鈥淲ith upgraded equipment, 91短视频 will provide richer, practical laboratory, research, and project-based experiences to prepare students for lucrative careers in STEM fields and nursing,鈥� states a grant application submitted by Dr. Tara Kishbaugh, dean of faculty and student success for 91短视频.

The grant request also includes a 鈥渟mall salary allocation to support the procurement, calibration, and installation of equipment鈥� and to train faculty and students on its use.

It further states that the upgraded equipment would provide a significant educational opportunity for current students, attract faculty and students to 91短视频, and enhance contributions to STEM and health care fields through research, publication, consultation with local businesses, and a better-prepared workforce in Virginia.

鈥淭his project would amplify the impact of our current NSF STEM scholarship program, which increases postsecondary education access for academically talented, Pell-eligible students,鈥� the request states.

The 鈥�91短视频 grows STEM鈥� project is among a list of community priorities highlighted in the Fiscal Year 2026 federal spending bill, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., announced in a news release in February.

For a full list of projects in the Shenandoah Valley and Highlands regions of Virginia funded through the FY26 spending bill, .

91短视频 91短视频

91短视频 is a fully accredited university known for its outstanding STEM and health program preparation. Over 90% of job-seeking graduates of 91短视频 find employment quickly, with many in nursing and STEM employed before graduation. 91短视频 is a Forbes Best Return on Investment University and is one of the best colleges in the regional South (U.S. News & World Report). 91短视频 STEM students gain practical and technical skills through project-based experiences and social networks through mentorship from faculty and supportive learning communities. 

鈥淭hese people are my friends and they’re my colleagues and they’re my inspiration,鈥� Flowe told a roomful of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and Harrisonburg residents during a dedication ceremony of the mural on March 27. 鈥淚 may not know them on a personal level, but every time I see them on the wall of this building, I know that people recognize the work they鈥檝e done.鈥�

That feeling extends beyond just the students at 91短视频. Dr. Tara Kishbaugh, dean of faculty and student success, said that seeing the mural fills her with joy. 鈥淓very time I see it, it makes me happy,鈥� she told the crowd gathered for the ceremony at Suter Science Center 106.

The Inclusivity in Science Mural, completed in summer 2022, celebrates the scholarship and contributions of seven scientists whose identities as women, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), and/or queer individuals have historically been underrepresented in scientific spaces. The mural鈥檚 stylized portraits depict chemist Asima Chatterjee, mathematician Gladys West, mathematician Katherine Johnson, arachnologist Lauren Esposito, astrophysicist Nergis Mavalvala, eco-philosopher P谋nar Ate艧 Sinopoulos-Lloyd, and ADM (ret.) Rachel Levine.

鈥淸The mural] names the contributions that have too often gone unrecognized,鈥� said Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus in her remarks at the dedication ceremony. 鈥淎nd perhaps most importantly, it offers reflection and invitation to those who walk these halls every day, especially to students who may be asking quietly or aloud, 鈥業s there a place for me in this field?鈥欌�� 

鈥淭ogether, these figures and all of those represented remind us that excellence in science has never been limited to a single identity, even if recognition has been,鈥� Dycus added. 鈥淎nd we鈥檙e affirming something today about 91短视频 itself: that we are a place that鈥檚 willing to name gaps and then do the work to address them, and that we believe representation is not symbolic alone鈥攊t is formative.鈥�

Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus presents her remarks at a dedication ceremony for the Inclusivity in Science Mural.

Dr. Rachel Levine (left) and P谋nar Ate艧 Sinopoulos-Lloyd (right) pose next to their portraits on the mural.

Work on the mural began in spring 2022 and was funded by an Inclusive Excellence Grant made possible by the generous support of Jose Koshy 鈥�76 and Jean Koshy-Hertzler 鈥�79. Learn more about the process behind the project in our article from last month. Veronica Horst 鈥�23, Asha Landes Beck 鈥�22, Grace Harder 鈥�23, Molly Piwonka 鈥�23, Afton Rhodes-Lehman 鈥�24, and Jake Myers 鈥�22 are listed as co-leaders for various stages of the project

A dedication ceremony on March 27 honored the scientists represented on the mural, the artists who brought it to life, and 鈥渆very person in the arts and sciences who has had to push a little harder against systems that were not built with them in mind,鈥� said event organizer Dawn Neil, coordinator for the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.  

鈥淭his mural is both a celebration and a call to continue the work of building a truly inclusive community,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen more people belong in science, science belongs to all of us.鈥�

The ceremony included appearances by two special guests whose portraits are on the mural. Sinopoulos-Lloyd, who participated earlier that day in the second annual Mornings with the Mayor Convocation, gave a talk and contributed to a panel conversation. Levine, the former U.S. assistant secretary for health, chatted with 91短视频 News and also attended the event. Both Sinopoulos-Lloyd and Levine signed their names on their portraits as part of the dedication.

P谋nar Ate艧 Sinopoulos-Lloyd gives a talk during the mural dedication ceremony at the Suter Science Center on March 27.

Dr. Rachel Levine (left) and P谋nar Ate艧 Sinopoulos-Lloyd (right) sign their portraits on the mural.

Sinopoulos-Lloyd is an Indigiqueer wildlife tracker, writer, and guide whose work bridges Indigenous ecological knowledge, field-based science, multispecies studies, and poetic inquiry. 

In their talk, they recited poetry, shared photos of wildlife tracks鈥攊ncluding a rattlesnake, puma, and toad鈥攔ecounted their experiences following an elk herd, and discussed how their work connects science, art, and sustainability. They also spoke about the importance of representation. 

