The program’s inaugural performance will feature the North Carolina Symphony on September 30, 2026, in Alumni Gym. Details about this concert, including tickets, will be shared with the Elon community this summer.

“This gift is to express gratitude to the Elon community for 25 wonderful years together and to provide enhanced opportunities for all of us to experience great music at Elon,” said Fred Young, who served as the university’s seventh president from 1973-1998, leading historic growth and progress at the institution.

Elon President Connie Ledoux Book thanked the Youngs for their generosity and dedicated service to the university.

“Fred and Phyllis Young’s contributions to �þ��� over many decades are vast and many—from doubling our enrollment and expanding our campus to enriching academic programs and supporting generations of students,” Book said. “Their dedication has helped shape the Elon we know today. With this remarkable gift, they now add the joy of classical music to that legacy, ensuring our community will experience exceptional performances for years to come.”

In addition to full orchestra concerts, it is envisioned that the Youngs’ endowment will fund other signature performances on campus, including seasonal concerts and a chamber music concert, as well as engagement opportunities with music students, including career development seminars and master classes. Performances by the �þ��� Orchestra and Elon Wind Ensemble may also be included.

As the endowment grows, additional opportunities for students may include new music-themed Winter Term courses and global engagement experiences, as well as opera performances on campus.

The Fred and Phyllis Young Classical Music Program Endowment will complement performances by Elon’s current ensembles, including:

• Bands (The Fire of the Carolinas Marching Band & Phoenix Pep Band)
• Choral Activities & Voice (University Chorale, Camerata, élan & Opera Workshop.)
• �þ��� Orchestra
• �þ��� Wind Ensemble & Elon Concert Band
• Elon Jazz Ensemble & Jazz Combos
• Elon Contemporary Chamber Ensemble
• Commercial and Pop Music (Elon Electric Ensemble, Techtronica)

About President Emeritus James Fred Young

J. Fred Young was one of the longest-serving presidents in Elon history whose vision and leadership laid the foundation for Elon’s remarkable rise to national distinction. Young led an era of historic growth and transformation as Elon became one of the premier �þ��� institutions on the Eastern seaboard.

During Young’s 25-year tenure, Elon’s enrollment more than doubled to 3,685 students and the campus grew from about 145 acres to more than 500 acres. New academic offerings were added, including master’s programs in business administration, education and physical therapy; a new general studies program (now Elon Core Curriculum); and new majors, including communications, computer systems, sports medicine and leisure/sport management. The Elon Experiences engaged learning programs also grew under Young’s leadership.

Facilities construction and renovation included additions to the Center for the Arts, Koury Center for athletics, Moseley Center for campus activities and the Dalton L. McMichael Sr. Science Center. In addition, construction began on the Carol Grotnes Belk Library, while Young also began planning and fundraising for Rhodes Stadium. Young was named President Emeritus by the Elon Board of Trustees.

Fred and Phyllis Young are among Elon’s most dedicated donors, making gifts to Elon’s Greatest Needs, including scholarships, and the Phoenix Club. Young Commons, the expansive lawn in front of Moseley Center, was dedicated on October 10, 2000, in honor of the Youngs and their decades of leadership and service to the university. Fred and Phyllis are the grandparents of Elon sophomore Myla Young ’28.

The Chandlers remain impressed by Elon’s commitment to sound strategic planning and doing what’s best for students. It’s what inspired the couple’s gift to Slattery Center, the university’s new hub for health and wellness that will integrate academics, wellness, campus recreation and fitness programs to ensure students gain the skills they need to succeed on campus and throughout their lives.

Scheduled to open later this year, Slattery Center is located within Elon’s Innovation Quad, home to the university’s engineering and other STEM programs. The center is part of the university’s broader HealthEU initiative to serve students, faculty and staff.

“It adds value and is beneficial when you can provide a place where students can go to be in community, exercise, receive counseling and focus on their well-being,” said Bob Chandler, former executive vice president of Chandler Concrete Co. “This facility shows that the university is aware of the challenges students face and how to help them in all aspects of their health.”

The HealthEU initiative focuses on six dimensions of health and wellness: community, emotional, purpose, financial, physical and social. The three-story Slattery Center will feature new classrooms, student-faculty research spaces, multiple floors for wellness and fitness activities, and the Mark and Kim Tyson Counseling Center, which will provide individual and group therapy, as well as workshops and outreach programs.

