alumni Archives - �� News

Golden Alumni Luncheon welcomes Class of 1976

Ryan Cornell with photos by Caleb Swortzel — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 17:10:03 +0000

Former classmates reminisced about their time on campus at ��’s Golden Alumni Luncheon, held at Martin Chapel for alumni who attended Eastern Mennonite 50 years ago or more.

Nathan Leopard, vice president for advancement, welcomed the alumni back home.

“There are decades of friendship here,” he said. “Stories that probably get a little better every time they’re told, and people who helped shape this university through their lives. Whether you return every year, every day, or this is your first time back in a while, we’re grateful you’re here.”

J. Melvin Janzen ’72, a Harrisonburg resident who works part time in ��’s Intensive English Program, reflected on the significance of returning to campus.

“There’s something about coming back to this place and learning about what has happened in the past 50 years,” he said. “Each year, this event grows larger and larger, which is really exciting. This year, we had 110 people registered.”

Golden alumni reconnect during a luncheon at Martin Chapel on Oct. 9.

Class of 1976 President Dr. Ann Graber Hershberger ’76 and Dr. Michael King ’76 spoke at the luncheon.

Hershberger, an emeritus professor of nursing at �� and executive director of Mennonite Central Committee from 2020-26, read from journal entries she wrote as a student. She later earned her master’s and doctoral degrees at the University of Virginia and credited her �� education with preparing her for graduate studies.

“�� prepared me in a specific way,” she said. “I found out when I went to grad school that I was more prepared than other people. It was really quite amazing.”

King, owner of Cascadia Publishing House and dean of Eastern Mennonite Seminary from 2010-17, reflected on his experiences as a student and an atheist on campus.

“Thank you, ��,” he told his fellow alumni. “Thank you to all of my classmates and colleagues, without whom I wouldn’t have lived the life I’ve been grateful to have.”

�� President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus visits with alumni during the Golden Alumni Luncheon on Oct. 9.

President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus welcomed the Class of 1976 home for its 50th reunion and reflected on the changes that took place during their years on campus.

“Each of you and the university have changed,” she said. “Your years at EMC came at a time when change was quite literally visible across campus.”

Those changes included major renovations to Lehman Auditorium and the installation of a pipe organ in 1974-75, along with the dedication of the Discipleship Center on the �� Hill in April 1975. In fall 1974, author Alex Haley, who would publish Roots two years later, visited campus as part of a lecture-music series. In 1976, the cross-country team won a national championship, and the university’s social work program earned accreditation.

Past issues of ��’s student newspaper, The Weather Vane, and Shenandoah yearbooks were on display at the luncheon.

In 1975, �� received a new computer that was housed in the administration building and operated using punched cards.

“By early 1976, The Weather Vane was marveling at its ability to keep track of prospective students and current students, manage grades and transcripts, and handle bookstore accounts. So apparently, even 50 years ago, �� was already trying to keep track of you,” Dycus joked.

“And I’m very glad we did,” she continued. “Because the most important story of your time is not ultimately about buildings or curricula, computers or championships, or even the changes taking place around you. It’s about what happened after you left. For 50 years, you have carried pieces of this place with you.”

Ciela Acosta, a senior from Salem, Oregon, majoring in peacebuilding and development, thanked alumni for their generosity in helping students like her afford an �� education.

“I’m allowed to be fully human here, and that also means my academics have pushed me beyond essays and grades,” she said. “I have been challenged to critically evaluate my perspectives that used to seem so normal and question my place in the world.”

Watch a recording of the event below!

They’re bridge builders, literally

Ryan Cornell — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 11:00:00 +0000

�� engineers spent their summer linking communities in Eswatini, Africa, through a new footbridge

During the rainy season in Eswatini, the Nkomazi (Komati) River floods, submerging the low-lying footbridge used by residents of the rural kaNdeva and Hlalakahle communities and making it impassable.

For decades, the footbridge was the only way for the roughly 1,500 residents of those communities to cross the river and access the markets, healthcare clinic, and church on the other side. Schoolchildren, who relied on the bridge to get to school, often waited three to four weeks for the river to lower before they could safely cross and return to class.

The aging bridge had fallen into disrepair. Wide gaps between its weathered wooden planks, which dangled just above the surface of the river, made crossing dangerous. Its tattered fencing also posed a risk.

“And it swings and sways terribly,” said one local mother in a about the bridge. “We have feared that our children will fall into the river.”

That all changed this summer when a group of �� students and alumni joined university students from Iowa, Western Ontario, and Rutgers, staff from the Engineers in Action (EIA) nonprofit, and engineers and contractors from Eswatini to design and build a new suspended footbridge across the river.

The 300-foot Tintfutfwini Bridge, located about 65 feet upstream from the old bridge, can be safely used year-round and can hold more than 88,000 pounds. It crosses the river more than a dozen feet above the high-water mark, about 15 feet higher than the old bridge.

�� senior Isaac Greenleaf fills out paperwork as members of the bridge-building team construct one of the new footbridge’s stone-and-brick towers along the Nkomazi (Komati) River in Eswatini. The old footbridge can be seen in the background.

LEFT: Levi Stutzman ’26 helps install the colorful fencing along the new suspended footbridge across the Nkomazi (Komati) River in Eswatini. RIGHT: Left to right: Isaac Greenleaf, Moravia Satterfield, and Stutzman stand beside the newly completed bridge.

Students Isaac Greenleaf and Moravia Satterfield, who are members of the �� Bridge Builders club, and engineering alumnus Levi Stutzman ’26 spent nearly eight weeks, from May 25-July 17, completing the project in the Hhohho region of Eswatini. The landlocked country is bordered by South Africa and Mozambique and, until 2018, was known as Swaziland. They also received mentorship from alumni bridge builders Luke Wheeler ’23 and Mana Acosta ’25, on-site Bridge Corps members with EIA.

While working on the project, the students lived at the primary school and formed connections with local residents. On weekends, they attended youth soccer games and participated in community events.

