Dr. Ben Ruth ’09, a noninvasive cardiologist with Sentara Cardiology Specialists in Harrisonburg, received the 2026 Golden Stethoscope Award.

Ruth was selected from 43 nominees and more than 400 physicians on the Sentara RMH Medical Center staff to receive the award. Now in its 18th year, nomination for the annual award is “one of the highest honors a Sentara RMH physician can receive,” according to a sent by Sentara Health on April 1.

“I am truly honored to receive this award,” Ruth said in the release, “especially knowing it comes from colleagues I respect and collaborate with every day.”

The Golden Stethoscope Award is announced each year on National Doctors’ Day (March 30) and recognizes outstanding physicians who demonstrate excellence in patient care, customer service, communication, and teamwork.

‘91����Ƶ helped prepare me’

Originally from the Philadelphia area, Ruth came to the Shenandoah Valley to attend 91����Ƶ and graduated with a degree in biology and a minor in math. “It’s here that I met my wife (Laura Ruth ’09) and I really grew to love this area,” .

“91����Ƶ helped prepare me with the empathy, integrity, and the clinical skills that my patients need,” he said in a last summer.

After graduating from 91����Ƶ, Ruth earned his doctor of medicine from Pennsylvania State College of Medicine (Hershey, Pennsylvania) in 2015. He completed his residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in general cardiology at the University of Virginia Health System. He joined the at Sentara RMH Medical Center in Harrisonburg in August 2021.

Treats patients with compassion and humility

At Sentara, Ruth specializes in advanced imaging and preventive cardiology. His patients not only enjoy his professionalism, the release says, but also his warm, friendly demeanor.

Colleagues noted in their nominations that Ruth is a highly skilled, compassionate physician who provides exceptional, patient-centered care. He is known for listening carefully, communicating clearly, and going above and beyond to ensure patients feel respected, understood, and well cared for.

“Dr. Ruth brings a combination of clinical and imaging skills, compassion, and humility to every patient encounter,” Dr. Brad Rash, medical director of Sentara Cardiology Specialists, said in the release. “He is also an exceptional colleague and resource for our cardiology team. This recognition is well-deserved and a fitting tribute to the positive impact he has on the community.”

“Dr. Ruth earned that recognition through consistent excellence,” Dr. Robert Garwood, vice president and market chief medical officer at Sentara RMH Medical Center, said in the release. “He keeps his team well-informed, fosters a collaborative environment, and serves as an exceptional mentor. His sound judgment and thoughtful decision-making ensure the highest quality of care for his patients.”

Those faculty members are:

• Dr. Katherine Evans: Jesse T. Byler Endowed Chair in Education
• Dr. James Leaman: Longacre Endowed Chair in Business and Leadership
• Dr. Peter Dula: Myron S. Augsburger Endowed Chair of Theology
• Dr. James Yoder: Daniel B. Suter Endowed Chair of Science

Dr. Tynisha Willingham, provost and vice president of academic affairs for 91����Ƶ, said these faculty members were chosen as endowed chairs because of their demonstrated leadership, service, teaching, and research, as well as their capacity to be champions of their programs at 91����Ƶ. 

“Endowed chairs are a critical component of 91����Ƶ’s academic vitality,” she said. “Our goal is to elevate the recognition of our faculty who hold this honor and to celebrate the donors whose generosity helps to support academic excellence in this way.”

The endowed chair positions provide funding for each faculty position within a particular discipline, along with scholarships for students in the discipline and funds for program initiatives. Chairs receive professional development funds to support their research and scholarship. An endowed chair appointment is one of the highest honors a faculty member can receive at 91����Ƶ, supporting their continued excellence in scholarship and teaching, said the Rev. Dr. Sarah Ann Bixler, dean of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.

Keep reading for bios of each professor.

Dr. Katherine Evans

Professor of Teacher Education and director of the Undergraduate Teacher Education program
Jesse T. Byler Endowed Chair in Education

Kathy Evans is a professor of Teacher Education at 91����Ƶ, teaching courses in educational psychology, special education, and restorative justice in education. She earned her PhD from the University of Tennessee in educational psychology and research. Her research, teaching, and scholarship focus on ways in which educators participate in creating more just and equitable educational opportunities for all students, including those with disability labels, those who exhibit challenging behavior, and those who are marginalized for a variety of reasons, including race, ethnicity, language, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity. 

During her 15 years at 91����Ƶ, Evans has helped develop 91����Ƶ’s graduate program in Restorative Justice in Education (RJE), which supports educators as they create learning environments that promote relational approaches to teaching and learning, justice and equity in schools and classrooms, and transformational approaches to conflict and harm. She is the co-author of The Little Book of Restorative Justice in Education and has published several articles and book chapters related to restorative justice in education, school culture and climate, and school discipline practices, focusing on the ways in which restorative justice is applied to educational contexts. 

How do you feel to be granted this position?

It’s an honor to be appointed as the Jesse T. Byler Endowed Chair in Education. The Byler endowment has historically been such a gift to the Teacher Education Program at 91����Ƶ, providing support for pre-service teachers in the way of fee waivers for testing and licensure, conference registration for networking with other pre-service teachers, scholarships, and resources that support their success through their 91����Ƶ program. We are in a season of growth and expansion and I am grateful for the opportunities I will have in this position to support that growth, both in the recruitment of talented and dedicated teachers and in the ongoing professional development for our faculty. At this moment in time, we need teachers who are committed to justice and peacebuilding. Embedding restorative justice within our teacher education program at both the undergraduate and graduate levels opens up spaces to support educators who want to not only excel as educators, but to be educators who nurture the well-being of each student. The Byler endowment helps us to do that work better.

What do you love about 91����Ƶ?

This is my 15th year at 91����Ƶ and I am more hopeful about 91����Ƶ’s future today than I have been since I arrived. The commitment to peacebuilding and justice—even when we don’t fully live into that commitment—means that there is a unifying set of values that guide our collective work. I see our students, staff, and faculty working to honor those values and that mission. Our students are amazing and they remind me every day that the work of justice is ongoing, intergenerational, and worth it.

What is a fun fact about you?

When I’m not working, I might be fishing—bass fishing at Silver Lake or fly-fishing at Dry River. I find the water so peaceful.

