Parents Scott and Jeannine Zeller P’25 made their generous contribution to assist young people who face health challenges "unique to their generation."
For Elon parents Scott and Jeannine Zeller P’25, the health and wellness of today’s college students has never been more important. With highly processed food just a few clicks away, mounting pressure from social media and an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, the health challenges can be serious and long-lasting.
That is one of the reasons the couple from Stratham, New Hampshire, decided to make a $500,000 gift to Elon’s HealthEU Center, the new home for comprehensive health and wellness programs that will serve all students, faculty and staff.
“Our young adults are facing health challenges that in many ways are unique to their generation,” Scott Zeller said. “We commend Elon for recognizing that all aspects of health are interconnected and should be addressed under one roof.”
The couple was also inspired to give after watching Elon’s administration in action while their son Luke ’25 was enrolled.
“While we have always prioritized health as a family, our decision to support the HealthEU Center is also a reflection of our faith in Elon’s leadership,” Zeller said. “Over the past four years, we have come to thoroughly trust and respect the vision of President Book and the Trustees.”
Elon has set a $25 million fundraising goal to make the HealthEU Center a reality. To date, donors have contributed $21.6 million to the project, which will bring academic, wellness, counseling, campus recreation and fitness programs together to support student success. The center is scheduled to open in fall 2026 within Elon’s Innovation Quad, home to the university’s engineering and other STEM programs.
The Zellers are grateful for Luke’s Elon experience and their time serving on Parents Council, where they witnessed firsthand why Elon is known as a “best-run” institution.
“From start to finish, the staff at Elon have proven to be not only extremely talented but genuinely dedicated to educating and supporting the student body,” Scott said. “Not only are students challenged in the most positive way, by the time they graduate they are poised to succeed in a competitive world.”
Luke Zeller ’25 graduated in May with a degree in finance from the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business.
“As Luke navigates a tricky job market, we are learning that Elon’s commitment to its students doesn’t end at graduation,” Zeller said. “The career center has been very useful in guiding him through this next chapter. Suffice it to say that we will always be grateful that he chose Elon!”
The Zellers’ gift will also establish the Zeller Family Odyssey Program Scholarship, which will assist promising students with high financial need, including first-generation college students.
“Elon is grateful to the Zeller family for recognizing the importance of supporting the HealthEU Center, which will give students the knowledge and skills they need to succeed,” said John Gardner ’01, senior director of development.
About The HealthEU Center
The HealthEU Center is a central component of the university’s broader HealthEU initiative that focuses on six dimensions of health and wellness: community, emotional, purpose, financial, physical and social. The three-story facility will feature new classrooms, student-faculty research and engagement spaces, multiple floors for wellness and fitness activities, including an aquatics center and climbing/bouldering walls, and the Mark and Kim Tyson Counseling Center, which will provide space for individual and group therapy, as well as workshops and outreach programs.
Through coursework, workshops and training programs focused on health and wellness, the center is designed to impact every student as they learn essential skills and practices to thrive on campus and throughout each stage of their lives.
How to Make an Impact
Many naming opportunities are available in the HealthEU Center, beginning at $50,000. Gift commitments may be made in full or with a pledge over five years. To find out how you can make an impact with your gift, contact Brian Baker, associate vice president for university advancement, at 336.278.7453 or bbaker7@elon.edu.