The recipient of 91大神鈥檚 2025 Outstanding Young Alum Award, the Rev. Brittany 鈥淪mash鈥� Caine-Conley MDiv 鈥�14, will teach trauma and resilience studies at Eastern Mennonite Seminary this fall.

She will also teach at 91大神鈥檚 Center for Justice and Peacebuilding and work with the Seminary Extended grant in collaboration with Union Presbyterian Seminary and Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

An ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, Caine-Conley grew up in Harrisonburg and described returning to teach at 91大神 as 鈥渁 dream.鈥�

鈥�91大神 attends to the fact that students are whole people, and it鈥檚 a gift for me to be part of an institution that understands that and strives toward educating the whole person,鈥� she said. 鈥溾�here seems to be a concerted effort to prepare students to engage with what is really a complex and challenging society in ways that are both nuanced and hopeful.鈥�

The pastor, organizer, and leader in movement chaplaincy has extensive experience supporting communities through crisis, healing, and transformation. She was instrumental in founding and leading Congregate Charlottesville, which helped faith communities respond to collective trauma in the aftermath of white supremacist violence in 2017. In recognition of her work, she was honored by the National Council of Churches as a co-recipient of the President鈥檚 Award for Excellence in Faithful Leadership.

She said her experiences in a class on racial healing and whiteness, taught by Dr. David Evans, while she was a seminary student, were especially formative.

鈥淭hat was where I began, for the first time in my life, to examine white supremacy culture and the limitations of certain types of allyship,鈥� Caine-Conley said. 鈥淚t was that foundation that allowed me to move into organizing toward a different orientation, one of embodying anti-racist solidarity.鈥�

The Rev. Dr. Sarah Ann Bixler, dean of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, said Caine-Conley brings a dynamic combination of academic scholarship, pastoral leadership, trauma-informed community care, and social justice engagement.

鈥淎s an alumna of Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Rev. Caine-Conley remains deeply connected to our mission of peacebuilding and transformative education,鈥� Bixler said.

Caine-Conley is currently completing her PhD in religious studies from the University of Denver and Iliff School of Theology, where her research explores the intersections of theology, identity, power, social transformation, and human experience. She served as adjunct faculty at Iliff, teaching courses on identity, power, vocation, and community engagement. Prior to doctoral studies, she gained valuable pastoral experience through church planting, worship ministry, and ministering with university students.

鈥淲e look forward to the pastoral wisdom, experience in faith community organizing, and compassionate leadership she will bring to our students and campus this fall,鈥� Bixler said.

Learn more about Eastern Mennonite Seminary at emu.edu/seminary.

Ande Banks 鈥�97, city manager of Harrisonburg since 2022, says leading the place where he grew up comes with its own unique challenges.

For one thing, there are the childhood nicknames that haven鈥檛 been forgotten. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e walking down the street and someone calls out, 鈥楬ey, there goes Andy-Pandy,鈥� it鈥檚 like, 鈥楧o you really need to say that out loud?鈥欌�� Banks said.

Then there are the neighbors and parents of friends who remember the bouts of youthful mischief he and his buddies got into as kids. From swimming in local quarries to setting off firecrackers on Main Street, “it wasn’t anything too scandalous,” he said. Still, those encounters can feel a little awkward.

But for Banks, who has called Harrisonburg home since he was four, serving as city manager is a dream job.

鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 imagine myself anywhere else,鈥� he said.

A graduate of Eastern Mennonite School, he later earned a bachelor’s degree in history and social science from 91大神 in 1997 and a master’s of public administration from James Madison University in 2017.

Friendships with faculty

Banks didn鈥檛 need much convincing to enroll at 91大神.

As a soccer player at Eastern Mennonite School, he already knew then-Royals men鈥檚 soccer coach Roger Mast, who had coached the EMS team during his sophomore year and welcomed him on the 91大神 squad. Many of his friends also were planning to attend 91大神.

Shortly after beginning his studies at 91大神, Banks formed close relationships with professors, including his adviser, Dr. Albert N. Keim, a longtime history professor, academic dean, and namesake of the history department鈥檚 annual Keim Lecture Series. 鈥淚 absolutely adored him,鈥� Banks said. 鈥淏etween him and Dr. Mary Sprunger, who still teaches at 91大神, I had amazing one-on-one relationships with professors who I hold in great esteem.鈥�

Banks, a goalkeeper for the Royals soccer team, dropped the sport after his first year to focus more on his coursework. He acknowledged that he had not prioritized academics in high school and credited his relationships with professors with helping him flourish.

He recalled being fascinated as Dr. Keim, 鈥渁 kind of grandfather figure,鈥� shared his experiences as a conscientious objector, which stood in stark contrast to his own grandfather鈥檚 stories of fighting in World War II.

His grandfather had emigrated from Scotland. Banks spent a semester there for his intercultural, touring the country, reading history texts, and journaling for Dr. Keim.

鈥淭hat was a really important experience in my college career and as a human being,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was life-changing.鈥�

Served city since 2009

It鈥檚 been a slow and steady rise to the top of city government for Banks, who has worked for the City of Harrisonburg for nearly two decades. He served as director of special projects and grant management from 2009-16 before becoming assistant to then-City Manager Kurt Hodgen from 2016-17 and deputy city manager from 2017-22. He was appointed city manager following a nationwide search on Oct. 25, 2022.

As , Banks carries out City Council鈥檚 policies and directives, prepares the budget, recruits and supervises city staff, oversees daily operations across departments, advises council members, facilitates communication among elected officials, employees and residents, and serves on numerous local and regional boards.

Given that range of responsibilities, no two days are the same, Banks said, 鈥渁nd that鈥檚 one of the things I love about it.鈥�

When Banks was named city manager, Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed, then a member of 91大神’s Board of Trustees, offered a strong endorsement.

鈥淲hat makes you unique and special is your heart,鈥� Reed told Banks. 鈥淵ou have a heart of service. You are a servant, and you love this community, you really do. … You are exactly what we need at this time for this city,鈥� reported at the time.

91大神 teaches 鈥榮ervice above self鈥�

Banks credited 91大神鈥檚 mission and vision with preparing him and other graduates for lives of service.

鈥淏oth in the curriculum and in the culture of Eastern Mennonite, it prepares us as alumni to go forth into the world and not just make a difference, but be conscious and conscientious citizens of the world,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 feel that the perspective that was shared with me at 91大神 I鈥檝e taken forth, and that is certainly one of service above self.鈥�

Since graduating, he鈥檚 regularly returned to campus, connecting with programs such as the Intensive English Program and speaking with classes about public service. Banks said one of his favorite parts of the job is helping students and community members understand the role of local government and how it shapes everyday life. From 2001-09, he served as district representative for former U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke, and recalled the congressman鈥檚 description of local government as 鈥渇ront-seat politics.鈥�

鈥淵our constituents literally come out and sit in the front row and stare you down when you鈥檙e debating important issues in front of the community,鈥� Banks said. 鈥淗ere, in local government, you run into your constituents in the grocery store, at church, at school, at soccer games, and that gives you an opportunity to talk about the importance of the services we provide and the needs of our community.鈥�

Royals reign

Another benefit of working in local government is his close relationship with other 91大神 alumni serving in leadership roles across the region.

Since becoming the first refugee elected to Harrisonburg City Council in 2024, Nasser Alsaadun MA 鈥�17 (education) has advocated for local refugee and immigrant communities. In Harrisonburg City Public Schools, alumni athletes Missy Hensley 鈥�92 and Ryan Henschel 鈥�15 serve as principals of Harrisonburg and Rocktown high schools, respectively.

In neighboring Rockingham County, Casey Armstrong 鈥�06 has served as county administrator since January 2025. Matt Dale MA 鈥�16 (organizational leadership) represents District 3 on the Board of Supervisors, and Kirby Dean 鈥�92 serves as the county鈥檚 director of parks and recreation.

