Members of the Board of Trustees joined with President Connie Ledoux Book and Director of Athletics Jenn Strawley on April 10, 2026, to rededicate a building that has served multiple purposes for more than half a century and two separate locations on campus.

Alumni, parents and friends have contributed $3 million to the expansion of the university’s golf complex, which also includes the W. Cecil Worsley III Golf Training Center. The expansion represents a significant investment in the future of both men’s and women’s golf and places the university’s training facilities among the best in collegiate golf.

Holland House now provides student-athletes with a premier clubhouse environment to learn, train and compete, with new practice and team spaces, and state-of-the-art technology that allows students to pursue excellence academically and athletically.

The complex expansion project also encompassed renovations to the driving range, including the creation of a 17,000-square-foot tee box, and renovation of the short-game area with reconstruction of the bunkers.

Holland House was renovated to create a centralized home base for the golf program. The clubhouse includes locker rooms, coaches’ offices, quiet spaces for academic study, team engagement spaces and player meeting rooms, strengthening team culture and promoting student growth off the course.

The final phase of the project includes upgrades to the existing W. Cecil Worsley III Golf Training Center, a dedicated indoor practice facility that allows players to train in adverse weather conditions. The center opened in 2009 and includes multiple indoor heated hitting bays, a computerized swing analysis center, indoor putting facility and an outdoor lighted driving range.

Worsley, a 1986 Elon graduate and former member of the golf team, served on the Board of Trustees from 2015 to 2023. He and his wife, alumna JoAnna Sutton Worsley ’87, are the parents of W. Cecil Worsley IV, a 2014 Elon graduate.

Another critical component of the project was the addition of Trackman Range, a technology that tracks every shot hit by a golfer, giving coaches and student-athletes immediate access to data to improve performance and create greater practice efficiency.

“The repurposing of Holland House marks a transformational moment for Elon Athletics. It is special to take a building rich with institutional history and create a best-in-class home for our golf student-athletes that honors our past while boldly investing in our future,â€� Strawley said. “Facilities like this represent our aspirations brought to life, and they only become possible through the generosity of many. I am profoundly grateful to everyone who made this possible, and equally excited for the impact this will have for our golf student-athletes.â€�

Built in 1963 as the official residence for President Earl Danieley and his family, Holland House stood along Haggard Avenue as a symbol of leadership, hospitality and community at Elon. The home quickly became part of campus lore, including a memorable student protest led by Student Government Association President and future Elon Trustee Noel Allen ‘69 and joined by Danieley himself.

In 1973, President Fred Young and his family continued the tradition of welcoming students, alumni and distinguished guests, making the house a center of connection and celebration. In 1985, trustees honored longtime supporter Shirley Thomas Holland by naming the building in his memory, cementing its place in Elon’s history.

After the presidential residence moved in 1988 to today’s Maynard House, Holland House entered a new phase, serving a variety of campus needs, from development and alumni relations to academic programs and student engagement. In 2009, the building was carefully relocated across campus, where it served as home to the Catholic ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ Ministries Newman Center. Work is now under way to build a new Newman Center.

“Today is a wonderful moment for Elon, for Phoenix Athletics, and for our investment in golf and the futures of these student-athletes,� Book said in her dedication remarks. “And it holds a special distinction: this is the first new athletics facility opened under Athletics Director Jenn Strawley.�

Book described the renovated Holland House as a testament to the strength of the programs built by men’s head coach Don Hill and women’s head coach Chris Dockrill.

“And to our student-athletes: I know that every donor agrees that this is for you,� Book said. “Every locker, every building, every asset here was about creating a championship home for Phoenix golf, and we’re very excited for the next chapter to unfold and to cheer you on as you make history.�

Jennings Glenn ‘25 G’26, a member of the men’s golf team, and Elon Trustee Debra Del Vecchio P’22 P’24 also delivered remarks during the ceremony, which was held on the front lawn of Holland House.

