Herm was missing. The crowd of faculty, staff, students, and alumni at Yoder Arena for Wednesday morning’s LovEMU Pep Rally called out his name. They searched high and low. But he was nowhere to be found.

Suddenly, the roar of a motorcycle engine filled the gymnasium. Moments later, everyone’s favorite friendly blue lion glided onto the hardwood on a sleek new e-bike.

The e-bike, announced Nicole Litwiller ’19, MA ’20 (conflict transformation), LovEMU organizer and pep rally emcee, was a new addition to the Sadie Hartzler Library, thanks to a generous donation from an EMU alum, the diligent work of senior Joshua Stucky, and a partnership between library staff and the Shenandoah Bicycle Company. 

Starting Monday, students can check out the bike from the library at any time and “easily bike all over campus and Harrisonburg,” she said.

Herm’s dramatic entrance was just one of many memorable moments that energized the crowd with the LovEMU Giving Day spirit. Wednesday’s pep rally had it all: a current student exclaiming her love for EMU, a future student officially declaring EMU as his school for next year, and performances by the previous night’s Lip-Sync Battle champions. 

“It’s sure to be the best Lip-Sync Battle this side of the Shenandoah,” promised fellow pep rally organizer and emcee Tyler Goss, director for student engagement and leadership development.

Scroll down to the bottom of this article to watch a video recording of the pep rally.

Students snagged free LovEMU shirts shot into the crowd by the BaZOOKa T-shirt cannon.

Throughout the event, engineering lab tech Henry Bowser and engineering student Max Fritts fired shirts into the stands using the BaZOOKa T-shirt cannon. The launcher, which debuted at last year’s pep rally, was funded by 2019 alumni Ben, an engineering graduate, and Kayla Zook.

LovEMU Giving Day is an opportunity to pause and celebrate all the incredible things about EMU, which include “our amazing academic programs, our incredible athletic teams, our impactful clubs and orgs, and our supportive community as a whole,” Litwiller said. “Part of how we can express that celebration is through generosity.”

Funds from LovEMU Giving Day benefit current and future students, faculty, and staff by making education more affordable and providing them with the facilities and resources they need to access an outstanding education. Since the first LovEMU Giving Day in 2017, the university has raised more than $2 million on annual giving days. 

Thanks to the generosity of supporters, this year’s LovEMU Giving Day was the best one yet, with over $402,000 raised, according to the .

The pep rally began with the premiere of the official LovEMU Giving Day video. It celebrates the past nine giving days and sets sights on the future, featuring voiceovers from Litwiller and Marketing and Communications Project Manager Aric Berg, along with cameos from faculty, staff, students, athletes, and alumni. The video was produced by Macson McGuigan ’17.

Watch the official hype video below!

Sophomore Ari Smart speaks about finding her fit at EMU (left) and future student Brady Crisp (right) rings the cowbell.

Ari Smart, a sophomore majoring in art education, shared her experiences at EMU. The Stafford, Virginia, native, who serves as a Royal Ambassador and plays on the field hockey and lacrosse teams, spoke about finding her place in a community that made her feel seen, supported, and valued. “This is a place that pushes me to grow,” she said. 

Through classes that challenge her to think differently, clubs that let her explore new interests, and experiences that prepare her for the future, she has gained confidence, independence, and the ability to take initiative.

“This university has given me more than an education; it has given me a sense of belonging, a community that feels like family, and experiences I will carry with me for the rest of my life,” she said.

“It has helped me grow into a stronger, more confident version of myself, and for that, I am incredibly grateful.”

The pep rally crowd also welcomed a future Royal to the EMU family. Brady Crisp, a senior from Fluvanna County High School who will join the men’s soccer team this fall, took part in the cherished tradition of ringing the cowbell to celebrate his commitment. 

Each time a prospective student who was in attendance on LovEMU Giving Day paid their tuition deposit—as Crisp did—either on the day or beforehand, the university unlocked an additional $1,000 in scholarship funds. The Future Royal Challenge, funded by two graduates from the Class of 1958, raised $19,000 in scholarships on Wednesday.

The women’s volleyball (left) and lacrosse teams (right) perform lip-sync routines at the LovEMU Pep Rally on Wednesday.

The third annual LovEMU Pep Rally showcased performances by the top three athletic teams from the previous night’s annual Lip-Sync Battle, hosted by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The women’s basketball and lacrosse teams competed for second place, with the basketball team prevailing after a crowd vote. The women’s volleyball team, this year’s champions, combined lip-syncing with a carefully choreographed routine to a medley of songs from High School Musical.

Senior Admissions Counselor Lexi Fotis-Brown MA ’25 (organizational leadership) led this portion of the pep rally, hyping up the teams and the crowd. “Absolutely electric,” she told the teams. “Just remember, you’re all winners in my heart.”

Earlier in the event, emcees Litwiller and Goss exchanged some lighthearted banter. 

Goss said, “Wait, so you’re telling me we do all this to make the student experience at EMU the best it can be? What are you going to tell me next? That the generosity of donors helps fund student scholarships, improve campus facilities, and even keeps the lights on?”

“I mean, yeah, you said it,” Litwiller replied.

Watch a recording of the pep rally below!

Hensley had one of the best women’s basketball careers in ODAC history. A four-year standout for EMU, she played in Harrisonburg from 1988-92. During that time, she was named a Kodak All-American Honorable Mention (1992) and a Kodak Regional All-American (1992). At the time of her graduation, she was the ODAC’s all-time leading scorer and would hold that honor for six years. She currently sits fourth all-time in the ODAC for total points with 2,163. That number is also tops in the EMU record book, along with being the Royals’ all-time leader in scoring average at 22.5 points per game. She led all of Division III in scoring when she averaged 29.8 points per game during the 1992 season.

She was a two-time All-ODAC First Team member and a two-time All-ODAC Second Teamer. She was also named to the VaSID All-State First Team in 1992. Hensley had her jersey retired in 1992, becoming the first women’s basketball player to have that honor. She was also inducted into the EMU Hall of Honor in 1992.

After leaving EMU, she earned her master’s degree from James Madison University. She was an administrator in Shenandoah County for 15 years, including serving as the principal at Central High School from 2012-19. During that time, she was named the 2016 Virginia Secondary Principal of the Year and Central was named a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School. In 2019, Hensley was named the principal at Harrisonburg High School. 

Hensley, along with EMU’s three other ODAC Hall of Fame inductees, will be celebrated on Saturday, Feb. 7, at the men’s basketball game against Roanoke inside Yoder Arena. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.ĚýĚý

A pioneering coach, co-athletic director, and professor at EMU in the 1960s and ’70s—and the youngest daughter of John R. Mumaw, EMU’s fourth president from 1948-65—Miriam “Mim” Mumaw ’61, of Arlington, Virginia, passed away on Dec. 5, 2025.

During her tenure at EMU (then known as Eastern Mennonite College or EMC), Mumaw coached the school’s first women’s basketball (1966-75), women’s volleyball (1968-79), and field hockey (1970) teams. She achieved the most success with the volleyball team, winning a state championship over James Madison University in 1973 and posting a perfect 21-0 season in 1976. Her overall record with the squad stands at 151-99. Mumaw was inducted into the in 2002. Only three other coaches share that distinction.

Those who were fortunate enough to cross paths with Mumaw, either on EMU’s campus or at Washington Community Fellowship (WCF), describe her as a people person who greeted everyone she met with warmth. They speak highly of her meticulous attention to detail, which shone brightly in her volunteer service to WCF and in her career at Gammon & Grange Law Offices, where she worked for more than 40 years. They also remember her for her love of baseball, particularly the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals, and her generosity in sharing her season tickets with others.

Mumaw was a beloved mentor, leader, and friend, known by many for her deep commitment to EMU and her congregation.

“She was a titan, a fierce advocate for women in athletics and for EMU in general,” said Carrie S Bert, the first woman to serve as EMU athletics director.

Dave King ’76, EMU’s athletics director for 17 years before Bert, agreed. 

“Mim advocated for the expansion of women’s sports at a time when that wasn’t supported by many in the institution, including her father who had been president of the college,” said King. 

During one of her visits to the EMU Athletics Suite, Bert recalled, Mumaw had shared with her how her father, likely reflecting the feelings of the wider church, had opposed the growth in women’s physical activities at EMU. “Mim just laughed and said, ‘Well, that wasn’t going to stop me … we just had to agree not to talk about it,’” shared Bert. 

“Mim was always so encouraging of me, both in words of affirmation and in the wonderful way she would squeeze my hand while we chatted,” Bert said. “I could feel her positivity and enduring support in those moments.”

