The cover design of fall 2019’s “Chrysalis” is by Ferrum College senior Anthony Wilson, Jr. ’20.
On Tuesday, December 10, 2019, Ferrum College Chrysalis Literary and Arts Magazine staff revealed the fall 2019 edition of the magazine in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room on campus. Submissions to the magazine were canvassed from across campus with winners in four categories: visual art, prose, photography, and poetry.
Senior Heather Ellis from Hardy, VA, received first place in poetry for “Signed, A Silent Onlooker” and in prose for “A Never-Ending Cycle.” First place for photography was awarded to senior Amber Scott of Stuart, VA for “Blue Skies.” First place award for visual arts went to junior Ashlynn Willoughby of Wilmington, NC for “Growth.” The Chrysalis cover photo is by senior Anthony Wilson, Jr., from Woodbridge, VA.
Judges included Ferrum College alumnus Mike Dunavant ’93, who evaluated the photography category; Ferrum College alumna Amanda Cholko ’14, who reviewed the poetry category; local artist Jane Lillian Vance, who evaluated the visual art category; and journalist and author Janine Latus, who evaluated the prose category.
The Chrysalis staff is comprised of Ferrum College students: editor-in-chief Heather Ellis; photography and visual art committee members sophomore Chloe Fisher (chair) and freshman Kristina Cossa; poetry committee members senior Kathryn Bonner, junior Abigail McGovern, and junior Jacques Moore-Roberts; and prose committee members senior AnnGardner Eubank (chair) and sophomore Shela Muriel. Chrysalis advisor is Ferrum College Professor of English Katherine Grimes.
Read this semester’s edition of Chrysalis Literary and Arts Magazine here.
On Friday, December 13, 2019, alumnus Nate Daniels ’99 cut the ribbon in front of Daniels Sports Performance, his new athletic training facility in Richmond, VA.
“The opening of Daniels Sports Performance has been a culmination of a lifetime dream,” said Daniels. “I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to help as many athletes as possible.”
Daniels, from Richmond, VA, is founder and president of Daniels Sports Performance (DSP), which provides one-on-one sports training and personalized workout sessions for athletes. The new 3,000 square foot facility offers a year-round indoor space to train in any sport regardless of the weather.
In his sports training career so far, Daniels has worked with notable athletes such as National Football League wide receiver Eddie Royal, professional soccer player Jim Flores, and former Professional Golf Association Golf Pro Tyler Clark.
Although the facility is open to athletes of any age, Daniels’ main focus is youth training. The DSP website cites three main training benefits for youth: a lifelong pattern of physical activity, improved health related to physical activity, and improved coordination and balance.
“As I was growing up, so many people provided guidance and support throughout my athletic career, and to have a platform to do the same for young people is an amazing feeling,” said Daniels.
At Ferrum College, Daniels majored in criminal justice and minored in music. He played football for the Panthers and trumpet for the band. He served as class president and worked in the sports information office. After his 1999 graduation, Daniels went on to play professional football in the Arena Football League and eventually founded DSP in 2017. He is a certified personal trainer, and a certified speed, agility, and quickness trainer. Daniels also won Collegiate All-American honors and has been inducted into the Ferrum College Hall of Fame and the Fairfax High School Sports Hall of Fame.
Learn more about Daniels Sports Performance here.
Ferrum College junior Suzanne “Suzie” Maines spent the fall semester a long way from her hometown of Winchester, VA. In August, Maines traveled to Denmark and then to Sevilla, Spain to begin a semester-long study abroad program. She left Spain on December 11 to spend more time in Denmark until she arrives back in the United States on January 6, 2020. Maines is majoring in Spanish and international studies and plans to graduate in May 2021.
Studying abroad was attractive to Maines for two reasons: she wanted to explore a new place, and she really wanted to improve her Spanish. “The best way to do that is through immersion,” she said.
Maines spent the fall semester studying at the Spanish Studies Center in Sevilla. She found some similarities to Ferrum College: the classes at the center, although taught only in Spanish, were all small in size and the professors were understanding and patient. However, there were lots of differences.
“The typical day in Sevilla is quite different than a day in the United States especially when it comes to meal times and scheduling in general,” Maines said. “Breakfast is very small, usually just toast with butter, lunch is a very long sit-down meal around 2:30 p.m. that takes about an hour to an hour and a half, and then dinner is usually at 9:30 p.m. or even later if you decide to eat out.
“Nightlife here starts very late, usually around 1:30 to 2:00 a.m.,” she added. “This is possible because of siesta. Everything kind of slows down and closes and people rest in their houses and sleep because it’s insufferably hot in southern Spain.”
