Sara Kroboth ’19
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 Sara Kroboth ’19, an International Business – Management & German alumna and current buyer/planner at Victaulic – a leading producer of mechanical pipe joining solutions in Easton, Pa. Kroboth also served on Etown’s International Business Board.
“I enjoyed wonderful experiences with both my peers and professors at Etown and developed really meaningful relationships with friends who are still part of my life today.”
What defined your Etown experience?
When I was looking at colleges, Etown stood out due to its International Business program. I enjoyed wonderful experiences with both my peers and professors at Etown and developed really meaningful relationships with friends who are still part of my life today. The location of the campus made Etown unique for me. Not only was the campus beautiful, but it made me feel like I was in this little bubble because it was not too far from civilization but not too close to it either.
During my time at Etown, I was very involved, including studying abroad during my junior year, participating in German and business clubs, as well as working for the Office of Student Activities and the Study Abroad program. Etown allowed me opportunities to push outside of my comfort zone. I was able to play intramural sports and dance, things I had never done before, without fear of judgment from my peers. Everyone at Etown was so caring, kind, and connected.
I was abroad my entire junior year and coming back to campus, I felt so welcomed by friends, professors, and general staff. It truly felt like coming home. The sense of community we have a Etown defined my college experience and allowed me to find myself.
How has your Etown degree benefitted you and your career success?
After graduating I worked as a procurement specialist at York Wallcoverings. Etown was instrumental in my getting this position. The research skills I learned at Etown were extremely helpful in my new role. Although I had much to learn in my new position, the College gave me a strong foundation to build upon. When I applied at Victaulic, they were immediately interested in my background in Excel, stemming from a certification earned while at Etown.
Not only do my coworkers at Victaulic continue to be impressed with my skillset, which has only grown from the baseline the College provided me, they are also continuously impressed with my interpersonal skills. When learning about myself at Etown, we were able to focus on StrengthFinder, Myers-Briggs, and other personality tests, which provided me a strong basis for understanding others. I also worked in event planning with the Office of Student Activities (OSA), which taught me several interpersonal skills to put out the fires that inevitably happen when working on big events. The foundation of soft skills the College provided me is so important to the work I do now, where communication is paramount. I’m very grateful that Etown has helped me get to where I am now in my career.
What is your passion? Where do you place your energy besides your career?
I love serving as a role model for young girls to help guide them through all of the difficult experiences they face in today’s society. I currently volunteer as a coach with Girls on the Run and am also a Girl Scout troop leader. Additionally, I am a strong proponent of water safety in children and serve as a youth swim instructor.
View more Etown Changemakers at etown.edu/125.