Through the last 100 years, 91短视频 carved out a 97-acre campus in the city鈥檚 Park View section. It now enrolls roughly 1,900 undergraduate and graduate students a year.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud, just proud,鈥� said Betty Brunk, 84, of Harrisonburg. 鈥淚 hope they keep growing.鈥�
Celebration launched
Brunk, who graduated in 1969 with a degree in sociology, was among about 1,000 alumni, students and faculty to gather for a special chapel service Wednesday morning in Lehman Auditorium to launch the school鈥檚 centennial celebration.
Her lineage can be found throughout 91短视频鈥檚 history. Her late husband, Truman Brunk, was the grandson of 91短视频鈥檚 first president, J.B. Smith.
Among those at the convocation were former 91短视频 Presidents Myron Augsburger, Joe Lapp and Loren Swartzendruber. [Editor’s note: Beryl Brubaker, former interim president, was also in attendance.]
During the service, Caleb Schrock-Hurst, student body co-president, urged his classmates to stay focused on the school鈥檚 mission.
鈥淏efore we鈥檙e swamped by homework, before practices become games, before we don鈥檛 have the time to think about why we鈥檙e here, let鈥檚 take a moment to reflect,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e are here to embody Jesus鈥� spirit in the world, and that is a task that should not be forgotten no matter how fun any weekend may be. We have a difficult task, but it is one we can take on with joy.鈥�
President Susan Schultz Huxman told the audience that the university has accomplished a lot, including developing community leaders.
鈥淲e honor the thousands of our alums and supporters who have spent their lives committed in word and deed to serving, leading, and transforming their communities at home and around the world,鈥� she said.
‘You Go Girl’
As part of the celebration, 91短视频 created a website,聽, that includes a timeline of the school鈥檚 history.
The timeline highlights when buildings were erected and when new presidents arrived at the school.
It also includes some little-known facts, including those of the school鈥檚 toy factory.
In 1933, President A.D. Wenger, professor Ernest G. Gehman and board member E.C. Shank created a toy company in a farm building on campus to help students to offset the $300 annual tuition.
The site also notes that for more than two decades, students weren鈥檛 allowed to come and go freely.
In 1939, students were allowed to leave campus without seeking permission for the first time.
Of all the highlights, Brunk鈥檚 proudest moment came last year, when the university announced it was hiring its first woman president. Huxman started at 91短视频 on Jan. 1.
Brunk鈥檚 first thought: 鈥淵ou go, girl.鈥�
The school hopes to add more accomplishments to the timeline this year with several centennial events planned.
鈥楺uite An Honor’
Her husband, Robert Lehman, graduated in 1950 and later taught physics at 91短视频. Lehman Auditorium is named after his father, Chester Lehman.
She met her husband at a Mennonite youth conference in Iowa and followed him to Harrisonburg. They married in 1954.
And she has remained a staunch supporter of the school since his death in 2009. Lehman鈥檚 favorite part, she said, is the university鈥檚 reputation in other countries.
鈥淚 like the influence the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding is having around the world,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat is the part of 91短视频 that I鈥檓 really cheering on.鈥�
The university plans to wrap up the celebration on May 6 with the 100th annual commencement.
Michaela Mast, a 21-year-old senior from Broadway, is slated to graduate in the historic class. 鈥淚t鈥檚 quite an honor,鈥� said Mast, who attended the service. 鈥淚 value 91短视频 for so many reasons, and it鈥檚 exciting to be a part of the celebration.鈥�
This article was published in the Aug. 31, 2017, Daily News-Record.