3/26/2021
Ferrum College is excited to host two in-person commencement ceremonies this year. The Class of 2020 will be celebrated at Adams Stadium on Friday, April 30 at 6 p.m. Following that ceremony, the Class of 2021’s commencement exercises will take place on Saturday, May 1 at 10 a.m., also at Adams Stadium. Both ceremonies will follow the guidelines set forth in Governor Ralph Northam’s March 17 order that allows for a limited number of guests to attend outdoor graduations.
To find up-to-date commencement information for the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021, visit www.ferrum.edu/commencement.
Ferrum College will hold its 105th commencement ceremony in-person at Adams Stadium on Saturday, May 1, 2021. The College’s plans follow Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s March 17 announcement that allows for a limited number of guests to attend outdoor graduations.
“We are looking forward to celebrating our 2021 graduates during an in-person commencement ceremony this May,” said President David Johns. “These students have made Ferrum College history by overcoming enormous challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is their time to shine.”
The College expects 165 graduates to walk across the commencement stage at Adams Stadium, which includes current seniors and the first graduates of Ferrum’s psychology masters degree and EdS programs. Each graduate may invite four guests, as per the governor’s order to keep outdoor events at 30 percent of the venue capacity. The event will be live-streamed for friends and family who are not able to attend.
The keynote speaker will be New York Times bestselling author Jeff Selingo, who has written about higher education for more than two decades. His latest book, Who Gets In & Why: A Year Inside College Admissions, was published in September 2020 and was named among the “100 Notable Books” of the year by the New York Times. Selingo is a special advisor for innovation and professor of practice at Arizona State University. He also co-hosts the podcast “FutureU” and is a regular contributor to The Atlantic.
Prior to the May 1 ceremony, graduates will have their class photo taken in Adams Stadium on April 24. Following the class photo, graduates will be invited to take individual photos with Ferrum College President David Johns.
The College will not host a baccalaureate and candlelight ceremony this year; however, an academic awards ceremony will be held on Friday, April 16, 2021.
Class of 2021 graduates may register and receive tickets for their guests here.
Watch the livestream of the ceremony here.
Ferrum College announced today that it will invite members of the class of 2020 to return to campus for an in-person commencement celebration on Friday, April 30, 2021 at 6 p.m. This event will precede the College’s commencement for the Class of 2021, scheduled for Saturday, May 1. The Class of 2020 made history last year when their commencement ceremony was held virtually to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Class of 2020 graduates who participate in this year’s outdoor commencement exercise will be able to invite four guests to attend as they cross the commencement stage at Adams Stadium. Graduates will be asked to wear their regalia and will have the opportunity to take a photo with Ferrum College President David Johns. The keynote speaker will be 2021 Virginia Teacher of the Year Anthony Swann who teaches fifth grade at Rocky Mount Elementary in Franklin County. The ceremony will follow the guidelines set forth in Governor Ralph Northam’s March 17 order that allows for a limited number of guests to attend outdoor graduations.
In order to participate, Class of 2020 graduates must register themselves and their guests for the event by April 28 using this link.
3/25/2021
L-R: Leya Deickman, Morgan Flinkstrom, Katrina Anderson, Destiny Benjamin, Katerina Pendergrass, & Gabriella Mendoza on February 21, 2021 in Franklin Springs, GA, when they qualified for the Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Championships.
Ferrum College entered four members of the women’s wrestling team and ten members of the men’s wrestling team into national competition this spring.
“Wrestling is such an important part of each of their lives. To see our women and men persevere through the ups and downs of weekly Covid testing, as well as having matches and events canceled, or added, at the last minute, is a testament to their positivity, focus and perspective of being a wrestler in a pandemic,” said Ferrum’s Director of Athletics John Sutyak.
Freshman Katerina Pendergrass, sophomore Destiny Benjamin, senior Morganne Flinkstrom, and psychology program graduate student Leya Deickman headed to the 2021 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships hosted by Tiffin University in Tiffin, Ohio on March 6. While there, Pendergrass earned All-America with her eighth-place finish in the 109 pound weight class.
“During a difficult year and season like this, I am proud of our team to be able to battle through adversity,” said Head Women’s Wrestling Coach Breonnah Neal. “Through the challenges, we were able to walk away with an All-American. Kat didn’t have an easy season and she had to battle in every match, but she kept with it. I’m proud she did and is an All-American as a freshman. I’m thankful for our opportunity to compete.”
