Community Corner
🌱 How Elon’s SMART mentors help new students feel they truly belong
You won't want to miss Phil Vassar on the Elon Patch calendar
Hello again Elon! We're bringing you the latest town highlights. Don't miss out, keep going! ☀️
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In today's newsletter:
- How Elon's SMART mentors help new students feel they truly belong
- What industry secrets did this Elon game design alum share on campus?
- What Elon College's new development director means for scholarships and programs
Today's riddle: What do you call a one-legged Big Foot? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Tuesday: Sunny much of the time, with a high of 81 and low of 54 degrees.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, temps: high: 84, low: 57.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny and very warm, with a high of 86 and low of 62 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
📰 News we're reading
1. Finding community in a SMART way (elonnewsnetwork.com) — Students at Elon University are finding community and support through the SMART Mentor Program, a long-running initiative based in the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education. First-generation and ALANAM students describe how mentoring, small "families," and intentional programming help them navigate academics, identity, and belonging in Elon. Staff emphasize that students shouldn't have to face college alone. 
2. Game design minor alumnus returns to share industry insights (elon.edu) — An Elon University game design alumnus recently returned to campus to share hard-earned lessons from working in visual effects and technical art. His visit gave current students practical advice on networking, portfolios, collaboration and adapting to a fast-changing games industry, while showing how Elon's emerging game design curriculum can translate into real-world creative careers.
3. Zane Massey named director of development for Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences (elon.edu) — Elon University has appointed advancement professional Zane Massey as the new director of development for Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, strengthening fundraising for scholarships and academic programs. Massey brings decades of finance and educational advancement experience, including major-gift work at Seton Hall and scholarship-building in New York. His role will focus on expanding resources that directly benefit Elon students and faculty.
4. Bipartisan commission calls for higher teacher pay. Will NC leaders answer? (heraldonline.com) — North Carolina's Blue Ribbon Commission on Public Education is urging lawmakers to significantly raise teacher pay by 2028 and tighten K-3 reading curricula, moves that would affect schools statewide, including around Elon. Elon University president Connie Book, serving on the commission, backed limiting literacy curricula options as a powerful step toward better preparing future readers and teachers.
📸 Around Elon
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🗓 Upcoming Events in Elon
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Phil Vassar →
Alliance Convention Center, Exhibit Hall, 1214 Turrentine St, Burlington
7:30 pm
Saturday October 24
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
📣 Elon Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
- Volleyball Doubleheader- WA @ EA
Western Alamance High Elon College, NC 27244
5:00 pm - PWB Sip & Share
Elm Realty, 11 NW Court Sq., Graham
5:00 pm - Soccer Doubleheader (WA @ Williams)
Western Alamance High Elon College, NC 27244
5:00 pm - Bring Home Sunshine $10 Pet Adoptions! →
Burlington NC
5:00 pm - Impact Grant Application Opens
Alamance County Chamber-Commerce, 610 S Lexington Ave, Burlington - FIELD TRIP: Alamance Battleground →
Burlington NC
9:30 am - FIELD TRIP: Alamance Battleground (1st & 5th) →
Alamance Battleground, Burlington
9:30 am - Parade of Homes Awards Night
Association Office, 2450 Hanford Rd., Burlington
5:30 pm - Volleyball- Cummings @ WA
Western Alamance High Elon College, NC 27244
6:00 pm - JV Football- Southeast Alamance @ WA
Western Alamance High Elon College, NC 27244
6:30 pm - Varsity Football- WA @ Southeast Alamance
Western Alamance High Elon College, NC 27244
7:00 pm
Tuesday September 29
Wednesday September 30
Thursday October 1
Friday October 2
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Sheetz, Inc. posted a job opening for Warehouse Team Member - Receiving in Burlington. Apply here.
- Shawmut Corporation posted a job opening for Distribution Operator (1st shift, Mon-Fri 7am-3pm) - $17/hr in Burlington. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Elon here.
Ok Elon! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Hop Squatch! (Thank you Terri R. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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