Elon hosted high school seniors competing for positions as Fellows in the class of 2011 last weekend during Fellows Weekend events.

Activities included receptions Friday night, a parent panel discussion Saturday morning and various program-specific events including special information sessions and learning community open houses. Fellows candidates and their parents also went on campus tours and took foreign language placement exams.

Julie Freeman, mother of Molly Freeman, a potential Honors Fellow, said that visiting the campus “makes such a difference.”

“We’ve been very impressed,” she said about the weekend’s various events and activities.

“I thought everyone was extremely engaging and more genuinely interested in me,” said Megan McGrath, a potential Honors Fellow. “The weekend has been a lot less stressful than I would have

anticipated.”

Fellows candidates competed Saturday by meeting with professors for one-on-one interviews and attending a faculty-taught seminar and writing an essay. The candidates will be notified of their acceptance status on April 1.

Faculty members and current Fellows helped facilitate the events of the weekend by volunteering and speaking with families about the various programs and about Elon in general.

Communications Fellow junior Krista Naposki worked at the Communications reception Friday night and a parent panel Saturday morning.

“This was my third year on the panel,” Naposki said. “I like to participate in the whole weekend because I remember being so nervous about what school I wanted to go to, and by giving everyone a candid and personal response about why I like Elon, it helps them make their decision easier.”

Naposki noted that she heard one potential Fellow comparing Elon as equal academically to Duke University.

“I think it was eye opening for me too because people are putting Elon on such a pedestal,” Naposki said. “It’s really encouraging to see the university grow like that.”

Elon offers six different Fellows programs: Honors, Elon College, Business, Journalism and Communications, North Carolina Teaching and Isabella Cannon Leadership.

Benefits of the Fellows programs include scholarships, a study abroad grant, special housing options, research internships and special courses.

News Editor: Alyse Knorr - 03/08/07