Dear Phoenix Club Member,

Thank you for your donation in support of Elon Athletics! My name is Jordan Gower, and I am a senior on the volleyball team from Raleigh, North Carolina. I am a sport management major with minors in business administration, coaching, and psychology. I am a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and I have conducted undergraduate research with a focus on sustainable sportswear brands. I am thrilled to share some of my Elon journey with you and express my sincerest gratitude for your support!

My scholarship has given me the opportunity to be a part of such an incredible university, which has enabled me to learn and grow as both a student and an athlete. I am grateful I can live out my dream of playing collegiate volleyball at the Division I level. Throughout my collegiate career, my team and I have found much success. I was named to the Second Team All-CAA during my sophomore season. During my junior season, we made it to the CAA championship match for the first time in program history. Last year, I reached 1,000 digs, which was a personal goal I set for myself freshman year. I feel so lucky to have found a place that has pushed me to reach my greatest potential. Coming in as a walk-on, I knew I would have to put in tremendous effort to earn a starting position and accomplish my goals. I am proud to say because of my hard work and dedication to the program, I earned an athletic scholarship after my sophomore season. This scholarship has changed my and my family’s life significantly. I owe all my experiences wearing an Elon uniform to my support systems, who have helped me get to the point where I am today.

In addition to volleyball, academics has always been a very important aspect of my life. I hold myself to a high standard both on and off the court. As mentioned, I began conducting undergraduate research during my sophomore year with Dr. Kim, an Elon sport management professor. We have examined how sportswear brands’ sustainable efforts affect consumers’ psychological responses. I am proud to say our research has been published in the Advanced Theory and Practice in Sport Marketing journal! During my sophomore year, I received the university’s underclassman of the year award for the sport management department. Despite a rigorous course load, I have maintained a 3.97 GPA throughout my college career. It feels so rewarding to see all my hard work pay off in such a big way.

Next fall will be my last season as a student-athlete. I decided to use my fifth year to play one more season and finish my psychology minor. After Elon, I plan on pursuing a career in the professional sports industry. This past summer, I completed an internship with USA Baseball which was a great experience I will use to my advantage in my future.

Thank you for helping student-athletes like me to live out our dreams and achieve our greatest potential. I would not be where I am today without your support! Your generosity to Elon Athletics has changed our lives by providing us with the opportunity to succeed in our sport and in the classroom. Thank you again for everything you do for Elon student-athletes. It means more than you will ever know.

Go Phoenix!

Jordan Gower