Shenandoah University

Emma Shockey '25 (Bachelor of Music in Music Education with a Performance Certificate) was awarded a $5,000 scholarship award from the Hattie M. Strong Foundation (HMSF) to defray costs during student teaching in the fall semester. Shockey is a student teacher at Sycolin Creek Elementary School in Leesburg, Virginia, and Seneca Ridge Middle School in Sterling, Virginia.

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.

Rylie Barr '27 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance) performed her solo work, "Show Me What Not to Do," at the Koresh Artist Showcase on Saturday, March 1, and Sunday, March 2. The initiative is hosted by the Philadelphia-based Koresh Dance Company and was created to give local, emerging talent a platform to present their work, as well as give the community a chance to discover new artists and new styles of dance. Barr's piece was created during her solo composition class at Shenandoah.

MiKayla Lynn Hatfield '22, '26 (Master of Music in Performance, Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance) and Reese Holahan '25 (Master of Music in Pedagogy - Classical Voice) performed with the Charlottesville Opera in "Sing Me a Story: Your Journey to the Stage" from Feb. 21, through Feb. 25. "Your Journey to the Stage," is an engaging program designed for students in grades 3-8, although impactful for high school students who are interested in the arts as well. This immersive Arts Education experience pulled back the curtain on opera, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the diverse roles and journeys that bring this vibrant art form to life.

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."

Shenandoah University senior Terese Greene added to her list of accolades this week as she was an All-Region 6 first team pick by D3hoops.com and an NCAA Division III All-American honorable mention selection by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) for the 2024-25 season. Greene is the first player in program history to earn first team all-region honors from D3hoops.com and the first to receive WBCA All-American honorable mention recognition since Laura Johnson in 1985. Greene also was selected to the WBCA's Division III Women's Collegiate All-Star Team, another first in program history.

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 graduate student Will Crowder and SU's women's distance medley relay team earned All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference accolades at the ODAC Indoor Track and Field Championships in Salem, Virginia, on March 1-2. Crowder, a national championship qualifier and second team All-American during the indoor season in 2024, scored second team All-ODAC honors on March 2 with a runner-up finish in the men's 60-meter dash (6.85 seconds). The women's DMR team, composed of junior Amy Oleksy, first-year Megan Brophy, first-year Grace Semow, and graduate student Mackenzie Plowman, earned third team All-ODAC recognition with a third-place finish (13:09.98) on March 1.

Shenandoah University graduate student William Crowder has earned indoor track and field All-Region honors from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), as announced by the organization on Wednesday. Crowder received All-Region recognition for his performance in the 60-meter dash this season. His best time of the year came in the prelims of the ODAC Indoor Championships, where he clocked in at 6.85 seconds. He went on to finish second in the championship race with a time of 6.86 seconds, matching his runner-up performance at the South Region Final Qualifier hosted by Shenandoah on March 7-8. The Winchester native consistently displayed his speed throughout the season, breaking the 6.90-second mark four times and running under seven seconds in 10 races. In total, he competed in six 60-meter dash finals across the Hornets' nine-meet indoor campaign.

Shenandoah University sophomore guard Dorian Davis was named to the 2025 All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference men's basketball team, in selections announced by the league on Thursday, Feb. 27. In his first season as a Hornet, Davis became just the fifth player in program history to earn All-ODAC honors. He led the team in scoring, averaging 14.2 points per game, while tallying four rebounds and 1.3 assists in 24 games.

Three Shenandoah University women's basketball players were named to the 2025 All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference team in selections announced Thursday, Feb. 27, by the league. Terese Greene was named All-ODAC first team, Maddie Kimble received All-ODAC second team honors, and Shawnise Campbell secured a spot on the All-ODAC third team.

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.

Students in Shenandoah University's virtual reality design program had the opportunity to showcase some of their work at the 2024 Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), the world's largest modeling, simulation and training event held each December in Orlando, Florida. Seniors Ann Fink '25, Jacob Eisenhart '25, Michael Reynolds '25, and Zoe Grimes '25 each presented their individual projects at the prestigious conference, which had over 18,500 registrants and attracted nearly 10,000 exhibit visitors this year.

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.

A group of Shenandoah University students gained some hands-on professional experience in sport management when they traveled to Miami for the Orange Bowl, which served as the College Football Playoff semifinal game between Notre Dame and Penn State on Jan. 9. The game, which was played in Hard Rock Stadium, provided Shenandoah's students with the opportunity to work directly with John Mas, senior vice president for partnerships for the Orange Bowl. Their game-day responsibilities included managing the 50/50 raffle, which raised over $80,000 for the Orange Bowl Cares. Students also assisted with setup for the Orange Bowl Fan Fest, which took place prior to kickoff, and they were given field access and a tour of Hard Rock Stadium.

