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!

The success has been broad-based, with grants coming from a diverse range of sources, including federal agencies, foundations, and professional associations. This mix of funding highlights the wide-ranging impact of research and programs at 黑料正能量, and positions the university as a leader in multiple fields. The results of these grants have helped support student success initiatives and professional development opportunities, and provide resources for staff and faculty roles.聽

Among the notable recent achievements:

• The National Science Foundation (NSF) S-STEM Grant provides scholarships and support services for high-achieving, income-eligible STEM majors. This grant helps create a greater sense of belonging and opens new pathways for students in critical fields. It supports a STEM mentorship program, an eight-week paid internship, free conference attendance, and meets unmet financial need up to $15,000.聽
• The HRSA BHWET Mental Health grant provides $25,000 stipends for 59 counseling students in internships from Fall 2025 through Spring 2029, while expanding their partnerships and services to schools and clinical sites in areas such as Page County, Virginia, and Pendleton County, West Virginia. The grant also funds conference registration and travel reimbursement for internship students and provides specialized training in telehealth, integrated behavioral health in primary care, and trauma-informed care.
• A SAMHSA grant addresses mental health support, suicide prevention, and substance abuse prevention and education among 黑料正能量 undergraduate students. This is a critical initiative that provides vital support services and programming to the campus community. Royals RISE is the name of the program tasked with implementing the grant objectives and goals.聽
• A DOJ Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) grant designed to reduce domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking at 黑料正能量. The OVW grant is the third iteration of a grant that 黑料正能量 has had since 2017. Safer Together is the name of the 黑料正能量 program that collaborates with community and campus partners to enhance its safety.

Foundation and association grants

• The supports interfaith dialogue and religious literacy initiatives that align with 黑料正能量鈥檚 commitment to peacebuilding and cross-cultural understanding.聽
• The Center for Teaching and Learning Enhancement Grant: Funding from the Council for Independent Colleges supports the development and expansion of 黑料正能量鈥檚 Center for Teaching and Learning, providing faculty with enhanced resources for pedagogical innovation and student success strategies.
• The supports 黑料正能量鈥檚 distinctive approach to vocation and calling, funding programming that helps students discern their life鈥檚 work through the integration of faith, learning, and service.聽
• Lilly Endowment Grants support 黑料正能量鈥檚 commitment to vocation exploration and faith integration in higher education. The university has benefited from many Lilly grants that have enabled innovative programming that connects academic study with personal calling and community service.聽
• A Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Grant expands training opportunities for students pursuing chaplaincy and pastoral care ministries, reinforcing 黑料正能量鈥檚 commitment to holistic care and spiritual formation. This grant, in collaboration with Palm Beach University, funds the training of a Resident as a Certified Educator to teach in 黑料正能量鈥檚 CPE program and expand its capacity for offering CPE units.

Together, these grants represent more than $5.6 million in support for 黑料正能量鈥檚 mission-driven work. They affirm the dedication of 黑料正能量鈥檚 faculty and staff and the potential of its students.