Sarah Roth Shank 鈥�10, field hockey

Presented by teammate Kristina Landis Yoder 鈥�08

Roth Shank brought energy and laughter to practices and games, uplifted and encouraged her teammates, and brought a combination of positivity and tough love that elevated play and team morale, Landis Yoder said.

鈥淪he sprinted to every ball, her small passing game was strong, and she was feisty in the circle,鈥� she said. 鈥淪he genuinely found joy in the game and her determination was contagious.鈥�

During her four seasons on the team, Roth Shank helped lead the team to four consecutive ODAC championship game appearances. After graduating with a degree in history, she served as assistant coach of the field hockey team and earned an MA in conflict transformation from the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding in 2014. In 2017, she and her husband moved to New Zealand, where she completed a PhD in public policy. They now live in Columbus, Ohio, where she teaches at Ohio Wesleyan University.

Accepting the honor, Roth Shank said she was 鈥済enuinely surprised鈥� to hear she was considered for it.

鈥淚 have never been the most skilled on the field,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e never been the highest goal scorer, nor broken records for defensive saves. 鈥� However, in reflecting and preparing for this speech, there is one label that came to mind that I will own. I am a workhorse. I am committed, competitive, and driven. When I think back on my team, it was full of workhorses like me.鈥�

Ryan Eshleman-Robles 鈥�13, men鈥檚 soccer

Presented by former coach Roger Mast 鈥�85

Defenders are rarely inducted into the Hall of Honor, Mast said, with the recognition typically going to attacking players. But Eshleman-Robles鈥� legacy at 黑料正能量 extends far beyond the goals he prevented, games he played, and records he helped establish.

鈥淗is legacy is defined by the way he competed, the way he represented his teammates and his university, and the lasting impact he made on the 黑料正能量 soccer program,鈥� Mast said. 鈥淗e helped create a culture in which teammates challenged one another to become better players and better people.鈥�

A double major in biology and philosophy and theology, Eshleman-Robles appeared in 77 matches as a center back in his four seasons. In 2012, he was named the ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He recently completed his PhD at Texas Tech University and now teaches English at Eastern Mennonite School and coaches its varsity boys soccer team.

Eshleman-Robles, in his speech at the ceremony, recounted some of the mistakes from the field that still linger in his mind.

鈥淏eing a defender is sort of an inherently negative thing,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e always in worst-case scenario mode, thinking, 鈥榃hat is the worst thing that could happen and how do I keep that from happening?鈥� You expect the worst, and you definitely don鈥檛 expect a call from the Hall of Honor.鈥�

鈥淭hanks for helping me remember that I was who I wanted to be, at least most of the time,鈥� he said.

Hannah Chappell-Dick 鈥�16, women鈥檚 cross-country and track and field

Presented by former coach Jason Lewkowicz

Lewkowicz recalled his first season coaching at 黑料正能量 in 2011 and recruiting Chappell-Dick, whom he described as 鈥淚vy League caliber, athletically and academically.鈥� The former coach, who now serves as director of athletics for Bethel University (Indiana), said he鈥檚 often asked to define success.

鈥淢y answer is predicated on being faithful to what鈥檚 been entrusted to you,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen I think of someone who modeled that, who was faithful with what was entrusted and continues to be, Hannah is one of those people.鈥�

A biology major, Chappell-Dick qualified twice for the NCAA national championships in cross-country. In track and field, she won 11 ODAC championships and qualified for five national championships. She now serves as head cross-country coach and assistant men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 track and field coach at Amherst College.

Chappell-Dick read entries from a running log she kept as a student. From her first day of college training in 2012 to her last workout at 黑料正能量 in May 2016, she shared her experiences navigating obstacles and recovering from injuries, running to clear her head, forming friendships with teammates, and competing for championships.

