Applications are now open for the next cohort of Elon Academy students, with faculty and staff invited to help expand access to the college access and success program.
Elon Academy is currently accepting applications for the 2026 cohort of scholars and is calling on Elon University faculty and staff to assist with recruitment, nominations and outreach ahead of the Feb. 1 application deadline.
Elon Academy is a comprehensive college access and success program that partners with students and families beginning in high school and continues through college graduation. The program serves academically promising students who are first-generation college-bound and/or from limited-income backgrounds and who attend school in or reside in Alamance County.
Designed to address systemic barriers to higher education, Elon Academy provides students with academic enrichment, college advising, mentoring, and sustained support during critical transition points from high school to college and through degree completion. Students participate in programming that strengthens academic skills, builds college knowledge, and fosters a sense of belonging and confidence in higher education spaces.
Elon Academy is a long-term investment in students who demonstrate talent and motivation but may not have access to the resources or guidance that make college feel possible. Recruitment is a critical first step in ensuring those students are seen, supported, and invited into this opportunity.
The current recruitment cycle focuses on identifying ninth-grade students who show academic potential, leadership, and perseverance, and who would benefit from a comprehensive college preparation program. Faculty and staff are uniquely positioned to support this effort through their professional and community networks, including relationships with local schools, community organizations, faith-based groups, and families across Alamance County.
Faculty and staff involvement helps us reach students who may not otherwise have access to information about college preparation programs. Personal encouragement and referrals can have a meaningful impact on whether a student applies. For a student to hear that they were nominated and that someone believes in them can make all the difference.
By helping to share information about Elon Academy, faculty and staff can play a direct role in expanding access to college-preparatory opportunities and strengthening Elon University’s longstanding commitment to equity, access, and community partnership.
Elon Academy Scholars engage in a range of experiences that prepare them for college success, including academic skill-building, advising and mentoring, family engagement, and exposure to college and career pathways. The program’s impact extends beyond individual students, contributing to college-going cultures within families and communities and creating pathways to long-term educational and economic mobility.
Faculty and staff can support recruitment and applications by:
- Nominating ninth grade students who demonstrate academic promise and commitment to their education
- Sharing Elon Academy information with students, families, educators, and community partners in Alamance County
- Encouraging eligible students to apply before the Feb. 1 deadline
The application deadline for the 2026 cohort is Feb. 1. Additional information about eligibility requirements, program structure, and the application process is available on the Elon Academy website. For additional insight, marketing materials, and further questions, please reach out to Emily Wiersma, director of the Elon Academy, at ewiersma@elon.edu.