鈥淭his mural we鈥檙e honoring today is not just artwork,鈥� Sinopoulos-Lloyd said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also a constellation. It represents scientists whose work has expanded what is possible, not only through curiosity, but through devotion, imagination, and care.鈥�

Third-year biochemistry major Dante Flowe shares their connection to the mural during the dedication ceremony at Suter Science Center 106 on March 27.

Afton Rhodes-Lehman 鈥�24, who helped design and paint the mural, speaks during a panel conversation (left). Veronica Horst 鈥�23 reflects on the mural (right) while P谋nar Ate艧 Sinopoulos-Lloyd looks on.

A panel conversation following the talk included several alumni who helped bring the mural from concept to creation. Landes Beck, Horst, Piwonka, and Rhodes-Lehman spoke about their roles in the project, the intertwined relationship of art and science, the importance of representation, and their reflections on what the mural means to them. Kishbaugh and Sinopoulos-Lloyd also joined the panel, along with Flowe, who served as a voice for current students. Senior Madelynn Hamm moderated the discussion.

Horst said they hope the mural continues to honor those who haven鈥檛 been recognized for their contributions. 鈥淥ne of the names on the mural that people are probably most familiar with is Katherine Johnson鈥檚, because of her story being told through the book and film Hidden Figures,鈥� Horst said. 鈥淚 think that made us realize how much we don鈥檛 know about how women of color and people from minority identities were involved in a lot of influential work. We don鈥檛 get to hear about it because it was overshadowed.鈥�

The program included a message from Jenny Burden, executive director of the Arts Council of the Valley, on the role that public art plays in shaping a healthy, thriving, and inclusive community. It also included remarks from Mavalvala, who is depicted on the mural but was unable to attend the ceremony. 

鈥淚 am honored to be included with so many wonderful luminaries,鈥� Neil said, reading a statement from the astrophysicist. 鈥淚nclusivity in the sciences is critical, and I鈥檓 proud that 91短视频 continues to strive toward this goal. Ensuring that people feel a sense of belonging strengthens our educational communities and strengthens science itself.鈥�

Watch a video recording of the ceremony below!

ADM (ret.) Rachel Levine, a pediatrician who served as the U.S. assistant secretary for health from 2021-25, visited campus for a dedication ceremony of the Inclusivity in Science Mural at 91短视频鈥檚 Suter Science Center on Friday, March 27.

The mural, completed in summer 2022, features seven professionals in STEM-related fields whose identities as women, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ individuals have historically been underrepresented in the sciences. 

Dr. Levine, whose career as a pediatrician spans more than 40 years and whose portrait graces the mural, became the first openly transgender federal official confirmed by the U.S. Senate in March 2021. As part of her position, she served as a four-star admiral leading the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. She was the first openly transgender four-star officer and the first woman to serve as a four-star admiral in the Commissioned Corps. She was named one of USA Today鈥檚 Women of the Year in 2022.

鈥淭he job was as interesting, challenging, busy, and rewarding as you might expect,鈥� Dr. Levine said in a conversation before the dedication ceremony. 鈥淚t was an amazing experience, very difficult and challenging, but worth it.鈥�

The public health expert sat down with 91短视频 News to talk about the mural, DEI, and the importance of vaccines.

It鈥檚 an honor to have you here with us. How did you hear about this event?

[Adrian Shanker, former deputy assistant secretary for health policy and now a consultant] came across the news story about P谋nar Ate艧 Sinopoulos-Lloyd coming here, which mentioned that the mural featured my portrait. I thought that was great and asked Adrian to reach out, and then I was invited to today鈥檚 event to meet everyone, meet the artists, meet P谋nar, and say hello. I live near Hershey, Pennsylvania, so it鈥檚 not that far, and I thought I鈥檇 just jump in the car and come.

Have you had a chance to look at the mural?

I just saw it. It鈥檚 remarkable. The artists did an absolutely fantastic job.

How do you feel about the mission of the mural?

The terms diversity, equity, and inclusion aren鈥檛 accepted terms now. They鈥檙e even somewhat radioactive. But I still believe in that mission. I鈥檝e had many experiences in hospitals, government, and other organizations, and I believe that diversity improves any organization, whether it鈥檚 a school, the government, a hospital or medical center, or a business. I truly believe in diversity, equity, and inclusion. We can call them by different names, but I think they鈥檙e critically important. I thought it was wonderful that they were able to emphasize that here at the science center and in STEM fields from various perspectives. Being included in that was a real honor.

Anything else you would like to share?

As a pediatrician, I know from more than 40 years of clinical experience that vaccinations are one of the great victories of public health in the 20th and 21st centuries. I can鈥檛 tell you how many children and teenagers, who are now adults, have had their lives saved and prevented from illnesses because of immunizations that I administered or ordered. The questioning about the effectiveness and safety of vaccines is harming our nation and our children. We are now seeing vaccine-preventable illnesses, such as measles and others, that could have been prevented. In 2000, there were no cases of measles in the United States. Now look at what we鈥檙e seeing, because of the misinformation and overt disinformation about vaccines.

Dr. Rachel Levine introduces herself at Friday’s mural dedication ceremony in Suter Science Center 106. Seated to her right are 91短视频 Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus and artist and scientist P谋nar Ate艧 Sinopoulos-Lloyd.

Dr. Rachel Levine signs her portrait (left) on the Inclusivity in Science Mural. The pediatrician and public health expert talks with 91短视频 News (right) before the ceremony.

This was the second time that Reed, director of alumni engagement and community connections at 91短视频, has hosted the event. Named among the and a member of the , she conceived the idea last year to celebrate March as Women鈥檚 History Month and highlight the trailblazing women leaders guiding the campus forward.

