Student presentations will highlight Elon's celebration of student academic achievement, philanthropy and the university’s philosophy of engaged learning during Spring Convocation for Honors at 4 p.m., Thursday, April 12 in Alumni Gym/Koury Center on campus. Details...
The theme of this year’s convocation is “A Celebration of the Engaged Life.” Ten Elon seniors will make presentations about the transformative power of the Elon Experiences, the university’s flagship programs in study abroad, undergraduate research, leadership, service and internships. These experiences reflect the university’s values of service to others, global citizenship, leadership, field experiences and the ability to learn independently. This engaged learning philosophy prepares students to be lifelong learners and responsible citizens of the world.
Seniors who will make presentations at convocation include:
• Ashley Bennett, Exercise Science, Wolfeboro, N.H.
• Natalie Mae Wu, History with Teacher Licensure, Jackson, N.H.
• Beth Overman, Biology and Comprehensive Science Education, Goldsboro, N.C.
• Gavin Sands, Art, Digital Concentration, Pawleys Island, S.C.
• Brittany Lyn Yelverton, Communications/Cinema and English, Magnolia, Texas
• Ian Alexander Hull, Economics and Public Administration, Baltimore, Md.
• Jonathan Chapman, Religious Studies, Fairburn, Ga.
• Kathleen Filkins, Human Services, Fairfax, Va.
• Ginny Rodgers, International Studies, Raleigh, N.C.
• Michael E. Brandon, History, Raleigh, N.C.
Dr. David Shi, president of Furman University, will present the convocation address. Widely recognized as a leader in higher education, Shi was one of 50 college and university presidents recognized in 1999 by the John Templeton Foundation for their outstanding leadership in the development of student character. He is the author of several books, including “The Simple Life: Plain Living and High Thinking in American Culture” and “The Bell Tower and Beyond: Reflections on Learning and Life,” a collection of speeches, essays and columns.
Edna Truitt Noiles, a 1944 Elon alumna, and her husband, Doug, will receive honorary doctor of humane letters degrees during the convocation. The Noiles are among Elon’s most generous benefactors. In 2003, the couple made a $1 million gift to endow the Vera Richardson Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life on campus. An earlier $100,000 scholarship donation by the Noiles supported the Ashton P. and Vera R. Truitt Scholarship Fund, which Edna Noiles established with her sisters in 1997 to honor their parents.
In 2006, the Noiles made a $220,000 lead gift to provide start-up funding for the Elon Academy, an enrichment program at Elon University for academically talented students in the Alamance-Burlington school system who may not be considering attending college. The academy will admit its first class of 25 high school sophomores this summer.
Spring Convocation honors Dean’s List and President’s List students, the faculty, graduate students, the Class of 2007 and members of the Elon Society, the premier annual giving group at Elon.
Tickets to the convocation are available on a limited basis and are $12 or free for those with valid Elon identification. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Center for the Arts box office at (336) 278-5610. The box office is open from 12:30-5 p.m., Monday-Friday.