King told the that he first met Mumaw when he arrived as a student in 1972, but “had no idea of the trailblazer she was and the impact she had on women’s sports” until he returned as director of athletics in 2005. “Besides coaching women’s sports and teaching PE classes, her involvement with the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) exposed EMC athletics to the broader collegiate athletic community and elevated the EMC sports programs,” King said.

Growing up in a glass bowl

Mumaw was born on Jan. 14, 1938, in Harrisonburg, the youngest of five daughters, to John R. and Esther Mosemann Mumaw. She was 10 years old when her father, a professor and ordained minister, took office as president, succeeding John L. Stauffer. He would serve in that role for the next 17 years.

“That was an important part of her growing up,” said Byron Peachey, a nephew of Mumaw and longtime EMU staff member. “She lived down the road on College Avenue and EMC was an even smaller community than it is now. Everybody knew everybody else’s business. And so for her and her four older sisters, there was a spotlight on them and a set of higher expectations for what they did and how they conducted themselves.”

Mumaw graduated from EMU in 1961 with a degree in business education. She then taught business education classes at Iowa Mennonite School for four years.

“That would’ve been an opportunity for her to spread her wings, outside of this glass bowl at EMU where everybody knew her,” Peachey said.

In 1964, while Mumaw was in Iowa, her mother died “very suddenly,” Peachey said. She returned to Harrisonburg to care for her father (in 1965, he married Evelyn King, former dean of women for EMU, and resigned as president).

Hired by EMU’s fifth president (1965-80) Myron S. Augsburger, Mumaw coached the school’s first women’s intercollegiate athletic teams, including women’s basketball, volleyball, and field hockey. 

“That was groundbreaking for EMC,” Peachey said. “She was a real innovator. ‘Trailblazer’ is an overused word, but she truly was one.”

In 1968, after completing her master’s degree at the University of Iowa, Mumaw began teaching accounting and physical education courses at EMU. She also served as co-athletic director and co-chair of the physical education department.

Sandy Brownscombe, coach of EMU women’s basketball (1978-89), field hockey (1978-93), and men’s volleyball (1991-98) also in the Hall of Honor, said that Mumaw held significant roles at the state, regional, and national levels within the AIAW, which governed women’s college athletics before the NCAA took over in the 1980s.

“Mim was a foundational figure for women’s athletics in Virginia through the AIAW,” Brownscombe said. “She started volleyball in the state of Virginia.”

A life of balance

Brownscombe was finishing her master’s degree coursework at Washington State University in 1978 when she was hired to teach physical education classes and coach the field hockey and women’s basketball teams at EMU. Mumaw interviewed her for the job, and was tasked with finding a place for her to live.

“There weren’t any apartments available,” said Brownscombe, “and so that’s how I ended up sharing her house with her that first year I was here.”

“That was, in my opinion, probably the best thing that ever happened to me,” she added, “because we spent many nights talking with each other, and she would explain to me what it meant to be a Mennonite female athlete. At that point, I was the first non-Mennonite full-time faculty member at EMU, so it really was my introduction to Mennonites and to EMC, and she shared that whole faith experience with me. She was like a big sister to me.”

Less than a full year later, in 1979, Mumaw left for a sabbatical year in D.C. at The Fellowship Foundation. It led to her permanent move to the area.

“She felt like she had taken EMU athletics to the next stage,” Brownscombe said.

“EMU women’s sports experienced much success in the 1980s, which I believe was a direct result of Mim’s commitment to developing and expanding sports activities for women,” said King.

Mumaw was a founding member of , a Christ-centered faith community started by President Emeritus Augsburger (its first pastor) and his wife, Esther, in 1981 and affiliated with Mennonite Church USA. Mumaw was an active member of WCF for 43 years and served in many roles, including as presiding deacon, elder, and on the Finance, Human Resources, and Building committees.

“Any time students from WCF were attending EMU, Mim always made sure I knew about it,” said Tim Swartzendruber, senior regional advancement director for EMU. “She was an admissions ambassador for us, no question.”

In 1982, Mumaw began a long career at Gammon & Grange Law Offices in Tyson’s Corner, where she served as accountant, office manager, and assistant to senior partner. She worked at the firm for more than 40 years.

She often returned to EMU and continued to love and support the university. She served on the EMU Board of Trustees from 1988-96.

“When I think of Mim, I think of balance,” Brownscombe said. “Her whole life was balanced. She was great as a coach, administrator, teacher, and yet she was so involved in the church, in leadership there, and in her care for people. She was one of those well-rounded people who had it all together.”

“She was always positive, always optimistic,” shared Peachey. “She wanted sports to be fun for young women and for it to be a team experience. I think that was an important value she cultivated, that student-athletes experience team success rather than individual excellence.”

Clockwise from front center: Miriam “Mim” Mumaw ’61, Liz Chase Driver ’86, David Driver ’85, former Orioles player Larry Sheets ’83, and Stephanie Rheinheimer ’13 attend an Orioles baseball game in August 2022. Sheets told writer David Driver for the Augusta Free Press: “Mim was, first and foremost, a wonderful Christian woman, a huge fan of EMU, and a huge supporter of my career and then my son’s (Gavin Sheets’) career.” (Photo courtesy of David Driver/AFP)

A connector of people

A devoted fan of the Orioles and Nationals, Mumaw was known to invite family, friends, and anyone else within her orbit to baseball games. While there, she recorded the action with a pencil and paper scorecard. “It was in her DNA to keep track of details,” Peachey said.

As a student, David Driver ’85, former Weather Vane sports editor, narrowly missed the window when Mumaw was on campus. But he and his family became acquainted with her as longtime members of WCF beginning in the late 1980s.

“She was never one to talk about the role she played as a pioneer for women’s athletics at EMU, but her love of sports was contagious,” said Driver. “I’m happy to say she made WCF a church with a lot of baseball fans.”

“I know that Carrie Bert benefited greatly from having Mim as a mentor,” Driver added. “Without Mim, there may not have been a Carrie as the first woman to serve as EMU athletics director.”

Long after leaving EMU, Mumaw continued to invest in its mission and its students. According to Swartzendruber, Mumaw included EMU in her estate plans, directing support to two funds established by her parents: the Esther Mosemann Mumaw Memorial Endowed Scholarship, which benefits upperclasswomen of any major, and the John R. Mumaw Endowed Scholarship, which benefits teacher education students.

In 2018, Mumaw coordinated a fundraising effort among past and present members of WCF to increase the ongoing student impact of the Myron S. and Esther K. Augsburger Endowed Scholarship for Urban Ministry. The scholarship, valued at more than $400,000, benefits students at Eastern Mennonite Seminary who plan to serve in an urban setting. 

“Mim tried her hardest to attend every alumni gathering, homecoming, you name it,” Swartzendruber said. “She adored EMU. I always got the impression that EMU felt like home to her.”

In addition to her parents, Mumaw was preceded in death by her four sisters: Helen Peachey, Grace Mumaw, Catherine Mumaw, and Lois Martin. She is survived by six nieces and nephews, and many beloved great-nieces and great-nephews. 

“She was a single woman, never had children, never married, and so she created a community around her,” Peachey said. “She knew lots of people in lots of different walks of life. When she went to baseball games, people noticed how all the attendants knew her. She knew them all by name. She was always looking for ways to connect people together.”

Thanks to Simone Horst, special collections librarian, for providing the archival images of Mumaw included in this story.

As a Royal, Troyer was a three-time All-ODAC First Team honoree and a two-time all-Region middle hitter. During her sophomore year, EMU women’s volleyball won the ODAC championship, defeating Bridgewater in a thrilling five-set championship match. At the time of her graduation in 1993, Troyer held EMU career records for kills (969) and blocks (347) and now sits third all-time on both of those lists. As an EMU basketball forward, Troyer graduated fourth all-time in career rebounds with 648. She played first base on the 1990 softball team that won the ODAC championship, is fourth all-time in the Royals’ record book for stolen bases in a season (1990) with 24, and earned a spot on the All-ODAC Second Team in 1992.

Troyer said she “had a great experience playing sports” at EMU with teammates that were her closest friends and a coaching staff that was “so supportive.” Troyer retired in June 2023 after teaching special education for 30 years at Turner Ashby High School (Bridgewater) where she coached girls’ varsity volleyball for 24 years and junior varsity softball for four years. 

