For the seventh year, the event also included a special tribute to alumni, senior, faculty and staff donors, whose names were placed on the luminaries lining the walkway during the evening. In addition, parents and families had the opportunity to make a gift leading up to the Festival of Holiday Lights and have their current Elon students honored on a luminary. By giving back to the university, these donors have literally and figuratively lit the path for Elon students.

During this year’s luminary initiative, members of the Elon family collectively made over 1,400 gifts in support of the university. Their gifts supported a variety of areas on campus, including scholarships, academic schools and departments, student organizations, sports programs, and more. All gifts made also count toward the comprehensive Elon LEADS Campaign, which has a goal of $250 million that will provide support for four main priorities: scholarships for graduates the world needs, engaged learning, mentors who matter, and Elon’s iconic learning environment. This collective generosity gives way to a brighter future for us all.

“Having children opened our eyes to the positive benefits of supporting future generations of Elon,” said loyal donor Webb Bond ’08. “We take pride in helping Elon while they develop the graduates the world needs.”

Senior donor luminarias were once again placed around Fonville Fountain, with alumni and others dispersed throughout Historic Neighborhood, the heart of Elon’s campus.

Members of the Elon family will have their next special opportunity to support the university on Tuesday, Dec. 1, when the world celebrates Giving Tuesday. For questions, please contact giving@elon.edu.

To learn more about the event, where programming took place across seven different stations to maintain the safety of attendees, click here.

Although Homecoming & Reunion Week 2020 ended up looking significantly different after in-person celebrations were postponed, reunion volunteers found creative ways to transition traditionally on-campus events to online celebrations. More than 1,100 alumni from Denmark to San Francisco to Chicago logged on from the comfort of their homes to participate in this year’s virtual festivities.

With more than 100 virtual events ranging from campus tours and thought-provoking discourse to happy hour trivia and milestone class and affinity reunion gatherings, participants had a plethora of opportunities to engage with leading faculty and reconnect with fellow alumni.

Festivities began for the weeklong celebration on Monday, Oct. 12, with , a new boutique hotel on campus. The tour highlighted the beautiful event spaces, hotel suites and The Mark restaurant. Guests who stay at the inn enjoy a stay with purpose, as proceeds support Elon student scholarships.

Throughout the week, alumni participated in daily social media challenges such as “Tag your roommate Tuesday” and “Future Phoenix Friday” to help conjure up nostalgia and invoke school pride. Alumni posted and tagged their way across Instagram, Facebook and Twitter reminiscing on the simpler times and anticipating a day in the hopefully not-too-distant future where they could once again walk the brick pathways shoulder to shoulder.

The Class of 1970 celebrated their 50th reunion in a way they never could have imagined as they crossed the Commencement stage 50 years ago. Nevertheless, they embraced new technologies that ensured they could safely reconnect for this milestone event. To commemorate their reunion, the class was joined by President Connie Ledoux Book on Friday, Oct. 24, and plans are in motion to celebrate in person with the Class of 1971 when safe to do so.

Nina Martin McConnell ‘70, co-chair for the 50th reunion, was proud of the continued learning opportunity. “You never stop learning from your Elon experience. I would have never imagined that we would have the technology to have a ‘virtual’ anything, much less Homecoming. So, the Elon family coached us through a new learning opportunity, and I think did an outstanding job,” she said. “Elon still educates … their mission continues, even with alumni!”

Overall, more than 500 alumni attended a milestone reunion event. These events could not take place without reunion volunteers. They play a crucial role in the reunion planning process by providing feedback on event planning, taking time to invite their class or affinity groups to connect, and asking fellow alumni to donate toward their reunion giving effort. In total, they helped raised an impressive $340,490 for various funds at Elon in honor of their milestone class reunions. These gifts also count toward the ongoing .

Information will be shared about Homecoming & Reunion Weekend 2021 as soon as it is available. Please contact reunions@elon.edu with questions or if you would like to volunteer for reunions in 2021.

Engage with distinguished Elon faculty from the comfort of your own home during “Coffees with the Deans” and “Acorn Talks,” a new series designed to give you a glimpse into what it would be like taking a class taught by Elon professors.

