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August marked the end of summer break at 福利亚洲国产精品, and with the close of one chapter came several exciting new beginnings. The month brought the opening of Roberts Academy at 福利亚洲国产精品, the arrival of the Class of 2030 and the introduction of a new university mascot.

Take a look back at some of the memorable moments from August through the lenses of staff in the Office of University Communications.

Roberts Academy opens doors

The聽Roberts Academy at 福利亚洲国产精品, North Carolina鈥檚 first and only university-based private school for children with dyslexia, opened its doors to its inaugural class on Tuesday, Aug. 18, marking a milestone in Elon鈥檚 efforts to transform literacy education.

The school,聽established through the philanthropic vision of Marjorie and Hal Roberts, will serve as a statewide and national model for structured literacy education. The Robertses have witnessed firsthand the transformative power a multisensory approach to reading education can have for children with dyslexia.

Welcome the Class of 2030

The university welcomed the Class of 2030 with Move-In Day on Aug. 21, 2026.聽The students arriving on campus bring a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and academic interests. Members of the incoming class come from 40 states and Washington, D.C., as well as 19 countries, including Singapore, Spain, Norway, Canada, Serbia, South Korea, China and New Zealand.

Planting roots

Surrounded by family members, faculty and staff Under the Oaks, members of the Class of 2030 and new transfer students heard messages about resilience, community and the responsibility that comes with an Elon education during New Student Convocation on Aug. 22, 2026.

At the conclusion of Convocation, students received an acorn, an Elon tradition symbolizing the beginning of their growth at the university. In four years, the Class of 2030 will be Under the Oaks again for Senior Baccalaureate, where they will receive an oak sapling.

鈥淭his enormous opportunity of an Elon education requires action on your part, a commitment to taking full advantage of all we have here,鈥� said Elon President Connie Ledoux Book. 鈥淲e invite you to a powerful journey of questions and curiosity that will shine new light and new understanding.鈥�

“Honor matters”

Students were reminded of the importance of the university’s Honor Code during the Call to Honor ceremony on Aug. 24. where the Class of 2030聽聽committed to uphold the university鈥檚 core values of honesty, integrity, responsibility and respect.

鈥淗onor matters,鈥� said Emily Elrod, 聽assistant teaching professor of mathematics and statistics, who spoke during the ceremony. 鈥淭o me, honor is reflected through honesty, integrity, responsibility, and respect. It matters in the classroom, in our professional relationships, and in the trust that others place in us as individuals and leaders.鈥�

A new Phoenix rises

Elon Athletics unviled a and, with that new identity, comes a new physical mascot for the university.

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福利亚洲国产精品鈥檚 Class of 2030 committed to uphold the university鈥檚 core values of honesty, integrity, responsibility and respect during the annual Call to Honor ceremony Monday, Aug. 24, in Alumni Gym.

Student Government Association President Michael Swartz 鈥�27 opened the ceremony by reminding students that the Honor Code extends to all aspects of life at Elon.

鈥淭hese are more than just four words; they are a guiding star for every decision we make throughout life,” Swartz said.

As part of the ceremony, student leaders representing each class signed the Honor Code book, symbolizing their commitment to the four values.

Swartz encouraged students to view honesty as more than avoiding academic misconduct, noting that the relationships students build with peers, faculty and staff depend on fulfilling commitments and remaining true to their word.

鈥楬onor matters鈥�

Emily Elrod, assistant teaching professor of mathematics and statistics, reflected on how honor has shaped her 20-year career in education, from public K-12 schools and community colleges to public and private universities.

鈥淗onor matters,鈥� Elrod told students. 鈥淭o me, honor is reflected through honesty, integrity, responsibility, and respect. It matters in the classroom, in our professional relationships, and in the trust that others place in us as individuals and leaders.鈥�

Elrod, who is beginning her fifth year at Elon, said the opportunities she has received throughout her career have been rooted in relationships built on trust. She encouraged students to think about academic honor not simply as a set of rules designed to prevent misconduct, but as an important part of the learning process and developing character.

Elrod said students can sometimes feel pressure to immediately have the correct answer or succeed from the beginning. Instead, she encouraged them to embrace mistakes, reflection and improvement as essential parts of learning.

鈥淢y hope is that students leave the classroom not only with stronger content knowledge, but also with a deeper understanding that honor is not simply about following rules, it is about becoming the kind of person others can trust, respect, and rely on throughout a lifetime,鈥� Elrod said.

Building a strong foundation

Kenzi Maness 鈥�27, a history and political science double major and president of Elon鈥檚 First Generation Society and Phi Alpha Delta, spoke directly to the Class of 2030 about respect, the Honor Code value their class will represent throughout their time at Elon.

Maness shared how the four values have shaped her own Elon experience as she prepares to graduate a year earlier than originally expected. Doing so, she said, required honest conversations with professors, organization, self-reflection and an understanding of how much she could reasonably take on.

鈥淚f you are not honest with yourself, then you cannot be honest with others,鈥� Maness said.

She compared the four Honor Code values to blocks forming a tower: Removing one can weaken the others and eventually destabilize the entire structure.

