Shenandoah University

The Shenandoah University women's cross country team had two individuals earn All-Region accolades during the NCAA South Region Championships on Nov. 16 in Jackson, Mississippi. Senior Makenna Thrush and first-year Maddy Chorney finished 24th and 27th, respectively, to lead the Hornets to a fifth-place finish. Thrush completed the 6K race in 22:59.01, while Chorney finished with a time of 23:11.95. All-Region honors are awarded to the top 35 individuals in each of the NCAA Division III regional competitions.

Three Shenandoah University women's soccer student-athletes were named to the 2024 All-ODAC team in selections announced by the conference on Nov. 13. Senior Chandler Gallant was selected to the All-ODAC second team while Lauren Duffy and McKenna Newcome represent SU on the third team.

Shenandoah University's field hockey team had an impressive showing in the 2024 All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) selections released on Tuesday, Nov. 12, with eight Hornets earning All-ODAC honors and the program netting four of the ODAC's five major awards.

Shenandoah University student Travis Gawason '25 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre design & production - costume design) served as a stitching and wardrobe apprentice at the Santa Fe Opera (SFO), a unique outdoor opera company in Santa Fe, New Mexico, this past summer. This apprentice program offers instruction, practical experience and hands-on professional training. Gawason stitched the costumes during the day and at night, worked wardrobe on "La Traviata," "Don Giovanni" and the premiere of "The Righteous," as well as "Der Rosenkavalier" and "The Elixir of Life" as part of the SFO's 2024 season.

Shenandoah Conservatory student Darian Angel '26 (Bachelor of Music in performance) won first prize in the College Division of the Sidney Forrest Clarinet Competition at the University of Maryland on Sunday, Oct. 27.

Shenandoah University student Kira Sledge '28 was crowned 2025 Miss Apple Blossom and will serve as an official hostess of the 98th Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, Virginia, next spring, festival officials recently announced. As Miss Apple Blossom, Sledge, 18, will ride as festival royalty during the Firefighters' Parade on May 2, and the Grand Feature Parade on May 3. Additionally, Sledge will represent the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival at the 2025 Miss Virginia Competition in February.

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's women's lacrosse team had eight student-athletes named to the 2024 Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Academic Honor Roll in selections announced on July 24. SU's Ainsley Buckner, Julianna Fohner, Emily Kravalis, Emily Lerch, Emily Onorato, Gabriella Raspanti, Madison Re and Kate Vendemia each earned the recognition. To earn a spot on the Academic Honor Roll, student-athletes must be a junior, senior, or graduate student and have earned a cumulative academic GPA of 3.50 or higher. Additionally, Shenandoah was named an IWLCA Academic Honor Squad for the 2023-24 academic year, an honor bestowed upon teams who post a GPA of 3.20 or higher. It's the 12th consecutive year the Hornets have been named an Academic Honor Squad, excluding the 2020 season that was canceled due to COVID-19.

Shenandoah University has announced the 50 individuals who were selected for the 2025 Global Citizenship Project (GCP). Those individuals will travel to one of five international destinations during spring break in March 2025. Participants will learn their destinations and trip leaders at International Convocation on Nov. 20. The Global Citizenship Project will celebrate its 20th year in 2025. Since its inaugural year in 2005, the Global Citizenship Project has sent over 1,400 students, staff, faculty, and trustees to 69 countries and seven U.S. states and territories so that each participant might learn more about the world and themselves. To learn more about GCP, visit su.edu/gcp.

Shenandoah University junior Katya Hoover was named an All-Academic Athlete by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association on July 15. SU's men's and women's programs also earned All-Academic Team distinctions from the USTFCCCA. Hoover, a national qualifier during the 2023-24 indoor and outdoor seasons, holds the program record in the high jump for both seasons at 1.68 meters. The field athlete achieved each mark at the indoor and outdoor ODAC Championships this season. The All-Academic Athlete award rounds out a year for Hoover where she was named All-ODAC, All-Region, and All-America. As a team, Shenandoah's women were awarded All-Academic Team distinction for the 16th straight year after they achieved a 3.45 GPA in the classroom. The SU men posted a 3.21 GPA and earned the honor for the sixth consecutive year.

Four members of the Shenandoah University men's basketball team were named to the 2023-24 National Association of Basketball Coaches Honors Court on July 15. Graduate students Jaylen Williams and Davion Roberts, senior Gavin Bizyak and junior Kendrick Robinson represent the Hornets on the list, which includes more than 2,100 players. Robinson and Williams lead the quartet of Hornets by achieving a career GPA of 3.80 or higher. The honors court recognizes men's basketball student-athletes from all collegiate levels who achieve a 3.20 cumulative GPA or higher. Student-athletes must be a junior, senior, or graduate student to earn the academic award. This marks the fifth consecutive year the Hornets have had at least one player on the honors court, and the fourth season in which SU has had multiple honorees. Roberts has earned this distinction for the fourth time, while Williams and Bizyak earned the award for the third and second time, respectively.

Six Shenandoah University student-athletes were selected to the 2023-24 Virginia Sports Information Directors Association (VaSID) Academic All-State Team in selections released by the association on July 11. The six Hornets honored were Farren Winter (field hockey), David Munoz (football), Devin Kohout (men's soccer/track & field), Emily Williams (women's basketball), Mark Isabelle (men's lacrosse), and Karlie Zamora (women's golf). Thirty-six schools and 216 student-athletes were represented on this year's VaSID Academic All-State Team.