At EMU, Ygarza developed into a versatile post player who became the only woman in program history to capture All-ODAC First Team honors three times, earning the distinction in 2012, 2013 and 2014; she received VaSID All-State Second Team honors those same three years. During her sophomore and senior years, Ygarza made the D3hoops.com All-South Region Third Team and won the EMU Female Athlete of the Year award. She still remembers pulling out an exciting win against rival Bridgewater in “the kind of moment athletes dream of” to spark a 22-4 record for the 2011-2012 season—a season she shot 58 percent from the field, an EMU record that stands today. Ygarza also ranks seventh all-time in scoring with 1,215 points and eighth in career rebounds with 671.

Ygarza played the last two of her four seasons with her sister. Ygarza currently works as a nurse at UPMC Lititz hospital, close to where the two grew up. She also serves as an adjutant general officer for human resources in the Army Reserve with her unit in Waldorf, Maryland. She still plays basketball regularly and looks forward to introducing her four-year-old son, Jace, to the game.

The church announced the news in a July 1 press release. His first day on staff is July 29 and his first sermon will be on Aug. 11.

While at EMU, Griffin was honored four times as Old Dominion Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and led the Royals to three consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament. His 230 wins are the most in program history.

Griffin’s ministerial experience includes roles as full-time ministry staff at Philadelphia District Church of the Nazarene and as lead pastor at Grace Point Church in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. 

Read the full story in the Daily News-Record !

The Royals started the 2003-04 season 7-0 before dropping their first game of the year to Roanoke. They followed up with nine straight wins, including four games where they scored more than 80 points, and finished the regular season at 21-3, 17-3 in the ODAC. The Royals were the #1 seed heading into the ODAC tournament where they knocked off #8 Washington & Lee and #4 Guilford to reach the ODAC Championships before downing #3 Randolph-Macon 65-54 to win the conference title. The Royals edged Christopher Newport University 63-62 in a second-round home game to advance to the Sweet 16 before losing to Hardin-Simmons University in Wisconsin to end their magical run in the NCAA tournament. They ended the season ranked 30th in the nation by D3hoops.com.

“It’s amazing that we were able to make it to the Sweet 16 with such a small group. We believed in ourselves, and it was a great run. It was a fun run,” shared Amanda Renalds Webster ‘05, a starter on the 2003 team along with Shantee Bryant ‘06, Stephanie Mathews Lane Cooper ‘06, Carrie Grandstaff, class of ‘06, and Laura Ludholtz, class of ‘06. Guards Grandstaff and Ludholtz were named All-ODAC First Team, and coach Richard McElwee was named the VaSID Coach of the Year. McElwee passed away in December 2020, yet his legacy lives on.“Richard was the right man at the right time for the EMU women’s basketball team when hired in 2003. As good of a coach as Richard was, he was an even better person. He always looked for the good in people and was always willing to help out those who were down on their luck. His expertise as a coach and his kindness as a person surely lives on in the hundreds of players he coached over the span of his career,” said Kirby Dean, EMU men’s basketball coach from 2003-2018 and longtime friend of McElwee.

• Allison Shelly and Isaac Alderfer were recognized as Male and Female President’s Award honorees. The President’s Award is given to the male and female who has most exemplified the values of the athletic department during their career through academic achievement, athletic contribution, Christian commitment, leadership, campus involvement and service.
• Paris Hutchinson and Alijah Johnson were named Athletes of the Year, for most outstanding athletic achievement in current academic year.
• Bri Redfearn and Damon Morgan were named Freshman of the Year, for most outstanding athletic achievement.

Read more about each athlete below.

PRESIDENTS AWARD: Allison Shelly – Triathlon, Cross-Country and Track & Field

Shelly was awarded the 2021-22 President’s Award by EMU President Susan Schultz Huxman. Shelly is a political science major with minors in history, journalism, community organization and development as well as honors with a 4.0 GPA from Collinsville, Miss. In her time at EMU, she has been an integral part of three different athletic teams as well as an SGA Senator and Co-President, a contributor for the Weather Vane, Senior Class Business Manager, Convocation Committee, CODI, Academic Council, Conversation Partner in IEP, Community Advisor, Young Democrats Club and part of the Harrisonburg Living Wage Campaign.

After her graduation, her future plans include a service year in the Serving and Learning Together program of Mennonite Central Committee in Palestine.

For her nomination, she also had to submit a reflection on her time at EMU, to which she replied, “Simply put, there is no way I would have had the confidence and balance I’ve felt in academic or co-curriculars in the past four years without my experience with track & field, XC and triathlon. I wasn’t plannin on running until two weeks before coming to EMU. The decison to try to get in shape has allowed me to form friendships that will continue far past college, allowed me to learn to stay strong underpressure and given me opportunities to learn from a multitude of teammates and supporters within EMU athletics staff, whom I really admire.” 

On winning the award, Shelly said, “Who would I be without my teammates, my coaches, and the experiences I’ve had because of athletics? I am so grateful to have this award as a reminder of all that EMU athletics has been for me.”

PRESIDENTS AWARD: Isaac Alderfer – Cross-Country and Track & Field

Alderfer was awarded the 2021-22 President’s Award by EMU President Susan Schultz Huxman. He is an enviromental science major with minors in photography and honors from Broadway, VA who has maintained a 3.97 GPA. While at EMU, he has re-written the record books in both cross-country and track & field. On the EMU campus, he has been involved as a leader in the EMU Explore and Earthkeepers Club, a barista at Common Grounds, a Community Advisor, a Center for Sustainable Climate Solutions student ambassador, a member of the Honors Council and Creation Care Council, part of the Intercultural Committee, a biology tutor, a contributor to the Weather Vane and has done biology research. 

After graduation, his future plans include a service year in the Serving and Learning Together program of Mennonite Central Committee in Cambodia.

For his nomination, he also had to submit a reflection on his time at EMU, to which he replied, “Being part of an athletic team at EMU has helped me to develop skills directly associated with my athletic performance, in addition to skills such as time management, conflict mediation, communication and leadership. The relationships I have build over the past four years with teammates, coaches and other athletics staff are so valuable to me and I feel confident will result in lifelong friends and mentors. While it certainly has not always been easy to balance athletics with school work and a social life, it has, in so many ways, been rewarding and worth the sacrifices involved.” 

On winning the President’s Award, Alderfer said, “It’s an honor to receive an award that acknowledges the sacrifices and commitment from the many perspectives involved in being a student-athlete.  Big hugs to all my EMU comrades.”

Athlete of the Year: Paris Hutchinson, Volleyball

Hutchinson, a sophomore from Waynesboro, Va., was named the EMU Female Athlete of the Year after a season that saw her have one of the best seasons in EMU women’s volleyball history. She was named First-Team All-ODAC and Second-Team VaSID All-State. For her performance in EMU’s pair of wins over Roanoke and Lynchburg, she was named the ODAC Player of the Week. By the end of the season, she was second in the ODAC and 24th nationally with 4.00 K/S and sixth in the ODAC in total kills with 284. She also led the squad in points/set at 4.61, which was also tops in the ODAC and 22nd nationally.  

Hutchinson helped EMU to a record-setting season as the Royals finished with seven ODAC wins, their most conference wins in two decades.

“Receiving the ‘Female Athlete of the Year’ award is such a special honor,” Hutchinson said. “The group of finalists were all so deserving! As a sophomore, I still have much to learn and improve on. But I’m lucky to be a student-athlete at EMU. I am truly humbled by the faith that those around me, have within me. I would not have accomplished this without my amazing teammates, coaches, trainers, and all who have been by my side. Thank you for continuing to motivate me to be the best I can be each day.”

Male Athlete of the Year: Alijah Johnson, Track & Field

Much like Hutchinson, Johnson has one of the best years in EMU track & field history. The senior from Upper Marlboro, MD, qualified for 2022 NCAA Indoor National Track & Field Championships in the 200m. He was named USTFCCCA All-Region for the 60m and 200m. Durin the indoor season, he was named the ODAC Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week. For his performance at the ODAC Championships, he was named Second-Team All-ODAC in the 200m and Third-Team All ODAC in the 60m. His name is currently etched in the record books as he set the EMU record in the 200m and 60m. His successful season earned him First-Team VaSID in sprints. 

He has followed that up with a stellar outdoor season, setting the ODAC and EMU record in 200m at the Dennis Craddock Coaches Classic. He currently has the eighth fastest time in the nation in the 100m and the second fastest time in the nation in the 200m. This past weekend at the ODAC Championships, he picked up second place in the 100m and was the ODAC Champion in the 200m. If his current times hold, he will be making his second straight trip to the NCAA Outdoor National Championships at the end of May. 