Maines enjoyed being away from her normal routine while in Sevilla. “Studying abroad feels as if you’re in this little bubble and it’s very relaxing and euphoric,” she explained. “You’re away from all your problems and the same settings you’ve been seeing all your life so it feels like you have a fresh start. Even if it’s only temporary you’re definitely living in your own little world while you’re there.”
Visit here to learn more about study abroad opportunities at Ferrum College.
To join us for the open house, please register here.
After more than a century of educating students as a training school, junior college, and four-year institution, Ferrum College will now offer graduate degree programs, which will begin in fall 2020 and will be administered as online courses.
The Southern Association of College and Schools Commission on Colleges has approved Ferrum College as a level four school, allowing the addition of two graduate programs: a Specialist in Education (EdS) in teacher leadership and coaching, and a Master of Science in psychology.
“This is an important and historic moment for Ferrum College,” said President David Johns. “We have been listening to our students and to our region, and as we have in the past, we grow and change when there is need. We are part of this community, and we are committed to helping the community thrive.”
“Ferrum College is excited about offering graduate-level programs which will provide access to advanced education in the areas of psychology and teacher education. In the coming weeks and months, the faculty will be creating additional programs and certificates to meet the needs within our community,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Aimé Sposato.
Alumna Sandra Via has been named director of the School of Graduate and Online Studies. Via is a 2004 graduate of Ferrum College and has served the College for ten years as an adjunct professor, an associate professor of political science, and as the program coordinator of international studies. She will direct the implementation and logistical coordination of the graduate programs.
Via earned her Bachelor of Arts in political science from Ferrum College. She holds a Master of Arts in political science from Virginia Tech and a doctorate in planning, governance, and globalization, also from Virginia Tech.
“I am honored and excited to be able to implement Ferrum College’s first graduate programs,” said Via. “Our new graduate degree programs embody our mission by promoting the intellectual, ethical, and civic growth of students into leaders that serve their community and the world. Like our undergraduate programs, these graduate programs incorporate a personalized learning experience, specialized and caring attention from faculty, and an experiential learning experience for which Ferrum College is known.”
The Master of Science in psychology will attract graduate students who wish to prepare for research and teaching careers that require an advanced degree, such as working at non-profit organizations, for-profit companies, governmental agencies, social services agencies, educational institutions, and community outreach organizations.
The Education Specialist degree is geared toward students who already hold a master’s degree and wish to advance their professional knowledge in either teacher leadership or coaching.
Both programs could also serve as a stepping stone to a doctoral program in either discipline.
Ferrum College will begin accepting applications for enrollment in its graduate programs in January. The College plans to launch additional graduate degree programs within the next two years.
Learn more about the graduate programs here.
Read the article that appeared in The Roanoke Times here.
More about Ferrum College’s history:
Ferrum Training School was founded in 1913 as many young people in the Blue Ridge area had no access to public education. The training school’s first classes began in September 1914 under the leadership of its first principal, Dr. Benjamin Beckham. In 1939, the Virginia Department of Education accredited Ferrum Junior College and its name officially reflected this level change in 1948. Ferrum Junior College was then accredited by the Southern Association of College and Secondary Schools in 1960 and instituted a two-plus-two four-year academic structure in 1974. The first four-year degree was awarded in 1976.
John Sutyak has been named Ferrum College’s new director of athletics.
Ferrum College announces John Sutyak will be its new director of athletics. Sutyak is the former director of athletics and recreation at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts.
“I am pleased that John Sutyak will be joining our leadership team at Ferrum College. Athletics has played an important role at the College for years, and we are all looking forward to the next chapter under John’s leadership,” said Ferrum College President David Johns.
“As a former Ferrum College athlete, I am thrilled to have someone with John’s broad experience and background as Ferrum’s next athletic director,” said Vice President of Institutional Advancement and External Relations Wilson Paine. “John’s passion for college athletics and his commitment to supporting our student-athletes and coaches makes him the perfect fit to lead our athletics department and build on Ferrum’s rich history in athletics.”
After a national search, Sutyak arrives at Ferrum College with experience steeped in collegiate athletics. His career began in a dual role as the assistant sports information director and area coordinator in residential life at Wheaton College from July 2002 to August 2003. He then spent three years working in athletic facilities and varsity sports operations at Yale University before returning to Wheaton in July 2006 as the assistant director of athletics. He eventually became the associate director of athletics and assumed the role of director of athletics and recreation in April 2012.
