FERRUM, VA (October 28, 2022) – On Friday, November 11, 2022, Ferrum alumnus and Lieutenant Colonel Derek R. Baird ’96 will be the keynote speaker during Ferrum College’s annual Veterans Day ceremony. The ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m. in Vaughn Chapel and is open to the community.
Originally from Virginia Beach, VA, LTC Baird enlisted in 1997 and was selected for Officer Candidate School and commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery in 2000.
LTC Baird’s next assignment was to Fort Hood, TX where he ultimately deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. Following the career course, LTC Baird returned to Fort Hood, where he served as the 2-4 CAV Task Force Fire Support Officer and the Commander of Battery Alpha, 1-82 FA where he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08.
LTC Baird’s next assignment took him to the National Training Center, where he served on the Tarantula and Wolf Teams as an Observer/Controller-Trainer. Following the U.S. Army Command and Staff College, LTC Baird served as the 3rd Infantry Division’s Deputy Chief of Fires, where he deployed to Afghanistan, and served as the 1-9 FA and 3ID Division Artillery Operations Officers. LTC Baird then served as the Joint Fire Support Officer for the 1st German-Netherlands Corps, a NATO Rapid Deployable Corps. His next assignment was back at Ford Hood as the Commander of the 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment Battalion, deploying his Battalion to Europe as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve.
LTC Baird is currently a student at the United States Army War College. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Ferrum College, and a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University.
LTC Baird is married to the former Jolinda Bandy from Ohio, and they have two dogs, Layla and Joker.
Ferrum College is pleased to announce this year’s three annual alumni awards: Young Alumni, Distinguished Alumni and Beckham Medallion. The awards are part of a tradition begun with recognition of several college founders and leaders from the 1920s. Winners are nominated by alumni, faculty, or staff, vetted by the Nominations Committee of the Alumni Board of Directors, and approved by the president.
The 2022 recipients will be recognized in an awards ceremony during the Homecoming Weekend festivities Saturday, October 15, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room located in Franklin Hall. All Ferrum College alumni are invited to attend.
Young Alumni: Matthew Woods ’11
The Young Alumni award is given to a young alumnus/ae who has demonstrated professional and personal success since graduating from Ferrum College within the last 15 years.
Matthew Woods, a resident of Rocky Mount, Virginia, has served over twelve years assisting students, educators, and schools in a variety of roles. His professional experience includes being a high school social studies teacher, middle and high school assistant principal, middle school principal, director of student support services, adjunct professor, and field instructor at the collegiate level for student-teachers. Additionally, Woods hosts an education podcast, Leading Out The Woods, and is an accomplished keynote speaker and educational consultant.
Woods’ leadership and innovative approaches have led him to be recognized by numerous organizations including ASCD (Emerging Leaders Class 2021) and recipient of LG’s Happiness League Award. Woods earned a Bachelor of Science in History and Social Studies from Ferrum College, a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration from Virginia Tech, a graduate certificate in Education Law and Policy, and an Educational Specialist in Middle Grades Education from the University of Georgia. Woods is in the process of completing his doctoral studies in Educational Leadership and Administration from Radford University with an expected graduation date of December 2022.
Distinguished Alumni: Carthan Currin ’84
The Distinguished Alumni Award recipient exemplifies a record of exceptional career achievement and service to their community, church or other organizations; were active in college life; and remain involved and supportive of Ferrum College as alumni.
Carthan F. Currin, III, a resident of Richmond, Virginia, graduated from Ferrum College with a degree in Public Administration. A native of Petersburg, Virginia, his distinguished career in public service and economic development includes executive positions with the City of Petersburg, the County of Brunswick, and the City of Richmond. Experience in the private sector placed Currin in the forefront of economic and commercial development, infrastructure improvements, utility regulation, education, and work-force training.
Currin’s cumulative work with the General Assembly, governors of Virginia, and mayors of Richmond and Petersburg led to his appointment by Governor Jim Gilmore as the first executive director of the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. In this role, he directed more than $390 million in investments in the tobacco region supporting economic development, research and development, tourism, workforce development, higher education, technology, and agribusiness.
