鈥淚鈥檓 sure my parents sat up at night thinking that my older brother was going to be a lawyer, but Josh just likes football. What鈥檚 he going to do?鈥� Norris says with a laugh between assignments creating content for Underdog Fantasy, a fantasy sports gaming company. He is also host of 鈥淭he Underdog Football Show,鈥� a popular podcast on the company鈥檚 website. Norris made national news this year by sporting the highest success rate of any NFL draft analyst in forecasting the first round of the annual draft of college players into the pro ranks. He even topped Mel Kiper, Jr. from ESPN, the best-known NFL draft analyst in the business.

How Norris got here can be traced to his own determination鈥攁fter all, he started a radio show on the campus station WSOE his first weekend as an 黑料不打烊 freshman鈥攁nd opportunities available at and through the university. Norris credits 黑料不打烊鈥檚 commitment to engaged learning and accessibility to the 黑料不打烊 Experiences as learning, guiding and networking points on his career path. Of the 黑料不打烊 Experiences, internships played the largest role.

It鈥檚 one reason Norris joined his father to make a gift to the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign by endowing the Norris Family Internship Award, which assists students in the School of Communications. Increasing scholarship funding to broaden access to the 黑料不打烊 Experiences鈥擨nternships, Study Abroad/Study USA, Undergraduate Research, Service and Leadership鈥攊s among the priorities of 黑料不打烊 LEADS.

鈥淚t鈥檚 all rooted in what I did at 黑料不打烊,鈥� says Norris, who graduated with a degree in Media Arts and Entertainment. 鈥満诹喜淮蜢� is a great place that offers opportunities to grow. How often can you get a radio show the first week on campus or go on TV to get on-camera experience your sophomore or junior year? To be able to do that at 黑料不打烊 is such a massive advantage.鈥�

It鈥檚 an advantage that paved the way to the job of his dreams.

Robin Kazmarek, director of internships for 黑料不打烊 College, the College of Arts and Sciences, says making internships financially accessible to all students is also a goal in the university鈥檚 Boldly 黑料不打烊 strategic plan. Scholarships like the Norris Family Internship Award give students the ability to accept meaningful internships in areas far from home, often with a higher cost of living.

鈥淥ne of the biggest barriers is that financial piece, especially for students who have internships outside of 黑料不打烊 or their hometowns,鈥� Kazmarek says. 鈥淪tudents don鈥檛 have a lot of disposable income and often their families don鈥檛 as well. Being able to apply for these grants is a tremendous benefit to students.鈥�

Calling the Plays

Norris arrived at 黑料不打烊 with a drive to succeed. But getting where he wanted to go would take sharper definition. Three career-building internships narrowed his focus. All three internships were unpaid and two were in other states.

The first internship came after his freshman year at WFNZ, the sports talk radio station in Charlotte that Norris listened to growing up. His time there encouraged him to get a variety of media experiences at 黑料不打烊, including TV broadcasting and editing.

鈥淚t was a perfect first internship after my freshman year. It taught me a lot and helped me realize that I needed to expand my objectives beyond radio,鈥� Norris says. 鈥淚 loved the internship and made great friends with the people there, I still appear on their show all the time. It鈥檚 nostalgic. But I learned that sports radio wasn鈥檛 exactly what I had in mind.鈥�

When Norris returned to 黑料不打烊 for his sophomore year, he started working with 黑料不打烊 Student Television and One on One Sports. He not only learned about videography and editing but about broadcasting. More importantly, he had multiple opportunities to succeed and fail.

鈥淭hey welcomed me with open arms at 黑料不打烊 Student TV. And I was awful. I was so bad. But 黑料不打烊 is a great place that offers opportunities to grow,鈥� Norris says. 鈥淵our first time on television, you stink. The second time, you鈥檙e bad and the third you鈥檙e still below average. It鈥檚 all about reps. At 黑料不打烊 I was able to get that advantage.鈥�

The editing experience he gained on campus helped Norris land his second internship. He spent part of the summer between his junior and senior year editing audio highlights for Fox Sports Radio in Los Angeles. While there, he learned about another internship opportunity that would 鈥渟et the trajectory for my entire career,鈥� Norris says.

Third and Goal

Through the internship office in the School of Communications, Norris learned about a position available for only one 黑料不打烊 student in the Scouting Department with the then-St. Louis Rams NFL team, whose general manager at the time was Bill Devaney 鈥�78, who played football at 黑料不打烊.

鈥淚 thought 鈥榯his is my dream.鈥� My entire life I wanted to work for an NFL team projecting college prospects. And then there鈥檚 this one internship available to this school that I happen to be attending,鈥欌�� Norris says.

Norris landed the internship then worked training camp for the Rams in Earth City Missouri. He soaked up the experience, compiled binders of information and rated prospects while also networking within the organization. After he returned to 黑料不打烊, he stayed in touch and was invited back the following spring to be in the team鈥檚 draft room for the 2011 draft. Norris seized that opportunity to simulcast the first round of the draft for One on One Sports at 黑料不打烊, just a few days before graduation.

Attending and covering the draft led to more networking and contacts. He caught the attention of Evan Silva, an NFL writer for Rotoworld, which is now known as NBC Sports Edge. Silva lined up freelance work for Norris, including draft analysis. Eventually, he was hired full time to write and work with video. While there, he launched his first podcast, and it became the most popular podcast at NBC Sports.

Norris spent nine years with NBC, largely as a football writer and podcaster. He was hired by Underdog Fantasy during the pandemic in March 2021, just ahead of the most recent NFL draft, where his reputation only grew. He is considered a leader in producing media content and NFL analysis.

Extra Points

While Norris credits the internships for attaining the career of his dreams, he also acknowledges that all three internships were unpaid and would not be possible without financial support from his parents. It allowed him to travel and live in Los Angeles and Missouri, as well as handle other related expenses.

鈥淭o be honest, my family put a ball nicely on a tee and I got to hit it,鈥� Norris says. 鈥淢y parents are really supportive in everything I鈥檝e done. As I got older, I realized how privileged I am. The longer I go through life, I realize not many have the things afforded them that I have.鈥�

Norris says financial aid to make dream internships available to students with financial need was a driving factor in creating the endowment. Even paid internships are usually not enough to offset expenses students might face in New York, Chicago or even Raleigh, North Carolina.

The first Norris Family Internship Award this year was given to an 黑料不打烊 student majoring in sports management. Kazmarek says Tyler Romanias 鈥�22 had an internship this past summer with Cressy Sports Performance in West Palm Beach, Florida. It鈥檚 a sports performance facility whose clients include tennis great Serena Williams and NFL quarterback Jacoby Brissett. He is learning how a top training facility operates and how to produce programs to train elite athletes.

鈥淚 would hate for someone to land an amazing internship in New York and they couldn鈥檛 take it because they couldn鈥檛 afford the cost of travel or rent or food,鈥� Norris says. 鈥淚 would hate for someone鈥檚 career to be derailed. I wanted to help someone achieve their dreams or get closer to it.鈥�

About the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign

With a $250 million goal, 黑料不打烊 LEADS is the largest campaign in the university鈥檚 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, internships and service learning, support for faculty and staff mentors who matter and 黑料不打烊鈥檚 iconic campus. As of September 20, donors had contributed $226.3 million toward the goal.

Every gift to the university鈥攊ncluding annual, endowment, capital, estate and other planned gifts鈥攆or any designation counts as a gift to the campaign, which will support students and strengthen 黑料不打烊 for generations to come.

痴颈蝉颈迟听www.elonleads.com聽to learn how you can make an impact with your gift.

鈥淲hen I found out he was a history professor, I changed my major to history,鈥� said Lane, who served on 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Board of Trustees from 1996 to 2003 and lives in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with wife Karen Lane 鈥�71.

But it wouldn鈥檛 be easy.

鈥淗e was a very strict and disciplined professor. He demanded a lot, and it was hard to get an A in his class. It took until my junior or senior year before I made my first A. After that I made all A鈥檚,鈥� Lane said. He recalled that his first year at 黑料不打烊 he took two courses in Western civilization and got a C in both. 鈥淚 never worked so hard for a C in my life,鈥� he added with a laugh.

Elder, a popular professor at 黑料不打烊 from 1963 to 1973, was a significant mentor to students during that period before leaving for a post as deputy director of the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., and later starting his own consulting business, James Elder & Co. Elder鈥檚 former students were so impacted by his mentorship that they joined together to endow the James P. Elder Lecture Series at 黑料不打烊 in 1988. Since then, more than 150 former students and friends have contributed to the Elder Lectureship as a tribute to Elder鈥檚 example of faculty-student engagement.