鈥淚 think about everything we experienced in our sport,鈥� she said. 鈥淎ll the lessons we keep learning about the world and about ourselves. The confidence gained and shattered and rebuilt again. The failure that didn鈥檛 break us. I feel so fortified for life by all this failure. I have a framework now for facing hard things.鈥�

Jess (Rheinheimer) Bishop 鈥�16, women鈥檚 basketball

Presented by former coach Kevin Griffin 鈥�93

Griffin shared four stories illustrating Bishop’s character, from watching her play in high school while recruiting her older sister, Steph, to her first game off the bench, when she scored 14 points against Messiah College. He connected Bishop’s humility to Proverbs 27:2: 鈥淟et someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.鈥�

鈥淪omehow, with all your humility and all your abilities and all the class that anybody has ever played with, you managed to win every individual accolade you could win and won a bunch of games as a teammate and you let other people praise you and you didn鈥檛 call any attention to yourself,鈥� he said.

A nursing major from Manheim, Pennsylvania, Bishop helped lead the Royals to an 84-26 record and two ODAC Tournament championship game appearances during her four years at 黑料正能量. She was awarded the Jostens Trophy, which recognizes the top Division III basketball player nationwide, and finished her career with the third-most points in program history.

She shared some of the moments she鈥檒l never forget from her time on the team, including the early morning workouts, bus rides, and team dinners at the caf. She also dedicated the honor to her mom, who was diagnosed with colon cancer during her senior year of high school and underwent chemotherapy treatments for six years before passing away in 2018.

鈥淪he was 黑料正能量鈥檚 biggest fan and sacrificed so much to get to all of our home games,鈥� Bishop said. 鈥淲atching us play basketball was one of her true joys in life and I truly believe that kept her fighting for all the years she did. She was a proud Royal and I couldn鈥檛 accept a selection to the Hall of Honor without mentioning her and my dad.鈥�

Sarah Roth Shank 鈥�10 faced a difficult college choice: follow her siblings to Goshen College to play soccer or attend 黑料正能量 to continue her field hockey career. She chose 黑料正能量, a decision that launched an outstanding athletic career and opened the door to countless opportunities beyond the field.

A history major from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with minors in pre-law, political studies, and peacebuilding, Roth Shank was a four-year midfielder for Royals field hockey, helping lead the team to four consecutive ODAC championship game appearances. She earned All-ODAC honors three times, including First Team recognition in 2007 and 2009, was twice named to the VaSID All-State Second Team, and earned a spot on the 2009 All-ODAC Tournament Team. In 2010, she received the 黑料正能量 President鈥檚 Award, recognizing excellence in academics, athletics, faith, leadership, campus involvement, and community service.

Beyond athletics, Roth Shank embraced campus life.

鈥淚 was highly driven and wanted to be involved,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 didn’t need to just hyperfocus on playing my sport. I was able to do that, go on a cross-cultural, and be involved in student leadership.鈥�

After spending the past nine years in New Zealand, while she earned a PhD in public policy and restorative justice, Roth Shank is returning to the United States with her husband, Benjamin 鈥�10, and their two children. The family is settling in Columbus, Ohio, where she will continue her consulting work while teaching university courses at Ohio Wesleyan University.

Roth Shank will be honored at a ceremony at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, during Homecoming 2026. For a full schedule of Homecoming events and activities, visit . 

The event is also designed to give participants a preview of the community atmosphere and courses offered at SPI, a program of the which hosts five sessions in May and June on a variety of topics including trauma awareness, restorative justice, leadership, program management and responding to violent extremism.

Since 1994, more than 3,000 people have attended SPI from more than 120 countries. While the early years of SPI were geared more towards international participants, there has been a push in the last few years to attract local participants and respond to local situations.

鈥淭his is a way to give more focus to the local community,鈥� says , admissions director.

Last year, a middle school teacher, veteran, pastor and community kitchen manager were among the 65 regional peacebuilders in attendance at SPI Community Day. After 鈥渟uch a positive response鈥� last year, Roth Shank says the maximum attendance has been increased to 80.

The event includes a breakfast presentation on community organizing by Dr. , professor of restorative justice; two 90-minute workshops, a lunch presentation and a networking event.

鈥淭he underlying focus is going to be community organizing and leading,鈥� says Roth Shank. 鈥淚n the current political climate 鈥� people are looking for ways to build bridges and be engaged.鈥�

Workshop offerings include

• Organizational Use of Circles, with Dr. ;
• Leadership and Management for the Common Good, with Dr. ;
• Conflict Coaching, with Dr. ;
• Program and Project Management, with ;
• Transforming Power of Identity and Dignity, with Dr. ;
• Faith-Based Peacebuilding: Structuring Hope Locally, with The Rev. Roy Hange.