Satterfield, a sophomore engineering major from Ashland, Missouri, and the project’s safety manager, said a celebration after the bridge was completed featured dancing, speeches, and a ceremonial crossing by residents and a member of parliament.

“A lot of people were really excited about this bridge,” she said. “They told me they had been waiting for this moment for the past six years.”

Greenleaf, a senior applied math, computer science, and engineering major from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, served as project design manager. He said the experience reaffirmed his passion for engineering.

“This is such a great opportunity to help people who need it the most, and to be able to use the skills I have for that purpose is just great,” he said. “I’m happy that all this hard work I’ve put in will help people of this community for 50 years and more.”

�� engineering students and alumni help construct the footbridge in Eswatini, Africa, this summer.

The project brought together the students’ engineering knowledge with the construction expertise of professionals from the surrounding communities, including four masons and a site coordinator.

“They had the physical skill and knowledge to build this bridge and we had the funding and engineering experience,” Greenleaf said. “It was a very collaborative project.”

That collaboration also means local residents understand how the bridge was built and can make repairs when needed.

The project taught Greenleaf how quickly engineers have to adapt when problems arise. Shortly after arriving at the site, the team discovered that groundwater had flooded the bridge foundation. Students and engineers dug trenches to drain the water.

“A lot of things can go wrong on a construction site,” Greenleaf said. “It was nice to get real-world experience that I wouldn’t get in a classroom so I can learn about some of those issues and how to work through them. It’s nice to get that experience designing something and seeing how it actually gets built.”

Satterfield, a recipient of ��’s National Science Foundation S-STEM Scholarship, agreed. She said the experience sparked an interest in global development engineering projects.

“Seeing the bridge from beginning to completion was a really valuable experience,” she said. “I got to see it at every stage and we were able to help with all of it. It was a very hands-on process.”

Members of the bridge-building team celebrate the completion of the new suspended footbridge across the Nkomazi (Komati) River in Eswatini.

Stutzman, an engineer with JZ Engineering in Harrisonburg, served as project manager. He had helped build another bridge in Eswatini in 2024, during his sophomore year at ��. Some of his favorite memories from this latest trip involved building relationships with residents and schoolchildren.

“We got to play netball with the kids and give them shoulder rides and eat and play with them,” he said. “We spent a lot of time with the people who are actually going to use the bridge every day.”

In January, Stutzman will return to Eswatini to spend a year working as a bridge fellow with Engineers in Action. �� will likely send another group there in summer 2028.

The �� Bridge Builders club, a chapter of Engineers in Action, collects donations throughout the year to support its work with projects like this one. Support the club and its cause by.

Watch a video of the bridge project below!

Read more:
Eswatini Daily News:

Royal Women for �� inducts six new members

Ryan Cornell with photos by Donovan Arnason ’26 — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Generations of women from across the �� community gathered at White Oak Lavender Farm on Sept. 18 to celebrate six women whose leadership and service have helped shape the university.

The fourth annual Royal Women Soiree drew more than 60 students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the university and welcomed six new members into Royal Women for ��.

This year’s inductees were:

Dr. Katherine Evans, professor of teacher education
Marci Frederick, former director of libraries, who was honored posthumously
Renee Leap ’83, senior associate director of financial aid
Dr. Melody M. Pannell ’97, GC ’19 (restorative justice), former professor and director of multicultural student services
Karen Moshier-Shenk ’73, former senior associate director of advancement
Audrey Shenk ’86, systems librarian

Each inductee was introduced by someone special in their life and presented with an honorary Royal Women pin and ribbon.

Karen Moshier-Shenk ’73, Dr. Katherine Evans, Renee Leap ’83, Audrey Shenk ’86, Marci Frederick, and Dr. Melody M. Pannell ’97, GC ’19 (restorative justice), were inducted into Royal Women for ��. Paul Cook, Frederick’s husband, accepted the honor on her behalf.

Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed, ��’s director of alumni engagement and community connections and leader of Royal Women for ��, said the six honorees were selected for their contributions to the university and beyond.

“We felt like this was a good group of women we could celebrate in 2026,” Reed said.

Launched in fall 2023, Royal Women for �� builds connections, celebrates women’s leadership, and raises financial aid for �� students.

“It’s a time that we gather and network,” Reed said. “We have women who have been a part of Eastern Mennonite for decades, and then we have younger women as well. There are all different generations, which I love.”

One of those connections stood out to Reed as a highlight of the evening.

Celeste Thomas, director of multicultural student services and a 2025 Royal Women honoree, inducted Pannell, who previously led multicultural student services at �� and, as Reed described, “basically paved the way for Celeste.”

“Celeste talked about how, if it weren’t for Melody Pannell, she wouldn’t be in the position she is today or doing the work she does with Student Life,” Reed said. “I thought that was a very special moment for the two of them and for ��.”

Dr. Melody M. Pannell ’97, GC ’19 (restorative justice), former director of multicultural student services and assistant professor of social work, is inducted as a member of Royal Women for ��.

Pannell, now director of healthcare leadership education and community wellness at UVA Health in Charlottesville, described her induction as a “deeply significant and full-circle moment.”

“It is an honor to be recognized among a community of women whose gifts, knowledge, and leadership have shaped �� and empowered our students to become their most authentic selves in service to the world,” she said. “I am humbled to stand alongside them and to continue contributing to the legacy of resilience, justice, and compassionate leadership that defines ��.”

Pannell also is founder and CEO of Destiny’s Daughters Inc., a therapeutic and spiritual mentoring program focused on the healing of Black women and girls, and serves as board chair of Anabaptist World Inc.

She shared the moment with her niece, Kaziah Tillman, a first-year student at ��.

“Having her present to witness this milestone made the experience even more meaningful, reminding me of the enduring impact of our work and the bright future ahead for ��’s young women leaders,” Pannell said.

�� President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus delivers remarks during the ceremony.