Dr. James M. Leaman

Associate Professor of Business and director of the Business and Leadership program
Longacre Endowed Chair in Business and Leadership

Jim Leaman chairs the Business and Leadership Program, where he teaches undergraduate courses in management, finance, and economics, and graduate courses in organizational and leadership studies. His industry experience spans both private business and nonprofit administration, including 12 years of service with an international non-governmental organization (INGO) in Kenya. The 91����Ƶ alumnus has a PhD in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh.

The perspective Leaman adds to his field is analyzing and teaching about the role and impact of business and organizations within ecological limits and dynamic social systems, resulting in an integrated lens of sustainability, stewardship and justice. Leaman researches and publishes in the areas of sustainable housing and energy, and his most recent scholarly work is a management textbook, with which he collaborated with an international team of authors to publish in the creative commons, resulting in lower resource costs for students. 

How do you feel to be granted this position?

It is an honor to hold the endowed chair position in business and to steward the gifts and vision of the Longacre family as the program serves and prepares the next generation of business leaders.

What do you love about 91����Ƶ?

The 91����Ƶ mission to prepare students to serve and lead in a global context becomes more relevant with each new innovation and global integration.

What is a fun fact about you?

In awe of the vastness and complexity of the universe, I’ve gained an avocational interest in learning as much as I can about the cosmos.

Dr. Peter Dula

Professor of Religion and Culture
Myron S. Augsburger Endowed Chair of Theology

Peter Dula is the professor of Religion and Culture at 91����Ƶ. The 91����Ƶ alumnus received a PhD from Duke University in theology and ethics in 2004. He is the author of Cavell, Companionship, and Christian Theology (Oxford, 2011). Before coming to 91����Ƶ in 2006, he was the Mennonite Central Committee Iraq Program Coordinator. He has taught at Lancaster Mennonite High School and at the Meserete Kristos College in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he was a Fulbright scholar in 2001-02.

This is his 20th year at 91����Ƶ. He teaches primarily in the undergraduate program, as well as one class each year at the seminary and the Bioethics course in the MA in Biomedicine program. He is married to Ilse Ackerman and they have two children, Simon (17) and Nina (15). 

What do you love about 91����Ƶ?

Two things I love about 91����Ƶ are its smart and interesting faculty colleagues and its location in the Shenandoah Valley.

What is a fun fact about you? 

I planted 500 trees over the last couple of years. The latest Weather Vane issue has . Along with Trina Trotter Nussbaum at the Center for Interfaith Engagement, I organized last month’s consultation on Judaism, the Bible, and Anabaptism. The Weather Vane also has . 

Dr. James Yoder

Professor of Biology and director of the Natural Sciences programs
Daniel B. Suter Endowed Chair of Science

Jim Yoder is the chair of 91����Ƶ’s Department of Natural Sciences, advising environmental science and biology majors and teaching evolution, ecology, and conservation biology. A 1994 alumnus of 91����Ƶ, he earned his PhD from The Ohio State University, where he studied the effects of habitat fragmentation on ruffed grouse movements at large spatial scales. His research interests include conservation, landscape and behavioral ecology, animal movement, invasive species, stream restoration, nitrogen and carbon footprint tracking, and insect movement using harmonic radar. He has also led multiple intercultural programs to New Zealand, the Navajo Nation, and Washington D.C. (upcoming), as well as three research trips with undergraduates to Australia. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, traveling, and hiking with his wife Kathy. 

How do you feel to be granted this position?

I’m honored to be named the Suter Endowed Chair of Science and work to continue the level of scholarship and teaching Daniel Suter established in the natural sciences at 91����Ƶ. Coordinating the long-running Suter Science Seminar Series with a diverse array of speakers and increasing collaborative research among our science faculty and undergraduate students are two aspects of being Suter Chair that I’m most excited to focus on. 

What do you love about 91����Ƶ?

Wonderful colleagues, a diverse student body, and the beautiful Shenandoah Valley—it’s a great place to be a field biologist!

What is a fun fact about you?

My wife and I recently moved into a loft apartment in the heart of downtown Harrisonburg above . It keeps us young at heart!  And we are soon to be grandparents for the first time!

According to a , Rogers played a pivotal role in launching a comprehensive redesign that modernized the program’s structure, expanded its reach, and strengthened its position as a leading doctoral pathway for physician associates. “I’m honored by the trust placed in me and deeply grateful to the leaders, mentors, and colleagues who paved the way for my growth,” he said.

He holds a DMSc from the University of Lynchburg, a master of physician assistant studies from James Madison University, and a bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental sustainability from 91����Ƶ.

Rogers said 91����Ƶ prepared him by grounding his education in service, perspective, and purpose. “My intercultural experience in Bolivia with Dr. Doug Graber Neufeld expanded my understanding of global health and challenged me to think beyond my own context,” he said. “At the same time, Dr. Carolyn Stauffer‘s Sociology of Health course helped me see how social, cultural, and systemic factors shape patient outcomes. Together, those experiences shaped not only my career path, but how I lead and serve today.”

Dr. Tara Kishbaugh, dean of faculty and student success, taught Rogers in general chemistry when he was a student at 91����Ƶ. She said he showed a strong sense of civic engagement and confidence in his coursework, along with exceptional leadership and a commitment to service.

“I am thrilled to see him take on this leadership role in an educational setting and look forward to seeing how he inspires others to reach their academic potential while giving back to their communities,” she said. 

Clockwise from top left: Blake Rogers ’14 helps Clover Hill EMTs check inventory in one of their ambulances at the station in 2014. | Rogers speaks during a 2015 workshop for the Shenandoah Valley Soil and Water Conservation District. | Then a physician assistant student at JMU, Rogers receives the 2018 PA Student of the Year Award. | Rogers ’14 and Matt Tieszen ’10, MA ’15 (biomedicine), return from an elective clinical rotation at Shirati KTM Hospital in Tanzania in 2018.

This isn’t the first time Rogers has been featured in 91����Ƶ News. 

While a double major at 91����Ƶ, he volunteered with the Clover Hill Volunteer Fire Co. and interned at the Shenandoah Valley Soil and Water Conservation District, where he was hired after graduation. As a grad student at JMU, he received the 2018 Physician Assistant Student of the Year award and completed a clinical rotation at a hospital in Tanzania. 

Rogers spent his 91����Ƶ intercultural experience studying biology and Spanish in Bolivia and the Galápagos Islands. A medical mission team experience in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, confirmed his desire to enter the medical field. 

