The Top Elizabethtown College News Stories of 2021

The year 2021 was full of memorable moments at Elizabethtown College, so we’re looking back at some of our favorite Etown News stories from the past year, in chronological order.

These stories highlighted the remarkable success of our talented students and alumni, displayed how our campus community is living out our motto to “Educate for Service,” and showcased the incredible commitment and support of our generous donors who are making a difference in the lives of our students through their historic gifts.

Elizabethtown College Student to Work Behind-the-Scenes at Super Bowl LV

Elizabethtown College senior, Christine Fox ‘21, worked behind-the-scenes during Super Bowl LV in Tampa, Florida on Sunday, Feb. 7, when the Kansas City Chiefs faced off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Etown Communications major, assisted the organization, Living Sport, a program created to give passionate sport professionals, recent grads, and current students an edge over the thousands of job seekers looking for a job within the competitive sports industry.

Alumnus Receives Accreditation for Business Started in Elizabethtown College Entrepreneurship Class

Alumnus Niko Antonellos ’13 earned a Preliminary Accreditation from the Behavioral Health Center of Excellence (BHCOE) for his business, Sidekicks Support Services, which he began during his time as a student at Elizabethtown College. The accreditation recognizes Sidekicks as a behavioral service provider dedicated to continuous improvement in applied behavior analysis.

Elizabethtown College Day of Service Provides Aid for Thousands

On Wednesday, March 3, Elizabethtown College hosted a Day of Service for all members of the campus community, engaging in service-oriented projects that targeted the issues of food insecurity, physical health, and mental wellness. The projects completed on the day included packaging meals for families in need, writing notes of gratitude, packing dental hygiene kits, and assembling plarn mats for the homeless.

Elizabethtown College Receives $3.5 Million in Gifts Toward Diversity & Inclusion; Cultural and Performing Arts; and Student Scholarships

Elizabethtown College received $3.5 million dollars in gifts and commitments toward diversity and inclusion efforts, cultural and performing arts, and student scholarships.

Elizabethtown College Receives $6.5 Million Gift, Second-Largest in Institution’s History

Elizabethtown College received a $6.5 million gift from the estate of alumnus Jay A. Izenour ’72, to endow the Jay A. Izenour and Karen L. Izenour Endowed Scholarship Fund. The Izenour gift was the second-largest ever to be received in the College’s history.

Elizabethtown College Communications Alumnus Finds Success On-Air

Elizabethtown College Communications alumnus Anthony Carter ’19 is working as a multi-media journalist for NBC5 News in southern Oregon, shooting videos, editing, and writing stories for the station. He credits Etown’s Communication Department for helping him develop the wide range of skills he uses regularly.

Elizabethtown College to Welcome Largest Incoming Class in Five Years

Elizabethtown College welcomed its largest incoming class over the past five years as enrollment was up again for the second consecutive year. More than 475 new students joined the Class of 2025.

Elizabethtown College Alumna Wins Highest Honor in Occupational Therapy

Elizabethtown College alumna Kristie Patten ’87 was named the recipient of the 2021 American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA) prestigious Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lectureship Award – recognized as the highest accolade in the occupational therapy profession.

Elizabethtown College Students Complete Summer Research

Elizabethtown College students gained valuable experience over the summer, working closely with faculty mentors on campus to perform independent student research as part of the Summer Scholarship, Creative Arts and Research Projects (SCARP) program. SCARP was created to support independent student research under the sponsorship of a faculty mentor and is designed to enhance professional skills and provide a competitive advantage to participating students in the pursuit of career opportunities and graduate studies.

Elizabethtown College Marketing Student Starts Outdoor Clothing Company

Elizabethtown College Marketing student Lucas Cunningham ’23 launched his own clothing company, C&B Outdoor, in August 2021. The company sells a variety of apparel, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and beanies. Their motto, “Free Your Journey,” reflects their dedication to encouraging patrons to be the best versions of themselves, to work toward achieving their dreams, and to support others while they’re doing the same.

Elizabethtown College Education Student Publishes First Novel

Elizabethtown College Early Childhood Education major Alyssa Marzili ’22 published her first book, “The Sea of Paper.” Marzili, who penned her independently published children’s book under the pseudonym Maggie O’Casiry, first started writing her story in 2014 when she was in the eighth grade and has been preparing to publish it since.

Elizabethtown College Receives Largest-Ever Endowed Scholarship Gift to Support Underrepresented Students

Elizabethtown College received a $2.5 million gift pledge, the largest toward an endowed scholarship by a living donor in College history, from Robert ‘74 and Karen Rigg. The gift supports the Rigg Family Chester County Futures Scholarship, which provides full room, board, and tuition for up to eight semesters, to one underrepresented or first-generation student from either Chester or Berks counties each year that attends Etown.