Anushika Athauda, assistant professor of engineering
Athauda is excited to bring over eight years of dynamic undergraduate teaching experience in physics and engineering to EMU. Before joining EMU, she served on the faculty at Virginia Military Institute, Washington and Lee University, University of Rochester, and James Madison University. Athauda is passionate about student-centered learning and brings a strong background in curriculum development, hands-on instruction, and undergraduate mentorship. Her research interests lie in exploring the structure-property relationships of materials. She holds a BS in engineering physics from University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, and a PhD in physics from University of Virginia.

Cherelle Johnson, instructor of business and leadership
Johnson joins the faculty with over a decade of experience in leadership development, organizational strategy, and higher education instruction. An adjunct instructor in EMU’s Business and Leadership program since 2019, she is currently pursuing a PhD in organizational leadership at Regent University, building on her MS in education and BBA in marketing from James Madison University. Johnson is also a certified HR professional (SHRM-CP), executive coach, and founder of Dream City LLC and IronDresses Inc., where she has trained leaders across the U.S. and internationally. Her teaching and research focus on leadership development, group behavior, and women’s empowerment, particularly in ecclesial and organizational contexts.

Yeimarie Lopez, assistant professor of social work
Lopez received a bachelor of social work from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), a master of social work from the University of Michigan, and a doctorate in education from VCU. For the majority of her social work career, she worked alongside immigrant and refugee families throughout Virginia. Her interest in social justice, higher education, and quality assurance also led her to work in accreditation, policy, and compliance. As a first-generation college graduate, Lopez is an advocate of accessible and equitable education as a way to create a more just society.

Elizabeth Miller-Derstine, assistant professor of visual and communication arts
Miller-Derstine (director/producer) is an award-winning documentary filmmaker drawn to stories centering joy as resilience. She holds an MFA in documentary film from Wake Forest University. She approaches all her work with a deep commitment to ethical storytelling and an awareness of the extractive history of the documentary field. Her most recent short documentary Once Upon the Wetland (2025) has received Oscar qualification in the Short Documentary category. Her other notable work includes Bloom (2024), which has been acquired for educational distribution by Good Docs, and won Best Documentary at the Longleaf Film Festival, and Welcome to the Dollhouse (2020), which won Best Director at both the Atlanta DocuFest and Hoosier Films Festival.

Ann Schaeffer, associate professor of nursing
Following undergraduate and graduate degrees in psychology, Schaeffer was a second-degree BSN student at UVA, and then became a certified nurse-midwife in 2000 via Frontier Nursing University (FNU), to which she returned for her doctorate (DNP) in 2017. Schaeffer is a certified nurse-educator and recently added certification as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner through Radford University (2025). Schaeffer has practiced nursing in Virginia for 27 years, has attended over 1,000 births, and has provided health care in a wide variety of practice settings. She previously taught nursing at EMU for eight years, and then from 2020-2025 worked remotely as faculty in FNU’s DNP program, where she taught and mentored doctoral students in health care quality improvement. Prevention of burnout and attrition from health care professions is one of her priorities as an educator and mentor, which she believes begins upstream in the undergraduate classroom.

Bryce Van Vleet, assistant professor of psychology
Van Vleet earned a PhD from North Dakota State University in developmental science in 2025. He is a member of the Gerontological Society of America and specializes in adult development, rurality, and qualitative methodology. Prior to his doctoral work, Van Vleet earned a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from Seattle Pacific University, a faith-based liberal arts university, and a master of science from North Dakota State. A recent convert to Anabaptism, Van Vleet looks for ways to incorporate faith into his scholarship and teaching. He encourages scholars from all walks of faith to bring their full selves into their work. His current research projects investigate queer well-being in rural America, advocate for empathy toward vaccine hesitancy in adulthood, and model how rural parents impart coping skills to their children.

EMU will mark the beginning of the academic year at Opening Convocation, held at 10 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 25, in Lehman Auditorium.

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Applied Social Sciences Department

Rachel Crist, Sarah Boshart, Harrison Horst and Samantha Jacob received honor cords signifying their membership into the Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society from Dr. Carolyn Stauffer and Dr. Jenni Holsinger. EMU’s new chapter joins 650 other college chapters.

