In our series of student and alumni stories, social media posts, and letters and emails, we invited you to become part of Lov91����Ƶ history by making this year’s Giving Day the best one yet. You answered the call, giving $402,722 to scholarships and financial aid, direct support for faculty and staff, 91����Ƶ’s life-changing intercultural programs, and, for the first time, resources for first-generation college students.

Together, we surpassed the $400,000 goal set by Lov91����Ƶ organizers and topped our previous record of $365,512, raised last year, by an impressive 10%.

In an email sent Thursday, Nicole Litwiller ’19, MA ’20 (conflict transformation), annual giving and donor communications specialist, expressed gratitude for the generosity shown by 91����Ƶ alumni, friends, and fans.

“It is inspiring and humbling to witness the outpouring of support our community showed—with every gift, text to a family member or friend, or post to social media, you helped us meet our goal. We are incredibly grateful.” she said.

Among the highlights from this year’s Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day, she shared, were:

• Unlocking every challenge of the day;
• watching hundreds of alumni, employees, donors, and students connect and celebrate during the Lov91����Ƶ Community Meal; and
• welcoming 19 future Royals who visited for the day into the 91����Ƶ community.

“Thank you again for showing up for 91����Ƶ,” Litwiller said. “Your support has a direct impact on current students, future students, and the entire 91����Ƶ community.”

Students, faculty, staff, and alumni fill Yoder Arena for Wednesday morning’s Lov91����Ƶ Pep Rally.

The day kicked off with the third annual Lov91����Ƶ Pep Rally at Yoder Arena. The rally had it all: a dramatic entrance by Herm on an e-bike, the return of the BaZOOKa T-shirt cannon, and performances by the top three athletic teams from the previous night’s Lip-Sync Battle.

Read a recap of the pep rally below!

Sights and sounds from the University Festival: Past, present, and future Royals meet with Herm (top photo), snap pics at the Lov91����Ƶ photo booth (left), and bob for apples (right) at one of the Student Union club booths.

Following the pep rally, the University Festival in the Hall of Nations connected faculty members with prospective students and featured games and activities hosted by student clubs. 

Mathematics Professor Dr. Daniel Showalter brought his two daughters and his dad, Dennis Showalter ’73, to the event. He said he gives to scholarships such as the HDH and Flora Showalter Endowed Scholarship, which supports math and computer science students, on Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day.

“This is my dream job,” he said. “I want to do whatever I can to keep the atmosphere vibrant and living. I feel really grateful that I get to wake up every morning and go to a job that is meaningful and enjoyable.”

Jacob Horsley ’22, MBA ’25, associate director of undergraduate admissions, said he chooses to give back to the university on Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day because he’s a “repeat Royal.”

“I’m a double-alumnus,” he said. “I have experienced the impact of this supportive community, and I want to make sure that it continues.”

The Lunch & Lawn Party returned to Thomas Plaza with a free student lunch and various lawn games.

The campus community enjoyed Wednesday’s warm weather at the Lunch & Lawn Party on Thomas Plaza, where they savored Korean beef bowls and competed in lawn games. The annual student appreciation lunch, free for all students and hosted in partnership between Pioneer College Caterers and the Campus Activities Council, included the traditional egg toss and a Bubble Bus that filled the Front Lawn with giant bubbles.

From 2 to 4 p.m., members of 91����Ƶ’s MA in Counseling program led self-care activities at the Student Union.

As 91����Ƶ’s night owls kept the energy alive, Lov91����Ƶ participants had plenty more activities to enjoy. Back by popular demand and hosted by the Student Government Association, the Real Life Mario Kart Race returned to the University Commons indoor track, where teams of three raced on scooters, dodged obstacles, and collected prizes. Later, from 10:30 p.m. to midnight, the Art After Dark craft event featured live music from 91����Ƶ’s jazz trio.

View the full schedule of events at .

