Columnist David Waters with the Memphis Commercial Appeal wrote about the path of Elisson Adrien '17, who graduated in May with a degree in biology.
A columnist with the Memphis Commercial Appeal has featured the journey of Elisson Adrien from his village in Haiti to Elon Commencement in May, and then to a church congregation in Memphis that supported him along the way.
Adrien, who walked across the stage on May 20 to receive a diploma and bachelor’s degree in biology, is central to the piece by columnist David Waters, who writes about the strong bonds that Adrien developed en route to obtaining his Elon degree.
Adrien was orphaned at the age of 17, but had built connections with members of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Memphis through the congregation’s work in his village. In particular, John McGreevey ’10 had become an advocate for Adrien, and helped introduce him to Elon, Waters notes.
Adrien served as a resident advisor at Elon, and was honored this year at the Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Awards Ceremony with the W.L. Monroe Christian Education and Personality Award. He now plans to return to Haiti and pursue entry to medical school, according to Waters.
“I want to be a pediatrician,” Adrien told Waters. “I love kids. I want to help children in Haiti grow up and have the same opportunities I’ve had.”
Read the entire column, titled “Memphis parish helps Haitian survivor graduate from U.S. college,” here.