On Saturday, May 10, more than 500 Blue Jays will cross the stage at Elizabethtown College’s 122nd Commencement ceremony, joining a network of more than 24,000 living Etown alumni. The graduating class includes students who lived out the College’s Educate for Service mission, taking on leadership roles across campus, and leaving their mark on the Etown community.

Name: Ryan Ramler
Major: Psychology
Hometown: Montgomery Township, Pa.

Campus Involvement: Peer Mentor, Lighthouse leadership team, Career Peer at the Career Development Center, Etown Run Club, Summer Creative Arts and Research Program (SCARP).

Why did you choose Etown?
I loved how the campus physically looked, the vast number of options for clubs and organizations, the close relationships between faculty and students, and the tight-knit campus culture. Etown was a school that really cared about their students, and I have seen that as a student for the past four years now. Etown overall was a home, and that was ultimately the deciding factor for me.

What do you love most about Etown?
There are so many things about the campus community that I love. My favorite tradition is the Blue Jay Walk. It is an amazing start to the academic year and such a fun way to connect new students to campus. On campus, I enjoy working in the peer mentor office, in the Psychology department computer lab, on the library’s first floor, and in the Blue Bean. I also love walking on all of the trails, going for runs with Etown Run Club around campus, playing Kan Jam on Brinser Field, and just hanging out in the blue chairs across campus!

What are your plans for after graduation?
I will be going on to Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg to earn a Master of Science in Sport and Performance Psychology. My passion for psychology began during my freshman year when I took introductory psychology with Dr. Liz Dalton. I loved learning about why we do what we do. It was an exciting change to be a Psychology major, and now by including my passion for sports in my career, it will make it even better.

What advice do you have for future Blue Jays?

Make sure you branch out. If you get to know a ton of people in and out of your major, you will have a greater support network and more friends. People care about you here. Make your family bigger and never let it stop expanding!

– Ryan Ramler ’25