The lake located at Danieley Center has been named Lake Verona in honor of Verona Daniels Danieley, wife of President Emeritus J. Earl Danieley '46. President Leo M. Lambert made the announcement during a party Saturday, Jan. 17 observing Mrs. Danieley's 80th birthday. Details...
Friends, family and members of the Elon community gathered at the Woods Center at Rhodes Stadium Saturday afternoon to celebrate Verona Danieley’s birthday and spring a surprise on her: the naming of the lake at Danieley Center in her honor.
“I had no idea this was going to happen,” Verona Danieley told the gathering. “When Earl asked me to get together a list of the things I had done and been involved with, I was afraid it was for my obituary!” she said, drawing a big laugh from the crowd. “This is a tremendous honor. Thank you so much.”
President Lambert said the naming, which was approved unanimously by the Board of Trustees, was to recognize Verona Danieley’s many contributions to her alma mater and the community. She enrolled at Elon at age 16, completing a one-year program before joining the college staff as secretary to Elon President Leon Smith. She worked with Smith for six years before returning to the classroom and earning a bachelor’s degree in 1949. After graduation, she taught at Elon College High School.
She assumed the role of first lady in 1957, when her husband was elected as Elon’s sixth president, and was distinguished by her graciousness and kindness to faculty and students.
She has been a leader at the Elon Community Church, in the Southern Conference of the United Church of Christ and with Church Women United for many years. She has been recognized for her work with the PTA’s of local schools and has served on the Zoning Board and Bicentennial Commission of the Town of Elon. She has also served as a trustee of the North Carolina Schools for the Deaf.
Formerly known as East Campus, Danieley Center was named in honor of President Emeritus Danieley in 1998. It provides housing for more than 700 students in air conditioned flats and apartment-style buildings. The Daniel Commons building includes a dining area, TV lounge and computer lab, and an on-site deli and convenience store.