The 1980s marked another decade of growth and accomplishment for Elizabethtown College. Athletics experienced unprecedented national success by capturing three team national championships and producing an individual national champion.

Academically, the College continued its dedication toward adapting to a changing world with the inclusion of highly sought-after majors such as Computer Science. Two faculty members were named Fulbright Scholars during the decade, and students continued to fight for social justice causes both on campus and in the community. In the winter of 1989-90, the Student Senate passed and sent to faculty an honor code for students, which all first-year seminar classes still sign today.

Etown exited the decade with hope for the future, as a 10-year building plan unveiled in 1987 featured several key initiatives, including the construction of a new library.

A Look Through the Decade

  • 1981 – The National Endowment for the Humanities awards a $250,000 challenge grant to Etown to be matched by $750,000 from the College. The funds established professorships that included chairs in History, English, and International Studies.
  • 1982 – Beckie Donecker ’82 wins the program’s first NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis National Singles Championship on May 17.
  • 1982 – The Blue Jays Women’s Basketball team wins the program’s first NCAA Division III National Championship, defeating Greensboro College by a score of 67-66.
  • 1983 – Musser Hall is dedicated on Oct. 29, named after loyal alumni Dr. Benjamin G. ’42 and Vera Shroop Musser ’42.
  • 1987 – The High Foundation contributed $1.5 million to be used toward the new library on Oct. 26, the largest single gift in the College’s history at the time. Alumnus S. Dale High ’63, H’93, P’86 founded the Foundation in 1980 to support community growth and vitality within the Lancaster community.
  • 1989 – The Rufus P. Bucher Meetinghouse and adjoining Galen S. and Jessie B. Young Center for the Study of Anabaptist and Pietist Groups were dedicated on Oct. 28.
  • 1989 – The Women’s Basketball team wins their second NCAA Division III National Championship, beating California State University by a score of 66-65 on March 18.
  • 1989 – The Men’s Soccer team, coached by Arthur “Skip” Roderick ’74 wins their first NCAA Division III National Championship, shutting out Greensboro by a score of 2-0 on Nov. 18.

Snapshots of the Decade

 

Throughout Elizabethtown College’s 125th anniversary year, follow along as we share 125 compelling stories about the College’s defining moments, alumni stories, and fun facts since our founding in 1899 at etown.edu.