As part of the program, students at Walter Williams High School read The American Queen alongside 51±ŹÁÏÍű’s Center for Design Thinking and Power+Place Storytellers. Every Tuesday, the Center for Design Thinking’s Danielle Lake and student facilitators Cooper Mallor, Berenice Sanchez-Rosaldo and Tyberious Brooks facilitated discussions at these sessions.

During the discussions, the Center has been focusing on the leadership strategies and transformative actions related to the themes of oppression throughout the book. Additionally, the Center encourages students to reflect on the book’s overall content, themes and connections to real-world issues.

“Every time I go, I feel pretty excited,” Brooks said. “Getting to see them open up more, think more critically about what they’re reading, it’s really nice to see the progression in them every time we go.”

To further increase real-world connections, over eight Power+Place Storytellers and various community partners joined the weekly sessions. The goal of their participation was to offer engaging mentorship figures for students. Each individual comes to the program with a background that allows them to understand each other’s experiences and themselves in similar terms.

“‘The American Queen’ fits naturally in his core curriculum, which challenges students to examine resistance against discrimination throughout U.S. history,” said Robert Alvis, a civil literacy teacher at Walter Williams High School. “This core curriculum goal closely aligns with the Center’s goal to empower students to act as leaders in the face of oppression.”

Alvis says he hopes students “learn how to listen to someone’s opinion and respond to constructive questions” from these discussions.

Set during the Reconstruction Era, “The American Queen” focuses on the quality of life Black people had as a result of their own leadership and decisions after slavery was abolished. The book explores the complexity of freedom as something communities had to define for themselves amid ongoing hardships.

“It’s not like one day the government woke up and said slavery is abolished and everything is better now,” Alvis said.

Made possible by a $20,000 grant awarded to the Power+Place Collaborative and The Center for Design Thinking by the , Walter Williams High School Students, Center facilitators, Power+Place storytellers, and community partners were able to bring conversations about the book beyond the classroom.

The “Storying Home: Cultivating Cross-Cultural Connections through Storytelling” grant, which was awarded, aims to support civic storytelling to encourage conversations surrounding generational and cultural background differences. Through it, the book program culminated in a meaningful milestone — an opportunity to meet the author of “The American Queen” in person and engage with the wider Alamance County community at a book luncheon on April 15.

Anya Bratić ’26, an international & global studies major, has completed her service term as a North Carolina Civic Impact Fellow.

The North Carolina Civic Impact Fellowship (NC-CIF) is a statewide civic leadership program through North Carolina Campus Engagement that equips exceptional student leaders to build a stronger civic life on their campus. Fellows are nominated by their institution’s president or chancellor and campus administrators, and selected based on their outstanding civic leadership potential.

During her fellowship year, Bratić collaborated with the Kernodle Center for Civic Life and the Student Government Association to advance an initiative that strengthened campus-community connections and student civic participation. Bob Frigo, Assistant Dean of Campus Life and Director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, served as Bratić’s mentor for the project.

Bratić began her fellowship by assessing Elon’s civic engagement efforts and identifying opportunities to fill gaps in awareness, access, or participation. Guided by her findings, Bratić organized a campus-wide Town Hall through the Student Government Association (SGA), where students heard directly from local community leaders and changemarkers about pathways into service. This event helped students visualize their own trajectory into a life and career of service. Bratić then institutionalized SGA’s commitment to service by advancing SGA bylaw amendments that formally require a Civic Engagement Senator to lead at least one substantive civic initiative for the student body during their term.

“I’m proud of the number of students from diverse groups and backgrounds who demonstrated a genuine commitment to learn more from civic, business and educational leaders in Alamance County,” said Bratić, “College students are uniquely positioned and equipped with the resources of their campuses to make tangible changes in their communities. A space like this provides a platform for students to exercise their strengths and creativity that will last beyond their four years in college.”

Bratić presented the outcomes of her fellowship project and offered recommendations to sustain the work during a capstone presentation to several project stakeholders and local community partners.

51±ŹÁÏÍű’s growing connections within the drone education community came full circle on April 11, when the university hosted the U.S. Drone Soccer District IV Championship in South Gym for the first time.

The event brought together high school teams from North Carolina and Virginia for a fast-paced competition that blends strategy, engineering and flight skills — but for Randy Piland, the moment represented something bigger: the result of years spent building relationships through Elon Drone Day.

