In our series of student and alumni stories, social media posts, and letters and emails, we invited you to become part of Lov黑料正能量 history by making this year鈥檚 Giving Day the best one yet. You answered the call, giving $402,722 to scholarships and financial aid, direct support for faculty and staff, 黑料正能量鈥檚 life-changing intercultural programs, and, for the first time, resources for first-generation college students.

Together, we surpassed the $400,000 goal set by Lov黑料正能量 organizers and topped our previous record of $365,512, raised last year, by an impressive 10%.

In an email sent Thursday, Nicole Litwiller 鈥�19, MA 鈥�20 (conflict transformation), annual giving and donor communications specialist, expressed gratitude for the generosity shown by 黑料正能量 alumni, friends, and fans.

鈥淚t is inspiring and humbling to witness the outpouring of support our community showed鈥攚ith every gift, text to a family member or friend, or post to social media, you helped us meet our goal. We are incredibly grateful.鈥� she said.

Among the highlights from this year鈥檚 Lov黑料正能量 Giving Day, she shared, were:

• Unlocking every challenge of the day;
• watching hundreds of alumni, employees, donors, and students connect and celebrate during the Lov黑料正能量 Community Meal; and
• welcoming 19 future Royals who visited for the day into the 黑料正能量 community.

鈥淭hank you again for showing up for 黑料正能量,鈥� Litwiller said. 鈥淵our support has a direct impact on current students, future students, and the entire 黑料正能量 community.鈥�

Students, faculty, staff, and alumni fill Yoder Arena for Wednesday morning鈥檚 Lov黑料正能量 Pep Rally.

The day kicked off with the third annual Lov黑料正能量 Pep Rally at Yoder Arena. The rally had it all: a dramatic entrance by Herm on an e-bike, the return of the BaZOOKa T-shirt cannon, and performances by the top three athletic teams from the previous night鈥檚 Lip-Sync Battle.

Read a recap of the pep rally below!

Sights and sounds from the University Festival: Past, present, and future Royals meet with Herm (top photo), snap pics at the Lov黑料正能量 photo booth (left), and bob for apples (right) at one of the Student Union club booths.

Following the pep rally, the University Festival in the Hall of Nations connected faculty members with prospective students and featured games and activities hosted by student clubs. 

Mathematics Professor Dr. Daniel Showalter brought his two daughters and his dad, Dennis Showalter 鈥�73, to the event. He said he gives to scholarships such as the HDH and Flora Showalter Endowed Scholarship, which supports math and computer science students, on Lov黑料正能量 Giving Day.

鈥淭his is my dream job,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 want to do whatever I can to keep the atmosphere vibrant and living. I feel really grateful that I get to wake up every morning and go to a job that is meaningful and enjoyable.鈥�

Jacob Horsley 鈥�22, MBA 鈥�25, associate director of undergraduate admissions, said he chooses to give back to the university on Lov黑料正能量 Giving Day because he鈥檚 a 鈥渞epeat Royal.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 a double-alumnus,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 have experienced the impact of this supportive community, and I want to make sure that it continues.鈥�

The Lunch & Lawn Party returned to Thomas Plaza with a free student lunch and various lawn games.

The campus community enjoyed Wednesday鈥檚 warm weather at the Lunch & Lawn Party on Thomas Plaza, where they savored Korean beef bowls and competed in lawn games. The annual student appreciation lunch, free for all students and hosted in partnership between Pioneer College Caterers and the Campus Activities Council, included the traditional egg toss and a Bubble Bus that filled the Front Lawn with giant bubbles.

From 2 to 4 p.m., members of 黑料正能量鈥檚 MA in Counseling program led self-care activities at the Student Union.

As 黑料正能量鈥檚 night owls kept the energy alive, Lov黑料正能量 participants had plenty more activities to enjoy. Back by popular demand and hosted by the Student Government Association, the Real Life Mario Kart Race returned to the University Commons indoor track, where teams of three raced on scooters, dodged obstacles, and collected prizes. Later, from 10:30 p.m. to midnight, the Art After Dark craft event featured live music from 黑料正能量鈥檚 jazz trio.

View the full schedule of events at .

