When you cast your ballot during the midterm elections, how will you decide whom to vote for? How will you decide what makes an effective elected official? Elections provide an opportunity for voters to select the leaders who will shape how our municipalities, counties, states and nation are governed. Making informed decisions about who we vote for has a direct impact on our daily lives and the lives of our fellow citizens. This dialogue will provide an opportunity to explore the issues that matter most to you and to consider how you might select candidates who best represent your values and needs.

Sponsored by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, Political Engagement Work Group and Elon Votes!

Their chapter, titled , is intended to serve as a comprehensive guide and 鈥渉ow to鈥� resource for academics seeking to engage in partnerships with community organizations in international settings, using the principles of Fair Trade Learning as a lodestar. The abstract for their chapter is as follows:

This chapter explores the complexities and ethical considerations of international community-engaged learning, highlighting the experiences of sustained partnerships between 福利亚洲国产精品 and two international organizations (the Comprehensive Rural Health Project in Jamkhed, India and Sarvodaya in Sri Lanka). Drawing on the Fair Trade Learning (FTL) model, the authors emphasize core principles such as cultural humility, reciprocity, and critical global citizenship, while addressing challenges unique to international contexts including positionality, narrative humility, accessibility and sustainability.

Through practical guidance and case examples, the chapter conveys the importance of co-creating community-engaged learning programs with community partners, prioritizing mutual benefit, and avoiding exploitative or colonialist dynamics. The chapter highlights various assessment tools to measure community impact. By integrating the UN Sustainable Development Goals and engaging with students鈥� identities and motivations, this chapter advocates for intentional, transformative community-engaged learning programs that support student, university, organization, and community development and global equity.

Formerly known as Summer in the Village, Summer Launch prepares students for their incoming grade-level curriculum while creating opportunities to build relationships and confidence before returning to the classroom.

Two Alamance-Burlington School System (ABSS) teachers led each classroom, all of whom had previously worked with the 鈥淚t Takes a Village鈥� Project, and volunteers supported them. This additional support allowed students to work in smaller groups and receive individualized attention throughout the program.

For one volunteer, Summer Launch offered the chance to return to a program that had been part of his own childhood. Diego Aguilar Hernandez grew up attending Big Village tutoring sessions. Now a rising senior in high school, he has returned to his roots, working alongside his former fourth-grade teacher, Ashley Cook, this summer.

鈥淪ummer Launch gave me the opportunity to build relationships with the students while helping them grow academically,鈥� said Hernandez. 鈥淚t was really rewarding seeing their progress and confidence grow throughout the two weeks, and I鈥檓 grateful I got to be part of their experience.鈥�

Cook has long supported the 鈥淚t Takes a Village鈥� Project in the mission to uplift students, and is a testament to how ABSS teachers are key to the program’s success. Her commitment to the classroom proves why students such as Hernandez have become eager to give back.

“Being a part of the Village Project is an experience I hold near and dear to my heart. I鈥檝e loved being the Andrews Elementary liaison, but teaching this diverse group of ABSS students was such a special treat,” said Cook. “The genuine love and appreciation shown by the students and their families was palpable 鈥� as teachers, we know when that is real! It鈥檚 a beautiful testament to the incredible, often unseen hard work that Laura and Keely put into fundraising and building partnerships so that our Title I students can have these amazing opportunities.鈥�

Another source of dedication within the 鈥淚t Takes a Village鈥� Project is Annabelle Jones, who co-leads instruction for the Village鈥檚 STEM program, IGNITE, formerly known as Engineering in the Village.

