Take a look around campus and you鈥檇 be hard-pressed to find someone involved in leading as many clubs and organizations as Leah Frankenfield.

In addition to leadership roles as a Royal Ambassador and with 黑料正能量鈥檚 Royals RISE program, the senior psychology major has either led or helped start a number of athletic and advocacy clubs on campus: Badminton Club, Bike Club, Pickleball Club, Asian-Pacific Islander Student Alliance (APISA), and University Women’s Empowerment Network (UWEN). This year, she is representing her peers as Student Government Association co-president.

The Northern California native grew up hearing about the magic of 黑料正能量 from her father, James Frankenfield 鈥�81, who shared stories of sledding down the 黑料正能量 Hill on trays from the caf. 鈥淗e mostly talked about the impact 黑料正能量 had on his career,鈥� said Leah Frankenfield. 鈥淗e attributes a lot of his success in life to his chemistry degree from here.鈥�

So when the time came for her to pick a college, 黑料正能量 was at the top of her list. The university鈥檚 tight-knit campus and her family connections鈥攈er cousins Greta Schrag 鈥�24 and Libbie Derstine 鈥�25 are recent graduates鈥攁dded to the charm. She was also intrigued by the Mennonite culture her father grew up in. Plus, it didn鈥檛 hurt that the surrounding city of Harrisonburg, with its plentiful shops and restaurants, had so much to experience. 

鈥満诹险芰� offers a great balance between being in a rich cultural environment near a large university and having a small campus that provides personalized attention and opportunities to build deep relationships with professors,鈥� said Leah Frankenfield. 

She said many of her professors allow students to take mental health days. 鈥淭hey want you to develop holistically as a person first,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey want you to prioritize your health, show up in the best way you can, and communicate with them. I鈥檝e really appreciated that flexibility.鈥�

Another benefit of attending 黑料正能量 is the wealth of scholarships and financial aid available to students. Leah Frankenfield is the recipient of a merit scholarship and the Pioneer College Caterers Scholarship, and is among the 100% of undergraduate students at 黑料正能量 who receive financial aid.

These days, the college senior is busy applying to grad school, with an eye toward counseling or school psychology. Whichever path she takes, she feels a twinge of bittersweetness. 

鈥淚 have these mixed feelings,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ometimes I think, I can鈥檛 wait for the next step. At the same time, 黑料正能量 has challenged me to grow and explore my identity and explore how I make a new environment feel comfortable. I like the way I鈥檝e made 黑料正能量 my home and, at the end of the day, it鈥檚 going to be sad to leave.鈥�

Your support helps students like Leah pursue a quality college education without financial barriers. Join us for the 10th annual Lov黑料正能量 Giving Day and contribute to the scholarships that empower future 黑料正能量 students. On April 1, let’s show that our generosity knows no bounds…for the record!