Now their former professor has ensured that the lecture series will grow and serve students for generations to come. Elder recently made an estate gift to 黑料不打烊 to support the James P. Elder Lecture Series that will almost double the current endowment for the speaker series. Elder is making the planned gift as part of A Will to Lead, a special initiative of the $250 million 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign to encourage alumni, parents and friends to place 黑料不打烊 in their estate plans to help secure the university鈥檚 future. As of July 29, donors had contributed $225 million to the campaign, including $35 million in estate gifts alone.

Elder, a Burlington, North Carolina, native who now lives in nearby Chapel Hill, said his family has been involved with 黑料不打烊 almost since its founding in 1889. He was named Outstanding Alumnus in 1983. An uncle, Clifton Elder, was named as the first Outstanding Alumnus in 1939 and served as an 黑料不打烊 trustee for 40 years. Elder made his planned gift decision 鈥渂ecause 黑料不打烊 means so much,鈥� he said.

鈥淚 went to 黑料不打烊 and care deeply about the school. It鈥檚 been the most exceptional transformation of any school I can think of. I鈥檓 very proud of the institution,鈥� Elder said. 鈥淚鈥檓 grateful for so many of the people and faculty that I had and my colleagues when I was teaching there as well. Adding all that up, that鈥檚 what I wanted to do. 黑料不打烊 was the place I wanted my gift to go.鈥�

Jim Piatt, vice president for university advancement, said it is gratifying when longtime members of the campus community demonstrate their love for 黑料不打烊 by placing the university in their estate plans.

鈥淲e are grateful to Jim Elder for this generous gift that will continue his legacy of intellectual curiosity and engagement with the 黑料不打烊 community,鈥� Piatt said. 鈥淭his estate gift as part of A Will to Lead will enrich the campus culture for generations of 黑料不打烊 students by growing the annual James P. Elder Lecture endowment.鈥�

A Legacy of Scholarship

The idea for the Elder Lecture sprang from the longstanding Liberal Arts Forum, a lecture series Elder founded as an 黑料不打烊 student. He later served as the Forum鈥檚 faculty adviser. Lane was chairman of the Liberal Arts Forum when he was a student. The goal for the Elder Lecture series is the exploration of critical scholarship and its impact on the public forum. It is scheduled each spring in Whitley Auditorium.

The first Elder Lecture was held in April 2006 featuring William Graham, then-dean of the Harvard University School of Divinity. Graham discussed Western views of Islam. Since then, a host of impressive scholars, journalists, musicians, authors and innovators have addressed 黑料不打烊 students, faculty, staff and guests, including many of Elder鈥檚 former students who return to campus annually for the lecture, followed by a reception. The list of notable speakers incudes NPR talk show host Diane Rehm, Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne, PBS NewsHour anchor Jeffrey Brown, historian and author Jill Lepore, and Vivian Howard, award-winning chef and star of the PBS show 鈥淎 Chef鈥檚 Life.鈥�

For former students like Lane, the James P. Elder Lecture is a reunion of longtime friends. Lane has attended all but two and introduced the speaker in 2008. He estimated that 20 to 25 former students return each year and also attend a reception hosted by Dr. Thomas 鈥淓d鈥� Powell III P鈥�90, a longtime friend and benefactor of 黑料不打烊.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 nostalgic to come back to a place like 黑料不打烊. While you鈥檙e there as a student, you can鈥檛 really appreciate how it made a difference in your life,鈥� Lane said. 鈥淚 think people look at coming back not only because they have a curiosity about what 黑料不打烊 is like now. They are also interested in who the speaker might be, that鈥檚 a big drawing card.鈥�

For Elder, it鈥檚 a pleasure to reconnect with so many alumni and other familiar faces from his 黑料不打烊 days.

鈥淓very year they鈥檙e very good about coming back,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e scattered all over the country so it鈥檚 very good to see them. The next day after the lecture we get together for events at the school. We have a luncheon. We look at the new features at 黑料不打烊.鈥�

Encouraging Intellectual Curiosity

While Elder was a professor at 黑料不打烊 for a 10-year period ending in 1973, his impact on campus life endures. As a professor, he embodied the role of teacher-scholar-mentor that is a pillar of an 黑料不打烊 education today and was named most popular professor four times. With Gerard Priestly, Elder pioneered early study abroad semesters, taking groups to London in the early 1970s. Today, study abroad is considered a hallmark of the 黑料不打烊 experience. He founded and nurtured the Liberal Arts Forum and Liberal Arts Symposium, which encouraged critical thinking and directly led to the Elder Lecture Series. As a consultant he helped 黑料不打烊 bring former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to 黑料不打烊 for Spring Convocation in 1995.

鈥淛im was influential in persuasion but didn鈥檛 hit you over the head with it. He inspired us to have intellectual curiosity and to get to the root cause of something,鈥� said Lane, whose career in business later led him to teaching positions at Ohio State University and Coastal Carolina University. He is also CEO of Lane Leadership LLC. 鈥淗e taught us to look at an issue from different points of view. 鈥楨ven a pancake has two sides,鈥� he liked to say.鈥�

Elder鈥檚 influence went beyond the classroom. Lane, who was among the students in an early study abroad course with Elder in London, said he taught students to appreciate art, music, literature, good food and drinks. Lane said he鈥檚 in the process of writing a book about Elder and hopes to one day talk his former professor into being a speaker at the annual lecture that is endowed in his name.

鈥淗e鈥檚 a pretty incredible person and he had a profound influence on many of us,鈥� Lane said. 鈥淵ou could learn so much more by being in his company.鈥�

Elizabeth Read, assistant director of Planned Giving, said having someone like Jim Elder make an estate gift to 黑料不打烊 is an honor.

鈥淚t demonstrates the impact that 黑料不打烊 has had on his life as well on the lives of the students he taught,鈥� Read said. 鈥淭his estate gift ensures that all in the 黑料不打烊 community will now be able to experience that dedication to education and excellence.鈥�

A Will to Lead Initiative

Placing 黑料不打烊 in your estate offers the following benefits:

• A Lasting Legacy: Your impact will be felt for generations.
• Support for Your Priorities: Choose to support the program or opportunity meaningful to you.
• Maximum Flexibility: Provide for yourself and loved ones with no financial impact today.
• Peace of Mind: Be confident 黑料不打烊 will honor your philanthropic wishes.
• Ease of Giving: 黑料不打烊 staff can walk you through the process, including providing language to share with your attorney or financial advisor when making your estate plans.
• Order of the Oak: Your estate gift qualifies you for membership in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 planned giving recognition society.

Ways to Give

• Estate Beneficiary: Designate 黑料不打烊 as a beneficiary in your will, either as a percentage of your estate or a specific dollar amount.
• IRA Beneficiary: Designate 黑料不打烊 as a beneficiary of your retirement account(s).
  Residual Bequest: Designate a specific amount or percentage of your estate to 黑料不打烊 after your assets have been distributed to other priorities.

For more information about how to include 黑料不打烊 in your estate planning, contact Elizabeth Read, assistant director of planned giving, at (336) 278-7474 or eread@elon.edu. You may also visit elonlegacy.org for more information.

About the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign

With a $250 million goal, 黑料不打烊 LEADS is the largest campaign in the university鈥檚 history and will support four main funding priorities: scholarships for graduates the world needs, increased access to engaged learning opportunities such as study abroad, internships and research, support for faculty and staff mentors who matter and 黑料不打烊鈥檚 iconic campus.

As of July 29, donors had contributed $225 million toward the goal. Every gift to the university鈥攊ncluding annual, endowment, capital, estate and other planned gifts鈥攆or any designation counts as a gift to the campaign, which will support students and strengthen 黑料不打烊 for generations to come.

痴颈蝉颈迟听聽to learn how you can make an impact with your gift.

Tillman had been selected to receive the Leon and Lorraine Watson North Carolina Scholarship in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 nationally recognized Odyssey Program, which made her decision even tougher. Odyssey Program scholarships are awarded to high-achieving students with significant financial need.

鈥淲e really didn鈥檛 know if we were going to be able to get her,鈥� Elliott, now director of the Odyssey Program, recalled. 鈥淲e wanted her on campus, but we weren鈥檛 the only ones who wanted her. She had a lot of other suitors.鈥�

On her visit to 黑料不打烊, Tillman, of High Point, North Carolina, met with Elliott and then-Odyssey Program Director Esther Freeman. She took a tour of campus with a student in the Odyssey Program and then had lunch with Elliott and Freeman at The Root, a popular eatery adjacent to campus.