Banks said collaboration between the city and county governments is especially strong because of their shared services, including social services, the health department, the emergency communications center, and the court system.

鈥淎ll of that means greater savings for our taxpayers and greater efficiencies in providing those services to the residents of Harrisonburg and Rockingham,鈥� Banks said. 鈥淎nd that means Casey [Armstrong] and I work much more closely than other colleagues in city-county relationships around the commonwealth.鈥�

Looking toward the future

Banks said it鈥檚 an exciting time for Harrisonburg. The city鈥檚 metropolitan statistical area, which also includes Rockingham County, is one of only a few in Virginia that has experienced continued growth over the past 20 years, he said.

While Harrisonburg faces challenges common to growing cities, including a need for more affordable housing, he said its two universities, regional medical center, and role as a commercial hub position it well for continued growth and long-term success.

鈥淚 think the future is as bright as the past, if anything,鈥� he said.

Banks lives in Harrisonburg with his wife, Jennifer, a JMU alumna, and their two children, Brigid and Al. When he isn鈥檛 actively running the city, he stays active, running through the city鈥攐ften with a baseball cap slipped on.

鈥淚 put on a hat and all of a sudden nobody knows who I am,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e like, 鈥楾hat couldn鈥檛 be Ande, because he鈥檚 bald.鈥� It鈥檚 like I turn into a superhero.鈥�

In addition to his degrees from 91大神 and JMU, Banks attended the Senior Executive Institute at the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service in 2019 and achieved a certificate in local government management from Virginia Tech in 2013. He is a member of the International City/County Management Association, the Virginia Local Government Management Association, and the American Society for Public Administration.

This story appears in the summer 2026 issue of Crossroads magazine.

As Downtown Harrisonburg prepares to celebrate America鈥檚 250th anniversary with a free concert and fireworks spectacular Thursday, Cassidy Walker 鈥�25 is helping bring one of the city’s biggest summer events to life.

The Visual and Communication Arts (VACA) graduate has served as development manager for Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance () since January, where she builds and strengthens relationships with donors, sponsors, and local businesses to advance the nonprofit鈥檚 mission.

She spoke with 91大神 News about her love for Downtown Harrisonburg, the lessons she brought from 91大神, and the city鈥檚 鈥渂iggest fireworks show yet.鈥�

How did you end up working for Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance?

I fell in love with Downtown Harrisonburg, and I couldn鈥檛 really leave it. HDR is actually one of the reasons I fell in love with it.

Through the VACA program at 91大神, I also worked with downtown business owners, so I already understood the impact HDR was making. Then someone I knew told me, 鈥淵ou鈥檇 be great at this job. You love talking to people, and you鈥檇 really excel in this role.鈥�

During my interview, I talked about how much I admired what HDR was doing and how my experiences at 91大神, from admissions to VACA and working with students, had prepared me for this role. Thankfully, I got the job.

What鈥檚 been your favorite part of the job?

I love talking to people. Being able to make these amazing connections with business owners, sponsors, and community partners is my favorite part of what I do.

91大神 taught me how to build meaningful relationships and have genuine conversations with people. Those skills have carried over directly into this role, and now I get to use them every day.

You mentioned falling in love with Downtown Harrisonburg. What do you love most about it?

Like 91大神, Downtown Harrisonburg is incredibly community-oriented. People just care about one another and want to see each other succeed. That鈥檚 something I experienced at 91大神, and when I got to know downtown and the people behind HDR, I saw that same spirit among the business owners and community partners. They really support one another, and that鈥檚 something special.

Since starting this job, what鈥檚 been your favorite moment so far?

I鈥檝e had a lot of favorite moments, but one really stands out.

One of our sponsors had worked closely with the previous development manager, and I was terrified walking into that first meeting. It was my first sponsorship meeting, and I wasn鈥檛 sure how it would go. As we started talking, I realized they also had ties to 91大神. We talked about where I came from, why I wanted to work for HDR, and what this role meant to me.

In that moment, it clicked that I was doing exactly what I was meant to be doing. Even though I was nervous, the conversation felt natural and gave me a lot of confidence moving forward.

There鈥檚 a big event happening Thursday. What can people expect?

We鈥檙e presenting the VA250 Fireworks Celebration, which also serves as the kickoff to this year鈥檚 Levitt AMP Harrisonburg Music Series. It鈥檚 really two events in one.

We鈥檒l kick off the series with the first of seven free concerts, featuring a local opening act. There will be food vendors, kids鈥� activities, giveaways, and our biggest fireworks show yet.

It鈥檚 designed for everyone: families, friends, kids, and even dogs. Thanks to sponsors like 91大神 and Blue Ridge Insurance Services, we鈥檙e able to make this event possible and are very grateful for their support.

What are you most excited for people to experience?

The whole idea behind the Levitt AMP Music Series is building community through the shared experience of live music. I get to see that happen in real time while working with our sponsors and artists.

Watching people come together, make connections, and simply enjoy being part of the community is what I鈥檓 most excited about. That鈥檚 really what these events are all about.

91大神 is a sponsor of the VA250 Fireworks Celebration and Levitt AMP Harrisonburg Music Series.

These answers have been edited for clarity and conciseness. 

When Nate McGhee 鈥�24, MBA 鈥�26, arrived at 91大神 in the fall of 2020, it wasn鈥檛 his first time giving college the old college try. The marketing and business administration major, a key contributor to the Royals men鈥檚 volleyball team during his four seasons on the squad, had enrolled at Randolph-Macon College a couple years prior. But a string of personal hardships, combined with a lack of preparation and a limited support system, led him to flunk out after his first year.

He said the private liberal arts school, which competes with 91大神 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), might have been a good fit had he applied himself more. But he hadn鈥檛 yet developed strong study habits and, as he struggled with self-doubt, he didn鈥檛 know how or where to ask for help.

鈥淚 was keeping it all to myself, which was probably the worst thing to do,鈥� he said.

When he returned home to Newport News after being dismissed from the school, he felt lost.

鈥淚 was stuck,鈥� McGhee said. 鈥淚 was like, 鈥極K, everything you worked for isn鈥檛 coming to fruition, so what are you going to do?鈥欌��

He took his first full-time job, bussing tables and working the raw bar at a seafood and oyster restaurant near his home, while attending night classes at Thomas Nelson Community College (now known as Virginia Peninsula Community College). Though he continued playing recreational volleyball to stay sharp, the former high school standout had all but given up on competing at the collegiate level.

During a trip to Richmond to cheer on his friends and former coaches at a volleyball tournament in early 2020, opportunity came knocking. Less than 10 minutes after arriving, McGhee felt a tap on his shoulder. When he turned around, he saw Danielle Lickey, 91大神’s head men’s volleyball coach at the time.

After hearing how his volleyball career had stalled, Lickey invited him to visit campus. 鈥淲e could use someone like you,鈥� he recalled her saying.

McGhee toured campus over spring break and quickly fell in love with its picturesque mountain setting and close-knit feel. 鈥淭his is my second chance,鈥� he remembered thinking. 鈥淚 have to take it.鈥�

That fall, he transferred to 91大神 as a sophomore. Over his (2021-24), he ranks 11th all-time in career kills and earned Third-Team All-CVC honors in 2023. In the summer of 2023, he represented the United States on a team in Italy.

鈥淚 thought volleyball was over for me, but that鈥檚 how I got back into it,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f she hadn鈥檛 tapped me on the shoulder that one day, I probably wouldn鈥檛 be here [at 91大神] right now.鈥�

Nate McGhee ranks 11th all-time in career kills over his four seasons with the 91大神 men鈥檚 volleyball team (2021-24). He earned Third-Team All-CVC honors in 2023 and represented the United States on a team in Italy that summer.

Learning to lead

Off the volleyball court, McGhee found a firm footing in 91大神鈥檚 classrooms and campus community. He earned a spot on the Dean鈥檚 List, an honor given to students with a semester GPA of at least 3.75. He grew more comfortable opening up to others on campus and seeking help when needed. He credited his advisor, Dr. Jim Leaman, associate professor of business, with helping keep him on track.