鈥淎fter having the opportunity to help lead with Engineering in the Village, when I saw the opportunity to be a part of the Elon Village Summer Launch, I knew I wanted to be a part of it,” said Jones. “Being connected with opportunities from Elon is so special to me. I received my K-12 AIG Certification through Elon and continued on with the Master’s Program. As a 2019 graduate from 福利亚洲国产精品, with a Master’s in Education – Gifted Education, helping out with the Village feels like coming home. The joy it brings to support the whole child is incredible. Fostering the love of learning, building relationships and community is something that the Village provides a space and place for.鈥�

Although Summer Launch differed from Jones鈥� usual STEM-focused curriculum, she embraced the opportunity to create a memorable experience for her students. Her classroom became 鈥淐amp Care-A-Lot,鈥� complete with outdoor-themed activities, a campfire centerpiece and a campfire song for students each day.

鈥淎t the end of the summer camp, students shared how they weren’t ready for it to end and how they would miss me. The feeling is mutual for sure! Another student shared how when she grows up and has kids of her own, she wants to send them to the Village Summer Camp because she wants them to have the same experience. That really helps to explain how special and the uniqueness of the program,” Jones said. “Being a part of the Village is such a positive experience. I am full of passion for the program and I am honored to give back to the community in such a meaningful way. Thank you Elon!鈥�

While teachers brought their creativity and expertise into the classroom, Newlin Elementary staff helped make Summer Launch possible by supporting the day-to-day operations of the program. During the school year, Natasha King serves as Newlin Elementary School鈥檚 teacher liaison, a leadership role that helps ensure the 鈥淚t Takes a Village鈥� Project鈥檚 programming runs smoothly. During Summer Launch, King remained at the forefront of check-in, welcoming students with a smiling face at the beginning and end of each day.

鈥淲orking in the Village program throughout the years and most recently this summer has provided me with the opportunity to experience how the program keeps evolving from its humble beginnings, as it continues to meet the needs of the dynamic community that we serve,鈥� said King.

Alongside King, Principal Intern at Newlin Elementary Brittany Daye served as a site coordinator for Summer Launch. From preparing supplies in advance to coordinating logistics, Daye played an integral role in bringing the program together and helping create a welcoming environment for students and families.

鈥淚 genuinely enjoyed every moment of this journey. 鈥�’It Takes a Village’ is truly a magical program that not only enriches students academically but also builds relationships, inspires educators, and creates lasting memories,鈥� said Daye. 鈥淚t is an incredible asset to the Alamance County community, and I am honored to have been part of something that reminds us all that when a community comes together with a shared purpose, amazing things happen.”

Throughout its two-week duration, the program focused on helping students transition back to school in a fun and interactive way. The 鈥淚t Takes a Village鈥� Project supported teachers in bringing their big ideas to life by providing supplies for hands-on activities, such as designing pinecone bird feeders or creating a rainbow from cereal. During the second week, students participated in a summer-themed spirit week, coming to camp dressed in sunglasses, beach hats and other tropical attire.

For educators like King, Summer Launch is a glimpse into an exciting year of continued 鈥淚t Takes a Village” Project programs for students.

鈥淚 love that even though ‘the Village,’ continues to grow and has added new programming, the premise of the program which is, ‘It Takes a Village,’ remains at the forefront of each and every program that is offered,鈥� said King. 鈥淭he Village continues to be intentional about including our families, educators, tutors, volunteers and students. We know that when children feel safe, supported and are nurtured by those around them, it makes it easier for them to learn new things, as they become more confident in themselves. I am so proud to be a part of such an awesome community!鈥�

This fall, the 鈥淚t Takes a Village鈥� Project will continue working alongside ABSS staff, volunteers, families and students to build on that momentum and ensure every child has a successful and exciting school year.

September鈥檚 conversation, taking place on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. in Moseley 217, will focus on generative artificial intelligence. Participants will think about the presence of artificial intelligence in their lives and how it impacts building genuine relationships with others.

On Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. in Moseley 217, members of the Elon community will come together to discuss the current state of collegiate athletics. Participants will discuss issues like Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), the transfer portal and the rise of gambling.

The last dialogue of the semester on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. in Moseley 217 will be a chance for members of the Elon community to debrief the 2026 midterm elections and think about what comes next.聽Please visit this webpage for information about other dialogue events on campus.

