New Student Convocation begins ‘powerful journey of questions and curiosity’ at Elon

Seated Under the Oaks for New Student Convocation on Aug. 23, new Elon University students were invited to begin their Elon career, described by President Connie Ledoux Book as a “powerful journey of questions and curiosity.”

“This enormous opportunity of an Elon education requires action on your part, a commitment to taking full advantage of all we have here,” said Book. “It’s a simple truth about the personal leadership that’s needed to be successful. The personal leadership that says ‘I’m going to be focused on what I want and what I want to become.’”

What makes you come alive

More than 1,500 new students arrived on campus on Aug. 22 for Move-In Day, and New Student Convocation offers an official welcome from university leadership, faculty and staff. The Class of 2029 will not be together Under the Oaks again until the end of their final year at Elon for the Numen Lumen Senior Baccalaureate.

Students make their way to the ceremony through Alamance Building, passing the bell that hung in Main Building before it was destroyed by a fire in 1923.

“You are now part of this history of resilience,” said Jon Dooley, vice president for student life. “And when you face your own challenges here, touch that bell again. Let it remind you that, like a phoenix, you too can rise stronger than before.”

Rev. Kirstin Boswell, university chaplain and dean of multifaith engagement, opened the event with the invocation, encouraging students to “seek what makes you come alive.”

“This is your purpose for this time. The path ahead is yours to shape. The tools for the journey are before you—take them up, use them wisely, with diligence, and with openness to the guidance of those who will walk beside you,” Boswell said.

Have courage

Student Government Association Executive President Anya Bratić welcomed the Class of 2029 not by discussing her accomplishments, but her failures and how she grew from failing at Elon.

“The one thing you have to have is courage. Courage doesn’t replace fear; they coexist,” said Bratić. “Have the courage to be curious, to apply for the thing. Have the courage to be scared, and still believe in yourself anyway. Have the courage to fail, and to walk back into the room after you do.”

Following the ceremony, Bratić’s remarks resonated with students.

“When she talked about how she failed at first, that was comforting to know that you can fail but always succeed in the end,” said Benjamin Isaacson ’29.

“I feel like everyone is nervous to fail, especially coming into college and you can and it’s okay. There’s more to do,” Lilah Provenzano ’29.

Meet the class

Vice President for Inclusive Excellence Randy Williams offered the audience a glimpse into the Class of 2029, which comprises students from 43 states and 35 countries, including 169 first-generation college students. Williams highlighted four students who are members of the new class.

• Priyal Sanathara, an astrophysics major and Honors Fellow from Chalfont, Pennsylvania, is this year’s recipient of the William R. Kenan Honors Scholarship, Elon’s highest academic award. In high school, she was a varsity soccer player and a member of the student government. She was an active member of her school’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Council to advise school leaders on creating a welcoming environment for all. She completed a community fellowship on political education, community research, and empowerment of the Asian American diaspora and received the National Scholastic Press Association’s Leadership Award in Scholastic Journalism.
• Bodhi Hriciga, an engineering major from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, has dedicated much of his life to mountain bike racing. He competed with his high school team and the First Flight USA Cycling Elite Junior Development Team, earning titles as the 2023 State Champion and regional champion. Beyond competition, Hriciga shares his passion by teaching elementary school students how to ride and leading trips that introduce them to the sport. His commitment to both excellence and mentorship reflects a drive to learn and lead. Hrigciga plans to study engineering.
• Sloane Johnson, an acting major from The Hills, Texas, has completed a songwriting internship, collaborating with Grammy-winning songwriters, and contributes her talents as both a writer and actor in short films produced by her high school. Beyond the stage and screen, Johnson has written four unpublished novels spanning multiple genres, showcasing her imagination and dedication to storytelling.
• Lorenzo Ribadeneira, an entrepreneurship & innovation major from Miami, Florida, has combined his passion for board sports with a talent for entrepreneurship. After discovering wakeboarding just a few years ago, he quickly rose to success, earning first and second place in the 2024 Florida Wakeboarding Championships and later being named both state and national champion at the Wake Park Nationals. Inspired to extend his love for the sport beyond competition, Ribadeneira founded STOKE, a lifestyle brand celebrating board culture and community.

Elon values

Seated behind the new students were members of Elon’s faculty, acknowledged by Provost and Executive Vice President Rebecca Kohn as being ranked #1 in the country by U.S. News and World Report for undergraduate teaching.

Deandra Little, associate provost for faculty affairs highlighted four specific faculty members who were awarded this year for excellence in teaching, scholarship, civic engagement and mentoring.

• Kathy Matera, professor of chemistry, is the recipient of the Daniels-Daneiley Excellence in Teaching Award.
• Cindy Fair, professor of public health studies and human service studies, is the recipient of the Steven and Patricia House Excellence in Mentoring Award.
• Brant Touchette, professor of biology and environmental studies, is the recipient of the Distinguished Scholar Award.
• Phillip Motley, professor of communication design, is the recipient of the Periclean Award for Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility.

In her remarks to the Class of 2029, President Book compared the new students to the oak trees they sat under, both will and have weathered change and withstood challenge.

“They are symbolic of a strength that will unfold in each of you in the years ahead,” said Book. “Under these oaks, students reflect on the relationships they formed at Elon, relationships that will last a lifetime and provide support and guidance through the highs and lows of life.”

Book emphasized the values at the center of an Elon education: respect for the richness of difference, the value of living a life of contribution and hard work with integrity and honesty, and making a difference in the lives of others.

“The world and our nation needs Elon graduates because the world and our country needs the values an Elon education prospers,” said Book. “You are our hope. Our hope for a smarter, strong and kinder world.”

The Elon transformation

To create a physical representation of the uniqueness of an Elon education, President Book led the students in forming a “human bar graph.” Book instructed the students to stand and represent different populations around the world, including entire countries, U.S. public university students, community colleges and finally one student out of them all — Sanah Saha ’29 — who represented residential colleges and universities like Elon.

“You see, Sanah, we are all here at Elon University for the very moment when you come seeking knowledge or support and have dedicated our professional careers—to you, to your classmates, to that moment,” said Book.

Students Hashini Amarasinghe ’26, Keller Knight ’27 and Mindy Monroe ’26 performed a special musical performance of “Light On” by Maggie Rogers before Associate Teaching Professor of Music Polly Butler Cornelius sang the university’s alma mater and explained the Elon Traditions – including students receiving an acorn following New Student Convocation.

“It’s very exciting, I’m very excited to start classes,” said Graham Masiyiwa ’29 after receiving his acorn. “It’s been a good first few days.”

The acorn is a symbol of the start of their Elon journey and in four years, the Class of 2029 will receive an oak sapling, a symbol of their transformation at Elon, when they return Under the Oaks for Senior Baccalaureate.

“It’s crazy that we’ll have the oak tree after this, and it’s the four years all symbolized in this little thing. It’s really cool,” said Taylor Fabrizio ‘29.

Through their time at Elon, students will experience an array of opportunities and challenges, but all in the spirit of Elon’s historic motto, “Numen Lumen,” which are Latin words meaning “spiritual light” and “intellectual light.” 

“We invite you to a powerful journey of questions and curiosity that will shine new light and new understanding,” said Book.