EMU awards 27 scholarships for education, engineering, music and photography and digital media

Twenty-seven first-year students at Eastern Mennonite University have received new departmental scholarships for studies in education, engineering, music, and photography and digital media.

The scholarships, of up to $3,000, can be renewed for four years and are in addition to their basic financial aid packages.

EDUCATION

Education at EMU takes students into K-12 classrooms just weeks into their first semester, and forms reflective and engaging teachers that are highly sought after: In the year after finishing their studies, all of the 2017 program graduates who sought employment in PreK-12 education settings were employed.

• Emma Cordell (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania), an elementary education major, chose to attend the program because of its good reputation and size, she said, in order to learn “alongside others interested in the same things and field as I am.”
• Christine Gray (Culpeper, Virginia) is a history education major preparing to teach in a middle school and “make an impact on my students,” she said. She was drawn to EMU for its size and, as she is “a pacifist, and passionate about sustainability,” its faith emphasis.  
• Skylar Hedgepeth (Smithfield, Virginia) plans to use her elementary education and English as a Second Language qualifications to teach English internationally. She came to EMU to learn from “professors who demonstrate compassionate and diverse teaching strategies” in a “close-knit community and Christian environment.”
• Tristin Hogge (Smithfield, Virginia) came to EMU for its education and cross-cultural programs, and plans to become a middle school math teacher. In high school she took a class titled “Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow,” and is now eager to get into school classrooms early in this first year of university studies.
• Isaac Longacre (Quakertown, Pennsylvania) most enjoyed choir in high school – his vocal music teacher was Rodney Derstine ‘74 – and came to EMU to become a high school music teacher. The professors he met here as a prospective student were not only passionate about their subject matter, but also “interested in knowing their students,” he said.
• Rachel Lute (New Market, Virginia) said that many of her high school teachers studied at EMU, including her concert choir teacher Heidi Bauman King ‘12. “I look forward to learning all the ‘ins and outs’ of teaching,” Lute said, and more about restorative justice in the classroom. She is majoring in early childhood education.
• Hannah Neebe (Woodbridge, Virginia) is an elementary education major with a music minor. She chose EMU for its “small community feeling” where she can become “a wonderful, prepared teacher.”

ENGINEERING

Engineering at EMU provides students with one-on-one mentors, research opportunities and a spectrum of liberal arts skills that have a proven track record, as 98 percent of EMU graduates seeking jobs land degree-relevant employment within a year – or have jobs lined up even before they graduate. The program is housed in brand new facilities as a result of the most recent Suter Science Center renovation completed this year.

• Jonas Beachy (Grants Pass, Oregon) enjoys the real-life engineering applications of math problems; he’s majoring in both engineering and math, with a Spanish minor. While he came to EMU to make friends and connections and gain knowledge, he also wanted “an Anabaptist education that would provide me the tools to succeed in engineering,” he said, so that in his career he “can contribute to creating a better future for all.”
• Malachi Malone (Midland, North Carolina) has Silicon Valley dreams – to work for Apple as a software engineer. He’s majoring in mechanical engineering with a minor in writing, and said he chose EMU for its size and surrounding area. He is looking forward to “being a part of the small, uplifting and helpful community at EMU.”
• Laura Troyer (Millersburg, Ohio) competed in competitions in high school that ultimately helped her find her passion for problem-solving, something already being put to use at EMU: Her introduction to engineering class is designing the set for the spring theater production. “I’m excited to learn about the engineering process while doing something that will actually get to be used by others,” she said. In her college search she settled on EMU because “it felt like the place that I could most easily call my home. And I’m so happy to be here.”

MUSIC

The music scholarships are available to non- music majors who audition successfully and commit to participating in music ensembles. Scholarships for music majors are also available.