鈥淭his is a new chapter so build your tower strong and lean on the amazing resources Elon has to offer when you need to,鈥� Maness said. 鈥淭he Honor Code sets a standard we are all expected to meet, a standard that strives to make us all better citizens, students, family members, and friends.鈥�

Joining generations of Elon students

President Connie Ledoux Book then led students in reciting the Call to Honor.

Today we are entrusted with the honorable legacy of 福利亚洲国产精品, dedicated聽to the intellectual, personal and spiritual growth of all its members, to the聽advancement of knowledge for the good of all, and to the service of local, national聽and global communities. To that end, we affirm our commitment to the core values聽of our university:

• We commit ourselves to聽honesty, being truthful in our academic work and in our relationships with others.
• We commit ourselves to show聽integrity, being trustworthy, fair and ethical.
• We commit ourselves to聽responsibility, being accountable for our action and for our learning.
• We commit ourselves to聽respect, being civil, valuing the dignity of each person, and respecting the physical and intellectual property of others.

With these commitments, we join generations of Elon students as bearers of its honor.

Book signed the Honor Code book and offered the university鈥檚 commitment in return.

鈥淲e have pledged our commitment to live these Elon values,鈥� Book said. 鈥淥n behalf of the university, I pledge to you that Elon will do its part to challenge you to grow intellectually, socially and spiritually.鈥�

The ceremony concluded with the singing of Elon鈥檚 alma mater and a final charge from Swartz to remain committed to honesty, integrity, responsibility and respect throughout their years at Elon.

As they departed Alumni Gym, students received commemorative coins inscribed with the word 鈥淗onor鈥� and were invited to sign boards displaying the Honor Pledge on Young Commons, making a public commitment to the values they had pledged to uphold.

鈥淲e hope that this coin will help you recall this Honor Code ceremony and your commitment,鈥� Swartz said. 鈥淚t is what makes a community out of individuals and binds us together as Elon.鈥�

Nearly 1,600 new 福利亚洲国产精品 students gathered Under the Oaks for New Student Convocation on Saturday, Aug. 22, marking the formal beginning of their academic journey and receiving a challenge to embrace the 鈥渆normous opportunity of an Elon education.鈥�

鈥淲e are intentionally seated here, under this beautiful canopy of century-old oak trees,鈥� said Book. 鈥淭hese oak trees have weathered challenges and withstood change. They are symbolic of a strength that will unfold in each of you in the years ahead.鈥�

A celebration of who you are

Rev. Kirstin Boswell, university chaplain and dean of multifaith engagement, opened the annual ceremony with the invocation, reminding students of this special moment in their life and college experience.

鈥淚t is a celebration of who you are鈥攁nd who you are becoming,鈥� said Boswell. 鈥淵ou have arrived at this place, at this crossroads, from which you will embark upon a journey that will increasingly become your own. So, begin from a place of confident centeredness.鈥�

On their way to the ceremony from Alumni Gym, students walked through Alamance Building and passed the bell that once hung in Old Main before the building was destroyed by fire in 1923.

Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley used the history of the bell to remind students that Elon鈥檚 recovery from that devastating fire was possible because members of the community came together. Classes resumed within a day, and Commencement was held Under the Oaks that spring.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 what that bell actually stands for,鈥� Dooley said. 鈥淣ot that hard things happen, you already know that. It鈥檚 that Elon has never rebuilt alone, and neither will you.鈥�

Dooley encouraged students to build relationships with classmates, including those whose backgrounds and perspectives may differ from their own.

鈥淭he cure for loneliness, the real key to building community, isn鈥檛 finding people who agree with you; it鈥檚 finding people who take the time to actually get to know you, including the ones who don鈥檛 see it your way,鈥� Dooley said. “Spend your time focused on the person you鈥檙e with, instead of the phone you鈥檙e carrying.”

Meet the Class of 2030

The nearly 1,600 new undergraduates at Convocation include members of the Class of 2030 and 80 students transferring to Elon from other institutions. The new students represent 40 states and 19 countries, including Spain, Singapore, Norway, Serbia, South Korea, China and New Zealand. Among them are 203 first-generation college students.

Vice President for Inclusive Excellence Randy Williams spoke of the 鈥渂readth and depth of the experience of our new students,鈥� highlighting four students who represent the 鈥渨ell-rounded, talented, and compassionate” Class of 2030.

