Community Engagement & Service Posts | Today at Elon | �þ��

�þ�� Alamance internships connect Elon students with community impact

Avery Craine Powell — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 13:07:13 +0000

Through paid internships with local nonprofits, government agencies and community organizations, �þ��’s �þ�� Alamance Program is helping students gain professional experience while strengthening the community they call home. Sponsored by the Student Professional Development Center and the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, the program connects students with organizations across Alamance County, providing meaningful work experiences that often shape future career paths.

The impact of reading

For Lyric Gregory ’28, that impact is measured one child, and one book, at a time.

“It’s amazing. I feel like I’m making such a big difference,” said Gregory. “I feel like I’m actually contributing to making Alamance a little bit better.”

Gregory, a psychology major from Virginia Beach, Virginia, is spending his summer as an intern with Alamance Partnership for Children, a nonprofit organization serving young children and families throughout Alamance County. He supports the organization’s efforts to provide supplies to families in need, advance literacy initiatives and redesign its library and children’s area.

“It’s a really cool feeling to give a child a book and see their eyes light up,” Gregory said. “I never thought kids would be so excited to see books. There was this one kid, just seeing the joy on his face when he asked his mom, ‘Look, they’re going to have books. Can I have one?’ It hit me in the feels.”

�þ�� Alamance intern Lyric Gregory ’27 at the Alamance Partnership for Children on June 25, 2026.

Launched in 2021, �þ�� Alamance connects Elon students with paid internships throughout Alamance County while helping build a pipeline of talent for local organizations. Since its launch, 97% of participants have reported their internships were valuable to their professional development.

Gregory has long been fascinated by psychology and hopes to become a child therapist. He said the internship has strengthened his passion for helping others.

“I’m already motivated, but it motivated me even more to continue to pursue psychology, because I’m looking at people in this office who still have the same passion as me, and they’re making a difference,” he said.

‘Real time’ experience

Like Gregory, McKenna Blount ’27 entered college with an interest in psychology. A psychology major with minors in and criminal justice studies, Blount wanted an internship that combined both fields but initially struggled to find opportunities that fit her interests.

Through the Student Professional Development Center, she connected with the �þ�� Alamance Program and secured an internship with the Burlington Police Department, where she works with both the Aerial Reconnaissance & Tactical Intelligence Center (ARTIC), and the Crime Scene Investigation unit.

“I’ve had a lot of broad experience in the police department,” said Blount, who is from Raleigh. “They’re super flexible, just letting me have as much experience that I possibly can.”

In ARTIC, a real-time crime center, Blount assists officers by monitoring camera systems and databases during active investigations. In the Crime Scene Investigation unit, she observes investigators and gains firsthand experience with forensic work.

“I didn’t know how interested I was in the law enforcement aspect of things,” said Blount. “I thought I was more interested in the psychology aspect. It’s really nice to meet people outside of the ‘Elon bubble.’”

McKenna Blount ’27 at the Burlington Police Department

Connecting the community and history

Katie Baylett ’27, a strategic communications major from Highlands Ranch, Colorado, is also gaining hands-on professional experience through �þ�� Alamance as a social media intern for the Alamance Historical Museum.

“The internship has helped me know how to work and navigate in a professional environment,” Baylett said. “I took a class at Elon where we briefly touched on the local history and the textile industry history of Alamance County specifically, but this has really given me hands-on experience and helped me connect with the local community and also just connect with the local history.”

Baylett develops the museum’s social media content calendar, creates photo and video content, updates the museum’s website and assists with an email marketing campaign. A key part of her role is translating the work of museum staff into engaging, accessible content for the public.

“My classes at Elon have helped me know how to create a social media calendar and have helped me know how to navigate a wide variety of systems that I am using with my internship,” she said.

Katie Baylett ’27 at the Alamance Historical Museum

Internships are a central part of the Elon experience. Through the university’s Experiential Learning Requirement, students must complete two of five Elon Experiences: internships, service, leadership, �þ�� research or global engagement.