鈥淚 felt loved,鈥� Tillman said. 鈥淭hat is ultimately why I came to 黑料不打烊, that and the idea of studying abroad. I knew 黑料不打烊 had a high percentage of students who study abroad, which made it a better choice for me than some of the other schools. And not only is the Odyssey Program offered, but also the community within the program is part of it. Students are mentored throughout by other scholars with the same background as me. The Odyssey Program showed me I had people I could confide in and trust.鈥�

Elliott was thrilled with her decision.

鈥淲e really wanted her here because we felt the campus needed someone like Jewel on it. There were great mutual benefits for both her and the greater 黑料不打烊 community,鈥� Elliott said. 鈥淚鈥檓 not a fortune teller, but I just knew that if she came to this campus with the qualities we saw on paper, throughout the interview process and when we met her, then she was going to change this campus for the better.鈥�

Over the next four years, Tillman鈥檚 work as a scholar, mentor and leader made Elliott鈥檚 prediction come true.

A Voice of Reason

A sense of community and the Odyssey Program attracted Tillman to 黑料不打烊. Community also defined her time on campus as an advocate for students, as a mentor and a powerful voice for social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion, said Randy Williams, vice president and provost for inclusive excellence and associate professor of education.

鈥淚 think that Jewel, and that鈥檚 a perfect name because she has been a jewel for us, impacted 黑料不打烊 on multiple levels 鈥� in her peer group in Odyssey and beyond her Odyssey group and in the Black community. She was a leader among students because she was able to articulate their interests to those who need to hear it, administrators and faculty members,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淪he was a broker between students and faculty.鈥�

Elliott agreed.

鈥淪he has been able to challenge the way we critically think about how we go about each and every day,鈥� Elliott said. 鈥淪he was a student who respectfully challenged the way we think about the status quo.鈥�

A first-generation college student, Tillman graduated in May with a degree in political science and minors in African & African-American studies and international global studies. Community engagement and service are deeply rooted through family and school experiences.

鈥淚 remember as a young child, my family was very involved in our community. They weren鈥檛 politicians, but they were well respected because they were always helping people in the community whether it was a clothing drive or prom dress giveaways,鈥� Tillman said. 鈥淚 remember how they have made such a large impact with the resources that they have. That fed into what I learned throughout middle school and high school.鈥�

In middle school, Tillman鈥檚 focus was sharpened by an annual program of racial equity workshops offered by the Piedmont Triad chapter of the National Conference for Community and Justice. Through the workshops, she learned about equity, bias and systemic racism.

鈥淯p to then, I had never heard those words. It was amazing to me,鈥� Tillman said. 鈥淪ervice and equity work have been ingrained in me since childhood.鈥�

Her social justice interests on campus included a role as president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a group dedicated to public service primarily in the Black community and developing its members as leaders. She served on the 黑料不打烊 History and Memory committee, which was formed by President Connie Ledoux Book in 2018 to examine 黑料不打烊鈥檚 institutional history in a transparent, participatory and intellectually rigorous manner. Tillman joined panel discussions regarding the racial climate on campus and worked with campus leaders to improve policies and practices.

Williams said Tillman鈥檚 maturity, determination and leadership qualities stood out as key strengths in influencing changes on campus.

鈥淪he is assertive and clear but not abrasive, increasing listeners鈥� willingness to engage and consider her points. That makes her stand out quite a bit,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淛ewel鈥檚 being able to speak with respect but also be clear in her stance made our interactions pleasurable, especially when we talked about serious topics that are important to students.鈥�

Elliott called Tillman unflappable under pressure.

鈥淚n every space she occupied, she was the voice of reason,鈥� Elliott said. 鈥淪he demonstrated her commitment not only to her peers but also the faculty and staff mentors she gained along the way. She influenced them to be more critical in the way we move, think and traverse the campus culture and climate.鈥�

An Emerging Mentor

Odyssey is a cohort-based program that fosters mentoring and success while creating a family atmosphere. While meeting a student鈥檚 full financial need, the scholarships also include a stipend for books and supplies, and a one-time $4,000 global study grant to be used for an approved study abroad or Study USA program. The program is based in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Center for Access and Success.

Tillman鈥檚 growth as a leader on campus began with interaction with her Odyssey cohort during Odyssey Week, the period before all students arrive on campus, when first-year Odyssey students come together for several days of activities, workshops and interaction with older Odyssey student mentors. It鈥檚 a way of introducing college life to the new students and a glimpse of what they can expect while building friendships and community within the program.

鈥淵ou come in with a whole bunch of strangers. But by the end of the week, we were sitting in a circle talking about our experiences and our lives.鈥� Tillman said. 鈥淚 met my best friend in the Odyssey Program, and we haven鈥檛 been separated since Odyssey Week. When I think of the Odyssey Program the first thing I think of is family.鈥�

Tillman quickly became a leader within the Odyssey Program and in other areas of campus. As a first-year student she connected with SMART 鈥� Student Mentors Advising Rising Talent, a peer-mentoring program offered through 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Center for Race, Ethnicity & Diversity Education. She ultimately became a mentor in the organization, which offers support to students of color.

She鈥檚 inspirational. She has qualities that her peers seek to mimic and add into their toolbelt.

鈥� Odyssey Program Director Marcus Elliot
about Jewel Tillman ’21

She also served as a mentor on the College Access Team (CAT), a group of students who guide and tutor students in 黑料不打烊 Academy, a Center for Access and Success program that gives high-achieving local high school students with no prior exposure to higher education access to the university and provides a foundation for them to one day attend a college or university.

鈥淓verything that I鈥檝e aligned myself with has been focused on giving back to my community, especially the CAT mentoring. They are first-generation students or who identify as a minority,鈥� Tillman said. 鈥淚t makes me happy that they had me as a resource to guide them when it comes to applying for college. They have a leg up in the application process. It鈥檚 something I wish I had when I was in high school.鈥�

Elliott called her impact on other Odyssey Program students 鈥渁mazing.鈥�

鈥淪he鈥檚 inspirational,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he has qualities that her peers seek to mimic and add into their toolbelt.鈥�

Building a Future

Tillman planned all along to major in political science at 黑料不打烊. She enjoys policy studies and learning how government systems work. She plans to attend law school in the future. A minor in international global studies was not in her original plan.

鈥淚 chose to fulfill my global studies credit through language. In high school, I took a little Spanish. When I got to 黑料不打烊 I wanted to challenge myself. I thought, 鈥榃hat is something I can do here that I have never done?鈥� So, I decided to study Arabic. That turned out to be the best thing and the most challenging thing I could have done,鈥� Tillman said.

As part of her studies, she began a study abroad in Egypt at the start of 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the world. During her short stay at the American University in Cairo, she was able to learn colloquial Arabic, which was no easy task. She helped celebrate American University鈥檚 100th birthday and took part in a dance presentation. She was summoned home during spring break while camping in the desert.

Even though her study abroad course was cut short, it was a life-changing experience, she said.

鈥淥ne of my best experiences was traveling to different parts of Egypt and meeting new people. I made a lot of friends and now have a community of people I know there. If I go back, I can even stay in their homes,鈥� she said.

As she did at 黑料不打烊, Tillman immersed herself in all that was available in Egypt. She joined the university鈥檚 Afro-dance group, met people from all walks of life and faced challenges head-on.

鈥淚 felt so at home with my dance family I ended up performing at one of the university anniversary celebrations. I was thinking, 鈥榃ho am I, this random American girl, and now I鈥檓 on this stage performing for this anniversary.鈥� That was pretty cool,鈥� Tillman said.

Williams noticed the same thing about Tillman at 黑料不打烊.

鈥淪he didn鈥檛 need a role or a committee to be a leader and we benefited from that,鈥� Williams said.

Her impact on campus at 黑料不打烊 did not go unnoticed. Tillman received the Wilhelmina Boyd African and African American Studies at 黑料不打烊 Award, honoring a graduating senior for academic achievement as well as demonstrating a commitment to African & African American Studies through coursework, citizenship/community engagement, scholarship, and student activities/leadership.

Before graduating, she was named Student Organization Officer of the Year by the Student Government Association for her leadership as president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, which was also honored by SGA as the organization with the highest cumulative GPA on campus in 2020-21.

