Julia Schmidt, Rebekah York, Miriam Zehr and Sharon Witmer Yoder are Eastern Mennonite University alumnae who graduate this year from the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana. (Photos by Jason Bryant/AMBS)

Four alumnae graduate from AMBS

Four alumnae of Eastern Mennonite University participated in the May 6 commencement service of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in Elkhart, Indiana.

Julia Schmidt ‘13 of Goshen, Indiana, graduated with a Master of Divinity with a major in Theological Studies: Peace Studies. She also was selected to receive the Award for Excellence in Peace Studies from the seminary’s history, theology and ethics department; and the seminary’s Heart of the Community Award for her community-building work both within and beyond the AMBS community. She is pursuing work in faith-based community organizing with a focus on immigrant justice in Elkhart County.

Schmidt, who previously earned a bachelor of arts degree in history from EMU, is a member of Southside Fellowship in Elkhart and is engaged to be married to Jon Shetler. Her father, Dennis Schmidt of North Newton, Kansas, earned a Master of Divinity from AMBS in 1994, and her mother, Dianne Schmidt, also of North Newton, is a current AMBS student.

Rebekah York ‘15 of Bucharest, Romania, anticipates graduating in August 2018 with a Master of Arts: Peace Studies. She also has been selected to receive the Award for Excellence in Missional Leadership from the seminary’s Church and Ministry Department. After completing a couple of fellowships this summer, York plans to move to Goshen, where she plans to work with a local organization.

York previously earned a bachelor of arts degree in peacebuilding and development from EMU. She is a member of Belmont Mennonite Church in Elkhart, and her parents are Mike and Kris York of Bucharest, Romania.

Miriam Zehr ‘78 of Orrville, Ohio, anticipates graduating in July 2018 with a Master of Arts in Christian Formation with a concentration in Christian spirituality. She plans to continue working as associate pastor of worship and education at Oak Grove Mennonite Church in Smithville, Ohio.

Zehr previously earned a bachelor of science degree in home economics education from EMU. She and her husband, Douglas Zehr, have three children.

Sharon Witmer Yoder ‘84 of Elkhart anticipates graduating in July 2018 with a Master of Divinity with a major in pastoral ministry. She plans to continue through December 2018 as co-pastor at Olive Mennonite Church in Elkhart, where she has served with her husband, Kevin Yoder, since 2007. Her plans after December are unknown.

Witmer Yoder previously earned a bachelor of science degree in home economics education and community nutrition from EMU. She and her husband have three married daughters and one granddaughter.