Spirited pep rally kicks off Lov91短视频 Giving Day 2026
Herm was missing. The crowd of faculty, staff, students, and alumni at Yoder Arena for Wednesday morning鈥檚 Lov91短视频 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), Lov91短视频 organizer and pep rally emcee, was a new addition to the Sadie Hartzler Library, thanks to a generous donation from an 91短视频 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 Lov91短视频 Giving Day spirit. Wednesday鈥檚 pep rally had it all: a current student exclaiming her love for 91短视频, a future student officially declaring 91短视频 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 Lov91短视频 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.
Lov91短视频 Giving Day is an opportunity to pause and celebrate all the incredible things about 91短视频, 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 Lov91短视频 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 Lov91短视频 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 Lov91短视频 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 Lov91短视频 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 91短视频 (left) and future student Brady Crisp (right) rings the cowbell.
Ari Smart, a sophomore majoring in art education, shared her experiences at 91短视频. 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 91短视频 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 Lov91短视频 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 Lov91短视频 Pep Rally on Wednesday.
The third annual Lov91短视频 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 91短视频 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!
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