed, more confident about the role. Stepping into a university presidency is a pretty big deal, especially following a long-serving, successful president like Fred Young.

In the early years, we were very focused on the transition and finishing his agenda, and finishing the Elon Vision Campaign and the Elon Vision strategic plan. And then we were thinking about the next strategic plan for

the institution and leading a community of people in defining a direction for Elon. After 10 years, I think I have a much deeper sense of the place, its pulse, its rhythms and its natural directions for growth and evolution. jh · You keep a grueling schedule as president.

What keeps you so energized and motivated? lml · Laurie and I enjoy almost every event that we do. I have to tell you, candidly, that there are times when we are getting ready for a dinner and we are really tired. But inevitably, we enjoy ourselves and become energized by the event itself. Usually when we’re involved in evening events, they are about celebration with students or faculty, or being with trustees and donors, and it’s exhilarating to talk with them about how they can help the university grow and prosper.

I’m also one who can recharge pretty quickly. I’ve never taken, maybe to my detriment, a two-week vacation. We take a week off here and there, but I can recharge over the weekend pretty well if we have the opportunity to have a couple of days away from campus. jh · What are you most proud of during your tenure as president? lml · I’m most proud of the fact that Elon has stayed true to its values and its mission.

We have not tried to become something we are not. This university, through the tremendous evolution that it has experienced, has consistently remained true to its commitment to teaching and mentoring students, and keeping students at the very center of the place.

Beyond that, the Elon Academy for Alamance County high school students is a venture I’m really proud of. It represents the spirit of this university. We put this out with no idea where the money was going to come from, and now the program is in full force.

It’s a tremendous commitment on the part of the university to reach out to our community THE MAGAZINE OF ELON

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President Lambert at

and give a helping Commencement 2008; hand to those who behind Lambert are would not normally former Provost Gerry have access to higher Francis, at right, and education.

Doug Finberg ’94 The creation of the law school has been a great achievement in the last decade, and the credit for that needs to be widely shared with so many people who have worked very hard, including former Provost Gerry Francis, founding Dean Leary Davis, current Dean George Johnson, the faculty, charter class, the advisory board and our benefactors.

I’d also point to the building of the faculty and what I would call the restoration of Elon’s identity as a liberal arts university. When I came to Elon, the professional schools were gaining ground very quickly. We had a new School of Communications coming onto the scene, which has become a phenomenal success. But I think Elon is first and foremost an undergraduate liberal arts university, and our efforts to make the arts and sciences central at Elon have been critical in the last decade.

I think of our reinvestment in the honors program; creation of the Elon College Fellows program; reinstituting a foreign language requirement and building a vibrant department of foreign languages; the work of the presidential task force on scholarship; and key investments that have been made in the faculty. That has been a set of anchoring activities for the institution that have helped firm up its identify as an institution with the liberal arts and sciences at the very core.

January 1999 Leo M. Lambert is named Elon’s eighth president

At the same time, it has been a conscious effort on our part to have vibrant, wonderful professional programs rooted in the arts and sciences. Particularly in business and communications, we’ve seen tremendous growth in quality and national recognition of those programs. We’ve been able to create a university that is the best of both worlds. jh · What have been your greatest challenges? lml · I think the greatest challenge at Elon is our endowment position. We are so tuition driven as a university. The challenge has been how to think about moving to a place where

November 1999 The Leon and Lorraine Watson North Carolina Achievement Scholarship Program is endowed with a 3 million gift from Leon Watson ’25 and his wife, Lorraine; scholarships assist N.C. students with high financial need January 2000 Carol Grotnes Belk Library opens, featuring more than 200,000 volumes, more than 200 computers, multimedia and audiovisual facilities, and spaces for individual and group study

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we are less enrollment dependent and can depend more on other revenue streams.

I like to describe Elon financially as a onelegged milking stool and that leg is tuition.

Building an endowment at a time when well over 50 percent of our alumni are in their 20s and 30s is a very significant challenge. Consequently, and to our great benefit, we’ve had to be very creative about the use of every dollar that we spend at the institution, and I think that has been one of the reasons for our success.

I’m very proud to say that for the last few

February 2000 Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the schools of communications and education are established as part of an academic reorganization

August 2000 The School of Communications opens in the renovated McEwen building

May 2000 Elon announces The Phoenix as the university’s new athletics identity

The first National Survey of Student Engagement ranks Elon among the nation’s top four institutions in engaged learning

years, endowment resources have been the largest sector of giving at Elon, and that has been very important to us. We’ve been very thoughtful about what that endowment is going to be used for — student scholarships, keeping the gates of this university open to people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford to come, faculty support and other critical priorities. jh · We are in the final stages of NewCentury@Elon, the strategic plan you helped launch shortly after your arrival. The goal was to establish Elon as a national model of engaged learning.

Have we achieved that goal? lml · I think we have. I think the National Survey of Student Engagement results bear that out. Our students, by their own evaluation of their activities, rate themselves among the most highly engaged students in the country. When Newsweek magazine lists Elon as the top school in the country for student engagement, that’s another external validation of what we’re doing. I think most definitely we can claim victory on being a national model of engaged learning. jh · Elon launched Ever Elon: The Campaign for the Future of Our University last fall.

Can you explain why the campaign is so critical to the university’s future? lml · Elon needs to build an endowment to secure its future. As a maturing university, we need to plan for sustaining this great institution that we have created. A university cannot be sustained on tuition revenue alone.

The Ever Elon Campaign is the first major campaign in the university’s history devoted

September 2000 Elon establishes the Institute for Politics and Public Affairs and the Elon University Polling Center, which houses the Elon Poll October 2000 Trustees vote to change the name of Elon College to Elon University effective June 1, 2001, recognizing Elon’s growth and status as a comprehensive university; trustees also approve the NewCentury@Elon strategic plan to advance Elon as a national model of engaged learning

principally to endowment building and to selected priorities that we want to advance through endowment. Historically, we have been in a chase for bricks and mortar dollars to build this tremendous campus that we enjoy every day.

In the next strategic plan there will be, I would predict, another building boom going on at the university. But we’ve got to make sure that the message of Ever Elon carries forth, which is that endowment building has to be the primary emphasis of every future campaign at the university. jh · How is the campaign going, and what messages do you have for alumni, parents and friends about their roles in its success? lml · I think the campaign is going well.

We launched it at probably the most inopportune time that one could choose to launch a campaign, on the brink of a near economic collapse in our country. We had a great campaign launch last October, but we did so cautiously wondering about, quite frankly, whether it was the time to have a public launch. But I’m glad we went ahead.

We are approaching the two-thirds goal of a $100 million campaign. We have a lot of work to do to bring the campaign to fruition, but I’m confident that we’re going to be successful.

My message to everyone is to please participate. One of our goals at Elon is to pay very close attention to our young alumni because there are so many young alums at the institution. Oftentimes I think young alums believe

LAMBERT’S LIST President Lambert offers the following top accomplishments of the campus community during his presidency: Transition from college to university Growth of talented faculty and staff Launch of need- and talent-based financial aid programs such as Watson Scholars, Thad Eure Scholars, Susan Scholars and Lumen Scholars Aspiring to achieve excellence in the arts and sciences Opening of Elon University School of Law New facilities: Carol Grotnes Belk Library, Rhodes Stadium, Belk Track and White Field, Academic Village, Ernest A. Koury Sr. Business Center, R.N. Ellington Health and Counseling Center, The Oaks residence hall complex, Colonnades dining and residence halls and expansion to the 75-acre South Campus Elon Academy college access program for Alamance County students Launch of Ever Elon: The Campaign for the Future of Our University Accreditation of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business and School of Communications Joining the Southern Conference for athletics

continued on page 22

January 2001 Elon accepts an invitation from the Eugene Lang Foundation to join Project Pericles, a national program to encourage civic and social responsibility among undergraduates

May 2002 Elon accepts an invitation to join the Southern Conference, one of the nation’s oldest NCAA Division I athletics conferences, beginning July 1, 2003

September 2001 Elon hosts its first home football game at Rhodes Stadium, marking the first time since 1949 that Elon has played a football game on campus; the stadium is named for Elon trustee Dusty Rhodes and his wife, Peggy

August 2002 The first two buildings open in the Academic Village, the Cannon and Kenan pavilions, followed by Gray Pavilion in 2004, and Belk and Spence Pavilions in 2007; Lindner Hall, the new home of Elon College, the College of Arts & Sciences, opens in August 2009, completing the Academic Village THE MAGAZINE OF ELON

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that a small gift is not going to make a difference. But small gifts do make a difference, participation makes a difference. We want everybody to join in this campaign and give either in a small way or, for many others, in a large way. That’s going to be very important for the success of Ever Elon. jh · Elon is in the process of creating its next strategic plan, which will be considered by trustees this fall. Can you share some of the guiding principles of the plan? lml · In the next strategic plan, we’re trying to envision where Elon is going to be in 2020. We are charting some very bold moves for the future of this institution.

We’re obviously looking very hard at what’s happening in the world. We’re going to have a very challenging environment for private higher education. Costs are increasingly on people’s minds. One of the things we’re thinking about is whether Elon should become even more of a distinctly residential campus, and my guess is that it will be. About 60 percent of our students live on campus now. There’s some serious conversation about constructing a very significant number of new student residences over the next decade to house all juniors and seniors who wish to live on campus. We are a highly traditional liberal arts residential university, and one of the goals of

September 2002 Benazir Bhutto, former prime minister of Pakistan, dedicates the Isabella Cannon Centre for International Studies, named for one of Elon’s most beloved graduates

and a master’s degree, or other patterns, like 3 + 2? Some students may want to take a year “I still feel as enthusiastic, off between high school and university and perhaps participate in something like an Elon Service Academy, where people could be enenergetic and passionate gaged in a year of public service.

There will be proposed expansions of sciabout this job, even more so, ence facilities and programs, and an expansion for our School of Communications, which is than when we came 10 years badly needed. There’s going to be a great emphasis on talent development for faculty and ago. Next to my family, I staff. In this next strategic plan, we can’t lose sight of the fact that the greatest resources we think being the president of provide for our students are our faculty and staff. We want to make sure we are investthis university has been the ing in faculty and staff in ways that enable them to continue to grow intellectually, progreat privilege of my life.” fessionally, in service of students and of the – Leo M. Lambert institution.

If we want to be a national institution, athletics needs to be playing at a national level, this next plan is to shore up the residential and we’re seeing some of that success in the part of that mission.

Southern Conference, most recently with We will undoubtedly be looking at the baseball. We want to see ncaa tournament role of perhaps a few new graduate programs, appearances in men’s and women’s basketball. but more important in this next plan, we’ll And we are so close to postseason play in footbe looking at new degree models. Will there ball that we can taste it. We also want to build be more interest in students doing 4 + 1 pro- a multipurpose convocation center. These are grams, where they might come to school for all really exciting challenges for the university five years and earn both a bachelor’s degree but ones that I’m confident we can meet.

April 2003 Elon completes purchase of 75 acres of property from Elon Homes for Children, opening South Campus, which includes Alumni Center in Johnston Hall and the Phoenix Club Sports Fields April 2004 The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business receives accreditation by AACSB International, with the School of Communications receiving ACEJMC accreditation in 2006 August 2005 Newsweek/Kaplan names Elon one of the nation’s 25 “hottest colleges” and the top school for student engagement

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August 2006 Elon University School of Law opens in Greensboro, N.C., with inaugural class of 115; retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor formally dedicates the school Sept. 19

October 2006 Elon is named one of the nation’s top three universities for community service, earning a Presidential Award in the first President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll

The first building of The Oaks student housing complex opens replacing Jordan Center; the complex includes six residence hall buildings and the McCoy Commons building

Ernest A. Koury Sr. Business Center opens as the new home of the Love School of Business; Burlington business leader Maurice Koury made a gift to name the building in honor of his brother

Elon launches The Honorable Thad Eure Achievement Scholarship to assist students with financial need from North Carolina’s Piedmont region; the program is named for a former Elon trustee and N.C. secretary of state

jh · Are there particular programs that you’d like to see become nationally recognized? lml · I think the School of Communications is going to be a nationally recognized program. I think our program in law and leadership in the law school is going to emerge as a national model of innovative legal education. Our program of general education is in a position of national leadership at the undergraduate level. Our programs related to experiential learning are second to none, particularly in the areas of international education, civic engagement and undergraduate research. The next strategic plan is in great part about demonstrating national leadership in those areas of experiential learning. jh · What is next on the horizon in higher education in terms of financing and access for students? lml · Those of us in private higher education have to pay very close attention to sticker price. If we don’t, we will only be accessible to the very elite. As we are planning for the future, we need to plan for financial stability of the organization and that means making very careful, strategic choices about what we’re going to spend our money on. That’s why the financial model upon which the university is based is being given very careful study in our next strategic plan.

