Through the guidance of Elon faculty members like Rudolf Zarzar, Smith decided to major in political science and economics, ultimately leading Smith to tackle tasks that seemed to be at first overwhelming. “He guided and encouraged me that hard work, persistence, organization and asking for help from faculty, staff, peers would make it possible,” he said.

With that advice in hand and to his surprise, Smith was named to the Dean’s List for the first time ever. “That was my first gift from Elon – the engaged faculty, staff and anyone else that would listen were there and really invested in my success,” he said.

Smith was also a highly involved student being a part of the ROTC, a resident adviser, Student Government vice president, as well as being a member of ODK and a founding member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Furthermore, Smith received the ROTC scholarship, Phi Epsilon Alpha scholarship and Economics Department scholarship.

After Smith’s time at Elon, he prepared to enter the U.S. Army. Graduation day was also the commissioning day for the ROTC graduates, and Smith was commissioned as an ordnance officer on what he called the “best day of my life.”

“I can’t overstate how proud I was of those two things – bachelor’s degrees in economics and political science and commissioned officer in the United States Army,” he said. “The next day I drove to my first duty station, I was just another grad and a “butter bar” lieutenant in the Army, but I had no reservations. My time at Elon had prepared me well.”

Smith also explains that his time at Elon helped him see it through. “My Army career was really an extension of my four years at Elon and I continued to learn every single day for the next 12 years,” he said. “Duty stations in many places around the world, being challenged every day. I worked with the most committed humans on the planet who relied on each other every minute of every day. There really are not words to describe those men and women. I’ll just say that it made me commit to always be better for those around me. No matter what the task. I live the lessons of my four years at Elon and 12 years in the Army still to this day.”

Once Smith’s military career came to a close, he got an unexpected call while working in a corporate job, a call that would lead to his current role as a chief financial officer. The president of the company called him and invited him to interview for the controller role.

“It was a crazy idea but he thought I worked hard, demonstrated good analytic and decision making, and led a large organization,” Smith said. “He took a chance and so did I. Even though the career change terrified me, Elon taught me that I am capable of more than I knew.”

It was just two years later in 2002 that he was promoted to chief financial officer, which he said is “the hardest and most rewarding role in business.” Smith works for Godwin Manufacturing in North Carolina, the nation’s largest privately held dump body manufacturer with the number one market share and an industry leader in product, technology and innovation.

The Elon spirit was strong in Boston on May 1 as a group of alumni, parents and friends came together to hear updates on the university from President Connie Ledoux Book and several key volunteers.

A reception at the beginning of the event provided attendees with the opportunity to make new connections within the Elon network in Boston. Attendees also heard remarks from �þ��� Board of Trustees Chair Dave Porter P’11 P’19, as well as Kristin Chan ’21 and Emily Sanderson ’22, who serve as co-presidents of Elon’s Boston Alumni Chapter.

President Book then shared her remarks, starting with a message of gratitude. “Thank you for the role each of you played in making our Elon LEADS Campaign the most successful in university history,” Book said. “More than 34,000 donors contributed more than $260 million to support our distinctive mission.”

She also shared that donors added 287 new endowed scholarships and 60 new endowments during the campaign, helping to ensure that all students can engage in the Elon Experiences.

Additional campus updates from Book included the use of AI, the addition of new majors, the expansion of Elon STEM programs, and the launch of a new national campus center in Charlotte.

The evening also provided guests with an introduction to one of the largest construction projects in university history: the HealthEU Center. Book shared that the center will serve as “a physical hub to provide programs and spaces to allow students to explore ways to advance their personal wellness within each of these areas and to develop habits and skills that will support their wellness for the rest of their lives. This new facility is going to be transformational, providing space for collaboration, connection and community building.”

Book also announced that Elon will build a new performing arts center to support the music theatre and performing arts programs. Jim Piatt, senior vice president for university advancement and external affairs, then provided closing remarks, urging attendees to focus on growing stronger together and to stay involved with Elon as partners, advocates and investors.

