Grand total surpasses $350K goal set by organizers
Before the clock struck midnight on Wednesday, April 2, LovEMU Giving Day 2025 achieved its fairy tale ending. A generous outpouring of support from all members of the EMU community—alumni, faculty, staff, current and prospective students, and friends—resulted in a record-breaking $365,313 raised by 360 unique donors during the ninth annual 24-hour extravaganza. That total surpasses the $350,000 goal set by LovEMU organizers and tops the $340,512 raised last year (a 7% increase).
Donors gave early and often, unlocking all $152,000 in challenge match funds for The University Fund, student scholarships, athletics, facilities, and intercultural programs. Because 27 prospective students who registered to attend LovEMU Giving Day paid their tuition deposits, donors matched their commitment by contributing $27,000 to student scholarships. That’s nearly double the $15,000 raised for that challenge last year!
The 2025 LovEMU leaderboard competition was fierce and fun-spirited, with the winners named below:
Academic program
- First place ($1,000 prize): Education
- Second place ($500 prize): Music
- Third place ($250 prize): Business and leadership
Student club/organization
- First place ($1,000 prize): SAAC (Student Athlete Advisory Council)
- Second place ($500 prize): Earthkeepers
- Third place ($250 prize): Pickleball
Athletic team
- First place ($1,000 prize): Men’s soccer
- Second place ($500 prize): Women’s volleyball
- Third place ($250 prize): Men’s volleyball
Nicole Litwiller, annual giving and donor communication specialist, said that a highlight for her was seeing the whole EMU community come together to embrace their pride for EMU. “There were some moments yesterday where we were coming down to the wire to meet a challenge goal, but without fail, our community came through and helped us unlock every single one,” she said on Thursday. “Thanks to their support, LovEMU Giving Day was a huge success, and we once again beat last year’s record. I’m so grateful for everyone who showed their support.”
Seeing septuple?!
Four EMU staff members and two students channeled their inner Royal-in-chief for the first-ever President Huxman Lookalike Contest, held on Monday at the Student Union to kick off LovEMU week. The contest honored Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman, who has served as EMU’s ninth president since 2017 and is retiring this summer. Tyler Goss, director for student engagement and leadership development, hosted the competition, dispensing with his typical flair for the dramatic.
The half-dozen contestants modeled their blue outfits and recited their favorite Huxmanisms. Determined by raucous cheers and selected by Huxman herself as judge, the winners of the contest, students Mana Acosta and Leah Beachy—the latter of whom wore a bald cap to portray Huxman’s husband—received an offer of a fancy dinner at the president’s residence along with three guests of their choice.
“It’s spooky because I use all of those words,” Huxman said, before announcing her pick. “You all used the correct enunciation and everything.” Following the contest, Litwiller announced that the LovEMU Early Challenge had been reached, which unlocked $10,000 toward The University Fund. Click here for more photos from the event.
Getting hyped at Herm’s House
By the time the second annual LovEMU pep rally began at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, donors had already contributed more than $54,000, or about 15%, of the day’s fundraising goal. The event, held at Yoder Arena, started with a screening of the official 2025 LovEMU video (watch it here on YouTube) featuring some of your favorite campus characters. Frequent emcee duo Braydon Hoover and Deanna Reed hyped up the crowd.
Naomi Kratzer, an EMU junior from Goshen, Indiana, majoring in music performance and history, shared her own “Royal Tale” leading her to EMU. For more Royal Tales of students and alumni, check out our series of stories here. As she decided on which college to attend, the Mennonite-raised Kratzer “began scouring” the five Mennonite colleges in the U.S. It was EMU’s campus that kept catching her eye, she said, due to its beautiful setting in the Shenandoah Valley, its strong music education program and its vibrant student community. “My story didn’t begin when I stepped onto campus, and neither did any of yours,” she said. “But EMU is known to be a home for all of our vastly diverse, chaotic, and ever-complicating plots. EMU’s resilience is in the people.”
In a dazzling display of musical mastery, Goss, dressed as the jester from the LovEMU video, pulled a flute from his sleeve and performed the theme to Sesame Street. He was joined by Makinto, an internationally known musician and seminary student, who challenged him to a flute battle. Watch the pep rally here. The flute duel begins at the 38-minute mark.
