Shenandoah University’s Division of Physician Assistant Studies recently donated $10,000 to the Winchester Rescue Mission, culminating a successful fundraising campaign supported by the program’s annual SUPA Gala.

On Nov. 11, students in the PA program’s class of 2026 presented a check to Lauren Clouse ’16, chief executive officer of Winchester Rescue Mission. Founded in 1973, Winchester Rescue Mission serves individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty in the local community.

Shenandoah student Meredith Lloyd ’24, ’26, who served as fundraising co-chair for this year’s SUPA Gala alongside classmate Kaley Haass ’23, ’26, said being part of the PA program is “a true privilege and embodies what it means to make a difference.”

“Our program’s strong commitment to community service and patient advocacy inspires us to grow not only as students but also as future health-care providers,” Lloyd said. “As students, we are fortunate to be surrounded by faculty and a community that continuously supports and encourages our success in all aspects of our lives. Supporting the Winchester Rescue Mission for this year’s annual gala re-emphasizes our core values as a PA program and empowers us to make lasting impacts in health care.”

Shenandoah’s PA program has a long history of supporting local organizations through its annual gala, which began in February 2007. Pioneered by Distinguished Professor Emeritus Tony Miller, M.Ed., the PA program’s founder and former director, the SUPA Gala has taken place each year (except during the COVID-19 pandemic) and has supported various beneficiaries, including Sinclair Health Clinic, Congregational Community Action Project (CCAP) Winchester, Loudoun Hunger Relief, and Winchester Rescue Mission.

Since 2007, the SUPA Gala has raised “well over” $150,000 to support local organizations, according to Director of Clinical Education and Associate Professor of Physician Assistant Studies Jennifer Miller, D.M.S., PA-C, the longtime faculty adviser for the Shenandoah University PA Student Society (SUPASS).

The gala is organized by SUPASS – the university’s chapter of the Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Associates (SAAAPA) – and is student-led, with a faculty member serving in a supportive and supervisory role. Miller served as the long-time faculty chair of the SUPA Gala before turning over that role to Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies Brian Terzian, M.S., PA-C, in 2024, following his retirement.

Miller said the gala exemplifies the PA program’s ongoing outreach and advocacy for local and international organizations.

Students have raised thousands of dollars annually because they want to give to those in need. As PAs, it is part of their genetic code. I am so proud of Shenandoah’s PA students who devote countless volunteer hours to make this annual event a success. Their academic schedules are rigorous and this is truly a labor of love. I hope that the student gala and the medical missions continue long into the future. I would also like to thank the hundreds of businesses and the students’ parents who have supported the gala over the years.”

Tony Miller, M.Ed., distinguished professor emeritus

This year’s gala took place on Sept. 6, in the Brandt Student Center, Ferrari Room, located on Shenandoah’s main campus in Winchester, Virginia.

“The best part of this event is that it truly embodies our program’s core values of service and advocacy,” Terzian said. “I’m incredibly proud of our students’ decision to allocate all of this year’s proceeds to the Winchester Rescue Mission, an organization whose core values couldn’t be more closely aligned with our own. This year, these shared values really came to life as we celebrated the work and dedication of the Winchester Rescue Mission and did our part to help them continue supporting some of the most vulnerable members of our community.”

The SUPA Gala planning committee, which is made up of second-year PA students who are members of SUPASS, spends an “incredible amount of time and energy” over a span of four to five months each year to plan and execute the event, Terzian said, and students do so while balancing those responsibilities with the demands of PA school. Planning includes coming up with the gala’s theme – this year’s theme was inspired by “The Great Gatsby” – and choosing the event’s beneficiary.

To support the gala’s silent auction, the cornerstone of the event’s fundraising efforts, students also canvas the local area in search of donations. This year’s gala was supported by over 45 donors, including many Winchester-area businesses. Terzian noted the particular generosity of Butterfly Network, a digital health company that specializes in ultrasound technology that donated a handheld ultrasound machine for the gala’s silent auction for the second year in a row.

Serving as one of the co-fundraising chairs for Shenandoah University Physician Assistant Student Society (SUPASS) has shown me how special the Gala tradition is within our PA program. Each year, the cohorts come together to choose a theme, plan the event, and put in months of work – from gathering donations and designing websites, creating the silent auction baskets, and handling all the behind-the-scenes details. It’s truly a team effort and we could not have done it without our peers, faculty, and the community who supported us along the way. Being able to see all of that hard work result in such a successful event is incredibly rewarding and we are deeply appreciative of the community and program that will continue to uplift and support us.”

Kaley Haass ’23, ’26, SUPA Gala fundraising co-chair

Past galas have raised anywhere between $5,000-10,000, though Terzian said it’s uncommon for the proceeds to reach the high end of that spectrum as they did in 2024 and 2025.

“The generosity of Shenandoah University’s PA program reflects what makes this community so special – where people come together to care for one another,” said Clouse, who is a Shenandoah graduate. “Their support directly strengthens our ability to serve those experiencing homelessness and poverty, helping Winchester Rescue Mission continue providing healing, help and hope to our neighbors who need it most.”

To learn more about Winchester Rescue Mission, including ways to get involved, visit winrescue.org.