Since the campaign entered the public phase in 2019, donors have built on Elon’s position as a leader in higher education by investing in graduates the world needs, engaged learning, mentors who matter and the university’s iconic learning environment. Members of the greater Elon community are invited to come hear an update on the campaign’s progress at events in Elon and Raleigh.

Both events will feature a reception with a hosted bar and hors d’oeuvres followed by a program with remarks by President Connie Book and special guests. More details on each event, including links to register, are below.

Elon LEADS in the Triad

Thursday, April 28, 2022
The Inn at Elon

A celebration of leadership and philanthropy with President Connie Book. Located at The Inn at Elon at 605 North O’Kelly Ave. Business attire is the dress code for the event. Please RSVP by April 14 here:

6:30 p.m. Reception
7:30 p.m. Remarks by President Book

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Elon LEADS in Raleigh

Thursday, May 5, 2022
The Pavilion at the Angus Barn

Located at 9401-1 Glenwood Ave. in Raleigh, N.C., the event will be a celebration of leadership and philanthropy with President Connie Book. There will be a reception at 6:30 p.m. and remarks by President Book at 7:30 p.m. Business attire is the dress code and please RSVP by April 21 at this website: 

Contact Jill Hollis ’13 G’17 at jhollis@elon.edu with any questions.

An Elon Law graduate has inspired dozens of high school students over the past decade to pursue a college education through free workshops and professional development programs hosted by his own nonprofit agency.

, co-founded more than a decade ago by Gerard Truesdale L’ Dec.’17, also helps young men identify potential career paths. The organization sponsors field trips to local colleges, classes on etiquette, community service projects, and interview preparation courses.

“Crossroads has opened up eyes to seeing more about what they can do with their lives,” Truesdale said. “ľĂľĂČČ learn to how they can use their strengths to excel in school, or college, or whatever they choose to do after high school.”

Truesdale and childhood friend Arturo Mckie established Crossroads in 2009 while Truesdale was enrolled in graduate studies at North Carolina Central University. ľĂľĂČČ attend twice-monthly Saturday workshops hosted by the nonprofit inside Providence Baptist Church in Greensboro.

Truesdale said he’s proud of the 100% college acceptance rate for those inspired to pursue a college degree because of Crossroads.

Steven Thomas attended Crossroads in 2011 when he was a student at Dudley High School in a predominantly Black neighborhood in Greensboro.

“It’s important to have a guy that looks like you and is close to your age, and to see him doing certain things,” Thomas said. “Sometimes, with your parents, things get really redundant. Getting advice from a person with a different point of view is important. Some kids really need that.”

Other participants also credit Truesdale for positively impacting young lives.

“There are a lot of people who don’t have mentors, or they don’t get the kind of stuff we get to do for free,” said K.J. Zellous, a Crossroads participant and student at Grimsley High School. “It’s good to have someone to talk to and also have other young people your age to get their opinions. I feel like my voice is heard.”

Truesdale balances his role at Crossroads with his work in cybersecurity at Cockerham & Associates in North Carolina, and his legal position with the Alabama-based Morton Law Firm. The Greensboro native –Truesdale graduated from Grimsley High School before attending Morehouse College for ľĂľĂČČ studies – said he finds fulfillment in working in information technology while practicing law in criminal defense, and family and juvenile law.

Truesdale didn’t always see himself as a lawyer. Advice and guidance from attorneys he got to know helped Truesdale better appreciate the benefits a law degree would afford Crossroads. “While I was in law school, I had a couple of Saturday work- shops that focused on juvenile justice,” he said. “I realized that being an attorney…opened up so many doors in terms of my interests and what I knew what I could do with my career, from reform of the juvenile criminal system to helping out guys in Alabama who don’t have a positive male figure in their lives.”

Truesdale said businesses have opened their doors to allow tours of their facilities, sponsors have hosted lunches for students, and word of mouth has grown participation.

“The students receive a very well-rounded experience that includes breaking bread together, and there’s even a recreation component,” said John Rich, director of advancement at Crossroads. “The results speak very well of the program. Crossroads graduates are college-ready, and well-rounded young men, most of whom will become leaders in various occupations and undertakings.”

Crossroads is now looking to develop new opportunities and programs, possibly within the Guilford County Schools system via a life skills program for middle and high schools. Those who know Truesdale say he’s set for success.

“If I were recruiting a leader for any organization, I would seek five things: absolute integrity, energy and work ethic, smarts, good people skills, and a sense of life and professional purpose,” Rich said. “That’s Gerard. He ticks all the boxes. He’s a good teacher, and an even better role model.”