The ceremony featured remarks from �� President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus, a member of the inaugural class of Royal Women inductees in 2023, and an introduction from Nathan Leopard, vice president for advancement.

For Shenk and Leap, both of whom have served �� for 40 years, the recognition also offered a chance to reflect on their long careers at the university.

“It was an honor to be recognized for 40 years of service and to be part of such a distinguished group of inductees,” Shenk said. “I was glad that library staff were well represented at the event.”

Leap said the relationships she has formed during her career in ��’s Financial Aid Office have shaped her both personally and professionally.

“I have been challenged, encouraged, and enriched by those relationships and have evolved tremendously as a person and professional,” she said. “I am indebted to and thankful for the �� community, and will treasure this honor.”

�� Royal Women for ��

Royal Women for �� is a networking and philanthropy initiative led by Reed and co-chairs Louise Otto Hostetter ’79 and Kay Nussbaum ’78. The initiative seeks to inspire visible leadership, bold investments, and empowering networks in support of ��’s future, with a goal of raising $70,000 for student scholarships.

Last year, Royal Women awarded its first student scholarship.

Learn more about the initiative at emu.edu/royal-women.

Guests mingle during the fourth annual Royal Women Soiree at White Oak Lavender Farm. More than 60 people attended this year’s celebration.

Past Royal Women inductees

2025

Isabel Castillo Ressler ’07, MA ’17
Deirdre Longacre Smeltzer ’87
Sara Monger, class of ’27 (posthumously)
Celeste Thomas

2024

Lois Bowman Kreider ’60
Julie Haushalter ’03
Margaret “Peggy” Webb Christopher ’54 (posthumously)
Theda Good ’06
Noussaiba “Noussa” Garti ’25

2023

Susan Schultz Huxman
Tynisha Willingham
Lee Snyder
Esther Augsburger ’72
Hannah Mack Lapp ’66
Pat Swartzendruber
Sheryl Wyse ’68
Beryl Brubaker ’64
Dorothy Jean Weaver ’72
Nancy Heisey ’94
Sara Wenger Shenk ’75
Leymah Gbowee MA ’07
Mim Mumaw ’61
Kay Nussbaum ’78
Louise Otto Hostetter ’79
Shannon W. Dycus
Jackie Font Guzman
Carrie Bert ’97

You’re invited! Homecoming and Inauguration Weekend is this week!

Ryan Cornell — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 20:26:27 +0000

Ten is a number you’ll be seeing a lot at this year’s Homecoming and Inauguration Weekend, held this week.

�� is celebrating the start of its 110th academic year. Its new leader, the Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus, will be installed as the university’s 10th president at an investiture on Oct. 10 (that’s 10/10!) at 10 a.m. And that’s not to mention all the other events that rank a 10 out of 10.

Whether it’s class reunions, program and affinity gatherings, or the perennially popular TenTalks and Hall of Honor induction ceremony, everyone’s favorite Homecoming activities are back.

But with the addition of several inauguration events and a live performance by The Steel Wheels on the Front Lawn, this year’s lineup is even more special.

Here are a few highlights of the weekend. See the full schedule at emu.edu/homecoming.

The homecoming website is your complete source for events, updates, and registration.

Look for the icon that denotes a livestreamed event on the . Athletic events will be streamed through .��

*Registration required
◆Presidential Inauguration Event
Livestreamed on YouTube

Friday, Oct. 9

Golden Alumni Luncheon*
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Martin Chapel (Seminary Building)
Alumni who attended �� 50 or more years ago (classes of 1976 and earlier) will gather for a program and luncheon that includes remarks from President Dycus and the induction of the Class of ’76. Tickets are $25.

The Inaugural Evening: An All-Black Affair◆
Presented exclusively by Everence
5-7 p.m.
Yoder Arena (University Commons)
This invitation-only appreciation event for donors, VIPs, and friends of �� features student poetry, live jazz music, and heavy hors d’oeuvres.

Hall of Honor Ceremony*
7:30 p.m.
MainStage Theater (University Commons 170)
Celebrate the 2026 inductees of the �� Athletic Hall of Honor: field hockey midfielder Sarah Roth Shank ’10, soccer center back Ryan Eshleman-Robles ’13, cross-country and track athlete Hannah Chappell-Dick ’16, and basketball forward Jess Rheinheimer Bishop ’16.

A Capella Collective*
8 p.m.
Lehman Auditorium
Enjoy an evening of music featuring a special collaboration of local a cappella groups, many of them led by �� alumni. Tickets are $15.

Saturday, Oct. 10

Investiture of President Shannon W. Dycus◆
10 a.m.-noon
Yoder Arena
Celebrate the formal installation of ��’s 10th president with a Presidential Address, musical selections, and the Prayer of Blessing.

Food Trucks
Noon-6 p.m.
Thomas Plaza and the Front Lawn
Enjoy delicious eats from Tacos El Primo, Grilled Cheese Mania, Catreas BBQ, and Branch’s Soft Serve Ice Cream.

TenTalks
2-3 p.m.
Martin Chapel
The recipients of ��’s 2026 Alumni Awards share 10-minute talks and answer questions in a TED Talk-style format. This year’s presenters are Jonathan “Kirk” Livers ’11 (Outstanding Young Alum), Cynthia “Cindy” Lapp ’86 (Distinguished Service Award), and Eric Brubaker ’01 and Trent Wagler ’02 (Alumni of the Year).

Royal City Celebration
4-6 p.m.
Thomas Plaza and the Front Lawn
Come hungry, bring your energy, and celebrate together at ��’s biggest Homecoming gathering, featuring local food trucks, endless entertainment, and a spectacular live performance by The Steel Wheels! Ticket prices vary. RSVP requested.

Meet Me on the Quad: President’s Student Quad Party◆
9 p.m.
Woods Quad
President Dycus hosts a celebration for the student body.

Visit emu.edu/homecoming to learn about Saturday’s other events, including class reunions and after-parties, athletic events, planetarium viewings, the annual alumni baseball game, and when to stop by the Front Lawn for �� gear.