Price is directly related to access, and one of the things I want to see happen is a major reinvestment in need-based financial aid for students. We want Elon to look more like the world looks. We run a danger of becoming irrelevant if we don’t. We have to be more intellectually diverse, more internationally diverse, more geographically and socio-economically diverse. We’ll get a portion of this accomplished with the Ever Elon Campaign, but the next campaign will also have needbased aid as its major goal. jh · What are your goals for Elon in the next 10 years? lml · My goals will be to see this next strategic plan launched and to make progress on reaching every one of those goals. The goals of the next strategic plan are going to take your breath away. They will really surprise you in terms of the level of ambition. My goal in the next 10 years is to make sure that Elon has realized its destiny as a distinctive leading university, that the Ever Elon Campaign is successful and that the campaign after that is successful. jh · What role should the university play in American higher education? lml · Elon has a leadership role to play in American higher education. I think it will play

June 2007 The Elon Academy, a university-run academic enrichment program for Alamance County high school students, welcomes its inaugural class

March 2007 Elon is named one of four institutions to receive the 2007 Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization from NAFSA: Association of International Educators May 2007 Furman C. Moseley Jr. ’56 makes a 5 million gift — the largest scholarship gift in Elon history — to endow the Susan Scholarships to assist deserving young women; the gift honors Moseley’s wife, Susan

September 2007 U.S.News & World Report ranks Elon 2 among 119 Southern master’s-level universities in its “America’s Best Colleges” guide, marking Elon’s highest ranking in the nation’s most widely read college guide

an increasingly important role as a model of innovative, quality higher education.

I think Elon is already looked to as a model of a well-run institution, an institution with a creative general studies curriculum, with professional schools that have growing national reputations. U.S.News & World Report last year listed us as the 1 up-and-coming college or university in the United States.

We’re on everyone’s radar screen. People are emulating our success, and we’ve got to work doubly hard to stay in front of that pack.

I think innovation is the key word. We’re always looking at ways we can do things differently. We don’t have a follow-the-pack mentality around here, and I think that’s really wonderful. jh · Is there anything else you’d like to say? lml · It has been a great personal joy and privilege to be president of Elon. I still feel as enthusiastic, energetic and passionate about this job, even more so, than when we came 10 years ago. I’ve said this before, that next to my family, I think being the president of this university has been the great privilege of my life.

To view video clips from this interview, including President Lambert’s reflections on effective leadership and his favorite spot on campus, go to www.elon.edu/magazine.

July 2008 Elon University School of Law receives provisional accreditation from the American Bar Association; the school graduates its charter class in May 2009 December 2007 President Lambert establishes the Lumen Prize as the university’s premier academic award; Lumen Scholars receive 15,000 scholarships to support their research

October 2008 The university launches Ever Elon: The Campaign for the Future of Our University during a historic community meeting on campus; the 100 million campaign seeks to build the endowment and secure the university’s future August 2009 The charter class enrolls in Elon’s newest graduate program, a master of arts in interactive media THE MAGAZINE OF ELON

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1910

Strik ke Up

BY DAVE HART

Celebrating 100 years of the marching band

T

he Elon marching band was fanning out across the football field, moving in precise formation, when a disheveled man, apparently intoxicated, barreled into their midst from the sidelines.

Before anyone could react, he had grabbed the startled head majorette, clamped her in an embrace and planted a big kiss on her cheek. The drum major rushed to her rescue as the man fled. Moments later, he reappeared and once again made a staggering beeline for the majorette.

“This time the whole band jumped on him,” recalls Jack O. White, Elon’s band director at the time. “He vanished under the pile, and there was this great big meleé.

Out comes flying his hat, then his shirt, and then pants and finally his red underwear. When the band finally separated, he was gone. He had disappeared altogether.”

The whole thing, of course, was a stunt. The “intruder” was a member of the band — the piccolo player, who had his uniform on underneath his civilian clothing. It was a classic “Jack O” gag, the kind of elaborate vaudevillian act that, along with superb musicianship, made the Showband of the Carolinas a crowd favorite in the ’60s and ’70s.

Those and other stories of the band will take center stage as the university celebrates 100 years of Elon’s marching band at Homecoming Oct. 23–25. Alumni band members are invited to return to campus and perform with Elon’s current marching band, the Fire of the Carolinas, during Saturday’s football game.

Elon’s first band formed in 1909, according to Raymond Beck ’75, former Showband drum major and a retired North Carolina state capitol historian. To prepare for the centennial 24

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celebration, Beck researched the band’s history with Tony Sawyer, Elon’s band director.

Not surprising, the band program began at about the same time as Elon’s basketball, baseball and football programs, all of which got their starts in the first decade or so of the 20th century.

1935

The first band director was a student, Russell Campbell, a coronet player who graduated in 1911.

He also played foot1952 ball and was able to direct the band after the team got into some trouble and was briefly disbanded, according to Beck.

During the early years, the band played mostly at dances and athletics events. When the Great Depression struck in 1929, the group dissolved under the pressure of hard times.

Elon President Leon E. Smith resurrected the band in the 1930s, recruiting Landon Walker,

a horn player from Charlotte, N.C., to lead the group.

“Dr. Smith called my high school band director and said, ‘Do you have somebody who can come in and develop a band?’” recalls Walker, who lives in Hickory, N.C. “My band director said, ‘Yes, I think I do.’”

Elon offered Walker free tuition in exchange for reviving the band program. Walker jumped at the chance to earn a college degree. When he arrived, the band consisted of two coronet players, and he wasted no time recruiting fellow students.

“I had quite a time getting them,” Walker recalls. “Nobody played (an instrument).”

By the time Walker graduated in 1939, the band had about 40 members. The band would have its ups and downs and take different forms in the years to come, but never again would it cease to exist.

The band began to take its modern form during the 1950s, when Elon hired the first faculty director, Eugene Jacobowski, and the program split into separate groups, a pep band and a concert band.

Jack White came to Elon as band director in 1962 and infused the program with energy, creating the Showband of the Carolinas and the school’s first jazz ensemble, Emanon (“No Name” spelled backward). Under his leadership, the jazz ensemble regularly toured the

1970s

East Coast and performed in Puerto Rico and Europe, while the Showband earned a far-reaching reputation for its wildly inventive shows.

Former majorette Hope Amick Gregory ’77, of Burlington, N.C., recalls the band’s professionalism and talent.

“I never thought of it as two groups, the band and the majorettes,” Gregory says. “We were one unit.”

Angie Ingram Hodnett ’75, of Rustburg, Va., was a majorette and occasionally played the bassoon.

“Even though we weren’t a big Division I school, when I see routines that those schools do now, with syncopated rhythms and things, they’re reminiscent of what we did,” Hodnett says.

“We all had one goal — to put on a great show every week,” Hodnett adds. “I remember when we would run off the field, the team doctor was always standing there with this big roll of bubble gum. As we ran by, he would pop a piece into everybody’s mouth. We had been working so hard we were dehydrated.”

White directed the band for 25 years, longer than anyone else, and his skill, longevity and showmanship are credited with transforming the band into a professional performing ensemble.

“He was a creative genius,” says Beck, who played under White in the Showband and the jazz ensemble during the early ’70s.

“Most bands do a single show all season. We did an entirely different show every week, and we astounded the crowd with our maneuvers, music and hijinks.”

The band struggled once again after White stepped down in 1986. What remained was a small wind ensemble that was bolstered for concert performances by musicians from

the University of North 2008 Carolina at Greensboro.

Tom Erdmann breathed new life into the band when he joined Elon’s music faculty in 1989.

“I remember the first concert we had, one young woman said, ‘So when are the unc-g kids coming?’

I said, ‘They’re not. It’s just you,’” Erdmann said.

“The fear on her face was palpable. That first concert was terrible, but that was ok. They learned that nobody was going to come save them.”

Under Erdmann’s direction, the band made recordings, performed at concerts and as a pep band at special events. When it came to the music, Erdmann liked to push the boundaries.

“We did a lot of classics, but we also did some stuff out of left field, such as polytonal pieces, in two keys at the same time, and atonal pieces, in no key at all,” he says.

By 2000, Elon had moved to ncaa Division i competition and was building a new football stadium. The only thing missing was a marching band. Erdmann continued to direct the orchestral band, while Bill DeJournett was hired to rebuild the marching band. A year later, the Fire of the Carolinas made its debut.

Sawyer took over leadership of the band in 2003 following DeJournett. In the spirit of Jack White, Sawyer has energized the program with creative and sometimes offbeat productions. He introduced instruments not typically found in a marching band, such as electric

1916

guitars and keyboards, and he pushed highenergy shows featuring rock, pop and heavy metal music. He’s even done a dance show and one based on the Guitar Hero video game.

“Tony Sawyer has done an unbelievable job of maturing the program, and I think the fans really notice,” says Virginia Zint ’08, a second-generation Elon band member. Her father, James Zint ’81, played under White.

“Instead of having us always go in straight precision marching band lines, he was thinking, ‘What will make the crowd go wild?’ So we danced a lot and sang at one point. He made sure that we were having fun, because if we were having fun, the crowd was having fun.”

Whether the routines are vaudevillian or modern, the marching band is as integral to school spirit today as it was in the ’70s when Hodnett played.

“I missed it when it was over,” she says.

“I’d go back and do it all over again right now.”

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ALUMNI Action

See you at Homecoming and chapter events This section of the magazine is a remarkable testament to the importance of our alumni chapters in keeping all Elon graduates connected to each other and the university.

Sallie Hutton ’92 The story on chapter activities on page 28 demonstrates how busy our alums have been this summer, while the coming events list offers graduates plenty of opportunities this fall to socialize, network and serve their communities. I am impressed by the commitment of our chapter presidents and committee members to ensure that alumni have a variety of opportunities to reconnect with Elon in meaningful ways.

As you plan your schedule for the coming months, be sure to attend one of the chapter events in your area. There are plenty of activities to choose from, and chances are you’ll make new Elon friends.

Enhancing regional alumni activities is one component of the Alumni Association’s strategic plan. We’re also very focused on bringing alumni back to campus. Our premier event to do just that is Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 23–25. The Homecoming schedule is full of events that allow you to reconnect with former classmates, faculty and staff, and meet students from various academic programs and campus organizations.

There’s a sneak peek of our exciting schedule on the next page.

Watch the alumni Web site for registration information in early September. No matter when you graduated or which organizations you participated in, this is the weekend for you to return to your beloved Elon.

The Alumni Relations staff and I look forward to seeing you at an event this fall.

Sallie

YOUNG ALUMS DONATE $, THROUGH IGNITE

Graduates of the past decade donated $233,618 to Elon during 2008–2009, the first year of ignite, the university’s annual giving program for young alumni.

A total of 1,009 young alums made gifts, including 49 who joined The Elon Society, the university’s premier annual giving recognition society. The average gift from young alumni was $137.

Many alums made gifts at one of 12 ignite nite dinners held during the past year. The dinners, hosted by young alums, brought in $30,398 to the university.

The following ignite nites have been scheduled for the fall: atlanta Sept. 14 at the home of Josh ’00 and Kristen Kart Felix ’00 piedmont triad Oct. 1 at the home of Jude Dooley ’00 boston Oct. 7 at Les Zygomates, hosted

by Kathleen Niple ’05, Mark Richter ’99 and Stephanie Badavas ’09 Check www.elon.edu/ignite for the full schedule.

HELP US GO GREEN!

As part of Elon’s commitment to environmental sustainability and stewardship of university resources, the Alumni Relations Office plans to reduce the number of printed invitations that are mailed to graduates for alumni chapter events.

If you live in one of the 14 chapter regions and would like to receive your invitations via e-mail, please contact Alumni Relations at 877.784.3566 or alumnirelations@elon. edu and give us your e-mail address. Thank you!

GET TAGGED!

SHARE YOUR INFORMATION FOR NEW ALUMNI DIRECTORY

The Elon Alumni Association is working with Harris Connect to produce the 2010 alumni directory.

The directory, Elon University Alumni: Today, will include biographical information on graduates, including their class years, home and e-mail addresses, and professional information. It will be a valuable tool for social and professional networking.

This fall, all alumni will receive a postcard from Harris requesting their updated information. Please help the Alumni Association keep you informed of important alumni news and events by promptly responding to the mailing.

For the first time, alumni will be invited to submit photos of themselves along with brief personal updates, which will be included in the front of the directory. Alumni may purchase the printed directory when it is published next year.

For more information, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 877.784.3566 or alumnirelations@elon.edu.