Elon will host two Evening for Elon events in the fall. The Evening for Elon in Washington, D.C., will be held Tuesday, Oct. 15, at Union Station, and the Evening for Elon in Tampa, Florida, will be held Thursday, Nov. 14, at Armature Works. To register for either event, please email advancement@elon.edu.

“Actually, Elon found me! And I’m so grateful for that,” Pereyra said. The director of Elon’s International Fellows Program reached out to me while I was in my senior year of high school in Charlotte, and she invited me to interview on campus for the scholarship program. I am originally from Peru and moved to the U.S. at age 10, hence the international part. My first visit to campus was brief, but after the second visit, I was in love. My parents and I had a personalized tour by a tour guide who inspired me, and I became a tour guide myself at the end of my first year.”

Pereyra majored in cinema & television arts with minors in entrepreneurship and French, and she also served as an Orientation Leader, part of the Student Government Association and a member of the student-founded nonprofit organization Helping Other People Eat.

Pereyra also received a merit scholarship through the International Fellows Program in combination with another merit scholarship she earned from an outside source, allowing Pereyra to attend college on a full ride. She says that without scholarships, attending Elon would not have been possible.

“My parents worked extremely hard to give my brother and me the best opportunities they could,” she said. “However, funding a private university education was not a feasible option within my family’s means at the time.”

Once she graduated from Elon, Pereyra decided to take a leap of faith and move across the country to Los Angeles. “I moved to Los Angeles about a week after graduating, with two suitcases, no job, no car, no home… just a one-way plane ticket and a limited bank account,” she said. “Thankfully, the Elon presence in LA is so strong that I had a temporary place to stay for a few weeks until I landed my first job as a solar panel sales agent just to pay the bills. A few months later, I started working somewhat within my field of study and about two years after that, I realized it was not a true passion of mine.”

Once she decided she needed a change, Pereyra found a new job in Charleston, South Carolina for a year and then moved again to Delaware. Her Delaware move was motivated by a military relationship. That’s where she found her true passion of working in real estate. “Funny enough, just like Elon found me, real estate also found me,” Pereyra said.

As far as Pereyra’s current career in real estate, much has evolved and changed, but the love for her career has remained strong. “As of late 2021, I live in Charlotte and I’m a real estate broker here, as well as a landlady, investor and public speaker,” she said. “Real estate has given me a platform to combine my love for storytelling, branding, photography, film, speaking, presenting, designing, building, marketing, networking and producing in so many ways. It’s my whole lifestyle and I am a very happy gal.”

So far the most rewarding part of Pereyra’s journey has been the impact on the clients’ lives that she works with and the connections she has made. “I get messages, calls, voicemails, cards, etc. telling me that I have inspired or motivated (people) or shown them that it’s possible to craft your daily life to fit your vision and influence others,” she said. “I especially love when my clients or colleagues hug me or when their faces get brighter when they see me. That means I’m wanted and needed in every space I’ve influenced and that alone has been life-changing. The fact that they want to do it all with me, not for me or instead of me – with me. I love that. It continuously gives me the opportunity to do the things I enjoy and that makes me a better woman, daughter, sister, friend and hopefully a good mother someday.”

When looking into the future, there is no slowing down Pereyra, as she plans to expand her real estate business. “The plan is to expand my business into multiple teams of realtors in multiple locations and have them replicate my style of business,” she said. “I would then transition from working directly with clients to working with agents and having a larger impact.”

With determination and strategic vision, Pereyra is poised to lead her business into a future of growth and success.

He arrived at Elon “anxious to carve his own path,” and dove into all Elon had to offer. He played club lacrosse for four years, served as a member of student government, worked as an Elon tour guide, and was one of 16 founding members of the Sigma Chi chapter at Elon, all while majoring in sports management and spending a semester in London during his senior year.

Once he graduated from Elon, Shaffer returned to his home state of Ohio and became the fourth generation to work for Shaffer, Entertainment, a family business that his great-grandfather started in 1929. He started as vice president of sales and marketing and eventually became president.

However, during 2020, Shaffer came down with COVID-19, which drastically affected his health. After reflecting on the changes to his health, he leaned on his mantra of “Nothing changes if nothing changes” and made the decision to leave the family business.