Participants will depart with deeper networks and valuable skills related to organizational leadership, says SPI Director , while also learning more about the resources of SPI and the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding.

鈥淚 believe, as do many others, that in the coming years, communities are going to have to increasingly rely on their own organizations and service providers as there will be less help forthcoming from the federal government,鈥� says Goldberg. 鈥淪PI Community Day is a great chance for 黑料正能量 to make better connections with these local providers, give them the skills they need to succeed and help them become better connected with each other.鈥�

Swartzendruber is retiring after 13 years as 黑料正能量 president on June 30.

鈥溾�� But I mean this,鈥� Braaten added. 鈥淭he most important thing is you have to love people, love the mission, have humor and humility. And isn鈥檛 that Loren? What an opportunity to say to this community, 鈥榊ou have experienced the best of college presidents.鈥�

Braaten was among nine speakers at the gathering of 135 guests at the Spotswood Country Club celebration; she knows the college presidency well and will retire herself next month after 14 years in the role at Ferrum College in Virginia.

Robert Lambeth, president of Council of Independent Colleges of Virginia since 1983, also remarked on the great respect held for Swartzendruber among his colleagues, who voted him to a term as board chair in 2009-10.

Braaten and Lambeth joined James Madison University president Jonathan Alger in representing the higher education community. Alger remembered the warm welcome and hospitality the Swartzendrubers offered the Algers when they moved to the community in 2012. This relational style helped to strengthen the ongoing collaboration between the universities, he said. Alger also noted the joy their daughter has experienced as a chorister in 黑料正能量鈥檚 .

The celebration included family, friends, past and current members of the board of trustees, and President鈥檚 Cabinet. Former presidents Myron Augsburger, with his wife Esther, and Joe Lapp, with his wife Hannah, were also in attendance, as well as Sara Wenger Shenk 鈥�75, president of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, and her husband Gerald, and Jim Brenneman, president of Goshen College, and his spouse, Terry.

Though much of the evening was spent in laughter 鈥� Swartzendruber鈥檚 sense of humor being a characteristic warmly lauded by all speakers 鈥揔ay Nussbaum 鈥�78, Board of Trustees chair, and Basil Marin, MDiv. 鈥�05, Mennonite Education Agency (MEA) board member, each presented lengthy resolutions in honor of the couple.

Andy Dula 鈥�91, former board chair, commented that Swartzendruber always served 鈥渨ith dignity, precision and grace,鈥� and offered thanks for remaining composed in the face of controversy over and over again and 鈥渇or your mission, focus and passion.鈥�

, MDiv. 鈥�94, professor of Bible and religion, praised Swartzendruber鈥檚 鈥渞efusal to see a conflict between his love for the church and the work of the academy,鈥� displayed in his giving of space to ask tough questions with the classroom and the academic community and his steadfast support of faculty 鈥渄espite high personal cost.鈥�

鈥淥ver the years of Loren鈥檚 presidency, I remember feeling more and more assured and free to teach as I was led,鈥� she added.

I Corinthians 13:4-7 was offered as a benediction by Kirk Shisler 鈥�81, vice president for advancement.

^听Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ^听It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ^听Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ^7听It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

鈥淭hese words and phrases we can all correlate to encounters we鈥檝e had with you and we鈥檝e observed in your relationship with parents, students, faculty and staff, alumni, donors, leaders of Mennonite church and other denominational leaders and our community. You have demonstrated this quality of Christ-centered love in your work and you鈥檝e done it authentically 鈥� go with our gratitude and love.鈥�

Those speaking in appreciation also included James Rosenberger 鈥�68, chair of the 2003 Presidential Search Committee and former Mennonite Education Agency board member; Rick Stiffney, CEO of Mennonite Health Services Alliance; and 鈥�10, a current 黑料正能量 employee who completed undergraduate and graduate degrees at 黑料正能量 and first met Swartzendruber as her high school graduation speaker at Lancaster (Pa.) Mennonite High School.

