Elon parents endow Nevin Family Elon Engagement Scholarship

A generous gift from Joan and Sam Nevin P’22 will make transformational opportunities possible for students while aiding Elon’s recruitment efforts. This gift is counted as part of the Elon LEADS Campaign.

A gift from parents Joan and Sam Nevin P’22 will endow the Nevin Family Elon Engagement Scholarship to help attract promising students who embody the values of the university and its commitment to engaged, experiential learning. The Nevins, of Westport, Connecticut, are members of Elon’s Parents Council.

“Our family is thrilled to be able to help support the educational opportunities of all Elon students,” Joan Nevin said.

Elon Engagement Scholarships provide life-changing opportunities for students who might not otherwise be able to attend Elon. Scholarships are also critical to Elon’s efforts to recruit students with great potential, said Greg Zaiser ’90 P’20, vice president for enrollment, who thanked the Nevins for their gift.

“Elon Engagement Scholarships have proven transformational for successful enrollment. Rather than basing a scholarship on academic profile only, the award offers the university an opportunity to recognize students whose interests, talents and commitment to something make them the ideal candidate for admission,” Zaiser said. “While academic strength is paramount, strong students are much more than a GPA or test score.”

Deepening support for student scholarships and increasing access to the university’s engaged learning programs called the Elon Experiences are two of the top priorities of the current Elon LEADS fundraising campaign.

Engagement Scholarships make a crucial difference for students. The scholarship is renewable annually and includes a one-time grant to be used for participation in one of the five Elon Experiences: study abroad/Study USA, undergraduate research, internships, service learning or leadership, or a creative project designed by the student.

Engagement Scholarship recipients are bright, curious and determined students who match Elon’s nationally recognized model for experiential learning.

Zaiser said Elon is grateful for the flexibility and opportunity endowed gifts like the Nevin family’s commitment offer. “Elon Engagement Scholarships allow us to recognize students in a tangible way while supporting their enrollment,” Zaiser said.

John Nevin is the founder and managing partner of Ayrshire Capital Management, and Joan Nevin represents the Robert and Lynn Zimmer Foundation. They are the parents of Caroline Nevin ’22 and have previously supported scholarships at the university.

About the Elon LEADS Campaign

With a $250 million goal, Elon LEADS is the largest fundraising campaign in the university’s history and will support four main funding priorities: scholarships for graduates the world needs, increase access to engaged learning opportunities such as study abroad, research and service learning, support for faculty and staff mentors who matter and Elon’s iconic campus. To date, donors have contributed $189 million toward the goal.

Every gift to the university—including annual, endowment, capital, estate and other planned gifts—for any designation counts as a gift to the campaign, which will support students and strengthen Elon for generations to come. To learn more about how you can make an impact, visit www.elonleads.com.