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Show your Elon pride during your travels. get tagged with a complimentary Elon luggage tag from the Alumni Association.

Mail your business card to the Alumni Association and receive a laminated maroon and gold luggage tag with the Elon logo on the front and your business card on the back. This tag will make your luggage stand out in a crowd!

Send your business card to: Office of Alumni Relations, 2600 Campus Box, Elon, NC 27244.

You also can get a luggage tag at Homecoming Oct. 23–25. Drop off your business card at check-in in Moseley Center.

The Alumni Relations Office is located in Johnston Hall at 123 S. Antioch Ave. and can be reached toll-free at 877.784.3566 or by writing to Campus Box 2600, Elon, NC 27244.

Get your travel on!

Italy or Greece The Alumni Association offers the following trips in 2010:

Wear your maroon at Homecoming Oct. –!

Cathedrals of Italy March 19-27 A full sch hed dule le of ing e eve vent ntss wi will ll Homecoming t d in in S Sep epte pte temb mber mb er a att be poste www.el elon on.edu edu/a /alu lumn mni.i.

Homecoming offers something for everyone this fall. Plan now to return to campus Oct. 23–25 and see how your alma mater has grown.

Homecoming kicks off Friday morning with registration in Moseley Center, where you can pick up a schedule of events and campus map to plan your weekend. Highlights of the weekend include the following: Friday Receptions for School of Communications, Martha and Spencer Love School of Business and Leisure and Sport Management alumni Campus bus tours led by President Emeritus Earl Danieley ’46 and Barry Bradberry ’75, associate dean of admissions and financial planning Career counseling sessions with Elon’s Career Services staff; call 336.278.6538 to make an appointment Young Alumni party at The Lighthouse featuring the Montgomery Burns Band for graduates of the last decade Phoenix Phest party in McKinnon Hall featuring the North Tower Band African-American Alumni/National PanHellenic Council reception; Eugene Perry ’69, Elon’s first African-American graduate, will be recognized; NPHC Step Show follows in Alumni Gym

Tailgating in Reunion Village (open to all alumni), Harper Center lot and beside Lake Mary Nell; Zack’s hot dogs and hamburgers, and barbeque lunches available for purchase in Reunion Village Elon vs. UT-Chattanooga at 1:30 p.m. in Rhodes Stadium Second-annual Old School Party in McKinnon Hall; African-American Alumni Group will raise money for the African-American Alumni Scholarship Reunions: Classes of 1959, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999 and 2004; Band Centennial, Lambda Chi Alpha Centennial Founding Celebration, Phi Beta Sigma (10th anniversary), Pi Kappa Phi (30th anniversary), Tri-Delta (5th anniversary), Tau Kappa Epsilon/Alpha Pi Delta and Watson Scholars. Also planning get-togethers are Kappa Sigma, the Student Government Association, Periclean Scholars and Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows

Saturday Alumni Association Awards brunch in McKinnon Hall Meal packing service event in Koury Athletics Center concourse Education alumni gather in Mooney building to meet David Cooper, the new dean of the School of Education; chemistry alumni reception on McIver Terrace at McMichael Science Center

New this year: Camp Phoenix child care Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m. For children ages 6 months to 11 years old Child-care services provided by students and Elon Campus Ministries staff; certified CPR and first-aid attendant on hand Cost: 30 per child per night and 75 per family per night maximum; proceeds will fund scholarships for spring break service trips

Alumni Relations Office staff: Director, Sallie Hutton ’92, alumnirelations@elon.edu • Assistant Director, Lisa Ratliff Roper ’93 Assistant Director for Young Alumni, Lindsay Gross Hege ’04 • Coordinator of Alumni Chapters, Lauren Kelly ’08 • Program Assistant, Kelly Elliston

Nine days in Rome, Assisi, Florence, Pisa and Lucca Sites include Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, Pantheon, Coliseum, Santa Maria Maggoire Basilica, Scala Santa, Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano and the Holy Steps, St. Francis’ Basilica, Santa Chiara Church, the Duomo, Baptistery and the Cemetery, 11th century Duomo, church of San Michele in Foro, Torre dei Guinigi, the Duomo in Florence, Church of San Lorenzo and Santa Maria Novella Cost: 3,299 per person (double occupancy) plus taxes; additional 750 for single accommodations

Best of the Mediterranean & Greek Isles Cruise Oct. 11-24 Twelve nights aboard Oceania Cruises’ Regatta to Venice, Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Corfu, Delphi (Itea), Zakynthos, Monemvasia, Crete, Santorini, Delos, Mykonos and Athens, Greece; and Kasadasi, Turkey Cost: 3,299 to 6,099 per person for staterooms (double occupancy); taxes, fees and airport/ship transfers are not included; save 1,000 per person by booking a reservation for two Book your trip before January and receive free airfare from select gateway cities, including Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Washington-Dulles, Newark, New York-Kennedy, Philadelphia and Raleigh-Durham For more information, contact the Alumni Association at 877.784.3566 or alumnirelations@elon.edu.

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27

ALUMNI Action

ALUMNI SERVE UP SUMMER FUN Alumni chapter members have spent the summer serving their communities, going to baseball games and meeting with students in New York and Los Angeles. Here are the highlights:

university’s inaugural Elon in New York program. Twenty students lived in the city and met professionals in the fields of finance, marketing, communications and entrepreneurship. In July, alums met tennis star Serena Williams at an event with the ny Sportimes tennis team on Randall’s Island in New York.

Senior Lauren Warr, a Sportimes intern, helped arrange the event.

Triangle

atlanta Chapter members Josh Felix ’00 and his wife, Kristen Kart Felix ’00, helped Atlanta alumni get to know each other by hosting “Dinner with 6 Elon Strangers” in July. The small gathering was a great way for philadelphia Chapter members gathered in alums of all ages to network, particularly grad- May for a volunteer interest meeting during Triangle uates who are new to the city. The following which they brainstormed ideas for events and day, the couple hosted a cookout for 25 alums established their leadership committee. The from the 1990s to the Class of 2009. newly reorganized chapter welcomed Megan Seibert ’05, Michael Bumbry ’07 and Jenn baltimore Alumni welcomed the warm Budd ’07 to the chapter board. weather by heading to Oregon Ridge Park in May for College Coffee and Playtime in the piedmont triad June rain showers didn’t Park. In June, they gathered at Howl at the keep members of the Piedmont Triad ChapMoon bar for live entertainment, including ter from attending Martini Night at Dick & dueling piano players.

Jane’s Tapas and Martinis in Mebane, N.C. More than 50 alums from all eras showed up charleston Minor league baseball was and enjoyed a special Phoenix cocktail creBlack ’80, won first place for best hat, while on the minds of Charleston alumni who ated by owner Philip Hochreiter ’93. Jim Candyce Marsh ’03 correctly picked Mine cheered on their Riverdogs against the Ashe- Drummond ’50 and his wife, Joan ’52, had a That Bird to win the Derby. ville Tourists, the Augusta Greenjackets and great time meeting members of the Class of In June, alums participated in the Komen the Greenville Drive.

2009 and sharing Elon stories.

Race for the Cure in Raleigh and watched the movie “Slumdog Millionaire” on the lawn of charlotte About 30 alumni gathered this the North Carolina Museum of Art. Richmond summer for Charlotte’s monthly networking socials at The Tavern on Park, a new event washington, d.c. In May, alums toured for the chapter. The Tavern staff has grown so the National Portrait Gallery with School of fond of the alums that they posted an Elon Communications Dean Paul Parsons, AssociUniversity pennant on the restaurant wall. ate Dean Connie Book and faculty member Janna Anderson. Chapter members also atchicago Members of Elon’s newest chapter tended the “Paint the Town Pink” fundraiser had a packed spring schedule, including a trip to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundato North Avenue beach and watching a Cubs tion. Katie Sullivan ’02 and Maggie Sullivan game at The Cubby Bear bar in Wrigleyville.

Massaro ’03 hosted the event, which raised more than $2,000 for cancer research. los angeles Alumni put on their work In June, alums raised an additional $1,000 gloves to participate in the annual Nothin’ But richmond Betty Yarbrough ’52 and her husfor the Komen Foundation by participating Sand Beach Cleanup at toes Beach in Playa band, Fred ’50, regaled chapter members with in the Race for the Cure on the National Mall.

Del Rey, Calif. In July, they met with Elon their Elon stories during a cookout hosted Provost Steven House and students participat- by Scott Hill ’71. The Yarbroughs also shared Washington, D.C. ing in the Elon in L.A. program, which offers news of their 58th wedding anniversary. students internships and a course on the business of Hollywood. More than 70 students triangle In April, alums participated in the and alumni representing companies such as Angels Among Us Race and raised more than Paramount, Universal Studios, cbs, nbc and $1,700 to fund research and clinical trials of Fremantle Media attended a reception at the brain and spinal tumors at Duke University Silent Movie Theater.

Medical Center in Durham. In May, floppy hats were all the rage at the chapter’s 5thnew york In June, alums attended a re- Annual Kentucky Derby Party at Angus Barn ception with Elon students enrolled in the in Raleigh. Kappy Black, the wife of Perry 28

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ALUMNI Action

Career resources available for alumni

Elon’s Career Services office has a new online resource to help alumni prepare for job interviews.

Perfect Interview is an interactive, Web-based program that allows users to practice their interviewing skills and receive feedback. Alumni can customize their interview sessions for entry-level to executive positions.

Alums can videotape and archive their sessions and e-mail them to friends and colleagues for feedback. Tips on answering each question and suggested responses are embedded in each session. Also included in the program is Perfect Resume to help alumni create effective resumes.

To find out more about Perfect Interview, go to the alumni Web site (www.elon.edu/alumni) and click on the Career Services link.

Other resources for alumni include Career Beam and the Elon Alumni Association LinkedIn Group.

Career Beam is a comprehensive, user-friendly program that helps

alumni identify and meet their professional goals. Alumni can get tips on constructing effective resumes and cover letters, preparing for interviews, developing a professional network and launching a strategic career search. Career Beam also allows alumni to search for organizations and industries nationally and internationally. Alumni can create an account at www.careerbeam.com/ElonAlumReg.asp.

Elon’s LinkedIn Group is open to all alumni. LinkedIn is an online professional networking resource that allows alums to connect with classmates, friends and former colleagues. To join and create a profile, go to www.linkedin.com/home. Elon’s group is located at www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=961537.

Career consultations will be available during Homecoming Weekend. Career Services staff will be available on Friday, Oct. 23, to assist alumni with their job searches, including writing resumes and cover letters, and networking opportunities. Interested alumni should call Career Services at 336.278.6538 to make an appointment.

Coming Events  AUG. 

Richmond Chapter shag lessons, 2 p.m. Visions Lounge

Richmond and D.C. chapters trip to Philip Carter Winery, 2 p.m.

AUG.  Los Angeles Welcome to the City, 7 p.m. Life on Wilshire

Boston Chapter volunteer interest meeting, 7 p.m. Baystate Financial Office

Los Angeles Chapter First Thursday social, 7 p.m. Big Wangs

SEPT.  Los Angeles Chapter AllNorth Carolina alumni networking social, 7 p.m. SOUTH in Santa Monica

OCT.  Charlotte Chapter Komen Race for the Cure 5K, 8 a.m. Uptown Charlotte

Charlotte Chapter networking event, 6:30 p.m. The Tavern on Park. Special guest: Phoenix basketball coach Matt Matheny

OCT.  Triangle Chapter networking social/canned food drive, 7 p.m.

Carolina Ale House, Raleigh

OCT.  Charlotte Chapter networking social, 6 p.m. (Location TBA)

Triangle Welcome to the City, 7 p.m.

Tatton Hall, Raleigh

Physical therapy alumni reunion, Elon

Elon

Chicago Chapter social, 5:30 p.m. Pegasus Restaurant & Tavern

Triangle Chapter service event, 2 p.m. Food Bank of Central/Eastern N.C., Raleigh

SEPT. 

Atlanta Chapter social, 6 p.m.

Shout in Midtown

Charleston Chapter golf tournament, 1:30 p.m. Shadowmoss Golf Club

SEPT.  Charleston Welcome to the City, 5:30 p.m. Tommy Condon’s Pub

Richmond Chapter River District cruise, (Time TBA) departs from Turning Basin

NOV.  Piedmont Triad Chapter attends “Kiss Me, Kate,” 7:30 p.m.

McCrary Theatre, Elon

OCT.  Piedmont Triad Chapter attends Fall Convocation, 4 p.m.

