This video, titled President Connie Ledoux Book Elon College Distinguished Alumni Awards, was held on April 26, 2018. This event honored three alumni who have been engaged and innovative in their fields. President Book stated, “I am thrilled to be here. Last night, I was in Atlanta at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History for an ‘Evening for Elon’ in Atlanta. This is part of our alumni effort here on campus. We have several go to areas where we have a high concentration of Elon alums and the chapters are active. I got a chance to visit with the chapter leadership and stood under T-Rex – under his neck and talked with the alumni that were there. It is really exciting to hear about the work of our alumni. 00:00:44 I can’t tell you how important it is to the future of the University for our Alumni to be out doing good in the world. And I hope the last thing they tell folks is, ‘hey and I went to Elon University.’ 00:01:03 When I talk to those young alums and I always ask them ‘What are your points of pride?’ What are you saying about Elon? And just for the faculty and staff in the room, it was remarkable to me last night the alums were talking about these moments with faculty members and staff members on campus that changed the direction of their lives. It usually came as a cue – ‘Have you thought about X.?’ And one young woman told me that I had never imagined that for myself, until my faculty member suggested maybe you should think about that. 00:01:45 Another alum that had just completed graduate school and had gone to Emory’s DPT program, said looked around the class after the first exams were handed back. She had breezed through it (exam). She said, ‘I got an A. All the others kind of had an ash fallen face. She said that is when I understood that how well the faculty had prepared me as an Exercise Science major, by making sure that I was challenged in a way that would let me be successful.’ Hearing those stories, one after the other about the difference that Elon education makes in a person’s life. And how they carry it forward into their professional life. That is really what we are here to honor today. So I could not be prouder of Larry, Christina, and Andy and just congratulate each of you on the professional accomplishments that you have had. I know at Elon that it is the transformation of an undergraduate that we are really focused on—our energy is on that 18 – 22 year old. And we get to witness the beginning and the finish line. It is very remarkable. Then we miss all of you when you go off to your professional careers. And we are so grateful when we hear news of your success. That is what we are celebrating today, is your success. Thank you for taking your Elon education and making a difference in the world. I know many of you pass it forward in your careers. I am just so grateful for that—that continued mentoring in excellence in your professional lives, really makes a difference. Thank you for carrying that Elon education out into the world and doing such good. Congratulations.” Applause.