SPJ’s Region 2 includes Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and the District of Columbia. First-place recipients advance to the national competition, where they will be judged alongside winners from SPJ’s 12 regions. National honorees will be recognized at the SPJ convention, scheduled for Oct. 1–4 in Columbus, Ohio.

Elon News Network earned seven first-place awards:

• Best All-Around Student Newspaper | The Pendulum | April 9, 2025; April 30, 2025; and Dec. 10, 2025 editions
• General News Reporting | Nia Bedard |
• In-depth Reporting | Anjolina Fantaroni |
• Feature Photography | Katrina Holtz | 
• Television Feature Reporting | Charlotte Pfabe | 
• Regional Political Reporting | Miles Hayford | and
• Retail/Small Business Journalism | Lilly Molina | and

In addition, the organization earned five finalist nods:

• Best Affiliated Website | Elon News Network | 
• Best All-Around Television Newscast | ENN Tonight | Ìę±đ»ćŸ±łÙŸ±ŽÇČÔ
• Best Use of Multimedia | Erin Martin |
• Personality Profile Writing | Avery Sloan |
• Sports Writing | Miles Hayford |

Six rising juniors have been named members of the tenth class of Multifaith Scholars, a two-year fellows program for juniors and seniors that offers a closely mentored, experientially rich and intellectually rigorous educational opportunity for students with significant potential.

After a highly selective application and interview process, students are awarded $5,000 annually to support research and study in global contexts connected with religious diversity and multi-religious societies. Students who show great potential as academically curious and socially engaged leaders committed to their own ongoing development and the enhancement of their local and global communities are selected each spring.

“I am delighted to welcome these six impressive rising juniors into the Multifaith Scholars program and look forward to supporting their compelling projects over the next two years,” said Amy Allocco, director of the Multifaith Scholars program. “Their research interests include music and Christian religious experience, linguistic anthropology and the vocabulary of faith, religious diversity in clinical settings, gender and religious roles in Asian art, the intersection of biomedicine and traditional healing practices and the history of Black churches here in Alamance County.”

In addition to pursuing their faculty-mentored undergraduate research projects and undertaking academic coursework in religious studies and interreligious studies, the scholars will extend the program’s ongoing community partnership with the Burlington Masjid. Through the partnership, scholars teach English classes, participate in youth and social events with the local Muslim community, join community garden workdays, volunteer with the food pantry and take part in potlucks and iftar meals during Ramadan.

“It is wonderful to welcome such a strong class with such diverse academic interests,” reflected Brian Pennington, director of the Center for the Study of Religion, Culture, and Society, which supports the Multifaith Scholars program. “As we approach the tenth anniversary of the MFS, it is gratifying to see so many clear signs of the program’s maturity and significance: our largest class ever, the inclusion of seven new faculty mentors, and students majoring in three disciplines never before represented in MFS.”

The 2026-2028 Multifaith Scholars

Addison Anderson

Majors: History, Sociology

Minors: Museum Studies, Public History, and Interreligious Studies

Mentor: Amanda Kleintop (History and Geography)

Project Title: History and Memory of Alamance County’s Black Churches

Proposed Research: Examine the relationship between Alamance County African American churches and local politics in North Carolina from Reconstruction through 1900.

Blair Berenson

Major: Anthropology

Minors: Jewish Studies, Sociology, Philosophy and Interreligious Studies

Mentors: Amy Allocco (Religious Studies) and Devin Proctor (Sociology & Anthropology)

Project Title: An Anthropological Approach to Cross-Generational Shifts in Hindu and Jewish Perspectives of Faith in the US

Proposed Research: Conduct fieldwork in Jewish and Hindu communities in Atlanta to understand how different generations articulate the concept of faith.

Katie Castelo

Major: Biochemistry

Minors: Neuroscience, Spanish, and Interreligious Studies

Mentor: Cathy Quay (Nursing)

Project Title: Bridging Faith and Medicine: Improving Cultural Awareness of Religious Practices in the Healthcare System

Proposed Research: Explore the healthcare industry’s approach to death and ways it can be more open to diverse religious practices.

Faith Elliott

Major: Neuroscience

Minors: Expressive Arts and Interreligious Studies

Mentors: Lynn Huber (Religious Studies) and Morgan Patrick (Music Theory)

Project Title: Neurotheology: An Interdisciplinary Study into Sacred Music and Feelings of Well-Being

Proposed Research: Examine the historical significance of music and understand and measure the behavioral impact associated with an emotional, transcendent spiritual experience and the well-being that results from listening.

Mariama Jalloh

Major: Public Health

Minors: Biology and Interreligious Studies

Mentor: Sandra Darfour-Oduro (Public Health)

Project Title: Faith, Healers, and Health: How Religious Beliefs and Community Trust Shape Healthcare Decisions in West African Communities

Proposed Research: Examine how religious leaders and traditional healers influence healthcare decisions in communities in Ghana, and how public health programs can partner with these practitioners to improve health education outcomes.

Ryleigh Rouse

Majors: Art History, Religious Studies

Minors: Museum Studies and Public History and Asian Studies

Mentor: Kirstin Ringelberg (Art History)

Project Title: Religion’s Impact on Japanese Women: Through an Art Historical Lens

Proposed Research: Employ art as a lens to examine how religion shaped gender perceptions and Japanese women’s roles.

