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!

Herm was missing. The crowd of faculty, staff, students, and alumni at Yoder Arena for Wednesday morning’s Lov91����Ƶ Pep Rally called out his name. They searched high and low. But he was nowhere to be found.

Suddenly, the roar of a motorcycle engine filled the gymnasium. Moments later, everyone’s favorite friendly blue lion glided onto the hardwood on a sleek new e-bike.

The e-bike, announced Nicole Litwiller ’19, MA ’20 (conflict transformation), Lov91����Ƶ organizer and pep rally emcee, was a new addition to the Sadie Hartzler Library, thanks to a generous donation from an 91����Ƶ alum, the diligent work of senior Joshua Stucky, and a partnership between library staff and the Shenandoah Bicycle Company. 

Starting Monday, students can check out the bike from the library at any time and “easily bike all over campus and Harrisonburg,” she said.

Herm’s dramatic entrance was just one of many memorable moments that energized the crowd with the Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day spirit. Wednesday’s pep rally had it all: a current student exclaiming her love for 91����Ƶ, a future student officially declaring 91����Ƶ as his school for next year, and performances by the previous night’s Lip-Sync Battle champions. 

“It’s sure to be the best Lip-Sync Battle this side of the Shenandoah,” promised fellow pep rally organizer and emcee Tyler Goss, director for student engagement and leadership development.

Scroll down to the bottom of this article to watch a video recording of the pep rally.

Students snagged free Lov91����Ƶ shirts shot into the crowd by the BaZOOKa T-shirt cannon.

Throughout the event, engineering lab tech Henry Bowser and engineering student Max Fritts fired shirts into the stands using the BaZOOKa T-shirt cannon. The launcher, which debuted at last year’s pep rally, was funded by 2019 alumni Ben, an engineering graduate, and Kayla Zook.

Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day is an opportunity to pause and celebrate all the incredible things about 91����Ƶ, which include “our amazing academic programs, our incredible athletic teams, our impactful clubs and orgs, and our supportive community as a whole,” Litwiller said. “Part of how we can express that celebration is through generosity.”

Funds from Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day benefit current and future students, faculty, and staff by making education more affordable and providing them with the facilities and resources they need to access an outstanding education. Since the first Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day in 2017, the university has raised more than $2 million on annual giving days. 

Thanks to the generosity of supporters, this year’s Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day was the best one yet, with over $402,000 raised, according to the .

The pep rally began with the premiere of the official Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day video. It celebrates the past nine giving days and sets sights on the future, featuring voiceovers from Litwiller and Marketing and Communications Project Manager Aric Berg, along with cameos from faculty, staff, students, athletes, and alumni. The video was produced by Macson McGuigan ’17.

Watch the official hype video below!

Sophomore Ari Smart speaks about finding her fit at 91����Ƶ (left) and future student Brady Crisp (right) rings the cowbell.

Ari Smart, a sophomore majoring in art education, shared her experiences at 91����Ƶ. The Stafford, Virginia, native, who serves as a Royal Ambassador and plays on the field hockey and lacrosse teams, spoke about finding her place in a community that made her feel seen, supported, and valued. “This is a place that pushes me to grow,” she said. 

Through classes that challenge her to think differently, clubs that let her explore new interests, and experiences that prepare her for the future, she has gained confidence, independence, and the ability to take initiative.

“This university has given me more than an education; it has given me a sense of belonging, a community that feels like family, and experiences I will carry with me for the rest of my life,” she said.

“It has helped me grow into a stronger, more confident version of myself, and for that, I am incredibly grateful.”

The pep rally crowd also welcomed a future Royal to the 91����Ƶ family. Brady Crisp, a senior from Fluvanna County High School who will join the men’s soccer team this fall, took part in the cherished tradition of ringing the cowbell to celebrate his commitment. 

Each time a prospective student who was in attendance on Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day paid their tuition deposit—as Crisp did—either on the day or beforehand, the university unlocked an additional $1,000 in scholarship funds. The Future Royal Challenge, funded by two graduates from the Class of 1958, raised $19,000 in scholarships on Wednesday.

The women’s volleyball (left) and lacrosse teams (right) perform lip-sync routines at the Lov91����Ƶ Pep Rally on Wednesday.

The third annual Lov91����Ƶ Pep Rally showcased performances by the top three athletic teams from the previous night’s annual Lip-Sync Battle, hosted by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The women’s basketball and lacrosse teams competed for second place, with the basketball team prevailing after a crowd vote. The women’s volleyball team, this year’s champions, combined lip-syncing with a carefully choreographed routine to a medley of songs from High School Musical.

