Herm was missing. The crowd of faculty, staff, students, and alumni at Yoder Arena for Wednesday morning鈥檚 Lov黑料正能量 Pep Rally called out his name. They searched high and low. But he was nowhere to be found.

Suddenly, the roar of a motorcycle engine filled the gymnasium. Moments later, everyone鈥檚 favorite friendly blue lion glided onto the hardwood on a sleek new e-bike.

The e-bike, announced Nicole Litwiller 鈥�19, MA 鈥�20 (conflict transformation), Lov黑料正能量 organizer and pep rally emcee, was a new addition to the Sadie Hartzler Library, thanks to a generous donation from an 黑料正能量 alum, the diligent work of senior Joshua Stucky, and a partnership between library staff and the Shenandoah Bicycle Company.聽

Starting Monday, students can check out the bike from the library at any time and 鈥渆asily bike all over campus and Harrisonburg,鈥� she said.

Herm鈥檚 dramatic entrance was just one of many memorable moments that energized the crowd with the Lov黑料正能量 Giving Day spirit. Wednesday鈥檚 pep rally had it all: a current student exclaiming her love for 黑料正能量, a future student officially declaring 黑料正能量 as his school for next year, and performances by the previous night鈥檚 Lip-Sync Battle champions. 

鈥淚t’s sure to be the best Lip-Sync Battle this side of the Shenandoah,鈥� promised fellow pep rally organizer and emcee Tyler Goss, director for student engagement and leadership development.

Scroll down to the bottom of this article to watch a video recording of the pep rally.

Students snagged free Lov黑料正能量 shirts shot into the crowd by the BaZOOKa T-shirt cannon.

Throughout the event, engineering lab tech Henry Bowser and engineering student Max Fritts fired shirts into the stands using the BaZOOKa T-shirt cannon. The launcher, which debuted at last year鈥檚 pep rally, was funded by 2019 alumni Ben, an engineering graduate, and Kayla Zook.

Lov黑料正能量 Giving Day is an opportunity to pause and celebrate all the incredible things about 黑料正能量, which include 鈥渙ur amazing academic programs, our incredible athletic teams, our impactful clubs and orgs, and our supportive community as a whole,鈥� Litwiller said. 鈥淧art of how we can express that celebration is through generosity.鈥�

Funds from Lov黑料正能量 Giving Day benefit current and future students, faculty, and staff by making education more affordable and providing them with the facilities and resources they need to access an outstanding education. Since the first Lov黑料正能量 Giving Day in 2017, the university has raised more than $2 million on annual giving days. 

Thanks to the generosity of supporters, this year鈥檚 Lov黑料正能量 Giving Day was the best one yet, with over $402,000 raised, according to the .

The pep rally began with the premiere of the official Lov黑料正能量 Giving Day video. It celebrates the past nine giving days and sets sights on the future, featuring voiceovers from Litwiller and Marketing and Communications Project Manager Aric Berg, along with cameos from faculty, staff, students, athletes, and alumni. The video was produced by Macson McGuigan 鈥�17.

Watch the official hype video below!

Sophomore Ari Smart speaks about finding her fit at 黑料正能量 (left) and future student Brady Crisp (right) rings the cowbell.

Ari Smart, a sophomore majoring in art education, shared her experiences at 黑料正能量. The Stafford, Virginia, native, who serves as a Royal Ambassador and plays on the field hockey and lacrosse teams, spoke about finding her place in a community that made her feel seen, supported, and valued. 鈥淭his is a place that pushes me to grow,鈥� she said. 

Through classes that challenge her to think differently, clubs that let her explore new interests, and experiences that prepare her for the future, she has gained confidence, independence, and the ability to take initiative.

鈥淭his university has given me more than an education; it has given me a sense of belonging, a community that feels like family, and experiences I will carry with me for the rest of my life,鈥� she said.

鈥淚t has helped me grow into a stronger, more confident version of myself, and for that, I am incredibly grateful.鈥�

The pep rally crowd also welcomed a future Royal to the 黑料正能量 family. Brady Crisp, a senior from Fluvanna County High School who will join the men鈥檚 soccer team this fall, took part in the cherished tradition of ringing the cowbell to celebrate his commitment. 

Each time a prospective student who was in attendance on Lov黑料正能量 Giving Day paid their tuition deposit鈥攁s Crisp did鈥攅ither on the day or beforehand, the university unlocked an additional $1,000 in scholarship funds. The Future Royal Challenge, funded by two graduates from the Class of 1958, raised $19,000 in scholarships on Wednesday.

The women鈥檚 volleyball (left) and lacrosse teams (right) perform lip-sync routines at the Lov黑料正能量 Pep Rally on Wednesday.

