Chandler Elder has award named after her, will graduate from UAH

MADISON-  Chandler Elder’s basketball career has come to an end but her name will live on at UA Huntsville. She, along with fellow graduating senior and basketball player Caroline Dodd, were recently honored by the College of Education with the Dodd-Elder Physical Education Major of the Year Award. The award will be presented annually to honor the college’s first two Physical Education graduates.

Elder is a 2014 Bob Jones graduate and will graduate from UA Huntsville on Sunday, May 6.

“It takes a special person to embrace something new, but both Chandler and Caroline came into the Physical Education (PE) major as our first two declared majors ready for a new challenge,” said Dr. Jeremy M. Elliott, Assistant Professor of Physical Education in the College of Education’s Department (COED) of Kinesiology.

“In the time they’ve been in the COED they have represented the university as student athletes, set a high bar for the work they’ve turned in, developed relationships with students and cooperating teachers at their field placements, and fully embraced the curriculum to become the best PE teachers they can possibly be. It was because of the example they set that the award was named for them,” said Elliott.

The students, commonly known as the “Dynamic Duo” in the COED made the best of their athletic skills in high school to earn full ride basketball scholarships to attend the university.

Elder played for Coach Tim Miller while at Bob Jones and was on the 2012 team that lost to Hoover in the state championship game. At UAH her name will be in the record books as only the second player in UAH history to finish top 10 all time in 3 categories (assists, rebounds, and points).

Elder will graduate as an Honors student. She was the recipient of a full athletic scholarship and a partial academic award.

“I grew up in Madison and hearing about the university and my sister graduated from the College of Nursing,” said Elder. “Ultimately, I decided to attend UAH, because of the athletic program, the College of Engineering, and I was still close to home so I could see my parents and siblings often.”

Elder began her freshmen year as a declared engineering major.

She finished her basic course work at UAH as an undeclared major. She heard the university was starting a Kinesiology program and “it immediately sparked an interest and I knew I was meant to do something within that field. I always loved the idea of being able to positively impact others, and after reflecting on the teachers that had such a strong impact on my life, I knew this was something I needed and wanted to do. My declared major is Kinesiology with a concentration in PE,” said Elder.

From the moment Dodd, who graduated from Carbon Hill High School in Walker County, and Elder met they have been inseparable. Similar in looks they were often mistaken as sisters.

“In our junior year we had every class together, played basketball together, worked together, and lived together. People would always get our names mixed up or mistake us as sisters. Very rarely did you see one of us without the other one. Caroline helped me get through a lot and I am so glad I got to share these experiences with her,” said Elder.

Elder said that she is grateful to the university and the professors for a rewarding academic experience. “I have not only been taught very well, I have been invested in,” said Elder. “My professors pushed me out of my comfort zone and had confidence in me when I didn’t have confidence in myself.”

Elder will soon embark on a new path after graduation.

She has been student teaching all spring at Rainbow Elementary and Monrovia Middle schools. She also has successfully completed the edTPA (method and practice of teaching test) now required by Alabama. All education students must now complete and pass in order to receive their teaching certificate. She said that it was one of the toughest projects she has ever undertaken.

On a personal note, Elder is engaged to be married to Spencer Smith, a 2013 Bob Jones graduate, on Oct. 13.

Robert M. Lightfoot Jr., Former NASA Acting Administrator, will deliver the UAH spring commencement address.