A connection with a close friend brought Shaffer the opportunity to serve as executive producer for a documentary called Triangle Park.

The documentary focused on the first NFL game, which was played in 1920 in Dayton, Ohio. The story highlights one of the first of 14 professional teams, the Dayton Triangles, as well as the lives of players and their families and events of the time such as prohibition and the passing of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.  

As fundraising and production for the documentary started to wrap up, Shaffer began contemplating his next business adventure. He soon connected with three founders of a start-up seltzer company called VIP Hard Seltzer. They instantly connected, especially since one founder was a fellow Sigma Chi, and Shaffer became part owner in the new brand, helping them grow production in Florida and along the East Coast. 

Moving from a long-term career in a family business to deciding to follow passion projects and new business ventures, Shaffer demonstrates the value of adaptability and the willingness to evolve at any stage of a person’s career. Shaffer offers the following advice to students — “Follow your passion and take advantage of internships while you are still in school, especially for when you graduate.”

Attendees participated in two rounds of breakout sessions. Morning breakout sessions on Friday, March 15, focused on personal and professional development while afternoon breakout sessions focused on community engagement and philanthropy. Attendees enjoyed learning and growing together through these sessions led by Elon alumnae, parents, friends, faculty and staff.

Grace Ackermann ’24 enjoyed the comradery she experienced when attending the breakout sessions as well as the opportunity to learn from Elon graduates. “I enjoyed hearing about the career journeys of Elon alumni,” she shared. “I’m at the point in my life that I’m constantly thinking about my future and it’s always refreshing to hear about the success of women that have come before me and the variety of fields they excel in. I also love to be in a space where women are uplifting and discussing their shared experiences. The journey of womanhood looks different for everyone, but there are moments when we share similar challenges, discriminations, and rewards and to be in a room surrounded by people who understand those experiences is powerful. I felt seen.”

Weekend attendees also heard from three Elon students about how their internship experiences set them up for professional success. In a panel moderated by Robin Porter, director of Internships for the Love School of Business, Chloe Higgins ’24, Kaitlyn Michaud ’24 and Victory Moore ’25, discussed their recent internships and how they will use what they learned in their future careers.

Michaud, a student-athlete on the women’s lacrosse team, shared that she would not have been able to complete her internship without the stipend support she received. Senior Vice President for University Advancement and External Affairs Jim Piatt concluded the panel discussion by sharing why financial support for internships is critical for Elon students. He shared that approximately 88 percent of Elon students complete at least one internship prior to graduation, and about 40 percent of those experiences are unpaid. Piatt said it is Elon’s goal to raise the funds needed to eliminate the dinner table conversations about whether a student can accept their dream internship due to financial burdens.

Highlighting the series of events was a keynote chat between Book and Joyner-Kersee. Book facilitated the conversation with questions asked by event attendees, centering on Joyner-Kersee’s historic Olympic career and her philanthropy. Joyner-Kersee shared how her passion for providing children with accessible after-school programs, safe recreational spaces and adults to champion their dreams led to the 1988 founding of the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation in her hometown of East St. Louis, Illinois. In 2022, the foundation partnered with the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and University of Illinois Extension to create the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Food, Agriculture and Nutrition Innovation Center (JJK FAN), with the goal of providing quality youth and community programs in STEM, agriculture, food production, nutrition, and physical activity in East St. Louis and beyond.

The Women of Elon Weekend formally launched the Women of Elon initiative, an effort to engage more women in the life of the university through philanthropy, volunteer leadership and events. The initiative seeks to raise $2.5 million by 2026 to support internship experiences for Elon students with the most need. At the weekend, co-chairs Priscilla Awkard ’95, Laurie Johnson P’17 and Michelle Wideman ’00 announced that more than $515,000 has already been raised toward this goal. Trustees Kerrii Anderson ’79 and Vicky Hunt serve as honorary co-chairs of this initiative with an additional 24 alumnae, parents and friends sitting on the Women of Elon Advisory Council.