A full list of award and scholarship recipients appears below.

Academic Achievement Award Recipients

Academic Excellence Award in Accounting
Kirsten Myburg
Allie Rosinger

This award is given to a senior Accounting major who has demonstrated superior academic achievement, provided significant contributions to the department, and possesses potential for intellectual growth.

Challenge and Expect Award in Accounting
Kate Rohan
Zachary Taylor

This award is presented to a senior Accounting major who has demonstrated excellent growth in academic achievement and in contributions to the department.

Earl D. Honeycutt, Jr. Sales Leadership Award
Alex Scheinler

This award recognizes a senior majoring in marketing or minoring in professional sales who has shown leadership in the sales program, has the potential to positively impact their future organization, and has demonstrated an overall positive attitude in supporting their fellow sales students.

Excellence in Financial Education Student Award
Justin Betts
Andrew Glas
Em Orendorff

This award is given to a senior finance major who has demonstrated excellent academic achievement and possesses potential for professional growth in financial services.

Goldstein Family Award
Maggie Blakeney

This award is for a graduating senior who, after transferring to Elon (and the LSB) earlier in their academic career, has established a record of sustained engagement and high academic success and who embodies the university’s engaged learning focus through participation in high-impact learning activities.

Walter Hattenbach Award
Kaila Burke

The senior marketing major with the highest GPA receives this award, which Dr. and Mrs. James W. Johnston established in honor of their friend, Walter Hattenbach.

John Kappas Economics Award
Quinn Faller

This award goes to the senior economics major who best demonstrates enthusiasm for economics, potential for leadership and classroom excellence. It is named in honor of the late John Kappas, a 1985 Elon graduate.

Love School of Business Academic Excellence Award
Greta Hessenthaler
Kirsten Myburg
Katrina Papierman
Anthony Vozella

This award is presented to the student with the highest GPA among those graduating with a major in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business.

Love School of Business Courageous Leadership Award
Noah Biggers

This award is given to a student who exemplifies courageous leadership within and outside of the Love School of Business.

Love School of Business Responsible Leadership Award
William Foster

This award is given to a student who exemplifies leadership, service and academic achievement within the Love School of Business.

Perseverance Award in Accounting
Ben Lyons

This award is presented to a graduating accounting senior whose resilience and commitment led to significant improvement while successfully navigating the rigors of the four-year curriculum.

Student Achievement in Business Analytics Award
Greta Hessenthaler

This award is given to a senior business analytics major who has shown enthusiasm and success in his or her courses as well as promise for future achievement.

Student Achievement in Economics Award
Jin Kobes
Daisy Martinez-Jimenez

This award is given to a senior economics major who has shown enthusiasm and success in his or her courses as well as promise for future achievement.

Student Achievement in Economic Consulting Award
Sivan Danziger

This award is given to a senior economic consulting major who has shown enthusiasm and success in his or her courses as well as promise for future achievement.

Student Achievement in Entrepreneurship & Innovation Award
Juan Daniel Chiriboga
Taylor Sluss

This award is given to a senior entrepreneurship & innovation major who has shown enthusiasm and success in his or her major as well as promise for future achievement.

Student Achievement in Finance Award
Liam Becker
Emily McAninch
Asa Traylor

This award is given to a senior finance major who has shown enthusiasm and success in his or her major as well as promise for future achievement.

Student Achievement in Human Resource Management Award
Maddy Shapiro

This award is given to a senior human resource management major who has shown enthusiasm and success in his or her courses as well as promise for future achievement.

Student Achievement in International Business Award
Melena Hasskerl-Friedrich

This award is given to a senior international business major who has shown enthusiasm and success in his or her major as well as promise for future achievement.

Student Achievement in Marketing Award
Rachel Buckle
Lauren Kulda

This award is given to a senior marketing major who has shown enthusiasm and success in his or her major as well as promise for future achievement.

Student Achievement in Project Management Award
Anna Johnson

This award is given to a senior project management major who has shown enthusiasm and success in his or her major as well as promise for future achievement.

Student Achievement in Supply Chain Management Award
Maylee Clerici

This award is given to a senior supply chain management major who has shown enthusiasm and success in his or her major as well as promise for future achievement.

Martha and Spencer Love School of Business Dean’s Awards for Faculty and Staff

Excellence in Teaching
Jose Cerecedo Lopez

The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching recognizes a faculty member who exemplifies the 51±ŹÁÏÍű teacher-scholar model. This person is outstanding in the classroom, engages students in the learning process, maintains academic rigor, and provides evidence of commitment to the intellectual development of students through mentoring and related activities.

Excellence in Scholarship
Feng Dong

The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business Dean’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship recognizes one or more faculty members each year whose scholarly work has a significant intellectual impact in keeping with the Elon scholar-mentor model. Selection factors for this award include publication or presentation of peer-reviewed research in quality outlets and evidence that the faculty member engages in scholarship-related activities. These activities might include supporting the scholarly endeavors of colleagues, advancing the school’s reputation, and mentoring students in undergraduate research.

Exemplary Service – Faculty
John Wimmer

The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business Dean’s Award for Exemplary Service-Faculty recognizes one or more faculty members each year who have contributed in meaningful ways to the ongoing welfare and betterment of the college, university and profession. This award follows from the Elon servant-leadership model. Selection is based on service in the preceding year, plus overall willingness to volunteer one’s time when needed and to carry new ideas to reality.

