More than 1,400 incoming freshmen and transfer students sat Under the Oaks during Elon University’s 2012 New Student Convocation. From that number, four were distinguished.

Each year, Smith Jackson, vice president and dean of Student Life, selects four students to recognize at the ceremony. By describing their accomplishments, challenges and future goals, Jackson said he unifies the incoming class while solidifying the university’s commitment to certain values. According to him, these students — freshmen Tristan Alexander, Megan Gravley, Jessica Schult and Kathleen Hupfeld — embody what it means to be part of this academic community.

“We are trying to communicate that these are pretty extraordinary students, but there are other students we could have picked as well,” Jackson said. “It doesn’t mean that every student in the class has done all of these things already. Sometimes the students we choose are easier to articulate that they do match the Elon values, but you don’t have to look very far to see that our students are doing service and leadership.”

No one knows this better than the students selected. Each of the four freshmen said the same thing — they couldn’t believe they stood out among their accomplished incoming classmates.

Megan Gravley was selected because of her role in organizing a cancer research fundraiser in her hometown. But for her, this accomplishment was not a standout among her fellow classmates.

“For me to be chosen is just amazing, because I know everyone here has done awesome things,” Gravley said. “Not just with cancer research but with their lives, so it was crazy to be singled out as one of the top four.”

Although the selected students have succeeded in different ways, there are commons threads weaving their stories together, all of which tie together in the same place — Elon.

Commitment to service at home and abroad

Investing time and energy in community engagement was a priority for each of the honored students.

Gravley, a volleyball player from Apex, organized the Peak City Gala of Hope, a charity fundraiser for The V Foundation for Cancer Research, during her senior year. For Gravley, what started as a class assignment took on new meaning in a matter of days.

“Each of us had a tie to cancer, either a grandparent or a friend, but we just started the project in a class and we said we’d see where it goes,” she said. “In two weeks, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. It just showed that this is the right thing, we’re supposed to be doing this.”

Serving others was also key for Jessica Schult, who has lived in Singapore for the past six years. Schult has been visiting the same village in Nepal every summer in hopes of creating a better life for those in poverty. By installing solar panels, composting toilets and water collection systems, she said she has learned about herself and the world around her.

“It’s interesting living (in Nepal) because you have your own accommodation, but it’s very basic,” she said. “Everybody walks in and out, but everyone’s so nice. They offer to cook food for you and stuff like that.”

Understanding people of other backgrounds is an important part of an Elon education, which often influences Jackson when choosing students for his convocation tradition.

“We look at international students or students with international experience, because being global ready is certainly important for Elon graduates,” he said.

The summer before his senior year, Tristan Alexander of Brooklyn, N.Y., participated in a five-week study experience in Italy. His passion for global awareness also shows in his involvement with Girl Up.

“Girl Up is funding for girls in other countries who are forced to be pregnant at 13 and married at 14, with men who are sometimes around 40,” he said.

Kathleen Hupfeld, the final freshman Jackson honored, was an active volunteer in her community of Columbia, M.D. In high school she worked frequently with Special Olympics, which she said she hopes to continue doing while on campus.

Developing leadership 

At the root of an Elon education is the ability to lead, according to Jackson. It is no surprise, then, that each of this class’s recognized students have a history of spearheading projects. Whether it be Hupfeld serving as president of her high school’s chapter of the National Honor Society or Alexander leading his classmates in fundraising, these students have worked on their ability to engage peers.

Under Gravley’s leadership, the Peak City Gala of Hope raised $30,000. But as a leader on the court as well, the fundraiser was a challenge.

“It was during volleyball season, we started in August of 2011, and we had to make meetings work around my workouts, work around my practice,” she said. “I had to miss some meetings, they had to sacrifice some time, but it all worked out.”

Meanwhile, in Nepal, Schult taught the villagers to make and sell paper bags to generate additional income. She also received her dive masters certification this summer, and can now lead others on SCUBA dives.

Academic excellence

This year’s selection of outstanding freshmen also included an emphasis on scholastic success. According to Jackson, this is usually a criterion that does not change.

“Typically, we’re looking for someone who has demonstrated academic excellence, so the Kenan scholar is usually chosen,” Jackson said.

This year, the recipient of the William R. Kenan Jr. Award, a full scholarship awarded to one Honors Fellow, has already demonstrated an interest in academia. Hupfeld has been researching the difference between traditional physical therapy practice and new methods when treating stroke patients and those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease. As a high school senior, she completed an internship at a private practice focusing on neurological patients.

With the award, she may study abroad. As an Honors fellow, she will also participate in undergraduate research.

But for another one of the selected freshmen, succeeding in school seemed like it was against the odds.

“I am a first generation college student because from what I know, my mom didn’t finish college, my sister didn’t finish college and my brother dropped out,” Alexander said.

Born in the United States but raised in Trinidad until second grade, Alexander did not always have access to quality education. Upon his return to the United States, it was a challenge for other reasons.

“Living in Trinidad was not easy,” he said. “I remember I didn’t have shoes to walk in to school, and the education system wasn’t that good. I came to the United States for second grade, and they tried to hold me back a year. I was different, because a lot of the kids recognized the accent.”

Getting an education was challenging for other reasons as well.

“I haven’t had a father figure in my life,” Alexander said. “I used to watch the boys in my neighborhood, and those without fathers would end up dealing drugs on the street and fighting all the time. But that wasn’t me. I fortunately had a mother who was a mother and a father to take care of me and watch over me, which is why I’m at Elon now.”

In addition to his family’s support, Alexander said he had help from Sponsors for Educational Opportunity, a nonprofit program that helps innovative high school students of color achieve.

“Through that program my SAT scores were raised 400 points, and they help with college preparation,” he said. “And it was because of SEO that I was able to do Experiments in International Living.”

Through this hard work, Alexander was awarded Elon’s John L. Georgeo scholarship, which will allow him to continue exploring his interest in international studies by studying abroad.

Creating a tradition

Selecting four students for recognition on the morning of convocation is not a new process for Jackson. He has been introducing the incoming class to the provost and faculty since becoming vice president for Student Life in 1998.

“We are looking at students that would represent some experience and achievements that show they fit well with the values of the university,” he said. “The university attracts students who want to be in those engaging programs, so they’re not hard to find.”

Not hard at all. The process includes the Office of Admissions, which sends dozens of files to Evan Heiser, assistant to the vice president for Student Life and dean of students.

From there, Jackson and Heiser read about the students the Office of Admissions has suggested. But choosing only four is a difficult task, they said.

“They’re all very similar, these students could all be used,” Heiser said. “It’s really just looking for the ones that jump out and represent Elon, and see which ones really help represent this particular class.”

And there are other opinions to take into account as well. Heiser said he usually works with faculty and staff, as well as athletics, to find suitable students.

“All of our athletes have tremendous athletic careers, and then we need to find the ones that really stand out,” he said. “Megan was one of those, having that great service experience. That’s something that I immediately saw.”

Jackson has seen the students he has recognized in the past become successful adults. In 1996, he included freshman J. McMerty in his welcome speech, who now directs the Elon in Los Angeles program. In 2001, he welcomed freshman Laith al-Majali to the university, who produced the film “Captain Abu Raed,” recipient of a Sundance Audience Award in 2008.

“It’s hard to think that being recognized once can change your life, but it makes you feel welcome, feel special and feel confident,” Jackson said.