“These past five years have been super special to me. I’ve met so many incredible people and built such lasting relationships and created memories I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life,� said Glenn, who thanked donors on behalf of the team. “This is really the best place in the world to be a student-athlete and that’s because of you. Thank you. It’s been amazing to watch this program grow and for me to be a part of it all.�

Del Vecchio thanked Book and the Board of Trustees for their unwavering commitment to students and for an institutional decisiveness that led to the expansion project. She then praised the golf teams for their dedication to the sport and to the university.

“It is all or nothing, a commitment and true discipline needed to be a student-athlete,â€�Ìı Del Vecchio said. “At times I’m sure it can be quite challenging, juggling classes, assignments, and a rigorous playing schedule. But here you are. Know that we recognize and are extremely proud of all of you. You are the face of Elon, especially when you walk out on the golf course. You are not only representing yourself but Elon as well.â€�

Women’s team captain Ashley Lafontaine ‘26 of Ottawa, Canada, delivered remarks during a dinner program that followed the ribbon-cutting.

“This space gives us something we’ve never truly had before: a home that’s entirely our own,� she said. “It’s a space where we can train, study, connect, and grow together all under one roof. It creates an environment where everything we need to succeed, both as athletes and as people, exists in one place.

“But more importantly, it sends a message. It tells every current and future Elon holder that they are valued. That their experience matters. That this program is worth investing in. And for future players, I hope this becomes more than just a facility. I hope it becomes their safe space. Their meeting place. Their place to celebrate wins, work through losses, and build the kind of relationships that last far beyond their four years here.�

arrived at Elon without knowing a single role inside a broadcast control room – not the technical director, not the replay operator, not even how the production itself came together. Four years later, the cinema and television arts major now operates at the highest level, having stepped into an NHL television broadcast.

“Since my first year, I’ve tried to immerse myself in Elon Sports Vision as much as possible, attempting to absorb and learn if 1, this is what I wanted to do, and 2, if I found it fun,� Doherty said. “Ultimately, I fell in love with broadcasting sports.�

That immersion opened the door to a rare opportunity: Doherty served as technical director for a March 12 St. Louis Blues NHL broadcast, managing the live production from a FanDuel remote truck outside Lenovo Center as the show was delivered back to St. Louis. Assistant Professor Max Negin, who worked the same game as a replay operator and editor, said the opportunity reflects just how unique Doherty’s rise has been.

“It’s truly rare for someone this early in their career to work a professional hockey game for a regional network,� Negin said.

Even more remarkable, Negin noted, was how Doherty prepared for the role – ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ himself to operate one of the industry’s most complex switchers while learning to manage the pace and precision required at the professional level.

“Learning a very complicated switcher, basically on his own, is something I’ve never heard of anyone doing in my 30-plus years of television,â€� Negin said. “But beyond the equipment, Philip also was able to build a show and work in a high-pressure environment without making any major mistakes – again, something that seasoned and very experienced TDs don’t do.â€�

Doherty’s path to that moment was built through hands-on experience and initiative. After gaining early experience with Elon Sports Vision and working as a technical director for Elon football broadcasts, he began building connections that opened doors to freelance opportunities on college football broadcasts across ESPN platforms.

“The biggest thing I learned at Elon isn’t my technical skill, but rather the people skills,â€� Doherty said. “Building connections and relationships by far has been the most important component. If I hadn’t attempted to talk to people in the real world, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything I have gotten to do.â€�

Doherty credited a group of Elon mentors and collaborators – including Quintin Brenner, John Spitznagel, Annika Cronin, Patrick Cunningham and Negin – for helping him develop his skills and navigate the industry.

“I couldn’t have gotten to where I am today without the people at Elon helping me out along the way.�
– Philip Doherty ’26

Those connections became critical in preparing for his first NHL assignment. After being hired, Doherty reached out to the broadcast’s director in advance, studying materials and workflows so he could step into the truck prepared.

Instead of focusing on visual flair, he concentrated on the fundamentals – building the elements needed to get the show on air – from sponsored segments to in-game transitions.