Leaderboard competition

The winners of the 2026 Lov91����Ƶ leaderboard competition are:

Academic program

• First place ($1,000 prize): Nursing
• Second place ($500 prize): Natural Sciences
• Third place ($250 prize): Education

Student club/org

• First place ($1,000 prize): Muslim Student Alliance (a new org formed this year!)
• Second place ($500 prize): Black Student Alliance
• Third place ($250 prize): 91����Ƶ Outdoor

Athletic team

• First place ($1,000 prize): Women’s Volleyball
• Second place ($500 prize): Women’s Basketball
• Third place ($250 prize): Men’s volleyball

Challenges (all unlocked)

Donors unlocked all $170,000 in challenge match funds for the University Fund, student scholarships, intercultural programs, athletics, and, new to Lov91����Ƶ this year, support for first-generation college students.

Lov91����Ƶ Early Challenge: We received more than 120 gifts before the start of Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day to unlock $15,000 for the University Fund.

All-day challenges

Loyal Royal Challenge: More than 250 alumni made gifts to 91����Ƶ during Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day to unlock $20,000 for student scholarships.

Friends of 91����Ƶ Challenge: More than 175 non-alumni made gifts to unlock $15,000 for the University Fund.

Future Royal Challenge: Because 19 prospective students who were in attendance on Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day paid their tuition deposit, either on the day or beforehand, we unlocked $19,000 in scholarship funds.

Timed challenges

Early Herm Gets the Worm: We received 75 gifts before 9 a.m. on Wednesday to unlock $15,000 for student scholarships.

First-Gen Match of 10: In a first-ever Lov91����Ƶ challenge of its kind, a “match of the match” through a NetVUE grant, we raised $10,052 to support first-generation students.

Lov91����Ƶ at First Sight: We received 110 gifts between noon and 3 p.m. to unlock a whopping $30,000 for the University Fund.

What a Wonderful World: We received 80 gifts from 5-7 p.m. to unlock $20,000 to ensure all students are able to access 91����Ƶ’s impactful intercultural experiences.

The Generosity Marathon: We received 55 gifts from 7:30-9 p.m. to unlock $10,000 for 91����Ƶ Athletics.

Late-night Leadership: We received 100 gifts from 9 p.m. to midnight to unlock $20,000 for the University Fund.

Thanks to everyone who donated, shared their time to celebrate their love of all things 91����Ƶ, and joined in the festivities on campus! Special thanks to the 2026 Lov91����Ƶ planning team: Nicole Litwiller, Arelys Martinez Fabian, Cassandra Guerrero, Kyle Dickinson, Leah Frankenfield, Luke Litwiller, Maria Longenecker, Omar Hoyos, Steve Johnson, and Tyler Goss.

Swipe through our photo album from the day below!

Patience Kamau ’02, MA ’17 (conflict transformation), stands outside the post office in Nyahururu, central Kenya, and holds a letter. Its mailing address is written to her in blue ink, while the return address lists an “91����Ƶ” in Harrisonburg, Virginia, of the United States. The high school senior tears open the envelope and starts reading. The letter inside tells her that 50% of her tuition costs at 91����Ƶ will be covered through the university’s International Grant.

Though that moment occurred nearly three decades ago, Kamau remembers it like it was yesterday. “That was among the greatest blessings I ever received,” she said, looking back.

She didn’t know much about the U.S. at the time, and even less about 91����Ƶ, but her decision to cross an ocean and enroll at the university would forever shape her future. “It was very clear it was shifting the trajectory of my life,” she said.

Soon after receiving that first letter, she received another from 91����Ƶ with an invitation. “Bring an open heart,” Kamau recalled reading, “because here you will make friendships and relationships that you will maintain for the rest of your life.”

“And that was true,” she said. “Many of the relationships I formed at 91����Ƶ remain meaningful in my life.”

She admitted that she didn’t choose 91����Ƶ; her father chose it for her. He had heard through family friends about “a little college in Harrisonburg” with a strong pre-med program. “He started looking into it, reading and studying it, and he liked it,” Kamau said. 

She arrived as a pre-med major in the fall of 1998. Her parents were physicians, and they encouraged her to follow in their footsteps. Kamau enjoyed biology classes during her first year at 91����Ƶ, but once she started taking organic chemistry her sophomore year, she realized it was not for her. She quickly switched majors to computer information systems.