鈥淚 probably wouldn鈥檛 have graduated without him,鈥� McGhee said. 鈥淗e became a mentor to me and was with me every step of the way.鈥�

He said his parents鈥� love and support also helped him persevere when times were tough. 

鈥淔or a while, I felt like I was letting them down and failing at life,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut they told me it鈥檚 what you do after failing that makes it a failure. If you stay down and give up, then you鈥檝e failed. But if you get up and learn from your mistakes, then the mistake is history.鈥�

After graduating with a degree in business administration and marketing in spring 2024, McGhee stayed at 91大神 as a graduate assistant coach for head men鈥檚 volleyball coach Omar Hoyos Aliff while pursuing his MBA, which he completed this past spring.

McGhee plans to use his degrees to build a career in sports marketing. He鈥檚 applied for positions with professional athletic organizations such as League One Volleyball.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 really what I have a passion for,鈥� he said. 鈥淓ventually, maybe five years down the line, I would love to open my own business sponsoring athletes and getting them more exposure.鈥�

While coaching was never a career path he considered as a player, his experience as a graduate assistant has shown him that he has a knack for it and genuinely enjoys it. 鈥淚 like seeing player growth,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 look at volleyball as an art. You can always build on it and learn something new.鈥�

McGhee said that multitasking, time management, and resilience are all skills he learned while at 91大神. 鈥淚鈥檝e definitely developed a lot of confidence in my craft,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have a lot of confidence before I came here in anything I did, and at 91大神 I鈥檝e learned how to lead with confidence.鈥�

When the Royals men鈥檚 volleyball team traveled to Ashland in April for the 2026 ODAC Championship match against Randolph-Macon, it was a full-circle moment for McGhee. The Yellow Jackets ultimately prevailed in the , but the match reminded him of the many times he had faced his former team, including a conference quarterfinal at Randolph-Macon during his senior year when the Royals swept the Yellow Jackets.

鈥淭hat was unreal,鈥� McGhee said. 鈥淲henever I played games there, I always did poorly because I felt there was something hanging over me. But that game, and this last game we played, really showed me how much I鈥檝e grown.鈥�

Watch Nate talk about the close-knit community and support he found at 91大神.

This story appears in the summer 2026 issue of Crossroads magazine.

For her, that moment came during the traumatic birth of her youngest child two years ago. Perez, a graduate of 91大神 at Lancaster鈥檚 Leadership and Organizational Management (LOM) program, shared that she failed out of her studies during that experience. But rather than quit, she pushed forward and kept fighting. She came back stronger, enrolling in the next cohort and earning Dean鈥檚 List honors throughout her time in the program. The road didn鈥檛 become easier, she said, but her resilience grew stronger.

That same resilience, she told the Class of 2026 graduates, lies in every single one of them. Many of them, who are nontraditional adult learners, balanced their coursework with jobs, families, and other responsibilities. 鈥淲e showed up tired, we showed up overwhelmed and stretched thin, and sometimes we showed up broken,鈥� she said. 鈥淩egardless, we still showed up.鈥�

When her mother was hospitalized and passed away in January, Perez said her classmates, who had become a support system, showed up for her. 鈥淚n one of my hardest seasons,鈥� she said, 鈥渋t was this community that reminded me I wasn鈥檛 alone.鈥�

Graduates recess following the Commencement ceremony.

Angelita Perez (left) was one of three graduates who shared their perspectives at Commencement. Dr. Jamie Mak (right), assistant vice president of academic and program growth for 91大神 at Lancaster, opens the ceremony. 

Perez was one of 21 graduates of 91大神 at Lancaster鈥檚 degree and graduate certificate programs who walked across the stage and were joyfully sent off into the world during the annual Commencement ceremony at Forest Hills Mennonite Church on Friday, May 8. This year, 91大神 at Lancaster awarded 21 undergraduate degrees, 13 graduate degrees, and 13 graduate certificates.

Dr. Jamie Mak, assistant vice president of academic and program growth for 91大神 at Lancaster, welcomed the family members, friends, and guests gathered in celebration and commended the courage and commitment shown by the graduates.

鈥淎s you leave today, you carry more than just credentials,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou carry the values that define this community: peacebuilding, social justice, service, and compassion. You are entering a world that needs those values more than ever.鈥�

91大神 at Lancaster awarded 21 undergraduate degrees, 13 graduate degrees, and 13 graduate certificates.

Graduates Will Stover (left) and Alejandro Ulloa (right) share their perspectives.

In addition to Perez, graduates Will Stover and Alejandro Ulloa shared their reflections.

Stover, a graduate of the aviation program, highlighted his cohort鈥檚 accomplishments鈥攁ccumulating over 7,000 hours of flight time in their four years together鈥攁nd shared some of the lessons they learned in the program. He encouraged graduates to 鈥渢ake the first step鈥� when presented with challenges and opportunities, continue supporting one another and 鈥渒eep 鈥檈m flying,鈥� and find the positive in times of adversity. Echoing the mantra of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight squadron, he called on graduates to embrace being 鈥済lad to be here.鈥�

鈥淭here are days that are difficult, when we feel defeated, lost, and unsure of what鈥檚 next,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here are also days that feel easy, motivating, and full of hope. The phrase 鈥楪lad to be here鈥� is a reminder that, regardless of the day, resiliency ultimately wins.鈥�

When Ulloa was growing up, he often heard his mother say, 鈥渃ada cabeza un mundo entero.鈥� That phrase, he said, translates to 鈥渆ach head is a whole world.鈥�

鈥淢y mom鈥檚 words are a consistent reminder that God created each of us with uniqueness and complexity and finds each of us worthy of love,鈥� said Ulloa, who graduated with an MA in education with a concentration in Trauma and Resilience in Educational Environments (TREE).

After teaching at Lancaster Mennonite High School for 11 years, he said God called him to a different setting about four years ago. That鈥檚 when he applied to the program at 91大神 at Lancaster to 鈥渟tay in touch with these faith-infused tenets of education and daily practice.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 so thankful for this program and its professors, who encouraged us to view our students in their entirety, to approach them with care and empathy first and foremost, and to remember that there鈥檚 an entire world in their heads,鈥� he said. Ulloa added that he leaves the program 鈥渕ore committed than ever鈥� to meet his students where they are, get to know them, and support them however he can.

91大神 at Lancaster鈥檚 Class of 2026 graduates celebrate after walking across the stage.

Lancaster Mayor Jaime Arroyo (left) delivers the Commencement address. Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus (right) offers welcome remarks during the ceremony.

Lancaster Mayor Jaime Arroyo delivered the Commencement address. A first-generation college graduate and avid runner who became the first Latino mayor in the city鈥檚 history, he spoke about the process of training for a marathon and connected it to broader lessons in life.

Preparation, he told the graduates, is both a choice and an ongoing process. 鈥淪ometimes that means taking a step back and readjusting your training plan,鈥� he said. 鈥淪ometimes it鈥檚 just a check-in with yourself that brings you back to the basics. It鈥檚 about questioning your choices and making sure you鈥檙e on the right path.鈥�

鈥淭hink deeply about your choices, find a way to quiet the noise, listen to what truly matters, and make sure the commitments you make are for the greater good,鈥� Arroyo added.

In her remarks to the graduates, Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus expressed appreciation for the ways they have shown up for one another and for the 91大神 community. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e wrestled with hard questions, you鈥檝e listened across differences, and you鈥檝e continued to pursue rigorous learning in a way that reflects both care and conviction,鈥� she said.

Kirk Shisler 鈥�81, vice president for advancement, welcomed the graduates as new members of the 91大神 Alumni Association. 鈥淵ou join some 21,000 fellow alumni who distinguish themselves as people who serve and lead with distinction locally, regionally, nationally, and around the world,鈥� he said.