Biology and Chemistry Department

Janaya M. Sachs was named Outstanding Senior Chemistry Student, the highest award given to a chemistry/biochemistry major who demonstrates high academic achievement, significant research experience and the potential to contribute to the field. She will be recognized with other outstanding senior chemistry majors by the Virginia Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS) and was given a Merck Index by the ACS and the Merck Company. Read more about one of�� .

Tyler D. Denlinger and Robert H. Propst earned recognition as the Outstanding Senior Biology students, the highest award to acknowledge exceptional academic, scholarly and service accomplishments throughout a student’s career at EMU. The award also recognizes characteristics of initiative, wisdom, diligence, collegiality and integrity.

Kaylee M. Ferguson was given the Outstanding Service Award. Consideration is given to scholarship across the entire EMU career, including research outside of the EMU context, as well as qualities of leadership, citizenship, compassion, a commitment to working with others and the ability to place their EMU experience with the context of service.

Diego C. Barahona earned the Excellence in Research Award for his exceptional performance in independent research, demonstrating initiative, integrity, knowledge of subject and high technical aptitude. Read more about one of his .

Leah C. Lapp was recognized as outstanding first-year chemistry student. Mario J. Hernandez was named outstanding second-year biology student.

Winners of the STEM poster contest, upperclass division are: first, Samantha Kauffman and Marchelle Smucker; second, Eli Wenger; third, Diego Barahona; honorable mention, Tyler Brenneman; Kyle Johnson and David Nester; Aron Harder, Austin Engle, Dylan Grove, James Paetkau, Ben Zook, Andrew Troyer and Collin Longenecker.

Winners of the STEM poster contest, underclass division are: first, Leah Lapp and Melissa Kinkaid; second, Seth Weaver and Jared Bergman; third, Linda Ouedraogo and Caroline Lehman.

Bible and Religion Department

The winners of an essay contest in the field of Bible, theology, church history and philosophy, sponsored by Haverim, the alumni association of Bible and Religion Department, were recognized. Justine Nolt won $300 and first place for her analysis of Eucharistic theology. Christina Hershey won $200 and second place for her treatment of Lancaster Mennonite Conference’s decision to leave Mennonite Church USA.��Janaya Sachs was awarded $100 and third place for her exegesis of 1 Corinthians 5.

Center for Justice and Peacebuilding

��The following students were recognized by Executive Director Daryl Byler: Caitlin Morneau, for publication of an article on restorative justice; Kajungu Mturi, for his work with Harrisonburg High School’s Peer Leaders program; Matt Tibbles, for work with youth at Harrisonburg and Rockingham County Boys and Girls Club; Jennifer Chi Lee, for overall leadership to CJP; and Myriam Aziz, Sho Igawa, Christine Kindler, Agnes Chen and Isabel Castillo for their Arts and Peacebuilding film productions.

Education Department

Five students were selected as Teachers of Promise by Don Steiner, interim department chair: Dorothy Hershey, Rebekah Hertzler, Erick Luna, Miranda Lyle and Amy Nussbaum. Teachers of Promise is a statewide honor recognizing gifted pre-service teachers.

Paul Lankford was awarded the Courage to Teach award, which is modeled after the principles of Quaker educator Parker Palmer. “Paul was selected for his dedication and effectiveness in teaching, genuine caring for students, value-based and highly principled behaviors, reflective thought and practice and a passion for teaching,” Steiner said. Lankford was awarded a copy of Palmer’s Courage to Teach book.

History Department

Robert Cook was awarded the Outstanding History Student for his essay on Rockbridge County schools integration. A future social studies educator, he was awarded a copy of A History of the World in 100 Objects by Neil MacGregor.

Language and Literature Department

The following awards were presented by department chair Mike Medley:

• The Ray Elvin Horst Award for Excellence in Spanish: Maddie Gish
• Jay B. Landis Award (Literary essay): Jasmine Miller
• The Ervie L. Glick Award for Excellence in World Language Study: Anna Messer
• James Bomberger Award (TESOL): Jasmine Miller
• Carroll Yoder Award (English teaching): Quinn Kathrineberg
• Omar Eby Award (Creative writing): Kaitlin Abrahams

Mathematical Sciences Department

Junior Aron Harder was the winner of the department’s mathematics contest. Harder also won this contest as a first-year student. His prize was what Professor Owen Byer described as a “math geek” t-shirt. Second place went to first-year Austin Engle.