She became close with the handful of other international students on campus and got involved with the university’s multicultural and international programs, where she came under the wing of Delores “Delo” Blough ’80, former director of international student and scholar services. “Delo was a huge part of making all of us feel at home,” she said.

After graduating in 2002, Kamau worked in a variety of campus departments, including the alumni and parent relations office, the seminary, and the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness. She eventually landed a position at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, serving as assistant to the executive director while a student at CJP. As a perk of her job, she said, she could take eight credit hours a year at no charge.

Six years ago, as chair of CJP’s 25th anniversary committee, she began producing a series of Peacebuilder podcast episodes featuring the program’s faculty and staff to capture CJP’s oral history. According to an 91����Ƶ News article from 2022, the podcast had logged more than 11,500 listeners in 119 countries and territories around the globe.

Since 2022, Kamau has served as program director for . The online course and connection platform offers activists, innovators, and others seeking knowledge and tools a space to “manifest solutions for people and planet,” according to its website.

Kamau said she categorizes her life as “100% lucky.” Half of that luck comes from the random happenstances she had nothing to do with. The other 50% is the kind of serendipitous luck when “preparation meets opportunity,” she said, borrowing a favorite phrase from Oprah.

“You try and live a certain way and prepare, and then when the opportunity arises, you hopefully take advantage of it,” she said. “I couldn’t have been more grateful to have ended up at 91����Ƶ as a young adult who didn’t fully know who I was or what I wanted from life.”

Your support helps students 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!

The world has changed in many ways since the inaugural Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day was held on April 4, 2017.

One thing that’s remained constant through the years, says Nicole Litwiller ’19, MA ’20 (conflict transformation), is the outpouring of donor support during the annual Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day.

“This year is our 10th annual giving day, so it feels very significant,” said Litwiller, annual giving and donor communication specialist. “Having been a student when Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day began, I experienced the impact of donor support directly through financial aid to ensure I could access my education at 91����Ƶ. Now, I work in the Advancement office and get to see the ways our donors channel their passion through giving to support 91����Ƶ and our students. We’re so grateful for all of the support our community has shown and continues to show.”

Participate in our 24-hour giving day extravaganza, in which alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents, and friends come together to support and celebrate the wonderful university we all love. Help us set a new record! Last year, we raised $365,313 from 360 unique donors. With your help, we can all make a difference by contributing to scholarships and financial aid, direct support for faculty and staff, life-changing intercultural programs, and, for the first time ever, resources for first-generation college students.

Lov91����Ƶ Day Events

Clockwise from top left: Adam Stoltzfus ’25 fires shirts into the crowd during last year’s giving day pep rally. | Students play lawn games on the Front Lawn during the Lov91����Ƶ 2025 Lunch & Lawn Party. | Tyler Goss zooms down the indoor track during the Real Life Mario Kart Race. | The 91����Ƶ community gathers inside the Hall of Nations to celebrate during an evening meal together. (Photos by Macson McGuigan ’17)

Plenty of events will be held throughout the day to demonstrate your Royal pride and unleash your Lov91����Ƶ spirit. Tag #Lov91����Ƶ and #ForTheRecord in your social media posts and tell your friends and family about Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day.

Tuesday, March 31

Lip Sync Battle
8 p.m. | Yoder Arena
91����Ƶ’s athletic teams will compete in their annual Lip Sync Battle, hosted by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Come out to cheer on your favorite teams.

Wednesday, April 1

Throughout the day, the 91����Ƶ merch store, staffed by representatives from the University Outpost, will sell apparel and other 91����Ƶ-branded merchandise at the Student Union from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Lov91����Ƶ participants and guests can also stop by the Lov91����Ƶ hub inside the Hall of Nations at any time during the day to win prizes, collect a free T-shirt while supplies last, and make a gift in-person.

Lov91����Ƶ Pep Rally
10:15 a.m. | Yoder Arena
The 10th annual Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day kicks off with a high-energy pep rally to get everyone in the giving mood. Come early for the doughnuts, but stay for the performances featuring the previous night’s Lip Sync Battle winners.