All four women’s wrestlers placed in the top four of their respective weight classes at the Southeast Regional, held Sunday, February 21, at Emmanuel College, which qualified them for Nationals.
Ferrum College men’s wrestler sophomore Isaac Hudson (165 lbs).
Following suit, ten members of the men’s wrestling team, one in each weight class, headed to the 2021 National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III Championships held on March 12 in Coralville, Iowa. They were: freshmen Tyler Ramirez, Cris Reynoso, and Rayshawn Dixon; sophomores JD McMillin, Isaac Hudson, and Elijah Martin; juniors Levi Englman, Christian Hite, and Braden Homsey; and psychology program graduate student Mario Vasquez.
“We are grateful the Division III National Wrestling Coaches Association provided the student-athletes with an exciting season-ending opportunity,” said Head Men’s Wrestling Coach Ryan Riggs. “It was such a valuable experience for the team. Up and down the lineup, I’m really proud of everyone’s effort, attitude, and heart. We will continue to grow and develop from the experience and we are excited about the future.”
“I am extremely proud of our wrestling student-athletes, and respective coaching staffs, as they navigated through an extremely difficult season this winter,” said Sutyak.
Read more about the women’s trip to NCWWC here and the men’s trip to NWCA Championships here.
3/9/2021
In January, Ferrum College alumna Audrey Ramsey ’18 boarded a plane bound for the Galapagos Islands. She will spend the spring collecting data in collaboration with the National Park of Galapagos, Ferrum College’s ecotourism program, and the Center for Protected Area Management (CPAM) at Colorado State University, and will return to Virginia in May.
As an undergraduate in Ferrum’s recreation leadership program, Ramsey completed an internship with CPAM where she helped with annual training courses for Latin American protected area managers. After earning her Bachelor of Science in recreation leadership with minors in ecotourism and environmental science, Ramsey enrolled at Colorado State and continued to work for CPAM. She earned her Master of Science in global conservation leadership in 2020. Her work with CPAM lead to phase one of this consultancy in the Galapagos to develop site-by-site interpretive plans for Las Grietas and Tortuga Bay, two of the most visited public use sites on the island of Santa Cruz.
“I’ve spent the last two months collecting data from park rangers, tourists, and locals to gather perceptions and learn about the two sites to aid the Park in future management decisions,” said Ramsey.
Ramsey completed her masters thesis project by doing research on the state of environmental interpretation in Latin American Protected Area Systems. “[This research] is a baseline inventory of the use of environmental [and] cultural interpretation as a tourism management tool within Latin American federal protected area systems,” explained Ferrum College Associate Professor of Recreation Leadership Christopher Mayer, who offered his expertise in environmental interpretation throughout Ramsey’s master’s thesis and now advises her on the Galapagos project.
Ramsey said she became interested in ecotourism when she traveled to Costa Rica for a family vacation in 2010. After ecotouring the Osa Peninsula, Ramsey was hooked. She knew she wanted a career in ecotourism.
“I searched for colleges that offered ecotourism and Ferrum was the one college on the East Coast that offered it as a minor,” she said. “In my first ecotourism class in 2014, Foundations of Ecotourism, I learned about the Galapagos Islands and their exceptional model of ecotourism. From that class onward, Galapagos became a dream of mine. I wanted to do some type of ecotourism work here and learn from their model. Seven years later, I arrived in the Galapagos and am living [my dream].”
In 2019, the College began offering ecotourism as a major. “When I learned that Ferrum was going to begin offering ecotourism as a major, I was incredibly excited,” said Ramsey. “That degree will offer incredible experiences for incoming students. I would never have had the opportunities I have had if it weren’t for the ecotourism program at Ferrum.”
Learn more about Ferrum College’s ecotourism program here.
Learn more about Ferrum College’s recreation leadership program here.
3/11/2021
On February 25, 2021, the Chrysalis Literary and Arts Magazine staff virtually revealed the autumn/winter 2020 edition via a Zoom meeting to which all of campus was invited. Submissions to the magazine were canvassed from across campus with winners in four categories: poetry, prose, photography, and art.
