Dear Phoenix Club Member,
Thank you so much for your support to Elon Athletics! My name is Ben Zipay, and I am a senior men’s tennis student-athlete from Osprey, Florida. I will be graduating this spring with a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management, and minors in Business Administration and Communications. I am heavily involved in Elon Athletics, as I am also currently interning with the Marketing and Ticketing departments, and am the Treasurer of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. My Elon experience has taken directions I never expected when I first heard about the school as a senior in high school, and I am excited to share them with you now.
I came to Elon as a walk-on for the tennis team and received academic financial aid as well as a few external scholarships prior to my first year. As a freshman and sophomore, I progressively earned more and more playing time until I was finally a consistent starter as a junior. At this time, I was still considered a walk-on and received no athletic scholarship. Fortunately, by the start of my final year, I earned a scholarship, which actually allowed me to continue my education at Elon.
Back in Florida, my family has owned and run a small tennis club for nearly forty years. In the fall of 2022, Hurricane Ian hit directly over the club, destroying almost everything and insurance did not cover the repairs. The athletic scholarship I received allowed me to stay with the school and team I love, and compete here for my final year of eligibility. Without it, I would not have been able to afford the cost of attendance for my senior year.
Thanks to the gifts you provide to Elon Athletics, I saw a path to a scholarship I didn’t have coming in, and gave my full effort day in and day out to put myself in a position to earn one. Being put in a position where my future at Elon was uncertain shifted my mentality toward seeking more on-campus involvement, and has opened doors toward my future than I could have ever imagined. I have fostered relationships with many amazing people in the athletics department, who are now helping me find graduate assistant programs to continue my education and earn an MBA.
I want to thank you once again for helping me finish my education and tennis career at Elon, which has opened the door to my future. I am just one of the many athletic scholarship beneficiaries at Elon, but am grateful for your donations and the opportunities it provides for all of us. My Elon experience has bettered me as a person, and given me the confidence to take the next step in life after I graduate.
Go Phoenix!
Ben Zipay