For 26 years, the sound of Vira Hershberger鈥檚 knife slicing through heads of lettuce was a familiar and comforting rhythm in the dining hall kitchen of 黑料正能量 (then known as Eastern Mennonite College). From 1970 to 1996, Hershberger dedicated herself each day to arranging the salad bar and greeting everyone she met with warmth and friendliness. Today, her legacy of humble service and love continues through a memorial endowment in her honor.

Former dining hall manager Marilyn Schlabach 鈥�65, who worked alongside Hershberger for 15 years, recalls the indelible impact she had on everyone around her. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I ever heard her complain,鈥� Schlabach said. 鈥淪he had a heart of service.鈥� Schlabach, who was Hershberger鈥檚 supervisor from 1986 to 1994, remembers her as a model employee: self-motivated, warm and endlessly dedicated.

鈥淚 had the hardest time during my annual evaluations coming up with anything for her to improve on,鈥� Schlabach said.

Hershberger arrived at work each morning, before she was scheduled, to get organized and prepared for the day. If she felt like she wasn鈥檛 finished at the end of her shift, she would clock out and keep working until she was satisfied. 

Her daughter, Joann Henderson MA ’07 (counseling), recalls her mother鈥檚 joy in her work. 鈥淪he had a great deal of pride in her salad bar,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was immaculate and always fresh.鈥� 

Her son, Larry Hershberger, also noted the love she had for her job in dining services. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think she ever missed a day of work in those 26 years,鈥� he said. 

Vira Hershberger鈥檚 dedication to service extended beyond her job at 黑料正能量. Even after retiring at 74, she continued to volunteer at Gift and Thrift and attend Park View Mennonite Church as an active member. Her children remember her constant activity and desire for productivity.

鈥淪he often told us she wished she could still be working,鈥� Henderson said. 鈥淪he loved working, and she loved working at 黑料正能量.鈥�

“I don’t know how many times she said to me during those years, ‘Oh, Larry, I don’t know why I retired when I did,'” her son recalled.

In November 2022, she passed away at the age of 100, but her legacy lives on through the Vira Miller Hershberger Memorial Endowment to Support Food Service.

Established by Larry Hershberger and his three siblings on behalf of the family, the endowment honors her lifelong service by providing annual support for 黑料正能量 dining services. It will help to fund the maintenance of dining facilities, replacement of kitchen equipment, staffing support and other essential needs.

鈥淚 love that we get to honor her and her work, as well as the work of all those people behind the scenes who often don鈥檛 get recognition,鈥� Henderson said. 

“We believe it’s something mom would’ve wanted us to do,” Larry Hershberger added.

Kirk Shisler 鈥�81, vice president for Advancement at 黑料正能量, highlighted the significance of the Hershberger family鈥檚 gift. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 special about this is that it illuminates the life and legacy of their beloved mother,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd, because it鈥檚 an endowment, it will have a sustained impact in supporting 黑料正能量 food services, especially kitchen operations, for many years to come.鈥�

A PhD in humility, love and service

She was born Vira Gladys Miller in Wellman, Iowa, in 1922 in a family of five brothers and two sisters. Growing up during the Great Depression, she left home at 17 to work as a housekeeper for the superintendent of Lancaster City Schools in Pennsylvania, supporting her family with her earnings. Despite having an eighth grade education, her intelligence and strong work ethic helped her excel at various roles, including as a clerk in the general store in Frytown, Iowa, where she met her husband Reaford Hershberger.

鈥淪he was always about serving others,鈥� Henderson said. 鈥淚f my mom had a PhD, it would be in humility, love and service.鈥�

In 1969, Myron Augsburger, president of 黑料正能量 at the time and a friend of the Hershbergers, offered Reaford Hershberger a job heading the buildings and grounds on campus. He accepted the offer, and the family moved to Harrisonburg, Virginia. Vira Hershberger was soon hired as a salad cook in the dining hall, where she worked until her retirement. 

At Vira Hershberger’s retirement ceremony in 1996, Schlabach reflected on the countless heads of lettuce she must have chopped over her 26 years of service 鈥� an estimated tens of thousands. But beyond the numbers, she is remembered for her unwavering humility, her deep faith and her genuine love for others.

鈥淪he was always smiling,鈥� Larry Hershberger said. 鈥淗er disposition was always effervescent and happy. Even when she was not doing so well, she always had a positive outlook and never complained.鈥�

Vira Hershberger found joy in life鈥檚 simple pleasures, from the beauty of nature to a cold glass of water on a hot day. 鈥淪he taught us that the little things in life always have meaning,鈥� Henderson said. 鈥淪he was a quiet, humble woman of deep faith who exhibited love and service and, to me, is the epitome of Christ鈥檚 love.鈥�

Learn more about endowments and grants at 黑料正能量 here.