Abigail McGovern ’23, a sophomore from Round Hill, VA won first place for her poem, “Falling Leaves,” and in prose for “A Song in the Dark.” First place for photography was awarded to Chloe Fisher ’22, a junior from Franklin County, VA for “Single,” which was also chosen as the cover photo for the magazine. First place award for art went to senior Elina Baltins ’21 for “Love Hurts.”
Judges included three Ferrum College alumni: Kala Brubaker ’17, Ryan Osborn ’11, and Shameer Shah ’06. Brubaker, a middle school English teacher who studied in Kyrgyzstan and earned her masters degree in education from William & Mary College in 2018, evaluated the prose category. Osborn, a ceramic artist whose sculptures have received national attention, evaluated art. Shah, a professional landscape photographer, video creator, and conservationist who currently lives in London , evaluated photography. The final judge was Professor Emerita of English Marcia Horn, who taught at Ferrum for 23 years, and evaluated poetry submissions.
“We got so many great submissions and the staff got so ambitious that I had to cut over ten pages from the magazine during winter break to stay within budget,” said Chrysalis advisor and Professor of English Katherine Grimes.
This year, the Chrysalis staff was able to meet in person to layout the magazine, a contrast to last spring when the staff was forced to hammer it out through Zoom meetings because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s virtual reveal was the first ever in the magazine’s history. “We really missed the refreshments,” said Grimes.
McGovern, who served as editor-in-chief of Chrysalis this year, said the process to layout and publish Chrysalis is a lengthy one. “We do it in several steps. Overall, it takes us about a month to layout the whole thing, before we send the magazine to the printer,” she said. “Chrysalis is really a team process. It’s a honor to work with so many other dedicated, talented people. We all learn so much from each other, and I can say with confidence that I am always growing as both a leader and an artist.”
Read the autumn/winter edition of Chrysalis here.
3/11/2021
Director of the Social Work program Martha Haley-Bowling stands with Madison Brown ’21 outside Beckham Hall.
Ferrum College senior and Franklin County native Madison Brown ’21 has become the first Ferrum student to enroll in the University of Pikeville’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program as a result of a partnership forged in July 2020 between Ferrum and UPIKE.
“I learned about this opportunity by reading Ferrum’s website,” said Brown. “I’d never actually heard of UPIKE before but the information on Ferrum’s site encouraged me to apply. I found out I was accepted on February 12.”
The agreement between the two institutions states that UPIKE will reserve one seat in its MSW program each academic year for a Ferrum student who meets all early admissions requirements. UPIKE’s offer of admission is open to Ferrum students who have earned a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), as well as those who have earned a bachelor’s degree in any other field, provided that those students have 21 credit hours in liberal studies.
After her graduation from Ferrum College this upcoming May, Brown will enroll in UPIKE’s 30-hour advanced standing online MSW program for students who hold a BSW. UPIKE also offers a 60-hour program for students who have a bachelor’s degree in a field other than social work. Brown has also accepted a position as a family services specialist with the local Franklin County Social Services Department and will begin her new job on May 12.
Brown’s academic advisor at Ferrum, Assistant Professor and Director of the Social Work program Martha Haley-Bowling, is proud of Brown’s acceptance. “Maddie is a diligent student with a strong work ethic that will help her excel in graduate school,” said Haley-Bowling.
“I love the social work program at Ferrum,” said Brown. “I knew I wanted to help other people. Ferrum has given me a wide variety of experiences that really made me feel prepared for my future.”
Learn more about Ferrum College’s BSW program here.
Learn more about the agreement between Ferrum and UPIKE here.
3/8/2021
Ferrum College alumna Erin Stanley ’06 has accepted a position as the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce’s member relations and events manager.
Her new role, which she began on March 1, 2021, will require her to implement member-relations initiatives, recruit members, and execute a membership engagement plan. She will also actively plan and manage SMLRCC events like the SML Business Expo and the Wine Festival.
Stanley has professional experience in advertising, marketing, and sales. She began her career at The Roanoke Times immediately after earning her bachelor’s degree from Ferrum in December 2006.
“That’s really where I discovered my passion for helping small businesses,” said Stanley. “There was an advertiser I was working with [at The Roanoke Times] who saw such an amazing return on the advertising investment I had suggested that he was able to open a second location. It felt good to see them succeed and I’ve been excited to help other businesses find success ever since.”
Stanley has continued to help build small businesses with subsequent positions at Laker Media and WSLS, while expanding her professional knowledge about print, digital, and broadcast capabilities.