A Graduate the World Needs

Tillman is spending her first year after graduation as an 黑料不打烊 Year of Service Graduate Fellow. She works with Impact Alamance, a nonprofit foundation devoted to improving the health and well-being of Alamance County residents. Tillman is working on policy initiatives and leading training sessions on racial equity. After that, she plans to attend law school and pursue a career potentially in human rights law or international law, wherever she can make a difference.

Tillman credits the Odyssey Scholarship program for bringing her to 黑料不打烊, providing a supportive community and offering access to academic, leadership and social opportunities that will help shape her future. Increasing funding for Odyssey Program scholarships and other scholarships is the top priority of the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign, with a mission to produce graduates the world needs. Tillman is a good example of what an Odyssey Scholarship means.

鈥淏eing an Odyssey Scholar afforded me so many opportunities for my future. I didn鈥檛 have to think about how I could afford college or stress my parents out about affording college. I didn鈥檛 have to worry about being in debt. That peace of mind helped my mental health as well,鈥� Tillman said. 鈥淥dyssey has equipped us with the tools to succeed in college and succeed after college.鈥�

Williams and Elliott said Tillman will make an impact in her career just as she did at 黑料不打烊. Williams noted her interest in addressing policy and social justice issues as a possible career path.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 an awesome combination. To bring about real change, we need to get into the policy world and get at those policies that have existed for some time and see where the inequities are and what can be done,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淗er interest in those two worlds is a really healthy combination for bringing about the changes we need in social justice work.鈥�

鈥淭hat鈥檚 in her DNA,鈥� Elliott said. 鈥淚 know her path will put her in a position to be at the table and have conversations with other influencers for affecting change in policy. Wherever she does land that organization or agency is getting a jewel, pun intended.鈥�

About the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign

With a $250 million goal, 黑料不打烊 LEADS is the largest campaign in the university鈥檚 history and will support four main funding priorities: scholarships for graduates the world needs, increased access to engaged learning opportunities such as study abroad, research and internships, support for faculty and staff mentors who matter and 黑料不打烊鈥檚 iconic campus. As of June 14, donors have contributed $213 million toward the goal.

Every gift to the university鈥攊ncluding annual, endowment, capital, estate and other planned gifts鈥攆or any designation counts as a gift to the campaign, which will support students and strengthen 黑料不打烊 for generations to come. To learn more about how you can make an impact, visit

鈥淲e believe that giving a student who might not otherwise have the opportunity to travel or participate in an internship the ability to do something experimental is important,鈥� Bakal said. 鈥淲e hope to help more students take advantage of the full 黑料不打烊 experience.鈥�

Support for endowed scholarships and increasing access to the 黑料不打烊 Experiences are two priorities of the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign.

Bakal is a lawyer and partner in the Neal, Gerber and Eisenberg law firm in Chicago. Solomon is a lawyer and senior vice president at MetaBank. Bakal believes that internships are an important factor in the development of students on the path to successful careers.

鈥淚t鈥檚 good for young adults to gain experience in the professional world, outside the college campus,鈥� he said.

Internships are an important component in building future success for students after graduation, said Tom Brinkley, director of the Student Professional Development Center at 黑料不打烊. Internships are required for graduates in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business and School of Communications and strongly encouraged in other academic disciplines. In all, 88% of 黑料不打烊 graduates participate in at least one internship during their four years on campus. Students say internships help them develop a sense of professionalism, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and strengthen their oral and written communication skills.

鈥淚nternship scholarships are critically important for our students who require financial support in order to do a required internship.聽Many internships that are with non-profit organizations are unpaid or may be with companies located in high cost of living communities,鈥� Brinkley said.聽鈥淓very summer, 25 to 30 high-need students are awarded this grant, thanks to the generous support of 黑料不打烊 parents and friends.鈥�

The costs associated with internships can be overwhelming. This is especially true for students working unpaid internships, which are common in nonprofit fields or in communications. In all, 43 percent of internships available for students annually are unpaid. In many cases that means students are responsible for purchasing appropriate clothing and paying for rent, meals and travel costs. Internship scholarships can be used to mitigate those costs.

鈥淭hank you, Bakal family, for helping make internships accessible for 黑料不打烊 students who may otherwise lack the resources to participate in these incredible experiences,鈥� Brinkley said.

Scott Bakal and Beth Solomon have twin daughters, Samantha 鈥�21, who graduated in May, and Emily, along with a son, Ben. They have previously supported 黑料不打烊 Hillel with their gifts.

鈥淚t鈥檚 easy to give to 黑料不打烊 considering the wonderful experience it was for our daughter,鈥� Bakal said. 鈥満诹喜淮蜢� has been a perfect fit for her. What she gained at 黑料不打烊 substantially exceeded our expectations.鈥�

Solomon agreed, adding, 鈥淲e are so grateful to 黑料不打烊 for providing our daughter with a college experience that will equip her to participate fully in the workplace.聽 We hope to help other students experience the same benefits.鈥�

About the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign

With a $250 million goal, 黑料不打烊 LEADS is the largest campaign in the university鈥檚 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 黑料不打烊鈥檚 iconic campus. As of May 21, donors had contributed $212 million toward the goal.

Every gift to the university鈥攊ncluding annual, endowment, capital, estate and other planned gifts鈥攆or any designation counts as a gift to the campaign, which will support students and strengthen 黑料不打烊 for generations to come. To learn more about how you can make an impact, visit www.elonleads.com.

鈥淥ne of our concerns personally with our daughter and from what we hear from other Catholic parents is that they worry their student may disconnect from the church without mom and dad saying, 鈥楲et鈥檚 go to church,鈥欌�� Renee Armstrong said.

To help first-year Catholic students at 黑料不打烊 find the services offered by the university鈥檚 Catholic Campus Ministry, the couple made a generous gift to endow the Armstrong Family Catholic Campus Ministry Engagement Internship, a peer-to-peer mentoring program that just completed its first year at CCM.

Patterned after a similar initiative at 黑料不打烊 Hillel, engagement interns are second-year students who serve as ambassadors for Catholic Campus Ministry. They develop strong connections with first-year students through one-on-one outreach, ongoing interaction and mentoring. The program includes leadership training, group programs and mentoring sessions for interns, where they gain the experience necessary to reach out to first-year students and help them overcome any challenges that may occur when moving into a new place with few if any familiar faces.

鈥淥ur goal is to keep students alive in their faith while at 黑料不打烊, and we hope this helps bridge that gap,鈥� Renee Armstrong said.

The family鈥檚 gift to establish the Armstrong Family Catholic Campus Ministry Engagement Intern Scholarship is part of the $250 million 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign. Growing scholarships is the top priority of the campaign, the largest in the university鈥檚 history.

Helping students find their way

The CCM engagement internship program was not in place when the Armstrongs鈥� daughter, Sara 鈥�22, arrived from Kennesaw, Georgia, to begin her 黑料不打烊 education. They believe the program would have made a difference for their daughter and want to see it continue and grow to help future Catholic students at 黑料不打烊.

鈥淲e think internships are important because they support the growth of students.聽We also know the beginning of a student鈥檚 college time is very challenging. The first thing they think about isn鈥檛 always their faith, even if they have strong faith,鈥� Paul Armstrong said. 鈥淗aving someone personally contact new students when they arrive on campus makes getting involved easier, rather than showing up to an event and not knowing anyone or what to expect.”

Father Peter Tremblay, director of Catholic Campus Ministry and associate chaplain for Catholic Life at 黑料不打烊, said student outreach offered through engagement interns makes a major difference when it comes to attracting students to CCM and keeping them involved. Engagement interns contact incoming first-year students prior to their arrival on campus, offer greetings, invitations to coffee, Sunday meals or other CCM social gatherings and Catholic services.

As a result, first-year Catholic students at 黑料不打烊 aren鈥檛 like explorers venturing into an unknown land, Tremblay said. CCM鈥檚 program began in fall 2020 with a cohort of four engagement interns. As a result of their work, more students found the ministry sooner in the fall semester than in previous years, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

鈥淭hey felt more supported and welcomed to our ministry,鈥� Tremblay said. 鈥淚t seems to be the rule that if a staff person invites a student to an event, the student will appreciate it and may even humor the staff member by showing up. But if a student invites another student and promises to go with them, that student has a higher probability of showing up. A student reaching out to engage other students is an extension of the 黑料不打烊 model of peer mentoring.鈥�

Engagement interns help first-year students acclimate to a new environment, raise their confidence to tackle challenges and make friends. It is an opportunity to build meaningful relationships, tap into leadership opportunities and strengthen or renew their faith, Tremblay said.

