John and Amber (Robbins) Elwood ’99

Amber (Robbins) Elwood ’99, like countless high school students, navigated a path of uncertainty toward college. She had always envisioned becoming a teacher, but as the first in her family to pursue higher education, she felt the weight of her aspirations.

“The biggest challenge was simply deciding to attend college despite not having college-graduate role models within my immediate family. I also was the oldest child in my family so the idea of paying for college seemed daunting,” Elwood recalled. However, what she lacked in resources she made up for with determination, noting, “I had confidence in my abilities to succeed.”

The college search had a grim start. Elwood’s heart sank as she toured campuses that boasted about enrollments rivaling the entire population of her hometown and centered around sprawling concrete jungles. They seemed to mock the idea of a nurturing college environment. Elwood’s perspective changed when she visited Franklin College. Her hometown friend from Sullivan, Indiana, had recommended the visit. She remembers that Franklin’s picturesque campus and friendly community charmed her, and the reputation for excellence in teacher education won her over. Franklin was an exciting adventure and a comforting home, and Elwood knew she had found her perfect fit. “I grew up in a small rural community so I felt like Franklin was the big city,” she recalled.

Elwood felt welcomed from the start and sought ways to be involved. She held leadership roles in Pi Beta Phi sorority, served as an admissions ambassador and took on several work-study jobs. One involved assisting the President’s Office with special mail­ings to alumni and college supporters. As the recipient of scholarships and financial aid, involvement in that process was enlightening for Elwood, giving her a glimpse of the circle of philanthropy. Her understanding and appreciation deepened over time when she realized the direct impact. “Without generous donors and financial aid, Franklin would not have been possible for me,” she shared.

As Elwood thrived in Franklin College’s tight-knit community, her academic and personal growth soared. She credited the student-to-professor ratio, singling out education professors Diana Bartnick Schmidt and the late Carole McKinney for the individualized attention they gave. “Their energy and love for teaching was evident and inspiring,” Elwood said. Their passion shaped her own commitment to education while the teacher preparation program laid the foundation for her success in the classroom.

“During my time as an education major, FC was one of the few schools that provided classroom experiences as early as your sophomore year. Getting into the classroom early allowed real hands-on experience with real students and real colleagues,” she said. By the time Elwood graduated, her confidence in the classroom had flourished, and her resolve to be an impactful teacher was unstoppable. It is no coincidence that a full-time job offer came from Columbus, Indiana’s Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp., where she was a student teacher. After she graduated from Franklin, Elwood achieved a fulfilling 23-year career in elementary education there.

Recalling those transformative student-teaching experiences, she made it her mission to pay it forward during her alumni era. “The training I received at FC not only shaped me as an educator but also empowered me to open my classroom and help the next generation of teachers, which was very gratifying,” Elwood said. She also continued her own professional development by earning a master’s degree in education from Olivet University.

Although Elwood retired from teaching in 2023, a part of her heart still belongs to the profession, especially her former students. “Impacting young minds in the classroom is an awesome responsibility,” she said, noting that teachers also care deeply about their students’ well-being and success outside of school. Such dedication is one reason Elwood’s impact as an educator still ripples throughout her community. “It’s super rewarding to have former students send invitations to their high school graduation ceremonies or yell hi out their car window or approach me in a restaurant to reminisce about being in my class,” she said.

Those moments of reassurance that teaching is as much a legacy as a job always reignite Elwood’s appreciation for Franklin College and its impact on her era as a student. Now, as a Franklin College Trustee, she is involved in helping the institution continue taking steps to enhance academic programs, facilities and other resources to support today’s students in realizing their dreams. “Pride is perhaps my biggest emotion. I took a leap of faith years ago, and I’m so glad I did,” she said.

For Elwood, this is an exciting new era at Franklin College, and this time she shares it with her husband, John. Though he didn’t attend Franklin, he has witnessed how profoundly it influenced his wife’s life. Together, they decided to invest in that trans­formative power with a naming gift commitment to restore and renovate a college facility aptly renamed the Elwood Fitness Center.

Their decision is rooted in their shared faith. “We believe that to whom much is given, much is expected,” she explained, echoing a verse they hold dear. “Franklin gave me the tools to build a rewarding career and a life of purpose. Now, it’s our turn to help others have that chance.”

The Elwoods reside with their three children in Columbus, where John is the CEO of Elwood Staffing.

By Amy (Kean) VerSteeg ’96, Editor, Franklin College Magazine

POSTED Aug 1, 2024