As they prepared to walk the stage at commencement, several graduated seniors still logged hours on and off campus. From downtown Elon businesses to on-campus offices, many graduated seniors balanced academics with part-time employment in the final stretch of their college careers. Off campus, Elon’s downtown and its businesses rely heavily on student workers.
For seniors, their final semester may have included academics, job applications, final projects and goodbyes — and for some seniors part-time employment.
For senior Evie Wittmann, working at Elon’s Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education has given her a role that no other student has held before at the CREDE — communication specialist.
In that role, Wittmann redesigned the CREDE’s website. She said it will be difficult to leave both her position and the team she’s worked closely with.
“Our staff, they’ve all been so great and very welcoming and excited to see my ideas,” Wittmann said. “So it will be sad.”
Wittmann said being the first student in the communication specialist role has been encouraging, and she feels like she’s made a difference.
“I feel like I’ve been able to make a positive impact on the organization,” Wittmann said.
She added that being a senior and a part-time student made it easier to balance the workload and responsibilities.
“Being a senior is definitely helpful in this sort of position, because, as somebody contributing a lot to their communications efforts, I think it would be harder for me if I were in my sophomore year,” Wittmann said. “I probably wouldn’t have been able to do this.”
Looking ahead, she said her time working at the CREDE will carry over into her post-grad career as she steps into a communications role at a public relations agency she previously interned with.
“I definitely feel like it’s helped me a lot in taking initiative and executing a plan fully through and then figuring out how to present, communicate that plan in a way that is understandable to everybody,” Wittmann said.
However, not all seniors prefer to work on campus. Senior Katherine Wesztergom said working at All That Jas, a gift shop in downtown Elon, was a perfect job for her.
“I feel like the on-campus jobs are more just like Elon focus,” Wesztergom said. ”I like the idea of fashion here.”
Wesztergom has worked at the small business since August 2024. She said she applied to work at All That Jas because of her interest in fashion and how the role aligned with her major, communication design. Wesztergom works for both All That Jas and its brother store, Graham Sporting Goods.
“I wanted more experience with graphic design so I can build my resume,” she said. “I’m also really interested in fashion, and want to work in a career in that, so I thought it would be the perfect place.”
For senior Catherine Steinbach, working at Elon’s Student Professional Development Center since April 2024 has helped her develop professionally throughout her time at Elon.
“I really have all the ins to the resources, which I’m very thankful for,” Steinbach said. “I’ve made great connections through all the different people on campus.”
Aside from her job at the SPDC, Steinbach also interviews students who have received opportunities such as internships and graduate school acceptances for the “Career Moves” series of Today at Elon. She said her writing skills have improved because of the articles, and because of the SPDC, she has an inside scoop on professional events happening at Elon.
“I kind of have an advantage, because I can see what employers are coming to campus and everything,” Steinbach said.
Steinbach said she chose to work on campus because she likes to be involved in the campus community.
“I honestly love being involved and kind of seeing the behind-the-scenes, especially in the career center,” Steinbach said.