They’re among 草莓社区’s most outstanding students, exemplifying the school’s highest ideals.

Ten EMU seniors, nominated by faculty, staff and fellow students, were named this year’s “Cords of Distinction” recipients in an awards ceremony at the close of chapel Friday, Apr. 22. They will wear the gold and blue cords as they graduate on May 1, 2005.

Blue represents the strength of conviction that one person can help to create a better institution or community. Gold represents the love of spirit and yearning towards creating a better university environment or community in which all may take part.

The students were cited for their “significant and verifiable impact” on the 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.

The “Cords of Distinction” recipients are (seated, l. to r.): Zonia P. Cofer, Philadelphia, Pa., liberal arts major with minor in psychology; Ogomegbunam (Ogo) C. Nwankwo, Enugu, Nigeria, biology with minor in psychology; Leah N. Meja, Nairobi, Kenya, international business with minor in computer information systems; Shannon Q. Terranova, Arnold, Md., liberal arts with minor in theater.

(Standing, l. to r.): Jason L. Good, Washington, D.C., environmental science and international agriculture with minor in Spanish; Peter M. Sensenig, Lancaster, Pa., culture, religion and mission with minors in philosophy and TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language; Kevin D. Docherty, Broadway, Va., applied sociology and history; John M. Neiswander, Millersburg, Ohio, business administration with minors in accounting and Spanish; and Davi R. Soesilo, Malang, Indonesia, psychology, communication and theater .

Missing from photo: Jill P. Leaman, Lancaster, Pa., liberal arts and elementary education licensure with minor in Spanish.

Spanish came alive on the auditorium stage at Harrisonburg High School Monday, Nov. 22, for members of a Hispanic theater class at 草莓社区.

The seven EMU class members presented two one-act plays completely in Spanish for more than 100 members of a Spanish club at Harrisonburg High at the invitation of Phil Yutzy, Spanish instructor at the school. For all but four members of the club, Spanish is their native language, Yutzy noted.

The EMU group opened with "El censo," by Mexican playwright Emilio Carballido, a comedy with political overtones, followed by "Lafuerza de la debilidad," a lighthearted sketch by Emilio Gallegos del Campo of Ecuador.

Emily D. Benner, an EMU sophomore from Pennsburg, Pa., welcomed the opportunity to give the plays in Spanish to the high school group, saying "we value them enough to make a serious effort to provide entertainment that moves outside our own culture.

"I kept imagining what it might be like to see a play performed in English by persons whose first language is other than English," Benner said.

Emily Benner as Dona Pilar employs reverse psychology on Don Severo in "La fuerza de la debilidad."
Photo by Jim Bishop

Jesse W. Yoder, an EMU sophomore from Lancaster, Pa., said that in delivering lines in Spanish his group "had to learn certain nuances that you seldom pay attention to in your own language . . . Certain intonations are also necessary to learn and appropriate to use in this context."

Other theater class participants were: Jenny R. Hartwig, Keezletown, Va.; Sarah C. Dick, New Paris, Ind.; Sarah E. Buller, Goshen, Ind.; John M. Neiswander, Millersburg, Ohio; Andrew F. Intagliata, Phoenix, Ariz.; and Carissa L. Bazzle, Harrisonburg.

Ray E. Horst, who retired in spring 2003 after 12 years as a Spanish professor in the department at EMU, taught the Hispanic theater class fall semester.