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Elon University’s WeeklyStudent Publication

May 19, 2007 www.elon.edu/pendulum

Graduation 2007

From acorn...

...to saplingFile Photo

Photo submitted

Page 2 l Saturday, May 19, 2007 GRADUATION EDITION The Pendulum

The Pendulum is published each Thursday of the academic year. The advertising and edito-rial copy deadline is 5 p.m. the Friday before publication.

Letters to the editor and guest columns are welcome and should be typed, double-spaced,signed and include a telephone number for verification. Submissions are also accepted as Worddocuments and as posts on our Web site.

The Pendulum reserves the right to edit obscene or potentially libelous material. Lengthy let-ters or columns may have to be trimmed to fit. All submissions become the property of ThePendulum and will not be returned.

To reach The Pendulum at 233 Moseley Center, call (336) 278-7247 or fax (336) 278-7426.Contact The Pendulum by e-mail at pendulum@elon.edu. Visit our Web site atwww.elon.edu/pendulum.

Elon UniversityElon, N.C.

Established 1974

Brittany Smith, Editor in ChiefNathan Rode, Editor Emeritus

Calley Grace, Managing Editor

[Section Editors]Alyse Knorr, News Editor

Kaitlin Ugolik, News Editor

Bryan Ray, Opinions EditorCaroline Matthews, Features Editor

Jeff Rickel, Sports Editor

[Special Projects]Andie Diemer, Special Projects Editor

[Copy Desk]Mary Cunningham, Copy Editor

Miriam Williamson, Copy Editor

[Business]Jessica Kimmel, Business Manager

[Faculty]Glenn Scott, Adviser

[Graphics]Angie Lovelace, Graphic Designer

Adam Justice, Assistant Business Manager

Rachel Abbot, Sales

Ben Hanna, Ad Design

Justin Hite, Managing Editor

[Photography]Anna Tolner, Photo Editor

[Web Editor]Bryan LeGrand, Web Editor

The PendulumMeredith Long, Copy Editor

RJ Kraft, A & E Editor

May 17

Reception for African-AmericanGraduates and Alumni6:30 - 8 p.m., Johnston Hall

Vickie Blackwell Morrow willspeak and graduates will be welcomed into the African-American Alumni Group by president Steve Walker.

May 18

ROTC Commissioning Ceremony11 a.m., Holt Chapel

Receptions for graduates andtheir families, hosted by facultymembers based on major1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Arts and Humanities: Center for theArts, Ward Gallery, Pardue Courtand Love Terrace

Science and Math: FonvilleFountain/ Scott Plaza

Social Science: Academic VillageAmphitheater and lawn

Love School of Business: ChandlerFountain and Plaza

School of Communications:McEwen Dining Hall Patio

School of Education: Mooney HallSouth Lawn

Baccalaureate3 p.m., Alumni Gym

Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed, nationaldirector of the Islamic Society ofNorth America’s Office of Interfaithand Community Alliances inWashington, D.C., will deliver theaddress. He is the He is the firstdirector of relationships and understanding between MuslimAmericans, government agenciesand Congressional representatives.

Leaders for the Twenty-FirstCentury: A Celebration ofAccomplishments5 p.m., McCrary Theatre

Graduating honors, North CarolinaTeaching, Isabella CannonLeadership, Business, Science andJournalism and CommunicationsFellows, Social Science scholarsand Arts and Humanities Scholarswill be recognized in a ceremonythat showcases their talents andaccomplishments.

Legacy Reception for graduatesand their alumni parents, grand-parents or siblings5:30 - 7 p.m., Johnston Hall

MBA Graduation7 p.m., Whitley Auditorium

May 19

Continental Breakfast7:30 a.m., Scott Plaza

Commencement schedule of eventsGraduates assemble 8:15 a.m., Jordan Gym

Commencement Under the Oaks9:30 a.m., Under The Oaks outsideWest Residence Hall, Rain location: Alumni Gym

Kerrii Anderson, a 1979 alumnawho was recently named chiefexecutive officer and president ofWendy’s International, Inc., willdeliver the commencement address.She joined Wendy’s in Sept. 2000as executive vice president andchief financial officer and wasappointed to the company’s boardof directors in November 2000. Shemanaged key areas of the corpora-tion including: Strategic planning,human resources, supply chain andinformation technology.

Commencement ReceptionsImmediately following commencement, Scott PlazaCheck pocket guides for otherreception locations.

ADVERTISEMENT Saturday, May 19, 2007 l Page 3The Pendulum

Page 4 l Saturday, May 19, 2007 The PendulumGRADUATION EDITION

Name: Grace DowMajor: English, with a concentration inCreative WritingMinor: Classical StudiesPost graduation plans: Working atBorders books, continuing to write andattending an MFA program for CreativeWriting in a few years' time.Favorite class/professor: Dr. HelenMackay and "Fantasy Novels" Favorite Elon moment: For me, one of

my favorite moments from Elon is from freshman year, when I attended aWinter Term course in Washington, D.C., with the Elon College Fellowsprogram. Not only was it fun to go to D.C. with fellow students and Elonprofessors, but it also showed me early on a lot of what Elon is about:curiousity, adventure, being open to new things, responsibility, exploringnew horizons, aiming to improve yourself and the world around you.

