Language and Literature Students Awarded

Lindsay M. Dale Lindsay M. Dale
Andrea J. Kniss Andrea J. Kniss
April J. Miller April J. Miller
Brent A. Schilt Brent A. Schilt
Donovan E. Tann Donovan E. Tann
Hannah E. Yoder Hannah E. Yoder

The language and literature department at Eastern Mennonite University has awarded academic scholarships to 11 students for the 2005-2006 academic year.

The award amounts vary, depending on each student’s demonstrated need. All have distinguished themselves as outstanding students.

Lindsay M. Dale, a senior education PK-12, German and Spanish major from Willow Street, Pa.; Kendra Nissley, a sophomore German and justice, peace and conflict studies major from Columbiana, Ohio; and Ashley Wiederrecht, an incoming freshman from Mount Joy, Pa., received the Ernest G. Gehman Scholarship.

The Gehman Scholarship was established to honor foreign language majors, with preference to those pursuing German study. Recipients must have grade point averages of at least a 3.0 and qualify for financial assistance.

The late Ernest G. Gehman (1901-1988) taught German language and literature at EMU, 1924-73. He maintained an intense interest in the Pennsylvania German dialect spoken by many Amish and Mennonites, taught course in the dialect and produced a recording of Pennsylvania Germany poetry. He was an ordained minister, prolific writer-editor, illustrator and inventor.

The Hubert R. and Mildred Pellman Literature Scholarship was awarded to: Andrea J. Kniss, a junior English, culture, religion and mission major from Harrisonburg; Karina J. Martin, a freshman English major from New Holland, Pa.; April J. Miller, a senior English major from Corning, N.Y.; Wayne R. Paxton, a junior English education major from Churchville, Va.; Brent A. Schilt, a senior history and English major from Marietta, Pa.; Donovan E. Tann, a sophomore English and music major from East Petersburg, Pa.; Carey L. Yeager, a senior English and Spanish major from Chesterfield, Va.; and Hannah E. Yoder, a freshman English major from Hubbard, Ore.

The Pellman Literature Scholarship was established to honor full-time students in language and literature, with preference to English majors. This year’s recipients all had grade point averages of at least 3.2 and qualified for financial assistance.

Dr. Pellman, a professor emeritus of English, taught at EMU from 1941 to 1983, with several breaks along the way for graduate study and sabbaticals and serving as a visiting teacher in California, Indiana and Sapporo, Japan.

He researched and wrote the official history of Eastern Mennonite College (now University), which was published on the school’s 50th anniversary in 1967. The veteran teacher was named EMU’s "Alumnus of the Year" in 1969. He lives with his wife, Millie Kauffman Pellman in Park View.