Exemplary Service – Staff
Sara DeVane

The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business Dean’s Award for Exemplary Service-Staff recognizes a staff member who has contributed in meaningful ways to the ongoing welfare and betterment of the LSB.  This contribution includes performing duties above and beyond the staff member’s regular functions to support and advance the LSB.

Exemplary Service – External
Rob Springer

The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business Dean’s Award for Exemplary Service-Staff recognizes a member of the larger 51±ŹÁÏÍű community who has contributed in meaningful ways to the ongoing welfare and betterment of the LSB.  This contribution can take the form of assisting the LSB with a specific program or project or providing ongoing support for LSB activities.

LSB Sophomore Recognition

Benjamin Grover Johnston Award
Andrew Abraham
Logan Brzezanski
Lindsay Butkus
Izzy Butler
Gabrielle Evans
Addie Gilner
Henry Ginsburg
Dylan Golden
Isabella Johnson
Avery Launer
Jordyne Lewis
Ben Peake
Hope Rosen
Isaiah Scott
Greta Smith
Casey Steinert
Dani Stuart
Ben Waechter
Ellis Weber-Provost
Sophia Winston

This award honors the sophomore(s) with the highest GPA in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business. Dr. and Mrs. James W. Johnston established this award in memory of Dr. Johnston’s brother, Benjamin Grover Johnston.

2026-27 Endowed Scholarships and Awards

The Andras Family Award
Abigail Mulvaney

The A. Vance Beck, Sr. and Gwendolyn D. Beck Scholarship
Virginia Manning

The Calvert C. and Margaret H. McGregor Scholarship
Maximiliano Camacho Garcia

The Charles David Smith Endowed Scholarship
River Cranford

The David A. Stevens ’81 Internship Scholarship
Chaise Hannibal
Winter Oaster

The David O. Bowden Economics Scholarship
Ellis Weber-Provost

The Department of Economics Endowed Scholarship
Sophia Winston

The Don S. and Margaret M. Holt Scholarship
Ashley Valency
Skylar Zimmerly

The Dudley Ray Watson Memorial Scholarship
Mackenzie Ross

The Frechette Family Foundation Fund for Global Engagement
Madisen Groff
Brennan Higgins

The Frederick K. Gilliam, Sr. Scholarship
Sophia Arminio
Lauren Beckman
Colleen Bolger
Elizabeth Moores
Anna Rubino
Jesse Sherrill

The Humphries Achievement Award
Loren Palma

The J. Harold Smith Scholarship
Jordyne Lewis

The James T. Toney Endowment Fund
Madeline Dolan

The Janie E. Council Scholarship
Patrick Drury

The John and Helene Sparks Scholarship for Business
Dulio Sorel di Donato

The John L. Sills, Jr. Scholarship
Benjamin Peake

The John R. Hill ’76 and Lesley W. Hill Endowed Fund for Engaged Learning in Business
Marlie Barhorst

The Linda Thompson Weavil Endowed Scholarship
Kristen Covington
Jasmine Newkirk

The Mark A. Horsburgh Study Abroad Scholarship
Michael Dumiec
Peyton Jones

The Mary C. Bullock ’47 and George P. Bullock ’47 Business Scholarship
John Cirelli
Jane McNeil
Avery Wilson

The Mills Family Endowed Scholarship
Tristan D’Adamo
Sahrahie Enamorado

The Myers Family Endowed Scholarship in Business
Aidan Roche

The Park Business Scholarship
Alyssa Adams

The Peter L. Tourtellot Endowed Scholarship in Business
Emma Cincotta

The R. Alston Team III Endowed Scholarship in Business
Eli Karpas
Emma Meunier

The R. Cruse Lewis Master Pools Guild/Love School of Business Endowment Scholarship
Gabriela Maldonado Alvarez
Ashlyn Wenner

The Rehnert Family Business Internship Award
Rita Ho
Korey Philpot
Fanyu Sha
Abigail Wong

The Rose Family Endowed Fund for Engaged Learning in Business
Samuel Bernard

The Samuel L. Burke Endowed Scholarship
David Graves
Elizabeth Shum

The Sirabella Family Scholarship for Engaged Learning in Business
Alison Whipple

The Taylor S. Davis Scholarship for Engaged Learning in Business
Anna Maddox

The Troy Family Endowed Scholarship for International Study
Shannon Cross
Jack Miller

The Waesche Engaged Learning Scholarship
Luke Shatkin

The Wells Fargo Scholarship
Jackson Steiner

The William A. Klopman, Jr. Memorial Scholarship
Megan Abbot

The Yearwood Family Scholarship
Bong Realiza

As Nikki Sanz ’18 first stepped onto Elon’s campus, she found a stage. A student who succeeded on a busy schedule, Sanz spent her four years leaning into the culture of involvement that represents the Elon experience. She found that the university’s environment encouraged students to take initiative from the very start.

“Most Elon students just love to get involved,” Sanz said. “I was able to jump right into those opportunities starting in my freshman year”.

Today, that same spirit of initiative has led Sanz to the front of the music and tech world. As the founder and CEO of , a professional career platform designed specifically for the live event industry, she was recently recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for her work in turning the industry into a modernized community.

