Kernodle Center for Civic Life

Elon University’s opportunities for service are starting early for a dozen incoming freshmen this week as part of PreSERVE, a first-year summer experience that includes work on a Habitat for Humanity home in Alamance County.

The group traveled to Bay St. Louis, Miss., May 23-27 as part of Elon's ongoing efforts to assist the Gulf Coast community. The group worked on seven houses, including painting and cleaning debris, and visited with families devastated by the storm. The trip was Elon's first young alumni service trip, which will be offered in the future. Mandie Rose Danielski ‘02 of Brooklyn, N.Y., traveled to Bay St. Louis and wrote about her experience.

Six students will travel to the remote highlands of central Morocco this month as part of a service trip to tutor children learning English and to observe firsthand how residents of the impoverished region are developing profitable cottage industries.

A group of Elon University students returned from Cambodia last week after a “scouting mission” of sorts to develop an annual service program that will take volunteers each summer to the southeast Asia nation.

He loves Elon University so much that he told his parents not to make donations to the school. Instead, senior Andrew Bennett wants to be the one to give back, and this month he made a gift so generous in support of Safe Rides that organizers have been able to expand the nighttime program with the addition of a new van.

Applications are now being accepted for Elon’s new Social Entrepreneurship Scholars Program, which will teach students how to conduct community-based research, analyze social issues and develop partnerships with local agencies to address community needs.