UpCycled Fashion
Stop by Stanley Library and view the UpCycled Fashion Exhibit of clothing made from repurposed and recycled materials. Sponsored by the English Program
When: April 23-28
Where: Stanley Library
Recycling Raffle
Stop by the table in the Franklin Atrium to enter the raffle. Must bring a piece of recyclable material to enter. Sponsored by REC 450 Special Events class
When: April 23-25
Where: Franklin Hall Atrium
Stanley Library Earth Week Displays
Stanley Library is celebrating Earth Week with an interdisciplinary display of books and DVDs related to conservation and sustainability. Also, check out the display created to highlight the library’s recycling initiatives. Sponsored by the Stanley Library
When: April 23-28
Where: Stanley Library
Waking up With God’s World
Each morning as we move from sleep to our daily activities we re-engage with the created world. This opportunity invites you to begin your day with a reflective sensory experience focused on our earthly home. You can participate as individuals or as groups in this self-guided hands-on reflection, thanksgiving and intercession for the created order. This offering is sponsored by Ferrum College Spiritual Life.
When: Wednesday, April 24; Thursday, April 25; Friday April 26, from 9-11 am
Where: Vaughn Chapel patio (inside if inclement weather)Earth Solutions Poster Exhibit
These posters offer empowering solutions to the major environmental challenges of our time. Sponsored by ECT 357 Applied Interpretation class
When: Tuesday, April 23, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Panther’s Den.
Outdoor Recreation Game Day
Join the students of REC 260 Foundations of Recreation for a fun filled time playing games and celebrating spring.
When: Tuesday, April 23, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Where: Quad in front of Franklin Hall
Green Careers Information Table
Stop by the information table to explore career options within the fields of sustainability, alternative energy technologies, and ecotourism along with variety of other green careers. Sponsored by the Office of Career Services
When: Tuesday, April 23, 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Where: Franklin Hall Atrium
e-Waste: What do you do with all your old electronics? Learn ways to deal with all the e-waste that is generated by individuals, the campus community, and our society. Bring your e-waste for recycling and proper disposal.
When: Tuesday, April 23, 1 – 2 p.m.
Where: Panther’s Den
Henry David Thoreau’s Conservation Legacy
Join Dr. John Kitterman at the Thoreau cabin as he leads a hands-on learning experience about environmental writer Henry David Thoreau.
When: Tuesday, April 23, 2 p.m. to 3:20 p.m.
Where: Thoreau Cabin. Follow the signs from the Burrows-Skeens Tennis Complex picnic shelter trailhead.
Beach Volleyball Tournament
Beach volleyball is back! Ferrum College students have rebuilt the sand volleyball court next to Susannah Wesley Hall. Bring your own ball or check one out at the Y. Sponsored by Ferrum College Intramural progam.
When: Tuesday, April 23, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Sand volleyball court next to Susannah Wesley HallCycling Event and Bike Demo
Mountain Biking is a great way to exercise, have fun and get out with friends. Stop by the quad next to Franklin Hall and try out some of Roanoke Mountain Adventure’s sweet rides. Sponsored by Ferrum Outdoors.
Bike Demo: Wednesday, April 24, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Quad in front of Franklin Hall
Group rides: Wednesday, April 24, 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. (two rides)
Where: Meet at GoodWheel Cycling Center next to YMCA
Earth Flow Yoga
Have fun and connect with Mother Earth through this grounding and exhilarating yoga sequence. Appropriate for all levels. A limited number of mats will be provided (bring your own mat or towel). Sponsored by the Health and Human Performance program.
When: Wednesday, April 24, 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
**Backup date is Friday, April 26, 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Where: Quad in front of Franklin Hall
Before the Flood
Come watch the 2016 documentary on climate change. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, this compelling movie traces the effects of climate change on marginalized populations.
When: Part I: Wednesday, April 24, 1:25 p.m. to 2:20 p.m.
Part II: Friday, April 26, 1:25 p.m. to 2:20 p.m.
Where: Swartz 120
Inquiring Minds-Rants and Raves on Earth Day
Dr. Chris Mayer and a panel of reluctant optimists will deliver five minute talks about Earth Solutions: The Power of One. Healthy refreshments will be served.