Leaderboard competition

The winners of the 2026 Lov黑料正能量 leaderboard competition are:

Academic program

• First place ($1,000 prize): Nursing
• Second place ($500 prize): Natural Sciences
• Third place ($250 prize): Education

Student club/org

• First place ($1,000 prize): Muslim Student Alliance (a new org formed this year!)
• Second place ($500 prize): Black Student Alliance
• Third place ($250 prize): 黑料正能量 Outdoor

Athletic team

• First place ($1,000 prize): Women’s Volleyball
• Second place ($500 prize): Women’s Basketball
• Third place ($250 prize): Men鈥檚 volleyball

Challenges (all unlocked)

Donors unlocked all $170,000 in challenge match funds for the University Fund, student scholarships, intercultural programs, athletics, and, new to Lov黑料正能量 this year, support for first-generation college students.

Lov黑料正能量 Early Challenge: We received more than 120 gifts before the start of Lov黑料正能量 Giving Day to unlock $15,000 for the University Fund.

All-day challenges

Loyal Royal Challenge: More than 250 alumni made gifts to 黑料正能量 during Lov黑料正能量 Giving Day to unlock $20,000 for student scholarships.

Friends of 黑料正能量 Challenge: More than 175 non-alumni made gifts to unlock $15,000 for the University Fund.

Future Royal Challenge: Because 19 prospective students who were in attendance on Lov黑料正能量 Giving Day paid their tuition deposit, either on the day or beforehand, we unlocked $19,000 in scholarship funds.

Timed challenges

Early Herm Gets the Worm: We received 75 gifts before 9 a.m. on Wednesday to unlock $15,000 for student scholarships.

First-Gen Match of 10: In a first-ever Lov黑料正能量 challenge of its kind, a 鈥渕atch of the match鈥� through a NetVUE grant, we raised $10,052 to support first-generation students.

Lov黑料正能量 at First Sight: We received 110 gifts between noon and 3 p.m. to unlock a whopping $30,000 for the University Fund.

What a Wonderful World: We received 80 gifts from 5-7 p.m. to unlock $20,000 to ensure all students are able to access 黑料正能量鈥檚 impactful intercultural experiences.

The Generosity Marathon: We received 55 gifts from 7:30-9 p.m. to unlock $10,000 for 黑料正能量 Athletics.

Late-night Leadership: We received 100 gifts from 9 p.m. to midnight to unlock $20,000 for the University Fund.

Thanks to everyone who donated, shared their time to celebrate their love of all things 黑料正能量, and joined in the festivities on campus! Special thanks to the 2026 Lov黑料正能量 planning team: Nicole Litwiller, Arelys Martinez Fabian, Cassandra Guerrero, Kyle Dickinson, Leah Frankenfield, Luke Litwiller, Maria Longenecker, Omar Hoyos, Steve Johnson, and Tyler Goss.

Swipe through our photo album from the day below!

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!

Nearly four years after its final brushstroke was applied, the Inclusivity in Science Mural inside the Suter Science Center will get its long-awaited dedication ceremony on Friday, March 27.

The ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. in SSC 106 with a 30-minute talk led by Pinar Ate艧 Sinopoulos-Lloyd, one of the seven people featured on the mural. Sinopoulos-Lloyd (they/them) is an Indigenous eco-philosopher, artist, and wildlife tracker, and will speak about the way their work connects science and art with sustainability.

Following the talk, Nicole Litwiller 鈥�19, MACT 鈥�20 will host a panel conversation with Sinopoulos-Lloyd, mural artist and alumna Veronica Horst 鈥�23, a current 黑料正能量 science student, and Tara Kishbaugh, dean of faculty and student success. The program will also include reflections from Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus and Jenny Burden, executive director of the Arts Council of the Valley.

A formal dedication of the mural will proceed shortly after 5 p.m., with Sinopoulos-Lloyd signing their portrait. The event is open to the public and will include light refreshments.

黑料正能量 the mural

During the spring of 2022, students involved in 黑料正能量鈥檚 Art Club and the Earthkeepers group wanted to make the Suter Science Center more welcoming and reflective of who contributes to the sciences, said Dawn Neil, coordinator for the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

鈥淭hey noticed two things: the space felt visually sterile, and the sciences have historically centered white male voices while overlooking women, scientists of color, and queer scientists,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey wanted to highlight those hidden figures.鈥�

Work on the mural, funded by an Inclusive Excellence Grant made possible by the generous support of Jose Koshy 鈥�76 and Jean Koshy-Hertzler 鈥�79, began that semester. 黑料正能量 students Veronica Horst 鈥�23, Asha Beck 鈥�22, Grace Harder 鈥�23, Molly Piwonka 鈥�23, Afton Rhodes-Lehman 鈥�24, and Jake Myers 鈥�22 served as co-leaders at various stages of the project.