Thanks to her knowledge about SMLRCC and her prior work experience, she says she’s been able to hit the ground running in her new position. “My ultimate goal is to be a resource for all local businesses in our region to help them any way I can, whether it is lending advice on their marketing strategies, sharing ideas on ways to help raise awareness of their business, connecting them with other business professionals whose services can help them in their goals, and even volunteering at their individual business events,” she said.
Stanley lives in Glade Hill, VA with her husband John and six-year-old daughter Emma. She is enjoying her new role at SMLRCC. “I am having the best time,” she said. “And I have to say, the view from my office is amazing!”
Read more about Stanley in this Laker Weekly article.
Dr. Richard Smith
On February 24, 2021, the Ferrum College community bid a last farewell to Professor of History and Williams Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Humanities Richard Lee Smith. He was 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 community. Smith was 75 years old.
Smith rides atop a camel in the Taklamakan Desert.
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.
After teaching for four years at LaGrange College in LaGrange, GA, Smith arrived at Ferrum College in 1976, where he would spend the next 42 years teaching history. As a college professor, Smith taught more than 8,000 students, over 7,000 of them at Ferrum College.
“Richard never waited until some other time to live life to its fullness. As was evident in the display of photographs at his retirement celebration in 2018, Richard leaned into life always,” wrote Ferrum College President David Johns in a recent email announcing Smith’s passing to the campus community.
“That his first students at Ferrum grew to be among his best friends is a testament to the impact he had on generations of Ferrum students,” said Professor of History Timothy Daniels, who was a colleague and personal friend of Smith’s.
He 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.
Smith performs in the Ferrum College drama production, “Too Free for Me” in 1998.
Smith authored three books, which earned him international recognition as a top scholar in ancient and medieval trade and commerce. At the time of his death, he was tirelessly working on a fourth book, a thematic study of trade and commerce in the ancient and medieval worlds.
“When Richard went into the hospital for some issues not directly related to his final medical problems, I told [his wife] Kathleen to relay to him that he’d better hurry up and get out of the hospital if he wanted to make progress on his book (which was four out of seven massive chapters done by the time of his death),” remembered Daniels. “She sent me a picture of him grinning in his hospital gown, in his hospital bed, with books and yellow legal pads splayed across his lap. Only death – not any illness – was going to get in the way of his scholarship.”
He appeared on Blue Ridge Public Television’s “Public Eye” program in the 1970s and 1980s, two PBS documentaries, and the television show “Digging for the Truth” with Josh Bernstein on the Discovery Channel. He also served as consultant for several History Channel shows.
Smith enjoyed performing for Ferrum College’s drama department and appeared in numerous plays including “Too Free For Me,” “Lil Abner,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” and more.
During a 2015 trip to Egypt.
He and his wife made their retirement home at Smith Mountain Lake in Wirtz, VA. There, he thoroughly enjoyed the water, captaining the boat that pulled his grandchildren across the lake during countless hours of tubing. He was a beer connoisseur and loved to grill, sharing his famous ribs and pulled pork platters with family and friends. Along with his limitless quest for knowledge, he loved music, organic gardening, and storytelling.
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.”
“Some lives are so large, rich, and full, they spill over into the lives of others,” wrote Johns. “And not just an experience or a memory, but part of the energy and essence of that person becomes lodged inside those in his or her orbit. This was Richard, and there are many who carry within them part of the overflow of his extraordinary life.”
Smith is survived by his wife and soulmate Kathleen; sons Erik and Howard; step-children Kevin and Beth; and their families. Please share online condolences with the family here.
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Richard L. Smith Academic Enrichment Scholarship in History at Ferrum College.
Ferrum, VA, February 25, 2021 — During the next Rocky Mount Town Council meeting on March 8, 2021, the council members will be decked out in either black and gold, or blue and gold.
That’s because 2014 Ferrum College graduate and Rocky Mount Town Council member Tyler Lee and 1995 Emory & Henry graduate and Rocky Mount Vice Mayor Jon Snead have entered into a friendly wager regarding this Friday’s Crooked Road Classic football game between Ferrum and E&H.
Should the Ferrum Panthers win the game, which begins at 7 p.m. on Friday, February 26, town council members will wear Ferrum’s black and gold colors during the next meeting. Should the E&H Wasps prevail, the council will dress in E&H’s blue and gold.