Dr. Tynisha Willingham, provost and vice president of academic affairs, presented and commissioned the graduates. Dr. Dycus conferred the degrees and offered the closing blessing. Jess King 鈥�96, an 91大神 parent and member of the 91大神 Board of Trustees, led the opening invocation. Derek Kline, director of the aviation program, and Dr. Mak recognized the graduates.

In addition to King, board members Janet Lind, Gloria Diener 鈥�76, and Jane Hoober Peifer 鈥�74, MDiv 鈥�97, attended the ceremony.

Joyce Shenk Maxwell 鈥�85 had heard from family members that her uncle, Daniel Shenk 鈥�71, was a gifted storyteller. When the world went into lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, she began collecting stories from his life over phone calls, recording and transcribing their conversations, and sending them back to him to review. Somewhere along the way, those stories became the beginnings of a memoir, co-authored by the two of them and published by Pandora Press in April.

The memoir, Search for a Blessing: A Gay Man鈥檚 Journey from a Mennonite Missionary Childhood to the Streets of AIDS Activism, recounts his earliest memories growing up as the son of Mennonite missionaries in East Africa and going to boarding school at age six, and reflects on his life鈥檚 work responding to the AIDS crisis in New York City during the 1980s and 鈥�90s.

鈥淎s gay men are growing sick and dying from an illness that no one yet understands, Shenk becomes a chaplain for the disenfranchised and a founding member of Bailey House, a residence for people with AIDS,鈥� a description reads. 鈥淭his memoir is also a story of family, as Shenk grapples with a demanding father and struggles to relate to his uncomprehending siblings.鈥�

A book launch at , 76 W. Gay St., in Harrisonburg this Sunday, May 17, at 2 p.m. will feature a reading, Q&A, and book signing with Shenk and Maxwell. People can purchase a copy of the book at the event or email Maxwell for one at joyce.maxwell1@verizon.net.

Finding his calling

Shenk鈥檚 formative experiences at 91大神 and his relationships with faculty who supported and mentored him sparked a passion for advocacy work.

After a year at Pace University in New York City, the Lancaster Mennonite High School grad transferred to 91大神, where he studied sociology and became involved in student government and the Peace Club. 鈥淲e were the activists on campus at the time, in the early 鈥�70s,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e were going off to Washington D.C. for anti-Vietnam War protests, and I was deeply involved in that.鈥�

The summer between his junior and senior years at 91大神, Shenk served as an assistant chaplain at a prison in Southampton County, Virginia. There, he gained insight through interviews with inmates and discovered a growing empathy for them and other marginalized communities. He said the late professor Grant Stoltzfus, who taught church history at 91大神 for 17 years, was a major influence on his life. 鈥淗e was extremely supportive of my interest in corrections,鈥� Shenk said. 鈥淗e drove the whole way down to see me, a three- to four-hour drive.鈥�

After graduating from 91大神, Shenk continued his work as a prison chaplain and then returned to New York City, where he worked with clergy serving in city-run hospitals through the Council of Churches. 鈥淭hey were coming into contact with this new, mysterious disease,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 sort of what put me in touch with AIDS at the very beginning, relating to these chaplains who were encountering it.鈥�

Shenk was a founding member of Bailey House, which provides housing and supportive care for people living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses. He also helped form the AIDS Resource Center, which advocated for supportive and pastoral care for people with HIV/AIDS.

He graduated from Union Theological Seminary and was ordained at Judson Memorial Church, which is affiliated with the American Baptist Church and the United Church of Christ.

Maxwell, a writer and editor of biographies, also credited her 91大神 education with giving her the skills and values she needed. She majored in home economics education, and said the arts and design emphasis of the program helped her develop a career in publications and layout. 鈥�91大神 was formative in my writing,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hose aspects of maturation where you learn to be coherent and cohesive in how you communicate certainly happened at 91大神.鈥�

Their 91大神 family connections run deep. Shenk鈥檚 brother and Maxwell鈥檚 father, the late Joseph Shenk, was an Eastern Mennonite Seminary alumnus who served as campus pastor and international student advisor at 91大神, and later as co-pastor of Weavers Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg. Another of Maxwell鈥檚 uncles, the late Omar Eby, was professor emeritus of English who taught at 91大神 for nearly 30 years.

Shenk retired and moved back to Virginia in 2023. He now lives at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, near his niece and other family members.

鈥楢 very real story鈥�

Shenk said his goal for the book is not only to tell the story of what it was like to be a gay man in New York City during the early years of the AIDS epidemic, but also to share a message of God鈥檚 love and to humanize LGBTQ+ people. 鈥淚 hope it helps people become more open to their lives,鈥� he said.

In his praise for the book, historian and author John L. Ruth writes that, while 鈥渁voiding the tone of any official echo chamber, Dan Shenk offers a non-defensively candid explanation of the unlikely arc of his spiritual pilgrimage.鈥�

鈥淎nd I think he caught a little bit of the tone of the book,鈥� Maxwell said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not a triumphal book in any sense. It鈥檚 not a raised-fist kind of book. It鈥檚 really somebody who鈥檚 grappling with being authentic and being true to themselves.鈥�

鈥淚 think there鈥檚 a place for stories that are based in hurt and alienation,鈥� she added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a very real story that a lot of people can relate to, because all of us have been hurt in one way or another and are trying to understand how to find healing and wholeness in the midst of that.鈥�

For more information about the book, visit .

Read other reviews of the book:

Commencement address

Dr. Angela J. Lederach, assistant professor of peace and justice studies at Chapman University, delivered the Commencement address in Yoder Arena.

The author and anthropologist, whose father, John Paul Lederach, co-founded the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, spoke about the lessons she鈥檚 learned from peacebuilders and CJP alumni around the world.

Undergraduates Dylan Hall and Arelys Martinez Fabian, along with MA in Counseling graduate Yenifer Dottin-Carter 鈥�23, presented the graduate perspectives.

This was Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus鈥� first Commencement as interim president.

Celebration of Blessings

The Center for Justice and Peacebuilding sent 17 graduates into the world with words of tribute during its annual Celebration of Blessings on Sunday afternoon, following Commencement. This year marks the 30th anniversary celebration of the CJP. 

Graduates LaToya Fernandez, Jamila Gaskins, Hannah Gilman, and Jacob Sankara offered their perspectives.  

Graduate Celebration and Sending

91大神 honored members of the Class of 2026 at its Graduate Celebration and Sending service on Saturday evening in Lehman Auditorium.

The event featured a faculty address by Dr. Tara Kishbaugh, senior class salutations from co-presidents Genesis Figueroa and Arelys Martinez Fabian, and the presentation of the senior class gift, along with prayer, music, and poetry from graduates.

Donning of the Kente

Family, friends, faculty, and other supporters gathered in the MainStage Theater on Saturday to honor the perseverance, compassion, and determination of this year鈥檚 graduates at 91大神鈥檚 11th annual Donning of the Kente Ceremony.

The event recognized 49 graduates celebrating their African and international heritage.

Nurse Pinning

Sixteen 91大神 nursing graduates marked a major milestone Saturday morning during a pinning and commissioning ceremony in Lehman Auditorium.

Dr. David Rosie, an emergency medicine physician at Sentara RMH Medical Center in Harrisonburg, delivered the keynote address.

Lavender Graduation

91大神 recognized 11 graduates at its fifth annual Lavender Graduation on Friday evening in the Old Common Grounds space. The ceremony honors LGBTQ+ graduates and alumni while celebrating their unique experiences, achievements, and contributions to the university.

Sarah Peak and Jamila Gaskins delivered the keynote addresses.

91大神 at Lancaster will award 21 undergraduate degrees, 13 graduate degrees, and 13 graduate certificates at its Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 8, at 7 p.m. at Forest Hills Mennonite Church in Leola, Pennsylvania. Lancaster Mayor Jaime Arroyo will deliver the address.

Stay tuned for a recap of the Lancaster ceremony.