“It was not long after drone soccer launched in the U.S. that I became interested in the sport,” said the associate teaching professor of communication design who organizes Elon Drone Day. “I learned that Asheboro City Schools had a well-established team, so I reached out and invited them to Drone Day in 2023.”

That initial connection grew into a partnership that ultimately led to Elon serving as a host site for district-level competition, evolving from a demonstration at Elon Drone Day — where students introduced the sport to attendees — into a broader collaboration with educators and industry partners.

At a subsequent Elon Drone Day last fall, North Carolina State University contributed a drone soccer arena, while students from Asheboro City Schools returned to demonstrate the sport in action.

Those connections ultimately paved the way for Elon to host the District IV Championship after Anthony Woodyard, chief information officer for Asheboro City Schools, approached Piland about securing an on-campus venue. South Gym provided ample space for competition and spectators, along with convenient access for visiting teams. To see the drone soccer action, .

“When we launched Elon Drone Day, the goal was to create a space where people could learn about this rapidly evolving technology,” Piland said.

That vision continues to expand, with events like the district championship strengthening Elon’s role as a hub for drone education and innovation.

Piland teaches two courses at Elon that explore the growing role of unmanned aerial systems across industries.

Drones and Society: Balancing Innovation and Accountability, first offered as a COR Capstone last fall, examines the technology from multiple angles, including history, ethics and hands-on flight. This spring, Piland launched Drones 101: Takeoff to Career Paths, which introduces communications students to drone operations and their applications in fields ranging from media and environmental research to emergency response.

“The feedback we received on the district championship was very positive, and we hope we’ll be asked to host again next year,” Piland said.

Looking ahead, the Elon professor sees even more potential for growth — particularly in expanding access for local students.

“I’d like Elon, with some outside financial support, to organize after-school programs here in Alamance County where high school students can get involved in this fast-paced e-sport,” he said.

The six teams – 40 students in all – competing in the championship represented Asheboro City Schools, Wheatmore High School in Trinity, North Carolina, and an afterschool program sponsored by Virginia Tech.

The championship finals featured two Asheboro teams, with both advancing to the U.S. Drone Soccer 2026 National Championship, scheduled for May 18–19 at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Anna Smith, Elon’s Study USA coordinator, recently participated in RAINN’s 4th Annual Congressional Day of Action, joining about 40 survivor advocates on Capitol Hill to push for stronger protections against sexual violence.

Throughout the day, Smith met with several congressional offices, including Rep. Erin Houchin, Rep. Madeleine Dean, Rep. Robert Aderholt, Rep. Lucy McBath (GA), and Rep. Jim Costa, to advocate for legislation addressing tech-enabled sexual abuse, strengthening child protection laws and securing funding for the National Sexual Assault Hotline.

A key focus of her advocacy was the Statutes of Limitation for Child Sexual Abuse Reform Act (H.R. 2920), which encourages states to eliminate time limits that often prevent survivors from seeking justice.

“In 2022, I received justice for a crime that had been committed nearly twenty years earlier,” Smith said. “I quickly realized how rare that outcome is.”

Fewer than 3% of perpetrators of sexual violence serve prison time. Anna’s case moved forward only because North Carolina does not have a statute of limitations for felony offenses, something she says should not depend on geography.

“Encouraging states to eliminate outdated statute of limitation laws is a simple way to ensure survivors, no matter where they live, have the opportunity to seek justice when they feel ready,” she said.

During her conversations with lawmakers, Smith also worked to challenge common misconceptions about survivor disclosure.

“Many people assume survivors come forward immediately, when in reality that is extremely rare,” she said. “For those abused in childhood, the average age of disclosure is 52. “Our laws need to reflect that.”

While her advocacy reached a national stage, its roots remain deeply connected to her work at Elon. Smith says being on a college campus often reminds her of her own experience, when she first felt safe enough to share her story.

“I was in college when I first disclosed, almost seven years after the crime occurred,” she said. “I think back to that version of myself, who felt lost and confused, and I know she would be in awe of the person I’ve become.”

