Elizabethtown College officially opened the 2026-27 academic year at its Convocation ceremony on Friday, Aug. 21, at the Bowers Center for Sports, Fitness, & Well-Being. 

One of Etown’s most cherished traditions, marking the official start of the academic year, Convocation serves as an opportunity to welcome the College’s incoming students and celebrate faculty achievements. The ceremony included a candle lighting, a litany of light, and remarks from President Betty Rider and members of the College community.

View photos from the ceremony.

During the ceremony, President Rider offered a warm welcome and encouraged the group of 560 incoming first-year and transfer students to take advantage of their Etown journey by building relationships and preparing for a meaningful life of purpose.

“Over the next several years, you’ll discover passions, refine goals, and strengthen your character,” Rider said. “When you graduate, I hope you’ll know you’ve found your people and take pride in your path.”

For the third straight year, the College set a record with 4,585 applications submitted.

Etown’s impressive class of new Blue Jays was celebrated and honored as a group. Highlights of the class include:

  • An average first-year student GPA of 3.74 
  • Students hailing from 13 U.S. states and four foreign countries
  • 126 students accepted into the Honors Program at Elizabethtown College
  • Eight incoming Stamps Scholars (The Stamps Scholarship program recognizes and rewards exceptional students who exemplify leadership, perseverance, scholarship, service, overcoming obstacles, and innovation)

View the complete Fall 2026 Incoming Class Profile.

Also recognized at Convocation were newly promoted faculty effective in the 2026-27 academic year, as well as winners of the Kreider Prize for Teaching Excellence, the Polanowski Prize for Excellence in Faculty-Student Advising and Mentorship, the Ranck Prize for Research Excellence, and the Schmidt Prize for Excellence in Student-Faculty Service.

Newly Promoted Faculty

  • Patrick S. Allen, Ph.D. Promoted to Associate Professor of English Literature and Tenured 
  • Wendy L. Bellew ’95, M.Ed. Promoted to Associate Teaching Professor of Education and Program Director 
  • Laura B. Cunningham ’07, M.S.’08, OTD’24, OTR/L, CCTP Promoted to Associate Teaching Professor of Occupational Therapy 
  • Diane M. Martin, OTD, OTR/L Promoted to Associate Teaching Professor of Occupational Therapy  and Capstone Coordinator for Doctoral Program 
  • Terrie L. Riportella, CPA Promoted to Edgar T. Bitting Chair of Accounting and Associate Teaching Professor  and Director of the Accounting Program 
  • Dionna C. Rookey, M.S., MSPAS, PA-C Promoted to Associate Teaching Professor of Physician Assistant Program and Program Director 
  • Jingwen “Jessica” Wang, Ph.D. Promoted to Associate Professor of Computer Science and Tenured

Faculty Prize Winners

2025-2026 Kreider Prize for Teaching Excellence Recipient 

Leyla Batakci, Ph.D. Professor of Mathematics 

2025-2026 Polanowski Prize for Excellence in Faculty-Student Advising and Mentorship Recipient 

Oya Dursun-Özkanca, Ph.D. Professor of Political Science (College Professor of International Studies Endowed Chair) and Director of the Honors Program 

2025-2026 Ranck Prize for Research Excellence Recipient 

Kirsten A. Johnson, Ph.D. Professor of Communications 

2025-2026 Schmidt Prize for Excellence in Student-Faculty Service Recipient 

Wendy L. Bellew ’95, M.Ed. Assistant Teaching Professor of Education & Program Chair