As summer kicks into high gear, things are heating up for our regional alumni chapters and Elon in the Ballpark is back. Take your family out to the ball game and mingle with other alumni!  Select cities and regional alumni chapters will be hosting a baseball outing in your city. Check out the list below to see how you can snag your tickets just in time to join alumni, friends and family at the game.

• 
  July 30
  Burlington Sock Puppets
• 
  Aug. 5
  Greensboro Grasshoppers
• 
  Aug. 6
  Durham Bulls
• 
  Aug. 7
  New York Yankees
• 
  Aug. 27
  Atlanta Braves
• 
  September 19
  Boston Red Sox

We’re laser-focused on keeping our alumni and their guests safe by following social distancing guidelines. Certain areas may have reduced capacity, so register sooner than later to make sure you can join us at the game.

We hope to see you there.

Greensboro elder law attorney and plans to spend the thousands of dollars she won this month from Ellen DeGeneres to help with her November 2020 wedding.

No one back home believed she had won the money until the contest aired a day later. Hossfeld’s phone has been “blowing up” almost ever since.

On television, it looks like Hossfeld walked away from a February 12 taping of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” with $10,000 in bundled cash.

In reality, producers had pulled her aside after the show to fill out tax forms for the IRS. Hossfeld will receive a check for north of $7,000 after Uncle Sam receives his cut.

Yet it’s all a blur for Hossfeld. The screaming and cheering from the audience, her future sisters-in-law and close family friend “going nuts.” Hossfeld’s own celebratory dancing. The hug from Ellen. In her words: “I spaced out with excitement.”

That’s what happens when you correctly answer five questions in less than 60 seconds for “Ellen’s Split Second” (answers at the bottom of this page):

• Mary Connelly or Andy Lassiter: “Whose rash do I mention on the show?”
• Tom Hanks or Tom Cruise: Who collects vintage typewriters?
• India or Italy: Which country is shaped like a boot?
• Nike or Adidas: Which slogan is “Just Do It”?
• Kim or Khloe: Which Kardashian is taller?

Hossfeld’s selection to play wasn’t completely random. Producers screened for possible contestants as audience members stood in line to enter the studio. “Pretend that Ellen calls your name for something,” they asked. “How would you act?”

The trip was made possible when Hossfeld’s close family friend won tickets to a taping and asked if Hossfeld and her future sisters-in-law wanted to be a part of a “girls’ trip” to Los Angeles.

It helped that Hossfeld had the encouragement of colleagues to head west on a moment’s notice for a rare treat. The attorneys and staff at The Elderlaw Firm in Greensboro, where Hossfeld assists clients with estate and long-term care planning, would soon cheer her appearance on TV during a weekly meeting.

Ultimately, simply meeting Ellen was a dream come true for a young attorney who had watched “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” since its first days in the early 2000s and is a walking encyclopedia of pop culture knowledge. Hossfeld has always loved the good people highlighted on the show alongside the funny and quirky happenings in our world.

And of course the dancing.

So what does Hossfeld want everyone to know about her experience?

“Everything you see on TV, with Ellen being a genuinely nice person, is true,” Hossfeld remembers. “She stayed after the taping and talked with the audience. She thanked us for coming because she knew that we were taking time out of our day and that many of us had traveled far to see the show.

“She actually is as nice as she seems.”

###

Answers: Mary Connelly, Tom Hanks*, Italy, Nike, Khloe Kardashian. 

* Hossfeld notes this was the only answer that she guessed.

• Don’t view clients as “tokens”
• Attempt to learn basic Spanish, but conduct interviews in English and use an interpreter
• Be patient with clients whose culture may not prioritize immediate action to solve a problem
• Always ask uncomfortable questions like citizenship status – it will help you understand the ramifications of your advice

And don’t hesitate to ask someone how to pronounce his or her name.

“You don’t want to tarnish a relationship before it begins,” said Sharon Dunmore L’May’17 of . “If you’re not comfortable or don’t know how to pronounce someone’s name, ask them! No one is going to be offended by that. I speak Spanish and I don’t know how to pronounce some of the names I encounter!”

Dunmore was joined by Pahola Burgos Chala L’Dec.’17 of , and Gheisha-Ly Rosario Diaz L’Dec.’17 of the , in a Sept. 23 panel conversation hosted by Elon Law’s Hispanic & Latinx Law ľĂľĂČČ Association and the Women’s Law Association as a kickoff event to a series of programs celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.

With dozens of Elon Law students in attendance, the three attorneys shared stories of navigating law school and overcoming “impostor syndrome” as first-generation law students, plus advice for attorneys of all backgrounds assisting the Hispanic community.

