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, Christian commitment, and community engagement.

EMS honored alumni with awards between 1996 and 2020. In 2021, the Alumni Association Board of Eastern Mennonite School broadened the alumni award program to a more general “Celebration of Alumni Stories.” 

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.

Nominate an Alumnus to Celebrate

Read 2021 Alumni Stories

Justin Weirich '06, doctor of osteopathic medicine
John and Kathryn Stoltzfus Fairfield, both class of '66
Celebrating Alumni Stories
Lifetime Service awardees
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

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
Community Engagement Award
Kirsten Nafziger '89 Moore, Commulnity Engagement Award 2019
Kirsten Nafziger '89 Moore, Commulnity Engagement Award 2019
Andrew Jenner '00, Community Engagement Award in 2020, with Rachel and their children.
Andrew Jenner '00, Community Engagement Award in 2020, with Rachel and their children.
Shenandoah Valley Children's Choir under the direction of Janet Hostetler (EMHS class of 1983).
Janet Hostetler '83, Alumnus of the Year 2018. Shenandoah Valley Children's Choir under the direction of Hostetler .

Young Alumnus awardees

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.
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 '79 Garrett, Alumnus of the Year 2019
Lori Snyder '79 Garrett, Alumnus of the Year 2019