All events are sponsored by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life

Welcome to Elon! Welcome first years, welcome back returning students, and welcome families. We are so very glad that you have chosen to be here with us.

This week鈥檚 Torah portion (parshah) is called . Ki Teitzei means 鈥渨hen you go out鈥�. In the parshah, this going out refers to war and is immediately followed by laws governing the taking of captives. The parshah then provides an extensive collection of commandments.

I鈥檓 going to go out on a limb and say that while I imagine that moving into Elon may have been a rough or challenging experience for many of you, it probably didn鈥檛 feel like going to war. At the very least, I hope it did not! However, I imagine that going out from the homes and families you have grown up in has also involved taking care of an extensive list of seemingly unconnected details, just like the parshah.

In looking over these detailed commandments, one struck me as essential to thriving here at Elon. says 鈥淚f you see your brother鈥檚 [or your fellow鈥檚] donkey or ox fallen on the road, do not ignore it; you must raise it together.鈥�
At first glance, this verse may not appear to be relevant to our lives. I am unaware of any donkeys or oxen present on Elon鈥檚 campus, although if senior administrators know differently, please let me know! [Correction: apparently have been an issue!] However, if you bear with me, I will show you why this verse still matters for us here today.

The Talmud () 鈥� an ancient collection of commentary on rabbinic law considered authoritative for traditional observance even today 鈥� connects this passage with a similar passage from : 鈥淲hen you see a donkey of your enemy lying under its burden and would refrain from raising it, you must nevertheless help raise it.鈥�

According to traditional rabbinic interpretation (), the verse from Exodus commands us to remove undue burdens from animals, even animals belonging to people who hate us. This command shows us that we should alleviate animal suffering whenever possible.

However, the verse from this week鈥檚 parsha in Deuteronomy is understood to command us to put a load back onto an animal if its load has fallen off. This verse teaches us that we should not just care for the animal, but also for the owner of the animal, honoring their intentions to build a secure life for themselves. The verse also clarifies that we are meant to put the load back onto the animal with the owner. We are meant to care for the economic success and flourishing of our fellows with our fellows.

So why does this matter? These laws in these verses matter in three ways.

First, many of us live our lives carrying heavy emotional burdens. We are not donkeys or oxen, but college life can sometimes be a lot to bear. If the Torah asks us to alleviate animal suffering, how much more so would it want us to assist each other in relieving our own suffering? We at Jewish Life (Betsy, Boaz, Jay, Sarah, Tal, and myself) want you to know that we are here for you and will be here for you whenever you need us.

Second, college is also a time of growth and opportunity. There are some burdens (such as the responsibilities and privileges of adulthood) you will want to take on! Classes, internships, study abroad, leadership experiences, Greek life, clubs 鈥� these are aspects of college life that I know many of you are already excited about! We are also here to help you grow in the ways you want to grow and support your flourishing!

Finally, you may have heard the phrase 鈥� all of the Jewish people are responsible for one another. I believe that forming relationships 鈥� with mentors and with each other 鈥� is the most important part of the college experience. I know that it can sometimes take time to make friends at college and to find your place. It is totally normal to feel anxious about making friends. If you do feel this way, know you鈥檙e not alone!

As you and your families adjust your being in college, I hope all of you gathered here today know that you will always have a home with Jewish Life at Elon. We鈥檙e here to help you let go of or manage the burdens you don鈥檛 want, take on the burdens you do want, and help you form the relationships with one another that will sustain you through college and beyond. We are so happy that you have chosen to make your home with us. Kol yisrael arevim zeh bazeh. Let us all take care of one another. Shabbat shalom.

At Elon, community-based learning is fundamentally an academic endeavor in which engagement in projects and activities takes place through reciprocal and mutually beneficial partnerships with the greater community designed to advance the public good. It is an experiential education approach that involves collaborative relationships, guided by the expertise of professors and community-based practitioners, to combine student learning with community needs as an integrated component of a course. The partnerships between Elon and communities engage students with entities such as nonprofit organizations, schools, government agencies, or locally owned businesses.