This year鈥檚 event celebrated Women鈥檚 History Month and explored the 鈥渜ueer-affirming, gender-expansive world of nature around us,鈥� Reed said. It featured a conversation and Q&A with P谋nar Ate艧 Sinopoulos-Lloyd, a visionary artist, wildlife tracker, and Indigenous eco-philosopher whose work 鈥渓ives at the intersection of sustainability, science, and deep connections to the natural world.鈥�

Sinopoulos-Lloyd (they/them) shared their personal journey, moving from Turkey to the Bay Area of California at age eight. As a neurodivergent child, they spent a year of near silence carefully observing squirrels, pigeons, and other urban wildlife, noticing how these animals adapted to a city not designed for them. 鈥淭hat began and initiated my journey in wildlife observation, wildlife tracking, and pattern recognition as a tracker,鈥� Sinopoulos-Lloyd said.

鈥淚 noticed they didn鈥檛 speak much and were highly observant,鈥� they said. 鈥淚 could relate to them and feel unmasked with them so easily.鈥�

The wildlife tracker also spoke about community care. While trailing deer in the Scablands of eastern Washington about three years ago, Sinopoulos-Lloyd came across the leg bone of a beaver at the site of an ancient lake. On closer inspection, they saw that the bone had been broken but had healed. 鈥淭hat meant this being had survived,鈥� they said.

鈥淭he reason I was so amazed was that this was a major fracture,鈥� Sinopoulos-Lloyd said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know how it happened, but it鈥檚 a sign of care. They must have been cared for and fed to recover and heal. As someone who鈥檚 disabled and chronically ill, seeing that sign of community care in the natural world touched me in such a profound way.鈥�

P谋nar Ate艧 Sinopoulos-Lloyd (left) shares their experiences with Mayor Deanna Reed. Mukarabe (right), a conflict transformation student at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, performs djembe to close out Friday’s show.

Mornings with the Mayor also included a viewing of the trailer for Bloom, a documentary by filmmaker and Visual and Communication Arts professor Elizabeth Miller-Derstine. The follows four birth workers making reproductive care safer and more accessible in their community. A screening of the film will be held at 8 p.m. on Monday, April 13, in Suter Science Center 106.

The event concluded with a djembe musical performance by Mukarabe, a conflict transformation student at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. She shared her life story, from escaping the genocide in Burundi and coming to the United States to enrolling at 91短视频. 鈥淣ow I鈥檓 here for my third master鈥檚 degree,鈥� she told the crowd. 鈥淣ot just for the paper. I鈥檓 studying conflict transformation because where I come from, it is needed.鈥�

Those attending Mornings with the Mayor were treated to a complimentary drink, the Sunrise Refresher (a dragonfruit, mango, and raspberry lemonade), crafted by the talented baristas at Common Grounds Coffeehouse.

Sinopoulos-Lloyd, one of the seven professionals featured on the Inclusivity in Science Mural inside Suter Science Center, spent the full day on campus. They joined students, faculty, and staff for a lunchtime discussion, then gave a talk and signed their portrait during the mural鈥檚 dedication ceremony later that afternoon.

The summit will be held at 91短视频’s Suter Science Center (1194 Park Road, Harrisonburg, Virginia) with events starting at 9 a.m. It aims to bring together students, educators, and community members to explore undergraduate research, innovative initiatives, and real-world solutions.

Students will attend from Sustainable Shenandoah Valley’s five member institutions: Blue Ridge Community College, Bridgewater College, 91短视频, James Madison University, and Mary Baldwin University.

鈥淏y celebrating the impactful work already happening across the region, this event seeks to inspire new ideas, partnerships, and pathways toward a more just and sustainable future,鈥� the summit鈥檚 website says.

A schedule on the website lists presentations by local students and officials, posters and networking opportunities, and a keynote speech by John C. Jones.

Jones is an assistant professor in the School of Life Sciences and Sustainability at Virginia Commonwealth University. His main research interests surround the intersection of urban food system development, urban food insecurity, local governance, and the challenges facing America鈥檚 cities. In recent years, he has begun to research interventions to mitigate college student food insecurity. 

91短视频 students Ciela Acosta, Kate Stutzman, Jenna Oostland, and Tara Cahill are among those who will deliver presentations at the summit.

Acosta will present on examples of campus organizing and advocacy that have taken place on 91短视频鈥檚 campus, including bell ringing for Palestine and direct action for sustainability, according to the summit’s website. Her presentation will include an empowerment discussion for students to be able to notice where inequity is present on their own campuses and be able to effectively and peacefully call for change.

Stutzman, Oostland, and Cahill will lead a comprehensive analysis of 91短视频’s carbon emissions for the 2024-25 academic year in accordance to the university’s climate goals. Emissions from a number of sources are considered including, but not limited to, food production and waste, purchased electricity, natural gas, fertilizer and pesticide use, student and faculty travel, and 91短视频’s solar grid.

Register for the summit .

For more information, visit the event鈥檚 website .

Nearly four years after its final brushstroke was applied, the Inclusivity in Science Mural inside the Suter Science Center will get its long-awaited dedication ceremony on Friday, March 27.

The ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. in SSC 106 with a 30-minute talk led by Pinar Ate艧 Sinopoulos-Lloyd, one of the seven people featured on the mural. Sinopoulos-Lloyd (they/them) is an Indigenous eco-philosopher, artist, and wildlife tracker, and will speak about the way their work connects science and art with sustainability.

Following the talk, Nicole Litwiller 鈥�19, MACT 鈥�20 will host a panel conversation with Sinopoulos-Lloyd, mural artist and alumna Veronica Horst 鈥�23, a current 91短视频 science student, and Tara Kishbaugh, dean of faculty and student success. The program will also include reflections from Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus and Jenny Burden, executive director of the Arts Council of the Valley.

