Faculty, staff and fellow students nominated the recipients, who were cited for their “significant and verifiable impact” on 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 .

They wore gold and blue cords as they graduated on Sunday, April 28.

Blue represents strength of conviction that one person can help to create a better institution or community. Gold represents the love of spirit and yearning toward creating a better university environment or community.

2013 recipients

• Nels Akerson, a biology degree recipient from Harrisonburg, Va.
• Michael Allen, a liberal arts degree recipient from Fork Union, Va.
• Jossimar Diaz-Castro, a philosophy and theology degree recipient from Harrisonburg, Va.
• Ryan Eshleman, a philosophy and theoogy and biology degree recipient from Harrisonburg, Va.
• Darian Harnish, an accounting degree recipient from Manheim, Pa.
• Josh Kanagy, a psychology degree recipient from Harrisonburg, Va.
• Julia Schmidt, a history degree recipient from Pandora, Ohio.
• Hannah Schrock, a biology degree recipient from Kalona, Ia.
• Kelley Schroder, a music degree recipient from Leesburg, Va.
• James Souder, an environmental sustainability degree recipient from Harrisonburg, Va.

On March 13, 2013, the EMU president’s cabinet approved the conflict-free resolution presented by Eastern Mennonite’s Conflict-Free Campus Initiative. The resolution states that the university “will support companies that use conflict-free minerals, specifically in the area of hardware-technology purchasing and consumption.”

Conflict minerals include: gold, tin, tungsten and tantalum. These minerals come from areas of violence and conflict, specifically the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). These minerals are used in cell phones and laptop computers and can finance multiple armed groups, many of whom use violent and inhumane methods to capture areas rich in minerals, possibly facilitating more conflict.

EMU is the first Mennonite higher-education institution to sign the initiative. Other participating schools include Stanford, Duke, Emory and the University of Pennsylvania.

The Conflict-Free Campus Initiative on campus was founded by Josh Kanagy, a senior psychology major from Timberville, Va., and Julia Schmidt, a senior history major from Pandora, Ohio, in the spring of 2012.

“I would love to see this movement continue to spread and ultimately see an end to the war in the Congo,” said Schmidt in an interview with The Weathervane, EMU’s student-run newspaper.

Original story courtesy Chris Yoder, staff writer for The Weathervane.

Emily Harnish, a senior from Strasburg, Pa., won first place with her speech, “Lessons from the hymnal in an election season.” In her speech, Harnish explains her anger over the non-peaceful manner of politics during the 2012 election and how the hymn, “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence,” made her think about peace in a new way.

“When I remember that my citizenship is in heaven, I am able to look past disagreements about politics,” said Harnish.

“When I take seriously the hymn’s command to give Christ all reverence and honor, I am able to move closer to living in peaceful relationships with my neighbors. This first stanza helped me understand that peacebuilding requires humility, that humans have limits, and that peace and wholeness come from something outside of humanity. It reminded me to keep silence, to be slow to speak, and slow to become angry.”

As a first-place winner, she will receive a cash prize and entry in the bi-national competition with winners from other Mennonite colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

Rebekah Enns, a senior from Winnipeg, Manitoba, was one of two runners-up with her speech, “Language as Lived Reality: Developing a Discourse of Peace.” Enns discussed the power of words to “legitimize and delegitimize violence and to build societies of peace.”

“At least 43 percent of American Muslims undergo some form of discrimination or violence because of their religion every year. And while they only make up one percent of the American public, American Muslims are victims of 13 percent of hate crimes in the U.S.

“Through discourse, we, us, everyday people have the power to create systems of peace.”

Josh Kanagy, a senior from Timberville, Va., was the other runner-up with his speech, “Molding Peace Within: Reflections of a Recovering Workaholic.” Kanagy restructured his daily schedule to match his priorities, “refraining from responsibilities that overwhelmed me.”

“There’s nothing heroic about suffering alone. As illustrated by Thomas Merton, ‘This is about more than self-care, this is about molding yourself and your environment to support your capacity to thrive.'”

Kanagy urged those in attendance to, “Seek your passion, your freely chosen task.”

C. Henry Smith Oratorical Contest

The annual oratorical event, open to students in Mennonite and Brethren in Christ universities and colleges in Canada and the United States, is administered by Peace and Justice Ministries of U.S.

Each speaker applied the Christian peace position to a contemporary concern in an 8-10 minute address.

The contest was established in 1974 in honor of the late C. Henry Smith, a Mennonite historian and professor at Goshen College and Bluffton University.

Other 2013 contestants

• Corben Boshart, “Seeking Unity in the Mennonite Church”
• James Souder, “Redistributing Food, An Opportunity for Peace”
• Jossimar Díaz-Castro, “A Christian, Democratic Immigrant Witness & Participation Today”
• Mariah Elliott, “Are You Who You Say You Are?”
• Taylor Waidelich, “Restoring Justice to Educational Discipline”

The 20-year-old sophomore made sure she attended the annual Fall Harvest Local Meal last week, if only because many of her friends were raving about it.