Sunday, Oct. 11

Homecoming Worship Service
10 a.m.
Martin Chapel
Dr. Benjamin Bergey and the Chamber Singers lead worship in this reflective and meaningful service.

Outstanding Young Alum Award: Kirk Livers ’11

Ryan Cornell — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 11:00:00 +0000

This is the fourth and final profile about the recipients of ��’s 2026 Alumni Awards. For more information about the annual awards and a full list of past winners, visit emu.edu/alumni/awards.

Kirk Livers ’11 had been a physician assistant for just one year when COVID-19 arrived. More than a century earlier, his great-great-grandfather had treated patients during the 1918 flu pandemic. Now, Livers found himself facing a similar challenge, reading the latest research and determining what information he could share with patients.

“We were all scrambling,” said Livers, who started working at in Hagerstown, Maryland, in May 2020. “It was a quick learning curve, that’s for sure.”

Livers has remained at the primary care practice ever since, caring for patients in a medically underserved community where many face significant barriers to care.

“A lot of my patients just haven’t had good healthcare, ever,” he said. “It’s a wildcard as to who’s going to walk into my office at any given time.”

For Livers, treating patients often means addressing more than a diagnosis. Many of his patients are managing chronic illnesses, mental health concerns, addiction, housing insecurity, or years of mistrust toward the healthcare system.

“They feel like nobody is going to listen to them,” he said. “My No. 1 goal is to get them to trust me, to know I’m not going to steer them wrong, and to get them to do what I’m advising them to do for their own health.”

That commitment to compassionate care earned Livers ��’s 2026 Outstanding Young Alum Award, presented annually to an alumnus or alumna whose professional achievements and Christ-like service make a significant contribution to the local, national, or global community.

“I’m extremely humbled,” he said. “I had the privilege of having so many brilliant and kind people in my graduating class, and I can only imagine there are so many other people before and after me who are doing wonderful things. I am beyond grateful to be recognized.”

Born and raised in Hagerstown, Livers first learned about �� from a friend’s older brother, who had graduated and gone on to medical school. Drawn to a career in medicine, Livers visited campus and immediately felt at home.

“I knew it had a great academic program, and I knew I was going to get the education I needed to go further,” he said.

As a biochemistry major in ��’s pre-medicine program, Livers initially planned to become a physician. After graduation, however, he put those plans on hold while he cared for sick family members and worked for a nonprofit animal shelter. During that time, he discovered that a career as a physician assistant was a better fit for him.

He earned a master’s degree in physician assistant studies from Shenandoah University in 2018. He worked at a family medicine practice in Martinsburg, West Virginia, for about a year before returning to the Hagerstown area and joining Walnut Street Family Medicine, which is part of Meritus Health.

As a non-Mennonite student at ��, Livers learned to connect with people from different cultures and backgrounds. He said that experience has helped him build relationships with his patients today.

“�� teaches the value of community, and community isn’t just your neighborhood or even your country. It’s the global community,” he said. “Having that sense of welcoming and being inclusive to everyone definitely helps shape how I practice medicine.”

Livers lives in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, with his partner, Jared, an optometrist. When he’s not caring for patients, he mentors physician assistant students from Shenandoah University.

Despite the long hours and challenges of the job, he finds the greatest reward in becoming a trusted partner in his patients’ care.

“I’ve had plenty of patients tell me, ‘I will only see you,’” Livers said. “Having that kind of bond with patients is something I’ll always remember.”

Livers will share his story at �� TenTalks, held on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 2 p.m. in Martin Chapel during Homecoming 2026. For a full schedule of Homecoming events and activities, visit emu.edu/homecoming.

2026 Distinguished Service Award: Cynthia ‘Cindy’ Lapp ’86

Ryan Cornell — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000

This is the third of four profiles about the recipients of ��’s 2026 Alumni Awards. For more information about the annual awards and a full list of past winners, visit emu.edu/alumni/awards.

Cynthia “Cindy” Lapp ’86 may have been destined to become a Mennonite pastor.

Her parents were both Mennonite pastors, as were her grandfathers. Her husband’s father and grandfather were Mennonite pastors, too.

Despite the family tradition, Lapp didn’t always envision following in their footsteps.

“I would ask my dad, ‘How did you know you wanted to do this?’ and he never had a satisfactory answer for me,” she said. “I think my children probably don’t get a satisfactory answer from me either. It’s a mysterious kind of thing.”

Lapp, pastor of in suburban Maryland since 2003, is the recipient of ��’s 2026 Distinguished Service Award. The annual award recognizes alumni who exemplify the university’s emphases on Christian service and peacemaking and have made a significant impact on the lives of others.

“I was surprised. I thought they must’ve sent the letter to the wrong person,” she said. “Then I thought, ‘Oh, distinguished means old. It must mean I’ve reached a certain age.’”

Lapp grew up in Oregon after moving from Pennsylvania in the fourth grade. As a child, she dreamed of appearing on Sesame Street.

“I thought that would be a great job because you could play with puppets and spend time with kids and act and sing,” she said. “I feel like pastoring is like that. There are so many different things I get to do that are intriguing to me.”

Those roles extend well beyond preaching. Lapp works with other faith leaders to support immigrants through the Congregation Action Network, serves as a community chaplain with the Hyattsville Police Department, and volunteers with Congregations United for Compassion and Empowerment, which operates a day center for people experiencing homelessness or financial hardship.

In August 2017, she joined nearly 100 clergy and faith leaders the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville.

“I appreciate that our congregation is interested in relating to the larger community,” Lapp said. “It’s not just about taking care of one another, which we do, but it’s also about knowing who our neighbors are outside of the church and figuring out what their needs are.”

Some of her most significant ministry came through one of the most difficult chapters in Hyattsville Mennonite Church’s history.

