From volunteer to student leader: One student-athlete’s service grows with the Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter

Audrey Kennett '21, a member of the women’s golf team, showed up to Habitat for a build shift over a year ago and is now joining the campus chapter’s leadership team as next year’s service coordinator.  

Kennett along with some members of the Women's Golf team and other Habitat campus chapter volunteers at the ReStore.

Audrey Kennett '21, a member of the women’s golf team, came to her first Elon campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity volunteer shift in January of 2018.

She continued volunteering throughout the next year, bringing other members of the golf team with her. This March, she applied to be a student leader on the campus chapter Habitat for Humanity team, and was accepted. She will serve as the service coordinator next academic year, a role that focuses on recruiting and managing other student volunteers from campus. 

Kennett has shown up to every shift with a smile on her face and an unparalleled work ethic. Her interest in construction combined with her dedication to Habitat for Humanity yields the ideal volunteer – "someone who truly cares about her impact on the community and who takes matters into her own hands when it comes to making a difference” said Jordyn Cowan ‘21, a current Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter Service Captain. 

Kennett has served nearly 30 hours during the past year and has engaged four other members of the women’s golf team who have joined her at Habitat for Humanity build and ReStore shifts. When asked about her experience, Kennett said, “I love the hard work and immediate impact of working each build. It has been amazing to see what the community can achieve when brought together for a meaningful project.” 

Student-athlete involvement with Habitat for Humanity is part of a larger effort of Elon Athletics’ new partnership with the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement. Molly McInerney, student services coordinator for Elon Athletics, and Sarah Williams, program coordinator for the Kernodle Center, are managing an NCAA grant that is focused in part on increasing student-athlete involvement in service, providing education around social issues and community engagement, expanding involvement in the Service ELR, and documenting the student-athletes’ service.

Student-athletes wishing to volunteer in the local community or learn more about the Service ELR can reach out to Molly McInerney