Families can also continue to show their Elon pride throughout Family Fall 2020 with a Family Fun Pack, containing a garden flag, window clings, postcards and more. .

Family Fall 2020 continues through Nov. 11. To find the full schedule of remaining events and to register łŠ±ôŸ±łŠ°ìÌęłó±đ°ù±đ.

For up-to-date information, visit the Family Fall website,  and “like” . For other questions, please contact parentengagement@elon.edu or call 336-278-5206.

Alli Lindenberg ’17 never intended to become a journalist. As a human service studies major, her goal was simply to help people, but as it turns out, she found a way to make a difference through storytelling. Necessity is the mother of invention, and she—along with the rest of the world—needed hope.

Tired from the ongoing negative news cycle, Lindenberg decided to put a little good out into the world by sharing stories of people doing good things. Although she never took a formal communications course, Lindenberg has let her desire to tell stories and help people guide her on her newfound newsroom path.

Tell us about what inspired you to start your podcast, “Hope Starts Here.” 

I’ve recently been referring to myself as an accidental journalist. When I graduated from Elon in 2017, I never knew I would end up working in a newsroom. I actually made it through my time at Elon without ever taking a single communications course. My degree in human service studies gives me an edge in the world of media. My background work and passion has and always will be people. Helping people live better lives is why I do what I do every day. It’s why I started working for , a civic newsroom based in Raleigh, and it’s why I started .

When the pandemic hit, I knew it wouldn’t be long before the news cycle went dark. Our news tends to be hyper-focused on negativity when drama in the world unfolds. We need to stay informed and act accordingly, but often our viewers and readers become absorbed in the drama and it can leave folks feeling pretty heavy. So, I thought about what lifts me out of a brain fog of helplessness and realized it’s hearing stories of hope. I decided to name the show “Hope Starts Here” to remind people that even amidst all the really dark things happening, there are people doing bright work.

Humans need good news. The stories we tell ourselves and the stories we hear and read impact how we move through the world. My main goal with starting Hope Starts Here was to give people some relief from the negative news cycle, to give people some good news to reflect on while we faced these unprecedented times.

What kind of stories have you shared and have any of the perspectives shifted over the course of the pandemic? 

The conversations have been wonderful. There are so many hardworking change-makers in the state of North Carolina. I’m inspired each time I get to talk to someone new. Because I started the show at the beginning of the pandemic, the tone has remained relatively constant. However, there are more and more people to talk to as our community continues to evolve and innovate to meet the challenges the pandemic has surfaced.

What are some of the major themes you’ve uncovered through talking to these various guests? 

Every person I’ve talked to is having a unique experience, but there are a few themes that have surfaced through my conversations. The first is that everybody feels unsure right now. This global pandemic has thrust humanity into collective uncertainty, which leads me to the next theme I uncovered: We’re all doing the best we can with what we know. Lastly, through listening to my guests, I’ve learned that things will never go back to the way they were. We aren’t returning to normal, we’re creating a new one.

What have you learned through this experience and the pandemic?

Something I’ve learned about myself in the pandemic is that it is still challenging for me to slow down. I’m used to a faster pace of life and this time has given me the opportunity to be still, even if just for a moment. And that’s hard. Really hard, at least for me it is. I’ve also learned how important community is to me. What I miss most is gathering with people I love and connecting with people in person. I’ve seen that desire arise not only in myself, but in the folks I talked to during Hope Starts Here and the greater community as well. Being able to convene in person results in a feeling of connection that we crave. Zoom certainly helps, but it’s not the same as sitting across from someone and really seeing and hearing them. I am looking forward to when we can convene together again safely.

Since the name of your podcast is “Hope Starts Here,” what gives you hope?

Teachers give me hope. Frontline workers give me hope. Journalists give me hope. People give me hope. So many folks are showing up every day to serve their communities in these unprecedented times. Also, I have to say that seeing people learn how to care better for themselves and each other has been inspiring. I believe that in order to be able to do the hard work we must do to make this world a better place, we have to care for ourselves, too. When we do that, we show up better for the people around us.

