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Nearly 300 middle school and high school students and teachers from around North Carolina met at Elon for their first in-person annual N.C. German Day celebration since the pandemic

Among foreign languages, French and Spanish get most of the attention in American schools, but Wednesday was German’s time to “scheine.”

More than 250 middle and high school students and their teachers from across the state convened at Elon this week to mark N.C. German Day. In a Moseley Center takeover Wednesday, school teams battled it out in singing, poetry and skit competitions, spelling bees and verb conjugation contests, trivia quizzes and extemporaneous speaking challenges.

Even Lakeside Dining Hall got into the spirit, with Harvest Table providing schnitzel and traditional German cuisine for lunch.

Hosted by Elon’s German and German Studies Program, it was the first time the state organization has met in-person since March 2020. Twelve schools participated on campus with others Zooming in remotely for hybrid competitions.

“This is the one thing that most German programs have over our French and Spanish teacher colleagues. There’s no French Day. There’s no Spanish Day,” said Deron Hablutzel of Providence High School in Charlotte. “This encourages the enthusiasm to learn German and that spreads, so it helps build our programs.”

The annual event is organized by the North Carolina chapter of the American Association of Teachers of German to promote education of German language and culture. The chapter founded the event in the 1980s, locating it each year at colleges and universities in the central Piedmont. Elon hosted once before, in 2009.

“German is often the smallest world language program in our respective schools, so our kids might sometimes feel like they’re the only ones learning this language,” said Wendy Burgbacher, a teacher at Cary Academy and NCAATG’s president elect and vice president. “It’s fantastic for them to see all the programs across the state and that never happens anywhere but here.”

Assistant Professor of German Kristin Lange and Associate Professor of German Scott Windham helped organize the event and collect Elon undergraduate volunteers to assist German Day participants.

“We are thrilled that we could host N.C. German Day 2023 and be part of an event where the German community of North Carolina could come together again after COVID,” Lange said. “Campus was bustling with excitement for German language and culture”

A clutch of Elon undergraduates stationed themselves in Irazú for open meetings with middle and high schoolers who wanted to learn more about the college application process, life on a campus and about studying world languages in college.

“We’re here to promote the study of German and show students that it does benefit you after high school,” said Kiara McDonald, whose German program in her Colorado high school consisted of about 15 students. A biochemistry major, McDonald says her German Minor classes and participation in the German Club offer a break from a science-heavy course load.

Lange and Windham said feedback from participants was all positive. The event was sponsored by the Department of World Languages and Cultures; German Studies; Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences; the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education; the Office of Admissions; Elon Dining and Delta Phi Alpha (German Honor Society).

“Because not everyone takes German classes or speaks German, there is a community around the study of German. Our undergraduates and staff helped to build that with this event and to encourage and validate that with these students from around the state,” said Associate Professor of German Scott Windham.

Burgbacher frequently hears from current and former students that German Day is one they reflect on fondly.

“It’s a highlight of the year for our students, and one of the highlights of their high school career when they look back on it. They might forget what they learned in chapter seven, but they remember German Day,” Burgbacher said. “It’s just great fun.”

Events

Tagged: Elon Dining Services German Studies Moseley Campus Center

Three judges, one of whom previously taught legal writing at Elon Law, answered student questions after hearing oral arguments on April 26, 2023, regarding a business dispute between several insurance companies and their former owner.

A recent visit by the North Carolina Court of Appeals to Elon Law demonstrated for students just how complex business relationships can be when one man controls several interrelated companies.

For instance: Should the man uphold his end of an agreement to relinquish control of current companies to satisfy debt obligations to insurance companies he once owned? A lower court had already decided that he breached the contract.

That same court also determined the man and co-conspirators defrauded creditors. But no damages were awarded pending the outcome of a possible appeal. Was that the right course of action?

These were some of the questions at the heart of Southland National Insurance Company v. Lindberg, a case heard April 26, 2023, by a panel of state appellate judges visiting Elon Law’s Robert E. Long Courtroom.

Judges Valerie Zachary, April Wood, and Julee Flood heard attorneys for both sides of the dispute before taking questions from dozens of Elon Law students gathered in the courtroom to observe the proceedings. It was a homecoming of sorts for Flood, a member of the Elon Law faculty during a legal writing fellowship from 2015-2017.

Attorneys involved in the case also introduced themselves and shared insights for achieving success in the legal profession based on their own career experiences.