Senior Admissions Counselor Lexi Fotis-Brown MA ’25 (organizational leadership) led this portion of the pep rally, hyping up the teams and the crowd. “Absolutely electric,” she told the teams. “Just remember, you’re all winners in my heart.”

Earlier in the event, emcees Litwiller and Goss exchanged some lighthearted banter. 

Goss said, “Wait, so you’re telling me we do all this to make the student experience at 91����Ƶ the best it can be? What are you going to tell me next? That the generosity of donors helps fund student scholarships, improve campus facilities, and even keeps the lights on?”

“I mean, yeah, you said it,” Litwiller replied.

Watch a recording of the pep rally 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!

“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. “T��� 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. “T���y’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.”

A pioneering coach, co-athletic director, and professor at 91����Ƶ in the 1960s and ’70s—and the youngest daughter of John R. Mumaw, 91����Ƶ’s fourth president from 1948-65—Miriam “Mim” Mumaw ’61, of Arlington, Virginia, passed away on Dec. 5, 2025.

During her tenure at 91����Ƶ (then known as Eastern Mennonite College or EMC), Mumaw coached the school’s first women’s basketball (1966-75), women’s volleyball (1968-79), and field hockey (1970) teams. She achieved the most success with the volleyball team, winning a state championship over James Madison University in 1973 and posting a perfect 21-0 season in 1976. Her overall record with the squad stands at 151-99. Mumaw was inducted into the in 2002. Only three other coaches share that distinction.

Those who were fortunate enough to cross paths with Mumaw, either on 91����Ƶ’s campus or at Washington Community Fellowship (WCF), describe her as a people person who greeted everyone she met with warmth. They speak highly of her meticulous attention to detail, which shone brightly in her volunteer service to WCF and in her career at Gammon & Grange Law Offices, where she worked for more than 40 years. They also remember her for her love of baseball, particularly the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals, and her generosity in sharing her season tickets with others.

Mumaw was a beloved mentor, leader, and friend, known by many for her deep commitment to 91����Ƶ and her congregation.

“She was a titan, a fierce advocate for women in athletics and for 91����Ƶ in general,” said Carrie S Bert, the first woman to serve as 91����Ƶ athletics director.

Dave King ’76, 91����Ƶ’s athletics director for 17 years before Bert, agreed. 

“Mim advocated for the expansion of women’s sports at a time when that wasn’t supported by many in the institution, including her father who had been president of the college,” said King. 

During one of her visits to the 91����Ƶ Athletics Suite, Bert recalled, Mumaw had shared with her how her father, likely reflecting the feelings of the wider church, had opposed the growth in women’s physical activities at 91����Ƶ. “Mim just laughed and said, ‘Well, that wasn’t going to stop me … we just had to agree not to talk about it,’” shared Bert. 

“Mim was always so encouraging of me, both in words of affirmation and in the wonderful way she would squeeze my hand while we chatted,” Bert said. “I could feel her positivity and enduring support in those moments.”

King told the that he first met Mumaw when he arrived as a student in 1972, but “had no idea of the trailblazer she was and the impact she had on women’s sports” until he returned as director of athletics in 2005. “Besides coaching women’s sports and teaching PE classes, her involvement with the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) exposed EMC athletics to the broader collegiate athletic community and elevated the EMC sports programs,” King said.

Growing up in a glass bowl

Mumaw was born on Jan. 14, 1938, in Harrisonburg, the youngest of five daughters, to John R. and Esther Mosemann Mumaw. She was 10 years old when her father, a professor and ordained minister, took office as president, succeeding John L. Stauffer. He would serve in that role for the next 17 years.

“That was an important part of her growing up,” said Byron Peachey, a nephew of Mumaw and longtime 91����Ƶ staff member. “She lived down the road on College Avenue and EMC was an even smaller community than it is now. Everybody knew everybody else’s business. And so for her and her four older sisters, there was a spotlight on them and a set of higher expectations for what they did and how they conducted themselves.”

Mumaw graduated from 91����Ƶ in 1961 with a degree in business education. She then taught business education classes at Iowa Mennonite School for four years.

“That would’ve been an opportunity for her to spread her wings, outside of this glass bowl at 91����Ƶ where everybody knew her,” Peachey said.

