Through her role at Impact Alamance and the success of the Active Alamance app, Nicole McGinty '23 exemplifies how the values of leadership, compassion, and a commitment to community well-being, nurtured at Elon extend far beyond graduation
During her time at Elon University, alumna Nicole McGinty ‘23 was known for her heavy involvement in the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, holding multiple leadership roles within Elon Volunteers!, serving as a City Gate Dream Center Coordinator, being an Alternative Break Leader three times and then as executive director of education and community engagement.
Now, she’s making a difference in the Alamance County community through Impact Alamance, a community health legacy foundation created from the merger of Alamance Regional Medical Center and Cone Health.
“The Kernodle Center taught me the value of partnership and listening to the community first. Those lessons have shaped everything I do,” said McGinty, who graduated with a degree in public health, and minors in wellness and health education, statistics, and poverty and social justice.
McGinty began working with Impact Alamance as an Elon Year of Service Fellow in 2024-25. She now oversees the new Active Alamance mobile app, launched in July 2025. This new countywide app makes it easier for residents and visitors to explore local parks, trails, community centers, sports leagues and family-friendly events.
The app grew from a simple idea shared during a meeting, expressing how county information was scattered across seven different recreation department websites. This realization led to the creation of Active Alamance, a central hub where people could easily find ways to stay active and connected.
“It’s incredible how far it’s come,” McGinty said. “From that first conversation about awareness to a fully functioning app, it shows what can happen when people come together around a shared goal.”
McGinty helped lead the project from start to finish by researching developers, coordinating with the seven departments, securing sponsors, and working closely with the app’s creators at Gah-Lee Enterprises, an Asheville-based company known for its community-driven design. She was a driving force behind the app’s incredible execution.
The app has four main tabs, Activities, Recreation, Rentals, and Sports, which allows users to filter by location or category, explore detailed listings with photos, and even get turn-by-turn directions through an interactive map. It’s free to download on both the App Store and Google Play, with support from Impact Alamance, Cone Health, Burlington Pediatrics/Mebane Pediatrics and Glen Raven.
McGinty says the response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive.
“People are realizing just how much is happening right here in Alamance County,” McGinty said. “It’s not just about recreation, it’s about building connections and belonging.”
McGinty’s journey from student leader to community innovator reflects the lasting influence of Elon’s Kernodle Center for Civic Life, where she first learned the power of partnership and service. The center’s emphasis on listening, collaboration, and hands-on engagement continues to shape her work today.