鈥淲hen you see them pouring themselves into the work of justice and peace, and you see them giving and giving, remind them to pause, please,鈥� Schaeffer, director of programs at CJP, said. 鈥淩emind them to rest. Remind them to seek out something joyful because this work needs them, but it needs them whole.鈥�

The ceremony honored graduates of CJP鈥檚 master鈥檚 degree and graduate certificate programs and was held Sunday afternoon in Martin Chapel following 91大神鈥檚 108th annual Commencement.

This year marks the 30th anniversary celebration of the CJP, which was co-founded and led by John Paul Lederach. His daughter, Dr. Angela Lederach, delivered the Commencement address earlier Sunday.

Graduates from 91大神’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding are embraced and recognized by CJP faculty and staff during the annual Celebration of Blessings in Martin Chapel on Sunday.

In the heartfelt ceremony, CJP faculty and staff members Dr. Gloria Rhodes, Amy Knorr, Dr. Paula Ditzel Facci, and Dr. Joe Cole provided words of tribute for each graduate. The following CJP graduates were recognized:

Master of Arts in Conflict Transformation

Diego Crespo Guido of Mexico City, Mexico

Jamila Gaskins of Los Angeles

Hannah Gilman of Salt Lake City

Chelsea Griffin of Flagstaff, Arizona

Leslie Meja of Nairobi, Kenya

Jacob Sankara of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

CatiAdele Slater of Upperville, Virginia

Tamera Vaughan-Drozd of Vienna, Virginia

Graduate Certificate in Conflict Transformation

Spike Coleman of Charleston, South Carolina

Devin Withrow of Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Master of Arts in Restorative Justice

Maria Arias of Viedma, Argentina

LaToya Fernandez of West Hartford, Connecticut

Sof铆a Garcia Pini of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Graduate Certificate in Restorative Justice

R茅ka Bord谩s-Simon of Ny铆regyh谩za, Hungary

Mallery McShine of Fredericksburg, Virginia

Master of Arts in Transformational Leadership

Josiah Ludwick of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Tyler Stanley of Harrisonburg, Virginia

Dr. Gloria Rhodes 鈥�88 (left) and Kory Schaeffer MA 鈥�24 (right), co-directors of the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, offer their welcome remarks.

As the graduates go out to create a more just and peaceful world, they also weave a web of connections and build an extended community of learning, Professor Dr. Gloria Rhodes 鈥�88, academic director of CJP, said in her remarks.

鈥淲e鈥檙e a small community, and 91大神 is a very small university,鈥� Rhodes said. 鈥淏ut together, we are enormous.鈥�

She said there are more than 23,000 91大神 graduates around the world, including more than 800 who have earned degrees from CJP鈥檚 master鈥檚 programs.

As a CJP alumnus, Schaeffer said he shared the graduates鈥� joy and quiet solidarity, as well as their sense of how much they had cared, questioned, and transformed throughout their time at CJP.

鈥淭his work was never just the books you read or the papers you wrote,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was also the gray hairs, the tears, the tightness in your body, and the moments you questioned everything. It was the weight, literal or metaphorical, that comes with doing work that is both deeply personal and profoundly collective.鈥�

LaToya Fernandez, an MA in restorative justice graduate, shares the journey that led her to CJP.

Conflict transformation graduates Hannah Gilman (left) and Jamila Gaskins (right) reflect on their experiences in the program.

Graduates LaToya Fernandez, Jamila Gaskins, Hannah Gilman, and Jacob Sankara shared their perspectives.  

Fernandez recalled visiting Ghana a couple of years ago and experiencing something there that changed her life. 鈥淚 grieved there, I left my burdens there, I cried for my ancestors,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 learned things about myself that I didn鈥檛 know.鈥�

She left Africa with a mission to bring that sense of healing to her communities and to the United States. She had applied to another school鈥檚 restorative justice program, which offered her a full scholarship, when a friend encouraged her to learn more about CJP. 鈥淵ou want to go to a place that鈥檚 going to value you and all your decolonizing institution ways,鈥� Fernandez recalled her friend telling her. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 exactly what happened. I came to 91大神 and I fell in love.鈥�

Gaskins, who spoke at 91大神鈥檚 Lavender Graduation two days prior, asked the crowd when they last breathed. 鈥淣ot a shallow breath, the kind most of us live on, tight chest, shoulders up near our ears, but a full breath. One that goes all the way down, opens up the belly, and reminds you that you are here, present, alive.鈥�

鈥淪o many of us are chest breathers, and I say this with love and a little humor, because chest breathing is a perfectly functional way to stay alive, but it cuts us off,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t blocks access to the richness of our emotional experience, the very experience this work demands we stay connected to. We cannot feel our way into someone else鈥檚 suffering if we are numb to our own.鈥�

Gilman said their past two years in the program have involved real sacrifice, balancing work, family, stressful logistics, and a dream. There have been many hard moments and even some tears, but also triumphs, laughter, and joy. There were moments of fear, and they showed up anyway.

鈥淲hat a unique experience it has been to do this in a place like CJP,鈥� she said. 鈥淲ith faculty and staff who knew us, challenged us, believed in us, and who, bless them, gave us extensions. I鈥檓 so grateful to share this era of growth with you, this particular season of becoming, of stretching, of learning what we are made of and made for.鈥�

Mukarabe Inandava-Makinto (right), a CJP student, her husband, Makinto GC 鈥�26 (left), and their son, Jo毛l Friebe-Makinto, perform the musical prelude

CJP students Virginia Maina and Kensly Cassy offer student blessings (left). Amy Knorr (right), CJP’s peacebuilding practice director, provides the graduate sending. 鈥淭his is actually my favorite day of the entire year, even more than Christmas,” Knorr said. “And it鈥檚 not because summer break begins tomorrow, but because we are sending forth so many graduates who will go on to change and transform the world.鈥�

Sankara shared that he felt two emotions when he received his acceptance to the CJP program: excitement and intimidation. 鈥淪ome of my colleagues at [Mennonite Central Committee], when I was working there, had gone through the program, and they spoke about it with a kind of reverence,鈥� he said.

Along with those emotions came real anxiety. How would Sankara, an international student from Burkina Faso, find the money to fund his studies? He said his family鈥檚 visa situation was also uncertain. 鈥淚 had to make a decision to trust God and move forward, even without having all the answers, and slowly things began to unfold,鈥� he said.

He received a helpful scholarship from CJP and support from friends and family. Eventually, his family was able to come to the United States and was there to celebrate with him on Sunday. Sankara described CJP as more than a program, calling it a community.

鈥淲hen I say community, I don鈥檛 mean a group of people who simply agree with each other,鈥� Sankara said. 鈥淚 mean a space where we celebrate, laugh together, and step on each other鈥檚 feet, not once but repeatedly. But the difference is that we acknowledge it, address it, and grow through it.鈥�

鈥淧eace is like an egg,鈥� Lederach said. 鈥淚t is delicate and fragile, but in the right conditions, it gives life.鈥�

Lederach is an assistant professor of peace and justice studies at Chapman University. She has spent more than a decade working with grassroots peacebuilders in Colombia to transform violent conflict, expand possibilities for environmental justice, and cultivate more just and livable communities. She is the author of Feel the Grass Grow: Ecologies of Slow Peace in Colombia and co-author of When Blood and Bones Cry Out: Journeys Through the Soundscape of Healing and Reconciliation.

Commencement weekend served as a homecoming for Lederach, whose father, John Paul, co-founded 91大神鈥檚 internationally recognized Center for Justice and Peacebuilding and served as its first director. Her presence at the ceremony coincided with the center鈥檚 30th anniversary celebration.

Graduates of the Class of 2026 attend 91大神’s 108th annual Commencement on Sunday in Yoder Arena.

Dr. Angela J. Lederach (left) recalled attending 91大神 commencements as a child and fully immersing herself in the campus fountain鈥檚 鈥渃rystal clear waters鈥� while dressed in her Sunday best. 鈥淚f you want to know the real reason why you are inside today instead of outside, you know where to direct the blame,鈥� she joked with graduates. Kylik Bradshaw (right), a liberal arts graduate, beams during the big day.

