Elizabethtown College’s Momentum program continues to demonstrate its positive impact on first-generation college students. For the past 12 years, the program has met its goal of a 3.0 or higher average cumulative GPA in every semester of each academic year for each cohort of Momentum students.
The program is designed to prepare students for college, assisting them in an effort to get the most from their education and become an integral part of the community. Invitations are extended to first-generation college students, of all backgrounds, who meet financial eligibility.
The Momentum Class of 2022 cohort graduated 33 students during this year’s Commencement exercises, many with distinguished honors which include Suma Cum Laude (3), Cum Laude (5), Magna Cum Laude (4), Honors students (3), Stamps Scholars (2) and Emergent Scholars (9).
“The Momentum program employs a proactive academic advising model,” explained Director of Special Programs & Prestigious Scholarships Jean-Paul Benowitz. “Through a combination of focus on the interests, abilities, and goals of the students, our proactive student-to-student academic advising builds strong and lasting relationships. The consistent and intentional intervention we provide, through the Momentum program, works with first-generation students navigating their undergraduate experience and exceeding expectations.”
About the Momentum Program
Momentum works with students throughout their first year and sophomore year in attaining their academic and professional goals, career and graduate school preparation, financial literacy, cultural enrichment, and leadership development. Momentum students are connected with student mentors, faculty, professional staff, administrators, and alumni who have been or would have been in the Momentum program and who understand what Momentum students need.
Each Momentum student in their first and second year is assigned a Kinesis Peer Academic Advisor, a junior or senior who is majoring and/or minoring in a similar academic program. It is optional to live in a residence hall specifically for Momentum students and additional support comes from the Elizabethtown College Pi Chapter of the national honors society Alpha, Alpha, Alpha. The program establishes a sense of community among Momentum students who are agents of change working toward equity, social justice, and peacemaking. Learn more at etown.edu/momentum.