Elon Women’s Soccer Student-Athletes Publish Book On Costa Rica

ELON, N.C. – Four student-athletes on the 2014 Elon Phoenix women’s soccer team have collaborated with an Elon University professor to publish a book about their squad’s experience studying abroad together in Costa Rica.

“Costa Rica – Through the Lens: Reflections From Elon University Women’s Soccer” captures the team’s experience in students’ own words.

Samantha Burch, Taylor Glenn, Mikayla Shaw and Erin Tanhauser worked with Professor Tom Arcaro from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology on the book now available for purchase through Amazon in paperback and for Kindle.

The Elon University women’s soccer program last spring took part in a global experience for the first time as team, traveling to multiple cities in Costa Rica during spring break.

As part of the global experience, the team learned about Costa Rican culture, traditions, and landscape through various activities. Student-athletes visited the Arenal Volcano, whitewater rafted on the Pacuare River, and took part in surfing lessons and zip lining.

They also learned basic Spanish while exploring San Jose’s historical “central Mercado.” The Elon program organized a soccer clinic for girls in Quepos, while finding time to compete against the Costa Rican national team and the Saprissa women’s team in a pair of exhibition matches.

Included on the study abroad program was Nicole “Colie” Dennion, a former member of the team who stepped away from the game for bone cancer treatment. Dennion, the former Southern Conference Player of the Year, contributed to the book as well.

In addition to the thoughts and reflections of student-athletes, Elon coaches, athletic trainers and guides that accompanied the team also contributed to the book. Each section provides diverse perspectives about the global experience.

The plan for writing the book was based on the idea that everyone would experience the travel through his or her own lens. The goal during the experience, and in putting the book together, was to provide an example of the global citizenship for which Elon is nationally renowned.