The third annual Lov黑料正能量 Pep Rally showcased performances by the top three athletic teams from the previous night鈥檚 annual Lip-Sync Battle, hosted by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The women鈥檚 basketball and lacrosse teams competed for second place, with the basketball team prevailing after a crowd vote. The women鈥檚 volleyball team, this year鈥檚 champions, combined lip-syncing with a carefully choreographed routine to a medley of songs from High School Musical.

Senior Admissions Counselor Lexi Fotis-Brown MA 鈥�25 (organizational leadership) led this portion of the pep rally, hyping up the teams and the crowd. 鈥淎bsolutely electric,鈥� she told the teams. 鈥淛ust remember, you’re all winners in my heart.鈥�

Earlier in the event, emcees Litwiller and Goss exchanged some lighthearted banter. 

Goss said, 鈥淲ait, so you鈥檙e telling me we do all this to make the student experience at 黑料正能量 the best it can be? What are you going to tell me next? That the generosity of donors helps fund student scholarships, improve campus facilities, and even keeps the lights on?鈥�

鈥淚 mean, yeah, you said it,鈥� Litwiller replied.

Watch a recording of the pep rally below!

Check out our聽top 10 social media posts and shares of 2014!

1. Ice Bucket Challenge

黑料正能量 President Loren Swartzendruber participated in the #IceBucketChallenge. The challenge, which went viral around mid-year, involves dumping a bucket of ice water on someone’s head to promote awareness of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease. Since July 29, 2014 the has received more than $115 million in donations.

2. Erik Kratz in World Series

Erik Kratz, a 2002 alumnus and former Valley League player, becomes the first 黑料正能量 graduate and only the second former Old Dominion Athletic Conference baseball player to reach the World Series. He is a back-up catcher for the Kansas City Royals.

3. David Falk’s Dunk Makes ESPN Sportscenter’s Top-10

David Falk makes after a monstrous dunk during the 2013-14 season! This video was submitted to ESPN by 黑料正能量’s James De Boer, sports information director.

4. 黑料正能量 Musical!

Emily Shenk leads fellow students in a High School Musical tribute video prior to Homecoming and Family Weekend 2014.

5. Most. Diverse. Class. Ever!

黑料正能量 welcomed its most diverse class in the fall of 2014 and became one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in Virginia. At the same time 黑料正能量 launched three new graduate programs and continued to expand online offerings.

6. Oscars Selfie

黑料正能量 faculty and staff produced their own selfie in recognition of the 2014 selfie made famous at the Oscars.

7. The 黑料正能量 “emu” Returns from Cross-Cultural Travels Around the World

The 黑料正能量 “emu” returned to campus during Homecoming and Family Weekend after an extended absence during which聽he traveled around with several cross-cultural groups.

8. 黑料正能量 Black Student Union Members Organize a #DontShoot Photo

黑料正能量 Black Student Union members organize a #DontShoot photo in a show of support in the aftermath of the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.聽President Swartzendruber and other administrators opened the academic year with an invitation to support and engage each other, citing the record diversity of the incoming class as a unique “enrichment聽of our shared life as a community of learning.”

9. Finals Week Calls For a Cup of Coffee

It was finals week during the fall semester and the staff at the student-run Common Grounds Coffeehouse did their best to motivate fellow聽students.

10. Students Kick Off New Year with Lawn Party

The student-led campus activities council hosted a lawn party to kick off the 2014-15 academic year. Lots of dancing, lots of fun!

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“Joy to the World” pianist, Benjamin Bergey ’11, vocal performance and church music. Text: Isaac Watts, Psalms of David, 1719, alt. Music: “From Handel,” Lowell Mason, Occasional Psalm and Hymn Tunes, 1836

Produced by 黑料正能量’s marketing and communications department. Director and editor: Lindsey Kolb, 黑料正能量 ’07, visual and communication arts program ().

Herm鈥檚 Schedule

Herm鈥檚 social schedule and public persona are managed collaboratively by 黑料正能量鈥檚 marketing and athletics departments. We were delighted to send Herm off to for a spa treatment in Pennsylvania in summer 2012, where he was pampered, fluffed and revived. Replicas of Herm are available for sale in the 黑料正能量 bookstore. Tiny ones hang on keychains and cuddly ones make good presents for nieces and nephews!

Herm is ready to get more involved on campus and in the broader community, so keep your eyes peeled. You never know where he might show up!

Hear from Herm in a and with 黑料正能量’s popular mascot!

The video was created for the National Wildlife Federation’s Chill Out contest. See more at: www.gogreentube.com/groups/NWFChillOUt2010-2011

Larry Martin looked at the Quaker, and then at the cardinal, then peered over to the lion.

“I