At the fall semester recognition ceremony at Eastern Mennonite University, Associate Dean of Students Rachel Roth Sawatzky recognizes departing Student Government Association senators, including (from left) Ruth Reimer-Berg, Anisa Leonard and Allison Shelly. (Photos by Andrew Strack)

Royals celebrate 2018 fall semester academic and athletic achievements

Congratulations to all who were recognized today for Fall Semester achievements and accomplishments during a special gathering in Lehman Auditorium.

Jasmine Wilson and Anna Hunter Nickols were recognized for outstanding leadership with the Take Back the Night event committee. Read more about their work.

Outgoing Student Government Association senators Allison Shelly, Ruth Reimer-Berg and Anisa Leonard were recognized by Rachel Roth Sawatsky, associate dean of students, for fulfillment of their elected responsibilities.

Sarah Beth Ranck, a three-year tutor who will begin her student teaching next spring, was given the Peer Tutor Award by Linda Gnagey, director of the Academic Success Center.

Linda Gnagey recognizes tutor Sarah Beth Ranck for her work in the Academic Success Center.

Riley Swartzendruber was named among a select group of 2019 North American Nature Photography Association College Scholars. He’ll attend the summit this summer to network, attend workshops, photograph alongside professionals, and participate in a nature-based storytelling project.” He is the third EMU student in the past several years to earn this honor (read more about this experience).  

Luke Hertzler, Anali Martin, Sara Byler and Lindsay Acker — pastoral assistants concluding their roles at the end of the fall semester — were recognized by Campus Pastor Brian Martin Burkholder.

Raleigh Wade, Taylor Fink and Laurie Serrell were recognized by the nursing department for three awards given each semester to senior nursing students selected from nominations made by peers and faculty. Wade was given the Sacred Covenant Award, for the student who exemplifies EMU’s unique approach to nursing that recognizes the nurse/client relationship as holy ground. Fink earned the Academic Achievement Award. Serrell was recognized with the Servant Leader Award, for a student who has shown a deep level of caring and is an example to the entire nursing department of service and leadership.

Four graduate students from the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding were recognized for their contributions by Peacebuilding Practice Director Amy Knorr. “One of my favorite things about working here is how our students continually teach and inspire us… through sharing their insights, challenging us and through their actions in the broader community,” she said.

CJP students Renata Loberg, Mikayla Waters Crittenden and Katrina Poplett.
  • Kirby Broadnax was recognized for her sensitivity in designing and facilitating discussion around the Doctrine of Discovery and the film The Eagle and the Condor; her work with Take Back the Night; and for contributions around responding to sexual harm.
  • Katrina Poplett, for her dedicated work in facilitating, designing and securing community grant funding for EMU’s first restorative justice training, as well as work facilitating dialogue around the film The Eagle and the Condor.
  • Mikayla Waters Crittenden, for her work designing a CJP Community Grounding Day for CJP and for facilitating the EMU training in restorative justice for students faculty and staff.
  • Renata Loberg: for her tireless work in proposing, designing and facilitating CJP’s first Community Grounding Day.

Five students were recognized for  outstanding contribution to the music department by Professor James Richardson.

  • Leah Wenger, a double major in psychology and music, has garnered acclaim in several different spheres of music-making, scholarship and arts advocacy. She’s received a semester-long internship with the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival, has led singing and worship in various contexts, and made an immense contribution to the quality, both intellectually and artistically. She also has a role in the upcoming spring musical Beauty and the Beast.
  • Kiara Norman, also a double major, has made scholarly and artistic contributions in the field of music, specifically voice performance. She was chosen as the soprano soloist for the November gala’s performance of the Fauré Requiem and will appear in Beauty and the Beast.
  • Sarah Ressler, the only non-music major, was recognized for her outstanding contributions to University Choir, Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble. She will also appear in Beauty and the Beast.
  • Elliot Bowen was recognized for outstanding contributions in composition; he is “an expressive, concise and sensitive composer and a choral musician with a strong leadership record,” Richardson said.
  • Hannah Menefee, who will do her student teaching next semester, is a “great collaborator,” Richardson said. “We look forward to seeing her inspire others in her own musicianship and gifts as a teacher.”

Student-Athlete Honors

Women’s Cross Country

  • Elizabeth Nisly, All-ODAC Second Team and Royals Athlete of the Week
  • Laurie Serrell, All-ODAC Second Team

Field Hockey

  • Lauren Hartzler, Royals Athlete of the Week
  • Skylar Hedgepeth, All-ODAC Third Team
  • Kayla Maret, All-ODAC Second Team and Royals Athlete of the Week
  • Kelsey Troyer, Royals Athlete of the Week and EMU Record for Career Saves

Men’s Golf

  • Austin Sachs, Royals Athlete of the Week

Women’s Golf

  • Olivia Longacre, ODAC Golfer of the Week

Men’s Soccer

  • Emmanuel Boamah, All-ODAC First Team, United Soccer Coaches All-South Atlantic Region First Team, and Royals Athlete of the Week
  • Joshua Chiquillo, ODAC Player of the Week and Royals Athlete of the Week
  • Dave Drafton, All ODAC Third Team
  • Erik Peachey, Royals Athlete of the Week
  • Dominic Powers, All-ODAC Third Team

Women’s Soccer

  • United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award
  • Leah Wenger, Royals Athlete of the Week

Women’s Volleyball

  • American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award
  • Hannah Johnson, Route 42 Classic All-Tournament Team and Royals Athlete of the Week
  • Maria Yoder, Blue Jay Classic All-Tournament Team, Royals Athlete of the Week, CoSIDA Academic All-District Team.