This week, meet Kara Sullivan, a third-year early education major from Harrisburg, Pa. with a passion for dance.
Sullivan has been keeping busy during her time at Elizabethtown College. Currently, she is involved in the Education Organization, the Council for Exceptional Children and Kappa Delta Pi , which all provide her with opportunities related to her major.
She was also invited to complete an Honors in the Discipline project within the Education Department for the 2024-2025 academic year, and is actively preparing her thesis to be approved and presented.
Outside of her academics, Sullivan has been maintaining involvement in Etown’s E-Motion Dance Club, of which she’s been a member since her first year at Etown. She choreographed dances for five out of her six total semesters, and was recently elected to the club’s cabinet as the costumer for next year.
“I love to dance,” Sullivan said. “I spend a lot of time in the dance studio practicing and choreographing.”
This semester, she’s leading an energetic musical theater and jazz-style dance to a remix of music from the musical “Grease” alongside third-year Mackenzie Schmoyer. The 22-person number will be included in E-Motion’s Spring Showcase at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20 in Leffler Chapel, with ticket sales starting on Monday, April 15 in the BSC.
Sullivan says her involvement in E-Motion has been the best part of her college experience by far.
“I love getting ready for our showcase every semester and dancing has been a great outlet for me,” Sullivain said. “I’ve made some of my best friends through E-Motion and am so thankful to them for being there for me through thick and thin.”
Alongside dance, Sullivan’s friends have been another bright spot during her time on campus. She cherishes the moments she has with them.
“I feel like I am making some great core memories,” Sulivan said.
Her friend group likes to get together when the weather is nice and some spend time outside in the fresh air.
“Some of my favorite times on campus are when the weather hits 70 degrees,” Sullivain said. “My friends and I love to go outside to sit, eat or do homework. Last year, we even bought bubbles and food for a picnic!”
Though she may do much of her physical activity in a dance studio or gym, Sullivan loves the outdoors.
“I grew up on a farm,” she said. “So I like spending time outside and with animals.”
The rest of Sullivan’s free time is spent exercising, reading and watching movies.
“I’m a big movie girl and will watch a movie almost every night,” she said. “And by movies, I mean lots of romance, Disney, and silly sitcoms.”
Sullivan is also a part-time server at PJ Whelihan’s, a chain restaurant with Lancaster and Harrisburg locations.
Sullivan feels that her experience at Etown has been incredibly rewarding so far, allowing her to pursue her interests in meaningful ways.
“I have had some challenging classes, but overall feel like I am getting a great education here and get all the support I need to succeed,” Sullivan said.