This year, 19 faculty members have been selected for four extended faculty development programs: Community-Based Learning Faculty Scholars, Community-Based Learning Research Scholars, Community-Based Learning Course Development Grants, and a First-Year Foundations Community Engaged Community of Practice.

Five Elon faculty members have been selected as Community-Based Learning Faculty Scholars for 2026-27. Over the course of this academic year, they will meet regularly to learn more about pedagogy and practices, devise ways to incorporate these practices into their teaching, and receive a stipend for their work.Frank Gentry, Assistant Teaching Professor of Management
Meleena Gil, Assistant Professor of English
Lauren Guilmette, Associate Professor of Philosophy
Nina Namaste, Professor of Spanish
Nikita Shepherd, Assistant Professor of History

Three Elon faculty members have been selected as Community-Based Learning Research Scholars for 2026-27. Each will work on an independent research project during the academic year and will receive a stipend for their efforts. They are:
Dillan Bono-Lunn, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Public Policy
Tony Reyes, Assistant Professor of Human Service Studies
Carol Smith, Professor of Wellness

Three faculty members have been awarded Community-Based Learning Course Development Grants for 2026-28. They will spend the next two years developing, teaching and assessing their community-based learning courses. Additionally, three faculty members were awarded these grants for 2025-27. They are now in the teaching and assessment phases of their grants. These grants are supported by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life and funded through a grant from the Frueauff Foundation.

2026-28 Community-Based Learning Course Development Grant recipients:
Donna Boyette, Assistant Professor of Accounting
Smaraki Mohanty, Assistant Professor of Marketing
Bethanny Sudibyo, Assistant Professor of Spanish

2025-27 Community-Based Learning Course Development Grant recipients:
Lisa Buchanan, Associate Professor of Education
Sandra Darfour-Oduro, Assistant Professor of Public Health Studies
Chris Nelson, Assistant Professor of Marketing

Five faculty are engaging in a pilot community of practice entitled 鈥淔irst-Year Foundations Community Engagement鈥� focused on broadening first-year student community-based learning opportunities. This community of practice is a partnership between the Kernodle Center and the Elon Core Curriculum with support from Nina Namaste, Assistant Director of First Year Seminars in the Elon Core Curriculum, Heather Lindeman, Coordinator of ENG 1100.
Rebecca Bagley, Assistant Professor of Communication Design
Catherine Bowlin, Assistant Teaching Professor of English
Archie Crowley, Assistant Professor of English
Brooks Depro, Associate Professor of Economics
Celia Hameury, Assistant Professor of Engineering

These faculty development programs are mentored by Elena Kennedy, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Faculty Fellow for Community-Based Learning.鈥� Applications for the 2027-28 programs will be available next spring. In the meantime, there are two upcoming faculty development opportunities:

Essentials of Community-Based Learning Workshop for National Campuses鈥��
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 3:30 – 5 p.m., Virtual

This virtual workshop is for faculty and staff at Elon鈥檚 national campuses.
Are you interested in creating a more authentic learning experience in your course by engaging with community partners? Could the learning鈥痮bjectives鈥痜or your course be enhanced through community engagement?鈥疕ave you ever wondered how community-based learning works and why reflection is central to that pedagogy? This workshop is鈥痑ppropriate for鈥痜aculty members who are developing a community-based course,鈥痙esigning a project or assignment that involves community鈥痚ngagement, or鈥痑re curious about community-based learning pedagogies in general. The workshop will allow for interaction with experienced faculty, and staff members from the Kernodle Center for Civic Life and Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning.

Campus-Community鈥疦etworking Hour鈥�
Thursday, Oct. 22, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

You are invited to join the Kernodle Center for Civic Life for an afternoon of networking that will bring together Elon faculty, staff, and community partners to discuss opportunities for collaboration, including community-engaged courses.鈥疎njoy hors d鈥檕euvres and a chance to connect with many partner organizations and campus departments. You will leave with valuable connections for future partnerships.

