After a full day of classes at EMU, Kevin Garcia clocks in at 5 p.m. for his eight-hour shift at George’s Inc., a poultry plant in Harrisonburg. By the time he gets home, it’s 1:30 a.m. and he’s eager to get some much-needed sleep. In less than seven hours, he’ll be back on campus bright and early for his 8 a.m. class.

The hardworking, indefatigable first-year student emigrated from Cuba three years ago to join his family in Harrisonburg. He graduated from EMU’s renowned Intensive English Program (IEP) this spring. When he learned he could transfer 15 credits from his IEP classes to his college degree and that he would receive the EMU Promise Grant, which fully covers the tuition costs for eligible students, he knew his future belonged at EMU.

The biology and Spanish double major, whose full-time job helps support his family with their expenses, said his parents both graduated from college in Cuba. “They had an expectation that I needed to go to college, as well,” said Garcia, who is interested in the emerging and rapidly expanding field of epigenetics. “Without the Promise Grant, that wouldn’t be possible.”

Garcia is one of 76 first- and second-year students at EMU who have access to an exceptional, tuition-free college education thanks to the EMU Promise Grant. The initiative is open to Virginia residents whose adjusted gross family incomes are below $75,000. It is for first-time, full-time undergraduate students. See checklist below for more eligibility criteria.��

The EMU Promise Grant covers 100 percent of all remaining tuition costs after state, federal, and institutional grants or scholarships have been awarded. It does not cover any fees or living expenses.

Now in its second year, the tuition-free initiative continues to tackle systemic barriers by offering more financial aid, in alignment with EMU’s 2023-28 strategic plan, Pathways of Promise: Preparing Tomorrow’s Unifying Leaders.

Troy Martin, director of financial aid for EMU, said that raising the income threshold for Promise Grant eligibility (it was previously set at $65,000) ensures that a college education at EMU is accessible to more students in Virginia than ever before. “We don’t want money to stand in the way of a student choosing to attend EMU,” he said. 

“We have lots of prospective students who show promise, and our promise is to help them fulfill their promise,” Martin added. “We offer a transformative education for these students and allow them to achieve their educational goals and dreams in a setting that will support them every step of the way.”

While there is no deadline to apply for the EMU Promise Grant, the deadline for submitting a VTAG application is Sept. 15, 2026.

For more information about the EMU Promise Grant, visit .

Let Braydon Hoover, vice president of enrollment & marketing, walk you through the EMU Promise Grant in the video below.

Hear why some of them chose EMU as their new home!

Jose Lopez Vasquez

Hometown: Harrisonburg, Virginia
College/University you transferred from: Blue Ridge Community College (Weyers Cave, Virginia)
Major: Computer science

Why EMU?
The primary reason I chose to transfer to EMU was because it felt like home. When I was searching for where I would go to finish my degree, EMU welcomed me and showed me there was a genuine spirit of connection and support. Even though it’s close to home and I was awarded a STEM scholarship, the ultimate deciding factor was that EMU made me feel like I belonged here.

What was transferring like for you?
Transferring to EMU was a smooth and welcoming experience. From the beginning, they guided me through each step and made sure I had everything I needed. Not once did I feel at a loss during the process.

Any advice for students starting their college transfer search?
My advice to other transfer students is to look for a school where you truly feel a connection. Choose a place that makes you feel comfortable and supported, but also challenges you to grow and push yourself.

What extracurricular activities are you enjoying at EMU?
I’m a tutor for other students majoring in computer science. I’m also part of the NSF-STEM Scholarship Program, which has given me opportunities to connect with other students in STEM fields. I’m an active member of Latinx Student Alliance (LSA) and enjoy taking part in their events.

Benjamin Elliott

Hometown: Broadway, Virginia
College/University you transferred from: Blue Ridge Community College (Weyers Cave, Virginia)
Majors: Political science and peacebuilding & development, with sociology minor

Why EMU?
My father has been a PA announcer for basketball and volleyball at EMU since 2009, and this school has been a part of my life since then. I love EMU’s commitment to radical justice and change.

What was transferring like for you?
It’s been easy. Shout-out to Liz (Heilbronner) and the wonderful admissions team. Dayton and the staff at BRCC helped as well.

Any advice for students starting their college transfer search?
Find what you’re passionate about and what program best fits that interest. The more passionate you are about the subject, the better your experience will be.

What extracurricular activities are you enjoying at EMU?
Peace Fellowship, Mennonite Action, and writing opinion pieces for The Weather Vane. I’ve met a ton of great people in these groups who all share the same commitment to justice that I do.

Hezekiah Brown

Hometown: Stafford, Virginia
College/University you transferred from: Lesley University (Cambridge, Massachusetts)
Major: Business administration

Why EMU?
I chose to transfer to EMU because my old coach was let go, and this school had a really solid and sound campus environment. My parents actually mentioned the nice little coffee shop in the Commons (Common Grounds Coffeehouse!) as they were visiting for a JMU football game. I also chose this school because of the facilities it has to offer. My last school didn’t even have its own gymnasium, which makes a world of difference. 

What was transferring like for you?
Transferring was an easy transition because everyone here is so welcoming.

Any advice for students starting their college transfer search?
My advice to other transfer students would be to put yourself out there and socialize as much as possible in your first few weeks to find out who your people might be. And to look for a school that has strong and helpful resources like EMU. I actually got registered to come here the week before school started, and I have people from the admissions team like Lexi, Liz, and a few others to thank for all their help in such a short amount of time.

What extracurricular activities are you enjoying at EMU?
Before my basketball season started, I enjoyed pickleball, gospel choir, the outdoors club, and biking around town with friends, along with being a part of Student Government Association (SGA) and working at Royals’ Den. They have so much to offer at this school!

Micah Wenger

Hometown: Hutchinson, Kansas
College/University you transferred from: Bethel College (North Newton, Kansas)
Major: Music and peacebuilding

Why EMU?
I felt unfulfilled at Bethel, socially. I had expected to meet other young Mennonites with similar interests and felt as though there weren’t a lot of those people at Bethel. At EMU, there’s more of those people. I worked for two summers at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp, where there’s a pretty big Mennonite contingent from EMU, so I met a lot of people from EMU there, thought about transferring, and decided EMU might be the place for me.

What was transferring like for you?
People I knew from camp were quick to include me in social things, so I felt included and secure since day one, which is abnormal, I think, for a lot of transfers. 

Any advice for students starting their college transfer search?
Similar to being a freshman in college, just being willing to go out and do things and chat with people makes a big difference. People here tend to be pretty friendly. I found they’re usually happy to chat.

What extracurricular activities are you enjoying at EMU?
A lot of music: I take piano lessons, I’m in the orchestra, and on the choir. I’m also part of the group that’s working to put on a theater show next semester.

Interested in EMU? Start the conversation by , scheduling a campus visit, talking with a professor or coach, or meeting your admissions counselor. Learn more about transferring to EMU at .

Balloons, flowers, cheers, caps and gowns, and big smiles…

Pageantry and “Pomp and Circumstance”…

Saturday’s sun-filled celebrations were a semblance of normalcy in pandemic times, as more than 1,300 guests attended three separate “walking ceremonies” hosted by ��ݮ���� for the graduates of 2020 and 2021.

The opportunity was particularly poignant from the 2020 grads, who lost their in-person celebration to the pandemic last year. Ninety-nine, some with family and friends in attendance, returned for the opportunity to don their caps and gowns and other academic regalia to walk across the stage.

EMU awarded 351 total degrees, including 209 undergraduate degrees, 104 master’s degrees, 37 graduate certificates, and one doctorate.

Graduates will have another opportunity to celebrate this weekend, when the formal Commencement ceremonies for both classes happen in a virtual format — on Saturday, May 8, at 1 p.m., for the class of 2020, and on Sunday, May 9,at 1 p.m., for the class of 2021. EMU’s site in Lancaster, Pa., will host a graduation ceremony Friday, May 14. [See EMU’s Commencement website for more information.]