Currently, Currin serves as the president of the Commonwealth Alliance for Rural Colleges, an organization to which he has long-standing ties, first as a board member and then as chairman of the board. The Commonwealth Alliance for Rural Colleges is a nonprofit dedicated to providing resources and leveraging economic development and public and private sector alliances on behalf of Appalachian School of Law, Averett University, Bluefield University, Eastern Mennonnite University, and Ferrum College.
In addition to his professional achievements, Currin has served on the boards of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, Southside VA Community College Foundation, Scenic Virginia, Battersea Foundation, and the Ferrum Alumni Association.
Beckham Medallion: Phyllis Karavatakis ’76
The Beckham Medallion, named after Dr. Benjamin M. Beckham, the first president of Ferrum College, is the highest tribute bestowed upon an alumnus/a. The distinction honors those who exemplify the College motto, Not Self, But Others and who have demonstrated exceptional career success, service to their community, and dedication to Ferrum College.
Phyllis Karavatakis, a resident of Union Hall, Virginia, is a proven C-suite executive recognized for driving organizational change, business transformation, and continuous improvement. For more than twenty-five years, Karavatakis has been a senior/executive level manager, responsible for achieving financial performance and strategic objectives for Carter Bank & Trust, a community bank with $4 billion in assets, in Virginia and North Carolina. With direct responsibility for 110 branches and more than 600 employees, Karavatakis led retail and commercial lines of business, sourced and managed a successful multi-billion dollar loan portfolio, and maintained oversight accountability for marketing, mortgage and loan servicing operations.
A graduate of Franklin County High School, Karavatakis earned an Associate Degree from Ferrum College, a Bachelor Degree in Finance and Accounting from the University of Richmond, and completed the Virginia Bankers Association School of Bank Management through the University of Virginia. She has held multiple executive appointments including chairman and Audit Committee chairman of the Ferrum College Board of Trustees; president and board director of Southside Business Technology Center/The Launch Place; chairman of the Foundation Committee of Piedmont Arts; chairman of the Martinsville and Henry County Chamber of Commerce; and a board member of United Way of Martinsville & Henry County, Patrick Henry Community College Foundation, and Southern Virginia Recreation Facilities Authority. Karavatakis has also been honored with multiple awards and distinctions including the lifetime achievement award at Carter Bank & Trust; the Heck Ford Leadership Award at Martinsville and Henry County Chamber of Commerce; and president of the largest community bank at Women in Executive Leadership.For additional information about the Ferrum College Alumni Awards Ceremony and to RSVP by October 5, 2022, click here.
Casey Raggett ’22 is the first Ferrum College graduate to sit for and pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX). The NCLEX, developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, tests the competency of nursing school graduates in the U.S. and Canada.
Raggett is part of the College’s inaugural graduating class of nursing students in the pre-licensure BSN program, which prepares students to sit for the NCLEX.
To learn more about the nursing programs offered at Ferrum College, click here.
He came and went like the wind. Determined. Driven. Focused. Quiet. Unassuming. “When he was here, he was in the zone,” said Rachel Walton, Interlibrary Loan Coordinator/Technical Services Assistant at Stanley Library. “He was dedicated to his project.”
The person is Micah Allen, a 2022 Ferrum College graduate who majored in history and political science, from Goochland County—just outside Richmond. The project was tracing the history of the Black Student Union (BSU) at Ferrum College and the inclusion of Black students in general. He mined old, bound volumes of the campus newspaper the Iron Blade from the late 60s to early 80s, identifying anything related to the BSU, scanning and transcribing the articles as he moved through them.
The work was similar to a project he undertook with the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum. The BRIM project focused on digitizing all of the Appalachian folktales and stories collected by the folklorist James Taylor Adams in the 1940s, saving them all in the digital archives, and posting them all on Professor of English Tina Hanlon’s AppLit website. Hanlon’s website site, AppLit: Resources for Readers and Teachers of Literature for Children and Young Adults, has been up and running for 20 years and has won the Appalachian Studies Association’s e-Appalachia award in the past.
“I scanned and transcribed the folk stories,” Allen said. “I first got one of the stories and then scanned it using a printer to get it onto the computer. After the scanning process, I then transcribed what I just scanned onto a word document, word-for-word, to the best of my abilities.”
