Annual gifts provided a critical source of revenue during the Elon LEADS Campaign, going to work immediately to support the best of Elon.
Thanks to the collective support of loyal alumni, parents, grandparents, students, faculty, staff and friends, areas such as Elon’s Greatest Needs, scholarships, academic schools and programs, athletics and more have been supported through the campaign and beyond.
Lasting impact
Curt and Sheryl Battles P’23 made their first gift to Elon during daughter Kendall’s first year on campus. With four generations of college graduates in their family, the Battles have seen firsthand the generational impact of higher education. Kendall’s student experience over the past four years has further inspired their philanthropy. “Elon’s reputation as a school that excels in providing global experiences was one of the things that Kendall found so attractive,” says Sheryl. “When she opened the door to her flat in Kensington during her study abroad trip, we literally saw a dream fulfilled.”
The Battles designate their gifts to the School of Communications and the Black Alumni Scholarship. They are also members of the Elon Society, which recognizes donors who give at leadership levels within a given fiscal year. In addition to their financial generosity, the Battles also serve on Elon’s Parents Council, a group of parents and families who provide insight and counsel on the university’s goals for the future and the overall student experience. Kendall has also embraced the family tradition of philanthropy, serving on Elon’s Senior Class Giving Committee and making her own gift to the university as she prepares for graduation.
The power of education
For Christina Carr ’23, Elon has been transformative. Majoring in psychology with minors in neuroscience and sociology, Carr excels in the classroom and in her campus involvement. She is a champion for the Black Student Union and the Student Union Board, serving as president of both. She was named Homecoming royalty last fall and also serves her fellow students as a member of the Senior Class Giving Committee. Christina is the recipient of the Black Alumni Scholarship, a fund that was established in 2007 for students who identify as Black and demonstrate financial need.
“Traveling abroad was one of my main reasons for choosing to attend Elon,” says Christina, who studied throughout South India. “Receiving the Black Alumni Scholarship allowed me to travel abroad without having to pay anything additional,” she says. “It took out the added stress, and I really was able to soak up the experience that I don’t believe I would have been able to have without the funding I received.”
Carr calls it one of the best experiences of her life, and it was the first time she has traveled outside of the United States. “I got to travel as a learner and be immersed in another culture, which really opened my eyes to see my own culture in a new light,” she says.
Christina is preparing to attend graduate school in the fall and has been accepted into several master’s degree programs.
Opening doors for others
Dave Dziok ’05 knows the value of Elon’s distinctive model for higher education.
“I hope students can have challenging, respectful dialogue while on campus mixed with hands-on, real-world experience when off campus,” he says. As a member of the Elon Alumni Board, Dziok says he is fortunate to see how Elon stays true to the values that make it special, while also looking for ways to grow dynamically.
“Elon’s academics set me up for lifelong professional success. The friends I made continue to be the closest and dearest to me to this day. There’s a feeling of simply stepping on campus that you can’t convey to others who didn’t benefit from the Elon experience — it’s a community of change-makers truly looking to create value and make a difference, and it’s why the world needs more Elon alums.”
Dziok is a devoted financial supporter of the Phoenix Club, political science and policy studies, and the Elon Alumni Board Elon Engagement Scholarship. His inspiration for giving is his own experience, as well as the professors that were transformative to him.
“Elon’s approach of getting students out of the classroom and into the real world has paid incredible dividends for me personally and professionally. In fact, my internship during college with The Leadership Institute landed me a job offer before I even graduated, which I gladly accepted.”
Dziok continues to serve his alma mater in many capacities. He encourages all students to take advantage of the opportunities that Elon has to offer and to hold dear the relationships made at Elon.
Advocating for student-athletes
Kailee Follette ’24 found her second family as a student at Elon. As a junior captain on the Elon women’s lacrosse team, she found her voice and confidence on and off the field.
“Stepping onto Rudd Field for the first time as a first-year student I was beyond scared, but from the beginning I was met with open arms,” she says. “My teammates are not only my best friends but my sisters as well. We are extremely supportive of each other, and you can feel the energy on the field. We all play for the girl next to us, not just ourselves.”
A double major in accounting and finance with a minor in statistics, Follette fell in love with Elon because of the athletic opportunities, but also because she knew she would get a strong education.
“My advisers have been nothing short of phenomenal, from walking me through my courses and graduation plans to just sitting down with me to make sure I am on top of my coursework when lacrosse starts to pick up,” she says. “Without the aid of my professors and advisers I would not be in the position that I am in today.”
Her experience at Elon has been supported by an athletic scholarship funded by annual donors to the Phoenix Club. She also started the Elon chapter of Morgan’s Message, a program that supports students to become active leaders and advocates of student-athlete mental health on their campus and in their communities.
In addition, she participates in Strong Girls United, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and as a tutor in finance and accounting, while serving on the university’s mental health panel.
