“I get out of the car and these two girls are running by and, all of a sudden, one of them says, ‘Hi, Dottie,’” said Weber. That student turned out to be Maria Longenecker, a senior biology major who had Weber as an eighth grade teacher.

“Maria was one of the students I wanted to see,” Weber said. “And here she was, the first person I meet on campus. It’s unbelievable.”

Her husband Tim chimed in: “You have to understand, we could be at the top of Mount Everest and she’d know somebody. We could go anywhere and inevitably someone will say, ‘There’s Dottie!’”

Weber recalled last being on campus in 2005 to cater the wedding reception of alumna and former faculty member Catherine R. Mumaw. She was one of nearly 70 members of the Class of 1975 making a special trip back to 91����Ƶ this weekend for their milestone 50th reunion during Homecoming 2025. 

As she and a group of classmates sat at a table in the Seminary Building on Friday leafing through a Shenandoah yearbook from 1975, they marveled at old photos and reminisced, sharing stories and memories from their time at 91����Ƶ. 

“It’s amazing who I can remember from these photos,” someone says. 

Another alumna asks, “Does anyone remember taking classes in the old chicken house? Is this the building where it used to be?”

One of those classmates, Julia Shultz King ’75, traveled all the way from Melbourne, Australia, to attend the homecoming festivities. After graduating with a nursing degree, she worked for the Medical College of Virginia and eventually the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, before serving as a missionary with Youth With A Mission. She has lived the past 13 years in Australia. 

She shared a story about putting out a fire in the Northlawn dormitory, after someone had left a candle near the window and a curtain had caught alight. This was the first reunion she could remember attending. She had missed the 50th reunion for her high school in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, because Australia had been in lockdown in 2021, and so “it made me extra want to be here,” she said. 

“I’m happy to be well enough that I could travel alone to get here,” King said.

Her friend, Weber, said something similar: “Who knows, at this age, you might not be able to come back in another five years.”

This group of alumni, said Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed, who serves as director of alumni engagement and community connections at 91����Ƶ, was the only graduating class to ever create a two-volume yearbook. The Class of 1975 welcomed Alex Haley, author of Roots, to campus as part of a lecture music series. And the cross country team made 91����Ƶ history, becoming the National Christian College Athletic Association cross country champion that year. 

“There was also a unique tradition that happened during y’all’s time here,” she said. “Newly engaged students were thrown in the fishing pond. A lot of people got engaged that year, from what I’ve learned.”

Homecoming weekend is all about celebrating and reconnecting with one another, with this campus, and with the values that make 91����Ƶ such a special place, Reed said during the on Saturday morning. “Whether you’re an alum returning after many years or a student just beginning your journey, this is a time to remember that 91����Ƶ is family,” she said. “And there’s always a place for you here.”

Keep reading for highlights and photos from the weekend’s events!

Seated on a couch in the Student Union, Doris Horst Toll ’79 and her husband Marvin took the morning on Saturday to relax and unwind as they sipped on a hot cocoa from Common Grounds and flipped through the latest issue of The Weather Vane student newspaper. The couple from Michigan had returned for Homecoming to connect with old friends and had attended the at Lehman Auditorium the night before. “It brought back a lot of good memories of being in that chapel as a student,” she said.

Hall of Honor

MainStage Theater was packed to the gills on Saturday for a ceremony celebrating this year’s four Hall of Honor inductees: 

• Athletics events coordinator Phil Guengerich ’70 was introduced by 91����Ƶ Athletic Director Carrie S Bert ’97.
• Volleyball middle blocker Justin Reesor ’10 was introduced by former teammate Ben Yoder ’08. 
• Soccer forward Mitchell Leap ’12 was introduced by former coach Roger Mast ’85.
• Basketball center David Falk ’15 was introduced by former coach Kirby Dean.

An alumna attending the ceremony, Debbie Swartley ’08, of Penn Laird, Virginia, ran cross country and track while at 91����Ƶ, and said she typically comes to Homecoming every year. “It’s just so much fun to be back on campus,” she said. “We typically walk around to see the changes for people who haven’t been here in awhile, and the kids love it.”

Gatherings and reunions

The weekend featured several gatherings, including:

• one celebrating the 50th anniversary of 91����Ƶ’s social work program and the tenure of Professor Deanna Durham, 
• a gathering of alumni shaped by their experiences in the Middle East during 50 years of faculty-led interculturals to the region, 
• and a 50th anniversary get-together for alumni of the recently rebranded 91����Ƶ Washington Semester program.

An alumnus of the D.C. program, Avery Trinh ’22, was attending the lattermost gathering with his mother, Rebecca Dietz ’79. Both of them were in the program while it was called different names (Trinh was in WCSC in Fall 2021, while Dietz was in WSSY from 1977-78) and under different program directors (Trinh was led by Ryan Good, while his mom was taught by Ryan’s father, Nelson Good). In fact, Trinh said, his mom used to babysit Ryan Good. 

It was his first homecoming since graduating from 91����Ƶ, Trinh said, and the D.C. reunion offered a way for both him and his mom to get involved. 

“There’s always a lot of chatter about how 91����Ƶ is changing,” he said. “The reason I really enjoyed my time here is the professors who taught me. They were in it to help students grow. So, as long as people like them stick around, I think 91����Ƶ is in good hands.”

It had been a little more than a decade since Chris Fretz ’05 had been back to Harrisonburg. But for the economic development grad, who now works as a web developer for a marketing agency in Lancaster, the 20th reunion was enough of a draw to bring him back to campus. His wife, Lindsey Frye ’04, was a student and staff member for the D.C. program and so they also attended the 50th anniversary gathering. 

Some of the biggest changes he’s noticed since he’s been gone include Common Grounds’ move upstairs and the renovation of the old gym into the MainStage Theater, though other changes less visible have been just as significant. 