A formal dedication of the mural will proceed shortly after 5 p.m., with Sinopoulos-Lloyd signing their portrait. The event is open to the public and will include light refreshments.

91短视频 the mural

During the spring of 2022, students involved in 91短视频鈥檚 Art Club and the Earthkeepers group wanted to make the Suter Science Center more welcoming and reflective of who contributes to the sciences, said Dawn Neil, coordinator for the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

鈥淭hey noticed two things: the space felt visually sterile, and the sciences have historically centered white male voices while overlooking women, scientists of color, and queer scientists,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey wanted to highlight those hidden figures.鈥�

Work on the mural, funded by an Inclusive Excellence Grant made possible by the generous support of Jose Koshy 鈥�76 and Jean Koshy-Hertzler 鈥�79, began that semester. 91短视频 students Veronica Horst 鈥�23, Asha Beck 鈥�22, Grace Harder 鈥�23, Molly Piwonka 鈥�23, Afton Rhodes-Lehman 鈥�24, and Jake Myers 鈥�22 served as co-leaders at various stages of the project.

鈥淪TEM is a field in which, historically, gaining recognition and representation has been challenging for non-white, non-male, and non-heteronormative cisgender individuals,鈥� reads an artist statement for the project. 鈥淭his mural is intended to be a joyful statement of representation, emphasizing that we have, are, and will continue to make a significant impact on the world.鈥�

鈥淲e want to recognize and celebrate these individuals and their contributions to the academic world,鈥� the statement continues. 鈥淥ur hope is that women, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), and LGBTQIA+ individuals at 91短视频 will experience a positive impact through increased awareness of successful individuals like themselves in STEM.鈥�

The project leaders distributed a campus-wide survey to students, faculty, and staff asking whom they would like to see depicted on the mural and then took a vote to determine who those seven figures would be.

The mural features seven professionals who have made and/or are making an impact in STEM-related fields and are queer and/or BIPOC women. In addition to Sinopoulos-Lloyd, the portraits depict chemist Asima Chatterjee, mathematician Gladys West, mathematician Katherine Johnson, arachnologist Lauren Esposito, astrophysicist Nergis Mavalvala, and admiral Rachel Levine.

For bios of each of these professionals, scroll to the bottom of this article.

Students from the Visual and Communication Arts (VACA) department designed and painted the mural. Although the project was completed during the summer of 2022, this is the first time it鈥檚 officially been dedicated, said Neil.

With sustainability serving as the university theme for the 2025-26 academic year, it seemed like the perfect time and Sinopoulos-Lloyd the ideal guest to help make it happen.

鈥淭heir work challenges the idea of what science is,鈥� said Neil. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e exploring how the environment connects with things visually, artistically, and also scientifically. It鈥檚 a different side of science, one rooted in global and community contexts rather than a strictly data-driven one.鈥�

鈥淭hey would fit in perfectly as a student here,鈥� she added. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 exciting is that their values really align with ours.鈥�

91短视频 the speaker

Sinopoulos-Lloyd is an artist and scientist known for their powerful work at the intersection of sustainability, science, and art. They are the co-founder of Queer Nature, an interdisciplinary project focused on ecology, identity, and decolonization. Their work has been featured in The Guardian and The New York Times and archived by the Library of Congress. They lecture nationally at institutions including Stanford University, Colorado College, and the Guggenheim Museum.

In 2020, they were honored with the Audubon National Society鈥檚 National Environmental Champion award, as well as the R.I.S.E. Indigenous 2020 Art & Poetry Fellowship.

For more information, visit their website at . 

Sinopoulos-Lloyd will participate in several events throughout the day on Friday, March 27. In addition to the mural dedication, they will serve as a panelist at the second annual Mornings with the Mayor, a special edition of Convocation hosted by Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed, director of alumni engagement and community connections, at 10:15 a.m. in the University Commons Student Union. 

They will also meet with students, faculty, and staff for a lunchtime discussion in the West Dining Room of Northlawn Dining Hall at noon.

Sinopoulos-Lloyd is one of seven people featured on the Inclusivity in Science Mural, located on the second floor of the Suter Science Center south of SSC 106 (Swartzendruber Hall). Biographies of each of the people featured on the mural are included below.

Members of the Class of 2025 Micaiah Landis, Adam Stoltzfus, Laura Benner, Hellena Gebremedhin, Lleyton Stutzman, and Rebecca Tezazu, guided by faculty mentor Stefano Colafranceschi, spent hundreds of hours during the past school year restoring and improving the Spitz A-4 planetarium projector at 91短视频鈥檚 Suter Science Center. The projector, originally installed in 1968 when the science center was built, has spent most of its time in storage since the M.T. Brackbill Planetarium closed in 2007. 

On Tuesday, April 29, the engineering team unveiled the product of their hard work with a planetarium show鈥攖he first in more than 15 years, according to Stutzman鈥攁ttended by about two-dozen guests. Titled 鈥淪tars for a Night in Spring,鈥� the show was adapted from a program first performed by former planetarium director John Horst 鈥�60 and featured synthesizer music he composed. As the lights cut off inside the Discovery Room, the domed ceiling transformed into a sea of stars, while members of the team pointed out constellations and shared the legends behind them.

Guests included past and present STEM faculty, staff, and alumni with ties to the planetarium. Joan Horst 鈥�66, who recalled watching shows there as a student, said she hadn鈥檛 seen one since her late husband, Professor Emeritus John Horst, retired nearly 20 years ago. 鈥淚鈥檓 amazed they were able to convert it from electronic to computer controls,鈥� she said of the restoration project.