In closing, Swartzendruber noted that his accomplishments listed on the resolutions were 鈥渂uilt on the legacy of those who came before鈥� and 鈥渨ith a team of people on campus.鈥� He recognized Orville Yoder and Carlos Romero, former colleagues at Mennonite Education Agency; pastors Phil Kniss and Barbara Lehman, of Park View Mennonite Church; as well as family friends, Mim and Deryl Kennel, and Betty Brunk whose late husband, Truman, preached Loren鈥檚 ordination service in 1975.

A unique twist to the documentary, Concrete, Steel and Paint, is that the painters include men incarcerated in a maximum-security prison as well as crime victims.

The filmmakers, Cindy Burstein and Tony Heriza, consulted with , distinguished professor of at , as they prepared to distribute the film. It covers the journey of these artists toward profound insights on the nature of crime 鈥� and reconciliation 鈥� during their collaboration, and explores how the criminal justice system affects everyone involved in the project.

After its 2009 release, Concrete, Steel and Paint found a wide audience within restorative justice circles. In 2012, Burstein and Heriza began working with CJP to use the film as a starting point for dialogue about using restorative practices to effect change on the wider social level that their film explores.

鈥淓mbedding our restorative justice work in peacebuilding is one of our unique niches,鈥� said CJP professor , co-director of .

While is often conceptualized on the personal level between individual victims and offenders, Stauffer said that CJP is equally interested in broader use of restorative practices to address violence caused by large structures like the criminal justice system.

Sarah Roth Shank and Jonathan Swartz, both , and two other classmates have led dialogues at several events where the film was shown, including the 2013 National Conference on Restorative Justice in Toledo, Ohio. Future students will have opportunity to continue leading similar dialogues around the film, both for practical facilitation experience and to explore the use of restorative practices to confront systemic injustice, Stauffer said.

The filmmakers鈥� enthusiasm for these dialogues began after they worked with Zehr to lead one at the Concrete, Steel and Paint premiere in Philadelphia. After seeing hundreds of strangers erupt into conversation with one another after the screening, they were inspired to continue exploring how their film could continue to spark conversation among and between crime victims, criminal justice reform advocates and other stakeholders, as well as motivate them into action.

CJP has incorporated the role of media and social change through dialogue into its curriculum. At its annual in 2014, two courses co-taught by 黑料正能量 professors and graduates of CJP will relate directly to these themes.

• 听鈥淢edia for Societal Transformation,鈥� co-led by a veteran filmmaker on faculty, , and Danielle Taylor, MA 鈥�13, will be held during SPI鈥檚 first session, May 5-13, 2014.
• 鈥淭he Impact of Social Issues of Restorative Justice鈥� will be co-led by Stauffer and Jacqueline Roebuck Sakho, MA 鈥�09, during the second SPI session, May 15-23, 2014. (Read more about Sakho鈥檚 restorative justice work .)

In 2015, SPI will hold an intensive, three-week media camp for more advanced training in using film and social media for .

鈥淒eveloping media and advocacy skills is important, because we know that documenting structural problems is key to changing the system,鈥� said , CJP program director.

Stauffer said that CJP encourages people to think systemically, asking the key question, 鈥淲hat would it be like to make a whole system more aligned to restorative values and process?鈥�

More information on these and other courses at SPI can be found on its .

and , co-directors of the , delivered the plenary address, entitled 鈥淧utting a Face on the 鈥極ther.鈥欌��

Four days later, Zehr was one of two recipients of the 2013 鈥�,鈥� conferred by the in a ceremony hosted by JMU President Jonathan R. Alger. The other recipient, Vida S. Huber, was a 1961 graduate of 黑料正能量 who chaired from 1967 to 1984 and then held leadership roles at JMU until her sudden death in 2005. The awards were given in recognition of the duo鈥檚 鈥渧isionary leadership and enduring commitment to the creation of a more compassionate, equitable and caring community.鈥� Huber’s surviving husband, Harold, accepted her posthumous award.

