Portrait of Elvie Ellis.
APRIL 14, 2022 | BY NATE PROCTOR
Even after his time in President’s Community Scholars, Elvie Ellis has continued to make a difference in people’s lives. Elvie graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2014 with a bachelor’s in music education and holds a master’s in adult and higher education. After his time in PCS Leadership as an undergraduate student, he helped lead two PCS classes on their PCS in Arezzo experiences as a graduate assistant and staff member.
Since then, Elvie has been touring with Broadway’s National Tour of Waitress as a swing and serves as a camp coordinator for Camp Blue Hawk & Student Success Agency at OU Health’s Harold Hamm Diabetes Center. We reached out to him to see what he’s been up to and to reflect on his time with PCS.
Q: How did PCS impact your undergraduate experience?
Elvie: PCS helped me find a place of belonging early on in my undergraduate experience. I didn’t know many people coming into OU, and I wasn’t involved in Greek life until much later, so much of my community was built around PCS. As I matured in college, I realized that PCS helped me understand the value of my college experience outside of the classroom. Many of my most fond and impactful memories from college were birthed out of opportunities and experiences I was introduced to through PCS.
Q: What were some unique or exciting experiences you had in PCS?
Elvie: My first real leadership experience in college was through PCS. I volunteered to serve as a group leader for my PCS Big Event group. As a freshman, that was an exciting experience to see how I could impact others through leadership. As a graduate assistant and full-time OU staff member, I also got the amazing opportunity to lead two PCS classes on the PCS in Arezzo experience. Getting to witness PCS’s impact across the globe through their service projects and youth camp in Arezzo, Italy was extremely impactful and unique.
Q: What inspires you most about your work?
Elvie: Something that inspires me most about my work, specifically in live theatre, is that regardless of what I have going on in my personal life, I can affect those in the audience through my performance. It reminds me of a quote I heard from George Henderson, my favorite PCS speaker from my freshman year. He said one of his life motto’s which he learned from his mother was, “What little we have, we will give”. He, of course, was not talking about performing, but it still applies to what I do on stage. Sometimes, I must walk on stage feeling physically, mentally and emotionally tired. It’s in those moments I think of Dr. Henderson’s mother’s words.
Q: What are some words you live by?
Elvie: “What is for you, will not miss you.” Those are some words I learned the hard way. When I applied to be the PCS Student Advisor as a freshman, I wasn’t selected. I was heartbroken at the moment, but I soon came to realize that it simply wasn’t for me at that moment, and if it had been – it wouldn’t have missed me. I chose to not let that singular moment of disappointment define the rest of my PCS experience. Because of that, I got to experience several things through PCS that I never could have dreamed of when I applied to be the advisor.
Q: What would you say to your fellow PCS alumni and parents that would encourage them to give on Giving Day?
Elvie: Remember the words of George Henderson and his mother when you consider giving. “What little we have, we will give.” You may not have a large sum of money to be able to give, but try to give what little you can – be it 50 cents or $50,000. Even the tiniest bit can make a big impact.
President’s Community Scholars is composed of students who want to make a difference in their community. President Joseph Harroz Jr. recognizes the community service efforts of our high school's best and brightest scholars through the President's Community Scholars scholarship. Administered by the Office of Leadership and Volunteerism from the Division of Student Affairs, PCS provides high-achieving high school students with the best possible freshman experience through service to local, state, and global communities.