“I was very happy when I heard my name called for the Athlete of the Year,” Johnson said. “I felt like my journey as a student athlete had come full circle since I had won Freshman Athlete of the Year as well. All of the hard work, ups and downs of being a student-athlete is paying off and I’m excited for what lies ahead.”

Freshman of the Year: Brii Redfearn, Basketball

Redfearn burst onto the scene in her first collegiate game against Apprentice. The Fairfax native dropped 19 points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds in the Royals 76-44 win. For that performance, she was named the ODAC WBB Player of the Week. She continued her strong season, finishing second on the team with 11.5 PPG and leading the Royals with 8.7 RPG, which was second in the ODAC and led all freshman.She was the only player in the ODAC with a 20 rebound game, and she actually did it twice, grabbing 20 against Wilson College and 22 against Bridgewater. She finished the season with seven double doubles. Along with her basketball success, she is also a member of the EMU outdoor track & field team. At the Dennis Craddock Coaches Classic, Redfearn was part of the 4×100 relay team that set the EMU record. 

“I am more than blessed with the award of Freshman Of The Year,” Redfearn said. “I’ve certainly had periods when I felt like life was winning and I was losing. I couldn’t have done it without my teammates or my coaches setting me up for success and always pushing me to be the best athlete I can be. I will always appreciate them and give them the credit they deserve. When I felt like I was failing them, they let me know that it’s all in my head, ‘it’s a mental thing’ but the secret to the game is learning how to lose. This is just the beginning of my journey as a collegiate athlete. – 23”

Freshman of the Year – Damon Morgan, Track & Field

Morgan started his success during EMU’s indoor track & field season. During the year, he had two top-five finishes during the season. He was part of the 4×400 relay team that finished fifth at the ODAC Championships. He raced to the EMU indoor record books, sitting top-10 all-time at EMU in 60m and top-five all-time at EMU in the 200m. He picked right back up where he left off in his first outdoor season, setting a PR in the 100m and 200m at the Washington and Lee Track Carnival. He continued to add his name to the record books, adding his name to the top-10 in both the 100m and 200m. He finished his outdoor season with a third place finish as part of the 4×100 relay team at the ODAC Outdoor Championships. 

“It’s an honor to have won Male Freshman of the Year, I’m just glad that my name was in the conversation,” Morgan said. “I was only able to walk this path because of Alijah Johnson. He has been a great mentor academically as well as athletically. He has left some big shoes for me to fill but I will NOT let him down.”

For some, Harrisonburg is simply the town they went to college in.

The Friendly City is home to James Madison University, Eastern Mennonite and Bridgewater College. It’s the place to escape home, be with friends and walk the stage with a diploma in hand, ready to leave for the next chapter.

For EMU’s senior forward Constance Komara, Harrisonburg is home. It’s where she grew up, played high school basketball and now leads a young EMU women’s basketball team on the court.

“Harrisonburg is home to me,” Komara said. “It’s where I’ve grown up, lived with my family and not played basketball — that played a role in my decision to come to EMU.”

Komara’s experience with basketball is simple — it’s about family. Throughout her life, she’s had her father coach her on the basics: stance, aggression and work ethic. But even with her coaches in high school, she said it felt like working with them as family.

Family is one reason that Komara stayed in the Friendly City for college. They could attend every game.

“Having a dad that never gave up on me and always helped me on the side with my confidence, my mental game too [was important],” Komara said. “I’m a family person. My family’s really tight-knit and they mean the world to me.”

As a freshman, Komara said that she was in a shell. She didn’t intermingle with her teammates often and was taking in what it was like to be a college athlete. Komara was away from the people she grew up with, even if they were still in the same town.

As a senior, it’s the opposite. She’s working with a team almost entirely affected by COVID-19, the separation it brought and the challenge of creating consistency and rhythm with a group that hasn’t played with each other before. So, Komara said she’s grown in her leadership.

“As I went through my sophomore and junior year, I got out of my little bubble,” Komara said. “I started talking to my teammates, like getting to know them on a personal level and I felt that really brought onto the court with chemistry.

That chemistry is what Komara said she’s worked on as well. She laughed when asked how much of her life is dedicated to working on her game and improving. Komara said that the Royals are her family and that she doesn’t really have “outside-of-basketball” friends.

The leadership and chemistry EMU’s standout has developed over the course of her career isn’t going unnoticed. Royals head coach Jenny Posey said Komara is the first player she’s trained with all four years and that her leadership now is better than it ever was.

“[Komara] has always risen to the challenge,” Posey said. “[Komara’s] always looking to do extra, always wanting to please.”

Komara said a couple of things contributed to how she’s grown as a leader. It’s partly due to the continuous practices and time spent together but after the 2020-21 season, spending so much time with each other has contributed to the on-court chemistry.

Komara said that, as a captain, she knows what shot her teammates like to take and what their best positions are. With her new leadership role, she’s learned how to get everyone best set up to put the players in the greatest position to produce positive results.

“There’s never a dull moment with [her teammates],” Komara said. “It’s something that’s going to be held for me for a lifetime.”

Komara and Posey both emphasized how this season feels like its a complete family. The senior said this season, she went onto the court having all of her teammates’ backs and talking to them on the court to work things out.

Posey said sometimes she doesn’t even need to call a timeout in the face of adversity. Komara’s got it handled.

“[A family atmosphere] is definitely something that’s grown in [Komara’s] years I think,” Komara said. “Her mom supplied a pregame meal for us, so it’s creating that environment where the girls feel like they have a support system.”

What might be the most interesting part of Komara’s growth as a leader are her post-EMU plans. Posey said that Komara wants to be a teacher and that seeing her work on the court now, putting in the time to help the underclassmen and make them realize that it’s OK to make mistakes is an important part of her future endeavors.

“I think [leadership] will be her best skill as a teacher,” Posey said. “The fact that she always has that heart where she seems to be looking out for other people. Trying to pull them along, trying to make them feel welcomed in whatever environment.”

Komara’s grown from a Blue Streak at Harrisonburg to a top scorer and leader for the Royals. For the forward, the most important lesson is family — that’s what she works with her teammates on and off the court and through that is how the chemistry grows by the day.

“We have seven freshmen on our team so she’s told them, ‘This is what our culture looks like,’” Posey said. “This is what’s expected of you and that they’ve fallen in line and fallen behind her is awesome.”

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.

This was the pinnacle for ˛ÝÝŽÉçÇř women’s basketball.

The Royals’ buzzer-beating shot sent them past Christopher Newport and onto the Division III Sweet 16 for the first time ever. They haven’t been back since either.

“I’ve never seen Richard McElwee like that,” former EMU men’s coach Kirby Dean said as he chuckled and started to recall a fond memory of his longtime friend.

Dean and McElwee, the former EMU women’s coach, began their stints at the school together in 2003, but knew each other prior to leading their respective programs and remained close even after McElwee stepped down from his post following the 2004-05 season.

McElwee died Saturday at the age of 59 on the heels of a long bout with cancer.

“He was pretty reserved in terms of the way he would carry himself on the bench,” Dean continued, “but for about 30 seconds, I think he had an out-of-body experience.”

Dean said in the waning seconds of the 2004 NCAA women’s tournament contest against Christopher Newport, Royals guard Laura Ludholtz, a Fort Defiance product, took the ball coast-to-coast to deliver the game-winner as time expired.

“Richard ran in place and he celebrated like I had never seen him celebrate when the ball went through the basket,” Dean said. “And they won that game to advance to the Sweet 16. It’s probably the best moment in the history of the women’s program.”

McElwee owns the school’s top all-time winning percentage (.745) to go along with his 41-14 record, which included an Old Dominion Athletic Conference tournament championship and the program’s first NCAA postseason win.

He only stayed on for two seasons, though, at his alma mater, EMU, where he was a three-year letter winner in baseball as an infielder and had a career batting average of .321 from 1981 through 1983 after transferring from Longwood.

McElwee played baseball for coach Roland Landes and one of his dormmates at EMU was Staunton native Larry Sheets, a basketball star there who also helped out one season with the baseball team, in 1982. Sheets eventually made it to Major League Baseball with the Baltimore Orioles in 1984.

Dean said the lone reason McElwee left the gig as EMU coach was to return home to his family, which was still living in Riner in southwest Virginia. He departed just as EMU athletic director Dave King was settling into his job.

Said King in a statement: “While I never had the opportunity to work with Coach McElwee, his impact on the women’s basketball program was evident as he took the team to their first NCAA appearance. Beyond the wins, his care for others left a positive impression on his players and colleagues. I’m glad he had the opportunity to coach at his alma mater. He was a true coach and will be missed by many. We offer our condolences to his family and friends.”