During his eight-year stint as Wheaton College’s director of athletics, the college saw significant growth of donors and contributions to Wheaton’s Lyons Athletic Club. Sutyak was also involved in the development and construction of the first artificial surface athletic field, a $3.8 million project. Under his tenure, Wheaton’s athletic teams qualified for 33 NCAA championship events and won 16 New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) regular season and conference titles, highlighted by baseball’s run to the national championship game in 2012, four top-10 finishes by the women’s track and field program, and regional championships by softball in 2015 and baseball in 2017. Sutyak also served six years on the NEWMAC Executive Committee, including a two-year term as president, and was the New England Chair of the NCAA Division III Softball Committee from 2008 to 2012. Outside of collegiate athletics, he has worked at Gillette Stadium during New England Patriots home games since 2002, working both with the Patriots media relations team and the National Football League on its Player Participation crew.
“I am extremely excited and humbled to be named director of athletics at Ferrum College. The moment I stepped foot on campus, I immediately felt at home and sensed that Ferrum is a very special place,” said Sutyak. “I am looking forward to working with student-athletes, coaches, faculty, and staff to continue the proud tradition of Ferrum College athletes. Our goal as a Division III institution will be to work toward providing all our student-athletes with a first-class experience, on and off the playing surface, while simultaneously striving to compete for conference championships.”
A native of Scarborough, Maine, Sutyak received his Bachelor of Arts in history from Wheaton College in May 2000. In 2002, he earned a Master of Education in athletic administration from Springfield College. During graduate school, he served as an assistant baseball coach at Western New England University during the 2001 and 2002 seasons, where he played a part in the team’s first Great Northwest Atlantic Conference (GNAC) championship and first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2001. At Scarborough High School, he was a two-sport athlete (baseball and basketball) and a finalist for the Maine Mr. Baseball Award in 1996. A former four-year baseball player for the Wheaton Lyons, he was a member of the college’s first varsity baseball team in 1997, the program’s first two NEWMAC championship teams in 1999 and 2000, and a part of its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2000. He also tied the NCAA record for home runs in one inning with two against the University of Southern Maine in 1998.
Sutyak will assume his role at Ferrum College on January 1, 2020.
Learn more about Ferrum College athletics here.
Students show their appreciation to Ferrum College donors.
Ferrum College celebrated #GivingTuesday on Tuesday, December 3, 2019, by inviting donors to show their #FerrumHeartofGold with a gift to the Ferrum Fund which supports current and future students. The day was an immense success with gifts totaling over $50,000 from nearly 150 donors.
“We are grateful to our alumni and friends who made this year’s #GivingTuesday the College’s best ever,” said President David Johns. “I am proud of our Ferrum College family for its generosity, its commitment to our students, and for its willingness to pitch in and make a difference. Every dollar we raised will help students realize their dreams and build a future of hope and promise.”
The Ferrum Fund provides current and future students with:
To support students with a gift to the Ferrum Fund, please visit here.
#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide.
A beautifully decorated live Christmas tree is on display during the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum’s December 12 Open House.
This season, Ferrum College invites the community to enjoy a variety of holiday events on campus and in nearby Rocky Mount.
The Blue Ridge Institute and Museum is offering a Homeschoolers’ “Blue Ridge Holiday” Day Camp on Thursday, December 5, from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Children will make decorations and participate in blacksmithing, caroling, card making, and more. Learn more and register here.
Theatre Arts at Ferrum College will present three performances of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol: December 5 at 7 p.m., and December 7 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The performance will take place in Sale Theatre on campus, 305 State Route 602, in Ferrum. Admission is $5 for non-Ferrum College students and senior citizens, and $10 for adults. Reserve tickets here.
On Friday, December 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the annual Holiday Bazaar will be held in the Panthers Den in lower Franklin Hall, 215 Ferrum Mountain Road, Ferrum. Local vendors will be on site. This event is free to attend and open to the public.
Also on Friday, December 6 at 6:30 p.m., the Ferrum College Chorale will perform at the Franklin County Library in Rocky Mount during the annual “Come Home to a Franklin County Christmas” event. This event is free and open to the public.
On Sunday, December 8, Ferrum College’s Marching Band will participate in the Franklin County Christmas Parade from 3–6 p.m. in downtown Rocky Mount. The parade is free to attend.
The Neverending Story: A Reflection of Jesus’ Teachings and Birth will be presented on Sunday, December 8 at 7 p.m. in the College’s Vaughn Chapel, 40 Wiley Drive, Ferrum. This performance is free and open to the public, and features music from the Ferrum College Chorale, Concert Choir, and the Fresh Wind Gospel Choir.