In 1964, while Mumaw was in Iowa, her mother died “very suddenly,” Peachey said. She returned to Harrisonburg to care for her father (in 1965, he married Evelyn King, former dean of women for 91����Ƶ, and resigned as president).

Hired by 91����Ƶ’s fifth president (1965-80) Myron S. Augsburger, Mumaw coached the school’s first women’s intercollegiate athletic teams, including women’s basketball, volleyball, and field hockey. 

“That was groundbreaking for EMC,” Peachey said. “She was a real innovator. ‘Trailblazer’ is an overused word, but she truly was one.”

In 1968, after completing her master’s degree at the University of Iowa, Mumaw began teaching accounting and physical education courses at 91����Ƶ. She also served as co-athletic director and co-chair of the physical education department.

Sandy Brownscombe, coach of 91����Ƶ women’s basketball (1978-89), field hockey (1978-93), and men’s volleyball (1991-98) also in the Hall of Honor, said that Mumaw held significant roles at the state, regional, and national levels within the AIAW, which governed women’s college athletics before the NCAA took over in the 1980s.

“Mim was a foundational figure for women’s athletics in Virginia through the AIAW,” Brownscombe said. “She started volleyball in the state of Virginia.”

A life of balance

Brownscombe was finishing her master’s degree coursework at Washington State University in 1978 when she was hired to teach physical education classes and coach the field hockey and women’s basketball teams at 91����Ƶ. Mumaw interviewed her for the job, and was tasked with finding a place for her to live.

“T���re weren’t any apartments available,” said Brownscombe, “and so that’s how I ended up sharing her house with her that first year I was here.”

“That was, in my opinion, probably the best thing that ever happened to me,” she added, “because we spent many nights talking with each other, and she would explain to me what it meant to be a Mennonite female athlete. At that point, I was the first non-Mennonite full-time faculty member at 91����Ƶ, so it really was my introduction to Mennonites and to EMC, and she shared that whole faith experience with me. She was like a big sister to me.”

Less than a full year later, in 1979, Mumaw left for a sabbatical year in D.C. at The Fellowship Foundation. It led to her permanent move to the area.

“She felt like she had taken 91����Ƶ athletics to the next stage,” Brownscombe said.

“91����Ƶ women’s sports experienced much success in the 1980s, which I believe was a direct result of Mim’s commitment to developing and expanding sports activities for women,” said King.

Mumaw was a founding member of , a Christ-centered faith community started by President Emeritus Augsburger (its first pastor) and his wife, Esther, in 1981 and affiliated with Mennonite Church USA. Mumaw was an active member of WCF for 43 years and served in many roles, including as presiding deacon, elder, and on the Finance, Human Resources, and Building committees.

“Any time students from WCF were attending 91����Ƶ, Mim always made sure I knew about it,” said Tim Swartzendruber, senior regional advancement director for 91����Ƶ. “She was an admissions ambassador for us, no question.”

In 1982, Mumaw began a long career at Gammon & Grange Law Offices in Tyson’s Corner, where she served as accountant, office manager, and assistant to senior partner. She worked at the firm for more than 40 years.

She often returned to 91����Ƶ and continued to love and support the university. She served on the 91����Ƶ Board of Trustees from 1988-96.

“When I think of Mim, I think of balance,” Brownscombe said. “Her whole life was balanced. She was great as a coach, administrator, teacher, and yet she was so involved in the church, in leadership there, and in her care for people. She was one of those well-rounded people who had it all together.”

“She was always positive, always optimistic,” shared Peachey. “She wanted sports to be fun for young women and for it to be a team experience. I think that was an important value she cultivated, that student-athletes experience team success rather than individual excellence.”

Clockwise from front center: Miriam “Mim” Mumaw ’61, Liz Chase Driver ’86, David Driver ’85, former Orioles player Larry Sheets ’83, and Stephanie Rheinheimer ’13 attend an Orioles baseball game in August 2022. Sheets told writer David Driver for the Augusta Free Press: “Mim was, first and foremost, a wonderful Christian woman, a huge fan of 91����Ƶ, and a huge supporter of my career and then my son’s (Gavin Sheets’) career.” (Photo courtesy of David Driver/AFP)

A connector of people

A devoted fan of the Orioles and Nationals, Mumaw was known to invite family, friends, and anyone else within her orbit to baseball games. While there, she recorded the action with a pencil and paper scorecard. “It was in her DNA to keep track of details,” Peachey said.

