The 10 recipients were presented with blue and gold cords to wear at Commencement<\/a>, which will be held Sunday, May 3, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Click each recipient\u2019s name above to jump to their section.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A Spanish language & Hispanic studies and education (PreK-12) licensure major from Manheim, Pennsylvania, she was honored by Sydney Metz, head field hockey coach.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Armato embodies what it means to be a Royal, choosing excellence in the classroom, dedicating hours of service to others, and living out her faith by loving like Jesus, her coach said. She has also raised the standard of integrity within EMU\u2019s athletic community, Metz said, recalling a conversation they shared about the culture they hoped to build for the field hockey program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur program was in a fragile place, and even one wrong move could set us back further,\u201d Metz said. \u201cBut in that conversation, we also talked about what it means to do the right thing, even when it\u2019s difficult. \u2026 You showed a willingness to lean into this challenge, to start a standard, and to grow in every area of your college experience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Metz said that Armato has made the most of her EMU experience. \u201cYou could find \u2018Soph\u2019 coming to practice after a long day of student teaching, then leaving practice to help others understand a Spanish conversation,\u201d she said. \u201cShe would end her evening working at home on projects for her small business, continuing her homework, only to wake up early to serve coffee at Common Grounds. And through it all, she was living out her faith daily.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A political science and Spanish language & Hispanic studies major from Richmond, Virginia, she was honored by Celeste Thomas, director of Multicultural Student Services.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The first time Thomas met Pinzon, she knew immediately the student would change the tapestry of EMU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pinzon, with her infectious smile, high energy, and \u201curgency to get down to business,\u201d motivates those around her to \u201cget on board and, not just say something, but do something,\u201d Thomas said. \u201cYou exude kindness toward everyone and have a genuine concern for the well-being of others. You are always seeking ways to make the world a better place, and when you set out to do something, you do not stop until you reach the goal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was especially evident in the menstrual hygiene project she led, securing a $1,200 grant and installing 10 dispensers across campus, Thomas said. Pinzon also served on the board of the Latinx Student Alliance (LSA), fed the unhoused, and participated in the International Food Festival, the Latino student banquet, and Hispanic Heritage Month events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBeing a first-generation immigrant college student with your own challenges, you were able to look beyond your own needs and assist others who may be less fortunate,\u201d Thomas said. \u201cYou shared that your goal was to inspire other first-generation Latino students to keep dreaming by showing them that no goal is too big.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A nursing major from Salem, Oregon, she was honored by Dr. Kate Clark, associate professor of nursing.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Beachy represents the very best of what it means to be both a nurse and a servant leader. She demonstrates keen intellect, discipline, perseverance, and a deep sense of purpose. \u201cBut what makes Leah truly exceptional goes beyond academics,\u201d Clark said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During her four years on the women\u2019s soccer team, Beachy exemplified courageous leadership, advocating for change, gathering teammate feedback, engaging administrators, and pursuing solutions grounded in accountability, Clark said. As senior captain, she helped rebuild trust and integrity within the program, contributing to one of its strongest seasons both competitively and culturally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through EMU\u2019s nursing program, Beachy learned to unite clinical excellence with justice-oriented patient care, seeing health care not just as treatment, but as a pursuit of dignity, equity, and compassion. Shaped by her intercultural experiences in Guatemala and Mexico, she helped facilitate a trauma-informed support group at Our Community Place for individuals recently rehoused after homelessness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd yet, even with all these accomplishments, Leah is most known for her warmth, her authenticity, and her limitless joy,\u201d Clark said. \u201cWhether serving as a tour guide, an ambassador for EMU, or simply showing up for others, she builds community wherever she goes and has a lot of fun doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A psychology major from Moraga, California, she was honored by Annalise Livingston, project coordinator for Royal RISE.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Frankenfield has been involved in just about every part of campus, always making an effort to connect with and support others, Livingston said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou are one of the most compassionate, driven, and engaged people I know, and your persistent dedication to caring for and including those around you is wildly inspiring,\u201d she said. \u201cYour determination to ensure that everyone feels they belong and have a safe space to be themselves, drawn from your own experience and vulnerability, shines through in your many involvements across campus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through her leadership across various clubs and organizations, including Asian-Pacific Islander Student Alliance (APISA), University Women\u2019s Empowerment Network (UWEN), Student Government Association, and Royal RISE, the senior psychology major\u2014who will join EMU\u2019s graduate counseling program this fall\u2014planned programs and events to create welcoming environments and encourage connection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Frankenfield also served as a TA and peer tutor, ensuring students felt seen and supported. She\u2019s provided students with a warm, friendly presence through her work at Common Grounds, the dining hall, the advancement and admissions offices, the library, and beyond. \u201cYou embody authenticity and humility,\u201d Livingston said, \u201cmanaging your hectic schedule in a semi-baffling way that leaves everyone around you wondering how on earth you do it all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A political science and Spanish language & Hispanic studies major from Millersburg, Ohio, she was honored by Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n From her first day on campus, Figueroa has shown up consistently and with care, Dycus said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a conversation partner with the Spanish community and through her leadership roles\u2014first as a senator, then secretary, and eventually co-president\u2014Figueroa has shaped EMU in ways both visible and deeply felt, building connection and belonging across campus. Those roles require navigating complexity, listening deeply, and representing others with integrity, Dycus said, and Figueroa has carried them with a steady, grounded presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat stands out most is not just what you\u2019ve done, but how you\u2019ve done it,\u201d she said. \u201cAgain and again, people describe you as someone who listens deeply, brings warmth, and helps others feel seen. That kind of leadership shapes culture. That\u2019s what you\u2019ve done for EMU.