Many people started them, very few finished and even fewer have continued to keep up the good work. Lindsey Maxwell ā€™14 falls into that final category after turning her quarantine project into a fully-fledged business.

Maxwell and her partner launched in their driveway in Denver, Colorado, in 2020. The two-person team specializes in enhancing the travel experience for adventurers across America, refurbishing vans into custom living spaces and providing customers with products to do it themselves. In a time when road travel was exploding, Maxwell jumped at the chance to grow in an industry she already felt at home in.

Following her 2014 graduation, Maxwell moved to Charlotte to teach preschool, a role very different from what she is doing now. A year and a half later, Maxwell left her life in the U.S. behind and moved to Italy to be an au pair, an opportunity that she could not pass up. It was during this stage of her life that she really fell in love with traveling, and the passion that would soon fuel Featherbuilt started to grow.

ā€œWhile I was living and working in Italy, my job was about 75% travel and I completely fell in love with incorporating travel into a regular part of my life,ā€ said Maxwell. ā€œIn 2018 as I was finishing up my time in Italy, I stumbled across a blog from a woman who had converted a van into a tiny home and was traveling around the country and living out of it. I knew this was something I needed to do.ā€

Upon her return to the U.S., Maxwell purchased a Sprinter van and started her conversion career with the help of her dad. Little did she know that that van would change her life forever as she met her partner and co-owner of Featherbuilt after a couple of months on the road in her new home on wheels. In the early stages of starting his own van conversion business, it was a match made in heaven just in time for COVID-19 to hit and quarantine projects to take over. For Maxwell and her partner, their quarantine project was on a larger scale than most as she bought a second van and they joined forces to make it a home.

ā€œThere was absolutely no hesitation starting this business because there was pretty much no other choice at that time,ā€ explained Maxwell. ā€œMy partner, Patrick, had quit his job officially back in 2019 to get Featherbuilt going, and I had been working seasonally while traveling in the van so we had nothing to lose. Jumpstarting Featherbuilt was perfect during COVID because we could still work together in isolation and try to make money while staying safe.ā€

Since that first project together, Featherbuilt has taken many shapes and forms, from remodeling for an Instagram-famous wolfdog, Loki, to customizing more of their own vans, to developing a conversion system that can be sold as a ā€œDo-It-Yourselfā€ kit. But no matter which stage Featherbuilt has been in, there has been one thing that has always been important to them: sustainability.

ā€œOnce you experience a sunrise in Rocky Mountain National Park or the changing of the seasons in Yosemite, you want to protect it at all costs,ā€ explained Maxwell. ā€œBeing a part of the manufacturing business, we see firsthand how much packaging junk goes out in the world (and eventually our landfills) every day and we strive to reduce that.ā€

Although very proud of their commitment to building sustainably, Maxwell is most proud of how she has made something out of nothing. With no business or construction background, she has developed into a very successful entrepreneur who is a power tool pro. Despite learning most of these skills post-graduation, she attributes much of her life success to her ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ experience.

ā€œPeople complain about the ā€œĀŅĀ׏Óʵ bubbleā€ but I actually think that was a very important factor for preparing me for life after graduation,ā€ Maxwell said. ā€œI felt a stronger sense of community than many of my friends that attended other universities and I have sought to continue establishing strong connections in my post-grad communities. I feel that has led to a lot of my success and happiness.ā€

Maxwell also credits ĀŅĀ׏Óʵā€™s study abroad programs for igniting her love of travel and showing her the many different ways she could live. As a loyal member of Sweet Signatures, she learned how to run events, giving her both the experience and courage needed to become an entrepreneur. She encourages all ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ students to take advantage of the time they have while at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ and make the most of it.

ā€œTake advantage of the things ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ has to offer you,ā€ said Maxwell. ā€œI thought I was too busy in college to pursue other hobbies or more meaningful relationships and that was the least busy Iā€™ve been in my life ever since. These years are a gift ā€“ donā€™t blow it.ā€

ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ was a place of community and peer interaction for Maxwell, and she truly feels that that culture is what has inspired so many alums, herself included, to follow their passion and succeed.

