This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Elon chapter.
Name: Allie Solender
Year: 2012
Major: Physics and Secondary Science Education
Hometown: Scarborough, Maine
Claim to Fame: Elon’s Biggest Fan
HC: What sort of activities are you involved in on campus?
AS: I’m involved in physics club, Hillel, Pep Band, Marching Band, and I manage the men’s basketball team.
HC: What kind of leadership roles do you hold in these activities?
AS: I was the President of the Physics Club and Hillel for 2 years and was a section leader for the ensembles.
HC: Can you tell me about your “Elon’s Live the Maroon Life Photo Contest” campaign? How did you hear about it? What was the process?
AS: Elon Athletics decided to run a photo contest where individuals submitted photos of themselves “Living the Maroon Life”. My entry was a collage of pictures of me with friends that are student athletes while wearing the uniform that went along with that specific sport. It wasn’t so much a contest to see who the biggest fan was, but it ended up that people who saw it referred to me as such. I heard about it originally at a football game when I was tailgating with the men’s basketball team. I spent a lot of time getting together with my student-athlete friends and taking silly pictures of us acting out their sport. Then I put them all together, uploaded it to Facebook, and hoped that all of my friends would vote for me. When they did I ended up winning a trip with the football team to Samford University for a game. I got to hang out on the sideline with the players and everything!
HC: How have you benefitted from being “Elon’s Biggest Fan”? Are there any fun perks?
AS: My friends joke around and call me “Elon’s Biggest Fan” and I think it is probably one of the biggest compliments I could get. I think the biggest benefit of being “Elon’s Biggest Fan” is knowing that the sports teams appreciate me and everyone else who comes to cheer them on. I go to support my school and my sports teams; it isn’t about me being the biggest fan, it’s about me being part of something that represents Elon University. I love this school and athletics is a huge part of the college experience and I found a way to participate in that even if it is just by cheering as a fan. There definitely are some fun perks, or at least I think they are fun perks! I’ve gotten to meet a lot of the individuals who work in the athletics department and they are amazing! I wanted to go to App. State for the Men’s Soccer tournament and Erica Roberson in media relations helped find faculty advisors and the funding to get a van to drive a bunch of students there. I also get the inside scoop on when events are going to happen, but I think that’s mostly because I ask so many questions. I’ve met a lot of coaches and student-athletes as well and it just makes me feel like part of the team as corny as that sounds.