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Figueroa carried that spirit into the Latinx Student Alliance, as president of Young Democrats, and as a senior class officer, helping others learn together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOne nominator said it best: \u2018Genesis rises to any occasion, leading with initiative, creativity, awareness, and a deep commitment to collective learning and action,\u2019\u201d Dycus said. \u201cAlongside it all, you remain committed to your academic work, bringing discipline, focus, and purpose as a political science and Spanish major, as well as engagement with immigrant communities in Harrisonburg.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Spanish language & Hispanic studies and education (PreK-12) licensure major from Winchester, Virginia, she was honored by M. Esther Showalter, instructor of Spanish language and Hispanic studies.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In a fast-paced world, Martinez Fabian knows when to pause and be fully present with others, actively listening and walking alongside those in need, Showalter said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During Martinez Fabian\u2019s first year at EMU, Showalter\u2019s childhood best friend unexpectedly passed away. In the midst of that loss, the student came to her office to offer support. She brought a small houseplant to honor her friend, and over the years, it has grown from a foot tall to four feet high. \u201cIt is by far my healthiest plant,\u201d Showalter said. \u201cMany people comment on how great it looks, and I tell them the story of my friend and how you, Arelys, have comforted me in my time of need, as you have for so many others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Along with Figueroa, Martinez Fabian served as co-president of the Student Government Association, becoming the first Latinx women in that role. She led with heart and humanity, Showalter said, strengthening communication between students and administrators and ensuring student voices shaped key campus decisions. Her leadership also increased involvement from underrepresented students, contributing to a more inclusive and engaged campus culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cArelys has lived the EMU experience to its fullest,\u201d Showalter said. \u201cShe is an inspiring leader, a curious learner, and an empathetic friend.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A political science and social work major from Silver Spring, Maryland, she was honored by Deanna Durham, associate professor of social work and sociology.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether leading the social work student organization, the Young Democrats, or the University Women\u2019s Empowerment Network (UWEN), or serving as a Community Advisor, hall director, dialogue facilitator, student chaplain, or development office assistant, Mekonnen has consistently worked toward a vision of EMU at its best. She has also been involved with the Campus Activities Council, Student Government Association, and the EMU Washington Semester. \u201cOver the past four years,\u201d Durham said, \u201cis there anything you did not say \u2018yes\u2019 to?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mekonnen\u2019s leadership and deep commitment to building a more inclusive and welcoming university have touched every corner, building, and space on campus, Durham said. This past semester, that impact extended into the local community through her senior social work practicum, where she worked with Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed. \u201cYou are a multitasker extraordinaire,\u201d Durham told Mekonnen. \u201cYour ability not only to generate ideas but also to bring others along with you is impressive. You have embodied the belief that we are always better together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As hall director of Elmwood, Mekonnen fostered a community grounded in inclusion, social awareness, and belonging, Durham said. \u201cYou have pushed for change on campus and have never remained silent when there was potential for harm to another student.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A business administration major from Shkoder, Albania, she was honored by Tyler Goss, director of student engagement and leadership development. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Goss remembers his first interaction with Prroj. The International Student Organization (ISO) was preparing for its popular International Food Festival. Dozens of cooks would soon gather on Thomas Plaza, and he and other volunteers were setting up decorations, including more than 50 flagpoles. Each flag came with its own challenge, Goss said, noting the political significance of their placement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn the midst of all that chaos and decision-making, there was Sarah, a first-year student, stepping up, directing, delegating, and leading with confidence and ease,\u201d Goss said. \u201cThat moment was just the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Albanian international student dedicated her four years at EMU to the ISO, but her impact extends beyond that community. She served as a Community Advisor and Royal Ambassador and led the Good Business Gathering Club. At Common Grounds, she began as a barista and became its financial manager. She also served as student government treasurer. Away from campus, she volunteered at Young Life camp and shared her story at the Perspectives of World Missions Conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFrom ISO president to community volunteer to SGA treasurer, and all the hours of Common Grounds\u2019 financial tasks in between, Sarah leads every space with dependability, vision, and a deep desire to help each community flourish,\u201d Goss said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A business administration and medical lab science major from Port Said, Egypt, he was honored by Dr. Jim Leaman, associate professor of business.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s the rare undergraduate student who publishes original research and presents it at a prestigious academic conference, Leaman said, yet Sefin did so halfway through his undergraduate career. \u201cThen, he leveraged that innovation to launch an entrepreneurial venture to serve the needs of others,\u201d the professor said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSophia Armato<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nIrais Barrera Pinzon<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nLeah Beachy<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nLeah Frankenfield<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nGenesis Figueroa<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nArelys Martinez Fabian<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nDibora Mekonnen<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nSarah Prroj<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nRoumany Sefin<\/h2>\n\n\n
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