EMU at Lancaster proudly celebrated the achievements of 45 graduates across its undergraduate and graduate programs at the ceremony, held at Forest Hills Mennonite Church in Leola, Pennsylvania, where it conferred 11 bachelor of science degrees (including six in the aviation program), seven master of arts degrees in education, and 27 graduate certificates.

The Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus, vice president for student affairs, equity, and belonging at EMU, delivered the Commencement address. Dycus, who has spent 15 years working in learning communities and ministry settings, including the past six years at EMU, will begin her role as interim president of the university on July 1. She shared words of celebration and encouragement with the graduates, and recognized how they adapted, stretched, and sacrificed to complete their studies.

“You completed assignments with children on your lap, took exams during night shifts, joined Zoom classes between caregiving and work,” she said. “You have balanced more than books. You have raised families, worked jobs, navigated change, and carried responsibility, all while pursuing a vision that wouldn’t let go. You returned to the classroom not because it was easy, but because it mattered.”

That theme of persistence and perseverance was also expressed by EMU President Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman in her welcome remarks, reflecting on how many graduates—immersed in their coursework during the COVID-19 pandemic—demonstrated remarkable fortitude and resilience, while testing the bonds of what it means to be a supportive community of learners. Huxman, EMU’s first woman president and its first academic president, is retiring this year after nine years at the helm.

Four members of the graduating class provided perspectives from their time at EMU at Lancaster.

Jill Jones, who earned a graduate certificate in trauma and resilience in educational environments, shared how a breast cancer diagnosis and a decision to transition from teaching kindergartners to preschoolers in a Head Start program led her to EMU at Lancaster. She first scrolled past an ad for the graduate program on her Facebook feed, but when it kept appearing—and a friend texted her suggesting she apply—she decided to take a chance.

“What I found was the most amazing learning experience I have ever encountered: classes with students and professors who were as passionate about teaching others about trauma as I was, connections and relationships with people not only from all over the country but also in different countries, and courses that were so interesting I couldn’t wait to learn more and share what I had learned,” she said. “This program not only made me a better teacher but also a better person, and I use what I learned in this program daily in my classroom and life. It breathed back into me my love of teaching, with my only regret being that I didn’t do it sooner.”

A pair of graduates from the aviation program, Griffin Snyder and Ella Hickey, spoke about their commitment as a class to see everyone succeed. Snyder said they’ve not only learned how to operate aircraft but also how to manage pressure, assess risk, and lead with professionalism. He credited the program with cultivating essential skills in discipline, communication, and perseverance. “At EMU Lancaster, it’s not just about earning our certificates and ratings,” he said. “It’s about the community we built along the way. Together, we have celebrated milestones, supported each other through challenges, and pushed one another to be our best.”

Behind every successful pilot is a team, Hickey said, whether it’s instructors, classmates, or the aviation community. “There was never any hesitation if someone needed help, we were there,” she said, describing late-night study sessions and endless phone calls with classmates. “We showed up for each other in a selfless way, balancing our own goals with a genuine commitment to seeing everyone succeed.”

Wesley Morgan, who earned a BS in Leadership and Organizational Management, spoke about the challenge of balancing coursework with other responsibilities. “All of us have full-time jobs, families, and homes to take care of, and chose to add ‘student’ to the many hats we have been wearing over the past two years,” he said, recalling a time writing a paper at the hospital while his wife and newborn were asleep.

He found support through his cohort in the LOM degree completion program. “We all met together weekly, all had the same assignments, and this meant we were all a part of each other’s lives for the two years we were together,” Morgan said. “We were not just classmates, we became friends as we worked together, struggled together, and learned together. It was a privilege to be a part of this program with the cohort we had.”

EMU at Lancaster offers undergraduate and graduate academic programs and professional development programs to help students excel in today’s workforce.

Meghan Shober performed the prelude for the ceremony. Janet Lind, member of the EMU Board of Trustees, led the opening prayer of invocation. Dr. Tynisha Willingham, provost and vice president of academic affairs at EMU, presented and commissioned the graduates. Dr. David Martin, director of graduate teacher education, and Derek Kline, director of the aviation program, distributed diploma covers to the graduates. EMU President Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman conferred the degrees and provided the Commencement blessing. 

