On Monday, March 7, an awards ceremony was held in Leffler Chapel to honor the Emergent Scholars from Elizabethtown College’s Class of 2024. During the event, 93 sophomores and their chosen mentors celebrated their achievements and emphasized the high level of academic standards they have been able to achieve as members of the Etown community.
Emergent Scholars have accomplished at least a 3.75 cumulative grade point average at the end of their first three semesters at the College. In order to qualify, the student must be a full-time student who has not previously attended another college for full-time study and have earned at least 42 credits in three consecutive semesters. While juggling several volunteer and leadership positions, the sophomores at this luncheon all managed to achieve this academic requirement.
With their exceptional academic performance, Emergent Scholars are expected to leverage the wide range of resources offered by Etown, including ongoing mentoring from members of the campus community. Internship information is provided to students and they are strongly encouraged to work with the Office of Prestigious Scholarships and Fellowships to explore post-graduate educational opportunities that include several scholarship programs.
The awards were presented by the deans of the individual schools, including Arts and Humanities, Business, Human and Health Professions, Public Services, Sciences and Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science. The mentors that were recognized were chosen by students who believed that they had an impact on their academic performance and overall college experience so far. There were 45 individual mentors acknowledged at these awards.
President of the College Betty Rider was especially proud of the students’ accomplishments. “We honor these sophomores in order to let students know their efforts are acknowledged,” Rider said. “They also serve as a mentor to younger first-year students.” Rider also acknowledged that this group of Emergent Scholars are especially unique because of their experience with COVID-19. She said that if these students were able to be successful in the past two years, they can be successful through any curveball thrown their way.
Former Emergent Scholar Andrew Furman made a few comments about the awards while speaking in front of the scholars. “Do not be hyper focused on your achievements,” he said. “I urge you to all take time to focus on the purpose behind your achievements.” Furman is a junior who is studying political science and communications. This advice stems from his experience with studying and internships. It is important to him to step back and recognize why he is accomplishing what he is.
After the Emergent Scholars were recognized, there was a luncheon in the lobby of the Leffler Chapel. This included food ranging from sandwiches to Oreo cupcakes. The catered food was provided to show the appreciation for the hard-working students that showed up to the awards. The students were able to socialize with one another and the mentors that they invited to join them.
A student in attendance said that it was a great way to end the celebration. “It was a great chance to recognize my hard work and dedication that I sometimes let go unnoticed,” they said. “It was refreshing to step back and think about how far I’ve come in the past two years. I’m proud of myself and the other Emergent Scholars.”
The Emergent Scholar Awards take place every year in early March when students are returning from their spring breaks. This is the 41st consecutive year having these awards. It is only attended by the scholars and their mentors, but friends and family are encouraged to tune into the livestream. There was a session at 5:30 p.m., and then another one directly following at 7:00 p.m.
