Elizabethtown College recently announced that several students have been awarded prestigious scholarships and fellowships during the 2025-26 academic year. Nine students earned competitive awards, two were selected to participate in postgraduate academic programs, and four students won Summer Enrichment Grants.
“The achievements of these students in earning nationally competitive scholarships, fellowships, and postgraduate opportunities reflect the determination and drive to make an impact that define the Etown experience,” Elizabethtown College President Betty Rider said. “Whether conducting research, pursuing global learning opportunities, or serving communities locally and abroad, these Blue Jays are living out our Educate for Service mission in meaningful ways. We are proud to celebrate their accomplishments and the faculty and staff mentors who have supported them throughout their journeys.”
The following Etown students received scholarships and fellowships:
- Anika Hodgdon ’26 – TriBeta Research Foundation Undergraduate Research Grant | Read more.
- Caitlyn Jensen ’26 – TriBeta Research Foundation Undergraduate Research Grant | Read more.
- Mechelle Johnson-Reeves ’28 – Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship | Reach the World Volunteer Traveler | Read more.
- Ernest Lloyd ’27 – Gilman – German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Scholarship | Read more.
- Jada Makar ’27 – Finnegan Fellowship | Read more.
- William Medley ’29 – National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center for Precision Microbiome Engineering (PreMiEr) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program | Read more.
- Olivia Pituch ’26 – Pennsylvania House of Representatives Fellowship | Read more.
- Alysse Smith ’26 – TriBeta Research Foundation Undergraduate Research Grant | Read more.
- Maegan Wingert ’26 – TriBeta Research Foundation Undergraduate Research Grant | Read more.
Postgraduate Academic Programs
- Caitlyn Jensen ’26 – Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
- Tainan Nunes ’26 – London School of Economics and Political Science (England)
Elizabethtown College Office of Prestigious Scholarships and Fellowships Summer Enrichment Grants
- Aaron J. Girvan ’29 – Serving as a volunteer intern with the Luzerne County Historical Society in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
- Mechelle Johnson-Reeves ’28 – Serving as Lead Student Researcher at the University of Malta in the Republic of Malta.
- Ernest Lloyd ’27 – Advancing his German language fluency through the Lingoda language course in preparation for his study abroad at Marburg University in Germany during the fall of 2026.
- William Medley ’29 – Participating in the NSF-funded Precision Microbiome Engineering (PreMiEr) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Summer Enrichment Grants are available to help fund summer research, selective internships, or enrichment travel related to a course of study. At least six grants of $1,000 each are to provide enrichment opportunities for high-achieving Etown students in their pursuit of research, study, and travel experiences advancing their particular course of study during the summer.
These nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships fund such opportunities as specialized study abroad, independent research, and graduate study. Read more.
Prestigious scholarships and fellowships provide funding for a wide range of activities:
- Full tuition, fees, and a living stipend to earn a graduate degree abroad
- Undergraduate or graduate study in the US.
- Conducting a research project abroad
- Teaching English abroad
- Internships abroad
- Social engagement projects in the U.S. or abroad
About the Office of Prestigious Scholarships and Fellowships
Elizabethtown College’s Office of Prestigious Scholarships and Fellowships works with students to help them apply for competitive awards like the Gilman Scholarship, as well as identify opportunities that align with their academic and professional goals. Etown students who are interested in opportunities available through the office are encouraged to contact Jean-Paul Benowitz, Director of Prestigious Scholarships and Fellowships and Public Heritage Studies (benowitzj@etown.edu / 717-361-1110), Myer Hall, Honors Center. Learn more at etown.edu.