The first Inn at Elon Scholarship recipients have been notified of their awards and events were held in their honor. These events brought university staff, students, and Inn at Elon employees together to celebrate and learn more about how these funds will change lives.
This May, Elon University hosted a series of breakfasts and a luncheon at the Inn at Elon honoring the first students to receive scholarships supported by proceeds from the inn, where guests are reminded that their visit is “A Stay with Purpose.”
The Inn at Elon opened in January 2020 as part of the Elon LEADS Campaign, thanks to more than 50 families that supported the project through their generous funding. Their generosity, the hard work of the Inn at Elon staff and university constituents, and guests that have stayed at the inn, made the scholarships a reality. The first scholarships from inn’s proceeds went to 92 currently enrolled students, with more to be awarded to members of the Class of 2027, that will matriculate this fall.
In attendance at the events were senior staff members, including President Connie Ledoux Book, as well as Inn at Elon staff members, and the students supported by the grant.
The hope was that staff would see firsthand what “a stay with purpose” truly means to these students, and that following these engagements they would be able to tell these students’ stories to guests of the inn. These events provided a space to celebrate with the students that have already, or will in the future, benefit from the proceeds that result from the staff members’ own work.
After opening remarks by President Book, the guests shared a meal together and sat at designated tables, where there were various prompts to get to know more about each students’ story and their Elon experiences. Conversations filled the room, with discussions of internship opportunities and research projects, study abroad trips, and post-graduation plans. It was clear that every student had a story to tell and achievements that were made possible because of the funding they received through their scholarships.
Some of those students included Jayla Martin-Beasley ’25, a native Greensboro, North Carolina, majoring in strategic communications and anthropology who is planning to study abroad in Argentina next year and is refining her Spanish language skills this summer in preparation for her travels. Or Korryn OShea ’25, who is interested in software development and is participating in two internships this summer in hopes that it will lead to more hands-on experience. Or even Jose Torres-Reyes ’25, a finance major and native of Alamance County who will be going abroad to Spain next spring thanks to his Inn at Elon scholarship.
Students in attendance included:
- Noah Biggers
- Rafi Dahdal
- Yuzu Do
- Ryan Elad
- India Goode
- Moriah Griffin
- Kiara Hunter
- Kendall Lytle
- Jayla Martin-Beasley
- Daisy Martinez-Jimenez
- Korryn OShea
- Eva Real Roman
- Samuel Remes
- Isaias Reyes-Martinez
- Daija Rion
- Mari’ Robinson
- David Sawyer
- Kadin Simmons
- Ariston Tomes
- Jose Torres-Reyes
- Jennifer Tran
- Briston Whitt
The Inn at Elon staff enjoyed meeting with the students and hearing more about their plans. Kelly Uhl, one member of the housekeeping staff, commented that it was nice to be able to meet the students personally and hear more about how her own work is a part of helping them achieve their goals.
To learn more about the Inn at Elon or how to book your stay with purpose, click here.