• Josh Cox 鈥�30 from Wilmington, Delaware plans to study engineering, and was a decorated high school athlete in football and track at Archmere Academy, where he was also recognized for his academic accomplishments with an AP Scholar Award. Cox has completed annual athletic training internships with the NFL Los Angeles Rams every year since 2018. He was also selected to participate in a Boeing Explorers Post 9-week course on government-grade aircraft manufacturing.
• Laura Kate Galbreath 鈥�30 is a high-level cyclist from Greenville, South Carolina who plans to study business analytics & AI. In 2023 she competed in the USA Cycling Amateur and Junior Road National Championships, demonstrating her well-rounded skills by finishing 3rd in the road race, 4th in the time trial, and 5th in the criterium. She鈥檚 also a cellist with her school鈥檚 chamber orchestra and taught leadership through mountain biking to younger girls in her hometown through the GRIT program.
• Anna Gratz 鈥�30 from Sugar Land, Texas plans to major in public health studies and is this year鈥檚 recipient of the William R. Kenan Honors Scholarship, Elon鈥檚 highest academic award.聽 She earned the Girl Scouts Gold Award and developed a toolkit to help children with disabilities to explain their disabilities to classmates, along with a website that she shared with Texas Children鈥檚 Hospital, school counselors nationwide and disability advocates.
• Binita Shaw 鈥�30 from Udhailiyah, Saudi Arabia plans to major in biology and graduated from Western Reserve Academy high school in Hudson, Ohio. Binita has been involved in immunology research on neuroblastoma, including studying the CRISPR knockout effects of a Glioblastoma gene through Cleveland Clinic, presenting the results at a national scientific conference, and publishing the study in the Journal of Immunology. She was also recognized for her efforts to secure a grant to support Read Nepal, an organization for which she served as a science and math tutor.

Students were also introduced to the faculty members who will help guide their academic experiences. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Rebecca Kohn and Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs Deandra Little highlighted Elon鈥檚 teacher-scholar-mentor model and recognized four 2026 faculty award recipients: Scott Proudfit, associate professor and chair of English; Sandy Marshall, associate professor of geography; Ryan Johnson, associate professor and chair of philosophy; and Sandra Reid, associate teaching professor of human service studies.

Kohn encouraged students to get to know their professors, seek assistance when they need it and fully engage with their courses.

“Elon has never rebuilt alone, and neither will you.鈥�

Jon Dooley, vice president for student life

Keep moving

That message of relying on others was also at the center of remarks from Student Government Association President Michael Swartz 鈥�27. He recalled struggling in a course during his first semester and wondering whether he belonged at Elon.

Rather than dropping the course, Swartz followed his parents鈥� advice to stay, seek assistance and give the class his best effort.

鈥淚 learned that asking for help is not proof that you are unprepared,鈥� Swartz said. 鈥淏ut often, it is the first sign that you are ready to grow.鈥�

Three years later, Swartz told the new students that the experience taught him a lesson extending far beyond the grade he eventually earned: don’t let challenges get you down.

鈥淩emember that the goal is never to walk perfectly,鈥� Swartz said. 鈥淚t is to get back up, laugh when you can, accept the hand beside you, and keep moving.鈥�

In her address, President Book emphasized that while students will learn about new technologies and the latest discoveries in their fields, an Elon education remains centered on human values and relationships, and a “very real sense of your own power, your own human intelligence to shape the future.”

鈥淎t the core of Elon are the fundamental values of honesty, integrity, responsibility and respect. Values embraced in our honor code. Human values that are impossible to capture via artificial intelligence,鈥� said Book.

A symbol of hope

Book also led students through a 鈥渉uman bar graph,鈥� an exercise illustrating the opportunity represented by attending a private, residential university and the network of faculty and staff prepared to support them. As she instructed groups of students to stand as representatives of different groups such as those who attend community college, four-year public schools, private universities, etc., one student, Ava Hunter 鈥�30, was left standing representing 鈥減rivate, residential colleges and universities like Elon.鈥�

鈥淎va, you symbolize the hope expressed in the model we have designed and deliver here at Elon,鈥� Book said.

At the conclusion of Convocation, students received an acorn, an Elon tradition symbolizing the beginning of their growth at the university. In four years, the Class of 2030 will be Under the Oaks again for Senior Baccalaureate, where they will receive an oak sapling.

The ceremony concluded with a musical performance by Jocelyn Bogart, Maya Spencer and Keller Knight and the singing of Elon鈥檚 alma mater before students recessed through a line of faculty members.

Book left the Class of 2030 with a challenge to take ownership of their journey.

鈥淭his enormous opportunity of an Elon education requires action on your part, a commitment to taking full advantage of all we have here,鈥� Book said. 鈥淲e invite you to a powerful journey of questions and curiosity that will shine new light and new understanding.鈥�

Nearly 1,600 new students arrived at 福利亚洲国产精品 on Friday, Aug. 21, as the university welcomed the Class of 2030.

Despite a mix of rain and sunshine, staff members in Student Life and Residence Life worked to make the Move-In Day process as seamless as possible for students and their families. Student organizations and Elon Athletics teams also lent a hand, helping unload vehicles and carry students鈥� belongings into their new homes.

Familiar items in a new home

For many members of the Class of 2030, those belongings include more than the essentials for college life. As they begin a new chapter at Elon, students brought photographs, books, keepsakes and other reminders of the people and places they call home.

Ale Furano 鈥�30 arrived at Elon from Greenwich, Connecticut, with three Polaroid photos of his family and friends. A Communications Fellow who plans to study sport management, Furano said he is looking forward to the opportunities ahead.

