Phoenix Take Flight, a look at leadership, was the newest Adventures in Leadership (AIL) session this summer. AIL sessions focus on the successful transition of incoming first-year students through community building, finding resources and having conversations about college life at Elon.
The Adventures in Leadership (AIL) program, a cornerstone of the First-Year Summer Experience, expanded its impact this year with the addition of the Phoenix Take Flight program. This new initiative welcomed 12 first-year students who joined Tierza Watts and Olivia Brown from the Center for Leadership to embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and community engagement.
Throughout the program, participants delved into understanding their leadership potential, exploring their motivators and reflecting on their social identities. They engaged in meaningful service to their new community and gained a deeper appreciation of both the history of the Civil Rights movement and the legacy of Elon University.
One of the program’s highlights was the opportunity for students to engage in hands-on group work through the Elon Outdoors Challenge Course. This experience fostered teamwork and developed problem-solving skills. Students were also introduced to Randy Williams, vice president and associate provost for inclusive excellence. In an insightful “Model the Way” leadership interview, students learned about Williams’s values and the behaviors he defines as effective leadership.
The Phoenix Take Flight program emphasized the importance of aligning personal values with leadership practices and encouraged students to learn the steps to inspire a shared vision for leadership success. Through workshops and discussions, participants learned that leadership manifests in various forms, whether through serving others or participating in Elon’s student organizations. Staff from the Kernodle Center for Civic Life and Student Involvement provided guidance on how to actively engage in these opportunities.
Reflecting on her experience, Kaitlyn Vittum ’28, an incoming Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellow, articulated that successful leaders should embody inclusion, courage, determination, integrity and effective communication to inspire those around them.
Understanding the local community was also a vital component of the program. Students dined with Reagan Gural, CEO of the Alamance Chamber, Logan Garrison Savits, director of Leadership Development & Education Partnerships, and Jewel Tillman, community engagement manager at Impact Alamance. These conversations set the stage for the students’ volunteer work at the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington.
“I loved it. I had so much fun with the kids and loved talking to them and playing with them,” said Ava Grivalski ’28 on working with the Boys and Girls Club. “It was eye-opening to see life from a different perspective. I work at a preschool and knowing that some kids don’t have as many resources was really hard, but I’m glad I was there to give them attention and play.”
The Phoenix Take Flight program concluded with activities focused on social identities, Elon University’s History & Memory project and an educational visit to the International Civil Rights Center & Museum in Greensboro, North Carolina.
“What I took away from the museum is that history can be misinterpreted or not taught,” said Aissa Clarke ’28. “Learning about these historical events makes me feel more grateful and aware of where I’m going to school, and it motivates me to educate others so that these issues are addressed.”
The Phoenix Take Flight program not only equipped first-year students with essential leadership skills but also instilled a profound sense of purpose, community and social responsibility as they begin their academic journey at Elon University.