Through coursework, as well as workshops and training programs focused on health and wellness, Slattery Center will impact all students as they progress through their education and learn essential skills and practices related to wellness and well-being. The center is a key priority of the Boldly Elon strategic plan that will guide the university to 2030.

The couple’s gift will also endow the Chandler Family Global Experience Fund, strengthening Elon’s commitment to provide each of the university’s 17 varsity teams with a global experience every four years.

“Global experiences are a cornerstone of an Elon education, and thanks to Bob and Amy Chandler, our student-athletes will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the world while sharing their sport across cultures,” said Jennifer Strawley, director of athletics. “Bob and Amy are truly special people who value the holistic development of our student-athletes and their generosity will be felt for generations. I am deeply grateful for their many years of dedication to this university and for the profound difference they make in the lives of our student-athletes.”

“Our family has been sports fans for as long as I can remember. We love the energy and excitement athletics brings to campus and the opportunities it provides to students,” Bob Chandler said.

“Elon is a national leader in global study, and we are thrilled to help provide this experience for student-athletes,” he added. “It’s essential that students have the opportunity to witness other cultures and encounter the differences and similarities of the people there. It provides tremendous growth for a person and a deeper understanding of the world.”

The Chandler family is among Elon’s most generous and devoted donors, helping to shape one of the finest learning environments in the nation through their gifts to Belk Library, Rhodes Stadium, Ernest A. Koury, Sr. Business Center, Gerald L. Francis Center, Alumni Field House, Richard W. Sankey Hall, Schar Center, The Inn at Elon and Innovation Quad.

Bob Chandler’s parents, Tom and Lynn Chandler, also endowed the Chandler Family Professional Sales Center in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business. Tom Chandler was the chairman and former CEO of Chandler Concrete, which he founded in 1973, and he served on Elon’s Board of Trustees for more than two decades before being elected Life Trustee in 2021. In 2023, Tom Chandler received the Elon Medallion, the university’s highest honor.

“Elon’s trajectory shows remarkable advancement,” Bob Chandler said. “Elon has a vision of what’s to come and how to keep the university moving forward. It is a vibrant and thriving university that is gratifying for the students, faculty and community.”

The university’s influence extends far beyond the campus.

“The impact that Elon has on Alamance County and the region is significant, and we feel it’s important for our family to support the university,” Bob said. “It’s a community that we are proud to be part of.”

The gift from alumna and Trustee Kerrii Brown Anderson ’79 will name the Connie Ledoux Book Courtyard at Slattery Center, which will integrate academics, wellness, campus recreation and fitness programs to ensure students gain the skills they need to thrive on campus and throughout every stage of their lives.

Scheduled to open in fall 2026, Slattery Center is located within Elon’s Innovation Quad, home to the university’s engineering and other STEM programs.

Anderson praised Book for her commitment to Slattery Center, which is a key component of Elon’s broader HealthEU initiative.

“President Book is so committed to student success, both emotionally, physically and academically,” Anderson said. “This garden represents a serene place where students can gather and enjoy spending time together. I could not think of a better idea than to call this ‘Connie’s Courtyard.’”

The courtyard will be located on the west side of Slattery Center, facing Innovation Quad and Richard W. Sankey Hall. The space will include tables and chairs for students, faculty and staff to gather and a lush garden featuring a variety of flowering trees and shrubs.

“I am deeply humbled and grateful to Kerrii Anderson for this generous and thoughtful gift and for her many years of distinguished service on the Board of Trustees,” Book said. “Kerrii’s steadfast support of key institutional priorities like HealthEU and Slattery Center has strengthened Elon’s national reputation for engaged, student-centered learning.”

The HealthEU initiative focuses on six dimensions of health and wellness: community, emotional, purpose, financial, physical and social. The three-story Slattery Center will feature new classrooms, student-faculty research spaces, multiple floors for wellness and fitness activities, and the Mark and Kim Tyson Counseling Center, which will provide individual and group therapy, as well as workshops and outreach programs.

Through coursework, as well as workshops and training programs focused on health and wellness, Slattery Center will impact all students as they progress through their education and learn essential skills and practices related to wellness and well-being. The center is a key priority of the Boldly Elon strategic plan that will guide the university to 2030.