The ceremonies were organized by academic schools, with the School of Theology, Humanities, and the Performing Arts getting the day started at 9 a.m. (blankets and coffee were favorite spectator accessories). By the 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. ceremonies for the School of Science, Engineering, Art and Nursing and the School of Social Science and Professions, respectively, sunscreen, hats and sunglasses were de rigueur (seating protocols and seat followed social distancing requirements).

Each ceremony included words from President Susan Schultz Huxman and the school dean, as well as a blessing from a faculty member. Huxman congratulated the gathered graduates on their resilience and perseverance and urged them to stay connected to EMU as they chart their paths and impact the world.

The smaller ceremonies allowed deans to share special messages with grads from shared academic discipline. Dean Sue Cockley of the School of Theology, Humanities and the Performing Arts offered this: “This tremendous upheaval… calls up existential questions that we in the West prefer to ignore in quieter times. What is the meaning of all of this? Have we ever learned anything from history? What will happen to us? Is there hope for justice? Is there hope for faith? How can we learn to pray again. ..You may not have all the answers yet, no one expects that of you at this moment, but you are not afraid to struggle with the questions and that is crucial!”

Dean Tara Tishbaugh of the School of Science, Engineering, Art and Nursing noted that all of these graduates shared the common experience of the need for “hands-on” learning: “Labs online, labs on campus, where is lab today? Labs distanced and spread across multiple rooms, student leaders supporting the faculty as tech assistants, as learning assistants, as tutors. We learned alongside each other. Studio and digital arts moved locations, adapted to challenges of mixed modalities-I loved the story of  continuing ceramics using clay found in your backyards and beyond. The natural history (and other) solo field trips. The tremendous work achieved by our nursing faculty, staff, and students to continue clinicals, to create new simulations, to adapt to restrictions on clinical experiences.”

Dean David Brubaker shared the incalculable need for the uniquely educated graduates from the School of Social Sciences and Professions: “These last 15 months have been among the most innovative I’ve experienced in my 17 years at EMU… Within our school, we launched one new master’s degree (in transformational leadership) last August, are preparing to roll out a second (in school counseling) this August, and have approved a third (in human resource leadership) for fall 2022… The  Teacher Education program sailed through its reaccreditation process with high praise from the visiting accreditation team. We consolidated a new major in global studies…and our Business and Leadership program continued to prepare outstanding graduates in fields such as accounting, business administration, recreation and sports management, and international business. I can’t imagine a time when the world needed gifted teachers, collaborative leaders, empathetic counselors and skilled conflict transformers and justice advocates more than now. You truly are the ones we have been waiting for.”

On a bright and windy April day, against a gorgeous mountain backdrop, a little blue wedge zipped around the Shenandoah Speedway in Shenandoah, Va. It averaged a conservative speed in the mid-20 miles per hour, but the most striking feature of this car was its fuel consumption. In its best trial run, it got 204 miles to the gallon.  

The car was built by a team of ��ݮ���� (EMU) students who’ve been on a long and winding road to get it to a track. Under the leadership of mechanical engineering major Ben Bontrager-Singer, the group began designing and building their supermileage car in the fall of 2019, with the expectation of competing in the 2020 Shell Eco-marathon held at the Sonoma Raceway in California. 

Of course, that was cancelled due to the pandemic. The team then planned on fine-tuning their creation and competing in the eco-marathon this year, thinking that surely COVID-19 would have been a distant memory by now, and – cancelled again. 

So the roadster’s maiden voyage was to the speedway, where Bontrager-Singer and his team had planned to hold a tête-à-tête with James Madison University’s eco-marathon team. However, the Dukes’ supermileage car was undergoing technical difficulties, and they weren’t able to attend. So, after more than a year of planning, building, calibrating, and re-planning, the Royals’ supermileage car was finally run through its paces, albeit sans contender. 

“It was extremely satisfying to get to this point,” said Bontrager-Singer. “I always knew that we would eventually have a ‘finished’ product but it really never felt close until we were actually at the raceway – although it does feel a little funny to use the word finished. We are in the prototype category of the Shell Eco-Marathon competition and indeed this was our first prototype … this is really just the tip of the iceberg.” 

The car did achieve a gas mileage of 204 per gallon on its final test run of the day, although to achieve that mind-boggling number, driver Caleb Hostetler used a coast-and-burn strategy of accelerating up to 25 miles per hour and then cutting the engine and coasting down to 5 miles per hour. On the two previous trials, when Hostetler and Tessa Waidelich maintained their speed in the mid-20s, they still got over 135 miles to the gallon.

Bontrager-Singer wasn’t surprised, though. He knew what they had. 

“I was very excited and proud of our performance on Friday,” he said. “It certainly was satisfying to see it really be as effective as we had hoped. We hadn’t had enough time to really test the strategy before getting to the track so it was exciting to see it be so effective. It was also really nice to see so many people make the trip to Shenandoah to watch.”

In addition to driving, Hostetler is also on the engine and electric fuel injection team.

“This part of the car has been frustrating but also satisfying for me, as electricity, microcontrollers, and computers are the things I have some experience working with,” he said. “When we began this project two falls ago, I also signed up to be one of the potential drivers. That may or may not still happen depending on when the competition happens, but I am still having a great time working on this project.”

Even without the opportunity to test their ride against the hundreds of others that would normally compete at the Eco-Marathon each year, the team has already identified improvements they’d like to make before their first race, whenever that may be. Bontrager-Singer’s excitement for the car’s future has not wavered despite the many setbacks the pandemic has posed.

“Most of our team is only sophomores and freshmen at this point so we have time to do a lot more,” he said. “Just for next year, there have already been talks about going electric or completely building a custom drivetrain. Most likely we will have to build a new body to improve driver visibility. I think a reasonable goal for next year would be to double our fuel economy.

Waidelich said the teammates have become close friends through this project.

“In my opinion, one of the coolest things about this project is how well the group works with each other,” she said. “When we run into problems or an idea goes south, we reconvene and listen to each other’s ideas to come up with a new plan.”

Bontrager-Singer lauded his teammates for their commitment to the car. By his rough estimate, they’ve collectively put 2,300 hours into the vehicle so far.

“I am so proud of our team and all that we have accomplished. Being in Super-Mileage Car is a huge commitment and can be tiring and frustrating. Every team member demonstrated supreme commitment and perseverance to get to this point,” he said. 

Ninety ��ݮ���� students were recognized for accomplishments and achievements during the 2020-21 academic year during a special recognition ceremony today.

Academics

Academic Success Center

Rachael Brenneman earned the Peer Tutor of the Year Award. She was recognized for “combining the qualities of excellent technical skills, helping students with the structure and mechanics of writing, as well as excellent perceptions of what students want to say and how to say it better, and all the while she honors tremendous vulnerability that students can feel when they come for writing consultations,” according to Steve Yoder, coordinator of academic success.

Bible and Religion

The Haverim writing awards are given to students whose essays demonstrate robust scholarship related in one way or another to biblical studies, religion, philosophy, and/or Anabaptist/Mennonite thought and practice. Cash awards of $300, $200, and $100 for first, second and third place, respectively, come with the prize.

• First place: Elizabeth Eby for “Dismantling the Dualism of Good and Evil.” In her paper, Elizabeth explored the dualism between good and evil through a cursory review of the 2019 Top Ten movies and how such dualism ultimately leads to dehumanization, especially of the one depicted as “the enemy.” She then offered a biblical and theological response that challenges and moves beyond such dualism.

• Second place: Ambrose Monahan for “Do You Feel Held?  Acknowledgement and Midsommar.” Through the work of Cavell and Hegel, Ambrose provided a framework in exploring and understanding the folk horror movie Midsommar as “a drama depicting the overwhelming pain of trauma and grief, and the emotional toll of the repression and avoidance of that pain.”