While relatively new to Elon, Moses-Brownson has been deeply engaged with NAAHP for many years. Moses-Brownson co-chairs the NAAHP Committee on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, sits on the Regional Board of Directors for SAAHP (the Southeastern Association for Advisors in the Health Professions), is part of the instructional team for the NAAHP Leads: Regional and National Leadership track professional development program, and serves as a liaison between NAAHP and the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) LASOR (Learner Access, Student Opportunities, & Retention) working group.

Since joining 福利亚洲国产精品 in 2024, Moses鈥態rownson has helped transform Health Professions Advising through new courses, expanded programming and strategic partnerships that support students and alumni pursuing careers in healthcare. Central to this impact has been a new suite of courses co鈥慸eveloped with Yuko Miyamoto, director of health professions advising and associate professor of biology, and Collier Lumpkin, associate director of career advising for pre-graduate school. Together, Moses鈥態rownson and Miyamoto created an application preparation course focused on helping students understand timelines, requirements and competencies for health professions programs.

Moses-Brownson and Lumpkin developed a standardized test preparation course designed to support students preparing for exams such as the MCAT, DAT, OAT, GRE, and LSAT, which focuses on the non-content aspects of test preparation while providing deeply discounted access to high-quality test prep resources. These courses give students structured guidance, peer support and staff expertise as they move from exploring professional careers to actively applying.

Moses鈥態rownson has also prioritized outreach to prospective students and the broader community, reflecting Elon鈥檚 commitment to access and engagement. In 2026, Health Professions Advising and the Student Professional Development Center co-hosted Health Professions Exploration Day, welcoming local high school students and Union County Schools to campus to learn about a wide range of healthcare careers and see how Elon can help them prepare for those futures. The event connected visitors with faculty, advisors, and current students, highlighting both the breadth of health professions and the many academic and co鈥慶urricular paths available at Elon.

To deepen connections between Elon students and health professions programs, Moses鈥態rownson and the SPDC brought a health professions expo to campus, inviting schools and programs to meet directly with students. The expo gave students the chance to ask questions, compare programs, and build relationships with admissions representatives, all while receiving advising support on how to present their experiences and plan next steps. This kind of face鈥憈o鈥慺ace engagement helps students see the full landscape of opportunities, from medicine and dentistry to physician assistant programs, nursing, genetic counseling, nutrition/dietetics, pharmacy and other fields.

Another key initiative has been a partnership with Alamance Community College to offer an EMT course hosted primarily on Elon鈥檚 campus. By making this training more accessible, Health Professions Advising has opened additional pathways for students to gain hands鈥憃n clinical experience and patient contact hours, which are critical components of competitive applications to many health professions programs. The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to preparing students not only academically, but also through meaningful, real鈥憌orld exposure to healthcare settings.

On campus, Moses-Brownson has worked to develop new opportunities for students to engage in the transformative experiences that prepare students for the competitive application processes in the health professions. A partnership with Belk Library, specifically with Engineering & Physical Science Librarian and Assistant Librarian Ellen Cline, and Coordinator of Research and Publishing and Associate Librarian Jesse Akman, has provided a pathway for underclassmen who cannot access traditional research opportunities to pursue evidence synthesis research opportunities with mentorship and support from library staff.

Alongside these programs, Moses鈥態rownson has worked to deepen individualized advising and application support for both current students and alumni. Health Professions Advising offers one鈥憃n鈥憃ne appointments, workshops, and resources to help students design an academic plan, understand professional competencies, and prepare strong, reflective applications. Students can meet with Moses鈥態rownson through the Elon Job Network using the 鈥淧re鈥慔ealth Advising鈥� appointment types and can connect with Miyamoto by emailing ymiyamoto@elon.edu to schedule advising focused on academic planning and application processes.