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.

Shenandoah University women's cross country student-athletes Makenna Thrush, Maddy Chorney, and Amy Oleksy earned All-Academic awards from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), while SU's men's and women's programs were recognized collectively in awards announced by the organization on Jan. 30. Of the three student-athletes to claim the All-Academic award, Thrush and Chroney each have a perfect 4.00 cumulative GPA and Oleksy has a career GPA of 3.52.

Shenandoah University quarterback Steven Hugney was named Offensive Player of the Year to lead a group of eight Hornets who were selected to the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association's 2024 College Division All-State Football Team, which was released on Jan. 30. Joining Hugney (Fairfax, Virginia) on the first team were offensive tackle David Munoz (Louisa, Virginia), linebacker Matt Conroy (Bel Air, Maryland), and cornerback Sean Perry (Baltimore). Running back Jalen Redfearn (Woodbridge, Virginia), wide receiver Broden Domenico (Fleming Island, Florida), offensive lineman Dominic Gulli (Monrovia, Maryland) and defensive lineman Ethan Brown (Ellicott City, Maryland) earned second-team honors.

Shenandoah University's field hockey program claimed two of the four major awards when the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) announced the 2024 All-State Field Hockey College Division teams and award winners on Jan. 22, with graduate student Farren Winter winning Player of the Year and Ashley Smeltzer-Kraft being named Coach of the Year. In addition to those accolades, Winter was named to the VaSID First Team alongside Mairead McKibbin, Cassidy Morrison, and Elise Velasquez. Three other Hornets - Camryn DeLeva, Madison Short, and Taylor Swann - secured spots on the VaSID Second Team.

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 graduate student David Munoz and senior Steven Hugney have been named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America Division III Football Team in selections released by the organization on Jan. 28. Munoz, an offensive tackle for the Hornets, earned first team honors with a 3.79 undergraduate GPA and a 3.67 GPA in his digital marketing graduate program. Hugney, a data science and computer science major, was voted to the second team with a 3.99 career GPA.

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.

For the second time this season, Shenandoah University football offensive lineman David Munoz has earned All-America honors, as he was selected as a second-team honoree by D3football.com on Thursday morning. Munoz, a graduate student, was previously named a second-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) in December. In addition to these two All-America honors, the standout offensive tackle also earned D3football.com first-team All-Region and first-team All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference accolades this season.

Eight Shenandoah University students, including seven members of SU's men's basketball program, gained real-world professional experience when they traveled to Indianapolis for the 2024 Indy Classic, an NCAA Division I men's basketball event that took place in Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Dec. 14. The event featured two games - Texas A&M vs. Purdue and Butler vs. Wisconsin - and provided a professional development opportunity for SU's students, who participated in a VIP reception during which they networked with CEOs, presidents and leaders from various industries; an exclusive Q&A session with Purdue head coach Matt Painter; and event production with the Indiana Pacers' production team, Indiana Sports Corp, and Russ Potts Productions, Inc. Throughout the event, SU's students played pivotal roles in sponsorship activations, prize parachute drops, and fan engagement and logistics while contributing to the overall success of the event.

Shenandoah University field hockey players Farren Winter and Elise Velasquez earned 2024 All-America honors from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association and Apex Field Hockey, marking the third straight season the program has had two student-athletes earn the distinction. Winter and Velasquez were among 48 NCAA Division III All-Americans announced by the NFHCA and Apex Field Hockey on Dec. 17.

The Shenandoah University Marching Band, alongside members of the Shenandoah Conservatory Studio Big Band and the SU cheerleading squad, is set to travel across the pond and perform in the 2025 London New Year's Day Parade. It will be the first international performance for the marching band, which debuted with 73 members in 2022 and has grown to include over 150 students this year.

Shenandoah University's Eleanor Wade Custer School of Nursing has announced its undergraduate and graduate awards for the December 2024 graduating class.

Shenandoah University's football team had four players named to the 2024 D3football.com All-Region 3 team, in selections announced by the website on Dec. 11. Offensive tackle David Munoz led the honorees with first-team recognition, while defensive back Sean Perry was named to the second team. Quarterback Steven Hugney and running back Jalen Redfearn rounded out Shenandoah's selections with third-team honors.

Shenandoah University senior Dylan Weaver made history for the Hornets' wrestling program on Dec. 6 when he became the first SU wrestler to reach 100 career victories. Weaver, competing at 174 pounds, reached the milestone with his second win during the Petrofes Invitational at Messiah University.