Madelyn McGuigan ’17 named Honored Teacher of the Year in essay contest

Madelyn McGuigan ’17, a teacher at Spotswood Elementary School in Harrisonburg, won grand prize in the 28th annual Honored Teacher Essay Contest, thanks to a heartfelt essay written about her by one of her fifth-grade students. Chosen from teachers in three school divisions, McGuigan—who graduated from EMU with degrees in Spanish and sociology—received a $1,500 award. In his essay, the student praised his teacher for her “dedication to daily learning” and incredible patience. ... read more about Madelyn McGuigan ’17 named Honored Teacher of the Year in essay contest from Daily News-Record

EMU professor shares comedic memoir on Mennonite life

The Daily News-Record spilled some ink on EMU Professor Kirsten Eve Beachy '02 and her new collection of essays, Martyrs and Chickens: Confessions of a Granola Mennonite, in a Thursday, April 24, article. Beachy, reading excerpts from the book at a Writers Read on Tuesday, delivered “frequent moments of sarcastic and dark humor (that) made the audience at the event laugh,” the reporter wrote. Watch a recording of the event here. ... read more about EMU professor shares comedic memoir on Mennonite life from Daily News-Record

Volunteers to pack 100K meals at EMU for starving children

There are still spots open for the area’s first-ever meal-packing project hosted by EMU Y-Serve next week. Sign up to help assemble 100K meals to feed hungry children around the world. Read the Daily News-Record’s article about this amazing volunteer opportunity and how EMU is partnering with Tacos 4 Life and Feed My Starving Children. ... read more about Volunteers to pack 100K meals at EMU for starving children from By Rheagan Nelson | The Daily News-Record

Levi Geyer ’22 seeks to popularize hickory nut use

EMU alumnus Levi Geyer ’22 is taking environmental sustainability to a whole new level. The Iowa farmer gathers yellowbud hickory nuts from parks and conservation areas to produce hickory oil, which is then filtered, bottled and sold. A recent article in The Marketplace, the official publication of Mennonite Education Development Associates, highlights his mission to popularize the oil. In the article, Geyer credits EMU’s environmental science classes with showing him the connection between agriculture and sustainability. ... read more about Levi Geyer ’22 seeks to popularize hickory nut use from By Sierra Ross Richer | The Marketplace

In the News: Prayer labyrinth at EMU offers unique way to connect with God

Have you ever wondered about the spiral-looking maze on the hill above the EMU Seminary Building? The Daily News-Record highlighted EMU’s prayer labyrinth in a wonderful feature story last week, detailing how it’s used, how it was built and where the design came from.  EMU senior Emma Nord, who was quoted in the article, had this to say: “I love the rhythm of the labyrinth, kind of focusing on God and the design. Once you get to the center, you’re not done. You then walk back the way you came in.” ... read more about In the News: Prayer labyrinth at EMU offers unique way to connect with God from Daily News-Record

In the News: $2M grant gives EMU STEM majors new opportunities

In a news report on Thursday morning, WHSV-TV3 highlighted the $2 million grant awarded to EMU by the National Science Foundation. This grant, one of the largest in EMU's history, will fund annual scholarships for 23 high-achieving, income-eligible STEM majors over the next six years, along with mentoring, tutoring and other support services. ... read more about In the News: $2M grant gives EMU STEM majors new opportunities from WHSV-TV3

In The News: Thoughts from EMU’s Gala Concert Directors

This year's Eastern Mennonite University/Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival Gala Concert, themed Arise, celebrates the beauty of resilience in overcoming hardship and the joy and peace found in community. The concert will feature tap dance, jazz, singing, and the grand finale from one of the most powerful and moving musical masterworks of all time, Gustav Mahler’s “Resurrection” Symphony. Broadway tap dancer/singer/actor Izaiah Montaque Harris and 2024 Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Voice Competition finalist Tina Hashemi will team up with the EMU Jazz Big Band to present a new narrative suite that tells the story of moving from loneliness to the joy of community through dance and music. In addition to the gala, guest artist Izaiah Montaque Harris will perform programs for over 1,000 K-8th grade students throughout the Harrisonburg and Rockingham County school system in conjunction with the Kennedy Center sponsored arts education non-profit, Any Given Child – Shenandoah Valley, which is dedicated to making the arts accessible to students throughout the region. The concert is free with a $10-$20 suggested donation. ... read more about In The News: Thoughts from EMU’s Gala Concert Directors from Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival

In the News: EMU alumna receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz ’81, of Ephrata, Pennsylvania, the denominational minister for peace and justice for Mennonite Church USA, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice at the 9th annual National Conference on Community and Restorative Justice in Washington, D.C., on July 30. ... read more about In the News: EMU alumna receives Lifetime Achievement Award from Mennonite Church USA