鈥淪TEM is a field in which, historically, gaining recognition and representation has been challenging for non-white, non-male, and non-heteronormative cisgender individuals,鈥� reads an artist statement for the project. 鈥淭his mural is intended to be a joyful statement of representation, emphasizing that we have, are, and will continue to make a significant impact on the world.鈥�

鈥淲e want to recognize and celebrate these individuals and their contributions to the academic world,鈥� the statement continues. 鈥淥ur hope is that women, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), and LGBTQIA+ individuals at 黑料正能量 will experience a positive impact through increased awareness of successful individuals like themselves in STEM.鈥�

The project leaders distributed a campus-wide survey to students, faculty, and staff asking whom they would like to see depicted on the mural and then took a vote to determine who those seven figures would be.

The mural features seven professionals who have made and/or are making an impact in STEM-related fields and are queer and/or BIPOC women. In addition to Sinopoulos-Lloyd, the portraits depict chemist Asima Chatterjee, mathematician Gladys West, mathematician Katherine Johnson, arachnologist Lauren Esposito, astrophysicist Nergis Mavalvala, and admiral Rachel Levine.

For bios of each of these professionals, scroll to the bottom of this article.

Students from the Visual and Communication Arts (VACA) department designed and painted the mural. Although the project was completed during the summer of 2022, this is the first time it鈥檚 officially been dedicated, said Neil.

With sustainability serving as the university theme for the 2025-26 academic year, it seemed like the perfect time and Sinopoulos-Lloyd the ideal guest to help make it happen.

鈥淭heir work challenges the idea of what science is,鈥� said Neil. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e exploring how the environment connects with things visually, artistically, and also scientifically. It鈥檚 a different side of science, one rooted in global and community contexts rather than a strictly data-driven one.鈥�

鈥淭hey would fit in perfectly as a student here,鈥� she added. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 exciting is that their values really align with ours.鈥�

黑料正能量 the speaker

Sinopoulos-Lloyd is an artist and scientist known for their powerful work at the intersection of sustainability, science, and art. They are the co-founder of Queer Nature, an interdisciplinary project focused on ecology, identity, and decolonization. Their work has been featured in The Guardian and The New York Times and archived by the Library of Congress. They lecture nationally at institutions including Stanford University, Colorado College, and the Guggenheim Museum.

In 2020, they were honored with the Audubon National Society鈥檚 National Environmental Champion award, as well as the R.I.S.E. Indigenous 2020 Art & Poetry Fellowship.

For more information, visit their website at . 

Sinopoulos-Lloyd will participate in several events throughout the day on Friday, March 27. In addition to the mural dedication, they will serve as a panelist at the second annual Mornings with the Mayor, a special edition of Convocation hosted by Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed, director of alumni engagement and community connections, at 10:15 a.m. in the University Commons Student Union. 

They will also meet with students, faculty, and staff for a lunchtime discussion in the West Dining Room of Northlawn Dining Hall at noon.

Sinopoulos-Lloyd is one of seven people featured on the Inclusivity in Science Mural, located on the second floor of the Suter Science Center south of SSC 106 (Swartzendruber Hall). Biographies of each of the people featured on the mural are included below.

At the USA Powerlifting (USAPL) in September, two of Holden鈥檚 powerlifting proteges won their weight classes, while three other lifters placed in the top four of their weight classes. Eight of his athletes competed at the event, which was held in Memphis, Tennessee. Powerlifters from all over the country competed in squat, bench press and deadlift at the tournament.

Daniel Clements, of Newport News, Virginia, Holden’s best friend since high school, (148-pound) weight class at the raw nationals. The term 鈥渞aw鈥� refers to lifting without the use of supportive equipment such as certain kinds of lifting suits. This marked Clements鈥� second championship title; he won one at the 2021 USAPL Raw Nationals. 

鈥淗e鈥檚 a generational talent,鈥� Holden said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 that far ahead of the curve.鈥�

Another lifter that Holden trains, Julianna Iuorno, of Richmond, Virginia, (114-pound) weight class.  

Harrisonburg, Virginia, lifter Jude Kozel placed second in a teen division of the 110-kilogram (242-pound) weight class. Yash Pednekar, a lifter from Edison, New Jersey, placed third in the open 56-kilogram (123-pound) weight class. Luke McCain, of Rockingham County, Virginia, finished fourth in the open 67.5-kilogram (148-pound) weight class 鈥� the same weight class as Clements.

In addition to his athletes ranking high at nationals, Holden ranked among the top powerlifting coaches at the competition. 

Including the athletes who competed at nationals, Holden maintains a roster of about 45 competitive powerlifters virtually as director of online coaching for Austin, Texas-based gym . The lifters record video of themselves whenever they train, and Holden monitors their workouts and offers critiques. 