鈥淚鈥檓 excited to meet new people and have a great opportunity and a new way of life,鈥� Furano said. 鈥淚 think the opportunities at Elon are really great, especially in the sport management field.鈥�

Avery McTigue 鈥�30, who plans to study nursing, is looking forward to joining clubs and organizations and exploring study abroad opportunities. Among the items making her new room feel more like home is an Elon-themed Jellycat plush toy with a special connection to her friends.

鈥淭he special item I brought from home is my Elon 鈥楯ellycat,鈥欌�� said McTigue, who is from Bergen County, New Jersey. 鈥淢y friends threw a 鈥榖ed party鈥� for me, and it reminds me of them. Basically, they decorate your whole room, and it鈥檚 all Elon stuff.鈥�

For George Schneider 鈥�30, from Seattle, Washington, the move to Elon meant finding room for his vinyl collection. Schneider chose Elon because of its acting program. The Princeton Review recently ranked Elon No. 1 for Best College Theater, while The Hollywood Reporter included Elon on its list of the “25 Best Drama Schools in the World.”

鈥淚鈥檓 very excited to be independent and expand on my training,鈥� Schneider said. 鈥淚 brought my record player and about 20 of my records. I knew I wasn鈥檛 going to bring a lot for my room, but I wanted to bring something to remember home by.鈥�

An avid reader, Ryan Parker 鈥�30, who plans to study journalism, made sure one of her books made the trip from Dallas, Texas. For Parker, attending Elon also means experiencing a new part of the country.

鈥淚 chose Elon because I felt it was the best for me, and I felt it would be a good transition as well,鈥� Parker said. 鈥淚鈥檓 most excited to meet new people, especially being from Texas and being in a different part of the country.鈥�

A class from around the world

The students arriving on campus bring a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and academic interests. Members of the incoming class come from 40 states and Washington, D.C., as well as 19 countries, including Singapore, Spain, Norway, Canada, Serbia, South Korea, China and New Zealand.

The most represented states are North Carolina, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Illinois.

Fourteen percent of incoming students are the first in their families to attend college. The class also enters Elon with a strong academic record, with an average high school GPA of 4.09.

Students are bringing a broad range of academic interests to campus. The 10 most popular intended majors among incoming students are psychology, finance, biology, business analytics & AI, marketing, nursing, exercise science, elementary education, sport management and political science.

Several programs are seeing notable increases in interest compared with last year鈥檚 incoming class. The number of new students intending to major in elementary education increased 41%, while finance increased 39% and biology increased 16%.

The community classroom experience

Those statistics are reflected in the individual journeys bringing students to Elon.

Alexis Jacobs 鈥�30 of Westport, Connecticut, was drawn to the university because of its size and sense of community. To personalize her new space, Jacobs brought handmade frames filled with reminders of the people, places and experiences important to her.

鈥淚 made these frames with different prints, photos, places I鈥檝e been and family members,鈥� Jacobs said.

Peter Matijevic 鈥�30, who plans to study business analytics and applied mathematics, brought a reminder of his Massachusetts roots: a Drake Maye NFL jersey.

鈥淚t reminds me of Massachusetts and my favorite NFL player,鈥� Matijevic said. 鈥淚 chose Elon because it鈥檚 a beautiful campus and has small classes, so I could get to know my teachers.鈥�

Elon’s teacher-scholar-mentor model among its faculty is a touchstone of the university’s academic experience. For five years in a row, Elon has been ranked best in the nation for undergraduate teaching, and The Princeton Review recently ranked the university as No. 4 Best Classroom Experience.

Following Move-In Day, students attend New Student Orientation, including New Student Convocation on Saturday, Aug. 22.

The incoming class represents a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, with students coming to Elon from 40 states and Washington, D.C., as well as 19 countries. Among the countries represented are Singapore, Spain, Norway, Canada, Serbia, South Korea, China and New Zealand.

Fourteen percent of incoming students are the first in their families to attend college. The class also enters Elon with a strong academic record, with an average high school GPA of 4.09.

The most represented states include North Carolina, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Illinois.

Students are bringing a broad range of academic interests to campus. The 10 most popular intended majors among incoming students are psychology, finance, biology, business analytics, marketing, nursing, exercise science, elementary education, sport management and political science.

Several programs are seeing notable increases in interest compared with last year鈥檚 incoming class. The number of new students intending to major in elementary education increased 41%, while finance increased 39% and biology increased 16%.

The Class of 2030 will arrive on campus Friday, Aug. 21 for Move-In Day, kicking off New Student Orientation and the start of their Elon journey.

Friday, Aug. 21
Move-In Day

All students will be assigned a specific move-in time, which can be found on their聽Acorn Account. Upon arriving to campus, students and families must report to central check-in at Schar Center. Students will then receive orientation materials and directions to their move-in location. Each neighborhood has specific driving directions, which can be viewed on the map below.

New Student Orientation

All new students are required to attend new student orientation, which starts on the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 21, and goes through Monday, Aug. 24. On Friday, students will meet their orientation leader for the first time and, throughout orientation, they will have multiple opportunities to interact with their orientation leaders. More activities on Friday include students learning about their residential neighborhood or campus community (for off-campus students) and having fun at Late Night Elon.