The future of Featherbuilt, and the adventure vehicle world, looks bright as they continue to develop their van build system so more people can do it themselves. Maxwell hopes to provide women with the resources and confidence to try new things with her entrepreneurial story. Find out more about Featherbuilt at or find them on Instagram .

Payne was well-decorated during her time at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ having received both the esteemed Lumen Prize for her research in telling the stories of Black women and the Black Alumni Scholarship. This scholarship, awarded to her as a rising sophomore, gave her the resources needed to stay at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ and she believes that the scholarship transformed the trajectory of her ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ career.

ā€œThe Black Alumni Scholarship gave me the space to find my way,ā€ Payne said. Payne has also shown her appreciation for the Black Alumni Scholarship by making financial contributions to it in the past.

She grew more confident in pursuing a career in creative writing and developed her passion for mentorship in education. This passion was born while working as a resident assistant at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ and connecting with students, many of whom she remains in touch with today. Payne also served as the vice president of the ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, all while being actively involved with the Center for Race Ethnicity and Diversity Education (CREDE).

Fast forward two years and Payne has continued her passion for writing and community work while gaining extensive experience working to intercept poverty and create better educational institutions in her community. Since graduating from ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ, she has enrolled in the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program at George Mason University and is working as a graphic designer for SimplyBe., an organization responsible for corporate branding. Payne is on track to graduate from the program in 2024 with a focus on poetry.

Graduating during the pandemic, Payne noted the uncertainty of her post-grad experience but credited ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ with providing her with the tools to persist and succeed. ā€œYou will not be the same person when you leave ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ as when you came,ā€ Payne said. ā€œYou have a lot of power and agency in who you become over the next four years,ā€ she continued.

Payne encouraged students to get involved on campus early in their college careers and make lasting connections that matter. Giving her final thoughts, Payne advised students to reach for the stars. ā€œApply for scholarships and fellowships that you think you could never get, because you just might and it might change your life,ā€ encouraged Payne. ā€œYour future is bright.ā€

See below for some of the highlights of the 2021-22 year that show just how far the support of ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ alumni, families and friends can go.

Partnership with ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ is exemplified by the many events attended and supported.

• More than 2,000 alumni came back to campus for Homecoming & Reunion Weekend 2021.
• Alumni in 20 chapters attended Welcome to the City events across the country.
• OverĀ 6,300 alumni engaged with their alma mater throughout the 2021-22 year.
• More than 2,300 parents and grandparents attended one or more of the 84 parent and grandparent events.
• 2,105 alumni and more than 470 parents and grandparents showed their commitment to ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ by volunteering their time throughout the 2021-22.

ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ would not be able to operate the way it does without the help of dedicated ambassadors who serve as:

• Board and council members
• Affinity Network volunteers
• ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Day Champions
• Reunion volunteers
• Regional Chapter volunteers
• Social Media Ambassadors
• Parentā€™s Council
• ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Family Ambassadors

ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ is incredibly thankful to have a large number of alumni and family donors who attend events and donate their time to the university as volunteers. This year a spectacularĀ 7,018 alumni and 3,712 parents or grandparents, made a gift to provide ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ students with life-changing experiences. Gifts of all sizes also counted toward the ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ LEADS Campaign.

• Over $123,000 was raised for the Black Alumni Scholarship during the 2021-22 fiscal year.
• Alumni giving participation increased to 20%.
• ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ once again enjoyed a successful ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Day raising more than $3.5 million, from 4,988 gifts, on the annual day of giving.
• Alumni contributed over $4 million while parents and grandparents contributed more than $5 million to a total of 519 funds throughout the year.

The university thanks everyone in the ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ family who supported current and future students this year whether financially, through attending events or volunteering their time. ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ is a special place made even more special by those who support it.

Joyel Crawford ’97 graduated from ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ with a Bachelor of Science in psychology and a theater arts minor. Crawford spent much of her time on campus as a member of a variety of extracurricular activities including the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Theater Arts, Habitat for Humanity and more. Some of her most treasured memories come from her time with the ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Black Student Union and she has taken that passion into her life as an alumna, currently serving as an ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Black Alumni Network mentor. In this position, Crawford gets to give back to the community that celebrated her unique skills and abilities while also mentoring other Black students to continue to share their shine at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ. Crawford left ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ in the hopes of being a guidance counselor and receiving her MBA, unaware of the success that would transpire.