At the University of Lynchburg, Rogers said his favorite course to instruct is Ethics and Regulation of AI, where he guides students through modern dilemmas in health care. “I remain deeply influenced by 91����Ƶ’s emphasis on service, community, and global perspective as we prepare clinicians to lead and serve in a rapidly evolving health care landscape,” he said.

Olga Salama, a first-year biology major who came to the United States through refugee status, grew up in Burundi, East Africa, where access to affordable health care and education was limited. It’s also where she found her passion and her purpose.

The oldest of eight, she would take her younger siblings to school. One day, as she dropped off the tuition check to pay for their education, she overheard a mother asking whether her child, who had an intellectual disability, could attend classes with the other children.

“She was denied,” said Salama. “She was told, ‘This would be too difficult, and that little child would be too difficult for the other children.’”

“I kind of understood it,” she added, noting that many cultures in Africa lack support for people with disabilities. “But, for me, that didn’t seem right.”

That experience drew her to study biology and fuels her passion for improving the lives of others. Her dream is to graduate from medical school and become a pediatrician.

“When you save the life of a child, you save the future,” she said. “When a child is surrounded by good people, that affects how they grow.”

Salama and her family arrived in the U.S. in July 2021. At the time, she spoke Swahili and French, but no English. She quickly became a rising star at Charlottesville High School, where she received the top scholarship from the . Past recipients include Sandra Day O’Connor and Caroline Kennedy. 

As a high school senior, the first-generation college student applied to nine schools. Each of them could guide her toward her passion. Each of them offered her substantial financial aid packages. But, only one of those schools had values that matched her own, and that was 91����Ƶ. 

“My high school counselors told me I could go anywhere I wanted, because I had all this scholarship support,” said Salama. “I had to choose where I saw myself thriving and being impacted the most, and 91����Ƶ was that place for me.”

She said she was struck by how friendly and communicative everyone was at 91����Ƶ, from her admissions counselor and professors to fellow students. “People are there for you,” she said. “Everyone’s welcoming.”

She added that, out of the nine schools she applied to, only one of them, 91����Ƶ, sent her a card for her birthday. “That was different, and was beyond my expectations,” Salama said. “That’s the sign of a place that cares.”

Like the 100% of undergraduate students at 91����Ƶ who receive financial aid, Salama is the recipient of numerous awards, including the highly selective President’s Scholarship. 

“I knew I wanted to go to college and, although I had a little bit of fear about the financial part, I trusted that God was going to provide,” said Salama. “If he called me to do this, then he will provide.”

Your support helps students like Olga pursue a quality college education without financial barriers. Join us for the 10th annual Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day and contribute to the scholarships that empower future 91����Ƶ students. On April 1, let’s show that our generosity knows no bounds…for the record!

“I’ve always been conscious of how much money I’m spending,” he said. “I don’t want to have tons of debt I’ll have to pay back later, especially at high interest rates.”

And so for Vasquez, who works a part-time job at The Home Depot, financial aid from the Montgomery GI Bill, the Virginia Tuition Grant (VTAG), and a new National Science Foundation (NSF) S-STEM Scholarship has been a godsend in covering the full cost of his college education.

“Without the NSF S-STEM Scholarship, I would’ve struggled financially,” he said. “The scholarship really takes the pressure off my shoulders, because now I won’t have that debt looming over my head.”

Born and raised in Harrisonburg, Vasquez graduated from high school in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and attended Blue Ridge Community College while enlisting in the military. After completing recruit training, taking time to reassess his academic goals, and changing majors from business to computer science, he transferred to 91����Ƶ last fall. 

He is among an initial cohort of 91����Ƶ students receiving the NSF S-STEM Scholarship, which provides:

• Up to $15,000 in unmet financial need annually for the length of the degree
• A paid one-week Bridge to College program
• A STEM mentorship program
• An eight-week paid internship
• Free conference attendance
• Forest restoration opportunities in Park Woods (91����Ƶ’s on-campus woodland)

The scholarship is open to high-achieving, income-eligible students who are majoring in Biochemistry, Biology, Computer Science, Engineering, Environmental Science, Math, or Psychology (research/STEM track).

Applications for the S-STEM Scholarship
are due by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026.

For more information, visit .

‘A welcoming community’

Forming friendships at a new school can have its challenges.

Along with other initiatives provided by the scholarship, a Bridge to College program helps new 91����Ƶ students adjust to life on campus by moving them in a week early, introducing them to STEM faculty and staff members, and engaging them in activities to build camaraderie and form connections with one another. Students participating in the weeklong program receive a generous stipend for their time.

Ani Koontz, a first-year biology and secondary education double major from Newton, Kansas, is a recipient of the S-STEM Scholarship. She recalled traveling to Shenandoah National Park with students and faculty the week before classes, surveying salamanders and hiking trails, before bicycling around Downtown Harrisonburg on a tour led by city officials.

“That first week showed me how friendly and approachable my professors are,” she said. “They’ve done a great job creating a welcoming community.”

Another S-STEM Scholarship recipient, Mara Carlson, is a first-year psychology major from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. “Many of us have become close friends,” she said. “I’ll see the other scholarship recipients around campus and we’ll say hello to each other.”

Through the scholarship, each student is paired with an academic advisor specific to their major, who can answer questions and help guide them forward. Carlson said she meets with Kathryn Howard-Ligas, assistant professor of psychology at 91����Ƶ. “We discussed a four-year plan, and I was really grateful for that,” she said. Part of that plan includes gaining invaluable experience through internships and conferences, additional perks of the S-STEM Scholarship.

Carlson said she already knew she wanted to attend 91����Ƶ, and that receiving the S-STEM Scholarship was “a nice surprise.”

For the Kansas-born Koontz, 91����Ƶ had always been on her radar, but she also considered attending in-state schools that normally would’ve been cheaper. When she learned she had been offered the S-STEM Scholarship and that it would lower her college costs to “a very affordable amount,” her choice to attend 91����Ƶ became an easy one.

“It’s 100% the reason I came,” she said. “When I got that, it meant I could completely afford to go here, and it honestly made 91����Ƶ more affordable than any other college in my area. It’s my joy to share how grateful I am because this is truly just an amazing thing that 91����Ƶ has.”