By the end of the broadcast, the feedback was immediate. Negin said professionals on site – from crew members to network leadership – were impressed not only with Doherty’s performance, but with how seamlessly he operated.

“Everyone involved said he did a great job and wants him back the next time St. Louis comes to town,� the professor said.

For Negin, Doherty’s trajectory is almost unheard of. “To me, this is like an Elon baseball player jumping from Division I baseball games, and within a year, starting in the major leagues and making an all-star team,� he said.

Now, with his first NHL broadcast complete, Doherty sees it as confirmation he’s on the right path.

“This NHL show only confirmed that this industry is for me, and I am stoked to continue onward,� he said. “I cannot wait to see what comes down the road.�

¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ football player and nursing student Jake Marion ’26 was recently for donating bone marrow through the National Marrow Donor Program (formerly Be The Match)

The national nonprofit agency works to spread awareness of the need for bone marrow donation and to increase the number of participants in theÌıbone marrowÌıregistry. WhileÌıElon Football has workedÌıwith the organization for several years, Club NursingÌıjoinedÌıin 2024Ìıfor an annual awareness and registry event.

Marion joined the registry through Elon Football in 2022. He was almost matched in previous years, but blood testing revealed it was not a high enough match necessary for donation. That all changed this year when he got a call in January to begin the donation process, which was completed this spring.

“He’s a part of me now, and I’m a part of him,� Marion said of the recipient. “My cells are inside his body and hopefully they’re doing their job, and they’re helping him, so it’s hard. I’m just praying he’s going to get better, and I’m rooting for him.�

“I was primarily a pitcher in college myself, so I can appreciate the effort,� Director of Athletics Jennifer Strawley told the Associated Press. “It doesn’t happen every day that you see a perfect game or a no-hitter and to have both on the same day. You also recognize it’s a total team effort and to get to that place, there are plays made behind them that led to the pitchers being able to enjoy that moment.�

Elon’s Anna Dew completed aÌıÌıagainst Charleston Southern, followed by the Phoenix baseball team pitchers Aidan Stieglitz, Mike Staiano and RJ Latkowski pitching their own no-hitter . Dew’s perfect game was Elon’s first since 2022.

“It’s just a really special moment for the student-athletes, for our coaches and our institution as a whole to have something like two unbelievable performances in the same day lead to a little bit of publicity for us,� said Strawley.

Marion was matched earlier this year as an exact genetic donor after previously joining the donor registry. He described his decision to donate as deeply personal, noting that the experience of caring for his sick grandmother helped inspire his nursing path. After completing the three-hour stem cell collection process, Marion emphasized the significance of giving someone a real chance to fight cancer — even if the donation procedure is taxing on the body.

“Those stem cells are basically binding to the bone marrow, and it’s giving him a shot to recover, because this is the first time in his life where his body has been strong enough to fight the cancer,” he said. Ìı“From there, what they can do is actually attack with chemotherapy. It might be a tiny bit taxing to your body, but it’s well worth it for the person that’s struggling with their life.”

Assistant Professor of Nursing and Club Nursing faculty advisor Jeanmarie Koonts offered thoughtful commentary in the article on the role of compassion in healthcare education. She highlighted that while clinical skills and techniques are essential, the ability to empathize and truly care for others is equally vital to the nursing profession.

“For many years running, nursing has been voted the most trusted profession,� Koonts said, adding that empathy cannot always be taught but is a defining trait of exceptional caregivers.