Aside from those two hoops seasons with the Royals, all of the other years McElwee spent in coaching were in the high school ranks.

Ahead of working at EMU, McElwee was the boys and girls basketball coach for two years at Auburn High School in Montgomery County. Before that, he had an 18-year tenure at Bath County High School, where he coached baseball, boys basketball and girls basketball. McElwee was a graduate of BCHS and was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2009.

He led BCHS to a Virginia High School League Group A baseball state semifinal appearance in 1990.

“If anyone was born to coach, he was that type of guy,” Mark Griffin, a Bridgewater College admissions officer and an alum of Bath County High School, said. Griffin is on the Hall of Fame committee at BCHS and knew McElwee well.

“McElwee picked more brains than anyone I could ever imagine,” Griffin said. “He was always – even if you played him in marbles or chess – he was going to beat you.”

Katie Hardbarger, a former James Madison women’s basketball player, played for McElwee at BCHS and said the coach always tried to set his players up for success even if it went against coaching norms.

“Richard was just a good coach,” Hardbarger said. “He recognized talent and had a good head for basketball. He studied it and I think a lot of coaches – and I played for many over the years – had preconceived notions about who the point guard should be and that all the tall kids should have their backs to the basket. But he didn’t think that way.

“He assembled each team based on what he thought they could do collectively and that was rare. I was 6-foot and playing at a tiny school in Appalachian, but he pushed me to shoot and I became a deadly 3-point shooter, which was rare for someone with my height. He was an out-of-the-box thinker.”

McElwee was a District Coach of the Year eight times, earning the honor on six occasions in baseball and once each in boys and girls basketball.

And past the undeniable triumphs on the diamond or on the court, McElwee’s mentorship of players and fellow coaches forged relationships that lasted up until his passing.

Dean said he spoke weekly on the phone with McElwee and had one of those conversations as recently as the last week in October. They first met decades ago when McElwee would bring his BCHS teams to the team camps at VMI where Dean was an assistant and ran the camps.

“But we spent those two years together at EMU and it was an interesting time,” Dean said. “Our programs were in such different spots. I inherited a program and we were trying to rebuild it. Richard had inherited a program that was on the rise, big time. So during those two years, I only won a couple of games and he was making a run to the Sweet 16.

“But he was just instrumental in talking me through those early years. I was a young guy and came in with the idea that I could turn it around overnight and immediately win. That was foolish. Even though I played in the ODAC, I didn’t realize how hard it was to build a winner in that league. I was miserable those two years, but he helped me through those times and talked me through them. He was the veteran coach, who had been on the mountaintop, experienced the peaks and valleys and helped me get through the valley because that was my first time going through it.”

Dean ultimately got the men’s team turned around and led them to an Elite Eight showing in 2010.

Hardbarger, one of two players to earn a Division I scholarship under McElwee’s watch along with Chris Williams who played baseball at JMU, said McElwee let her practice with the boys basketball teams at BCHS so she could square off against better competition regularly and improve.

“I practiced with the boys starting in the ninth grade,” she said, “which was unusual to let a 14-year old girl practice with the boys JV and varsity teams. But it was so I could get that year-round work in. And then I kept stats for them, traveled with them and practiced with them until I graduated. … And I feel like during the late 90s times when Title IX was an issue and I couldn’t find a weight room to workout in, he really reached out and made me feel welcome. As a women’s basketball player that was huge and I didn’t recognize it at the time just what a big deal that was. Of course now that I’m 40 and I’m looking back, it meant a lot.”

McElwee’s career ended at Glenvar High School, where he was the athletic director for the last 14 years and coached girls basketball before that.

Since leaving Harrisonburg, Deanna Brubaker has been around the world as a traveling nurse.

The graduate of ˛ÝÝŽÉçÇř has worked in Colorado, California, Boston, Wisconsin, Washington state and for two years in London.

Now back in Colorado since 2017, she finds herself in the midst of one of the most challenging health issues in nearly 100 years in this country with COVID-19.

“Working in Vail … we have a lot of international visitors,” she said this week, taking a break from being outdoors in Colorado. “I feel we were a little bit of a hotspot in the beginning because we had a lot of international visitors. Per capita, we were definitely a hotspot.”

“Eagle County (Colorado) was quick to shut down and try to do social distancing,” added Brubaker, 36, now a full-time staff nurse. “They tried to turn people away. Since the quarantine happened, work has been way more calm now. We are an anomaly of a place where we can shut down tourism and visitors and we are left with a relatively young and healthy population. It was dicey in the beginning.”

Brubaker, a volleyball and basketball standout at EMHS, also lives on the edge away from work at Vail Health. After putting in 12-hour shifts three days a week, Brubaker can head to the nearby Rocky Mountains for hiking and rock climbing if she wants. But she has also hiked to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and attempted a trek to the summit of Denali in Alaska. She has done ice climbing in Alaska and enjoys snowboarding, mountain biking and dirt biking.

“This girl doesn’t sit around,” according to her mother, Alice, a resident of Harrisonburg. “And besides all that, she’s just a neat gal.”

“I love the outdoors. I don’t hike as much anymore. I snowboard in the winter and bike a lot in the summer,” said Deanna Brubaker, whose three older brothers all played at least one sport at EMHS. “I play a little bit of pickup basketball here and there. It’s not as much team sports out here. It’s more individual outdoor sports. The only team sport I play now is ice hockey.”

Brubaker’s father, Dennis, taught industrial arts at EMHS before retiring and spent time in Puerto Rico and Honduras during sabbaticals; the latter is where Deanna spent her sophomore year of high school. Her mother taught at EMHS before she married Dennis.

“We have given them a wander bug,” said her mother.

Brubaker, who went to Waterman Elementary, grew up in Harrisonburg and played middle school basketball when she entered what is now Eastern Mennonite School in sixth grade. She played varsity volleyball and basketball for the Flames and in the spring dabbled with soccer, softball and tennis.

“The top memory in sports was in volleyball; we went to states,” said Brubaker, a captain in volleyball and basketball. “I think we were runner-ups in states my senior year. That was a memorable tournament. We were stronger in volleyball than basketball. Basketball is probably my first love but we were stronger in volleyball.”

After high school, she played two years of basketball at Hesston – a Mennonite-affiliated college in Kansas – then came back to the Valley to attend EMU for two years.

She played basketball as a junior for the Royals, seeing action in 26 games with three starts while averaging 13.9 minutes and 3.2 points per contest.

EMU was 16-10 overall that season, 2004-05, with a roster that included Turner Ashby graduate Amanda Renalds, Miranda White of Fort Defiance, Shantee Bryant of Staunton High, and Stephanie Mathews of Central. The head coach was Richard McElwee, a 1983 graduate of EMU and a former baseball player for the Royals.

Brubaker didn’t play basketball as a senior, focusing more on academics as she graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science as a Registered Nurse. She worked two years at Rockingham Memorial Hospital before heading off to Denver to work.

“I’m really proud of her,” said her mother.

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.

Heyrin Cha 

A nursing major from Cheonan-Si, South Korea, Heyrin was honored by Micah Keller Shristi, director of International Student Services.

Heyrin Cha began her studies at EMU in the Intensive English Program in 2013 after completing high school at Bell Academy in South Korea. It takes a special kind of determination for an 18-year-old to travel halfway around the world and begin working towards a degree in a language that is not their own. Determined and tough, that’s Heyrin. She does not give up.

During her first years at EMU, Heyrin felt supported by International Student Services, the International Student Organization (ISO) and Campus Ministries. She turned that around and began helping other students through those organizations. She served as a Ministry Assistant, worked for four years as a dedicated work-study employee in International Student Services, and served as a long-term member of the leadership team of ISO. Heyrin has always extended friendship and helpful advice to new international students. She has also been very active as a volunteer and supporter of CrossWay Mennonite Church, the local Korean-language church that meets at Park View Mennonite Church.

Heyrin is always ready with a smile, and when she smiles, she means it. It’s not an empty gesture. Heyrin genuinely cares for others and wants the best for everyone she meets. Take this example: One Sunday, Heyrin’s associate pastor gave a sermon about the Great Commandment, that admonishment to “love your neighbor as yourself.” After church, Heyrin spoke to the pastor saying that she wanted to apply the sermon to her life. The pastor helped her connect with Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community residents and Heyrin began weekly visits to these elderly neighbors,  spending time with them, listening to their stories, reading the bible together, and trying to help them in any way that she could.

