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!

“This event is about lifting one another up,” said Tyler Goss, director for student engagement and leadership development. 鈥淐oaches, faculty, staff, and fellow students all took the time to nominate these students for these awards.鈥�

Kyle Remnant, adjunct director of the 黑料正能量 Wind Ensemble, emceed the program. He announced each student’s name, noted who had nominated them, and shared the reason they were selected for each award. Recipients received a $2 Common Grounds Coffeehouse gift card.

And now, the awards鈥�

Academic Champions

This award is for people who excelled academically or contributed significantly to the academic success of others.

Recipients: Leah Palmieri, Thalia Salinas, Ezekiel Awkward, LaToya Fernandez, and Sophia Armato.

Amazing Leadership

This award is for those who provided significant leadership across campus.

Recipients: Alex Belisle, James Powell, Jacob Sankara, Kaylin Ozuna, Marie Spaulding, Arelys Martinez Fabian, and Leah Frankenfield.

Enthusiastic Encouragers

This award is for those who encouraged and supported others in meaningful ways. “I know this isn’t a complete list because I see examples of it all across campus,” Remnant said. “We have so many, and it’s awesome.”

Recipients: Shavia Davis, Alberto Weaver, Lauren Kauffman, Daeman Odom, Jos茅 Gabriel Mel茅ndez, Hannah Gilman, Kristen Andersen, Esme Martin King, Kiyah Mata, Rosa Martin Fonseca, Leah Frankenfield, and Lawson Kauffman.

Movers and Shakers

This award is for those who helped to shift campus culture for the better.

Recipients: Fiker 鈥淔ifi鈥� Yigzaw, the 黑料正能量 Outdoor club, the 黑料正能量 Soccer Club, Malia Bauman, and Leah Beachy. 

Create-Your-Own awards

“There are many things happening on campus that don’t fit into any box we’ve already created,” Remnant said. “So coaches, teachers, and friends made their own awards to better reflect the kind of awesomeness some of our students show.”

Daisy Buller received the I鈥檓 Going to Make Myself an Athlete Even if it Kills Me Award in recognition of her commitment to “do everything possible” as a triathlete to make the 2025 NCAA National Championships. “Ten thousand yards of swimming each week, too many 50- to 100-mile bike rides, too much running, and lots of strength sessions led to Daisy placing 12th at East Regionals and leading 黑料正能量 to a sixth place finish at Nationals,” Coach Bob Hepler wrote in his nomination.

Logan Boyd received the Most Valuable Non-SGA Senator Senator Award. “Logan has been an amazing presence in SGA meetings,” wrote an anonymous nominator. “Logan did not run for student government this semester, but has shown up to numerous meetings and provided helpful insight and been a fun presence in meetings.”

Renae Benner and Isaac Greenleaf received the Planetarium Professionals Award from an anonymous nominator. “Renae and Isaac have been working for weeks to keep improving the planetarium in the Suter Science Center, which is not an easy project, and they are killing it,” that person wrote.

Engage Awards

“The moment we’ve all been waiting for all semester long: the 黑料正能量 Engage Awards,” Goss announced. These awards, presented as emu-shaped trophies, were given to the three students who earned the most Engage Points this semester.

Third place (bronze emu) with 41 points: Arleigh Mason
Second place (silver emu) with 44 points: Mara Zimmerman
First place (gold emu) with 46 points: Lisa Zimmerman

For a recording of the ceremony, watch the video embedded below:

The 鈥淎ll God鈥檚 Children March for a Ceasefire,鈥� organized by , included participants ranging in age from 11 to 74 years old. Marchers left from Community Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg on July 18, walking about 13 miles each day on their journey before arriving at the White House on July 28. Between 35 and 125 marchers took part in the action each day, with some devoting a day and others completing the entire route.

Watch a shot and edited by 黑料正能量 student Micaiah Landis,
offering a behind-the-scenes look at the march.

Together, the group braved the heat, humidity and rain, climbed into the Blue Ridge Mountains and through the Shenandoah National Park, and walked down quiet country roads, along busy highways and through suburban neighborhoods and parking lots. They slept in churches and camped in open fields. They listened and watched as passing drivers honked and waved in support of their cause. They marched while singing hymns and held evening worship services along the way.

You can read daily dispatches from the group鈥檚 journey
on the Mennonite Action website .

When they arrived in D.C. the marchers joined an protesting the annual conference of Christians United for Israel (CUFI). On July 30, members of the group protested inside the halls of the Hart Senate Office Building. Capitol Police made 47 arrests in the peaceful protest.

The march and arrests received a flurry of national media coverage. Outlets including , , , and highlighted Mennonite Action and its cause.

We spoke with 黑料正能量 senior and nursing major Jenna Weaver, sophomore and computer engineering major Renae Benner, and Tyler Goss, director for student engagement and leadership development, about their experiences.