Lederach spoke about how she has learned from peacebuilders and CJP alumni around the world to listen for the sounds of justice. Alumni such as Emmanuel Bombande MA 鈥�02 and Leymah Gbowee MA 鈥�07, who worked to bring peace to West Africa and Liberia, taught her to speak the language of justice, while Larisa Zehr 鈥�11 in Colombia showed her how to walk alongside people pursuing peace in the wake of dehumanizing violence.

鈥淭o speak the language of justice requires courage,鈥� she said. 鈥淣ot the loud bravado that conceals cowardice and blares from the world stage today, but the quiet courage found in the register of everyday life, in the recognition of our shared humanity, in our willingness to stand up and say 鈥榥ever again,鈥� and in our ability and willingness to sacrifice for one another.鈥�

That courage emanates from the lives of people like Michael 鈥淢J鈥� Sharp 鈥�05, who was killed in 2017 while working as a United Nations expert on armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

鈥淭he language of justice is rooted in hope,鈥� Lederach said. 鈥溾�nd I have to say, Class of 2026, the work of guarding hope is not easy.鈥�

鈥淎nd yet, as graduates of this institution have taught me over and over again,鈥� she added, 鈥渋t is precisely by slowing down enough to notice and attend to the lives and possibilities found close to the ground that dreams are protected and held and continue to grow, even amid violence.鈥�

Cords of Distinction recipient Irais Barrera Pinzon, a political science and Spanish language & Hispanic studies graduate, smiles wide during Commencement.

Arelys Martinez Fabian (left) and Yenifer Dottin-Carter 鈥�23 (right) present the graduate perspectives.

Undergraduates Dylan Hall and Arelys Martinez Fabian, along with MA in Counseling graduate Yenifer Dottin-Carter 鈥�23, presented the graduate perspectives.

Hall reflected on the bittersweet emotions many were feeling as they left behind the dorms they once called home, the friends who joined them on their journeys, and the places on campus where memories were made. 鈥淏ut those memories are not leaving us,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey are a part of us. They are who we have become. As we turn this page in our lives, we will be taking a part of 91大神 into our occupations.鈥�

Reading from Matthew 5:13-17, he called on his fellow graduates to act as the 鈥渟alt of the earth鈥� and 鈥渓ight of the world.鈥� He said it鈥檚 easy to go through the motions, to blend in and lay low. 鈥淏ut I encourage you, whatever you do, to go the extra mile. Be a light in people鈥檚 lives. Stand out, work hard, and make an impact.鈥�

Martinez Fabian recalled feeling a mix of excitement, fear, and uncertainty when applying to colleges four years ago. She said she didn鈥檛 know where life would take her, but she knew she was stepping into something bigger than she could ever imagine. Like many of her fellow graduates, she wasn鈥檛 just chasing her own dreams but also carrying the hopes of her family.

鈥淭his finish line isn鈥檛 just about my goals, it鈥檚 about my parents鈥� goals,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about their journey, the miles they traveled from their homes, the long years of difficult work, and the challenge of learning a new language and navigating a new culture.鈥�

Through it all, the late-night study sessions and Common Grounds conversations, she said, 鈥渨e found our people.鈥� She said she has been fortunate to meet friends who have become her lifeline throughout her time at 91大神. 鈥淪o I ask you this: How lucky are we that saying goodbye feels this hard? That kind of sadness only exists because of how meaningful those connections are.鈥�

Dottin-Carter shared the story of her path to 91大神, beginning with her family鈥檚 immigration from the Dominican Republic to Cambridge, Massachusetts, and her eventual move to Harrisonburg with her then-boyfriend, now husband, Isaiah MA 鈥�22 (restorative justice). She invited graduates to imagine the countless stories lived among them, of triumph, hardship, laughter, and sorrow, that will be carried within them as a collective memory.

She encouraged graduates to find a space where their story is honored, their presence is valued, and their legacy is seen. 鈥淎nd if you cannot find it, build it,鈥� she said. 鈥淔ind your people, find your place, find space where you are loved, understood, and validated.鈥�

Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus presides over 91大神鈥檚 108th annual Commencement.

The ceremony recognized 304 graduates from 23 states, Puerto Rico, and 15 countries.

This marked Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus鈥� first Commencement as interim president. In her opening remarks, she said many of the Class of 2026 graduates began their time at 91大神 during a season shaped by significant cultural and political change.

鈥淵ou鈥檝e navigated a world marked by tension, rapid shifts, and real questions about identity, belonging, and truth,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n the midst of it all, you stayed grounded in your learning. You stayed grounded with one another. You demonstrated resilience, discernment, and a willingness to engage complexity rather than turn away from it.鈥�

The Rev. Gordon Meriwether, a member of the 91大神 Board of Trustees, led the opening invocation. The 91大神 Chamber Singers, led by Dr. Benjamin Bergey, performed a musical selection. Divisional deans Rev. Dr. Sarah Bixler and Dr. Michael Horst presented the graduates. Provost Dr. Tynisha Willingham commissioned the graduates. Retiring professors Dr. Doug Graber Neufeld and Deanna Durham delivered the Commencement blessing.

Watch a video recording of Commencement below!

91大神 honored members of the Class of 2026 at its Graduate Celebration and Sending service on Saturday evening in Lehman Auditorium. The event featured a faculty address by Dr. Tara Kishbaugh, senior class salutations from co-presidents Genesis Figueroa and Arelys Martinez Fabian, and the presentation of the senior class gift, along with prayer, music, and poetry from graduates.

Graduates were joined by family, friends, supporters, and 91大神 faculty, staff, and administrators to celebrate their accomplishments and the unique gifts they bring to their communities and the world.

Formerly known as Baccalaureate, the annual ceremony offers graduates an opportunity to 鈥渓ook back with pride and look forward with courage,鈥� Dr. Tynisha Willingham, provost and vice president of academic affairs, said in her welcome. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a space to breathe deeply, reflect on all that has brought you to this moment, and prepare your heart and spirit for what lies ahead.鈥�

Graduates were joined by family, friends, supporters, and 91大神 faculty, staff, and administrators.

Senior class co-presidents Arelys Martinez Fabian and Genesis Figueroa deliver the senior class salutations (left). Dr. Tynisha Willingham welcomes the audience in Lehman Auditorium on Saturday evening (right).

In a shared address highlighting their close partnership, Figueroa and Martinez Fabian reflected on their experiences at 91大神 and encouraged graduates to carry what they鈥檝e learned into every space they enter.

From late-night study sessions at Common Grounds Coffeehouse to 鈥渢hose dreadful group assignments,鈥� campus became not just a place to take classes, but where they discovered who they are, the senior class co-presidents said.

鈥�91大神 has a way of pushing us, not just academically but personally,鈥� they said. 鈥淚t asks us to think critically, engage with people who are different from us, and consider how we want to show up in the world.鈥�

鈥�91大神 doesn鈥檛 just prepare us for what鈥檚 next. It challenges us to think about why we do what we do,鈥� they continued. 鈥淭o consider how we can contribute to something bigger than ourselves, whether in our careers, our communities, or the everyday choices we make.鈥�

Ethan Neufeld, senior class business manager, and Maria Longenecker, senior class secretary, presented the class gift to Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus. Each year, the senior class selects a meaningful gift that reflects their shared experience and leaves a lasting legacy. This year, the Class of 2026 chose to fund improvements to the 91大神 Game Room in the University Commons, expanding options for students, faculty, and staff.

Eli Stoll performs the opening song, 鈥淭he Lord Lift You Up鈥� (Voices Together 832).

Dr. Tara Kishbaugh (left) delivers the faculty address. Ethan Neufeld, senior class business manager, presents Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus with the senior class gift (right).

