Shenandoah University

Shenandoah University has announced the winners of the 2025 Shenandoah University Research Expo (SURE), which took place on April 29-30 in Hazel-Pruitt Armory on SU's main campus. With 72 submissions, representing both graduate and undergraduate programs, and everything from creative projects to empirical research, the students' hard work was on full display.

This semester, Shenandoah sent a group of students to the NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four in San Antonio, Texas, to gain hands-on experience in the field of sport management. The trip, performed in collaboration with On Location, an NCAA partner dedicated to enhancing the premier fan experience for sporting events, allowed students to lend a hand in performing duties related to game-day operations, and provided opportunities to tour several facilities and meet industry professionals.

Senior Ethan Harrower earned United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA) all-region distinction for the 2025 outdoor season in selections announced by the association on Wednesday. Harrower earned his first all-region honor for his performance in the 3,000m steeplechase. The distance runner's best time in the event came at the Colonial Relays in April with a mark of 9:35.45.

Shenandoah University men's lacrosse goalie Mark Isabelle was recognized as a 2025 NCAA Division III All-America honorable mention by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) on May 22. Isabelle concluded his collegiate career with 1,070 saves, a mark that leads Shenandoah's men's lacrosse program and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. His 262 saves during the 2025 season are the most in a single season in program history. Nationally, Isabelle's 1,070 career saves rank sixth all-time in NCAA Division III and seventh across all NCAA divisions.

Shenandoah University men's tennis student-athlete Dominick Suwak was named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Player of the Year - the first in program history - in selections announced by the ODAC on May 20. Suwak, who also earned a first team All-ODAC nod for singles, was one of two Hornets to earn all-conference honors for singles for the 2024-25 season. Jovan Cirkovic was also tabbed with second-team recognition.

Shenandoah University senior Tanea Spruill earned second team 2024-25 All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference for women's tennis in singles, the conference announced on May 20. Spruill, in her second season with the Hornets, went 8-2 in ODAC play at the top spot in singles, along with a 9-7 overall record for the season.

Shenandoah University softball senior Brenna Snyder was named third team All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference at first base in selections announced by the conference on May 13. Snyder hit .429 in 16 ODAC games and posted a .410 batting average overall this season. The senior hit three home runs, including a grand slam in her final career plate appearance against Averett in the conference tournament.

On April 27, Shenandoah University announced the 2025 winners of the Student Leadership Awards during a ceremony in the Brandt Student Center, Ferrari Room. This year, there were 53 total nominees and 12 awards.

Three Shenandoah University women's lacrosse student-athletes earned second team All-Region honors by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association on May 16. Attacker Ainsley Buckner and defenders Julianna Fohner and Talia Maria represent the Hornets on the all-region team for the Chesapeake Region.

Shenandoah University's baseball program had six student-athletes named to the 2025 All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference in selections announced May 8. The Hornets had five first team honorees, including Liam Stewart, Brody Pickette, Noah Cornwell, Jaime Padilla, and Kyle Garrett, while Haden Madagan earned All-ODAC third team honors.

Shenandoah University men's lacrosse student-athlete Mark Isabelle earned first team All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference honors in selections announced May 7. Isabelle, SU's record-breaking goalkeeper, is the first Hornet since Ben Judy in 2017 to earn All-ODAC first team honors and is the fifth player in program history to earn the honor.

Shenandoah University's women's lacrosse program had seven student-athletes earn 2025 All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference honors, while head coach Lindsey Lutz was named the ODAC Coach of the Year in selections announced on May 6. Ainsley Buckner, Alex Ripkin, Julianna Fohner, and Talia Maria represent SU on the first team, while Ayla Jantz, Emily Ransom, and Addison Harmel earned second team honors.