Today, Crawford is located in New Jersey as the CEO and Founder of Crawford Leadership Strategies (CLS). Crawford explains the inspiration behind CLS started while she was working as a Customer Service Representative at Bell Atlantic Mobile, which is known today as Verizon. She soon realized her desire to be the person at the front of the room at New Hire Orientation, training employees rather than sitting behind a desk. Within four years of working there, Crawford began her career in Human Resources.

ā€œThe golden thread of leadership development kept pulling me to opportunities where I was helping others get where they needed to go in their career,ā€ says Crawford ā€œIt was a full and rich career spanning 18 years, but I felt called to reach more leaders. That is how Crawford Leadership Strategies was born.ā€

Crawford has had an extensive and successful career so far, not only with the creation of her company CLS but the publication of her book, “.” The inspiration behind the book came from individuals she mentored, co-workers and friends asking Crawford questions about how she had achieved such great success.

ā€œI didnā€™t get anywhere in my life and career without asking and speaking up for myself,ā€ explained Crawford. ā€œSince I canā€™t be everywhere and coach everyone, I wrote this book to reach more people who are challenged with advocating for themselves in life and their careers.ā€

While reflecting on her time at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ, Crawford is grateful for every organization and experience at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ that helped her foster leadership development, mentorship and community. ā€œI was poised and ready to be the leader that I am today, in part due to my time at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ,ā€ said Crawford.

Thinking back to her time as a first-year at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ, she had some words of encouragement. ā€œJoy, you got this,ā€ she recalled people in her support system telling her. She reminded herself to document her experiences as best as she can, especially all the activities she gets involved in, and expressed the importance of what she will learn over the next four years and how it will affect her life.

Crawford finished with a gentle nod to her parents, and some wisdom that is only earned with age. ā€œMake sure you spend the entire first day on campus with your parents before running off to orientation events. Theyā€™re going to miss you more than you know.ā€

Crawford’s future looks brighter than ever as she continues to host leadership cohorts and retreats while supporting a variety of organizations with her services. More information can be found on Ā and her book “Show Your Ask” can be purchased at major bookstores and on Amazon.

On April 28, ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ held the year’s first ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ LEADS event, one in a series of regional events set to take place throughout the final year of the ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ LEADS campaign. This special event saw more than 120 ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends gather at The Inn at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ to celebrate the success of the campaign so far and learn how to make an impact before ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ LEADS concluded on Dec. 31, 2022.

Guests enjoyed a hosted bar and hors dā€™oeuvres as they were treated to remarks from special guests, including ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ alumnus and Trustee Burney Jennings ā€™87 Pā€™18, Vice President for Access and Success Jean Rattigan-Rohr, current student Jose Alex Reyes ā€™25 and President Connie Ledoux Book. Giselle Watts ’23 took to the stage to wow attendees with a stunning vocal performance.

Vice President for University Advancement Jim Piatt shared the impact that more than 30,000 donors have made on the campaignā€™s main funding priorities, including:

• More than 270 new endowed scholarships created to assist graduates the world needs.
• More than $10 million raised and 45 new scholarships endowed to broaden access to the ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Experiences such as study abroad and internships.
• Close to $8 million raised to support faculty and staff mentors who matter
• Seven new facilities added to ĀŅĀ׏Óʵā€™s iconic learning environment, including Schar Center, The Inn at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ and Innovation Quad.

ā€œIf thereā€™s one thing our community has taught us during this campaign, it is the power of philanthropy to transform lives, and please know that every gift makes an impact,ā€ said Piatt. ā€œEach of usā€”alumni, parents and friendsā€”plays an important role in the success of ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ LEADS and can take pride in knowing that together, we are moving ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ forward in profound ways.ā€

The second event in this series took place on May 5 at The Angus Barn Pavilion in Raleigh, North Carolina. More than 200 guests attended the highly anticipated event as President Book gave an update on ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ LEADS. Book and Piatt were joined by Jenn Nowalk ā€™99 and Rich Nowalk ā€™97, and ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ senior Samantha Dominguez ā€™22. Book spoke of the role alumni play in the ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ LEADS campaign.