In her address titled 鈥淕o bravely鈥ut please call,鈥� Kishbaugh, dean of faculty and student success, urged graduates to keep a firm belief in themselves and hold onto their optimism. The longtime professor drew from her chemistry curriculum, likening the graduates鈥� situation to molecules in a transition state.

鈥淭his transition state is a normal part of transformation,鈥� she said. 鈥淏utterflies don鈥檛 force it. The struggle is part of the becoming.鈥�

She also reminded graduates that they didn鈥檛 arrive at Commencement weekend alone. 鈥淟ook at the love that has brought you here,鈥� she said. 鈥溾�ou belong to each other, and you belong to us. You鈥檝e left a mark on 91大神, and hopefully you will see the imprint of 91大神 in your future selves as little ripples.鈥�

Graduate Celebration and Sending featured gathering music from Naomi Kratzer; an opening blessing from Sarah Prroj; an opening song from Eli Stoll; a performance of Stephen Paulus鈥� 鈥淭he Road Home鈥� by senior Chamber Singers members Erin Batten, Lauren Kauffman, Naomi Kratzer, Hollyn Miller, Jacob Nissley, Eli Stoll, Joshua Stucky, and Sean Swartley; poetry readings from Miranda Beidler and Emily Suarez Nunez; a sending blessing from Brian Martin Burkholder; sending music from Makinto; and reflections from senior class advisors Mark Metzler Sawin and Jonathan Swartz, who also handed out 91大神 pins.

Graduates received pins representing the wisdom they鈥檝e shared and the investment and commitment they鈥檝e made during their time as students. They were encouraged to wear the pins at Commencement and beyond, honoring how 91大神 has supported them in their learning and growth.

Mark Metzler Sawin and Jonathan Swartz, senior class advisors, offer their reflections.

Miranda Beidler (left) shares original poetry, while Sarah Prroj (right) gives an opening blessing.

During their four years at 91大神, much has changed, Metzler Sawin told the graduates. Presidents, both nationally and at 91大神, have changed, as has the power and scope of artificial intelligence. 鈥淏ut most importantly, yourselves,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e grown in many ways during these same four years.鈥�

Much has also stayed the same: 鈥淭he significance of human connection, the value of genuine relationships, and the core values that made you the unique and significant person you were when you arrived here and still are today,鈥� he added.

In her opening blessing, Prroj reflected on the moments that have challenged her and the relationships that have shaped her into who she is today. 91大神 didn鈥檛 just educate her, she said, but also formed her, teaching her how to lead, listen, care, and become part of something bigger than herself. Sharing the words of pastor Rick Warren, she said that when people take their final breath, no one asks for their trophies, achievements, or diplomas.

鈥淭hey asked for the people they love,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ecause in the end, it鈥檚 not what we accomplish that matters most. It鈥檚 who we share our lives with. And that鈥檚 what makes 91大神 so special. It鈥檚 not just a place of learning, but a place of community where we鈥檙e known, supported, and shaped by one another.鈥�

Watch a video recording of the ceremony below!

Hosted by Celeste Thomas, director of multicultural student services and CoachLink coach, and Micah Shristi, director of international student services, the ceremony featured a musical drum performance led by Makinto and his son, Jo毛l Friebe-Makinto.

Since 2016, the ceremony has celebrated graduates who honor their African and international roots. Each receives a handwoven stole of kente cloth, a symbol of prestige in many African societies, or a satin sash featuring the flags of countries they feel connected to.

Sashes at Saturday鈥檚 ceremony bore the flags of Albania, Argentina, Barbados, Burkina Faso, the Cherokee Nation, China, Cuba, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Honduras, Iceland, Mexico, Nepal, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Oromia, Palestine, Peru, Puerto Rico, Senegal, South Sudan, and Uruguay.

Class of 2026 graduates take part in Saturday鈥檚 Donning of the Kente Ceremony in 91大神鈥檚 MainStage Theater.

Jo毛l Friebe-Makinto (left) honors his father, Makinto. Celeste Thomas (right) welcomes attendees to the ceremony.

The ceremony celebrates achievement, encourages recipients to continue striving for excellence, and provides an intimate end-of-year experience. Each recipient selected a family member, friend, mentor, administrator, or faculty or staff member to place the stole or sash around their neck and offer remarks, sharing joyful and heartfelt stories and words of praise about each graduate.

Graduates wore the stoles and sashes at Commencement to honor their collective heritage and reflect on shared struggles and successes.

鈥淥ur hope is that they feel the support of their village,鈥� Thomas said. 鈥淎dditionally, we hope the ceremony signals the college鈥檚 desire to meet the needs of all its students.鈥�

Micah Shristi honors a graduate during the ceremony.

Since 2016, the ceremony has celebrated graduates who honor their African and international roots.

Participants

The following graduates were recognized:

Makinto, a general theological certificate major from Harrisonburg, was donned by Mukarabe Makinto Inandava and Jo毛l Friebe-Makinto.听

鈥淵ou鈥檙e a clear example of how, no matter your age or where you are in life, you can accomplish anything,鈥� Friebe-Makinto told his father. 鈥淵ou are a continuous inspiration for me and someone I can always look to for guidance.鈥�

Esdras Burgos, accounting and business administration major from Charlottesville, Virginia, was donned by M. Esther Showalter.

Arelys Martinez Fabian, a Spanish language & Hispanic studies and education (PreK鈥�12) licensure from Winchester, Virginia, was donned by M. Esther Showalter.

Zazkia De la Vega, a marketing and business administration major from Cusco, Peru, was donned by M. Esther Showalter. 

Ankita Adhikari, a computer science major from Pokhara, Nepal, was donned by Micah Shristi.

Donovan Arnason, a digital media, photography, and design major from Stafford, Virginia, was donned by Phyllis Braxton Arnason.

Elili Asefa, a nursing major from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was donned by Baati Ayana.

Irais Barrera Pinzon, a political science, Spanish language and Hispanic studies major from Richmond, Virginia, was donned by Wendell Shank.

Mimi Bayongwa, a social work major from Riverdale, Maryland, was donned by Dia Mekonnen and Perpetue Kaimba. 

Lemi Amanuel Bekele, a biochemistry major from Kansas City, Missouri, was donned by Micah Shristi.

Shristi recalled receiving an email from Bekele, who was waiting for his admissions decision in 2019. 鈥淗e sent me the following email, and I quote: 鈥楶lease answer me. To wait for your answer I am in the forest in a tree to get data and it鈥檚 too dark and cold,鈥欌�� Shristi read aloud. 鈥淭hat same determination carried Lemi through his years at 91大神.鈥�

Jean Betancourt, a business administration major from Meridian, Mississippi, was donned by Angel Betancourt.

Nia Boyd, an art and writing studies major from Richmond, Virginia, was donned by Lenice Sudds.

Kylik Daquan Bradshaw, a liberal arts major from Crewe, Virginia, was donned by De’Andra Oliver, Te’Ahra Oliver, Theron Oliver, and Kayanna Bradshaw.

鈥淭hrough every season, you have shown resilience, courage, and determination beyond your years,鈥� Bradshaw鈥檚 mother said. 鈥淏ut your greatest gift has always been your heart, your love, your loyalty, and your strength. Even when you were challenged with difficulties, you never let it break you.鈥�

Chase Comer, a political science and history major from Timberville, Virginia, was donned by Amy Miller.

Ruach Dhieu Ruach Deng, a computer science major from Bor, South Sudan, was donned by Micah Shristi.

Odesa Elezi, a nursing major from Harrisonburg, was donned by Luis Elezi.

Jasmin Escamilla Ruiz, a digital media, photography, and design major from Bluemont, Virginia, was donned by Irma Ruiz Ramirez. 

LaToya Fernandez, an MA in restorative justice major from West Hartford, Connecticut, was donned by Lyric Bryant.

Genesis Figueroa, a political science, Spanish language and Hispanic studies major from Millersburg, Ohio, was donned by Mia Figueroa.

Leah Frankenfield, a psychology major from Moraga, California, was donned by Rachel Tusing.