Name: Eden EstersMajor: Music Performance with aconcentration in Piano Minor: Jazz StudiesPost graduation plans: Pursuing aMaster of Music degree in PianoPedagogy at Louisiana StateUniversityFavorite professor: Dr. VictoriaFischer FawFavorite Elon moment:Performing my Senior PianoRecital for all of my friends andfamily on April 19, 2007.

Name: Mark Horsburgh Major: Business Administration witha concentration in ManagementMinor: CommunicationsPost graduation plans: Runningsporting and fashion events for IMGFavorite class/professor: BusinessFellows Classes with John Burbridge,dean of the Love School of Business. Favorite Elon moment: Being able tostudy abroad four times with myfriends.

SENIOR

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Name: Alli BentonMajor: Elementary EducationPost graduation plans: Teach elementary school in NCFavorite class/professor: Dr.Deborah Long, who teachs PLT II:Math/Science MethodsFavorite Elon moment: Beinghonored by my teammates duringSenior Day for tennis and winningmy last matches at Elon! Go Elon!

Name: Carson FousheeMajor: Leisure & Sport ManagementMinor: Business AdministrationPost graduation plans: Spends the nextyear as a student at Guangxi University inNanning, China, where I will be learning Mandarin with other international students and performing student ministry.Favorite class/professor: Leisure & SportManagement Senior Seminar with Dr. JimDrummondFavorite Elon moment: Move-In Day2003 - 2006 because I have been able toparticipate as both a new student and aNew Student Orientation Leader for eachof the last four Move-In Days. This is themost exciting day because new Elon journeys are started and lives in this greatcommunity begin.

Saturday, May19, 2007 l Page 5The Pendulum GRADUATION EDITION

SPOTLIGHTS

Name: Cara LeidyMajor: Spanish and Human Services Post graduation plans: Return home toPhiladelphiaFavorite class/professor: Spanish LiteratureSenior Seminar with Mayte de LamaFavorite Elon moment: Presenting myundergraduate research in front of my professors and peers at SURF day.

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Name:Abbey LepleyMajor: Economics Minor: SpanishPost graduation plans: Entering the Ph.D.program in economics at University ofVirginia in fall 2007Favorite class/professor: All economicsprofessors I have had for class have beenfantastic. I could not pick only one as afavorite. Of the economics classes I havetaken, some of my favorites have beenExperimental Economics, MathematicalEconomics and Econometrics.Favorite Elon moment: I have to say thatI'll miss the luminary lighting ceremonyevery year around Christmas time.

Name: Chris WeitzenMajor: Computer Science Minor: Pacific StudiesPost graduation plans: I willbe attending the computerscience masters program atWake Forest University.Favorite professor: JoelHollingsworthFavorite Moment: Myfavorite moment was completing my honors thesis.

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Name: Kiley Moorefield Major: Corporate CommunicationsMinor: Political SciencePost graduation plans: Work for an adver-tising agency somewhere along the eastcoast. Possibly engange in overseas volun-teer workFavorite class/professor: Senior Seminarwith Dr. Anthony HatcherFavorite Elon moment: Study abroad inBrazil this past Winter Term.

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Name: Jen RomanoMajor: English with a concentration inTeacher LicensureMinor: HistoryPost graduation plans: To be determinedFavorite professor: Dr. Kathy Lyday-LeeFavorite Elon Moment: Studying abroad inLondon

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Name: Justin MannMajor: Psychology Minor: FrenchPost graduation plans: New York Universityfor a MA in Counseling for Mental Health andWellnessFavorite class/professor: Dr. MauriceLevesque, associate professor of Psychology Favorite Elon moment: Proposing to myfiancée Ginny Rodgers, another Elon senior.

GRADUATION EDITIONPage 6 l Saturday, May 19, 2007 The Pendulum

Wendy’s CEO and presidentwill speak at commencement

Kerrii Anderson, chief executive officer and president of Wendy’sInternational, will speak to thegraduating seniors today at commencement Under theOaks about “LifelongLearning.”

Anderson graduated fromElon magna cum laude in 1979with a degree in business administration and minors inaccounting and economics.

She lived in AlamanceCounty and commuted to campus every day after transfer-ring from Guilford College inGreensboro.

After graduating from Elon, Andersonjoined the accounting firm of KPMG andstarted studying for her CPA exam.

“So just when I thought the studying andclasses were over,” she said, “I was reallyjust beginning to apply what I had learned atElon, to continue to learn.”