• Third place: Summer Williams for “Radical Salvation: Liberation Theology.” In her overview of Liberation Theology, Summer provided a robust theological vision for the church to embody its vocation of being a radical, emancipatory body that counters institutional and social injustices in the world.

Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sustainability

• Reuben Peachey-Stoner: Outstanding Senior Chemistry Student
• Addison Shenk: Outstanding Senior Biology Student
• Rachel Brenneman: Outstanding Environmental Sustainability Student
• Isaac Spicher: Outstanding First-Year Chemistry Student Award
• Erin Clayton and Morgan Pletch: Outstanding Second-Year Biology Student Awards
• Isaac Alderfer and Micah Buckwalter: Award for Excellence in Research, for their three-year project on water quality in land use zones in Rockingham County
• Maya Dula and Jakiran Richardson: Award for Exceptional Service, for their donation of time and effort to the biology and chemistry programs as they work to create a welcoming, equitable and fair learning environment for all students. They assisted with focus groups, data collection in the form of feedback from minority STEM majors on their experience in STEM classrooms and helped with a research study looking at retention rates among STEM majors.

Business and Leadership

• Jamie Corzo: Outstanding Recreation and Sports Management Senior, for his sterling qualities, passion for the field, work ethic, and 3.9 GPA.
• Lauren Hartzler: Outstanding Business Administration Senior, for her excellence both as a student in the classroom and as an teacher assistant.
• Taylor Longenecker: Outstanding Accounting Senior, for his academic achievements, excellence in the classroom, his perseverance and dedication through a technically demanding program, contributions to tutoring fellow students and in class discussions, connecting his field of study to current events.
• Zachary Newton: Outstanding Marketing Senior, for his demonstrated perseverance, growth mindset and ability to be a team player and leader.
• Tiffany Heishman: Outstanding Achievement, for her overall achievements as a double major in accounting and business administration (completing both majors in three years); her contributions as a tutor, mentor and tech assistant; and her service to the greater community through involvements with FFA and 4H. [Read more about Tiffany and her ag business interests.]
• Aaron Horst: Exceptional Service Award, for his work choreographing two musicals and a play at Eastern Mennonite High School, tennis coach thee, three year assistant at EMU’s rock wall, Community Advisor for two years, and a three-year EMU Ambassador.
• Justice Allen: Exceptional Leadership Award, for his role as co-president of the Student Government Association, leadership on the cross country team (named to ODAC All-American team and twice as a Royals Athlete of the Week), in addition to everyday leadership in the classroom.

Center for Justice and Peacebuilding

Three graduate students were selected by CJP’s Academic Committee for recognition:

• Gabrielle Bradsaw, for commitment and dedication to community building in the midst of a pandemic;
• Simelwe Dlova, for excellence in behind-the-scenes technical assistance, including in the most recent CJP Appreciative Inquiry workshop;
• Conner Suddick, for excellence as a graduate assistant for professors Johonna Turner and Tammy Krause.

Education

Five education students were named as 2021 Teachers of Promise, among 100 of the best and brightest pre-service teachers in Virginia: 

• Sarah Ressler, elementary and special education, from Apple Creek, Ohio; 
• Ruth Reimer-Berg, elementary education, from Salem, Ore.; 
• Hannah Nichols, elementary education, from Rockingham, Va.; 
• Megan Breidigan, secondary English education, from Douglassville, Pa.; 
• Rachel Sauder, secondary mathematics education, Lyndhurst, Va. 

Emily McCombs was selected by department faculty for the annual Courage to Teach Award, modeled after principles in Parker Palmer’s book of the same name. Department faculty selected Emily for her dedication and success in teaching, her genuine caring for students, reflective practice, highly principled behaviors, and her courage to navigate challenging experiences.  She was presented with a copy of Palmer’s book.

Language and Literature

• Megan Breidigan is the winner of the Carroll Yoder Award for Teaching Excellence, which honors an EMU senior or junior who has demonstrated academic excellence in both literary studies and education courses and has shown a clear call to the teaching profession. Professor Emeritus Carroll Yoder, who taught French, English, and writing, along with mentoring many aspiring teachers, provided his students and colleagues with a powerful example of scholarship in service to others during his thirty-four years in the Language and Literature Department.
• Elizabeth Miller earned the Ray Elvin Horst Award for excellence in Spanish. She is recognized for “her command of Spanish, her dedication to being a bridge between cultures, and for being a community-builder and servant leader,” said instructor Maria Esther Showalter.
• Kayley Scottlind earned the Ervie L. Glick Award for excellence in world language study. “You have served our community with joy, been committed to Latino Student Alliance, and shown excellence as a Spanish major while also a biology major,” said Showalter.
• Anna Cahill is awarded the Omar Eby Writing Award for her diligent work in all genres and contributions this semester as co-editor of the Weather Vane. Eby, who died this year, is memorialized through this award, presented to a senior majoring or minoring in writing studies who demonstrates excellence in the craft of creative writing and who provides insightful critique and support for other writers in creative workshops.
• James Dunmore earned the Jay B. Landis Award for excellence in literary studies, for writing the best academic essay in the interdisciplinary humanities seminar offered annually each spring. His essay was “Lines Leading Off the Page: Recontextualizing Underground Comics As Countercultural Phenonemon.” Landis, who died this year, taught writing, speech, and literature including modern poetry, drama and Shakespeare over 51 years at EMU.

Mathematics, Engineering and Computer Science

• Ethan Beiler: Outstanding Senior in Engineering Award, awarded by the faculty as the highest honor for the graduate demonstrating academic excellence, service, and contributions to community and culture at EMU.
• Lucas Wenger: Outstanding Senior in Mathematics Award, awarded by the faculty as the highest honor for the graduate demonstrating academic excellence, service, and contributions to community and culture at EMU.
• Cameron Byer: Outstanding Senior in Computer Science Award, awarded by the faculty as the highest honor for the graduate demonstrating academic excellence, service, and contributions to community and culture at EMU.
• Cameron Byer won the annual math competition for the fourth consecutive year.
• In the Kryptos codebreaking competition, Caleb Hostetler and Noah Swartzendruber solved all three problems, to achieve the Turing Level of Achievement. Hannah Leaman, Ike Esh, and Silas Clymer solved two of the three problems to achieve the Babbage Level of Achievement.
• Cameron Byer, Caleb Hostetler, and Hannah Leaman secured a top-16 finish out of 85 teams in the mid-Atlantic regional competition and advanced with alternate Noah Swartzentruber to North America Division Championships of the International Collegiate Programming Contest.

Psychology

• Lindsey Histand was awarded the Galen R. Lehman Outstanding Achievement in Research Award for her outstanding psychology research project, “A Comparison of Preference Assessment Modes & Methods.”
• Brandon Higgins received the Judy H. Mullet Award for Internship Excellence, for his outstanding and consistent performance in his psychology internship with EMU Residence Life. [Read more about Brandon’s leadership of a community service project focused on literacy.]

Theater

In presenting these awards, Technical Director Shannon Dove offered a recent observation from a respondent working with the upcoming production of “First Night” (yes, the theater department is already at work on their fall 2021 production!): You had every excuse, every rationale, and indeed every good common-sense reason under these circumstances to do less but you chose to do more.

Those words apply equally the two honorees of the theater department for their efforts this academic year.

• Anna Hoover received recognition for Outstanding Achievement in Theater, for her work-study contributions, dramaturge role in an original production and collaboration with VACA and for her invaluable assistant in the remounting of the Shrek the Musical production this spring.
• Jeraya Harder was also a recipient of the Outstanding Achievement in Theater Award. She was the hard-working and eminently irreplaceable stage manager for Shrek The Musical.