When: Wednesday, April 24, 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Where: LEAP Studio, Stanley Library
Community Bonfire
Gather with friends and family around the campfire for an evening of s’mores, lemonade and music. This family-friendly event will take place at the fire ring located in the Ferrum forest on campus. Bring a flashlight or use the one on your phone. Start at the tennis court trailhead and follow the signs to the fun. Sponsored by Delta Chi
When: Wednesday, April 24, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Where: Meet at the fire ring just beyond the Thoreau cabin or at the Burrows-Skeens Tennis Complex picnic shelter and follow the signs.
Night with the Stars
Our blue planet is part of an unfathomable and endless Universe. Using augmented reality software, we will explore the night sky, the constellations and the myths and stories we have created to explain them. Join us to play intergalactic games and enjoy out of this world snacks. Sponsored by the REC 450 Special Events
When: Wednesday, April 24, 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Where: Quad in front of Franklin HallMorning Bird Watching Walk
Join master birder Dr. Todd Frederickson on a bird watching tour of campus. Find out who more about our flying neighbors. Binoculars provided. Sponsored by School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
When: Thursday, April 25, 7:30 am to 8:30 a.m.
Where: Hart International Plaza
Live and Learn – “Earthing” – Get Grounded!
We will discuss the health benefits of Earthing also known as Grounding. Scientific evidence supports the miracles that this simple activity can provide. Come find out what it is and what it can do for you! Be prepared to be barefoot! Sponsored by Student Affairs & Campus Wellness
When: Thursday, April 25, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Where: Panther’s Den, Franklin Hall
Earth Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness meditation grounds you in the present moment. Join Dr. Kevin Reilly in a series of exercises designed to help you focus and reinvigorate yourself.
When: Thursday, April 25, 2:00 p.m. to 3:20 p.m.
Location: Hart International Plaza
Panther Fun Run
Come out for a fun run around campus. Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers. Sponsored by students of REC 450 Special Events Planning class.
When: Thursday, April 25, 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Where: Hank Norton Center
Hammock Relaxation
Sponsored by Ferrum Outdoors
When: Thursday, April 25, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Meet at Burrows-Skeens Tennis Complex picnic shelter
Outdoor Education Workshops
Join the students of REC 361 Outdoor Education class for hands on learning about nature and our local ecosystem.
When: Thursday, April 25, 2:00 p.m. to 3:20 p.m.
Where: Chapman Pond trailhead
RecycleMania
Test your knowledge of waste and recycling issues while playing cornhole, can jam, and other fun games. Sponsored by REC 450 Special Events Planning.
When: Wednesday, April 24, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Where: Quad in front of Franklin HallTree Climbing
Come and climb trees like researchers in the Amazon Rainforest. Using safe professional arborist equipment you will scale to new heights.
When: Friday, April 26, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: Large oak trees in front of Bassett Hall
Butterfly Bonanza
Come fly with us! Celebrate and learn about butterflies and their critical role as pollinators. Fly butterfly kites and plant seeds for flowers they need to live. Each participant will receive a pollinator seed package so that he/she can plant a butterfly garden at home. Sponsored by Environmental Science and Ecotourism Programs
When: Friday, April 26, 4:00 p.m to 6:00 p.m.
Where: Meet at the Quad in front of Franklin HallYoga in the Forest
Spend a relaxing hour of yoga in Ferrum’s forest. Mats will be provided. Bring your own water. Sponsored by Ferrum Outdoors
When: Sunday, April 28, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Where: Meet at the tennis court picnic shelter
The fourth annual Moonshine Heritage Car Show will take place at Ferrum College on Saturday, April 27, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. This unique car show will showcase vehicles that were actual transporters of moonshine or the type of vehicle that was used for the hauling of illegal spirits. Admission is free so bring the family for a day of fun!
There will be plenty of storytelling and bragging about the exploits and history of these special cars and trucks from the actual drivers. After the show, participants will cruise down to Twin Creeks Distillery in Rocky Mount for a moonshine tasting. Also visit the special moonshine souvenir tent with models of stills, mash sticks, and Virginia is for Moonshine Lovers hats, t-shirts, and bumper stickers.