Bethany Worley, BRIM Director, sang Allen’s praises on the project. “Micah was such a pleasure to work with,” she said. “He was detail oriented, which is a must when working with archival materials. I appreciated his enthusiasm for the special collection of folktales, history, and folksongs of the James Taylor Adams collection.”
For his part, Allen relished the undertaking. “I enjoyed my time working at the BRIM and doing this project because I saw it as preserving the history of the region,” Allen said. “Doing this allows future generations to be able to learn about their home and culture.”
Allen’s main interest, however, seemed to be his Stanley Library internship and the BSU/Iron Blade research he conducted. “I found some interesting editorials written in the Iron Blades in the early 80s dealing with the Black Student Union getting more funding than other groups on campus,” he said. “I found them interesting just to see the individual arguments being made for why they are getting more money than other school organizations.”
At some point, he said, the BSU apparently disbanded on campus. “I have not found if or when the BSU dissolved,” Allen said. “I was told that there was a point where they kind of just disappeared, but now I have seen that they are back. I hoped the further I went into my research, I would be able to find the answer.”
As is the case with many students, Allen underwent a time of growth here at Ferrum. “He was definitely one of our Class of 2022 star graduating seniors in the history major, and I have had the luck to watch him grow,” said Assistant Professor of History Michael Hancock-Parmer. “Micah arrived as a shy, typically insecure freshman student—maybe convinced that he was just going to see things through, not sure of what he was going to be capable of. Somewhere along the road, he came into his own.”
Fellow Assistant Professor of History Nicole Greer Golda echoed the sentiments. “Micah really blossomed in his years at Ferrum and developed a deep knowledge of our recent past, especially African American history,” Greer Golda said. “His senior seminar research into the meanings of democracy in the United States for African Americans during World War I demonstrated his commitment to preserving a wide array of sources.”
Allen plans to continue his education at J. Sargeant Reynolds in Richmond and study as a paralegal.
Article written and contributed by Assistant Professor of English & Journalism David B. Campbell.
Ferrum College announces the addition of three new members to the Board of Trustees: alumna Amanda Cox ’04, F. Abe Dymond, and Jeffrey C. Pugh. Their terms will begin July 1, 2022.
Cox is an external affairs manager for Appalachian Power responsible for oversight and implementation of local and county governmental affairs, community relations, and providing assistance with local/regional economic development. She also serves as a registered lobbyist in Virginia and participates in the General Assembly sessions in Richmond. Additionally, Cox has taken Appalachian Power’s Rural Broadband Initiative from a study concept through to the first connection of customers, and continues to serve as a resource to a variety of stakeholders on the issue.
Prior to joining Appalachian Power, Cox served as the President/CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce and its Partnership for Economic Growth where she positioned the Chamber to become the lead entity for small business development, leveraged workforce partnerships to increase the Chamber’s capacity to deliver business services, and secured a 5-Star rating with the US Chamber of Commerce for the first time in the organization’s history.
She currently serves on multiple state, regional and local boards and has a bachelor of science in Business Administration from Ferrum College and a master of business administration from Radford University.
Cox lives with her husband, Jonathan, and two children in Franklin County, VA.
Dymond is a supervisory compliance officer with the Agricultural Marking Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. He is a trusted leader adept at initiating change in organizations at all stages of maturity. Dymond leverages multi-disciplinary skills to improve collaboration across organizations, build teamwork, and improve processes that synchronize the organization with mission, vision, and values. He creates reliable, targeted messaging focused on alignment of core values and organizational activity and is an expert in organizational governance design.
Dymond received a bachelor of arts in English from Ripon College, a Juris Doctor from Hamline University School of Law, a master of business administration with a concentration in finance from Carlson School of Management, and a master of laws in military law from The Judge Advocate General’s School.
Pugh is professor emeritus of Religious Studies, former Distinguished University Professor, and Maude Sharpe Powell Professor of Religious Studies at Elon University. An influential teacher, mentor, and author, Pugh regularly comments on state and national issues. His ambitious research has resulted in six books, ranging from Nazi-era theologians Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer to his work in religion and science.
Pugh’s most recent book, “The Homebrewed Christianity Guide to the End Times: Theology After You’ve Been Left Behind,” was published by Fortress Press in 2016 as part of a series sponsored by the popular Homebrewed Christianity podcast that takes a unique approach to helping delve into key Christian concepts, figures and ideas. He has also made numerous presentations at professional meetings and conferences, written articles, book chapters and book reviews for various publications, and served eight years as a member of the board of directors of the International Bonhoeffer Society.
