News

NEWS 5/6/23 10:18pm

Elon University celebrates class of 2023 Odyssey scholars

By Sarah T. Moore

Elon University celebrates the accomplishments of 35 graduating Odyssey scholars for the class of 2023. Kellcee Batchelor ’18 gave the ceremony’s keynote address an Odyssey alum and asked students to always prioritize their values, impact and purpose — what he referred to as the VIP framework. University President Connie Book started the celebration acknowledging the newest cohort of Odyssey scholars, class of 2027, as the largest cohort yet with 57 participants. 

NEWS 5/6/23 11:30am

Elon University’s 11th Lavender Graduation celebrates LGBTQIA graduates

By Erin Hroncich

Elon University’s Gender and LGBTQIA Center celebrated its largest student participation in the Lavender Graduation ceremony’s 11-year history with 81 participants on May 5. Each participant at Lavender Graduation — which celebrates graduating seniors who identify within the LGBTQIA communities — received a rainbow stole, lavender graduation cap, rainbow tassel and certificate. According to the GLC’s website, the ceremony is held at over 100 campuses across the country and is funded fully by donations to the GLC. 

NEWS 5/5/23 11:15am

Fire department to receive upgrade on ladder truck

By Naomi Washington and Joanna Dwyer

When the town of Elon Fire Department receives an emergency call, the first vehicle sent to the scene is always its almost 18-year-old ladder truck. But the ladder truck, which has a life cycle of 20 years, is quickly approaching its expiration date, and Assistant Fire Chief Charles Walker said it's time for an upgrade.

NEWS 5/4/23 11:43am

Elon University to offer FinTech major fall 2023

By Madison Powers

Elon University will offer a new FinTech major this fall in the Love School of Business for students wanting to pursue data analysis and programming within the field of finance. FinTech, a combination of finance and technology, merges the theory of finance with the more technical side of payment processes and automation. The new major will offer electives in trading and markets, blockchain and other technologies like artificial intelligence. 

NEWS 5/3/23 9:26pm

Elon University celebrates 15 years of “It Takes A Village” Project

By Madison Powers and Margaret Faust

The “It Takes a Village” Project partnership between Alamance-Burlington School System and Elon University celebrated 15 years of tutoring elementary school students across the county. Through the project — known simply as the Village Project — Elon students and other volunteers have tutored ABSS students in 12 Title I elementary schools across Alamance county. The program started in 2008 as a semester project in former Elon professor Jean Rattigan-Rohr's literature class to improve the reading skills of struggling ABSS students.

NEWS 5/2/23 10:47pm

Elon University holds graduation ceremony for first-generation seniors

By Sarah T. Moore

Elon University celebrated the accomplishments of over 20 undergraduate and graduate first-generation students Tuesday evening during its First Gen Graduation Ceremony. The students received first-generation graduation stoles, noting their journey as the first in their family to graduate higher education. The event was hosted by the university’s Center for Access and Success, which includes first generation student support services. 

NEWS 5/1/23 9:07pm

Elon junior remembered as 'happy-go-lucky' by family, friends, teammates

By Kyra O'Connor and Miranda Ferrante

Jackson Yelle’s father, Scott, remembers his son’s caring and warm demeanor; he said it was easy for him to build friendships, and he had a strong love for his family. Jackson, an Elon University junior from North Eastham, Massachusetts, died at the age of 21. He was in Myrtle Beach on a weekend trip when he was killed in a hit-and-run on April 30. An arrest was made May 1. 

NEWS 5/1/23 3:53pm

Southern Alamance Middle School teacher charged with indecent liberties

By Ellis Chandler

A Southern Alamance Middle School teacher is facing charges of indecent liberties.According to a press release, Ivan Danilo Ardila-Perez was charged with two counts of indecent liberties with a student and two counts of indecent liberties with a child. He is a Spanish teacher and soccer coach.The Alamance-Burlington School System held a joint conference with the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office Monday.

NEWS 5/1/23 1:49pm

1,700 students commit to Elon University on decision day

By Sophie Rosenthal

May 1 is decision day for high school seniors. According to Vice President of Enrollment Greg Zaiser, as of noon May 1, 1,700 students have enrolled in the class of 2027. Last year, 1,692 students enrolled in the class of 2026. Zaiser said Elon’s acceptance rate decreased from 74% to 67%.