The annual meeting also serves as an opportunity for Black alumni to ask questions to university administrators and provide direct feedback for future initiatives. Although this was the first time the summit took place virtually, EBAN President Aliana Harrison ’08 said “it still allows the opportunity to engage with alumni from all across the country, which we normally haven’t been able to do with our summit, [because] it’s been more focused in the North Carolina and Atlanta areas.” Because it was online, participants were able to join in all the way from Trinidad to the West Coast.

A number of senior Elon leaders spoke at the summit, including President Connie Ledoux Book, who shared updates about the university’s ongoing plans for enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. President Book acknowledged the difficult and painful events members of the Black community have had to endure, and reaffirmed Elon’s commitment to being a part of the change moving forward, saying,

“I’m grateful that in the middle of all that is going on, that you’re taking time to invest in Elon being a stronger, better, more equitable place,” she said. “I join you in that work and am committed to it.”

Greg Zaiser ’90 G’95, vice president for enrollment, and Courtney Vaughn ’15 G’20, director of diversity recruitment, shared Elon’s five-year plan for increasing Black student recruitment. The plan calls for deeper partnerships between the Office of Admissions and various student life and campus centers, as well as EBAN, to build new events and increase funding for recruiting efforts.

Additionally, Jim Piatt, vice president of university advancement, discussed plans to triple the Black Alumni Scholarship endowment by 2025. This scholarship exists to help make an Elon education available to deserving Black students. Anyone who makes a gift of $19.63 or more will join the 1963 Club, a community of dedicated donors who support the success of Black students at Elon. All gifts made will also count toward the ongoing Elon LEADS Campaign.

There are more Elon events for EBAN members to look forward to this fall including the upcoming virtual Homecoming & Reunion Week events taking place Oct. 12-18. To register or view these events, please visit the Homecoming website.

The Elon Black Alumni Network is an official affinity network under the Office of Alumni Engagement. EBAN’s purpose is to unite and represent the interests of Black alumni and strives to empower, connect, and celebrate Elon’s Black community.  For more information about the organization, contact Deidra Smith, director of alumni engagement, at dsmith79@elon.edu.

During the initiative, donors made more than 2,400 gifts totaling more than $100,000 in support for Elon students and programs. Every dollar contributed goes directly to the donor’s chosen designation, making a difference in that specific area.

With masks now required nearly every place in society, this initiative was a way for the Elon community to make a difference twice over – giving back to education and doing their part to protect their community at the same time.

“Elon is grateful for the continued support of our loyal donors, especially in such challenging and unpredictable times,” said Brian Feeley ’03, senior director of alumni engagement and annual giving. “We can all agree that education changes lives. One of the most important ways we can make a positive difference in society is by expanding access to education through our financial support.”

The top designations supported during the initiative were Elon’s Greatest Needs, which supports student scholarships, the Phoenix Club and student-athlete scholarships, and the Elon Black Alumni Scholarship.

Brian Martindale ’95 is one of the thousands who chose to give back. He and David Rich ’87 have hosted a pre-season dinner for the women’s soccer team for the past 15 years giving them the opportunity to develop and foster relationships with the student-athletes and coaches. This year, due to the pandemic, they were unable to host the team, but Martindale found another way to give back.

“In lieu of not being able to host, I thought it would be a nice gesture to make a gift to the Women’s Soccer program,” said Martindale. “Plus, who couldn’t use a new mask or two during this pandemic!”

Each gift made also counts toward the ongoing , which aims to increase support for scholarships, engaged learning opportunities, faculty and staff mentors, and Elon’s iconic learning environ­­­ment.

UPDATE: It has been nearly five months since we first shared Vince Carbone’s story of his creative efforts to keep his Subway business afloat while also serving first responders and medical workers in his community. To date, Carbone and his team have now served over 6,100 meals and are aiming to hit 10,000 by the end of the year. While area hospitals have thankfully slowed down a bit, he and his team continue to accept donations and serve those in need. Once schools transition back to in-person classes, he hopes to focus on helping schools and educators.

Follow along on  as he continues to share his story.

