The success has been broad-based, with grants coming from a diverse range of sources, including federal agencies, foundations, and professional associations. This mix of funding highlights the wide-ranging impact of research and programs at EMU, and positions the university as a leader in multiple fields. The results of these grants have helped support student success initiatives and professional development opportunities, and provide resources for staff and faculty roles. 

Among the notable recent achievements:

• The National Science Foundation (NSF) S-STEM Grant provides scholarships and support services for high-achieving, income-eligible STEM majors. This grant helps create a greater sense of belonging and opens new pathways for students in critical fields. It supports a STEM mentorship program, an eight-week paid internship, free conference attendance, and meets unmet financial need up to $15,000. 
• The HRSA BHWET Mental Health grant provides $25,000 stipends for 59 counseling students in internships from Fall 2025 through Spring 2029, while expanding their partnerships and services to schools and clinical sites in areas such as Page County, Virginia, and Pendleton County, West Virginia. The grant also funds conference registration and travel reimbursement for internship students and provides specialized training in telehealth, integrated behavioral health in primary care, and trauma-informed care.
• A SAMHSA grant addresses mental health support, suicide prevention, and substance abuse prevention and education among EMU undergraduate students. This is a critical initiative that provides vital support services and programming to the campus community. Royals RISE is the name of the program tasked with implementing the grant objectives and goals. 
• A DOJ Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) grant designed to reduce domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking at EMU. The OVW grant is the third iteration of a grant that EMU has had since 2017. Safer Together is the name of the EMU program that collaborates with community and campus partners to enhance its safety.

Foundation and association grants

• The supports interfaith dialogue and religious literacy initiatives that align with EMU’s commitment to peacebuilding and cross-cultural understanding. 
• The Center for Teaching and Learning Enhancement Grant: Funding from the Council for Independent Colleges supports the development and expansion of EMU’s Center for Teaching and Learning, providing faculty with enhanced resources for pedagogical innovation and student success strategies.
• The supports EMU’s distinctive approach to vocation and calling, funding programming that helps students discern their life’s work through the integration of faith, learning, and service. 
• Lilly Endowment Grants support EMU’s commitment to vocation exploration and faith integration in higher education. The university has benefited from many Lilly grants that have enabled innovative programming that connects academic study with personal calling and community service. 
• A Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Grant expands training opportunities for students pursuing chaplaincy and pastoral care ministries, reinforcing EMU’s commitment to holistic care and spiritual formation. This grant, in collaboration with Palm Beach University, funds the training of a Resident as a Certified Educator to teach in EMU’s CPE program and expand its capacity for offering CPE units.

Together, these grants represent more than $5.6 million in support for EMU’s mission-driven work. They affirm the dedication of EMU’s faculty and staff and the potential of its students.

Penny Driediger will provide supervision for chaplain interns at Rockingham Memorial Hospital.

Eastern Mennonite Seminary (EMS) and Rockingham Memorial Hospital (RMH) in Harrisonburg, Va., are working together to train chaplains and pastors to be more compassionate caregivers in the times of crisis.

The hospital recently hired Penny Driediger as a part-time chaplain and Supervisory Education Student. Driediger is a 2008 seminary grad and a course assistant at EMS. She will provide chaplain support at the hospital and supervise chaplain interns at the hospital who are enrolled in the EMS Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program.

“The collaboration between EMS and RMH provides Driediger, and future Supervisory Education Students, with an opportunity to have a foot in both worlds – the clinical world of patient-focused care and the educational world, encouraging the growth and development of clinical pastoral education students,” said Robin Martin, manager of Chaplain Services at RMH.

Step forward for CPE

This step forward for EMS’ Clinical Pastoral Education program means that EMS can provide another level of education for those interested in the chaplain ministry and can provide more opportunities for students who want to go through the first level of the CPE program.

“The 40 percent time position with Rockingham Memorial Hospital represents a shared commitment to pastoral education,” said Kenton Derstine, CPE director at EMS. “It symbolizes the hospital’s confidence in our CPE program and an appreciation for what our chaplain interns have contributed to their patients and staff.”

“For the hospital, this agreement to have a Supervisory Education Student means that we will get an employee with a theological degree and several years of supervised ministry experience,” said Martin, “and someone who has learned active listening and empathic caregiving and is able to reach out in a compassionate pastoral role to connect with others, especially those who are suffering.”

For Driediger, this role seems a perfect fit.

“I have been serving as course assistant for Mentored Ministry and Clinical Pastoral Education at EMS,” Driediger said. “This new role with RMH means I will be continuing my education and further developing my ministry skills and pastoral identity.

” I’m especially excited by the dual role of chaplain and educator for students who are ministering in the hospital,” she stated. “This is a growing edge for me, one that I am embracing with energy and a sense of fulfillment.”

“I am delighted that Penny Driediger has joined our team in this dual capacity of RMH chaplain and EMS/SES student,” Martin said. “Penny’s own skills and gifts allow her to be very effective at coming alongside persons in crisis, in assessing their need and offering just the right note of support.”

“After the first time Penny responded as a chaplain to a real crisis situation, RMH staff members spontaneously stopped me in the hall to say how meaningful her responses had been to those in need. She will be a great asset to our team,” Martin added.

“Clinical Pastoral Education at Eastern Mennonite Seminary is a unique opportunity for theological students, clergy and laypersons to develop their ministry skills and leadership capacity,” said Derstine. “The practical ministry experience students gain in hospitals, retirement communities and congregations during their CPE experience is invaluable to their education as clergy and caregivers.”