Saturday, Aug. 22
New Student Convocation

The Class of 2030 will be welcomed to the university Under the Oaks by President Connie Ledoux Book during聽New Student Convocation聽on Saturday, Aug. 22. Students will first meet in Alumni Gym at 8 a.m. and hear from Jon Dooley, vice president of student life, before walking through Alamance Building and gathering with friends and families Under the Oaks. During the procession, students will pass the bell that hung in 鈥淥ld Main鈥� before the building was destroyed in the聽fire of 1923.

If family members want a bite to eat before New Student Convocation, they can stop by the special Parent and Family College Coffee in Citrone Plaza. College Coffee brings together students, faculty and staff each week for food and fellowship.

During convocation, students will receive their acorns, an聽Elon tradition聽since 1999, which symbolizes the beginning of their Elon journey. As they prepare to graduate in spring 2030, students will receive an oak sapling at the聽Numen Lumen: Senior Baccalaureate, a symbol of their transformation during their time at the university.

Later in the day, students can meet with their academic advisors and Elon 1010 Peer Educators and then say goodbye during the Family Send-Off Picnic at several locations: West Koury Lawn, West Moseley Lawn and Martin Alumni Center Wristbands are required and can be purchased at the Orientation Headquarters in the Moseley Student Center. Students eat for free with a meal plan.

Events are planned for families throughout New Student Orientation. However, if families cannot attend, they can always reach out to the聽Office of Parent Engagement聽with questions or concerns. Students have additional programming that afternoon and into the evening starting at 4:00 p.m. Orientation events are mandatory for all new students.

Monday, Aug. 24
Call to Honor

On Monday, all new students will commit to the university鈥檚聽Honor Code聽with the聽Call to Honor聽at 9:30 a.m. in Alumni Gym. Each incoming class represents one of the four pillars of the Elon Honor Code: honesty, integrity, responsibility and respect. Students sign their name on a poster with the Elon Honor Code and receive a coin with the word 鈥渉onor鈥� engraved on it. Several other sessions are planned throughout the day, ending with a mesmerizing hypnotist show in Alumni Gym.

Classes begin on Tuesday, Aug. 25.

福利亚洲国产精品 will soon welcome the Class of 2030 on Friday, Aug. 21, for Move-In Day, and Elon Campus Safety and Police have provided information on changes in traffic and available parking areas.

All new students and families must report first to the central check-in at Schar Center. All incoming traffic should travel to Schar Center from the northern entrance to campus along North Williamson Avenue. At Schar Center, students will receive orientation materials and directions to their move-in location for their residence hall. Please follow the聽driving directions to the Schar Center and then to your Residential Neighborhood.

Due to the logistics related to Move-in Day, Elon faculty and staff are asked to carpool if possible and to park in the following lots on Friday. The lots are highlighted in yellow on the map below.

• Koury lot
• Oaks lot (parking for staff working at Schar Center Check-in)
• Arts West
• South Campus (no parking in the spaces reserved for Acorn Academy at Elon)
• Station at Mill Point

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As the Class of 2030 arrives on campus and begins their four years at Elon, current Elon students offer their advice to the incoming class.

福利亚洲国产精品 will welcome more than 1,600 new students for the 2026-27 academic year, with the Class of 2030 moving to campus on Friday, Aug. 21.

Parker Sterling 鈥�28

Major(s): Biology and History
惭颈苍辞谤蝉:听Chemistry, Neuroscience, and Peace and Conflict Studies
Hometown: Randleman, North Carolina
Campus Involvement:聽Phoenix Racing Team (Business Lead), Residence Life (Senior RA), Center for Leadership (Leadership Ambassador), Glen Raven Biomechanics Lab (Lab Assistant)

Why did you choose Elon?

“I chose Elon because I knew after the first tour that I couldn鈥檛 imagine myself anywhere else. I loved being able to have majors across disciplines, the campus, the dorms and all of the people I met.”

What did you wish you knew as a first-year student?

“I wish I knew how common it is to gain and lose friends in the first year. Everyone is discovering who they are and who they want to be, so it may take a while to find friends that you can rely on.”

What advice do you have for the incoming Elon Class of 2030?

“Take every opportunity that presents itself; you never know who you will meet or what doors it will open.”

What surprised you most about college?

“I was most surprised by the bonds I鈥檝e built with faculty and staff. I didn鈥檛 have a high school teacher I felt was truly a mentor, but Elon has given me so many people that I feel confident going to for advice.”

What is your favorite part about Elon?

“My favorite part about Elon is the people. I am forever grateful to the amazing friends who have supported me and cared about me to no end. I don鈥檛 want to imagine what college would be like without them.”

Ari Verinder 鈥�28

Major(s): Biology (Concentration: Biotechnology/Molecular Biotechnology)
惭颈苍辞谤蝉:听Chemistry and Food Studies
Hometown: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Campus Involvement:聽Residence Life, Club Climbing and The Writing Center

Why did you choose Elon?

What did you wish you knew as a first-year student?

“I wish I had known to get more involved in my specific interests on campus sooner. There really is something for everybody at Elon; you just have to find it, get involved, and, best of all, enjoy it!”

