Through the Kernodle Center and Elon Volunteers!, Ashanti has found not only opportunities to serve, but also a community that encourages leadership, connection and lasting change.
For Ashanti Horton ’26, service has always been more than just volunteering, but it’s a value rooted in personal experience and a commitment to giving back. Her journey with the Kernodle Center for Civic Life and Elon Volunteers! began during her first year at Elon when she joined the Service Living Learning Community (LLC).
Having once benefited from the generosity and support of others, Horton knew service would be an important part of her college experience. Before coming to Elon, she had already spent time volunteering in food pantries and helping distribute meals to those in need. When she arrived on campus, the Service LLC provided the perfect environment to continue that passion while connecting with others who shared the same commitment to community engagement.
“I was drawn to the LLC and the work Kernodle does because service has always played a large role in my life,” Horton said.
Horton has taken on several leadership roles within Elon Volunteers! that have allowed her to deepen her impact. She first served as a coordinator for a Fall Alternative Break program in Charlotte, where students learned about and addressed issues surrounding homelessness. This year, she is serving as a coordinator for a Spring Alternative Break program in Nashville focused on housing and hunger. In addition to Alternative Breaks, she also participated in Kernodle’s HealthEU class, Beyond the Bubble, which encourages students to explore and engage with communities beyond Elon’s campus.
One of the most rewarding parts of her involvement has been leading an Alternative Break program. While the service itself is meaningful, the relationships built throughout the experience made the opportunity especially impactful.
“Connecting with the learning partners, participants, my co-coordinator, and the community partners made the experience unforgettable,” she said.
One moment that stands out came during her Fall Alternative Break in Charlotte while volunteering with Beds for Kids, a nonprofit organization that provides furniture to families who have secured housing but cannot afford essential items like beds. Horton and her team had the opportunity to help deliver and assemble furniture in families’ homes. Unlike many service experiences where the results may not be immediately visible, this opportunity allowed the group to witness the impact of their work firsthand.
“Seeing the happiness and feeling the joy from the families as they watched furniture being delivered was so meaningful,” Horton said. “Service work doesn’t always allow you to witness the impact you’re making, so being able to see and feel that impact is something I’ll never forget.”
Through Elon Volunteers!, Horton has developed a deeper understanding of community engagement and civic responsibility. She believes meaningful service requires not only action, but also listening and learning from the communities being served.
“A large part of service is playing your role in community development and listening to the stories of the people who make the community,” she explained.
Her leadership experiences with Elon Volunteers! have also shaped the way she approaches service beyond campus. During her Semester at Sea experience, Horton volunteered at an orphanage in Kenya and worked with Global Mamas, a nonprofit in Ghana that supports women entrepreneurs. She also traveled alongside Nyani Tutu-Burris, granddaughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, where she learned about apartheid and heard stories from individuals living in South African townships. These experiences helped her see service on a global scale and reinforced the importance of sustainable community engagement.
For students considering getting involved with Elon Volunteers! Horton advises to “Take that leap, you never know what you’ll be drawn to until you try.” She credits service-learning experiences with helping her grow personally and develop confidence while making a meaningful impact.