On April 24, the Student Government Association held its inauguration ceremony for the 2025-26 Executive Council in the Pruitt Health & Life Sciences Building, Halpin Rotunda. The Executive Council consists of undergraduate and graduate students dedicated to leading other members of the SGA and serving as liaisons with faculty. Although most positions are chosen through an application process, Shenandoah University students elect the president and vice presidents each spring. The 2025-26 Executive Council is as follows: President: Carter Sand Vice President of Undergraduate Affairs: Masha Balakersky Vice President of Graduate Affairs: Carlie Cross Director of Communications: Amy Oleksy Director of IDE: Jessica Velasquez Director of Finance: Emma Thompson Speaker of the House: Elisabeth Myers Chief of Staff: Jaxson Hall

Shenandoah University golfers Ben Gray and Dan Ailor were each named to the All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference third team by placing among the top 18 individuals at the ODAC Men's Golf Championships held April 28-30 at Forest Oaks Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina. Gray, a junior from Warrenton, Virginia, tied for fifth overall with a three-round total of 218 (+2). He fired a 69 (-3) in the last round on April 30 to climb 12 spots on the final day of the tournament. Ailor, a junior from Montpelier, Virginia, tied for 10th overall with a three-day total of 220. His best round came on Day 2, when he shot a 1-under-par 71.

Samuel Soste-Taffur '25 (Bachelor of Music Therapy) has been awarded the 2025 Ben-Dov Family, Luminescence Foundation Scholarship for music therapy. This $12,000 scholarship was created in partnership with A Place to Be, a private, nonprofit music therapy practice with offices in Middleburg, Virginia, and Leesburg, Virginia, to support music therapy students during their internship. Soste-Taffu will begin his internship at A Place to Be this summer.

Shenandoah University senior Makenna Thrush earned third-team All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference honors in the women's 1,500-meter run during day two of the ODAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships on April 26 at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg. Thrush completed the race with a time of 4:50.71 to place third in the event. She crossed the finish line just 1.2 seconds behind winner Olivia Warr (Washington and Lee University).

Shenandoah University's football program had 13 student-athletes named to the 2025 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society in selections announced by the NFF on April 21. Shenandoah is one of only 44 NCAA Division III institutions - and one of 97 schools across all divisions nationwide - to have 10 or more student-athletes recognized in this year's prestigious group. In all, a record 2,514 college football players were named to the 2025 NFF Hampshire Honor Society. Shenandoah's honorees are Ethan Brown, Dominic Gulli, Braden Holt, Steven Hugney, Corey Kidwell, Nate Lednum, David Munoz, DeMarcus Perry, Quante Redd, Nolan Riley, Michael Sheil, Deklin Smith, and Isaac Tucker.

From March 20-22, three of Shenandoah University's sport management students attended the NCAA Division I Men's Wrestling National Championships held at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. Brian Wigley, Ed.D., chair of the Division of Sport Management & Esports, accompanied them on the experiential learning trip. Students Cody Carbaugh '25, Tyler Garr '26 and Sam Tighe '28 volunteered at the championship by helping fans enter the arena safely, directing them to their seats, and answering questions about the event's timeline.

During spring break, Shenandoah University sent 10 students, faculty and staff members to Colombia as a part of its Global Citizenship Project (GCP). During the trip, the group visited seven different cities, took five flights, and explored various ecosystems and regions of the country. Shenandoah University's Global Citizenship Project celebrated its 20th year in 2025 and sent students, faculty and staff members to Colombia, Nepal, Poland, Taiwan and Tanzania this spring. Since its inaugural year in 2005, GCP has sent over 1,400 students, staff, faculty, and trustees to over 70 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.

Over spring break, a group of 10 Shenandoah University students, faculty, and staff members embarked on a Global Citizenship Project (GCP) trip to Taiwan. During the trip, the group toured a number of historical sights, engaged with locals, and participated in cultural exchange, creating lifelong memories and learning about Taiwanese culture. Shenandoah's Global Citizenship Project celebrated its 20th year in 2025. Since its inaugural year in 2005, GCP has sent over 1,400 students, staff, faculty, and trustees to over 70 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.

During spring break, Shenandoah University sent a group of 10 students, faculty and staff to Poland as a part of its Global Citizenship Project (GCP) program. Shenandoah University's Global Citizenship Project celebrated its 20th year in 2025 and sent students, faculty and staff members to Colombia, Nepal, Poland, Taiwan and Tanzania this spring. Since its inaugural year in 2005, GCP has sent over 1,400 students, staff, faculty, and trustees to over 70 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 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.

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.

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.