The Top Elizabethtown College News Stories of 2022

The year 2022 was full of memorable moments at Elizabethtown College, so we’re looking back at some of our favorite Etown News stories from the last 12 months, in chronological order.

These stories highlighted the growing momentum of our institution through historic accomplishments, displayed the remarkable success and inspiring work of our dynamic students and alumni, and showcased the impactful ways that our campus community is living out our motto to “Educate for Service.”

Elizabethtown College School of Engineering, Math, and Computer Science Honored by National Diversity Recognition Program

The Elizabethtown College School of Engineering, Math, and Computer Science was honored by the American Society for Engineering Education’s (ASEE) Diversity Recognition Program, earning Bronze Level recognition. ASEE’s bronze category is the highest level issued to institutions during the current submission cycle and recognizes that the School is among the nation’s leaders in inclusive excellence. Etown was one of just nine institutions in the nation to receive the recognition.

Elizabethtown College Junior and Genealogy Expert Uncovers 58-Year-Old Cold Case

Elizabethtown College junior and History major Eric Schubert received national recognition for his assistance in cracking a 58-year-old murder case that occurred in Hazelton, Pa. Eric used his genealogy expertise to assist authorities and help the family. Eric has now been featured on ABC News’ Good Morning America as well as highlighted by other national publications for the discovery.

Elizabethtown College Exceeds Make A Deposit, Make A Difference Campaign to Provide Donations to Local Non-Profits

Elizabethtown College exceeded its Make A Deposit, Make A Difference campaign for the third consecutive year by reaching and surpassing its goal of 50 enrollment deposits made by accepted students. The College held its first two on-campus Accepted Student Days on February 12 and March 12 and committed to matching up to $15,000 in deposits made during that time period to donate the funds to three local community service organizations.

Elizabethtown College’s 2022 WWEC Award Highlights Bond Between Dedicated DJ and Student Mentor

This year’s WWEC award, presented at the Elizabethtown College Department of Communications Awards Banquet on Thursday, April 7, highlighted a unique bond between a dedicated DJ and a student mentor. Each year, the award recognizes a dedicated student DJ or station board member from the College’s WWEC 88.3 radio station who has demonstrated their commitment in the studio and at events on campus. This year’s award was presented to Tommy Levosky, who came to Etown in 2014 when he was hired as a Utility Worker on the College’s Dining Services team.

Elizabethtown College Students Create Mobility Cart for Paralyzed Puppy

A team of Elizabethtown College Engineering students has provided the freedom of mobility for a permanently paralyzed puppy named Jimmy, constructing a wheelchair for the local pitbull as part of a class project. Claire Cuvo ’24, Bridget Ward ’24, Olivia Swope ’23, Andrew Raab ’24, and Clayton Greer ’22 designed and fabricated Jimmy’s mobility cart in their Community Project Engineering course, which requires students to craft a project for a non-profit within the community.

Class of 2022 Honored for Commitment to Academics, Resiliency in Commencement Exercises

On Saturday, May 14, the Elizabethtown College Class of 2022 was recognized for its commitment and dedication to academics and for its resiliency as the class completed its college journey through the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly 550 graduates from all six undergraduate Schools along with the School of Graduate and Professional Studies (SGPS) were recognized in the Dell alongside family and friends. Alumna, attorney, and advocate, Jennifer Breen Feist, J.D. ’94 served as this year’s Commencement speaker.

Elizabethtown College Student Honoring Sister’s Memory Through Non-Profit Bakery

Abbey Wolf, the younger sister of Elizabethtown College Occupational Therapy student Kayla Wolf ’22 M’23, always had a deep love for baking and sweet treats. Her happiest moments were often while whisking something up in the kitchen. Tragically, the Wolf family lost 14-year-old Abbey, who struggled with anxiety and depression, to suicide on Saturday, November 7, 2020. Needing an outlet for their grief, the Wolf family sought to transform their tragedy into a way to help others. The result: Abbey’s Bakery, which combines Abbey’s favorite recipes with the Wolf family’s mission to raise awareness and encourage conversations around mental health and suicide prevention.

Elizabethtown College Welcomes Largest Incoming Class in Seven Years

This fall, Elizabethtown College welcomed its largest incoming class since 2015 as enrollment was up again for the third consecutive year. A total of 476 first-year students joined the Class of 2026 along with 49 new transfer students. The total incoming class of 525 represented a nearly nine-percent increase over the previous year.

Elizabethtown College Awarded $1.2 Million Grant for Center for Equity and Sustainability in Engineering

Elizabethtown College was awarded a $1.2 Million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to launch the Greenway Center for Sustainability and Equity in Engineering in partnership with the Greenway Institute, located in Vermont. The Greenway Center for Equity and Sustainability (GCES) will be an innovation campus that re-designs and re-centers engineering education around sustainability and core equity practices that empower students from underrepresented groups.

Elizabethtown College Ranks Among Best Colleges in 2022-23 U.S. News & World Report Lists

Elizabethtown College was ranked in several notable categories in the 2022-23 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges lists including being named 22nd (third in Pennsylvania) out of 175 institutions in the Regional Universities (North) list. The College is now classified under this new list based on the growth of our graduate programs. (In 2021-22, Elizabethtown College was ranked #117 on the National Private Liberal Arts Colleges list).

Elizabethtown College RN to BSN Program Receives National Accreditation

Elizabethtown College’s School of Graduate and Professional Studies RN to BSN Program received national accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Launched in the fall of 2020 to address a nationwide nursing shortage, Etown’s RN to BSN Program is 100 percent online and offers accelerated five-week classes with flexible step-in, and step-out options to meet the needs of practicing nurses.

Elizabethtown College Names Betty Rider 16th President

The Elizabethtown College Board of Trustees announced Betty Rider as the College’s 16^th President on Nov. 2, 2022. Rider, who had been serving as Transitional President since January, successfully led the College over the previous 10 months. Her term will last through June 30, 2025, with the ability to extend.

Elizabethtown College Communications Alumnus Inspires Young Girls to Dream Big with Debut Children’s Book

Inspired by his two young daughters, Elizabethtown College Alumnus Dario Mescia ’98 recently published his debut children’s book, “Ruby Reindeer and the Magic Antlers.” The story follows a young female reindeer, Ruby, as she sets out on a courageous journey to prove that boy reindeer aren’t the only ones that have the magic to pull Santa’s sleigh.