AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is a story I wrote a couple of years ago about a very special and unusual scholarship for a football player at Elon. It was first published in the Magazine of Elon in 2019. Ryan Whitehead, pictured above with many of the donors of to the Mark Foley Scholarship, is now an … Continue reading Elon friends remember Mark Foley with lasting gift
Elon University
Understanding bias, privilege and what really matters
When nationally syndicated newspaper columnist Leonard Pitts spoke at Elon in September of 2015 as part of a lecture series featuring Pulitzer Prize winners, it was only a few months after the massacre of nine African-Americans by a white supremacist during Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. It touched … Continue reading Understanding bias, privilege and what really matters
Adjusting to our new abnormal normal
Sunday morning was the first time I woke up unsure of what day it might be. Saturday, perhaps? Didn't seem like Saturday. Then again, what does Saturday feel like anymore? Monday? Nah, it was too late in the day to be Monday -- 9 a.m. is past my normal 8:30 a.m. weekday telephone meeting with … Continue reading Adjusting to our new abnormal normal
Updated: Elon fills gap by providing local candidates forum in commissioners race
UPDATE: Carrie Eaves, assistant professor of Political Science at Elon, will moderate the forum. The new regional editor for area Gannett newspapers, including the Burlington Times-News, Donnie Fetter is expected to take part. Admission is free. The Moseley Center is located across from the McMichael Parking Lot off North O'Kelly Avenue on the Elon campus. … Continue reading Updated: Elon fills gap by providing local candidates forum in commissioners race
A stay with purpose, and a bit of champagne
The first surprise upon starting a tour of the Inn at Elon the day before it officially opened was this tidbit from our guide: "When guests arrive they will be offered their choice of a glass of water or a glass of champagne," she said. Nice touch. Either choice is a win. And there were … Continue reading A stay with purpose, and a bit of champagne
Life at Elon: Heading into year four of this experiment
Today I enter my fourth year of working as a development writer at Elon University. To say leaving newspapers for higher education radically changed my life for the better is still a massive understatement. In fact my first day on the job was a clear indicator of just how different life would be. On the … Continue reading Life at Elon: Heading into year four of this experiment
Elon provided foundation for Brebbia’s rise to the Major Leagues
I asked John Brebbia the same question I ask everyone I interview who is associated with the university where I now work as a staff writer: "How did you get to Elon?" Some of the answers are surprising, others not so much. Elon does rate highly in a number of those college rankings released annually, … Continue reading Elon provided foundation for Brebbia’s rise to the Major Leagues
(Updated) John Brebbia: A former Elon player to watch in the baseball playoffs
UPDATE: John Brebbia did get in Thursday's game one, but just for a short time. He was, however, involved in what was seen by analysts as a key play in the game. Coming on in the seventh inning, leadoff hitter Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a screaming shot to right field. Thinking it might be a … Continue reading (Updated) John Brebbia: A former Elon player to watch in the baseball playoffs
Elon University meets Downtown B-Town
For the past few years Elon University has stepped up its efforts to be a bigger presence in Alamance County and specifically its nearby neighbor -- Burlington. I first noticed it six or so years ago when Dr. Connie Book was then an associate provost at Elon. She reached out to the newspaper where I … Continue reading Elon University meets Downtown B-Town
Apollo 11: ‘The story of a big adventure’
Click here to see a collection newspaper front pages covering the Apollo 11 mission provided by Poynter. Houston, Monday July 21 -- Men have landed and walked on the moon. That was the lede graph in the story published by the New York Times on July 21, 1969. It was a simple statement, clean and … Continue reading Apollo 11: ‘The story of a big adventure’
