Elon students return to their roots with the Village Project

For two Elon University students, volunteering with the Village Project is more than just extracurricular service; it is a return to their roots. Scout Winter ‘28 and Jenna Toms ‘26, both graduates of the Alamance-Burlington School System, now find themselves on the other side of the desk, giving back to the classrooms that shaped them.

Since 2008, the Village Project’s Big Village program has relied on dedicated volunteers to help with free after-school tutoring across 11 sites. Elon students have long supported the program by assisting teachers with activities and providing hands-on instruction to small groups of students.

Winter is an exercise science major on the pre-med track with plans to pursue pediatrics. A graduate of Williams High School, only ten minutes away from Elon’s campus, Winter has remained immersed in her community by volunteering with the Village. This past year, Winter volunteered at Pleasant Grove and North Graham Elementary, working with kindergarteners, first graders and eventually third graders. It was in a third-grade classroom when Winter experienced a deeper impact to the program after connecting with a third-grade student who had recently lost her older brother.  Through the Village, Winter was able to aid in academic support while also developing a mentor relationship with the student.

“It was a space where we were learning and getting stuff done,” Winter said, “but it was also a space where she could feel comfortable and have a connection with someone older and responsible, but not a traditional adult.”

Toms has experienced a similar effect from the program, working with fifth grade students at B. Everett Jordan Elementary School. After transferring to Elon from a larger university, the Village presented an opportunity for Jenna to intentionally reconnect with the local community.

“The school I volunteer at is on the same side of the county that I went to high school in,” she said. “Being able to connect with those students, knowing they’ll probably go to the same high school I went to.It feels full circle.”

Thanks to volunteers like Winter and Toms, the Village Project thrives. This past year, the Big Village program recorded an outstanding 5,096 combined volunteer hours. After calculating the monetary value of volunteer hours, the program projected that it saved the Alamance-Burlington School System $197,538 in tutoring costs. Volunteers make it possible for the Village Project and ABSS to continue free after-school programs that work towards promoting accessibility in education.

Beyond reconnecting with their hometown roots, the Village has also been a catalyst for change in other ways for the two students. For Toms, who is majoring in public health, it has shifted her perspective on the future.

“With a degree in public health, I didn’t necessarily think I’d end up working with kids,” she said. “But after these experiences, it’s become clear that’s something I want to continue.”

Meanwhile, working with the Village has confirmed for Winter that working in pediatrics is the career path that she will pursue. Both students plan to continue their work with the Village and within their communities.

With 1,867 students registered this past year, the Village Project continues to find a need for volunteer support for programming. For those interested in getting involved, both students highly encourage their peers to participate.

“I would just say, definitely try it, even if you’re scared,” Toms said. “You might be surprised.”

Students can learn more about volunteering with the Village Project by visiting their website.