Donors drive student success – impacting students like Liam Dupas ’26

Thousands of alumni, students, faculty, staff, families and friends made gifts from June 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025 to support Elon students – contributing to one of the university’s most successful fundraising years yet. Thanks to this generosity and engagement, Elon will continue to provide outstanding educational experiences and foster a vibrant, thriving campus community for our students for years to come.

Supporting scholarships and other campus priorities can be life-changing, just as it was for Liam Dupas ’26.

A filmmaker in the making

Liam Dupas never imagined that a scholarship could unlock the path to his life’s calling, but receiving the Don Bolden School of Communications Dean’s Scholarship did just that.

“This scholarship didn’t just help me financially; it inspired me to work even harder toward my goals,” Liam reflects.

Growing up in a large Atlanta public high school of nearly 4,000 students, Liam’s passion for filmmaking ignited unexpectedly during his senior year when he enrolled in film class. He learned that filmmaking is so much more than just directors and actors; it’s a powerful tool for emotional connection and storytelling.

At Elon, that spark has grown. Immersed in hands-on learning and mentored by professors and others with real-world industry experience, Liam is thriving. One standout figure in his journey has been Director of Technology, Operations and Multimedia Projects Bryan Baker.

“He’s more than just a teacher to me – he’s an inspiration and a role model,” Liam explains. “Through his audio class, I learned how the sound industry operates and got to work with Avid Pro Tools, an industry-standard software.”

Liam’s time at Elon has shaped not just his skills, but also his identity. From tight-knit friendships to the beauty of the campus and the deep support from faculty, Elon has become, in his words, his “home away from home.”

“Elon has helped me grow academically, mentally, physically, spiritually, financially and socially,” he shares, “Because of this education, I’m working toward a future where I can give back — to my parents, my community and to Elon.”

The financial support from his scholarship has been a pivotal part of his ability to say “yes” to these experiences.

“This degree represents the culmination of years of hard work, the support of my family and friends, and most importantly, the generosity of donors. I know this is my ticket to a career in filmmaking — and I don’t take that for granted.”

-Liam Dupas ’26

As Liam enters his senior year, he has big goals. Following graduation, he hopes to work in commercial or freelance cinematography for a faith-based company – something fast-paced with quick production timelines that will make for lots of travel and impactful experiences.

“I hope to tell stories that leave an impact on viewers and continue to serve wherever the Lord takes me,” he says. “Thank you for believing in students like me. I’m committed to making the most of this opportunity, and I look forward to sharing the journey ahead.”

For donors who wonder whether their philanthropy makes a real difference, Liam is living proof. Your investment is not just funding education, it’s launching a new generation of storytellers who will move the world with their vision.

Liam’s story is one of many. Students across campus have similar stories of how donor generosity changed their lives.

Investing in tomorrow’s leaders

Donor support plays a vital role in shaping the Elon student experience and opening doors to transformative opportunities. Elon is proud to share the many ways donors gave back and invested in the university over the past year.

• $32.5 million given to support Elon students (including annual, capital and endowment gifts and pledges).
• 6,507 alumni gave to 298 various designations across campus.
• 4,008 parents gave to 410 designations across campus.
• $2.3 million planned gifts committed.
• $3.1 million donated for the 12th annual Elon Day held on March 6, 2025, with 43% of gifts coming from alumni, 23% from parents and grandparents, 21% from faculty and staff, and the rest from friends of the university and students.
• 61% of faculty and staff made a gift, with 970 members donating.

Supporting students through every connection

Elon’s community continues to thrive, with 9,654 alumni and 2,560 family members actively engaged this year through volunteering and attending events. Their involvement made a lasting impact – here’s a look at how alumni, parents and friends made a difference:

• Elon held 201 events for alumni seeing a total of 3,757 attendees. Events included Welcome to the City, Cheers to Elon, Evening for Elon and more.
• 1,831 alumni came back to campus to celebrate Homecoming & Reunion Weekend.
• 2,275 alumni volunteered at events supporting the university.
• New this year: Elon held 17 virtual events for alumni with a total of 317 attendees, and 322 alumni attended 23 different Women of Elon events.
• Lifelong learning saw 488 alumni participants engage with career coaching, career search foundations, Life @ Elon, Elon NEXT and webinars.
• 276 alumni served as social media ambassadors for the university, supporting initiatives and events by building engagement on their social channels.
• 7,257 family members attended Family Weekend 2024.
• 1,042 parents and students attended one of 37 Summer Welcome Events held in 20 different states.
• 1,152 individuals served as Elon Day volunteers, supporting 45 events with 6,298 attendees.
• 103 Elon families served as FAMbassadors – volunteers who help with events and other initiatives on and off campus.
• 41 faculty and staff members served as giving captains.
• 91 alumni served their reunion class as a member of their reunion committee, raising support for students and encouraging involvement.
• Over 1,000 alumni and students participated in Elon Q&A, an AI-driven platform that allows alumni to stay connected with Elon as a resource for students.

All of these statistics reflect what makes the Elon community special – the people that support growth and innovation through a spirit of giving back.