Campus Life

Campus Activities Council

• Jeremiah Yoder: Outstanding Leader Award, for his three years of contributions and leadership, including “unwavering dedication and relentless reliability,” said Tyler Goss, assistant director of student programs.
• Ashley Schoenhardt, a first-year student, earned the most votes from her peers on the council for the CAC All-Star Award. She is “dedicated, welcoming and even as a first-year, a CAC pro,” said Goss.

Campus Ministries

Pastoral Assistants James Dunmore, Naomi Davis, Elizabeth Eby, Hailey Edmonds, Natalie Brown, and Skylar Hedgepath were recognized by Campus Pastor Brian Martin Burkholder for their work in challenging times and their contributions of relational ministry to the campus.

Center for Interfaith Engagement

James Dunmore was recognized as an interfaith pastoral assistant, the first in this role, which is supported by the Center for Interfaith Engagement and Campus Ministries. James was honored for his efforts to support faith diversity, religious pluralism, and interfaith engagement at EMU by Professor Tim Seidel, the center’s director.

Common Grounds Coffeehouse

Common Grounds Coffeehouse, located in the University Commons, is a student-run business and a central location for campus events. The following four students were honored for their leadership and management:

• Sarah Rittenhouse, Events and Marketing Manager (1 year and 2 years as a barista)
• Ethan Beiler, Finance Manager (1 year)
• Lauren Hartzler, Operations Coordinator and General Manager (2 years and 1.5 years as a barista)
• Emma Pirrung, Products Manager (2 years and 1.5 years as a barista)

 Director of Student Programs Rachel Roth Sawatzky offered this collective recognition: 

Each year, managers establish shared business goals for the year. This year’s management group set a primary goal of simply being open and running safely as a student run food establishment in the middle of a global pandemic. This meant a myriad of new logistics, health protocols, and staffing challenges unique to this year, as well as ongoing flexibility as institutional expectations changed through the course of the year depending on case counts and state mandates.  On top of this achievement, this group innovated to open a brand new online store and delivery service for our COVID months, and identified the specific priority for Common Grounds to be an open and safe space for all students at EMU, particularly those with minoritized identities, and to use their own social capital to advocate for equity and social justice. These would be tremendous accomplishments for any year, and especially this year. It is my honor to recognize their contributions to our campus life.   

Residence Life

Nine Community Assistants were recognized for multi-year service, commitment and dedication to EMU: Lindsey Histand, Addison Hawpe, Theo Yoder, Dwayne Hill, Sarah Grossen, Zach Shifflett, Jesse Landis, Ambrose Monahan and Asha Beck. “Each abounds in wisdom, passion and an incredible ability to foster community,” said Tyler Goss, assistant director of student programs.

Student Government Association

Co-presidents of the Student Government Association Anisa Leonard (May-December 2020), Allison Shelly and Justice Allen (May 2020-April 2021) were recognized for outstanding leadership by Dean of Students Shannon Dycus.

They say good leadership comes from those who lead by vision, not sight. Our SGA co- presidents exemplified this truth with us this year. Anisa Leonard, Justice Allen and Allison Shelley – through a pandemic, impacts of ongoing racial violence and a divisive election – you imagined a vision for community and safety for your peers. You gave voice in countless meetings, town halls, statements and websites to set tone and to resource, using your bodies to advocate for justice, willing and capable to see more of us. You’ve been outstanding leaders. Thank you. 

The co-presidents passed the gavel to the incoming leadership team of Faith Manickam, a rising senior majoring in biology; Aman Seyoum, a rising junior majoring in clinical lab science and Philip Krabill, a rising senior double-majoring in peacebuilding and development and Bible, religion, and theology.

Athletics

Athletics recognized 35 students with 59 total awards, including 19 unique awards. Athletes are listed in alphabetical order. For more information on spring semester athletics awards, visit.

Isaac Alderfer: Royals Athlete of the Week

                     ODAC Athlete of the Week (6 times)

                     All-ODAC First Team Indoor 800m

                     All-ODAC First Team Mile

                     All-South/Southeast Region Team Indoor 800m

                     All-South/Southeast Region Team Mile

                     Team Academic Achievement Award

Cassidy Armstrong:  National Academic Squad

Jonas Beachy: Team Academic Achievement Award

Rachel Breslin:  National Academic Squad

Megan Breidigan:  Royals Athlete of the Week

                     Team Academic Achievement Award

Emily Campbell: ODAC Pitcher of the Week

                     Royals Athlete of the Week

                     Team Academic Achievement Award

Clover Cooper:  National Academic Squad

Cor’shauna Cunningham:  ODAC Athlete of the Week

Jacob Durren: Team Academic Achievement Award

Alain Fiden: National Academic Squad

Ann Ghally: National Academic Squad

Lauren Hartzler:  National Academic Squad

                     Scholar of Distinction

Skylar Hedgepeth:

                     National Academic Squad

                     Scholar of Distinction

                     Team Academic Achievement Award

DJ Hill:       Royals Athlete of the Week

                     All-ODAC Team

Caleb Hostetler: Team Academic Achievement Award

Paris Hutchinson:  ODAC Player of the Week

Alijah Johnson: Royals Athlete of the Week

                     All-ODAC First Team Indoor 200m

                     All-South/Southeast Region Team Indoor 200m

Tim Jones:  Royals Athlete of the Week

                     All-ODAC Team

Kate Landis: National Academic Squad

Sierra Lantz:   Royals Athlete of the Week

Jaylon Lee: Royals Athlete of the Week

                     ODAC Player of the Week

                     D3baseball.com Team of the Week

Elizabeth Longacre:  National Academic Squad

Emily McCombs:  Royals Athlete of the Week

Bri Miller:   National Academic Squad

Elizabeth Miller:   Team Academic Achievement Award

Keely Mitchell:  National Academic Squad

Gage Riddick: Team Academic Achievement Award

Chyna Roberts: Team Academic Achievement Award

Eli Roeschley: Team Academic Achievement Award

Allison Shelly: All-ODAC Third Team Mile

                     All-South/Southeast Region Team Mile

                     All-South/Southeast Region Team 3000m

                     Team Academic Achievement Award

Bethany Shultz: Team Academic Achievement Award

Morgan Tricarico:  National Academic Squad

Brandy Troutman: ODAC Player of the Week

                     Royals Athlete of the Week

                     Most Defensive Saves in NCAA Div. III (8)

Tori Wigley:   Royals Athlete of the Week

Ahmed Zaatar:  Royals Athlete of the Week

Last weekend, the ��ݮ���� community honored approximately 30 students at the sixth annual Donning of the Kente Ceremony.

The ceremony, always the first of the, recognizes and rewards achievement; honors those who contributed to the grad’s success; connects grads to their heritage; and encourages them to continue striving for excellence.

The ceremony was live in Martin Chapel, but limited to participants and their honorary donors. The new livestream format enabled friends and family, and a few honored donneers, from around the world to share in the joy of the moment, sending messages of love and support through the chat. [View the recording of the ceremony on .]

The ceremony, which is voluntary and open to all, celebrates the achievements of graduating seniors who recognize their international roots. Each graduate receives a stole of kente cloth, a symbol of prestige in many African societies, handwoven for each graduate, or a satin sash with flags from the countries they feel a connection with.

Each student selects an individual to place the stole or sash around his or her neck. Many seniors choose to wear the stole at commencement as an important component o f their academic regalia.

Hosts of the ceremony were Celeste Thomas, director of multicultural student services and special advisor to the president on diversity, equity and inclusion, and Micah Shristi, director of international student services. David Berry, professor of music, contributed musical selections, and Brian Martin Burkholder, campus pastor, gave the blessing.