“I got to practice incisions and suturing, and we had some frogs that needed postoperative care,” he said. “That was a really valuable experience, and I don’t think I would’ve gotten that at a lot of other schools.”

These days, Prock doesn’t operate on frogs. His patients are mostly dogs and cats. The vet is the co-founder of Furgent Care, a veterinary urgent care in Virginia Beach that offers evening and weekend services for pet owners when their primary care veterinarian is unavailable.

Identifying a need

In 2018, following four tough years at veterinary school (Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech), Prock earned his doctor of veterinary medicine degree. After working as a general practice vet at a clinic in South Florida for three years, he returned to his hometown of Virginia Beach with his wife, Katie (Landis) Prock ’12—they met at 91����Ƶ—and worked as a locum, filling in for understaffed hospitals that needed help.

“Think of it like substitute teaching, but for veterinarians,” Prock said.

That experience opened his eyes to the growing need for after-hours veterinary services.

“It shocked me the amount of clients who would call in with sick pets and say, ‘My dog is vomiting or has diarrhea or has an ear infection,’” said Prock. “And the answer was, ‘Our first available appointment is in two weeks.’ That’s just how the system works. But it felt wrong to say no to so many sick pets.”

That motivated him to reach out to his roommate from vet school, Jonah Williams, and together they opened Furgent Care in 2024. The clinic is staffed by 16 total employees, including four doctors. It has 164 reviews and a 4.9-out-of-5 rating.

“Our core values are compassion and collaboration, and that’s been echoed in our reviews,” Prock said. “People get what we’re doing and they appreciate it.”

Seeking a balance

From a young age, Prock had a love for animals. He said he’s always known he wanted to become a veterinarian.

“My parents let us keep weird pets,” he said. “I had all sorts of reptiles growing up, hedgehogs, guinea pigs, and bunnies. You name it, we took care of it.”

That taught him the responsibility of pet ownership and fostered in him a connection to animals. He added that he’s also always been fascinated with the subject of biology, the natural sciences, and the “huge, complex system that makes all living things, living things.” 

Those interests coincided with a passion for volleyball. A skilled player in high school, he started attracting attention from college recruiters across the country.

His older sister played volleyball at a Division I school, and he saw the commitment required to compete at that level. “I got to see firsthand what having, essentially, a full-time job on top of college looked like,” Prock said. “That helped steer me toward Division III and 91����Ƶ.”

“From my visit to 91����Ƶ, I felt like I could achieve a balance: smaller class sizes and professors who were involved and cared for their students more than they could in a thousand-student lecture hall,” he said. “As an athlete, I was given some flexibility with my assignments. They understood I had more than just school going on and helped me outside of class when I missed it.”

“I think that balance made a huge impact on my ability to eventually get into vet school,” he added.

At 91����Ƶ, Prock excelled as a student-athlete. He was named to the first-ever Continental Volleyball Conference All-East Division Team during the inaugural season of the conference. His name still ranks No. 2 on the all-time digs list for 91����Ƶ.

Although no amount of work can truly prepare someone for the rigors and stressors of vet school, he said, 91����Ƶ’s coursework and degree equipped him as best it could. “It was absolutely difficult and was a new level of challenging, but as far as fundamentals go, I had everything I needed,” he said.

It’s also incredibly difficult to get accepted into vet school, he added. After graduating from 91����Ƶ with a biology degree, he stayed in Harrisonburg for a couple years, working as an assistant at Heartland Veterinary Clinic and serving as an assistant coach for the men’s volleyball team at 91����Ƶ. At the same time, he applied to a flurry of veterinary schools across the country.

“I tell people I took one year off on purpose and one year off by accident, because I didn’t get into veterinary school,” said Prock. He was eventually accepted during a second round of applications. 

When he started vet school, he had three goals. One was to graduate. Another was to stay married. And a third goal was to get as much sleep as he could. “My priorities looked different than most people’s,” Prock said, noting the hypercompetitive nature of vet school students. “It was never my goal to become the world’s best veterinarian or the world’s best clinician. I always wanted to help people and I knew I could do that by helping pets and working with animals.”

Keeping his passion going

One of his most meaningful experiences from his time at 91����Ƶ occurred during a senior seminar class taught by Professor Emeritus Roman Miller. Prock recalled an assignment to shadow a large-animal veterinarian at cattle farms around Harrisonburg for several weeks. They performed everything from routine pregnancy checks to emergency calls and surgery.

“That was wonderful preparation,” Prock said. “I gained an immense amount of respect for farmers and for large-animal vets who work incredibly long and hard hours. To have that kind of foresight in making me do that was really wise and paid off in keeping my passion going.”

As Prock’s responsibilities at the clinic have shifted, he’s spent more time on the business side, building teams and systems, and less time on the floor seeing patients.

For those like him, seeking a career in veterinary medicine, he said the role requires a “specific type of brain.” 

“It’s common to find people who have a passion for animals,” he said. “It’s less common to find those who have a passion for helping people, solving problems, and working with teams.”

Learn more about the clinic at .

Nathan Derstine ’10, a chemical ecologist and physiologist whose research focuses on insect pheromones, was recently recognized for his groundbreaking work on how bees, wasps, and other insects communicate. He received the Early Career Award from the International Society of Chemical Ecology (ISCE) at its annual meeting held in New Zealand this past August. 

The award recognizes “cutting-edge research in any area of chemical ecology performed by the new generation of scientists” and is open to researchers within 10 years of earning their PhD, according to . It honors Derstine for “his outstanding achievements in advancing our understanding of the plasticity and regulation of chemical signals governing social behavior in insects.”

What is chemical ecology?
Chemical ecology is the study integrating chemistry and biology to examine the chemical interactions among organisms and their environment. It includes signaling processes and communication between individuals, for instance in pheromone responses. ()

“There are so many remarkable and excellent researchers who are equally, if not more, deserving of this award, so I didn’t expect to get it,” Derstine said. “I’ve had the opportunity to work on a wide array of projects with a lot of great mentors, and it feels very affirming to be recognized for all the work I’ve done and put in over the years.”

Along with receiving the award, Derstine was invited to present a plenary lecture on his research at the conference, with all travel, accommodation, and conference fees fully covered. “It was a great trip,” he said. “It was cool to see New Zealand and connect with a different group of chemical ecologists. It’s always rewarding to put a face to the names of the papers you’ve read.”