An estimated 3,000 people attended the ceremony to celebrate the graduates.

The Rev. Dr. Lesley Francisco McClendon, senior pastor of C3 Hampton and adjunct instructor at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, delivered the Commencement address. She encouraged graduates to live into the instruction of Micah 6:8, the guiding verse foundational to EMU’s mission: “What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?” As they leave campus, McClendon urged them to carry that call into a lifelong journey of discovery in the world.

McClendon also serves as a member of the Mennonite Church USA Executive Board and as an instructor at Duke Divinity School. She is the founder of Herstoric Inc., a nonprofit organization committed to empowering leaders of all backgrounds to discover their voice, lead with confidence, and leave a lasting impact. 

“The world doesn’t just need more professionals, it needs more compassionate, just, and humble leaders. And I have no doubt that’s exactly who you are,” she told graduates. “You are ambassadors of hope, agents of change, and bearers of light in a world that desperately needs it.”

Undergraduates Jason Dwyer and Adesola Johnson and MA graduate Getachew Temare presented the graduate perspectives.

For a longer summary of the Commencement address and the graduate perspectives, visit the post below.

EMU President Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman presided over the ceremony—her final commencement as university president before retiring later this year.

Cords of Distinction

Ten graduating EMU seniors were honored as Cords of Distinction recipients in a ceremony on Tuesday, April 29, at Martin Chapel. The award recognizes graduating seniors who have made outstanding contributions to the university, community, and society over the course of their college careers.

Senior Celebration

Members of the Class of 2025 gathered for  Senior Celebration on Thursday, May 1, at the EMU Discipleship Center. The graduating seniors shared a meal, socialized, played games, snapped a group photo, and received an inspiring message from EMU President Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman. “Since I announced my retirement earlier this year, I’m really glad to be graduating with the Class of 2025,” she told them. 

Reflecting on the seismic changes and challenges from 2021 to 2025, she praised the graduates for showing “a lot of resolve, a lot of resilience, and a lot of adaptability—those qualities will serve you well wherever you go, through thick and thin.”

Lavender Graduation

EMU hosted its fourth annual Lavender Graduation on Friday, May 2, in the Old Common Grounds space (University Commons 177). The event honors LGBTQ+ graduates and alumni and celebrates their unique experiences, achievements, and contributions to the university.

Nursing Pinning Ceremony

Seventeen new nursing graduates were recognized at a pinning and commissioning ceremony on Saturday, May 3, at Lehman Auditorium. Receiving the nursing pin symbolizes graduates’ completion of their education, their entry into the nursing profession, and their commitment to providing compassionate care.

Donning of the Kente

Tears were shed, laughs were shared, and hugs were held as 38 graduates were honored at EMU’s 10th annual Donning of the Kente Ceremony on Saturday afternoon in the MainStage Theater. The cultural ceremony celebrates graduates who recognize their African and international roots.

Baccalaureate: Graduate Celebration and Sending

Members of the Class of 2025 were honored at the Baccalaureate: Graduate Celebration and Sending service on Saturday evening in Lehman Auditorium. The ceremony included presidential and faculty addresses, senior class salutations, and the presentation of the senior class gift, as well as moments of prayer, music, and poetry from graduates. The service offered graduates an opportunity to pause and reflect on their journey as they prepare their hearts and spirit for what lies ahead. 

CJP Celebration of Blessings

The Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP) at EMU sent 13 graduates off into the world with words of affirmation and reflection at its annual Celebration of Blessings on Sunday, May 4, in Martin Chapel. CJP faculty and staff members provided words of tribute for each graduate, and three graduates shared how their experiences at CJP transformed them.

Carnival Day

Commencement week kicked off on Monday, April 28, with a full afternoon of fun, food, and festivities. Carnival Day, held at the University Commons parking lot, featured inflatable bouncy houses, a petting zoo, a dunk tank, and sweet treats from Smiley’s Ice Cream, compliments of the President’s Office. 

“Today is the first day of finals week, and we wanted to give students an opportunity to relax,” said EMU President Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman. “And you know what, this gives me a chance to meet with them and talk with them a little bit.”

EMU at Lancaster will hold its Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 9, at 7 p.m. at Forest Hills Mennonite Church in Leola, Pennsylvania. Stay tuned for a recap of the Lancaster ceremony coming soon!