Majoring in sport and event management, along with a double minor in business administration and leadership studies, Sanz used Elon as a sandbox to test her ideas. The Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellow balanced academics with leadership roles in Alpha Xi Delta and the LEAD program, where she served as a tier captain mentoring new students.

Shaina Dabbs, associate professor of sport management, said that Sanz’s internal drive was evident early on.

“Nikki consistently showed a strong eagerness to be involved and fully engaged,” Dabbs said. “She brought a genuine passion for the details and the process, understanding that executing the small things well is what elevates the overall outcome. Her internal drive to excel set her apart, and she developed a system that allowed her to successfully manage multiple roles and responsibilities without compromising quality.”

Sanz credits the Elon environment for giving her the room to experiment and create. Whether she was working with Elonthon or performing her own music around town, she was building the foundation for her future career in event production.

“I brought music to Oak House,” Sanz said. “I asked Phil [the owner] if I could do an open mic one night… I did it about once a month, and then he got bands to come and play. And so, the fun fact is, I started music there.”

After graduation, Sanz’s career took her into the heart of the touring world, working with industry giants like Live Nation and the CMA Awards. She spent years on the road as a production professional for major artists, including Eric Church and George Strait. It was during these high-pressure tours that she noticed an opportunity, as there was no center for the thousands of “gig” workers who make live events possible.

“Sport and live events are becoming increasingly complex and commercialized, and relying on informal hiring practices is no longer sustainable,” Dabbs explained. “Platforms like Giggs help standardize the way talent is sourced, evaluated and deployed, much like analytics transformed player evaluation. When opportunities are only ‘word-of-mouth,’ they limit access and opportunity for highly qualified people who may not ‘know’ the right person.”

Sanz spoke very highly of her senior-year experience in Dabbs’ Event and Venue Management course, where students were tasked with running an event without a ‘how-to’ guide. According to Dabbs, this learning by doing model is intentional.

“The point is to place students in situations where there isn’t a script, because the live event and sport industry rarely provides one,” Dabbs said. “This experiential approach builds professional resilience and shifts students’ mindset to see challenges as opportunities to lead and create solutions. It equips them with the confidence, adaptability and problem-solving skills needed to navigate an industry that is constantly evolving, and to shape it, rather than simply react to it.”

Despite her success in Nashville and her global ambitions for Giggs, Sanz remains rooted in the lessons she learned as a student leader. Her advice for current Phoenix looking to break into the industry is to be open to the different paths the “gig” world offers.

“If you really want to work in sports or concerts, you can move,” she said, encouraging students to explore the various sectors of the industry to find where they fit best.

Reflecting on her own journey from Phoenix to tech founder, Sanz emphasizes that there is no single “right” way to enter the industry.

“The impact that I want this to have on the industry is that there’s a way in, there’s actually a path,” she said.

For Dabbs, Sanz’s trajectory serves as a blueprint for the next generation of sport management students.

“Nikki’s journey shows students that they do not have to accept the industry as it is. They can change it,” Dabbs said. “Her story highlights that leadership is about impact, not title, and that success comes from trusting yourself, building inclusive networks and being willing to act.”

This spirit of leadership earned her a spot among Elon’s Top 10 Under 10 Alumni Award winners. This award celebrates accomplished alumni from the last decade who not only excel in their careers but also actively contribute to their communities and serve as dedicated alumni role models.

Sanz encourages students to use their time at Elon to explore the size of the field, whether your interest is in concerts, TV or corporate trade shows; the goal is to find a professional community where you can truly thrive.

As she continues to change the traditional hiring process, her mission remains to head in the same direction of inclusivity she felt on her first day at Elon by ensuring every professional in the live event space has a way to be seen.

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell, maybe even yourself? Please feel free to share your feedback or those stories online:

“Celebrating Three Decades of International & Global Studies: Advancing Interdisciplinary and Intercultural Excellence” highlighted the efforts and achievements of key faculty and staff in creating the first interdisciplinary major at Elon.

The program on April 21, 2026, included remarks by 51±ŹÁÏÍű President Connie Ledoux Book; Hilton Kelly, dean of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences; and Andrea Sinn, an associate professor in the Department of History and Geography and the program’s current director.

Nancy Mueller ’27 and Emily Ecker ’26, both international and global studies majors, also delivered remarks.

Book shared the early beginnings of the program, and she noted important milestones and alumni accomplishments. She also praised Professor Emeritus Brian Digre for his leadership in launching the program.

“Three decades later, so many lives have been changed through Dr. Digre’s vision,” Book said. “Thank you to faculty and students for continuing to ask important questions, for your curiosity and for reaching beyond where you are comfortable into our really rich and diverse world.”

Launched for the 1995-1996 academic year as International Studies, Elon’s first interdisciplinary major, the program provides students with a knowledge of international affairs as well as expertise on one of five world regions: Europe, Latin America, Asia, Middle East and Africa. From the start, study abroad, foreign language learning and the flexibility for students to shape their own academic paths were central to the program.

“Through international and global education, as well as study abroad, we are preparing students intentionally for new opportunities for collaboration, connection and competition in an era of global interconnectedness,” Kelly said. “Study abroad is far more than an opportunity to travel. It is a transformative educational experience. Study abroad is a cornerstone of the International & Global Studies program because it transforms regional concentration from an academic focus into lived understanding.”