NEWS 4/30/23 3:42pm

Elon junior killed by car in Myrtle Beach

By Miranda Ferrante

Elon University junior Jackson Yelle was killed Saturday evening in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, according to an email from Vice President for student life Jon Dooley. Yelle, from North Eastham, Massachusetts, was a business analytics major and statistics minor, according to his LinkedIn profile. The death is being investigated as a possible hit-and-run in Myrtle Beach, where he was on a weekend trip with members of the Club Baseball team. 

NEWS 4/27/23 11:55am

Meet Elon University's 2023 Lumen Scholars

By Abigail Hobbs

Every year, 15 rising juniors win $20,000 for research through the Lumen Prize. Established in 2007 by former Elon president Leo Lambert, the goal of the Lumen Prize is to give students an opportunity to pursue research and support other experiences such as international travel, service projects and workshops. For the next two years, the Lumen Scholars will work closely with their mentors to complete their research.

NEWS 4/26/23 10:28pm

Elon University hosts Ukrainian novelist who writes about Russian censorship

By Margaret Faust

In 2014, journalist and novelist Yuriy Lukanov was reporting from Kramatorsk, Ukraine. He remembers trying to open a bottle of red wine with friends that they bought from the only store open in the deserted city. They couldn’t find a corkscrew and ended up using a cleaning rod to push the cork into the bottle and enjoy the wine. To him, this was more than an inconvenience. It is a metaphor for how disruptive war can be. Lukanov told this story during a presentation he gave hosted by the Love School of Business and Vitaliy Strohush, Elon professor of economics. Lukanov emphasized the dangers of a censored press in Russia and the role novels can play in honest and creative storytelling. 

NEWS 4/26/23 4:44pm

Ukrainian journalist, novelist visits Elon University

By Margaret Faust

Ukrainian journalist and novelist Yuriy Lukanov is on campus today and will speak to the Elon University community about his new novel “Reporter Volkovsky.” Vitaliy Strohush, a professor of economics at Elon, is friends with Lukanov and invited him to campus as the last stop on his book tour around the continental U.S. 

NEWS 4/26/23 8:00am

Elon University senior staff members' leaving shakes up university

By Abigail Hobbs

Elon University said goodbye to four senior staff members in the last year, all of whom have become presidents at other universities. The most recent to announce their departure is Jeff Stein, vice president of strategic initiatives, who will be leaving after serving Elon University for 21 years. Stein will become the president of Mary Baldwin University beginning in July, after announcing his departure April 14. Senior staff members leaving and beginning other roles isn’t new to the university. This trend started when former Dean of the School of Health Sciences Rebecca Neiduski announced her departure March 21, 2022, after starting her role at Elon five years earlier to become president of Wartburg College.Former Dean of the School of Communications Rochelle Ford, who worked at Elon since 2018, followed May 24, 2022, and announced she was becoming president of Dillard University. Former Provost Aswani Volety announced his departure May 26, 2022, to become the chancellor of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington.

NEWS 4/21/23 11:43pm

Town of Elon’s social district block party builds community

By Anne Thyfault

Town of Elon’s social district block party builds community through music, inflatables and lawn games. Though the social district has been soft launched for a month, the event marks the town's official kick off, which allows individuals of drinking age to carry beer or wine within a specified zone.

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LIFESTYLE 03/19/2026 9:12am
Skateboarders work toward approval of skate park

For three hours, skateboarders took to the pavement of Beth Schmidt Park — setting up ramps and rails to get some tricks in on a rainy Sunday. But they are all waiting for one thing: a skate park.It has been years in the making, but chairman of the Elon Skate Coalition Scott Ingalls said they hope to break ground on the skatepark this year — either late summer or early fall. Ingalls said that donations help the skate committee and overall funding of the skatepark.

NEWS 03/18/2026 7:31pm
Leaving for spring break? What to know when traveling

Travelers across the country are standing in longer airport security lines and paying more at the pump. Transportation and Security Administration agents just missed their first paycheck after Congress could not agree on funding related to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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