For Joe Mast 鈥�64, longtime professor and planetarium director from 1986-2005, watching the stars and galaxies drift across the dome brought back memories of leading Sunday afternoon programs and teaching astronomy classes at 91短视频. 鈥淚t was a very popular class,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e had 65 seats in here, and it ran every semester, with rarely more than four or five empty seats.鈥�

A trio of alumni at the show had spent a semester in an engineering design class disassembling the projector to understand how it worked. One of those alumni, Andrew Troyer 鈥�19, said, 鈥淚t was cool to see someone take something you鈥檝e done to the next level like this.鈥�

History of the planetarium

In 1968, the Suter Science Center at 91短视频 was completed, featuring the M.T. Brackbill Planetarium and a then-state-of-the-art Spitz A-4 star projector. At the time, the projector cost about $25,000, equivalent to roughly $230,000 today when adjusted for inflation.

The projector replaced the university鈥檚 Spitz A-1 model, which had been used at the Vesper Heights planetarium atop the 91短视频 Hill since 1946. The original A-1 model is still on display in the Discovery Room. Both planetariums are said to have attracted annual crowds of up to 4,000 visitors, from astronomy students to local residents to nearby grade school students

When John Horst retired in 2007, 91短视频 was left with no prospective astronomers on the faculty to continue the planetarium鈥檚 programming. And, the 40-year-old projector had mechanical problems that would have been costly to fix or replace. As a result, the planetarium closed and the projector was lowered into storage beneath the floor. The space was converted into a classroom for workshops and a display area for large specimens, such as the giant Kodiak brown bear that stood guard above the projector in the center of the room. After renovations to the science center, the projector was brought back out and placed on a pair of tables.

Resurrecting the projector

The six students on the team installed new motors, sensors, and a Raspberry Pi mini-computer to control the movement of the projector. The large panel of switches and dials that once operated the machine has been replaced with a web application that can be accessed wirelessly from any internet-connected device. Enter a location, date, and time into the app, and the projector can simulate the night sky as it would have appeared then and there. 鈥淲e had some friends in here who were checking out the sky at the time they were born,鈥� Benner said.

The students also designed, welded, and built a custom steel-and-wood base to support the projector and allow it to be stowed away when not in use. To darken the room, they sewed heavy-duty blackout curtains to cover the many surrounding windows.

During the restoration, the xenon bulb inside the projector鈥檚 star ball broke, and students scrambled to find a replacement, eventually swapping it out for an LED bulb. In total, the team spent about $2,400 on the project.

Members of the team said their goal for the project was not only to bring the projector back to life but also to make it more accessible and user-friendly. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very easy to use,鈥� Stutzman said during a presentation at 91短视频鈥檚 ACE Festival on April 17. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to know anything about astronomy.鈥�

By documenting their work, they said future students will have a clear understanding of the projector鈥檚 inner workings and will be able to perform additional upgrades. For instance, a future engineering capstone project could focus on restoring the planet orrery, which projects five planets, the sun and Earth鈥檚 moon but is currently inoperable.

Professor Daniel King, director of 91短视频鈥檚 engineering program, said he had long kept the idea of revitalizing the planetarium in the back of his mind. When he saw the team of engineering students searching for a project, he proposed they take it on. He said there鈥檚 potential for future planetarium shows, open to community members of all ages. 鈥淚 would love for that to happen,鈥� King said.

Read more about the history of the 91短视频 planetarium below:

The stars, projected onto the dome of SSC 101鈥攆ormerly home to the M.T. Brackbill Planetarium and now part of the D. Ralph Hostetter Natural History Museum鈥攂ecame a reality thanks to recent renovations and improvements by a group of 91短视频 engineering students. For their senior capstone project, Adam Stoltzfus, Laura Benner, Hellena Gebremedhin, Micaiah Landis, Lleyton Stutzman, and Rebecca Tezazu, under the guidance of faculty mentor Stefano Colafranceschi, restored and modernized the 91短视频 planetarium projector, which was originally installed in 1968 and had been unused since 2007.

On Thursday, as part of 91短视频鈥檚 eighth annual Academic and Creative Excellence (ACE) Festival, the students presented their work and led demonstrations of the star projector. Their project was one of 32 oral presentations and 64 poster sessions, featuring more than 200 students throughout the day across campus. Poster and presentation topics covered a wide range, from the effects of energy drinks on physical activity and an analysis of homemade kombucha to the repatriation of cultural artifacts at 91短视频 and the rise of populist movements throughout history.

Click here to view the schedule from this year鈥檚 ACE Festival.

The campus-wide academic conference, held on Wednesday and Thursday, offered students the chance to learn from their peers and showcase their research, creative projects, and papers. It also provided an opportunity to continue conversations sparked by the university鈥檚 annual Common Read. 

91短视频 President Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman, providing opening remarks before the keynote address on Wednesday, discussed how fitting the festival’s name is. 鈥淚 love that acronym,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e have many 鈥楢CE鈥� scholars at 91短视频, both among the student body and faculty.鈥�

Author David Williams delivers keynote

The ACE Festival kicked off on Wednesday morning with the keynote by the Rev. Dr. David Williams, whose novel When the English Fall served as the 91短视频 Common Read for the 2024-25 school year. Written as the diary of an Amish farmer near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the novel follows him as he tries to protect his family and way of life in the wake of a catastrophic solar storm that brings about the collapse of modern civilization. It was one of Amazon鈥檚 top 100 books of 2017, was selected as a New York Times Book Review Editor鈥檚 Choice, and was nominated for the 2019 International Dublin Literary Award.

Williams, pastor of Poolesville Presbyterian Church in Maryland, read selections from his book and answered questions from moderator Dr. Marti Greene Eads, professor of English at 91短视频. In between readings, Williams spoke about the dangers of doomscrolling social media, the imaginative visions that inspired him to write his novel, and the ways in which our world, and its climate, are changing.

