Celebrating Alumni Stories
We celebrate alumni stories to hear each others' journeys since high school and to be inspired by lives of service, professional contributions, commitment to Christian values in the Anabaptist tradition, and community engagement.
Celebrating Alumni at Homecoming '22
Janelle Zook '02 Cunalata
Carl Stauffer '82
Ethan Zook '72
Submit a Nomination
EMS welcomes suggestions for stories of alumni -- as well as former faculty and staff -- to celebrate. Submissions need not fit in a particular category. The committee reviews nominations early each year and finalizes selections by May 15 for recognition the following fall.
Complete the online form, email alumni@easternmennonite.org, or write a letter to the Alumni Office, 801 Parkwood Drive, Harrisonburg, Va., 22801.
Celebrating Alumni Stories
Lifetime Service awardees
2020 -- Keith and Ellen Hartman '55
2019 -- Richard Shue '69
2018 -- J. Ernest Martin '63
2017 -- Dr. Robert Eshleman '52
2016 -- Miriam Mumaw '56
2015 -- Ron Brown '70
2013 -- Edward Stoltzfus '48
2012 -- Sam '52 &Sarah '52 Weaver
2011 -- Steve '66 and Elsie Weaver '66
2010 -- Eugene Diener '60
2009 -- Willard "Bill" Helmuth '58
2008 -- Milton '53 & Mary Ethel '55 Heatwole
2007 -- George R. Brunk III '52
2006 -- Willard Heatwole '51
2005 -- John Lederach '50
2004 -- Glendon L. Blosser '47
2003 -- Mary Katherine Deputy '32 Brubaker
2002 -- J. Alton Horst '42
Alumnus of the Year Recipients
2019 -- Lori Snyder '79 Garrett
2018 -- Janet Heatwole '83 Hostetter
2017 -- Beryl Jantzi '77
2016 -- Tim Brenneman '76
2015 -- Joseph Longacher '55
2014 -- Earl Burkholder '64
2013 -- Harry Kraus, Jr. '78
2012 -- Titus Peachey '67
2011 -- LuAnn Miller ’81 Bender
2010 -- Aletha Stahl '85
2009 -- Becky Stoltzfus '79
2008 -- Carol Schrock ’73 Jordan
2007 -- Lawrence E. Ressler ‘72
2006 -- Ken '56 and Kass Seitz ‘56
2005 -- John W. Miller ‘45
2004 -- Esther Kniss ’49 Augsburger
2003 -- Harry Kraus, Sr., MD ‘43
2002 -- Paul D. ‘59 and Carol D. ‘59 Yoder
2001 -- D. Rohrer Eshleman ‘41 & Phillip Guengerich ‘66
2000 -- Don Jacobs ‘45 & Eugene Souder ‘45
1999 -- Dwight ’39 & Ellen ‘43 Hartman
1998 -- Eugene Stoltzfus ‘58
1997 -- John A. Lapp ‘50
1996 -- J. Lester Brubaker ‘42
1995 -- George ’30 & Margaret ‘29 Brunk
1994 -- Nate Miller ‘60
1993 -- Harold ‘29 & Arlene Heatwole ‘26 Eshleman
1992 -- J. Daryl Byler ‘74
Kirsten Nafziger '89 Moore, Commulnity Engagement Award 2019
Andrew Jenner '00, Community Engagement Award in 2020, with Rachel and their children.
Janet Hostetler '83, Alumnus of the Year 2018. Shenandoah Valley Children's Choir under the direction of Hostetler .
Young Alumnus awardees
2018 -- Nathan Hershberger '08
2017 -- Matt Weaver '92
2016 -- Obe Hostetter '96
2015 -- Allison Yoder '00 Seabeck
2014 -- Laura Bomberger '04
2013 -- Rev. Alexander MacPhail '93
2012 -- Jan Emswiler '92
2011 -- Alicia Horst '96
2010 -- Amy Glick '90
2009 -- Emily Troyer Mellet '99
2008 -- Timothy Heatwole Shenk '03
Nathan Hershberger '08, Young Alum of the Year
2018, with his wife Katilin Heatwole and Leo on the roof of their house in Ankawa, Iraq. Photo by Joel Carillett.
Lori Snyder '74 Garrett with Esther Augsburger, her art teacher who set her on a path toward a career in architecture