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"The Lumen Prize allowed me to attend conferences and meet Associate Professor of Astrophysics Chris Richardson's colleagues and researchers whose papers informed my research. This culminated in a paper that will be published in collaboration with a researcher at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. I would never be where I am without Dr. Richardson's mentorship. He showed me that research is enjoyable, and he will be a large part of why I attend grad school in the future."

"I appreciate Colin Donohue's willingness to be a sounding board and provide meaningful mentorship. His Media Writing class during my first year was pivotal in my development."

"Joining the Elon Sales Team was the most meaningful experience to me. I was able to discover my passion for sales while meeting the most amazing people."

"My Elon mentor Catherine Parsons has always had faith in my abilities to pursue a master's while still being an undergraduate student and balancing four jobs."

“I chose to apply for the Goldwater Scholarship because it was a great opportunity to gain confidence in my abilities to communicate my research with others and to be recognized for my work on a national level. Goldwater has empowered me to know that I can be successful in mathematics research and any career path I choose."

"One of the reasons I became interested in science was that I attended a no-cost STEM outreach program in high school. Arriving at Elon and seeing that no such program existed in the school system here inspired Sam Ramirez ’24 and me to create STEM Saturday at Elon. Through grants and partnerships with student STEM organizations, we kickstarted the no-cost, undergraduate-led STEM outreach program for the Alamance-Burlington School System. My proudest accomplishment is that the success of the pilot event provided momentum for it to continue now that Sam and I have graduated from Elon."

"I had the opportunity to attend the Pi Sigma Epsilon Regional Conference in Toledo, Ohio. This was one of the most rewarding experiences from my time at 51������. I competed as a finalist in the public speaking competition, where I was provided a venue to present a speech about my personal experience of determination and perseverance to a room of 300 students, staff and corporate sponsors. All of the competitors were beyond phenomenal and it was an honor to speak on the same stage as them."

"Throughout my four years at Elon, I had two academic advisers, Dr. Lyons and Dr. Mercado, who both served as mentors as I navigated my future HR career. They were influential professors in the classroom and provided support outside the classroom as it pertained to my internship/job search and taking my SHRM-CP."

"My most meaningful Elon experience was the chance to intern with different engineering companies. It was incredible to learn more about how my education, both in and out of the classroom, can make such an impact on the world."

"To get on air as a first-year student is not an opportunity you get at other universities, and I wasn’t willing to wait until my junior year. That is what makes Elon special. I could start right away. It’s not like this everywhere else."

"From internships and research projects to study abroad, Elon offers a wealth of opportunities for students to gain practical experience and apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world situations. Elon has been instrumental in not only providing me with the inspiration to foster my career goals but has helped turn my lofty dreams into actionable steps."

"I’m so lucky to have had countless professors at Elon who helped me grow as a student and person. Whenever I see them, after taking their classes, they always ask about my life, interests and future plans. These relationships are one of the main reasons I chose Elon. I didn’t want to be a number on the roster. I wanted my professors to know me."

"I feel confident that I will be able to deliver on group projects in my career and am looking forward to working on debt and equity reports that are even more data-driven and narrative-focused."

“The two things that helped me get a job quickly were studying abroad and extracurricular leadership activities. In all my interviews employers always pointed out all the leadership positions I held and my unique experience in the Dominican Republic.”

“Elon opened me up to thinking big when it came to the career I wanted. I started searching for internships that matched communication design, and other passions of mine, which included fashion. Ultimately, it was my internship at Gap Inc. that led to the full-time job.”

“Through my work at the Elon News Network, I connected with people. This year the former managing editor of Elon’s student newspaper, the Pendulum, reached out about a job opening at Newsweek. She thought of me because of the close professional relationship we formed while at Elon.”

“I chose Elon because of its small class sizes, the study abroad program and the overall feel of campus. I studied abroad twice, traveled to 10 countries as a result, and made lifelong friends. I know that Elon has prepared me for what’s to come.”

“Every step along the way, Dr. Miyamoto, my faculty mentor, prepared me for the future, providing insights into what life is like as a full-time researcher. She pushed me to work hard, while encouraging and supporting me through difficult times amplified by the pandemic.”

“Elon exceeded my expectations by allowing me to develop strong relationships with professors and fellow students, complete internships and participate in a semester-long study abroad program."

“I formed so many incredible relationships with alumni and others within the Elon network. They mentored me, provided invaluable advice, and, ultimately, offered opportunities that led to my employment.”