Recognizing that some students’ long-term goals have specific advising needs, Elon College supports several unique pathways of professional development and credentialing.

A professor with a group of students looking on as they launch rockets outside.

Engineering Scholars

Elon’s first cohort of Engineering Scholars completed its first year in the program. The 17 scholars completed Elon’s foundational engineering courses: Grand Challenges in Engineering I and II. Learning the basics of the design process, collaboration, industry-standard software and ethics, they completed a number of hands-on projects. Those projects — from remotely operated “volcano crawlers” to 3D-printed rockets — address the National Academy of Engineering’s 14 Grand Challenges for Engineering involving scientific discovery, health and the environment. Scholars completed Elon 101 together, planning their four-year paths and preparing for internships and research alongside engineering curricula.

In spring 2021, more than 100 high school seniors applied to be part of the second Engineering Scholars cohort. More than 70 candidates from across the country interviewed with faculty during Fellows and Scholars Weekend events. The program will continue to challenge students to create multidisciplinary, culturally sensitive and people-focused solutions to problems facing the world.


Health Professions Scholars

Eleven first-year students entered the Health Professions Scholars program in fall 2020, the start of the program’s third year. Students in previous cohorts spent the year preparing for research and study abroad opportunities afforded by the program funding. Nineteen Health Professions Scholars in the fourth cohort will begin their first year at Elon in fall 2021.

The Health Professions Scholars program provides faculty support and guidance to academically strong students interested in pursuing health-related majors. In the first year, students deepen their understanding through engaging opportunities with a variety of medical professionals, learning about their educational and career experiences. The program’s second year is devoted to “medicine in action,” highlighted by student collaboration on community-based, service-learning opportunities. Students exit the two-year program on paths toward professions in medicine, dentistry, pharmacology, nursing, physical therapy and veterinary programs.


Legal Professions Scholars

Sixteen new Legal Professions Scholars entered the program in fall 2020, including one transfer student. The group completed Elon 101 and COR 110: The Global Experience with program coordinator Assistant Professor of Political Science Elisha Savchak-Trogdon.

Elon students remain avidly interested in applying to law school. Seventeen out of 20 Elon seniors applying to law school for fall 2020 were admitted to at least one law school. When considering both seniors and Elon alumni applying for the same term, 44 out of 53 were admitted. Thirty-nine of those students were registered at a law school in fall 2020. Students earned impressive admissions to several Top 14 law schools, including Cornell University, Duke University, UCLA, Georgetown and the University of Pennsylvania.


A professor sitting on a desk at the front of a classroom full of students.

Public Health Scholars

The first cohort of Public Health Scholars will join Elon’s campus in fall 2021. The 13 scholars from nine states will complete Elon 1010 this fall with other students on health professions pathways. Their first year will be spent collaborating with faculty, learning about community health agencies and systems, and meeting area health professionals as they work toward careers in public health. The Public Health Scholars program is designed for students with passionate interest in addressing health inequity, removing barriers to care and becoming leaders in future public health-related disciplines.


A group of five ROTC students posing in front of a fountain.

Military Science/ROTC

Five members of the Class of 2021 were commissioned as officers in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army during ceremonies May 20. Christian Chybrzynzki (exercise science), Macen Lantzman (Spanish and human service studies) and Catherine LoGrande (applied mathematics) were commissioned into the Air Force. William Cooper (public health studies) and Jacob Lane (economics) were commissioned into the Army.

Elon College’s ROTC Advisory Committee continued to strengthen Army and Air Force ROTC programs, developing plans for increased support of cadets as the pandemic wanes.

The College hosted gatherings with cadets, who gave feedback that will be valuable to future initiatives. Elon’s ROTC program is in a cooperative agreement with North Carolina A&T State University, where ROTC courses are taught, as part of the Greater Greensboro Consortium.


Peace Corps Prep Program

Elon’s Peace Corps Prep Program continues to produce strong numbers of Peace Corps volunteers, ranking it highly among national universities. Although all Peace Corps service was suspended in March 2020 due to COVID-19 and hadn’t resumed at the time of this publication, Elon students remained committed to international service. Several recent Elon graduates completed the application process or were awaiting new placements for 2022.

Elon’s Peace Corps Prep Program was established in 2013, re-certified in 2018 and expanded to prepare students to serve in all six Peace Corps service areas: agriculture, community economic development, education, environment, health, and youth in development. Nine undergraduates completed the Peace Corps Prep Program in 2020-21: Lilly Apple ‘21, Emma Burns ’21, Madison Cartularo ‘21, Emma Goering ‘21, Hannah Hattori ‘21, Mackenzie Martinez ‘21, Ryan Weiskopf ‘21, Cameron Wilson ‘21 and Allison Potter ‘22.