The baccalaureate service offers graduates an opportunity to pause and reflect on their journey as they prepare their hearts and spirit for what lies ahead. “It is a moment to look back with pride and to look forward with courage,” said Dr. Tynisha Willingham, provost and vice president of academic affairs, in her welcome. The graduates were joined by family members, friends, supporters, and EMU faculty, staff, and administrators to celebrate their achievements.

EMU President Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman, in her address “You are Salt of the Earth and Light to the World!”, reflected on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and offered three lessons: be other-centered, not me-centered; pay attention to the redemptive love offered all around you, even in brokenness; and step out of your comfort zone and build bridges to solve societal problems.

“My wish for you, Class of 2025, is that you vanquish your fears as you become shakers of salt and beacons of light in your homes, your neighborhoods, your churches, your workplaces, and your communities,” Huxman said.

Huxman, who has served as EMU’s ninth president for the past nine years, is retiring this year. Throughout her two terms, she has worked diligently to help EMU fulfill its Anabaptist mission, inspired by Micah 6:8, to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

Chad Gusler, associate professor of language and literature, delivered the faculty address titled “The Sound of Your Love Saying Goodbye.” In his humorous and enlightening message to graduates, the wordsmith reflected on monsters, recounting childhood memories of living near a fantastical, kid-eating monster, and how he later transformed into a tickle monster for his own children. “But here’s the truth: I’m not the only monster in this room,” he said. “You all are monsters, graduating with a BA in monsterhood.”

“You show us, professors, administrators, all the parents out there, who we are,” Gusler said. “Because monsters are mirrors, reflecting the best, and sometimes even the worst, of us. So check your limbs, walk without fear, and embrace your monstrosity.”

Mana Acosta and Meredith Lehman, senior class co-presidents, provided the senior class salutations, reflecting on their experiences as EMU students. Acosta, a Cords of Distinction recipient, spoke about the beauty of transition and of the “gravity to leaving a place” and saying goodbye.

“Some of us are headed into jobs, grad school, or that uncertain place in between,” she said. “But no matter where we land, we carry something from EMU: the quiet belief that we are responsible to the world around us. We’ve learned that justice isn’t only an idea, it’s a habit you practice, and that hope isn’t soft, it’s stubborn. So here we are, standing at the edge of something new. It’s going to be scary, but we’re not doing it alone.”

Lehman, the first EMU student to receive the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, spent the spring semester at the Washington Community Scholars’ Center. She reflected on how living so close to the “upheaval and chaos” in Washington, D.C., taught her an important lesson: “There are people who care, working in quiet persistence” to fight injustice. “There are networks of resistance all around the world, whether you see them or not. This school has prepared us all to be those people.”

“The world needs you desperately,” Lehman told the graduates. “I wait in eager anticipation to see all of my fellow graduates emerge from this institution with vigor, hope, and vision for the world.”

Aja Laun, senior class business manager, and Iris Anderson, senior class secretary, presented the senior class gift to Huxman. The undergraduate Class of 2025 raised money for improvements to the “grasscrete” pathway between the Sadie Hartzler Library and University Commons.

Graduates received an EMU pin representing the wisdom they’ve shared and the investment and commitment they’ve made during their time as students. They were encouraged to wear the pin at Commencement and beyond to celebrate their EMU experience.

Following the service, the graduates, their families, and EMU faculty and staff were invited to a President’s Reception held in the Campus Center Greeting Hall. The event provided an opportunity for graduates and family members to meet with faculty, staff, and administrators, mingle with one another while they remained on campus, and enjoy refreshments.

The ceremony featured piano music from Mikayla Pettus ’25 and adjunct faculty member Harold Bailey, singing from Emma Nord ’25 and Cassidy Williams ’25, and a poetry reading from Alexis Lewis ’25.  Marciella Shallomita ’25 led the prayer of invocation. Professors Dr. Kevin Seidel and Dr. Timothy Seidel, senior class advisors, read scripture passages from Micah 6:6-8 and Matthew 5:1-16. Jonathan Swartz, dean of students, offered the reflection and ritual, and Brian Martin Burkholder, university chaplain, provided the sending blessing.