Blair Berenson '28 is the recipient of Elon's highest academic award, but he's not just an accomplished student. He's an Eagle Scout, Hebrew School teacher, Spanish translator and magician.
Blair Berenson ’28 was working as a camp counselor at a summer camp in the North Georgia Mountains when Steve Bednar, director of the Elon University Honors Program and associate professor of economics, called to tell him he received the William R. Kenan Honors Scholarship, the highest academic award at Elon. Bednar says he wasn’t sure if Berenson had poor cell reception or was just surprised by the award when there was a pause on the other end of the phone.
“I had no idea this scholarship existed,” said Berenson of when he received the phone call. “It was such an amazing moment. I was speechless.”
The William R. Kenan Honors Fellows Scholarship provides a four-year, full-tuition grant for the top Honors Fellow entering Elon each fall. Recipients will have extensive enrichment opportunities, including leadership development, service-learning experiences, study abroad, research stipends and internships. The scholarship was established in 2003 through a grant from the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust.
“When I first met Blair, it did not take long to realize that he was going to be a stellar performer in the classroom,” said Bednar. “More importantly, however, is his empathy and cultural awareness. Blair is going to be a leader in the Honors Program and an asset to any groups he joins at Elon.”
Math behind a trick
If Berenson’s name sounds familiar, it’s because he also received a shoutout for his accomplishment at New Student Convocation. He was one of four students highlighted by Randy Williams, vice president and associate provost for inclusive excellence. Williams noted Berenson’s many accomplishments but also a unique hobby: magic tricks.
“I will almost always have a deck of cards on me,” said Berenson of his magician hobbies.
Berenson says what started as a hobby to pass the time turned into something more, even blending with his academics.
“I was able to write a 19-page math paper on creating a magic trick using applied mathematics. I enjoy the math behind a trick or the science behind it as well,” said Berenson.
Berenson plans to study anthropology at Elon, and he first became interested in the subject after taking AP Human Geography in high school. Before his junior year of high school, he earned a spot in the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program, a residential summer program on a college campus for high school students “designed to provide students with academic, cultural and social enrichment necessary to become the next generation of global critical thinkers, innovators and leaders.”
“I was chosen for the field of social studies, and I was able to take classes and develop my skills in anthropology,” Berenson said.
Desire to learn and educate
Elon’s anthropology program was one of the main reasons Berenson chose the university, but he was also drawn to Elon’s Jewish student population. In high school, he started a club to promote religious diversity, served as a Hebrew school teacher in his community and was a teacher-parent Spanish translator at his local elementary school in Smyrna, Georgia. Berenson’s commitment to his community was also reflected in his Eagle Award project, where he built 10 Little Free Libraries in Smyrna. He also competed in the Georgia High School Fencing League and is working to create a fencing club at Elon.
His desire to learn and educate is a throughline in his journey. After earning a degree in anthropology, he hopes to either become a professor in the subject or a high school social studies teacher.
Berenson is already exploring studying abroad with the “Inquiry in Turkey” Honors Program experience during Winter Term.
“I’m excited to focus my education at Elon in areas that I enjoy learning about such as anthropology, something I didn’t have the opportunity to study in high school,” said Berenson. “I cannot wait to be able to both broaden my knowledge in a variety of topics, as well as narrow down certain areas that I am interested in pursuing.”