That perspective is shaping how she shows up during Sexual Assault Awareness Month on campus. Smith plans to participate in Denim Day and attend programming such as the Elon  on addressing sexual violence among college students on April 30, hosted by Chris Linder, professor and chair of the Department of Educational Leadership at the University of Utah, using those spaces to stand in solidarity with others.

“I will be there in support of all survivors, across the many stages of healing,” she said. “Those who have spoken their truth, and those who are not yet ready, or may never choose to.”

The experience on Capitol Hill, she says, was empowering, emotional, and deeply meaningful, but it also reinforced a belief she carries into her everyday work at Elon.

“Stories are our most powerful tools for change,” she said. “A statistic is nameless and faceless, but when a lawmaker sits down with a survivor and listens to their story, they are more likely to act.”

From campus conversations to congressional offices, Anna is helping ensure those stories are heard, reminding the Elon community that awareness is only the beginning, and advocacy is what drives change.

The Center is advising participants in their new , an initiative by Project Pericles that is designed to encourage universities to participate in civic engagement endeavors through multimedia projects. These storytelling projects will showcase “grassroots changemaking” that strengthens agency, builds community partnerships, and fosters democratic conversations.

The fellowship’s goals closely align with the mission of the Center and its support of the Power+Place Collaborative. Since 2018, the collaborative has worked with residents across Alamance County to collect oral history, create digital stories and examine the memories and stories of people who have shaped the community.

Lake, along with design catalysts Berenice Sanches-Rosaldo and Andrea Camo Conde, and community partner James Shields Jr., the manager of the African American Cultural Arts and History Center, helped lead the consulting workshop.

Lake, Shields, Sanches-Rosaldo and Camo Conde helped participants think through three different ways to advocate for systemic change through storytelling. These frameworks explored strategic storytelling, investigative follow-up, and activating community action. The Center advised the Project Pericles attendees to follow these methods since the Center and its Power+Place Collaborative use storytelling as a means to build trust across our community.

The Center will continue to consult Project Pericles’ Civic Story Lab Fellowship throughout the spring and summer.

“When I was a student, there weren’t a huge number of local alumni that I was able to connect with,” he said. “I’m excited that this is a way I can highlight that staying in the community is an option.”

For Jensen Roll ’16, the path to building a business began long before he ever stepped onto a construction site. His path started with service, leadership and a long-standing connection to North Carolina. Both of his parents were born and raised in North Carolina, and summers spent visiting grandparents made it feel like a second home. So, when he began looking at colleges, North Carolina topped his list. Elon stood out almost immediately.

“I discovered Elon while looking at multiple schools and immediately fell in love with the service opportunities, the Leadership Fellows program and the deep commitment to study abroad,” he said.

The Leadership Fellows program was the primary motivation for his enrollment; he was accepted into the program before receiving his acceptance to the university.

Once on campus, Roll leaned into innovation. He designed a custom major in social entrepreneurship that bridged the gap between the business school, environmental studies and the humanities. He helped bring the University Innovation Fellowship program to Elon. This experience introduced him to design thinking and the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Silicon Valley, including visits to Google and Stanford University.

Because his self-designed major didn’t fit into a standard study abroad box, Roll worked with Angela Llewellyn, now assistant provost for academic excellence and integrity, to create a bespoke program. This journey took him to San Francisco and eventually to Cape Town, South Africa, for six months. It was there, while attending Jubilee Church through a connection from Emma Burress (then overseeing study abroad students), that he met his future wife, Mtende. After a year and a half of long-distance dating, she moved to North Carolina and today they are 50-50 partners in life and business.

While Jensen oversees the construction side as a licensed general contractor, Mtende is a licensed realtor who manages the investment and real estate side of their ventures.

“We co-own all of our companies together. Both of us have a very entrepreneurial and creative spirit,” he explained, stating that their shared vision is the backbone of their company culture.

He credits a wide network of mentors for pushing him to think differently. In addition to Leon Williams, former director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education (CREDE), he points to Gary Palin, former executive director of the Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, for challenging him to “be” an entrepreneur rather than just study it. He also highlights the influence of Steve Moore, a retired faculty member in environmental studies who shaped his views on urban sustainability. His growth was further guided by Phil Miller, a former lecturer in human services studies; Rex Waters, former dean of student development; and Steven Mencarini, former director of the Center for Leadership.

“The ability to work one-on-one with professors and attend national conferences gave me the confidence to launch initiatives like H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Eat),” he said.