For Blount, the internship has also changed how she sees the community surrounding campus.

“You take the same three roads to get where you need to go as an Elon student, and I had no idea how much more goes on in Burlington,” Blount said. “This internship has really benefited my professional career development.”

Elon Law clinic garners NCBA Law School Pro Bono Project of the Year Award

Michael Abernethy — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 18:34:37 +0000

Elon Law students arrived ready to explain legal documents and language. They left with a better understanding of what it means to practice law.

As they helped parents prepare legal documents designed to ensure their children would continue receiving care and education if the unexpected happened, students found themselves doing something equally important: listening to families navigating uncertainty and providing greater peace of mind.

Organized by Elon Law’s Pro Bono Board in partnership with — an agency that advocates for and serves immigrants in the Triad — the May 2025 clinic responded to concerns from families who wanted to prepare for the possibility of sudden family separation. Under the supervision of licensed attorneys — including an Elon Law alumna and a faculty member — students assisted parents in completing powers of attorney that would allow trusted caregivers to make educational and medical decisions for their children if needed.

“It was something concrete we could actually do,” recalled Molly Hohler L’26, who helped organize the clinic through the Pro Bono Board.

Alexa Whiteside, NCBA Pro Bono Committee Co-Chair, presents the Elon Law Pro Bono Board with the organization’s Law School Pro Bono Project of the Year Award on June 26, 2026. Molly Hohler L’26, Saniya Pangare L’25 and Shannon Ward L’26 accepted the award on behalf of the student organization.

Families spoke candidly about their fears as they contemplated possible detention or deportation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Working alongside fellow board leaders Frank Edwards L’25, Adnan Omer L’25, Saniya Pangare L’25 and Cameron Riordan L’25, Hohler organized the clinic with FaithAction International, Professor of Law Andy Haile and attorney Abigail Seymour L’17. Together, they identified a way to use their legal training to meet a community need and serve real clients.

More than a year later, that student-led effort earned statewide recognition. during the association’s Annual Meeting this summer, recognizing an “outstanding law student group whose pro bono project advanced access to justice in North Carolina.

“You have that script of what you want to say, and then all of that goes out the window because you recognize the emotions your client is experiencing. It taught us that you have to approach clients with empathy, not just legal answers.”
— Adnan Omer L’25

The idea grew from conversations with FaithAction International, which identified an urgent community need and contacted the Pro Bono Board. Immigration legal advice was beyond the scope of what students could provide, but powers of attorney offered a meaningful way to serve clients under attorney supervision.

For Adnan Omer L’25 and others, the clinic quickly became much more than a legal exercise.

“People come to you on one of the hardest days of their lives,” said Omer, now an associate attorney with Vrapi Weeks Immigration Attorneys in Albuquerque, New Mexico. “You have that script of what you want to say, and then all of that goes out the window because you recognize the emotions your client is experiencing. It taught us that you have to approach clients with empathy, not just legal answers.”

Abigail Seymour L’17, founder of Camino Law in Greensboro

Seymour L’17, who founded Greensboro-based Camino Law in 2019, was the supervising attorney for the clinic. As a former Pro Bono Board member herself, she understood the value of the experience for students. Throughout the day, she observed, interpreted and worked alongside them during client meetings in the one-day clinic.

“The main purpose of this clinic was to give people a sense of control and preparation,” Seymour said. “Peace of mind to know that if the worst were to happen, they would have a plan.” Elon Law students “were wonderful and jumped right in. They didn’t hang back.”

“The most important lesson is learning to work with clients who are facing significant challenges that we as lawyers may never experience ourselves. In class, we can debate and discuss these abstract issues of law and policy, but when you see how they affect real people, that makes it a different lesson.”
— Professor of Law Andy Haile

In recommending the clinic for the statewide award, Seymour praised the students’ “extraordinary professionalism, leadership and compassion,” writing to the NCBA that they approached the work “not as an academic exercise, but as a professional responsibility.” The project exemplified “the highest ideals of pro bono service in North Carolina,” she wrote.