It took Anderson 28 years of hard workand learning to get to her current position.

She joined Wendy’s Inernational in 2000as executive vice president and chief financial officer, and became C.E.O andpresident in 2006.

She managed key areas of the

corporation including: Strategic planning,human resources, supply chain and information technology.

Anderson said the foundation of learningshe got at Elon has had a lot to dowith her success, but the founda-tion is just the beginning.

“Future success is based on one’scommitment to lifelong learning,”she said.

There are many ways to do this,whether one chooses to go to grad-uate school, as Anderson did atDuke for her MBA, or to continue to learn and challengeoneself in other ways.

To students who still have a fewmore years here at Elon, Anderson

wants to encourage “absorbing the Elonexperience.”

Anderson met her still best friend RobinYork Weitzel and two particularly influentialfaculty members in her time at Elon.

Janie Council and Jeanne Williams hadsuch an impact on Anderson’s life, and contributed so much to her success at Elonand beyond that she recently named tworooms in the Love School of Business inhonor of them.

Kaitlin UgolikNews Editor

Contact Kaitlin Ugolik at pendulum@elon.eduor at 278-7247

Thanks and good luck to the seniors

Martha-Page Ransdellcopy editor 2006

Jessica Frizennews editor 2006

Kate Ferrisphoto editor fall 2006

Nathan Rodeeditor in chief 2006

editor emeritus spring 2007

Jessica Kimmelbusiness manager

spring 2007

Rachel Abbottbusiness staff 2006-2007

Anderson

Every generation thinks they are superior."Bring back the good ole' days," you knowthe routine. I'd like to continue in that greattradition of nearsightedness.

As I return to Elon to celebrate the graduation of friends on the five-year plan, Ican't help but think we've witnessed theGolden Age of Elon.

For me, two things define the collegeexperience: academic culture and social culture. For years Elon was known only as aparty school. About 15 years ago thatchanged and we are all grateful.

Those changes have accelerated over thepast five years. Thus, we have existed at thepeak of a wave transforming Elon from aparty school into an elite academic institu-tion. We had the best of both worlds.

On weeknights and weekends we turnedthis small town into one of the best parties inthe southeast. Friends from Ivys andCommunity Colleges visited to see what agood time we had, all without hard liquor.Yet, during the week we attended a schoolgaining national attention and rankings. Westudied under stellar faculty in beautifulbuildings and heard world leaders lecture.

The great speakers will continue to come,as will the reputation and rankings. Each yearwe'll say, "Boy, I couldn't get into Elon any-more." This is wonderful. The stronger my'06 degree looks, the better. But, because thishappened some things are changing.

Gone are the great days of drinking in leftfield at baseball games. Not to take anythingaway from our baseball team, but I have ahunch that our rowdy crowds had something

to do with a few wins over the years. Thatwas one of the most unique college experiences in the country.

Also, gone are the days of Phoenix Cashfor beer at West End. Few things are moreenjoyable than a blue moon paid for withbook money.

Gone are the days when Elon Place wasthe farthest outpost from campus. Shortwalks and that intimate environment hasgiven way to a scary amount of develop-ment.

Days when you could play Slosh Ballacross three yards on Woodale or use yourcouch as lawn furniture are gone as well.Neighbors have moved in and cops havestepped up enforcement across Elon.

Going, are the old apartments and housessuch as Money Pit and Jordan Center whichadded character and provided unique partyatmospheres. They were replaced by "luxu-ry" cookie-cutter apartments.

And gone are the days when you couldget a world class education for $19,000.Many factors have caused tuition to balloonin 5 years.

This isn't all bad. Many of these changeswere necessary. Eventually a fight wouldbreak out at a baseball game. And it wasonly so long before parents realized theirmoney could go toward a beer, not books.The stronger Elon's academics are, the better.I just think we should all realize how luckywe were to be here and experience the"Golden Age" of Elon.

– Dominic Barrett ‘06

Alumnus reflects on ‘Golden Age’

who worked for The Pendulum this year.

Saturday May 19, 2007 l Page 7The Pendulum ADVERTISEMENTS

Page 8 l Saturday, May 19, 2007 Saturday, May 19, 2007 l Page 9

Elon, right where

I bELONg “Hands down, my fondest memory atElon was wearing a full head-to-toeEaster Bunny costume to DanieleyCommons and buying a Danieley DaveWrap. I took some photos with someenthusiastic fellow diners. Then therewas this one guy sitting at a table thatwas comepletely terrified of me, so whenI waved at walked toward him, he nearlycried. Then, to top off the evening, Istood in the road and waved at TramJerry before hopping away to my dorm.Priceless.”

1. Friends

“Although all the professors thatI’ve had have been utterly amaz-ing, Dr. Bird Stasz probably madethe most important impact on mylife. She encouraged me to mergemy love for the environment withmy love for teaching. She is pas-sionate about travel as well and hasinspired me and a fellow classmateto go on a road trip this summer tocollect resources across the U.S.A.to use in our furture classrooms.”