Seven members of the Engineers for a Sustainable World club won first place in the first- and second-year undergraduate design team division at the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Zone 2 Conference early March in Puerto Rico. Ben Zook, Dylan Grove, James Paetkau, Collin Longenecker, Austin Engle, Ben Stutzman and Andrew Troyer were recognized for their work.

Music Department

Jon Bishop was recognized as the Outstanding Senior in Music Composition Award. Jacinda Stahly earned the Outstanding Senior in Music Performance award.

Nursing Department

Professors Audrey Myers and Ann Schaeffer, Nursing Student Association (NSA) sponsors, presented the department’s annual awards.

Nina Simmons was given the Leadership Award, for her work in the NSA to involve all levels of students. She will work after graduation in the intensive care unit at Augusta Health.

Abbie Luther was given the Sacred Covenant Award. The sacred covenant is a model of nursing that honors the relationship between the nurse and the patient. “Nursing has shaped me and continues to shape me into embodying Christ in my everyday life,” said Luther. “One of the biggest reasons I decided to study nursing was because it allowed me to be the hands and feet of Jesus. As my future as a nurse unfolds, my hope is that I stay grounded in this simple truth. Kindness, presence, grace, love and compassion will be my guiding light.”

Leona Good��earned the Academic Achievement Award. “Nursing school has challenged me to step up because I know that my knowledge and education impacts the care I am able to give others. I am driven by the desire to be the best nurse I can be for my patients. As my journey into nursing begins this next year, I am looking forward to how my career will allow me to offer myself and form relationships with people in their most vulnerable times.”

Visual and Communication Arts and Theater Department

Lila Marks received the Matthew Alan Styer VaCA Scholarship Grant for excellence and dedication to photography. “Lila is a passionate and compassionate documentary photographer of human encounters,” said Steven David Johnson, department chair. Johnson added that Marks is an excellent student, receptive to critique and already approaching photography with a critical and professional acumen and interest. She is pursuing a vocation in humanitarian documentary photography.

The cast of earned a Certificate of Merit for Ensemble Acting from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF). The cast includes Jeremiah Hines, Dylan Peachy, Collin Dutt, Abigail Greaser, Emma Roth, Clara Bush, Robert Weaver and Esther Ajayi.

Greaser and Bush earned nominations for the Irene Ryan Acting Competition. Roth is an alternate.

Ezrionna Prioleau was recognized for her outstanding work in stage management for The 39 Steps and recommended for the KCACTF national competition in stage management.

Academic Success Center and Writing Program

Janaya Sachs was honored as Tutor of the Year. “She has been a chemistry, mathematics, Bible and general-whatever-I-can-help-you-with-I-will-help-you-with tutor,” said Linda Gnagey, director of the Academic Success Center. “We want to thank Janaya for three years of support for many different students at many different academic levels and departments.”

Graduating tutors were also recognized: Kaylee Ferguson (biology), Leona Good (nursing), Jacob Hertzler (computer science), Andre Kalend (biology and history), Lamar Kiser (nursing), Timothy Martin (mathematics) and Sam Miller (biology). Quinn Kathrineberg and Luisa Miller were recognized by Professor Vi Dutcher, director of the Writing Program.

Common Grounds Coffeehouse

“Common Grounds Coffeehouse is routinely blessed to be led by exceptional students who give boundless creative energy and passion to their shared work,” said Rachel Roth Sawatzky, student programs director. She recognized three of the five managers who are seniors: Stephanie Anders, events manager; Maddie Gish, operations manager; and Ryan Thomas, finance manager.

Read more about their contributions .

Student Government Association

The spring 2017 executive council was recognized: Quinn Kathrineberg, president; Mario Valladares, vice president; Keyri Lopez- Godoy, secretary; Rachel Holderman, vice president of marketing; and Tyler Denlinger, treasurer.

Spring 2017 senators are Dera Nwankwo, Nicole Litwiller, Rebecca Cardwell, Val Hernandez, Seth Weaver, John Sanchez, Ali Zuercher, Carlos Garcia, Lamar Kiser, Leah Wenger, Luke Mullet, Caroline Lehman, and Victoria Barnes.

