As a part of the yearlong "Rising from the Ashes: A Century of Innovation" commemoration, Elon University will host a celebration this fall recognizing 100 years of innovation that made Elon the leader it is today.
In commemoration of the devastating fire of 1923 and the resilience that followed, Elon University will celebrate “Rising from the Ashes: A Century of Innovation” for all of 2023.
The signature event of the yearlong commemoration will be an innovation reception on Friday, Nov. 3. At this event, Elon will honor shining examples of innovation, creativity, community and resilience from the last 100 years. Honorees will include programs, initiatives, buildings, ideas and events that have established Elon as a national leader in higher education and a foundational fixture in the Alamance County community. The list will include some of the figures who spearheaded these moments.
A century ago, when that fire threatened the life of the institution, it was our community that pulled Elon from the ashes. Today, Elon is again leaning on the community’s help as we aim to highlight moments that propelled Elon forward.
We ask that you take a few minutes to complete this survey to help gather ideas of what to highlight for this significant celebration. The deadline to complete this survey is March 1. The honorees will be announced in the fall of 2023.
On Jan. 18, Elon hosted a community breakfast to honor local fire fighters and community leaders for their support and partnership over the last 100 years.
The next event connected to the 1923 commemoration will be a special College Coffee in McKinnon Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 9:40 a.m. Guests can enjoy some fun giveaways along with commemorative breakfast items.
On Friday, Feb. 3, a Campus Conversation event will be held, titled “Developing Individual and Community Resilience,” in McKinnon Hall at 2 p.m. The session will use the Elon fire and the Rosewood Massacre, which both occurred in January 1923, to spark conversation about building resilience on our campus and in our communities.