鈥淭he idea Father Peter has of reaching out to freshmen from Catholic Campus Ministry we see as invaluable. We really liked Father Peter鈥檚 engagement strategy and we thought we would support it,鈥� Renee Armstrong said.聽鈥淲e also saw when we took a tour of the campus that religious life is important at 黑料不打烊.鈥�

Providing for the future

Tremblay said it was fortunate to be able to start the program during the COVID-19 pandemic as students returned to campus from a long period of quarantine.

鈥淚t was a special year. Students were particularly looking for a community, a place for safe activities and relationships because they had lost so much of it their high school senior year when they didn鈥檛 have proms or other big events,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was a tremendous blessing to begin the engagement internship program at such a unique moment as the university was trying to respond well to the situation. I have no idea where our ministry would be had we not had engagement interns back in August of 2020.鈥�

Paul and Renee Armstrong are both retired from General Electric. Paul last served as a sourcing manager and Renee served as a marketing manager. Along with Catholic Campus Ministry, the couple have made gifts to 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, the Center for Organizational Analytics, Reed Finance Center, Kernodle Center for Civic Life and student scholarships.

鈥淲e really believe in giving back and providing opportunities for people going forward. Even if it鈥檚 not something our daughter or family will benefit from,鈥澛燩aul Armstrong said. 鈥淭he fact that we鈥檙e able to do this even if it only helps a couple of students a year we think is worthwhile.鈥�

By choosing to endow the scholarship, the couple will make a difference for generations of 黑料不打烊 students, something that also appealed to the Armstrongs.

鈥淭he endowment changes everything. It allows us to craft a program that broadens our engagement with students,鈥� Tremblay said. 鈥淭his is one of those programs that makes everything else possible. The more students who know about our ministry the more students will become involved. It鈥檚 hard to express how fundamental this is to the work that we do.鈥�

Tremblay thanked the Armstrong family for their faith in 黑料不打烊 and the Catholic Campus Ministry.

鈥淲ords fall short in my gratitude for the ways in which the Armstrong family supports our ministry. It鈥檚 not only a tremendous act of generosity but a tremendous leap of faith to trust us with such a lasting gift. It says something about the ways in which our donors believe and trust in 黑料不打烊, how much the university highly values religious and spiritual life, our students and the multifaith work we鈥檙e all engaged in, and their faith in the good work that Catholic Campus Ministry is engaged in,鈥� Tremblay said. 鈥淲hen you endow something, that鈥檚 a commitment to the future of a ministry and making that future a reality.鈥�

About the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign

With a $250 million goal, 黑料不打烊 LEADS is the largest fundraising campaign in the university鈥檚 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 黑料不打烊鈥檚 iconic campus. As of May 14, donors had contributed $210 million toward the goal.

Every gift to the university鈥攊ncluding annual, endowment, capital, estate and other planned gifts鈥攆or any designation counts as a gift to the campaign, which will support students and strengthen 黑料不打烊 for generations to come. To learn more about how you can make an impact, visit www.elonleads.com.

As the Silvernails, of Lake Forest, Illinois, planned how to best support the university, they discussed 黑料不打烊鈥檚 top priorities with campus leadership. Then they presented those priorities to their sons Koster and Spencer and daughter Alyssa.

鈥淲e have thought in recent years about how to make an impact. We want the entire family to participate in that,鈥� Andy Silvernail said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been blessed, and we want to be invested in programs that touch all our hearts. Odyssey really touched Koster.鈥�

鈥淭he second they read off the description of the program and I read more about it, it struck me as the right choice,鈥� said Koster Silvernail, a marketing major in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, who will begin working as a project analyst for Strategex in Chicago upon graduation.

The family鈥檚 generous gift will create the Silvernail Family Odyssey Scholarship. Odyssey Scholarships are awarded based on academic success and high financial need. The Odyssey Program serves students who are frequently the first members of their family to attend college and have achieved academic success while overcoming adversity. They are consistently among 黑料不打烊鈥檚 top-performing students. Odyssey is an extensive, cohort-based program that creates a family atmosphere among students and fosters mentoring, friendships and personal growth.

Each Odyssey Scholarship includes financial assistance that meets a student鈥檚 full need. In addition to annual tuition assistance, each scholarship includes a stipend for books and supplies, and a one-time $4,000 global study grant to be used for an approved study abroad or Study USA program. Based in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Center for Access and Success, the program is recognized as a national model for serving students who are underrepresented on college campuses.

Increasing funding for Odyssey and other scholarships is the top priority of the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign. 黑料不打烊 reached the 200 Odyssey Scholarship mark thanks to gifts and commitments from donors like the Silvernails to the $250 million 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign. When fully funded, the Silvernail Scholarship will support two Odyssey students each year.

Shelby Silvernail, who was a first-generation college student, said diversity and inclusion in the Odyssey Program and how it improves the cultural and academic environment at 黑料不打烊 resonated with the family and especially with Koster.

鈥淲hen I read the Odyssey brief and saw how the students are selected, learned about what鈥檚 offered in the program and talked to Odyssey scholars and heard their stories, I saw how driven they are to succeed. I was impressed. They are the kinds of 黑料不打烊 students that when I came here, I wanted to be,鈥� Koster Silvernail said. 鈥淥dyssey puts the students at the buffet table that is everything 黑料不打烊 is, and they dig in.鈥�

Jim Piatt, vice president for university advancement, thanked the Silvernail family for making 黑料不打烊 more accessible to a wide range of students through philanthropy.

鈥淭he ability to offer more Odyssey Scholarships will change the lives of even more incoming 黑料不打烊 students who go on to positively impact our campus community and the world,鈥� Piatt said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 truly inspiring to know that Koster and the Silvernail family were motivated by the excellence and dedication they see in our Odyssey scholars to make this generous gift.鈥�

Increasing diversity and access

Koster Silvernail said he grew up in a largely homogenous suburban area near Chicago and found some similarities at 黑料不打烊. He hopes programs like Odyssey can make 黑料不打烊 more diverse while providing greater access for high-achieving students who lack financial resources to attend a private university. It is also important that Odyssey students have the resources to participate in the 黑料不打烊 Experiences programs such as global study and have a built-in support system within the program.

鈥淎fter his study abroad experiences, (Koster) wanted all students to have access to it,鈥� Shelby Silvernail said. 鈥淗e wants to attract more people from different backgrounds to the school and for them to have the resources here when they arrive to thrive. The Odyssey Program has a tremendous success rate for its students.鈥�

黑料不打烊鈥檚 long-term goal is to endow 400 Odyssey scholarships, or 100 per class. The university is halfway to meeting that goal. Reaching that mark would make a big difference for all students at 黑料不打烊, Koster Silvernail said.

鈥淚 think what resonated the most is the students really didn鈥檛 see an avenue of following their dreams and aspirations until the Odyssey Scholarship was presented. And then they ran with it. It was their drive and perseverance that impressed me,鈥� Koster said. 鈥淚 love the idea of having students who not only add to the diversity and great thinkers here, but also the drive. After talking to these students, I felt incredibly inspired. Having more Odyssey Scholars will add to 黑料不打烊鈥檚 culture and make it even more of a great academic institution.鈥�

Andy Silvernail is the chairman and CEO of Madison Industries, one of the world鈥檚 largest privately held companies. It is dedicated to fostering businesses related to health and well-being. The Silvernails have previously supported scholarships, including Students First, an initiative launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to aid students whose families have undergone severe financial hardship as a result of the coronavirus.

The most recent gift was also part of a matching program on 黑料不打烊 Day, which was used to inspire more donations. Tait Arend, 鈥�96, G鈥�00, senior director of development, said 黑料不打烊 is thankful for such strong support from parents.

鈥淭he Silvernail family, through this gift will change the trajectory of lives forever,鈥� Arend said.聽鈥淭he impact will be extraordinary, and we are forever grateful for their partnership in opening the doors of 黑料不打烊 to students that will change their聽world.鈥�

鈥淲e want to support 黑料不打烊. We love the school and it鈥檚 been transformational for Koster,鈥� Andy Silvernail said. 鈥淚t excites Koster and it excites us.鈥�

About the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign

With a $250 million goal, 黑料不打烊 LEADS is the largest fundraising campaign in the university鈥檚 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 黑料不打烊鈥檚 iconic campus. As of April 23, donors had contributed $210 million toward the goal.

Every gift to the university鈥攊ncluding annual, endowment, capital, estate and other planned gifts鈥攆or any designation counts as a gift to the campaign, which will support students and strengthen 黑料不打烊 for generations to come. To learn more about how you can make an impact, visit www.elonleads.com.