Here are my Phoenix Five tips for the week ahead:

Cheer on the Phoenix – Elon Athletics Calendar

Spring is a great time to cheer on your classmates as they compete on the court and the field. Visit the for all the details about competitions coming this week:

• Men’s Basketball vs. UNCW – Tuesday, March 3, 7 p.m., Schar Center
• Lacrosse vs. High Point – Thursday, March 5, 5 p.m., Rudd Field
• Women’s Soccer vs. Appalachian State – Thursday, March 5, 7 p.m., Rudd Field
• Baseball vs. North Carolina A&T – Friday, March 6, 4 p.m., Saturday, March 7, 2 p.m., and Sunday, March 8, 1 p.m.,Ìı Latham Park
• Softball vs. North Carolina A&T – Friday, March 6, 4:30 p.m., Saturday, March 7, 2 p.m., and Sunday, March 8, 1 p.m., Hunt Softball Park
• Men’s Soccer vs. Belmont Abbey – Friday, March 6, 7 p.m., Rudd Field
• Men’s Tennis vs. Georgia State – Saturday, March 7, 1 p.m., Jimmy Powell Tennis Center
• Women’s Basketball vs. UNCW – Saturday, March 7, 7 p.m., Schar Center
• Men’s and Women’s Tennis vs. South Carolina State – Sunday, March 8, 1 p.m., Jimmy Powell Tennis Center

Reminder: OnTrack Contact Info Review (March 2-31)

We hope to never need to reach out to your emergency contact, but when we do, it’s important we can connect with them quickly. Beginning Monday, March 2, when you log in to OnTrack, you’ll be prompted to review your contact and emergency information as part of a new twice-yearly process to help ensure your information is updated and accurate. You can complete the process immediately when prompted or choose Skip for Now and return later.

Elon Wind Ensemble Carnegie Hall Preview

Wednesday, March 4, 7:30 p.m., Alumni Gym

The Elon Wind Ensemble will be making their Carnegie Hall debut next week. But before they go, you can hear them perform a special preview concert featuring conductor Jonathan Poquette and solo guitarist Carey Harwood. Don’t miss this exciting evening of music!

Elon Day 2026

Thursday, March 5, ALL DAY

Elon Day is THIS Thursday! That means food, games, prizes and activities all day. Check out how you can celebrate the university’s annual day of giving:

• Check out the schedule .
• Wear maroon and gold! Get 10% off spirit apparel and gifts in the Barnes & Noble ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ Bookstore and online (code: THANKYOU26), including on clearance items.
• Post about #ElonDay on social media.
• Follow SUB on IG to “Phind the Phoenix.â€� Win the scavenger hunt to get a Phoenix bobblehead AND give $200 to the campus fund of your choice!

Stay tuned for more information throughout the week.

“Roots & Horizons� Spring Dance Concerts

Friday, March 6, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 7, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 8, 2 p.m.,ÌıMcCrary Theatre, Center for the Arts

Experience the Spring Dance Concert, inspired by the Akan concept of Sankofa, meaning “to go back and get it,� which emphasizes the importance of learning from the past to move forward. The show features work choreographed by women and performed by Elon students. Tickets are free to Elon students.

The Phoenix, who also won the crown in 2023, totaled 135 points in the team standings to outpace defending champion Hampton (121.50) and third-place North Carolina A&T (93).

Elon crowned a pair of individual champions on the day as juniorsÌıÌı²¹²Ô»åÌıÌıclaimed titles in the weight throw and the one-mile, respectively.
Ìı
Clarke broke her own school record in the weight throw with a mark of 20.04 meters, improving her previous best by 0.43 meters. TeammateÌıÌıfinished second with a personal-best throw of 19.44 meters, moving to second on Elon’s all-time performance list in the event.

Beville clocked a winning time of 4:46.96 in the mile and was followed closely byÌı, who placed second in 4:47.38 to rank fourth all-time in program history.ÌıÌıadded points with a fourth-place finish and a personal record of 4:49.68.

Ìıadded to Elon’s strong showing on the track, setting a school record in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.50 to finish fourth, whileÌıÌıplaced fourth in the 60-meter hurdles in 8.65 seconds.

JuniorÌıÌıset the program’s third school record of the meet in the 800 meters, finishing second in 2:08.35. Gilman later teamed with Beville, Bell andÌıÌıin the 4×800 relay, where the quartet posted a top-10 all-time school performance of 9:01.19 to place third overall.