Alumni Gym

NOV.  Richmond Chapter football trip, 3 p.m. Elon vs. Appalachian State, Elon

OCT.  Chicago Chapter social/ coat drive, 5:30 p.m. McCormick and Schmick’s, Michigan Avenue

NOV.  Chicago Chapter social, 5:30 p.m. Dunlay’s on Clark, Lincoln Park

New York Welcome to the City, 7 p.m. Mad46 (rooftop of The Roosevelt Hotel)

SEPT.  Washington, D.C., Welcome to the City, 7 p.m. The Clarendon Grill, Arlington, Va.

SEPT. 

OCT. 

AUG. 

AUG.  D.C. Chapter film premiere, “Captain Abu Raed,” produced by Laith Majali ’05, E Street Theater AUG.  Boston Welcome to the City, 6 p.m. McFadden’s AUG.  Baltimore Chapter Orioles game, 7:05 p.m. Pre-game social, 5 p.m.

The Diamond Tavern

Chicago Welcome to the City, 11 a.m.

Lincoln Park, Grove 15 SEPT.  Atlanta Welcome to the City, 7 p.m. Wildfire Restaurant SEPT.  Piedmont Triad Welcome to the City, 6:30 p.m. Natty Greene’s

New York Business Fellows reception, 6 p.m. (Location TBA) SEPT. 

Philadelphia Welcome to the City, 7 p.m. Manayunk Brewery Richmond Welcome to the City, 7 p.m.

Capital Ale House in Innsbrook Schmoozapalooza alumni/student networking, 6 p.m. Elon SEPT.  Elon Alumni Board meeting, Elon

SEPT. 

SEPT.  Piedmont Triad and Charlotte chapters football trip, 6:30 p.m. Elon vs.

Wake Forest, Winston-Salem, N.C. SEPT.  Young Alumni Council meeting, Elon SEPT.  Chicago Chapter Bears vs. Steelers viewing party, 3 p.m.

Wrightwood Tap SEPT.  Charlotte Chapter wine/ culinary event, (Time TBA) Johnson & Wales University

Philadelphia Chapter Art After 5, 5:30 p.m. Philadelphia Museum of Art SEPT. 

SEPT.  Charleston Chapter football trip, Elon vs. Presbyterian, Clinton, S.C.

OCT.  Atlanta Chapter service event, 9 a.m. Safehouse Outreach

New York Chapter service event, 8 a.m. New York Cares Day Baltimore Chapter food packing service event, noon. Moveable Feast OCT.  Boston Chapter Autism Walk, 9 a.m. Suffolk Downs, East Boston

OCT.  OCT. 

OCT. 

Atlanta Chapter social, 6 p.m.

Highland Tap in Virginia Highlands OCT. 

Washington, D.C., Chapter social, 6:30 p.m. RFD, Chinatown Philadelphia Chapter social, 6 p.m. Winberie’s Restaurant and Bar, Princeton, N.J.

Homecoming Weekend,

OCT.  Baltimore Chapter Halloween social, 6 p.m. Looney’s Pub, Canton NOV.  Los Angeles Chapter First Thursdays social, 7 p.m. Hennessey’s, Manhattan Beach

NOV.  Washington, D.C., Chapter social, 6:30 p.m. (Location TBA)

For the latest alumni news, go to www.elon.edu/alumni

THE MAGAZINE OF ELON

29

CLASS Notes

Class Notes ’s Virginia Lee May Corbett ’43 credits Elon with helping her become a successful secretary. She earned her secretarial practice certificate in 1943 and later served as a secretary at Associated Transport, Fortress Underwriters and Traveler’s Insurance Co. Eventually, she passed the certified professional secretary exam.

Barbara A. Haynes Francis ’49 is grateful to Elon for helping her become a teacher. Barbara still keeps in touch with the friends she met on campus.

’s REUNION ’ Nancy K. Keck ’50 fondly recalls chemistry classes with professor Earl Danieley ’46. She is thankful to Elon for preparing her to transfer to a school that offered the major she needed.

Frank L. Ward ’52 never dreamed that an Elon education would be possible after serving in the U.S. Navy for more than three years. With help from Earl Danieley ’46, Frank was able to graduate in three years and says that he still looks forward to seeing Dr. Danieley when he visits Elon.

Luther Conger ’55 is looking for alumni from the 1950s and 1960s to join other alumni in the 14th-annual Elon Golf Outing in the Pinehurst/ Southern Pines area Oct. 12–Oct. 14.

Special rates are available for nongolfers. For more information, call Luther at 336.993.4768.

John T. Jones ’55 and Carolyn Abernathy Jones ’56 celebrated 52

William Williams ’66 moved from Clifton, Va., to Jeffersonton, Va., in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

years of marriage this summer. John and Carolyn are retired educators and reside in Shallotte, N.C. Ikey Tarleton Little ’59 retired after 25 years with ibm. To show her appreciation for Elon, she offered a matching gift of up to $25,000 to fund a scholarship in honor of the Class of 1959. She encourages classmates who are interested in making a gift to contact Elon’s University Advancement Office at 877.784.3566. Ikey lives in Moss Landing, Calif.

’s Dexter R. Barbee ’62 founded Apollo Chemical Corp. in 1968 and sold it in 2009. He lives with his wife, Joan, in Burlington, N.C.

l-r Bill Ruth ’66, Mary Coolidge Ruth ’66, Dave Potter ’66, Betty Potter, Bonnie Moore Brooks ’66, Larry Brooks ’66, Patsy Bulla Barker ’67, Bill Barker ’67 and Judy Hardie Saunders ’68

year, Mary and Bill volunteered at the ucc headquarters in Cleveland, serving with Wider Church Ministries.

This year, the couple are volunteering at Silver Lake Conference Center in Sharon, Conn., where Mary served as an intern in 1965. They live in Stoney Creek, N.C.

Ken R. Hollingsworth ’68 and his wife, Judy, edited the Mofu-Gudur Trilingual Dictionary, published

by Rudiger Koppe Verlag. The couple also helped translate the New Testament in the Mofu-Gudur language. They reside in Maroua, Cameroon.

’s Joe Foley ’71 conducted the 16thannual delegates assembly of the National Federation of Croatian Americans in Washington, D.C., in June. Joe works in government

Cliff Hardy ’62 was appointed by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist to serve on the Florida Housing Finance Corporation Board for a three-year term. Cliff is a retired mortgage banker and lives with his wife, Judy Morris-Hardy, in Tampa, Fla. Fred Stephenson ’65 retired after 24 years as conference director of the University of Georgia’s Trucking Profitability Strategies Conference.

Fred and his wife, Sharon Smith Stephenson ’66, celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary in June. The couple reside in Athens, Ga. Mary Shaw Covington ’66 has been a tour guide for 31 years and conducts tours throughout the United States and North America, as well as Europe and Australia. Mary lives in Mebane, N.C. Tom Page ’66 is a novelist and technical writer, and he has authored eight books. He lives in Santa Monica, Calif.

Mary Coolidge Ruth ’66 and her husband, Bill Ruth ’66, serve as volunteers with Partners in Service with the United Church of Christ. Last

Charitable gift annuities can provide income for life A charitable gift annuity of 10,000 or more to Elon will guarantee you a fixed income for the rest of your life. With market interest rates near historic lows, a gift annuity is an attractive way for you to increase your income and make a gift to Elon at the same time. You will receive immediate tax benefits and can defer capital gains. The payment rate of a charitable gift annuity depends on your age at the time of the gift — the older you are, the higher the rate.

Sample Rates effective February 1, 2009: ONE BENEFICIARY

T WO BENEFICIARIES

AGE

ANNUIT Y RATE

AGES

ANNUIT Y RATE

60 65 70

5.0% 5.3% 5.7%

60/65 67/67 71/73

4.8% 5.0% 5.3%

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

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

For more information on how you may benefit from a life income gift to Elon and other gift planning opportunities, please contact: Jamie Killorin, CPA/PFS, CFP®, Director of Gift Planning Toll free 877.784.3566 Jkillorin2@elon.edu • www.elon.edu/giftplanning Luther Conger ’55, second from right, and friends 30

THE MAGAZINE OF ELON

CLASS Notes relations and public affairs for Foley Government & Public Affairs, Inc. He lives in Potomac, Md. Marvin L. Morgan ’71 is pastor and minister of pastoral care at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Atlanta. He serves as national moderator of the General Synod of the ucc and presided at the denomination’s biennial meeting in Grand Rapids, Mich., in June. His children, Megan and Marvin Jr., are Elon students. He lives with his wife, Mae, in Atlanta.

Dale G. Esber ’73 and Nancy Darden Esber ’74 retired last year from the Virginia Beach City Public Schools, which recognized the couple for their combined 64 years of teaching. Dale and Nancy reside in Virginia Beach, Va. Larry F. Hodges ’74 joined Clemson University as the flagship director of the School of Computing. Larry lives with his wife, Elizabeth Williford Hodges ’74, in Clemson, S.C. J.A. Savage ’75 is retired and lives with his wife, Jane, in Tampa, Fla. Eric Hall ’76 is a partner at True Reality Inc. and lives in Burbank, Calif.

Steven F. Yuskevich ’76 was appointed senior warden of St. Thomas Episcopal Church. He had hip replacement surgery in May and is looking forward to his son’s wedding in October. Steven lives with his wife, Barbara, in Sanford, N.C.

’s REUNION ’ Br yant M. Colson ’80 was elected vice chair of the Orange County (N.C.) Human Relations Commission. Bryant is a current member and past chair of the Orange County Economic Development Commission. He lives with his wife, Karen, and his children, Kyra, Krysten and Kabrya, in Hillsborough, N.C. Christopher M.T. Jones ’80 organized the group, Save the Yankees Gate 2 Committee, which is dedicated to preserving Gate 2 from the original Yankee Stadium, built in 1923. He is a retired teacher and lives with his wife, Cindy, and his children, Katherine and Tom, in Midlothian, Va.

Karen Miller Simmons ’80 retired after teaching for 30 years in North Carolina. She lives with her husband, Billy, in Gastonia, N.C. Marie Barrett Case ’81 teaches special-needs children in Buncombe County Schools. Marie lives in Chandler, N.C., with her husband, Ed, and her two children, Matthew and Courtney.

Patricia Spencer Melesh ’81 has been a teacher for 23 years with Anne Arundel County Public Schools. She and her husband, Charles, celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary in June. Their daughter, Elizabeth, is a sophomore at Pfeiffer University, and their son, Charlie, is a senior at Annapolis High School. They live in Annapolis, Md. Frank D. Gorham ’82 plays on the Washington Alumni Chapter softball team and has enjoyed getting to know alums from all eras. He resides in Springfield, Va., with his wife, Melissa.

Rick Handchen ’82 is director of athletics at Brick Township High School.

He lives in Brick, N.J. Ron C. Jones ’82 is director of golf instruction at Golf Academy of America in Orlando, Fla. Ron lives with his wife, Cindy Matherly Jones, in Lake Mary, Fla. Aubrey M. Wilkerson ’82 was promoted to regional business banking director for the western region of Wachovia/Wells Fargo Bank in Virginia. Aubrey lives with his wife, Denise, in Winchester, Va. Joel W. Huffstetler ’85 earned a master’s degree in sacred theology from The School of Theology at The University of the South-Sewanee. His thesis topic was “A Critical Analysis of the Writings of Michael Mayne.”

Joel is rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland, Tenn., where he lives with his wife, Debbie.

Penny F. Rosser ’85 received a doctorate in environmental engineering from Warren National University in May 2009. Penny works as a chemist for the Town of Cary, N.C. She oversees the chemistry and microbiology laboratories at the Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facility. Penny lives in Cary.

Timothy D. Farmer ’87 is the stem cell and cloning project manager with bsci and lives in Potomac Falls, Va.

Jim Leary ’87 started his own business, mcd International, Inc., a general contracting and management company. He lives with his wife, Missy Swaim Leary ’88, in Greensboro, N.C. William R. Abele ’88 was promoted to sergeant with the Norfolk Police Department and has been assigned to the Homeland Security Division Bomb Squad Unit. He lives in Suffolk, Va. Robert F. Criste ’89 is founder and president of Stevens Performance Turf, Inc., which provides wateruse efficiency sensors to golf courses and sports turf facilities worldwide.

Robert lives in Lawrenceville, Ga. Suzette Hatcher Hunley ’89 is practice manager at Roxboro MedAccess Urgent Care Facility. She resides in Roxboro, N.C.

He lives with his wife, Tracey, in Redondo Beach, Calif.