Heyrin Cha comes across as a friendly, patient and competent professional. She maintains her graceful composure in the most difficult and complicated situations. Whether she’s taking tickets from 300 students at the International Food Festival or in the emergency room during her nursing clinicals, Heyrin is unflappable.

As we contemplate Heyrin’s many accomplishments at EMU and celebrate the beginning of this new chapter with her, I leave you with these words from one of Heyrin’s favorite scriptures, Isaiah 58:11: “The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail” (NIV).

DeVantae Dews

A liberal arts major from Lynchburg, Virginia, DeVantae was honored by Brian Martin Burkholder, campus pastor.

Some people start out ten steps ahead. Others are playing catch up from the beginning. DeVantae was accustomed to leading the pack as a runner and making the play in baseball. He saw himself as an athlete who wanted to get a college degree, something relatively unknown for his family, but found that he had to convince EMU to admit him. In a letter of condition, he pledged to “make an impact (on) this community” if admitted. He was admitted and the impact-making soon began.

DeVantae, known mostly as Tae, joined the Gospel Choir and Black Student Union (BSU) as a first-year student and quickly moved into leadership positions in his second year. He served as co-president of BSU for three years, contributing also to the Diversity Task Force and the Committee on Diversity and Inclusion; with residence life as a community adviser and assistant residence director; on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration planning committee; and finally this year as a pastoral assistant with campus ministries. Some of his projects include coordinating and facilitating the Town Hall on Race, helping to plan and lead the spring break Civil Rights Learning Tour, coordinating the President’s Ball, assisting with the first AHANA Alumni Soiree and with developing the concept for The Royal Treatment barbershop and salon lounge as well as launching a men’s Bible study.

Leadership on campus was only the beginning. Since 2016, Tae has immersed himself  at Divine Unity Community Church, contributing to ministries such as Divine Unity Community Kids, teaching the pre-teen class, assisting the pastoral care ministry by supervising Armor Bearer and serving the pastoral staff on Sunday mornings, as well as broadening the discipleship ministries of Every Nation Campus here at EMU.

Tae notes that “serving is my opportunity to making an impact on the community.” He says, “If it wasn’t for a community of people making an impact in my life, I would not have half of (these) accomplishments. My acts of service (are) an outward expression of the inward love that I receive from God.”

Even though Tae’s collegiate track career came to an unexpected early end, he is still running the race. Academics and other struggles have provided ample challenge, turning his college run into more of an obstacle course at times. The jury is out as to how this race will end, but if I know Tae, he’s still got some final kick in him. Let’s thank him for his years of service and leadership with the Cords of Distinction and cheer him on for a strong finish.

Mario HernĂĄndez

A biology and history double-major from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Mario was honored by Professor Mark Metzler Sawin, history department chair.

“EMU prepares students to serve and lead in a global context.” This dichotomous and ambitious proclamation is EMU’s one-line mission statement. Mario Hernández is the dichotomous and ambitious student who proves that sometimes we truly achieve this lofty goal, for while he has been at EMU, Mario has quietly and faithfully served, engagingly and innovatively led, and constantly and confidently existed within a truly global context.

Mario is difficult to define because whenever there are choices: he typically embraces both—he is quite definitively a “both/and,” not an “either/or,” sort of person.

Mario is a Honduran resident proud of his home country and an American student who knows more about his host country than the vast majority of its native residents. He speaks and writes with fluency and academic poise in both Spanish and in English.

Mario is a science student, with a biology major and pre-med aspirations; he is also a humanities student, with a major in history who researches, writes and argues with compelling flare. At this year’s ACE Festival, he presented a senior capstone project that demonstrated his scientific and statistical chops by carefully analyzing the retention of STEM students at EMU, and another senior capstone project that uncovered and explained the historical complexities of Arthurdale, West Virginia, a failed community experiment from the Depression era.

Mario is a leader, having served as the co-president of both the Latino Student Alliance and the Student Government Association and in leadership positions for the Honors program and the International Student Organization. With a sly twinkle in his eye, he can stand at the mic and lead the student body with poise and cool composure whether he’s talking about serious issues, planning the new tradition of EMU’s Easter alfombra, or giving goofy, pun-laden Friday announcements. And he is also a servant, for at the very events that he has organized and led, you will also find him setting up tables and moving chairs beforehand, and sweeping up and taking out the trash afterwards, quietly and contentedly doing basic tasks so others can continue to chat and socialize.

Though a commuter student, Mario has always been highly involved in on-campus student activities—he is fiercely proud of his many intramural championship t-shirts. And while fully engaged in student activities, he is also highly involved in non-student events, serving alongside faculty and staff on EMU’s Centennial celebration committee and the presidential inaugural gala committee, and in the Academic Success Center and as the assistant for the history department.

Mario is a serious student who gets things done promptly and well—at any given time he is producing lab reports, data analysis and long essays about obscure 19th-century authors. He also refuses to take life too seriously—he watches fútbol with grinning fervor and is contentedly laughing and joking with his wide and diverse set of friends. And in both work and play, he goes beyond what is expected—when asked for basic research, he produces multi-colored graphs and charts showing correlations and connections; when asked to do a simple bulletin board with pictures of all the history majors, he instead set up a pictorial game where he gleefully kills us off each week based on the survival rates of all kinds of historical disasters, battles and plagues.

But most importantly and most strikingly, Mario is quite simple to define—he’s a truly kind person. He lives up not only to EMU’s mission ideal of servant leadership, but also to our guiding verse, Micah 6:8. Mario is one who seeks justice, who loves mercy, and who walks humbly with God. All his dichotomous skills and talents are what got him nominated for the Cords of Distinction, but it is this one singular attribute that makes him truly deserving. I am thus proud and honored to present him with this award.

Lindsey Krisak

A biology major from Alexandria, Virginia, Lindsey was honored by Carleen Overacker, assistant athletic trainer.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Romans 5: 3 – 5 (New Living Translation)

Lindsey lives everyday by this Bible verse and has experienced tribulations that have made her persevere during her four years at EMU. During her sophomore year of basketball, Lindsey tore her ACL in her left knee. She knew immediately what happened because she experienced the same injury in high school in her right knee. At this point, Lindsey knew she wanted to continue to be part of the team so she became a student coach.

Her leadership abilities have grown over her four years here at EMU. She was captain of the women’s basketball team for three years in addition to being a member of the FCA Leadership team. During the summer of her senior year, she was asked to be a part of the search committee for the head women’s basketball coach. As a senior captain, she also had to encourage and lead the team during this transition.

Lindsey was very active on and off campus volunteering in a variety of roles. Just this past weekend, she and several other FCA members volunteered at the Smoothie Man’s Kids Mud Mile at Hillandale Park. She has not only worked with children but also volunteered with Arc of Harrisonburg at the Westover Community Center.  About her involvement with the community, Lindsey says, “I choose to do volunteer work because I have been so blessed throughout my life that I want to be able to share it with others. I think it brings people together and provides a sense of community.”

Lindsey will continue her education in June, pursuing a doctorate in physical therapy at Mary Baldwin University’s Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences.

Lindsey, I am blessed to have been able to experience these four years with you and look forward to seeing you succeed. Thank you for being a part of the EMU community and sharing your smile, dedicated work ethic and positive outlook on life.

Nicole Litwiller

A global development and liberal arts double-major from Sarasota, Florida, Nicole was honored by Professor Gloria Rhodes, peacebuilding and conflict studies. 

This semester, I read Parker Palmer’s book “The Active Life: A Spirituality of Work, Creativity and Caring.” Nicole has embodied these concepts throughout her career at EMU.

Palmer defines work as action driven by necessity or demand: to earn a living or a degree, to pass a course, to survive. Nicole definitely does the work. For one thing, she excels academically. And she has been a Community Assistant, a Royal Ambassador, and has served on Honors Council, Cross Cultural Committee, the Inaugural Gala Planning Committee, and the Royal’s Cup Committee. She has served in SGA for 3.5 years as senator, vice president and co-president. Vi Dutcher, the faculty advisor to SGA, noted that Nicole has provided “Tremendous leadership.  She has finesse…knowing how to maintain a balance of work and fun…and pushes forward meaningful decisions.”

Creativity in contrast, according to Parker, is born of freedom, not demand. Creative action is aimed at “giving birth to something new, transcending our earthly necessities.” Nicole is a creative actor. Among many other things, she has had three shows on campus including her senior show currently in the gallery. Her first show, Oscillations, was exhibited in downtown Harrisonburg as part of the First Friday series. But it is in her second show “It’s Personal, Investigating [my] Whiteness,” that she moved toward how Parker Palmer defines caring.