“HealthEU demonstrates our commitment as a university in doing what’s right and in the best interest of our students to be successful long term,” Anderson said. “To Connie’s credit, she recognizes that the total success for students includes a great foundation, both mentally, physically and academically.”

Anderson noted Book’s record of leadership at Elon, including her 16-year tenure as a faculty member and administrative leader, helping to build the university’s national reputation for excellence in engaged �þ��� and learning. In 2015, Book was named the first female provost and chief academic officer at The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, before returning to Elon in 2018 to serve as the university’s ninth president.

“I owe Connie such a debt of gratitude for participating in the presidential search process and for the last eight years of leadership as president,” Anderson said.

Together with her husband Doug, Kerrii Anderson is among Elon’s most generous donors, making gifts to The Inn at Elon, Richard W. Sankey Hall, Ernest A. Koury, Sr. Business Center and Numen Lumen Pavilion. In 2017, Anderson made a generous gift to endow the Kerrii Brown Anderson Odyssey Scholarship to assist talented students with significant financial need. Her gift to Slattery Center will also deepen funding for her Odyssey Scholarship.

Anderson has been a member of Elon’s Board of Trustees since 2008 and previously served as board chair. She received the university’s Alumna of the Year award in 2000 and currently serves on the Women of Elon Advisory Council. Anderson has also been a devoted donor to Elon Day, the university’s largest day of giving.

Those who knew Allison Keill remember her passion for education and mentoring and how she touched the lives of every student she encountered in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education.

That legacy will live on in the Allison E. Keill Memorial Global Engagement Endowed Scholarship that has been established by Keill’s husband, Chad Esposito, of Burlington, North Carolina, along with gifts from dozens of friends and family members who have come together to honor her memory.

Keill, 50, served as director of the Curriculum Resources Center and associate librarian in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education before passing away March 25, 2026.

“Allison brought light and love to all in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education,” said Dean Ann Bullock. “Her genuine, welcoming spirit and boundless sense of adventure make this scholarship a fitting tribute to an educator who impacted lives far beyond the classroom.”

The scholarship will assist students with financial need in the Watts Williams School of Education who are pursuing study abroad or Study USA opportunities.

Esposito remembers his wife as a woman of extraordinary grace, strength and heart who loved her family deeply.

“Allison was selfless and giving in every sense of the word—always putting others before herself and offering love, comfort and kindness so freely to everyone fortunate enough to know her,” he said. “She had a way of making people feel seen, cared for and important, and her beautiful smile could light up even the darkest room. Allison will be remembered for her positivity, intelligence, resilience and unwavering spirit.”

Keill was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September 2024 yet refused to let the disease define her, Esposito said.

“Even in the face of unimaginable hardship, Allison remained inspiring, strong, thoughtful and full of love,” he said. “She met life’s challenges with courage and dignity, and she taught those around her what it truly means to live with purpose, gratitude and grace. Her family was the center of her world, and she poured her heart into every moment spent with them. She also understood deeply that nothing in this life is guaranteed, and because of that, she embraced each moment with love, laughter and intention.”

Esposito hopes the scholarship will inspire students to embrace education and global exploration.

“Endowing this scholarship ensures that Allison’s legacy continues in a way that reflects who she was—a compassionate educator, an inspiring mentor and someone who saw the world as a classroom without borders,” he said. “Allison had a genuine love of learning, not only through books and �þ���, but through experiencing the world firsthand. She believed that understanding different cultures and perspectives made people better educators, better thinkers and better human beings.”

Born in Summit, New Jersey, Keill grew up in Westport, Connecticut, and Brunswick County, North Carolina. After graduating high school from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, she earned her bachelor’s degree from UNC-Greensboro, and a master’s degree in library science from East Carolina University.

Make a Gift

Anyone interested in donating to the scholarship may contact Brian Baker, associate vice president of university advancement, at (336) 278-7453 or bbaker7@elon.edu.

A generous gift from Elon Trustee Bill Slattery and his wife Tish Slattery P’24 P’28 will name the university’s new center for health and wellness and also create 14 additional scholarships in the Odyssey Program to assist talented students with significant financial need.

Elon President Connie Ledoux Book and the Board of Trustees announced the Slatterys’ gift at the board’s spring meeting April 10-11. Book thanked the Slattery family for their generosity and leadership in supporting a center that will integrate academics, wellness, campus recreation and fitness programs to ensure students gain the skills they need to thrive on campus and throughout every stage of their lives.