He arrived back in the U.S. two days before fall classes started at the , where he teaches as a visiting assistant professor of biology. Since moving to the city this summer, he’s been approached by more than one solicitor who’s knocked on his door and offered to spray for bugs. “I always have to tell them that they’re barking up the wrong tree,” he said.

Planting the seeds

Derstine said he’s always been interested in biology, but had never thought of himself as an entomologist or “insect person.” “In retrospect, I realize I may have had a unique background compared to others,” he said.

His parents were beekeepers for as long as he’s been alive—his father Kenton, professor emeritus at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, maintained a few bee hives on the 91����Ƶ Hill back in the day—“so I grew up doing it and never thought of it as anything other than normal,” he said.

While at 91����Ƶ, most of his student research was with Roman Miller, professor emeritus of biology, on how plant hormones affect the development of reproductive organs in mice. He got involved in Professor Matthew Siderhurst’s entomology research and spent two summers as a student at a U.S. Department of Agriculture lab in Hilo, Hawaii, where he worked to identify and develop strategies for managing invasive pests such as the little fire ant. 

“That was the seed of where it all began, through my involvement with Matt,” said Derstine, who remains in close communication with the professor.

He said that 91����Ƶ’s small class sizes, as well as the biology program’s exclusive focus on undergraduate students, helped him form close connections with faculty and allowed him to gain hands-on experience working alongside professors as they conducted research projects. “That’s a big benefit,” he said. “There’s no doubt that there’s a very direct link between my experiences and the network of people I now know, who have helped me not only get a job but also continue to provide mentorship and guidance.”

After graduating from 91����Ƶ with a biology degree in 2010, Derstine worked for two years as a research technician with Siderhurst at the lab in Hawaii before deciding to pursue graduate school. He earned a master of science from Simon Fraser University (Vancouver, Canada) in 2016. From 2017 to 2018, he conducted research on the spotted lanternfly at a USDA lab in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. He earned his PhD in entomology from Pennsylvania State University in 2023. 

He has also studied and contributed to research papers on yellowjackets and bumblebees, fruit-piercing moths, coffee berry borers, coconut rhinoceros beetles, and fruit flies.

Derstine fondly recalled spending long hours at Suter Science Center identifying specimens for an insect collection and late nights in the basement of Sadie Hartzler Library studying with friends. He returned to campus in March 2024 to lead a Suter Science Seminar talk on the “Sociality and Evolution of Reproductive Signals in Bees.”

“I loved my time at 91����Ƶ,” he said. “I couldn’t imagine it any other way.”

The grant, awarded through the NSF’s , will fund up to $15,000 annually for each scholarship recipient throughout the length of their degree. Overall, the S-STEM Scholarship will fund a quality undergraduate education for 23 91����Ƶ students among three cohorts over the next six years, beginning with first-year students entering the Fall 2025 semester.

The scholarship is open to academically talented students with financial need who are majoring in the following fields: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Environmental Science, Math, and Psychology (research/STEM track).

Applicants for the S-STEM Scholarship must submit their application and reference forms by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. For more information about the program and how to apply, visit: emu.edu/stem/scholarship

In addition to scholarships, the program offers students a paid one-week Bridge to College experience, where they can meet professors, learn material from their discipline, acquire study skills, and become better prepared for college.

91����Ƶ Biology Professor Dr. Kristopher Schmidt said that some first-year students can struggle to adjust to life on campus, and that the grant aims to ease that adjustment.

“We want to create a sense of belonging,” said Schmidt, who is principal investigator for the grant program.

The program also provides funding for embedded tutoring services and paid tutoring opportunities for students, specialized advising, and guidance from professional STEM mentors.

“This would be a person outside the university in their field of interest who can encourage them, help them, and connect with them along their four-year program,” Schmidt said about the mentors. 

The S-STEM Scholarship program offers innovative opportunities for place-based learning and funding for an eight-week paid internship. Students can use grant-funded resources to conduct research on forest restoration in the Park Woods space, which serves as a key learning lab for STEM students.

This latest grant builds on the success of a similar STEM grant that wrapped up in 2023.

By leveraging grants like these, 91����Ƶ lives into its mission and vision, outlined in its 2023-28 strategic plan Pathways of Promise of opening new pathways of access and achievement, and can help the NSF achieve its goal of diversifying the STEM workforce.

“We were thrilled to receive this,” Schmidt said. “We’re excited and grateful the NSF has chosen to invest in our students at 91����Ƶ.”

Faculty members Kristopher Schmidt, Jim Yoder, Daniel Showalter, Stefano Colafranceschi and Dean Tara Kishbaugh wrote the S-STEM grant proposal.

91����Ƶ (91����Ƶ) is pleased to announce that senior Meredith Lehman, from Dover, Ohio, has been named a recipient of the prestigious . 

Lehman was one of only 32 students in the US—from a pool of nearly 3,000 applicants—selected to become a Rhodes Scholar for 2025. The program provides scholarships covering all expenses for student-scholars to study at Oxford University.

The award, considered to be the most prized international scholarship for American college graduates, was established in 1903 through the final will and bequest of Cecil John Rhodes. Award criteria includes the highest level of academic excellence, integrity of character, interest in and respect for fellow beings, and a student’s ability to lead. 

Lehman is excited about the opportunities that the Rhodes scholarship will provide, intending to pursue a Master of Philosophy in International Relations while at Oxford. “I hope to someday work as a bridge builder between science and policy, particularly in international spaces,” she says.

A double major in Biology and Political Science with a Chemistry minor, Lehman is an accomplished tutor, recipient of several top academic awards, and has already compiled an impressive research portfolio with several publications under review. Her research on drug delivery systems for anticancer drugs has been funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). 

During the summer of 2023, Lehman was part of a six-student undergraduate research team in North Queensland, Australia. Dr. Jim Yoder, Professor of Biology; Director of Biology, Chemistry, & Environmental Science Programs; and trip co-leader describes Lehman as “level headed, dependable, and meticulous in her work in both laboratory and field settings,” calling her research and publication record “extraordinary.”

Dr. Ji Eun Kim, Associate Professor of Political Science, adds: “Any person who meets Meredith will instantly recognize her sharp intellect and outstanding leadership which stems from her deep commitment to working for the common good and serving others.” 