6. Squirrels

“My fondest memories at Elonwere of the days with no classes,fantastic weather, great friends anda beer in hand [but only onebecause I am a responsible Elondrinker]... oh and the squirrels too.”

2. Faculty members

“Study abroad, definitely studyabroad. I did three ofthem, two WinterTerms and onesemester and I didn’tget to know thediversity and charac-ter of Elon until Iwent to Australia andhad the opportunityto meet and befriendthe best group of peo-ple in the world. “

“I will miss the subtle things from Elon. One of them being thesquirrels that are always around campus. I will miss the workers at

Elon that are present to talk to and are kind to help out when youneed something. I will miss the campus and its elegance and aura thatsurrounds it. Most of all I will miss the Southern hospitality that goeswith being here at Elon and I will also miss tripping on those randombricks walking to and from class.”

7. Bricks

4. Move-In Day

“I will obviously miss my friends, but I’ll missCantina and Meal Dollars too. I’ll miss sunnySaturdays at the top of Oak Hill doing nothingbut laughing. I’ll miss having my best friendsright next door and being able to hop in the carfor a Cook Out run at the drop of a hat. I’llmiss dance parties with the roomies and I’llmiss pulling all-nighters in Club Belk andwatching the sunrise over the flawless campus.I’ll miss the spontaneous road trips. I’ll missthe pressure to get in the assignments we’llnever use again. I’ll miss the teaches that madethose things seem important. Without a doubt, Iwill miss thinking we’re rockstars, singing ‘Hitme with Your Bes Shot’ at Lighthouse onKaraoke nights. I’ll miss sitting on the stoopsoutside our apartments smiling about how wehave it all for just that moment. The questionisn’t what I’ll miss, but what won’t I miss?”

5. Cook Out Runs

3. Study Abroad

“Moving in day. I was so excited and everyone was there to helpme. It was great!”

9. Acorn“Smelliing like Acorn.”“Getting my Acorn”“Tall non-fat Milky Way withwhip cream.”

“I will miss the friends I havemade and the opportunities to getinvolved in the local community.I’ll miss the green foliage withthe red brick buildings in thebackground. I’ll miss the 5 p.m.bells as I walk through campus ona crisp fall day as I take in thebeauty around me and rememberhow lucky I am to be surroundedby it all and for the wondefularray of experiences I’ve hadwhile here at Elon that haveshaped me into the person I amtoday.”

“The way it feels so much likehome and you feel so safe. I lovethe bubble Elon is in. I knew somany people and the professorsare so personable.”

10. The Bubble

8. Events

“I don’t just have onefond memory becauseI have so many greatmemories from Elon. Iremember all of thefun events I’ve goneto with my friends, theconcerts, sportingevents, Greek eventsand so on. The oppor-tunities I’ve beengiven while at Elonwere just fantastic.”

In an online survey conducted by The Pendulum, seniors anonymouslyreported what they would miss most about Elon after they graduated andmoved on to the real world. This is a compilation of their responses.

What seniors will miss after they graduate

Kaitlin Ugolik/ Photographer

Kaitlin Ugolik/ Photographer

Kaitlin Ugolik/ Photographer

Kaitlin Ugolik/ Photographer

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GRADUATION EDITIONPage 10 l Saturday, May 19, 2007 The Pendulum

“People see a picture of Bill Nye, thestereotypical researcher, and they neverthink, ‘Hey, I want to do that.’”

-Geoff Lynn

Chemistry major set to make global impactMiriam WilliamsonCopy Editor

Contact Miriam Williamson at pendu-lum@elon.edu or 278-7247

Curing the world may seem idealistic,but senior Geoff Lynn is taking on the chal-lenge and working to do just that.

Lynn has spent his time at Elon prepar-ing for a successful future in the field ofcancer research and is focused on doingsomething helpful for society.

Lynn currently has an interest in two dif-ferent research areas: targeted drug deliveryand hematopoietic stem cell research.

“I’m interested in both of those areas ofresearch because I think they both have thepotential to have the greatest impact on themedical field and the ways diseases are cur-rently treated.”

But his desire to save the world was notlong lived. After playing football in highschool on the field where “The Waterboy”was filmed, Lynn came to Elon fromDeland, Fla., for the sport.

He by no means expected to get asinvolved in the chemistry department as hedid. However, very early on, even while hecontinued to play football his freshman year,

he became very interested in Chemistry.In the spring of his freshman year, with

the help of Dr. Joel M. Karty, assistant pro-fessor of chemistry, who served as a mentorto Lynn during his time at Elon, Lynn gavehis first SURF presentation.

Karty then convinced him to apply for theSummer Undergraduate Research Experienceat Elon, and he was accepted.