On Monday, December 9 at 7 p.m., Ferrum College Mountain Winds will offer a fall concert at Sale Theatre, 305 State Route 602, Ferrum. Admission is free and the concert is open to the public.
The Blue Ridge Institute and Museum’s annual “Christmas in the Blue Ridge Open House” will take place on Thursday, December 12, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Institute and Museum, 20 Museum Drive, Ferrum. Enjoy a beautifully decorated live tree, homemade cookies and cider, caroling, and a variety of vendors selling Christmas gifts. The event is free and open to the public.
“Tonight the revolution is happening around us. It is the light of this fire and my horse at the tree. It is the bodies that lie on the field not a mile from this camp. I will tell you what it is.” – Pancho Villa, The Beginning of His Excellent and Eventful Career
Cameron MacKenzie
Adjunct Professor of English Cameron MacKenzie was recently interviewed by Rose Martin of Blue Ridge PBS to talk about his novel which details aspects of Pancho Villa’s life and role in the Mexican Revolution. Published in 2018, The Beginning of His Excellent and Eventful Career “melds myth and legend, memoir and fiction, to create an astounding psychological portrait of Villa,” wrote co-editor of Painted Bride Quarterly Marion Wrenn.
Originally from Richmond, VA, MacKenzie has worked as an adjunct English instructor at Ferrum College for three years. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in English from James Madison University and his Ph.D. in English from Temple University. His love of literature began with well-known authors such as William Faulkner and later intermingled with the influence of his parents. He noted his mother was an English teacher and his father was a storyteller by nature. After college, MacKenzie kicked off his career in education by teaching English in Japan.
During the interview, which aired on November 12, 2019, MacKenzie explained why he was drawn to write about Villa after reading The Memoirs of Pancho Villa: “Just the voice, so interesting and mysterious at the same time…I need[ed] to figure out who this person [was].”
Was Villa a villain? A cutthroat? Something of a Robin Hood? MacKenzie still isn’t quite sure how to describe the complexities of Villa’s personality that emerged during the chaos of the Mexican Revolution, other than to say that “at some points, the world demands a certain kind of figure. And it’s not necessarily a good figure but it’s what is necessary for what is going to happen.”
Watch MacKenzie’s interview here.
Ferrum College sweethearts Bradley Lael ’16 and Virginia Pannill ’17 met at the College in 2014. As freshmen, both enrolled in the agricultural studies program and slowly got to know each other over the course of about a year. “We met in Garber, room 123,” said Lael. “We really hit it off during the summer of 2015. When we returned to Ferrum in the fall of 2015, we decided to make it official. We started dating in September that year.”
The couple experienced their first trial during the spring semester of 2016. Over Christmas break, while Pannill was visiting Germany, Lael severely broke his foot while cleaning his grandfather’s gutters. He was forced to use a wheelchair for about fourteen weeks. Once Pannill returned home from Germany, she dutifully took care of Lael, getting him to and from class and helping him walk again just before his graduation in May. “She only forgot me once at the top of the auditorium in Garber,” laughed Lael.
During that semester, Pannill’s loyalty and caring nature shone through. “I believe she would’ve played that role for anybody,” Lael said. “All semester long, she was right there by my side.”
The similarities between the couple are obvious. Both are agriculture teachers for Spotsylvania County Public Schools, both love classic country music and singer George Jones, and both plan to be lifelong educators. They are independent, professional, and their love for each other grows stronger each day.
It didn’t take long for Lael to realize he wanted to marry Pannill. “I probably asked her mother at the wrong time,” he said. “She was taking something hot out of the oven.” But the blessing was given and Lael proposed to Pannill at Kings Dominion’s Halloween Haunt.
The couple will tie the knot this Saturday, December 7, 2019, in Ferrum College’s Vaughn Chapel. “Coming back to where we first met, shared laughs and tears, and the continued love and concern from everyone at Ferrum made it an easy choice for a venue,” explained Lael. After the wedding, they will honeymoon in the Caribbean and return home in time to celebrate their first married Christmas with family.
Lael is thankful for the role Ferrum College played in his romance with Pannill. “We never would’ve met if we didn’t choose Ferrum,” he said. “I wouldn’t change a Ferrum experience for anything.”
Ferrum College is making a bold “Ferrum Promise”: beginning in fall 2020, students who transfer from a Virginia community college with an appropriate associate’s degree will be able to graduate within two years of transfer, or they will receive free tuition for the remaining coursework.
“Today, nearly forty percent of students who graduate from a Virginia community college need three or more additional years to finish a bachelor’s degree because their new college will not accept many of their credits. This is not what they expected–it’s frustrating, time-consuming, and expensive,” said Ferrum College President David Johns.