Participants 

Nana Akyaa Okyere Acheampong, a nursing major from Harrisonburg, Va., donned by Kennedy Akwo 

Justice Allen, a recreation sports management major from Waynesboro, Va., donned by Bob Hepler, cross country and track coach

Josephine Awotoye, from Brooklyn Park, Minn., graduating with an MS in biomedicine and donned by Laura Otieno

Akiel Baker, a social work major from Bowie, Md., donned by Celeste Thomas

Luz Contreras, from McGaheysville, Va., graduating with an MS in biomedicine, donned by Professor Beth Good (nursing)

Maya Dula, a biology major from Lancaster, Pa., donned by Celeste Thomas

Brandon Higgins, a psychology major from Culpepper,Va., donned by Lindy Magness, assistant director for housing and residence life  

Amanda Jasper, a social work major from Madion, Va., donned by Celeste Thomas

Terry Jones Jr, a computer science major from Palmyra, Va., donned by Professor David Berry (music)

Brenda Kasongo, an accounting major from Kinshasa, The Democratic Republic of Congo, donned by her father Louis Kasongo Olenga

Yonas Ketsala, a nursing major from Alexandria, Va., donned by Brian Martin Burkholder, campus pastor and Yonas’s spiritual mentor

Philia Lienardy, a photography major from Semarang, Indonesia, donned by her best friend Kayla Segner

Anisa Leonard, a social work major from Nairobi, Kenya, and Harrisonburg, Va., donned by Shannon Dycus, dean of students

Rodrigo Makelele, earning an MA in conflict transformation, from The Democratic Republic of Congo and Harrisonburg, Va., donned by Jayne Docherty, executive director and professor, Center for Justice and Peacebuilding

Mariana Martinez-Hernandez, a peacebuilding major from Tegucigulpa, Honduras, donned by her roommate and cousin Alexa Lorenzana

Maha Mehanna, earning a graduate certificate in business administration (2021), and an MA in organizational leadership and a graduate certificate in restorative justice (2020), from Gaza, Palestine, donned by David Brubaker, dean and professor of the School of Social Sciences and Professions

Valerie Meza-Cooper, earning an MA in Counseling from Woodstock, Va., donned by Celeste Thomas

Aminata Wallet Mohamed, earning an MA in conflict transformation from Bamako, Mali, donned by Micah Shristi

Helen Momoh, earning an MA in conflict transformation from Harrisonburg, Va., donned by her spouse Charles Kwuelum

Sidney Morgan, earning an MA Transformational Leadership from Vancouver, Wa., donned by her three children

Edith Ortega-Sanchez, a peacebuilding and development major from Torreon, Mexico, donned by her mother Maria de Ortega

Jakiran Richardson, a biology major from Virginia Beach, Va., donned by Celeste Thomas

Gene St. Val, earning an MS in biomedicine from Eden, Md., donned by Tara Kishbaugh, professor and dean of the School of Sciences, Engineering, Art and Nursing

Shakeerah Sykes, earning an MA in Counseling from Harrisonburg, Va., donned by Professor Jennifer Cline standing in for Rita Dunston, Shakeerah’s aunt.

Angela Walker, earning an MA in conflict transformation, from Amity, Ore., donned by her nephew and nieces Asia, Andrew and Aaliyah Smith

Tessa Waidelich, a computer science major from Pettisville, Ohio, donned by Charles Cooley, instructor (computer science)

Rebecca Yugga, major in Spanish language and Hispanic studies from Rockingham, Va., donned by Celeste Thomas.

*Two students’ names have been redacted for security purposes.

 As Virginia’s vaccine rollout spreads into the Shenandoah Valley, ��ݮ���� students are participating at both ends of the needle: both giving and getting the shot.

And in some cases, they’ve giving the shot to fellow students and EMU employees. According to an informal count kept by EMU Health Services, 110 students and 135 employees have received the full course of vaccines as of April 14. These numbers are based on copies of vaccination cards provided to Health Services (through covidhotline@emu.edu).

Senior nursing students in Professor Kate Clark’s community health course and associated clinical rotation this semester have been giving vaccines and aiding with processing at clinics up and down the Shenandoah Valley: in Lexington, at Augusta Health in Fishersville, the Rockingham County Fairgrounds, and Sentara RMH, the city jail and city community center in Harrisonburg. A recent afternoon saw a small group among the volunteer nurses, physicians, and other health professionals staffing a clinic in the convocation center at James Madison University.

While other rotations like shadowing in the emergency department and the ICU unit may be more exciting, Natalie Stoltzfus has enjoyed the hands-on work and the chance to contribute in an historic public health effort. 

“These have been my favorite clinicals,” says Stoltzfus, who will work at Penn State Hospital Hershey after graduation. “Once you get the routine down, it’s pretty simple. Six hours goes by fast.”

According to Clark, EMU’s smaller program and long relationship with the local district of the Virginia Department of Health has contributed to unique opportunities to work small and large clinics and to interact with many different populations, including healthcare professionals, incarcerated individuals and senior citizens. [Read about spring 2020 clinical experiences and how the Class of 2020 nursing graduates finished their semester.]

Nursing students provide Q & A at campus info sessions

The knowledge students have gained as vaccinators and in the public health context has also benefited their fellow students and campus community. In mid-March, EMU Director of Health Services Irene Kniss contacted the nursing department about hosting a Q & A session.

“We knew students had lots of questions and a need for information related to the vaccines,” Kniss said. “We encourage everyone to educate themselves and our nursing students and professors could be an important and trusted resource in that process.”

On Wednesday, April 7, students in the community health nursing class, with Clark and nursing instructor Lisa Burkholder, hosted a virtual information session about COVID vaccines. Questions from the attendees ranged from possible health impacts of the vaccines, the testing process and efficacy of each type of vaccine, and the biotechnology that has been developed.

In recent weeks, Kniss, along with other area health officials, has been in near-daily communication with VDH representatives for updates about the status of vaccines arriving in the Valley. An application to host an on-campus clinic had been made in January.

EMU students now eligible for the vaccine

On April 9, students were emailed about opportunities to sign up at several local clinics hosted by the Virginia Department of Health within the Central Shenandoah Health District. The campus’s COVID Response Team has provided transportation if needed.

“Getting the covid vaccine is an act of care for the entire community,” Kniss said, adding that the more fully vaccinated the population is, the more vulnerable populations will be protected and  “the sooner we can move towards sharing spaces and seeing faces again.” 

Students (and faculty and staff as well) sharing a copy of their vaccination card will no longer need to fill out the daily symptom tracker, one of several measures instituted this year to help track individual and community health.

While some universities are requiring proof of vaccination in the fall, EMU officials are still collecting information and exploring options. 

Seven EMU students heading to careers in science and medicine have earned funding for summer research, provided by the Kauffman-Miller Research Awards and the CT Assist Summer Experiential Learning Program.

“We are pleased that we can work with such a large group of students this summer, since these opportunities were so limited last summer.” said, a biochemistry professor who holds the Daniel B. Suter Endowed Chair. 

* Erin Clayton and Graciella Odelia  will work with Professor Jeff Copeland to measure gene activity in a Parkinson’s disease model in the fruitfly. 

* Hannah Giagnocavo and Cheyenne Suamatae’a-Te’o will work with Professor Kristopher Schmidt, solving the many puzzles of roundworm development.

* Theo Yoder and Nicole Miller will travel to Hawaii with Professor Matt Siderhurst to develop and assess new methods of tropical agricultural pest control.

* Rebekah Amstutz will work with Professor Jim Yoder on an investigation of the possibility of institutional nitrogen tracking.

The Kauffman-Miller Research Awards are named for emeritus professors Glenn Kauffman (chemistry) and Roman Miller (biology), each of whom were “champions of undergraduate involvement in authentic scientific research at EMU,” said Cessna. “These awards from the Daniel B. Suter Endowment Fund provide opportunities for biology, chemistry and environmental science students to build the key skills of scientific inquiry from writing the proposal to presenting and potentially publishing their findings.”

Over their 30-plus year tenures, Kauffman and Miller each worked with more than 40 undergraduates on research projects ranging in topics from organic blueberry production to the synthesis of new cyclic organic compounds.

