Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / Oct. 25, 2001, edition 1 / Page 5
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Oct. 25, 2001 News Page 5 Ten students named recipients of the Watson Scholarship Erin Cunningham Reporter The second annual recipients of The Leon and Lorraine Watson North Carolina Scholarship Pro gram have been selected. The Watson scholarship aids North Carolina students who wish to attend Elon University and who have demonstrated self-determina tion, community involvement and academic excellence. Recipients receive programmatic opportuni ties, which ensure they will be able to obtain the maximum benefit of an Elon education. An applicant who has endured hardship or a challenge or is the first member of his/her family to attend college is also factored into the se lection process, according to Annette Orbert. This year’s award recipients are Anabela Cook, Michael Dixon, Crystal Honeycutt, Ashanti Jennings, Keisha King, Meredith Moose, Brian Newell, Michelle Parson, Laura Thiedemann and Samantha Walters. The students are awarded a $4,000 renewable scholarship, a one-time grant of up to $3,000 to fund a study or travel experience and a financial aid package of ad ditional scholarships, grants and loans to meet the student’s full fi nancial need. These students will participate in a four-year program demonstrating the best qualities of an Elon educa tion. The program encourages full participation in all five components of the Elon Experience: leadership development, service learning, study abroad, internship and under graduate research. Once the scholarship is awarded, there are several contingencies, ac cording to Orbert. Each student must participate in Emerging Lead ers, the first phase of the four-year Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellow Program. It is anticipated that re cipients will complete a minimum of 30 semester hours each academic year and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or above. Watson recipients will be encour aged to participate in an internship and/or a student undergraduate re search project. They will also work closely with a family to build a Habitat for Hu manity House during freshman year. Last year the scholars traveled on an overnight trip to Rocky Mount, N.C. to put siding up on a house, Orbert said. Sophomore Watson recipients serve as mentors, guiding the fresh men scholars. The program was designed specifically for North Carolina students who have shown a commitment to preparing them selves to better the communities in which they live. It is expected that Watson Scholarship recipients will serve as role models to others who need assistance and actively work Students on the other end; a look at the Phonathon Megan T\irner Reporter Rhodes Stadium, Belk Li brary, McKinnon Field; the names of Elon’s benefactors can be seen all across campus. It is their contributions that have helped fund renovations, build ing projects and scholarship programs. It is the smaller con tributions raised by Elon’s An nual Giving Phonathon, how ever, that pay for what Elon’s assistant director of annual giv ing, Elizabeth Barr, called the less “glamorous” projects. Each year, student workers call Elon’s 17,000 alumni and 4,000 parents for a period of seven weeks in the fall and six weeks in the spring, Monday through Thursday, 5:30-9:00 p.m., in an effort to raise money for Elon’s unrestricted funds. This money is used for ex penses ranging from mainte nance bills to computers for the library. Last year the group col lected around $280,000. This year, Barr says the goal is $300,000. This year’s effort started on Sept. 23, and so-far alumni have donated about $53,000. Director of annual giving, Jerry Tolley says the money raised by the phonathon is part of the $1 million of unrestricted funds raised each year by Elon’s Annual Giving. The Uni versity also receives about $9 million a year in restricted funds. Tolley says that in order to raise the necessary funds, stu dent callers are trained to make calls using specific scripts. He says annual giving also uses prizes to motivate student call ers. For example, Tolley says five workers were given seats in the President’s Box at Rhodes Stadium. Senior Hillary Sherman, the Phonathon supervisor, says at first it seems wrong to call Elon’s alumni to ask for money. But, she says the University de pends on these donations be cause tuition only pays for about 75 percent of Elon’s to tal expenses. Ashley Regan, a junior at Elon and a worker for the phonathon, says the donations are important because they di rectly affect Elon. She also added that for many of the alumni, the students’ calls are the only contact graduates have with the school. Even if they don’t donate, she says, it is good to make a connection with them. Sherman also says that her job allows her to see how Elon uses its money. After four years as a caller, she says that donat ing is “something I think every one should have to do.” Calling alumni, “helps you remember how important it is to give back [to the school],” she said. to improve their communities for others. Leon Watson was a 1925 gradu ate of Elon. “Elon gave Watson a chance for his education, and he was grateful,” Nan Perkins, Vice President of Institutional Advance ment, said. The Watson’s, who had no children, always felt a connec tion to the college. “[Mrs.Watson] established a $10,000 scholarship in his name after he died,” Perkins said. “After her death, their entire estate was left to Elon to be used for scholarships.” Elon decided ex actly how to use the money. The Watson’s $3 million dona tion is the largest gift designated for scholarships in Elon’s history. Freshman Tiffani Grime makes her first call of the night. Junior Jen Clair a phonathon caller laughs with a benefactor on the phone. A white board behind her shows all tallied calls kept during the evening. Phonathon participants (in no particular order) Tiffani Grime, Nadia Washington, Elizabeth LeBoeuf, Michelle Parson, Susan Nullmeyer, Logan Homey, Jimmy Principi, Rebecca Heimann and Catherine Orsini are prepared to make some calls. Hiotos by Elizabeth Sudduth / News Editor
Elon University Student Newspaper
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Oct. 25, 2001, edition 1
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