• Emily Davis (King George, Virginia) has played in orchestras or for musicals since fourth grade. Also a softball player, she is studying biology with a goal of working in physical therapy or radiology.
• Elizabeth Eby (Goshen, Indiana) graduated from high school with an award for having led music for chapel services and participated in musicals, choir and original musical dramas. Now she’s studying peacebuilding and development to “make an impact wherever I may be needed,” perhaps in mediation, advocacy or policy formation. Music, she said, isn’t just about sound, she said: “Singing with other people and listening to the harmonies that are formed in community is one of the only true spiritual experiences I’ve had. I’m excited to feel that in this new community.”
• Stephanie Kniss (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania) is majoring in global development and writing studies, but is also looking forward to building on her experiences in her high school’s select and touring choirs through “the dynamic of a college-level choir,” she said.
• Rachel Lute (New Market, Virginia) was accepted by audition to all-district band, Virginia Tech’s Honor Band and all-district and all-state choirs in high school. Now she’s studying to become an elementary school teacher, and said she has “lots of positive energy” to contribute to the EMU music scene.
• When Mary Miller-Eshleman (Dover, Ohio) visited campus as a prospective student, she thought the  “small community atmosphere” would be “a good place to build a community away from home,” she said, noting its “firm standing in Jesus as a peacemaker.” She’s studying psychology and, as she did in high school, participating in orchestra and musical events.
• Hannah Neebe (Woodbridge, Virginia) is studying to be an elementary school teacher and has a music minor. A French horn player, her high school experiences included marching, concert, symphonic and festival bands as well as a stint during middle school as the band directors’ teacher’s assistant.
• Jonathan Reimer-Berg (Salem, Oregon) plans to become a math teacher. In high school he accumulated several musical honors: he was a three-time member of the all-city orchestra; district second for solo and ensemble duet; a member of the chamber orchestra, which took second place at state for three consecutive years; and three-time state champion symphony. EMU, he said, is “a small school with people that have values similar to my own” where he can play “fun music with cool people.”
• Partha Roy (Takoma Park, Maryland) spent his high school years in band and chorus, and played the lead role in The Fantasticks, plus performed Broadway songs as part of a group pulled together by his principal. His dream job is working as a flight attendant and traveling the world. He has not yet decided on a major.
• Andrew Stoltzfus (Harrisonburg) is in EMU’s pre-med program, but also enjoys being onstage and performing; he also has a theater minor. In high school he was in a small group and the choir, and played strings, and received an award for his music involvements.
• Katherine Szambecki (Newton, Kansas), an English major, hopes to be an editor and writer. She played in her high school’s orchestra and as part of many chamber groups.
• Avery Trinh (Columbia, Maryland), a psychology major with a math minor, played in his high school’s wind ensemble and marching band, and was lead tenor for the jazz band. He came to EMU for its “focus on the whole person, and the community aspect” and is a member of the Royals jazz band.
• Jason Wong (North Newton, Kansas) is a computer engineering major and in high school was a member of the all-state orchestra.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND DIGITAL MEDIA

These scholarships are awarded to students with exemplary portfolios of creative work who plan to study photography or digital media in the visual and communication arts (VACA) program.

• Asha Beck (Linville, Virginia) has long been interested in environmentally sustainable and community-connecting architecture. She is at EMU to gain “a wider perspective” about how the designing of spaces and colors can impact individuals and communities, she said. In addition to the academics, though, she is eager for “new faith perspectives on life and academics.”
• Jeremy Blain (Meriden, Connecticut) took three years of classes as well as an independent study in photography in high school – and won an advanced photography award plus chaired an art show for two years. He came to EMU for its conservation nature photography offerings and has a long-term goal of working as a photographer for National Geographic.
• Tyler Johnson (Roanoke, Virginia) practiced his photography skills while travelling through six countries last year, and took design classes at a community college. At EMU he’s majoring in digital media and communication to prepare for a career in graphic design.
• Eric Ocaranza (Highland, Virginia) is an aspiring photojournalist and nature and sports photographer majoring in photography, an EMU program he said is “amazing.”
• McKenzie VanHandel (Cream Ridge, New Jersey) came to EMU for the small-school community and four-year photography major. She plans to be a travel photographer, perhaps working for National Geographic or Backpacker magazine.