“It’s been encouraging to see the growing diversity of 91����Ƶ and to see that the administration is really looking to meet students where they’re at,” Fretz said. 

Meet-and-greet with Interim President Dycus

At a meet-and-greet with 91����Ƶ’s interim president inside the Campus Center, the Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus answered questions from first-generation student and senior nursing major Emily Suarez Nunez. Dycus spoke about her path to 91����Ƶ and to the leadership position she’s held since July 1, as well as what excites her most. 

She called on alumni to loudly and proudly share the stories of 91����Ƶ’s successes and talk to others about how 91����Ƶ has impacted their lives, their children’s lives, and the ways their families have been nurtured by the university.

“We’re not proud enough about who 91����Ƶ is, but we have an amazing community here, a meaningful mission, and it shows up across the world,” said Dycus, who is the first Black woman to serve in the role. “And I am most excited about being able to be the person who gets to advocate for that everywhere I go.”

TenTalks

At the annual hosted at Martin Chapel on Saturday afternoon, 91����Ƶ’s three 2025 alumni award winners each had 10 minutes to impact, influence, and inspire the audience. This marked the first time that alumni award winners presented at the event.

The speakers were: 

• Jessica “Jess” King ’96, recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, has led equity-driven public sector organizations for more than 20 years. She spoke on the theme of fear and the role it’s played in her career and in her life.
• Outstanding Alum of the Year Brittany Caine-Conley MDiv ’14, one of the lead organizers for Congregate Charlottesville, shared her experiences making connections with local justice groups leading up to the white supremacist rally in 2017 and spoke on the importance of solidarity.
• Alum of the Year Fabrice Guerrier MA ’15 (conflict transformation), founder and CEO of the first collaborative worldbuilding production house for science fiction and fantasy storytelling, spoke about the power of imagination. He invited audience members to close their eyes and picture building a city on a new planet in the year 2035.

Royal City Celebration

Outside on the Front Lawn, the Royal City Celebration had everyone grooving to live music from the Richmond-based Premiere Band and savoring bites from food trucks offering barbecue, tacos, and ice cream. The crisp fall temperature and clear skies could not have been more perfect for the occasion.

The event also featured 91����Ƶ’s second annual crowning of a homecoming court, which included:

• Seniors Jamaury Starks and Royale Parker
• Juniors Christopher Varone and Janaria Kenreich
• Sophomores Bennett de Tenley and Shawna Hurst
• First-years Johnathan Badowski and Logan Turchetta

Justin Reesor ’10 grew up in a Mennonite family in Stouffville, Ontario, Canada, where he played volleyball in middle and high school. His cousin, Allan Reesor-McDowell ’02, played on the 91����Ƶ men’s volleyball team—and Reesor had traveled to see him play at a tournament in New York. His uncle, Robert Reesor ’89, and sister, Denise Reesor ’07, also attended 91����Ƶ.

While visiting his sister, Reesor fell in love with the 91����Ƶ campus and Harrisonburg. “I thought it was a beautiful area, and I liked the idea of a small college with smaller classes and easier access to professors.” Reesor arrived in fall 2006 prioritizing academics and his social life, but after walking on during a scrimmage, he spent four years as a middle blocker on the 91����Ƶ men’s volleyball team under Coach Steve Benson.��

Reesor made an immediate impact. In his first season, he was named the North East Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) Western Conference Rookie of the Year and 91����Ƶ Newcomer of the Year. He earned spots on the NECVA All-Western Division Second Team in 2009 and the NECVA All-Western First Team in 2010. At the time of his graduation, Reesor led the Royals in career blocks (462) and sets played (406), and ranked fifth in career kills (867). 

While at 91����Ƶ, Reesor majored in business administration and minored in accounting. He now serves as senior director of finance at Accumulus Synergy. He and his wife, Rachel Mast Reesor ’09, have three children: Emma (10), June (7), and Charlie (4). 

Reesor will be honored at a ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 10 a.m. in the MainStage Theater (University Commons 170) during Homecoming 2025. For a full schedule of Homecoming events and activities, visit��emu.edu/homecoming.

Mitchell Leap ’12, a health and physical education major, followed in the footsteps of his parents, Bill ’86 and Renee Kreider Leap ’85, and attended 91����Ƶ after a successful soccer career at Eastern Mennonite School in Harrisonburg, a city he “always liked.” His mother has worked in 91����Ƶ’s financial aid office since 1986. “I’d been around 91����Ƶ all my life, and I thought it would be a good place to continue my education and play soccer.” 

During his four years as a forward under head men’s soccer coach Roger Mast, Leap was a two-time All-ODAC First Team honoree, earning the distinction in 2009 and 2011, and made the Second Team in 2008. He received VaSID All-State First Team honors in 2011 and VaSID All-State Second Team honors in 2008 and 2009. One of the most prolific scorers in 91����Ƶ men’s soccer history, Leap ranks fourth all-time in the Royals’ record book for career goals (35) and fifth for total points (80).

Leap looks back fondly on the tight-knit campus community at 91����Ƶ. “There’s value in attending a place where you feel like you know everybody and everybody knows you.” His connection to 91����Ƶ Men’s Soccer continued after graduation: his brother, Parker Leap ’16, also played forward for the Royals, and his cousin, Justin Carey MBA ’21, has served as head coach since 2022. 

Today, Leap lives in Lynchburg, Virginia, with his wife of nine years, Amber, and their three children—Rory (6), Rhema (3), and Mesa (1). He works in full-time ministry with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, serving as area representative for the City of Lynchburg and Amherst County. 

Leap will be honored at a ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 10 a.m. in the MainStage Theater (University Commons 170) during Homecoming 2025. For a full schedule of Homecoming events and activities, visit emu.edu/homecoming.