Haile, who also supervised students during the clinic, said the experience demonstrated why experiential learning is critical for legal preparation. Some skills can’t be learned in a classroom.

“The most important lesson is learning to work with clients who are facing significant challenges that we as lawyers may never experience ourselves,” Haile said. “In class, we can debate and discuss these abstract issues of law and policy, but when you see how they affect real people, that makes it a different lesson.”

For Pangare, whose family immigrated to the United States, the project carried special meaning.

“It was an opportunity to help people feel more secure in their homes, their surroundings and their communities,” said Pangare — now an associate attorney at Hall Booth Smith P.C. in Asheville, North Carolina. “We wanted to help a community we knew felt vulnerable and let them know we were there to support them.”

“We have unique skills as soon-to-be lawyers. The more we can use those skills to help people, the better lawyers we become in the process.”
— Molly Hohler L’26

She joined Hohler and Shannon Ward L’26, current Pro Bono Board co-director, in accepting the award on behalf of Elon Law during the NCBA Annual Meeting on June 26.

Hohler said that public service has been a throughline in both her personal and professional life. Serving on the Pro Bono Board gives her an opportunity to channel that instinct alongside classmates who share a commitment to service.

“I love working with clients. It gives me new energy,” Hohler said. “We have unique skills as soon-to-be lawyers. The more we can use those skills to help people, the better lawyers we become in the process.”

Gabrielle Raymond McGee ’06 inspires children to be ‘Ocean Superheroes’ in new book

Avery Craine Powell — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 13:26:56 +0000

For Gabrielle Raymond McGee ’06, purpose has never been confined to a single career; it has been the thread connecting every chapter of her life.

Over the past two decades, the Elon alumna has built a career at the intersection of sports, philanthropy, entrepreneurship and social impact. She began in professional sports, working with the U.S. Golf Open and in hockey before joining the Commissioner’s Office of Major League Baseball. She later helped drive scale and impact for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, served as Chief Operating Officer of the Tory Burch Foundation, and ultimately founded Future Waves, a nonprofit program dedicated to helping children discover the power of nature, entrepreneurship, and active living, and most recently wrote a children’s book: “Ocean Superheroes.”

“The whole premise of the book is to remind kids that you can never be too young or too old to get involved with what’s happening in the world,” said McGee.

Gabrielle Raymond McGee ’06 and Sylvia Earle

Raymond McGee started Future Waves because she noticed a gap in getting kids outside and giving them a voice to come up with entrepreneurial solutions in the world. The organization now hosts a program where children identify a problem the planet is facing, and they pitch their ideas to a “friendly shark tank.” Past judges have been former Apple CEO John Sculley, filmmaker Luca Martínez, and Sylvia Earle, the first chief scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Raymond McGee’s childhood hero. Raymond McGee works with Earle on global conservation, and she helped inspire the organization and book.

“I wrote ‘Ocean Superheroes’ because it was the book I wish I had when I was a kid,” Raymond McGee said. “The ocean is full of sea creatures that have superpowers that protect us and keep us healthy. And we also have superpowers that the ocean needs to keep our planet healthy. We’re interconnected and protecting the ocean is a team sport, and we all need to get involved.”

Her educational journey has also included that same “purpose.” After graduating from Elon with a degree in sport management, she earned a master’s degree in non-profit management and public policy from New York University and, a year ago, earned another master’s degree from The Wharton School of Business’s first global MBA program.

Children in the Future Waves program.

At Elon, her time as an Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellow heavily shaped many aspects of her life, including her focus of community. Founded in 1989 by Isabella Cannon ’24, the former Mayor of Raleigh, the Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows program is a nationally recognized leadership development program designed to strengthen each student’s leadership skills and ability to impact themselves, their communities and their world.