The CT Assist Health Experiential Learning Program awards funds to pre-professional health science students at EMU to support clinical experiences that help prepare students for professional health programs. is a Harrisonburg-based healthcare staffing business owned by two alumni. 

Traditionally, funds from CT Assist’s program have supported overseas clinical experiences [read about 2018 and 2019]. As that priority is limited by the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s award supplements the research project and clinical shadowing experiences of awardee Erin Clayton.

Teacher education majors at ��ݮ���� who are preparing for careers teaching in the STEM fields will soon have access to new scholarship funds. EMU is the recipient of a five-year grant from the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, a program funded by the National Science Foundation.

The scholarships, worth $10,000 each year, are available to junior and senior education majors who are earning secondary teaching certifications in biology, chemistry, computer science, or math. 

By the conclusion of the grant, 24 new STEM teachers will be placed in high-need school districts. The grant also includes professional support and development for participants while they are studying at EMU and once the EMU graduates are working in their new positions.

“This grant is unique in that it helps us create a pipeline to recruit and mentor STEM majors towards considering a teaching career, then helps to prepare them to teach in high-needs schools with a unique skillset of content knowledge and restorative justice practices,” said professor of teacher education Paul Yoder, the grant’s principal investigator and director of EMU’s Graduate Teacher Education program. “Once they are hired, we also will support them, all of which we hope leads towards retention of high-quality STEM teachers in our schools.”

The grant team also includes three STEM professors:  Kristopher Schmidt, professor of biology and director of the MS in Biomedicine program ; Daniel Showalter, professor of mathematics; and Laurie Yoder, professor of chemistry. The faculty members will serve as mentors and advisors to pre-service teachers, and coordinate with lead teachers in their respective fields at Harrisonburg City Public Schools (HCPS).

“In a time of critical need for more STEM teachers in K-12 settings, EMU is committed not just to supplying these teachers, but to rooting their education in restorative justice practices,” said Showalter. “This grant allows for an intentional focus on developing teachers who can respond wisely and gracefully in classrooms where growing numbers of students have experienced trauma.”

HCPS, which has a linguistically and culturally diverse student demographic with 66 percent of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, is EMU’s local partner in the grant. 

The program “would be a tremendous asset, resource, and shared effort for our district in helping to meet the needs of students and teachers,” wrote Superintendent Michael Richards.��

The district will support the grant through mentoring of practicum students, providing STEM educators as guest speakers at EMU events, developing internship opportunities, and creating pathways for EMU students to participate in HCPS STEM outreach activities, according to Richards.

The project strengthens and enhances existing partnerships between EMU and HCPS, Yoder said, including current practicum and student-teaching experiences. HCPS also partners with EMU to provide restorative justice in education (RJE) professional development opportunities, including a cohort-based graduate certificate program for HCPS teachers and staff.

“Teachers who are prepared to implement restorative justice in diverse school settings can help to improve learning outcomes and strengthen school-wide RJE efforts,” Yoder said. 

Yoder says the grant’s multi-year commitment will also provide data for a study on the impact of implementation of RJE-infused curriculum among pre-service and in-service STEM teachers in high-need schools. The EMU professors will look at the ways in which “RJE-infused curriculum helps pre-service and early-career STEM teachers feel prepared to meet the challenges associated with teaching in culturally and linguistically diverse school settings.”

Five education students from ��ݮ���� (EMU) were chosen to attend the 2021 Teachers of Promise Institute, which was held virtually on March 20. The annual event provides professional development, mentor discussions, and networking opportunities for 100 of the best and brightest pre-service teachers in Virginia.

EMU’s Teachers of Promise this year are:

• Sarah Ressler, elementary and special education, from Apple Creek, Ohio;
• Ruth Reimer-Berg, elementary education, from Salem, Ore.;
• Hannah Nichols, elementary education, from Rockingham, Va.;
• Megan Breidigan, secondary English education, from Douglassville, Pa.;
• Rachel Sauder, secondary mathematics education, Lyndhurst, Va.

The honorees “exemplify strong potential for impacting students in the classroom, high academic standing, commitment to the teaching profession, and embody EMU’s teacher education mission to ‘teach boldly in a changing world through an ethic of care and critical reflection,’” said program director and professor of education Cathy Smeltzer Erb. “This is a delightful group of honorees. I am confident that these future teachers will positively influence the lives of each student in their classrooms as they create and advocate for just and equitable learning environments.”

Professor Barbara Wheatley is the students’ teacher education faculty advisor. 

EMU’s education program values experiential learning, offering early practicum experiences that help candidates determine their professional path. Teacher candidates choose from 15 different licensure programs.

The teacher education program is National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) accredited through the (CAEP).

Faculty, staff and fellow students nominated the recipients, who were cited for their “significant and verifiable impact” on the university and on student life; for their contributions to developing the institution’s positive image; for substantial contributions to the Harrisonburg/Rockingham County area and beyond; for their high academic and social standing; and their embodiment of EMU’s shared values of Christian discipleship, community, service and peacebuilding.

The cords are blue and gold. Blue represents strength of conviction that one person can help to create a better institution or community. Gold represents the love of spirit and yearning toward creating a better university environment or community.

The 2021 Cords of Distinction recipients are:

Akiel Baker, a social work major from Bowie, Maryland;

Naomi Davis, a peacebuilding and development major with minors in global studies and religious and intercultural studies, from Richmond, Virginia;

Maya Dula, a biology (pre-med) major, from Lancaster City, Pennsylvania;

Brandon Higgins, a psychology major from Culpeper, Virginia;

Amanda Jasper, a social work major with a minor in psychology from Madison, Virginia;

Anisa Leonard, a social work major with minors in Honors, sociology and global development, from Nairobi, Kenya, and Harrisonburg, Virginia;

Mariana Martinez-Hernandez, a peacebuilding major from Tegucigalpa, Honduras;

Ambrose Monahan, a double major in art and Bible, religion and theology with an Honors minor, from Midlothian, Virginia;

Hannah Nichols, a liberal arts and elementary education major with a minor in business administration, from Centerville, Ohio, and Fredericksburg, Virginia;

Jakiran Richardson, a biology major with a psychology minor, from Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Nominees include: Justice Allen, Ethan Beiler, Silas Clymer, Megan Breidigan, Hailey Edmonds, Lauren Hartzler, Tiffany Heishman, Aaron Horst, Elizabeth Miller, Adam Peachey, Emma Pirrung, Addison Shenk, Matthew Troyer, Summer Williams, Austin Yoder.

“Shrek the Musical!” makes a triumphant comeback as ��ݮ����’s (EMU) first in-person arts event open to the public since the beginning of the pandemic. 

Four outdoor, socially distanced performances will be held on two consecutive weekends. The Saturday performances, April 10 and April 17, are open to faculty, staff, students and parents.

The Friday performances for the general public on April 9 and 16 are sold out.

All performances begin at 7:30 p.m. on Thomas Plaza.

Visit /box-office/ to make your free reservation. All audience members are required to wear masks and to physically distance while congregated on EMU grounds. Additional Covid safety measures are also in place and will be communicated to our patrons upon arrival. Please bring a lawn chair or blanket for your own outdoor seating.

“As you watch our zany, high energy, and off-beat production, have fun. Also, ask yourself how you can more fully embrace your neighbor,” said Professor Justin Poole, director of the musical.

The production, which includes a large cast of EMU students from across all majors and some community members as well, is based on the popular DreamWorks animated films.

“Shrek the Musical!” was written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire, with music by Tony Award winner Jeanine Tesori. The Broadway show received eight Tony nominations, including Best Musical. EMU Theater had originally staged the show last year, until COVID-19 wreaked havoc on live performances everywhere.��

Poole brought back some of the original cast, added a few newcomers, and re-choreographed the show as a COVID-safe, outdoor extravaganza. 