When the dark cloud of COVID-19 found its way to Vince Carbone’s corner of the world, it gave him two choices: Sit and cry or get up and fight. He chose the latter.

Carbone, who graduated from Elon in 1995 with a marketing degree, is a small business owner of a Subway franchise restaurant in Ashburn, Virginia, right outside of Washington, D.C. When the pandemic reached their community, his wife lost her job in the local school system and he was forced to close his restaurant doors. The Carbones were left with no income and three kids to feed.

“When you get that initial kick to the gut, you either sit there and say, I guess this is going to be a long road and feel sorry for yourself and try to hide from it,” Carbone said, “or you can say, alright, I’m just going to have to turn this around and prove everyone wrong that we can still make it in this difficult time.”

What started as a simple act to stay afloat and save his livelihood has turned into somewhat of a movement in his community. Initially, he was taking orders like many restaurants and delivering to 10 to 12 houses a day just to stay in business. People began to ask what they could do to help more and donations started to trickle in.

Simply accepting donations did not feel right, though, so instead Carbone started putting that money to work by delivering meals to those who needed it. Inspired by a California restaurant owner who was doing something similar to help local hospitals with his restaurant, Carbone was able to make connections with local hospitals through his own .

“I’m really not a social media person, but this was my only avenue to help me thrive and generate any kind of business,” Carbone said. “So I put a post on Facebook saying for all those who have been asking how to help, this is how we’re going to do it.” For $6.50, people could buy a meal and Carbone would deliver it to a local hospital to give to a doctor or nurse.

Slowly business started building and that allowed Carbone to feel better about people donating money. Many stuck at home are wondering how they can help and Carbone is providing an option. Not only was it helping the medical staff and first responders he was feeding, but it was helping him stay in business and even allowed him to bring back some of his employees who have been with him for over 10 years. They also had families and needed the work.

Carbone and his team have been delivering to five hospitals in his area bringing about 50-100 meals a day. “We’re close to 1,000 meals served already and my goal is to do 5,000 meals. But I hope by the time we hit that goal we don’t have to bring meals to anybody anymore,” he quipped.

Even though his business may look a little different, the feeling he gets from helping people remains. “I go into work and the doors are closed, we’re not open to the public, all of our chairs are up and it’s nothing like it used to be,” Carbone said. “We’re making these meals for these doctors and nurses and fire fighters and police officers, and when we bring this food to them, even though I can’t see their smiles, I know everyone is smiling underneath their masks. It’s been a blessing. It’s definitely been something that’s helped me get through the days.

“You might think you’re just helping a health care worker with your $65 (equivalent to 10 meals) but you’re actually helping so many more people. You’re helping me keep the doors open, you’re helping my employees, so it’s going a long way,” Carbone explained. “As long as I can keep generating donations and business, I’m going to keep doing what I can to help out.”

The deliveries are all no contact deliveries. Maintaining safe distances and wearing proper protective gear is a priority for Carbone and his team. However, once the masks come off, Carbone is ready to handout some hugs.

“When this is all said and done, I want to be able to shake hands and give hugs to people who have donated and helped,” he said. “Saying thank you in a post it feels so impersonal. They have to know what it means, and when you see people you can get the point across better.”

It is a good thing Carbone decided to take action to generate his own business because he recently found out his small business loan did not go through due to a lack of government funding. Nevertheless, he hopes to continue serving his community through donations and generous patrons until this COVID-19 cloud lifts.

Hopefully by then, the only thing measured in feet at his Ashburn store will be Subway’s classic subs, not the distance between customers.

51±ŹÁÏÍű this series: The Elon Alumni in Action series explores the stories of university graduates who are doing important and uplifting work as the world faces the COVID-19 pandemic.

As Administrative Counsel for the Supreme Court of North Carolina, Grant Buckner L’13 leads an office that reviews the Court’s opinions, disseminates rules of court and provides the Court with counsel on a host of matters. Little did he know when he began his position that some of those matters would be regarding a global pandemic.

Earlier this year, Elon Law highlighted the work Buckner is doing, and recently, we caught up with him to hear how his work has changed in the midst of the ongoing pandemic.