“The Elon community is deeply honored to name the HealthEU Center in recognition of the Slattery family,” Book said. “This extraordinary investment from Bill and Tish Slattery will help Elon meet its mission to transform the mind, body and spirit of every student, and prepare healthy graduates ready to share their gifts with the world.”

The ability to address the health and well-being of students early in their lives inspired the Slatterys to make their gift.

“My career at the intersection of science and investment often requires decades to witness the outcomes of success,” Bill Slattery said. “HealthEU is an opportunity to intervene with our students at an early age and engage in these activities in a more structured, thoughtful way, and hopefully reduce some of their adversities in life.”

“I believe social media has impacted students greatly, and institutions like Elon that provide centers like HealthEU will be at an advantage going forward,” Tish Slattery said. “Health and wellness encompass so much more than just the physical aspect. I’m incredibly grateful that we’re able to impact Elon with this gift.”

Slattery Center is a central component to the university’s broader HealthEU initiative that focuses on six dimensions of health and wellness: community, emotional, purpose, financial, physical and social. The three-story center will feature new classrooms, student-faculty research spaces, multiple floors for wellness and fitness activities, and the Mark and Kim Tyson Counseling Center, which will provide individual and group therapy, as well as workshops and outreach programs.

Through coursework, as well as workshops and training programs focused on health and wellness, Slattery Center will impact all students as they progress through their education and learn essential skills and practices related to wellness and well-being. The center is a key priority of the Boldly Elon strategic plan that will guide the university to 2030. Scheduled to open in fall 2026, Slattery Center will be located within Elon’s Innovation Quad, home to the university’s engineering and other STEM programs.

The Slatterys’ gift will also endow the William and Tish Slattery Odyssey Program Scholarship, funding 14 new scholarships in the program that gives bright, passionate students with high financial need and/or no family history of college attendance access to Elon’s nationally recognized engaged learning programs.

These new investments bring the total number of Odyssey Program scholarships to nearly 300, more than halfway to the university’s goal of having a total of 400 Odyssey Scholarships, or 100 scholars per class, as called for in the Boldly Elon strategic plan. Housed in Elon’s Center for Access and Success, the Odyssey Program is nationally recognized as a model for need- and merit-based initiatives, with a nearly 100% first-to-second-year student retention rate and an 87% graduation rate, well above the national average.

The Slatterys have been impressed by the educational experience Elon delivers to students. Their daughter Madelyn graduated in 2024, and their son James is an Elon sophomore.

“I’ve been very happy to see the school excel at its academic responsibility in education while equally addressing students’ needs as people at the social level,” Bill said. “It’s a pleasant, inviting and warm place that cares for its students.”

“From the moment you step foot on Elon’s campus, you feel a great sense of community,” Tish said. “The close relationships that students have with their professors makes Elon stand out among its peers.”

Bill Slattery is a partner at Deerfield Management Company, Therapeutics. Prior to joining Deerfield in 2000, Slattery served as a senior healthcare analyst for 10 years at Amerindo Investment Advisors in New York, where he oversaw biotechnology investments. He has also held various positions in research, including those at National Medical Enterprises, Johnson & Johnson, and HMSS. He is the former chair of Red Door Community, which supports those impacted by cancer and their families.

Bill was elected to Elon’s Board of Trustees in 2024. Tish is a member of the Slattery Family Foundation and served in administration at Amerindo Investment Advisors. Recently, Tish was named chair of the Miss Hall’s School Arts Advisory Council. The couple reside in Rye, New York.

Inspired by her Elon education, Joan Danieley ’82 has established a professorship that will focus on complex issues surrounding family histories and reconciliation.

The Joan Danieley Distinguished Professorship will support a faculty scholar in any field of study whose �þ��� and research explore family histories and how individuals and societies navigate issues of reconciliation.

The fields of study may include, but are not limited to, history, psychology, sociology, human service studies, English and communications. Topics of reconciliation may include the legacy of slavery, the aftermath of Nazi Germany, displacement of Native Americans, internment of Japanese Americans and the contemporary political divide.

Danieley, who is the niece of the late Elon President Emeritus J. Earl Danieley ’46, is passionate about the lessons society and individuals can learn from exploring issues of identity, ancestry and cultural heritage.

