Elizabethtown College honored the outstanding efforts of its students by offering awards across various areas of campus at the 47th annual Student Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, April 9. The awards categories included the overall Distinguished Student Awards and the Points of Distinction Award – the highest Student Life honor a student can receive at Etown.

Distinguished Student Awards are given to two students from each class year who have shown the effective integration of the four signature learning attributes at Etown: relationship-centered learning, international and cross-cultural perspectives, real-world learning, and purposeful life work. Out of these winners, the Points of Distinction Award is given to the student believed to have shown this integration to the highest degree. Students are nominated for these awards through faculty, staff, and/or students and then must submit an application that includes an essay focusing on a key learning experience from their time at Etown. View photos from this year’s ceremony.

2024-25 Points of Distinction Award
The College has announced the winner of the 2024-25 Points of Distinction Award is Samantha Machmer ’25, an Occupational Therapy major with a Human Services minor. In addition to her excellent academic standing, Machmer is heavily involved within the campus community, serving multiple roles throughout her time at Etown within the Residence Life Office, working as a Resident Assistant for two years, and currently as a Community Assistant where she supervises up to 120 students per year. She is also actively involved in the community, living out the College’s Educate for Service motto by volunteering at fundraising events for the American Cancer Society, working as a Support Service Professional for United Cerebral Palsy, a Substitute Paraprofessional for Education Staffing Solutions, and a Volunteer Puppy Raiser for Susquehanna Service Dogs.

Among many other on-campus roles, Machmer is the Founder and President of Dogs in the Dell, a program affiliated with Susquehanna Service Dogs (SSD), which allows college students to raise service dogs on campus.

“I am so grateful to Elizabethtown College for all of the opportunities I have been given that have led me to where I am today,” Machmer said. “I am blessed to have such wonderful mentors, professors, friends, and family who have been by my side every step of the way.”

2024-25 Distinguished Student Awards

  • Avonlea Lechleitner ’28, Biotechnology major
  • Laire Cafirma ’28, International Business & Health Care Administration major
  • Julia Ivery ’27, Biology-Health Professions major
  • Kalen Tendo ’27, Legal Studies major
  • Melany Bedoya ’26, Psychology major, Human Services & Spanish minor
  • Mildred Nwachukwu-Innocent ’26, Computer Science major, Data Analytics minor
  • Adeline Gerz ’25, Music Therapy major, Psychology minor
  • Ahsa Sadhukhan ’25, Biology-Health Professions major

Student Life Awards

The Student Life Council honors Etown students for their leadership and contributions around campus with awards in the following categories: Leadership, Leadership on the Horizon, and Resilience in Growth. Student Life Council awards include the Omnia Award which identifies the most well-rounded student who is “good in all things.”

This year’s Omnia Award winner is Ariea O’Krepka ’25, a Social Studies Education major, and Sociology minor.

  • Leader on the Horizon Award: Kalen Tendo ’27, Legal Studies major
  • Leadership Award: Gabriella Lozada ’26, Music Therapy major; Erina Fortune ’26, Political Science major, Philosophy & Biology minor
  • Resilience in Growth Award: Merzadee Buys ’25, Public Relations major, Marketing minor

Student Employment Awards

The Student Life Council honors Etown students for their leadership and contributions around campus with awards for student employees.

