The Student Government Association created the SGA Scholarship to increase its presence among the student body. Junior Elizabeth Capel and sophomore Kyle Keith are the first two recipients of the scholarship and won $2,000 toward their tuition.

“It feels really good to be rewarded by your school,” Keith said. “A lot of the questions were ‘why do you love Elon,’ and I have nothing but unconditional love for Elon.”

Both Keith and Capel said they thought the scholarship reflected well on what Elon stands for as a whole.

“The original essay (for the scholarship application) was about your role on campus,” Keith said. “I talked about how at Commencement, President Lambert talked about being at a buffet and not walking away with a bologna sandwich, and I recognized that Elon is not like any other school. Elon is definitely the most delicious buffet.”

Capel said she also liked the message of the scholarship.

“It was about students who would uphold the student government’s message,” she said. "I like their values and so I thought it was a good opportunity.”

Former executive president Sam Warren said he originally thought about creating a scholarship when he worked in the Office for Student Advancement. The scholarship was finally conceptualized in February of last year.

Warren said there were more than 60 applications for the scholarship, and the process helped him realize how many outstanding students there are at Elon.

“It was amazing to see the different things that Kyle and Elizabeth do on campus,” Warren said. “I am really happy they both won and are able to take the money and stay and continue doing outstanding things.”

With only one male and one female recipient planned for each year, Capel and Keith said they felt honored to be chosen as the inaugural recipients of the scholarship.

The scholarship included an application with a short essay and then the finalists were interviewed. Capel said she was interviewed by former executive president Rachel Long, and through the whole process has gotten to know the SGA members more closely.

“I didn’t even really know who SGA was,” she said. “I didn’t know where the office was, but now I do. I think it’s a good way to bridge the gap, because if I see them around school I know who they are, and if I have any questions, I would be more willing to ask them now.”

Keith is abroad in Costa Rica for the semester, so he was unable to participate in the interview process with SGA, but he was given more questions to answer and send back.

One question was to describe Elon in three words. He chose passion, opportunity and personal growth.

“Even right now, being in Costa Rica, I’m teaching abroad,” he said. “Plenty of current teachers would probably love that experience. That’s something that doesn’t happen at other schools.”

Capel was invited to attend the organizational awards ceremony the SGA holds every year, where she received her plaque.