Photo: Melissa Spencer

Saturday, Oct. 20 at 1:30 p.m., students, faculty, family and friends gathered in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the reopening of the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College. This ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorated the 29th anniversary and reopening of the Young Center’s newly expanded building.

Director of the Young Center and associate professor of religious studies Dr. Jeffrey Bach gave a welcoming speech to those in attendance for the Young Center’s reopening. After, Chair of the Board of Trustees Robert Dolan made his remarks regarding the reopening of the Young Center.

“The Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies has been a vibrant part of our college for the past 20 years,” Dolan said. “As the [Young Center] moves forward, our college moves forward on principles set by the Young Center.”

Following Dolan, President Carl Strikwerda, Board of Trustees Member Janice Holsinger, ‘64 and alumnus John Holsinger, ’65 made their remarks about the progress of the Young Center, from its original groundbreaking to its reopening and new beginnings.

“This all started with a discussion at a Board of Trustees meeting about the Hess archives located in the High Library, and I said, ‘I think we can do this,’” Janice Holsinger said. “We can do this.”

The Young Center has raised over $3.8 million for its programs and archives since the initiation of the proposed updates and expansions to the original building. The newly remodeled Young Center features a new interactive scholar space along with additional offices and expanded spaces for current students and scholars alike.

The reopening celebration ended with Senior Scholar of the Young Center and professor of history and anabaptist studies Dr. Steven Nolt thanking those in attendance and welcoming attendees to tour the Young Center and enjoy the remaining Homecoming activities throughout the weekend.

For more information on the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies, please visit https://www.etown.edu/centers/young-center/index.aspx.