As a student, David Driver ’85, former Weather Vane sports editor, narrowly missed the window when Mumaw was on campus. But he and his family became acquainted with her as longtime members of WCF beginning in the late 1980s.

“She was never one to talk about the role she played as a pioneer for women’s athletics at 91����Ƶ, but her love of sports was contagious,” said Driver. “I’m happy to say she made WCF a church with a lot of baseball fans.”

“I know that Carrie Bert benefited greatly from having Mim as a mentor,” Driver added. “Without Mim, there may not have been a Carrie as the first woman to serve as 91����Ƶ athletics director.”

Long after leaving 91����Ƶ, Mumaw continued to invest in its mission and its students. According to Swartzendruber, Mumaw included 91����Ƶ in her estate plans, directing support to two funds established by her parents: the Esther Mosemann Mumaw Memorial Endowed Scholarship, which benefits upperclasswomen of any major, and the John R. Mumaw Endowed Scholarship, which benefits teacher education students.

In 2018, Mumaw coordinated a fundraising effort among past and present members of WCF to increase the ongoing student impact of the Myron S. and Esther K. Augsburger Endowed Scholarship for Urban Ministry. The scholarship, valued at more than $400,000, benefits students at Eastern Mennonite Seminary who plan to serve in an urban setting. 

“Mim tried her hardest to attend every alumni gathering, homecoming, you name it,” Swartzendruber said. “She adored 91����Ƶ. I always got the impression that 91����Ƶ felt like home to her.”

In addition to her parents, Mumaw was preceded in death by her four sisters: Helen Peachey, Grace Mumaw, Catherine Mumaw, and Lois Martin. She is survived by six nieces and nephews, and many beloved great-nieces and great-nephews. 

“She was a single woman, never had children, never married, and so she created a community around her,” Peachey said. “She knew lots of people in lots of different walks of life. When she went to baseball games, people noticed how all the attendants knew her. She knew them all by name. She was always looking for ways to connect people together.”

Thanks to Simone Horst, special collections librarian, for providing the archival images of Mumaw included in this story.

On Oct. 11, during a homecoming celebration, the 91����Ƶ Washington Semester program (formerly known as WCSC/WSSY) commemorated its 50th year with a special event held at the campus Student Union. The milestone gathering brought together students, alumni, faculty, and staff to celebrate five decades of experiential learning and community engagement in Washington D.C.

A highlight of the event was the renaming of the Washington Semester’s endowed scholarship in honor of Professor Emerita Kimberly Schmidt, who served as director of the program for 22 years. Dr. Schmidt was recognized for her outstanding leadership, innovative teaching, and commitment to student development throughout her tenure. The scholarship, now named the Dr. Kimberly Schmidt Endowed Scholarship, helps make it possible for all 91����Ƶ students to access the opportunities available through the Washington Semester.

In presenting this honor, current Washington Semester Director Ryan Good noted Schmidt’s leadership in shepherding the program from a nine-month model to three terms per year to better accommodate shifting student needs and her critical role in moving the program to a new facility in 2005. “Over 22 years, Kim worked tirelessly to find internships for hundreds of students who came through the program during her tenure,” Good said. “She is a wise and authentic mentor, who gave generously of herself to support students as they worked to make sense of the city and themselves.”

“I am humbled and honored to have this important scholarship named for me,” said Schmidt. “This scholarship reflects 91����Ƶ’s values and highest aspirations for its students. Expanding the Washington Semester’s vision of life-transforming, career-launching internships, community life, urban exploration, reflection, and analysis to first-generation college students is an appropriate expression of 91����Ƶ’s emphasis on leadership and service.”

Schmidt also reflected on the changes she witnessed in the program over the years. “Almost 30 years ago, when I first started working for 91����Ƶ, many of the students in the Washington Semester were born into Mennonite families, reflecting the general student body at 91����Ƶ,” she said. “During my time, I saw significant shifts in student demographics. We went from being a predominantly white Mennonite program to one of true diversity and inclusion—not only in our subject matter and internship placements, but also in our student population.”

By the early 2010s, many Washington Semester students were students of color, including immigrants from Africa and Latin America. “T���y made a deep impression on me as they explored the legacies and realities of oppression in U.S. history and current culture and made connections to their own life experiences,” Schmidt added.

The endowed scholarship was first established 10 years ago to celebrate the program’s 40th anniversary and to promote inclusion and diversity. “Rising tuition costs made it clear that financial assistance was becoming ever more critical,” Schmidt explained. “T��� scholarship has grown from supporting one or two students annually to five or six. We hope to continue expanding it to reach more students and offer additional assistance and career-launching opportunities.”