Palmer claims that caring is action freely chosen aimed to nurture, protect, guide, heal or empower something that already has life. It is expressed through compassion and addressing needs including those arising from injustice and oppression. Nicole cares. She has volunteered in Puerto Rico with Mennonite Disaster Service, served as a camp counselor, and as a conversation partner with students in the Intensive English Program. I’ve gotten to know Nicole best through hearing about the anti-racism internship she designed and carried out in Pittsburgh. That internship challenged her to consider how those of us with white skin continue to uphold “racist systems and ideas” even when we don’t want to. The stuff of that internship became the subject of that art show I told you about.

For Palmer, spirituality is knowing what it is to be alive… and “allowing that knowledge to transform us into celebrants, advocates, defenders of life where we find it. [Aliveness is what the active life is all about] …and it is relational and communal, and responsive to the reality and needs of others as well as our own.”  Nicole, we have benefited because you have been alive and active in this community, sharing your work, creativity and caring.  And we offer our blessing as you leave us to continue sharing those things wherever your path takes you.

Sylvia Mast

A biology major from Broadway, Virginia, Sylvia was honored by Professor Tara Lynn Sanders Kishbaugh, chemistry.

“Every footstep that I take, Completes the circle my life makes, Every living thing has ties that bind, What I lost returns with love and time…”

I imagine that people’s names represent a larger meaning, a wish that their family held for them when they were born. We honor Sylvia today because of how she exemplifies her middle name: grace: simple elegance, generous spirit, giving honor and imparting strength to others.

While Sylvia and I attended the same church as she grew up, it was when she transferred to EMU in the middle of her first year that I began to really know her. Even in that setting, her practical, no-nonsense approach was evident. She was unfazed by needing to wait until the following year to start in biology classes and willingly jumped into Gen Chem 2, a rare response for a biology major. She has always worked consistently and diligently and raised the level of discourse in academic settings.

An example of her groundedness, relational skills and care for our world is the chemistry research she pursued this year. She took on solo a problematic organic synthesis project to find green alternatives to a toxic reagent and did a great job of sharing her knowledge by training one of her peers. She then worked on preparing and testing the chemical properties of an attractant for pest fruit fly species. Teams seem to work more smoothly, and are more enjoyable, when Sylvia is on board.

But really it’s not what she does (although there’s a long list: Student Government Association, student rep to Undergraduate Council, women’s soccer, Emulate, Chamber Singers, Y-Serve, worship team of Celebration, working with kids through Kids Club, camp counselor, interfaith peace camp, and more), it’s who she is that makes such an impact on those around her. She acts with courteous goodwill, forms relationships with ease, and listens well. Sylvia is kind, empathetic, uplifting and resilient. Sylvia manages setbacks and criticism well but speaks up against injustice and encourages other voices to be heard. Sylvia won the C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest with her piece: “An Exploration of Language—Recognizing Harm in Silencing the ‘Political’ Voice of the Church.” Sylvia is welcoming, curious and willing to live in contradictory spaces. Sylvia doesn’t need to be an official, recognized leader, but instead gravitates toward actively supporting the more visible leadership of others. She thinks strategically about problems.

Sylvia sees an important distinction in how one chooses to be in community, not as we often think of it, as a means to serve, but infused with mutuality. For Sylvia, it is a choice to engage within, be immersed “within.” This embeddedness means engaging in all aspects: the beauty, the easy, the difficult, the brokenness. It means being gracious enough to give, but also able to receive. It is all these connections, these ties that bind, that make Sylvia who she is, that make her life vibrant, full of laughter, stories, insight and linked to something bigger and beyond any one connection.

As you go forward, may you continue to see yourself intrinsically linked in interlocking circles to those around you, to the global community, to something larger than the sum of the parts, and to a Creator.                        

Luke Mullet

A math major from Berlin, Ohio, Luke was honored by Professor Daniel Showalter, mathematics.

It was fall of 2015, the first semester at EMU for both Luke and myself. Luke was enrolled in my discrete mathematics class, a rigorous class taken mostly by math majors. As Luke walked into the class on the first day, there were a couple older students walking by in the hallway. One of them looked at Luke and then remarked to his friend, “Bet you he’s in the wrong classroom!” I can only imagine he was referring to Luke’s muscular build and implying that he was perhaps not a stereotypical math major.

As it turns out, Luke not only resists that particular “box,” but almost any box that he’s placed into. He is a math major, and one of the best I’ve encountered in my years of teaching. Yet he’s also a well-disciplined weight lifter. And, if that isn’t enough to distinguish himself mentally and physically, he excels in music composition and poetry. In short, Luke defies all boxes.

Luke’s list of external positions and accomplishments is remarkable. He has served as an Student Government Association senator and secretary, cofounder and president of the Composer Collective, co-president of the Math Club, and vice-president of the Royals Lifting club. His poetry has been published in a compilation of Virginia’s Best Emerging Poets, and his academic work has been published in a peer-reviewed education journal. His service record is just as impressive: He helped construct solar panels for the EMU chicken coop, volunteered with Mennonite Disaster Service in Puerto Rico for a week, spent a summer working at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp, was a math tutor through an National Science Foundation grant, and did some organizational work with the local retirement center. His musical endeavors alone would be far more than a short speech could contain, but highlights include having his compositions performed on several stages and scoring the soundtrack for a documentary about two UN peacemakers killed in the Congo.

Yet, despite his long list of accolades and constant spotlight from the press, I have rarely encountered anyone with Luke’s humility. When asked about his service track record, Luke quickly resisted the idea that he was helping others. Instead, he replied, “I choose to do service work because it is a way to use my privilege of ‘free time’ to learn and share with others.”

Luke is typically calm, balanced and eager to engage in conversation. His unbridled laugh carries through walls and floors, brightening the day for those who hear it. This isn’t to say that Luke is always carefree. In fact, in some ways, watching Luke makes me think of what Jesus may have been like. He feels a constant draw to act with integrity, even in difficult situations. His perpetual care for others often leaves him drained, but he has learned ways to recharge himself. And, just as Jesus had righteous anger when people were buying and selling items in his Father’s house, the only time I’ve seen Luke angry is when some injustice was being committed.

Luke, may the legacy you’ve left here at EMU continue to blossom as you head forth into the broader world and share your unique and “unboxable” aspects with those who have the honor of sharing life’s journey with you.

RJ Ocampo

A biology (pre-professional health sciences) major from Virginia Beach, Virginia, RJ was honored by Ben Durren, admissions counselor and assistant men’s volleyball coach. 

I have had the pleasure to know RJ for the last four years and have been able to see him grow and impact the community around him positively during those years. There is no better candidate in my mind for someone who should receive a cord of distinction for how they represent EMU. Throughout his years at EMU, RJ tried to impact everyone he knew in a positive manner.

One way that the community felt his presence was in Residence Life. He was a Community Assistant in Elmwood where he affected all the people on his hall and every student he held an event for. I know from his residents that he made them feel welcomed at EMU and was able to create a tight bond and community feeling for those residents on his hall.

He also has represented the school in the athletics as a starter for his four years with men’s volleyball and a captain this past year. As a former teammate and now assistant coach, I feel confident in saying that RJ was everything you want in a teammate. He always was committed to the goal of the team and was always willing to help teammates with whatever they may need. He also represented EMU internationally in volleyball playing on a Division III select team in Brazil last summer.

RJ has had an impact on students’ faith while here on campus. He regularly helped plan, facilitate and play in the Sunday evening student-led worship “Celebration” held in Martin Chapel. He also played in several weekday convocations during his time here. He was vocal about his faith too and shared it at EMU Athletes Speak, a time where athletes and coaches speak about their faith and how it has influenced and affected their relationship with sports. He also spent another summer in the Philippines working with kids and providing with them much-needed schools supplies. Additionally back home in Virginia Beach, he works with an organization that provides blankets and other supplies for the homeless.

RJ has also been the model student when it comes to academics. He has been able to balance athletics, work and all his other extracurricular activities while excelling in his pre-med track. All four years he has been named to the all-academic team for keeping a certain GPA while participating in athletics. He also was the secretary of the Pre-Professional Health Society club where he helped balance the budget and plan activities for the club.

Precious Waddy

A social work major from Richmond, Virginia, Precious was honored by Celeste Thomas, director of Multicultural Student Services.

The Cords of Distinction Award is presented to ˛ÝÝŽÉçÇř students who make positive contributions to student and campus life, the institution at large, and the broader community while maintaining good academic standing.