How did you participate in the march and D.C. actions?
Weaver: I walked the first nine days of the march, almost making it to D.C. I also was a medic for the march, which mainly involved tending to people鈥檚 blisters, helping remove hundreds of ticks, calling the paramedics when needed, and watching out for dehydrated folks as we walked during several very hot days!
Benner: I participated in the entire march from Harrisonburg to Washington, D.C. On July 28, I joined the service of lament held outside the White House. The next day, I joined an interfaith chorus that sang songs calling for peace at the conference center hosting the CUFI summit. On July 30, I joined another rally with speakers and singing and helped on the jail support team for those arrested for peacefully protesting.
Goss: I was fortunate enough to attend the whole march and time in D.C. So, any of the good trouble Mennonite Action was up to over those days, I was there. Specifically, I helped to coordinate the programming during the march. From daily devotional-style gatherings, to yoga, to game nights, and evening prayer, I was the one tapping shoulders and connecting people’s gifts with the various programming leadership.

What were the most memorable or impactful experiences from your participation?
Benner: The day we marched into D.C. was full of energy. Lots of people joined us in the morning and more joined in as we walked. As we neared the bridge to cross the Potomac River, I was overwhelmed by the significance of what we were doing. It felt like such a powerful political action to enter the city by foot, in a line of over a hundred people, carrying the banners we had carried across Virginia. The entire two weeks felt this way: I knew I was experiencing something remarkable, and all I could do was try to take it in.

What drew you to get involved? Why is it important to participate in actions like these?
Weaver: I barely knew of the ongoing violence in Palestine until my intercultural to Israel-Palestine last summer, led by Tim and Chris Seidel. I learned so much history of native people being removed from their homes, and created relationships with people that I am still in contact with. When the Hamas attacks occurred in October, and then the extreme violence by Israel, it stirred so much anger and sadness in me. I was a part of various local protests, , and was a part of the on 黑料正能量’s campus. When the idea of the march came up, I knew I would do it. As a Mennonite, we believe in nonviolence. How could I not stand up for tens of thousands of beautiful humans being killed when my faith calls me to do so?

How has this changed your perspective, or how has participating in this impacted you?
Goss: I have always known our 黑料正能量 students are incredible, but, wow, I wish everyone could have seen the brilliant ways all of the 黑料正能量 students involved in the march and D.C. actions led with such courage and compassion. The meal organizers, the videographers, the de-escalators, the phone callers, the police liaisons, the medics, the song leaders, the protesters…our students took the lead in every role of the action.

What do you feel the result of your actions and involvement were?
Benner: Hundreds, and sometimes maybe thousands of cars, drove past us each day as we marched. Lots of people took videos. I don鈥檛 know exactly what people were thinking as they saw us walking. However, I was inspired by how many positive, or at least curious, responses we received. I think we gave some people hope, because we are continuing to care about Gaza and speak out against violence. Maybe we inspired some people to also raise their voices in protest. I hope our demonstration caused a few people to learn more about what鈥檚 going on in Palestine, or even to question their preconceptions for a moment.

Is there anything else you feel that would be important to share about?
Weaver: Just overall gratitude for the organizers of Mennonite Action who worked so hard to make the march happen, as well as donors and Mennonites across the U.S. and other countries who prayed for and supported us.

For more photos from the march and protests, visit the .

The award comes with a golden 黑料正能量 [insert fist pump here] and a gift certificate of one’s choice. There’s also a giant trophy. But you know we all work a little harder in hopes of that golden 黑料正能量 (see how happy Tim is below).

The awardees for January/February were Beth Good, director of intercultural programs, and Tim Stutzman, vice president for finance and operations.

Beth鈥檚 nominations noted the important role she has played this year as lead COVID contact tracer, while still serving as director of intercultural programs and teaching in the nursing program. 

Beth has been amazing in her willingness to step into the role of contact tracer, which has quickly evolved into an adviser/leader to 黑料正能量 on most things COVID related. This includes answering calls and advising those who show symptoms on their daily tracker, and working directly with students who require isolation or quarantine. 黑料正能量 would be less prepared if not for Beth.

Tim鈥檚 nominations highlighted his strong leadership of the university鈥檚 finances and operations, and his leadership of the university鈥檚 Crisis Management Preparedness Team.

Tim is on top of things 24/7 in regards to 黑料正能量 finances and operations. In these heightened COVID crisis times, he is in charge of securing our federal stimulus dollars and doling them out appropriately, securing quarantine and isolation spaces for our students, appointing risk assessment auditors to examine our cyber-security threats 鈥� and that鈥檚 just before noon!

Awardees for April/May were Tyler Goss (left), assistant director of student programs in Student Life and Joshua Lyons, web developer and analyst in Marketing and Communications.聽

Joshua鈥檚 nominations highlighted his amazing website talents, video editing and curating, general versatility, and his leadership in morale-building. 