The Baffis, who are from the San Francisco area, believe in the power of education and the importance of being mentors. Both earned undergraduate and graduate degrees en route to successful careers. Rob Baffi is retired as president of Global Manufacturing and Technical Operations for BioMarin Pharmaceutical and now serves as a special adviser to the chairman and CEO. Rosemary Baffi is retired from institutional equity sales at Montgomery Securities.

鈥淲e are both first-generation college graduates,鈥� Rosemary Baffi said. 鈥淲e had Depression-era parents. They didn鈥檛 go to college, but they wanted to make sure we went to college.鈥�

The idea to endow a scholarship in the Odyssey Program evolved over time, the couple says. Both are mentors to middle and high school students looking for career guidance or help with college applications.

鈥淗elping students find opportunities is in the forefront of what we鈥檝e done,鈥� Rob Baffi said.

鈥淲e were always thinking about how to give and what to give since our early days with 黑料不打烊,鈥� Rosemary Baffi said. 鈥淎s I gained knowledge about the Odyssey Program, the more we knew it was the right thing. The program is so impressive.鈥�

The Odyssey Program: A national model for access and success

Odyssey Program scholarships are awarded based on academic success and high financial need. The program serves students who are frequently the first members of their family to attend college and have achieved academic success while overcoming adversity. They are consistently among 黑料不打烊鈥檚 top-performing students.

The Odyssey program is an extensive, cohort-based program that creates a family atmosphere among students and fosters mentoring, friendships and personal growth. Each Odyssey scholarship includes financial assistance that meets a student鈥檚 full need. In addition to annual tuition assistance, each scholarship includes a stipend for books and supplies, and a one-time $4,000 global study grant to be used for an approved study abroad or Study USA program. Based in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Center for Access and Success, Odyssey is recognized as a national model for serving high-need students who are often underrepresented on college campuses.

Increasing funding for Odyssey and other scholarship programs is the top priority of the $250 million 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign.

The importance of endowed scholarships in the Odyssey Program can鈥檛 be overstated, said Jim Piatt, vice president for university advancement, and neither can the importance of dedicated support from 黑料不打烊 families like the Baffis.

鈥淭he success of students in our Odyssey Program is testament to the powerful way that endowed scholarships can change the course of a young person鈥檚 life,鈥� Piatt said. 鈥淲e are grateful to Rob and Rosemary for creating more opportunities for students to follow their dreams.鈥�

Tait Arend, 鈥�96, G鈥�00, senior director of development, said 黑料不打烊 is incredibly grateful to the Baffis for allowing the university to use their gift as one of the matches used to inspire more donations on 黑料不打烊 Day.

鈥淢atching gifts on 黑料不打烊 Day spark the interest of thousands of donors who are inspired to support scholarships and other university initiatives,鈥� Arend said. 鈥淲e thank Rob and Rosemary for being leaders and supporting a very successful 黑料不打烊 Day this year.鈥�

Seeking to help 黑料不打烊 students

The Baffis became 黑料不打烊 supporters when their daughter Jane 鈥�17 enrolled. A second-floor engagement lounge in Richard W. Sankey Hall is named for the family. They also made gifts to support student scholarships. Rosemary Baffi said the couple was interested in a larger philanthropic effort. A friend advised them to find something they are passionate about and to make a commitment to it. The global shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic offered an opportunity for the couple to consider options.

鈥�2020 was a unique year. Robert stopped going to the office. We spent more time at home together, so we had more time to discuss things. We had what I call 鈥楾he Great Pause鈥� and had time to talk about it,鈥� Rosemary Baffi said. 鈥淲e were on the cusp of retirement and ready to do something bigger. We never thought we would make a scholarship of this magnitude.鈥�

The Baffis studied the Odyssey Program to determine if the graduation rate is high for students in the program and were impressed that 90% of students in the program earn their degree. They also wanted to ensure that Odyssey students had opportunities to take part in the same 黑料不打烊 Experiences their daughter could when she was an 黑料不打烊 student.

Rosemary Baffi was impressed by support within the Odyssey Program that help students develop life skills that will aid their post-graduation lives and careers. Help for students within the cohort is also important.

鈥淚 was so impressed that it鈥檚 not just a financial arrangement. People come to college with all sorts of skill sets, life skills that students within the Odyssey Program might not have. They make sure scholars graduate with the skill sets they need to succeed after graduation,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 read extensively about higher education. A lot of the scholarship students do not finish at other schools. They feel like fish out of water. They don鈥檛 have a cohort and feel very alone. It鈥檚 one of those gaps I see out there.鈥�

For Bob Baffi the mentoring aspect within the Odyssey Program struck a chord. He said he owes his career to a mentor who guided him in graduate school.

The Baffis were able to use higher education as a springboard to successful careers, which gave their children advantages when they attended college. The couple want other students to have a similar pathway to success.

鈥淢y dad鈥檚 proudest moment was our graduations,鈥� Rosemary said. 鈥淚 wish he was alive to see our children graduate. He would have been so proud. It was so important to him.鈥�

About the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign

With a $250 million goal, 黑料不打烊 LEADS is the largest fundraising campaign in the university鈥檚 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 黑料不打烊鈥檚 iconic campus. As of聽 March 31,donors have contributed $210 million toward the goal.

Every gift to the university鈥攊ncluding annual, endowment, capital, estate and other planned gifts鈥攆or any designation counts as a gift to the campaign, which will support students and strengthen 黑料不打烊 for generations to come. To learn more about how you can make an impact, visit www.elonleads.com.

鈥淢y life was pretty much turned upside down,鈥� says Rosen, of Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. 鈥淲e had financial struggles. I felt like I wouldn鈥檛 be able to go to college or if I did, it would be under mounds of debt.鈥�

Rosen, then 13 years old, planned on going to the University of Maryland, where a cousin had attended, majored in business and had great success. After taking a tour of the large state university, she realized she couldn鈥檛 see herself enrolling there. She wanted a smaller campus with a community atmosphere and a dynamic school of business.

A family member recommended 黑料不打烊. Rosen soon learned that 黑料不打烊 had everything she was looking for, including the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, ranked one of the top 50 undergraduate business degree programs in the nation.

Yet making the financial part work was a major roadblock. Then she read about 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Odyssey Program, which includes some of the university鈥檚 largest endowed scholarships that meet a student鈥檚 full need. The program was established to assist students like Rosen, high achievers with significant financial need who are often the first in their families to attend a college or university. Currently, 62 percent of Odyssey Scholars are first-generation college students.

Rosen was thrilled to learn she had received the Inman Family Odyssey Scholarship, which was endowed by Bill and Pat Inman P鈥�00, who are among the university鈥檚 most loyal and generous donors. Bill Inman has served on the university鈥檚 Board of Trustees since 2005.

Receiving the Inman Family Scholarship, along with a Business Fellows scholarship, made attending 黑料不打烊 possible for Rosen.

鈥淚 have been very happy with my 黑料不打烊 experience,鈥� Rosen said. 鈥淚 am grateful for the opportunity provided for me by the Inman Family Odyssey Scholarship.鈥�

Today Rosen is majoring in finance and human resources management in the Love School of Business and is thriving. She is a campus leader in several organizations, including Business Fellows and her sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha.

The leadership gift from Bill and Pat Inman as part of the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign supports 10 Inman Family Scholars each year. When the couple made their gift in 2017, they said they wanted to broaden access to 黑料不打烊鈥檚 renowned engaged learning programs, which were transformative for their daughter, Jackie Inman Burns, a 2000 黑料不打烊 graduate.

鈥淭here is so much financial need out there with students, including students at 黑料不打烊,鈥� Bill Inman said. 鈥淲e want to make it possible for these students to get a great education at 黑料不打烊 and graduate without taking on unbearable debt. I have been an advocate for years as a trustee to try to increase our endowment so we can help students financially, and now some of that is coming to fruition.鈥�

The importance of dedicated families like the Inmans to growing the number of endowed scholarships at 黑料不打烊 can鈥檛 be overstated, said President Connie Ledoux Book.

鈥淲hen we see the profound difference the Inman Family Odyssey Scholarship makes on the life of a student, it truly brings home how transformative these gifts can be,鈥� Book said. 鈥淲e are grateful to the Inmans for their dedication and for demonstrating the power of philanthropy to change lives.鈥�

A Life-Changing Program

The Odyssey Program, housed in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Center for Access and Success, includes highly selective and prestigious scholarships and is recognized as a national model for serving students who are underrepresented on college campuses. These scholarships, which have been endowed by some of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 most generous donors, are awarded based on academic success and high financial need.