ā€œEach of our alumni speakers embodies what it means to be an engaged ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ alum and they demonstrate the essential role that alumni play in securing ĀŅĀ׏Óʵā€™s future,ā€ Book said. ā€œTonight, Iā€™m asking each of you to make ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ and ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ LEADS one of your priorities. After all, we are funding dreams in this campaign!ā€

Campaign co-chairs, Priscilla Awkard ā€™95 and Christian Wiggins ā€™03, also spoke at the Angus Barn Pavilion event, sharing their ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ stories and explaining how impactful their gifts can be.

For Awkard, a former volleyball player, first-generation college student and scholarship recipient, ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ taught her that she was not alone in her college journey, and she had a community supporting her. She wants to be a part of that supportive community for current and future ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ students and encourages others to join her by making a gift to ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ LEADS.

ā€œI love this campaign because it gives you so many different opportunities to give and ways to give,ā€ said Awkard.Ā ā€œAs alumni, we are ĀŅĀ׏Óʵā€™s future. Itā€™s up to us to leverage the leadership skills ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ taught us to take ownership of our university.ā€

Wigginsā€™ ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ story began with his family around the kitchen table discussing how they were going to afford to send him to college. With the help from ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ donors and his family, in particular his generous great aunt, Wigginsā€™ college dream became a reality.

ā€œItā€™s through my great auntā€™s generous spirit that I learned that no one has to do everything, but we can all do something,ā€ said Wiggins. ā€œYou never know whose kitchen table conversation you may change through your gift. You never know who will stand in front of you in 23 years because of your leadership and generosity.ā€

Through the ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ LEADS campaign, ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ is raising funds to invest in scholarships for graduates the world needs, engaged learning, faculty and staff mentors who matter and ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ’s iconic learning environment. Gifts of any size to any designation made before December 31 count towards this historic campaign.

ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ LEADS will be back on the road in the fall. Keep up to date with campaign news, how you can make a gift and upcoming events in a city near you at .

ā€œNow more than ever, young generations are constantly comparing and measuring themselves up to their peers, or celebrities and influencers, and think they may be the only one who is struggling,ā€ LeSourd said. ā€œThe goal of this book is to open up conversation to help others realize they are not alone.ā€

“Coming of Age” examines the impact of this life transition when it comes to career success, relationship, financial status, community engagement and mental health. The book uniquely highlights the ups and downs from the perspective of those going through it – other twenty- and thirty-somethings.

While LeSourd has now found success, it did not come without a lot of her setbacks and learning opportunities. These experiences, many of which took place during her time at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ, gave her the narrative needed to write “Coming of Age.”

For many ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ seniors, their final spring semester is filled with joy and excitement as they receive job offers and start planning their transition into the ā€œreal world.ā€ Within one year of graduating, an astounding 95% of ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ graduates are employed, a statistic based on the class of 2019, and 92% of graduates are in positions related to their career goals. However, for many students, it isnā€™t always as plain sailing as it seems.

LeSourd was one of those students who faced rejection in what shouldā€™ve been months of celebration. Her story of what led to her writing “Coming of Age” begins in January 2015 when she was named a semifinalist for the national Golin ā€œUnternshipā€ program along with five other candidates, one of which was a classmate.

Golin, an international public relations agency, established the ā€œUnternshipā€ as a three-month program that can be considered relatively unconventional in comparison to other internships. The program sees candidates planning an adventure throughout the United States and documenting the trip through Golin in the form of blogs, social media posts and videos. Perhaps the biggest perk of the opportunity is that the individual selected is guaranteed a full-time position following the completion of the three months with Golin.

In February of the same year, LeSourd was invited as one of three finalists to Chicago, where she interviewed with many Golin employees, including the CEO. For LeSourd, this opportunity was so close she could almost touch it. Unfortunately, she fell very slightly short.