Currently home to more than 100 students and a growing alumni network of over 1,000, the International & Global Studies program continues to explore political and cultural dynamics, technological advances and intertwined global economies. The major equips students with this understanding through an interdisciplinary approach that combines broad knowledge of global issues with focused study of one of the five regions.

The program allows students to build a customized interdisciplinary curriculum, drawing from fields such as politics, economics, history, geography, literature, religion and culture, while focusing on a specific world region.

Tributes to the program came from Nancy Mueller ’27 and Emily Ecker ’26.

“I love that Elon has an array of study abroad opportunities and a unique ‘choose your own adventure’ IGS program where I could align my studies with my interests,” Mueller said. “I enjoy the interdisciplinary nature of the program and its emphasis on language learning. I also love that the program faculty themselves come from various backgrounds, each bringing their own expertise to the table. My semester in Tunisia took me a few steps closer to me dream career where I get to travel to new places, meaningfully interact with local people, use and advance my Arabic language and cultural skills and pursue my own research interests.”

Both students expressed gratitude for the faculty that make up the International & Global Studies Program.

“I am deeply grateful for the faculty here today who are part of what Dr. Idris calls ‘my constellation of mentors’ — people who have supported, challenged, and advocated for me through every high and every setback at Elon,” Ecker said. “These relationships are something no study abroad program, no research project, or line on a resume can replace. The people here today are among the greatest strengths of this program and among the best things about this university, so I urge everyone to take advantage of this unique program.”

Associate Professor of History Andrea Sinn has directed the program since 2023.

“Study abroad is a cornerstone of the International & Global Studies major and one of the most powerful ways students bring their academic learning to life. While coursework builds critical knowledge about global systems, cultures and regions, studying abroad allows students to experience these dynamics firsthand,” Sinn said. “Students can further demonstrate their skills through the Intercultural Global Competency digital badge, highlighting their ability to navigate and communicate effectively in diverse global contexts.

“Together, these experiences prepare graduates for careers that require strong intercultural understanding and global awareness including roles in government, international business, nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations, education, diplomacy, and law, as well as for advanced graduate study.”

Since graduating its first cohort in 1996, the International & Global Studies Program has steadily expanded its global reach. In its first five years, 57 students studied abroad in six countries including Australia, China, Costa Rica, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Today, that number has grown to more than 50 countries. A new interactive StoryMap created by Ryan Kirk, associate professor of geography and environmental studies and chair of the Department of Environmental Studies, captures this evolution, showcasing the experiences of International & Global Studies majors who complete at least one semester abroad, often in regions tied to their academic focus.

“This immersive experience enables students to engage directly with local communities, institutions and perspectives, while earning credit toward their major,” Sinn explained. “For IGS students, studying abroad is not just an opportunity: it is an essential component of their education that fosters adaptability, cultural humility and real-world perspective needed for globally engaged careers. Whether studying politics in London, public health in Rwanda, or culture and language in Argentina, students gain a more nuanced and personal understanding of global issues.

“We take great pride in our students and alumni, whose impactful work embodies and advances the values of IGS across the globe.”

Professor of Religious Studies Pamela Winfield, the program’s associate director since 2023, said the 30th anniversary serves as a reminder that cultivating the values of global citizenship, international cooperation and cross-cultural collaboration continues to be relevant.

“I see this milestone anniversary as an opportunity to reaffirm our faith in those values and in our mission to educate and prepare this next generation for their international careers both here and abroad,” Winfield said. “It inspires me to look ahead to the next 30 years and beyond, when our substantive coursework, foreign language training, transformative study abroad and real-world internship experience will attract even more IGS majors and expand our already vibrant world-wide network of IGS alumni.”

Many faculty advisory board members attended the celebration, including Damion Blake, associate professor of political science and public policy; Shereen Elgamal, assistant teaching professor of Arabic; Sean Giovanello, assistant professor of political science and public policy; Nick Gozick, dean of global education and assistant professor; Mussa Idris, associate professor of anthropology, Waseem Kasim, assistant professor of history; Douglas Kass, associate professor of cinema and television arts; Juan Leal Ugalde, associate professor of Spanish; Ariela Marcus-Sells, associate professor of religious studies; Vitaliy Strohush, associate professor of economics; and Yidi Wu, O’Briant Developing Professor and associate professor of history.

History of the program

Brian Digre, professor emeritus of history, secured a Department of Education grant to launch the university’s first interdisciplinary major. Established in 1995-96 as International Studies, with only an African regional concentration, the program grew with additional regional concentrations in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. By 2005, immersive global learning became central, with study abroad, advanced language study and a senior seminar requirement for all majors.

Under the leadership of Safia Swimelar, professor of political science and public policy, the program underwent a transformation during the 2015-16 academic year. The International and Global Studies Program adopted a revised mission, new interdisciplinary themes and enhanced language expectations.

The introduction of IGS 250 International Studies: Approaches and Perspectives further strengthened the curriculum by providing a shared foundation for all majors.

Lumen Scholars will work closely with their mentors during the next two years to pursue and complete their projects. Efforts traditionally include coursework, study abroad, research both on and off campus, internships locally and overseas, program development, and creative productions and performances.