“Our whole mission is to bring kids together so they can develop entrepreneurial solutions to real-world challenges, and so much of what I learned through the Fellows program has shaped the way we design our Future Waves programming,” Raymond McGee said. “I chose Elon because of the Fellows program, but I also chose it because there was an incredible sense of purpose, optimism and community. From the moment I visited campus, I could feel that students genuinely cared about one another and wanted to make a positive impact. That spirit of collaboration and service is what has always made Elon so special to me, and it’s something I’ve carried with me throughout my career.”

“Ocean Superheroes” by Gabrielle Raymond McGee

“Ocean Superheroes” is through Tiny Torch Books and distributed by Simon & Schuster. Readers can purchase individual copies or donate books to Title I schools, with 100% of net proceeds supporting Future Waves programs.

For Raymond McGee, the book is one chapter in a lifelong mission to help young people discover their potential. This fall, she’ll return to the two fields that first shaped her career—sports and entrepreneurship with the opening of Moonlight Graham, a sports boutique in South Florida designed to celebrate the joy of sports, collecting and community.

“I want every child who walks through our doors to see themselves reflected in the sports cards, collectibles and stories we share,” Raymond McGee said. “Whether they’re a baseball fan, a tennis player, a surfer, a dancer, or just discovering a new passion, I want them to feel welcomed, inspired, and connected to a community that encourages them to dream big. I hope that Moonlight Graham becomes more than a store; it becomes a place where families gather, friendships are formed, young people discover new passions, and our community is strengthened through the timeless values that sports teach.”

Center for Design Thinking co-hosts the 2026 Future of Design in Higher Education Conference

Marissa Fluno — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 13:42:35 +0000

In the early morning on June 26, 2026, attendees of the (FDHE) Conference arrived for a full day of meaningful discussions, playful games and collaborative workshops on �þ��’s campus. The three-day convening, hosted by Elon’s Center for Design Thinking and Duke University on June 24-26, was dedicated to bringing together individuals who study and practice design thinking into one community-focused space.

After two stimulating days of idea sharing and collaborative creation at Duke, the attendees took a shuttle bus to Elon, where the final day’s festivities began with an aerial performance by Michelle Spurlock, local business owner of Upside Aerial Arts & Fitness.

“I think it’s so cool that an educational conference is starting with circus arts,” says Spurlock. “It just feels like a special treat to be able to perform here.”

Spurlock performing for an audience of FDHE attendees (Photo by Ethan Wu)

Spurlock says she wanted to focus her performance on joy, connection, and possibility, which best describes the FDHE Convening. She also hosted a partnered yoga session for the conference attendees, full of “laughter and playful connections.”

“I think Danielle’s done an incredible job organizing a lot of different modalities, a lot of different content, but all connected by this theme of human-centered design as a practice, a process, and mindset, so I’m very excited,” says Vivek Rao, co-organizer of the FDHE Convening, Associate Dean for Master’s and Professional Programs at Duke University.

The morning’s activities continued in Elon’s Innovation Hall with Danielle Lake, director of the Center for Design Thinking, sharing findings from the Center for Design Thinking’s most recent study exploring how Elon alumni continue to use design thinking processes in their post-grad careers as well as their civic and personal lives after working for the Center for Design Thinking. Not only does the study serve as a culmination of the Center’s successful work, but it also provides groundbreaking data on the long-term value of design thinking outside the “Elon bubble.”

FDHE attendees participating in an interactive trivia game hosted by Danielle Lake with a panel of Elon alumni (Photo by Ethan Wu)

Instead of sharing the findings as just another “research presentation,” the Center for Design Thinking team created an interactive trivia game testing attendees’ knowledge in the design thinking field that they all study. Additionally, Lake invited five of the alumni interviewed for this study to join in on the dynamic presentation. These alumni included Tyson Glover ’17, Mackenzie Hahn ’20, Kait MacIntyre ’22, Emily Joss ’23, and Chase Soloman ’23.

