Name: Lamar Lee
Year of Graduation: 2012
Major/Minor: Sport and Event Management
Describe your experience as a scholar.
It’s important to have a group of people with similar experiences and financial backgrounds because they provided me with a support group in an environment that I've never been in before. Being a minority at Elon can be difficult at times, so it has been good that I can turn to a group of people that know where I am coming from.
What do you enjoy most about being a scholar?
Seeing the first-years grow and change because I didn’t have that when I first came into this program. I also like the fact that Watson is being recognized more on campus by upper administration. With the expansion of the program and progressive spirit of Lauren Flinn our reach is far beyond the walls of the Multicultural Center.
Name: Nicole Morillo
Year of Graduation: 2012
Majors: International Studies/Spanish
Minors: History, Political Science, Latin American Studies
Describe your experience as a scholar.
If it had not been for the Susan scholarship, I would not be the woman I am today. The scholarship not only helped bring me to campus, but also provided me with support while here. The Odyssey program has grown immensely and I am so proud to see where it is today. Through my study abroad grant I was able to have the once in a lifetime opportunity of studying abroad as an undergraduate. I value and am so grateful for being a Susan scholar and for the Odyssey program as a whole.
What benefits, besides financially, result from you being a scholar?
Besides financial benefits, I have been able to be connected with other students who have had to overcome obstacles to get to where they currently are. These relationships have been key in my success at Elon. I've also been able to establish some very important contacts on campus, which would have not been possible without the help of the Odyssey program.
Name: Kristin Greene
Year of Graduation: 2012
Major/Minor: Human Services major, Psychology minor
What do you enjoy most about being a scholar?
Definitely the people. The people in charge of the program are great at supporting, encouraging and challenging us as students. The other scholars across all four years are also fantastic because they become part of your family, and it’s great to have that kind of peer support system near you whenever you need it.
What benefits, besides financially, result from you being a scholar?
I come from a low-income family and community, and I’m first generation college student, so I didn’t really have much preparation for college and professional life. The Watson Program has given us so many tools to be successful, including everything from etiquette dinners to seminars on managing finances – real world tools that we don’t necessarily have coming into Elon. They make sure we are supported and prepared for the awesome futures ahead of us!
Name: Kiki Murrain
Year of Graduation: 2013
Major/Minor: Political Science major, Spanish minor
What does it mean to you to be a Watson scholar?
For me being a Watson scholar means having integrity and confidence. As Watson scholars we come from adverse backgrounds and there are a lot of societal pressures against us, especially at Elon. I have really found a new sense of what it means to be a low-income student, because that pushes me to be better than what society makes me out to be. I am always extremely proud to say that I am Watson scholar, because the program as a whole brings so much to the table. I have been afforded such a great opportunity to be a Watson Scholar, and even though times get hard, I still have to push past the things that hold me back and live up to the Watson name.
What do you enjoy most about being a scholar?
What I enjoy most about being a scholar is the community and family I have found amongst the group. When I came in a first year student the program wasn’t as developed as it is now, so there wasn’t the greatest sense of family; however I found that my cohort was able to depend on each other. My sophomore year I felt such a great sense of community especially within my cohort, because we learned a lot about each other. I have felt so much support from the Directors and those in my cohort and other cohorts. Having the opportunity to be a peer leader for the first year students this past summer was one of the best experiences I have ever had. Not only was I able to be a mentor for the students, but I have friendships with every single one of them. I think the program has really improved over these past few years, and those improvements have really brought the program as a whole closer together.
Name: Demarius Hunt
Year of Graduation: 2014
Major/Minor: Human Services major, Psychology minor
What does it mean to you to be a scholar?
To me, it definitely was the ability to know that something about me stood out amongst thousands of other applicants. It definitely shows that somebody saw something special in me and the problem with me is that I don’t always see what makes me special. But when other people recognize it, it’s eye opening. They believe in me. They have faith in me.
What benefits, besides financially, result from you being a scholar?
The community. I’m definitely one of those people that need a strong support group because although I’m a strong-minded person, I have my flaws that make me weak. With this scholarship group, I get an array of people that are all so different and so special. We support each other’s differences. I feel like I’m being loved, but not being judged, because I’m different. They allow me to continue to grow.
Name: Destinee Pray
Year of Graduation: 2014
Major/Minor: Human Services/ Spanish, Communications
Describe your experience as a scholar.
Being at Elon has been one of the best experiences of my life from meeting new people and learning new things and none of this would have been possible if it wasn’t for my scholarship, but more than that the cohort meetings that I have had has prepared me and taught me a lot during the culture shock and transition from my life at home and high school into college life here at Elon.
What do you enjoy most about being a scholar?
I enjoy the retreats that we go on and I am really excited for our fake break trip to the Delta!!
Name: Stacey Crutchfield
Year of Graduation: 2014
Major/Minor: Political Science Major, History Minor
What do you enjoy most about being an Odyssey scholar?
I enjoy spending time with the other scholars whether it's at our cohort meetings, retreats or special trips. I always love being around the other scholars!
What benefits, besides financially, result from you being a scholar?
There are countless benefits to being an Odyssey scholar, but I think the biggest thing is all the programming that we do at our cohort meetings. The meetings help us adjust and understand the ways that we are growing and learing while here at Elon.
Name: Desmond Harrell
Year of Graduation: 2015
Major/Minor: Strategic Communications
What does it mean to you to be a scholar?
I could go all day about this, but to be an EC scholar to me means that I am scholar who has a unique story and background that will someday lead me to success. My history is my motivation that drives me forward and carries me through every day of my life. Being an EC scholar means I have shown people that no matter what has happened, I can succeed just as well as anyone else.
What do you enjoy most about being a scholar?
I enjoy the others around me. I enjoy the comfort of those who understand me as I continue to attend a school of people who are nothing like me. Being a scholar has brought people in my life who I will never forget because each and every one of them are so unique that it brings us closer than the average friendship.
Name: Cameron McIntyre
Year of Graduation: 2015
Major/Minor: Undecided
What does it mean to you to be an Odyssey scholar?
It means that I have a community of people that I can go to when I'm in need. It means I have a responsibility to really be "scholarly," and improve myself as a student, and as a person. It means that I should always be thankful for an experience and an opportunity that few people get to have.
What do you enjoy most about being a scholar?
I enjoy that I get to know some really great great people and have some incredible experiences. But really, its the people.
Name: Daniel Sheehan
Year of Graduation: 2015
Major/Minor: Human Services Major/ Leadership, Business Administration, and Communications Minor
What does it mean to you to be a Watson scholar?
Being a Watson Scholar means that I have the power to directly influence this campus. It means that we, as a single unit, are using our different backgrounds, perspectives, and goals to make Elon University more diverse and open-minded on a regular basis. By appreciating the differences of others, one can clearly see the beauty of the world around them. I love this program because it forces one to stay true to his/her character, and encourages one to fully give him/herself to the campus-wide world. I am blessed to be a Watson Scholar.
What benefits, besides financially, result from you being a scholar?
Other than the financial benefits of the program, I am given a group of students that I can relate to on campus. Sometimes, it is easy to feel alone on a campus where it seems that everyone comes from a wealthy background. This program provides one with a core group of friends that, no matter where you are at in life, will actively understand any situation you may be going through. It is, and will always be, a perpetual support system
Name: Chelsea McQueen
Year of Graduation: 2015
Major/Minor: Psychology major, International Studies minor
What does it mean to you to be a Watson scholar?
Watson Scholar means being a part of a community. This program allows students to have a built-in support system; we help each other through hard times.
What do you enjoy most about being a scholar?
I love having the chance to meet so many great people!
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