Lunch & Lawn Party
Noon-1:30 p.m. | Thomas Plaza
The annual student appreciation lunch, free for all students and hosted in partnership between Pioneer College Caterers and Campus Activities Council, returns to Thomas Plaza. A description of the event promises “good food, lawn games, and prizes.”

Lov91����Ƶ Community Meal
5:30-7:30 p.m. | Hall of Nations
Join the campus community for an evening of live music, food, and a celebration of all things 91����Ƶ. Dinner is free and open to all students, prospective students, faculty and staff, alumni, donors, and families. .

For a full list of events, including the first-ever Lov91����Ƶ dating show, the return of the popular Real Life Mario Kart Race, and an Art After Dark craft night, visit .

Lov91����Ƶ Day Challenges

This year’s Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day features $170,000 in challenge match funds from generous donors, split between full-day and timed challenges. It’s the most challenge match funds ever, Litwiller said.

“That’s huge,” she said. “We’re really counting on our community to come together and unlock all those funds throughout the day.”

The day also marks the return of the popular leaderboard competition. Each gift of $10 or more is eligible to cast a vote for your favorite academic program, student club or organization, and athletic team. First place in each category will receive $1,000, second place receives $500, and third place receives $250.

Lov91����Ƶ Early Challenge (almost there!)

Help us reach our goal of receiving 120 gifts before Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day to unlock an additional $15,000 toward the University Fund, our top fundraising priority.

All-Day Challenges

Loyal Royal Challenge
If 250 alumni make a gift to 91����Ƶ before midnight, $20,000 to student scholarships will be unlocked.

Friends of 91����Ƶ Challenge
If 175 non-alumni participate in Lov91����Ƶ Day, $15,000 to the University Fund will be unlocked.

Future Royal Challenge
Admissions is once again teaming up with Lov91����Ƶ Day. For each prospective student who attends Lov91����Ƶ Day AND pays their tuition deposit (either on the day or prior to it), we’ll unlock $1,000 for 91����Ƶ’s scholarship funds. This challenge is funded by two graduates from the class of 1958.

Timed Challenges

Give early and often to help us unlock over $150,000 in matching funds.

Early Herm Gets the Worm
6-9 a.m.
If we receive 75 gifts before 9 a.m., we’ll unlock $15,000 for student scholarships.

First-Gen Match of 10
10 a.m.-noon
In this first-ever challenge of its kind, each gift made for first-generation student support will be matched up to $10,000. Plus, a NetVUE grant will match the match—all money raised through the end of next year will be matched up to $60,000. These gifts provide programming for first-gen students to explore vocation in a way that celebrates discovery, fulfillment, and calling. Give from 10 a.m.-noon and have 4x the impact.

Lov91����Ƶ at First Sight
Noon-3 p.m.
On our first Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day, we had a total of $30,000 to unlock throughout the entire day. Now, in celebration of our 10th giving day, a generous donor has committed that much for just one massive challenge. With 110 gifts between noon and 3 p.m., we’ll unlock a whopping $30,000 for the University Fund.

What a Wonderful World
5-7 p.m.
In honor of his late wife Christine Good Shenk ’83, Ed Shenk ’83 has put forward a $20,000 match for Intercultural Programs. Christine’s cross-cultural to the Middle East during her time at 91����Ƶ was incredibly transformative for her. With 80 gifts from 5-7 p.m., we will unlock $20,000 to ensure all students are able to access 91����Ƶ’s impactful intercultural experiences.

The Generosity Marathon
7:30-9 p.m.
If we receive 55 gifts from 7:30-9 p.m., we’ll unlock $10,000 for 91����Ƶ Athletics thanks to an alumni couple from the class of 2020 and an anonymous donor couple.

Late-night Leadership
9 p.m.-midnight
In celebration of Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus‘ first year in office, two generous donors have put up $20,000 in this final challenge of the day. One-hundred gifts from 9 p.m. to midnight will earn us a final boost for the University Fund to close out the day.