The congregation became of LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Mennonite church when it welcomed its first openly gay member in 1986. In 2005, two years after bringing an openly gay delegate to a conference meeting, the church was formally disciplined. For the next decade, Hyattsville representatives could not vote at conference meetings or serve in leadership roles, and Lapp herself was placed under review. In 2015, the Allegheny Mennonite Conference voted 72-70 to reinstate the congregation to full membership.

“We stuck around,” Lapp said. “We kept engaged with the conference, which was really hard, but it was definitely worth it. And I’m really proud of our congregation for how we navigated that.”

At ��, Lapp majored in music, sang with the Chamber Singers, and participated in the Washington Study-Service Year, now the �� Washington Semester. She later worked for the program from 1989-93.

“That was very formational for me,” she said. “I ended up coming back to D.C. and I’ve never left.”

After graduating from Wesley Theological Seminary in 1998, Lapp had not intended to become a pastor. But when Hyattsville’s pastor took a sabbatical and asked her to fill in, she discovered her calling.

“That was eye-opening for me,” she said. “It helped me feel that this was something I could do.”

Today, Lapp and her husband, Eric Stoltzfus, live in Mount Rainier, Maryland. They have three adult children, Cecilia, Jamie ’20, and Elijah.

Lapp will share her story at �� TenTalks, held on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 2 p.m. in Martin Chapel during Homecoming 2026. For a full schedule of Homecoming events and activities, visit emu.edu/homecoming.

2026 Alum of the Year Award: Trent Wagler ’02

Ryan Cornell — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000

This is the second of four profiles about the recipients of ��’s 2026 Alumni Awards. For more information about the annual awards and a full list of past winners, visit emu.edu/alumni/awards.

For Trent Wagler ’02, lead singer and songwriter for the folk-rock band The Steel Wheels, music is a powerful way to bring people together.

“Anybody who’s been around music has had that experience,” he said. “Go to a music festival in some country far away, where you don’t speak the language, and listen.”

“The words don’t matter so much anymore. You’re not concerned about whether or not they’re on your side of the political aisle or on the team you root for. Instead, it’s just a rhythm we can all move to together.”

For more than 20 years, Wagler has toured with , performing about 100 shows each year across the United States, Canada, and Europe. During that time, the band has released more than a dozen studio albums, founded the annual , and earned several Independent Music Awards.

The banjo- and guitar-strumming frontman, who earned degrees in theater and peace, justice, and conflict studies (now peacebuilding and development), credits his �� education with inspiring him to create music that invites people in, offers fresh perspectives, and leaves room for listeners to find their own meaning.

“Together, we create something special in a given night, on a weekend, and hopefully, over time,” he said.

That commitment to building community through music has earned Wagler ��’s 2026 Alum of the Year Award. He shares the honor with fellow alumnus and Steel Wheels bandmate Eric Brubaker ’01.

“Being recognized for the work that Eric and I are doing, in bringing music that we believe in to people, it means a lot that people have noticed,” Wagler said.

At ��, Wagler sang with the Chamber Singers and participated in the Washington Study-Service Year (now the �� Washington Semester). For his intercultural experience, he spent a year in Gaza teaching English and guitar lessons in a refugee camp.

“I got to know quite a few really amazing young Muslim Palestinians who were primarily my peers as I lived over there,” he said.

That experience continues to shape his approach to songwriting and storytelling.

“These are people who love to play games, sing songs, enjoy the taste of fresh fruit, and joke, laugh and cry together,” he said. “To me, our job is to remember, even when it’s difficult or unpopular, that the basic human impulses, needs, desires, and joys are universal.”

Long before that formative year in Gaza, Wagler grew up in rural Indiana and later graduated from a small high school in south-central Kansas. The son of a Mennonite pastor, he remembers singing harmonies in church from an early age.

His parents, Howard ’71 and Cathryn ’71, met at ��, but Wagler said it was a campus visit and conversation with Professor Emeritus Dr. Kenneth J. Nafziger, longtime director of the Chamber Singers, that convinced him to enroll.

“That one visit to campus made all the difference,” Wagler said. “There were a lot of little steps that brought me here. They may not be the reasons I value �� most today, but I’m very grateful I ended up here.”

When he’s not touring, Wagler builds community through music in the Shenandoah Valley. He teaches at , a four-day strings camp for youth and adults held at ��, hosts and performs at Red Wing Roots Music Festival, serves on the board of the nonprofit , and has taught in ��’s music department since 2002.

He said he’s passionate about helping musicians of all ages grow and creating more opportunities for people to make music together.

“I think that makes a better community and a better world,” he said.

The Steel Wheels will perform a live show on campus at the annual Royal City Celebration from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, during Homecoming 2026.

Wagler will share his story at �� TenTalks, held on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 2 p.m. in Martin Chapel, also during Homecoming. For a full schedule of Homecoming events and activities, visit emu.edu/homecoming.

2026 Alum of the Year Award: Eric Brubaker ’01

Ryan Cornell — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000

This is the first of four profiles about the recipients of ��’s 2026 Alumni Awards. For more information about the annual awards and a full list of past winners, visit emu.edu/alumni/awards.

Eric Brubaker ’01, fiddler and founding member of the folk-rock band The Steel Wheels, jokes that he owes his touring career to ��.

The social work major performed in the �� Orchestra and choir and toured Cuba with the Chamber Singers. Music had always been an important part of his life, but he never imagined it would become his profession.

When he and four other students formed a bluegrass band called Reuben’s Potted Ferns during his junior year, ��’s Admissions Office sent the group on a 10-day recruiting tour during the spring of 2000. The band played 16 shows, primarily at Mennonite schools and churches throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio.

“So, I blame �� for starting off my touring career,” Brubaker said with a laugh.

After graduating, he quickly realized that a career in social work was not for him. He returned to music, joining fellow �� alumni Trent Wagler ’02 and Brian Dickel ’98 and Goshen College graduate Jay Lapp to form what would become .