AS ONE OF THE LEAD ORGANIZERS FOR CONGREGATE CHARLOTTESVILLE, BRITTANY CAINE-CONLEY MDIV ’14 (aka “Smash”) called for 1,000 clergy and faith leaders of all denominations to counter-protest a gathering of white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017. Her efforts denied white supremacists key locations that would have made their Unite the Right rally more visible, and later that year, she was honored by the National Council of Churches as a co-recipient of the President’s Award for Excellence in Faithful Leadership.��

Caine-Conley believes in the importance of connecting Christian communities with radical activists, using her pastoral presence as a bridge to form meaningful relationships between the church and social justice movements. She has been selected by 91����Ƶ’s Alumni Association as the 2025 Outstanding Young Alum. The award is given annually to an alum who, through professional achievement and/or Christ-like compassionate service, is making a significant contribution to the local, national or global community. 

“I feel honored,” said Caine-Conley. “As a queer, Christian woman called to serve in the clergy, the space hasn’t always been welcoming. This award feels like an acknowledgement of my work and an affirmation for other queer folks who are serving the church and the kin-dom of God.”

The space between��

Caine-Conley learned to bridge the gap between communities at Eastern Mennonite Seminary (EMS), where she earned a master of divinity degree. Professor David Evans’ Christianity through the Eyes of the American Outsider course impacted her deeply. Reading from the texts of enslaved people, Jewish individuals and queer Christians, she was able to explore the experiences of marginalized groups within Christianity.��

In another course, Formation in God’s Story with Dawn Monger, Caine-Conley’s small group was challenged to think about life journeys and how they intersect with God’s story.��

“Our group considered how many loops, intersections, roadblocks, obstacles, and reversals we experience in our individual paths. The conversation led us to one word: mangled.” 

The “mangled” moment stuck with Caine-Conley, as did the seminary experiences of discussing theology over beers at Billy Jack’s and sitting on the campus lawn learning about peacemaking from people across the globe. 

Caine-Conley graduated from EMS in 2014, the same year she married her wife, Lindsay. The two met while working on the leadership team for RISE United Methodist Faith Community in Harrisonburg. 

“My love for ministry was significantly shaped by RISE and its pastor, Amanda Miller Garber. There, I learned to yearn for beloved community, and now I seek to co-create such community wherever I go.” 

Baptism by fire

In the summer of 2017, co-creating community in Charlottesville meant undergoing “baptism by fire.” 

“Everyone remembers that night on August 12, but there’s so much that came before it… prayer and worship meetings, late-night strategizing, direct action training on nonviolence, even active shooter training. It was a lot,” said Caine-Conley. 

Through it all, she was focused on building bridges between communities that didn’t want to interact with each other, between people—particularly white, progressive Christians—who had different ideas about what it meant to resist, from peacefully protesting to doing nothing. 

To build greater understanding between progressive groups who desired change, Caine-Conley organized educational seminars and anti-racism training. She wrote various post-rally articles, and Congregate Charlottesville received national press coverage. 

Vocation and community��

Caine-Conley is now bringing her experience to the classroom at Denver’s Iliff School of Theology where she is a PhD student in religious studies and adjunct instructor of Identity, Power, and Vocation in Community. A theme of the yearlong course is understanding how individuals are shaped by histories, structures, systems, practices, and memories. She aims to create a “disruptive,” yet caring, environment to help students become better ministers, leaders, and caregivers.��

“I am inspired every day by people who allow the spirit to shake their assumptions, trajectories, and long-held orientations,” said Caine-Conley. “It takes so much courage to allow the spirit to truly move us in new directions.” 

Caine-Conley will share her story at 91����Ƶ TenTalks, held on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 1:30 p.m. in Martin Chapel during Homecoming 2025. For a full schedule of Homecoming events and activities, visit��emu.edu/homecoming.

David Falk ’15, a general studies major with a concentration in business, grew up in Madison, Virginia, where he had an impressive high school basketball career. He spent a postgraduate year playing at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia, before head men’s basketball coach Kirby Dean recruited him to 91����Ƶ. 

As a 6-foot, 6-inch center, Falk played in 105 games with 56 starts, tallying 1,058 career points in four seasons with the Runnin’ Royals. He was a two-time ODAC First Team honoree, earning the distinction in 2014 and 2015; he received VaSID All-State First Team honors those same two years. Falk also made the D3hoops.com All-South Region Third Team in 2014 and the D3hoops.com All-South Region Second Team in 2015.

At the time of his graduation, Falk held an 91����Ƶ career record for blocks (214) and ranked third all-time in career rebounds with 952. Today, he still holds 91����Ƶ records for most rebounds in a game (28 vs. Lynchburg on Feb. 28, 2014), most rebounds in a season (375 in 2013-2014), and most blocked shots in a season (82 in 2013-2014).

After learning life lessons from Coach Dean—including “having perspective” and “to always have faith in God”—Falk returned to Madison where he and his wife, Katelynn, live with their two children, Preslee (4) and McCoy (2), on a 2,000-acre farm focused on cattle, corn, and soybeans.��

Falk will be honored at a ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 10 a.m. in the MainStage Theater (University Commons 170) during Homecoming 2025. For a full schedule of Homecoming events and activities, visit��emu.edu/homecoming.

JESSICA (JESS) KING ’96 has worked to bring the foundational lessons of her Mennonite upbringing and education to others during her more than 20-year career leading equity-driven public sector organizations—from creating economic opportunity to facilitating transparency in government to building journalistic literacy in communities. In recognition of her work, 91����Ƶ’s Alumni Association and its Awards and Nominations Committee have selected King as the recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Service Award, which honors alumni who have significantly impacted the lives of others. 

“It’s an honor to be recognized by my alma mater,” said King, who graduated from 91����Ƶ with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts with minors in English, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and psychology. 

