Elon alumnus on campus while serving overseas

By Monica Yantosh

ELON, N.C.- Amy DeNenno moved into Hook dorm this weekend, but she is no stranger to campus. Her brother, First Lt. Joe DeNenno, graduated from the school in 2009 and is currently serving overseas in Afghanistan.

Flat Joe, a small cut-out of DeNenno, goes everywhere with the DeNennos.

Flat Joe at breakfast with family and friends

“It was really hard, I miss him a lot, and so like holding Flat Joe just like brought back some emotions,” Amy DeNenno said.

The DeNennos created Flat Joe when First Lt. DeNenno was deployed earlier this year. The paper cut out is a take off of Flat Stanley, a paper man that many elementary school kids send around the world while documenting his adventures.  

Amy has her own Flat Joe here at school, her parents have one, and many of the DeNenno’s family friends have one. They update First Lt. DeNenno with his counterpart’s travels.

“Basically, any kind of thing that we would do together, I would just bring him with, so it’s kind of just like a buddy,” Amy said.

Even though it’s tough for the DeNenno’s to be apart, Flat Joe is their reminder to be thankful.

“It’s a great way to constantly remember Joe, never let him slip from your mind,” Amy’s father, Dick DeNenno, said.

Dick DeNenno has taken Joe on numerous business trips so far, and lets Flat Joe be the reminder of how proud he is of his son.

“Joe’s a very unselfish guy, and he sees it as a privilege and a responsibility. Of course, I’m very, very proud of him,” Dick said.

Elon grad headed to Afghanistan

By Laura Levitt

Elon alumnus Joey DeNenno graduated with a degree in Strategic Communications, and he is depending on this degree to help him during his deployment to Afghanistan.

“International relations and things like that really helped with the customs and courtesies and being able to speak to relate to people,” DeNenno said.

DeNenno was involved in Army ROTC during his four years at Elon. He spent his weekdays training and he spent his summer training at basis. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant the day before his graduation in 2009. In November he was promoted to First Lieutenant.

Dr. Ken Gaither was DeNenno’s advisor and believes DeNenno’s integrity will help him succeed.

“He really lives what the army is about- honor respect and discipline- all those things,” Gaither said. “The interesting thing about Joey is that he brought it into the classroom.”

DeNenno is being deployed this spring. His tour will last about one year.

“I know he’s ready for this, he wants to do this, he’s been talking about it ever since he’s been at Elon,” Gaither said.

DeNenno is thankful for the support he receives from friends and family.

“It helps you get up in the morning,” DeNenno said. “You really can’t describe it in words.”