The next Women of Elon event is a free webinar titled “Philanthropy Redefined,” featuring Awkard, Johnson and Wideman discussing how this group is redefining philanthropy to be more inclusive and more impactful at Elon and beyond. . The Women of Elon Weekend will be a biennial event moving forward, with the next summit taking place in spring 2026. Visit the Women of Elon website for more information.

For the 11th annual Elon Day, alumni, parents, students and friends are invited to make gifts of any size and show their pride by wearing Elon gear and using #ElonDay on social media.

Since Elon Day began in 2014, it has inspired donors to give more than 45,000 gifts and $19 million in total. Collectively, these donors have provided millions of dollars in scholarships for students, as well as additional resources for the university’s academic schools, athletics programs, Elon Experiences like global study and internships, students organizations, and more.

As in years past, those who sign up as Elon Day Champions will help drive the momentum and success of the day. Each year, these volunteers encourage their own Elon networks to make gifts and spread the word about special giving incentives that will be offered to donors. This year, Elon is also offering a new volunteer role called the Elon Day Amplifier. Learn more about both short-term volunteer roles.

During Elon Day, donors will have the opportunity to compete for a series of Bonus Bucks in which they can complete different challenges for a chance to win extra dollars for the campus cause of their choice. Bonus Bucks have been generously provided by the following Elon donors: Ferris and Beth Way ’97, Mike Proctor ’98 and Jaime Proctor ’00, Mark James ’83, John Marshall ‘01 and many other generous, anonymous supporters.

The Bonus Bucks series includes:

EARLY | Sparking Impact: Ignite The Future (March 1 – March 7) 
Share a photo capturing your favorite Elon moment and tell us what this year’s theme of “Igniting the Future for �þ���” means to you.  Post on Facebook or Instagram using #ElonDay and make sure to shout out the specific designation you plan to support. One winner from each platform will be chosen to unlock a bonus $500 for their favorite designation.

EARLY | Global Giving: Elon Abroad Edition (March 4 – March 7)
Elon alumni, parents, students & friends studying or living abroad – you told us and we hear you! You sometimes need more time to make your Elon Day gift due to limitations and regulations in the countries you call home. Starting Monday, March 4, you can make your Elon Day gift in advance and email your receipt to elonday@elon.edu. By doing so, you may be selected to unlock an additional $500 for the Elon designation closest to your heart. Questions on how to make your gift while abroad? Email Daniel Castillo ’21, Coordinator of Annual Giving, at jcastillo3@elon.edu, or text on What’sApp 1-828-750-3861. Let’s make Elon’s impact global!

ALL DAY | Family Giving Frenzy: Multiply Your Impact on Elon Day
Celebrate the power of family during Elon Day! When three or more of your family members make a gift, email elonday@elon.edu with their names. One family will be chosen to unlock an extra $1,000 to their favorite designation. Winners will be announced at 4 p.m. EST, so make sure to get your family’s support in early. Bonus points awarded for alumni couples joining the cause!

ALL DAY | We are the (Elon Day) Champions, My Friend 
Attention Elon Day Champions, you are the heartbeat of our community. Make your own gift and achieve your dollar and donor goals to be eligible for a chance to unlock an extra $500 for your chosen designation. At 9 p.m. EST, two outstanding Champions will be randomly selected as winners. Your dedication fuels the Elon spirit!

ALL DAY | Phind the Phoenix Scavenger Hunt
�þ���, keep an eye out for clues on SUB/Student Involvement social media for the Phind the Phoenix scavenger hunt. Locate one of the hidden Phoenix photos and bring it to the Martin Alumni Center where you’ll unlock an extra $200 to give to your favorite campus designation PLUS receive a Phoenix bobblehead. Stay tuned for clues on SUB/Student Involvement social and be quick on your feet – there are only 6 chances to win! Ready, set, GO!

ALL DAY | Paws and Phoenix Pride (Facebook & Instagram) 
Let your furry friends join the Elon Day celebration! Share a photo of your pet sporting Elon gear on Facebook or Instagram with #ElonDay. Don’t forget to mention the specific area of campus you’re supporting. One winner will be chosen at 8 p.m. EST from each platform to unlock $500 for the designation of their choice.

