Posted
JANET EBERLY ‘58
AVID GARDENER
JANET EBERLY ‘58My lifelong love of gardening began at our farm, then in the woods and now continues at my retirement cottage. I earned a Master Gardener certification later in life, and more recently, I’m learning to overwinter my foxtail fern and an “Escargot” begonia in the greenhouse near my home. Years ago at LM, J. Irvin Lehman’s Bible class was always an inspiration for me.
MICHAEL GEORGE ‘97
HIGH SCHOOL SS TEACHER
MICHAEL GEORGE ‘97In the Social Studies classes I teach, I help students develop critical thinking skills that they can use to evaluate different information sources, especially in the digital age of social media and 24-hour news cycles. I enjoy teaching because I’m constantly learning more about History and Social Studies as I develop curriculum and interact with my students
JAMES ACOSTA-DAVIS ‘04
LAWYER & STARGAZER
JAMES ACOSTA-DAVIS ‘04I’ve found a new passion in stargazing. Learning to identify constellations, planets, and celestial events has expanded my sense of wonder and connected me to the vastness of the universe. Stargazing has been a humbling and enriching way to keep exploring and learning outside of my daily routine. At LM, my curiosity was cultivated by educators, and I am thankful that continues to positively impact and shape me.
JARED PEIFER ‘99
PROFESSOR & SOCIOLOGIST
JARED PEIFER ‘99As an LM student, I developed a curiosity about the social world and our place in it. This put me on a path to becoming a sociologist where I am able to explore and write about social issues that interest me. I’ve recently been exploring whether artificial intelligence can help us identify more ethical corporations.
DOROTHY YODER ‘52
CROCHETER & READER
DOROTHY YODER ‘52I am currently learning to crochet. I also volunteer and participate in Pathways Institute to keep learning.
Reading and being in a book club is fun and stimulating. Reading was encouraged by the English teachers. LM offered the classes that I needed to prepare me to realize my childhood dream of becoming a registered nurse. This dream also became a tool for me to educate others.
TRINITY PANTOJA ‘26
11TH GRADE STUDENT
TRINITY PANTOJA ‘26I really enjoy the community at LM. I was new this year, and the students and teachers have been kind and helpful. It’s so different than my previous school!
I am currently learning karate. I’ve been doing it for five years, and I’m still learning.
RHODA LONGENECKER ‘60
BICYCLIST & MORE
RHODA LONGENECKER ‘60I have many things that I have learned to do, and the most recent is bicycling. I also enjoy gardening, book group, quilting, church participation, volunteering, and learning classes at Landis Homes. Daily chapels at LMH were faith building in my teenage years – learning new hymns and singing were highlights, as well as meeting my husband, Edward!
THATCHER PATTERSON
5TH GRADER
THATCHER PATTERSONI am currently learning to play basketball. I’ve been playing for a few years, and I like playing forward.
STEVEN LANTZ ‘84
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST
STEVEN LANTZ ‘84I’ve recently joined IU13’s deaf, hard of hearing program as the school psychologist. I’m learning about the challenges students experience when they have limited access to language and miss out on the incidental learning that most children experience. The teachers I work with help me learn and better understand deaf culture.
ZION KIMBLE
KINDERGARTEN STUDENT
ZION KIMBLEI am learning A LOT of new words in Spanish, since I am in Spanish Immersion kindergarten. I am learning the words “manzana” (apple), “español” (Spanish), “agua” (water), and lots of other Spanish words.
LESLIE SPURRIER
HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER
LESLIE SPURRIERIn the classroom I encourage my students to embrace mistakes. The act of learning involves trial and error, practice and refinement. In my own life I am learning to create a better work-life balance. Learning to set healthy boundaries allows me to give more of myself to students during school hours and my family when I am at home.
