The award honors the efforts of graduating students who have made outstanding contributions to the university, community or society.

The Blue cord represents strength of conviction that one person can help to create a better institution; also willingness and openness to share thoughts and ideas.

The Gold cord represents love of spirit and yearning towards creating a better university community in which all can take part; gold is also the color of achievement.

This years recipients of the Cords of Distinction are:

–Christine Baer, major in Peacebuilding & Development, Environmental Sustainability, from Elizabethtown, PA

–Aaron Erb, major in Peacebuilding & Development, from Harrisonburg, VA

–Laura Glick, major in Social Work, from Lancaster, PA

–Nicole Groff, major in Biology, from Lancaster, PA

–Ardi Hermawan, major in Nursing, from Parsurvan, Indonesia

–Rose Jantzi, major in Liberal Arts/Elementary Education, from Harrisonburg, VA

–Litza Laboriel, major in Social Work, from Trujillo, Honduras

–Krista Nyce, major in Psychology, from Harrisonburg, VA

–Melody Tobin, major in Liberal Arts/Elementary Education, from Harrisonburg, VA

–Brandon Waggy, major in Peacebuilding & Development, Biblical Studies, from South Bend, IN

This last chapel before Spring Break focuses on Spring Break Y-Trips as Krista Rittenhouse, Andrew Penner, Ardi Hermawan, and Dylan Bomgardner answer the question “Why serve?”

Hear and support those who are using their time away from campus to serve others:

•  (intentional Christian community offering hospitality to refugees) in Comer, GA – Krista Rittenhouse & Curtis Handy

•   (responding in Christian love to those affected by disasters) – Jonathan Burkholder & Andrew Penner (Now serving in New York, though they had been planning to serve in Joplin, MO).

• Urban Ministry in Philadelphia, PA (reaching out with the love and power of Jesus) – Ardi Hermawan & Melody Tobin

Y-trips