“It was another very competitive year, and the Lumen Advisory Board saw many good applications,” said Michael Carignan, director of the Lumen Prize and professor of history. “These 15 represent truly special talent and engagement. We look forward to watching the projects unfold over the next two years.”

The name for the Lumen Prize comes from Elon’s historic motto, “Numen Lumen,” which are Latin words meaning “spiritual light” and “intellectual light.” The words, which are found on the 51±ŹÁÏÍű seal, signify the highest purposes of an Elon education.

2026 Lumen Prize Winners

Tajallah Amirkhil
Mentor: Molly Green
Major: Public Health & Biochemistry
Project: Barriers and Resilience: Exploring Mental Health among Afghan Refugee Women in North Carolina

Emma Briceño
Mentors: Dan Burns & Tita Ramirez
Major: English (Creative Writing)
Project: The Desert Lighthouse, a Novel: an Exploration of Queerness and Safety through Body Horror, Immortality, and Genre Reinvention

Kelley Calvillo
Mentor: Renay Aumiller
Major: Dance Performance and Choreography
Project: The Body Knows: Developing a Feminist Framework for Distributed Choreographic Authorship

Chloe Cone
Mentors: Eryn Bernardy & Ahlam Armaly
Major: Biochemistry
Project: Solutions in the Soil: Unearthing Novel Antibacterial Compounds from Soil Microbes to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance

Sanai Crosby
Mentors: Lauren Kearns & Matt Wittstein
Major: Exercise Science & Dance Science
Project: Dance and Neural Activity: Examining Neural Activity Across the Choreographic Process and Performance Environments

Fleur Helmantel
Mentor: Scott Wolter
Major: Biomedical Engineering & Chinese Studies
Project: Development of Tissue-Mimicking Phantoms for the Treatment of Breast Cancer

Anna Keller
Mentor: Scott Morrison
Project: Perceptions and Practices of Outdoor Literacy: a Two-Part Mixed-Methods Study

Nevaeh Kimmie
Mentor: Katrina Jongman-Sereno
Major: Psychology & Economics
Project: To Code-Switch or Not to Code-Switch: Authenticity, Psychological Outcomes, and Social Judgement of Black College Students in Predominantly White Academic Spaces

Lisa Kranec
Mentors: Hwayeon Ryu & Efrain Rivera-Serrano
Major: Biomedical Engineering & Applied Mathematics
Project: Mathematical Modeling of Excessive Collagen Production in Cardiac Fibrosis

Jordyne Lewis
Mentor: Steve DeLoach
Major: Economic Consulting & Data Analytics
Refugees, Emotional Wellbeing, and Financial Inclusion in Uganda

Kendall Lewis
Mentor: Jen Uno
Major: Biochemistry & Mathematics
Project: Can the Microbiome Heal the Brain?Evaluating Butyrate’s Efficiency in Reducing Stroke Severity within the Context of Obesity

Ja’Mir Parham
Mentor: Zack Hutchens
Major: Astrophysics
Project: RESOLVE, ECO, and eRASS: Probing Galaxy Growth through Cold and Hot Gas

Danny Stern
Mentor: Karl Sienerth
Major: Chemistry
Project: From Backlog to Breakthrough: Use of Fluorescence Quenching for the Development of an Explosive Identification Database

Ainsley Thompson
Mentor: Yuko Miyamoto
Major: Biochemistry
Project: Decreasing Platinum Chemotherapy Resistance by Downregulating STAT3 and Upregulating PTEN in the SKOV3 Cell Line

Scout Winter
Mentor: Bill Evans
Major: Exercise Science
Project: Effects of a Whole-Food Plant-Based Diet on Insulin Resistance and Inflammation in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes

William S. Long Professor and Professor of Education Jeff Carpenter was honored with the Career Impact Award from the Technology as an Agent of Change in Teaching and Learning Special Interest Group.

TACTL promotes the development and evaluation of preservice and in-service programs aimed at transforming teacher education, preparing technology-proficient educators to meet the needs of 21st-century learners.

“The TACTL board honored Jeff with this award because of his tremendous impact in terms of time (his many years of contributions to the field), reach (he has collaborated with colleagues around the world and is cited everywhere), imagination (he has changed the way the world thinks about teachers and social media), and care (he has done all this while being a mentor to countless students and early career colleagues, and he consistently uplifts everyone around him),” said Bret Staudt Willet, chair of the Teachnology as an Agent of Change in Teaching and Learning Board.

Carpenter was honored with the award during the American Educational Research Association conference in Los Angeles, California. Several of Carpenter’s colleagues spoke at the event and also recorded recognizing his work and accomplishments.

“You gave me wings, twice, in two different ways,” said Hermann Dzingel, a research associate and Ph.D. candidate from UniversitĂ€t Potsdam. “When we visited you in Elon in 2025, you picked me up from the airport, and you took me straight to a restaurant and treated me to chicken wings because I was really hungry (…). The second way was more important metaphoriclaly because I went into research four years ago, having been a teacher for a long time, having great imposter syndrome, not belonging here and meeting you in 2024 and remmebering sitting with you (…) you told me about your life (…) and this gave me the wings to carry on in research and I wouldn’t be here (without) you.”

Carpenter previously served on the leadership team of the Special Interest Group and was previously awarded the Best Reviewer and Best Paper Awards. He says TACTL-SIG and its members have had a positive impact on him and his career.