Campus Activities Council

Seniors Ali Hartzler and Jeremiah Robinson were recognized by Mike Yoder, assistant director of student programs and orientation for their commitment and dedication to providing creative and positive entertainment that engages the entire student body. Hartzler has been involved for two years with the tech department and as vice-president this year. Robinson joined CAC this year. Both have been instrumental in planning a variety of events, including the Color Run at Homecoming, the Presidents Ball, and Springfest.

Campus Ministries

Pastoral assistants were recognized: Rachel Breidigan, Maddie List, Grayson Mast, Janaya Sachs, Hannah Shultz, Alexa Weeks and Brittany Williams.

Ministry assistants were recognized: Sarah Regan, Bekah Mongold, Madalynn Payne, Nathaniel Nissley, Cameron White, Alex Wissler, Andrew Troyer, Dylan Grove, Austin Sachs, Jenna Lile, Maia Garber, Seth Weaver, Abigail Shelly, Ariel Barbosa, Justin Odom, Taylor Allen, Clarissa White, Lydia Haggard, Lindsay Acker, Kyra Lehman, Janet Spain, and Joseph Harder.

Residence Life

��Seniors and community assistants Eli Wenger and Becky Barrett were recognized for three years of service. Wenger’s “kind and welcoming” personality was noted as well as his ability to create enthusiastic participants in community.

Barrett “effortlessly gets along with all of her residents,” said Tyler Goss, resident director. “She is driven, organized and not afraid to speak up. She is a strong, grounded and welcoming leader.”

Goss also recognized Matthew Hunsberger, who has been promoted to assistant director of residence life after many years as a residence director.

Athletics

All second-semester athletics award-winners were honored. Their accomplishments can be viewed .

Molly Kirby, who completed her nursing degree in 2.5 years instead of the standard four, was given the Academic Achievement Award. Presenting the honor was Professor Ann Schaeffer, who said Kirby has already accepted a position as a nurse in a cardio-surgical intensive care unit and plans to eventually pursue a doctorate as a nurse anesthetist.

Valerie Rodeffer earned the Servant Leadership Award. Schaeffer shared that Rodeffer’s greatest accomplishment “is being role model for her children, showing them you can do anything you put your mind to, no matter how old you are.” Rodeffer will work as a nurse in Winchester and plans to begin her master’s degree at EMU next fall.

The Sacred Covenant Award, honoring the nursing student who most exemplifies the values of nursing as exemplified in the program’s , was given to Juni Schirch-Sanchez. Schirch-Sanchez says she values the relationships she builds with patients and the intimacy, vulnerability and openness that the profession calls for.

Vice President of Student Life Ken L. Nafziger kicked off the chapel by urging participants to join wholeheartedly into the celebration of the semester’s achievements. “We often celebrate but in a muted fashion,” he said, “so let’s not be that way today.”

Nafziger was joined on stage by representatives of several departments for the traditional event, held at the conclusion of each fall and spring semester. Many of the honorees were being recognized before departing for their cross-cultural during spring semester.

Academic Success Center

Director Linda Gnagey and Professor Vi Dutcher recognized three Academic Success Center tutors as “great examples of dependable accessible support”: Lorraine Armstrong, political science tutor; Robert Propst, science; and Elisabeth Wilder, social work, sociology and writing.

Campus Ministries

Campus Undergraduate Pastor Lana Miller recognized ministry assistants who are departing on cross-culturals next semester: Shelby Alto, Taylor Martin, Elizabeth Witmer, Elizabeth Resto, Kieran O’Leary, Marina Baker, Esther Ghale, Lydia Musselman and Ethan Herman. Ministry assistants, known on campus as MAs, integrate faith into practice in their residence halls and volunteer their time to assist others. Miller thanked them for “joining us as campus pastors.”

Three pastoral assistants, known as PAs, were also recognized: Christina Hershey, Perry Blosser and Hannah Daley. PAs are students whose “desire to serve God is integrated into life, work and relationships.” Both Hershey and Blosser served on numerous committees. Hershey organized conversation groups, Election Day Communion and other communal events. Blosser “pulled together countless musicians and signing groups” for chapel events, and he also leads the monthly hymn sings. Daley, who concluded her field hockey career this fall, leads the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Athletes Speak and Athletes’ Bible Study.