Pugh earned his master of divinity degree from Wesley Theological Seminary, and a master’s degree and doctorate in theological and religious studies from Drew University Graduate School. His graduate research focused on systematic and historical theology and he continued that work during his career at Elon. He received Elon’s Daniels-Danieley Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2000 and the Distinguished Scholar Award in 2010.
Ferrum College hosted a ribbon cutting and reception celebrating the new Richard L. Smith Center for International Programs on Friday, April 22, 2022. The ribbon cutting took place in Hart International Plaza beside Stanley Library, which is home to the new international center. A reception in the lobby of Grousbeck Hall followed.
Named in honor of the late professor of History and Williams Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Humanities, Richard Lee Smith, who was an avid world traveler, the newly named international center welcomes students from around the world to campus; opens the world to Ferrum students through study abroad; and offers programs designed to broaden perspectives and help students connect to the rest of the world.
Ferrum College President David Johns believes the Richard L. Smith Center for International Programs will be one of those places where the world comes together. “In a world that is too often polarized and where difference gives rise to division, the Richard L. Smith Center for International Programs will be a place of understanding and hope, a place of curiosity and inspiration,” he said.
Wilson Paine, vice president of Institutional Advancement & External Relations and a former student of Professor Smith’s, noted that Smith pushed him to think of travel and personal experiences as an extension of the learning that occurred in the classroom. “He encouraged me to embrace opportunities that broadened my worldview and my own role in society. That is the essence of the Richard L. Smith Center for International Programs, and how fitting it is that it will now be named after Dr. Richard L. Smith.”
Smith, who died on February 24, 2021 at the age of 75, taught history at Ferrum College for 42 years. As a college professor, Smith taught more than 8,000 students, over 7,000 of them at the College. He was also a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother; a teacher and storyteller; an internationally recognized top scholar; an author; and a warm-hearted and generous member of the Ferrum community.
Smith was remembered fondly by his colleagues. Dr. Tim Daniels, associate professor of History and Chair of Humanities and Performing Arts, reflected that he came to teach at Ferrum College because of Smith. “That he trusted me with the reins of the history department is probably the most profound honor I’ve received over the past six years,” he said.
Daniels went on to note that Smith believed it was great if everything went according to plan while traveling, but that he also believed amazing stories were often created when it didn’t. “At some point, a Ferrum student who has benefitted from the center named in his memory is going to run into an obstacle that redirects their path and teaches them something about themselves they didn’t know they needed to learn. I like to think that it’s going to be Richard intentionally placing those bumps in their paths,” said Daniels.
Born on August 26, 1945 in Montgomery, WV, Smith spent his childhood in Cranford, NJ playing football and getting into things with his friends. He later moved to Moravia, NY, where he worked on his family’s dairy farm during summers and attended college courses at SUNY-Cortland. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history in 1967 and then enrolled at Rutgers University where he received his master’s degree in 1969 and his Ph.D. in 1972, both in history. Prior to arriving at Ferrum College, Smith taught for four years at LaGrange College in LaGrange, GA.
Smith enjoyed teaching ancient Asian and African courses, including Chinese, Indian, Southeast Asian, North African, and sub-Saharan history, along with traditional Western European and American subjects. He was known to be a great storyteller who enthralled listeners with tales of his travels to the Sahara Desert, Timbuktu, Kenya, Egypt, Peru, and more. Some of these trips included his students who arrived home with hilarious stories and fond memories, including a rafting trip down the Tambopata River that ended in a crash and fire ant attack at their rainforest camp.
Once asked what he loved about Ferrum College, Smith responded, “Ferrum is special because it is a place where, as a teacher, I could help students maximize their potential if they were willing to work hard and dedicate themselves to achieving academic success. I am especially proud to see that so many of my former students have gone on to enjoy success in their chosen careers in business, public service, education, and a variety of other fields.”
To see additional photos of the ribbon cutting ceremony and reception, please click here.
