Spirited pep rally kicks off LovEMU Giving Day 2026
Herm was missing. The crowd of faculty, staff, students, and alumni at Yoder Arena for Wednesday morning’s LovEMU Pep Rally called out his name. They searched high and low. But he was nowhere to be found.
Suddenly, the roar of a motorcycle engine filled the gymnasium. Moments later, everyone’s favorite friendly blue lion glided onto the hardwood on a sleek new e-bike.
The e-bike, announced Nicole Litwiller ’19, MA ’20 (conflict transformation), LovEMU organizer and pep rally emcee, was a new addition to the Sadie Hartzler Library, thanks to a generous donation from an EMU alum, the diligent work of senior Joshua Stucky, and a partnership between library staff and the Shenandoah Bicycle Company.
Starting Monday, students can check out the bike from the library at any time and “easily bike all over campus and Harrisonburg,” she said.
Herm’s dramatic entrance was just one of many memorable moments that energized the crowd with the LovEMU Giving Day spirit. Wednesday’s pep rally had it all: a current student exclaiming her love for EMU, a future student officially declaring EMU as his school for next year, and performances by the previous night’s Lip-Sync Battle champions.
“It’s sure to be the best Lip-Sync Battle this side of the Shenandoah,” promised fellow pep rally organizer and emcee Tyler Goss, director for student engagement and leadership development.
Scroll down to the bottom of this article to watch a video recording of the pep rally.
Students snagged free LovEMU shirts shot into the crowd by the BaZOOKa T-shirt cannon.
Throughout the event, engineering lab tech Henry Bowser and engineering student Max Fritts fired shirts into the stands using the BaZOOKa T-shirt cannon. The launcher, which debuted at last year’s pep rally, was funded by 2019 alumni Ben, an engineering graduate, and Kayla Zook.
LovEMU Giving Day is an opportunity to pause and celebrate all the incredible things about EMU, which include “our amazing academic programs, our incredible athletic teams, our impactful clubs and orgs, and our supportive community as a whole,” Litwiller said. “Part of how we can express that celebration is through generosity.”
Funds from LovEMU Giving Day benefit current and future students, faculty, and staff by making education more affordable and providing them with the facilities and resources they need to access an outstanding education. Since the first LovEMU Giving Day in 2017, the university has raised more than $2 million on annual giving days.
Thanks to the generosity of supporters, this year’s LovEMU Giving Day was the best one yet, with over $402,000 raised, according to the LovEMU website.
The pep rally began with the premiere of the official LovEMU Giving Day video. It celebrates the past nine giving days and sets sights on the future, featuring voiceovers from Litwiller and Marketing and Communications Project Manager Aric Berg, along with cameos from faculty, staff, students, athletes, and alumni. The video was produced by Macson McGuigan ’17.
Watch the official hype video below!
Sophomore Ari Smart speaks about finding her fit at EMU (left) and future student Brady Crisp (right) rings the cowbell.
Ari Smart, a sophomore majoring in art education, shared her experiences at EMU. The Stafford, Virginia, native, who serves as a Royal Ambassador and plays on the field hockey and lacrosse teams, spoke about finding her place in a community that made her feel seen, supported, and valued. “This is a place that pushes me to grow,” she said.
Through classes that challenge her to think differently, clubs that let her explore new interests, and experiences that prepare her for the future, she has gained confidence, independence, and the ability to take initiative.
“This university has given me more than an education; it has given me a sense of belonging, a community that feels like family, and experiences I will carry with me for the rest of my life,” she said.
“It has helped me grow into a stronger, more confident version of myself, and for that, I am incredibly grateful.”
The pep rally crowd also welcomed a future Royal to the EMU family. Brady Crisp, a senior from Fluvanna County High School who will join the men’s soccer team this fall, took part in the cherished tradition of ringing the cowbell to celebrate his commitment.
Each time a prospective student who was in attendance on LovEMU Giving Day paid their tuition deposit—as Crisp did—either on the day or beforehand, the university unlocked an additional $1,000 in scholarship funds. The Future Royal Challenge, funded by two graduates from the Class of 1958, raised $19,000 in scholarships on Wednesday.
The women’s volleyball (left) and lacrosse teams (right) perform lip-sync routines at the LovEMU Pep Rally on Wednesday.
The third annual LovEMU Pep Rally showcased performances by the top three athletic teams from the previous night’s annual Lip-Sync Battle, hosted by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The women’s basketball and lacrosse teams competed for second place, with the basketball team prevailing after a crowd vote. The women’s volleyball team, this year’s champions, combined lip-syncing with a carefully choreographed routine to a medley of songs from High School Musical.
Senior Admissions Counselor Lexi Fotis-Brown MA ’25 (organizational leadership) led this portion of the pep rally, hyping up the teams and the crowd. “Absolutely electric,” she told the teams. “Just remember, you’re all winners in my heart.”
Earlier in the event, emcees Litwiller and Goss exchanged some lighthearted banter.
Goss said, “Wait, so you’re telling me we do all this to make the student experience at EMU the best it can be? What are you going to tell me next? That the generosity of donors helps fund student scholarships, improve campus facilities, and even keeps the lights on?”
“I mean, yeah, you said it,” Litwiller replied.
Watch a recording of the pep rally below!
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