{"id":16510,"date":"2024-05-13T10:02:57","date_gmt":"2024-05-13T14:02:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.etown.edu\/?p=16510"},"modified":"2025-05-07T16:22:35","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T20:22:35","slug":"elizabethtown-college-class-of-2024-recognized-for-accomplishments-at-institutions-121st-commencement-exercises","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.etown.edu\/index.php\/2024\/05\/13\/elizabethtown-college-class-of-2024-recognized-for-accomplishments-at-institutions-121st-commencement-exercises\/","title":{"rendered":"Elizabethtown College Class of 2024 Recognized for Accomplishments at Institution’s 121st Commencement Exercises"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Saturday, May 11, the Elizabethtown College Class of 2024 was celebrated for their strong commitment to academics, desire and determination to reach their goals, and persistence and grit to accomplish them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI am confident that our futures will be better for your contributions,\u201d Elizabethtown College President Betty Rider addressed the Class of 2024. \u201cKnow that each one of you is able to create a ripple effect on your future, future of others, and the future of the world. Our ripple effect may start out small but it will grow over time, so believe in your knowledge, your strengths, and yourself. Your influence can create lasting impact\u2014and we cannot wait to see what you all do.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

View a video recap of the Class of 2024 Commencement Exercises.\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

A total of 550 graduates from all six undergraduate Schools along with the School of Graduate and Professional Studies (SGPS) were recognized in the Dell alongside family and friends. International bestselling author and alumna Brianna Wiest \u201913 served as Commencement speaker.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Wiest\u2019s books have sold more than 1 million copies worldwide, appeared on global bestseller lists, and have been translated into 40+ languages. <\/span>A 2013 English Professional Writing graduate with a Gender Studies minor from Etown, Wiest is a partner at Thought Catalog Books, where she first began publishing her books.<\/span><\/p>\n

In her inspiring Commencement address, \u201cThe 9 Things Every New Graduate Should Know,\u201d Wiest offered powerful advice to the Class of 2024 and shared the wisdom she wished to go back and tell her younger, soon-to-be graduate self.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou are a work of your own making, a nurturing that does not only happen by chance, but also, by choice,\u201d Wiest said to graduates on Saturday. \u201cAll the habits add up to something greater than their parts. I hope you will begin to realize the power you\u2019ve always had inside. And I hope you will come to discover that the life you\u2019ve always wanted has always been waiting for you – waiting for you to just start walking toward it. You already are the person you most want to be. Your work now is to bring that person into reality and into form.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Wiest was presented with an honorary Doctor of Literature degree, along with James E. Shreiner \u201973, G\u201924, who received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letter degree. An accomplished banking executive, public servant, advocate, and thought leader, Shreiner is an esteemed alumnus of the College.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Shreiner joined Fulton Financial Corporation in 1975 and spent 40 years within the organization before retiring in 2014 as Senior Executive Vice President. Honorably serving on the Elizabethtown College Board of Trustees beginning in 1998, Shreiner served on numerous Board committees and was named Trustee Emeritus in 2022. Shreiner and his wife, Mary, have generously supported Etown for 37 consecutive years and have made substantial personal contributions that have influenced the trajectory of many College initiatives and projects.<\/span><\/p>\n

Class of 2024 President Abigail Marie Lindsay \u201924, a Communications major, shared her love of storytelling by highlighting several remarkable journeys of the many inspiring individuals who epitomize the excellence and promise this class of changemakers holds for the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd while following the end of today\u2019s ceremony, there will be both tears shed in joy and sadness, find comfort in knowing that this is just a chapter, albeit an incredibly important one, in our stories and that we will be Blue Jays. Always,\u201d Elizabethtown College Class of 2024 President, Abigail Marie Lindsay \u201924 said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Saturday\u2019s ceremony featured a special anniversary recognition of Truman, Etown\u2019s beloved therapy doodle and the beloved pet of Director of Student Media Andy Williams and his wife, Anne. For a decade, Truman has been a familiar fuzzy face to all at the College, arriving on campus at eight weeks old and accompanying the journey of thousands of Etown students from their Open House visits to Commencement Day. Truman has performed hundreds of community visits as a member of Keystone Pet Enhanced Therapy Services (KPETS) and also serves on the National Crisis Response Canine team where he offers solace and support in times of need.<\/span><\/p>\n

The ceremony also included remarks delivered by Board of Trustee Chairman Michael S. Spangler \u201988, Alumni Council President TaLisa M. Ramos-Watts \u201911, and an invocation and benediction offered by Chaplain & Director of Spiritual and Religious Life Rev. Amy Shorner-Johnson. You can view the ceremony in its entirety at <\/span>etown.edu.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

View more photos from the day on <\/span>Elizabethtown College\u2019s Flickr page<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t