{"id":39795,"date":"2018-09-27T15:48:41","date_gmt":"2018-09-27T19:48:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=39795"},"modified":"2018-10-02T15:42:32","modified_gmt":"2018-10-02T19:42:32","slug":"nathan-hershberger-12-earns-emhss-young-alum-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2018\/nathan-hershberger-12-earns-emhss-young-alum-award\/","title":{"rendered":"Nathan Hershberger ’12 earns EMHS Young Alum Award"},"content":{"rendered":"
Nathan Hershberger was recently named Eastern Mennonite High School’s Alumnus of the Year. He is a 2008 graduate of EMHS and a 2012 graduate of Eastern Mennonite University. His wife, Kaitlin Heatwole Hershberger, is also a graduate of EMU. The following article is reprinted with permission from EMHS.<\/em><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Pushing himself to study, serve, learn and work outside his comfort zone \u2013 something Eastern Mennonite School (EMS) encourages of students \u2013 is a key reason that Nathan J. Hershberger \u201908 has been named EMS Young Alumnus of the Year 2018.<\/div>\n
\n

\u201cNathan embodies what we hope our students and alumni do,\u201d notes Diana Suter Berkshire, of the awards committee. \u201cHe embraces \u00a0the \u2018other,\u2019 different ways of living and new experiences, making himself vulnerable while offering his unique gifts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Traveling internationally, living in Iraq, and studying various cultures and religions all feels natural to Hershberger, thanks to a lifelong exposure to the broader world.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Kaitlin, Leo and Nathan with the seminarians he taught at St. Peter’s Seminary in Ankawa, Iraq, 2017. (Courtesy photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nathan, 28, was born in Managua, Nicaragua,to Jim and Ann Graber Hershberger, who spent a combined total of 17 years in mission-service work in Central America. The family moved to Harrisonburg, Virginia, in 1990. Sisters Sara and Rachel are school alumni. [Note: Ann Graber ’76 Hershberger is a professor of nursing and director of cross-cultural programs at EMU.]<\/p>\n

After attending EMS grade six through 12, Nathan earned a degree in history, philosophy and theology from\u00a0Eastern Mennonite University<\/a>\u00a0in 2012. A semester in the Middle East,\u00a0 led by long-time cross-cultural leaders, Linford and Janet Stutzman, helped stir interests in that region longer-term.<\/p>\n

While in college, Nathan married Kaitlin Heatwole, a 2011 EMU graduate from Christiansburg, Va.\u00a0He went on to earn a master’s degree in religious studies in 2014 \u00a0at University of Virginia. From there, the couple was off to Ankawa, Iraq, for a three-year assignment with\u00a0Mennonite Central Committee. Son Leo, now 2, was born there.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think we could have asked for a more incredible cross-cultural experience, living among people who spoke three different languages \u2013 Arabic, Kurdish and Aramaic \u2013 in this northern Iraqi setting,\u201d Nathan noted.<\/p>\n

Nathan spent much of his time working with two church-related organizations \u2013 St. Peter\u2019s, a K-12 school, teaching English and at Mar Qar Dakh School, where he taught 11th and 12th grade history. Kaitlin was program coordinator with a local pastors\u2019 organization that planned projects for people displaced by violence caused by the militant group ISIS.<\/p>\n

The food, geography and customs of the region \u201cwere amazing,\u201d notes Hershberger. The couple appreciated worshipping and experiencing the liturgy, history and music of a large Chaldean Catholic Church. Professionally, it was also a growing time. \u201cThis was my first real teaching experience, but I quickly felt a strong connection with my students,\u201d Nathan stated.<\/p>\n

At the same time, he said, he and Kaitlin sometimes struggled with their role in Iraq. \u201cWas I useful?\u201d he wondered. \u201cLiving and working in the midst of people facing major problems made it difficult to connect and build relationships, though eventually we definitely made many friends,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Now Nathan is in a doctoral program in theology at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, and Kaitlin is working on a master\u2019s degree in city and regional planning at University of North Carolina. Long term, Nathan sees himself \u201cteaching on any level.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEMHS\u2019 emphasis on international service helped push me in the direction of living overseas and helping people,\u201d he says. That exposure, along with school\u2019s \u201cAnabaptist emphasis on being \u2018the people of God,\u2019 and trying to live at peace with \u00a0each other, locally and beyond,\u201d had a significant impact, Nathan says.<\/p>\n

As part of EMHS\u00a0Homecoming Weekend<\/a>\u00a0activities, Nathan will be recognized with the Young Alumnus award and speak in chapel at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 19. The public is welcome. In addition, Nathan will speak in classes and catch up with former teachers who were mentors and key in his journey.<\/p>\n

His counsel to current students: \u201cTake it easy, focus on exploring areas of interest and where they might take you. Push out of your comfort zone.\u201d Nathan definitely practices what he preaches.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nathan Hershberger was recently named Eastern Mennonite High School’s Alumnus of the Year. He is a 2008 graduate of EMHS and a 2012 graduate of Eastern Mennonite University. 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