“Students gained some important perspectives and were able to connect what they learn in the classroom to effectiveness in legal practice,” said Assistant Professor Caroleen Dineen, interim director of Elon Law’s Legal Method & Communication Program. “These types of experiential learning opportunities are so valuable for students preparing for their first-year oral arguments, planning for summer internships, applying for judicial residencies, and considering legal practice opportunities after graduation.”

A decision from the court is expected this summer.

Student Reflections

“I learned how attorneys can prepare and present their sides in very different ways and still be equally effective. While one attorney spoke in a conversational manner and the other in a more formal manner, they both gave very persuasive arguments that applied facts to the black-letter law. Hearing both sides of the appeal really helped me see the importance of fully understanding the law to be able to effectively apply your facts, answer judges’ questions completely, and anticipate what rebuttals may be addressed.” – Baleigh Scheibner L’24, a North Carolina State University graduate with interest in civil litigation

“This experience was very relevant to my career interests as my future goals include obtaining a judicial clerkship and pursuing appellate practice. Watching attorneys’ oral arguments and interactions with the judges provided insight into different argument styles that is beneficial because the 1L class has upcoming oral arguments for our Legal Method & Communication course. Additionally, the Q&A session was very informative as we learned what the judges look for regarding briefs and oral arguments, as well as their advice for students hoping to pursue a clerkship after graduating law school.” – Ashley Joines L’24, a Clemson University graduate with an interest in judicial clerkships following law school graduation

Melo “Mel” Augustine, Shereena Kamal and Jessica Morales from the Class of 2024 will take part this summer in a North Carolina Bar Association enterprise that encourages and promotes diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.

Three top Elon Law students in their first year of study have been selected for a highly competitive internship program established by the North Carolina Bar Association to promote and support diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.

Melo “Mel” Augustine L’24, Shereena Kamal L’24 and Jessica Morales L’24 were selected for the 1L Summer Associate Program created by the NCBA’s Minorities in the Profession Committee to provide influential corporations and law firms in North Carolina with an avenue for recruiting for summer internships some of the best underrepresented students from each of North Carolina’s law schools.

It is the eighth year in a row that at least three Elon Law students have secured such placements.

Melo “Mel” Augustine

Placement: Civic Federal Credit Union Alma Mater: Wake Forest University Undergraduate Major: Politics & International Affairs Hometown: Greensboro, N.C.

“Interning with in-house counsel is a unique opportunity that I am grateful to have received. I aim to make the most of my law school career by exploring as many fields as possible, and an internship with Civic Federal Credit Union is a wonderful start. I hope to learn more about the exciting nature of in-house work and to further develop my skills as a researcher, critical thinker, and problem-solver.”

Shereena Kamal

Placement: Lawyers Mutual Liability Insurance Company of North Carolina Alma Mater: North Carolina State University Undergraduate Major: Political Science Hometown: Lexington, N.C.

“Being selected to take part in the Minorities in the Profession program is a huge honor. Participating in this program was a goal of mine coming into my 1L year. As a first-generation American and law student, I am beyond thankful for the opportunity to be a part of a program that boosts diversity in the legal field. I hope to learn and develop new skills that I can utilize both as a student and as a future lawyer.”

Jessica Morales

Placement: K&L Gates LLP Alma Mater: Wake Forest University Undergraduate Major: Sociology Hometown: Winston-Salem, N.C.

“It has been an honor to have been chosen for this program and as a 1L, and first-generation student, I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to work with K&L Gates LLP. I am excited to be a part of a law firm that values a collaborative and diverse work environment to provide the best counsel to their clients. I hope to continue learning and absorbing as much as I can from this position.”

The NCBA Minorities in the Profession Committee solicits applications from all North Carolina law schools. Schools invite students who identify as a minority to submit an application, which consists of a resume, transcript, writing sample and a statement that addresses how the applicant will contribute to diversification of the North Carolina State Bar.

Elon Law identifies select students to take part in NCBA interviews. Students interview with potential employers and at the conclusion of those interviews, employers selected one or more candidates to work as a summer associate.

“Mel, Shereena and Jessica continue a wonderful tradition established at Elon Law for students who have excelled in their studies and show significant leadership potential in the legal profession,” said Assistant Dean Stacie Dooley, who leads the law school’s Office of Career and Student Development. “Without a doubt, all three will bring a depth of knowledge and a work ethic that promises to benefit the missions of each employer. And I’m equally excited to see what our students bring back to Elon Law having gained valuable insights into the legal profession through this important career opportunity.”

