Commencement Traditions: Oak Tree Saplings

Katie Nash
May 18, 2012

Oak saplings at Commencement

Commencement at Elon in 1991 marked the first time tree saplings were handed out to graduates. Furman Moseley (Class of 1956) was the Commencement speaker that year, and gave graduates California Redwood saplings. President Fred Young (1973-1999) decided to carry on this tradition at the 1992 Commencement by giving each graduate an oak sapling. According to the Elon Traditions web site, “Upon graduation, each graduate is given a Shumard oak sapling to celebrate the growth they have experienced throughout their time at Elon as well as the growth they’ll encounter as lifelong learners. ” This tradition is continued today, and may your oak sapling thrive!

Read more here about the tradition at Elon.

Commencement Traditions: Academic Regalia

Katie Nash
May 11, 2012

Faculty wearing academic regalia, Commencement 1987

Academic regalia has been worn by faculty and students at Elon during Commencement and selected Convocations since the first Commencement at Elon in 1891. The wearing of academic regalia at modern colleges and university’s originated in medieval European universities and has not changed much since the 16th century. It signifies the wearer’s academic accomplishment and includes a robe, head covering, and hood.

Commencement Traditions: The Elon Mace

Katie Nash
May 4, 2012

Elon Mace

Commencement at Elon is full of long-standing traditions. Over the next few weeks, we’ll highlight a few of these traditions, starting with the Elon mace. Have you ever witnessed Dr. Earl Danieley carrying a large silver item at university events such as Convocation and Commencement? Indeed, Dr. Danieley along with numerous faculty members have shared the privilege of carrying the Elon mace during campus events.

Harden Dining Hall Remembered

April 20, 2012
Katie Nash

Harden Dining Hall, 2002

The well-known Harden Dining Hall, located in the Harper Center, will be demolished shortly after Commencement in May 2012. The dining hall was constructed in 1967-1968 and was to be a part of the greater living-dining facility that was also being constructed. Once considered a “long” walk to Harden Dining Hall, we take a look back on how it became an integral part of Elon’s campus.

Elon Scholar: Breanna Carrie Detwiler

Rachel Stas – Archives Intern
March 30, 2012

Breanna Carrie Detwiler

Breanna Carrie Detwiler (native of Warrenton, Virginia) graduated from Elon University in 2009 with a degree in Environmental Studies. As a student, she was an honors fellow and a member of the National Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi. Moreover, she managed the Elon Community Garden, was a member of Whole Earth and College Democrats. She also worked on the Student Environmental Sustainability Council and was the student coordinator for the Elon Academy. Additionally, she was selected to present at the 23^rd National Conference on Undergraduate Research, presenting on, “Examining the Contributions of Community Gardens to Social Capital.”

Women’s and Gender Studies at Elon

Jennifer Smith
March 23, 2012

A minor in Women’s Studies was first offered at Elon in the Fall of 1988 after having been approved during a February 1988 faculty meeting.  In the mid-1980s Elon professors, Dr. Seena Granowsky and Dr. Martha Smith attended a conference on Women’s Studies programs at Duke University and were inspired to create a program at Elon.  The two worked together to create the minor and the program of Women’s Studies in order to expose students to women’s issues through courses in English, History, Philosophy, Economics, and other related fields. Some examples of early course titles included Introduction to Women’s Studies, Feminist Approaches to Literature, and History of Women in the United States.

First woman to be named Distinguished University Professor

Katie Nash
March 16, 2012

Pamela M. Kiser was formally awarded the Distinguished University Professorship on October 4, 2010. Kiser is the fourth faculty member to receive this award, and the first woman to be named a Distinguished University Professor at Elon.