鈥淚 describe it to people as a personal trainer in a pocket,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 handle everything virtually and asynchronously, but the actual process of a person鈥檚 training session is pretty much the same.鈥�

Sharpening his skills

Originally from Newport News, Virginia, Holden was recruited to play soccer for longtime 黑料正能量 head coach Roger Mast, who would also serve as his academic adviser and as head of the kinesiology program. 

鈥淗aving everything so consolidated was appealing,鈥� Holden said. 

As a sophomore, Holden helped start the Royals Lifting student club, which hosted lifting competitions, and began coaching other lifters on the Harrisonburg, Virginia, campus. 

鈥淚t was fun,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was the first opportunity I had to be in a sort of leadership role in that context.鈥�

Nicole Litwiller 鈥�19, MA 鈥�20, was among the first lifters that Holden coached at 黑料正能量. She said she respects his approach to coaching.

鈥淗e recognizes that athletes are whole human beings and cares for his athletes beyond just the numbers they鈥檙e hitting,鈥� she said.

For his crosscultural, Holden spent a few weeks in Kenya, where he was connected to , a charity that provides financial support for lifting equipment in Africa, all built using local materials and local employment. At Lift4Life, Holden virtually coached lifters in Zimbabwe. 

He said 黑料正能量鈥檚 focus on the art of coaching and its emphasis on practicums and internships helped build experience and connections.

鈥淲hile I was at 黑料正能量, I had to become part of the community,鈥� Holden said. 鈥淭hat was really big, and a lot of that came from the curriculum of the kinesiology program at the time.鈥�

Crowds of 黑料正能量 Royals 鈥� whether alumni, family, friends, students, faculty or staff 鈥� gathered together for Homecoming and Family Weekend 2023 at 48 events over three days. A total of 529 people registered for those events.

Sixty-eight alumni attended the 50th anniversary Class of 1973 reunion, with 206 attending other reunions stretching from 1958 to 2013. Nine members of the oldest class (1958) reunited by Zoom. According to an email from Advancement Office, 169 people registered for the Music Celebration Concert, 180 registered for the opening breakfast and 127 registered for TenTalks.

The most viewed event on Facebook was the Writers Read with Kate Baer, followed by TenTalks at second and the Music Celebration Concert at third.

It would have been impossible to see everything the weekend had to offer, but we鈥檝e got you covered. Here are some of the homecoming highlights, in case you missed it.

• Music Celebration Concert: An Evening with Madeline Bender helped kick off the Homecoming festivities on Friday night. Madeline Bender 鈥�93, an accomplished soprano who鈥檚 performed all across the world, provided audiences at Lehman Auditorium with a smorgasbord of musical entertainment. Click here for a longer writeup of the event. A recording of the event can be viewed on the .

• Nearly every seat in the Suter Science Center lecture hall was filled on Saturday, with everyone in attendance on the edge of those seats as they listened to some amazing stories from three 黑料正能量 alumni at TenTalks. The event, which is modeled after TED Talks, tasks three luminaries with 10 minutes each to impact, influence and inspire the crowd. This year鈥檚 speakers were Ryan Gehman 鈥�16, Kevin Ressler 鈥�07 and Madeline Bender ’93. Click here for a longer writeup of the event. A recording of the event can be viewed on the .

• Kate Baer 鈥�07 (right) took the Lehman Auditorium stage on Saturday night to read from her collection of poems, answer questions from the crowd and dispense life and writing advice, all while showcasing her razor-sharp wit. Click here for a longer writeup of the event. A recording of the event can be viewed on the .

• Roughly 250 generous donors and contributors filled Yoder Arena on Friday evening to celebrate another banner year of philanthropy. The five student storytellers recognized at the Donor Appreciation Banquet shared their journey of transformation at 黑料正能量 thanks to donor giving. Click here for a longer writeup of the event.

• Saturday started off with a bang at the Homecoming Celebration Breakfast held at Yoder Arena. The ceremony honored the recipients of its alumni awards: Andy Dula 鈥�91 (right), Paul and Lisa Zendt Shelly 鈥�89 (left) and Basil Marin 鈥�10 (center). It also recognized this year鈥檚 Hall of Honor inductees: Miranda White Terry 鈥�08, Jamie Fraysher Runner 鈥�09, Luke Yoder 鈥�08 and the 2003 women鈥檚 basketball team.