Service lights the way

After graduation, King volunteered with Pittsburgh Urban Leadership Service (PULSE), founded by 91����Ƶ alumnus John Stahl-Wert ’81. In an experience she likened to a post-graduate program, King joined a community of young leaders to partner with Pittsburgh nonprofits for a year of service and leadership. She served at the Thomas Merton Center, a Catholic-founded center for peace and justice, and was later hired as executive director of PULSE, where she spent four years expanding her understanding of urban communities and the local businesses, organizations, and governments that serve them.��

King then led a six-year effort as founding executive director of the Union Project to transform an abandoned church building into an arts and enterprise incubator space. She spent more than a decade in Pittsburgh, where she met her husband, Chad. The couple has two daughters, Eleni and Esmé King Martin. Both Jessica and Esmé were greatly impacted by their intercultural studies at 91����Ƶ; Jessica studied in Greece and lived with families in France and Côte d’Ivoire (West Africa), while Esmé, a rising junior at 91����Ƶ, spent the spring 2025 semester in Guatemala and Mexico.��

Foundations in community��

King grew up Mennonite in Lancaster County. Her father was killed in a plane crash when she was two. After her mother remarried, her mother and stepfather started a paint store, where King and her three siblings all worked at different points. 

“Growing up, my family had a robust network of support, and our church community was also an essential part of our local economy,” King said. “Connections are important for a prosperous community.” 

King has intentionally lived in low-income neighborhoods for much of her adult life, creating relationships and solidarity that have informed her work and career path—from Pittsburgh to Lancaster, where she fought poverty through entrepreneurship for seven years as executive director at ASSETS; ran for Pennsylvania’s 11th Congressional District; and served four “eye-opening” years as chief of staff for the City of Lancaster. 

“There’s a narrative that our situations in life are based on our choices, but generational trauma and poverty, oppression based on race or gender, and access to quality education are huge factors. The rules of our economy are created by the wealthy and well-connected, creating systems of opportunity and disinvestment that are so much more than choice,” said King. 

She says that Jesus teaches us about economic issues more than many other Christian themes. “Loving our neighbors as ourselves includes examining and changing socioeconomic systems that support people,” she said. 

Since September 2023, King has served as inaugural executive director of in Lancaster. The nonprofit is focused on funding innovation in local news to support informed and engaged communities. It is also working “upstream from news” to build trust, center solutions, and equip action.��

King says her recent work reminds her of the conflict transformation teachings at 91����Ƶ, including those taught by John Paul Lederach.��

“Change is possible,” said King. “We can choose not to participate in the dystopian fears that can paralyze and isolate us. Values, teachings, and examples from 91����Ƶ and the broader world provide guideposts and road maps to other ways forward.”��

King will share her story at 91����Ƶ TenTalks, held on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 1:30 p.m. in Martin Chapel during Homecoming 2025. For a full schedule of Homecoming events and activities, visit��emu.edu/homecoming.

Phil Guengerich ’70 was a staple at 91����Ƶ sporting events between 2000 and 2013. His part-time position as athletic events coordinator turned into a full-time role responsible for ticket sales, concessions, game events, and some fundraising. 

Guengerich graduated with a degree in elementary education from 91����Ƶ, where he played on the soccer team and met his wife, Susan Hess Guengerich ’69. He taught fifth grade at Linville-Edom Elementary School in Rockingham County, Virginia, for 30 years before returning to 91����Ƶ. 

“I came back because I loved working with young people, always enjoyed sports, and was familiar with 91����Ƶ.” He joined his father, Paul T. Guengerich, who worked part-time in alumni relations into his 90s after having served in various full-time capacities from 1964 to 1981. His mother, Marjorie Yoder Guengerich ’68, earned a teaching degree from 91����Ƶ. His three children—Melani Guengerich Novinger ’96, Gail Guengerich ’98, and John Guengerich ’01—also graduated from 91����Ƶ. 

Guengerich used his experience in classroom management to train his staff of work-study students to run 91����Ƶ events like a well-oiled machine—from setting up pre-game to slinging hot dogs and hamburgers in-game to doing laundry post-game. While he got to know staff members and assigned jobs accordingly, he expected students to “dress neatly, be courteous, prompt, and accepting of all people.” 

Guengerich managed some high-profile events at 91����Ƶ, including multiple ODAC Championships and games during the 2003 women’s basketball Sweet 16 run and 2010 Runnin’ Royals Elite Eight berth, but says his best memories are the friendships he built with 91����Ƶ Athletics personnel, work-study staff, student-athletes, and business owners who supported the university.

Guengerich will be honored at a ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 10 a.m. in the MainStage Theater (University Commons 170) during Homecoming 2025. For a full schedule of Homecoming events and activities, visit��emu.edu/homecoming.

LOS ANGELES VISIONARY ARTIST AND FUTURIST FABRICE GUERRIER MA ’15 (CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION) has been selected by 91����Ƶ’s Alumni Association and its Awards and Nomination Committee as the 2025 Alum of the Year for his work as founder and CEO of (pronounced Syll-a-ble), the first collaborative worldbuilding production house for science fiction and fantasy storytelling.��

“Being selected for this award feels quite unbelievable and affirms my work around collaborative worldbuilding,” said Guerrier, who defines worldbuilding on his website () as “the creation of intricate, plausible fictional universes often found in sci-fi, fantasy, and video games.”��

In collaborative worldbuilding, underrepresented creators from diverse cultures come together to imagine and publish their shared stories. 

A refuge of books

Born and raised in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Guerrier immigrated with his family to Coral Springs, Florida, when he was 13. Already fluent in French and Haitian Creole, Guerrier learned English as his third language. 

“It’s kind of magic… being Haitian from an Afrocentric world… being from an island… being able to speak multiple languages,” said Guerrier. 

Nevertheless, Guerrier was an exile in a foreign country, forced to flee the 2004 Haitian coup d’état. He says while he “wanted to be an American,” the more he tried to fit in, the more he felt like he was destroying a precious part of himself. 