Other ways to show your 91����Ƶ love

From March 25 to April 1, stop by Common Grounds Coffeehouse and enjoy “The Blue Monarch,” a naturally blue tea steeped from butterfly pea flower petals, swirled with milk, white chocolate, and blueberry, and topped with cold foam—all to celebrate Royal pride. Feeling extra regal? Add boba! Plus, with any order during that week, you can choose to add a small donation that will support student scholarships.

You can also show your 91����Ƶ love by supporting a couple 91����Ƶ alumni-owned businesses.

The is partnering with 91����Ƶ again this year. From now through April 1, enjoy a “Blue & Gold” Blueberry Mango Trifle, and profits will support 91����Ƶ’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Fund. This fund directly supports 91����Ƶ’s commitment to creating a community of learners where everyone feels connected, accepted, valued, and respected.

In honor of Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day, the owners of AJ’s Gentlemen’s Barbershop are giving back to their alma mater. When you stop by and mention Lov91����Ƶ, 10% of your service will go directly to support 91����Ƶ’s Intensive English Program. Book online at or stop by, and don’t forget to say Lov91����Ƶ.

How to give

You can give online via credit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay at , by calling 800-368-3383, written check or check by mail, donor-advised gifts, IRA gifts or establishing recurring giving. All gifts are tax-deductible. You can also stop by the Lov91����Ƶ hub on April 1 and make your gift in person.

For more information about Lov91����Ƶ events and challenges, visit .

Bethany Chupp ’16, MA ’18 (counseling), remembers the exact moment she learned she had landed 91����Ƶ’s prized four-year, full-tuition Yoder/Webb Scholarship.

While on her way to get pizza with a friend’s family, she received a call from History Professor Mark Metzler Sawin, director of 91����Ƶ’s Honors program, who told her the good news. “I got off the phone and told them, ‘I just got a full ride to college,’” recalled Chupp. “T���y were like, ‘Oh my God, well, now it’s a celebration dinner.’”

That was 13 years ago. Today, the Oregon native, equipped with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and an MA in counseling from 91����Ƶ, runs her own private practice, , as a licensed professional counselor. She credits 91����Ƶ’s graduate counseling program with helping her reach her goals.

“I feel like what it gave me, in terms of my career, was a network and a level of trust, because the program is so respected,” Chupp said. “If you’re an 91����Ƶ counseling grad, in this area, at least, it’s what gets you a job, no problem.”

Growing up in a Mennonite family, Chupp said her parents, graduates of Hesston and Goshen colleges, encouraged her to attend a Mennonite school. After visiting various colleges and universities across the U.S., she said 91����Ƶ just felt different. Its students seemed the kindest, she said, and its campus the most active. The fact that she could earn a college degree without paying a dollar in tuition, thanks to 91����Ƶ’s generous donors, was just the cherry on top.

“T��� Yoder/Webb scholarship ultimately sealed it,” she said. “How are you going to say no to that?”

While at 91����Ƶ, Chupp studied in the Middle East for her intercultural in 2015 and attended the Y-Serve Civil Rights Tour in 2016. ​Both of those experiences wouldn’t have been possible for her without attending 91����Ƶ, she said.

Another unique experience offered at 91����Ƶ was the closeness she shared with her professors. “My classes were small enough that we were invited to professors’ homes for dinner, and we called them by their first names,” she said. “That’s not common. That’s something 91����Ƶ does differently.”

She continues to stay in touch with many of them. “T���y’re not just former professors,” she said. “T���y’re friends who happened to be my professors.”

For the past five years, Chupp has been actively involved in the local roller derby community. She skates as Peaches n’ Scream for The Hits, a team that competes in Harrisonburg’s . She had attended games as an 91����Ƶ student but was committed to theater. “Plus, my mom told me I couldn’t join until I was off her health insurance,” she joked. When COVID-19 put an end to her theater shows, she discovered a newfound passion on the roller rink.

“It’s a very inclusive and welcoming community,” said Chupp. “It’s a sport where every body type has a place and a purpose. There’s also something cathartic about it in that it’s curated aggression.”

