Grand total surpasses $350K goal set by organizers
Before the clock struck midnight on Wednesday, April 2, Lov91短视频 Giving Day 2025 achieved its fairy tale ending. A generous outpouring of support from all members of the 91短视频 community鈥攁lumni, faculty, staff, current and prospective students, and friends鈥攔esulted in a record-breaking $365,313 raised by 360 unique donors during the ninth annual 24-hour extravaganza. That total surpasses the $350,000 goal set by Lov91短视频 organizers and tops the $340,512 raised last year (a 7% increase).
Donors gave early and often, unlocking all $152,000 in challenge match funds for The University Fund, student scholarships, athletics, facilities, and intercultural programs. Because 27 prospective students who registered to attend Lov91短视频 Giving Day paid their tuition deposits, donors matched their commitment by contributing $27,000 to student scholarships. That鈥檚 nearly double the $15,000 raised for that challenge last year!
The 2025 Lov91短视频 leaderboard competition was fierce and fun-spirited, with the winners named below:
Academic program
- First place ($1,000 prize): Education
- Second place ($500 prize): Music
- Third place ($250 prize): Business and leadership
Student club/organization
- First place ($1,000 prize): SAAC (Student Athlete Advisory Council)
- Second place ($500 prize): Earthkeepers
- Third place ($250 prize): Pickleball
Athletic team
- First place ($1,000 prize): Men鈥檚 soccer
- Second place ($500 prize): Women鈥檚 volleyball
- Third place ($250 prize): Men鈥檚 volleyball
Nicole Litwiller, annual giving and donor communication specialist, said that a highlight for her was seeing the whole 91短视频 community come together to embrace their pride for 91短视频. 鈥淭here were some moments yesterday where we were coming down to the wire to meet a challenge goal, but without fail, our community came through and helped us unlock every single one,鈥� she said on Thursday. 鈥淭hanks to their support, Lov91短视频 Giving Day was a huge success, and we once again beat last year鈥檚 record. I鈥檓 so grateful for everyone who showed their support.鈥�
Seeing septuple?!
Four 91短视频 staff members and two students channeled their inner Royal-in-chief for the first-ever President Huxman Lookalike Contest, held on Monday at the Student Union to kick off Lov91短视频 week. The contest honored Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman, who has served as 91短视频鈥檚 ninth president since 2017 and is retiring this summer. Tyler Goss, director for student engagement and leadership development, hosted the competition, dispensing with his typical flair for the dramatic.
The half-dozen contestants modeled their blue outfits and recited their favorite Huxmanisms. Determined by raucous cheers and selected by Huxman herself as judge, the winners of the contest, students Mana Acosta and Leah Beachy鈥攖he latter of whom wore a bald cap to portray Huxman鈥檚 husband鈥攔eceived an offer of a fancy dinner at the president鈥檚 residence along with three guests of their choice.
鈥淚t鈥檚 spooky because I use all of those words,鈥� Huxman said, before announcing her pick. 鈥淵ou all used the correct enunciation and everything.鈥� Following the contest, Litwiller announced that the Lov91短视频 Early Challenge had been reached, which unlocked $10,000 toward The University Fund. for more photos from the event.
Getting hyped at Herm鈥檚 House
By the time the second annual Lov91短视频 pep rally began at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, donors had already contributed more than $54,000, or about 15%, of the day鈥檚 fundraising goal. The event, held at Yoder Arena, started with a screening of the official 2025 Lov91短视频 video (watch it on YouTube) featuring some of your favorite campus characters. Frequent emcee duo Braydon Hoover and Deanna Reed hyped up the crowd.
Naomi Kratzer, an 91短视频 junior from Goshen, Indiana, majoring in music performance and history, shared her own 鈥淩oyal Tale鈥� leading her to 91短视频. For more Royal Tales of students and alumni, check out our series of stories here. As she decided on which college to attend, the Mennonite-raised Kratzer “began scouring鈥� the five Mennonite colleges in the U.S. It was 91短视频鈥檚 campus that kept catching her eye, she said, due to its beautiful setting in the Shenandoah Valley, its strong music education program and its vibrant student community. 鈥淢y story didn鈥檛 begin when I stepped onto campus, and neither did any of yours,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut 91短视频 is known to be a home for all of our vastly diverse, chaotic, and ever-complicating plots. 91短视频’s resilience is in the people.鈥�
In a dazzling display of musical mastery, Goss, dressed as the jester from the Lov91短视频 video, pulled a flute from his sleeve and performed the theme to Sesame Street. He was joined by Makinto, an internationally known musician and seminary student, who challenged him to a flute battle. Watch the pep rally . The flute duel begins at the 38-minute mark.