ALL DAY | Golden Legacy: 50+ Years of Elon Pride 
Elon’s Golden Alumni, your enduring connection has shaped Elon’s legacy, and now it’s your time to shine! Two members of this esteemed group who make their Elon Day gift will be randomly selected to unlock $500 for their favorite designations. Winners will be chosen at 8 p.m. EST.

ALL DAY | Never Back Down, Never What!? – Just for Former Student Athletes 
It’s time to lace up those shoes and compete once again! Elon Athletics challenges YOU to show your team spirit. The team that achieves the highest percentage of former student-athlete donors on Elon Day will unlock an additional $2,000 of support for their team. Please include “FSA – <Sport>” in the comments section of your gift. Winners will be announced on Friday, March 8.

ALL DAY | Phoenix Parents 
Just for student-athlete parents! We haven’t forgotten about the vital role you play! This challenge is just for you, the proud parents of student-athletes. The team that achieves the highest percentage of student-athlete parent donors on Elon Day will unlock an additional $2,000 of support for their student’s team. Please include “SA Parent – <Sport>” in the comments section of your gift. Winners will be announced on Friday, March 8.

HOURLY | Early Squirrels Get the Cash: Midnight to 5 a.m. 
Set your alarms and gear up! The designation that receives the most gifts between midnight and 5 a.m. EST will unlock a bonus $1,000 thanks to early support on Elon Day. Gather your early morning (or late night?) squad, spread the word, and let’s see how many friends you can rally to ensure your favorite designation emerges victorious!

HOURLY | Senior Success, Just for ‘24 
Hey Class of 2024!  One senior Elon Day donor will be chosen at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. 2, p.m. and 3 p.m. to unlock an extra $100 for their favorite designation. But that’s not all! Two additional winners will be announced during the Senior Toast event at 7:30 p.m. in the Great Hall. Plus, all winners will receive a special shout-out from the mic at the event. Make your mark!

HOURLY | College Coffee FOMO for Young Alums: 9 to 10:30 a.m. 
Classes of 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, Feeling the College Coffee FOMO? We’ve got you covered!  Make your gift from 9 – 10:30 a.m. EST, and you might just unlock an extra $500 for your chosen designation. 1 winner will be chosen per class. As a bonus treat, we’ll also send each winner an Elon coffee mug to brighten your morning.

HOURLY | Elon College Throwback Lunch Party: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m 
Calling all Fighting Christians – this one’s for you! Two lucky alumni donors who graduated before 2000 will be chosen to unlock an extra $500 for their chosen designation. But wait, there’s more! Ten alumni donors from this era will be randomly selected to receive some exclusive alumni swag mailed straight to their doorstep.

HOURLY | GOLD Rush: Give It Away Happy Hour (Classes of 2014-2023): 4 to 7 p.m. 
Hey Graduates of the Last Decade (Classes of 2014-2023), it’s your time! Make your mark during our special Give It Away Happy Hour from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. EST! One winner will be chosen from each class to unlock an extra $200 for their favorite designation. Take it away classes of 2014 – 2023.

HOURLY | Powering Potential: Elevate Student-Athletes: 7 to 8 p.m. 
Join the roster of Phoenix Club donors and fuel the fire of success for Elon student-athletes! With your support, we can provide the resources and opportunities necessary for our athletes to excel academically and athletically. One lucky donor who gives between 7 and 8 p.m. to the Phoenix Club will unlock an additional $1,000 for student-athlete support.

HOURLY | Reunited and It Feels So Good: 7 to 9 p.m. 
It’s time to celebrate the bonds that withstand the test of time! From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. EST, members from the classes of 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019, your reunion is here. Make a gift during this window just for you, and one lucky donor from each class reunion will unlock a bonus $250 for their chosen designation.

HOURLY | Most Faculty and Staff Gifts: Morning (9 to 10 a.m.) & Evening (10 to 11 p.m.) College Coffees 
Elon’s faculty and staff are exceptional, so this bonus is just for them! The area that receives the most employee gifts between the hours of 9 and 10 a.m. (1st winner) AND 10 and 11 p.m. EST (2nd winner) will unlock a bonus $1,000 each. Elon’s strength lies in its exceptional faculty and staff, and this Bonus Buck is our way of celebrating your impact.