Danieley was deeply moved after watching the PBS documentary series, “Finding Your Roots,” hosted by renowned Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. The series explores the ancestry of celebrities and other well-known individuals from diverse backgrounds, some of whom have discovered family connections to slavery and the Holocaust. By taking viewers deep into the past, Gates seeks to demonstrate our common humanity.

“As I watched ‘Finding Your Roots,’ I was stunned by how family history and reconciling our pasts impacts us today,” Danieley said. “All these years later, the impact is palpable and the reconciliation continues.”

Danieley recalled learning about her own family history after reading the book, “Shuttle & Plow: A History of Alamance County, North Carolina,” written by Elon Professor Emerita Carole W. Troxler and William Vincent. Danieley said the book “completely changed my life.”

“In that book, they wrote about slavery and that my great-great-grandfather, Henry Hubbard Danieley, was rabidly anti-slavery,” she said. “But my great-grandmother’s family owned lots of slaves. We are all a mixture of contradictions upon which we layer the values we choose as our personal values.”

Elon’s values inspired Danieley to make her estate gift to establish the professorship, which she hopes will encourage meaningful discussions among students and faculty.

“Elon’s commitment to diversity, integrity, collaboration and respect for differences aligned with my values,” she said. “Putting Elon in my will acknowledges Elon’s effect on who I became and who I strive to be.”

The Danieley family’s roots run deep at Elon. Earl Danieley was one of North Carolina’s strongest advocates for higher education. Beloved by generations of students and alumni who knew him as “Dr. D,” Earl Danieley grew up on a farm in Alamance County, North Carolina, not far from the Elon campus. He earned his degree in chemistry in 1946 and later that year joined the Elon faculty to teach chemistry, beginning a remarkable career that spanned 70 years. In 1957, at age 32, Danieley was named the sixth president of then-Elon College and guided the college to a new level of quality during his 16-year term, making improvements in academic standards and faculty credentials. He retired from the presidency in 1973 and returned to the classroom to teach, later serving in a variety of administrative positions. He passed away in 2016 at age 92.

“My ancestors agreed on their love for �þ��� and its influence on its students and community,” Joan Danieley said. “It was there that I began to get clarity on my values and the willingness to discuss these complex issues. I hope my donation will further this conversation and ultimately improve the reconciliation among diverse communities with differing histories, social norms and how we came into being.”

Provost Rebecca Kohn thanked Danieley for investing in faculty scholars and student learning.

“The entire Elon community is indebted to Joan Danieley for recognizing the importance of investing in life-changing teacher-scholar-mentors who play an essential role in preparing students for success on campus and beyond,” Kohn said.

“This gift is a powerful example of how philanthropy can advance rigorous scholarship, while also creating space for courageous, necessary conversations,” said Leanna Giles ’02, associate director of planned giving.

Danieley, a retired health care executive, earned her Elon degree in physical education and health from the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education in 1982 and earned master’s and law degrees from Tulane University.

“Leaving a legacy of love and reconciliation is how I want to be remembered,” she said. “It’s as simple as that.”

Make An Impact

To learn how you can make an impact at Elon through your estate, contact Leanna Giles ’02, associate director of planned giving, at (336) 278-5798 or lgiles@elon.edu.

“Our dining philosophy is rooted in the belief that food should nourish, energize and support long-term health, while celebrating flavor, culture and sustainability,” said Mary Thorton, founder and president of Harvest Table Culinary Group. “By supporting the HealthEU Center, we can continue advancing these values and create meaningful experiences that promote well-being.”

In recognition of the company’s gift, the demonstration kitchen and adjoining classroom on the third floor of the HealthEU Center will be named the Harvest Table Culinary Group Classroom and Kitchen. Teaching Kitchens encourage faculty, staff and student organizations to partner with Elon Dining’s chefs and dietitian to create enriching learning experiences while learning valuable skills concerning healthy eating and meal preparation.

“The Teaching Kitchen program we co-developed with �þ��� is a hallmark of the Elon Dining experience and a source of great pride for us,” Thorton said. “Having a dedicated space within the HealthEU Center to host �þ��� kitchens will be transformative for this program.”

Harvest Table Culinary Group provides for the entire campus community. The company focuses on chef-driven, authentic and locally sourced food that emphasizes clean ingredients, community connection and well-being through partnerships with local farms and chefs.