鈥淗as anyone had to clean Texas dust off their car recently?鈥� Williams asked the crowd at Lehman Auditorium. 鈥淚鈥檝e lived in Virginia since 1975, and I can鈥檛 ever remember that happening鈥攐r seeing skies tinged with color and clouded by smoke from northern Alberta. For those who鈥檝e lived in Virginia a while, when鈥檚 the last time you remember something like that?鈥�

Watch a recording of the keynote .

Faculty members receive Excellence in Teaching Awards

The 16th annual 91短视频 Authors鈥� Reception and Awards Presentation recognized and celebrated the winners of the university鈥檚 Excellence in Teaching Awards. Professors Chad Gusler, Hannah Ferguson, and Hilary Moore were announced as this year鈥檚 recipients. 

For testimonials about each award winner, as well as the recipients of the student writing awards, student academic awards, and the names of the 16 faculty authors recognized for their published scholarly works, click on the post below:

Senior VACA majors unveil art installations

Digital media and communication majors Oslyn Mejia Gomez, Noussaiba Garti, and Zack Furr presented their senior capstone projects at the Margaret Martin Gehman Gallery and Lee Eshleman Studio Theater during an opening reception on Thursday afternoon. Inspired by street art, graffiti, and paintings of Christian icons, Mejia Gomez used wheatpaste to affix portraits he captured with a fisheye lens. Garti drew from cinema set design and crime scene storytelling to create an installation that explores personal growth and the journey of overcoming self-destructive habits. Furr incorporated photography and interviews with survivors of sexual assault to share their stories with empathy.

At the exhibition, Professor Jerry Holsopple announced 91短视频 junior Jasmin Ruiz as the recipient of the Matthew Alan Styer Scholarship Grant, awarded for “exceptional skill and dedication in design and/or photography.”

Matthew Alan Styer 鈥�05, a graduate of 91短视频鈥檚 Visual and Communication Arts (VACA) program, worked for 91短视频鈥檚 marketing and communications department as a videographer, designer and photographer until 2008. The scholarship endowment honors the memory of Styer, who died from leukemia at age 30 in 2011.

The sound of musical excellence

A student recital at Lehman Auditorium featured performances from vocalists Elie Hoover (soprano), Erin Batten (soprano), Eli Stoll (baritone), Mac Rhodes-Lehman (bass), trombonist Caden Bradley and pianist Fernando Sanchez. Student musicians were accompanied on piano by Harold Bailey. 

Posters made perfect

The winners of this year鈥檚 STEM Celebration poster competition are: 

Independent research division

• First place: Abigail Forrest, Maria Longenecker, Elaine Miranda Perez, and Marciella Shallomita
  Knockdown of Cox6b (Complex IV) and ATPsyn饾湻L (Complex V) of the electron transport chain in Glutamate Neurons increases sleep and lifespan of Drosophila
• Second place: Aja Laun, Malachi Peachey-Stoner, and Ella Richer
  Improved methods of eDNA detection of salamanders using probe-based qPCR analysis
• Third place: Iris Anderson, Daisy Hamsher, and Sarah Peak
  Emotional regulation, bullying, and mental health: Exploring the interplay and outcomes in college students

Projects division

• First place: Micaiah Landis, Adam Stoltzfus, and Lleyton Stutzman
  Design and control of a low-cost inverted pendulum system
• Second place: Mariana Acosta and Levi Stutzman
  Bridging communities: Constructing a suspended footbridge in Eswatini

Upperclass division

• First place: M Lashway and Ben Perkin
  Effects of D. stramonium on C. elagans behavior and motility
• Second place: Seungmin Cha, Elaine Miranda Perez, and Whitney Showalter
  Analysis of homemade kombucha
• Third place: Alex Belisle, Maria Longenecker, and Kate Stutzman
  Physiological response to pain: Male and female pain tolerance under cold stress

General chemistry division

• First place: Bennett de Tenley and Emily Donovan
  Comparing the antioxidant capacity of store-bought vs farmer’s market fruits
• Second place: Apekshya Karki and Isaac Miller
  Race to relief: Which tablet dissolves faster-gel or firm tablet?
• Third place: Ephrata Amare and Melissa Miller
  How does the pH of a beverage affect ibuprofen dissolution?

The posters from STEM disciplines (biology, chemistry, environmental science, psychology, biomedicine, and engineering) were judged by an interdisciplinary panel of 91短视频 STEM faculty, with winners selected in the four divisions. 

Toys for tykes

Students in the Nursing Care of Children course designed and built toys tailored to the gross and fine motor skills, social skills, and cognitive development of an infant or child of the assigned age, aiming to engage each area of growth through play. Those students were Odesa Elezi, Elijah Spicher, Abigail Foltz, and Gabriella Seal.

Swipe through the photo gallery below for more pictures from the 2025 ACE Festival.

Thanks to everyone who contributed their time and efforts to making the festival a success, including Kirsten Beachy, ACE Festival Chair, and Diane Farrar, ACE Festival Coordinator, 91短视频鈥檚 Language and Literature Program, Convocation at 91短视频, Clay Showalter, Daniel House, Aramark staff, Shannon Grinnan and Pioneer College Caterers. Additional thanks to the many faculty mentors and session moderators and to those who helped set up poster shows, administrative support staff, anyone who provided festival assistance, and to everyone who presented and shared their work!

Photos by Macson McGuigan/91短视频 and Jon Styer/At Ease Design & Consulting

Become an advocate 鈥� voice your support with community and business leaders; encourage others to join the conversation; offer your prayerful support for this project and for 91短视频 students, faculty and staff.