“I really don’t want to wear blue and gold because I bleed black and gold, with a hint of Methodist red,” said Lee. “It is one of my goals as a council member to have Ferrum College and the town [of Rocky Mount] grow as partners to further students and the community. I can’t wait for Franklin County and Rocky Mount to host more ODAC and NCAA D3 championships in the near future.”
“I am ecstatic that the teams are ready for the gridiron. I’ve had the pleasure to boast the record of this rivalry since my graduation from E&H in 1995 and I’m sure the Rocky Mount Town Council will be decked out in blue and gold for our March meeting,” said Snead. “Is this a classic ‘age versus youth’ battle between Tyler and myself? You betcha. Go E&H!”
The two Rocky Mount officials are rivals, but their rivalry is absolutely friendly, with Snead remarking that Lee is “a great guy and I’m glad to see such a devotion to public service in such a young person.”
Lee agreed, noting that “Jon and I have been close colleagues for a while now, and being able to serve the best town with a true friend is awesome.”
After COVID-19 forced Ferrum College to postpone its spring and fall sports, Ferrum athletics was able to return to competition on January 12, 2021 when the men’s basketball team competed against William Peace University.
To continue support for the College’s student-athletes, alumni and fans were invited to virtually sell out Adams Stadium on campus beginning on February 15, with every $10 counting as one ticket sold. The challenge ends at game time on February 26, and the gifts support Ferrum’s general athletics or the donor’s favorite team, if designated. Visit the Ferrum College website to make a gift.
Although spectators will be limited for the game according to guidelines of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, fans can watch the livestreamed game on the Ferrum College Athletics web page.
Photograph from Karen Dillon, The Franklin News-Post and Smith Mountain Laker magazine
Ferrum College Adams Stadium. Image by Stephen “West” Nuttycombe ’19.
After COVID-19 forced Ferrum College to postpone its spring and fall sports, Ferrum athletics was finally able to return to competition on January 12, 2021 when the men’s basketball team competed against William Peace University. Now the College is offering an opportunity to come together to support the Panthers this year.
Beginning Monday, February 15 and continuing through Friday, February 26, alumni and fans are invited to virtually sell out Adams Stadium with a gift to support the Ferrum College general athletics fund or their favorite athletic team(s). Every $10 will count as one ticket sold. See packages and purchase tickets here. The challenge will end at 7 p.m. on February 26, when the Ferrum College football team competes against Emory & Henry in this year’s Crooked Road Classic.
Prior to the game, follow Ferrum College’s social media pages beginning at 3 p.m. for a virtual pep rally featuring special guests and notable alumni. Alumni and fans are also invited to join in the fun by wearing their favorite Ferrum gear and posting a photo or video on social media to cheer on the Panthers.
Per guidelines handed down by the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, spectators will be limited for the February 26 game against Emory & Henry. Learn more about Ferrum College’s policy regarding spectators at this spring’s sporting events in Athletic Director John Sutyak’s video message.
Aundrea Burton Smiley ’07. Photo by Lauren Thaxton of Lauren Carter Photography.
As the grey cloud of the COVID-19 pandemic descended during the spring of 2020, Ferrum College alumna Aundrea Burton Smiley ’07 found a silver lining.
In March 2020, Smiley began offering virtual tutoring to elementary school students in response to schools’ shutdown to curb the spread of COVID-19. When it became clear that schools would remain closed, Smiley added consulting services for parents who were trying to navigate the new virtual learning climate. Then she gave her business a name: Valor and Grace Literacy Cove.
Now, Smiley works with seven students two to three times a week. She focuses on reading and math, along with language arts.
“In addition to learning sessions, I communicate weekly with the parents and teacher of the students I work with to ensure we are all on the same page when it comes to the student’s academic success,” explained Smiley. “I also serve as an advocate for parents and students when they need it.”
Smiley has recently been able to start meeting students for one-on-one sessions. She has seen so much success in her work that she is planning to open a brick and mortar facility for her education consulting business in March of 2021.
“The service will remain the same but will also include facility use for kids in grades K-8 to come in and have access to WiFi, as well as games, crafts, and other special programming,” said Smiley. “We are also expanding our team to provide more virtual learning opportunities.”