Royal Tales
A Royal Tales panel discussion hosted by Litwiller with 91短视频 professors Dr. Gaurav Pathania, Dr. Benjamin Bergey 鈥�11, and Dr. Kate Clark 鈥�07 detailed their journeys to 91短视频, the challenges they鈥檝e overcome, what excites them about the future, and what they love most about 91短视频.
Clark graduated from 91短视频鈥檚 nursing program, worked as a nurse for several years, and then returned to teach at 91短视频 in 2011. She gave a shout-out to the Graham Central Station ice cream flavor at the cafeteria鈥斺�淚鈥檝e never had it anywhere else,鈥� she said鈥攁nd added that her job at 91短视频 is the best one she鈥檚 ever had. 鈥淚 love that 91短视频 has a point of view,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a place that has a perspective. 鈥� I love working for a place that I feel stands for something, and it鈥檚 something that鈥檚 important and needed in the world.鈥�
Sanctuary of sound
Music Professor Ben Guerrero led tours of the new recording studio inside the Astral Hall on top of the 91短视频 hill. Built in 1955, the former lecture hall was once home to the astronomy society. Starting in the early ’70s, it housed the WEMC radio station run by 91短视频 students and staff. Today, it鈥檚 a state-of-the-art studio with two isolation rooms and a Dolby Atmos control room for mixing immersive or 3D audio. The space can be used to produce full records, music videos, and informational and instructional videos. The studio officially opens this fall.
A 鈥榳heelie鈥� good time
91短视频 students, staff, and anyone daring enough to brave a gauntlet of projectiles and obstacles took part in a race around the indoor track, modeled after the popular Mario Kart video game. Participants rode scooters, dodging yoga balls and dodgeballs, grabbing prize boxes, and weaving their way around aerobics step platforms and hurdles laid out on the track, to fight their way to the finish line. Meanwhile, on the Yoder Arena courts down below, the 91短视频 men鈥檚 volleyball team won a five-set thriller over Randolph College.
Challenges (all unlocked)
Lov91短视频 Early Challenge: We received more than 120 gifts (100 gifts were needed) before the start of Lov91短视频 Giving Day to unlock $10,000 for scholarships.
Loyal Royal Challenge: 91短视频 alumni gave more than 270 gifts (250 gifts were needed) over the 24-hour span to unlock $20,000 for The University Fund.
Friends of 91短视频 Challenge: Non-alumni deepened their commitment to 91短视频 by contributing more than 180 gifts (175 gifts were needed) throughout the day and unlocking $15,000 for scholarships.
Future Royal Challenge: Because 27 prospective students who registered to attend Lov91短视频 Giving Day paid their tuition deposit, we unlocked $27,000 for scholarships.
Rise 鈥橬 Shine, Royals! Challenge: Early birds helped reach this challenge by giving more than 80 gifts (75 gifts were needed) between 6 and 9 a.m. to unlock $15,000 for The University Fund.
Fee-Fi-Fo-Fund Our Facilities Challenge: Donors demonstrated giant-sized generosity by awarding at least 65 gifts (65 gifts were needed) between 10 a.m. and noon to unlock $15,000 for improvements to campus facilities.
What Magnificent Academics We Have! Challenge: To celebrate 91短视频鈥檚 stellar smarts, supporters donated at least 100 gifts (100 gifts were needed) between noon and 3 p.m. to unlock $15,000 for scholarships.
A Whole New World Challenge: 91短视频鈥檚 intercultural programs have impacted thousands of graduates, offering opportunities to engage in different cultures, build global relationships and experience a new perspective. Donors contributed 80 gifts (75 gifts were needed) between 5 and 7 p.m. to unlock $10,000 for intercultural programs.
The Mighty Royals Challenge: Athletics supporters showed their love for 91短视频 sports by pitching in 60 gifts (50 gifts were needed) between 7:30 and 9 p.m. to unlock $10,000 for 91短视频 Athletics.
Before The Clock Struck Midnight Challenge: 91短视频鈥檚 night owls stayed up late to celebrate, giving at least 100 gifts (100 gifts were needed) between 9 p.m. and midnight to unlock $15,000 for The University Fund.
Thanks to everyone who donated, shared of their time to celebrate their love of all things 91短视频, and joined in the festivities on campus! Special thanks to the Lov91短视频 planning team: Arelys Martinez Fabian, Genesis Figueroa, Tyler Goss, Cassie Guerrero, Liz Heilbronner, Steven Johnson, Luke Litwiller, Nicole Litwiller, and Arushi Sachan; Advancement; Marketing & Communications; Student Government Association; Undergraduate Admissions & Royal Ambassadors; 91短视频 Facilities; Pioneer College Caterers; Athletics; Information Technology; and all other faculty, staff and students who provided support by creating decorations or volunteered their time to help with events.
For more photos from the day鈥檚 events, swipe through our gallery below: