Shenandoah University

Shenandoah University third-year Pharm.D. student Sheridan Herron '26 won the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) National Patient Counseling Competition during the APhA Annual Meeting that took place March 21-24, in Nashville, Tennessee. Herron, who was recognized during the APhA-ASP Student Awards Celebration on March 22, is the third Shenandoah University student in the Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy to win the APhA-ASP National Patient Counseling Competition, joining Joanna Lyon (2014) and Danielle Przychodzin (2003). Shenandoah, which admitted its first class of doctoral pharmacy students in 1996, began participating in the National Patient Counseling Competition in 2000. Shenandoah University's three national winners are the most of any pharmacy school over the last 25 years, and Shenandoah is tied with the University of California, San Francisco for the most in the history of the National Patient Counseling Competition, which debuted in 1985.

Beda Vining '25 (Bachelor of Music in Music Education) was awarded the Presser Foundation's 2024-25 Undergraduate Scholar Award. The award is designed to encourage and support the education of a music student who has achieved a high level of musical and academic excellence, demonstrated leadership and service, and contributed to an inclusive community. Beda received the award based on her musical and academic excellence, leadership and service and contribution to an inclusive community.

Shenandoah Conservatory announces the winners of the 2025/26 Student Soloists Competition (SSC) on behalf of the SSC committee. Competition Winners Christopher Gilley, cello (Category I) Timur Mustakimov, piano (Category II) Cadence Weaver, voice (Category II) The final round of the competition was held at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 2, in Armstrong Concert Hall (view the digital program to learn more about the final round). Winners of this year's competition will be featured in performances with the Shenandoah Conservatory Symphony Orchestra throughout the 2025/26 season.

Shenandoah University senior Terese Greene has earned another spot among the nation's elite NCAA Division III women's basketball players, as she was named to the D3hoops.com All-America fifth team on March 22. The national honor comes after Greene was announced as an NCAA Division III All-American honorable mention selection by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and a first team All-Region 6 pick by D3hoops.com earlier in the week. The Culpeper, Virginia, native also was selected to the WBCA's Division III Women's Collegiate All-Star Team. Greene put together a dominant senior season, averaging 21.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. She shot 45% from the field, 31.8% from beyond the arc, and 75.8% from the free-throw line, totaling 559 points during her senior season. She played a key role in leading the Hornets to a 17-10 overall record and an 11-5 finish in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, culminating in an appearance in the ODAC semifinals. "Terese has worked incredibly hard to elevate her game and our program," said Shenandoah head coach Melissa Smeltzer-Kraft. "Her dedication, leadership, and talent have been evident all season, and this honor is well deserved."

In January, 60 students in Shenandoah University's physician assistant studies program, accompanied by Associate Professor of Physician Assistant Studies Jennifer Miller, D.M.S., and Interim Director of the Division of Physician Assistant Studies Erika Francis, D.M.S., traveled to Richmond, Virginia, to participate in Lobby Day during the Virginia General Assembly's legislative session. During Lobby Day, an annual event organized by the Medical Society of Virginia and the Virginia Academy of Physician Assistants, students engaged in briefings about key issues, gained insight into the Virginia legislative process, and had the opportunity to speak directly with legislators in the Virginia State Capitol. The day concluded with a special meeting with Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears, providing students with invaluable first-hand experience in advocacy and policy making. This impactful experience highlighted the critical role of legislative engagement in shaping the future of the PA profession.

Shenandoah University welcomed 31 new inductees into the Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) national leadership honor society on Sunday, Feb. 9. ODK recognizes sophomores, juniors, seniors, graduate students and alumni who excel in leadership and academics. Students selected to Omicron Delta Kappa must meet the honor society's leadership values of collaboration, inclusivity, integrity, scholarship and service. Additionally, they must be in the top 35% of their class and demonstrate leadership in at least one of the five pillars of campus life: academics and research; athletics; service to campus and community; communications; and creative and performing arts. To become a member, students can self-nominate or be nominated by a faculty member, staff member or current ODK member. Nominees are then selected for induction through an application process.

Shenandoah University held its First-Year Seminar Awards ceremony on Dec. 5 to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of FYS faculty, mentors and students. Each year, winners are announced for the Gabriella Miller First-Year Student Award, the Timothy Doak Mentor Leadership Award, and the Teaching Excellence Award.

Three Shenandoah University athletic training students secured SU's third straight Virginia Athletic Trainers' Association (VATA) Student Quiz Bowl title during the organization's annual meeting on Jan. 3 at the Hampton Roads Convention Center in Hampton, Virginia. This year's Shenandoah team included Megan Bone '29, Luke Finkbeiner '29, and Trilby Kite '30 as well as alternates Cori Babcock '29 and Aesia Garban '30. The VATA Student Quiz Bowl is a "Jeopardy"-style competition held during the annual conference that features college athletic training programs from across Virginia.

