Every time Mike Paznokas visits Elon, he said he learns something new that makes him appreciate the university even more. This is his third trip to the campus and everything he’s learned about Elon, he said, makes him think it’s a great fit for his daughter. Rose Paznokas is entering her freshman year with enthusiasm. She said she is excited to be a part of Elon’s community and continue exploring campus.
“We went into McEwen for dinner last night and then there was soft serve ice cream,” Rose said as her parents, Mike and Toni, laughed along with her. “I was like, ‘I can get down with this. This seems like something I can live with.’”
While Rose looks forward to fall semester, her parents prepare to go back to New Jersey. The family picnic Aug. 23 marks the trio’s last shared meal until Thanksgiving break — Rose said she isn’t sure yet if she plans to go home for fall break. The three of them sat at a table by the Martin Alumni Center, enjoying the food Elon Dining provided for the event.
The picnic was spread across campus with tables near the alumni center, Koury Athletic Center and Medallion Plaza.
At one table, Tyler Schutt used the family picnic to give advice to his younger sister, Carissa, as she starts her college experience.
“Keep the sleep schedule that you have now,” Tyler said. “The second you mess it up, you’re literally screwed for any 8 a.m. that you take. It’s true.”
When Carissa said she was excited to get to know her new classmates and neighbors, Tyler had advice for that too.
“If you don’t like your friend group, get out of it,” Tyler said, as his parents nodded along.
Like Tyler, family members across campus were sharing advice with their new Elon students. Another common topic of conversation across the tables was the streamlined process of Elon’s move-in day.
Susie Elster-Sarachek, who helped her son Max move into his dorm, said she was impressed by how organized move-in day was.
“It took the stress out of it,” Susie said. “It was just a well-oiled machine.”
The Elster-Sarachek family is from California and flew across the country to drop Max off for his first year of college. While Max said he is confident Elon is a good fit for him, this will be the longest he’s been away from his home and family.
Max said he was drawn to Elon because of its support networks, such as the office of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility, formerly known as Disability Resources.
“As a parent having a child across the country, knowing that there is so much support available is very comforting,” Susie said.
The small class size and tight-knit campus community were some of the other reasons Max chose Elon.
“I didn’t just want to be a face in a classroom,” Max said.
Max’s parents and sister were preparing to get on their flight back home, and the group had slowly been saying goodbye throughout the day. Max’s sister bought him a crochet snake from an Oaks Original booth at Young Commons. His family also got him a gallon of milk — his favorite drink — for his dorm’s MicroFridge.
“I’m just excited to see everything he does and learns and to hear about his experience,” Susie said.