Dear Phoenix Club Member,
My name is Nicholas Campbell, and I am a senior on the Elon Men’s Tennis Team. I am from Larnaca, Cyprus and I am majoring in Business Analytics with a minor in Computer Science. My journey at Elon began in 2020, when I transferred from Creighton University. Even though Elon checked all the boxes in what I was looking for in a school, I would not have been able to join this special community if it wasn’t for your generosity and kindness, which I am sure applies to many of my fellow student-athletes. I wanted to say a big thank you for the opportunity you have given us: to follow our dreams in our sports and to receive an excellent education while surrounded by people who make every day at Elon special.
A special moment during my time at Elon was hosting the CAA Tennis Championships last spring. It was incredible to compete against our conference rivals at home. However, the support from the Elon community made the weekend truly special. We had support from our friends, families, other student-athletes, Elon Staff, and former Elon tennis student-athletes. The Elon community created an unbelievable atmosphere for us the whole weekend. Even though we lost in the championship match, we experienced something far greater than tennis which made us truly realize what our time at Elon was all about. We had just lost a very close match in the conference final, but these magical moments with the people that we love overshadowed any disappointment we felt.
On a personal level, that weekend exceeded my own expectations. My parents had flown from Cyprus to Elon to watch me play the sport I love most. I received the Tournament’s Most Outstanding Performer award, which I dedicated to my parents for their endless support they have given me throughout my childhood, the countless drives, the endless nights, and all the other sacrifices they have made I will never know about. Tennis has been my biggest passion ever since I was a little kid. It is the first thing on my mind in the morning and the last before I go to sleep. To be able to wake up every day and have the ability to do what I love the most, while also receiving an education from passionate professors and staff who are willing to go above and beyond to help us achieve our goals in the classroom, is an opportunity I am more than grateful for and more than I ever asked for in a place thousands of miles away from home.
I wanted to express my sincere gratitude, because without your support all of this would not have been possible. My time here at Elon will stay with me forever, and I am sure many of my fellow student-athletes who are fortunate to receive aid also feel the same way. It means the world to all of us.
Go Phoenix!
Nico Campbell