On Tuesday, April 19, 2022, members of the Boone Honors Program (BHP) were honored during a banquet held in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room from 6 – 8:00 p.m. The evening opened with a welcome from BHP Director and Professor of English Lana Whited, greetings by President David Johns, and an invocation by Professor of Religion David Howell, founding director of the Boone Honors Program.
Following dinner, Steering Committee and Honors Advisory Council members were recognized. Next, Whited and Assistant BHP Director Ed Hally gave special recognition to fourteen graduating seniors—nine of whom were student athletes—who were honored as BHP Medallion recipients.
Honored seniors chose a professor, not necessarily in their field of study, to share comments about the senior’s time at Ferrum College as they progressed through coursework. There were stories, hugs, a few tears, and lots of laughter. Vice President for Academic Affairs Kevin Reilly closed the program with heartfelt well wishes to the soon-to-be-graduates.
The Boone Honors Program was established in 2001 under the direction of Howell, and is named in honor of former Ferrum College President Jerry Boone and his wife, Shirley.
See photos from the event on the College’s Flickr album.
Madison Cogle ’22: Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies (Agriculture, Biology, One Health)
Sebastian Dexter ’22: Bachelor of Science in Pre-Professional Health Sciences (Pre-Med), Minor in Biology
Sarah Estes ’22: Bachelor of Science in Pre-Professional Health Sciences (Pre-Med)
Arielle Eure ’22: Bachelor of Science in Health & Human Performance (Exercise Science)
Savannah Farris ’22: Bachelor of Science in Pre-Professional Health Sciences (General) and Biology, Minor in One Health
Abigail Hayes ’22: Bachelor of Science in Pre-Professional Health Sciences (Pre-Med) and Chemistry
Brady Hentz ’22: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (Criminology) and Spanish, Minor in Psychology
Cole Lipinski ’22: Bachelor of Science in Health & Human Performance (Exercise Science), Minor in Coaching
Brandon Mullins ’22: Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education (English), Minor in Spanish
Amber Osborne ’22: Bachelor of Science in Pre-Professional Health Sciences (Pre-Vet) and Biology, Minor in Chemistry
Carlton Redd ’22: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (Forensic Investigation)
Deontae Reed ’22: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (Criminology), Minor in Spanish
Hunter Tharpe ’22: Bachelor of Science in Pre-Professional Health Sciences (Pre-Med), Minors in Biology and Chemistry
Madison Wright ’22: Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Minor in Forensic Science
Ferrum College celebrated its 106th commencement on Saturday, April 23, under sunny skies in W.B. Adams Stadium as 185 graduates from 15 different states received their diplomas. The commencement exercises included the presentation of student and faculty awards and a keynote address by journalist and bestselling author Beth Macy.
Dr. Kevin Reilly, vice president of Academic Affairs, opened the ceremony by welcoming all those gathered to celebrate the seniors’ achievements. Following the invocation given by Campus Minister Laura Robinson, President David Johns took the podium to welcome the crowd and remind the graduates that success comes from teamwork, hard work, determination, and the love and support of family and friends.
Johns then commended the graduates on their dedication and progress. He instructed them to use what they had learned, saying, “We are all given this one life; it is precious, a gift. I urge you to invest your life in healing the world. One of the hallmarks of a Ferrum College graduate is that we are committed to our motto – Not Self, But Others. Whatever your path—business, human services, education, health care, public service, the military, further study, agriculture, the arts, justice work—whatever it is, do the best work you possibly can, and through your work, make the world healthier, happier, more free and just, make it better.”
Following the president’s remarks, Ferrum College Board of Trustees Chair D. Scott Showalter ’73 and Alumni Association President B. Clay Wiley ’06 each gave their greetings on behalf of their respective boards. They were followed by the presentation of faculty and student awards.
Assistant Professor of Accounting and Program Coordinator of Accounting and Business Sadie Wallace received the Exemplary Teaching Award, in recognition of her excellence and commitment to teaching, concern for student welfare in areas beyond academic studies, scholarship, and service to the College, her profession, and the greater community. In addition to her work at the College, Wallace, who is a Ferrum alumna and former student athlete, is a member of the Franklin and Bedford County Volunteer Fire Departments and helps coordinate the local Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program for STEP (Solutions That Empower People, Inc.).