Perhaps the most significant application of this “Triple Bottom Line” education, focusing on people, profit, and planet, is a current project Roll is particularly proud of: building seven tiny homes for Benevolence Farm. The project provides housing for women and non-binary individuals transitioning out of incarceration.

“As a construction company, not every project we take on has that opportunity to provide that triple bottom line in a meaningful way,” Roll said. “This is going to increase their capacity to serve that population.”

What’s been most rewarding, he said, is watching that impact accumulate.

“Construction is unique because the results are tangible and lasting,” he said. “Years later, you can drive by something you worked on and see how it’s become part of someone’s life.”

He credits Elon with giving him the freedom to experiment early, without the pressure of getting everything right.

“Elon was the ultimate sandbox,” he said. “It was a place to try things, take risks and even fail safely.”

He notes that while he didn’t graduate with a construction management degree, the problem-solving and systems-building skills he learned at Elon translated perfectly to the industry.

“What I spent four years learning at Elon had much more to do with the problem-solving, the engaged learning, the building of systems,” he said. “That is what we are doing in the real world.”

His advice to current students interested in entrepreneurship mirrors that mindset.

“Start now,” he said. “Spend time with business owners. Read. Build something. Use your four years to experiment while you still have that safety net. The best way to learn is by doing.”

Looking ahead, Roll is eager to take on larger, more complex and more creative projects. He thrives on unique builds and clients with distinct design visions. At the same time, he sees affordable housing as an area where his background in both entrepreneurship and service naturally converges.

“Our goal is to build a community that we want to live in,” he said. “The company is so closely aligned with the things that we care about.”

From building a tiny house as a student to shaping the built environment of his community, Roll’s journey highlights the combination of service and entrepreneurship, a foundation strengthened at Elon and carried forward through every project he takes on.

The Employee Volunteer Program was created to allow Elon staff to receive paid leave to volunteer with community organizations, a benefit now formalized through Human Resources. Today, full-time staff working 30 or more hours per week can take up to 16 hours of paid leave annually to support causes that positively impact the quality of life within communities. Beyond the policy itself, the program reflects something deeper.

“Allowing Elon employees to have paid volunteer leave is symbolic of 51±ŹÁÏÍű’s commitment to supporting local communities,” said Bob Frigo, director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life and assistant dean of campus life.

He emphasizes that engagement is not just a student responsibility, but “it is important for staff and faculty to model the way in terms of being active citizens in our communities.”

For many employees, these hours open doors to experiences that might otherwise be difficult to access during a busy workweek. Kelly Harer, associate director of sustainability for education and outreach, used her volunteer time to work the polls during a local primary election.

“Volunteering is something I’ve been doing my entire life, and I’m so thankful that Elon gives us the opportunity to volunteer during work hours,” she said. Her role involved guiding voters through the process, but the experience became more personal than procedural.

“I volunteered in my own voting precinct; it was lovely to chat with folks that live near me that I might not otherwise get to know,” said Harer.

Nicole Bergen, program assistant for the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, also participated in an experience that highlights the variety and flexibility the program offers. From reading with first graders to participating in Haw River cleanups, she has used her hours to connect with the Alamance County community in multiple ways.

“I am always amazed at what a group of working volunteers can accomplish in such a short time,” she reflected. Whether collecting bags of trash or seeing “a student partner smiling at you the second you appear in the doorway,” Bergen has found both purpose and connection.

For Bergen, who does not live in the county, the program has been especially meaningful.

“It has felt like a lovely adventure to discover the area outside work,” she said, adding that it has reshaped her understanding of her role in the community.

Renovations have started on what once was a small residence hall but will soon serve as the temporary location for Roberts Academy at 51±ŹÁÏÍű, an all-day private school for children with dyslexia that opens in August.

The top priority for the designers working on those renovations? Create a space where children will learn, grow, and thrive in their confidence as young readers.

“Our team did a wonderful job of thinking through which spaces will be for which purpose, the furniture we’re selecting, how we’re setting up classrooms, and the technology we’ll use,” said Ann Bullock, dean of the university’s Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education. “All of those things will make for an engaged, active, multisensory school. It’s going to be great.”

