Over the last school year, Liberty students have represented the university all across the nation and the world through various opportunities. Read the full stories at Liberty News.
SPIRIT OF THE MOUNTAIN PERFORMS AT NASCAR RACE
Liberty University’s Spirit of the Mountain Marching Band had the honor of playing the national anthem before the Xfinity 500, the final Round of 8 NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 26. The 250-member band also had the chance to cheer on Liberty-sponsored driver William Byron, who took the checkered flag. He greeted band members and leaders before the start of the race.
STUDENT RAISES AWARENESS FOR DYSLEXIA SUPPORT
(Photo by Lisa Wrona Photography)
Drawing from her own struggles with dyslexia, senior Taylor Shay, an education student with a focus in special education, advocates for other neurodivergent individuals to receive the support they need. She has been involved in pageants since she was a child and was most recently crowned Miss Historic Maryland. Shay used her platform to launch the Dyslexics Next Achievement program, and last summer she participated in the Miss America HER Story initiative, where she delivered a local Tedx Talk in her hometown of Hagerstown, Md.
STUDENTS SUPPORT THE UNBORN AT NATIONAL MARCH FOR LIFE
Liberty University formed the largest single group at the 53rd annual National March for Life in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 23. More than 1,000 students boarded 20 buses on campus. Before joining the world’s largest pro-life demonstration, the students gathered outside Union Station to pray for mothers in crisis, lawmakers, and unborn children. Prayers were led by pro-life leader Seth Gruber, Executive Director of Liberty’s Standing for Freedom Center Ryan Helfenbein, and U.S. Rep. John McGuire.
MBA STUDENT PRESENTS RESEARCH ON AID FOR AGING EMPLOYEES
Chidubem Xerona Nnajiofor, an MBA in Healthcare Management student, attended the 2025 Dementia World Conference and 2025 Neurology World Conference in Boston, Mass., where she presented research on how human resources departments can assist aging employees as they battle cognitive decline and memory loss. She compared workplace policies in South Korea, Europe, and Japan to those in the U.S. to determine how to best address the issue of aging employees and improve productivity.
MUSIC STUDENT AND CANCER SURVIVOR PROVIDES HEALING THROUGH OPERA
Six years after being diagnosed and treated for brain cancer at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., music education student Lydia Sutton walked through the hospital doors again in June to perform as part of Opera Italiana, a program that sends opera singers to major cities to perform for the public at parks and hospitals, providing comfort and a special treat for patients.
NIFA TEAM WINS 20TH-STRAIGHT REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
The School of Aeronautics’ National Intercollegiate Flying Association team edged out the U.S. Naval Academy to win its 20th consecutive SAFECON Region X championship at Chesapeake Regional Airport in October. Liberty placed in the Top 10 in five different events, including first in Power-Off Landing and overall Ground Events. Senior Braxton Smith won Top Pilot, and junior Isabella Hauri was named Outstanding Team Member. The team qualified for the SAFECON national competition set for May 18-23 at the Quad Cities International Airport in Illinois.
LIBERTY ARMY ROTC TEAM TAKES FIRST PLACE IN ANNUAL RANGER CHALLENGE
Liberty’s Army ROTC cadets took first place in the 4th Brigade Army ROTC Ranger Challenge at Fort Pickett, the Virginia National Guard installation in Blackstone, Va., in February. They beat out 43 other teams, including Virginia Military Institute (No. 2) and The Citadel (No. 3), and will compete for the championship title at the Sandhurst International Military Skills Competition at West Point May 1-2.
PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS TRAVEL TO IRELAND
In July, students from the Department of Psychology traveled to Ireland to partner with various organizations specializing in different areas of care, from human trafficking prevention to mental health support. While simultaneously gaining insight into major issues affecting the Irish population, the team also participated in ministry opportunities.
LUCOM RECOGNIZES AWARD RECIPIENTS
Several individuals affiliated with the Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine received awards from the American Osteopathic Foundation (pictured from left): OMS-III student Jerry Casteel (pictured left), Rossnick International Medical Outreach Travel Grant (used for a trip to Eswatini); Janae (Fry) Marracino (pictured middle), DO (’19), State Emerging Leader for Florida; and Alesha Sands Foster (pictured right), DO (’22), Outstanding Resident of the Year in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Allison Dawn Schmitt, wife of Nathan Andrew Schmitt, DO (’25), received the Donna Jones Moritsugu Memorial Award, given to spouses of graduating osteopathic medical students.
CYBERFORCE TEAM FINISHED IN TOP 10 AT NATIONAL COMPETITION
In only its second year of competition, the CyberForce squad recorded a Top 10 finish at the Department of Energy CyberForce Competition 2025 in Chicago, Ill., in November. The competition included 93 teams from 77 schools and gave students practical experience in defending systems from malicious software.
LIBERTY LAW GRADUATES LAUNCH INTO THE LEGAL PROFESSION AT SUPREME COURT OF VIRGINIA CEREMONY
Over 20 recent graduates from Liberty University School of Law were sworn in before the Supreme Court of Virginia on Dec. 3, taking an oath that signifies their admission to practice in the courts of the Commonwealth and celebrating their entrance to the law profession. The ceremony was sponsored by the Supreme Court of Virginia and the Virginia State Bar Young Lawyers Section.
STUDENT-RUN CREATIVE AGENCY EARNS THREE AMERICAN GRAPHIC DESIGN AWARDS
The Open Quote Creative received three American Graphic Design Awards in the GDUSA Design Awards Competition in November, recognizing projects created for nonprofits. The winning projects were a campaign for the Elkton Volunteer Fire Company’s 100th Anniversary, branding for Never Surrender USA (a nonprofit promoting fitness and resilience among youth), and Meals on Wheels’ Giving Tuesday campaign for the Greater Lynchburg area.