Chase Soloman ’23 talking about his experiences with design thinking (Photo by Ethan Wu)

“Actually getting a chance to go out into the real world and use some of the skills that we learned right here at Elon is a full-circle moment right now,” says Glover.

Soloman says that he has used his skills from his experience at the Center for Design Thinking in his professional, academic, and personal life, ranging from relationship management to structuring his own research.

Not only did the attendees listen to the experiences of these Elon alumni, but they playfully engaged in the overall game activity. The room was full of boisterous laughter, surprised gasps and animal noises as the guests took their animal-inspired team names to heart.

Once the prizes for the best three teams were awarded, the attendees were guided on a walk through Elon’s campus to continue the day’s activities inside the Center for Design Thinking.

Inside the Center, guests could choose to attend one of two workshops. The workshop in the main Center space focused on hands-on crafting to prompt a creative avenue to explore the design thinking process. The goal of this “Creatively Unprompted” exercise, according to the presenter, Sarah Rottenberg, executive director of the Integrated Product Design Master’s Program at the University of Pennsylvania, was to simulate idea generation without using Artificial Intelligence (AI).

FDHE attendees participating in the “Creatively Unprompted” workshop (Photo by Ethan Wu)

One FDHE attendee, Raja Schaar, Associate Program Director and Associate Professor of Product Design at Drexel University, says she chose the “Creatively Unprompted” workshop to expand on her love of creating ideas and prototyping with her hands “to cultivate ideas and turn them into something else.”

In the next-door Maker Hub space, participants could choose to participate in the “Maker AI Challenge,” which focused on framing AI usage through a creative lens. The Director of the Maker Hub and Assistant Director of Creative Learning Technologies at Elon, Dan Reis, describes this workshop as a way for individuals to bring their ideas to life with AI working as a teammate instead of a generator.

“I’m very curious about broad-based exploration of how AI is being used in education, design, design thinking and �þ�� design in particular,” says Abbe Don, Interim Director of the Rick and Susan Sontag Center for Collaborative Creativity (or The Hive)at Pomona College, on why she chose the Hub’s AI workshop.

FDHE attendees presenting their inventions from the “Maker AI Challenge” workshop (Photo by Ethan Wu)

Once the two-group workshops ended, the convening concluded with a creative four-piece puzzle exercise. On the first day of the convening, participants answered four different prompts assigned to each puzzle piece. These prompts were designed to encourage participants to set intentions on the content they wanted to learn and share, as well as the connections they wanted to make and receive. Instead of keeping these pieces with them, each piece was given to other participants. On the last day, participants received all of their original puzzle pieces to reflect on whether they achieved their intentions and goals.

This activity served as an end to a convening dedicated to encouraging attendees to further their knowledge in the design thinking field through play, exploration, and connection with others. Not only was the activity a meaningful experience, but for the Center’s Danielle Lake, the overall opportunity to host the FDHE Convening was “a dream come true.”

“This year is the start of my eighth year at �þ��, and since the beginning of my time here, one of our goals has been to form a deeper connection with the FDHE community,” said Lake. “I have been able to have such a good support system through this creative and fun group of people.”

“This year’s gathering, hosted by Duke University and �þ��, has been such a wonderful experience, allowing this interdisciplinary group of teacher-scholars to exchange ideas and build meaningful relationships,” says Eugene Korsunskiy, Associate Professor of Engineering at Dartmouth College and Executive Director of the Future of Design in Higher Education. “I couldn’t have asked for a better convening.”

While this year’s FDHE Convening served as “a chance to show the culmination of our work here at Elon and to collaborate with our co-hosts at Duke University,” according to Lake, the Center for Design Thinking will continue to provide �þ�� and the surrounding Alamance County community with opportunities to create, grow and thrive through the design thinking process.