Royal Tales
A Royal Tales panel discussion hosted by Litwiller with EMU professors Dr. Gaurav Pathania, Dr. Benjamin Bergey ’11, and Dr. Kate Clark ’07 detailed their journeys to EMU, the challenges they’ve overcome, what excites them about the future, and what they love most about EMU.
Clark graduated from EMU’s nursing program, worked as a nurse for several years, and then returned to teach at EMU in 2011. She gave a shout-out to the Graham Central Station ice cream flavor at the cafeteria—“I’ve never had it anywhere else,” she said—and added that her job at EMU is the best one she’s ever had. “I love that EMU has a point of view,” she said. “It’s a place that has a perspective. … I love working for a place that I feel stands for something, and it’s something that’s important and needed in the world.”
Sanctuary of sound
Music Professor Ben Guerrero led tours of the new recording studio inside the Astral Hall on top of the EMU hill. Built in 1955, the former lecture hall was once home to the astronomy society. Starting in the early ’70s, it housed the WEMC radio station run by EMU students and staff. Today, it’s a state-of-the-art studio with two isolation rooms and a Dolby Atmos control room for mixing immersive or 3D audio. The space can be used to produce full records, music videos, and informational and instructional videos. The studio officially opens this fall.
A ‘wheelie’ good time
EMU students, staff, and anyone daring enough to brave a gauntlet of projectiles and obstacles took part in a race around the indoor track, modeled after the popular Mario Kart video game. Participants rode scooters, dodging yoga balls and dodgeballs, grabbing prize boxes, and weaving their way around aerobics step platforms and hurdles laid out on the track, to fight their way to the finish line. Meanwhile, on the Yoder Arena courts down below, the EMU men’s volleyball team won a five-set thriller over Randolph College.
Challenges (all unlocked)
LovEMU Early Challenge: We received more than 120 gifts (100 gifts were needed) before the start of LovEMU Giving Day to unlock $10,000 for scholarships.
Loyal Royal Challenge: EMU alumni gave more than 270 gifts (250 gifts were needed) over the 24-hour span to unlock $20,000 for The University Fund.
Friends of EMU Challenge: Non-alumni deepened their commitment to EMU by contributing more than 180 gifts (175 gifts were needed) throughout the day and unlocking $15,000 for scholarships.
Future Royal Challenge: Because 27 prospective students who registered to attend LovEMU Giving Day paid their tuition deposit, we unlocked $27,000 for scholarships.
Rise ’N Shine, Royals! Challenge: Early birds helped reach this challenge by giving more than 80 gifts (75 gifts were needed) between 6 and 9 a.m. to unlock $15,000 for The University Fund.
Fee-Fi-Fo-Fund Our Facilities Challenge: Donors demonstrated giant-sized generosity by awarding at least 65 gifts (65 gifts were needed) between 10 a.m. and noon to unlock $15,000 for improvements to campus facilities.
What Magnificent Academics We Have! Challenge: To celebrate EMU’s stellar smarts, supporters donated at least 100 gifts (100 gifts were needed) between noon and 3 p.m. to unlock $15,000 for scholarships.
A Whole New World Challenge: EMU’s intercultural programs have impacted thousands of graduates, offering opportunities to engage in different cultures, build global relationships and experience a new perspective. Donors contributed 80 gifts (75 gifts were needed) between 5 and 7 p.m. to unlock $10,000 for intercultural programs.
The Mighty Royals Challenge: Athletics supporters showed their love for EMU sports by pitching in 60 gifts (50 gifts were needed) between 7:30 and 9 p.m. to unlock $10,000 for EMU Athletics.
Before The Clock Struck Midnight Challenge: EMU’s night owls stayed up late to celebrate, giving at least 100 gifts (100 gifts were needed) between 9 p.m. and midnight to unlock $15,000 for The University Fund.
Thanks to everyone who donated, shared of their time to celebrate their love of all things EMU, and joined in the festivities on campus! Special thanks to the LovEMU planning team: Arelys Martinez Fabian, Genesis Figueroa, Tyler Goss, Cassie Guerrero, Liz Heilbronner, Steven Johnson, Luke Litwiller, Nicole Litwiller, and Arushi Sachan; Advancement; Marketing & Communications; Student Government Association; Undergraduate Admissions & Royal Ambassadors; EMU Facilities; Pioneer College Caterers; Athletics; Information Technology; and all other faculty, staff and students who provided support by creating decorations or volunteered their time to help with events.
For more photos from the day’s events, swipe through our gallery below:
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