The College already guarantees admission from all 23 community colleges in Virginia. The “Ferrum Promise” is the College’s next step to become even more transfer friendly and applies to all students who are enrolled full-time, enter with an appropriate associate’s degree from a Virginia community college, and meet certain academic requirements.
This promise encompasses many majors offered by Ferrum College, including its signature programs:
“We are excited to offer transfer students a seamless transition to Ferrum College where they will receive individualized course mapping with our faculty,” said Provost Aimé Sposato.
“Ferrum College is student-centered and future-focused, and because of this, we are making a promise to our transfer students that will dramatically impact their future,” said Johns. “We support a vision of making college affordable, accessible, and even a little more predictable, and we promise to make this a reality for students who transfer to Ferrum College.”
Visit here to learn more about the “Ferrum Promise” and transferring to Ferrum College.
On Monday, November 11, 2019, Ferrum College unveiled its new Craddock Veterans Lounge in Stanley Library on campus. The lounge is specifically designated as a space for veterans on campus, and was made possible by Army veteran and Ferrum College alumnus Greg Craddock ’92 and members of the Craddock family.
“It was a pleasure to unveil the Craddock Veterans Lounge today. My hope is that this lounge provides a place of peace for Ferrum’s veterans on campus to study, relax, and spend time together,” said Greg Craddock.
“We are grateful to the Craddock family for their generosity which has made this veterans lounge possible,” said Ferrum College President David Johns. “As we all know, courage, sacrifice, and selflessness are the qualities of a veteran, and we owe a great deal to those who give so much in defense of freedom. The Craddock Veterans Lounge is one way will be able to honor the heroes who are part of our Ferrum College community.”
A veteran of the U.S. Army, Craddock has over 20 years of experience in special operations, intelligence, and security operations. He was among the first boots on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq. He graduated from Ferrum College in 1992 and holds a master’s degree in business administration from Liberty University. Craddock now serves as the chief executive officer of Patriot Group International (PGI), Inc. Under Craddock’s leadership, PGI earned over $10 million in revenue within two years of operation and was named to Inc. Magazine’s “Fast 500” in 2014. In 2017, PGI was selected as the Government Contractor of the Year in the $25-75 million category.
The Craddock Lounge unveiling followed a special Veterans Day ceremony honoring veterans, soldiers, and reservists, held in Vaughn Chapel on campus. Craddock was the keynote speaker.
See photos from the Craddock Veterans Lounge unveiling and special Veterans Day Program here.
Dr. Dave Wiggins
After more than twenty years former Ferrum College counselor Dave Wiggins has returned to campus, this time in the role of the College’s new dean of Student Success.
Originally from Waynesboro, VA, Wiggins relocated to the area to serve as Ferrum College’s counselor from 1996 to 1997. “It was a great opportunity to work with outstanding people who really cared about the students,” Wiggins remembered.
In 1997, Wiggins left Ferrum College to take a job at Lewis-Gale Hospital in the Employee Assistance Program. He also taught psychology at night as an adjunct professor at Jefferson College of Health Sciences and worked part-time counseling children, teens, and adults, specializing in marital and group counseling.
He accepted a full-time counseling position at Jefferson College of Health Sciences in 1998, and eventually moved into the role of associate dean for Student Services. “I really enjoyed the position, especially working with younger students who came from disadvantaged backgrounds or older students who were returning to college to pursue a position in health care as a second career,” said Wiggins. In 2011, Wiggins returned to his private counseling practice where he worked full-time until arriving at Ferrum College again in August 2019.
Wiggins graduated from Emory and Henry College with a Bachelor of Arts in business. He also earned a Master of Education from James Madison University and a specialist degree in education from the University of Virginia. He received his doctorate degree in counseling from Virginia Tech after completing his dissertation, a clinical study involving students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Wiggins has many layers. He enjoys playing the bass guitar, hiking, restoring old houses, photography, and reading. A favorite companion is Elsa, a German shepherd he rescued about five years ago. “Her hobbies are chasing tennis balls, waking me early in the morning before the sun comes up, being obnoxious, and eating,” said Wiggins.
Now that he’s back at Ferrum College, Wiggins is making plans. “I want to work with administration, faculty, and staff to make a difference for the College community, especially in helping students be successful. I am particularly interested in pursuing opportunities with advising, First and Second Year Experience Programs, and working with athletes,” he explained.
Wiggins is pleased to be on campus again: “The faculty, staff, and administration are very dedicated and caring and provide outstanding services for our students. My door is always open. Please feel free to stop by and visit.”