The Month in Photos: June 2026

Avery Craine Powell — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 15:28:30 +0000

While campus is quieter during the summer months, June still brought plenty of activity to �þ��. From the sounds of the annual community concert and picnic to the energy of summer camps and campus events, there was no shortage of memorable moments.

Take a look back at some of the month’s highlights through the eyes of the staff in University Communications.

Engineering success

A former president of the Milwaukee School of Engineering and longtime leader in engineering and technology education has been named the inaugural dean of �þ��’s new School of Engineering and Computing.

Dr. John Walz joins Elon after nearly a decade helming a private university recognized for its emphasis on experiential learning, strong industry partnerships and workforce preparation.

Dr. John Walz in and around Founders Hall on June 03, 2026.

AI Play

�þ�� hosted its inaugural AI Play summer camp in June for rising middle school students with an interest in the world of artificial intelligence. Thirteen students participated, learning about artificial intelligence while improving their AI literacy.

Assistant Professor of Engineering Blake Hament demonstrates Hugh the robot at Elon AI Play Summer camp at Lindner Hall on June 18, 2026.

�þ�� experiment with concepts of robotic perception at Elon AI Play Summer camp at Lindner Hall on June 15, 2026.

Summer Concert & Picnic

Elon faculty, staff, students and friends came together at the Martin Alumni Center for the annual Summer Concert & Picnic on June 25.

Elon’s annual Summer Concert and Picnic on June 25, 2026.

Emancipation Celebration

This summer, Elon faculty and staff were invited to engage in meaningful dialogue, reflection and community-building through the Inclusive Excellence Summer Development Series “American Anniversaries: 250 Years, Over 160 Reasons to Heal.”

The series connected two significant milestones in American history — the nation’s 250th anniversary and the 161st anniversary of Juneteenth — through opportunities to explore the ongoing pursuit of freedom, equality and justice.

Together@Elon’s Emancipation Celebration invited community members to enjoy a Juneteenth exhibit, music, sweet treats and games while celebrating freedom, resilience and community.

Together@Elon Emancipation Celebration in June 2026

�þ�� and Rowan Cabarrus Community College students collaborate for intraprofessional excellence

Melissa Scales — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 19:04:34 +0000

Elon DPT student measuring the shoulder of an RCCC PTA student

In an inaugural collaboration, first-year Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students from �þ�� recently joined with second-year Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) students from Rowan Cabarrus Community College (RCCC) for an intensive, hands-on learning activity.

The session was facilitated by Elon faculty members Melissa Scales and Megan Kim, alongside Program Director Anna Marie Prado and RCCC Director of Clinical Education Karey M. Martin.

A Peer-led approach

Elon DPT student measuring the ankle of an RCCC PTA student

The session was uniquely structured to allow the second-year PTA students to take the lead, leveraging their clinical rotation experience to mentor the first-year DPT students. The activity focused on Range of Motion (ROM) goniometric measurements of three target areas: the knee, ankle, and shoulder.
The RCCC students initiated the learning by leading small-group discussions and providing handouts on foundational ROM concepts, normal ranges, and potential reasons why a patient may present with abnormal ROM. Following these presentations, the Elon DPT students acted as clinicians, using their goniometers to measure the ROM of the PTA students, who served as the “patients.”

Synthesizing theory and practice

Elon DPT student measuring the knee of an RCCC PTA student

This activity went beyond simple measurement. After recording their results, the groups compared data and discussed discrepancies, exploring alternative positioning and various goniometric techniques. The PTA students provided critical feedback on the DPT students’ hand placement and technique, fostering an environment of mutual respect.
A vital component of the day involved discussing intervention ideas to increase ROM. �þ�� explored how a Physical Therapist’s Plan of Care provides the framework for a PTA to use their clinical judgment to choose and progress interventions, as well as when a PTA should consult the supervising PT.