Shenandoah University men's basketball player Joshua Randolph '28 gained some first-hand sport management experience when he traveled to Alabama for the Battle in Birmingham, a high-profile NCAA men's basketball showdown between Auburn and Purdue at Legacy Arena in the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex, on Dec. 21. Randolph - who was joined by Fritz Polite, Ph.D., director of academic success and experiential learning for Shenandoah University's men's basketball program - worked directly with Russ Potts Productions, Inc. and gained real-world experience managing luxury suites, skyboxes and team operations, including the oversight of locker room logistics and coordination of the pregame shootaround, according to Shenandoah men's basketball coach Nick Doyle.

Shenandoah University recognizes the 1,132 students who made the Fall 2024 Dean's List. To qualify for the Dean's List, students must be enrolled full-time in baccalaureate degree programs and earn a semester GPA of 3.50 or higher. Dean's List students who achieve a semester GPA of 3.90 or higher also qualify for the university's President's List.

Shenandoah University celebrates the 540 students who made the President's List for the Fall 2024 semester. To qualify for this prestigious academic recognition, students must be enrolled full-time in baccalaureate degree programs and attain a semester GPA of 3.90 or higher. All President's List honorees are also recognized on the university's Dean's List, which includes students who earn a semester GPA of 3.50 or higher.

Eva Gary '25 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre) will join "Pretty Woman: The Musical," for the last leg of its U.S. national tour in 2025. Gary will play the lead role of Vivian Ward in the production based on the 1990 film of the same name.

Shenandoah University's softball program had 17 players earn Easton/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Scholar-Athlete honors for the 2023-24 academic year, in selections announced by the NFCA on Aug. 6. As a program, the Hornets posted the best team GPA among the four Old Dominion Athletic Conference schools represented on the list of 118 NCAA Division III programs that achieved a collective GPA of 3.0 or better. SU student-athletes Kristen Blee, Rachael Blumenschine, Makayla Boone, Tiffany Bower, Abigail Campbell, Makayla Cox, Paige Eagleton, Kelsey Freeman, Kelly Hartman, Danielle McNeill, Sarah Medellin, Riley Nace, Lexie Reid, Taylor Smith, Kayla Stephenson, Kara Watkins, and Brenna Westwood each were named Easton/NFCA All-Academic Scholar-Athletes. To qualify for this distinction, student-athletes must have maintained at least a 3.50 or better cumulative GPA for the 2023-24 academic year. As a team, the Hornets tied for the 60th-best GPA (3.55) in Division III, edging out Virginia Wesleyan and Bridgewater (T-72, 3.51) and the University of Lynchburg (T-78, 3.50).

Shenandoah University is pleased to announce the 1,247 graduates who received their degrees and/or certificates during the 2023-24 academic year. These included 206 August 2023 graduates, 353 December 2023 graduates and 688 May 2024 graduates. Shenandoah's 2024 University Commencement took place on May 18.

Shenandoah University's Esports program recently announced the recipients of the 2024 Shenandoah Esports Awards. A total of seven individuals received one of six awards during a ceremony on May 7.

The Shenandoah University Student Government Association held its inauguration on April 21 and announced the winners of the 2024 Leadership Awards. Thirteen awards were given out within three categories: individual, organization and student employment. Individual Awards Outstanding Leader of the Year - Undergraduate: Emma Shockey Outstanding Leader of the Year - Graduate: Katelyn Pomajzl Emerging Leader of the Year: Amy Oleksy Hornet Spirit Award: Victoria Hannen Community Builder Award: Kathy Evans Organization Awards Diversity Program of the Year: Shen First Gen Student Organization of the Year - Undergraduate: Alpha Psi Omega Most Innovative Program: Campus Activities Network Student Employment Awards Collaboration Award: Madison Cavalet Empowerment Award: Elizia Seymour Growth Award: Miles McKee Responsibility Award: Malori Carlson Inclusion Award: Linda Diaz-Gil

Over 131 undergraduate and graduate students presented a display of 73 projects at the 2024 Shenandoah University Research Expo. Nearly all schools at SU were represented in the expo, which featured an array of creative/portfolio, empirical and proposal/review projects across a variety of disciplines. Thirty-six faculty mentors supported these projects with an eye toward fostering scientific and creative inquiry among their students. Individual and group winners were announced in 11 categories in 2024.

Shenandoah University's Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced that 349 student-athletes earned a spot on the Athletic Director's List for the Spring 2023 semester. To qualify for this honor, student-athletes must have a semester GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Several Shenandoah students have served as vaccinators at the university's mass-vaccination clinic held in the Wilkins Athletics & Events Center. They have helped vaccinate thousands of individuals in the community and the state. From the pharmacy school, they are Elizabeth Beremendi, James Noll, Phillip "Austin" Taylor, Ashley Myers and Ashley Boothe.