In the pentathlon, three Phoenix student-athletes recorded personal bests, led byÌıÌırunner-up finish with 3,666 points.ÌıÌıplaced fourth with 3,503 points, followed byÌıÌıin seventh with 3,330 points.

Elon continued to pile on points in the distance events as the distance medley relay team ofÌı,Ìı,ÌıÌıand Petitjean ran 11:48.06 for a top-three finish and another top-10 performance in program history.

Ìıdelivered a standout performance with runner-up finishes in both the 3,000 meters (9:33.02) and the 5,000 meters (16:53.97).ÌıÌıplaced fifth in both events, whileÌıÌıadded key points with sixth-place finishes in each race. Young posted times of 9:46.20 in the 3,000 meters and a time of 17:13.16 in the 5,000 meters. Weber had times of 17:13.37 in the 5,000 meters and a time of 9:47.53 in the 3,000 meters.

In the field events,ÌıÌıscored in the high jump with a clearance of 1.65 meters, andÌıÌıcontributed points in the triple jump with a mark of 12.02 meters.ÌıÌı(14.14m) and Clarke (13.78m) also delivered significant marks in the shot put to help secure the team title.

The Phoenix closed the meet in the 4×400 relay as Gilman,Ìı,ÌıÌıand Duna Viñals combined for a time of 3:51.05 to finish fifth overall.

Read more on the website.

For Maelah Proctor ’26, that reminder has shaped her path from uncertainty to leadership. Now she has become a voice for others on campus.

Her confidence did not always come naturally. Over time, she came to understand that she holds her leadership roles because her skills, perspective and voice are needed in those spaces.

Throughout her time at Elon, she has intentionally stepped into spaces where students need to be heard, amplifying voices, advocating for equity, and building community as president of the Black Student Union and as a Student Athletic Council representative for the cheerleading team.

As she reflects on her Elon journey, she points to the people who shaped her path and the purpose that continues to guide her work.

The power of community

Proctor’s confidence did not grow in isolation but through community.

What began as attendance at a Black Student Union event soon evolved into leadership, first serving as vice president for Black Excellence and now as president.

For Proctor, a political science and policy studies major from Charlotte, North Carolina, belonging is deeply connected to visibility. If you don’t see yourself in the community that you’re supposed to represent, she said, it’s hard to feel a part of that community

That understanding now shapes how she leads, ensuring other Black students can find the same affirmation and space that once grounded her. “BSU made me feel comfortable and gave me the confidence to continue here,� Proctor said. “Because sometimes going to Elon and not seeing a lot of people who look like you can be very alienating.�

In addition to finding belonging within the Black Student Union, she has also built community as a Leadership Fellow, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and a cheerleader.

“I’ve been able to find community in different spaces on campus, and each one has shaped me in a different way,� Proctor said.

Each role has strengthened her confidence and deepened her understanding of what it means to lead with intention.

Mentorship as momentum

Proctor recalls meeting Simone Royal ’17 G’25, associate director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education, at her first BSU brunch.

“I didn’t really know anyone, so I sat with Simone because she was a staff member and it felt less intimidating,� Proctor said.

A simple conversation evolved into mentorship.“She has been someone I could go to with questions, someone who helped me navigate things when I didn’t have all the answers,� Proctor said.

Throughout their relationship, Royal has witnessed Proctor’s growth firsthand.

“She has not only stepped up to be the leader that the organization needs, but she’s learned how to extend her leadership skills to others — how to prepare other students to be the best of themselves as well,� Royal said.

Through Royal’s example, Proctor learned that leadership is not about being the loudest voice in the room, but about ensuring others feel heard.

Refusing to shrink

As Proctor deepened her leadership on campus, she became more aware of navigating hyper-visibility and invisibility.

“Sometimes it feels like you’re the only person in the room that looks different,â€� she said. “You’re holding a certain perspective that might be an outlier.â€�

She once tried to soften her presence to avoid stereotypes. Over time, she realized shrinking herself served no one. Proctor has chosen to lean into her voice.

