Catherine Mumaw

Catherine R. Mumaw, a 1954 EMU graduate and veteran educator from Corvallis, Ore., and a former Harrisonburg, Va., resident, received EMU’s 2006 “alumna of the year” award during the Sunday morning worship service of homecoming and family weekend.

The award is presented annually to a graduate who has been recognized for significant achievements in their profession, community or church.

of Lansdale, Pa., a fellow member of the graduating class of 1954, received the “distinguished service award,” also during the homecoming service.

The annual “distinguished service” award seeks to recognize graduates who have demonstrated in notable ways the Christian service and peacemaking emphases of the university.

Catherine R. Mumaw, alumna of the year

Dr. Mumaw, a home economics graduate of EMU, returned to teach courses in that discipline at her alma mater, 1957-74. She earned a master’s degree in 1958 and a PhD in 1967 from Penn State University.

She was professor and chair of the home economics department at Goshen (IN) College, 1974-86, and served as associate professor in the Human Development and Family Studies department at Oregon State University, 1987-95.

Through OSU, she helped Bunda College of Agriculture in Malawi update their home economics and human nutrition programs and took part in a faculty exchange program with Avinashilingam Deemed University in India.

Mumaw retired early from OSU to work in Nepal. From 1995-99, through Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), she was an education adviser for Kathmandu University School of Education. There, she and her colleagues worked to improve education especially in Nepal’s primary schools.

While in Nepal, she served twice as a technical adviser for the Asia-Pacific region of the Food and Agricultural Organization, which developed distance education programs for rural women in Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

In retirement, Mumaw keeps up with international friends, sings in a church choir, does amateur photography, serves on the International Federation of Home Economics’ Congress Committee that is preparing for its hundredth anniversary meeting in 2008 in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Having traveled to all the major continents and over 40 different countries, she has embarked on a new journey – as a newlywed. She married Clair Basinger of Harrisonburg, Va., on Oct. 14, 2005.

Mumaw is a daughter of the late John R. Mumaw, who was president of EMU 1948-65.

Claude Good

Claude Good, distinguished service award

Good and his wife, Alice Longenecker Good, also a member of the class of 1954, lived among the Triqui Indians in Mexico for 25 years while translating the New Testament into their language.

With intestinal worms a major medical problem among the children they served, Good looked for ways to treat malnutrition caused by roundworms that can devour 25-30 percent of the food eaten by a child each day.

His investigations resulted in the “Worm Project” (), a medical treatment that, for about two cents a pill, can eradicate most parasitic worms in a child for up to six months.

“We hope to have at least 12 million pills distributed by the end of 2006 in about 70 countries,” Good noted, adding a wish that his receiving the “distinguished service award” will “help publicize something that the world truly needs.”

As part of his work with the Worm Project, Good frequently addresses groups who might contribute financially; these audiences sometimes include school-age groups. His soft and easy manner, as well as his general appearances, has resulted in his being dubbed “Mr. Rodgers.”

Good continues to work with international students from the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University, connecting them with families and churches in the Philadelphia area. He also has an international scripture ministry in the Souderton (PA) Mennonite Church where he and his wife are members.

It happens around the second weekend in October each year – scores of former 草莓社区 students return to campus and reconnect with friends and former classmates.

More than a thousand EMU alumni and parents of students are expected to continue that tradition Oct. 13-15, 2006 as they gather to celebrate on the theme, "Setting the Stage: Service & Song."

Among the myriad events scheduled are "EMU on Stage," with performances by students, faculty and alumni, interspersed with humorous skits from the theater department 8 p.m. Fri., Oct. 13 in Lehman Auditorium.

Mennofolk Music

"," a festival of acoustic musicians with Mennonite connections or roots, will provide the main entertainment at this year’s homecoming event.

The Cincinnati-based duo "Over the Rhine" will present a concert 9 p.m. Saturday in Lehman Auditorium. Fifteen other acts – folk, jazz, blues, traditional bluegrass and a capella – will perform at three locations on campus from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday.

Some of the artists also will perform at three locations in downtown Harrisonburg on Friday night.

A dinner and commemorative reunion marking 85 years of the (YPCA), the oldest student-led Christian service and leadership development organization on campus, will be held 5 p.m. Oct. 14 in the University Commons. Reservations are required.

A worship service 10 a.m. Oct. 15 in Lehman Auditorium will have a music and scripture emphasis. Recipients of the (Catherine Mumaw) and (Claude Good, both members of the class of ’54) will be recognized during the service.

Traditional homecoming features will include reunions 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 14 for graduating years ending in a "1" or "6," from 1961 to 2001. The "Jubilee Alumni," persons who attended EMU 50 years ago or more, will hold a luncheon and program at 11:30 a.m. that day at the Eastern Mennonite High School dining room.

David Batstone, an entrepreneur, senior editor of "Worthwhile" magazine and professor of social ethics at the University of San Francisco, will speak at the business and economics department breakfast meeting 8 a.m. Oct. 14 during homecoming weekend.

Breakfast meetings will be held Saturday morning for alumni and friends of the business and economics department; nursing department, the science department, Bible and religion department (Haverim), the music department (Encore!) and the language and literature department.

Outstanding alumni athletes will be recognized at a "hall of honor" breakfast Saturday morning. This year’s inductees are Jill Basinger Mullet of Berlin, Ohio, who played basketball and volleyball, 1981-84; and Tim Cressman from Scottdale, Pa., a track and field standout, 1988-91.

History major and pre-law minor alumni and other interested persons are invited to a special luncheon meeting 12:30 p.m. Oct. 14 to hear guest speakers address vocational, ethical and theological themes within a law-related course of study and career. A new student-led law society, "Res Judicata," is developing on campus in connection with EMU’s pre-law minor.

An art exhibit featuring works by Barb Gaucher, an art teacher at Eastern Mennonite High School, will be on display in the of Hartzler Library. A reception for the artist will be held 2:30-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14.

Varsity field hockey, women’s volleyball and men’s and women’s soccer games are scheduled on Saturday, preceded by a Loyal Royals "fun run" 7:30 a.m. Saturday at the EMU track.

Activities Include Golf Classic

The Paul R. Yoder, Sr., Memorial Golf Classic will be held Fri., Oct. 13 with start times at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the Spotswood Country Club in Harrisonburg.

Special activities for children (kindergarten through fifth grade) and youth (grades 6 through 9) are scheduled at various times Saturday, and childcare for infants through age 5 will be provided during reunions and at other designated times.

The registration desk in the University Commons will be open 3-10 p.m. Fri., Oct. 13, and 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat., Oct. 14.

"It is a totally new venture for EMU to host a ‘Mennofolk’ event on campus as a part of Homecoming and Family Weekend," said Douglas Nyce, director of alumni-parent relations. "We believe that it will be an attraction for many alumni families, as well as for the Harrisonburg/Rockingham community and beyond.

"Hosting a reunion for the Young People’s Christian Association will also be special, because so many EMU alumni took part in YPCA programs during their years as student," Nyce added. "We look forward to seeing many old friends as well as families of current students here on campus. There will be something for everyone to enjoy!"

For more information, go to www.emu.edu/homecoming/, call the alumni office at (540) 432-4245 or e-mail alumni@emu.edu.