  • Chaplain Office: Sheridan Smink ’25, Social Work major, Psychology minor
  • OSA: Kathryn Hart ’25, International Business major, Marketing minor
  • Office of Campus Recreation and Well-Being – Group Fitness Instructor: Alli Walker ’26, Health Sciences major, Spanish minor; Intramural Staff: EJ Dennison ’25, Environmental Science major; SWAG: Gabby Petridge ’27, Healthcare Administration major, Public Health minor; Fitness Center: Madison Drumheller ’24, OTD ’25, Occupational Therapy major; Overall RecWell Team Member: DaniRae Renno ’25, Journalism ( Professional Writing) & English major
  • Advancement – Phoneathon: Sarah McCarthy ’28, Spanish Education & Early Childhood Education major
  • ITS: Austin Keens ’25, Mathematics- Applied Mathematics major, Music minor
  • Library: Allyson Klansek ’25, Health Sciences major, Psychology minor
  • Dining Services: Kirsten Dorsey ’25, English- Professional Writing & Graphic Design major, Music minor; Bri Hastings ’26, Music Education major; Kae Kennedy ’27, Japanese & English Literature major, Religious Studies & Asian Studies minors; Grady Zigner ’26, Criminal Justice & Political Science major, Sociology minor; Hali Homer ’27, Biology-Health Professions major
  • Athletics: Emilie Brinser ’25, Public Relations major, History, Public Heritage Studies, Coaching, & Graphic Design minors; Emma Sabalaske ’26, Marketing major; DeMarco Bell ’28, Engineering major; Jude Ashley ’26, Exercise Science major; Julia Nolt ’26, Accounting major, Economics minor
  • Coordinators of the Year: Lucy Nix ’26, Public Health major; JD Panckeri ’26, Biology-Health Professions major, French minor; Mikayla DeMatt ’25, Environmental Science & Public Health major, Religious Studies minor
  • Procotor of the Year: Kirra Johnson ’26, Environmental Science major, Fine Art minor
  • Learning Zone Tutor: Skylar Mumford ’26, Finance major, Family Business & Entrepreneurship & Marketing minors; Emory Barton ’27, Legal Studies major, Family Business & Entrepreneurship minor; Ryan Kraychik ’27, Biology-Health Professions major; Keagan Kinney ’26, Engineering- Mechanical major, Mathematics minor
  • Writing Tutors: Caroline Czerpak ’25, English Education & Sociology major; Kaitlyn McDermott ’26, Health Sciences major, Human Services minor
  • Non Academic Department Office Staff: DaniRae Renno ’25, Journalism ( Professional Writing) & English major; Brendan Guy ’25, Public Health major, Political Science, Human Services & Communications minors; Alexis Cooper ’25, Criminal Justice major
  • Music Department: Macey Lake ’26, Music Education major; Zach Deah ’26, Music Education major
  • Academic TA’s/Tutors: Elizabeth Wasylyk ’27, Environmental Science & Public Health major, Business Administration minor; Maura Bradney ’25, Public Health major; Nicholas Kuhn ’26, Health Sciences major, Biology minor; Jennah Hoke ’25, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology major; Angelina Giglio-Tos ’25, Chemistry major

Students in Service Employment Winners

The Student Life Council honors Etown students for their leadership and contributions around campus with awards for Student in Service Employment.

  • Peer Mentor: Ashley Hutton ’25, Social Work major, Psychology minor
  • RA of the Year: Delaney Peckham ’25, Psychology-PreMCP 3+2 major, Creative Writing & Women & Gender Studies minors
  • RA Legacy Award: Samantha Machmer ’25, Occupational Therapy major, Human Services minor
  • Ubuntu/Excellence in Equity: Juriel Diaz ’26, Environmental Science major, Data Analytics minor
  • Kinesis: Abbie Machmer ’25, Psychology major, English Literature minor

Career Development Center

Etown’s Career Development Center recognizes a student that successfully completed the College’s Career Action Plan, which is the gateway to a successful and fulfilling professional journey for Elizabethtown College students.

  • Career Development Center Career Action Plan: Neil Divins ’25, Chemistry major, English Professional Writing minor

The Blueprint Program Awards

Elizabethtown College is committed to providing students with a quality education that will help them develop leadership skills, better their well-being and connectedness, and enhance relationship building. The Etown Blue Print program provides students with a roadmap for this journey, acts as a bridge between campus and local communities, fosters life skills, and creates professional connections that extend outside the classroom.

