Warren and Holley Lutz P'20 have established the Lutz Family Elon Engagement Scholarship as part of generous Elon Day matching gift.
Elon parents Warren and Holley Lutz P’20 have a history of supporting scholarships, an interest that began through a public-school program at their home in Alexandria, Virginia.
“We like to help people take that next step,” Holley Lutz says.
The family is continuing the tradition at Elon University with a generous gift to support The Inn at Elon, an asset owned by the university’s endowment with profits supporting scholarships. The couple’s gift will also endow the Lutz Family Elon Engagement Scholarship.
“The cost of education is rising. We appreciate that Elon has done an admirable job in keeping costs down, but I’m sure there are people who want to attend Elon with all it has to offer but can’t find a way to do it financially,” Warren Lutz says. “If the university has students who are deserving and in need of help in any shape or form, we’re happy to be part of that process.”
Elon Engagement Scholarships are designed for promising students who embody the spirit and values of the university and are eager to take advantage of the university’s high-impact engaged learning programs called the Elon Experiences: Study Abroad/Study USA, Undergraduate Research, Internships, Leadership and Service Learning. The Elon Engagement Scholarship includes a one-time grant to be used for one of the Elon Experiences.
In making their gift, the couple are supporting two priorities of the Elon LEADS Campaign: support for Elon’s iconic campus facilities and growing scholarships to broaden access to the Elon Experiences.
Jim Piatt, vice president for University Advancement, says he admires the dedication Elon families have for supporting the university and creating opportunities for deserving students. “We are grateful to Warren and Holley for this generous gift that will support a transformational venue like The Inn and scholarships, which will impact students for years to come.”
Holley Lutz says she visited Elon for the first time when daughter Seeley ’20 arrived on campus for a tour. The family was impressed with Elon from the start and the respect has only grown during Seeley’s time as a student. She is graduating in May with a degree in strategic communications. The Lutzes’ son Carver also hopes to study at Elon this fall.
“We like study abroad and how engaged the alumni are and the network the alumni create when you’re looking for internships or when you’re out of college,” Holley Lutz says. “Those are things we didn’t know at the time, but we know now.”
“Since our daughter started at Elon, our love and respect and admiration for what the university is and what it represents has only grown,” Warren Lutz adds.
Warren Lutz is an attorney and partner with Jackson & Campbell, P.C., where he has served as a director of the firm since 1996 and currently serves as co-chair of their Insurance Coverage Practice Group. Holley Lutz is an attorney and partner with Dentons, a multinational law firm. They have previously supported the Phoenix Club, School of Communications, scholarships and the School of Law.
Holley Lutz appreciates what an inn on campus brings to a university. Her alma mater, the University of Mississippi has a campus hotel. “I think the inn is fabulous,” she says. “It’s really nice to have that experience on campus, to have lodging, to be able to have events there. It makes staying at Elon a little easier. You can just park your car and walk. I think that’s a big plus. It’s great to come and be a part of campus and walk the campus the way students do.”
The three-story inn, which opened on Jan. 11, includes 70 rooms and 10 suites and is located adjacent to the Ernest A. Koury Sr. Business Center. Operated by Charlestowne Hotels, The Inn at Elon features an upscale restaurant and lounge, ballroom facilities and an event terrace among other amenities. It will also host wedding receptions, reunions, academic or business conferences and other events. The Lutzes’ gift will name one of the Colonnades at the inn.
The mission of the inn, defined as “A stay with purpose,” to build scholarships was appealing to the Lutz family.
“The way it’s set up with the profits going back into scholarships is huge,” Warren Lutz says. “The fact that we are committing money to that facility which will be a revenue generator for scholarships means our contribution will actually increase because the profits will go to future students of the university. That’s a perpetual motion.”
About the Elon LEADS Campaign
With a $250 million goal, Elon LEADS is the largest fundraising campaign in the university’s history and will support four main funding priorities: scholarships for graduates the world needs, increase access to engaged learning opportunities such as study abroad, research and service learning, support for faculty and staff mentors who matter and Elon’s iconic campus. To date, donors have contributed $183 million toward the goal.
Every gift to the university—including annual, endowment, capital, estate and other planned gifts—for any designation counts as a gift to the campaign, which will support students and strengthen Elon for generations to come. To learn more about how you can make an impact, visit www.elonleads.com.