Guerrier found refuge at Northwest Regional Library, where he worked as a page, volunteered, helped with community programming, and explored everything from manga and comics to encyclopedias and films to nonfiction and sci-fi books. His curiosity sparked Syllble, an idea that was furthered while reading “Blindness,” an essay in Jorge Luis Borges’ “Seven Nights” collection, as a sophomore at Florida State University.��

“I resonated with how Borges described being in a library as the closest thing to heaven, and how his blindness allowed him to see things in different ways. The impact of his words inspired me to become a writer,” said Guerrier. 

Healing and growth

After graduating from Florida State in 2013 with a bachelor of science degree in international affairs and a leadership studies certificate, Guerrier decided to pursue a master of arts in conflict transformation from 91����Ƶ’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP).��

As a graduate assistant at the Zehr Institute for Restorative Justice, he worked with its then-director and CJP professor, Carl Stauffer MA ’02 (conflict transformation), and conducted “humbling and eye-opening” field research on the impact of Fambul Tok International in promoting reconciliation in communities after an 11-year civil war in Sierra Leone (West Africa). 

“91����Ƶ was a place of healing for me,” Guerrier said. “My peace studies showed me how personal and interpersonal work affects peace in the world.” 

Guerrier worked with CJP Professor Emeritus Barry Hart MDiv ’78 to explore theories and practices of Strategies for Trauma Awareness & Healing (STAR), and in 2014, he started a chapter of Coming To The Table (), a racial healing and reconciliation organization aimed at Taking America Beyond the Legacy of Enslavement—a program that began at CJP. Guerrier later served on CTTT’s board of managers and became its youngest national president.��

Looking to the future

After graduating from 91����Ƶ in 2015, Guerrier worked on two novels, revising one to the point of exhaustion. 

“It was probably one of the most painful and loneliest experiences I’ve ever had,” he said. 

Guerrier began researching collaborative writing techniques in Hollywood and beyond, which led him to invite three writers to his home to create a story together. The successful session set Syllble in motion. 

Today, Syllble is enabling marginalized voices across the globe to conceive and tell the stories of their shared universes in order to disrupt modern-day inclinations toward disaster and doom. 

“Imagining radically hopeful futures allows us to replace the realities imposed by capitalism and technology and media with something that’s beautiful, nourishing, warm, and healing,” said Guerrier. “It is how we reclaim what it means to be human.”

Guerrier will share his story at 91����Ƶ TenTalks, held on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 1:30 p.m. in Martin Chapel during Homecoming 2025. For a full schedule of Homecoming events and activities, visit emu.edu/homecoming.

Herm is sending out his Royal roar, calling all 91����Ƶ alumni, family, friends, students, and community members, both near and far, back to campus for Homecoming 2025 from Oct. 10-12.

This year’s lineup of events offers something for everyone, from the Royal City Celebration with local food trucks and live music, to an evening of a capella, and a pair of planetarium shows. That’s not to mention all the program and affinity gatherings, alumni and athletic awards, athletic events, TenTalks, and more!

The homecoming website is your complete source for events, updates, and registration. The deadline to register for those events marked with an asterisk (*) is Oct. 1.

91����Ƶ’s alumni award winners and TenTalks presenters are:
Jess King ’96, Brittany Caine-Conley ’14, and Fabrice Guerrier MA ’15 (conflict transformation).

91����Ƶ Athletics will recognize four Hall of Honor inductees:
athletic events coordinator Phil Guengerich ’70, volleyball middle blocker Justin Reesor ‘10, soccer forward Mitchell Leap ’12, and basketball center David Falk ’15.  

Look for the ⓕ and  icons that denote a livestreamed event available on the and pages. You do not need an account to view these events.

Athletics events will be streamed through the website.

Here are a few highlights of the weekend. See the full schedule for more details.

Friday, Oct. 10

Golden Alumni Luncheon*ⓕ
11:30 a.m-1:30 p.m.
Martin Chapel (Seminary Building)
Alumni who attended 91����Ƶ 50 or more years ago (classes of 1975 and earlier) will gather for a program and luncheon that includes the induction of the class of ’75. Tickets are $25.

A Walk Down Memory Lane*
2-3 p.m.
Outdoor steps of Martin Chapel
This guided campus tour features stops at historic and modern spaces, including the new Track & Field Complex and recently renovated Student Union, Common Grounds Coffeehouse, and Admissions Office.

Friday’s reunions	Saturday’s reunions
Classes of ’65 and ’70* 2-4 p.m. Seminary Building 204��LOCATION CHANGED TO:��Campus Center – Greeting Hall Tickets are $10 Class of ’75*ⓕ 2-4 p.m. Martin Chapel Class of ’80* 2-4 p.m. Campus Center Greeting Hall��LOCATION CHANGED TO:��Seminary Building 204 Tickets are $10	Class of ’95* 4-6 p.m. Sage Bird Ciderworks (325 N. Liberty St., Harrisonburg) HoCo “5s & 0s” After-Party* (Classes of 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020) 8:30-10:30 p.m. Capital Ale House (41-A Court Square, Harrisonburg) Tickets are $20

A Capella Celebration*ⓕ
7:30 p.m.
Lehman Auditorium
Enjoy an evening of music with a special collaboration of local a capella groups. Tickets are $10.

Saturday, Oct. 11

Homecoming Kickoff Celebration ⓕ
9-9:45 a.m.
Lehman Auditorium
Kick off the day with a welcome from Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon Dycus, live music, and tasty treats.

Hall of Honor Ceremony
10-11 a.m.
MainStage Theater (University Commons 170)
Celebrate the 2025 Hall of Honor inductees: athletic events coordinator Phil Guengerich ‘70, volleyball middle blocker Justin Reesor ’10, soccer forward Mitchell Leap ’12, and basketball center David Falk ’15.