Student Programs

Thirteen students received the Leadership Effectiveness and Development (LEAD) Series Certificate: Sammy Kauffman, Maddie Gish, Gillian Zehr, Hannah Daley, Tae Dews, Rachel Holderman, Ale Hartzler, Brittany Williams, Oksana Kittrell, Liana Hershey, Felix Kioko, Alicia Ygarza and Carlos Garcia.

The series focuses on leadership issues chosen by participants, said Director of Student Programs Rachel Roth Sawatsky, with this semester’s topics being communication, leadership dynamics, conflict, women in leadership and team-building. Students can choose to attend single events; regular attendance results in a certificate of completion.

Additionally, Gillian Zehr was recognized for her work as Common Grounds Coffeehouse products and marketing manager for the last two semester. She was responsible for taking care of product sales, trends and tracking; ordering and vendor relationships; and advertising. This semester, she also negotiated a new contract with a local coffee roaster, as well as negotiating for local suppliers of foods.

Theater Department

Actors Emma Roth and Belen Yoder were nominated from the fall production of “Far Away” by an independent respondent to participate in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCATF) Irene Ryan Scholarship Audition. They will participate in the Region 2 festival Jan. 3-7 at Montclair State University in New Jersey. Professor Heidi Winters Vogel presented the award.

Student Life

Outgoing Student Government Association members include Elisabeth Wilder, Taylor Esau, Ella Spitler, Abigail Shumaker, Delight Tigoe, Maria Yoder, Jeremy Brenneman and Caleb Schrock-Hurst.

Co-presidents Elisabeth Wilder and Quinn Kathrineberg also recognized Ken L. Nafziger, who retires in December.

“Ken has been a valuable member of SGA through his thoughtful insights, care for students, and impeccable knowledge of the SGA Constitution,” Wilder said. “There are few people I know that love EMU and its people more than Ken L. Nafziger.”

“Ken is a deep listener, an energetic presence, and a steadfast leader,” said Kathrineberg. “Thank you for your devotion to SGA, and thank you for the the consideration and respect you have for this EMU community.

Athletics

James De Boer, sports information director, recognized the following athletes for their awards during the fall semester.

Men’s Cross Country: Abrham Amine: All-ODAC Second Team, ODAC Men’s Cross Country Rookie of the Year; Alec Thibodeaux: ODAC Runner of the Week, (Sept. 1-5), All-ODAC Second Team, Royals Athlete of the Week (Oct. 31-Nov. 6), All-South/Southeast Region Team.

Women’s Cross Country: Megan Good:�� All-ODAC Second Team, Royals Athlete of the Week (Oct. 24-30); Kat Lehman: ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Scholar-Athlete; Juni Schirch-Sanchez: Royals Athlete of the Week (Nov. 7-13)

Field Hockey: Emily Augsburger: All-ODAC First Team; Lorraine Armstrong: All-ODAC Second Team; Hannah Daley: Royals Athlete of the Week (Oct. 10-16), All-ODAC Third Team; Emily Price: Royals Athlete of the Week (Sept. 19-25), All-ODAC Third Team.

Men’s Soccer: Emmanuel Boamah: All-ODAC First Team; Parker Leap: Royals Athlete of the Week (Sept. 5-11); Juan Luna: ODAC Player of the Week (Sept. 12-18); Royals Athlete of the Week (Sept. 12-18); All-ODAC Second Team; Matthew Overacker: Royals Athlete of the Week (Oct. 3-9). Dylan Polley: All-ODAC Third Team; Ryan Thomas: CoSIDA Academic All-District.

Women’s Soccer: Laura Rittenhouse: All-ODAC Third Team; Hannah Walker: Royals Athlete of the Week (Oct. 17-23).

Women’s Volleyball: Becca Hardy: Royals Athlete of the Week (Sept. 1-5), CoSIDA Academic All-District; Maria Yoder: Royals Athlete of the Week (Sept. 26-Oct. 2).

Men’s Basketball: Maleke Jones: Royals Athlete of the Week (Nov. 14-20).

Women’s Basketball: Chloe Roach: Royals Athlete of the Week (Nov. 21-27).

