{"id":60654,"date":"2026-02-23T11:40:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T16:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=60654"},"modified":"2026-02-23T10:38:55","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T15:38:55","slug":"for-the-record-leah-frankenfield-26-learned-to-lead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2026\/for-the-record-leah-frankenfield-26-learned-to-lead\/","title":{"rendered":"For the record: Leah Frankenfield \u201926 learned to lead"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Editor\u2019s Note: This profile is the first of six stories about students and alumni leading up to the 10th annual LovEMU Giving Day on April 1. For more information about the day and how to donate, visit love.emu.edu<\/a><\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take a look around campus and you\u2019d be hard-pressed to find someone involved in leading as many clubs and organizations as Leah Frankenfield<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to leadership roles as a Royal Ambassador and with EMU\u2019s Royals RISE program, the senior psychology major has either led or helped start a number of athletic and advocacy clubs on campus: Badminton Club, Bike Club, Pickleball Club, Asian-Pacific Islander Student Alliance (APISA), and University Women’s Empowerment Network (UWEN). This year, she is representing her peers as Student Government Association co-president.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The Northern California native grew up hearing about the magic of EMU from her father, James Frankenfield \u201981<\/strong>, who shared stories of sledding down the EMU Hill on trays from the caf. \u201cHe mostly talked about the impact EMU had on his career,\u201d said Leah Frankenfield. \u201cHe attributes a lot of his success in life to his chemistry degree from here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So when the time came for her to pick a college, EMU was at the top of her list. The university\u2019s tight-knit campus and her family connections\u2014her cousins Greta Schrag \u201924 <\/strong>and Libbie Derstine \u201925 <\/strong>are recent graduates\u2014added to the charm. She was also intrigued by the Mennonite culture her father grew up in. Plus, it didn\u2019t hurt that the surrounding city of Harrisonburg, with its plentiful shops and restaurants, had so much to experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEMU offers a great balance between being in a rich cultural environment near a large university and having a small campus that provides personalized attention and opportunities to build deep relationships with professors,\u201d said Leah Frankenfield. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said many of her professors allow students to take mental health days. \u201cThey want you to develop holistically as a person first,\u201d she said. \u201cThey want you to prioritize your health, show up in the best way you can, and communicate with them. I\u2019ve really appreciated that flexibility.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another benefit of attending EMU is the wealth of scholarships and financial aid available to students. Leah Frankenfield is the recipient of a merit scholarship and the Pioneer College Caterers Scholarship, and is among the 100% of undergraduate students at EMU who receive financial aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These days, the college senior is busy applying to grad school, with an eye toward counseling or school psychology. Whichever path she takes, she feels a twinge of bittersweetness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have these mixed feelings,\u201d she said. \u201cSometimes I think, I can\u2019t wait for the next step<\/em>. At the same time, EMU has challenged me to grow and explore my identity and explore how I make a new environment feel comfortable. I like the way I\u2019ve made EMU my home and, at the end of the day, it\u2019s going to be sad to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your support helps students like Leah pursue a quality college education without financial barriers. Join us for the 10th annual LovEMU Giving Day and contribute to the scholarships that empower future EMU students. On April 1, let’s show that our generosity knows no bounds…for the record!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Editor\u2019s Note: This profile is the first of six stories about students and alumni leading up to the 10th annual LovEMU Giving Day on April 1. 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