What advice do you have for the incoming Elon Class of 2030?

What surprised you most about college?

What is your favorite part about Elon?

“Don’t be afraid to meet new people. Elon is small enough that it’s easy to just stick with who and what you already know, so push yourself outside of your comfort zone.”

-Ari Verinder 鈥�28

Ella Stewart 鈥�27

Major(s): Dance Performance & Choreography, English (Concentration in Creative Writing)
Hometown: Columbia, South Carolina
Campus Involvement:聽Student Union Board (Brand Engagement Chair), New Student Orientation (Student Coordinator), Kappa Delta member and The Writing Center.

Why did you choose Elon?

“I chose Elon because I knew I wanted to make close connections with my professors and classmates, which made the small class sizes very appealing, and Elon has a strong Performing Arts department, which aligns with my future career goals of being a professional dancer. I also knew I wanted to study abroad and Elon offers so many opportunities to study around the world. Additionally, I was drawn to the College Fellows program, which is a scholarship program where I conduct a research project within my major throughout my time at Elon.”

What did you wish you knew as a first-year student?

“I wish I had known that not every moment of college is going to be absolutely perfect. It’s easy to have high expectations that everything will go smoothly all the time, and while there will be plenty of great experiences and memories, there will also be challenges. It’s completely normal to struggle sometimes, and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.”

What advice do you have for the incoming Elon Class of 2030?

“My biggest piece of advice is to put yourself out there! I made my closest friends at Elon by just inviting myself to hang out with them. It can feel awkward and scary at first to ask people to hang out with you, but it really makes a difference. If there is someone in your class who you think you’d get along with, ask them to lunch or coffee! You can also meet people by getting involved in clubs and organizations, so sign up for what interests you. Getting involved helped me find my place on campus, so be open to trying everything, because that is how you can find your community.”

What surprised you most about college?

“I was most surprised by the amount of independence and freedom I suddenly had. It can be hard to adjust to being away from your family and the comfort of home, but you also start learning how to manage your own time and responsibilities. My schedule looked a lot different than it did in high school, and I became the one in charge of how to spend my time. This shift surprised me at first, but overall it helped me grow into my independence and become more confident doing things on my own.”

What is your favorite part about Elon?

“My favorite part about Elon is the people I’ve met through my majors and leadership experiences, especially the mentors who have supported me along the way. The staff and faculty here are so kind and encouraging to each individual student, and their guidance has helped me grow in my academics and in my leadership. Elon has given me a tight-knit community of peers and mentors I can rely on, and I have met so many people who have shaped me into who I am today.”

---

Lealand Oakes 鈥�27

Major(s): Psychology
Hometown: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Campus Involvement:聽New Student Programs,聽Women’s Club Rugby
Sigma Kappa,聽Elon 1010 Peer Educator,聽Psi Chi and Psychology Honor Society

Why did you choose Elon?

“I chose Elon because they genuinely care about every student, even if they haven’t fully invested in Elon yet. They put so much care into just the admissions process and first-year experience to ensure people feel cared about and seen. Of course, it doesn’t stop there; professors are always there to help and support their students, get to know them beyond the surface level, and truly want to see them succeed.”

What did you wish you knew as a first-year student?

“I wish I knew that sometimes the hard parts of transitioning to college don’t hit you immediately. They look different for everyone and can range anywhere from after the first month has passed to the start of the second semester and beyond. Everyone has their own experiences, so it is important to know your resources on campus and have people you can go to when those bumps in the road happen.”

What advice do you have for the incoming Elon Class of 2030?

“Get out of your room, do new things, be involved. This can look different for everyone, but it’s so helpful for finding your people in this new chapter. I would also say that taking care of yourself is so important. Holistic wellness goes a long way in college. If you are taking care of one aspect of wellness that can bleed into another area. Do things that make you happy, take care of your body and use your resources.”

What surprised you most about college?

“I was surprised that I was still able to get the same support in class and out of class that I had the opportunity to receive in high school. I was worried that as soon as I got to college, everything would be on me. I can say with full confidence that I have not needed to shoulder everything all on my own. Elon has so many resources that cover a wide range of aspects of college life.”

What is your favorite part about Elon?

“My favorite part about Elon is that there are so many people from so many different places. Coming to Elon, I didn’t really know many people, and I am so happy that was the case. It was nerve-racking for sure, but it meant that I have learned so much and met so many people I wouldn’t have met otherwise.”

Below is a selection of events open to the entire Elon community; more can be found on the official Planning Week website below.

Monday, Aug. 17

Opening Day
Alumni Gym, Koury Athletic Center; Events start at 8:30 a.m.

Planning Week 2026 kicks off with Opening Day on Aug. 17, first with a community-wide reception in Alumni Gym followed by the presentation of Elon Medallions to Jim Donathan, Don Grady and Mary Thornton. Katy Rouse, professor of economics, will also be named the Trustee Chair for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. Following these recognitions, President Connie Ledoux Book will delivery her annual Opening Day address.

