Etown Launches $40 Million Scholarship Campaign to Support Student Aid

The campaign expands scholarship support to make the Etown experience more accessible while giving students the freedom to focus on discovery, leadership, and service without the burden of financial barriers.

Million Dollar Match Inspires Donors to Create Scholarships

The most significant matching funds initiative in the College’s history, the campaign successfully concluded this spring as 20 new endowed scholarships were established to open doors to higher education for future generations of students.

Brighter Futures in Focus: Skylar Mumford ’26

A Finance major and standout on the Women’s Soccer team, scholarship support has allowed Mumford to devote her time to campus involvement and pursue career-enhancing opportunities.

Why I Give to Etown Scholarships: Todd Eicker ’95

A career higher-education professional, Eicker was instrumental in leading fundraising efforts of Etown’s Pittsburgh Alumni Chapter to establish an endowed scholarship that supports academically promising first-year students who live in western Pennsylvania.

Why I Give to Etown Scholarships: Dr. Margaret “Peggy” McFarland

McFarland discovered her passion for social work as a teen volunteer in a nursing home — a calling that led to an extraordinary career in geriatric care and nearly 30 years of teaching.

Brighter Futures in Focus: Cadence Anderson ’28

Scholarship support has enabled Anderson to make the most of her time at Etown by providing opportunities to expand her academic and athletic potential as a Biology major on the Women’s Basketball team.

High Auditorium for Collaborative Learning is Dedicated on Oct. 16

Located in the Steinman Center, the newly renovated auditorium serves as a central academic and event space on campus with state-of-the-art technology upgrades, new seating, and enhancements to acoustic and lighting.

Power of One Day Unites Community for Record-Breaking 24 Hours of Giving

An outpouring of generosity led to 2,239 gifts from alumni, students, faculty, staff, friends, and families from around the world, raising a total of $743,569 – both Power of One Day records.

Etown Celebrates 50 Years of Occupational Therapy and Music Therapy During Homecoming

Elizabethtown College honored the 50th anniversaries of its Occupational Therapy and Music Therapy programs during Homecoming & Family Weekend, bringing together alumni, students, families, and faculty for celebrations, conversations, and community events.

Students and Mentors Participate in Annual Summer Creative Arts and Research Program

Students gained high-impact experiences this summer by working closely with faculty and staff mentors on campus to conduct independent student research as part of the annual program.

Kelty Oaster ’25 Wins Second Consecutive 800-meter National Title

A personal best, school, and conference record time of 2:05.09 in the 800-meter at the 2025 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships in May placed Oaster atop the podium for her second national title in the calendar year, after winning the same event at the NCAA Indoor Championships in March.

Students and Alumni Earn Prestigious Scholarships and Fellowships

A total of seven students and two alumni were granted 10 prestigious scholarships and fellowships, while five students won six Summer Enrichment Grants during the 2024-25 academic year.

Occupational Therapy Students Gain Clinical Training Edge Through Guldmann Equipment Donation

A generous donation of a cutting-edge occupational therapy rehabilitation system installed in Esbenshade Hall is allowing students to simulate real clinical scenarios directly in the classroom.

Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology Program Celebrates Largest Graduating Class

The program, which launched in 2022, celebrated the graduation of its largest-ever cohort during the College’s 122nd Commencement exercises in May.

Students Win Ethics In Business Scholarship

Students Avery Kelly ’28, Tatiana Belair ’28, and Taylor Bowers ’28 were awarded scholarships during the annual Ethics in Business Awards Ceremony in September.

Ganon Smith ’26 Places Fourth at NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships

Smith went 4-2 at the 2025 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships in Providence, R.I., in March, becoming the program’s first All-American at the 184-pound weight class since 2013, while his 36 wins on the season were the most recorded by a Blue Jay since 1997-98.

Learning Side by Side: A Mother and Son Duo Thrive at Etown

Learning is a shared journey at Etown. For Engineering major Noah Peiffer ’27 and his mom, Christie Peiffer M.Ed. ’28, it’s one they’re taking together.

2024-25 Student Awards Winners Announced

Students across campus were honored for their outstanding efforts at the 47th annual Student Awards Ceremony in April.

Make A Deposit, Make A Difference Campaign Supports Endowed Class of 2029 Scholarship

The College raised $20,000 through the annual campaign, successfully matching student deposits to create an endowed scholarship for the Class of 2029.

Partnership with Lancaster STEM Alliance and Cargas Ignites High School Students’ Interest in Computer Programming

The annual six-week academy engaged Lancaster County students from six local high schools to gain crucial professional skills, along with career exploration.

Criminal Justice Students Host Reentry Workshops

During the spring 2025 semester, a group of eight Blue Jays held 12 reentry workshops for incarcerated individuals eligible for parole at nearby State Correctional Institution — Camp Hill.