Madison Cogle ’22 of Camden, WV; Makayla Hubbard ’22 of Penhook, VA; Brandon Mullins ’22 of Union Hall, VA; and Brooke Turner ’22 of Rocky Mount, VA, each received Senior Academic Excellence Awards for earning a perfect 4.0 GPA during their time at the College.
Abigail McGovern ’22, of Roundhill, VA received the Arthur S. Owens Leadership Award, presented annually to the senior chosen by the faculty who best exemplifies the qualities of Arthur S. Owens: leadership, initiative, honor and outstanding character. Recipients of this award must also hold an excellent academic record, have participated in extracurricular activities, and shown creative initiative in making Ferrum College a better place to study, work, and live.
Jonathan Taylor ’22 from North Dinwiddie, VA, received the Lillie Warwick Slaven Award, which is given to a student who exemplifies the ideals of the ministerial profession and is recognized as an outstanding student leader at Ferrum College.
Demontay Wimbush ’22, of Bassett, VA, was awarded the James T. Catlin, Jr. Citizenship Award, named in honor of the late James T. Catlin, Jr. of Danville, VA, and presented annually to the student who has best demonstrated qualities of citizenship and general leadership ability as judged by vote of the faculty.
Following the awards presentations and her introduction of the keynote speaker, Beth Macy, Professor of English Lana Whited joined President Johns in presenting Macy with an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa.
After receiving her honorary degree, Macy addressed the graduates, telling them, “You’ve spent four years or so honing your own distinctive voices. You entered this university with promise, and you’re leaving now with purpose. It’s time for the world to hear you.”
Next, Student Government Association President Mikayla Floyd ’22, of Chesapeake, VA, introduced Senior Class President Andre Williams ’22 of Virginia Beach, VA, who presented the senior class gift to Dr. Johns, and then introduced Kajuan Madden-McAfee ’22 of Harrisonburg, VA, as senior class speaker.
Madden-McAfee congratulated the class of 2022 and thanked them for the honor of being asked to speak. He spoke about their shared experiences at the College and told a biblical parable about a young boy and his boat that has inspired and guided his life.
Next, Johns and Reilly conferred and awarded the graduate and undergraduate degrees. The ceremony closed with the singing of the College’s “Alma Mater.”
A celebratory picnic lunch followed on Franklin Hall quad for all in attendance. The weekend events also included a traditional Baccalaureate service on Friday evening in Vaughn Chapel.
See commencement photos for the class of 2022 here.
To view the archived video of the commencement ceremony, please click the on-demand tab here.
The 2018 Ferrum College Alumni Awards Celebration was held Saturday, September 22, 2018 in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room in Franklin Hall on campus. Pictured left to right are J. Glenn Shelton ’57, Lalita Brim-Poindexter ’04, Samantha Smith-Herndon ’12, Jerry Venable ’68, Kevin Keatts ’95, Stacy Porter ’06, Jessica Luther ’06, and Kameron Wilds ’11.
Glenn Shelton ’57 was recognized as Ferrum College’s Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient in a ceremony in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room. Those that receive the Distinguished Alumni Award exemplified a record of exceptional career achievement and service to their community, church or other organizations; were active in college life; and remain involved and supportive of Ferrum College as alumni. Outstanding Young Alumni were also recognized from the College’s three schools: Jessica Luther ’06 of the School of Social Sciences and Professional Studies; Samantha Smith-Herndon ’12 of Natural Science and Mathematics; and Kameron Wilds ’11 of Arts and Humanities. These recipients are honored for their accomplishments and achievements to Ferrum College within the last fifteen years.
Additionally, five alumni were inducted to the Ed George Ferrum College Sports Hall of Fame: football player Bruce Gossett ’63, who went on to play with the San Francisco 49ers for five years; basketball player Jerry Venable ’68, who also played for the Harlem Globetrotters for 13 years; basketball player Kevin Keatts ’95, current basketball Head Coach at North Carolina State University; cross-country runner Lalita Brim-Poindexter ’04, one of only five former Ferrum College student-athletes named to USA South All-Conference first team four consecutive years; and softball player Stacy Porter ’06, who still holds the College’s record for season strikeout, career strikeouts and season innings pitched.