Webster’s Merriam Dictionary defines precious as highly esteemed or cherished. From the time Precious Ta’mia Waddy entered this world three months early weighing a mere one pound, she not only survived but thrived. She has been determined to live a life that would be an example of her favorite scripture from Proverbs 31:25-26:  She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

I recall meeting Precious during an 8 a.m. meeting with the women’s basketball team because they were struggling academically as a team. Well, I am pleased to say we have come a long way from that meeting. Sometimes the lens just needs to be refocused, and Precious has left her stamp on ˛ÝÝŽÉçÇř with her electric smile, but more importantly by serving the least of these while being a student athlete and model of leadership both on and off campus.

As I have gotten to know you and appreciate the young lady you are becoming, I know in the words of Langston Hughes, “that life for you ain’t been no crystal stair,” and despite that, I have not seen you lose sight of the goal of graduation despite struggles. I know that it has been tough being a first -generation college student and that you have had to work harder than others, but what I have experienced from you is sheer resilience and determination regardless of the obstacles that could have sidetracked you. Instead of giving in and giving up, you remained on the journey and for that I am so proud of you. You are why James told us to rejoice in the face of trials and tribulations (James 1:2). Because God is with us in our struggles and adversity helps us develop and strengthen our faith (James 1:3). You have definitely grown spiritually during your matriculation at EMU.

During her four years, she has contributed unselfishly to help make others’ journey a little easier than hers. When responding to why she volunteers, she shared: “First, I love being of service to others in any way that I can whether by being directly involved or just by giving of my time to those who may not have enough or anything at all.  For me, choosing to do volunteer work brings a lot of meaning and fulfillment to my life and the lives of others”.

Precious has been a leader on and off campus. She has been both secretary and co-president of the Black Student Union, captain of the women’s basketball team, SAC representative for the athletic department, secretary of Social Work is People, senior class secretary, and she is a founding member and President of Destiny’s Daughters. Additionally, she has volunteered numerous hours with the Salvation Army, Good Will, Virginia blood services, the Boys and Girls Club, and this semester she completed her practicum with the On the Road Collaborative youth empowerment non-profit organization that sets middle and high school youth on the road to college and career. She has served her community well.

When asked, what would you like to be said about you, Precious remarked, “Tell them that I am one of a kind.” Indeed you are and I thank you for allowing me to be a part of your journey, and remember the sky is the limit to what you can have as well as to who you are becoming.

Cameron White

A social work major from Palmyra, Virginia, Cameron was honored Rachel Roth Sawatzky, Director of Student Services.

The Cords of Distinction Award is presented to ˛ÝÝŽÉçÇř students who make positive contributions to student and campus life, the institution at large, and the broader community while maintaining good academic standing. Cameron is just such a student.

I remember meeting Cameron before she was even enrolled at EMU at the information fair for June SOAR. She had sparkling eyes and a big smile. She was full of energy, ready to make connections, ready to get involved and excited to get to know people. Throughout her four years at EMU, Cameron made significant contributions to a number of student clubs and organizations including to Black Student Union as Activities Coordinator and on the MLK Celebration Day Committee; as a member of Alpha Omega Dancers for Christ; as a Ministry Assistant with Campus Ministries; as a member of the social work department club, Social Work is People (or SWIP); and as a choir member with Gospel Choir from 2015-2017.

One of her most significant contributions in terms of longevity of involvement was her service to the campus community through Campus Activities Council, which she participated in all four years on the marketing committee for a year, as vice president in 2016-17 and as president for the past two years. Over the past four years, we have spent many late nights and early mornings together with the rest of the Campus Activities Council team making fun stuff happen on campus whether that was the homecoming color run, CAC trivia, dances, movies or large formal events like President’s Ball and the Inauguration gala.

Cameron always brings a can-do attitude and a lot of humor to her work. But she also has a caring heart and a loyalty to the team. I remember one particular time when I was working with Cameron and some other students at a CAC dance very late on a Friday night. In the midst of the hubbub, Cameron pulled me aside and said, “Rachel, don’t you have a family to get home to? I really think you should leave. We’ve got this. Get out of here!” I worked for a while longer, finishing up some tasks when Cameron found me and said firmly, “Rachel, I told you to leave.” In her role as president, Cameron has brought a fun and light-hearted spirit, but she is also organized, has very high standards for the team, and is ready to offer accountability when it’s needed.

In addition to Cameron’s involvements on campus, she has been active in the community through her church, work at a children’s camp and with a girl’s empowerment program. She has also been able to offer a positive impact through work at our local domestic violence shelter called First Step, where she served as a shelter manager this year and an internship this semester with People Places where she worked as a therapeutic family consultant.

A long time CAC colleague and friend of Cameron’s who is now EMU graduate student in counseling, Da’Jahnea Robinson says, “Cameron was a great CAC president. She was always responsible and reliable. I appreciated working alongside of her. I wish her all the best in her future endeavors. I know she will be successful wherever life takes her!”

Cameron, you have been wonderfully created by God and gifted to serve and lead wherever you go from here. I leave you with these words, which make me think of you- a principled, kind, hard working woman; a dedicated social worker, serving others and having fun along the way: From Proverbs 31:25-26: She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

                                                                                                                                        ĚýĚý

Jourdyn Friend, a business administration major with a minor in human resource management from Richmond, will work in Staunton. Daniel Scott, a business administration major with minors in accounting and human resource management from Moneta, will work in Harrisonburg.

Created in 1916, the Farm Credit System is a nationwide network of cooperative lending institutions that serve agricultural and rural communities. Farm Credit of the Virginias encompasses 96 counties in Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland, and provides $1.8 billion in financing to its clients, according to its website.

During her internship, Friend developed new approaches for showing customer appreciation, which were later presented to senior leadership. She continued at the agency in fall and spring semester internships through EMU, in part working on increasing the number of veterans in the Farm Credit applicant pool. As an employee, she will work to implement those and other special projects.

Scott, too, worked on the customer appreciation project. He also analyzed tax returns and balance sheets and assisted loan officers and credit analysts in determining applicants’ loan eligibility. In his new position, he will focus on credit analysis for use in making lending decisions, and travel throughout the state to various events to further his knowledge of Farm Credit and agricultural lending.

Team players

Both Friend and Scott credit their experiences as athletes at EMU with helping to prepare them for their careers.

“Teamwork – that’s a big thing,” said Friend, who played basketball. “You cannot win a game by yourself.” She approaches her new job with the same attitude, she said: “If I don’t pull my part of the load, then the team doesn’t succeed. It takes everyone for a team to succeed.”

“Baseball teaches you how to deal with failure,” said Scott, an outfielder. “You’re considered one of the more productive players on your team if you fail seven out of 10 times.” While his final two years were “great,” Scott says he was challenged to grow during his freshman and sophomore year. “I had to be patient and work to be a better player – which taught me how to be a better teammate and person, and that things in life don’t always come easy,” he said.

Accolades

Friend landed her initial internship after EMU alum and Farm Credit employee Maria Martinez visited her class. Although she wasn’t sure she was interested (she had planned to return home to Richmond for the summer), Friend applied for and was offered the internship. It turned out to be “a really good experience,” she said.

Scott discovered a new inclination while taking his first accounting class taught by Professor Leah Kratz. He’d been dreading the course, but “it really kickstarted what I wanted to do with my life and work in the finance world,” he said. “I eventually decided that I wanted to get a minor in accounting, and I genuinely enjoyed each class because I felt that it was something I would later use – and I did use what I learned during my internship this past summer.”

Both received warm accolades from their Farm Credit supervisors.

Friend has been “fully engaged” as an intern and is a “wonderful asset to Farm Credit,” said Melanie Craig, manager of training and employee services. Following each educational trip, farm visit, project or event in which Friend participates, she said, “we always know that Jourdyn will return with information to help our HR department and organization grow.”

Scott had an impressive “enthusiasm and drive to learn more about our company and agricultural lending,” recalls Cole Heizer, who was Scott’s manager during his internship. “He has a great personality and the ability to work with a diverse group of people, and wants to learn more about the ‘why’ behind concepts.”

Jenny Logan was all smiles.

That situation was getting strong play from her starters after the first-game jitters wore off, evident by a first-quarter 6-for-16 shooting performance and a sloppy up-tempo game that resulted in 22 turnovers. But once the Royals (1-0) got into their set offense, the shots began to fall. From there, it trickled down for the Royals as Logan used a pull-away second 10 minutes — shooting 9-for-19 — to empty her bench a bit and give her younger players a chance to “knock the dust off.”