As we celebrate Elizabethtown College’s 125th anniversary, we’re sharing the favorite stories of our alumni, students, staff, and faculty during their time at Etown. Whether it’s a funny anecdote from your dorm days, a moment of mentorship from a class or professor, or a standout experience from a campus event, these stories submitted by members of the Blue Jay community not only commemorate the rich history of our institution but also serve as a reminder of the lasting impact that Elizabethtown College has had on the lives of so many individuals.
Tony Sadowski ’03 – Communications
Most importantly to my story, my wife Melissa (’03) and I met on our first day of Freshman Orientation at Etown. That was in 1999, and we’re still together today, with two children. She and I were both Communications majors who spent a lot of time in Steinman, working on ECTV or WWEC shows, sitting in the Student Lab Assistant (SLA) closet, and I was even an assistant to the video professor for two years. If a chance to write or produce something existed, I was often involved – humor columns and cartoons in The Etownian, writing and doodling for the literary magazine, etc.
My time at Etown was happy and busy, and introduced me to great friends who we still keep up with today. Major history happened. My first presidential election. We stared helplessly at 9/11 coverage with friends in the TV office. But going into college as a kid with a dream of working in television, what Etown provided me with was a playground to experiment as a writer and producer which helped me do exactly that. Without a VHS tape of animations and sketch comedy to show off, I likely wouldn’t have landed my first job. I was hired as a promotions producer at WPMT-TV FOX-43 right after graduation (I had done a 12-credit practicum there my last semester, another important opportunity) and went on to work for nearly 14 years at WHYY PBS & NPR in Philadelphia.
Over my years as a senior producer, I expanded my creative storytelling skills in a more strategic marketing direction, helping to shape on-air strategy, becoming a regular voice talent for the stations, supporting fundraising efforts, and improving our ever-more-important digital and social platforms.
Tony’s son Bryan, a potential future Blue Jay, at a July 2024 Etown Open House
After leaving to start my own media production business (Spec Communications, LLC), I took a position as Vice President of Creative at Slice Communications, a digital marketing agency based in the Philadelphia region. I love putting my skills to work to help clients get the attention they’re looking for, and the team is fantastic.
I struggled to find the right college. My Etown tour was scheduled late during my senior year of high school, but it felt like home immediately. I remember asking late, great Professor Don Smith about getting involved in the TV studio right away as a freshman. He chuckled in that wobbly baritone of his and said, “Oh, they’ll put your right to work if you want to be in there.”
He wasn’t wrong. I was an on-air talent and producer early on and never felt held back in terms of pushing the envelope or trying new things. I’ve been lucky to be supported in my career by some leaders who understood the importance of freedom to explore and play creatively. That started in Etown, and I have no idea who or where I would be today if not for my four years there.
Be a part of the celebration of 125 years of excellence at Etown by sharing your Etown story.