One of the main priorities of the Elon LEADS Campaign was to further invest in access to the university’s engaged learning experiences.
Through the Elon Experiences, which include global engagement, undergraduate research, internships, service and leadership, students gain the skills that employers seek. Elon has also been named No. 3 for both study abroad and service learning, a reflection of the hands-on learning experiences that Elon students gain.
Turning her passions into a career
Although Mari’ Robinson ’24 always envisioned attending college, she felt the odds were slim due to finances. The Edna Truitt Noiles ’44 Odyssey Scholarship brought her to Elon, and she’s grateful for the opportunities and accomplishments she’s had because of the generosity of the family.
“I’ve found a passion for learning about my culture and helping my community in the process,” says Robinson, who is majoring in finance and double minoring in accounting and African & African American studies. An executive member of the Black Student Union and the National Council of Negro Women, she says these opportunities make her feel like she has “a purpose on this campus.”
Robinson also serves as the treasurer for National Pan-Hellenic Council, works with the Office of Admissions and is part of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Contributions from donors have allowed her to find mentors who guided her and put her in a position to advance her professional career. The summer of her sophomore year, she was able to intern with PricewaterhouseCoopers in their Charlotte, North Carolina, office, where she will return for a second internship this summer. “I hope to narrow down my career options by the end of this year,” she says.
This semester, Robinson is furthering her education through Elon’s global education programs by studying abroad in South Korea. Following graduation, she plans to move to Charlotte and find a job that will help relieve some financial burdens for her family.
Creating a better future for all
Megan Green ’24 is a Graybill Family Elon Engagement Scholar and an Elon College Fellow focused on creating a better future through her research in sustainability and environmental education. Classes like wildlife ecology and environmental policy are moving her closer to her career goals.
Alongside her mentor, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies Amanda Chunco, Green is also conducting undergraduate research to develop equations that will help estimate biomass for trees in the Elon University Forest and beyond. “These equations will allow us to determine how important site-specific estimates of biomass are to carbon storage and how much carbon Panamanian forests currently store,” says Green, who was able to travel to Panama to further her research during Winter Term, thanks to support from Elon donors.
Outside of class, she participates in club swimming, serves on the leadership for Catholic Campus Ministry and works as a tour guide for the Office of Admissions. She also works for Experiential Learning and Outdoor Adventures at the Elon Challenge Course and volunteers with the Little Portion Food Pantry.
Bringing study abroad lessons to the classroom
Before coming to Elon, Maggie Hayes ’24 had already set her sights on studying abroad during college. Growing up, her parents emphasized the benefits of building a global perspective through study abroad, even though financial barriers prevented them from participating in similar opportunities while they were college students.
Thanks to the Cole Family Global Engagement Scholarship, Hayes studied at Oxford University in London and engaged with students from several different countries. As a major in middle grades education with a concentration in social studies, her experience abroad also brought more depth and understanding to her field of study.
As a Teaching Fellow, Hayes tutors local elementary school students. She is conducting research on the effects of social media on adolescents, which will allow her to better understand and support her middle school students as a teacher. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in history or education, before launching her career as a teacher after Elon.