“After just one year at Elon, I defined mygoals and really got into research because ofthe professors here I was working with,”Lynn said.

He had never seen research as a way tomake a difference in society; he thoughtmedicine was the only option.

It wasn’t until the end of his freshman

year that he realized how important it is andthat he may actually be interested inresearch.

“People see a picture of Bill Nye, thestereotypical researcher, and they neverthink ‘Hey, I want to do that,’” Lynn said.

But during that summer, Lynn realized hedid and how much he actually enjoyedresearch. He explained that he “could spendan obsessive amount of time on science andresearch.”

His freshman year really set the stage forhim to do a lot of great things during histime at Elon, since most people don’t getstarted that early. After working with anoth-er student, Kyle Lunsford, both applied topresent at a conference. They were only

sophomores, but they walked away withsecond and third place.

His sophomore year, he also applied forthe Barry Goldwater Scholarship, an incen-tive-based program created by the govern-ment that is rewarded to only 400 students inthe science, math and engineering fields whohave already done things and show potential.A committee at Elon nominates two studentsannually, but hasn’t had anyone receive thisscholarship until Lynn, which is incrediblyimpressive for a sophomore.

The summer after his sophomore year,Lynn did an internship with the Universityof Notre Dame department of biochemistryand physical chemistry where he researchedradiation therapy for cancer treatment.

In the summer of 2006, he was a fellowin the summer research training program atthe University of California, San Francisco,where he worked to make a cancer imagingtool with some of the top researchers in thecountry.

He worked with targeted joint delivery,which is the idea that the drugs today can’tdistinguish between different cells [cancer-ous or healthy]. But with this technology, itis possible to find a difference, and then cre-ate an imaging probe or drug that recognizesthese cells.

Even though Lynn has the knowledge ofscience and research, he knows that mostpeople don’t understand what he is talkingabout.

“I tell my parents what I do and they justseem confused. So I just tell them I killcells,” Lynn said. “It’s like we’re theUnibomber and we’re sending explosives tothe cancer cells, essentially.”

Lynn just received another big fellow-ship for graduate school, the NationalScience Foundation Graduate Research fel-lowship. It covers the full cost of tuition,plus a generous stipend.

He hasn’t decided which graduate schoolhe wants to go to, but is planning to take ayear off to work for a pharmaceutical compa-ny. He is graduating with a bachelor of sci-ence in chemistry, and a minor in biology.

He still hasn’t given up on medicalschool, and hopes to do a medical Ph.D. pro-gram. He will get a Ph.D. in a scientificfield, but will also get a medical degree. Thisway, he will be able to “speak the languageand still do the research a scientist can do. Itgives the best of both worlds.”

He wants to do application research, orresearch with a specific goal in mind. Thiswill have a direct impact on society, asopposed to fundamental research.

File PhotoGeoff Lynn works with adviser Dr. Joel Karty on a chemistry experiment. Lynn has presented his research fidings across the country.

GRADUATION EDITION Saturday, May19, 2007 l Page 11The Pendulum

Bumbry found unexpected home at ElonLife doesn’t always work out like you

plan. Michael Bumbry has learned that it’sOK for a new plan to take the place of theoriginal.

Bumbry has made a name for himself atElon, known for his prominent two yearrole as Student Government Associationpresident. When he came to Elon he couldnot have imagined his time here to be asgreat as it was.

In fact, it was only by chance thatBumbry came to Elon. After deferrancefrom his number one choice, his highschool adviser suggested Elon and Bumbryapplied to appease him. He is not entirelysure what won him over about the school.

“I think it was the warm welcome youget, honest people always smiling,”Bumbry said. He also credits his first tourguide, Ryan Turner ’05, who made theschool look great. There was just a feelingof genuineness that other schools lacked.

“I took a chance because I liked highschool, but I wanted to challenge myselfand not be stuck in the high school mental-ity,” he said. He knew no one from hisschool had ever gone to Elon, and it wasquite different from the schools most ofhis high school peers went to.

Bumbry has never regretted the decision. “I don’t think I could have expected to

be as fortunate as I have,” Bumbry said.When he arrived at college, Bumbry

expected to be involved, but not to theextent that he has been. Bumbry wasfreshman class vice president, sophomoreclass president and SGA executive presi-dent for his junior and senior years. Hehad planned a steady incline, with the pos-sibility of executive president his senioryear, but when an opportunity came up torun when he was only a sophomore, hetook it.

“Though I had reservations, I thought Icould do it. Two terms allowed me to havemore influence and stability,” Bumbrysaid. He said it was very intimidating torun as a sophomore because it is not a jobyou want to mess up.

Bumbry enjoyed the opportunities thatthe position of SGA president gave him tointeract with people. He called his positiona conversation starter, which helped lead todiscussion about campus issues. Heenjoyed the interaction with students, fac-ulty and staffmembers the most. He real-izes how few people get some of theopportunities that he has had, such as talk-ing to 1,200 students at convocation.

