Fans follow the Phoenix through championship journey

Dozens of Elon fans came to Asheville to cheer on the men’s and women’s basketball teams as they advanced to the SoCon tournament semifinals.

Nancy Zarin (center)

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The games had not started but the Elon fans who gathered at Scully’s in downtown Asheville, N.C., Saturday afternoon were already chanting.

“We are going to win,” said Wes Elingburg, chair of the Elon University Board of Trustees who together with wife, Cathy, made the trip to support the men’s basketball team as they took on the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. “It’s going to be a tough game tonight but I do think we’re going to prevail.”

He was not disappointed.

The Phoenix defeated the Spartans 68-61 in a close match at the U.S. Cellular Center while the women’s team defeated Samford 70-60 at Kimmel Arena in nearby UNC-Asheville campus.

Like the Elingburgs, dozens of Elon students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends made the trip to cheer on both teams as they make their way to the Southern Conference Tournament finals.

President Emeritus Earl Danieley

The Elon section at the men's game could not have been complete without President Emeritus J. Earl Danieley who, in true fashion, waved his towel as fans chanted his name during the second half.

Sitting nearby was Nancy Zarin, an adjunct instructor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, who said she didn’t follow sports before she came to Elon in 2009. But after getting guard Sebastian Koch and forward Autumn Carter in her classes, she has become a consummate Phoenix fan.

“We didn’t miss a single (home) game for the men” this season, she said with a smile. She couldn’t stay for the weekend but hopes to watch from home the Phoenix in the championship game Monday night.

While that may be getting a bit ahead, most fans feel this could be the year when the Phoenix get a chance to compete in the NCAA tournament.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Wes Elingburg said. “I really think we are on the verge of doing something special.”

Amy Hendrickson '69 (center)

Amy Hendrickson ’69, who considers herself to be one of the top 10 Elon fans, has followed the basketball program at Elon for years. She said the program is definitely moving in the right direction.

“It’s been a dream season,” she said. “Every game, I’ve seen the players get closer and play more like a team.”

So what advice does she give the team this weekend?

“If you want it, go get it.”

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by Keren Rivas, Staff Last Updated - 3/9/2013

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Never Give Up: The Journey of Alfreda Adams

Never Give Up: The Journey of Alfreda Adams

By Mike Lesczinski, Excelsior Life News Staff---

Life has a way of interfering with even the best laid plans. Alfreda Adams, 56, of Columbia, Maryland, enrolled in college in 1974 with dreams of a career as a language interpreter. However, when her mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Alfreda, the oldest of nine children, gave up her education to return home to take care of her mother and raise her younger siblings.

Eventually Alfreda married, had two children of her own, but remained committed to her educational goals. She returned to nursing school at the age of 44, looking to earn her associate’s and become a License Professional Nurse (LPN). Only a few weeks from graduation though, tragedy struck again – Alfreda’s mother was diagnosed with cancer and she returned home once again.

Disheartened, Alfreda, currently a secretary for Howard County General Hospital in the Labor and Delivery unit, didn’t want to start over. In fact, she had seemingly given up on her education goals in entirety until her college career advisor encouraged her to contact Excelsior College, due to its liberal transfer policy.

Although her children were grown, Alfreda remained concerned with finding the time for her studies as she continued to take care of her ailing mother and raise a nephew.

But with her church providing encouragement and support, Alfreda returned to school after learning she could transfer nearly 90 credits of her nursing education towards a bachelor’s degree in health sciences. She eventually completed thirty one credits through online instruction and walked across stage this past July to receive her diploma.

With a degree in hand, Alfreda looks ahead to applying her education and realizing her true “calling” – founding a Creative Arts Center for sexually abused children, providing each with professional counseling and emotional therapy through music, dance and prayer.

“It was something I’ve always dreamed of doing,” says Alfreda. “My education will help me make it a reality.”

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