Elizabethtown College alumnus Ryan Unger ‘01 received the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award to highlight the College’s Department of Communications Awards Banquet held in the Koons Activity Venue (KAV) on Thursday, April 7.
The award recognizes a Communications graduate for their professional achievement, service to the College, and service to the department.
“This year, we were honored to recognize Mr. Unger who is a role model for our students and exemplifies the College’s motto of ‘Educate for Service’ through his leadership and service to his community,” Dean of School of Public Service April Kelly said.
Unger, an Etown Mass Communications alumnus, is the President and CEO of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC. He also serves as a member of Elizabethtown College’s Board of Trustees and Alumni Council President.
Unger talked with current Etown Communications students about the importance of trusting their own instincts as they prepare to embark on their careers.
“As you go forward A LOT of people will be giving you advice…parents, professors, alumni, speakers at Comm Banquet…. But the most important person to listen to is yourself,” Unger said during Thursday evening’s speech. “Find time to do that. Find time to connect with yourself. What really excites you. And what you can see yourself doing. And I don’t know what that is. But I do know you will be Blue Jays. Always.”
The department’s 18 graduating seniors were also recognized at the banquet while department awards were presented to students in the following categories: Senior Awards & Recognition, Communications Achievement Awards, Scholarships, Student Media Awards, and Organizational Awards & Special Recognition.
Three of the department’s awards are sponsored by local media: WGAL 8 Hearst Award for Excellence in Broadcasting, LNP Award for Excellence in Journalism, and the JPL Award for Excellence in Communications.
“The Communications Awards Banquet is an opportunity for our faculty to recognize students who have been outstanding in their areas of scholarship,” Kelly said. “It is a celebration of student achievement. But it is also a testament to the faculty and staff’s commitment to providing the sort of opportunities that allowed the students to flourish.