More than two decades, two additional band members, and over a dozen studio albums later, Brubaker and his bandmates have carved out a successful career as musicians.

“I know that’s a hard thing to do, and �� gave me a great starting place for that,” Brubaker said. “I was allowed to find myself here. I didn’t know what I wanted to do or who I wanted to be, and here I was able to study different things but also continue to play music.”

He said his time in the Chamber Singers under Professor Emeritus Dr. Kenneth J. Nafziger taught him the importance of listening to the people he performs with.

“You can’t have a band that lasts for 20 years without truly listening to each other: on stage, off stage, musically, and relationally,” he said.

Beyond performing, Brubaker uses music to bring people together and build community. He is a co-founder of the , hosted annually by the band in nearby Mount Solon, Virginia, which has featured artists including Old Crow Medicine Show, Lucinda Williams, and Steve Earle.

He also hosts , a four-day music camp at �� that teaches roughly 140 students ages 5 to 19—adults joined the program for the first time this year—to play string instruments. Participants perform on stage with The Steel Wheels during the music festival.

“Music creates a moment where everyone is focusing on the same thing,” he said. “It’s not politics. It’s not religion. It’s just a gathering of humanity that wants to celebrate something beautiful.”

Brubaker’s commitment to connecting communities through music has earned him ��’s 2026 Alum of the Year Award. The award recognizes alumni for significant achievements in their profession, community, or church and serves to inspire others to lead lives of service and vocational excellence.

“I’m honored,” he said. “There are so many people who have done amazing work, and so many people working hard behind the scenes who never receive acclaim.”

The community Brubaker has spent years helping build became especially meaningful in 2019, when he and his wife lost their young daughter, Norah, to a sudden illness.

“We were surrounded not only by our artistic community, the people who loved the band and the music we made, but also by the community surrounding �� and the larger Mennonite community,” he said. “They were incredibly supportive.”

Today, Brubaker and his wife, Peggy ’00, are continuing their commitment to making music accessible. They recently formed the nonprofit Red Wing Academy Foundation, which provides scholarships for students to attend the camp.

“It’s been amazing to connect with people who want to help pass music on to a younger generation,” he said.

The Steel Wheels will perform a live show on campus at the annual Royal City Celebration from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, during Homecoming 2026.

Brubaker will share his story at �� TenTalks, held on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 2 p.m. in Martin Chapel, also during Homecoming. For a full schedule of Homecoming events and activities, visit emu.edu/homecoming.

For this �� alumnus, it really is rocket science

Ryan Cornell — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 20:10:16 +0000

Math grad Stephan Goertzen ’16 helps advance space exploration through work on NASA’s Artemis missions

If you were one of the who watched NASA’s coverage of the Artemis II mission in April, you saw years of hard work by alumnus Stephan Goertzen ’16 take flight.

For the past eight years, the �� mathematics grad has been part of a team of engineers near Denver working to develop the Orion spacecraft, which will carry astronauts to the moon and help lay the groundwork for eventual missions to Mars.

As a stress analyst, Goertzen tested Orion’s structure to ensure the spacecraft can withstand the forces it encounters during launch, spaceflight, and re-entry. He’s worked on several parts of Orion, including its launch abort system, which can quickly pull astronauts away from the rocket in an emergency. He also tested the heat shield, which protects the crew from temperatures up to 5,000 degrees—about—when it re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere.

He’s seen his work in action twice. In 2022, Artemis I sent the Orion spacecraft on an unmanned flight into space and around the moon before it successfully returned to Earth. Then, earlier this year, Artemis II made a similar journey with four astronauts aboard. aim to establish a sustained presence on the moon while developing the knowledge and technology needed for eventual human exploration of Mars.

Outside of the Artemis missions, Goertzen has also worked on NASA’s Dragonfly robotic rotorcraft, which will explore Saturn’s moon Titan and study its habitability. That mission plans to launch in July 2028.

Stephan Goertzen ’16 with the crew of the Artemis II mission. The �� alumnus, wearing a navy blue jacket and green hat, is pictured to the right of the speaker on the right. (Courtesy photo)

LEFT: Artemis II crew members check out their Orion crew module on Aug. 8, 2023. (Photo by NASA/Kim Shiflett). RIGHT: Technicians prepare to attach the Orion spacecraft on top of the Space Launch System rocket at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 17, 2025, for the agency’s Artemis II mission. (Photo by NASA/Amber Jean Notvest)

Inspiring the next generation

As interest in space exploration has grown, Goertzen has enjoyed sharing a behind-the-scenes perspective on the mission and spacecraft.

“I’ve worked on a lot of different parts of the spacecraft, but a lot of it is hidden,” he said. “It’s structural. It’s on the inside. But once you start seeing those pieces on the NASA broadcast, that really brought me a lot of joy, knowing I was a part of that.”

His work has even made its way into the church he attends, where Artemis II was the focus of the children’s story for two consecutive Sundays.

“Kids get so excited about it,” Goertzen said. “My nephew, who’s four, was so excited watching the launch that he had his eyes just pinned to the TV. Hearing stories like that really makes a difference in understanding that you are influencing people and kids and getting them excited about engineering and math and science.”

Stephan Goertzen ’16 (right) visits Tikal on an intercultural learning program to Guatemala. (Photo courtesy of Stephan Goertzen)

Finding his place at ��

Goertzen grew up in Goessel, a small town in south-central Kansas. “It’s the quintessential Mennonite town,” he said. “There are three Mennonite churches and only about 1,500 people who live in the community.” His father, Kevin, was a Mennonite pastor and serves as conference minister for Virginia Mennonite Conference.

When he was deciding where to attend college, he knew he wanted to enroll somewhere far enough from home to make a new path for himself. “I was also looking for a good Christian university that would back up the morals and ideologies I had,” Goertzen said. “�� stood out to me as a place where I felt at home. I liked the atmosphere of ��, and my sister, [Jessica ’14], was already a student, so that was a nice connection.”

