Nov. 19, 2015
NASHVILLE, Tenn.  Returning as a fifth-year senior, forward Taylor Elliott was a key cog for the Vanderbilt soccer team’s success this season.
But Elliott has also been a valuable presence in the Nashville community the last five years, and, on Thursday, she was named to the SEC Community Service Team.
The political science major from Massapequa, N.Y., has volunteered at KIPP Academy, a public charter school in Nashville, as a teacher assistant. She served as a reading tutor at Eakin Elementary School.
She volunteered at the PENCIL Foundation, a free store for Nashville Public School educators. She also spent time helping at the Hospital Hospitality House, which opens its doors with lodging and meals to patients and families or caregivers seeking medical treatment in Nashville area hospitals.
She participated in the Vanderbilt University Dance Marathon, which supports the patients and families of the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. She also shows off her green thumb on Hands on Nashville’s Urban Farm, engaging children who live in neighborhoods with limited access to fresh foods.
Elliott, who graduates in December, capped off her career with her best season. After scoring just one goal the previous three seasons, she scored four this fall for third-most on the team.
Her game-tying goal and game-winning assist helped the Commodores knock off No. 8 South Carolina on the road, and earned her SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors. She then scored the first game-winning goal of her career on Nov. 2 against Georgia in the SEC Tournament. Her header in the second half lifted Vanderbilt to its first SEC Tournament win in 10 years.