COLOR RUN��CANCELLED

Interim President Meet-And-Greet
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Campus Center greeting hall
Connect with 91����Ƶ’s new interim president, Rev. Dr. Shannon Dycus, at this meet-and-greet.

Planetarium Viewings*
Discovery Room (Suter Science Center 101)
12:30-1:15 p.m. and 1:15-2 p.m.
Explore the cosmos with a demonstration of 91����Ƶ’s planetarium projector, which was restored this spring by a group of 2025 engineering graduates for their senior capstone project.

91����Ƶ TenTalks ⓕ
1:30-2:30 p.m.
Martin Chapel
Prepare to be impacted, influenced, and inspired at this annual event, modeled after the world-famous TED Talks. For the first time in Homecoming history, this year’s TenTalks features 91����Ƶ’s three alumni award winners—visionary artist and futurist Fabrice Guerrier MA ’15 (conflict transformation), organizer Brittany Caine-Conley ’14, and leader Jess King ’96—who will be sharing their stories for 10 minutes each with a Q&A at the end.

Royal City Celebration
3-7 p.m.
Thomas Plaza and the Front Lawn
After a successful debut at last year’s Homecoming, this crowd favorite is back! All alumni and affinity groups are invited to the weekend’s largest gathering, featuring entertainment, live music from the Richmond-based , local food trucks, and plenty of fun.

Sunday, Oct. 12

Homecoming Worship Service ⓕ
10 a.m.
Martin Chapel
Dr. Benjamin Bergey, associate professor of music at 91����Ƶ, leads worship in this reflective and meaningful service featuring music from the 91����Ƶ Chamber Singers.

*Registration required
ⓕ  Livestream available on Facebook and YouTube

More than 120 alumni who attended 91����Ƶ (then Eastern Mennonite College, or EMC) 50 or more years ago gathered for the Jubilee Luncheon in Martin Chapel on Friday. Eighty of those in attendance represented the class of 1974 and were inducted into the Jubilee Alumni Association.

Alumni traveled from near and far to attend the luncheon, sharing treasured memories and lessons learned from their time at 91����Ƶ. Jackie Sullivan Smoot ‘74, who taught in the Shenandoah school system for 37 years, talked about her life-changing intercultural experience teaching for a summer in Atlanta. “I grew up that summer. My appreciation for my family, for life in general, grew that summer,” said the Shenandoah, Va. alumna.

For Joe Fretz ‘74, the questions raised at 91����Ƶ served as a sort of anchor, grounding him through loss and his faith journey long after graduation. “The courage to question turned out to be the great gift I received from 91����Ƶ,” said the Colorado-based alumnus.

June Smucker-Handrich ‘74 traveled from Oregon. Patricia Lehman ‘74 traveled 41 hours from Washington state, and Kirk Martin ‘74 and Callie Kan flew over 9,000 miles from Singapore. Alumni who attended the luncheon came from a total of 14 states and three countries.

Friday afternoon continued with an art opening at 91����Ƶ’s Margaret Martin Gehman Gallery. The packed exhibition featured the work of Becca Gish ‘09, Rhoda Miller ‘03 and Jon Styer ‘07. The alumni spoke about how the natural world inspired their pieces and about their artistic journeys during and after 91����Ƶ.

Styer says he developed a love for combining arts forms—drawing, painting and graphic design—at 91����Ƶ where he had the opportunity to “explore all of the arts.”

View the exhibition through Nov. 8! The gallery is open Monday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Friday night came to a close with the Royal Appreciation Reception: Royals in the Land of Oz in University Commons. More than 190 alumni and donors chatted over hors d’oeuvres prepared by food service director Shannon Grinnan and her Pioneer College Catering team. Attendees, which also included student leaders, enjoyed gourmet cheeses to apple pie pot stickers to a ginger apple mocktail with fresh mint from the 91����Ƶ gardens.

President Susan Schultz Huxman shared updates about the university at the event; she punctuated each update with an on-theme quote from The Wizard of Oz. “There’s no place like a welcoming and inclusive home,” Huxman said. “Creating spaces for all students to be seen and validated is an ongoing, collective effort across the university.”

President Huxman kicked off the Opening Celebration Breakfast on Saturday in University Commons. “This morning we celebrate achievements. We celebrate careers. We celebrate memories.” The breakfast recognized Seth Crissman ‘09, MDiv ‘15 with the Outstanding Young Alum Award; Kendra Conrad Bailey ‘03, MA ‘05 with the Alum of the Year Award; and Dr. Lee Roy Berry Jr. ‘66 with the Distinguished Service Award. (Crissman, Bailey, and Berry are pictured left to right above.)

Following the breakfast, a separate ceremony celebrated Hall of Honor inductees Gina Troyer ‘93 (volleyball, basketball, and softball); Bianca Ygarza ‘14 (basketball); Roland Landes (professor and coach of men’s cross-country, baseball, men’s basketball, women’s cross-country, and track and field); and Michael Allen ‘13 (track and field). Each inductee was introduced by a family member, friend, or coach. (Troyer, Ygarza, Landes, and Allen are pictured left to right above.)

More than 300 people—alumni, affinity groups, clubs, programs and departments—filled the Front Lawn for food, fellowship and fun at the Royal City Celebration. Music by the 91����Ƶ Gospel Choir, music professor Dr. David Berry, and the Walking Roots Band featuring Seth Crissman ‘09, MDiv ‘15; Perry Blosser ‘18; Greg Yoder; Kristina (Landis) Yoder ‘09; Mitchell Yoder ‘09; and Lauren Yoder ‘09 provided the backdrop for the sunshiny setting. Deanna Reed, mayor of Harrisonburg and director of alumni engagement & community connections, brought the emcee energy.

