The 15th entering class of Elon University School of Law is its largest and one of the most diverse in program history.
They hail from across the United States. Some are citizens of Canada, Argentina, Malaysia and the United Kingdom.
Their median age is 23, but they range from their early 20s to their early 50s. Sixty percent are women. Thirty percent identify as students of color.
And their personal and professional achievements to date are already too plentiful to fully list.
Elon University School of Law’s Class of 2022 was formally introduced to the Elon University community on August 6, 2020, during a virtual Convocation ceremony that included a slideshow featuring each student’s name, undergraduate alma mater, and a submitted photo that reflected unique personalities.
The 164 members of the Class of 2022 – Elon Law’s 15th entering class – were admitted from a pool of 811 applicants, one of the largest applicant pools in school history. The previous record for enrollment in an incoming class – 150 students – was two years ago.
“It was my pleasure to interview and speak with many of you over the past several months and, for those I have not personally met, I enjoyed reading your applications and learning about you during the admissions process,” said Senior Associate Dean Alan Woodlief, who oversees admissions at the law school. “Congratulations on all of the achievements that led to you being here today. You are an impressive group.”
Students had graduated from 109 colleges and universities from all over the country, ranging from small private liberal arts universities to large state research institutions. Those included American University, Davidson College, DePaul, Wake Forest University, BYU, Temple, Florida State, the University of Maryland-College Park, the University of Kentucky, Auburn and the University of Alabama.
Several prominent historically black colleges and universities are represented within the alma maters of the Class of 2022, including North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central and Winston-Salem State, as well as Clark Atlanta University, Hampton University, Howard, Spelman, and Winston-Salem State.
Half of the class listed North Carolina as their permanent state of residence. Within the other half, the most represented states are:
- Virginia: 16
- South Carolina: 11
- Florida & Maryland: 7
- Georgia: 6
- Pennsylvania: 4
- New York & Texas: 3
Led by Woodlief and Associate Director of Admissions Jordan Jones, the Thursday morning introduction focused not only on geography and demographics, but on academic, professional and personal experiences that have inspired the pursuit of a legal education by members of the Class of 2022.
For instance:
- Several new students have engaged in undergraduate research, written scholarly articles and made presentations at scholarly conferences.
- Eight have earned master’s degrees in areas such as business administration, public administration, public health, health care management, criminal justice, education, and sport & fitness administration.
- Several students are versed in other languages, including Urdu and Mandarin. Four students listed their native language as other than English: Yoruba, Spanish, Russian and Akan.
- At least four members of the Class of 2022 are Eagle Scouts and at least one is a Scoutmaster for a Scout troop.
- At least three have served the nation through AmeriCorps and another through Teach for America.
- Many have gone on mission trips and volunteered for organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, Teen Court, and Toys for Tots.
- Three new students reported serving the nation in the armed forces and another is a longtime military spouse.
Several students in the Class of 2022 were varsity athletes in a variety of sports, including football, baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, and softball. More than a few were team captains and were recognized for their efforts on the field and in the classroom with all-conference honors.
One student competed on an equestrian team. Another was a member of a championship National Clogging Team. A third student was a nationally competitive figure skater who qualified for three U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
One student in the Class of 2022 is the author of a children’s book. Another is a nationally competitive pianist.
“To be sure, this is just a partial list of all of your accomplishments, and we look forward to getting to know you more and to learning more about your backgrounds,” Jones said. “We also look forward to witnessing first hand your accomplishments to come – over the next 2.5 years and throughout your careers as Elon lawyers – as you channel this energy, focus, and commitment to excellence and service in your new chosen profession as pioneering lawyer leaders.”