Together, Moses鈥態rownson and Miyamoto lead a Health Professions Advising program that supports hundreds of students and alumni as they explore, prepare for, and pursue a wide range of health careers. The NAAHP Outreach/Engagement Award underscores how intentional advising, new courses, campus鈥慶ommunity partnerships, and accessible programming can shape students鈥� pathways to becoming healthcare professionals, both at Elon and beyond.

ThriveWell, a culturally tailored nutrition education program supported by a Danone North America grant, was developed from information gathered through focus groups with adults from racial minority communities residing in north Burlington. Elon faculty and undergraduate students partnered with the Alamance Dream Center, Inc., to develop and deliver evidence-based nutrition education for the community. The program was intended to improve nutrition knowledge, food skills, healthy eating behaviors, and cardiometabolic health by incorporating identified topics and design elements and delivering them in a familiar environment and language.

The six-week program combined interactive nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, grocery shopping strategies, food label education and healthy lifestyle coaching in a culturally welcoming environment. Undergraduate students played essential roles throughout the program, working alongside faculty to help plan and implement each session while building meaningful relationships with participants.

For Ramirez-Rodriguez and Munguia Yanez, one of the most rewarding aspects of the program was serving as bilingual translators. Their ability to communicate in both English and Spanish helped bridge language barriers, foster trust, and create a welcoming learning environment where participants felt comfortable asking questions, sharing experiences, and engaging in discussions about nutrition and health.

“Students were not only observing but became active members of the education team,” said Nepocatych. “They learned how to communicate science in ways that were culturally meaningful while developing the empathy, confidence and professional skills needed to work with diverse communities.”

Before working with participants, students received faculty mentorship and training in culturally responsive communication, evidence-based nutrition education, community engagement, research ethics and behavior change strategies. Throughout the program, Nepocatych and Bailey provided ongoing guidance, helping students refine their teaching skills, adapt educational materials to participants’ needs, and respond thoughtfully to participants’ questions and experiences.

The experience allowed students to apply knowledge gained in exercise science and nutrition while developing skills that extend well beyond the classroom, including teamwork, leadership, cultural humility, communication and community-based health promotion.

In addition to delivering educational programming, students assisted with health screenings, program logistics, participant support and evaluation activities, contributing to a research initiative examining how culturally tailored nutrition education influences nutrition knowledge, dietary behaviors and cardiometabolic health.

Preliminary findings demonstrated significant improvements in participants’ nutrition knowledge and healthier dietary behaviors, accompanied by encouraging trends in cardiovascular and cardiometabolic health indicators. These findings highlight the potential of culturally tailored nutrition education to support meaningful behavior change and improve community health.

For Nepocatych and Bailey, ThriveWell represents the type of engaged learning that defines an Elon education.

“Meaningful learning happens when students have the opportunity to apply their knowledge in partnership with the community,” said Bailey. “By working alongside participants, students gain a deeper understanding of the social, cultural and environmental factors that influence health while recognizing the importance of listening, collaboration, and respect.”

The partnership reflects Elon’s commitment to experiential learning by connecting teaching, scholarship and community engagement. As students worked side by side with faculty and community members, they discovered that improving health involves more than sharing information. They realized it requires building relationships, understanding lived experiences and creating environments where individuals feel empowered to make lasting changes.

Through ThriveWell, Elon students not only developed important skills for future work in healthcare and social services, but they also made a meaningful impact on members of the community in which they live.

The Power+Place Collaborative collects oral histories from surrounding Alamance County community members to record, preserve, present and celebrate diverse perspectives. For this project, Elon students interviewed eight different storytellers. These diverse storytellers showcased their stories, focusing on the communal impact of food, addressing the disparities in food justice and discussing the structural aspects of our food systems.

Not only did the storytellers highlighted by Power+Place represent a diverse sample of Alamance County, but the screening participants also provided an opportunity for interracial and intergenerational communities to interact. An audience of approximately 90 people, with over 80 residing within Alamance County, listened to these impactful stories and participated in meaningful conversations surrounding the inequalities, effects, and workings of the local food system.