The Royal City Celebration also brought 91����Ƶ’s first crowning of a homecoming court. The court included first-year students Ella Richer (environmental science) and Jack Gallagher (business); sophomores Caleb Metzler (political science, sociology, Spanish) and Kaylene Todd (psychology); juniors Leah Beachy (nursing) and Joshua Stucky (nursing); and seniors Adam Stolzfus (engineering) and Adriana Jacobs (physical education). (Gallagher, Todd, Beachy, Stucky, Stotzfus, and Jacobs are pictured left to right above; Richer and Metzler are not pictured.)

The two students elected from each class were chosen by the student body as role models, leaders, and contributors to the campus community. Laughter and cheers ensued as members were introduced and crowned with glittering tiaras by Ka’Shea Jones-Mitchell, administrative assistant for advancement.

Modeled after TED Talks, 91����Ƶ TenTalks featured three speakers—Ashley Mellinger ‘24; Adesola Johnson, senior biology major; and Dr. Mark Sawin, 91����Ƶ professor of history and honors program director—sharing their stories for 10 minutes each with a Q&A at the end.

Read a longer detailed write-up or

Saturday afternoon also included a Track & Field Complex Dedication featuring a planned program with remarks from donors and 91����Ƶ leaders. A pole run and relay race marked the official opening of the track where attendees were able to test out the surface for themselves.

Read a full write-up of the event.

Sports fans had a number of opportunities to get their fix during the weekend: an alumni baseball game that pitted grads against 91����Ƶ’s baseball team, Women’s Field Hockey vs. Sweet Briar, Women’s Volleyball vs. Lynchburg, Women’s Soccer vs. Guilford, and Men’s Soccer vs. Lynchburg.

Topping off the festivities was a Sunday morning worship service at Park View Mennonite Church with the 91����Ƶ Chamber Singers. Additionally, alumni from the Black Student Alliance, Latinx Student Alliance, Asian Pacific Islanders Student Alliance, and Queer Student Alliance gathered on- and off-campus during the weekend.

91����Ƶ Theatre premiered its production of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical on Friday. The show continues on Oct. 25 at 7 p.m., Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Oct. 27 at 2 p.m.

Check out the for any recorded events. We hope to see you again next year!

Johnson shared insights from her research on kidney disease using zebrafish at Notre Dame this past summer as well as her personal journey of falling in love with research. After an 91����Ƶ professor asked her to present research from an 91����Ƶ organic chemistry lab at UVA’s Chemical Society meeting, Johnson realized that she loved sharing her work with others. 

Johnson adheres to the personal motto “just keep swimming” from the movie Finding Nemo to guide her career choices. Her professors also highly influenced her journey into research through their constant encouragement and by providing opportunities including a trip to Australia to research fruit flies. “They have taught me to dream big and go for things I never would have expected myself to do,” she said.

Between nursing school and finishing her debut novel “Heartache on the Play Stage,” Mellinger was used to putting herself last. After a series of hardships while trying to become a licensed nurse post-graduation, she shared her realization of needing to prioritize herself.

“Trying to pour from an empty cup isn’t going to work,” she cautioned, detailing the ways in which she has begun to practice self-care, from sleep hygiene to exercise to choosing more nutritious foods. “Self care is not optional. It is essential for a healthy lifestyle,” she said.

Mark Sawin is a name known to many on campus, but his work is not limited to the classroom. Sawin spoke about his recent research and efforts to preserve Mrs. Isa Mae (Banks) Francis’ Green Book house where traveling Black folks stayed when hotels turned them away. Listed in the Green Book from 1953-1961, the house sits at 252 N. Mason Street. It is the last remaining Green Book house in Harrisonburg and was kept in its original state by siblings Henry and Lois Rouser, descendants of Mrs. Isa Mae (Banks) Francis.

William Reed, father of 91����Ƶ’s own Mayor Deanna Reed, inherited the property from Lois Rouser in 2022. The Reeds called in experts, including Sawin, with the hope of further honoring the house’s legacy. Sawin has been researching the property and the family’s history because he says “being a historian is honoring people by telling their story.”

Kirk Shisler ‘81, vice president for advancement, introduced alumni in attendance spanning eight decades. Among them were Bob Hostetler ‘59 who “still runs the 100-meter dash like a jackrabbit,” according to Shisler; Roland Landes, an 91����Ƶ cross-country coach for nine seasons starting in the ’60s and a 2024 Hall of Honor inductee; Hannah Chappell Dick ‘16, a five-time NCAA DIII All-American 91����Ƶ runner with countless awards and seven school records; and Ryan Gehman ‘16, a star 91����Ƶ runner, advocate, and speaker at the 2023 91����Ƶ TenTalks.

The program also featured remarks from Carrie Bert ‘97, director of athletics; Ray Ray Taylor, MS ‘24, an All-American track and field athlete; and Jim ‘68 and Gloria Horst Rosenberger ‘70 who put forth an early gift of $600,000 and a recent $400,000 challenge fund to encourage support for the track and field.

It’s not too late to give to the project! Donate now.

More than $4 million has been raised toward the $6 million campaign goal. President Susan Schultz Huxman thanked the “salt-of-the-earth, visionary supporters who stepped up with unwavering conviction going back nearly a decade.” And with student-athletes making up 43 percent of the first-year student population, she said it has been a long time coming.

Before attendees could set foot on the new track, Laura Rosenberger ’03 (91����Ƶ pole vault record holder for 21 years) and sophomore Micah Mast did a symbolic run with a pole, followed by a ceremonial relay lap with alumni, donors, students, and faculty/staff. These served as a “passing of the baton” to future generations of athletes who will use this state-of-the-art complex for years to come.

Harrisonburg, Virginia, resident Seth Crissman ‘09, MDiv ‘15 has been selected by 91����Ƶ’s Alumni Association and its Awards and Nominations Committee as the 2024 Outstanding Young Alum for his work through the collaborative faith-based ministry The Soil and The Seed Project. The effort seeks to nurture faith in Jesus through conversations, art, poetry, music and daily readings.��

“I wanted to find ways of empowering the church to live out what we say we believe,” Crissman said, “… faith that doesn’t just live in our heads, but in how we live and move in the world.”