During her time as President of both 91����Ƶ’s Student Government Association and award-winning Young Democrats Club, Lehman has been a persistent and passionate leader in the diversity, equity and inclusion space at 91����Ƶ, including around issues of human rights and climate justice. She was chosen to join the President’s Cabinet in 2022-23 as “the student voice” for the creation of the university strategic plan. 

President Susan Huxman affirms: “From working with advancement to raise money for diversity, equity and inclusion grants, partnering with faculty and designers to create a sustainable fashion design course, to assisting as a legal intern for asylum seekers and elementary students for whom English is a second language, Meredith has been a voice for equity, peace and justice in Harrisonburg, VA; Washington, DC; and her hometown in Ohio.”

91����Ƶ her time at 91����Ƶ, Lehman says, “This amazing opportunity is truly a product of the 91����Ƶ community and all of its incredible people … faculty and staff have empowered me to pursue knowledge and critical thinking and to also exercise empathy and compassion.”

Lehman will become part of a legacy of changemaking alumni, including Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee MA ’07, renowned peace activist, trained social worker and women’s rights advocate who graduated from 91����Ƶ’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP). 

A leader among faith-based universities, 91����Ƶ emphasizes academic excellence, peace and justice, and an active faith. Founded in 1917 in Harrisonburg, Virginia, 91����Ƶ is an educational institution of Mennonite Church USA serving undergraduate, graduate, and seminary students of diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. Learn more on the 91����Ƶ admissions website or by visiting our Harrisonburg campus.

Read emerging national news coverage on Lehman and the Rhodes scholarship from and .

Dr. Jo Longenecker ’81, a family practice physician in Clarksburg, West Virginia, says she took the scenic route on her journey into medicine. When she enrolled at then-Eastern Mennonite College in 1977, the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, native set her sights on a biology degree. She wasn’t sure what she would use it for, but she knew one thing for certain.

“I knew I did not want to be a doctor,” she said. “I was clear about that.”

As a sophomore, Longenecker spent a formative year with the Washington Study Service Year (WSSY), now the Washington Community Scholars’ Center. She was placed in a free medical clinic in Northwest Washington, D.C., where she helped staff members and interacted with patients. She enjoyed her experiences so much that she returned to the clinic during the summer between her junior and senior years as a member of the Lutheran Volunteer Corps. By the end of her time there, the staff at the clinic kept suggesting she attend medical school and become a doctor. They persisted in their suggestions, she said, and her resistance to the idea began to fade.

“I guess they planted a seed,” Longenecker said, “except I was already signed up for all these great electives I was going to take my senior year.”

She graduated in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in peace and justice studies. She was missing a couple prerequisite classes for the Medical College Admission Test, so she stayed in Harrisonburg, Virginia, working part-time while she took physics and organic chemistry classes at EMC. Eventually, she took the MCAT, was accepted to the Medical College of Virginia and graduated from the Richmond school in 1987. She then completed a family medicine residency in Clarksburg, about 40 miles south of Morgantown, where she’s remained to this day.

“I’ve been taking care of some of these patients for more than 30 years, and I’ll have maybe four generations in a family that I see,” she said. “So, you sort of become an honorary family member.”

Longenecker credits her liberal arts classes at EMC and its unique peace and justice perspective with preparing her for direct patient care. She said the smaller class sizes offered her a one-on-one relationship with faculty and provided a place to customize her journey.

“In many ways, I felt EMC was a safe place for that whole process of finding and growing into yourself,” she said.

Longenecker’s father graduated from EMC in the 1950s and taught at Lancaster Mennonite High School. As a result of him teaching there, she was able to attend EMC with significantly-reduced tuition costs. A similar discount continues to this day, covering up to 25 percent of tuition costs for dependents of employees at schools that are part of the Mennonite Schools Council. Donors who contribute to 91����Ƶ’s University Fund make it possible for programs like this one to continue being offered.

Longenecker said she regularly gives back to 91����Ƶ through The University Fund and to the Nathan Longenecker Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund, an endowment established for her late nephew. Nate, a Yoder-Webb scholar who was majoring in mathematics and computer science at the time of his diagnosis with brain cancer, died in October 2021. He would have graduated this year. 

The need-based scholarship is awarded annually to a student who otherwise would not be able to experience the transformative education offered at 91����Ƶ without financial support. To contribute to the scholarship fund, and unlock Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day challenge match funds, visit and click on the “Give Now” button. Choose “Other” under the “Designation” drop-down menu and enter “Nathan Longenecker Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund” into the box below.

Join generous donors like Longenecker who give back to 91����Ƶ to help students pursue a quality college education without financial barriers. Be a part of our 8th annual Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day and contribute to the scholarships that empower future 91����Ƶ students. Let’s build 91����Ƶ “Stronger Together.“

Read the previous profiles in our Why they Lov91����Ƶ series:

Harrisonburg, Virginia, native Julie Weaver ’24 has Royal blue in her blood.

Her grandfather, Samuel O. Weaver, graduated from Eastern Mennonite College and led Eastern Mennonite High School as its principal for more than a decade. Her grandmother graduated from EMHS and attended EMC. Her parents are EMC alumni. When it was her turn to attend college, the EMHS grad wasn’t so sure she wanted to follow in their footsteps. 

“I really liked 91����Ƶ,” Weaver said, “but I thought, ‘Do I want to go to a school on the same block I’ve been on for the past four years?’”

After visiting several colleges, including four trips to 91����Ƶ, she had no doubt about it — she belonged here.

“At 91����Ƶ, people took an interest in me. They wanted to get to know me,” said Weaver, who recalled forging new friendships during an overnight visit, even while brushing her teeth. “At other colleges I visited, the only one who talked to me was the person hosting me in the dorms.”

The senior biology major said 91����Ƶ’s small class sizes allow for personalized support from faculty, which was helpful for her more demanding STEM courses.

“The professors really care about you,” Weaver said. “I had trouble understanding a concept and my professor spent 45 minutes with me after class explaining it in different ways on the whiteboard until I understood it.”

Another benefit of attending 91����Ƶ is the wealth of scholarships and financial aid available to students. Weaver is in the honors program and is the recipient of numerous awards, including the highly selective President’s Scholarship. 

“It pays for a hefty portion of my tuition, which has been a huge blessing,” she said. “Having the support of scholarships means a lot when I’ll be going into tens of thousands of dollars, if not over $100,000 in debt for my doctorate.”