One DPT student reflected on the value of this exchange, stating: “I enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate intraprofessionally (sic) with other students and hear new perspectives about clinical scenarios.”

RCCC PTA and Elon PT students unite for an intraprofessional learning activity

Building the future of the profession

The timing of this collaboration was particularly impactful. While the Elon DPT students are preparing for their first clinical rotations in January, the RCCC PTA students are set to graduate in Dec. 2026.

This means that when the DPT students head into the clinic early next year, they may find themselves working alongside and learning from these newly licensed PTAs.The engagement between the groups was high, highlighted by a serendipitous moment when a PTA student discovered he had just finished a rotation at the exact site where an Elon student is headed in January.

By learning with, from, and about each other, these future professionals are gaining a deeper understanding of their respective scopes of practice. This connection is essential for fulfilling accreditation standards for intraprofessional education and ensuring the highest quality of collaborative patient care.

Beyond 12 summer program encourages career and self-exploration

Keely Platts — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 15:32:45 +0000

As middle school students enter a transitional period of their lives, Beyond 12 is planting seeds for them to start thinking about the future.

Beyond 12 students and staff practice using the Interprofessional Simulation Center.

To kick off the summer, Beyond 12 welcomed 50 rising sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade students to �þ�� for a hands-on exploration of career pathways and interests. Throughout two days, students traveled across campus, participated in interactive learning experiences, and engaged with �þ�� faculty, staff, and community members representing a variety of professional fields.

Each session offered a unique learning experience for the students. During an introduction to cinema and television arts led by Bryan Baker, director of technology, operations and multimedia projects in the School of Communications, students explored the university’s live television studio and viewed student made productions. Participants also gained hands-on experience such as with Elon’s Interprofessional Simulation Center, where Nita Skillman, director of the ISC, and Bethany Fearnow, simulation coordinator, introduced students to using healthcare simulation technology. In addition to exploring careers, students were able to observe different facilities on Elon’s campus. During a sports management session led by Jenn Strawley, director of athletics, participants stepped into the world of collegiate athletics with a visit to the Schar Center, where they got a behind the scenes look at Elon Athletics.

�þ�� visit the Schar Center to learn about careers in athletics.

“Spending time with the Beyond 12 program was such a rewarding experience. I appreciated their curiosity and loved their questions,” said Strawley. “I hope that hearing about my journey and learning about career pathways in college athletics opened their minds to new possibilities and inspired them to continue to dream.”

�þ�� also had the opportunity to engage in thoughtful conversations with presenters, asking questions, and gaining deeper insight into different fields.

“I spoke with the students about what finance, corporate finance, and investment really are, and I was genuinely surprised by how interested they were,” said Feng Dong, director of the Reed Finance Center. “Many asked great questions, and even the teachers were engaged. Beyond 12 gives students an early, hands-on look at fields they may not have considered, exactly the kind of exposure that can shape where they go next.”

Feng Dong, assistant professor of finance, introduces the Reed Finance Center to students.

The program had an equally meaningful impact on the presenters involved. Dr. Janine A. Scott, founder of TriUnity Healthcare Inc., shared her story of overcoming adversity and creating positive change through her work in healthcare, and found herself thinking about the impact of programs such as Beyond 12.

“I really enjoyed myself during my interaction with both the students and staff,” Scott said. “Just hearing what they were doing prior to coming to our session made me wish I was a student again and able to participate.”

Beyond 12 students visit the Jane and Brian Williams Studio as a part of Bryan Baker’s Cinema and Television Arts session.

Through experiences like these, Beyond 12 is helping students recognize a wide range of opportunities within their reach.

“I remarked to someone that I wish I had the opportunity to attend a program like this back in my day. I truly believe that exposure and representation matters, and that is exactly what these students gained from being part of the Beyond 12 program,” said Scott.

