Elon University is featuring a variety of photos every month to highlight the exceptional learning, work and activities of students, faculty and staff.
As the spring semester at Elon University draws to a close, the campus remained vibrant and full of energy throughout April. The 2025–26 Elon Speaker Series wrapped up with a visit from bestselling author Frank Bruni, while nearly 200 students, faculty, and staff came together to celebrate Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colors. Progress also continued on the new Roberts Academy, and Elon hosted its largest-ever Spring Undergraduate Research Forum.
Take a look back at April through the lens of the University Communications team.
A new life for Holland House
University leaders and student-athletes celebrated a new era for Elon’s Holland House on South Campus with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that debuted a preeminent home for the Phoenix men’s and women’s golf programs. Before the latest renovation, the building was home to two Elon presidents and administrative offices — and even moved across campus.
The Montagues in McCrary
Elon University Performing Arts brought history’s most famous love story to McCrary Theatre with “Romeo and Juliet.” The Shakespearean tragedy tells the tale of Romeo, from the House of Montague, and Juliet, from the House of Capulet, who secretly fall in love and get married, despite their families disapproval.
Stargazing for mental health
Students were encouraged to engage with nature in support of their mental wellness through the Star Gazing for Mental Health event at Lake Verona. The Astronomy Club, Counseling Services, the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education and the Office of Sustainability sponsored the event.
Trollinger’s new look
Renovations have started on Trollinger House, which was once a small residence hall but will soon serve as the temporary location for Roberts Academy at Elon University, an all-day private school for children with dyslexia that opens in August.
Established in 2025 through a gift from philanthropists Hal and Marjorie Roberts of Lakeland, Florida, the Roberts Academy at Elon University will be the fourth in a series of successful university-based private elementary schools the couple also supported at Vanderbilt University, Mercer University and Florida Southern College.
A Holi Celebration
On April 10, a warm and sunny spring afternoon, nearly 200 students, faculty, and staff gathered on the lawn of the Lambert Academic Village to celebrate Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colors. This year marked the 14th anniversary of Holi at Elon, a tradition led by the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life.
Escaping the ‘age of grievance’
Journalist and bestselling author Frank Bruni delivered a sold-out Frank P. Elder Lecture in Whitley Auditorium on April 9. He explored how Americans are living in what he calls an “age of grievance,” a time where more people believe they are losing because someone else is winning. The Elder Lecture marks the final event of the 2025-26 Elon University Speaker Series.
A record-breaking SURF
Elon University held its largest-ever Spring Undergraduate Research Forum on April 28, featuring 384 presentations, including 229 poster presentations, 155 oral presentations, and performances.
SURF Day is an annual event at the university, during which other campus activities are suspended to celebrate the academically centered creative endeavors and research efforts of Elon students.
Double CAA Champs
Both the men’s and women’s tennis teams took home CAA titles in April. The conference title was the men’s first since 2019, when the Phoenix also took down UNCW. This was Elon’s fifth straight CAA championship match, all of which were against the Seahawks. With the victory, Elon secures an automatic bid to the NCAA Men’s Tennis Championship.
The women have won back-to-back CAA championships, with both championship match victories coming against William & Mary. With the win, Elon secured the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Women’s Tennis Championship.
Go baby go!
For the first time, Elon students brought the Go Baby Go initiative to campus, adapting ride-on toy cars for children with mobility challenges.
The collaborative effort between the Elon Engineering Club, Phoenix Racing and the Department of Physical Therapy brought the Go Baby Go Initiative to Elon’s campus for the first time. Founded in 2012 at the University of Delaware, Go Baby Go is a national initiative that modifies ride-on toy cars to meet the individual physical needs of young children who experience mobility challenges.