Chupp has four siblings, including two alumni, Brandon ’19 and Caleb ’25. They aren’t the only Royals she may have helped recruit to campus. The longtime camp counselor and director spent many summers working at Drift Creek Camp, a Mennonite camp on the coast of Oregon. She said several former campers are now students at 91����Ƶ. “When I came to 91����Ƶ, I was the first Oregon student in years,” she said. “T���re was one senior and then me. And now, there’s a whole posse of them that are here.”

Since graduating from 91����Ƶ in 2018, Chupp has regularly returned to campus to attend events, meet with friends, and provide services at the counseling center.

“It’s rewarding to still be part of the community and care about it,” she said. “I think it’s easy for alumni to dismiss it as something from when they were in college, but I continue to feel invested in 91����Ƶ’s success.”

Your support helps students 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!

Leading a new school comes with its own set of challenges, says Ryan Henschel ’15, co-principal of Rocktown High School in Harrisonburg.

For one thing, there isn’t much of a blueprint to follow. There’s no history to draw on or precedent for how things are done.

“We’re still developing the identity of the school,” Henschel said. “And we’re creating all the processes from scratch to keep things running smoothly.”

It’s a formidable task, but also one filled with excitement and possibility.

“T���re aren’t as many ‘bad habits’ we need to undo before setting the tone for the school,” he said. “In that way, it’s a little easier.”

Henschel, in his first year as co-principal, leads over 1,000 students and several 91����Ƶ alumni on staff at Rocktown, which opened in fall 2024. He previously served as its assistant principal.

Originally from New Market, Henschel said the opportunity to play collegiate baseball drew him to 91����Ƶ. During his four seasons on the team, the starting pitcher contributed to the Royals’ growing success. In 2015, as a team captain, he helped lead the squad to its first ODAC Tournament appearance since 2002, when former MLB catcher Erik Kratz ’02 was on the team.

Baseball helped him grow, teaching him to manage his time, strengthen his organizational skills, and develop as a leader. It may have been what brought him to campus, but the school’s close-knit community and small class sizes led him to stay.

“I got to know my professors,” he said. “As an athlete, I knew almost all the other athletes and coaches and would interact with them. That played a huge role in making me feel like I truly belong to this community.”

91����Ƶ is a Division III school, which means it cannot offer athletic scholarships. For Henschel, receiving the President’s Scholarship, which is awarded to 91����Ƶ students who maintain a 3.0 GPA, made a real difference.

“That scholarship helped reduce the financial burden both during and after my time at 91����Ƶ,” he said.

Henschel chose to major in math education because he “really enjoyed math.” “You don’t hear that a lot,” he said. “It came easier to me than other subjects, and I could help other students learn math, which gave me great joy.”

After graduating from 91����Ƶ in 2015, Henschel taught math at Harrisonburg High School until 2023, when he was named assistant principal. When Rocktown opened the following year, he joined the new school as assistant principal. Henschel, who has a master’s degree in education from James Madison University, became Rocktown’s co-principal last fall.

His wife, Rachel Richard Henschel ’15, a teacher at Spotswood Elementary School, is also an alum of 91����Ƶ’s acclaimed teacher education program. He credits the program, and its immediate, hands-on experiences, with preparing teachers to serve and lead in the classroom.

During his first semester at 91����Ƶ, an introduction to teaching course placed him in a local school practicum, where he could quickly translate course theory into practice.

“That’s when I fell in love with teaching,” he said.

Since welcoming students two years ago, Rocktown has earned awards across a wide range of categories, from its innovative architecture and cardiac arrest preparedness to its music education and athletics programs.

“As a new school,” said Henschel, “we’re currently in the exciting phase of cultivating a culture of excellence and seeing our students reach their full potential.”

Your support helps students 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!

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!

91����Ƶ senior Arelys Martinez Fabian caught the teaching bug in first grade.

The Winchester, Virginia, native would print out math worksheets for her younger sister to complete. With a classroom of stuffed animals gathered around them, she taught her sister, then a preschooler, basic lessons in addition and subtraction.

“I’ve switched my career choices through the years, but I’ve always gone back to teaching,” said Martinez Fabian, an education and Spanish double major. “When you make a connection with students and they realize, Oh, I can do it, that’s my favorite part of teaching.”