Pledge your support 鈥� consider a multi-year commitment to achieve a gift of significance; consider a gift of appreciated securities to leverage your impact for this campaign. Make a one-time gift 鈥� contact us at 540-432-4203 or visit our giving page at .

A variety of naming opportunities are available, and can be used to honor a loved one, a family, or a beloved professor. For more information, contact Kirk Shisler, vice president for advancement at 540-432-4203.

Each year at 91短视频, dozens of expert scientists visit campus to share their insights. Some focus on their cutting-edge research and work in the field, and some share perspectives on social reform and sustainability in the context of science. See more at: .

And in participating in the Spring STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Celebration poster session in the , Stoner practiced a few more practical skills he will need: graphic design and public speaking.

Stoner and partner Sarah Carpenter were winners of the upperclass division for their research titled 鈥淏ergton Stream Restoration: Stream Health Assessment Using Macroinvertebrate Sampling.鈥�

The poster session, which is preceded by an informal multidisciplinary science quiz-off and pizza feast, offers students 鈥渁 chance to share their research with fellow students, faculty, and the larger 91短视频 community in a fun, social setting,鈥� says physics professor , who judged the contest with biology professor .

Poster sessions are commonly held at scientific conferences, in which 鈥渟cientists and students present and explain their own findings to those who are interested but are not necessarily experts in that field,鈥� said King, who is also an assistant professor in the program.

Posters were judged on quality of experimental design, quality of research analysis, and quality of presentation, said Herin, also with the biomedicine program. 鈥淭he presentation included the appearance, accuracy and clarity of the poster, as well as the presenters鈥� knowledge and explanation of the project.鈥�

Coursework and independent study represented

91短视频鈥檚 poster session featured more than 90 participants showcasing research from a variety of courses such as electronics, general chemistry, organic chemistry, statistics for natural sciences, and environmental toxicology. Students in Herin鈥檚 advanced human anatomy class (BIO 437) also contributed 3-D visualizations of body systems.

Carpenter and Stoner were among several students presenting water quality research in the nearby Bergton area as part of . Biology professors and are supervising teams of environmental sustainability students working on water quality monitoring and stream restoration in two tributaries of the Shenandoah River and the Chesapeake Bay, with other facets of the project involving and graduate students.

Students in professor 鈥檚 general chemistry class focused on phytoremediation of a variety of plants, including carrots, forsythia, corn, cattails, and radishes.

Professor 鈥檚 statistics class explored the widest range of topics, including electronic devices owned by students; the fuel economy of cars driven by 91短视频 faculty and staff versus those driven by James Madison University faculty and staff; cereal shelf placement based on sugar and price at Food Lion and Kroger; sustainability effectiveness in 91短视频 residence halls; and a statistical analysis of the 鈥淪ettlers of Catan鈥� game.

Two unique projects with professor Steve Cessna explored the rhetoric of science and instructional techniques in the science classroom. In their plant ecophysiology course, Hannah Chappell-Dick, Eli Wenger, and Emma Beachy analyzed plant physiology research literature for changes in the 鈥渁ssignment of agency.鈥� For his biochemistry research course project, Kyle Storc investigated student comprehension and retention of biochemistry topics through the use of two-dimensional tools.

Several posters were the result of independent research that students conducted with faculty members. Camille Williams worked with biology professor to analyze the effects of fermented milk supplementation on gut microbacteria in mice.

Rachel King, who will be a research assistant on this summer, worked under chemistry professor on 鈥淎 Mixed Methods Approach to Green Chemistry Knowledge Gains in the Organic Laboratory.鈥� Kishbaugh also worked with Ben Stern, who studied the effects of barium toxicity on zebrafish.

Underclass winner links research to upcoming internship

Amanda Williams and Nader Alqahtani paired up to win the underclass division with their project that compared phytoremediation between native and invasive species.

For Williams, a first-year biology and secondary education major, the research project reminded her of how much she cares about the environment.

鈥淚 live in the wetlands in Delaware, surrounded by the plants we were experimenting on, cattail and phragmites,鈥� she said, adding that she鈥檒l continue her research in a summer internship with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important to understand the possible negative effects of invasive species, but also to know that sometimes they are just as important as native species.鈥�

Alqahtani, a sophomore biology major who is interested in medical research, said the hands-on learning experience 鈥渨as a more fun and exciting way to learn than reading and studying.鈥�

And the presentation? That was 鈥渢he exciting part,鈥� he said, even though English is his second language. 鈥淲e were聽confident that we knew everything about our project and we trusted each other’s ability to make a perfect presentation 鈥� when we started presenting and I saw how well we were doing, I got comfortable and started to enjoy telling our audience about our research.鈥�

Poster Session Winners: Upperclass Division

1st: Bergton Stream Restoration: Stream Health Assessment Using Macroinvertebrate Sampling – Sarah Carpenter and Sam Stoner

2nd: Keyless Entry – Stephan Goertzen and Jordan Leaman

3rd: Bergton Stream Restoration: Ecological Monitoring Using Wood Turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) – Jonathan Drescher-Lehman and Ryan Keiner

Honorable Mention: An ecophysiological study determining how three different invasive evergreen vines handle the varying winter temperatures by measuring their photosynthesis, transpiration, and Fv/Fm levels – Jonathan Drescher-Lehman, Chris Miller, and Abby Pennington

Honorable Mention: The Effects of Barium Toxicity on Zebrafish (Danio rerio) – Ben Stern

Poster Session Winners: Underclass Division

1st: 聽Comparing Phytoremediation between Native and Invasive Species – Nader Alqahtani and Amanda Williams

2nd:聽聽Phytoremediation in Forsythia – Tyler Denlinger and Jeremiah Robinson

3rd: Electronic Devices Owned by 91短视频 Students – Sammy Kauffman, Josh Miller, and Roy Ruan

Honorable Mention: Phytoremediation in Various Plants – Aaron Dunmore and Kat Lehman

Shantz had two choices: tear it down or renovate it. After consulting with, as Shantz puts it, 鈥渢he one-man maintenance department of Gordie Shantz,鈥� the decision was made.

