Doug and Edna Noiles, whose gift provided start-up funding for the new Elon Academy, visited campus April 12 and met with several local high school students who will be part of the academy’s first class. Details...
The Noiles and members of their family met with three high school students and their families. Elon students and faculty who will participate in the academy also attended the meeting.
The Elon Academy, an enrichment program at Elon University for academically talented students in the Alamance-Burlington school system who may not be considering attending college, will admit its first class of 25 high school sophomores this summer. Students in the program will spend three weeks on the Elon campus, taking classes and participating in other enrichment opportunities. During the regular school year, participants will be in close contact with Elon students and faculty who will serve as mentors.
Doug Noiles said the couple is happy to plant the seeds for the Elon Academy. “Who among us can say he got where he is without help? All along the way, there have been people there to help me,” said Doug, a successful inventor and businessman who pioneered technical efforts in the development of medical implants used in hip and knee replacements. “Philanthropy runs on money, but it lives on hope. Whenever a benefactor gives money, they are investing in hope.”
Sabrina Fogelman, whose son Josh will attend the Elon Academy, was emotional as she thanked the Noiles for their belief in young people. “You could have left this money to your children, your grandchildren, but you chose to invest it here,” Fogelman said. “From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for caring and for what this will mean to my son and so many others.”
Elon student Andrea Attorri will work with Assistant Professor of Psychology Mat Gendle to teach a course on the human brain during the Elon Academy. The academy will give her a chance to use her strengths in working with young people while providing a wonderful opportunity for the high school students.
“The things they’re going to learn in the classroom are priceless,” Attorri said. “Another thing you can’t put a price on is becoming a part of the Elon family. I know we talk about it a lot around here, but this really is a family, and these students are going to feel that.”
Elon Academy students will visit campus April 28 for a day of orientation activities. The Academy will begin June 17.