The May 2016 senior seminar brought six juniors and seniors — Lamar Kiser, Martha Bell, Juni Schirch-Sanchez, Lydia Tissue, Leona Good and Mariah Martin — for a 16-day immersive experience in Haiti. They dressed each morning in scrubs and spent their days helping to deliver babies, treat burns, insert IVs for hydration, and administer newborn exams.

Tissue had her first experience with the labor and delivery process.

“I stood beside a first-time mother and served as her labor support. Martha [another student on the trip] rubbed her belly, while I stood bent over her, arms around each other’s necks, cheeks pressed together. I hummed ‘Come Thou Fount’ into her ear as she labored through contractions, and when I stopped to take a break, she pulled me in closer, asking me without words to continue.”

When the baby was finally born, Tissue was “moved beyond words at the sacredness of my bond with this new mother.”

During their travels, the group spent time with Brunk, the 2010 winner of EMU’s Distinguished Service Award. A nurse midwife, Brunk visited Haiti for the first time in 2003 and was struck by the lack of resources available to pregnant women. Soon after, she began working to train local nurses in midwifery. By 2006, Midwives for Haiti was a fully functioning non-profit organization.

Hinche and Cabestor

The first stop of the trip was Hinche, about two hours north of the capital Port-au-Prince.�� Schaeffer describes the city with about the population of Harrisonburg, “if Harrisonburg had dirt roads all the way through.” While staying at a guesthouse rented by MFH for volunteers, the students volunteered at a school and at the Azil Feeding Center, an organization run by the Sisters of Mercy that cares for malnourished children and adults.

In the evenings, Schaeffer worked shifts in the nearby hospital, and took a few students with her to provide labor and postpartum assessments, breast feeding training, and inventory of the hospital’s meager supply cabinet.

[Visit a on the Haiti trip or read about Mariah Martin’s experience in a .’]

Next stop was Cabestor, the home of the newest free-standing birth center run by Midwives for Haiti. The clinic opened in January 2016, and Schaeffer and her students helped deliver the clinic’s first set of twins.

Haitian childbirth and pregnancy statistics are alarming; one in five children do not live past age five, and women still die during childbirth regularly. There is no guarantee that mothers and their children will survive the pregnancy and childbirth process, but Midwives for Haiti is working to reverse those numbers by training Haitian women to be certified nurses and midwives and placing them throughout the island nation.

And it’s working.

“[Delivering the twins] was awesome and a little terrifying. The second twin was a very difficult delivery. I ended up having to resuscitate the baby,” Schaeffer said. “It was a Haitian midwife, Nelta, that was doing most of that work. We were able to assist, and I was very grateful to have been a part of that, but they really know. They are very skilled.”

Organization trains midwives

Schaeffer emphasized that volunteers are not “swooping in” to help improve the current system: “Midwives for Haiti is doing just fine without us. They do not need us to save them. If volunteers never came to Midwives for Haiti again, the work of Midwives for Haiti would continue. Volunteers serve to spread the word, and to raise necessary funds until it’s self-sustaining.”

If anything, the trip left a lasting impact on the group from EMU, not the Haitian women they were assisting. For Schaeffer, the most memorable part of the trip was not in the clinic in Cabestor or the hospital in Hinche, but what their house manager in Cabestor, Mario, called a “walk” to attend church on the other side of a mountain.

On their third day in Cabestor, they left the birth center at 7:30 in the morning dressed in church clothes and sturdy walking shoes, carrying medical supplies for home visits on the way back, and of course, toting plenty of water. The journey was a steamy, two-hour hike through a mountain jungle.

“This is what women in Haiti do every day to get water, to get healthcare. They do it pregnant. They do it in flip flops. They do it every single day, and that was very humbling,” Schaeffer said.

On the way home, after stopping to do a newborn exam for the 11th member of a Haitian family, the students were low on water. Schaeffer was starting to get worried when a man came running up behind them with two big buckets filled with coconuts.

“He says through our translator, ‘I knew you were leaving from the church, and you had a long way to go and that you’d probably be tired, so I’ve been trying to catch up with you,’” Schaeffer said. “He took his machete and cut the tops off, and gave us all coconuts to drink the coconut water, and that was enough. We got to the top of the ridge, and we sang songs all the way down.”

Schaeffer describes the entire experience as a “profound window into what life was actually like in Haiti.”