Thankful for the opportunities he had to

influence change, he credits the SGA organi-zation as a whole. As an organization underhis leadership, it has influenced changes inmeal plans, homecoming, safety and more.Personally and internally, Bumbry believeshe has created a level of consistency throughhis two-year term.

Bumbry has tried to speak out aboutnot only community issues, but socialissues as well.

“I think people have begun to reevalu-ate their previous conceptions of gay peo-ple,” Bumbry said. “Changing perceptionshappens at all colleges, but it helps to havea face to associate it with.”

He said Elon is different and that atanother college you wouldn’t see on a dayto day basis what you see here. People areso segregated in social circles, but he ishappy to transcend social norms.

“I hope I have been able to give per-spective interacting in the social circleswhile still being myself and not having toconform,” he said.

Along with SGA, Bumbry was alsoinvolved with Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, resei-dence life as a resident adviser, the ServiceLearning Community, an admissions coun-

Mary CunninghamCopy Editor

selor and Moseley Center staff.Bumbry is a broadcast communications

major and psychology minor, but does notplan to go into either field. After complet-ing an internship, he found he was notreally passionate about broadcast communications.

“You really need to have a passionbecause you’re always on the go, constant-ly committed,” Bumbry said. “I didn’thave that level of commitment.”

However, communications is good toknow, no matter what career you choose,and Bumbry hopes his studies at Elon willhelp him in future endeavors.

In the fall he will attend N.C. StateUniversity pursuing a graduate degree inHigher Education Administration.

The program trains students to work atthe collegiate level as a professional staffer,in things like counseling, mentoring andadvising. He is excited to have a careerwhere he is constantly around young peopleand has the chance to help shape identities.

His passion for higher education camefrom his interaction with the professionalstaff. Dr. Jana Lynn Patterson, associatedean of students and SGA adviser, was amentor to him. She was always straightfor-ward with him, whether he liked theresponse or not.

“I really look up to her like a secondmother,” Bumbry said.

Dr. Connie Book, associate dean of theschool of communications and Bumbry’sadviser, has also influenced his time here.She was always willing to write recom-mendations, gave honest opinions andlooked out for his best interests.

“She knows what she’s doing, I reallyrespect her,” he said.

He has had so many good experiencesin his four years, he cannot just pick oneas the best.

“I have no regrets. I am more confidentin myself, I don’t hold back if I feel likesomething is good for me in respect to oth-ers,” he said. “Things happen for a reason,even if it’s a bad one it’s an experience.”

To his fellow students who are notgraduating, Bumbry said. “Take advantageof every single second here at Elon. Itgoes by so fast. Be yourself and have fun;there is no other time to explore and havefun in a massive setting where you can trynew things.”

He will miss the relationships and day-to-day interactions and even though hewill only be a few hours away, it willnever be the same.

He is also a youth member of the Boardof Trustees for two years, so he will stillbe around. He will miss all he connectionshe made with people, many of which arelife-long.

“I hope everyone in the Class of 2007lived happy prosperous lives,” Bumbrysaid. “It’s been a great meeting all of you.Even if we never met, we still identify as aclass and all had similar experiences.”

“I came to college confused aboutmyself,” Bumbry said. “While I don’thave all my answers, I did learn so muchmore about who I am, my strengths andweaknesses, because of my time at Elon.”

While studying abroad in South Africa forWinter Term 2007, Michael Bumbry ridesan ostrich.

Photo submitted

For a fall 2006 senate meeting, then SGA executive officers, secretary Sarah Schupp,president Michael Bumbry, treasurer Garrett Kachellek and vice president DavidMorrow thank Alan Woodlief, associate dean of the Elon School of Law, for speaking tothe senate. The senate traveled to the law school for a special meeting.

Photo submitted

Contact Mary Cunningham atpendulum@elon.edu or at 278-7247

ADVERTISEMENTSSaturday, May 19, 2007 The Pendulum Page 12 l

“Coming into Elon, it was my first timeliving in the [United] States and so I decid-ed that I wanted to live in the ServiceLearning Community,” Franck said. “Thatwas probably the best decision I made, justbecause I came in with a community of 40people and I really found my niche there.Then I continued to be a mentor on thefloor and became involved with EV!”

Now, as a member of the graduatingclass of 2007, Franck is faced with thequestion all seniors dread – what are yourplans after college? She isn’t sweating thesmall stuff and is taking it one step at atime.

“I am going on an adventure called life.It’s a journey,” Franck said. Post-gradua-tion, she will work as a counselor at a sum-mer camp south of Asheville.

Afterwards, Franck is looking intoworking with the Peace Corps or Habitatfor Humanity, but has not committed her-self anywhere, yet.

Like many graduating students, Franckhas made a home for herself at Elon in thepast four years and will miss being here.