Under his direction, youth group volunteers gutted the building, put on a fresh coat of paint, and turned it into a storage shed. The oldest permanent structure at Highland Retreat still stands.

This is a common problem among many camps with long histories and old buildings, Shantz realized. Maintenance teams must keep an eye on budgets and eco-friendly choices, while still being sensitive to architectural history.

Thus came the origin of a recent workshop, 鈥淣ew Wine in Old Wineskins,鈥� for maintenance teams from camps in the eastern region of the (MCA). The informative visit to 91短视频 to learn about sustainability initiatives was facilitated by Ed Lehman, assistant physical plant director.

MCA, which was founded in 1960, is, 鈥渁 clearinghouse for directing and promoting Christian camping among Anabaptist/Mennonite conferences and congregations around the United States and Canada.鈥� Thirty-one North American camps are members, including Camp Men-O-Lan, the first Mennonite camp, located near Quakertown, Pennsylvania.

While the scale of 91短视频鈥檚 renovations are much larger than that required by the camps, 91短视频 representatives, including building automation coordinator Greg Sachs ’03 and sustainability coordinator l ’00, could provide general trends that translate to a smaller scale.

After a Powerpoint presentation highlighting significant renovation projects at Roselawn, Suter Science Center, and the two LEED-certified dormitories, participants had a brisk discussion about issues related to their specific facilities: , which first began hosting guests in 1935, in New York; Highland Retreat, dating from 1958; and the newest facility to be represented, in Toano, Virginia, which started in 1984. A representative from also attended.

Camp Deerpark, which includes new buildings as well as some older structures that predate the current organization by several years, has a heating system fueled by a large wood stove and generators that run on overdrive during the cold northern winters, said maintenance director Sean McConaghay.

Among the valuable bits of information that Shantz gleaned from the visit is 91短视频鈥檚 20 percent cost model on new projects. For example, if a new building costs $100, then renovation for an old building should only be considered if the total cost is $80 or less.

Shantz also favored 91短视频鈥檚 five-to-seven-year payback model, in which new equipment is expected to return the investment within a range of five to seven years.

For Shantz and others involved in the important but often overlooked job of keeping camps functioning and aesthetically attractive, the time to sit down, learn and share with other professionals was valuable 鈥� regardless of whether the discussion was about replacing a lightbulb, he said, or installing new toilets.

As is the case with some rural camps, the opportunity to acquire adjacent new property sometimes comes with old buildings 鈥� and a price tag. That is the case at Highland Retreat, which has recently been offered a nearby property at a favorable price, but with an old but solid building that may need renovation. Shantz has formed a committee to discuss potential uses, he said, adding that 91短视频鈥檚 sustainability initiatives could be a helpful model for Highland Retreat in this instance, and in any future construction project.

, assistant professor of biology at 91短视频, intends to learn more with the help of a $100,000 grant from the . The grant, awarded to full-time faculty members hired within the past seven years at Virginia colleges and universities, supports 鈥渙ne-year pilot studies that encourage the development of innovative interdisciplinary strategies.鈥� Ten projects received funding during the 2014 grant cycle.

Halterman joined the 91短视频 faculty in 2012 after earning a PhD in pharmacology from the University of Virginia. She teaches in the undergraduate and in the .

Halterman鈥檚 research, which focuses on the effects of a salty diet on organ function at the molecular level, will begin in the spring. She is specifically interested in a protein called NFAT5.

鈥淲hen salt is applied to cells in a dish, a protein known as NFAT5 is activated to turn on genes that protect cells from damage,鈥� Halterman said. 鈥淗owever, this protein is also known to turn on genes involved in disease.鈥�

Halterman wants to know more about how this effect occurs in living animals rather than cells. She will put rats on different levels of salt diets for six weeks, monitor blood pressure, and measure changes in NFAT5 levels in different organs of the body.

The goal is to 鈥減rovide insight for future drug development and treatment of hypertension,鈥� she said.

Grant funding will be used to purchase several pieces of high-tech equipment to conduct molecular biology research. The equipment includes a quantitative, real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) machine, spectrophotometer, and a special non-invasive device to measure rat blood pressure, all of which will also be used by students in upper-level courses at 91短视频.

Other grant funds are designated to hire student assistants. This summer, senior biology majors Rachel King and Jason Spicher will receive stipends to work alongside Halterman. 鈥淚n future semesters, both undergraduate biology students and graduate biomedicine students will be recruited to continue the research with the samples generated this summer,鈥� Halterman said.

The research project will take advantage of 91短视频鈥檚 newly renovated labs and animal facilities. Suter Science Center, built in 1968, is currently undergoing the final phase of a $7.3-million lab renovation project, with efforts underway to raise an additional $3.3 million for renovations to the western wing of the building.

The renovated building includes state-of-the-art facilities for 91短视频鈥檚 three-year-old graduate program in biomedicine. A member of the program鈥檚 leadership team, Halterman instructs many of graduate-level courses, including 鈥淗uman Gross and Microscopic Anatomy,鈥� held in the .

Halterman earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in biology from Texas A&M University in 2006 and a master鈥檚 in biological and physical sciences from the University of Virginia in 2008.

Each year at 91短视频, dozens of expert scientists visit campus to share their insights. Some focus on their cutting edge research and work in the field, and some share perspectives on social reform and sustainability in the context of science. See more at: http://www.emu.edu/science-seminars