The competition had garnered a lot of attention because she was featured as the cover story of the student magazine and included in online ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ articles. LeSourd made an unexpected move and took to social media to share her disappointment at not being selected for the position. This post was severely contrasting to all of those around it, a rejection among congratulations and celebration.

ā€œI decided to post my rejection, which was a bold move to share in March of your senior year,ā€ explained LeSourd. ā€œThat said, I began to develop a passion for bringing to light hard topics and times of struggle that people donā€™t often talk about.ā€

This passion continued to grow as LeSourd posted to her blog an insert titled ā€œPost-grad: What they donā€™t tell youā€ in October 2015. It was from that blog post, and the attention it gained, that she came up with the idea to start writing about the challenges of navigating your twenties from her point of view. LeSourd felt that this book filled a large gap in the market, so it was an exciting project to work on.

ā€œWhile there are some excellent books out there about your 20s or about building your career, I realized they are almost always written from an experienced professional, psychologist or counselor, or some expert who has knowledge or expertise to share,ā€ LeSourd said. ā€œI saw an opportunity to share the voice from the perspective of those going through it.ā€

With an outline created on Jan. 19, 2016, and an eagerness to start writing, it would be easy to assume that creating “Coming of Age” was a straightforward task, but as the theme of her book tells us, sometimes reality doesnā€™t match the dream, and that is OK.

A few months after the outline was created, she was laid off as a part of budget cuts, leading to a period of sudden unemployment. While this gave her time to write, survey individuals and develop themes, it also led to a desperation for work, so she took the first job she was offered. The job was different than expressed in the interview and she later experienced the reality of an unhealthy work environment. The trying times continued.

Over the next few years, LeSourd faced difficulties with finding the right job, receiving a rescinded offer and struggling to balance working hard and taking care of herself. She also had limited time to write, even though she was collecting so much real-life experience to pour into the pages. By the spring of 2019, she knew it was time to start working on the book again. For the next two years, she spent countless hours writing and editing until the manuscript was complete. From there, she worked with editors to finalize the version that is printed today.

In LeSourdā€™s eyes, this book, and her entire post-grad story, has been heavily influenced by her time at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ. Her choice to study in three different areas, communications, human services and entrepreneurship gave her a wide variety of perspectives, which is key when writing a book such as “Coming of Age.”

From a qualitative standpoint, she developed a wide variety of analytical skills during her time with the Human Services Studies Department, skills that were incredibly helpful when surveying her peers. The years she spent in the School of Communications as a Communications Fellow were also imperative to her career, as that is when her passion for writing took off.

ā€œWhile I didnā€™t have as clear of a direct path as most of my peers with goals of becoming journalists, film directors or advertising executives, I knew I wanted to utilize the impact of the written word and the power of storytelling to make a difference in the lives of others,ā€ said LeSourd. ā€œThe coursework provided me with many classes that improved my writing, design and storytelling skills.ā€

But for LeSourd, there wasnā€™t just one area of her time at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ that drove her to complete “Coming of Age.” The value that ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ puts on engaged learning, and the opportunities students are given to partake in hands-on learning and real-life experiences played a huge role in preparing her to write this book. These experiences gave her the confidence and skills to become the talented author she is today.

ā€œĀŅĀ׏Óʵā€™s education prepared me to be a critical thinker, to be creative and to believe in myself that I can set out to accomplish an idea,ā€ LeSourd said.

Coming of Age: Our Journey Into Adulthood by Cate LeSourd ā€™15 can be purchased on Amazon or in bookstores throughout the country. Visit for more information about her as well as where the book can be purchased.

No matter where you are in the world, you can join in on March 1 and make a difference for the ninth annual ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Day. All can make a gift, attend on-campus and regional events and show your ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ spirit on social media as everyone comes together to provide students with opportunities to LEAD.

Here are some ways the ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ community can participate on ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Day:

Students

College Coffee

March 1 | 9:40ā€“10:20 a.m. EST
Alumni Gym

Grab your friends and head to Alumni Gym for an ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Day/Mardi Gras mash-up with food, fun, giveaways and (of course) coffee. Maroon and gold beads are encouraged, but not required.

ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Day Student Celebration

March 1 | 1ā€“3 p.m. EST
Medallion Plaza

The Student Union Board will be hosting a live band along with Pelican’s Snoballs to celebrate ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Day! While you’re there, play a round of “Let’s Taco ‘Bout Philanthropy” and win a FREE taco!

Mardi Gras Dinner

March 1 | 5ā€“8 p.m. EST
Lakeside, Clohan and McEwen Dining Halls

On ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Day, Mardi Gras is taking over the dining halls for dinner! Each dining hall will feature New Orleans-style menu items. All students, faculty and staff are invited to join the fun. Special Class of 2024 T-shirts will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. This event is sponsored by the Office of the President, Harvest Table and the Class of 2024 Executives.

ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Day Mardi Party

March 1 | 7ā€“10 p.m. EST
Moseley Student Center

The party continues with SUB! Come out to Moseley Student Center to celebrate Mardi Gras and ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Day! Play some games, grab food with friends, listen to music and get your picture taken in the photo booth. Students are encouraged to attend and receive free ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Day and SUB swag!

Class of 2022

Senior Toast Celebration

March 1 | 7:30ā€“8:30 p.m. EST
Lakeside Meeting Rooms – second floor

All seniors are invited to toast to ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ, and the Class of 2022! While all seniors are able to attend, you must be a current donor over the age of 21 to receive a glass of champagne. Please visit or Venmo (@ĀŅĀ׏ÓʵGiving) to make your gift to the area of campus that has had the greatest impact on your student experience.

Faculty and Staff

Evening College Coffee

March 1 | 10ā€“11 p.m. EST
Koury Concourse

Employees who work evenings and nights are invited to a special College Coffee on Tuesday, March 1, to celebrate ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Day! This day of giving brings our community together every year to show our pride and support for ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ. Join us for special Mardi Gras-themed refreshments, as well as a photo booth and some games to enjoy with your colleagues.

Alumni

Regional Events

March 1

Join fellow alumni in celebrating ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Day in your city! ĀŅĀ׏Óʵā€™s regional alumni chapters will host 39 ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Day parties across the world from our very own Alamance County all the way to London and many more. See a full list of cities and register for an ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Day celebration here.

Friends, Fans and the Whole ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Community

Make a gift to the area of campus that means the most to you. These areas include student scholarships, affinity networks, Black Alumni Scholarship, academic schools and departments, the Phoenix Club (ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Athletics) and more.Ā  All ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Day gifts will count toward the ongoing ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ LEADS Campaign.

Make sure to follow ĀŅĀ׏ÓʵĀ on , and for exciting news and updates, and donā€™t forget to download our special ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Day digital swag package to celebrate throughout the day. Share your ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Day pride with your networks and use the tag #ĀŅĀ׏ÓʵDay.

Gizzi and Lannum met as first-year students in the Communications Fellows program, forming a friendship that has developed into a more successful partnership than either could have imagined. During their time on campus, they worked with ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Student Television, helping produce TV shows and gaining experience in directing, writing, camera operation, on-air talent and more. That led to the creation of the show ā€œĀŅĀ׏Óʵ After Hours,ā€ where they played pranks and performed social experiments on campus.

When the show quickly gained popularity with students, Gizzi and Lannum created their own YouTube channel focused exclusively on similar content. It would become the forerunner to the wildly successful AreYouKiddingTV.

With the popularity of TikTok soaring, they found an opportunity to rerelease some of their older videos to a new audience, and it wasnā€™t long before their channel started to blow up.

ā€œPeople being at home and spending more time online caused TikTokā€™s popularity to skyrocket, and as a result, our own contentā€™s viewership started to increase very quickly,ā€ Lannum said.

When the time came to get back into filming, they faced several obstacles.

ā€œWe were living in different states with full-time jobs, so we didnā€™t have much time. Once our TikTok account started to take off, we found ways to meet up and safely film new content,ā€ Gizzi said. ā€œIt was definitely more difficult getting back into it during COVID, since a big part of our content involves interacting with other people.ā€

They quickly found that these obstacles were more than worth tackling head-on, as the videos brought viewers across the nation a little joy during a challenging time.