Since 2011, the Elon community has collected school supply items for the children in Alamance County. Donations can be made at the Opening Day breakfast or at campus drop-off locations through Thursday, Aug. 20. Details on donation sites and needed items will be emailed to faculty and staff. This initiative is co-sponsored by the Office of the Dean of Students, Staff Advisory Council, and Kernodle Center for Civic Life.

Breakout Sessions

Following the president鈥檚 address from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. a variety of breakout sessions will be available for all members of the Elon community, including:

• Recommendations from the SOAR Strategic Planning Committee
• Building the Innovation Hub: Elon as a Regional Center for Creativity
• Preparing Together for Student Success
• Thriving Together: The Sport Collaborative and the Opportunity in Club Sports
• Summer at Elon
• Changing the Trajectory 鈥� Roberts Academy and the Roberts Center for Dyslexia and Engaged Learning
• HealthEU, the Slattery Center, and Our Research Coalitions
• Mentoring in Meaningful Relationships Implementation Gallary Walk and Next Steps
• Wise Moves During Higher Education Pressures
• School of Engineering and Computing

All members of the Elon community are then invited to a picnic on the Lakeside Patio at noon. Members of Elon鈥檚 schools and colleges will meet from 12:45 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 18

Student Employment Essentials
Moseley 215; 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

The goal of the workshop is to provide staff and faculty with an understanding of student employment policies and processes, to include recruiting, job posting, screening candidates, work agreements, payroll, orientation, onboarding, evaluations and termination. Please contact Kameryn Taylor at聽ktaylor54@elon.edu聽for any questions about this workshop.

Championing First-Generation Student Success
Koenigsberger Learning Center Room 127; 2 to 3 p.m.

This session will provide participants with an understanding of the first-generation community on campus and how Elon approached first-generation student success. Participants will identify ways they can incorporate ways to support first-generation college students in their classes and extracurricular opportunities.

Merger and Integration Q&A
LaRose Student Commons 200; 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 19

Merger and Integration Q&A
Turner Theatre 101; 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

Embedding Inclusive Excellence in Our Work
Belk Pavilion 208; 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Inclusive excellence remains a strategy for creating an academic community reflective of well-being and a sense of belonging. In striving for greater levels of student success and employee vitality, initiatives across the university demonstrate partnerships and efforts to infuse inclusive excellence principles in daily work. This session is an opportunity to gain an update on what is happening to foster respect for human differences and to share ideas for ideas for how faculty and staff might make inclusive excellence embedded rather than additive in teaching, mentoring, and service.

Vivvi Childcare and Early Learning Information Session
Sankey Hall 206; 2 to 3 p.m.

Learn more about the Acorn Academy, Elon鈥檚 partnership with Vivvi to provide employer-sponsored child care on campus.

Elon Campus and Community Resource Fair
Sato Commons Great Hall in the Global Neighborhood,聽3 to 4:30 p.m.

Open to all faculty, staff, and student leaders who may already be back on campus, this event is meant to be an interactive tabling fair to highlight what everyone needs to know to provide resources to students. Explore more than 50 departments/tables – whether you have been here for more than a decade or are brand new to Elon, come learn about resources for students and faculty/staff, take a moment to reconnect with offices on campus, or learn about opportunities for collaboration and partnerships! Refreshments and Raffle.

Thursday, Aug. 20

Working with Accommodations & Accessibility: A Partnership for Access
Sankey 106; 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

This session will highlight how the Office of Academic Accommodations & Accessibility, the Office of Compliance, the Disabilities Advisory Committee, and faculty partners collaborate to support access at 福利亚洲国产精品. Presenters will share updates from the past year, including themes from campus listening sessions, revised faculty/staff resources, accessibility and accommodations data, and practical guidance for supporting students and colleagues.

College Coffee 鈥� Employee Resources Groups
Phi Beta Kappa Commons (Rain Location: Koury Concourse); 10:15 to 10:45 a.m.

Elon鈥檚 weekly tradition of community gathering begins with this year鈥檚 first College Coffee. Come (re)learn about the ERGs on campus and pick up some Phoenix swag to show your school spirit! College Coffee continues throughout the year on Tuesday mornings from 9:40 a.m to 10:20 a.m.

• Advocates for Diversity and Accessibility
• Amazing Admins
• API (Asian and Pacific Islander)
• Black
• Carpool Connections
• Catholic
• Christian
• Elon Alumni
• Employees with Children
• Jewish
• Latinx/Hispanic
• LGBTQIA+
• Social Media
• Staff Advisory Council
• Supervisors of Student Employees
• Sustainability
• Veterans
• Women鈥檚 Forum
• Young Professionals

Friday, Aug. 21

Move-In Day

Students officially return to campus on Friday, Aug. 21. More information about Move-In Day and New Student Orientation can be found online.

Saturday, Aug. 23

New Student Convocation
Under the Oaks (Rain Location: Schar Center); 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

New Student Convocation marks the official opening of the academic year and welcomes the Class of 2029 and transfer students.

University Directory Photos

All Elon faculty and staff members are encouraged to have their photo included in the university鈥檚 online directory. Please make plans to have a new or updated photograph taken. If you are new to Elon, if your photo is missing from the campus directory, or if your photo is more than three years old, please have a new photo taken by the Office of University Communications. No appointment is necessary, simply just drop in during a session that suits you. The portraits are taken from chest up on a gray backdrop in a photo studio.