Sofia Garcia Pini, an MA in restorative justice major from Buenos Aires, Argentina, was donned by Joe Cole.

Jamila Gaskins, an MA in conflict transformation major from Los Angeles, was donned by David Evans.

Emily Guin, a nursing major from Lovettsville, Virginia, was donned by Juan Guin.

Jacqueline Jackson, a nursing major from Staunton, Virginia, was donned by Jacqueline Badger-Jackson.

Jayda Lenae Jones, a social work major from Goodview, Virginia, was donned by Kim Jones.

Yohanna Kebede, a computer science major from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was donned by Haweni Tolosa.

Emae Klompenhouwer, a social work major from Newport News, Virginia, was donned by Remco Klompenhouwer.

Ramata Lam, a biomedicine major from Baltimore, was donned by Kaitlyn Upshaw.

Mallery Salemah McShine, an MA in restorative justice major from Fredericksburg, Virginia, was donned by LaToya Fernandez.

Dia Mekonnen, a social work and political science major from Silver Spring, Maryland, was donned by Deanna Reed.

Abraham Mekonnen, a computer science major from Harrisonburg, was donned by Noel Abeje. 

Last summer, Mekonnen interned at Morgan Stanley in New York City. This summer, he is headed to Northern California, where he will work for Palo Alto Networks. 鈥淗ow many people can say they鈥檙e hopping from Wall Street to Silicon Valley at 23 years old?鈥� his close friend Abeje said. 鈥淗ere鈥檚 the thing about Abraham: when the rest of us go to a mall, we typically just shop. Abraham asks the storekeepers how much they made that week and whether they鈥檇 recommend entering the industry. He鈥檚 constantly studying the world, ambitious, resilient, and relentlessly curious.鈥�

Fadi William Michael, a marketing major from Bethlehem, State of Palestine, was donned by Jim Leaman.

Diego Morales Torres, a computer science major from Ponce, Puerto Rico, was donned by Team Oosthuizen.

Zipola Nayituriki, a social work major from Harrisonburg, was donned by Mary Ann Zehr.

Tasia Ocaranza, an MA in education major from Staunton, Virginia, was donned by Kathy Evans.

Taylor Helenna Parker, a digital media, photography, and design major from Charlottesville, Virginia, was donned by Mikaela Brooks Fauver.

Royale M. Parker, a business administration and psychology major from San Bernardino County, California, was donned by Ruby Parker and Roy Parker.

Jennifer Perera, an MS in biomedicine major from Miami, was donned by Jose Perera.

Robyn Charda茅 Pratt, an MA in education major from Newport News, Virginia, was donned by Sandra Pratt.

Sarah Prroj, a business administration major from Shkoder, Albania, was donned by Micah Shristi.

Sharon Salinas Morales, a restorative justice in education major from Harrisonburg, was donned by Andrew Claassen.

Jacob Sankara, an MA in conflict transformation major from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, was donned by Gloria Rhodes.

Roumany Sefin, a business administration and medical lab science major from Port Said, Egypt, was donned by Jim Leaman.

Zoe Seifu, a nursing major from Harrisonburg, was donned by Nati Seifu.

Anisa Yousef Sharhabeel, a business administration major from Rockingham, Virginia, was donned by Rita Tutu.

Shayleigh Michelle Sims, a biology and secondary education (6-12) licensure major from Palmyra, Virginia, was donned by Kathy Evans.

Emily Suarez Nunez, a nursing major from McGaheysville, Virginia, was donned by Silvana Nunez.

Guadalupe Tenorio Ramirez, an accounting and business administration major from Hopewell, Virginia, was donned by Lindy Backues.

Cheylan Ury, a psychology major from Staunton, Virginia, was donned by Shaion Ury.

Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus poses with Class of 2026 graduate Emily Suarez Nunez following the ceremony (left). Alumni returned to campus on Saturday to honor friends at the ceremony (right).

鈥淲e鈥檝e laughed together, we鈥檝e cried together,鈥� Shristi said in his closing remarks. 鈥淲hat a beautiful space.鈥�

The Donning of the Kente Ceremony is sponsored by Multicultural Student Services, International Student Services, and the Black Student Alliance.

Watch a video recording of the ceremony below!

Gabriella Seal, a 2026 bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) graduate, opened the ceremony by recognizing the graduates鈥� supporters鈥攆aculty, staff, families, friends, partners, and children鈥攚ho carried them through moments when the journey felt overwhelming.

鈥淚f there鈥檚 one thing that defines this class, it鈥檚 that no two of us took the same path to get here,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ome of us dreamed of becoming nurses for years, while others found our way through entirely different experiences and chapters of our lives. Regardless of the path, we all made the same choice: to step into something difficult, meaningful, and deeply demanding.鈥�

She recalled times of exhaustion and uncertainty, when the weight of their training felt especially real.

鈥淭hrough it all, we continued to show up for our patients, for our future, and for each other,鈥� she said. 鈥淪omewhere along the way, this stopped being just about passing exams or mastering skills. It became about learning how to stand beside people in some of the hardest moments of their lives.鈥�

91大神 nursing graduates recite 鈥淭he Nurse鈥檚 Pledge,鈥� led by Dr. Laura Yoder during Saturday鈥檚 pinning ceremony.

Gabriella Seal ’26 (left) delivers opening remarks during the ceremony. Dr. David Rosie (right) served as keynote speaker.

Dr. David Rosie, an emergency medicine physician at Sentara RMH Medical Center in Harrisonburg who has worked in medicine for 26 years, delivered the keynote address. He said he is continually impressed by how 91大神鈥檚 鈥渇antastic nurses鈥� rise to the occasion.

He encouraged the graduates to question orders from doctors and physician assistants that do not seem to make sense, think outside the box, seek unconventional solutions, and trust their instincts.

鈥淚f you have a sense that something isn鈥檛 right, then you should listen to that,鈥� he said. 鈥淪ometimes the treatment isn鈥檛 right. Sometimes it鈥檚 someone being trafficked or abused. Those things don鈥檛 announce themselves.鈥�

91大神鈥檚 nursing graduates received pins and stethoscopes from those who supported them throughout their nursing coursework.

The ceremony recognized the following BSN graduates, each of whom was pinned by a special person in their lives. Samantha Johnston, instructor of nursing, read their dedications and shared their future plans.

Class of 2026 graduates

Leah Beachy will work in the emergency department at Augusta Health.

Madison Bowyer will work on the organ transplant floor at the University of Virginia Health.

Odesa Elezi will work in geriatric nursing at Bridgewater Retirement Community.

Abigail Foltz will work in medical oncology at Sentara RMH Medical Center.

Emily Guin will work in the emergency department at Inova Fairfax Hospital.

Jacqueline Jackson is exploring her future plans.

Meygan Kyger will work as a registered nurse at the UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Reina Landa will work in the emergency department at Virginia Commonwealth University Health.

Caris Lucas will work in medical oncology at Sentara RMH Medical Center. 

Gabriella Seal will work in the emergency department at Augusta Health.

Marianne Short will work in the progressive care unit at Augusta Health.

Elijah Spicher will work in correctional nursing at Middle River Regional Jail.

April Stafford will work in the progressive care unit at Augusta Health.

Joshua Stucky will work in the intensive care unit at Sentara RMH Medical Center.

Emily Suarez Nunez is exploring her future plans.

Kristina Suslaev will work in the emergency department at Sentara RMH Medical Center.

In her closing remarks, Seal told her fellow graduates they will care for people in some of their most vulnerable and meaningful moments. Nurses will be present in times of fear, healing, grief, hope, and heartbreak, she said, and how they show up will matter more than they may ever fully realize.

鈥淟ong after people forget the details of their hospital stay, they will remember how they were treated,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey will remember who made them feel seen, heard, safe, and cared for. That is the kind of nurse each of us now has the opportunity to become.鈥�

Watch a video recording of the ceremony below!