Navigating the delicate balance of maintaining safety within the courthouse and upholding the duty of the courts while working remotely with two young children at home has been quite the adjustment. Nevertheless, Buckner finds it very rewarding to serve as a member of an institution that then serves so many others.

How have the courts and judicial systems responded to the pandemic? How has it affected your work and how have you had to adjust?

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented our court system with a serious challenge.

Courts are an essential function of our society. Rights and obligations still exist during a pandemic, and it is the responsibility of the courts to adjudicate those rights and obligations. The challenge to the court system during this time has been to balance our responsibility to remain open with our responsibility to protect the health and well-being of everyone in our courthouses.

Since the pandemic began, I have been working closely with the Chief Justice’s Office in their effort to strike this balance. During an emergency, the law allows the Chief Justice to issue emergency directives to keep our courts going. It has been an honor to help Chief Justice Beasley in this regard.

Initially the task was to do our part to “flatten the curve.” This meant delaying those proceedings that could be delayed and implementing protective measures to reduce the spread of infections in courthouses. But, as our state has moved into a posture of reopening, the task has been to figure out how to continue the work of the courts safely. These tasks have not been easy, and there are many more challenges ahead.

On a personal note, I have had to adjust to working remotely with two small children at home. In some ways, the stress of what is going on has been reduced with my family so close to me. But in other ways, traditional boundaries of where work ends and where home begins have been blurred. I am thankful for a wonderful wife and for my coworkers who are helping me through this challenge.

Do you think there will be any long-term changes in your field that will remain in the future?

As I write this, the Supreme Court is in the midst of conducting remote oral arguments for the first time in its history. I predict that there will be a push for remote-work and remote-court options even after the pandemic has ceased. We have all learned that there are benefits to working remotely that cannot be ignored. The technology is there, and we need to capitalize on it moving forward.

In fact, the Judicial Branch was already moving in that direction before the pandemic began by planning the implementation of a statewide electronic-filing and case-management system. The pandemic has emphasized that we need to push projects like that forward.

What is one positive change you hope to see come out of this pandemic?

I hope that we all learn just how important community is. We are not made to be in isolation from one another. The pandemic has forced us apart, but in many respects, we were apart already. We took for granted the community of our coworkers, friends, and neighbors, and the joy it is to meet new people. When we all come together again, I hope that we make more of an effort to build relationships with those around us.

After graduating from Elon in 2019, Mahshigian headed west to Los Angeles to pursue her passion. She currently works full-time as a cinematographer for an ad agency, and part-time in the costume and wardrobe department on film sets.

But, when the pandemic hit, production stopped.

At first, Mahshigian felt helpless and disconnected from those who were suffering. Not only do the heavy emotions of societal upheaval take a toll personally, but not knowing where or how to help can be daunting. In a sea of thousands suffering, where does one person even begin? As she puts it, “In a time when it feels like grief and fear are overwhelming, it can be hard to feel like there is anything you can do that would make a difference.”

Instead of letting the negative feelings overtake her, Mahshigian put her creativity to use and found a way to carve out her own purpose and make a difference in the face of tragedy. She and her fellow costume department creatives took to their sewing machines and began making masks, the latest accessory essential for everyone.

“I may not be on the front lines, but anyone can take time and find a way to apply their own skills in helping others,” she said. “Even with a little bit of free time, we were able to aid in such a necessary way.”

Mask making became productive for her on many fronts. Not only was Mahshigian able to make a difference in her local community, but the creative outlet helped her personally, too.

“Taking creativity and applying it during a pandemic is honestly the greatest thing I have been able to do during these past few months,” she said. “I encourage others to try to apply their unique skills in different ways; you never know who you may end up helping.”

Wainman is a journalist in the Washington, D.C. area and during the last few years, she has covered the lifestyle industry, focusing on food and dining. When the pandemic hit and many of the businesses she covered suffered, she began to feel helpless. Inspired by a fellow Elon alumna, Wainman realized she could make a difference by supporting those local businesses and then giving away her purchases to brighten someone else’s day. This act of generosity has exponential benefits, sending ripples of kindness throughout her community and beyond.