HOURLY | Most Parent and Grandparent Gifts: 8 to 10 p.m. 
Join us for the grand finale! From 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. EST, we invite parents and grandparents to show their maroon and gold spirit. The designation receiving the most gifts from this group will earn a spectacular bonus of $1,000. We can’t wait to see which cause will shine the brightest in this final stretch. Let’s finish strong!

HOURLY | Alumni Procrastinators Unite: 9 p.m. to midnight 
We appreciate your fashionably late style! From 9 p.m. to midnight EST, make your gift and be part of the final push. The designation with the most gifts from alumni between 9 p.m. and midnight will secure a bonus $1,500 for late-night support on Elon Day. But wait, there’s more! 25 alumni donors will be randomly selected to receive some exclusive Elon swag mailed straight to their doorstep. Let’s make this late-night rally unforgettable!

Elon Day will also include alumni events around the world, in addition to events held on campus for students, faculty and staff. Visit the Elon Day events page to see a full list of Elon Day events with times and locations.

Learn more about how you can participate in Elon Day at . You can also follow @elonuniversity on ,  a�Ի�  for exciting news and updates.

Questions? Please email elonday@elon.edu or call (877) 784-ELON (3566).

One of these Elon Day Champions is Charlie Chandler ‘97, an Elon alum and former student-athlete on the Elon football team. Last year, Chandler was approached by Coach Tony Trisciani about representing the Elon football team as an Elon Day champion.

“It was something that I loved to do being a former student-athlete,” Chandler said. “I am really big on giving back in all aspects of life and it felt right.”

Chandler described being an Elon Day Champion as a time to reconnect and celebrate with players of the past while also citing the difficulties of fundraising.

“I know asking people to give back can be tough, but spreading the word and being an advocate for the cause is huge,” he said.

Like many Elon Day Champions, Chandler’s goal was to spread the news of Elon Day and inspiring others to give, as to Chandler, Elon is more than just a school.

“It is where it started,” he said. “I met my wife, Tracy, who was the class president in 2000 and had the chance to cheer for a year. We have made many trips to Elon and have loved how it has grown but has kept the same identity. Elon was the school that gave me, just a guy from a small town in Mississippi, a chance to grow and develop into the man I am today.”

Chandler urges others who are interested in helping to raise money for Elon Day.

“Give it a try! It is truly an honor to be asked to lead and give back,” he said. “You never know what a little bit of time and effort can do to change a future Elon Student-Athlete.”

Learn more about being an Elon Day Champion! Elon Day Champions will receive:

• A personalized fundraising page
• A T-shirt when making a gift (to be received after Elon Day)
• All the tools they need to be successful, such as:
  • Zoom training
  • Digital swag

“I remember feeling like the atmosphere at Elon just felt right,” the 2013 alumna says. ”Everybody was so nice and seemed genuinely happy.”

During her time at Elon, Mastrocola was involved in a variety of activities across campus. She was an Honors Fellow who majored in exercise science with a minor in neuroscience and was a part of Anatomy TEATAPS (an anatomy �þ��� assistant program), Alamance Regional Medical Center Volunteers, Alpha Xi Delta sorority and she worked with �þ��� Recreation and Wellness. The scholarship she received as an Honors Fellow allowed Mastrocola to make the most of her time at Elon. “This allowed me to really get involved in all of the opportunities that Elon had to offer such as research opportunities, study abroad and the human anatomy lab,” she said.

However, her path to becoming a surgeon was not immediately clear.

As an exercise science major at Elon, she was required to take a human anatomy class.

“During that class, I realized I loved learning about the human body. As an exercise science major, with a particular interest in exercise physiology and biomechanics, I was especially captivated by the musculoskeletal system,” she said.

“It was fascinating to spend a morning in the lab identifying muscle insertions and innervations, and later go to lectures about how those muscles and bones function to make the human body move. I realized that a career as a physician would allow me to continue these studies while also being able to help people every day,” Mastrocola said.