“It is the largest stationary stage area I have ever worked on, which has been a blast as a director,” he said. “The actors have so much ground to cover and they do it with huge, bombastic movements that make the whole piece feel like a living cartoon. It’s so much fun!”

Junior Joe Seitz returns to the show as the iconic wisecracker “Donkey.” 

“After a year with no theater, I think both the cast and the community are thoroughly excited to finally be back at it,” Seitz said. “Every person involved with this show is bringing so much energy and I think this is one of the most fun shows we’ve put on in years.”

Sarah Regan ’18 has had her hands full, as she’s both running the box office and acting in the show. Regan is the assistant director of auxiliary services when she’s not playing “Thelonius” and “Mama Elf.” In preparation for a public health-conscious show, Regan used photos and measurements of the front lawn to create a seating layout that will safely accommodate 200 people. 

“Shrek has been an incredible source of life for me in the past year, as I believe it has been for so many of our cast and crew,” Regan said. “We’re hoping that this show can be a gift to the community after a long hard year full of disappointments.”

For live theater aficionados who were not fast enough to the box office to see this spring’s production, Poole says the theater department has already laid plans for next season: “We are hitting the ground running with an exciting, action-packed theater season featuring two original shows and EMU’s first fully staged opera!”

Thanks to our sponsor:

This spring, EMU Athletics has been celebrating alumni-athletes working in the health care professions.

“It has been so exciting to reconnect with former Royals  for this special social media campaign highlighting the outstanding work being done in the health care field,” said Director of Athletics Dave King. “And it has been very rewarding to hear the ways in which athletics prepared and shaped them for their current work.  I hope you are as inspired as I was in reading their responses.”

To view the entire series, visit the .

To join the series, send us a note in the comment box below and we’ll get in touch with you!

Below are a few of the more than 25 alumni-athletes. Scroll down to view a complete list (as of 3/24/2021). Thanks to James DeBoer, director of athletics communication for his work on this project.

Martin Pou ’20, Volleyball

Now: Assistant to the practice manager, Shenandoah Valley Gastroenterology

Lesson: Clear and quick communication is crucial both on the court and in the medical field.

Julie Kratz McElwee ’85, BNS ’86, Field Hockey

Now: Emergency department chair, Lewis Gale Hospital Montgomery, Christiansburg, Va.

Lesson: The importance of relationships and knowing who is behind you, to give support, when things are not going well.

Tyler Denlinger ’18, Cross Country/ Track & Field

Now: Vaccines process development engineer, Merck Pharmaceutical, Elkton, Va.

Lesson: I have found the lesson of “enjoy what you do” to hold a lasting effect from my time at EMU. There are few things in my life I hold more dearly than my experience with the EMU track and field squad. I love running and T&F, and that love enabled my teammates and I to collectively accomplish a lot of really difficult tasks…I found that my love of the sport and my desire to achieve goals  were useful in propelling me to accomplish unpleasant tasks such as lifting after a hard workout. This directly applies to my work setting—while I do not love every  aspect of my job, my passion for the end goal makes the unpleasant aspects more bearable.

Rachel Sturm ’18, Soccer/Track & Field

Now: Registered nurse, UVA Medical ICU/Special Pathogen ICU, Charlottesville, Va.

Lesson: I learned that I needed to stop worrying about society’s standards of success and focus on what God’s successes were for me. At the time there was so much pressure on my shoulders to be a successful athlete and a successful student. It’s hard to succeed in both, as one usually has to take over the other. In my case I had to choose my career to become a nurse. Yet, I never stopped giving it my all in academics and sports, which created a lot of frustration when I failed in my sport. Now I look back and realize, God gave me the talent to play college sports to introduce me to the people he wanted in my life. To give me the experiences I needed to grow into the woman and leader I am now. To let me learn failure and to strive from it. All these little things are God’s achievements for me.

Brooke Hensley ‘14, Softball

Now: Emergency department team coordinator, Sentara RMH, Harrisonburg, Va.

Lesson: The importance of playing together as a team to be successful because you cannot do it all on your own. Throughout my career, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been vital to work as a team in providing patient care in order to promote positive outcomes and save lives.

Laura Rosenberger ‘03, Track & Field

Now: Surgeon, associate professor of surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Chapel Hill, N.C.

Lesson: EMU Athletics taught me how to be resilient during adversity and perseverance. Thankful for dedicated coaches and supportive teammates. Feels so pertinent to life right now in a pandemic!

Jess Rheinheimer Bishop ‘16, Basketball

Now: Registered Nurse, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pa.

Lesson: I learned many lessons from the basketball court but one that sticks out from Coach Griff is that you are the driver to your own success –  no one else can determine how successful you are going to be in life or in sports. You get out what you put in.

Katie Lehman Maust ‘09, Soccer

Now: Emergency department RN, Sentara RMH / Paramedic and training lieutenant, Harrisonburg Rescue Squad, Harrisonburg, Va.

Lesson: As an athlete, I was so thankful to be surrounded by people who were courageous, tenacious, hardworking, and supportive. Being part of a healthcare team has a lot of similarities to being on an athletics team and I aspire to carry those traits of great team members into my roles in the healthcare system.

Thanks to ALL of our Royals athletes working to make this world a safer place!

From left: Brent Yoder ’12, soccer, physical therapist and co-owner of Yoder Physical Therapy and Wellness in Sarasota, Fla.

Emily Augsburger ’18, field hockey, CCU Registered Nurse, Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pa.

Jackson Maust ’09, soccer, physical therapist at Augusta Health, working in outpatient therapy and in acute care in the hospital, including with COVID patients; also a captain and life member of Harrisonburg Rescue Squad (Jackson is married to Katie, featured above).

Jamey Groff ’98, volleyball, oncology pharmacist, Hahn Cancer Center, Sentara RMH, Harrisonburg, Va.

Jessica Blanks Jaindl ’13, field hockey, registered nurse at Sentara RMH, Harrisonburg, Va.

From left: Juni Schirch Sauder ’16, cross country/track and field, athletics testing coordinator, EMU.

Laura Rittenhouse ’20, soccer, registered nurse, cardiac care, UVa Hospital.

Laurie Serrell ’19, cross country/track and field, registered nurse with Spanish interpreters training, Sentara RMH.

Leah Lapp ’20, triathlon, associate chemist, Merck Pharmaceutical, Elkton, Va.; attending Liberty University School of Osteopathic Medicine, fall 2021.

Linda Cimini Boesch ’11, field hockey/track and field, critical care RN, St. Luke’s University Health System, Chalfont, Pa.

Lisa King Burkholder ’08, RN, Sentara RMH and instructor of nursing, EMU, Harrisonburg, Va.

Mariah Foltz ’17, softball, RN, Sentara RMH, Harrisonburg, Va.

Mariah Martin ’17, field hockey, labor and deliver nurse, Sentara RMH, Harrisonburg, Va.

Nolan Prock ’12, volleyball, veterinarian, Healthy Pets Veterinary Care, Boca Raton, Fla.

R.J. Ocampo ’19, volleyball, EMT with Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad, Virginia Beach, Va.

Rodney Eshleman ’88, soccer, ICU nurse, Augusta Health, Fishersville, Va.

Sylvia Mast ’19, soccer, ED technician, Sentara RMH and EMT, Harrisonburg Rescue Squad, Harrisonburg, Va.

There, Chewie enjoyed an hour of pats and smiles while helping to calm anxieties, lower blood pressure and offer furry distraction to EMU students during one of several spring semester “Pause Days.”

The idea for the event hatched from the creatively fertile brain of Tyler Goss, assistant director of student programs. EMU had hosted therapy dogs and foster kittens before, but this was the first opportunity that faculty, staff and students were invited to bring their canine companions to share the love.

Chewie’s owner is 12-year-old Phoenix, daughter of Professor Tim Seidel. “She sold her artwork to earn enough money to pay the adoption fee from Anicira,” Tim said, in response to an email from EMU News. “Chewie loves walks, people, and squirrels, and he recently learned to roll over.”

