Ret. Chief Petty Officer Debra “Robin” Haas will speak during the Veterans Day Program on Nov. 12, 2018, which will be held in Vaughn Chapel at Ferrum College beginning at 11 AM. In addition to the keynote address given by Haas, the event will include the presentation of the colors by the Franklin County High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps;  the playing of the National Anthem by the Ferrum College Marching Band; and special recognition of veterans, active reservists, military dependents, and other veterans. Senior Fox Yates will sing America the Beautiful as a special tribute at the end of the event. The program is free and open to the public.

Students and faculty should follow the “Midday Special Programs” class schedule: www.ferrum.edu/midday.

Explorer, extreme adventurer, speaker, and documentarian, Sean Burch, will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Opening Convocation on Monday, August 27, 2018, at Ferrum College. The event, which is open to the entire campus community, will be held in Swartz Gym on campus beginning at 10 a.m. Classes will follow the special Midday Special Program schedule.

Named “One of the World’s Top Extreme Adventurers” by the National Geographic Society, Sean is an 8x world record holder spanning 6 countries and 5 continents, winner of National Geographic Channel’s Ultimate Survival Alaska TV show, and author of the acclaimed self-help book, Hyperfitness: 12 Weeks to Conquering Your Inner Everest (Penguin Random House). For over 25 years Sean has been a personal development and leadership specialist for Fortune 500 companies and institutions around the world. He was named Goodwill Ambassador to Nepal by their government, and was awarded Brand Personality of the Year by the Asia Pacific Foundation.  Sean’s documentarian and photography work has been featured in news organizations including: BBC, AP, Reuters, CNN, CNNi, USA Today, ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX world news outlets.

Sean has raised over $1 million dollars for third-world countries and has collaborated with non-profit organizations including The World Wildlife Fund, Nepal Trust, Love Hope Strength Foundation, ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation, Fujisan Club of Japan, Children’s Welfare Institutes (CWI) & orphanages in Tibet, and the Himalayan Rescue Association.

Former professional football player, Collegiate All-American, Ferrum College Hall of Fame Inductee, and Fairfax High School Sports Hall of Fame Inductee, Nathan “Nate” Daniels ’99 will be the keynote speaker at this year’s New Student Convocation on Sunday, August 26, 2018, at Ferrum College. The event in Vaughn Chapel will begin at 1:30 p.m.

Nate attended Fairfax High School in Fairfax, Virginia, where he was a three-sport athlete for the Rebels. He excelled on the football field and was named Blue-Chip Illustrated All-American and Liberty District Defensive Player of the Year, and in 2007 was inducted into the Fairfax High School Hall of Fame for athletic excellence.

At Ferrum College, Nate majored in criminal justice with a minor in music. He was a first-chair trumpet player and recipient of a music scholarship. He was actively involved in student government, serving as class president, and was selected to represent his class on the Homecoming Court. Nate was a four-year starter at defensive back for the Panthers and was named Ferrum Defensive Player of the Year, 1st Team All-Atlantic Central Football Conference and Virginia Sports Information Directors All-State. After graduating from Ferrum in 1999, Nate went on to play professional football for 5 seasons in the Arena Football League. In 2017, he was inducted into the Ferrum College Alumni Sports Hall of Fame for his athletic achievements.

Nate is currently the owner of Daniels Sports Performance, providing athletic training to athletes in Richmond, Virginia. Each year he hosts the Annual Nate Daniels Football Skill Camp, which gives back to the community by providing free tuition for at-risk youth.