Jeffrey D. Queen ’92 was promoted to chief financial officer at Vecoplan llc. He lives in Greensboro, N.C. Laura Foster ’93 is a teacher and head coach of the varsity girl’s basketball team at Ashe County High School. The team was named High Point Holiday Classic champion, Mountain-Valley 2a season champion and conference tournament champion. Laura was named conference coach of the year and district coach of the year. She lives in Wilkesboro, N.C. Kelly Holder ’93 is the head football coach of Mt. Airy High School. His team was undefeated and captured the North Carolina 1-A state championship. Kelly lives in Mt. Airy, N.C.

James C. Rich ’89 was promoted to major with the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office. James lives with his wife, Lisa, in Graham, N.C.

’s REUNION ’ G. Doug Lewis ’90 is a real estate investor and general contractor with Fairchild Renovations. He lives with his wife, Faith, and their children, Julianna and Sophia, in Chesapeake Beach, Md. He and his former Elon roommate, Casey Beathard ’90, plan to attend Homecoming this fall and their 20th class reunion. He hopes to see many classmates there.

Maria Lynn Kealey ’90 has completed her master’s degree in adult education and training, and begins law school this fall. Maria lives in Centreville, Md. Rick Snyder ’91 was named vice president of creative services at speed, a cable television network dedicated to motor sports. Rick lives in Charlotte, N.C. Marti Blythe Clark ’92 is the marketing assistant for Southampton Memorial Hospital. Marti also assists her husband, Michael, with running the family business, wlqm 101.7 fm and 1250 am radio stations. The couple and their daughter, Molly, live in Franklin, Va.

Tripp Bass ’94 and Crystal Crawford Bass ’96 and children, Thomas and Maggie

Thomas “Tripp” Bass iii ’94 and his wife, Crystal Crawford Bass ’96, live in Elon, N.C. Tripp is the second generation of his family to attend Elon. He says he hopes their children, 8-year-old Thomas iv and 2-year-old Maggie, will be the third generation of proud Elon alums. Tripp is a network administrator at Harris, Crouch, Long, Scott, & Miller, and Crystal is a registered nurse case manager for Hospice of Alamance-Caswell.

Chris Crabtree ’94 was promoted to executive vice president of MedSolutions and lives in Brentwood, Tenn.

Leigh Tavolacci ’94 received her professional human resources certification and is a human resources business partner at adp. She lives in Atlanta.

Tonya Taylor ’94 was appointed executive director of the Rochester General Health System nwch Foundation, where she directs public relations and marketing. Tonya lives in Rochester, N.Y.

Thomas S. Nielson ’92 has moved to Los Angeles to pursue a film career.

THE MAGAZINE OF ELON

31

CLASS Notes Erick P. Gill ’95 was named government communicator of the year by the Treasure Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association.

Erick is the public information officer for St. Lucie County, Fla. He and his staff received six National Association of County Information Officers Excellence Awards for video production and public relations projects for the third consecutive year. He resides in Fort Pierce, Fla., with his wife, Colleen Batt Gill ’95, and their children, Chelsea and Trevor.

Television Arts and Sciences National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter. The award was in the promotion/program/campaign category. She lives in Silver Spring, Md.

Daniel Colangelo ’96 is a tennis professional at North Hills Club in Raleigh, N.C., where he lives.

Marshall Glass ’00 is a field sales representative for Allstate Insurance and lives in Astoria, N.Y.

Satara P. Ferguson ’96 is a teacher at Flat Shoals Elementary School. She became a licensed minister in 2008 and had her first book, Handmade

by God, published in May. She is working on two additional books and lives with her son, HyKeem, in Lithonia, Ga.

Shaun P. Landers ’00 has received an MBA with a concentration in human resources management from Johns Hopkins University.

Shaun is a recruiting director with Resources Global Professionals.

He lives in Maplewood, N.J., with his wife, Lisa.

Melanie Y. Crenshaw ’98 graduated in the charter class of Elon University School of Law. Melanie lives in Greensboro, N.C. Stephanie O’Brien ’98 manages recruitment for Walt Disney’s newest venture, Disney English. She works with educators teaching English in China. She lives in Stamford, Conn.

Bobby G. Cox Jr. ’99 is an assistant varsity football coach at West Craven High School. He lives in Vanceboro, N.C., with his wife, Erica, and their son, Kaden.

Shannon K. Landefeld ’99 received the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award at the National Education Conference in April. Shannon is a fourth-grade teacher at Tulip Grove Elementary School in Bowie, Md. She lives in Crofton, Md. Erica L. Preusse ’99 traveled to Africa and worked with children affected by hiv in Tanzania. She also went on a safari and spent Easter on Zanzibar Island. Erica lives in Holly Springs, N.C. Melissa Quinn ’99 is a producer with the television show “The Shift,” which chronicles the cases of homicide detectives in Indianapolis.

She won an Emmy Award in June from the National Academy of Melissa Quinn ’99 32

THE MAGAZINE OF ELON

Joe D. Trickey ’99 is pursuing an MBA at Liberty University. He lives in South Boston, Va.

’s REUNION ’

also serves as the assistant secretary of Pocono Raceway and assistant director for fox Sports Speed Channel.

Ashley lives in Long Pond, Pa. Lundon B. Sims ’02 received the Southern Conference of Foreign Language Teachers Award and will study abroad in Cuenca, Ecuador, this summer. She also received the Blanche Raper Zimmerman Scholarship for social studies teachers from the Winston-Salem Foundation.

Lundon lives in Winston-Salem, N.C. Erica Stanley ’02 is deputy communications director for Adrian Fenty, mayor of Washington, D.C. Erica lives in Washington, D.C. Tim Steadman ’02 was contracted as a contributing photographer with

Jeff Goodman ’01 completed his first year of teaching health and physical education at Bryan McFarland ’04, Chris Glen ’05 and Jennifer Guthrie ’04 Colonel Richardson High School. Jeff coaches the boy’s Icon smi, a photography wire service. soccer and baseball teams. He lives One of Tim’s photos from the ncaa with his wife, Tammy, and his daugh- Baseball Super Regionals was feater, Hailey, in Chestertown, Md. tured on the front page of the espnu Web site. Tim lives in Charlotte, Steven A. Wilson ’01 has earned a N.C., with his wife, Karen Dickens master’s degree and license in coun- Steadman ’03. seling and is pursuing a license as a clinical addictions specialist. Brian D. Ford ’03 helped establish Steven works for Triad Psychiatric Capstone Realty Advisors, a commerand Counseling Center. He lives in cial real estate brokerage firm. Brian lives in Charlotte, N.C. Whitsett, N.C. Allyson M. Brunetti ’02 was promoted to operations manager at mkm Partners in Greenwich, Conn. She serves as the young alumni chair of the New York Alumni Chapter. She lives in Old Greenwich, Conn.

Holly Edwards Ferris ’02 received a master’s degree in higher and postsecondary education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Holly is a program manager at the Jerome A. Chazem Institute of International Business at Columbia Business School. She lives in New York.

Ashley R. Igdalsky ’02 is executive director of the new Village at Pocono Raceway, which opened in August. She

Danielle S. Matthews ’03 received an MBA with a concentration in project management from Walden University.

Danielle lives in Middle River, Md. Jeanette Olli ’03 earned a doctorate in mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in May. This fall, she will serve as an assistant professor of mathematics at Dominican University in River Forest, Ill. Wade H. Barnes ’04 received the Governor’s Service Award for his volunteer efforts with inner-city high schools. Wade is assistant vice president of 1st Mariner Bank in Baltimore. He lives in Parkville, Md. Sharon Anderson Davies ’04 received her master’s degree in education with a concentration in student

affairs practice in higher education from the University of Virginia. She is executive director of the Virginia ymca and coordinates statewide youth leadership programs. She lives with her husband, Corey, in Lynchburg, Va. Alyssa Martin ’04 is working with Oscar-nominated director Mark Kitchell on his new film about the history of the environmental movement. Alyssa leads the project’s archival research efforts in San Francisco, where she lives.

A. Justin McCarthy iii ’04 was named a Leader’s Level Producer at Baystate Financial Services, where he works as a financial planner. He lives with his wife, Alison Edwards McCarthy ’04, in Westford, Mass.

Bryan McFarland ’04 launched Vintage V by David Mac, a designer T-shirt company based in West Chester, Pa. He works with Jennifer Guthrie ’04 and Christopher Glen ’05 at the company, which specializes in men’s and women’s graphic V-neck shirts. Alums can find the shirts at www.vintagevneck.com.

Vycki McKitrick ’04 graduated from the University of Maryland School of Nursing and is a geriatric nurse practitioner at Bravohealth. She lives in Baltimore.

William K. Pou iii ’04 was promoted to replenishment buyer at Badcock Home Furniture and More. William lives with his wife, Tessa SweetmanPou ’04, in Mulberry, Fla. Katie Sherman ’04 was promoted to associate managing editor at TheLadders.com, an executive job search Web site. Katie resides in Brooklyn, N.Y. Jessica Patchett-Anderson ’05 is the child and family outreach coordinator at First Presbyterian Church and serves as pastor of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Concord, N.C. In July, she was ordained as a minister of word and sacrament. Jessica lives with her husband, Tommy, in Charlotte, N.C. Agnes P. Bannigan ’05 received her master’s degree from the University of Maryland department of creative writing. Agnes plans to continue teaching at the University of

CLASS Notes

A treasured keepsake

BY SARAH COSTELLO ’ AND JALEH HAGIGH

T

hanks to Mary Jones Stephenson ’31, Elon trustee Zachary T. Walker III ’60 has a special memento of his father, former Elon quarterback Zachary Walker Jr. ’30.

This story begins at Homecoming in fall 1929. Zac Walker Jr. scored the first touchdown of the game and by tradition was awarded a maroon wool sweater with a gold “E” sewn on the front. Instead of taking it for himself, he asked that it be made in a smaller size for Stephenson, his girlfriend at the time.

She wore it several times that season before carefully tucking it away in a cedar chest for safekeeping.

Nearly eight decades later, the 100-year-old alumna from Suffolk, Va., decided to give the sweater to Walker’s son as a keepsake. Coincidentally, Stephenson’s dentist in Suffolk, Dr. Leroy Howell, is a trustee emeritus at Elon, and he agreed to make sure the sweater reached Walker. He called Walker at his Raleigh, N.C., home in February to tell him the good news. Walker was floored.

“I never knew Mary existed until I got the call,” Walker says. “Dad never talked a lot about his time at Elon. He enjoyed it, and he was an all-conference player, but it never went to his head.”

Walker couldn’t believe his eyes when he finally received the sweater, not knowing it had been made for Stephenson.

“My first reaction when I saw it was, ‘I knew my daddy was a small man, but I never knew he was that small,’” Walker says, laughing. “I expected it to have some wear and tear, but it looked like it had just come off the factory line. I was overwhelmed.”

Walker called Stephenson to thank her for the sweater. In an interview, Stephenson says she dated the elder Walker for two years and that she couldn’t recall any other player making that kind of sacrifice for his girlfriend.

“I thought it was great for him to make (the sweater) for me,” she says. “He wanted me to have it to remember him by. I guess he thought enough of me to do that for me.”

Maryland this fall. She resides in Greenbelt, Md. Michael Bean ’05 was named teacher of the year at Southern Vance High School for 2008–2009. Michael lives in Henderson, N.C. Valentine Woods Breitbarth ’05 graduated with a master’s degree in public health and health policy from George Washington University in May. Valentine works for the District of Columbia in the Department of Health Care Finance’s Policy and Planning Administration. She lives in Washington, D.C.

Zac Walker III ’60

Staying in touch following graduation was difficult, Stephenson says. She returned to her Virginia home, married, raised two children and taught school for more than 30 years.

“I went to some Elon Commencements, and he was there, of course,” Stephenson says. “I spoke to him there as a friend.”

Like Stephenson did before him, Walker has stored the sweater in a cedar chest in his home, which he shares with his wife, Dot. “Dot and I haven’t decided what we’re going to

do with it yet,” he says. “I’m going to see if it’ll fit her and if she’ll wear it to an Elon football game.”

Zac and Dot Walker have been generous Elon benefactors for more than 25 years, making major gifts to support academic and athletics scholarships, as well as construction of the new field house in the north athletics complex.

“I’ll be forever grateful to Mary for caring enough to get that sweater to me,” Walker says. “It’s part of my dad’s life that I never knew existed. It is something I’ll always treasure.”

Jennifer Holmes ’05 in June earned a master’s degree in human-computer interaction from DePaul University in Chicago. Jennifer is a Web developer with Salem Web Network. She lives in Midlothian, Va.

Jessica Swearengin ’05 was named to the 2009 class of Apple Distinguished Educators. She was a N.C. Teaching Fellow at Elon and now teaches world history at Mooresville High School in Mooresville, N.C.