After graduating in May, she’s headed to Richmond where she’ll be earning a doctorate in physical therapy from Virginia Commonwealth University. She’s heard the three-year program can be a grind, but is confident 91����Ƶ has prepared her well. The lessons learned in her advanced anatomy class and in the campus cadaver lab will prove especially invaluable for the seven straight weeks of anatomy class ahead of her this summer. 

“It’s been a journey,” Weaver said. “One chapter is ending, but the next one is starting.”

Your generous support helps students like Weaver pursue a quality college education without financial barriers. Join us for the 8th annual Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day and contribute to the scholarships that empower future 91����Ƶ students. Let’s build 91����Ƶ “Stronger Together.”

Read the previous profiles in our Why they Lov91����Ƶ������������:

Psychiatrist Curt Thompson shattered this notion during a recent at 91����Ƶ. “New, emerging data that we see in this world of interpersonal neurobiology… points us to this world of goodness and beauty,” said Thompson, the founder of , an LLC that produces educational materials that relate interpersonal neurobiology with Christian faith.

Rather than encroach upon religion, science embellishes it, said Thompson, citing Romans 1:20, a verse that claims God can be understood through creation. Still, one must start with a Biblical narrative, not a scientific one, he added.

The scientific field of interpersonal neurobiology studies how the human nervous system responds physically and chemically to human relationship. Thompson uses the findings from research in this area to reinforce his understanding of the Biblical narrative. He pointed out, for example, that “the brain does something very different when it seeks to know something than when it has the experience of being known.” In the same way, knowledge of God is entirely distinct from being known by God. He cited 1 Corinthians 8:3: “He who loves God is known by God.”

Thompson, who practices in Falls Church, Virginia, referenced his 2010 book Anatomy of the Soul (Tyndale) frequently during his Feb. 13 lecture.

When the human mind does not experience being known, it becomes isolated and ashamed, he said. In response, these factors contribute to a disintegration of the mind that reduces creativity and hinders growth. Thompson said that connection to a community is vital to fighting the hindrance from shame.

Thompson offered challenging questions during his lecture: What am I called to do?; If we’re going to work with the mind, what is it that we’re working with?; How well are you paying attention to what you’re paying attention to?; and Could you give me the names of three people who… could tell me everything there is to know about you?

Panelists , a professor in 91����Ƶ’s , and , director of , offered formal responses. Early emphasized the mind-body connection Thompson hinted at. Science increasingly informs the field of philosophy that the mind and body are not as distinct as they seem, he said. Byler asked how reintegration can proceed if injury happens to an entire community rather than to an individual, to which Thompson responded that community members can be reintegrated by sharing stories.

Five lectures remain in the Suter Science Seminar Series. The next lecture, which is free and open to the public, features Gregory Koop, professor of psychology. He will speak about memory research Feb. 23 at 4 p.m. in SSC room 104.

When Nafziger graduated from Harrisonburg High School in 2009, the track standout had other things on his mind than attending the small university where his father was vice president of student life. 91����Ƶ was always on the radar, but Nafziger said he felt more pressure than desire to attend. Instead, he looked to the myriad of Virginia colleges which had offered him track scholarships before finally accepting a partial scholarship to attend George Mason University, a Division I school in the suburbs of Washington D.C.

Nafziger remembers this decision as being based on pride. The scholarship proved that he was able to compete at the highest level, and the school’s distance from Harrisonburg was a way of showing that he was moving past his hometown.

As Nafziger soon realized though, pride was not the best way to choose a school. In his first year, Nafziger said that he only talked to one teacher and that was during his transitions class. He trooped through a succession of lecture halls with hundreds of people and impersonal experiences.

Nafziger felt anonymous. He had friends on the track team, but felt that the sprawling institution – 33,197 total students spread over 806 acres in four locations in Northern Virginia – made him a mere number. In addition, Nafziger felt that the professors didn’t care about the undergraduates. “They were there for their research,” he said. “It might have been different if I was a graduate student, but as an undergraduate I did not feel that I had their attention.”

The questions that had begun to surface during the year were exacerbated when Nafziger suffered a stress fracture to his back during the winter. At this point, injured and with his future as a runner in doubt, Nafziger began to look at other schools – this time looking for something else: community. “I wasn’t saying ‘community’ that much,” he said, referring to his time before entering George Mason. “But [now] I wanted a community.”

Nafziger came to visit , having never officially done a campus visit after high school. What he found surprised him. Nafziger was stunned that associate professor of , took time out of her day to meet with him. He also realized that he had mistakenly assumed that attending 91����Ƶ would be like an extension of his high school experience. “The campus seemed self-contained. It was not like the Harrisonburg that I knew; it was different when I got on campus.”

After deciding to transfer to 91����Ƶ for his sophomore year, Nafziger found his niche athletically and academically. Still a standout runner, Nafziger immediately made an impact on the and , setting school records in the 1000 meter and 1600 meter races, as well as being awarded first state all academic and conference academic honor multiple times. At 91����Ƶ however, Nafziger was not on a track scholarship, so he pursued running voluntarily instead of as an obligation. “I still loved running, but now I had the freedom not to run. It was my choice, not my identity.”

In addition to athletic success, at 91����Ƶ, Nafziger found old friends and made new ones, and enjoyed the support of faculty. With caring mentors, he explored his options, changing his major twice before graduating with a B.A. focused on counseling with a minor in biology.

Following graduation in 2013, Nafziger began working with troubled youth. After a few months, though, Nafziger found himself missing the 91����Ƶ community. “Where can I do the most amount of good?” he asked himself.

For Nafziger, the answer was back at his alma mater. “I was a transfer, an athlete, a team captain, and I changed majors. I can speak to a lot of experiences” – including the benefits of a smaller school.

“Dan cares about people,” said , vice president of admissions and Nafziger’s supervisor. “He demonstrates an incredible balance between deep compassion and competitiveness.”

SGA co-presidents and main auction organizers Christine Baer and Carissa Harnish say they didn’t know what to expect before the auction started. “When the first big item, a ceramic bowl by Jerry Lapp, went for $325, we were amazed,” says Harnish.

Baer adds that local auctioneers John and Jack Bowman, who donated their time, “really knew how to keep the crowd engaged and laughing.”