“It’s one of the most popular meals of the year,” she said.

Students, faculty, staff and visitors line up to partake of the yearly celebration of everything local: produce, meat, herbs and even the music playing through the speakers — all produced no farther away than Waynesboro, and mostly in Harrisonburg or Rockingham County.

Over the past five years, the meal has become a well-received tradition on campus.

“I’m not really on a meal plan, but I make it a point to come,” said senior James Souder, 22.

“We always make sure we come,” echoed , assistant to , who donated an array of peppers from his city garden.

provided radishes and potatoes, cabbage came from Hickory Hill Farm in Keezletown and Showalter’s Orchard and Greenhouse provided apple cider, to name a few of the event’s farmer participants.

Even the canola oil was local, derived from .

“The interest that the community gives us, it’s what makes it worthwhile,” said Ramona Lantz, serving and catering manager at the university, on a short break from practically running around the buzzing dining hall.

Every month, the cafeteria provides a themed meal.

“This is by far the most popular,” Lantz said.

The event was one of the first of the annual Food and Farming Week at EMU, put on by , a student group that aims to encourage and start environmentally friendly practices around campus.

Students learned how to bake bread in residence hall last week. They took a tour of Broadway farm Avalon Acres and various campus gardens. And that’s just a sampling of the week’s events.

“This [meal] is something that students really look forward to,” said Josh Kanagy, co-president of Earthkeepers, while eating his own locally grown meal.

Courtesy Daily News Record, Oct. 9, 2012

Katie Jantzen, co-leader of , said the overall goal of the mini-grants was to encourage the campus community to think more proactively about steps they can take to initiate efforts.

“We see these projects as a way of helping to support sustainability initiatives on campus that may not otherwise happen due to lack of funds,” said Jantzen. “Selection was based on the impact the project would have on the EMU community, student initiative, feasibility of implementation, and a diversity of ideas.”

Changes around campus

Projects to receive funding include a $400 grant for an LED theater light fixture for the Technical Theater class; $250 for compost bins in 15 lounge and kitchen areas across campus, submitted by , web content manager and strategist; $125 to purchase local food to reinforce learning in a food writing workshop, submitted by , assistant professor in and the departments; $125 for compost bins in residence halls, submitted by sophomore Christine Baer; and a $100 grant for raspberry hedges as edible landscaping near Northlawn residence hall, introduced by the .

“We hope that our funding can be the initial impetus to get many of the projects off and running as they expand in scope and influence,” said Jantzen.

Winning projects were selected by a committee composed of , sustainability coordinator, , Earthkeepers faculty advisor, Jantzen and co-leader Josh Kanagy and members of Earthkeepers.

Earthkeepers, and the quality enhancement plan sponsored the mini-grants.

About Earthkeepers

The mission of Earthkeepers is to encourage, simplify and implement environmentally friendly practices around the campus community by following Christ’s example of holistic redemption by pursuing sustainable attitudes and practices, according to their website. In addition, Earthkeepers have helped fund composting and recycling programs, edible landscaping and The Bicycle Cooperative.

More information on Creation Care Council and sustainability practices at EMU can be found at .

Sponsored by the, the event encourages students to learn about farming practices while gaining important information on how to live and farm sustainably.

“Food and Farming week provides EMU students the chance to engage area farmers, enjoy locally grown foods and even learn methods for preserving and preparing foods, skills that will last a lifetime. said , professor of biology at EMU.

Baking Bread — Monday at 6 p.m., Cedarwood, second floor kitchen

Learn the art of making and baking bread from , associate professor of chemistry. If you plan on attending, contact Katie Jantzen at katie.jantzen@emu.edu. Bring bread pans and mixing bowls if you have them.

Food, Faith and Culture — Tuesday at 8 p.m., Common Grounds coffeehouse

Hear several EMU professors with cross-cultural experience explain the perspectives of various religions and cultures on food, nature and the environment. A discussion and snack consisting of Monday’s homemade bread will be provided.

Local Farm Tour — Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., meet outside University Commons

Tour Season’s Bounty Farm and CSA, operated by Radell Schrock, class of ‘01.

Local Meal — Thursday, 5-7 p.m., Northlawn dining hall

Enjoy local fare from area farms and gardens.

Canning with Sustainable Food Initiative — Friday, 7 p.m., Cedarwood second floor kitchen

Learn how to can your favorite fruits and vegetables to enjoy year round.

About Earthkeepers

Earthkeepers’ mission is to act in and around the EMU community to encourage, simplify, and implement environmentally friendly practices, such as recycling, composting, reducing waste, and monitoring water quality in the Harrisonburg area.

Earthkeepers club members also participate in many other events and activities throughout the year, such as hiking trips, field trips, and organizing guest speakers.

For more information on Food and Farming Week, contact EMU students Katie Jantzen at katie.jantzen@emu.edu, or Josh Kanagy at joshua.kanagy@emu.edu.