“I’m going to miss a lot of things aboutElon, but mostly the community of friends,faculty and staff that I’ve gained frombeing here. I’ll miss the support networkand being able to walk across campus andsee familiar faces. I feel like I’ve found ahome in America.”

definitely gain a lot of insight from some-one who’s 85 years old and has livedthrough so much.”

Most recently, Franck was active withthe Leaders in Collaborative Service pro-gram at Elon. She serves as a liaisonbetween the Burlington Housing Authorityand the university. In working with BHA,Franck is responsible for maintaining theafter school program for children and mak-ing sure that volunteers for the programhave a meaningful experience.

Franck, a sociology major, feels that shehas had a meaningful experience servingothers at Elon and appreciates that there areoutlets for students to be active in service.

abroad.Because of her parents’ internationalteaching jobs, Franck has had the opportuni-ty to live in various countries includingThailand, Egypt and Kenya.

In her experiences with community serv-ice, Franck has had the chance to work withimpoverished families, children and seniorcitizens, among others. She enjoys workingwith children most, but said that every typeof service has something to offer.

“I think with each type of service, youlearn something different about yourself andyou gain something different from it,”Franck said. “Working with Adopt aGrandparent, for example, you may not becrawling on the floor playing ‘lion’ but you

At Elon, community service extendsbeyond course and graduation requirementsto provide an enriching experience foreveryone involved. Some students volunteerfor the Kernodle Center and ElonVolunteers!, some reside in the ServiceLearning Community and many still com-mit their time whenever and however theycan. This is a small sample of what seniorKatie Franck did during her time at Elon.

In November 2006, Franck received thefirst Community Impact Student Award atthe annual North Carolina CampusCompact student conference.

According to the NCCC, this award isonly given to “one student per NCCC mem-ber institution who exhibits outstandingleadership and innovative approaches intheir community service or service-learningendeavors both on their campus and withintheir community.”

For Franck, community service wasn’tconfined to her time at Elon. She wastaught from a young age that giving back tothe community was an important part oflife.

“I have been doing community servicesince I was little,” Franck recalls. “When Iwas 2 or 3 years old, we started going tothis orphanage in Thailand. We’ve beeninvolved with that orphanage since then andwe still go back most years.”

While Thailand isn’t a typical place foran American student to volunteer, Franckhas had a wealth of experience living

GRADUATION EDITION Saturday, May 19, 2007 l Page 13The Pendulum

Franck works abroad and changes lives Calley GraceManaging Editor

Contact Calley Grace atpendulum@elon.edu or 278-7247

File Photo

File PhotoDuring Winter Term, Katie Franck took a trip with Periclean Scholars to Honduras and helped in a local hospital to fight malnutrition.

(Above): Franck in Honduras during WinterTerm. (Right): Franck helping a small boy inHonduras whose mother died of HIV andfather is dying of tuberculosis.

while I’m here because a lot of kidswould love to be in my, or any otherElon student’s, position.”

While he has struggled with obstacleslike any other young adult, he said hismother, Glenna, has remained his con-stant inspiration to excel.

“Being a single parent, it wasn’t easybeing able to raise two little boys. Shehas been very strong,” Nkang said. “I

GRADUATION EDITIONSaturday, May 19, 2007 The Pendulum Page 14 l

Andie DiemerSpecial Projects Editor

Contact Andie Diemer atpendulum@elon.edu or 278-7247

File PhotoChad Nkang lines up the quarterback against Furrman. Nkang tracked down opposing players for three years on the Phoenix defense.

Four years later, Nkang the same guyWhen your normal college student grad-

uates, they generally don’t have theirdream job lined up and ready to walk into.And while being drafted to play profes-sional football is anything but ordinary,senior Chad Nkang insists he is just yourtypical 21-year-old American boy, prepar-ing to graduate.

“The people, the little Elon bubble, thebars, I’m going to miss all that,” Nkang

said. “Mostlyjust my closestfriends here;I’m going tomiss you, calland keep intouch.”

Nkang, anative ofHyattsville,Md., said therelationships hehas formedhere have been

a major component of his Elon experience,whether it was on the field with his team-mates or at his house playing Xbox andhanging with friends.

“[Being here], it’s a culture shock.There are so many new things and differ-

ent people and it opens your eyes to whatthe world is really about,” he said.

After coming close to expulsion hissophomore year, the computer informationsystems and art major said he refocused toget his life back in line.

“I realized how privileged I was to be inschool and that I was given the opportuni-ties to overcome it,” he said. “It let meknow that I should pretty much work hard

Chad Nkang

File PhotoNkang makes a tackle against Furman. He led the nation in tackles during his junior campaign and was an All-American during his senior year.

would call her and she would tell methings are going to be okay, that there’snothing to really control. She was alwayskind of my rock.”