Read on to enjoy lots of pooch photos (yes, this is the longest photo essay in the history of EMU News photo essays, with thanks to our own Rachel Holderman). And we must also tell you that in the History of All Emails at EMU, queries to folks about their pooches, on a Friday afternoon, registered the Fastest-Ever Email Response Time.

Tucker, best buddy of head soccer coach Roger Mast, checks out some snacks while visiting with students.

Roger says: “Tucker is 11 years old. My son, Grayson, needed a dog when he was in middle school and Tucker has been my responsibility ever since. Tucker’s favorite activities are sitting on my lap and socializing with anyone willing to give him attention.”

Student Emma Hochstetler brought two of her three dogs, Spencer (foreground) and Sophie (just to his left). “Spencer loved the attention of having everyone watch him and chase him, and Sophie loved being held and cuddled,” Emma said.

Spencer is an Eskidoodle (American Eskimo and poodle) rescue. Emma says he usually has long curly hair but just recently had a “shave.”

Here’s Sophie, a mini retriever mix, getting some love from EMU students.

Jenkins is one of two “professional” dogs to attend (well, OK, professionally trained…) He lives with Jon Styer, director of creative services at EMU, and Rhoda Miller, who works at The Collins Center. Jenkins is a trained facility dog and helps Rhoda with clients in her role as crisis response and forensic interview coordinator.

Jenkins is a pro at hanging out.

Thatcher is also a working dog. Shirley Ewald, administrative assistant for the School of Social Sciences and Professions, tells his story: Thatcher is 11 years old but we have only had him for a little over five years. We are his fourth owner and got him from the SPCA. He was well-trained when we got him and since he was so laidback and gentle with children and adults, my husband Phil decided he had potential to be a therapy dog. The two of them are certified by Therapy Dogs International (TDI).

“Thatcher really enjoyed the day with all of the petting, brushing and general attention,” Shirley said. “He was exhausted and slept the whole way home.” In pre-pandemic times, Thatcher and Phil have visited EMU and Bridgewater College for pre-exam/finals week de-stress activities; spent time with special needs students at an elementary summer school program; and walked the halls of Sentara RMH to visit with patients and hospital staff. Shirley, Phil and Thatcher were excited to visit EMU since it had been so long since such activities were part of their regular routine.

Henri, named after the Dutch Catholic theologian and and writer Henri Nouwen, is an experienced visitor to campus. [Henri responds to the American or the European pronunciation of his name, we are told.] He is “a fixture” on the second floor of Weaver House in Amy Knorr’s office at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. Faculty, staff and students will often pop by for a little “Henri love.”

Amy says: Henri is especially aware of the emotions of others. If someone arrives who is upset, he will quietly sit under their chair in a show of support. Henri loves sticks, dancing with his momma, and pretty much every human and most dogs he meets. 

Henri will be joined by “a little sister, Annie, another Golden,” next month, so look for the duo around campus in the future.

Lily, an eight-year-old Lab/border collie mix who lives with Christina Harman, an accounting analyst in the business office. “Lilly loves playing keep-away with sticks and frisbees, and herding her four pet chickens,” Christina says. “She has a great fondness for water, whether in streams, ponds, or puddles. Lily enjoys tormenting her two cat brothers and playing gently with her human cousins. Is that enough? I think she’s pretty great, so I could keep going.”

Steve E Donuts, the golden retriever, arrived with Professor Tara Kishbaugh, dean of the College of School of Sciences, Engineering, Art and Nursing. Steve E [no period, please, after the initial] is known to “low-level whine” when he wants to be petted, so his Paws Day participation, with lots of humans around to indulge him, was a very big deal. Tara heard very little whining the entire time of his visit.

A few more biographical notes in case you’re interested: Steve E was named by Fionn, Tara’s younger son. “Steve comes from Minecraft and donuts are Fionn’s favorite treat,” Tara says. “We never knew what the E stood for, but Fionn has insisted it is Steve E, not Stevie. At one point, he said E was for electric and that his full name was Steve E Red Wing Donuts because then it was all of his favorite things!” 

Steve E is the “omega animal” in the Kishbaugh house, and is kept in line (and groomed) by the cats Crivens and Kit Kat*. “He is good at being a chicken herder but panics when he gets too close,” Tara says.

*Though we love cats, these are somewhat tangential to this story so their names will not be bolded (no offense intended).

Sopapilla, “Soso” for short, is a 1-plus-year-old beagle mix owned by alumna Alicia Horst. She was accompanied on her visit by Laura Lehman, director of digital marketing.

Hard to leave this photo out.

Patches came with nursing instructor Wendy Carr. She was adopted from Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA on Dec. 26, 2015. The 11-year-old loves any kind of food and has been survived binges of Ghirardelli chocolates and Halloween candy, both of which the Carr family now “guard carefully” after those scary events!

Patches is a 65-pound lapdog who also likes treats like apples, puréed pumpkin, and green beans. 

“Bailey is an 11-year old Labradoodle who still acts more like a puppy since she lives with her dog mom and our family,” says Campus Pastor Brian Martin Burkholder. “She loves ear rubs and tries to get one by rubbing against someone’s legs, which she did frequently with the visiting students.”

Bailey’s favorite activities in order of preference:

1. Being with people
2. Walks through the neighborhood
3. Chasing tennis balls
4. Getting an ice cube.”

As we enter The Year of the Ox, ��ݮ����’s newest club – the Asian Pacific Islander Student Association, or APISA – invited the campus community to a Lunar New Year celebration.

Philia Lienardy, a member of the club’s leadership team, says that some of the memorable traditions of the holiday, as celebrated by her family to honor their Chinese heritage, include mooncake, giving of red envelopes, the lion dance, shared family cooking and meals, fireworks and oranges. The club’s inaugural campus-wide event was Sunday afternoon.

The club’s leadership team credits Richard Vo with the initial idea of a club for students who identify as Asian Pacific Islanders that “brings everyone together to share, celebrate and learn about different ethnicities and cultures.” Vo tried for some years to “get the club off the ground,” and his efforts have been continued by Avery Trinh and David Chun, co-presidents; Cindi Boyer, vice president; Philia Lienardy, marketing and publisher and Katelyn Dean, secretary and treasurer.

According to this group, APISA is “the first student association to represent the Asian and Pacific Islander student body.” [EMU students have sponsored organizations celebrating Asian heritage in the past, but not with such an expansive inclusion of cultures.]

Students who identify as Asian and Pacific Islander represent a wide range of cultures and the club recognizes that diversity, aiming for inclusivity and community in its structure and activities. “We want to celebrate those cultures that are commonly identified as Asian but still part of the community,” the group said.

Although the pandemic has slowed momentum, the club has steadily grown since its first meeting in February 2020 at J-Petal (the Asian fusion restaurant in Harrisonburg was the perfect site for a first meeting of this intra-cultural association!). An October 2020 virtual meeting kicked things off and the club has enjoyed a few game nights while also designing a t-shirt and preparing for the new year’s event.

Among other goals, the club will advocate for the APISA community and offer a safe space for open conversations about issues and current events. That space is important now, the leadership team says, as racism against Asians and Asian-Americans is in the United States. 

Club leaders agree of the importance of Asian students on campus knowing “they are not alone,” they said. “

Education, advocacy, representation and proactivity are guiding future plans. The club is exploring a future panel and discussion about how the global pandemic and racial attacks have affected  Asian-owned businesses and business communities. More “light-hearted” activities are also in the works, such as a virtual cooking class “to show off the simple dishes we’ve grown up with” as viewers follow along, Trinh said.

Connect with APISA

• All are welcome to follow the club’s Instagram: Apisa.emu
• For info about club activities or to purchase a t-shirt, reply below in the comment box and we’ll connect you to club leaders.
• Support APISA during LovEMU Day April 7, 2021.