In recognition and honor of our nation’s veterans, Ferrum College will host a screening of Keith Lee’s documentary, “Spirit of the Fallen,” from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, November 1. The film will be shown in the Panthers Den in lower Franklin Hall on the College’s campus, with a dessert reception and discussion with Lee to follow. The event is free and open to the public.
Lee premiered his ballet, “The Fallen,” at the Academy of Fine Arts in December 2013. He wanted to honor those who had sacrificed their lives for their country. In 2017, Lee premiered his documentary, “Spirit of the Fallen,” featuring historical clips and original footage of the United States’ five military branches, veterans’ interviews, and a portion of “The Fallen” ballet. “We’re not there to greet the plane,” Lee said. “Not all of us see the number of caskets being unloaded with the American flag on it. We hear about things that are happening in the news…someone has to say something for them. That is the spirit of the fallen.”
“It’s easy to take for granted the freedoms we enjoy in this country and the men and women and families who have sacrificed on our behalf,” said Dr. Lynise Anderson, dean of campus diversity, wellness and student leadership at Ferrum College. “A film like this helps us perhaps not to understand, but to be more understanding. Honoring our veterans and their families in this way is a small but meaningful gesture to say, ‘Thank you for all you’ve done.’ It’s appropriate. It’s necessary. It’s the very least we can do.”
For additional information about the event, please contact the Ferrum College Office of Campus Engagement at 540-365-4451 or email joakes@ferrum.edu.
To learn more about Lee’s film, “Spirit of the Fallen,” please visit here.
In the wake of Hurricane Florence in September and Hurricane Michael in October, which dumped rain and wind on the east coast and caused thousands of dollars of damage, Ferrum College’s Spiritual Life sponsored a clean-up mission during Fall Break, from October 10 – 15. The relief effort, headed by Dean of Chapel and Religious Life Jan Nicholson Angle, included fourteen students and two staff members who provided local clean-up in Rocky Mount, VA on October 10 and 11, in conjunction with the Franklin County Perinatal Education Center. From October 12 – 15, the students and staff members traveled to Fayetteville, NC where they removed debris and damaged drywall from homes, and replaced the roof of a military veteran who, unable to be on the roof, still worked beside the team doing what he could to repair his home. “Something about this experience seems to give me life and hope,” said Ferrum College senior Mark Kellam, who was a member of the relief effort. “I can’t get enough of it.”
“Our students are humble when you ask them about their experience, often stating, ‘It was good,’” said Rev. Dr. Nicholson Angle. “If you engage them further, you will see their faces glow as they begin to share their stories of heartache in seeing the devastation, joy in the physical labor they were able to provide to help families rebuild their homes, and hope they experience as they witness the resilience of these survivors.”
“I went on this trip to give back to the community and to connect with others other than my friends at home,” explained Ferrum College junior Serena Johnson. “It’s a good practice to give back.”
Ferrum College celebrated the inauguration of its twelfth president, David L. Johns, Ph.D., on Friday, October 19 at 10 a.m. in Vaughn Chapel on campus. The ceremony was attended by college and university delegates, educational association representatives, Ferrum College Board of Trustees members, and other honored guests and dignitaries, as well as hundreds of students, faculty, staff, and other community members.
The ceremony began with a welcome from Chair of the Ferrum College Board of Trustees, Phyllis Karavatakis ’76, who acknowledged those who served the institution since its founding in 1913, and those leading the College into its future. Rev. Anna Woofenden, visiting pastor of peace and spirituality of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Mount Vernon, Ohio, offered the invocation which highlighted the spirit of community, noting, “we are not alone in this work.”
Greetings were then offered by Ferrum College’s international students with additional welcoming remarks from other members of the College community including Lawrence Baranski ’19, Student Government Association president; Christine Stinson, Ph.D., chair of Faculty Council and associate professor of accounting; Yvonne Walker ’99, registrar; Ronald Singleton ’70, president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors; Rathin Basu, Ph.D., professor of economics; Aimé Sposato, D.M.A, provost; and Rev. Jan Nicholson Angle, Ph.D., dean of chapel and religious life. Zach Wimmer, financial advisor at Edward Jones Investments and chair of Franklin County Connects, spoke of Franklin County’s community resources, calling the county “one big, small town.”