“�þ��� is a founding partner of Harvest Table Culinary Group, and we are thrilled to have a long-term, collaborative relationship,” Thorton said. “Our shared values—student-centered learning, global engagement and experiential education—make this partnership truly special. We are deeply committed to the success of the Boldly Elon (strategic plan) and proud to support the university in every way possible.”

The HealthEU Center is a central component of Boldly Elon and the university’s broader HealthEU initiative that focuses on six dimensions of health and wellness: community, emotional, purpose, financial, physical and social. The three-story center will feature new classrooms, student-faculty research spaces, multiple floors for wellness and fitness activities, and the Mark and Kim Tyson Counseling Center, which will provide individual and group therapy, as well as workshops and outreach programs.

Currently under construction, the center is located within Elon’s Innovation Quad, home to the university’s engineering and other STEM programs, and scheduled to open in Fall 2026. Elon has set a $25 million fundraising goal to make the HealthEU Center a reality. To date, donors have contributed $23 million to the project.

“The Elon community is grateful to Harvest Table Culinary Group for their generous support of the HealthEU Center,” said Janet Williams, vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer. “By providing healthy and nutritious meals to our campus, Harvest Table plays an essential role in our commitment to the health and well-being of students, faculty and staff.”

Make An Impact

Many naming opportunities remain in the HealthEU Center, beginning at $50,000. Gift commitments may be made in full or with a pledge over five years. To find out how you can make an impact with your gift, contact Brian Baker, associate vice president for university advancement, at 336.278.7453 or bbaker7@elon.edu.

Elon parents Neil and Jennifer Wizel P’28, of Houston, have contributed $100,000 to the HealthEU Center. The couple praised Elon’s decision to make students’ health and well-being a top institutional priority, along with their academic and career preparation, and to help them form meaningful relationships. The couple’s daughter Grace ’28 is a sophomore.

“College students today face unique challenges—they are digital natives, buoyed by the benefits of technology and social media, and simultaneously threatened by the relentless culture of comparison and living in an age where real-life relationships often take a back seat,” Jennifer Wizel said. “They are also living on the heels of a pandemic, with a fluid and unpredictable economy and a divisiveness in society that sometimes feel intractable. Having institutional support for their health and well-being is a gift beyond measure.”

The HealthEU Center is a key component of the university’s Boldly Elon strategic plan and HealthEU initiative that focuses on six dimensions of health and wellness: community, emotional, purpose, financial, physical and social. The three-story facility will feature new classrooms, student-faculty research and engagement spaces, multiple floors for wellness and fitness activities, including an aquatics center and climbing/bouldering walls, and the Mark and Kim Tyson Counseling Center, with space for individual and group therapy, as well as workshops and outreach programs.

Through coursework, workshops and training programs focused on health and wellness, the center is designed to impact every student as they learn essential skills and practices to thrive on campus and throughout each stage of their lives.

While it was bittersweet sending Grace to college, the Wizels said they are enjoying watching her become more independent and make friends on campus.

“We feel tremendous affection, pride and excitement that Grace is spending these years at Elon, cultivating a deeper awareness about who she is, what she values and how to move through the world with curiosity, agency and purpose,” Jennifer said. “She will be challenged at Elon, supported and made to feel welcome and whole in her journey.”

The couple’s gift will also establish the Wizel Family Elon Engagement Scholarship to make an Elon education possible for promising incoming students eager to participate in the university’s nationally recognized engaged learning programs, including �þ��� research, study abroad or Study USA, internships, service learning or leadership development.

Elon has set a $25 million fundraising goal to make the HealthEU Center a reality. To date, donors have contributed $22.4 million to the center, which is currently under construction and scheduled to open in fall 2026 within Elon’s Innovation Quad, home to the university’s engineering and other STEM programs.

The comprehensive nature of the HealthEU Center and thoughtful design also inspired a generous gift from Parents Council members Armins and Cynthia Rusis P’28, of New London, New Hampshire. The couple are also members of the President’s Parents Leadership Council.

“By integrating fitness and wellness into the college experience, the center will help students establish habits that contribute to lifelong health,” Cynthia said. “Without a healthy balance between academics, recreation, and physical and mental resilience, it becomes significantly harder to thrive in today’s demanding and competitive world.”

The couple said they are “absolutely thrilled” with their daughter Lily’s Elon experience.