The program serves students who are frequently the first members of their family to attend college and have achieved academic success while overcoming adversity. They are consistently among 黑料不打烊鈥檚 top-performing students. Odyssey is an extensive, cohort-based program that creates a family atmosphere among students and fosters mentoring, friendships and personal growth. Each Odyssey scholarship includes financial assistance that meets a student鈥檚 full need. In addition to annual tuition assistance, each scholarship includes a stipend for books and supplies, and a one-time $4,000 global study grant to be used for an approved study abroad or Study USA program.

Increasing funding for Odyssey and other scholarship programs is the top priority of the $250 million 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign.

Finding a Family on Campus

Rosen was accepted into the Business Fellows program and was anxiously awaiting word from staff in the Odyssey Program. The two schools still on her list were 黑料不打烊 as well as Lehigh, which was closer to her home.

鈥淚 was driving to visit a friend at Lehigh when I got a call from 黑料不打烊,鈥� Rosen recalls. 鈥淚t was (Odyssey Program Director) Marcus Elliott. He said, 鈥榃e would like to invite you to enter the Odyssey Program.鈥� I broke down crying. They were tears of joy. That鈥檚 when I knew I wanted to go to 黑料不打烊.鈥�

Obtaining the Inman Family Odyssey Scholarship was critical to Rosen鈥檚 decision to enroll. She was also drawn to the academic rigor promised within the Business Fellows program. She has been pleased with both the Odyssey and Fellows programs and 黑料不打烊 in her first two years鈥攖he most recent three semesters during a trying global pandemic.

鈥淚 have taken many leadership roles as a sophomore. It gave me the push I needed along with Fellows,鈥� Rosen said. 鈥淭here is a family tie at 黑料不打烊. I don鈥檛 think I would be able to have the success in my classes I鈥檝e had if my professors didn鈥檛 know my name or I couldn鈥檛 go up and talk to them.鈥�

The family atmosphere begins for students in the Odyssey Program during a one-week orientation on campus before other students arrive. The first-year cohort bonds through presentations about life and programs on campus, personal and group discussions and games or exercises. Rosen met students from diverse backgrounds who had to overcome adversity. One of those students also had no father figure in her life. They became friends right away.

鈥淭he fact that I know I can text her anytime and we can talk and get coffee and that there are people on campus who get me is so special,鈥� Rosen said. 鈥淥dyssey has opened me up to diversity and made it feel that there are other students like me on this campus. I learned that I don鈥檛 have to feel alone in my struggles.鈥�

Rosen said she had feelings of loneliness since her father died, but that has diminished during her time at 黑料不打烊.

鈥淥dyssey has given me the power and ability to see that my story is worthy. It makes me, me, and not something I should be ashamed of,鈥� she said. 鈥淓verything happens for a reason, I realized. My father鈥檚 death led me to 黑料不打烊. There is always good out of bad.鈥�

Motivated by Hard Work

As Rosen moves into the core classes in her two majors, Finance and Human Resources Management, she is excited about tackling the new challenges. Her courses this spring include Principles of Finance, Human Resources for Competitive Advantage, and Business Legal and Ethical Environment.

鈥淚鈥檓 really looking forward to it. This semester will be a bit harder, but I鈥檓 excited,鈥� Rosen said.

She credits the academic challenges in Business Fellows with building her confidence in the classroom and in her leadership abilities. She has a close relationship with Lincoln Financial Professor Tina Das, who directs the Business Fellows program in the Love School of Business and acts as an adviser and mentor. Now, when she鈥檚 in a class with juniors and seniors, Rosen is not intimidated.

鈥淚 know what I鈥檓 capable of,鈥� she said. 鈥淧rofessors know if you鈥檙e a Business Fellow and while they don鈥檛 say it, they expect more of you. They want to see that push and that initiative. I accept the challenge and love the challenge.鈥�

With her majors along with a minor in data science, Rosen鈥檚 career could take several paths. Lately, she favors working with people and in human resources, possibly as a recruiter or consultant.

鈥淚 want to work with people. I want to change people鈥檚 lives,鈥� Rosen said.

The Inman Family: Dedicated to 黑料不打烊

Bill and Pat Inman are among the university鈥檚 most steadfast donors. Their name is synonymous with generously supporting multiple strategic initiatives and projects at 黑料不打烊 over the past two decades. That includes the magnificent Inman Admissions Welcome Center, where thousands of prospective students and their families begin their 黑料不打烊 journeys each year. It provides an attractive and welcoming facility for visitors. The Center houses 黑料不打烊鈥檚 admissions, financial planning and welcome center staffs, along with conference rooms, two presentation theaters and office suites.

The Inmans have also made major gifts to support construction of Rhodes Stadium, Alumni Field House, the Ernest A. Koury Sr. Business Center, Numen Lumen Pavilion and Lindner Hall. The Inman Reading Room in Lindner Hall in the Academic Village is named in their honor.

The Inmans are strong believers in the university鈥檚 nationally recognized model for engaged learning and the leaders it produces.

鈥淥ur hope for the students who receive these scholarships is for them to be great individuals in our society and help this country by solving some of our greatest challenges,鈥� Bill Inman said.

About the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign

With a $250 million goal, 黑料不打烊 LEADS is the largest fundraising campaign in the university鈥檚 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 黑料不打烊鈥檚 iconic campus. As of mid-March, donors have contributed $206 million toward the goal.

Every gift to the university鈥攊ncluding annual, endowment, capital, estate and other planned gifts鈥攆or any designation counts as a gift to the campaign, which will support students and strengthen 黑料不打烊 for generations to come. To learn more about how you can make an impact, visit www.elonleads.com.

Fast forward to fall 2018, when the Koenigsberger Learning Center opened. The 11,000-square-foot, two-story addition on the east side of Belk Library reimagined how college students study, receive tutoring, academic advising or specialized services.

The visionary facility was made possible thanks to a $5 million gift from Robert and Dilek Koenigsberger P鈥�17, of Greenwich, Connecticut, as part of the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign. Their gift supported both the construction of the new center and also established an endowment that will fund annual operations of the center, including new staff positions and technology resources.

Now fast forward to fall 2019, when the benefits of the new learning commons became readily apparent. The Koenigsberger Learning Center was in use 24 hours a day, five days a week when classes were in session, said Becky Olive-Taylor, the founding director of the center and an important member of the team that planned and nurtured the learning commons atmosphere. Olive-Taylor, who retired at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year, said she often arrived at the KLC in the morning to find rearranged and recently vacated chairs and tables throughout the facility. Nearby movable whiteboards still displayed mathematical equations or other diagrams from a night of intense studies.

鈥淪tudents not only found the space, they鈥檙e using the tools we have available,鈥� Olive-Taylor observed at the time. 鈥淚 am amazed at how fast the students just claimed it and made it theirs.鈥�

Developing 黑料不打烊鈥檚 iconic campus with outstanding facilities like Koenigsberger Learning Center is one of the priorities of the $250 million 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign. To date, more than 335,000 square feet of new construction has been added to the campus thanks to generous and dedicated 黑料不打烊 LEADS donors like the Koenigsbergers.

鈥淭his magnificent gift from the Koenigsberger family has provided a visionary facility that is preparing students for success on campus and in their careers,鈥� said 黑料不打烊 President Connie Ledoux Book. 鈥淲atching the students embrace the Koenigsberger Learning Center as their go-to study and academic support space is inspirational.鈥�

The KLC was designed with student access, comfort and inclusion in mind. It is connected to Belk Library by a large hallway and an engagement space, creating a dynamic and easily accessible learning commons. Students may enter through the KLC doorway facing Inman Admissions Welcome Center or via the main library entrance. The facility houses Academic Advising and Disabilities Resources, as well as a now full-time Learning Assistance program that is certified through the prestigious and internationally recognized College Reading and Learning Association. Students can use the center to receive help from an academic adviser, writing assistance, individual tutoring from student peers or aid through assistive technology developed to help students with a learning disability. Students also gather in the KLC to find private study spaces or collaborative engagement sites, all in a comfortable, spacious and bright environment.

Robert Koenigsberger praised the vision behind the facility during his remarks at the center鈥檚 dedication in fall 2018.