Samantha “Sam” C. McDaniel ’05 is pursuing a master’s degree in religion at Liberty University. She was appointed president of the national board of trustees for the Sigma Alpha Omega Christian sorority and is the worship leader for conVerge Church in Lynchburg, Va.

Alison Gray Wille ’05 and Michael G. Wille ’05 celebrated their first wedding anniversary in June. Mike is a financial specialist with Wachovia Bank, and Alison works as a senior associate auditor for PricewaterhouseCoopers.

They reside in Baltimore. Their first year of marriage has been wonderful and they want to thank Elon alumni Emily Sprouse Walker ’04, Matt Wille ’07, Alden De Lamarter ’07, Ashley Kehrer ’02, Bowie Gray

Patrick J. Rees ’05 is public relations coordinator for the New Jersey Nets.

Patrick lives in Weehawken, N.J.

’00, Matt Crews ’05, David Ratz ’01, Tracy Trave ’06, Jen Quast ’05, Cassie Cosentino ’07 and professor Linda Poulson for attending their wedding.

Aubria T. Williams ’05 is pursing a bachelor’s degree in graphic design at the Art Institute in Northern Virginia.

Before that, she worked for four years as a social worker in Louisville, Ky. Aubria resides in Herndon, Va. Tommy Bedard ’06 graduated from Syracuse University’s School of Education in May with a master’s degree in secondary social studies education. Tommy is pursuing a middle/high school teaching posi-

THE MAGAZINE OF ELON

33

CLASS Notes

Loren K. Burlando ’93 and Russell Adams

l-r Jim Snell ’98, Megan Slusher Snell ’98, Deena Sarah Porter Chambers ’99 and Andrew Chambers Erickson McNichol ’98, Scott McNichol and Maria and friends N. McArthur ’99

tion in central New York. He lives in Syracuse, N.Y. Geoff Childs ’06 recently completed a yearlong tour of duty in Iraq with the U.S. Army. Geoff was promoted to captain and was awarded the Bronze Star for his service as a scout platoon leader and squadron adjutant during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Geoff and his wife, Laura Bartholomay Childs ’05, reside in Killeen, Texas.

Matthew Cohen ’06 moved to the Washington, D.C., area to work in the company statistics division of the U.S. Census Bureau. He resides in Arlington, Va. Michael G. Demos ’06 was named the play-by-play announcer for the Tri-City ValleyCats, the minor league Class A baseball affiliate for the Houston Astros. He works for the Siena College athletics department and lives in Clifton Park, N.Y. Brandon Gauthier ’06 has been accepted as a Ph.D. candidate in U.S. diplomatic history at Fordham University. He will complete his master’s degree this summer and begin his doctoral studies this fall. Brandon lives in New York.

Jennifer L. Papillo ’06 graduated cum laude from Stetson University College of Law in May and plans to attend Georgetown University Law Center to obtain an LL.M. in taxation with an emphasis on exempt organizations. Jennifer resides in St. Petersburg, Fla. Amanda R. Taylor ’06 worked on the Tony Award-winning Broadway production of “The Norman Conquests” with acclaimed producer Jennifer Isaacson. This fall, she will work with Isaacson as a co-producer in the new production company Rebel/Rebel Productions. Currently, they are working on a show titled “In Therapy with Celine,” which features singer Celine Dion in a comedy/cabaret show. Amanda resides in New York.

Dave Warfel ’06 started a Web design and creative marketing company in Richmond, Va. Dave has also been competing in sprint triathlons and is training for a 100-mile trail run through the mountains of Virginia in June 2010. He resides in Henrico, Va. Andrew A. Iszard ’07 is a sales and services associate at the Halstead of Arlington, a luxury apartment complex. Andrew lives in Alexandria, Va.

Cara H. Leidy ’07 and her fellow Brian C. Lynch ’06 sells sponsor- Sigma Sigma Sigma sisters celebrated ships and advertisements for the the engagement of Corey Backes Boston Red Sox and Boston Celtics ’07 and Bobby Miller ’07. Ashley radio network. He works at weei Moniger ’07, Sarah Edyt ’07, Devin 850 am Sports Radio. Brian lives in Cirillo ’07, Lydia Pohlman ’07 and Watertown, Mass.

Lauren Sims ’07 also attended. Cara lives in Washington, D.C. George Memory ’06 received his Series 7, Series 31 and Series 65 life Samuel B. McGuire ’07 received a and health insurance, and long-term master’s degree in history from the care and Medicare supplement li- University of Kentucky in May. He censes and certifications. George plans to pursue a doctorate in history works as a portfolio manager and fi- at the University of Georgia. He lives nancial planning specialist with the in Athens, Ga. Sullivan Memory McCulloch Group at MorganStanley SmithBarney. Sara Rhymer ’07 has joined the George lives in Winston-Salem, N.C. Peace Corps and will serve in Peru as a youth development volunteer/speScott T. Owen ’06 was promoted to cial education trainer. She will help regional manager of Cranked Cuts students and teachers in Peru develop nyc. Scott lives in New York. special education curricula and raise 34

THE MAGAZINE OF ELON

Stacey Lee ’99 and Valerie Delby

awareness about people with disabilities in the community. Before joining the Peace Corps, Sara worked for two years as a teacher assistant at the Burlington County Special Services School in New Jersey. She lives in Burlington, N.J. Emily Sargent ’07 completed a weeklong service trip to Honduras. Emily has traveled to Honduras several times since her first trip as a member of the Periclean Scholars Class of 2007.

Emily resides in Washington, D.C. Tonya J. Albert ’08 was promoted to full-time museum specialist with Jekyll Island Authority. She is in charge of collections, archives and historic building maintenance. She lives in Brunswick, Ga. Brad Hartland ’08 was promoted to chief Macintosh computer technician at the Advisory Board Company, based in Washington, D.C. He lives in Cary, N.C. Samantha Widmer ’08 competed in the NatWest Island Games golf tournament in Aland, Finland. She plans to compete in the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships in Provo, Turks and Caicos, in August. Samantha resides in Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman, where she works as an accountant for Ernst & Young.

Dorian A. Wanzer ’09 was awarded the James E. Webb Students in Public Administration Fellowship with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. She lives in Greensboro, N.C.

Weddings

’s John H. Pinson ’85 and Kathy Gilliam Ruffin ’81, 6/20/09. Kathy works for Communications Technologies on assignment at Virginia Military Institute.

John is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and works as a sales and project manager

Sean M. Loren ’99 and Dawn Loren and friends

for ThyssenKrupp Safway, Inc. They live in Lexington, Va. Steve Chatham ’86 and Ella McBride, 6/22/08. Steve is a systems analyst at Remington Arms. The couple reside in Axton, Va.

’s Chris T. Creasy ’91 and Stacie Lefler, 8/8/08. Chris and Stacie are bartenders and co-owners of 6th Bistro and Loft. Chris is the president of Epic Restaurants. The couple reside in Hood River, Ore. Loren Kendra Burlando ’93 and Russell K. Adams, 9/20/08. Loren is an associate producer of “Dateline nbc,” a news magazine show. The couple live in New York.

Angela G. Riley ’96 and Kevin D. Wrenn, 4/18/09. Angela is senior editor for wghp Fox 8. The couple reside in Thomasville, N.C. Melissa Crowe ’97 and Matt McNamara, 3/14/09. Melissa is a surgical sales representative for Medtronic.

The couple live in Arlington, Va. Deena R. Erickson ’98 and Scott S. McNichol, 3/22/08. Elon alumni in attendance were: Megan Slusher Snell ’98, Jim Snell ’98 and Maria Nicole McArthur ’99. Deena is a clinical social worker at the National Center for Children and Families.

They reside in Frederick, Md. Stacey M. Lee ’99 and Valerie L. Delby, 8/2/08. Elon alumni in attendance were: Erin Benson Hontz ’99, Tara Linman Riemer ’99, Cortney Berben ’99 and David Meeler ’90.

Stacey is a physician assistant. The couple reside in Charlotte, N.C. Scott Loney ’99 and Carri Espeland, 11/1/08. Scott is a financial consultant at Charles Schwab. The couple live in Chevy Chase, Md.

CLASS Notes

A worthy mission

BY SARAH COSTELLO ’

B

ritten Ginsburg ’06 has devoted much of her life to serving some of society’s most vulnerable people.

The drive to help others began in high school and continued at Elon, where she majored in human services and conducted research on HIV/AIDS as part of the university’s undergraduate research program.

Today, Ginsburg is a senior associate of care and treatment at the National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors. The nonprofit association represents the nation’s leading officials who are responsible for administering HIV/AIDS healthcare, prevention, education and support programs in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories.

Their goal, Ginsburg explains, is to reduce the number of HIV/AIDS cases, as well as provide quality care to people living with the disease and advocate for responsible public policy. Ginsburg and her colleagues assist state officials in a variety of ways, from helping them find answers to medical questions to gathering information to promoting communication between state and local health departments and care and treatment programs. She also drafts surveys on AIDS-related issues and contributes to alliance publications.

She never imagined that working at a desk would be so empowering.

“I think (the alliance) is an amazing place and provides great opportunities,” Ginsburg says. “Sitting in an office really is making a difference.”

Their ultimate goal is as simple as it is ambitious.

“Our vision is a world free of HIV and AIDS,” she says.

Ginsburg knows they have a long way to go to reach their dream.

Ginsburg began working on behalf of people

Sean M. Loren ’99 and Dawn M. Batchelder, 4/25/09. Elon alumni in attendance were: Jimmy Golinsky ’99, Shelley Rubin Golinsky ’00, Chris Tonnesen ’99, Teresa Hauss Pollock ’03, Mike Bruno ’98, Jason Clark ’94, Rachel Malone Clark ’98, Ryan Bradley ’97, Ed Bonanno ’98, Chris Chandler ’01, Michelle James ’98, Evan Henry ’00, Ron Pukacz ’00, Kerry Neale ’04 and Kendall Mackintosh Thompson ’00. Sean works in investments for 3D Advisors llc. The couple reside in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Jeffrey R. Myers ’99 and Jennifer Dew ’03, 12/20/08. Elon alumni in attendance were: Francis Williams ’96, Brent Walker ’99, Regan Beaudry Burney ’03, Mark McGinnis ’98, Heang Uy ’00, Leslie Crowe Rafter ’03 and Dalerie Hudson McGinnis ’99. Jeffrey is a youth director, and

Britten Ginsburg ’06, at right, with Elon professor Cynthia Fair with AIDS as part of a research project at Elon. She chose the university because of its human services program and commitment to service.

“Elon had everything I was looking for,” Ginsburg says. “It was small enough that I could be the big fish in the little pond. I have always been interested in helping people and found myself at home with the broader idea of human services.”

Many doors opened for Ginsburg at Elon,

Jennifer is a school counselor. They live in Chesapeake, Va. Sarah Porter ’99 and Andrew Chambers, 3/14/09. Elon alumni in attendance were: Leslie Gill ’95, Kelly Hayman ’99, Jill Barrett ’99, Christine Zellers Heckert ’97, Kristina Kromulis McClain ’97, Kristen McGuire ’98, Mark Richter ’99 and Michelle Maddox Ward ’98.

The couple reside in Albany, Ohio.

including the chance to conduct research with her adviser, Cynthia Fair, associate professor of human services, who was examining discrimination faced by adults with HIV/AIDS. As part of her research, Ginsburg spent time at Higher Ground Day Center in Greensboro, N.C., which serves individuals with AIDS or HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. She surveyed and observed the clients at Higher Ground and later began volunteering there. During her senior year, she participated in an internship at the center.

“I still remember the overwhelming sense of walking through the front door of Higher Ground and thinking ‘I finally belong somewhere,’” she says.

Volunteering at the center was not easy.

Ginsburg regularly witnessed hardship and suffering.

“I remember the first person I knew really well who died,” she recalls. “It still makes me take a deep breath and remember a time when he was around. What a disease can do to somebody is heartbreaking.”

Ginsburg presented the results of her research at Elon’s Student Undergraduate Research Forum and later at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research.

After graduation, Ginsburg completed an internship at the National Alliance, which turned into a full-time job a few months later. The alliance has made significant progress fighting AIDS since the group’s founding in 1991, Ginsburg says. Yet she knows it has a long way to go to achieve its goal of an AIDS-free world.

“We continue to work for a day when we can say we’re really glad we don’t have jobs anymore because we came to do what we needed to do.”

Matt Shifano ’00 and Sarah Ford, 5/2/09. Matt works in real estate in Bethany Beach, Del. The couple reside in Frankford, Del.