“I was also looking for a good Christian university that would back up the morals and ideologies I had. �� stood out to me as a place where I felt at home.”
Stephan Goertzen ’16

While at ��, Goertzen traveled to Guatemala and Mexico with leader Byron Peachey to fulfill his intercultural learning requirement. He described the program as “one of the best things about ��.”

“There are other schools that offer semesters abroad, but their students might live in dorms and you just don’t get the cultural aspect like you do when you’re living with a host family, without any of your classmates, and are made to speak another language,” he said. “It’s a huge opportunity to grow in who you are.”

More than a decade after graduating, Goertzen still maintains the friendships and connections he formed with classmates and professors. “The people have always been my favorite part about ��,” he said. “You can get a good education at a lot of different schools, but getting a good education from people who care about you makes a huge difference. Those people make a positive difference in your life beyond what they teach you.”

Stephan Goertzen ’16 (left) gives a presentation with the �� Engineering Club at an American Society for Engineering Education conference in Seattle. (Photo courtesy of Stephan Goertzen)

A balancing act

After graduating from ��, Goertzen continued his education at Colorado School of Mines, where he earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering with a concentration in robotics in 2018. He landed a job working on Orion through connections he made in the school’s space resources program. On Aug. 31, he joined Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin as a senior structural analyst.

“If I were to tell my five-year-old self that I’m designing rockets to go into space, I think he would’ve been ecstatic and been like, ‘Man, you made it,’” Goertzen said.

Goertzen described his work as a balancing act. While he appreciates his employer’s contributions to science and technology, he also questions whether space exploration is the best use of the Earth’s resources.

“It’s hard to put the impact of exciting people about STEM industries into an impact assessment,” he said. “How many kids are now going to want to go off and do science and exploration-type careers and be the next people who solve medical mysteries because they saw Artemis and thought, ‘I want to work in STEM?’ You can’t put a price on that.”

In addition to his work on Orion, Goertzen served as project lead for an Engineers Without Borders clean water project that provided access to clean drinking water for a small community in Nicaragua. “I have a passion for reducing pollution and providing for those who are less fortunate,” he said.

Note: Goertzen’s former employer has been withheld for security reasons.

Hall of Honor: Hannah Chappell-Dick ’16

�� Athletics Communications — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000

This is the final of four profiles about the 2026 inductees of the �� Athletic Hall of Honor. For more information about the Hall of Honor and a full list of inductees, visit .

A last-minute road trip led Hannah Chappell-Dick ’16 to ��, where she became one of the most accomplished distance runners in program history.

A biology major with minors in exercise science and honors, Chappell-Dick wasn’t initially focused on Mennonite colleges. She joined a friend traveling to Honors Weekend and quickly found herself drawn to ��.

“I absolutely loved it,” she said. “I stayed overnight in the dorms, and we stayed up really late talking about ideas. It just felt like the people were really invested in intellectual curiosity.”

The Bluffton, Ohio, native made an immediate mark on �� athletics. In cross-country, she earned First Team All-ODAC honors four times, was a two-time All-South/Southeast Region selection, qualified twice for the NCAA National Championships, and earned All-American honors in 2015.

Her track and field career was even more decorated. Chappell-Dick won 11 ODAC championships, earned 12 First Team All-ODAC honors, and qualified for five NCAA National Championships. She became a four-time All-American in the indoor mile and outdoor 1500 meters, received two Co-�� Female Athlete of the Year awards and the Co-�� Female President’s Award, and was named a top-30 honoree for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award after winning the ODAC’s Marjorie Berkley Award in 2016.

While she graduated holding 10 school records, Chappell-Dick says ��’s greatest influence was its emphasis on global citizenship.

“�� gave me the tools to see people who are different from me as people first.”

She is now head cross-country coach and assistant men’s and women’s track and field coach at Amherst College in Massachusetts.

Chappell-Dick will be honored at a ceremony at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, during Homecoming 2026. For a full schedule of Homecoming events and activities, visit .

Hall of Honor: Jess Rheinheimer Bishop ’16

�� Athletics Communications — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 11:00:00 +0000

This is the third of four profiles about the 2026 inductees of the �� Athletic Hall of Honor. For more information about the Hall of Honor and a full list of inductees, visit .

Jess Rheinheimer Bishop ’16 chose �� because of its people. The Manheim, Pennsylvania, native appreciated head women’s basketball coach Kevin Griffin’s persistence in recruiting her, but it was ��’s diverse community that ultimately set it apart.

“I wanted something a little different,” she said. “I appreciated all the different backgrounds and the people I knew I was going to be playing with.”

A nursing major, Bishop became one of the most decorated women’s basketball players in program history. She helped lead the Royals to an 84-26 record and two ODAC Tournament championship game appearances during her four-year career.

After earning All-ODAC Second Team honors as a sophomore, Bishop exploded onto the national stage in 2014-15. She was named ODAC Player of the Year, VaSID State Player of the Year, a D3hoops.com First Team All-American, and the recipient of the Jostens Trophy, awarded annually to the top NCAA Division III basketball player for excellence in athletics, academics, and community service. She also earned Co-�� Female Athlete of the Year honors.

As a senior, Bishop repeated as ODAC Player of the Year, was named D3hoops.com South Region Player of the Year, and earned another D3hoops.com All-American selection. She also received the Co-�� Female Athlete of the Year and Co-�� Female President’s Award. She finished her career with 1,567 points, the third-most in program history.

Today, Bishop has spent a decade as an oncology nurse at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. She credits Coach Griffin with teaching her that effective leadership requires more than setting an example.

“Not just leading by example, but offering encouraging words … and being a mentor.”

She and her husband, Jonny ’17, have two children, Turner and Aven.

Bishop will be honored at a ceremony at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, during Homecoming 2026. For a full schedule of Homecoming events and activities, visit .