“The university offers an incredible range of opportunities, both academically, socially and through extracurricular involvement,” Cynthia said. “We’re deeply grateful for all that Elon provides and are proud to support the school and its mission.”

Their gift will also create the Rusis Family Elon Engagement Scholarship.

The Cannon Foundation has continued its loyal and generous support of the university, contributing $100,000 to the center. Since 2000, the foundation has made gifts to some of Elon’s key facilities, including the Ernest A. Koury Sr. Business Center, R.N. Ellington Health Center, Physician Assistant Studies program, Inman Admissions Welcome Center and Koenigsberger Learning Center.

“The Cannon Foundation provided funding for this opportunity because it supports the total student,” said Suzanne Philemon, executive director of the foundation. “We want students to be successful and feel that these areas help make for a healthy, well-rounded human being. Our college and university students are our state’s future, and health and well-being are critical elements to their success.”

The foundation’s gift will also endow The Cannon Foundation Elon Engagement Scholarship to assist students pursuing a bachelor of science in nursing degree in the university’s School of Health Sciences, with preference for students from Cabarrus County, North Carolina.

How to Make an Impact

Many naming opportunities remain in the HealthEU Center, beginning at $50,000. Gift commitments may be made in full or with a pledge over five years. To find out how you can make an impact with your gift, contact Brian Baker, associate vice president for university advancement, at 336.278.7453 or bbaker7@elon.edu.

Debra Del Vecchio knew there was something special about Elon when she first stepped onto campus in fall 2017, when her son Cristian ’22 enrolled. That affinity only grew stronger when her daughter Angelica ’24 joined the Elon community a few years later.

“What I admire most about Elon is its deep sense of commitment,” said Del Vecchio, of Oyster Bay, New York. “The university is proactive, always thinking ahead to ensure students are supported, not just academically, but emotionally, socially and physically. The new HealthEU facility is a perfect example of this. It will be a state-of-the-art space, but more than that, I’m confident it will be a warm and welcoming hub of well-being at the heart of campus life.”

In recognition of her gift, the main entrance to the HealthEU Center will be named Del Vecchio Commons, a spacious area that will welcome all visitors to the center and serve as an inviting gathering spot for students, faculty and staff. Scheduled to open in fall 2026, the center will be located within Elon’s Innovation Quad, home to the university’s engineering and other STEM programs.

The gift will also endow the Del Vecchio Family Internship as part of the Women of Elon (WE) initiative. This initiative seeks to inspire alumnae, parents and friends to increase philanthropic support for students by raising $2.5 million by 2026 to make internships possible for students with financial need. Del Vecchio is a member of the Women of Elon Advisory Council. Finally, the gift will provide additional funding for the Odyssey Scholarships previously endowed by the Del Vecchio family, in honor of Cristian and Angelica, to make an Elon education possible for talented students with significant financial need.

“The Elon community is grateful to Debra Del Vecchio for her inspired leadership and engagement as a trustee and for generously supporting scholarships, health and wellness and other top university priorities,” said James B. Piatt, Jr., senior vice president for university advancement and external affairs. “We are a stronger institution because of devoted partners like Debra Del Vecchio.”

The HealthEU Center is a central component to the university’s broader HealthEU initiative that focuses on six dimensions of health and wellness: community, emotional, purpose, financial, physical and social. The three-story center will feature new classrooms, student-faculty research spaces, multiple floors for wellness and fitness activities, and the Mark and Kim Tyson Counseling Center, which will provide individual and group therapy, as well as workshops and outreach programs.

Through coursework as well as workshops and training programs focused on health and wellness, the HealthEU Center will impact all students as they progress through their education and learn essential skills and practices to flourish on campus and throughout each stage of their lives. The center is a key priority of the Boldly Elon strategic plan that will guide the university to 2030.

Elon has set a $25 million fundraising goal to make the HealthEU Center a reality. To date, donors have contributed $22.4 million to the project.

Del Vecchio is one of Elon’s most generous donors, making gifts to support scholarships, Elon’s Greatest Needs, Catholic �þ��� Ministry and, along with Cristian, expansion of the university’s golf training facilities on South �þ���.

“I know firsthand the difference this community can make in a student’s life,” Del Vecchio said. “And I know that countless others will graduate from Elon carrying that same sense of gratitude, confidence and care that my own children did. That’s why I’m proud to support Elon and why I believe in what the HealthEU Center represents for this generation and those to come.”