Brian M. Canto ’01 and Kristin E. Norman, 9/14/08. Elon alumni in attendance were: Matthew Paolino ’02, Garth Lanning ’01, Andrew Linn ’02, Billy Duffy ’01, Suzanne George Duffy ’02, Stacey Munoz ’01, David Fortier ’01, Daniel Carmody ’01, Joseph Chichetti ’01, Cynthia Mary Ann Rogers-Witte ’99 and Paul Maynard Ward ’01 and Pamela C. Ciciarelli, 8/31/08. The couple re- Braccini Pizzanie ’01. The couple side in Charlotte, N.C. reside in Webster, Md.

’s Jennifer Ledger ’00 and Raj Thamoderam, 8/8/08. The couple reside in Enfield, England.

Clark Carter ’01 and Jennifer Mirone, 1/10/09. Clark is program coordinator at The Root Cellar. The couple reside in Portland, Maine.

Thomas W. Dozier ’01 and Asheley L. Wheeley ’03, 4/18/09. Elon alums

Dan Tursi ’02, Patrick Benko ’04 and Bill Woods ’02 were in attendance. Thomas is a meeting planner at AIM Meetings, and Asheley is a marketing director for The Washington Post. The couple reside in Rockville, Md. Michael “Derek” Luther ’01 and Brittany S. Brackett ’05, 6/28/08.

Elon alumni in attendance were: Kate Gaskin ’05, Kristin White ’04, Melissa von der Heide ’04, Kristen New ’04, Adam Sherland ’05, Dan Hanson ’05, Samantha White ’05, Julie Bourbeau ’06, Trent Gilbert ’02, Angel Jacobs ’04, Tucker Campbell ’03, Don Campbell ’01 and Edward New ’01. Derek is assistant director of admissions at Immaculata University, and Brittany is a child life specialist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

The couple live in Ardmore, Pa.

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35

CLASS Notes

Brian M. Canto ’01 and Kristin Norman Canto and friends

l-r Dan Tursi ’02, Tom Dozier ’01, Asheley Wheeley Dozier ’03, Patrick Benko ’04, Bill Woods ’02

Carrie Roberts Tyson ’03 and Jeffrey Myers ‘99 and Jennifer Dew Henry Tyson Myers ’03 and friends

Laura Wulf Conley ’05 and Brian Conley ’04 and friends

Carl W. Sgritta ’02 and Ellie A. Mayer ’02, 10/6/07. Carl is trade operations manager at Citigroup gts, and Ellie is a property manager for RFR Realty. The couple reside in Norwalk, Conn.

Ryan Molloy ’03 and Misty Pearson ’06, 4/18/09. Ryan is a senior financial analyst at Bank of America, and Misty is a volunteer coordinator at Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region. The couple reside in Huntersville, N.C. Kyleen Moore ’03 and Jeff Beshore, 9/20/08. Kyleen is a dolphin trainer at The Dolphin Connection. The couple live in Marathon, Fla. Carrie Roberts ’03 and Henry Tyson, 5/10/08. The couple live in Raleigh, N.C.

Derek Luther ’01 and Brittany Brackett Luther ’05 and friends

Alison Gray Wille ’05 and Michael G. Wille ’05 and friends

Meredith Rountree Worsham ’06 and James Worsham and friends

Kelly Fleck ’06 and Elzie Burgher, 9/13/08.

The couple reside in Statesville, N.C. Rachel Hetu ’06 and Bradley Sumrow, 7/19/08. Rachel is a registered nurse at unc Kristina Velys Adams ’05 and Children’s Hospital. The Jim Adams couple live in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Misty Pearson Molloy ’06 and Ryan Molloy ’03 and friends

Richard Schlieper ’06 and Ashley Krueger Schlieper ’07

Soledad Davila ’04 and Lee Whittington, 4/2/09. The couple reside in Edwards, Colo.

Kevin W. Kindle ’06 and Katie C. Donovan ’06, 5/2/09. Elon alumni in attendance were: Liza Schirmer Kate Polchlopek ’04 and Brian ’06, Derek Powers ’06, Aaramina Costello, 5/25/08. Kate is a golf pro- Maynard ’06 and Ian MacLaughlin fessional at the Forest Lake Country ’06. Kevin works on a film crew, and Club. The couple live in Rochester Katie is the project coordinator for Hills, Mich.

Sesame Street. The couple reside in Astoria, N.Y. Megan Booth ’05 and Peter Malanos ’04, 6/21/08. Megan is the human Cecilia E. McCollum ’06 and Tobias resources administrator at South B. Eisenträger, 7/5/08. Bridget Carolina Research Authority. Peter Burckell ’06 and Elizabeth White ’06 is a general contractor at M Design served as bridesmaids. Elon alumni in and Development. The couple reside attendance were: Bess York ’04, Lisa in Charleston, S.C. Rockwell ’05 and Loren BattagliaBeley ’06. The couple reside in Kristina Velys ’05 and Jim Adams, Düsseldorf, Germany.

10/4/08. Elon alums Julie Irving ’05 and Dan Kulick ’05 were in atten- Chad Ritter ’06 and Ashlyn Dixon dance. The couple reside in Herndon, ’07, 5/30/09. Chad is a regional sales Va. representative at Rainin Instruments, and Ashlyn is a student at the Laura E. Wulf ’05 and Brian L. University of Massachusetts Medical Conley ’04, 10/25/08. Elon alumni School. in attendance were: Zoe Maas ’05, Kimberly Atwater ’06, Andrew Meredith Rountree ’06 and James Rollins ’04, Erin Mahoney ’05, Worsham, 4/18/09. The couple reside Christina Ryan ’05 and Travis in New York.

Lock ’05. The couple reside in Santa Monica, Calif.

Richard E. Schlieper ’06 and Ashley M. Krueger ’07, 2/14/09. Richard 36

THE MAGAZINE OF ELON

Katey Dowd González ’07 and René González

Rachel Hiskey Cloud ’07 and Brandon Cloud

Lauren N. Horney ’09 and Michael W. Lawson ’09

Meghan Partelow Fisher ’07 and James Fisher and friends Kelly Fleck Burgher ’06 and Elzie Burgher and friends

Ministries serving orphaned children in Monterrey, where they live. is a client relationship associate at Vanguard, and Ashley is pursuing a master’s degree in social work. The couple reside in Charlotte, N.C. Katey J. Dowd ’07 and René I. González, 10/11/08. The couple met while Katey was working for Back2Back Ministries in Monterrey, Mexico. They work for Back2Back

Rachel Hiskey ’07 and Brandon Cloud, 6/21/08. Elon alumni in attendance were: Elizabeth Evans ’08, Megan Hall ’08, Kerry Sunderland ’08, Allison Ellmers ’08, Kate McCulley ’08, Jessica Young ’08, Stephen Michael ’08, Garrett Kachellek ’08 and Alli Dean ’09. The couple reside in Annapolis, Md.

CLASS Notes

Finders Keepers brings smiles

J

eweler Trey Bailey ’02 hatched one of his most successful business ideas while sitting in a park with his wife, Marci, one lazy Sunday afternoon.

“I asked her, ‘How cool would it be if someone found a Bailey’s box that was just sitting there, and they could just keep it (like) finders keepers?’” he recalls. Before long, Bailey’s Fine Jewelry store’s Finders Keepers project was born. For the past year, Bailey and his colleagues have left 1,000 boxes of free jewelry across Eastern North Carolina as well as in Raleigh, Rocky Mount and Greenville, where the family owns stores.

Why? To make someone’s day brighter and promote the family-owned business, which is known for its signature black and white striped gift boxes topped with a red bow.

A woman in Raleigh found the first box on Sept. 11, 2008. It came with an unsealed envelope with “Finders Keepers” written on the front. Inside, the note read, “Congratulations. This gift is for you.

Yes, you. You deserve it, you really do. Give it, share it, wear it. This Bailey Box is yours. We just hope you come through our doors.” The note also included Bailey’s e-mail address, and the woman contacted him.

“She said it made her day,” Bailey recalls. “But what I wasn’t expecting was that there was an emotional connection — she’d been going through a rough time, and it meant a lot to her.”

From that first box, the project has flourished.

The store distributes Finders Keepers boxes each month and during holidays, including Mother’s Day. The boxes typically contain necklaces, bracelets or earrings valued from 20 to 100, or the occasional gift card.

“It’s fun, you get a little rush when you leave it,” Bailey says. “Once or twice, I’ve stayed to watch.

Sometimes the first person will be the one to pick it up, and sometimes a couple of people will walk by before they realize what it is.”

The project has attracted media attention across the state and prompted thousands to e-mail the store.

Meghan Partelow ’07 and James F. Fisher, 4/25/09. Jane Williams Steele ’06 served as a bridesmaid. The couple reside in Greensboro, N.C. Anna M. Schimmelfing ’07 and Doug von Allmen, 7/12/08. Anna teaches third grade at Glenwood Elementary School. They live in Carrboro, N.C. Jason A. Spinos ’07 and Becca S. Johnson ’04, 7/19/08. Jason is a video editor at News Channel 25, and Becca is pursuing a master’s degree in directing for theater at Baylor University.

The couple reside in Waco, Texas.

BY BETHANY SWANSON ’

“I didn’t expect it to have this kind of impact,” Bailey says. “It’s a new way for us to interact with our customers and gain new customers through word of mouth.”

The store’s motto, “Every Woman Wants A Bailey Box,” gained new meaning for Bailey when he heard from a single mother who had found a box.

“She wrote this e-mail (and) sounded so down. It said, ‘I’m a single mom, and I’ve never been able to afford a Bailey’s box. I had come to terms with the fact that I would never get one, and then I found one,’” Bailey recalls. “She said, ‘I’m going to keep this box forever so that I can remember how great that day was.’ I started to get chills. It really touches your heart to see that something so small can bring so much joy.”

especially because of the volume that we’re doing,” he says. “But it’s the best time to do it because it creates great word of mouth (for the store) and it really touches the customers in a personal way.”

Bailey earned his Elon degree in business administration with a concentration in management.

After graduation, he attended the Gemological Institute of America in Carlsbad, Calif., where he earned his certification as a graduate gemologist. He worked at Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers in San Diego and completed an internship with Smyth Jewelers in Timonium, Md. He then spent time in New Orleans before moving back to North Carolina to work with the family business, which was started by Bailey’s grandparents in 1948 and is currently owned by his father, Clyde Bailey.

Bailey credits Elon’s faculty and staff with preparing him to succeed.

“Elon people love Elon,” Bailey says. “If I had to do it all over again, I would go back to Elon. The school has great teachers, and I was always impressed by how open they were. You could call them at home, on the weekends. That was always something I valued. The staff was great, too.”

Bailey says he has high hopes for the Finders Keepers project and hopes to expand it to other parts of the state.

“It’s It s more than I could ever ask for. It It’ss going to become part of our history, and we just don’t want to stop.”

Trey Bailey ’02 and his wife, Marci Bailey says the struggling economy provides the perfect ct incentive to continue Finders Keepers. The buzz the projectt has created is worth the cost of the he jewelry.

“Financially, it’s a little expensive, pensive,

Lauren N. Horney ’09 and Michael W. Lawson ’09, 6/6/09. Lauren is a clinical secretary and patient care specialist for the Carilion Clinic. The couple live in Roanoke, Va.

Births

’s Bill Sandford ’90 and Cheryl Fowler Sandford ’93, Whitsett, N.C. Son: Luke Joshua. 1/21/09. He joins older brothers Christopher and William.

Bill is self-employed at Advantage

Homebuyers, and Cheryl is a homemaker.

Laurie Wommack Johnston ’92 and Miguel Johnston ’94, Morganton, N.C. Son: Gregory Vaughn. 5/8/09.

He joins older brothers Seth, Rico, Ben and Erik. Laurie is a homemaker, and Miguel is an eighth-grade algebra teacher at Liberty Middle School.

Sam Walker ’92 and Michelle Walker, Duncan, S.C. Daughter: Ella Grace.

8/22/08. Sam is director of dining services at Wofford College.

Liese Bouknight Faircloth ’93 and Dean Faircloth, Raleigh, N.C. Daughter: Emma Grace. 7/22/08.

Liese is a senior auditor at Ernst and Young.

Letitia “Tish” H. Hamilton ’94 and David E. Hamilton, Raleigh, N.C. Daughter: Emory Holt. She joins older sisters, Sarah Clark, Anna Hudson and Mary Reade. Letitia is a homemaker.

St e p h a n i e J . Ho u s t o n ’ 9 4 , Burlington, N.C. Son: Joseph Graham. 10/5/07. He joins older brother, Gabriel. Stephanie is the THE MAGAZINE OF ELON

37

CLASS Notes Christian K. Marge ’01 and Jessica E. Marge, Mooresville, N.C. Daughter: Gabriella Jean. 3/26/09.

