Local students from the Northern Shenandoah Valley have earned a range of academic, leadership and athletic honors this spring, including dean’s list and president’s list recognition, commencement honors, student leadership awards, athletic conference honors and membership in a national honor society.

Arelys Martinez Fabian of Winchester received the 2026 Cords of Distinction Award at Eastern Mennonite University. Martinez Fabian is majoring in Spanish Language & Hispanic Studies, with Education Licensure for PreK-12. The award honors up to 10 graduating students each year who have made outstanding contributions to the university, community or society. It was established in 2000 to recognize graduates who have demonstrated creative learning and achievement, exemplary leadership and engagement across communities, and a commitment to the university’s values of academic excellence, peace and justice, and active faith.

At Shenandoah University, outfielder Cadence Rieg of Winchester was named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Softball Player of the Week on April 13, giving the Hornets their second weekly conference award winner of the 2026 season. During Shenandoah’s 6-0 week, Rieg went 12-for-18 at the plate with six doubles, seven RBIs, five runs scored, seven walks and a stolen base. She posted a .667/.760/1.000 slash line in those six games and entered the following week ranked fourth in the ODAC in batting average, on-base percentage, OPS and doubles.

Rieg later earned first-team All-ODAC honors as a utility player as Shenandoah softball collected six All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference awards, the most since the Hornets joined the ODAC in 2013. Brenna Westwood was also named first team All-ODAC, while Paige Eagleton and Makayla Cox earned second-team honors. Allison McQueeney and Gracie Ravenkamp were named to the third team.

Rieg, a sophomore from Winchester, hit .429 in ODAC play with a 1.164 OPS, 27 hits, nine doubles, one triple, one home run and 18 RBIs in 20 conference games. She also pitched 29.2 innings in conference play and posted a 4-2 record.

Harrison Cruz Burrell of Winchester is among more than 9,400 candidates to be recognized in the University of Georgia’s Class of 2026 spring commencement ceremonies. Burrell is a candidate for a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. The undergraduate ceremony is scheduled for May 8 at Sanford Stadium.

Sienna Forrer of Stephens City has enrolled at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland, as a member of the Class of 2030. Forrer, a graduate of Sherando High School, plans to study biochemistry. McDaniel College is a liberal arts and sciences college offering undergraduate and graduate programs, with campuses in Maryland and Budapest, Hungary.

Southern New Hampshire University recognized several local students for academic achievement during the Spring 2026 term.

Local students named to the SNHU Dean’s List include Amie Lopez of Stephenson, Heather Venditti of Front Royal and Hannah Sherrill of Winchester. Full-time undergraduate students who earn a grade-point average of 3.500 to 3.699 for the reporting term are named to the Dean’s List.

Local students named to the SNHU President’s List include Mckenna Greene, Georgia Sowers and John Gilkerson of Stephenson; Crystal Danzo, Jayden Patten, Emmalyn Beale and Kaila McLean of Stephens City; Seanna Baker and Jack Hagy of Middletown; Anne Marie Soldo, McKenzie Hemphill, Emma McDonald and Nina Hess of Front Royal; David Quinteros of Lake Frederick; Matthew Wallace of Clear Brook; and Jessica Gerald, Joshua Easter, Cecilia Clarkson-Johnson, Azelyn Marsh, Hailey Wehrheim, Edward Johnston, Emily Walker and Patrick Middleton of Winchester.

Full-time undergraduate students who earn a grade-point average of 3.700 or higher for the reporting term are named to the President’s List.

Shenandoah University also announced the winners of its 2026 Student Leadership Awards during a ceremony April 26 at Winchester Country Club. Jillian Taylor of Stephenson received the Emerging Leader of the Year award. The award is given to a student who shows promise in academics and leadership in and out of the classroom.

Other Shenandoah University Student Leadership Award winners included the Pre-Health Professions Club, named Undergraduate Student Organization of the Year; SU Wheels, named Breakthrough Student Organization; Alejandro Montano-Martinez, named Student Employee of the Year; Alyssa Bonfardeci, named Outstanding Graduate Student Leader; Chaya Ray, named Outstanding Undergraduate Student Leader; Jessica Velasquez, recipient of the Inclusive Leadership Excellence Award; Elisabeth Myers, recipient of the Omicron Delta Kappa Campus Impact Award; Lauren Duffy, named Shenandoah University Leadership Academy Student Leader of the Year; and Cynthia Schneider, CEO of the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber and a member of the SULA Advisory Board, recipient of the Legacy of Leadership Award.

Jillian VanGilder of Winchester was elected to membership in The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at Old Dominion University. Phi Kappa Phi is an all-discipline collegiate honor society founded in 1897. Membership is by invitation only and is open to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and the top 7.5 percent of juniors, along with qualifying faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

Cedarville University in Ohio named Micah George of Winchester to the Spring 2026 Dean’s List. The recognition requires a grade-point average of 3.50 or higher for the semester and a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Sophia Clark of Winchester was named to Cedarville University’s Spring 2026 Dean’s Honor List. That recognition requires a grade-point average of 3.75 or higher for the semester and a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Liam Spurlock of Front Royal, a member of Elmira College’s Class of 2029, received the Class of 2000 Prize. The award is given annually to two first-year students entering the sophomore class who exemplify the standards and spirit of Elmira College. Spurlock was nominated by Dr. Stephanie Johnson.

Information from releases. Posted by Dan McDermott.