Merely shadowing his older brother bypicking up a ball in elementary schoolwhen he began playing little league withthe Boys and Girls Club, Nkang soonbecame Elon’s starting middle linebacker,two-time All-American, three-time All-Conference player, a two-time nationalleader in tackles and a seventh round,251st overall NFL draft pick.

“I would love to play football over get-ting a job and be able to stay active and dosomething competitive [as] opposed to sit-ting in an office from nine to five,” hesaid. “I love playing the game. It’s fun andmost of my memories are from when all 98of us all get together and run around andplay a little bit on the field.”

But as he prepares to close this chapterof his life and packs his belongings to moveto his mother’s condo in Florida, Nkang isenjoying his time left with the people thathave made such an impact in his life.

Throwing a party at West End Bar a fewweeks ago for his peers to share in hisgood fortune, Nkang was surrounded byhis friends and teammates as they celebrat-ed the Elon community’s mini-celebrity.

“I get little comments here and theresince I’m in a little bit of the spotlightbecause of the whole athletic thing, but theonly way people treat me different is to saycongratulations and introduce themselves,”he said. “I’m the same guy.”

GRADUATION EDITION Saturday, May 19, 2007 l Page 15The Pendulum

Jeff RickelSports Editor

Contact Jeff Rickel at pendulum@elon.eduor 278-7247

A year of ups and downs for Phoenix athletics

The past year in Elon sports was a rollercoaster ride for the athletes and fans alike.

The football team, led by linebackersenior Chad Nkang and quarterback juniorWes Pope flirted with its first winningrecord since 2001. Nkang was named theSouthern Conference’s Defensive Player ofthe Year for the second time, and wasdrafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars lastmonth. Pope set an Elon record in passingyards with 2,572 yards and also threw for16 touchdowns.

Unfortunately for the Phoenix, Popeviolated Elon’s academic honor code andwill be suspended for the fall semester,ending his playing career at Elon.

The men’s soccer season was a story oftwo halves. Led by sophomore Kiki Willis,the Phoenix started the season with arecord of 8-2-1 and was ranked in thenation’s top 25. However, the team went 2-6-1 in the second half of the season, whichincluded a 2-0 loss to Furman in the firstround of the SoCon Tournament. Otherthan the seniors who are graduating, theteam will need to replace its leading scor-ers, Willis and freshman Nick Aparicio.Willis signed a contract with MLS teamD.C. United and Aparicio won’t return toElon in the fall.

The women’s cross country team wassuccessful in both running and studying.The team finished fourth in the SoCon meetand qualified for the NCAA SoutheastRegional Meet, where they finished 23rd.The team also posted a cumulative 3.43GPA and was named a U.S. Track and Fieldand Cross Country Coaches Association

Division I All-Academic Team.The indoor track team set school

records in the 60-meter dash, 60-meterhurdles, pentathlon, long jump, 3,000meter run and pole vault.

The team also had a pair of conferencechampions in senior Jessica Clendenningand junior Dominique Price. Clendenningset a school and conference record with apole vault of 3.97 meters and Price wonthe 60-meter dash with a time of 8.67 sec-onds.

The winter season had similar highs andlows as the fall Elon teams. The men’s bas-ketball team took a step back. A year afterwinning the North Division, the team fin-ished the 2006-2007 season with a 7-23record and a first round exit in the SoConTournament.

Senior Levonn Jordan was a bright spoton the season though, averaging 14.5points-per-game, 6.5 rebounds-per-gameand was named to the All-SoCon team.

In the spring, Elon saw its first SoConTournament champion as the men’s tennisteam defeated College of Charleston in theSoCon final to finish with a 9-0 conferencerecord. With the tournament win, the teammade its first appearance in the NCAAtournament.

The team also had five players namedto the All-Conference teams and the headcoach Michael Loenard was named SoConCoach of the Year for the second consecu-tive year. Eight players will be returningnext season, making the Phoenix the teamto beat in the SoCon.

The women’s tennis team didn’t win theseason or tournament title, but made greatstrides this season.

Led by Freshman of the Year winner,

Deanna Bailey, the Phoenix finished 6-3 inthe conference and 13-10 overall. With onlyone senior graduating, The Phoenix couldbe a force in the SoCon for years to come.

The baseball team is having a disap-pointing season for its standards. Afterwinning the SoCon last year and making itto the regional tournament, the team incurrently in third place in the SoCon with a14-10 conference record.

It can still earn a bid into the regional

tournament, but the team will have to winthe conference tournament next week.

With two players moving on to the pro-fessional level and a SoCon tournamentchampion banner hanging in Alumni Gymfor the first time in school history, Elon isin for a continued roller coaster ride.

File PhotoT.J. Clegg drives toward the goal line. The football team finished one game under .500. It was the start of a long year of highs and lows in every sport.

The Pendulum ADVERTISEMENTPage 16 l Saturday, May 19, 2007