What is the 1963 Club?

The 1963 Club is a community of dedicated donors who support the success of students at ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ by contributing annually to the and the EBAN Student Fund.

  • The ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Black Alumni Scholarship helps make an ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ education accessible to deserving students who demonstrate high scholastic achievement and financial need.
  • The EBAN Student Fund is a flexible, annual fund to support students. Donor dollars are administered by the staff of the Center for Race, Ethnicity, & Diversity Education (CREDE) to address student needs.

The 1963 Club honors the strength and bravery of those who came before us and the legacy they continue to leave on our campus. By making a monthly recurring gift of $19.63 or annual recurring gift or $196.30, members contribute to ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s commitment to Black excellence.

How can I join?

All are welcome to join the 1963 Club by annually making a one-time or recurring gift to the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Black Alumni Scholarship or the EBAN Student Fund of $19.63 or more.

What is the significance of the year 1963 in ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s history?

ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ enrolled its first African American student, Glenda Phillips Hightower, in 1963. Her experience as a trailblazer has paved the way for over 2,000 Black identified students to continue to make a lasting impact on ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s campus and history. In 2019, she received an honorary doctorate of humane letters as a testament to the role she played in integrating ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ and laying the foundation for every Black student who followed in her footsteps on campus.

“‘Thank you’ is woefully inadequate to express my gratitude, my humility, my honor and my great satisfaction at being included in a celebration of education and grandness,” Hightower said at the ceremony. “I didn’t realize at the time that what I was doing was leadership, but I certainly am glad it was interpreted as leadership.”

Take a look at ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s rich history through the African-American Wall of Fame which highlights many of these accomplishments.

What are the benefits of membership?

Donors who join the 1963 Club will receive:

  • Recognition at on-campus events, including EBAN homecoming activities
  • Occasional tokens of appreciation like decals, 1963 Club pins and more
  • Donors of $1,500 or more are automatically members of The ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Society and are privy to the benefits of that society.

With questions, please email giving@elon.edu.