“She is a tireless advocate for the community that she serves,� said Abdul-Malik Harrison ‘21, assistant director of the Center for Race, Ethicity and Diversity Education. “When she has a vision, she wants it enacted. She is the epitome of, ‘if you want it bad enough, you can get it done’.�

Rather than simply demanding space, Proctor works to create it.

As Proctor looks ahead to law school and life beyond Elon, she hopes to continue advocating for equity and expanding access through public service and policy work. Her experiences navigating visibility, representation and leadership on campus have only deepened her desire to pursue law school as a tool for systemic change.

For now, her message remains clear: take up as much space as you want.

“Be unashamed in who you are,� she said. “The second you stop letting other people’s opinions, stereotypes or perceptions limit you is the second you’re free to pursue what you want to pursue.�

Proctor said her time at Elon serves as proof that when a student chooses to step forward, their voice does more than fill a room — it amplifies others. And that amplification, she said, is what creates lasting change.

Black History Month

As part of Black History Month, ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ is sharing stories through Today at Elon that highlight Black students, faculty and staff who actively contribute to a campus environment where cultural histories and identities are celebrated year-round. In February, Elon is also recognizing the month through a series of events and programming.

Marion joined the registry through Elon Football in 2022. He was almost matched in previous years, but blood testing revealed it was not a high enough match necessary for donation. That all changed this year when he got a call in January to begin the donation process,Ìımaking himÌıElon’s first bone marrow donation since the collaboration between the football program and Club Nursing.

 (formerly Be The Match)ÌıisÌıa national nonprofit agency whose mission is to spread awareness of the need for bone marrow donation and to increase the number of participants in theÌıbone marrowÌıregistry. While with the organization for several years, Club NursingÌıjoinedÌıin 2024 for an annual awareness and registry event.ÌıÌı

“I remember at Lakeside, it was cool because there was the football team, me in the middle, and then a lot of people from Club Nursing,â€� Marion said. “So, it was cool to see both of those groups merge.â€�ÌıÌı

To begin the donation process, Marion had his blood tested to make sure heÌıisÌıa 100% match, filled out a long questionnaire, got a metabolic panel, and an in-depth physical examination.Ìı

Assistant Professor of Nursing and Club Nursing faculty advisor, Jeanmarie Koonts commends Marion for his ability to delegate his coursework while being there for someone in need.ÌıÌı

“I am in awe and it makes me feel so humbled. Jake is puttingÌıtheÌıcompassion,ÌıcommitmentÌıand caring of nursing into action. He is truly giving himself to make someone’s life better,â€� Koonts said. “And Jake is a busy man. He is a senior with an intense workload, who is also a varsity athlete. Yet, he has put someone else’s needÌıabove all ofÌıthis.â€�Ìı

In preparation for the retrieval process, Marion will begin receiving injections, called filgrastim, a week prior.ÌıÌı

“It’s basically a medication they give to cancer patients, but for donors, it’s specifically to increase your stem cell count,â€� Marion said. “And then on the day I get the donation,Ìıit’sÌıusually a six-hour process. They put an IV in each arm at the elbow bend, and you just sit there.ÌıIt’llÌıtake your blood, and then it goes into a machine, grabs all the stem cells, and returns the blood back into the other IV. After that, you justÌıkind of avoidÌıstrenuous activities for a week.â€�ÌıÌı

To complete the donation, Marion will miss three days of classes and make up the work afterwards in recovery. Despite it all, his main concern is the ability to make a difference.ÌıÌı

“Cancer is a huge problem, and I think the ability to even have the chance to help someone live longer or cure their specific type of cancer is really just an awesome feeling,â€� Marion said.Ìı“It’sÌısomething thatÌınot manyÌıpeople experience, andÌıI’mÌıvery gratefulÌıfor it.ÌıI’mÌıjust gladÌıthat I can help someone.â€�ÌıÌı

The next football and Club Nursing registry event will be held on March 30, 2026. For more information, contactÌı.ÌıÌı