The Shenandoah University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics set a new school record with 329 student-athletes on the 2023-24 Old Dominion Athletic Conference All-Academic Team in selections released by the conference on July 11. This year's total is an increase of 33 student-athletes from SU's previous best of 296 set during the 2022-23 academic year. For student-athletes to qualify for the ODAC All-Academic Team, they must've had a 3.25 GPA or higher for the 2023-24 school year. Of the 329 SU student-athletes on the team, 256 posted a 3.50 GPA or better, and 46 had a perfect 4.0 GPA.

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 pitcher Jacob Bell earned 2024 Third Team Academic All-America honors in selections released recently by College Sports Communicators. Bell, a graduate student and the ace of SU's pitching staff in 2024, earned this prestigious award for the second consecutive year, joining 11 other Division III players to earn the distinction in 2023 and 2024.

Shenandoah University track and field student-athletes Katya Hoover, Mackenzie Plowman, Janelle Anderson, Dylan Tubbs and Devin Kohout were named to the College Sports Communicators 2024 Academic All-District Team. The five Hornets each posted at least a 3.30 GPA, with two of them gaining a 4.0 GPA in the spring.

The Old Dominion Athletic Conference recently announced the 2023-24 ODAC Sportsmanship Teams in each of the conference's 25 sponsored sports. The squads are composed of a student-athlete selected by the coaching staff of each team competing under the conference banner, with all sports and schools fully represented.

Shenandoah University's men's lacrosse team earned the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) 2024 Team Academic Award while Mark Isabelle was named a Scholar All-American by the organization on June 14. The USILA Team Academic Award is given to teams who record a collective GPA of 3.0 or higher. Similarly, Scholar All-America honors are awarded to seniors with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. As a team, SU posted a GPA of 3.24 and was one of four Old Dominion Athletic Conference programs to make the listing, joining Hampden-Sydney College, the University of Lynchburg, and Washington and Lee University.

The Shenandoah University baseball team earned four College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District awards in selections announced by the organization on June 4. First baseman Chandler Ballenger, pitcher Jacob Bell, third baseman Pearce Bucher, and outfielder Gavin Horning each earned the honor, and Bell was named a CSC Academic All-America team finalist.

Shenandoah University recognizes the 989 students who made the Spring 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 field hockey standout Elise Velasquez and Hornets baseball star Gavin Horning earned the Old Dominion Athletic Conference's Marjorie Berkley and Harry G. "Doc" Jopson awards, the highest individual awards bestowed by the conference. This is the first time Shenandoah has swept the Berkley and Jopson Awards. Horning is first SU recipient of the Jopson prize, while Velasquez joins former women's basketball standout Olivia Weinel (2022) as winners of the Berkley Award.

Shenandoah University celebrates the 444 students who made the President's List for the Spring 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.

Shenandoah University presented the 2024 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards to recent graduates Maya Horner '24 and Gabriella Raspanti '24 and Associate Professor of Physician Assistant Studies Michelle Gruver, D.M.S., PA-C. Each year, the Sullivan Awards are presented to deserving individuals at over 70 colleges and universities in the U.S. First awarded in 1890, this award recognizes individuals of noble character who act as humble servants and place service to others above self-interest.

The Shenandoah University softball program has earned five College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District awards in selections announced recently by the association. The five Hornets on the Academic All-District Division-III team are Tiffany Bower, Rachael Blumenschine, Danielle McNeill, Lexie Reid and Kayla Stephenson. The honor recognizes student-athletes who excel in their chosen sport as well as in the classroom.

Shenandoah University's baseball program earned five American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-Region honors for Region Six in teams announced by the organizations on May 28. Chandler Ballenger, Pearce Bucher, Frankie Ritter, and Gavin Horning accounted for four spots on the second team with Joey Mitchell rounding out the selections on the third team as a relief pitcher.

Four Shenandoah University baseball players were named to D3Baseball.com's All-Region team for Region 6 in selections announced by the website on May 28. Pearce Bucher highlights the group with first-team honors, while Gavin Horning made the second team and Frankie Ritter and Joey Mitchell the third team.

Shenandoah University junior Katya Hoover earned second team All-American accolades after placing 13th in the women's high jump at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships on May 24 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Shenandoah University's Eleanor Wade Custer School of Nursing announced the recipients of its 2024 awards during the school's pinning and hooding ceremony on May 17.

Shenandoah University athletic training students Chloe Tannenbaum '28, Meghan Flaherty '28, and Will Fleming '29, along with team alternate Molly Sobolewski '27, won the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers' Association District III Student Quiz Bowl during the MAATA Annual Meeting on May 17 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Those students will represent District III in the National Athletic Trainers' Association Student Quiz Bowl on June 26 in New Orleans. Shenandoah, which won its second straight Virginia Athletic Trainers' Association Quiz Bowl title in January, beat teams from Marshall University, the University of North Carolina Greensboro, the University of South Carolina and Towson University/Frostburg State University in the "Jeopardy"-style competition at the MAATA Annual Meeting this month.

Four members of the Shenandoah University women's lacrosse team were selected to the IWLCA Chesapeake Region Second Team on May 17. Ainsley Buckner, Julianna Fohner, Emily Lerch, and Madison Perry represent the Hornets on the list of honorees, which includes 256 student-athletes from across all eight regions. All four SU student-athletes were named first team All-ODAC earlier in the month.