Food will be available onsite from the legendary Bowling’s Hotdogs of Waidsboro.
This event is sponsored by the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum of Ferrum College with the assistance of the Outlaw Cruisers Car Club of Franklin County, VA.
For more information, call the Blue Ridge Institute at 540-365-4416 or email bri@ferrum.edu. To register a car for the car show, please complete a registration form here: https://ferrumcollege.wufoo.com/forms/m17zr5tu1d37fh6/.
To learn more about the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum, visit: https://dev.ferrum.edu/blueridgeinstitute/.
Ferrum College Theatre Arts will present Beth Henley’s Crimes of the Heart April 24 – 26, at 7 p.m., in the Black Box Theatre in Schoolfield Hall on campus. Entrance is free for Ferrum College students and faculty; $5 for non-Ferrum College students; and $10 for adults. Reserve tickets here. This production contains adult language and situations.
Set in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, three sisters, each with unique life circumstances including spinsterhood, a failed career, and the possibility of jail time, await their grandfather’s death in the local hospital. Through hilarious yet touching twists and turns, the sisters escape their pasts and make strides toward their futures. A New York Times review remarked: “While this play overflows with infectious high spirits, it is also, unmistakably, the tale of a very troubled family. Such is Miss Henley’s prodigious talent that she can serve us pain as though it were a piece of cake.”
The play, which won the 1981 Pulitzer Prize and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, has been described by the New York Post as having “heart, wit, and a surprisingly zany passion that must carry all before it…it would certainly be a crime for anyone interested in the theatre not to see this play.”
Learn more about Ferrum College Theatre Arts here.
More about Beth Henley: Henley’s plays have been translated into over ten languages. Broadway productions include Crimes of the Heart and The Wake of Jamey Foster. Off-Broadway productions include: The Miss Firecracker Contest; Am I Blue; The Lucky Spot; The Debutante Ball; Abundance; Impossible Marriage; and Family Week. Her additional works have premiered at the McCarter Theatre and South Coast Repertory Theatre (Ridiculous Fraud); the Geffen Theatre (The Jacksonian, 2012); and Studio Theatre (Laugh, 2015). Awards include: the Pulitzer Prize in Drama and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best American Play (Crimes of the Heart); American Theatre Wing 1998 Award for Distinguished Achievement in Playwriting and Susan Smith Blackburn Finalist (Crimes of the Heart and Ridiculous Fraud); Richard Wright Literary Excellence Award (2000); New York Stage and Film Honoree (2007); and ATHE Career Achievement Award (2010). Henley hails from Jackson, Mississippi; serves as a theatre arts presidential professor at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles; and is a member of The Fellowship of Southern Writers, the Dramatist Guild and the Academy of Arts and Science.
Alumna Alexis Hatcher ’18.
Ferrum College alumna Alexis Hatcher ’18 has received a full tuition scholarship to the competitive Master of Divinity program at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. Originally hailing from Richmond, VA, she was Ferrum College’s 2018 homecoming queen and earned her Bachelor of Arts and Humanities as a religion major and psychology minor from the College this past December. As a current student at Wesley Theological Seminary, she plans to pursue pastoral ministry by earning her Master in Divinity with a focus in the missional ministry program, which helps to advance those serving in leadership positions in entrepreneurship and mission ministry.
“I plan to continue to honor God with my life and spread his legacy wherever I go,” said Hatcher. “My prayers and well wishes will always be with Ferrum. I’m a proud alumna.”
Visit here to learn more about Ferrum College’s religious studies program.
Blue Ridge Institute and Museum Director Roddy Moore, circa 1983.
Arriving just one year after the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum was founded at Ferrum College in 1973, Roddy Moore has been the driving force of the institute, creating events, choosing direction, and collecting relicts. Today, he retires as director, although he plans to stick around to help with current endeavors such as fundraising and the famous Blue Ridge Folklife Festival in October.
“It is impossible to calculate the magnitude of Roddy’s impact on this region,” said President David Johns. “He has helped to preserve the beauty and genius of the folk arts and folk ways of the Blue Ridge and he has introduced us to forgotten treasures that still influence our lives. All of us at Ferrum College are grateful for Roddy’s many contributions throughout his long career here.”