While much of their early content was created while they were students, they continue to return to campus after graduation, making ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ a regular part of their videos. Many of the videos take place just outside of Moseley Student Center.

ā€œWe enjoy coming back to ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ and reminiscing on the four years that flew by way too fast,ā€ Gizzi said. ā€œĀŅĀ׏Óʵ has the OG filming location outside of Moseley. Itā€™s the perfect spot to film our videos with all the paths coming together.ā€

Like many ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ students, Gizzi and Lannum had many unique experiences during their four years that helped prepare them for life after graduation. Lannum studied abroad in France during his senior year and saw parts of the world he had always dreamed of. The pair also adventured to Los Angeles together for the ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ in L.A. program, giving them an insight into what their future may look like.

ā€œWe both did the ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ in Los Angeles program, which was a great opportunity to work out on the West Coast and see what it would be like having a career in the entertainment business in Los Angeles,ā€ Gizzi said.

As their videos continue to gain popularity, Gizzi and Lannum are looking forward to whatā€™s ahead for AreYouKiddingTV, and they have no plans of slowing down. Whether that means moving so they are closer to each other, giving out bigger and better prizes or trying the account on different platforms, they are prepared to do whatever it takes to grow their channel.

ā€œMaking people laugh and brightening their day has always been our goal, and to see it actually happening is an incredible feeling,ā€ said Gizzi. ā€œI really think this is just the beginning.ā€

AreYouKiddingTV content can be found on , and .

ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Day, a daylong celebration that encourages engagement and philanthropy among all members of ĀŅĀ׏Óʵā€™s global community, is set for Tuesday, March 1. Alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff and friends can participate by making a gift to the university, attending on-campus and regional alumni chapter events and sharing their ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ pride on social media.

As in years past, donors will be able to make gifts toward specific areas of campus that mean the most to them. That includes student scholarships, academic schools and departments, the Phoenix Club (ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Athletics), the Black Alumni Scholarship, affinity networks and student organizations. ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Day gifts of all sizes and designations will count toward this yearā€™s total and combine with all other ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Day gifts to ensure that students get the most out of their ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ experience. Each gift will also count toward the $250 million goal for the ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ LEADS Campaign.

ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Day officially began in 2014 in honor of the universityā€™s 125th-anniversary celebration. Since then, ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Dayā€™s momentum and impact have grown year after year. Last year, donors gave more than 5,600 gifts totaling nearly $3.5 million, a new record.

The ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ community can also participate in ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Day events on campus and around the world.Ā  A list of campus events can be found here. In addition, events for alumni will take place in more than 40 cities around the world. These events will bring the momentum of the day directly to the ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ alumni network. A full list of regional alumni events will be released in February.

On ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Day 2022, letā€™s show the world that ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ LEADS Through Us!

Learn more about how you can participate in ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Day 2022 at .Ģż¹ó“Ē±ō±ō“Ē·É @elonuniversity on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for exciting news and updates.

If you have any questions, please send an email to elonday@elon.edu or contact 1 (877) 784-ELON (3566).

For Olivia Wamelink ā€™18, ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ wasnā€™t just a college, it was a home. After a lackluster first year at Denison University where she played lacrosse, Wamelink made the decision to transfer to somewhere she felt she belonged. With knowledge of ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ passed down from her older sister, she decided to visit and see if it could be the place for her.

ā€œThe moment I got out of the car, stepped onto the brick and looked aroundā€¦ I just knew ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ was home,ā€Ā Wamelink said. ā€œIt was the best decision I had ever made at the time.ā€

Wamelinkā€™s three years at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ followed one specific theme – sports. Despite leaving varsity lacrosse behind at Denison, she knew she didnā€™t want to give up the sport entirely, so she joined ĀŅĀ׏Óʵā€™s womenā€™s club team. Her time with the club lacrosse team, and specifically in the roles of captain followed by president, opened Wamelinkā€™s eyes to the importance of Campus Recreation & Wellness.

In an effort to give back to an area that made ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ home for her, Wamelink became a Campus Recreation employee and that is where she discovered what ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ is all about.