For the third annual Blueprint Program Awards, Etown students were honored in recognition of the the personal and professional growth they have achieved. The following students were recognized as Blue Print Certificate winners: Sarah Abadi ’26, Emily Baer ’25, Thatcher Baney ’27, Parker Blevins ’26, Madison Cannon ’27, Alison Carneal ’26, Alyssa Crane ’25, Caroline Czerpak ’25, Juriel Diaz ’26, Lorelei Eck ’25, Hailey Erickson ’26, Olivia Fabiano ’25, Megan Fleming ’27, Kaitlyn Gilmore ’26, Karli Jones ’26, Zach Kleinfelter ’27, Lauren Lockwood ’26, Samantha Machmer ’25, Skylar Mumford ’26, Tainan Nunes ’25, Antonia Raimondo ’26, Ryan Ramler ’25, Rena Rankin ’25, Hannah Rosborough ’25, Sam Small ’26, Hanna Tran ’26, Kaitlyn Wickenheiser ’26, Elsa Woodarek ’26, Julia Yudichak ’25, and Grady Zigner ’26.

The following seniors were honored with Blue Jay Blue Print Awards: Curstin Carpenter ’25, Business Administration major, Marketing minor; Neil Divins ’25, Chemistry major, English Professional Writing minor; Brendan Guy ’25, Public Health major, Political Science, Human Services & Communications minors; Kathryn Hart ’25, International Business major, Marketing minor; Gabriel Karl ’25, Political Science & Economics major, International Studies & Public Health minors; Isaac Kraenbring ’25, Chemistry major; Abbie Machmer ’25, Psychology, English Literature minor; Griffin MacLaren ’25, Mathematics Education major, Coaching minor; Ariea O’Krepka ’25, Social Studies Education & History major; Delaney Peckham ’25, Psychology- PreMCP 3+2 major, Creative Writing & Women Gender Studies minors; Ahsa Sadhukhan ’25, Biology-Health Professions major; Emma Sager ’25, Social Work major; Alexa Scheetz ’25, Physics Education major, Psychology minor.

2024-25 Center for Community and Civic Engagement Awards
Etown’s Center for Community and Civic Engagement (CCCE) awards student (s) and a student organization that demonstrates a commitment to benefiting the lives of others and a commitment to the College’s Motto of Educate for Service. These awards are selected by the College’s CCCE staff.

  • CCCE Student Service Learning Award: Hanna Tran ’26, Biology-Health professions major, Medical Humanities minor; Macey Coll ’27, Early Childhood Education major, Architectural Studies minor
  • CCCE Club Community Service Award: Wrestling Team

Student Assembly Scholarships

Carole Issak Academic Service Award – Julia Finley ’27, Social Work & Public Health major
Carole L. Isaak was a professor in the English department for over two decades, from 1988-2010. During her tenure, she recognized the importance of using one’s education to help others. Carole was a key advocator for the Center for Student Success and made a strong commitment to working with ALANA students. Whether it be helping students on campus, or promoting a better community for individuals outside of the College community, Carole succeeded in conveying the Educate for Service mantra.

Lisa L. Koogle Scholarship – Garren McKenzie ’26, Finance major, Economics minor
The Lisa L. Koogle Outstanding Service to Students Award, in the amount of $500, is awarded to a student who shows exemplary leadership in affecting the lives of students, faculty, and staff within the Elizabethtown community. This award recipient shows the great influence and leadership abilities that are displayed in and out of the classroom setting. The award recipient should be a well-rounded individual who can be seen excelling in co-curricular activities.

Walter B. Shaw Scholarship – Emily Hammaker ’28, Accounting major, Finance minor
The Walter B. Shaw Symbol of Service Scholarship, in the amount of $500, is awarded to a student who shows exemplary commitment to community service through taking what he or she has learned on the Elizabethtown College campus and applying this knowledge to people and entities outside of the academic setting. The Walter B. Shaw award recipient rewards student service through volunteerism and leadership displayed in the non-academic community.

Baugher Avenue Scholarship – Ryder Pavela ’25, Neuroscience major
This scholarship is intended to reward a member of the student body who has played an integral role both on and off-campus, but whose actions often go unrecognized. These students are regarded as the “quiet leaders” of the student body. This scholarship is intended to reward dedication to both the campus and the surrounding community.