“I was very pleased with the kind of response and donations we got from students, the science department, alumni, parents, faculty and staff,” says , executive director of development. “The auction crowd wasn’t huge, but those who came were prepared to spend money.”

The infamous shotglass (originally purchased as a “rosebud vase” for a donor appreciation banquet) brought $300. Howard Zehr‘s recent book, “,” went for $300. A star guide from M.T. Brackbill’s 1930s astronomy classes sold for $600. A large chest of drawers (possibly from the Ad Building) went for $750, and Esther Augsberger’s sculpture, “Robe of God,” sold for $3200.

Students also bought bricks from previous buildings on campus, plants from the greenhouse and discarded glassware from science labs. Food tables of chili, cornbread and baked goods added $700 to the total.

“It inspires everyone when students engage in a project like this with their own creativity, commitment, and passion for a good cause,” says Kirk Shisler, vice president for advancement.

A matching grant magnified the auction’s yield; for every $2 raised, an additional $1 was added by the Marietta McNeill Morgan and Samuel Tate Morgan Foundation, bringing the total to more than $21,000. Further donations made to the SGA campaign using this secure online form will be matched as well.

“When we started planning for this campaign last semester, we drew inspiration from the famous Library drive of 1969, when students lead the campus community to raise more than $100,000 [in 1969 dollars] in four days,” says Baer. “We heard so many library drive stories from alumni and community folks as they dropped off donated items for the auction. That made it come alive for us.”

The co-presidents admit their fundraising goals for the auction event were considerably more modest, between $5,000 and $10,000.

One lesson Harnish and Baer want to pass to future student leaders: “With all the institutional support here, from development to physical plant to faculty and staff, it is completely possible for students to organize successful fundraising campaigns for things they care about.”

Young alum , who as a and major spent many hours in Suter Science Center, agrees. “I thought the auction was fantastic: the type of event we should try to do every year, frankly. Not only did we raise money for a good cause, connections were made between students and alumni, and that’s what it’s all about.”

“It happened after I received my ‘Enhanced,'” explained Rogers, in reference to an EMT-level he earned in January 2012. “Then, one day, we got a call about a diabetic emergency.”

On arriving to the scene in Clover Hill, Rogers encountered an unresponsive woman who had gone into diabetic shock, meaning her blood-sugar level dipped into the 20s – a normal blood-sugar level runs from 80-120.

Remembering what he had learned during his basic EMT training months prior, Rogers immediately set up an intravenous therapy and injected the woman with medication to raise her blood-sugar level. Minutes later, her blood-sugar level reversed, and the woman became alert and responsive.

“It was definitely a nerve-racking moment,” recalled Rogers, who was just two years removed from high school at the time. “But it was reassuring to see our training go into effect, which was a testimony to how hard we have worked.

“It’s always great to see that hard work pay off in the form of achieving an advanced level of care.”

Dedication and commitment

The Clover Hill Volunteer Fire Company – located on Clover Hill Road in Dayton – serves as a dual-purpose agency housing both volunteer paramedics and firefighters, a practice that is somewhat uncommon in the Valley.

“All of our members can function dual purpose, whereas Harrisonburg has their own rescue squad and their own fire department functioning as separate entities,” explained Rogers.

Rogers has been with the company for the last four years, serving as rescue captain for two. His demeanor is far more savvy than his 21 years would suggest.

As he toured the station – passing large, red engines and a tanker along the way – he was joined by 21-year-old Wanita King and 19-year-old Katie Lee, both of whom are EMTs with the agency.

“There’s a dedication and commitment by the people in their 20s,” said Rogers, when speaking about the company’s younger volunteers. “There’s about 10 to 15 individuals in their 20s that actively commit to running calls, so it’s a bit of a different atmosphere from most other squads or fire agencies.”

King noted that the number of young volunteers when she joined the agency at age 18 was lower, but over the years, more have joined, which somewhat eases the workload for everybody else.

“I’ve got to say, it’s been nice having more people taking calls,” she laughed.

Each individual volunteers 10 to 20 hours per week with the station, averaging one to two emergency calls each day – running the gamut from structure fires to medical emergencies – totaling about 60-70 calls as a whole, per month, stretching the Fulks Run-area to Augusta County.

The volunteers are dispatched through the station’s emergency communication system, which also sends out an alert to each person’s pager and cell phone, via email and text message.

“Sometimes, I’m sitting at work, we get an alert, and I start to worry about who is running the call,” said Lee, who works part-time as a receptionist at .

“But I really don’t have to worry, because our volunteer system is awesome.”

Paramedic training

It’s worth noting that six squad members- including Rogers, King and Lee – are in the process of completing 600 classroom hours of paramedic training, along with 500 clinical hours, at Sugar Grove Navy Base in West Virginia. At the course’s completion, each squad member will be qualified to execute surgical and advanced airway procedures at emergency scene.

“We will all earn an associates degree in Emergency Medical Services from Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, in Martinsburg, W.Va.,” said Rogers, who added that all six members are on track to earn an associate’s degrees in emergency medicine.

“We all have taken basic prerequisites, like English, psychology and math, outside of the [paramedic] program in order to obtain the associates degree, as well.”

No higher reward

Though their dedication is evident by the time devoted, Rogers, King and Lee explained volunteer EMTs must have something more.

Rogers maintained that one must “be motivated and confident,” while Lee added that a person must be able to adapt to “unexpected” or “on the fly” situations that may occur on site.

King, who works full-time at as a patient care technician and part-time at G&W Ambulance, echoed Lee’s sentiments, adding that a person must be “fully committed” to the craft.

“You never know exactly what a call is going to end up being,” said King. “It could be a code that somebody isn’t breathing or it could be a code that somebody is dead. Either way, you have to be prepared to go under the job no matter what and be able to jump right in and just do it.”

While life as an EMT can be challenging and the situations can be tense, all three admit that, at the end of the day, there is “no higher reward” than saving someone’s life.

“After a while, you begin to sit back and think about the fact that `I actually helped save this woman’s life,’ or `I was involved in something that is bigger than myself,’ ” says Rogers, an aspiring physician’s assistant.

“I played a role as a team member in something that ultimately worked out for the community, and that is rewarding.”

– Courtesy of the Daily News Record, Mar. 4, 2014

Blake Rogers gave a ” at a donor appreciation banquet on Oct. 11, 2013.