• Due to the threat of rain, Fall Fest was moved into the gym, where children barreled down inflatable slides, launched themselves into the air in the bounce house and won prizes from a table of giveaways. Several food trucks fed visitors outside the gym as a cart inside scooped Italian ice into cups. While his three children colored with crayons at a nearby table, Luke Yoder, one of the athletes honored earlier that morning, said it was his first time returning for Homecoming. The Iowa resident said it was fun catching up with friends from his class and seeing all the places he had fond memories of.

• Across the hallway from the gym, people packed the athletic suites to honor Roland Landes and his wife, Darlene. Both were present to receive the recognition. Landes, a legendary coach who helmed the most successful men鈥檚 cross country and track teams in school history, served 黑料正能量 from 1967 to 1998 as coach, assistant professor of physical education and as supervisor of auxiliary services. His tenure includes coaching five different teams in four sports from 1967 to 1983, finishing with a career record of 223-141 for a 0.613 win percentage. His son and daughter spoke about his character, their favorite memories of him and how much of an impact he had on them and the broader 黑料正能量 community.

• President Susan Schultz Huxman and Mayor Deanna Reed spoke to a group of women in the President鈥檚 Reception Room about the mission and goals of Royal Women for 黑料正能量. The group, led by the visionary trifecta of Reed and co-chairs Louise Hostetter 鈥�79 and Kay Nussbaum 鈥�78, is a new women鈥檚 philanthropy and networking initiative to inspire visible leadership, bold investments and empowering networks to impact 黑料正能量鈥檚 future. Its goal is to raise $70,000 for student scholarships, of which $20,000 will be used for immediate impact grants and $50,000 will go into an endowed scholarship fund to create lasting impact for 黑料正能量 students.

• Inside the Black Box Theater, Jackie Font-Guzman, vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion, led a conversation about the DEI efforts on campus. She said that 43.6 percent of the incoming class self-identifies as either Black, Indigenous or Persons of Color. Thirty-five percent of students at 黑料正能量 are first-generation students. 鈥淪o knowing that, we have a responsibility to make sure that when our students come here, when our staff comes here, when our faculty comes here, that they really feel like they belong, and they feel like this is their space,鈥� she said.

• Later, DEI staff met with students and alumni to discuss the creation of an LGBTQ+ advisory board. An advisory board typically might provide support and accountability to faculty and staff and can also offer strategic direction to some of the efforts moving forward. Nicole Litwiller, who facilitated the event, described the meeting as 鈥渁n inaugural conversation鈥� and brainstorming space. 鈥淲e want to hear all your voices and incorporate them into how this advisory board gets created,鈥� she told attendees gathered at the old Common Grounds location.

• Upstairs at the Common Grounds coffee shop, a platter of mugs invited former employees to step behind the counter and make their own favorite drinks. Returning to campus for her 15-year reunion, Aubrey Kreider 鈥�08, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was in the mood for a hot chai and thanked the current crop of baristas who helped make it for her. 鈥淭hey ended up making it for me because everything is totally different,鈥� said Kreider, who worked at Common Grounds for four years. 鈥淎ll the technology鈥檚 been upgraded, and obviously, since it鈥檚 in a different space, I didn鈥檛 know where anything was.鈥�

• Across campus at Lehman Auditorium, Chamber Singers alumni shared their favorite memories from their time on the choir and joined in song together.

• A pop-up swag shop inside University Commons sold apparel and other wares to passersby. Cassidy Walker, a junior and Royal Ambassador helping man the booth, said well over 100 items had been sold about three hours into being open. She said the blue 黑料正能量 crewneck was a bestseller. 鈥淚 almost bought myself a college parent shirt because I鈥檓 like the mom of my friend group,鈥� she said.

• Dymphna de Wild, JMU arts professor, showcased her collection of artist books, digital photographs and collages on Friday during a reception at the Margaret Martin Gehman Gallery for her 鈥淪olace of Silence鈥� exhibition. Some of her works included pictures of found objects atop freshly laid snow and a sprawling book of coffee filters that have been turned into art.

• Saturday saw some success on the pitch with the 黑料正能量 men鈥檚 soccer team besting Ferrum 6-0. The women鈥檚 soccer and field hockey teams each lost to Roanoke by a score of 0-4.

• The denouement of the weekend arrived Sunday morning with the Homecoming Worship Service held at Lehman Auditorium. The Chamber Singers led congregants in song and the recipients of this year鈥檚 alumni awards addressed the crowd. Click here for a longer writeup of the event.

Photos by Macson McGuigan, Jon Styer/At Ease Design & Consulting, and Rachel Holderman