Read more about Moore’s career in this Roanoke Times article.
Members of Ferrum College’s Agriculture Club and Collegiate Young Farmers, with President Johns.
Ferrum College President Johns met with Virginia Western President Sandel about the transfer agreements earlier in March.
Ferrum College and Virginia Western Community College (VWCC) signed agreements of articulation today to facilitate the transfer of students from two VWCC programs to related bachelor’s degree natural science programs at Ferrum College. These include the new VWCC Associate degree in Agriculture, which will transfer to the Ferrum College Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Sciences, with an emphasis in Animal Science, Agribusiness, Agronomy, Horticulture, or Equine Science. Additionally, the long-standing VWCC Western Integrated Environmental Studies program will now transfer to Ferrum College’s Environmental Science and Environmental Studies programs.
“We are proud to partner with Virginia Western Community College and provide a pathway to the bachelor degree for students in agriculture and environmental science. Both of our institutions are committed to preparing women and men who are ready to take the lead in building the future in these important industries,” said Ferrum College President David Johns. “Every student in Ferrum College’s natural sciences programs receives hands on experience in small classes guided by dynamic faculty. Virginia Western students are going to receive a first-class education because of this partnership.”
The agreements stipulate that VWCC will advise students interested in transferring to the Ferrum College Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Science, Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, or Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies degree programs, to enroll in an approved course curriculum to earn an Associate degree in Agriculture or in Integrated Environmental Studies. In turn, Ferrum College guarantees acceptance of VWCC students who successfully earn the Associate degree in Agriculture or Integrated Environmental Studies. In addition, the agreements ensure that Ferrum College will transfer credit for all VWCC Integrated Environmental Studies and Agriculture courses completed successfully with a grade of “C” or above at the 100-200 level, excluding SDV College Skills Courses, even when the student has not completed the related associate degree.
Ferrum College Environmental Sciences Students.
“Ferrum College and Virginia Western Community College have been partnering for many years to offer students a smooth transition to a four-year institution,” said Ferrum College Provost Aimé Sposato. “The two new associate’s degrees from Virginia Western offer students a unique opportunity to further their education by enrolling in Agricultural Science or Environmental Science, which are two of our signature programs at Ferrum College.”
The agreements were signed at Virginia Western during a launch event for its new Agriculture Program, which featured guest speakers and supporters such as Virginia Secretary of Agriculture Bettina Ring and Delegate Terry L. Austin.
Cover photo by Virginia Western Community College.
Mary Carter Bishop, author of “Don’t You Ever: My Mother and Her Secret Son.”
Mary Carter Bishop believed she was an only child all her life. Well into adulthood, while applying for a passport that required a copy of her birth certificate, she discovered her mother’s secret: she was not her mother’s only child. Bishop had a half-brother named Ronnie, the product of her mother’s affair with a married man.
Eventually, Bishop was able to track down her half-brother and was shocked to discover Ronnie’s childhood was vastly different from her own, the effects from which he still suffered. Born out of Bishop’s experience came Don’t You Ever: My Mother and Her Secret Son.
On Monday, April 1, Ferrum College will host Mary Carter Bishop in a panel discussion regarding her experience, her resulting book, and how women’s options have changed since her mother’s unexpected pregnancy in 1935. This free event is open to the public and will take place in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room in Franklin Hall on campus, beginning with book sales at 6:30 p.m. and discussion following at 7 p.m. Additional panelists include Dr. Sharon Stein, professor of psychology; Dr. Allison Harl, associate professor of English; and Leya Deickman, a Ferrum College senior.
Don’t You Ever has received glowing reviews, called “brave and terrific,” by an Atlantic Journal-Constitution reviewer, and described as “lay[ing] bare the cancer of shame and its often devastating results,” by Publisher’s Weekly. Beth Macy, author of Factory Man, Truevine, and Dopesick, stated Bishop’s book is an “open-hearted and unflinching look at a family history that is equal parts love story and requiem for a brother she barely knew. [Bishop] turns her formidable investigative journalism skills inward to unearth long-simmering class and culture divides in bucolic rural Virginia.”
