Members of Elon's Young Alumni Council gathered on campus April 1-2 for its annual spring meeting, welcoming new members, celebrating the success of the March IGNITE Challenge and honoring outstanding graduates of the past decade at the inaugural Top 10 Under 10 Awards banquet.
“People have really noticed the things that we have done, and it’s not just people on campus,” said outgoing president Christian Wiggins ’03, the last of the alumni who founded the Young Alumni Council in 2007. Wiggins noted that his counterparts at the University of Virginia and the University of Tennessee have asked about the dynamic programming made possible by the Young Alumni Council.
“I appreciate the energy everyone brings to this group,” he said.
The council opened its busy Saturday schedule by welcoming twelve new members: Kristin White ’04, David Dziok ’05, Cameron Davis ’06, Chris Mason ’06, Buck Russell ’08, Molly Donahue ’09, Emily Favret ’09, Jennifer Hiltwine ’09, Samantha Miller ’10, Megan Schneider ’10, Drake Springer ’10 and Danaka Walker ’10. The group heard morning presentations about progress in the Ever Elon Campaign, plans to strengthen Elon’s Career Services and Employer Relations programs, and the Elon Alumni Association’s roadmap to building a vibrant alumni network.
In the afternoon, the council’s development, programming and career networking/student transitions committees convened to develop plans to enhance outreach for young alumni in the next year, including additions to Elon’s Homecoming offerings, increased young alumni participation in the Elon Career Network and continued support for IGNITE, Elon’s annual giving group for young alumni. Also, alumni enjoyed a brief report from President Leo M. Lambert about ongoing campus capital projects.
Before the meeting adjourned, the council bid farewell to several long-serving members, including Wiggins, John Gardner ’01, Caroline Sage ’02, Candyce Marsh ’03, Jamie Lewis ’04, Brett “Coop” Cooper ’05, Colin Donohue ’05, Zack Pund ’05, Keenan Benjamin ’06, Damon Duncan ’06 L’09, Melissa Taylor Duncan ’06 L’09, Carson Foushee ’07 and Garrett Wofford ’07. Wiggins then handed the reins to incoming council president Michael Bumbry ’07.
“A major priority for me will be to engage this council beyond just spring and fall meetings and conference calls,” he said. “I want us to bring our skills and resources at Elon and in our professional lives to this council as we look forward to going from good to great.”