This quiet, unassuming yet impactful and meaningful series of intentional acts highlight just how truly special Elon alumni are. Wainman has since recognized a new opportunity to help those in her community who are hurting. She recently shifted her focus to support Black-owned businesses in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Read on to hear more about her movement and maybe, just maybe, you will be inspired to make a difference right where you are by creating your own waves of kindness.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your “Pay It Forward” movement – what is involved and what inspired you to start it?

I know what a struggle it is to keep a small business alive even under the best conditions, so when the pandemic hit and I had to see some of the toughest, strongest, most resilient entrepreneurs I know struggling to stay afloat, I felt totally helpless.

I got the idea for the “Pay It Forward” movement after interviewing a fellow Elon alum for a work story about how she and her fiancĂ©e’s businesses were adapting to new times. She just started a bread business as a side gig and her fiancĂ©e ran a full-time hydroponic farm that sold rare herbs and micro-greens to restaurants.

When nonessential businesses were told to shut down, his business disappeared overnight and he had to completely change his business model to survive. She said it was devastating to watch him comprehend that everything he worked for for years was taken from him just like that. She was originally going to use the extra money from her bread business to put towards their wedding, but instead, decided to sow her profits back into his business to show her support.

I loved that sentiment and thought, I might not be able to offer Jeff Bezos’s level of support to local businesses, but I can funnel the money I’m saving right now by not commuting to work, not going to happy hours etc. back into the businesses I love and want to see make it through this. Plus, I loved the idea of sending “surprise gifts” to brighten the days of friends who I knew were having a tough time under the new regime of quarantine.

The first business I supported was the bread business of the fellow Elon alum who had inspired the idea.

Although some businesses are starting to reopen, have you been able to continue the movement as people move into Phase 2, particularly in the current climate?

In the current climate, I’ve felt called to focus support on Black-owned businesses. I want to launch a second round of “pay it forward” to both educate myself on some local businesses that I may not have been aware of previously, and to stand in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. I have not launched yet as I am still in the research phase of which businesses I want to support.

I like to be intentional with my donations, and I also like to personalize the gifts I’m sending to match the interests of the friend receiving. For example, for a friend who is a freelance writer and takes great pride in supporting literary endeavors, I’d like to find a Black-owned independent bookstore and introduce her to a new author I think she’d enjoy.

What was one or two of your favorite reactions to your surprise gift? How did it affect those you served?

One reaction really stands out to me: A coworker of mine posted on social media that she was really struggling with taking mental health breaks during the pandemic. I thought a scented candle would be a great surprise gift for her to be able to decompress and take care of her mental health. I found a small business that was selling all natural soy wax candles online and sent one her way. When she got it she posted about it on Instagram, and another one of our coworkers saw it, liked it, and asked me where I found it. She wound up buying some things and supporting the business too!

Supporting small businesses was the whole goal of the initiative, so I was thrilled that new customers were discovering the business. Plus, both of my coworkers said the candles helped them de-stress, which made me so happy!

What have you learned about yourself or your community through this experience and the pandemic?

Watching small businesses that I loved and respected pivot on a dime and find a way to simply make things work no matter what was awe-inspiring and showed me that I couldn’t just sit idly by. If nothing else, this time has reminded me that we all have a role to play in keeping community alive, and no matter what your resources are, you can find a way to help.

As much as I wish I could have made large donations, that wasn’t going to happen on a journalist salary, but it didn’t mean I couldn’t help. My contributions to local businesses were so small in the grand scheme of things, but I hoped that leading by example would have a ripple effect and encourage others to find the businesses in their community that they wanted to help as well.

What do you hope will last through your small acts of kindness?

One of the silver linings of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the emphasis placed on checking in with one another and operating with a little more leniency and grace towards each other. People have gone to great lengths to connect with loved ones, and even people that they may have lost contact with over the years. I hope that this emphasis on fostering genuine connection and walking through life with a little more empathy extends well beyond the pandemic, and that we all look for ways to bring a smile to someone’s face when they are least expecting it.