Evoking empathetic responses

At the state-wide mediation conference, Zehr and Stauffer, who is a CJP professor, spoke of how a process of 鈥渙thering鈥� 鈥� or increasing the social distance between people or groups 鈥� makes it easier for them to harm each other. They then contrasted the ways in which the traditional criminal justice system increases 鈥渙thering鈥� with the ways that restorative justice processes can reduce social distance and evoke empathic responses between victims and offenders.

Their presentation garnered an enthusiastic response from the audience of mediators, many of whom were hearing specifics about restorative justice鈥檚 objectives and techniques for the first time.

鈥淚t made a 鈥� light bulb go off in my head,鈥� said Doreene Thomas, who wants to start a restorative justice program in Chesapeake, Va., where she mediates cases referred from local courts. 鈥淚 see a huge need for it.鈥�

Jennifer Phillips, a mediator from Richmond and the VMN president-elect, said the plenary session鈥檚 focus on restorative justice opened up a 鈥渘ew world鈥� to her. 鈥淚鈥檇 heard of restorative justice, but this was the first time I鈥檇 been exposed to it like this.

“Hidden treasure”

鈥淚 had no idea that [so much] was available here,鈥� Phillips continued, calling 黑料正能量 鈥渁 hidden treasure.鈥�

Zehr and Stauffer also discussed the arts as a good peacebuilding tool for putting faces on 鈥渙thers.鈥� Zehr shared photographs and stories from several of his books intended to humanize prisoners, crime victims and children with incarcerated parents. Stauffer told the audience about a project he worked on in South Africa, where two opposing factions in a violent conflict created films about their experiences. Once the two videos were completed, the two sides combined them into one film exploring the conflict鈥檚 roots, which was eventually screened before a mixed audience of people who had previously been unwilling to meet and discuss their differences.

鈥淲e think the arts have the power to engage people emotionally and intuitively [in ways] that other things don鈥檛,鈥� said Zehr. “They allow us to engage the ambiguity and complexity of the world.鈥�

Nine CJP-linked presenters

Using the arts as a peacebuilding and conflict resolution tool was the subject of a separate session led by three CJP students 鈥� Sarah Roth Shank, Corie Custer and Jonathan Swartz.

Judith Tolleson Clarke, with a 2011 MA from CJP, was one of four panelists who discussed their experiences using 鈥渄ialogue circles鈥� as part of restorative justice processes within Virginia鈥檚 correctional facilities. Clarke, from Richmond, Va., is the executive director and founder of the Virginia Center for Restorative Justice.

Other CJP-affiliated presenters at the conference included professor emeritus Vernon Janzti, who co-led a session on trauma awareness for mediators, Barbie Fischer, a 2012 MA graduate of CJP, who spoke about family group conferencing, and Brenda Waugh, a lawyer from Winchester, Va., who graduated from CJP in 2009. Waugh was co-leader of a session on how the architecture and layout of a room can help or hinder a mediation process.

VMN President Paula Young said one of the reasons she wanted to hold the conference on the 黑料正能量 campus was to give mediators from the region exposure to the expertise in conflict resolution and peacebuilding resources present at 黑料正能量.

鈥淸CJP has] a particularly strong program with particularly strong scholars who can introduce our members to a lot of conflict theory that they might not otherwise get,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e heard nothing but positive things [from attendees] about being here.鈥�

Shared desire to reduce violence, increase justice

Members of the VMN attended the conference to receive continuing education credits to maintain their certification as mediators, as well as for more informal professional development and networking.

鈥淭he sessions have been wonderful,鈥� said Ron Williams, a retired attorney and a relatively new mediator who said the opportunity to learn from more experienced mediators was valuable.

Young said that because some VMN members have long experience as mediators, she wanted to develop a program that would keep them engaged by looking in-depth at challenging and engaging topics 鈥� something accomplished by tapping the expertise of the 鈥渄istinguished scholars鈥� at CJP.

鈥淚t was a great pleasure to host the VMN conference on campus,鈥� said CJP professor and program director . 鈥淭he questions and conversation in response to the plenary talk by Howard Zehr and Carl Stauffer indicate that we need to continue our conversation with members of VMN. We seem to have a lot of shared concerns and similar commitments to reducing violence and increasing justice in our communities.鈥