Jenny Larson, associate director of Campus Recreation and Wellness for Recreation Programs and Facilities, became a mentor to Wamelink, helping her realize her potential. With a passion for mental health and a manager that believed in her, Wamelink launched the inaugural Love Your Body Week at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ in an attempt to help individuals around campus get healthy and happy. This event, and the several others she assisted with, helped pave the way for her entrepreneurial career.

ā€œLarry (Mellinger) and Jenny were very encouraging and always willing to discuss new ideas,ā€Ā Wamelink recounted. ā€œI think they really sparked my entrepreneurial thinking and guided me creatively so that it would come to fruition.ā€

At first glance, it may seem like Wamelink had life figured out, especially when she accepted what she thought was her dream job post-graduation. In May 2018, Wamelink accepted a job with Learfield IMG College as an account executive working in corporate sponsorship sales. In this position, she worked specifically with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and gained experience in building client relationships. Unfortunately, her dream job was not everything it cracked up to be.

After leaving IMG, and a couple of years at other jobs, Wamelink finally found a role that felt purposeful to her. In college, she had developed what seemed like a huge passion for sports, but it was really a passion for working hard and achieving goals. She also thought she had a passion for mental health and campus recreation, but deep down it was a passion for helping others. The creation of B. Well Babies married these two passions.

When the challenge of finding baby gifts for her boyfriendā€™s family arose, Wamelink found a gap in the market. As someone who puts a lot of thought and time into giving gifts, she was disappointed when she struggled to find something unique, purposeful and clean. In response to this, she not only created her own product but she also created her own company.

ā€œB. Well Babies is a female-founded, veteran-owned, American baby brand best known for our beautifully sleek designs and sustainable options that offer peace of mind when it comes to mealtime.ā€

The companyā€™s signature silicone catch-all bibs and bowls are sustainable, fashionable and affordable while also aligning with their goal of “wholehearted living.” This involves fostering strong relationships with others while living boldly and has been a mantra for Wamelink and her boyfriend, Brody Lewis, as they have embarked on this entrepreneurial adventure. She notes that connecting with others and lifting each other up has been one of the greatest joys throughout B. Well Babies first year.

While there are other silicone catch-all bibs on the market, it is B. Well Babiesā€™ charitable contributions that set them apart from the rest. With a strong heart for others and a drive to help children become the best versions of themselves, Wamelink and Lewis set out to find an organization that needed their help, and they stumbled upon Foster Village Charlotte. Realizing that others perhaps do not understand the struggles in the foster care system, they made it their mission to share the impact that Foster Village Charlotte has on the lives of foster families, while also giving a portion of all proceeds to the charity.

Foster Village Charlotte aims to equip foster parents with everything they need to prepare their home for a child, including training focused on trauma and other necessary resources. Wamelink and Lewis believe that the resources available to foster parents can completely change the childā€™s life trajectory.

ā€œWhen foster children have a well-equipped caregiver, they feel empowered to create a new path for their lives.ā€

Launching a new business in the midst of a global pandemic has been nothing short of a whirlwind for Wamelink, but the uncertainty of life is what made her jump in and take the risk.

ā€œI had doubt, fear, anxiety and confusion. But one thing I knew for sure, especially after all of the layoffs and changes during COVID, nothing is promised,ā€Ā Wamelink said. ā€œIn a snap, it could all be gone, so I threw fear aside and decided that from now on I was in charge of my future.ā€

This courage was the beginning of Wamelink practicing “wholehearted living.”

Wamelink joins a strong network of successful ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ alumni, a network that she does not believe is a coincidence. When asked why she believes ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ graduates see so much success professionally, she hinted at the wide variety of real-life experiences ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ students can partake in and the support system ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ provides them with.

ā€œReal-life experiences plus encouraging people equals successful people, e.g. ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ alumni,ā€Ā Wamelink said. ā€œThere is very little you cannot achieve when you are lifted higher by people that truly believe in you and you are able to prepare yourself with real-life experiences.ā€

The future is bright for B. Well Babies with exciting new products coming soon and a patent in the works. Visit to support Foster Village Charlotte and learn more about the products.