Dear Phoenix Club Member,
Thank you so much for your gift to support Elon Athletics! My name is Sibel Tanik and I am a senior on the women’s tennis team. I’m originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, and I’m here at Elon studying Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics. I’m also a part of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and the Women In Computer Science Club. I am thrilled to be able to share some of my favorite moments from Elon and express my sincerest gratitude for the support of donors such as yourself!
Because of the scholarship that I receive, I am able to be a part of this incredible university, to learn and grow as a student, and strive for excellence in the sport I fell in love with as a young girl. I’ve played at the top of the lineup on the tennis team for the past few years, surrounded by some of my favorite people in the whole world - my team. These are my best friends and I know that we will continue to support each other throughout our lives. The support we give to each other every day on and off the court is unlike anything I have ever experienced. My favorite part of the day is being on the tennis court, just practicing and hanging out with the girls. My junior year, we were able to get to the CAA Conference Championship for the first time in history, falling just short of the title. To this day, it is by far my favorite memory at Elon. The team worked for months, spending long hours on the court, in the gym, and in the treatment room to be able to compete to the best of our ability in front of our friends and families. Win or lose, it was an electric atmosphere, and an experience that not many have the pleasure of feeling. It all comes down to donors like you, who give student-athletes like us, just a glimmer of hope for the possibility to compete in a conference championship. This year, my final year, I hope to finally win the gold. I won’t be leaving Elon without it!
A special thing about being a student-athlete is the community we are able to surround ourselves with here at Elon. As I mentioned above, my team are my best friends, but since Elon has such a feeling of togetherness, we are able to connect to other sports and support each other. My boyfriend is on the soccer team here at Elon, and one of my good friends (who I also get to call my roommate) is on the women’s basketball team. Like many of my teammates, they are both international students who are far from home and would not have been able to attend Elon without a scholarship. The Elon athletic community is full of hard-working, dedicated, and kind individuals, and we all support each other in the spirit of the Phoenix.
Though I wish I could play tennis forever, my time here at Elon will be coming to an end this semester. After I graduate, I plan to find a job in my hometown of Raleigh. I have been looking into software developer and web development roles where I can utilize the skills I’ve learned. Tennis will always be a part of me and a part of my life, as I hope to continue to play it into my adult years.
I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping student-athletes like myself live out our dreams and achieve our greatest potential. With your gift to Elon Athletics, you directly provide us with the opportunity to succeed in our sport and our academic careers. Without the scholarship I have received, I would not be where I am today, and I am forever grateful for all the experiences I have had at Elon. Thank you for your generosity, kindness, and belief in Elon student-athletes!
Go Phoenix!
Sibel Tanik