Ginger Groff Scholarship – Asher Landrum ’27, Psychology -Biology-Health Professions major
Ginger Groff was the Director of Health Services for over 10 years. She was one of the pioneer nurses to be nationally certified as a College Health Nurse. Ginger was dedicated to her job, Elizabethtown College, and foremost, the students. She was a strong student advocate and was highly respected on campus. Many students, staff, and faculty regarded her as a friend. Ginger passed away in 1994 having succumbed to a second occurrence of breast cancer, and this scholarship was endowed in her honor.

Tom Bowersox Honorary Scholarship – Samantha Machmer ’25, Occupational Therapy major, Human Services minor
This scholarship is intended to reward a member of the student body who has significantly impacted the lives of other Etown students through their actions. The reward is intended for students with financial needs who are considered Pell Grant eligible. The scholarship is awarded in the amount of $500.

Marianne Calenda Scholarship – Logan Ryan ’27, Engineering- Biomedical major, Psychology minor
The Marianne Calenda Health and Wellness Award, in the amount of $500, is awarded to a student who embodies and promotes physical and mental wellbeing. The recipient of this award must show a strong commitment to comprehensive wellness, while also demonstrating the benefits of healthy life choices both internally and externally to the Elizabethtown College community.

Student Employee Award – Chloe Cadiz Lopez ’26, Accounting major
This scholarship is intended to reward a member of the student body who displays a strong commitment to work-study balance. The scholarship is awarded in the amount of $500.

125th Anniversary Impact Award

David L. Stewart

Established in honor of Elizabethtown College’s 125th anniversary year, the Impact Award recognizes individuals who have made transformative contributions to the College’s mission through service, leadership, and a commitment to the values of peace, non-violence, social justice, and human dignity. Honorees embody the spirit of Educate for Service by shaping a more connected and compassionate campus community.

125th Anniversary Impact Award: David L. Stewart 

David L. Stewart has over two decades of experience in education and currently serves at the Pennsylvania Department of Education, supporting postsecondary institutions across the Commonwealth. His most impactful work began at Elizabethtown College in 2005, where he held multiple leadership roles in Admissions and Student Affairs, spearheaded the Mosaic Scholars Program, and forged community partnerships to expand access and student support. A proud graduate of Howard University with a master’s degree from Temple, David remains committed to his belief that “success knows no zip code.”

2024-25 Distinguished Mentor Awards (Student Life)
The Division of Student Life recognizes the excellent work of mentors at Etown and the impact they have on students’ lives through the Distinguished Mentor Awards. Students are asked to nominate their mentor and this award is given to one faculty member, one staff member, and one student each year.

  • Distinguished Mentor – Student Award: Isaac Kraenbring ’25, Chemistry major
  • Distinguished Mentor – Staff Award: Jaime Ramos, Study Abroad Advisor
  • Distinguished Mentor – Faculty Award: Desmond Yengi, Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry

2024-25 Office of Student Activities Awards
Etown’s Office of Student Activities (OSA) annually awards several students for their work in providing a robust student experience.

  • OSA Outstanding Student Club: Our Bodies
  • OSA Advisor of the Year: Marla Davis, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
  • OSA Program of the Year: Melica

2024-25 Endowed Religious Leadership & Service Awards
The Religious Leadership and Service Awards are given to students, faculty, and staff who show an outstanding commitment to their faith and to the service of others through it. These awards are reviewed and selected by Etown’s Chaplains Office staff.

  • Amos Curry Award – Esther Nolt ’25, Public Health major, Fine Art & Religious Studies minors
  • Rufus Bucher Award – Emma Sager ’25, Social Work major

2024-25 Anna Carper Excellence in Library Research Award

The Anna Carper Excellence in Library Research Award recognizes scholarship that makes valuable use of the High Library’s collections as well as additional information resources.

  • Anna Carper Excellence in Library Research Award – Sanya Dedhia ’28, Biology major
  • Anna Carper Excellence in Library Research Award: Honorable Mention – Dhriti Shah ’28, Biology major

Dedhia won the award for her presentation, “Botulinum Neurotoxin: From Disease to Drug,” in A. C. Baugher Professor of Chemistry Dr. James MacKay’s First-Year Seminar (FYS) course! Dedhia traced the evolution of Botox from a lethal, foodborne toxin to a popular medical treatment.