Many suggestions applied not only to Hispanic clients. “When you’re working with victims, bedside manner is something we are not taught in law school,” said Rosario Diaz. “I’ve seen attorneys talk to some of our clients, and they’re asking questions without regard to what that person has to go through or search for (in their answers).”

And remember that sometimes the best help attorneys can provide is simply being present for a client and his or her family.

“I understand the fear that (some families) live through every single day,” said Burgos Chala, whose parents immigrated to the United States and were scammed by a notary public who drained the family’s finances with the promise at helping with their legal status. “For me, to listen to them, and to bring them some kind of comfort, that’s what makes it rewarding.”

Organizers praised the panelists for the important work they do in the community and for giving back to their law school alma mater by taking part in programs like Monday’s discussion.

“I hope students left the women’s panel with a deeper understanding of what is means to be a Hispanic/Latinx attorney,” said Cynthia Hernandez L’20, president of HLLSA. “Our panelists gave students practical advice for how to interact with Hispanic/Latinx clients, and they created an inclusive environment where every person in the room walked away having learned something new. We are very grateful to have had this opportunity.”

Wednesday, Sept. 25
6-8 p.m.
The Loft at Natty Greene's
345 South Elm Street
Greensboro, NC 27401

Join fellow alumni and friends to welcome new alumni to the area! We will be providing appetizers and Elon swag. All alumni, guests and friends are welcome.

Please contact alumni@elon.edu with any questions.

The Hon. Sarah Neely Lanier L’10 took a ceremonial oath of office on January 2, 2019, before family, friends and members of the Randolph County legal community. Lanier’s husband, Capt. Jeremy Lanier of the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, held a Bible in one hand and their son, Alex, in the other.

In taking the oath, Lanier becomes the second Elon Law alumna elected to the judiciary since the law school was founded in 2006.

​And though her official swearing-in took place in private on New Year’s Day, the afternoon ceremony in the Randolph County courthouse in Asheboro concluded when she was robed by her retired father, William “Bill” Neely, who had presided as a judge in the same community for nearly three decades.

“It is my great honor to have my dad put on my robe for the first time,” Neely told the crowded courtroom after concluding an oath administered by the Hon. Bradford Long. “I hope that you will continue to keep me in your prayers and that you pray I will make wise decisions.”

Elon Law administrators who taught Lanier recalled her passion for serving the law school on the Moot Court Board and in the bond she shared with her father when he volunteered to judge competitions.

“I was not surprised at all that she would want to follow in his footsteps, serving the citizens of Randolph County and the State of North Carolina on the bench,” said Senior Associate Dean Alan Woodlief. “I am proud to have Sarah as a member of the North Carolina judiciary and know her intellect, judgment and commitment to service will make her an exceptional jurist.”

Neely won election in November 2018 with 61 percent of the vote in a county immediately to the south of Greensboro. She was raised just outside of Asheboro, North Carolina, before attending the College of Charleston and later practicing family law in a firm she managed with her father. 

A half dozen Elon Law alumni attended the afternoon ceremony in support of their law school classmate.

Neely joins the Hon. Carrie Vickery L’09 as Elon Law alumni who have been elected to the judiciary. Vickery won her seat in North Carolina’s Forsyth County in 2016.

​

This event will be held at Jeffrey Adams on Fourth from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Winston Salem. The chapter will be providing hors d’oeuvres and Elon swag. The restaurant is offering half off wine night, as well. All alumni, friends, and guests from all parts of the Triad are welcome. Hope you can join us!

For detalis and registration, click the link below:

Triad’s Winston-Salem Alumni Happy Hour

321 4 St NW

Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018

6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Alumni of all generations are encouraged to attend as we kick off a new year of chapter events. Family, friends and guests are welcome to join. Free food and Elon gear will be available at all events. This is an opportunity to connect with other local Elon graduates and hear from chapter leaders about what is in store for the upcoming year.

Learn more and register for your chapter’s event by clicking the name of your city below: 
 

Alumni chapters in Alamance County, the Triad (Greensboro), Richmond, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. hosted events in mid-August. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at alumni@elon.edu or (336) 278-7500.

Courtney Vaughn ’15, Triad Chapter president, planned the successful outing and afterward said that “the Triad Alumni chapter enjoyed a cool evening to kick-off the Grasshoppers season. The staff at the Hoppers made it a remarkably easy process for all alumni and family members to enjoy the evening behind home plate. We even saw our chapter name on the jumbo-tv screen in the outfield.”

The alumni had the opportunity to enjoy the game from behind home plate that also included $2 Babe’s Bucks at concessions.