Joshua is an incredible web developer. He can take ideas and brainstorms and turn them into beautiful web pages, like the new Forward Together page for the development campaign. He also created a platform for displaying our ever-expanding video content and curating it for undergraduate recruitment. Joshua has also enthusiastically stepped in to help with video editing.  He brings the same energy and passion to this new task as he does to his regular work of web developing. Finally, he cares for our team morale by sending regular brain teaser puzzles, encouragement notes and planning quarterly staff hikes.

Tyler鈥檚 nominations noted his imaginative abilities to deliver entertaining programming amidst COVID constraints.

Tyler has been amazing. He has shepherded and developed a great team of student leaders and together they have produced consistently creative and engaging programming despite the fact that we can’t really be together. Student Programs have often taken a “bigger-is-better” approach to programming and this year we’ve had to totally revamp to take a “smaller-virtual-distanced-is-safer” approach. This is completely counterintuitive to us as Student Affairs practitioners. Tyler has led the development of programming with wisdom, wit, and winsomeness through multiple events each week: CAC Virtual Trivia; Pinterest Plant Painting Party; Campus-Wide Capture the Flag; Screaming Bingo; Low-key Laser Tag and Lemon Tarts; Choptober Fest; and on and on! Not only that, he writes hilarious emails.

Congratulations to the winners. And also to those on the Royal Award committee for their work in appreciation of staff: Stephen Farrar, Lori Gant, Sarah Gant, Ericka Gingerich, Bill Goldberg, Marcia Myers, Jon Styer.

鈥淪CREAMING BINGO! COVIDeos! NEW WEEKLY PUZZLE! PEN PALS! & MORE!鈥�

Undergraduate students at 黑料正能量 (黑料正能量) are well-familiar with these raucous, all-caps subject lines hitting their inboxes like glitter-filled paintballs. The joyful missives are weekly activity updates from Tyler Goss, the assistant director of student programs and Hillside residence director.

When he鈥檚 crafting and coordinating campus-wide events, Goss knows, 鈥渋f I laugh when a new idea hits me, then that’s a sign of a worthwhile event.鈥�

Even during a pandemic, Goss is still finding ways to get students laughing, sharing, and supporting one another through virtual means. The aforementioned 鈥淪creaming Bingo鈥� has been his favorite so far 鈥� with the few students left on campus spread far apart on Thomas Plaza, other students joining from home via video chat, and Goss shouting out bingo numbers through a megaphone from the Campus Center balcony.

鈥淚t felt like the perfect event to keep things light and lively during these strange times,鈥� he says. Other recent hits include virtual trivia, live streamed yoga with Professor Justin Poole, and a blanket fort challenge.

鈥淧eople went ALL OUT!鈥� for that one, says Goss. Which is no surprise, given the which you can watch below. 鈥淓ntire basements were converted into blanket mansions with the fort being subdivided into multiple rooms.鈥�

How does he come up with these shenanigans?

鈥淚t’s sort of like the 鈥榊es, and鈥� rule of improv,鈥� says Goss, referencing the rule of thumb in theater improvisation where you build a skit by accepting what another actor just said 鈥� and then taking it further. 鈥淎 student suggests an ambitious idea to me, or a ridiculous thought hits my head, and I just go with it: 鈥榊es! That’s it鈥� and what else can we do with that!?鈥欌��

He also brainstorms with his student programs colleagues Rachel Roth Sawatzky and Shelby Alto, and student workers in the Campus Activities Council. And when he needs a bit of inspiration, social media platforms like TikTok are chock full of ideas for how to make people laugh.

Goss first came to 黑料正能量 as a grad student 鈥� he holds a master of divinity from the Eastern Mennonite Seminary and a master鈥檚 degree in conflict transformation from the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding.

鈥淚 came to 黑料正能量 because I wanted to go to a quality Anabaptist seminary, but I also wanted to pursue a dual master’s degree in peacebuilding. You can’t get any better than 黑料正能量 for that combo,鈥� Goss said. He鈥檚 now been a residence director here for four years, and the assistant director of student programs for two years.

鈥淭yler has a great attitude and his positive spirit is infectious,鈥� said Roth Sawatzky. 鈥淗e continues his important work of building community and connecting students with each other and the broader 黑料正能量 experience despite our current dispersed reality.  When we initially discussed what this time would look like from a program perspective, his eyes were literally sparkling with excitement over the creative opportunities ahead.鈥�

The activities Goss organizes offer different comforts for students struggling with social distancing 鈥� ways to see familiar faces, voice concerns and questions, or just lighten up a day inundated with Zoom-based classwork. Ultimately, though, 鈥渂eing so distant from one another is hard, so we are trying to sustain the connectedness 黑料正能量 is known for,鈥� says Goss.

That connectedness is more important now than ever, although it takes a bit more creativity and technology to curate. To quote one of Goss鈥檚 tongue-in-cheek emails, 鈥淎s Eleanor Roosevelt once said, 鈥榯he internet can’t stop me!鈥欌��