“There’s a lot of times in nursing that you feel that you’re in a sacred moment or that you’re on holy ground, but I actually feel like that entire walk was on holy ground,” she said.

Nursing in the present

The trip also gave the students an experience in the field where they couldn’t come close to “fixing” everyone’s problems.

“Most of the things we encountered in Haiti would have been almost 100 percent treatable, curable in the United States,” Schaeffer said. “Here we were, entering into a space with other people, other human beings, trying to be of use and knowing that we weren’t going to be able to walk away from this feeling like it was all taken care of and we had made it all better.”

More than anything, Tissue has learned to be fully present with her patients no matter where she’s serving.

“In Haiti, I gained a new insight into my role as a nurse. Inspired by Ann, I have taken on the mantra of ‘I’ll be your person.’ I will hold your hand through the intimidating procedure, I’ll change the dressing on the burn that covers your whole arm, I’ll be your comfort, and I’ll be there when no one else is,” Tissue said.

, director of student programs, opened the service: “Every day on this campus, there are great people doing great things, big and small gestures, accomplishments made after long-term commitments and one-off unexpected triumphs. Most of these good deeds are never recognized. We all carry on our work and responsibilities, working hard at doing the right thing because we care and we are people of integrity…that’s what real leadership is all about.”

While no one works solely with hope of recognition as motivation, Sawatzky said recognition is important “to pause and honor these individuals …and to say thank you to the students who are leaders, scholars, athletes, volunteers, dramatists, future nurses, future teachers, tutors, theologians and advocates.”

She also noted that such students “set the bar high for students around them” and provide “motivation, energy and meaning to us as professional staff … You are what makes EMU not just a good place to work and learn, but a great place.”

Language and Literature Department

Department chair presented the following awards, which honor former faculty members and current scholars:

Nathan Peters was awarded the Jay B. Landis Award for Excellence in Literary Studies.

Naomi Scoville was given the Omar Eby Writing Award and the James R. Bomberger Award for Excellence in TESOL.

English education major Rebekah Hertzler earned the Carroll Yoder Award for Teaching Excellence.

The Ervie L. Glick Award for Excellence in World Language Study was given to Teresa Garcia-Bautista, who Medley said “has exhibited academic excellence and a clear sense of calling in using her studies in graduate studies and service to the church.”

Kari King, who was the student representative on the faculty search committee, earned The Ray Elvin Horst Award for Excellence in Spanish.

Education Department

Teachers of Promise Institute are Austin Mumaw, Erin Nafziger, Isaac Driver, Malea Gascho and Ruthie Beck.

The “Courage to Teach” Award was presented to Angelica Diaz.

Psychology Department

The Exemplary Achievement in Psychology: Service and Scholarship was awarded to senior Brooke Lacock, co-president of the Psychology Club, for her impact on the and the campus as a whole, said Professor .

Mackenzie Lapp and Rachel Bowman earned the G.R. Lehman Outstanding Achievement in Research award for their “exceptional dedication” to their senior research projects. Koop praised their “intellectual curiousity and dogged persistence” and predicted future graduate school success.

All three students are among nine psychology majors at the Virginia Association for Psychological Science annual conference April 20-22, 2016, in Newport News, Virginia.

Science Department

Outstanding Second-Year Biology Student was awarded to Samantha L. Kauffman by Professor

Eyan P. Roth and Hannah L. Weaver were named Outstanding Senior Biology Students, especially impressive, said Professor , as both are transfer students and “distinguished themselves in the two years they’ve been here.”

Professor recognized three students: senior , for his entry into the Student Research Competition of the Special Interest Group in Computer Science Education; and first-year students Claire J. Waedelich and Carolann G. Wengerd for their poster presentations at Capitol Region Celebration of Women In Computing. Wengerd earned a third-place award at the undergraduate level.

Three students, all absent on their cross-cultural trip this semester, were recognized. was named Outstanding Senior Chemistry Student. Janaya M. Sachs earned an award for excellence in research. Maria R. Yoder was recognized as Outstanding First-Year Chemistry Student.

Nursing Department

Jess Rheinheimer was recognized by Professor for academic excellence in n studies. Recently named , Rheinheimer is a member of the Honors Program and has been inducted into Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honors Society.

Ann Marie Bauer was awarded the , which recognizes student-nurses who exemplify EMU’s “sacred covenant” model : service, empathy, agape love, empowerment, and faith.