Established in 2025 through a gift from philanthropists Hal and Marjorie Roberts of Lakeland, Florida, the Roberts Academy at 51±ŹÁÏÍű will be the fourth in a series of successful university-based private elementary schools the couple also supported at Vanderbilt University, Mercer University and Florida Southern College.

Each academy employs the Orton-Gillingham multisensory approach to reading instruction. The goal is to return students to their community schools as confident readers after 2-3 years of immersive, hands-on instruction in all core subjects.

The Roberts Academy at Elon will welcome third and fourth graders this fall to Trollinger House as construction begins on a permanent site along East Haggard Avenue. That location will open for to grades 1-6 starting in Fall 2028.

Bullock was joined on April 9, 2026, for a site visit to Trollinger House where several staff members wore hard hats on their stroll through the building on West Trollinger Avenue. Led by Holly Hodge, 51±ŹÁÏÍű’s director of interior design, staff had a chance to see for themselves what, until then, had only been conceptual.

Hodge highlighted some of the features that, once installed, will nurture students who attend the school: flexible furniture for smaller groups in classrooms with no more than 12 students, desks with writable surfaces, and expansive wall space intended to be layered with student work and their art on display.

“To me, it’s a blank canvas,” Hodge said afterward. “Walking through the space and showing that blank canvas helps imagine a piece of art in the making. I can’t wait for students to then come in and have teachers make the space their own.”

Hodge identified another question for her team: How do you “define” or tell the story of dyslexia? How do you celebrate the amazing talents and strengths of students in addition to their classroom learning?

One thing is certain, she concluded: “Every kid deserves to be confident.”

***

 Families interested in learning more can visit the Roberts Academy website at www.elon.edu/robertsacademy.

“The mission of the Open Door Clinic is to promote good health and wellbeing by supporting patients through comprehensive and equitable health care,” said Volunteer Coordinator Makenna Grozis ’27. “For many patients, this care is essential, and without it, small health concerns can escalate into costly emergencies. This clinic aims to help the uninsured stay healthy and reduce potential emergency medical costs and other burdens on families through preventative care.”

The Open Door Clinic relies heavily on grants and operates with minimal paid staff, making volunteers the backbone of patient care.

“Volunteers play a huge role, acting as the primary liaison between the patients and the medical staff,” Grozis noted.

From the moment a patient walks in, student volunteers are there to greet them, check them in, answer questions and ensure the clinic runs smoothly. Beyond medical services, the clinic addresses broader disparities tied to financial and social barriers. Patients have access to free or low-cost medications, labs, vaccines, and even specialty care. The clinic also houses the “Closet of Hope,” providing clothing and toiletries at no cost. Together, these resources create what Grozis describes as “an equitable space where vulnerable populations can have an opportunity to achieve better health outcomes.”

For Elon students, the experience is both practical and deeply personal. Most begin in clerk roles, but even these positions carry meaningful responsibility.

“They are the first faces our patients see when they walk through the door,” Grozis said.

Over time, these repeated weekly shifts foster a special connection and much-needed consistency.

“Unlike many volunteer positions where students may go once a semester, volunteers at the clinic get to know the patients, staff, providers, and other volunteers,” Grozis said.

Grozis’s own experience reflects this sense of growth and initiative. Recognizing a language barrier among many Spanish-speaking patients, she enrolled in a medical Spanish course at Elon. That decision led her to help create a collaboration between the class and the clinic.

“The student volunteers as interpreters where they facilitate communication between the providers and the patient,” she explained.

This effort not only improved patient care but also expanded opportunities for students to engage more directly in the clinical setting. After nearly three years at the clinic, Grozis has witnessed both patient progress and volunteer dedication firsthand.

“I have seen numerous volunteers go out of their way to make sure patients feel heard and informed,” she said.

For her, and for many others, the Open Door Clinic is more than a place of service; it is a community. Even when language barriers exist, connection persists.

“Many of the staff members know almost every single patient by name,” Grozis shared. “A smile can carry a great deal of compassion and understanding.”

On April 4,  the Elon Engineering Club, Phoenix Racing Club and the Department of Physical Therapy brought the Go Baby Go Initiative to Elon’s campus for the first time. Founded in 2012 at the University of Delaware, Go Bo Baby is a national initiative that modifies ride-on toy cars to meet the individual physical needs of young children who experience mobility challenges.