Following the summer session, participating students from Turrentine Middle School and Broadview Middle School will attend monthly Beyond 12 sessions throughout the academic year, where they will continue to focus on career readiness and developing essential life skills. Beyond 12 programming is made possible through the generous support of NC Glaxo Smith Kline.

Making an impact: �þ�� contribute more than 88,000 hours of service

kanderson52 — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 15:15:54 +0000

During the 2025-26 academic year, thousands of students contributed their time and talents to address community needs, strengthen local organizations, and build meaningful partnerships through curricular and co-curricular community engagement. The infographic below highlights the powerful impact that students, faculty, staff, and community partners have made together.

Alongside this infographic, these stories highlight some of the positive impact across campus through community partnerships during the past academic year:

Elon to host annual Summer Picnic & Concert on Thursday

Avery Craine Powell — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 14:58:34 +0000

�þ�� will hold its annual Summer Picnic & Concert on June 25 from 12-2 p.m. at the Martin Alumni Center, as part of a series of events to honor the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Hosted by the Office of the President, the annual picnic celebrates vibrant connections among students, faculty, staff, families, and neighbors of �þ��.

Featured live music will be presented by the NC Brass Band. Lunch and entertainment are free for registered attendees. During the event, guests are invited to explore an historical exhibit, hosted by the North Carolina State Archives in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the United States. The exhibit will be displayed in Belk Library.

Event Address:
306 N. O’Kelly Avenue
Elon, NC 27244

Parking is available at the McMichael Science Center and Innovation Lot.

Honoring 250 Years of the American Spirit: 1776–2026

Throughout 2026, the university will host a range of events as part of “Honoring 250 Years of the American Spirit: 1776–2026,” which blends civic engagement, historical exploration and cultural expression. Programs will highlight voices from across disciplines and communities, emphasizing inclusive dialogue and meaningful participation.

Elon Law professor gives immigration law analysis in community forum

Michael Abernethy — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 20:54:43 +0000

Katherine Reynolds, associate professor of law and director of the Humanitarian Immigration Law Clinic at �þ�� School of Law, joined legal and community leaders for a public discussion examining recent immigration law and policy developments.

The discussion took place during “Immigration Matters: A Conversation on Policy and Law,” held June 11 at the in downtown Greensboro. The event was moderated by Omar H. Ali, professor of history and former dean of the Lloyd International Honors College at UNC Greensboro. Reynolds joined fellow panelists Heather Scavone, former associate counsel with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; Abdul Omer, immigration staff attorney at the Center for New North Carolinians; and Kathy Hinshaw, chair of the Latino Community Coalition of Guilford.

Omar H. Ali, professor of history and former dean of the Lloyd International Honors College at UNC Greensboro, welcomes audiences to “Immigration Matters” A Conversation on Policy and Law” at Greensboro’s International Civil Rights Center and Museum on June 11, 2026.

Reynolds focused her remarks on recent federal guidance affecting the naturalization process, particularly the “good moral character” requirement for immigrants seeking U.S. citizenship. She explained that while the requirement has long been part of the naturalization process, new guidance encourages immigration officers to take a more “holistic” approach when evaluating applicants.

“It’s already a murky situation to explain to students and try to educate people on what is ‘good moral character’ because of this lack of a finite definition,” Reynolds said.

Historically, factors such as criminal history, community involvement, family responsibilities, employment history and tax compliance have been subject to assessment. She questioned how federal officials would interpret new guidance and potentially increase scrutiny across a broader range of factors, such as minor traffic violations.

Reynolds directs Elon Law’s Humanitarian Immigration Law Clinic, which provides legal services to refugees and asylum seekers in North Carolina. The clinic assists clients in applying for political asylum, permanent residency, citizenship, and employment authorization, as well as reunifying families separated by war and conflict, while giving Elon Law students hands-on experience representing clients under attorney supervision.

Community Engagement & Service Posts | Today at Elon | �þ���

�þ��� Alamance internships connect Elon students with community impact