Once Mastrocola graduated from Elon she applied to be a research coordinator at the Cartilage Repair Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, serving in this role for about two years. She was able to get a glimpse of the clinical world of sports medicine and confirm her passion for medicine.

Now Mastrocola is working on completing her orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Massachusetts where her days tend to consist of many tasks.

“Every day as an orthopedic surgery resident is different — which is something I love about it! The day usually starts around 5:30 a.m. when I get to the hospital and check on the patients that we are taking care of,” she said. “Then the residents and attending doctors meet for a conference where we discuss patients who need surgery and review the patients who had surgery in the days prior. At this point as a chief resident, I spend the majority of the day in the operating room doing surgery or in clinic seeing patients.”

Despite the busy days, Mastrocola said the patients make it all worthwhile.

“My favorite part about being an orthopedic surgeon is the ability to get people back to doing the things that they love to do. I am a very active person, and I am passionate about the importance of daily movement. Being able to care for people who have an injury keeping them from their daily activities and being with them until they take their first steps again or get back to their favorite exercise class is so gratifying and I feel grateful to be able to play a role in that,” she said.

Once Mastrocola completes her orthopedic surgery residency at UMass this June, she is headed to Stanford University to pursue a fellowship in sports medicine. If she could offer advice to the Elon students now following in her footsteps, it would be this — trust yourself.

“You know you best. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t and don’t be scared of how long something will take to achieve. The time will pass anyway, you might as well be doing what you love,” Mastrocola says.

“ScholarCHIPS offers community-building for our scholars, both virtually and in-person,” . “It’s definitely a lifeline. We all are connected, particularly because of the lived and shared experience of having an incarcerated parent. So, we all sort of bond off that shared experience.”

Brooks was born and raised in Washington, D.C., and grew up with her father incarcerated. Facing the challenges of parental incarceration, she decided to establish her nonprofit ScholarCHIPS in 2010 at the age of 16.

ScholarCHIPS provides a variety of resources such as scholarships, mentoring and a supportive network for young people with incarcerated parents looking to attend higher education. The organization works to provide a safe space for individuals to share their experiences both with having an incarcerated parent, but also through any other struggles the scholars might be faced with as they work toward their degrees.

To date, ScholarCHIPS has awarded more than $500,000 in college scholarships to 88 scholars, now with 40 graduates. Arrington is a poet, blogger, motivational speaker and plus-size model. She has been featured in TeenVogue, Essence, Black Enterprise and Forbes Magazine and multiple times on ABC7 News and in The Washington Post for her community work.

Arrington graduated from Elon with a bachelor’s degree in strategic communications and history. She graduated from Howard University with her Master of Divinity degree in 2018. In 2013, she received the Iris Holt McEwen Community Service Award during the Omicron Delta Kappa Awards. She received the Samuel Huntington Public Service Award in 2015 for her work with ScholarCHIPS which came with a $15,000 stipend to aid her efforts for up to a year before graduating.

Voting for CNN Hero of the Year closes on Tuesday, Dec. 5. Every person can submit up to 10 votes a day, every day from now through the close of voting. To participate in CNN Heroes voting, .

Since opening in September, the center has been hosting 12 �þ��� students who are currently taking classes in the center as well as interning at a variety of organizations around the city. Elon Charlotte will also be home to the Elon Law Flex Program, which is now accepting applications and expects to welcome its first students in fall 2024. 

“I am so happy that I was able to attend the open house and meet so many interesting people,” said Zeke Petrou ’26. “From alums to department chairs to student care staff, I was able to make great connections with people and share my experience so far in the Charlotte program.”

The event proved to be exciting for alumni as well, with Daniela Pereyra ’16 highlighting the lasting relationships that Elon creates.

“The Elon Charlotte space is functional, inviting, and accessible – in true Elon fashion! I had a great time at the open house, reconnecting with staff members who impacted my time as an Elon student and beyond.”

Ashley Pinney, director of regional centers, and Karen Neff, assistant director for Elon Charlotte, played a key role in planning the open house and providing an opportunity for the local community to visit the new center and hear about future plans and programs.