The photo studio is now located in the southwest corner of Alumni Gym, close to West Haggard Avenue. Please enter through the external doors in the southwest corner of Alumni Gym, noted by a red star on this map.

Tuesday, August 18: 2 to 4 p.m.

Thursday, August 20: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

After checking in and creating a nametag, students and parents will have the chance to meet one another, share excitement about the journey ahead and learn which other students from their聽area聽will be joining them at Elon. The conversations often lead to new friendships, familiar faces for move-in day and an early sense of belonging within the university community.

Current Elon parents serve as hosts, sharing their experiences and offering insights about the transition to college life. Many events are also supported by Elon staff members, who help answer questions about Move-In Day, New Student Orientation, campus聽resources and聽the first-year experience.聽Together, they provide valuable guidance and reassurance as families prepare for the start of the academic year.

Coordinated by the Office of Parent Engagement, Summer Welcome Events are designed to foster meaningful connections among incoming students,聽parents聽and current Elon families. By bringing members of the Elon community together in a familiar, casual聽setting, the gatherings help families feel informed, supported, and connected before students arrive on campus.

For many attendees, Summer Welcome Events mark the beginning of their Elon experience. Through conversations, shared experiences and new connections, families gain a deeper understanding of the university and the supportive community that will welcome them in August.

Class of 2030 families who are unable to attend a local Summer Welcome Event, Ready, Set, Elon is聽a webinar聽offered with current parents and a student sharing their Elon perspective and experience. Registration for this聽webinar聽will be open in the middle of July, with the event being聽live in聽the second week of August.
Families will have an opportunity to聽submit聽questions prior to the event, and they can choose from two different聽timeframes. All incoming parents and students of the Class of 2030 will receive an email to register for Ready, Set, Elon.

His mom鈥檚 coworker, an Elon alum, suggested the school to Hriciga, knowing what Hriciga wanted from his college experience. With his talent in math, his love of cars and his goal of having a profession in motorsports, Hriciga decided on being an engineering major.

鈥淚t was the first school I toured and I loved the campus and then nothing else could compare, 鈥� Hriciga said.

Hriciga began riding bikes when he was young because of his father鈥檚 love for mountain biking. From third grade to fifth grade, Hriciga raced cyclocross using road bikes redesigned into off-road bikes that could handle different terrains like mud, snow and rocky areas. He began training on a mountain bike in the fourth grade and then finally racing in competition during middle school. He credits his mountain biking success to having early access to bikes and experience on different types of roads.

鈥淚t was scary, because there are hills and you don鈥檛 really know what you are doing because you are little. But you push through and then it’s fun,鈥� Hriciga said

Although Hriciga was not the fastest when he first started riding, after joining First Flight USA Cycling Elite Junior Development Team, a mountain bike race team based out of Chapel Hill,, he realized he 鈥渃ould be fast.鈥� First Flight was created by one of Hriciga鈥檚 coaches from his high school biking racing team, which gave its racers exclusive access to another professional coach and development training required to get better at the sport. He participated in the Cane Creek Cup MTB series, a sequence of cross-country mountain bike races held predominantly in the North and South Carolina regions, and earned titles as the 2023 State Champion and regional champion.

鈥淭he feeling of winning after putting in all that work and training, it pays off,鈥� Hriciga said.

When he first learned how to ride a mountain bike, it was through the organization KOBRA (Kids On Bikes Riding Around). Through his racing career, Hriciga maintained many of the relationships he had found with those coaches and was asked to volunteer back at the same organization that helped him. It was a 鈥渇ull circle moment鈥� for Hriciga as he can share his passion by teaching elementary school students how to ride and leading trips that introduce them to the sport.

Despite the “rigorous 鈥� nature of being an engineering major, Hriciga is determined to do his best to be successful. He is excited about the physics classes and the Grand Challenges in Engineering, a set of courses usually taken in an engineering student鈥檚 first year that focuses on teamwork and engineering design through hands-on projects. Hriciga will also be looking into the study abroad opportunities, specifically in Germany.

At New Student Convocation Under the Oaks on Aug. 23, 2025, Bodhi was one of four students from the Class of 2029 who were spotlighted by Randy Williams, vice president for inclusive excellence and associate professor of education, due to his achievements.

“I was shocked that my name was called by all people, but I was also very proud that I was deemed worthy of that honor,” Bodhi said

Hriciga does not race currently as he wants to focus on school, but he still cheers on his friends who decided to go pro and will still bike during breaks and the summer. He plans to join Elon鈥檚 chapter of the Formula Society of Automotive Engineers, also known as the Phoenix Racing Team, which is a student team that designs and builds an electric race car to compete with other schools.

Hriciga advises student-athletes and everyone with a sport-school-life balance to also focus on their health so their performance in their sport and everyday life is not affected.

鈥淚f you are working at a high level, pushing your body to the limit, make sure you are eating,鈥� Hriciga said.