�� alumnae receive 2026 Dock Alumni of the Year awards

Ryan Cornell — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 15:21:21 +0000

Congratulations to Sally Landis Derstine ’82 and Kate Landis ’24, recipients of Dock Mennonite Academy’s 2026 Alumni of the Year awards. Derstine received the Outstanding Achievement award, while Landis was named Young Alum of the Year.

Hall of Honor: Sarah Roth Shank ’10

�� Athletics Communications — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 11:00:00 +0000

This is the second of four profiles about the 2026 inductees of the �� Athletic Hall of Honor. For more information about the Hall of Honor and a full list of inductees, visit .

Sarah Roth Shank ’10 faced a difficult college choice: follow her siblings to Goshen College to play soccer or attend �� to continue her field hockey career. She chose ��, a decision that launched an outstanding athletic career and opened the door to countless opportunities beyond the field.

A history major from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with minors in pre-law, political studies, and peacebuilding, Roth Shank was a four-year midfielder for Royals field hockey, helping lead the team to four consecutive ODAC championship game appearances. She earned All-ODAC honors three times, including First Team recognition in 2007 and 2009, was twice named to the VaSID All-State Second Team, and earned a spot on the 2009 All-ODAC Tournament Team. In 2010, she received the �� President’s Award, recognizing excellence in academics, athletics, faith, leadership, campus involvement, and community service.

Beyond athletics, Roth Shank embraced campus life.

“I was highly driven and wanted to be involved,” she said. “I didn’t need to just hyperfocus on playing my sport. I was able to do that, go on a cross-cultural, and be involved in student leadership.”

After spending the past nine years in New Zealand, while she earned a PhD in public policy and restorative justice, Roth Shank is returning to the United States with her husband, Benjamin ’10, and their two children. The family is settling in Columbus, Ohio, where she will continue her consulting work while teaching university courses at Ohio Wesleyan University.

Roth Shank will be honored at a ceremony at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, during Homecoming 2026. For a full schedule of Homecoming events and activities, visit .

Hall of Honor: Ryan Eshleman-Robles ’13

�� Athletics Communications — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 13:56:06 +0000

This is the first of four profiles about the 2026 inductees of the �� Athletic Hall of Honor. For more information about the Hall of Honor and a full list of inductees, visit .

For Ryan Eshleman-Robles ’13, choosing �� was an easy decision. A Harrisonburg native and third-generation Royal, he followed his father, Rodney Eshleman ’88, and grandfather, D. Rohrer Eshleman ’45, to �� after playing soccer at Eastern Mennonite School.

“I knew where I was and why,” he said. “I loved it. It was an easy choice for me.”

A biology and philosophy & theology double major with an English minor, Eshleman-Robles anchored the Royals’ defense for four seasons, appearing in 77 matches as a center back. Though defenders rarely receive the spotlight, he embraced the role, saying he gave up “individual glory to get some wins.”

His play earned him two First Team All-ODAC selections, two VaSID All-State First Team honors, and a spot on the 2011 ODAC All-Tournament Team. In 2012, he was named the ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

His career culminated with the 2012-13 �� President’s Award, recognizing excellence in academics, athletics, faith, leadership, campus involvement, and community service.

Having recently completed a PhD at Texas Tech University, Eshleman-Robles, who lives in Rockingham County with his wife, Valeria, and their two children, is returning to where his journey began. This fall, he will teach English at Eastern Mennonite School while serving as head varsity boys soccer coach.

Eshleman-Robles will be honored at a ceremony at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, during Homecoming 2026. For a full schedule of Homecoming events and activities, visit .

Rev. Caine-Conley joins faculty

Ryan Cornell — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:09:07 +0000

Pastor, organizer, and leader in movement chaplaincy has extensive experience supporting communities through crisis, healing, and transformation

The recipient of ��’s 2025 Outstanding Young Alum Award, the Rev. Brittany “Smash” Caine-Conley MDiv ’14, will teach trauma and resilience studies at Eastern Mennonite Seminary this fall.

She will also teach at ��’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding and work with the Seminary Extended grant in collaboration with Union Presbyterian Seminary and Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

An ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, Caine-Conley grew up in Harrisonburg and described returning to teach at �� as “a dream.”

“�� attends to the fact that students are whole people, and it’s a gift for me to be part of an institution that understands that and strives toward educating the whole person,” she said. “…There seems to be a concerted effort to prepare students to engage with what is really a complex and challenging society in ways that are both nuanced and hopeful.”

The pastor, organizer, and leader in movement chaplaincy has extensive experience supporting communities through crisis, healing, and transformation. She was instrumental in founding and leading Congregate Charlottesville, which helped faith communities respond to collective trauma in the aftermath of white supremacist violence in 2017. In recognition of her work, she was honored by the National Council of Churches as a co-recipient of the President’s Award for Excellence in Faithful Leadership.

She said her experiences in a class on racial healing and whiteness, taught by Dr. David Evans, while she was a seminary student, were especially formative.

“That was where I began, for the first time in my life, to examine white supremacy culture and the limitations of certain types of allyship,” Caine-Conley said. “It was that foundation that allowed me to move into organizing toward a different orientation, one of embodying anti-racist solidarity.”

The Rev. Dr. Sarah Ann Bixler, dean of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, said Caine-Conley brings a dynamic combination of academic scholarship, pastoral leadership, trauma-informed community care, and social justice engagement.

“As an alumna of Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Rev. Caine-Conley remains deeply connected to our mission of peacebuilding and transformative education,” Bixler said.

Caine-Conley is currently completing her PhD in religious studies from the University of Denver and Iliff School of Theology, where her research explores the intersections of theology, identity, power, social transformation, and human experience. She served as adjunct faculty at Iliff, teaching courses on identity, power, vocation, and community engagement. Prior to doctoral studies, she gained valuable pastoral experience through church planting, worship ministry, and ministering with university students.

“We look forward to the pastoral wisdom, experience in faith community organizing, and compassionate leadership she will bring to our students and campus this fall,” Bixler said.

Learn more about Eastern Mennonite Seminary at emu.edu/seminary.

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