HARRISONBURG, Va. (Eastern Mennonite University, Mennonite Mission Network) – A Mennonite Mission Network employee is one of two Eastern Mennonite University graduates honored by the alumni association for their work in reflecting the school’s vision, mission and values.
Melodie M. Davis, a 1975 EMU graduate who has a 30-year tenure as a writer/producer with Mennonite Media in Harrisonburg, received the "distinguished service award" during the Sunday, Oct. 16, worship service of homecoming and family weekend.
The annual "distinguished service" award seeks to recognize graduates who have demonstrated in notable ways the Christian service and peacemaking emphases of the university. Davis said often the award recognizes doctors or overseas missionaries, but is humbled to be recognized for her three decades working domestically.
"(Here) it is recognizing a North American office assignment as a writer as a ‘service’ assignment, North America as a mission field," she said. "It is recognizing what all the rest of us do as missional."
Davis, an English major at EMU, took a position with the former Mennonite Broadcasts, Inc. (now Mennonite Media), one month after graduation and has been with the agency since then.
Today, as writer/producer for Mennonite Media, she works with radio spots, writes a syndicated column, "Another Way," and does editing for the organization’s "Third Way Cafe" Web site. Some 300 stations across the country carry the radio spots; her column appears in 10 newspapers in North America, including the Harrisonburg Daily News-Record.
Davis also works on documentaries on difficult life issues that have aired on network and cable television. “Shadow Voices,” Mennonite Media’s upcoming documentary on mental illness, will be released Dec. 4 to ABC-TV stations as a special presentation of the National Council of Churches USA. Check for local listings at www.shadowvoices.com.
Davis’ radio spots and other work have received awards from the church and secular media. Her "Parenting on the Edge" radio spots were recognized in the 2003 Gracie Allen Awards.
She has written eight non-fiction books and also works part-time as editor of the inspirational newsprint tabloids, "Together" and "Living," published by the Shalom Foundation.
The Goshen, Ind., native is married to Rockingham County native Stuart Davis. They have three adult daughters: Michelle, Tanya and Doreen.
Myron E. Blosser, a 1983 EMU graduate and veteran educator from Harrisonburg, received EMU’s 2005 "alumnus of the year" award.