The award is given annually to an alum who, through professional achievement and/or Christ-like compassionate service, is making a significant contribution to the local, national or global community.

Crissman, 38, founded his Christian-based faith formation project in 2021 in partnership with and as a ministry of Virginia Mennonite Missions (VMMissions). With dozens of other artists, his team produces liturgical daily readings and new music albums every three to four months to help families talk about their faith.

“It’s meant to be an intergenerational project,” Crissman said.

The project grew from a previous effort he worked on with his wife, Theresa Peachey Crissman ‘09, called Kids Club, which helped area churches combine efforts to provide resources for children.

“I love helping people build bridges between communities,” Crissman said. 

The Soil and The Seed Project has drawn talent from North America, Northern Africa and Southeast Asia; streams music to more than 130 countries; and has been shipped to 30+ states, all given away free of charge. More than 20 denominations and nondenominational groups are represented among the project’s followers.

Married with four children, Crissman pursued special education and history at 91����Ƶ before seeking a master of divinity from Eastern Mennonite Seminary.

This past year, he was awarded a $1.2 million grant through Lilly Endowment Inc. as part of its Christian Parenting and Caregiving Initiative. Awarded to VMMissions for the purpose of growing The Soil and The Seed Project, the grant will fund, in part, a music festival at Highland Retreat in Bergton, Virginia, from Oct. 25-27, 2024.

“There’s a temptation to think that what happens is because we’re clever or we hustle,” Crissman said. “What’s come of this project isn’t because I’m clever or have hustled a lot. It’s something God has done, and I’ve just had the joy of being able to help get it started.”

As a Royal, Troyer was a three-time All-ODAC First Team honoree and a two-time all-Region middle hitter. During her sophomore year, 91����Ƶ women’s volleyball won the ODAC championship, defeating Bridgewater in a thrilling five-set championship match. At the time of her graduation in 1993, Troyer held 91����Ƶ career records for kills (969) and blocks (347) and now sits third all-time on both of those lists. As an 91����Ƶ basketball forward, Troyer graduated fourth all-time in career rebounds with 648. She played first base on the 1990 softball team that won the ODAC championship, is fourth all-time in the Royals’ record book for stolen bases in a season (1990) with 24, and earned a spot on the All-ODAC Second Team in 1992.

Troyer said she “had a great experience playing sports” at 91����Ƶ with teammates that were her closest friends and a coaching staff that was “so supportive.” Troyer retired in June 2023 after teaching special education for 30 years at Turner Ashby High School (Bridgewater) where she coached girls’ varsity volleyball for 24 years and junior varsity softball for four years. 

The musical, adapted from Riordan’s 2005 bestseller, debuted on Broadway in 2019 and follows the journey of Percy Jackson, an underachieving teen who discovers he’s a demigod. Played by 91����Ƶ senior Adam Hoover, Percy is accused of stealing Zeus’ lightning bolt, leading him on a quest with his friends Grover, portrayed by Mac Rhodes-Lehman, and Annabeth, played by Ella Walters, to clear his name and prevent a war between the Greek gods. Along the way, Percy must face mythological monsters and unravel the mysteries of his heritage.

Directed by 91����Ƶ Theatre Program Director Justin Poole, with music direction by Jim Clemens and costume design by Rachel Herrick, the production delivers an action-packed adventure filled with humor, heart, and high-energy performances. Rounding out the artistic staff are Robert Weaver (lighting designer), Shannon Dove (set designer/technical director) and Ellie de Waal (choreographer).

The electrifying score, performed by Clemens on keyboard alongside a live rock band, will energize the intimate theater space, while larger-than-life puppetry and choreographed sword fights enhance the mythical spectacle.

Senior Cassidy Williams portrays Luke and Ares, delivering dynamic performances that combine vocal range and physical prowess. “Singing while sword fighting is no easy feat,” said Williams. “It’s been a rewarding challenge to portray such complex characters.”

Senior Alexis Lewis serves as assistant director and production assistant. “This show offers a fresh, punk rock twist on classic Greek myths,” Lewis said. “It’s packed with fun, upbeat moments that will appeal to longtime fans and newcomers alike.”

The cast, composed of 91����Ƶ students and community members, will interact with the audience throughout the production, using the entire Studio Theater space for an immersive experience. “It’s a highly dynamic production,” said Poole. “There are no barriers between the cast and the audience—they’ll be performing from the stage, the mezzanine, and even within the crowd.”

Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, $10 for children 18 and under, and $6 for university students. For tickets, visit:

Cast
Percy Jackson — Adam Hoover
Annabeth Chase — Ella Walters
Annabeth Understudy/Silena Beauregard — Emilee White
Grover/Mr.D — Mac Rhodes-Lehman
Luke/Ares — Cassidy Williams
Sally Jackson/The Oracle — Emma Saville
Clarisse/Mrs.Dodds/Medusa/Charon — Elie Hoover
Chiron/Kronos — Ezra Smith
Gabe Ugliani/Hades/Poseidon — Jacob Nissley
Katie Gardner/Various ensemble roles — Saycia Szakonyi
Various ensemble roles — Katie Beth Warner

Crew
Director — Justin Poole
Music Director — Jim Clemens
Assistant Director/Promotions Assistant/Production Assistant — Alexis Lewis
Vocal Coach — Afton Rhodes-Lehman
Technical Director and Set Designer — Shannon Dove
Costume Designer — Rachel Herrick
Light Designer — Robert Weaver
Choreographer — Ellie de Waal
Stage Manager — Sarah Peak
Assistant Stage Manager — Erin Batten
Assistant Stage Manager — River Lynch