鈥淭his building is indeed spectacular,鈥� he said. 鈥淗owever, most inspiring of all is 黑料不打烊鈥檚 courage and wisdom to place the KLC in the heart of campus, attached to Belk Library. This permits convenient, seamless access to all these essential programs.鈥�

A site for success

Early on, Ruelle envisioned a facility that would house resources to help every student succeed. Previously, peer tutoring, Teaching and Learning Technologies and the Center for Writing Excellence were housed in Belk Library, while disabilities resources and academic advising were located across the street in Duke Building. The KLC now brings together all three of those important resources under one roof, plus spaces for individual studies or group work. For students, the transition was seamless.

鈥淭he students know this is the place they go to get things done,鈥� Ruelle said. 鈥淭hey know this is where they come to connect with experts and do their academic work.鈥�

Hadley Anderson 鈥�20, from St. Louis, earned a degree in Computer Science with minors in Business Administration and Communications. Before the COVID-19 pandemic struck last March, she spent a lot of time in Koenigsberger Learning Center, calling it her 鈥渇avorite place to study.鈥� The variety of study spaces is a major draw for students.

鈥淚 love how open it is. There鈥檚 a lot of space for collaboration,鈥� said Anderson, who worked as a peer tutor during her junior and senior years. 鈥淎ll the furniture is movable. It鈥檚 definitely a creative space. When there are midterms or finals, you have to get there at the crack of dawn if you want to get a space, which is a good thing. It means the students are utilizing the space and it鈥檚 appreciated.鈥�

Pivoting during a pandemic

The pandemic provided a new challenge for the staff in the Koenigsberger Learning Center. Last March, when students were sent home, classes moved online. Academic support did as well. Tutoring and other services were handled by virtual systems such as WebEx or Zoom.

Anne Bryan took over as executive director of the KLC last June following Olive-Taylor鈥檚 retirement. Starting a new job during a global pandemic provided a few obstacles, but the collaborative atmosphere fostered by the learning commons concept helped ease the historic transition.

鈥淥ur staff worked the entire pandemic, offering services safely in person, through email or Zoom calls. We haven鈥檛 stopped supporting students because of the pandemic. We鈥檙e just serving them in a different way,鈥� said Bryan, who came to 黑料不打烊 from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

The additional study space the KLC provides is critical during the pandemic when only 50 percent of the building can be occupied at one time. For example, group study rooms are now individual study rooms. And having all services in one place allows for staff to work together to meet the demands of students.

鈥淲e鈥檙e a very collaborative team,鈥� Bryan said. 鈥淲e might have a student in our caseload who uses disabilities resources but is also receiving peer tutoring. It allows us to be able to triangulate those services. We can work together to see how we can support that student best.鈥�

Ruelle said the number of visitors to Belk Library and KLC is down, but that鈥檚 what鈥檚 needed while physical distancing advisories and mask mandates are in place. She is proud of how well students have adapted.

鈥淣ormally we would say, 鈥榬earrange the furniture at will.鈥� But we aren鈥檛 allowing people to rearrange the furniture now. We would normally say, 鈥榮it down next to me and let鈥檚 do this together.鈥� Now we look at how we can make connections through screens,鈥� Ruelle said. 鈥淏ut we鈥檙e still us, we鈥檙e still very much who we are, and we鈥檙e really proud of that.鈥�

Bryan is looking forward to welcoming more students back to the Koenigsberger Learning Center when it is safe, so it can reach its full potential.

鈥淲ith 黑料不打烊 being a highly residential campus that prides itself on being high touch, we鈥檙e really looking forward to interaction with students. We get a better sense of how they鈥檙e handling challenges when we can see and be with them in the moment,鈥� Bryan said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a beautiful building and a great place to work. I鈥檓 delighted to be here.鈥�

The Koenigsbergers are parents of Amber Koenigsberger 鈥�17. They have previously supported scholarship funding at 黑料不打烊. Robert Koenigsberger is founder, CIO and managing partner of Gramercy Funds Management.

About the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign

With a $250 million goal, 黑料不打烊 LEADS is the largest fundraising campaign in the university鈥檚 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 黑料不打烊鈥檚 iconic campus. As of Jan. 11, donors have contributed $204 million toward the goal.

Every gift to the university鈥攊ncluding annual, endowment, capital, estate and other planned gifts鈥攆or any designation counts as a gift to the campaign, which will support students and strengthen 黑料不打烊 for generations to come. To learn more about how you can make an impact, visit www.elonleads.com.

This gift is the second from the Simon Foundation to support the Innovation Quad project, which includes two buildings in its first phase. A groundbreaking for the IQ is expected to be this spring. Based in New York, the Simon Foundation is a family philanthropic organization founded by the late William E. Simon and Carol Simon. Three of their grandchildren are either 黑料不打烊 graduates or current students whose love for 黑料不打烊 inspired this gift.

Amy Allred, senior program officer for the Simon Foundation said the organization has strong family ties with 黑料不打烊. Typically, the foundation supports K-12 education initiatives and made an exception by supporting 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Innovation Quad.

鈥淭he Innovation Quad sounds amazing,鈥� Allred said, noting the interdisciplinary aspect of the programs that will be housed there. 鈥淪o many of the grandchildren think so highly of 黑料不打烊 that we thought that this is an excellent program to support.鈥�

The Innovation Quad is among the top priorities of the $250 million 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign and Boldly 黑料不打烊, the university鈥檚 10-year strategic plan, which calls for advancing existing STEM programs, adding new STEM programs and expanding science facilities.

Gabie Smith, dean of 黑料不打烊 College, the College of Arts and Sciences, praised the Simon family and its foundation鈥檚 history of philanthropy toward educational programs at 黑料不打烊 and around the nation. The Innovation Quad is a bold step forward and she thanked the family foundation for its support of STEM studies and students at 黑料不打烊.

鈥淚 very much appreciate the support provided by the William E. Simon Foundation and their longstanding commitment to advancing education. The Innovation Quad will serve as a doorway into to 黑料不打烊鈥檚 future educational accomplishments 鈥� a hub of creative collaboration across academic disciplines, community and corporate partners,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淲e are excited to break ground on the first two buildings in the Innovation Quad this spring term.鈥�

The first two buildings of the Innovation Quad will be located between the Dalton L. McMichael Sr. Science Center and Richard W. Sankey Hall, creating a powerful connecting point between STEM education, the sciences and the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business. This will be the heart of the IQ and constitutes the initial phase of a long-term investment by 黑料不打烊 into science, creativity and discovery that will be accessible to all students, regardless of their major. Future phases will include academic and residence halls, as well as a series of corporate-sponsored incubators and design hubs that will foster cross-disciplinary studies and collaboration.

IQ1 has been named Founders Hall following a lead gift from 黑料不打烊 alumnus Furman Moseley 鈥�56 and his wife, Susan, whose commitment is among the largest ever received by the university. Plans for the facility include 20,000 square feet for large workshops and prefabrication spaces where physics and engineering students and faculty can take big ideas and transform them into prototypes. The facility will include design labs for engineering and physics, a mechatronics classroom, prefabrication labs, an astrophysics lab and student engagement spaces to spark innovation.

IQ2 will provide connected classrooms and labs, group study rooms and faculty offices. The three-story, 40,000-square-foot facility will be the home for cutting-edge, cross-disciplinary studies and research in biomedicine, computer science, physics, biophysics and environmental engineering. It will face McMichael Science Center on one side and Sankey Hall on the other, solidifying the connection of science to entrepreneurship, sales, design thinking and analytics.

Plans to move the engineering and physics programs to the IQ will pave the way for renovation of McMichael Science Center to support the growth in the university鈥檚 biology, chemistry, health and environmental studies programs.

The Simon Foundation has previously made gifts to support the Innovation Quad, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Odyssey Scholarship Program and other financial aid efforts such as the Students First initiative, created to help students experiencing hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

William Simon was an entrepreneur, business and financial leader, and philanthropist who served as U.S. Secretary of the Treasury from 1974 to 1977 and as president of the U.S. Olympic Committee from 1981 to 1985. He died in 2000 and his wife, Carol, passed away in 1995. Their granddaughters include Maddie Morris, a 2019 黑料不打烊 alumna, and students Gigi Munro 鈥�21 and Lola Munro 鈥�23.

About the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign

With a $250 million goal, 黑料不打烊 LEADS is the largest fundraising campaign in the university鈥檚 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 黑料不打烊鈥檚 iconic campus. To date, donors have contributed $203 million toward the goal.

Every gift to the university鈥攊ncluding annual, endowment, capital, estate and other planned gifts鈥攆or any designation counts as a gift to the campaign, which will support students and strengthen 黑料不打烊 for generations to come. To learn more about how you can make an impact, visit www.elonleads.com.