In addition to Valor and Grace Literacy Cove, Smiley is a doctoral candidate at Liberty University and is preparing to defend her proposal at the end of February. She is a writer at Yoshika Green Consulting, LLC and an executive brand partner for Young Living Essential Oils. On February 23, 2021 at 7 p.m., she will serve as a panelist for Ferrum College’s “Support for Parents of School-Age Children” virtual town hall meeting. (Find more information about the town hall meeting here.)
Smiley lives in Clarksville, VA with her husband Matt, their three-year-old son, and two dogs.
Nearly one month into spring semester 2021, Ferrum College continues to provide services to support the mind, body, and community spirit of campus members as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
The Office of Student Life and Education (OSL&E) is offering all its normal services remotely, which include referrals to campus and community partners, collaboration with campus members to promote engagement, pathways to holistic wellness, support for graduation, and more. OSL&E continues to coordinate the delivery of meals, medication, and other necessities to students who are quarantined or isolated on campus.
The Counseling Center offers individual counseling to undergraduate students. Telehealth options by video conferencing or telephone are also available for campus members who are working remotely or are uncomfortable with in-person sessions. The Center also provides consultative services for faculty and staff.
Director of the Counseling Center Jessica Stallard looks forward to further integrating counseling services and the campus community as the semester progresses. “By next academic year, we are going to offer psychoeducational workshops to students including interpersonal skills groups and mindfulness groups,” she explained.
Additionally, Director of Student Activities Justin Muse ’05 plans to offer more interactive programs as warmer weather arrives. “We will have some outdoor programming, following COVID safety guidelines, and partner with other groups on campus for events. We hope to entertain caricature artists, and have trivia nights, comedians, music, and more,” said Muse.
Director of Norton Outdoor Adventures and Instructor in Recreation Leadership and Ecotourism Aaron Conover cited plans for campus trail walks, a full moon hike, archery sessions, mountain biking, yoga in the woods, and more. Conover recommended the Reconnect Trail around Chapman Pond that has four stations which give instructions for relaxation and meditation in nature.
“The programs are designed to help the students, faculty and staff get outdoors and be active while following campus COVID safety protocols, social distancing, and proper cleaning and sanitizing of the equipment being used,” Conover said. “The great thing is we can do all of these while still having interaction with nature and others.”
The Fitness Center on campus provides a way to maintain good health and curb stress through exercise. The Center is also offering weekly body fat and blood pressure checks, along with core conditioning, and deep stretch and guided meditation classes. Campus members are also invited to consult with a student personal trainer to determine if they would benefit from fitness or nutrition assessment, or sessions with a personal trainer.
2021 Emerging Fiddlers’ Contest Winners: Stewart Werner III (first place, left), Colby Helms (second place, top right), and Cheyenne Grantham (third place, bottom right).
Ferrum College hosted the first annual Ferrum Fiddlers Festival, which was held virtually on Saturday, January 23, 2021. The event, presented by the Appalachian Music Program and the Department of Music, included workshops, concerts, and the Ferrum Mountain Emerging Fiddlers’ Contest. The contest was open to musicians and singers aged 24 and under.
Three young Franklin County musicians took home top prizes in the competition which included entries from as far away as Georgia. Stewart Werner III, a Franklin County High School senior from Rocky Mount took home the top prize, which included a $4000 Ferrum College scholarship, for his performance on the banjo. Colby Helms of Boones Mill, a 2020 graduate of FCHS, won second place, including a $2000 scholarship to Ferrum College, for his performance of an original song about the Franklin County moonshine conspiracy. Eleven-year-old Cheyenne Grantham, also of Boones Mill, took third place with her old-time fiddle contest entry.
The festival took place online via YouTube, Zoom, and Facebook, and drew viewers from around the United States and the world. Contest judges and guest artists included Tyler Hughes, Tray Wellington, Martha Spencer, Rachel Eddy & Emily Hammond, and Shohei Tsutsumi, who gave the day’s final performance from his home in Osaka, Japan. View photos from the event on the Ferrum College Flickr album.
Ferrum College offers a four-year undergraduate Bachelor of Music degree as well as major and non-major studies woodwinds, brass, piano, percussion, voice, and Appalachian Music. Visit here or email music@ferrum.edu to learn more.
This article was written by Director of Appalachian Music and Adjunct Lecturer of Theatre and Music Emily Blankenship-Tucker.