Science in Motion Program Receives Energy Grant

The Etown Science in Motion program received a $30,000 Constellation Energy Grant to expand access to STEM equipment and resources for local secondary school students.

Music Therapy Students Advocate for Legislation at Annual Hill Day

Students traveled to the Pennsylvania State Capitol in June to advocate for licensure legislation and enhanced access to care.

Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences Volunteers Offer Expertise at Biodiversity Monitoring Event

Faculty, students, and alumni volunteered their expertise during a local biodiversity-monitoring event at the Conewago Creek wetland restoration site in July.

President Betty Rider Elected to AICUP Board of Directors

President Rider was elected to the board of directors of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP) for a three-year term beginning July 1.

Etown Hosts Local Middle/High Schoolers for Fifth Annual Video Festival

The College hosted more than 85 local middle and high school students from across 10 regional schools in May, offering hands-on, real-world media operations experience.

Occupational Therapy (OT) Program Benefits Conestoga Valley School District Community

Etown partnered with the Conestoga Valley School District to provide hands-on support and community service opportunities, benefiting students in the district and enabling Etown’s OT students to engage in meaningful fieldwork.

Volunteers Give Back to Community at 2025 Spring Day of Service

Nearly 300 Blue Jay students, faculty, staff, and alumni gave back to the community by packing more than 1,500 care kits for local humanitarian organizations in March.

Annual Into the Streets Day of Service Supports 27 Community Partners

The annual event boasted the largest number of community partners in its 32-year history, with over 300 students, faculty, and alumni serving the community at projects across the region in October.

Lenea DeTore ’21 Brews up Inclusive Coffee Shop to Empower Adults with Disabilities

DeTore, an Occupational Therapy alumna, is turning a long-held dream into reality with the upcoming launch of a non-profit coffee shop created to provide meaningful employment for adults with disabilities.

Faculty and Students Travel to The Gambia

A group of six students and two faculty members traveled to Pirang, a small village in The Gambia, for a short-term study abroad trip where they explored the area’s culture and connected with community leaders to learn the challenges facing the country.

Haley Nedo ’26 Donates Liver to Save Her Father’s Life

An Exercise Science major and member of the Etown Softball team, Nedo made the ultimate sacrifice for her family, donating 60% of her liver to save her father, Thomas’s, life after he was diagnosed with a rare genetic liver disease.

Students Spend Fall Break Giving Back

Eleven students spent their fall break giving back to the local community by building homes with Lancaster-Lebanon Habitat for Humanity in October.

Alumni Spotlight: Matthew Berzenthy ’18

A Biotechnology alumnus, Berzenthy serves as a Captain in the United States Army Medical Corps, working as a resident at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Anesthesiology.

Alumni Spotlight: Kelsie LeVan ’12

The Political Science and Criminal Justice alumna has dedicated her career to creating equitable opportunities for others, and today, she prepares individuals for AI-resilient careers in growing industries.

Alumni Spotlight: Mike Monsell ’93

A Communications alumnus and current Vice President of Marketing at 6abc Action News, Monsell’s career contributions to the industry led to a place in the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia’s 2025 Hall of Fame Class.

Alpha Sow ’18 Receives Distinguished Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) Award

Sow, a cybersecurity professional and former information technology specialist who has provided his technical expertise to various industries for nearly a decade, was recognized during Homecoming and Family Weekend in October.

Cameron Gettel ’11 Receives Chemistry and Biochemistry Department’s Outstanding Alumni Award

Gettel, a Biochemistry graduate and current Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Yale School of Medicine and a Clinical Investigator at the Yale Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, was honored during October’s Homecoming and Family Weekend.

Journalism Alumni Win Keystone Media Awards

Abigail Lindsay ’24 won first place in the Best Feature (Broadcast) category, and Faith Morrow ’24 received honorable mention in the Video Story category for work they produced in their Advanced Multimedia Journalism course.

2024–25 Educate For Service: Service Through Professional Achievement Award — Dr. D. Rodney Chamberlain ’74

A career educator, Chamberlain has displayed a lifelong commitment to improving lives through education, providing leadership in prestigious institutions nationwide while remaining deeply engaged with Etown.

2024–25 Educate For Service: Service To Humanity Award — Jane L. (Thomas) Riese ’81

A licensed social worker and global advocate for bullying prevention, Riese serves as Associate Director of Safe and Humane Schools at Clemson University’s Institute on Family and Neighborhood Life, where she helps lead the internationally recognized Olweus Bullying Prevention Program.

2025–26 Educate For Service: Service To The College Award — Lisa Groff ’84

Through her career success, community leadership, and philanthropy, Groff has exemplified Etown’s mission of service as President of Groff Funeral & Cremation Services, as well as her community work with the American Red Cross and the Rotary Club of Lancaster.