Articles
For alumni Halie Mast and Karla Hostetter, sports have been more than just an activity-they have shaped their personal and professional journeys at EMS and beyond. Halie Mast: A Journey of Teamwork and Faith Mast recalls how integral sports were to her EMS experience. Participating in volleyball, cross country, soccer, and basketball, she found them…
Andrew Gascho, athletic director, strides purposefully through the hallways, his demeanor reflecting a quiet confidence. Not one for overtures, his face lights up when asked about his approach to athletics at Eastern Mennonite School. “At EMS, joining a team is about more than just learning a sport. The team stands by you, ensuring that there…
WELCOME DIEGO TORRES TO ADMISSIONS We’re delighted to introduce Diego Torres as our new admissions counselor. He brings a passion for community-building and educating the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. A recent graduate of Goshen College, Torres earned degrees in secondary and physical education, along with a minor in health. If you know family or…
The Eastern Mennonite School theater community is preparing for a “big splash” with the musical Big Fish coming on February 28-March 2. The production draws together over 40 students in grades 2-12 for a meaningful, wholly satisfying presentation that involves dancing, stilts, and hundreds of paper daffodils! Big Fish is the story of the fracture…
WE’VE SURPASSED OUR FLAMES FUND GOAL! This milestone gives us space to dream of other possibilities that we’ve put on hold. FLAMES FUND 2024-25 Goal: $575,000 Contributions: $630,912 Other Contributions* $82,126 Christmas Fund Drive $163,663 Virginia Tax Credit Gifts $385,123 *thanks to a surprise gift of $40,000 CHRISTMAS FUND DRIVE 451 supporters came together to…
This school year we celebrate 20 years in the fine arts addition at Eastern Mennonite School, built to house the auditorium, art studio, and the band and choir rooms. Students, families, and the broader community have enjoyed years of performances, arts, and celebrations in this space. We again express gratitude to the original board and…
In Malea Gascho’s high school sculpture class, students are collaborating to create a large-scale Timber Rattlesnake out of cardboard. This project not only hones their artistic skills but also raises environmental awareness. Each day, the class develops a strategy and divides tasks among its members. While some focus on crafting the snake’s head, others measure…
Ashley Sauder ’99 Miller has carved out at her Harrisonburg home a little black studio. There, professional and home life – much like the elements of her mixed media art – exist side-by-side, intertwined, or merged into one. It’s not just a space, then, that Miller – an independent professional artist and the primary caregiver…
Step 1: Buy a bike. Step 2: Join a choir. Step 3: Get to work. Thanks to already-ample experience in engaging with new contexts, James Souder ’09 knew the best way to find home in Amsterdam six years ago was to jump right in. For Souder, who has three older sisters who also attended EMS,…
In elementary school, he was asked by a teacher what he wanted to be when he grew up. He recalls answering, “A teacher or a preacher.” He appreciates that he got to do both. Shenk knows details without story can mean very little, so he weaves them into anecdotes full of meaning. Throughout his rich…