鈥淲e opened registration May 5 and by May 24, we only had 50 campers and we weren鈥檛 sure this was going to happen,鈥� said Gustavus, administrative assistant to the state FCA director. 鈥淏ut God was at work.鈥�

She gives this synopsis while also, in succession, handling a request for XL t-shirts, telling a camper how to work around a lost ID card, and fielding other questions from various staff and coaches coming in and out of camp headquarters in the 黑料正能量 commons. With no sign of flagging energy on the third day of the four-day camp, she also mentions doing a dorm check at 11:30 p.m. the night before.

鈥淕od at work鈥� in this particular context means that by Sunday [June 27], 268 teenagers were travelling to 黑料正能量 from Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. 

And Gustavus, camp director Todd Burger, 25 coaches, and 56 staffers were ready for action — and ready to shake the rust off after a year of interactions that were limited by COVID-19.

So were 黑料正能量鈥檚 director of auxiliary services, Cheryl Montgomery, and her staff, as well as Bruce Emmerson, director of dining services at Pioneer College Catering, and his staff in the university dining hall.聽

Montgomery has actually been waiting for the FCA campers for close to two years. The organization booked 黑料正能量 facilities for the first time in summer 2020 after having been based at University of Richmond for many years. Then COVID hit.

Even up until a few months ago, Montgomery was liaising with FCA and campus officials and paying close attention to government regulations to determine if events would be allowed and what limitations might be in effect.

The FCA camp is the first large group that 黑料正能量 has hosted this summer.

The unusual sight of hundreds of teenagers — string bags on their backs and athletic gear in their hands, crossing Park Avenue, lined up on the turf field or clustered in small groups under any available shade tree — has drawn a lot of attention. (鈥淐ampus is hopping. What鈥檚 going on?鈥� came the email from one curious 黑料正能量 employee.)

It鈥檚 been a slow process, Montgomery says, working with planners through so many uncertainties. She estimates 黑料正能量 will host only about 25 percent of their normal summer bookings.

鈥淪till, we鈥檙e so glad to have people back on campus this summer. It鈥檚 been great getting to know FCA staff and volunteers,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ur groups usually return, we get to know them and they become like family. Every summer is a bit of a family reunion.鈥�

Family is one theme of the FCA camp, too. Many coaches and staff bring their families, which means all-camp events includes all age ranges from babies on up, Gustavus said. 

But it鈥檚 also 鈥渙ur SuperBowl,鈥� she said, the biggest event of the year in part because of its size but also for its potential impact on young people.

鈥淚n some ways, high school is the last opportunity to introduce them to Jesus,鈥� Gustavus said, 鈥渁nd this age group is prime for the introduction. We get every kind of background under the sun and they all need Jesus.鈥�

Coming to faith in Christ through sports is the natural hook for athletes, said Burger, who moved into his FCA work through involvement in baseball. (FCA also offers some sport-specific camps.)

At all-sports camps, campers work out in two practice sessions guided by college and high school coaches each day. Instruction in eight sports is offered. Campers also participate in huddles, or devotionals, with leaders who are college athletes.聽

Kendrick Golhston, a former professional football player and director of Northern Roanoke Valley FCA, guides a daily devotional time 鈥淒oing Sports God鈥檚 Way,鈥� built around 1 Timothy 6:11 and the camp theme of 鈥淧ursue.鈥澛�

鈥淪unday was pursuing love, yesterday was 鈥榩ursue worship,鈥� today was 鈥榩ursue unity,鈥� and tomorrow will be 鈥榩ursue rest.鈥� God is in each one of those things,鈥� Gohlson said. 鈥淲e talk about being competitive and in pursuit. You can be competitive and still have the will to win but when you win what are you winning for? That鈥檚 the difference between those who have accepted Christ and those who haven鈥檛.  When I鈥檓 winning, I鈥檓 bringing Him glory. I am not bringing it on myself but on Him.鈥�

Each evening, everyone gathers for a program, which includes games, skits, music, testimonials, and a speaker. Burger said the highlight of the week, for him and many others, is the last evening program. 鈥淭hursday, our last day, we do a last chapel and the athletes and sometimes coaches give a testimonial about what happened at camp and it鈥檚 so powerful. Sometimes we hear about an athlete who their coach will say at the beginning may not be open and then they鈥檒l get up and talk about what happened 鈥� that鈥檚 what we鈥檙e here for.鈥