RALEIGH – The NC State baseball team returns home to host Elon (9-7, 2-1 CAA) at Doak Field at Dail Park on Tuesday afternoon. Tuesday's game was moved up four hours to a 2 p.m. first pitch earlier on Monday.

Tuesday's game will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra. A free audio stream will be available on the Varsity Network App and the game will be available on the radio on WKNC 88.1.

NC State holds a 45-13 all-time record against Elon, winning five straight matchups against the Phoenix. The Wolfpack edged Elon in a tight 2-1 road contest this past season, scoring both its runs in the second inning before holding on in the bottom of the ninth for the in-state midweek victory.

PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS Tuesday – RHP Jacob Halford (NCSU) vs. LHP Cole Reynolds (Elon)

LAST TIME ON THE DIAMOND NC State entered this past weekend's ACC series opener 13-0 as one of just three unbeaten teams remaining in Division I. The Pack fell behind early 8-0 in Friday's contest before scoring the next eight runs to tie it at 8-8 in the seventh inning. A solo home run from Ian Farrow in the bottom of the seventh proved to be the difference in Friday's game as the Hurricanes handed NC State its first loss of the season. After an 8-1 defeat on Saturday, the Wolfpack responded with a wire-to-wire 14-4 victory on Sunday. NC State jumped out to an 11-0 lead behind a clinical offensive performance and excellent outings from Dominic Fritton and Sam Highfill on the mound.

AVENT RECORDS CAREER WIN NO. 1,200 NC State baseball head coach Elliott Avent has reached many milestones throughout his collegiate coaching career, entering the 2023 season with a 1,186-784 overall record and a 962-571 record at NC State. Avent captured career win No. 1,200 in Sunday's 14-4 victory at Miami, becoming the 29th head coach in Division I history to reach 1,200 career victories. He is one of only five active head coaches with 1,200 or more career wins.

Avent (1,200-786; 976-573) now sits just 24 victories away from NC State career win No. 1,000.

COMEBACK PACK NC State has trailed after the second inning in just five games this season. The Wolfpack has rallied to win three of those games, twice with multi-run team at-bats in the seventh inning and once behind March 5's walk-off homer from Payton Green. NC State rallied from eight runs down to tie Friday's ACC opener at 8-8 but failed to take a late lead in the 9-8 defeat.

SCOUTING ELON Elon (9-7, 2-1 CAA) earned back-to-back one-run victories over Northeastern this past weekend to notch a series win to open CAA play. The Phoenix has played 14 of its first 16 games at home at Latham Park, holding an 8-6 record at home and 1-1 record on the road. Elon was picked seventh in the 2023 CAA Preseason Poll with designated hitter Luke Stephenson and starting pitcher Shea Sprague earning spots on the 2023 Preseason All-CAA Baseball Team. As a team, Elon ranks 204th nationally with a .252 batting average. The Phoenix pitching staff, however, has impressed with a 3.17 staff ERA, which ranks 19th in the nation.

PACK PROS ON THE WORLD STAGE The 2023 World Baseball Classic got underway on Tuesday, and the #Pack9 is represented well on the world stage with four former members of the Pack competing for three separate countries in this year's tournament. Trea Turner (United States), Evan Mendoza (Colombia), Vojtech Mensik (Czech Republic) and Marek Chlup (Czech Republic) will all be competing in the World Baseball Classic. NC State ranks tied for first with four California schools (UCLA, USC, Stanford and Long Beach State) for the most representatives at the WBC from a single school.

DOUBLE TROUBLE NC State ranks tied for first nationally in total doubles hit (49) so far this season. The Pack also ranks third nationally in doubles per game (3.06). The Wolfpack hit a season-high six doubles in its 14-4 victory over Miami on Sunday.

POWER SURGE NC State ranks tied for 10th nationally with 35 home runs on the season. The Wolfpack has slugged multiple homers in 10 of its 16 games this season, hitting three or more home runs in eight of its 16 games in 2023. The Pack slugged three homers twice this past week, hitting three apiece in wins over UNCG and Miami. Nine different Wolfpack batters have hit multiple home runs this season.

RECORD AGAINST IN-STATE OPPONENTS The Wolfpack finished with a 13-9 record against in-state opponents in 2022, including a 9-2 record against in-state nonconference opponents. NC State earned in-state midweek victories over High Point, UNCG, Elon, North Carolina A&T, East Carolina and UNCW.