A first-generation college student, Martinez Fabian fully immersed herself in 91����Ƶ’s rich campus life. She served as co-president of the Student Government Association and as orientation leader, worked as product manager for Common Grounds Coffeehouse, and held leadership roles with the Latinx Student Alliance (LSA). She also served as a student representative on the Interim President Search Committee last spring.

It’s difficult for her to imagine herself anywhere other than 91����Ƶ. That wasn’t always the case.

During her senior year at Millbrook High School, she learned she had been accepted to the University of Virginia. It was her lifelong dream school. The decision should’ve been an easy one.

“At the same time,” she said, “I kept seeing signs that I should attend 91����Ƶ.”

High school teachers would unexpectedly mention 91����Ƶ in passing. A coworker at her day care job shared how impactful her own 91����Ƶ education had been. 

When 91����Ƶ accepted her and offered its highest academic award, the four-year, full-tuition Yoder/Webb Scholarship, the choice became clear: she would become a Royal.

Looking back, she’s sure she made the right call.

She believes 91����Ƶ’s nationally accredited teacher education program has prepared her well for the realities of the classroom. As a student teacher at Bluestone Elementary in Harrisonburg, she spent the first week of school last fall observing how teachers set rules and expectations. 

91����Ƶ’s small class sizes have allowed her to form close relationships with professors. She said she has always felt comfortable seeking their guidance and support. 

During recent immigration-related crackdowns across the country, Martinez Fabian, who has relatives from Latin America, said professors regularly checked in with her to make sure she felt safe.

“I knew I could go to them for support,” she said. “I was able to get through some tough times because of them.”

Your support helps students like Arelys 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!

Take a look around campus and you’d be hard-pressed to find someone involved in leading as many clubs and organizations as Leah Frankenfield.

In addition to leadership roles as a Royal Ambassador and with 91����Ƶ’s Royals RISE program, the senior psychology major has either led or helped start a number of athletic and advocacy clubs on campus: Badminton Club, Bike Club, Pickleball Club, Asian-Pacific Islander Student Alliance (APISA), and University Women’s Empowerment Network (UWEN). This year, she is representing her peers as Student Government Association co-president.

The Northern California native grew up hearing about the magic of 91����Ƶ from her father, James Frankenfield ’81, who shared stories of sledding down the 91����Ƶ Hill on trays from the caf. “He mostly talked about the impact 91����Ƶ had on his career,” said Leah Frankenfield. “He attributes a lot of his success in life to his chemistry degree from here.”

So when the time came for her to pick a college, 91����Ƶ was at the top of her list. The university’s tight-knit campus and her family connections—her cousins Greta Schrag ’24 and Libbie Derstine ’25 are recent graduates—added to the charm. She was also intrigued by the Mennonite culture her father grew up in. Plus, it didn’t hurt that the surrounding city of Harrisonburg, with its plentiful shops and restaurants, had so much to experience. 

“91����Ƶ offers a great balance between being in a rich cultural environment near a large university and having a small campus that provides personalized attention and opportunities to build deep relationships with professors,” said Leah Frankenfield. 

She said many of her professors allow students to take mental health days. “T���y want you to develop holistically as a person first,” she said. “T���y want you to prioritize your health, show up in the best way you can, and communicate with them. I’ve really appreciated that flexibility.”

Another benefit of attending 91����Ƶ is the wealth of scholarships and financial aid available to students. Leah Frankenfield is the recipient of a merit scholarship and the Pioneer College Caterers Scholarship, and is among the 100% of undergraduate students at 91����Ƶ who receive financial aid.

These days, the college senior is busy applying to grad school, with an eye toward counseling or school psychology. Whichever path she takes, she feels a twinge of bittersweetness. 

“I have these mixed feelings,” she said. “Sometimes I think, I can’t wait for the next step. At the same time, 91����Ƶ has challenged me to grow and explore my identity and explore how I make a new environment feel comfortable. I like the way I’ve made 91����Ƶ my home and, at the end of the day, it’s going to be sad to leave.”

Your support helps students like Leah 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!