EMU has announced its two 2026 Yoder/Webb Scholars.
The full-tuition scholarship is EMU’s highest academic award. Recipients are selected based on academic performance, community and extracurricular involvement, creativity, clarity of thought, and leadership potential.
The Yoder Scholars program was founded by Carol and Paul R. Yoder Jr., both graduates of 1963, with a significant leadership gift to endow the scholarship. Read more about their long legacy of philanthropy here.
The Webb Scholars program honors Ada Webb, one of the first African American students to attend the university, and Margaret “Peggy” Webb, the first African American graduate in 1954.
Read about the 2026 Yoder/Webb Scholars below:
Mage Shank
Major: Biology
Hometown: Mount Solon, Virginia
For first-year student Mage Shank, enrolling at EMU was an easy decision.
The Mount Solon, Virginia, native applied to EMU and learned they had been accepted with a generous academic scholarship.
“I thought to myself, ‘I’m not going to get a better deal anywhere else,’” Shank said. “It’s local and it’s my top choice anyway, so of course I’m going to EMU.”
Shank graduated with honors from Fort Defiance High School, where they acted in the musicals each year, received an award of excellence in anatomy, and earned a spot in the all-state choir.
They had spent some time exploring the EMU campus while their mom, Kimberly Shank MA ’24 (counseling), MDiv ’25, pursued her graduate studies. They said the university’s state-of-the-art STEM labs, along with its natural beauty and nurturing feel, led them to enroll.
“My mom has talked about how she thinks the EMU community would be the best fit for me, and I totally agree,” Shank said.
The wealth of scholarships available at EMU was also a major draw. In addition to the full-tuition Yoder/Webb Scholarship, Shank received the National Science Foundation S-STEM Scholarship.
“I didn’t want the stress of student loans or the cost of college to fall on me or my parents,” said Shank, who has five siblings. “If I can graduate mostly debt-free, I’ll be very happy.”
Shank enjoys photography, drawing, and reading in their free time and looks forward to joining the theater and choir programs at EMU. They plan to pursue a degree in biology.
“My main interests are in anatomy and microbiology,” Shank said. “That’s what I really enjoy, but honestly, as long as I’m working in a lab somewhere, I’ll be happy.”
Wynter Wilson
Major: Education
Hometown: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
When first-year student Wynter Wilson was choosing a college, three factors mattered most.
Of course, the school needed to offer their major, education. But it also needed to have a vibrant campus just far enough from their Lancaster, Pennsylvania, home to give them a sense of independence. And it needed to offer a culture where Wilson, who identifies as nonbinary, felt actively welcomed.
“I really enjoy faith-oriented spaces, but it can be difficult to find ones that intersect with queer-welcoming spaces,” Wilson said. “I felt that I would be welcomed and understood at EMU, and that was a really important factor in feeling safe and excited to come here.”
Wilson grew up attending a small Mennonite church. Their parents, Beverly Shirk Wilson ’97 and Keith Wilson, class of ’98, attended EMU, so the school was already on their radar. After learning about the EMU Visit Grant, which provides students up to $4,000 over four years, and touring the “beautiful” campus, Wilson was sold.
“I thought, ‘This is it. Why look anywhere else?’” Wilson said. “I saw how special the community was, and that visit really cemented it for me.”
After committing to EMU this spring, the J.P. McCaskey High School grad learned they had received the full-tuition Yoder/Webb Scholarship.
“It’s just kind of surreal,” Wilson said. “There’s such a great education program at EMU, and being able to pursue what I want without having to worry about the financials is such a blessing.”
Wilson plans to become an elementary school teacher and looks forward to joining the choir at EMU.
“I’m excited to figure out who I want to be, try new things, and meet new people,” they said. “I’m just really excited about it all.”
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