Since taking over the NC State baseball program in 1997, head coach Elliott Avent has led the Pack to a 346-171 (.669) record against in-state opponents. NC State won its first matchup against an in-state opponent in 2023 with a 15-13 victory at UNCG on Tuesday.

UP NEXT The Wolfpack hosts Virginia for its first ACC home series of the 2023 season this weekend. This weekend's series begins on Thursday night at 7 p.m. Thursday night's matchup against the Cavaliers will be televised on ACC Network.

#Pack9 | @NCStateBaseball

Mark Dobson '24 and Olivia Halperin '26 are CAA Health Science Research Scholars, a program aimed at increasing high-quality undergraduate research and mentoring. They and Elon faculty attended a summer workshop to strengthen virtual mentoring experiences.

Elon University is one of three institutions participating in the Coastal Academic Alliance’s Health Science Research Scholars Program, with two exercise science majors selected as scholars in the program’s first cohort.

Mark Dobson ’24 and Olivia Halperin ’26 are each pursuing undergraduate research in the Department of Exercise Science. Dobson is exploring relationships between concussions and mental health in neurodiverse athletes with Professor of Exercise Science Caroline Ketcham. Halperin is part of a team piloting research around stress factors and the menstrual cycle in collegiate athletic performance with her mentor, Associate Professor of Exercise Science Titch Madzima.

Initially founded in 2002 to academically link the member institutions of the Coastal Athletic Association, the alliance facilitates collaboration and communication across member institutions. The Health Science Research Scholars Program aims to encourage undergraduates to pursue health science research and training through dedicated faculty mentoring. Scholars receive a $1,000 stipend and their faculty mentors receive a $500 stipend to advance research and mentoring.

The University of North Carolina – Wilmington is the primary recipient of the CAA’s Enhancing Research for Online Learners (EnROLL) grant funding the research scholars program, with Elon and N.C. A&T State University joining the pilot. Five undergraduates from those schools were selected as research scholars.

Eric Hall, professor of exercise science and director of undergraduate research, is Elon’s principal investigator. He said the program exists to encourage more undergraduate research opportunities and strengthen virtual mentoring so that research experiences are accessible to more students across CAA institutions.

“We’re thinking deeply about relationships, how to form them, how they’re important and how we can make sure these are high-quality experiences in online contexts,” Hall said. “We’re looking to scale this up and provide models for high-quality online mentorship across institutions, to remove barriers to undergraduate research and make it more inclusive.”

Halperin said the research scholars program is part of a robust network of support for undergraduate research she discovered at Elon in her first year. She assumed she would eventually undertake a research project, but was surprised at how quickly and openly faculty embraced her interests and curiosity.

“I’ve loved that I got involved with research this early. I didn’t think I would be involved with it my first year,” Halperin said.

A lifelong soccer player sidelined by a career-ending injury, she is also excited to participate in a study of women soccer players with Madzima, Ketcham and Katie Lowe ’24, a member of the Phoenix women’s soccer team. They are collecting saliva samples before and after practices and games to measure hormones and athletic performance. Halperin expects to continue that project after Lowe graduates.

As part of the research scholars program and EnROLL, Hall, Elon’s student-faculty health scholars teams, Professor of Exercise Science Svetlana Nepocatych, and undergraduates Julia Burpeau ’24, Katie Lowe ’24 and Josie McWhorter ’24 attended a UNCW-hosted workshop around virtual mentoring June 8-9. Students and faculty from all three schools used the Virtual Research Mentoring Model pilot workshop to develop ways to strengthen mentoring and faculty-student relationships in virtual spaces.

The outcomes of that work will be shared with other CAA institutions to deepen online mentoring experiences.

Ketcham and Madzima said the workshop was helpful in connecting with faculty and students at other institutions, and because students’ perspectives were a vital part of the planning.

Madzima’s group focused on deepening mentoring relationships early in the process, through surveys and informal meetings, and through online tools beyond Zoom meetings. Mentors in virtual spaces must be intentional about bridging gaps and building relationships from a distance, Madzima said.

“The goal was to improve virtual mentoring relationships so that they feel open, vulnerable and honest,” Ketcham said. “Students were centered in the experience, so it wasn’t just faculty talking. One group was all students, and their innovation was around building inclusive relationships. It shone a light on ways faculty could improve in that area.”

Hall said the pilot was successful and another workshop is planned for summer 2024.

Academics & Research Events Student Experience

Tagged: Exercise Science Undergraduate Research

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