It’s that time of year again for Elizabethtown College seniors to begin graduation preparations. Many are ordering their caps and gowns, calling to tell their families the date (May 10) and dealing with anxieties associated with leaving the nest.
One aspect of preparation some fail to consider is researching the commencement speaker. While prestigious speakers are common for commencement ceremonies, the student body isn’t always familiar with the speaker.
Etown College’s 2025 commencement speaker will be S. Dale High ‘63, H’93, P’86. High has long-standing connections to the school.
High is a graduate of the class of 1963 who studied business administration during his time at Etown. He moved on to work at his family’s business, High Industries Inc. and High Real Estate Group LLC. He currently serves as Chair Emeritus for the companies, employing over 2,000 people across six states.
High began serving on Etown’s Board of Trustees in 1972 and was appointed Emeritus Trustee in 1998. During his time serving the institution, he helped oversee the establishment of numerous projects, including the High Center for Family Business which opened in 1995. It is one of the nation’s largest centers providing support to family-owned, private and non-profit businesses, and was one of the first centers of its kind.
He also oversaw the construction and renovation of the High Library and the Bowers Center. His name is all over many long-standing institutions at Etown, as well as scholarships and endowments.
High also recently completed a major accomplishment, transitioning his ownership of the companies into the High Foundation. The foundation was originally started in 1980 to promote growth and prosperity in communities. Lancaster County has benefited greatly from the High Foundation’s investments, as it worked to make progress on education, healthcare services, environmental responsibility and social enterprise.
Lancaster City went so far as to name May 2 “S. Dale High Day” to honor his contributions to the community that improved both the local economy and quality of life for residents.
Etown has recognized High numerous times over the years, including awarding him the Elizabethtown College Distinguished Business Alumni Award, the Centennial Medal for outstanding service to Elizabethtown College and presenting him with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.
He will be delivering a speech to the graduates of the class of 2025,bringing his decades of experience with the school on stage with him.
Elizabethtown College President Betty Rider was enthusiastic when commenting on the news.
“S. Dale High represents the very best of what it means to be a civic leader, an innovator, and a changemaker,” Rider said in a statement to Etown News.“We are honored to welcome him back to Elizabethtown College as our 2025 Commencement Speaker. His remarkable legacy of community impact will serve as a powerful source of inspiration for our graduates as they embark on their own journeys to lead fulfilling and purposeful lives,”
Student reactions have been positive, with graduating seniors making note of his name recognition within the school:
“Dale High provided many resources that my peers and I use daily,” senior mathematics education major Amelia Wittmaier said.“We value those resources at the High Library and the Bowers Center, places that he helped create,”
Graduation will take place at 10 a.m. on May 10 in the Dell. It will be livestreamed for public viewing.