“The Technology as an Agent of Change in Teaching and Learning Special Interest Group gave me a home in the American Educational Research Association,” Carpenter said. “This was particularly the case at the AERA Annual Meeting, as the SIG made a potentially impersonal event that draws 16,000 attendees start to feel like a chance to see and catch up with valued friends. It was particularly meaningful that 16 kind folks (including many of my co-authors) shared generous and humbling words about my impact on them, and the SIG. The award was a complete surprise, and I was fortunate to have my father in attendance to share in the moment.”

“Instead of complaining about lack of teachers and lack of resources, I wanted to be part of the solution,” Jones said, “NC Teaching Fellows is not just a loan forgiveness program, it is the preparation, the found community, the extracurriculars and curricular enhancements that you gain from being a team fellow”.

Jones was the keynote speaker for the North Carolina Teaching Fellows’ inaugural statewide graduating student celebration at 51±ŹÁÏÍű on April 18. Partnering institutions, alumni, state-level stakeholders, and those who have supported the program were in attendance. The NC Teaching Fellows program provides up to $10,000 a year in forgivable loans for students who commit to teaching elementary education, special education, or a STEM field in a North Carolina public school after graduation.

Reestablished in 2017 to address North Carolina’s low numbers of teachers and educators, Elon is 1 of 10 partnering institutions that has the program once it was reinstated. Ann Bullock, dean of the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education, says Elon was accepted because of its high outcomes of preparing educators in its undergraduate program.

“Students do not just go into this with thoughts of becoming a teacher. They join because they are teachers with a mission and a purpose that is bigger than themselves,” Bullock said, when opening the event.

Under the leadership of Erin Hone, director of the Elon Teaching Fellows Program, and Brittany Roberts, assistant director of the Elon Teaching Fellows, a recruitment plan was created to increase the number of North Carolina Teaching Fellows at the university, and assist in the decrease of debt that education students commonly graduate with.

Roberts is also an NC Teaching Fellow alumna and was on the planning committee for this inaugural celebration. As an alumna, she says she understands the importance of preparing students to become active teachers who can handle differing districts, students and ever-changing technology.

“If you are thinking of becoming a Teaching Fellow, don’t be intimidated. The program wants the brightest but also those who are passionate about the profession as well,” Roberts said.

Luna Aldana ‘27, an elementary education major, was attracted to the program not only because of the financial benefit but also due to the on-campus opportunities to interact with other NC Teaching Fellows, seasoned teachers and children. Professional development opportunities and resources like the youth mental health training offer Aldana and other fellows a new way to adapt to future generations’ teaching.

“When you are teaching math, or science, it sometimes skips your mind about your students’ mental health and what they are experiencing at home. So, to have training on how to assist with that can really improve your teaching style,” Aldana said.

According to Bullock, it is 51±ŹÁÏÍű’s goal to continue growing student interest and contribution to the NC Teaching Fellows program at Elon and further train North Carolina’s future educators.

“As soon as I finished moving in, I walked over to the McEwen Communications Building and met a guy named Joe Bruno and a woman named Julie Morse, and not 72 hours later, I was in a car on my way to Charlotte, as part of Elon Local News’ (Elon News Network) Democratic National Convention coverage,” he recalled. “Sure, I was carrying a tripod around the streets of Charlotte for one of the senior reporters, but I was there. And that was just the beginning.”

That “beginning” launched a trajectory that would take him from the student-run newsroom of Elon Local News to the heart of the nation’s capital as a reporter for NBC News. Today, Grumbach is a key player in the network’s reporting, covering everything from the Supreme Court to the criminal trials of some of the most important people in American politics.

Grumbach credits his success to the immersive, high-pressure environment of Elon Local News.

“We took ourselves very seriously at Elon Local News. Some might say too seriously,” he said. “But we did that, because we loved it. We loved learning, we loved reporting, we loved breaking news, and we loved the people we did all of that with.”

Over the next four years, Grumbach traveled from Raleigh, North Carolina, to Des Moines, Iowa; from Concord, New Hampshire, to João Pessoa, Brazil, reporting on everything from North Carolina’s controversial bathroom bill to the future of the internet.

Reflecting on the fast-paced newsroom environment at Elon, Grumbach sees how directly those experiences translated to his career today.

“Whether it was 1 a.m. in the edit suites finishing a piece for the morning show, or 5:59 p.m. in the control room trying to load all of the video into the system, the adrenaline kept you going,” he explained. “After graduating, I realized that same feeling crosses the stage with you.”

The hustle and dedication he developed at Elon Local News carried over to national television, where, as Grumbach puts it, “the show goes on the air at its scheduled time, whether or not you’re ready.”

He points to specific mentors, like Professor of Journalism Janna Anderson, whose Reporting for the Public Good class pushed students to find, write and submit stories within hours.

“It was a fast, exhilarating, stressful experience—but so is real-life journalism,” he said.

Grumbach also credits recently retired professor Richard Landesberg, along with faculty members Anthony Hatcher and Staci Saltz, as key influences in shaping him into the journalist he is today. Grumbach knew Elon was the school for him after his first tour, led by a family friend.

“I picked Elon because of the incredible broadcast journalism program,” he said. “From top to bottom, there is no School of Communication like Elon’s. Professors don’t just know about broadcasting—they’ve worked in broadcasting.”