Bishop is a Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist and graduated from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. She was a long-time reporter for The Roanoke Times and won a George Polk Award for her series on pesticide poisonings and fraud by exterminators. Additionally, Bishop was part of the Pulitzer-Prize winning Philadelphia Inquirer team that covered the 1979 nuclear leaks at Three Mile Island, Pa. She lives in Roanoke.
Ferrum, VA, March 27, 2019 — Assistant Professor of Social Work Dr. Martha Haley-Bowling has been selected by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) as part of a national taskforce to develop the Curricular Guide for Substance Use in Social Work Practice, which will become part of the 2015 EPAS Curricular GuideResource Series. The guide will serve as a national resource for social work programs and seeks to describe the knowledge, values, skills, cognitive, and affective processes that comprise each of the nine social work competencies for specialized practice.
Dr. Martha Haley-Bowling
The taskforce, comprised of approximately 100 members, will meet in Alexandria, Virginia in April, and will release the substance use guide prior to the annual CSWE program meeting in October 2019 in Denver, Colorado.
“Working with substance users has been a passion of mine since college,” remarked Haley-Bowling. “In the field of social work, we are seeing families affected by this more and more. This guide will help social work students develop skills needed to provide assistance.”
CSWE is a national association comprised of over 750 accredited bachelor’s and master’s degree social work programs with a mission to ensure the quality of social work education. According to the CSWE website, “CSWE pursues this mission in higher education by setting and maintaining national accreditation standards…by promoting faculty development, by engaging in interprofessional and international collaborations, and by advocating for social work education and research.”
“I am honored and excited to be chosen to be part of this committee,” said Haley-Bowling. “I hope to make Ferrum College proud in this endeavor.”
Read about Ferrum College’s social work program here.
Read more about CSWE here.
Dr. Benjamin Beckham was president of Ferrum Training School from 1913-1934.
Madison Cogle, currently a senior at Washington High School in Jefferson County, West Virginia, will be the first-ever Beckham Presidential Scholarship recipient at Ferrum College.
The new Beckham Presidential Scholarship, named for Dr. Benjamin Beckham, the College’s first president (1913-1934), is awarded to students for their exemplary academic classroom achievements, leadership, and/or community service. Recipients must have a GPA of at least 3.5, with an SAT score of 1080 or higher, or an ACT score of 21 or higher. The scholarship will cover tuition and room and board, and is renewable for an additional three consecutive years.
Currently, Cogle is president of her high school’s Future Farmers of America chapter and vice president of the National Honor Society. She is also a member of Key Club, marching band, concert band, wind ensemble, percussion ensemble, and 4H. Cogle will arrive at Ferrum College in fall 2019 to study animal science. She will be a member of the College’s marching band and plans to eventually become a veterinarian.
“I learned about Ferrum at a local college fair,” explained Cogle. “It was difficult to find colleges there because my major – animal science – is so rare. I planned to come down for a Panther Preview and that day I found out about the scholarship competition.”
Cogle was drawn to Ferrum College “because of its small size but ample opportunity.” She explained, “I learn best with hands-on experiences, so I was very excited about the farm and agricultural center, as well as the study abroad opportunities. After finding out that I had received the scholarship, I felt a strong feeling that God had opened the proper doors for me to be able to attend Ferrum. This scholarship was a true blessing that I feel led me to the school that is best for me.”
Dr. Beckham once wrote to a prospective student in an undated letter, stating, “We have a wonderful school at Ferrum and it will be worth more to you to graduate at Ferrum than it would be to inherit a fortune of thousands.” His belief in Ferrum College’s students continues to live on through incoming freshman Madison Cogle.
Visit here to learn more about scholarships and financial aid at Ferrum College.
More about Dr. Benjamin Beckham: Dr. Beckham founded Ferrum Training School in 1913.Throughout his 22 years of service to the school, he maintained a compassion for students’ needs, particularly financially. In fact, he borrowed money in his and his wife’s names when Ferrum Training School desperately needed funds. In the 1920s, he traveled with glass photographic slides and a projector to showcase the school’s accomplishments; he was a true fundraiser. Dr. Beckham returned to ministry in 1935 but continued to financially support Ferrum Training School for years.
