Elizabethtown College

History

Founding and early years

Elizabethtown College was founded in 1899 by members of the Church of the Brethren in response to an initiative by Jacob G. Francis. Francis advocated for Elizabethtown because of the proximity to the railways. First classes for the new college were held on November 13, 1900, in the Heisey Building in downtown Elizabethtown. During its first two decades, the college operated as an academy, offering a limited curriculum centering on four-year teaching degrees and high school type classes.

1920–1950

In 1921, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Instruction accredited the college, and authorized its first baccalaureate degrees in arts and sciences. Later, in 1928, the college was approved by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for pre-law education. In 1948, Elizabethtown College became accredited by the Middle States Association.

Presidents

The college's presidents were referred to as principals prior to 1902.

Isaac Newton Harvey "I.N.H." Beahm, 1900–1901 & 1904–1909

George Ness Falkenstein, 1901–1902

Daniel Conrad Reber, 1902–1904 & 1909–1918

Henry Kulp Ober, 1918–1921 & 1924–1928

Jacob Gibble Meyer, 1921–1924

Ralph Weist Schlosser, 1928–1929 & 1930–1941

Harry Hess Nye, 1929–1930

Charles Abba "A.C." Baugher, 1941–1961

Roy Edwin McAuley, 1961–1966

Morley Josiah Mays, 1966–1977

Mark Chester Ebersole, 1977–1985

Gerhard Ernest Spiegler, 1985–1996

Theodore E. Long, 1996–2011

Carl Strikwerda, 2011–2019

Cecilia McCormick, 2019–2021

Elizabeth “Betty” Rider, 2022–present

Academics

The college maintains 19 academic departments, offering 53 majors and 90+ minors and concentrations.

Continuing education

Over 50 years, the college's adult program evolved into what is known today as the School of Graduate and Professional Studies (SGPS). The school offers graduate degree programs, including Master of Business Administration, Curriculum and Instruction, and Master of Music Education.

Honors program

Established in 1999, the Elizabethtown College Honors Program is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council. The Honors Program was founded with an endowment gift from The Hershey Company.

Student life

The Office of Student Activities (OSA) serves as a co-curricular educator and facilitator in creating a social environment, such as through its T.G.I.S. and Student Involvement Fairs.

Elizabethtown offers student-run media that include a newspaper—The Etownian; a literary magazine—Fine Print; a television station—ECTV-40; a radio station—WWEC 88.3 FM; and a yearbook—the Conestogan. Elizabethtown is affiliated with the Brethren Colleges Abroad (BCA) program, which allows students to study abroad.

Elizabethtown offers several performing arts extracurriculars. The College's co-ed dance group, Emotion, is the College's largest club. There are three primary student-run a cappella groups—Melica (all-female), Phalanx (all-male), and Vocalign (co-ed)—that perform at campus events like the Tree-Lighting ceremony and annual showcases. Vocalign is the only coed a cappella group on campus and was established in 2007.

Athletics

Elizabethtown College is a member of NCAA Division III in the Landmark Conference. Although Elizabethtown College was founded in 1899, it was not until 1928 that the first officially sanctioned intercollegiate athletic contest was held. In April 2013, the college accepted the invitation to join the Landmark Conference, effective July 1, 2014.

Men's teams

Baseball started in 1930

Basketball started in 1928

NCAA Division III runner-up 2001–2002

Cross Country started in 1956

Golf started play in 1965. No seasons were held from 1978 to 1988, but it was reinstated in 1988.

Lacrosse started in 2002

Soccer started in 1938

NAIA co-champion 1959

NAIA runner-up 1960

NCAA Division III champions 1989

Swimming started in 1964

Tennis started in 1948

Track and Field started in 1929

Wrestling started in 1954

Hosted 2015 NCAA Division III Championship

Women's teams

Basketball started play in 1928.

NCAA Division III National Champion: 1981–82, 1988–89

NCAA Division III National Runner-Up: 1982–83, 1983–84

First Division III women's basketball team to 1,000 wins

Cross country started in 1956.

Field hockey started play in 1952.

Hosted NCAA Division III Championship in 1982

Fourth place finish in 1981

Lacrosse started play in 2002.

Soccer started play in 1988.

Hosted NCAA Division III Championship in 1997

Softball started play in 1979.

Swimming

Track and field was established in 1929, but disappeared quickly. It was reestablished in 1975, but the women's team ended because of a lack of participation in 1981. The team was brought back in 1998, but the college did not begin competing again until 2000.

Volleyball started in 1978.

Flag Football to start in 2028.

Former sports teams

Football was played for one season in 1928. It was not sanctioned by the college, but did play a full intercollegiate schedule.

Notable alumni

Richard L. Bond '69, former chief executive officer, Tyson Foods

Carl Bowman '79, a sociologist and author, Bridgewater College, Bridgewater, Virginia

Nelson Chittum, MLB player

Nia Dinata, film director

Mark C. Ebersole '43, former president of Elizabethtown College

Bill Foster '54, former head coach Duke men's basketball, and 1978 Coach of the Year

Gene Garber '69, former all-time saves leader for the Atlanta Braves (currently third behind John Smoltz and Craig Kimbrel).

Mark A. Heckler '77, president, Valparaiso University (2008-2020), dean, University of Colorado School of Arts 1996–2007

Lois Herr, progressive activist

David Hickernell '83, state representative, Pennsylvania House of Representatives (2003–present)

S. Dale High, chairman, High Industries Inc.

Roscoe Hinkle, sociology professor

Rosalie Hixson, Paralympic medalist

Dennis Hollinger, President of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Daniel J. Jones '97, lead investigator for "The Committee Study of the Central Intelligence Agency's Detention and Interrogation Program"m which is better known as "The Torture Report". Jones is portrayed by Adam Driver in the film The Report.

Notable faculty and staff

David S. Brown: historian

David Cullen: guitarist

Paul Gottfried: writer

Mark Harman: Germanist

Donald Kraybill: scholar of Amish studies

Jeffery D. Long: professor of Religious Studies

Michael G. Long: author

W. Wesley McDonald: author

Steven Nolt: anabaptist groups scholar

Susan Traverso: president of Thiel College