How to make an impact

Many naming opportunities remain in the HealthEU Center, beginning at $50,000. Gift commitments may be made in full or with a pledge over five years. To find out how you can make an impact with your gift, contact Brian Baker, associate vice president for university advancement, at 336.278.7453 or bbaker7@elon.edu.

To support the Women of Elon initiative, contact Emily Majmudar, director of development, at emajmudar@elon.edu or 336.520.5395.

Ilene and Andy Cantos P’25 of Lower Gwynedd, Pennsylvania, made their estate gift to support Elon Hillel in perpetuity because of the powerful impact the organization had on their daughter, Kylie Cantos ’25, who served as a peer mentor and executive board member with Hillel.

“Hillel provided Kylie with a warm, welcoming community where she felt a sense of belonging and identity,” Ilene Cantos said. “It was more than just a student organization—it became a home away from home for her.”

The couple’s gift is one of the largest made to Elon Hillel, a dynamic student-run and student-centered organization that engages approximately 800 Jewish students (�þ��� and graduate) on campus, along with non-Jewish students. Hillel hosts a variety of activities and services throughout the academic year, including bagel brunches, weekly Shabbat dinners, Hanukkah parties, movie nights, Israeli cooking classes and get out the vote projects, among other activities. The organization is located in the Sklut Hillel Center, which opened in 2013 and is named for Elon parents Lori and Eric Sklut P’14 of Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Cantos family was impressed by how deeply Hillel and Jewish Life staff invest in each student’s well-being and personal growth, including Hillel’s “SoupWorks” program that provides chicken soup and check-ins for students when they’re ill.

“There’s always someone looking out for the students, and that level of care really matters,” Ilene said. “We believe that every student deserves to have access to the same kind of supportive, inspiring and growth-focused community. That’s why we’re proud to support Elon and to be champions of its Jewish Life program.”

Betsy Polk Joseph, senior director of Jewish Life at Elon, thanked the Cantos family for their generosity and deep engagement with the university and Hillel.

“Throughout Kylie’s four years at Elon, Ilene and Andy Cantos led the way as volunteers, champions, philanthropists and advocates for Elon,” she said. “Their legacy gift demonstrates that their generous commitment is lifelong and will inspire donors now and far into the future.”

The couple served on Elon’s Jewish Life Advisory Council (JLAC), which gave them a front-row seat to the value of Jewish Life and Hillel to students’ academic, social and professional growth.

“Serving on JLAC and staying engaged with Elon has deepened our appreciation for the university’s commitment to cultivating a vibrant, inclusive environment,” Andy Cantos said. “Jewish life, and especially Hillel, is a key part of that. It doesn’t just enrich student life—it helps transform it.”

Organizations like Hillel make it easy for students to get involved and stay engaged throughout their entire Elon experience, Ilene said.

“Whether they’re leading a program, participating in a fellowship, working a paid internship or just showing up to a Shabbat dinner, they’re gaining confidence, skills and connections that will last long after graduation,” she said.

The Cantos family was also pleased with Kylie’s overall Elon experience, which allowed her to grow personally and professionally as a Change Maker Scholar in the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, vice president of philanthropy with Alpha Chi Omega sorority and as an executive board member of the Pre-Health Society. Kylie earned her �þ��� degree in psychology.

“Kylie had access to incredible facilities and was constantly challenged academically while also being encouraged to get involved outside the classroom,” Ilene said. “Watching our daughter thrive at Elon has been a gift, and we’re proud to continue supporting this incredible community.”

“Elon is grateful to the Cantos family for generously supporting Hillel through their estate, which will help secure the future of this outstanding organization and make a meaningful impact on generations of students,” said John Gardner ’01, senior director of development.

Visit Elon’s website for more information on how you can make a difference with student learning through estate gifts.

About Elon Hillel

Hillel is open to all Jewish students from all backgrounds, identities and levels of observance, as well as to non-Jewish students. The organization seeks to build a welcoming, inclusive community that provides empowering Jewish experiences for students and embraces the diversity of Jewish traditions and identities.

The Sklut Hillel Center is a popular gathering place for students, whether they’re looking for a fridge full of food, a place to hang out or study, a way to meet other students, or somewhere to celebrate a Jewish holiday. Elon Jewish Life also advocates for the Jewish community on campus and prepares students for life beyond college through access to summer jobs and internships.