As it has for 50 years, the Washington Semester supports 91����Ƶ’s ongoing commitment to transformative education, leadership, and service—values that continue to guide the program’s mission in preparing students for meaningful engagement in their communities and professions.

For more information about the 91����Ƶ Washington Semester, visit .

“It’s all of those things,” she said. “It’s about caring for the less fortunate, giving the marginalized a voice, and ensuring that nursing follows its scopes and standards and code of ethics. That’s a unique lens I see in myself and other 91����Ƶ grads: the idea of nursing as a service.”

Furr, a full-time nurse at Sentara RMH Medical Center in Harrisonburg, is deepening her education as an 91����Ƶ student enrolled in her third and final year of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, a consortium of 91����Ƶ and Goshen College. Last month, she was named the of the Eleanor C. Lambertsen Scholarship for the 2025-26 academic year. The scholarship is awarded annually to a doctoral student in nursing education or administration through Nurses Educational Funds Inc. (NEF).

“I was honestly surprised to get the scholarship,” Furr said. “T���y don’t tell you how many people apply for it, but they describe it as very competitive. Many of the previous recipients were PhD students doing amazing research, and so it felt validating to be recognized for what I’ve been able to do at a community hospital.”

In her role as Magnet Program Manager at Sentara RMH, she primarily helps in “caring for the caregivers,” ensuring nurses at the hospital get the education, support, and professional development they need, as well as using data and quality metrics to improve the care they provide for their patients. “Having a nurse who really cares makes such a difference,” she said. “For me, that’s how I care for my community—by improving what we do so that every patient gets better care.”

Furr has worked at the Harrisonburg hospital for the past 23 years, starting as a new 91����Ƶ nursing grad, in various roles including registered nurse (pediatrics), patient care supervisor, and nursing professional development practitioner. She taught 91����Ƶ nursing students as an adjunct clinical instructor for three semesters in 2023-24. The scholarship will be used to cover the remaining tuition costs that aren’t reimbursed by Sentara, she said.

Furr graduated from 91����Ƶ with a BSN  in 2001. She earned her MSN in nursing education from Walden University in Minneapolis in 2022.

Driven by a commitment to improving the experience of nurses, her doctoral project will focus on enhancing organizational support for health care staff who have experienced workplace assaults and examine how that support affects staff retention. Research shows that the initial care that staff receive after an assault often determines how well they cope with the experience, Furr said. 

Workplace assaults, including those by patients against providers, are a “very real problem,” said Michael Horst, dean of 91����Ƶ’s Health, Behavioral, and Natural Sciences division. “In every circle I’ve been in, people talk about how difficult it is to recruit and retain nurses because it can be a very unsafe work environment,” he said. “This kind of doctoral work addresses that issue directly, and 91����Ƶ has been preparing Margaret to tackle it since her undergraduate studies.”

Furr said her favorite part of the 91����Ƶ-Goshen College DNP consortium is the small cohort size, which promotes relationships and community building, as well as the opportunity to learn from professors at both universities. The program’s values of stewardship, human flourishing, sacred covenant, and peacemaking also resonate with her, she added.

What can a DNP do?

DNP programs prepare nurse leaders at the highest level to improve patient outcomes and translate research into practice. Furr said she plans to use her DNP degree to manage projects and drive change, support staff growth through nursing excellence, help staff understand data and processes, and develop better educational programs.

91����Ƶ 91����Ƶ’s DNP program

The 33-credit, fully online and asynchronous program, accredited by the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), is for nurses who want to work in health care administration, teach, or be a change agent for their workplace. Students complete 10 online courses and at least one residency during the 24-month program. Eligible applicants must hold a master of science degree in nursing (MSN) degree from an accredited school with a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher.

The program combines the best aspects and shared values of both 91����Ƶ and Goshen College. “T��� key advantage is access to faculty expertise from two universities,” said 91����Ƶ Nursing Professor Melody Cash. “Plus, as a student, you’re learning alongside peers from both schools, which provides a wider range of perspectives.”

The consortium launched in January 2018, with the first cohort graduating in May 2020.

In addition to its BSN and DNP programs, 91����Ƶ also offers an accredited MSN program and graduate certificates in nursing. Learn more about the university’s nursing programs at . 

The application period for the next NEF scholarship process opens Oct. 1 and closes on Feb. 2. To apply for a scholarship, visit .