Screening participants were prompted to enter discussions with their group members after each pairing of video stories. From the session focused on the communal impacts of food and food systems, one sample group said, 鈥淔ood facilitates community and interaction between individuals both in the creation of meals and enjoyment of them.鈥�

This idea was shared by several participant groups, with others highlighting how social inequalities, such as financial hardships and lack of governmental support to combat hunger, affect how various communities have relationships with food.

Not only do social inequalities affect communal relationships with food at a broader level, but discussion groups were also prompted to analyze the disconnects within the local Alamance County systems.

In one discussion, participants analyzed the disconnect between corporate and small food companies, saying that the 鈥減rohibitive costs associated with ethical consumption (buying local, organic, etc.) have also hindered inclusivity and accessibility, making it difficult for people that represent different demographics to participate equally in food.鈥�

While these questions prompted analysis of these disconnects at the local level, participants were also prompted to discuss how food systems could be improved to increase inclusivity and equitable access. Participants provided a variety of powerful answers, including ideas on how to promote ethical food consumption, encouraging collective action and larger community efforts to address these issues and advocating for local government intervention.

While the Power+Place Collaborative, in partnership with the Center for Design Thinking, successfully aimed to bring awareness to these food systems, they also achieved a broader goal of increasing community engagement at a broader level. Participants and storytellers from the food and food pathways screening reportedly left the event feeling like they had a better understanding of the food systems in Alamance County, had engaged with diverse perspectives, and felt a stronger connection with the community.

This storytelling initiative continues this fall with a countywide screening and dinner scheduled for Dec. 1, 2026, from 5:30-7:30 PM. Interested community members can register at the following .

If you would like to view a full analysis of the Spring 2026 screening, a report is available online.

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• The Month in Photos: April 2026

While many students are away for the summer, July remained a busy month at 福利亚洲国产精品. Student researchers shared the results of projects driven by curiosity and purpose, high school students experienced campus through summer programs and the university continued to welcome visitors for camps and community events. Take a look back at some of the month鈥檚 highlights through the eyes of the staff in University Communications.

Elon Engage

The Engage program at Elon provides an opportunity for incoming students to spend a week on campus before their first semester, learning more about the university and volunteering in the local community. It is聽one of Elon鈥檚聽First-Year Summer Experience (FSE)聽programs, which聽gives incoming Elon students a preview of the university during the summer before their first semester

Adventures in Leadership

Another FSE program, Adventures in Leadership, allows incoming first-year students to explore the outdoors across North Carolina.

A combined College Coffee

Elon faculty and staff visited Queens University for a day of collaborative learning, professional development and Queens’ first-ever College Coffee event fostering connection and community between both institutions.

Research together

More than 50 福利亚洲国产精品 and Queens University of Charlotte students came together for the annual Summer Undergraduate Research Experience presentations on July 23 in Schar Hall.

The largest Odyssey

福利亚洲国产精品鈥檚聽Odyssey Program welcomed its largest cohort in history during Odyssey Week, a collection of events that introduces the students to the scholarship program and college life.

Phoenix Summer

福利亚洲国产精品 hosted its inaugural Phoenix Summer residential camp this month for rising high school juniors and seniors interested in preparing for the transition to college.

Twenty-six students participated in Phoenix Summer, held July 6-17 on Elon鈥檚 campus, where they immersed themselves in hands-on, college-style academics while fostering curiosity, community and independence.

Off-the-Court

Seven incoming first-year students explored careers in the sport industry this summer through the Off-the-Court First Year Summer Experience, an immersive program designed to help students discover where they fit in the business of sport before declaring a major.

Led by sport management faculty members Cara Lucia and Khirey Walker, participants toured Elon Athletics facilities, connected with alumni in Charlotte, toured Truist Field, home of the Charlotte Knights, and visited organizations such as the Carolina Core Elite Training Center and the Burlington Sock Puppets, gaining firsthand insight into the many career paths within the sport industry.