That foundation helped Grumbach transition seamlessly from the classroom to a career at one of the biggest broadcast news organizations in the country.

“At NBC News, millions of viewers and readers rely on you for fast, accurate, and digestible information,” he explained. “Having the opportunity to learn those core tenets through Elon Local News and in the classroom was invaluable.”

Since joining NBC News, Grumbach has been on the front lines of history. He has traveled to 41 states and Canada, covering Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders on the 2020 campaign trail, and as part of the NBC News White House team covering the G-20 Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima, Japan.

On the trail, his daily life often resembled a one‑man production crew.

“I did it all with a camera, tripod, LiveU satellite backpack, luggage and two phones in my pocket,” he said. “I shot video, logged video, broke news, walked backwards following the candidate in a parade—and that was just before lunch.”

One of Grumbach’s proudest professional moments came during the 2024 Hunter Biden gun charges trial. Inside a federal courthouse where phones and computers were prohibited, Grumbach needed a creative way to beat the competition in reporting the verdict.

“In the media room of the federal courthouse in Wilmington, Delaware, there are windows that look down to the street below,” he explained. “The nice thing about windows is that they work both ways.”

Grumbach and his team devised a plan using color‑coded pieces of paper labeled “G” for “Guilty” and “N” for “Not Guilty.” As the verdict was read, Grumbach held up the papers for each count. By the time the judge finished, three pieces of paper read “G.” NBC News beat every other television network to the story.

“The other networks may still be trying to get out of that building,” he jokes.

Grumbach notes that some of the hardest moments in his job come while covering high‑tension events such as protests. He emphasizes the importance of situational awareness as conditions can change quickly.

“I’m thankful NBC News takes our safety and security in the field seriously and doesn’t take any chances,” he said.

On the technical side, large crowds such as those at protests present additional challenges.

“When tens of thousands of people are streaming, tweeting and texting at the same time, it can be difficult to get a quality live signal,” Grumbach said. That requires creativity and ingenuity.”

Despite the intensity of his career, Grumbach says one of his favorite parts of the job has been connecting with people on the ground.

“What I found most interesting, particularly from covering candidates on the campaign trail, is that from Nevada to Iowa to South Carolina to Vermont, the answers from voters weren’t all that different,” he said. That realization has reinforced his commitment to reporting the truth and helping connect people across the country.

Despite his national success, Grumbach remains deeply connected to his roots. He was recently selected as one of Elon’s Top 10 Under 10 Alumni, a recognition he views with immense gratitude. For him, the “Elon bubble” never truly burst; it just expanded. He now lives and works with fellow alumni and had nearly two dozen of them attend his wedding.

Looking ahead to the next decade in a rapidly changing media landscape, Grumbach’s goal remains simple—to keep the public informed.

“There’s nothing I love more than explaining breaking news to colleagues and viewers—from the latest lawsuit filed to a complicated Supreme Court decision,” he said. “Having the opportunity to tell people something that could truly impact their lives, and making sure that information is easy to understand and fact‑based, will always be important.”

Since 2011, 51±ŹÁÏÍű has honored 10 recipients each year with the Elon Top 10 Under 10 Alumni Award, recognizing their significant professional achievements. This award celebrates accomplished alumni from the last decade who not only excel in their careers but also actively contribute to their communities and serve as dedicated alumni role models.

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell? Please share your feedback or those stories online:

McCollum, a cinema and television arts BFA major from Charlotte, spent last fall studying at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, also known as FAMU. The program is unique among Elon’s study abroad programs: eight hours of class a day for the first two months, with the rest of the semester dedicated entirely to filming and editing a short film.

“You’re really there to focus on making this one film, which is kind of awesome,” McCollum said.

After students pitch scripts at the start of the program, seven are selected, and crews form organically around those directors. McCollum landed the role of director of photography on “Night Shift,” a dark mystery short about a janitor who discovers a dead body in his office building and is met with indifference when he seeks help. The team immediately set about trying to find locations to film around Prague – which turned out not to be an easy task.

When the crew applied to 20 locations around the city and heard nothing back, they turned their own school building into a film set. The production designer spent an hour before and after every shoot day transforming the space, while McCollum measured each room in advance to plan every lighting setup.

The film was also shot on 16mm – real, physical film – which added an entirely different layer of pressure. No monitor, no autofocus, no fixing exposure problems in post-production.

“You don’t really know what your shot looked like until you saw it on the big screen,” McCollum said.

When the group left Prague, they pooled $50 each and handed McCollum the $200 to spend on festival submissions. He used Film Freeway to submit to festivals in Charlotte, Los Angeles, and New York – the hometowns of the four crew members. Then he waited.

The first response came from the Independent Shorts Awards, where “Night Shift” earned a Bronze Award for Best Production Design. A follow-up email brought additional recognition – an Honorable Mention for Best Mystery Short, a category McCollum hadn’t even entered. The film has also been nominated for Best Student Short at the Queen City Culture Film Festival in Charlotte, scheduled for Saturday, April 25, with several more decisions still pending.

With early success on the festival circuit, the experience has reshaped how McCollum views filmmaking beyond the classroom. He plans to submit his senior BFA film to festivals and now encourages other student filmmakers to take that same step.

“Once you apply to your first festival, you’ll get attention,” he said. “You just gotta get your foot in the door.”