Recognition for servant leadership went to Louise Krall, co-president of the Student Nurses Association.

Bible and Religion Department

Professor named the winners of the essay contest as Bekah York and Christian Hershey, sharing first place and a $500 cash prize, and Christian Parks, who won $100, for their scholarly work. Haverim is the alumni group of the department.

Theater Department

Professor recognized Clara Bush, MaKayla Baker and Caleb Townsend for their nominations for the Irene Ryan Acting Competition by the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. All three are members of the cast of “,” currently in its final run on campus.

Multicultural Services

Oksana Kittrell, Tae Dews and Christian Parks�� were the student leaders for the first that traveled over spring break. Christian Parks and Philip Watson planned and implemented the first on campus. Londen Wheeler, minister of music, and Christian Parks, choir director, provided leadership to the gospel choir. Brittany Williams, Oksana Kittrell, Kendi Mwongo, Tae Dews and Makora Nyagwegwe led efforts in organizing the first President’s Ball.�� Delight Tigoe and Lynne Cha led the Alpha Omega Dancers for Christ.

Residence Life

Resident director recognized three-year Community Assistants , Andrew Yoder and Sam Stoner, and also senior returning Community Assistants, Valerie Meza-Cooper and Londen Wheeler. Community assistants live and serve in the residence halls.

Academic Success Center

Director presented certificates of thanks to the following student-graduates who provided services in the : Alex Bender (two years, computer science tutor), Tylar Burgdorf (one year, receptionist), Giulio Garner (two years, Spanish tutor), Stephan Goertzen (one year, computer science tutor), Brielle Hoch (four years receptionist), Andrea King (fpur years receptionist and tutor), Jaclyn Kratz (three years, math tutor), Isaac Mast (one year, computer science tutor), Lauren Sauder (one year, writing and economics tutor), and Andrew Yoder (two years, economics tutor).

Kristy Wertz, a two-year nursing tutor, was recognized as Tutor of the Year.

Student Programs

Common Grounds Coffeehouse management team this year was Rachel Schrock, events manager; Abby Dwyer, operations manager; Brianna Kauffman, finance manager; and Valerie Meza-Cooper, catering manager.

Timothy Callahan, Juan Luna and Kegan Yoder served on the Recreation Sports Leadership Council, which oversaw the nearly 500 members of the campus community involved in intermural sports. Terry Dotson and Colton Frey were the Game Room Leadership Council, which helped to set the budget and make decisions regarding programs and offerings for the approximately 2,500 visitors who used the game room this year.

Campus Ministries

, undergraduate campus pastor, recognized ministry assistants in the residence halls:�� Megan Bishop, Perry Blosser, Sarah Boshart, Heyrin (Lynn) Cha, Dylan Grove, Abe Hartzler, Oksana Kittrell, Keyri Lopez-Godoy, Luis Longo, Jasmine Miller, Lydia Musselman, Da’Jahnea Robinson, Austin Sachs and Janet Spain.

Pastoral assistants, who support the MAs, are Jonathan Augsberger, Amanda Helfrich, Christina Hershey, Jolee Paden, Grayson Mast, Lydia Tissue, Courtney Unruh and Wesley Wilder.

Leadership Effectiveness and Development (LEAD) Series II Certificate of Completion

The following students completed a leadership seminar series: Brittany Williams, Alex Miller, Abby Dwyer, Meg Green, Hannah Heishman, Rachel Schrock, Grantley Showalter, Olga Balthazar, Delight Tigoe, Malachi Bontrager, Cameron White, Rediet Girma, Gillian Zehr, Ben Zook, Kegan Yoder, Tae Dews, Oksana Kittrell, Richard Robinson, Mario Hernandez, Alejandra Tejada Rivera, Jesse Reist, Jonae Guest, Makora Nyagwegwe and Heyrin Cha.

Student Government leaders and athletes in winter and spring sports who had earned honors (see w) were also recognized.

Editor’s Note: The following Visual and Communication Arts students were recognized in a separate ceremony April 22: Styer Scholarship, Azariah Cox; photography, Jonathan Bush; studio, Brooke Lacock; video, Jonathan Bush and Caleb Schlabach; and motion graphics, Rachel Cardwell.