Eric Townsend

In May, NASA will point its Chandra X-Ray Observatory toward a black hole 150 million light years from Earth to collect data for more than three straight days, the longest observation ever made on such a cosmic feature. Leading the team behind the deep space research will be Dan Evans, one of Elon University’s newest faculty members, and a rising star himself in the realm of astrophysics.

The Elon Black Alumni Network honored five past and present Elon University employees Saturday night in a Homecoming banquet to celebrate influential people who contributed to the success of black students on Elon's campus and to the newly endowed Black Alumni Scholarship.

Associate professor Lauren Kearns is teaching a master class at the Penn-Griffin School of the Arts in Greensboro, N.C., on Nov. 5, 2010, and her company is performing that evening as part of the 20th anniversary tour of the N.C. Dance Festival.

Elon University senior Anthony Rizzuto has been named the recipient of a 2010 Eastern Analytical Symposium Student Research Award, a highly competitive national prize in the chemistry field given each year to six undergraduate researchers.

Elon's Department of Performing Arts presents "Children of Eden," Oct. 28-30 and Nov. 5-7. "Children of Eden" is freely based on the first eight chapters of the Book of Genesis and tells a joyous and inspirational story about love, rage, guilt and consequences. It also explores the relationships of parents and children and the intergenerational conflicts and family patterns that are passed on so easily from parent to child, from generation to generation.

Elon University kicks off its 4th annual POWERless energy competition this week for residence halls across campus to reduce their electricity use in a contest that awards buildings for conservation efforts. The contest aims to improve energy habits while making a positive impact on the planet.

The Elon Alumni Association honored five exemplary graduates on Oct. 23, 2010, during the annual Alumni Awards Breakfast held as part of Homecoming. Jack R. Lindley Sr. ’56, Kebbler McGhee Williams '98, Michelle C. Pautz ’03, and Charles “Chuck” and Carole Ann Collard ’89 received the Distinguished Alumnus, Distinguished Alumna, Young Alumna and Alumni Service awards, respectively.

Elon alumni from all eras returned to campus Oct. 23 for Homecoming festivities that included affinity group reunions, tailgating and football. Relive the moments with a photo gallery of images captured by the Office of University Relations.