Ferrum College is making final preparations to host the 2019 NCAA Division III Wrestling National Championships, to be held Friday and Saturday, March 8-9, at The Berglund Center in Roanoke, Virginia.
This year marks the first time that the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships have been contested in the Commonwealth of Virginia. One previous NCAA Wrestling Tournament has been held in Virginia, back in 1936 when Washington and Lee University hosted the event as an all-divisions tournament. This is the first time Ferrum College has hosted a national championship in any sport.
Ferrum Coach Nate Yetzer saw three of his wrestlers qualify for this year’s NCAA Tournament with top-three finishes at the Southeast Regional in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Freshman Levi Englman won the 133-pound weight class, junior Mario Vasquez placed second at 141 pounds and senior Blake Rosenbaum was the 174-pound champion. All three will be making their first NCAA appearances.
“Our entire group of guys wrestled so well at the NCAA Southeast Regionals last weekend at Lycomong College, and I couldn’t be more proud of them,” said Head Coach Nate Yetzer. “Levi, Mario and Blake all punched tickets to the NCAA Tournament with semifinal wins, and we had freshman 125-pounder Jalen White come close with a fourth-place finish. We’re looking forward to hosting the championships this close to campus and plan to make it a quality experience for the entire field of competitors. Fans will be treated to a show, NCAA Division III wrestling is so competitive today and we’ll see some exciting action.”
The NCAA Tournament begins Friday morning at 11:00 a.m. with Session I. Session II begins at 6:00 p.m. Friday, and will be preceded by the opening ceremonies at 4:45 p.m. Session III is set to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday morning. Saturday evening, the Parade of All-Americans begins at 6:15 p.m. and will be followed immediately at 7:00 p.m. by the championship finals. Complete Schedule
Visit Ferrum’s championship host site above for information of tickets, schedule and media credentials. Ticket prices are as follows:
A total of 180 wrestlers from six regionals across the country qualified for the NCAA Tournament. In order to qualify, wrestlers must place in the top three at one of six regionals. NCAA Tournament Qualifiers Announcement
On Sunday, March 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ferrum College invites members of the community to enjoy homemade soup and bread served in
handcrafted ceramic bowls during the Empty Bowls event in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room in the College’s Franklin Hall, 215 Ferrum Mountain Road, Ferrum. For $15 (or $10 with a valid student ID), attendees are invited to choose a bowl to fill with soup, enjoy fellowship with others, and take their special “empty bowl” home. Proceeds from this event support the Panther Packs program at Ferrum Elementary School, which sends qualifying children home for the weekend with backpacks stocked with nutritious, non-perishable food.
Students, faculty, professional potters, and other area volunteers made hundreds of unique bowls for this year’s event. In addition, there will be a silent auction featuring original works of art, including paintings, jewelry, quilts and pottery, generously donated by Blue Ridge Potters Guild members and other talented local artists.
“This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Empty Bowls event,” said Nell Fredericksen, local potter and jeweler and co-coordinator of the event. “It is a true partnership between the College and the community, working to provide much needed food to children right here in our own neighborhood. I, along with Josh Manning, Ferrum College ceramics professor and Jake Smith, Ferrum College art professor, would like to express our gratitude to the students that helped make bowls, the group of professional potters that came and helped throw close to 200 bowls, all the artists that have so generously donated to the silent auction, and the sponsorship of the Blue Ridge Potters Guild. This event would not be the success it is each year without so many in our community coming together to make a difference.”
The Empty Bowls event raises over $6,000 each year and is the sole fundraiser for the Panther Packs program. It is designed to educate Ferrum College students about how they can make a positive difference in their communities through service.
To learn more about the Empty Bowls event, please visit here and here.
Ferrum College is a diverse and inclusive community rooted in a faith that gives life, inspires respect, and welcomes all. For this reason, we are disappointed that after many years of study, prayer, and discussion, the General Conference of our sponsoring denomination, The United Methodist Church (UMC), has chosen a path of restriction and exclusion against LGBTQ Christians who wish to be united in marriage or who are called to serve the Church through ordained ministry.
While the global UMC will continue to deliberate this issue in the months to come, we reaffirm Ferrum College’s long-standing commitment to be a place where everyone belongs and where everyone can serve, lead, love, and thrive.
