A generous gift from Chris ’78 P’13 and Nicolette Martin P’13 will soon create a vibrant new gathering space for alumni.
The Martin Alumni Center, named in honor of their family, will be located in the building at the corner of Haggard and O’Kelly avenues near Belk Library and reopen this fall.
An extensive renovation of the building, which formerly held Elon’s office of financial planning, will create a layout that accommodates events as well as informal gatherings and anchors a welcome experience customized for alumni returning to campus.
“Coming back to visit Elon has always been wonderful, but we lose a true connection point as alumni,” says Chris Martin. “The idea of alumni having a place to go at Elon is something I feel strongly about, so I wanted to help make that happen.”
The Martin Alumni Center will include a spacious living room, a covered patio and an outdoor terrace, as well as a catering kitchen and offices for alumni engagement staff. Informational displays throughout the living room will highlight Elon’s history and traditions, while a new film by Tim Johnson ’09 and Max Cantor ’10 that celebrates the Elon alumni experience will air on a nearby monitor. Alumni can visit the center to sign up for campus tours and learn more about future developments at the university.
The center’s outdoor spaces will be lined with bricks honoring alumni who take part in Elon’s “Pave the Way” campaign, which launched April 15. Alumni donors who participate in the campaign can view their personalized bricks at the center during Elon’s 125th Anniversary Homecoming, which runs Nov. 8-10, 2013.
“Elon alumni have long needed a place to call their own in the heart of campus,” says Jim Piatt, vice president of university advancement. “The Martin Alumni Center will create that place, and bring new life to the experience our alumni have when they come back to Elon.”
Chris and Nicolette Martin have been loyal Elon supporters. In 2010, they founded the Martin Family Scholarship for students with financial need. They are also members of The Order of the Oak, the Aesculus Society and The Elon Society Founder’s Circle, giving societies that recognize Elon’s most generous donors. The couple’s son, Nicholas, is an Elon senior majoring in business administration. He is a member of Elon’s 2012-2013 senior class giving committee.
Chris Martin has also been a dedicated volunteer, serving as member and past president of the Elon Alumni Board. In 2012, he was named Elon’s Distinguished Alumnus of the Year for his professional achievement, community service and contributions to the university.