See more photographs here. Glenn Shelton ’57
J. Glenn Shelton of Chatham, Virginia, graduated from Ferrum Junior College in 1957 with an associate degree and eventually obtained a Master of Art in Teaching from the University of North Carolina. Shelton returned to Ferrum College in 1963 to teach math and has continued educational instruction for 58 years. He and his wife, Alice, are active members of the Ferrum College Golden Panthers. Shelton is also a member of the Watson Memorial United Methodist Church, the Chatham Lions Club, and Chatham First, a non-profit group that raises funds for projects within the town.OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI INDUCTEE – SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND PROFESSIONAL SCIENCES
Jessica Luther ’06
Jessica Luther, a native of Henry County, Virginia, graduated from Ferrum College in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. She began her career at Ferrum College in June 2009 and currently serves as Director of Budgets. Luther obtained her MBA from Texas A&M University-Commerce in 2013 and taught a business finance course at Ferrum College in 2016.
OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI INDUCTEE – SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS
Samantha Smith-Herndon ’12
Samantha Smith-Herndon received her Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture from Ferrum College in 2012 and is currently working on her master’s degree through Virginia Tech. She is employed by The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research as a research associate and operates remote pilot-section 107 licensed agriculture drones to support analysis of agricultural production.
OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI INDUCTEE – SCHOOL OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES
Kameron Wilds ’11
Kameron Wilds is a 2011 Ferrum College graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion and Christian Ministries. Wilds obtained a Master of Divinity from Duke University in 2015 and is currently a senior pastor at Smith Memorial United Methodist Church in Collinsville, Virginia. He took part in the creation of Helping Hands Thrift Store, participates in Kairos Prison Ministry, serves as a board member of the Institute for Biblical Exploration, and coaches middle school and junior varsity baseball.Bruce Gossett ’63
Bruce Gossett of Rancho Murieta, California, was a placekicker and quarterback for Ferrum College in 1962. He has played with the Los Angeles Rams and the 49ers, and was named to the 1964 NFL All-Rookie Team. Gossett was a 1966 and 1969 NFL Pro Bowl Selection and led the NFL in scoring in 1966. He served as an NFL Player Rep from 1973-74, retired in 1974 and began managing advertisement for a Bay Area television station.
Jerry Venable ’68
Jerry Venable of Staunton, Virginia, played basketball for the Ferrum Junior College from 1966-68, where he earned All-Conference and All-America in 1968. He was eventually selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1970 NBA Draft and went on to play for the Harlem Globetrotters for 13 years. Additionally, Venable launched Learning Opportunities Through Sports (LOTS), a non-profit which promotes sports and educational activities for young people in the Greater Augusta area. He is a member of the Booker T. Washington Hall of Fame and the Virginia Interscholastic Heritage Association Hall of Fame.
Kevin Keatts ’95
Kevin Keatts of Cary, North Carolina, was a member of the Ferrum College men’s basketball team from 1992-95. He helped the Panthers win three Dixie regular season titles in 1992, 1993 and 1995. Keatts coached at Ferrum College from 1995-96 and went on to advance records as an assistant coach at Southwestern Michigan College, Marshall University and University of Louisville. He also served as a head coach at Hargrave Military Academy and University of North Carolina at Wilmington. In March 2017, Keatts was named Head Coach at North Carolina State University and led his first Wolfpack team to the 2018 NCAA Tournament.
Lalita Brim-Poindexter ’04
Lalita Brim-Poindexter of Salem, Virginia, was a member of the Ferrum College women’s cross country team from 2000-04. She is one of only five former Ferrum College athletes to be named to USA South All-Conference First Team for four consecutive years. Brim-Poindexter won individual titles in 2001 and led Ferrum College to USA South Team runner-up finishes from 2000-03. She earned her law degree in 2007 and currently owns and operates Poindexter Law, LLC in Salem.
Stacy Porter ’06
Stacy Porter of Radford, Virginia, was a member of the Ferrum College softball team from 2002-05. She was named USA South All-Conference First Team Selection, USA South Rookie Pitcher of the Year, and USA South Softball Tournament Most Valuable Player in 2002. Porter still holds the College’s record for season strikeouts (242 in 2002), career strikeouts (504 from 2002-05) and season innings pitched (217.2 in 2002). She is employed as a sales administrator at Thomson Linear in Radford.
