An Elizabethtown College education is for people who feel the pull to contribute to the world. With a network of 24,425 living alumni, our graduates leave Etown to become the influential advocates and changemakers the world needs more of.
Meet Christopher Clauser ’96, an Accounting alumnus and proud owner of Friedensburg Country Restaurant in Friedensburg, Pa., where he has served the community since 1997. Driven by a passion for giving back, Clauser actively contributes to numerous community organizations and fire departments.
“The high-quality education I received from Etown helped build the foundation for how I have been in business for 27 years.”
What defined your Etown experience?
Through my participation in Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE), I gained valuable experience and lifelong friendships. Studying abroad in Cheltenham, England, during the spring of 1995 through the BCA program was an incredible experience that allowed me to immerse myself in a new culture and gain a deeper respect for how others live around the world.
How has your Etown degree benefitted you and your career success?
SIFE provided me with hands-on experience in professional communication, confidence-building, and understanding entrepreneurship and business. Even though I am not in a corporate setting, this has benefitted me greatly over the years in my restaurant. The high-quality education I received from Etown helped build the foundation for how I have been in business for 27 years.
How have you made a difference in the lives of others through your career and/or personal life?
Through the restaurant, we strive to be community-oriented. We are located in a small community and rely on return business. We do not have tourist or seasonal business. In this regard, we donate to many community organizations and fire departments. We have sponsored a community day with our local fire department for several years. Before COVID, a group from the restaurant went once a month to cook and serve food at the local soup kitchen. We strive to benefit the community with each donation we make.
What is your passion? Where do you place your energy besides your career?
Outside of my career, I have enjoyed traveling the world over the last 20 years. I found my love for travel through my study abroad experience at Etown. Some places I have visited include several countries in Europe, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Morocco, Malta, Kenya, Tanzania, the Galapagos Islands, and around the United States. International travel brings a profound respect for how other people and cultures live worldwide.
View more Etown Changemakers at etown.edu/125.