Julianne Sparks Martin ’01 and Todd Martin, Atlanta. Son: Benjamin Patrick. 3/12/09.

Sarah Croker Kober ’97, husband, David, and children, Ella and Samuel

Andrew Kraft ’96 and Janice Hackl Kraft ’97 and their children

Jennifer James Terry ’98, husband, Kenneth, and son, Patrick

Christian Marge ’01 with wife, Jessica and daughter, Gabriella

Kara McLaughlin Ragan ’97 and W. Peter Ragan Jr., Manasquan, N.J. Daughter: Maeve Elizabeth.

5/28/08. She joins older siblings, Ryan, Colleen and Elanor. Kara is a homemaker.

David Clubb ’95 and Michelle Clubb ’95 and children, Ainsley, Griffin and Mallory

Kristin Hartley Gardner ’00 and Todd Gardner ’00 and son, Reece

academically gifted resource teacher at Elon Elementary School.

Bethany Morde Chavis ’95 and Chris Chavis, Greensboro, N.C. Twins: Jason Michael and Samantha Ashley. 9/29/08. They join older siblings, Tyler and Kendall. Bethany is a homemaker and real estate broker.

David B. Clubb ’95 and Shannon M. Clubb ’95, Allison Park, Pa. Daughter: Mallory Joy. 2/26/09.

She joins older siblings Ainsley and Griffin. David is director of international services at the University of Pittsburgh.

Erica Cutler Flaherty ’95 and Ed Flaherty, Doylestown, Pa. Son: Ryan Michael. 4/2/08. He joins older brothers, Jack and Kyle.

Casey Phillips Emmendorfer ’05, husband, Rich, and son, Bryce

Chris Hobbs ’96 and Stephanie Hobbs, Midlothian, Va. Son: Cooper William. 2/12/09. He joins older brothers, Bailey and Jackson.

Andrew A. Kraft ’96 and Janice Hackl Kraft ’97, Winston-Salem, N.C. Daughter: Callie Grace.

11/14/08. Andrew is the administrator for Winston Salem/Forsyth County Schools, and Janice is a homemaker.

Liz Sonnanstine ’96 and Todd Sonnanstine, Tipp City, Ohio.

Daughter: Natalie Jane. 1/1/09. She joins older brother, Benjamin.

John Stepp ’96 and Toi Svane Stepp, Royal Palm Beach, Fla. Son: Rigby Paul. 7/18/08. John is director of worship arts at Palm Beach Community Church.

Steven W. Leypoldt ’98 and Meghan Leypoldt, Durham, N.C. Daughter: Piper Marie. 9/14/08. Steven is a practice executive for Campbell Alliance.

Jennifer James Terry ’98 and Kenneth P. Terry, Baltimore. Son: Patrick Thomas. 3/7/09. Jennifer is the clinical administrator for ob/ gyn and urology at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

’s Chris Capistrant ’00 and Sara Lenser Capistrant, Ashburn, Va. Son: Lucas Owen. 6/10/08. He joins older brother, Colin. Chris is the meetings manager at American Institute of Architects.

Kristin Hartley Gardner ’00 and Todd Gardner ’00, Harrisonburg, Va. Son: Reece Todd. 11/20/08. Kristin works in student wellness and outreach at James Madison University, and Todd is vice president of Glass and Metals.

William T. Morley ’95 and Windley Sarah Croker Kober ’97 and David Marlena Mudryk Lynch ’00 and Baker Morley ’94, Richmond, Va. Kober, Bethlehem, N.H. Son: Samuel Kevin Lynch, Glen Allen, Va. Daughter: Isabelle Edward. 5/26/09. “Mason.” 12/26/08. He joins older sis- Daughter: Allison. 4/17/08. ter, Ella. Sarah is the project manager Andrea Lauri Urvina ’95 and Miguel at dci Furniture.

Jennifer Ledger Thamoderam ’00 and Raj Thamoderam, Enfield, Urvina, Danbury, Conn. Daughter: Nicole Grace. 1/8/09. She joins older Cara Lloyd McCarter ’97 and Shawn England. Daughter: Madeira Devi. brother, Jacob.

McCarter, Waxhaw, N.C. Daughter: 10/17/08.

Macie. 11/29/07. She joins older Elizabeth Wiegand Wentz ’95 and brother, Gavin. Cara is a homemaker. Kendall Mackintosh Thompson Christopher M. Wentz, Sewickley, ’00 and A.J. Thompson, Jefferson, Pa. Son: Finn Miller. 8/7/07. He Spencer T. Moore ’97 and Elizabeth Md. Son: Colten Riley. 1/15/09. He joins older brothers, Jack and Cooper. Hines Moore ’98, Westminster, Colo. joins older sister, Skyler. Kendall is a Elizabeth is an interior designer at Son: Henry Stockton. 12/17/08. He homemaker.

Kay Wiegand and Associates. joins older brother, Thomas. Spencer is an attorney with Bayer & Carey, Courtney Daubert Verdelli ’00 Alli Sharp Coords ’96 and Hunter pc, and Elizabeth is a teacher with and Gregory D. Verdelli ’01, Hummelstown, Pa. Son: Talan H. Coords, Atlanta. Daughter: Eva Aurora Public Schools.

Marie. 12/12/08. She joins older Gregory. 1/9/09. brothers, Maclain and Nolan.

38

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Natacha Mazeas Moore ’01 and David Moore, Vienna, Va. Son: JP. 9/22/08. He joins older siblings, Conner and Jacqueline. Natacha is a teacher with Fairfax County Public Schools.

Edward S. New ’01 and Judi New, Raleigh, N.C. Son: Riley William.

11/21/08.

Holly Burleson Dengler ’02 and Jason T. Dengler, Nottingham, Md. Son: Zachary Daniel. 12/4/09.

Janel Boyd Jernigan ’02 and Bryan S. Jernigan ’02, Kernersville, N.C. Son: Oliver. 2/4/09.

Ryan Notch ’03 and Sarah Emerson Notch ’02, Walnut Creek, Calif. Son: Ethan. 7/26/08. Ryan is a photographer at Ryan Notch Photography, and Sarah is an autism content specialist for the San Francisco Unified School District.

Ryan Sadler ’03 and Rachel Sadler, Jacksonville, Fla. Daughter: Reagan Amelia. 4/14/09.

Mary Brozina Wierick ’03 and Kyle Wierick, Silver Spring, Md. Daughter: Ella Betty. Mary is a music director.

Casey Phillips Emmendorfer ’05 and Rich Emmendorfer, Vilseck, Germany. Son: Bryce Richard.

10/8/08. Casey is a family readiness support technician with the U.S. Army.

Joshua L. Hurley ’08 and Jennifer L. Hurley, Summerfield, N.C., Daughter: Rebekah Grace. 9/2/08.

Deaths

’s Thyra Wright Vestal ’28, Morehead City, N.C. 4/8/09.

’s Martha Sutton Craven York ’37, Ramseur, N.C. 6/4/09.

CLASS Notes Thomas N. Boone Jr. ’39, Greensboro, N.C. 6/6/09.

Jean Nunnamaker James ’54, Winston-Salem, N.C. 6/11/09.

’s

’s

’s

Robert W. Bodenheimer Sr. ’57, Burlington, N.C. 5/15/09.

Robert Ray Nash Jr. ’70, Lake Lure, N.C. 6/18/09.

Dennis Burlew ’00, Port Monmouth, N.J. 6/7/09.

Julian H. Forlines ’43, Clarkton, N.C. 3/28/08.

Marvin L. King ’59, Elon, N.C. 4/21/09.

Curtis M. Saunders ’76, Elon, N.C. 4/18/09.

Chelsea Detrick ’07, Webster Groves, Mo. 4/9/09.

’s

’s

R i c h a rd K . Ma rc h m a n ’ 7 7 , Warwoman, Ga. 1/28/07.

Christopher “Chris” Randall Floyd ’10, Peachtree City, Ga. 6/21/09.

Gus N. Galanes ’50, Burlington, N.C. 5/24/09.

Bobby M. Brantley ’60, Haw River, N.C. 4/11/09.

Patricia Ann Riley Temple ’79, Hillsborough, N.C. 6/9/09.

John F. Sherard Jr. ’50, Burlington, N.C. 4/29/09.

Jimmy L. Byrd ’67, Burlington, N.C. 5/20/09.

’s

William E. Davis ’51, Washington, D.C. 6/20/08.

Homer Lee Ruff ’67, Varina, Va. 6/17/09.

Allen A. Tate ’84, Mebane, N.C. 4/17/09.

Robert “Bob” J. Harned ’53, Morehead City, N.C. 5/17/09.

Friend Jonathan M. Sweat, Madison, Miss.

4/14/09. He served as associate professor of music from 1952 to 1958.

Henry Maddrey Booke Jr. ’87, Myrtle Beach, S.C. 6/9/09.

TURN

Youself in online at www.elon.edu/classnotes

Class Notes Policy Class notes must come firsthand from the graduates who have news, a birth or marriage to report. Please send in your news as soon as you have something to share. We welcome news that is no more than a year old.

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Return this form with your news or story idea to the following address: Elon Office of University Relations 2030 Campus Box Elon, North Carolina 27244-2020 Fax: 336-524-0100 Phone: 336-278-7415 E-mail: alumniclassnotes@elon.edu Summer 2009 THE MAGAZINE OF ELON

39

Gift annuities provide income and flexibility to donors

Luther Conger ’55

Luther Conger ’55 didn’t have much money when he arrived at Elon in 1951 to play baseball and earn a college degree. He worked in the dining hall to help pay for his education and was grateful for the athletics scholarship he received during his senior year.

Recently, Conger found a way to help future student athletes and secure his family’s financial future. He and his wife, Louise, made a gift to Elon with a charitable gift annuity, which will give the couple lifetime income, as well as income tax benefits and a higher rate of return than many fixed-income investments currently available.

The annuity’s lifetime income and income tax benefits were particularly attractive to the former Elon pitcher and Sports Hall of Fame member.

“My wife and I live on a fixed income, so this kind of gift fits our situation best,” Conger says. “We had the opportunity to remove funds from a very low interest-bearing account to purchase the annuity, which gives us a higher annual return during our lifetime.

“This gift also provides us with immediate income tax savings. A significant amount of the income we receive is tax-free, and if I pass on before my wife, the annuity payments will continue going to her in the same amount without interruption.”

Equally important, Conger adds, was the ability to give back to his alma mater. Ultimately, the annuity will support the Graham “Doc” Mathis Athletic Scholarship, which provides annual assistance to Elon baseball, football or basketball players. Conger and his former teammates started the scholarship in 1979 to honor Mathis, one of Elon’s all-time great coaches who led the baseball and basketball programs.

“I wanted to show my appreciation for four wonderful years and the experience of a lifetime,” he says. “It gives me a lot of satisfaction to know that eventually Elon will benefit from our gift.”

Following their planned gift to the Ever Elon Campaign, the Congers became members of Order of the Oak, Elon’s planned giving recognition society.

Conger, a retired insurance executive, regularly drives from his home in Kernersville, N.C., to watch Elon baseball, football and basketball.

“You get a sense of pride when you drive across the railroad tracks and see what’s going on here,” he says. “It’s terrific. I encourage my former classmates and teammates to consider making this kind of gift.

It’s a win-win situation for you and Elon.”

making a difference

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

40

THE MAGAZINE OF ELON

‘The best is yet to be’ With those words, the Rev. Richard McBride closed his May 23 address to the Class of 2009 during Elon’s 119th Commencement.

A total of 1,121 undergraduates received their degrees Under the Oaks in front of West Hall. Among those watching was McBride’s son, Scott, a 1991 Elon alumnus and Army Apache helicopter pilot, who was on leave from service in Iraq to attend his father’s final speech at Elon (see page 7 for more). McBride retired in May after serving as Elon’s chaplain for 25 years. Forty-four MBA graduates received their degrees on May 22.

On May 24, the university celebrated the inaugural Commencement of the Elon University School of Law in Greensboro. A total of 107 members of the charter class received their degrees at The Carolina Theatre in downtown Greensboro and heard an address from David Gergen, chair of the law school advisory board (see page 5).

President Leo M. Lambert thanked members of the charter class for their historic contribution to the founding of the law school.

“Today, you are charged to use your knowledge for justice, your intelligence in the pursuit of goodness, your keen minds for seeking truth, your understanding of the complex in the cause of building a better society, your discernment for making fair decisions, your leadership in the cause of peace making. This is what your alma mater expects of you.”

ELON UNIVERSITY Office of Alumni Relations 2600 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244-2010 Toll Free: 877-784-3566 www.elon.edu/alumni

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The Elon Dance Company presented VIBE in May.