In an emotional video message, Johns’ longtime friend Joseph Manickam, Ph.D., president of Hesston College, gave practical advice to Johns, urging him to continue to take time to learn, enjoy his wife and family, find support from faculty, staff and the community, and enjoy the blessing of the journey.
President of the Appalachian College Association, Beth Rushing, Ph.D., gave the keynote address that highlighted the value of collaboration for the future of small liberal arts colleges like Ferrum College. “Collaboration requires strong leadership, someone to encourage others to work together, to create the conditions within which collaboration can flourish. David Johns is that kind of leader,” said Rushing, who then pledged, “The Appalachian College Association stands ready to facilitate your work as we work together, in a thoughtful and committed way, to continue the tremendous mission of Ferrum College.”
Johns’ son, Cameron Johns, brought a personal profile of the president, stating that as a child, he “always knew he was loved,” and drawing laughter from the audience as he described how his father would detour family vacations for hours to visit area colleges to learn all he could. Johns’ youngest step-daughter, Madolin Yoshikane, spoke of extending an invitation to play Polly Pockets with her step-father at age 10 in the earliest days of their relationship, which eventually grew to one steeped in late-night philosophical talks about life.
In her introduction of the president, Sposato described Johns as inspirational, decisive, fair-minded, approachable, and a “fearless change-maker.” As Johns rose for installation, he received a standing ovation from the audience. Chair of the Ferrum College Board of Trustees, Phyllis Karavatakis, installed Johns and after presenting the Ferrum College Medallion, placed it around his neck.
During his inaugural address, Johns shared a resounding theme of hope, expansion, and the responsibility to live out Ferrum College’s motto of “Not Self, But Others.” He spoke of having a background similar to that of many Ferrum College students, as he was a first-generation student that required financial aid to attend a small private institution in northwest Ohio. “The kind of education that has the power to transform is the kind that gets its hands dirty, the kind that digs into the challenges of our world, and breaks itself open in the face of human need. That’s what we strive to do here,” Johns said, also highlighting Ferrum College’s intent to offer graduate programs and a nursing program in the near future.
Johns also spoke of the importance of stewarding creation, both environmentally and in community partnership. “In this vision of where we are going as a College, opportunity means much more than seizing those that present themselves. I see our students becoming creators of opportunity; I see them being imaginative, innovative, and entrepreneurial. This region needs the intelligence and commitment our students can bring to it,” said Johns.
In his closing, Johns shared his excitement about the future of Ferrum College. “I am enthusiastic about the future of Ferrum College, and I hope you are too,” he said. “With passion, imagination, hard work, and the grace of God, anything is possible. We have a history we can be proud of, we have a legacy of service to our community which is inspiring. And, we have a future we can all believe in.”
Following Johns’ inauguration, the community celebrated with on-campus festivities hosted by Ferrum College, including the Ferrum Family Festival featuring a homecoming parade, food trucks, children’s activities, and live music by the Twin Creeks Stringband and The Blue Crawdads. The evening concluded with fireworks and s’mores.
Read more about Johns’ inauguration in The Roanoke Times and The Franklin News-Post.
See additional event photographs here.
Lois Evelyn Lindsay Brown
Two “everyday saints” from the local community will be memorialized during the 15th Annual Day of Remembrance and Promise, which will be held on Thurs., Nov. 1, 2018, at 7 p.m. in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room in Franklin Hall at Ferrum College. This year’s event, “Commemorating Community Upstanders,” will remember Lois Evelyn Lindsay Brown and Margaret Smith Buford, both of whom had close ties with Ferrum College faculty and students, and exemplified the spirit of the College motto, “Not Self, But Others.” The evening will include a reception, a traditional candle lighting ceremony, and special remembrances about the two women. The event is free and open to the community.
Following the welcome and candle lighting ceremony, the audience will view video clips highlighting Brown’s role in bringing forth the story of Southbury, Connecticut, where her father helped lead the resistance against a Nazi Bund effort to establish a training camp in that community. “Together with others from Southbury, Lois Brown recounted this story many times, on the Ferrum campus and beyond, demonstrating how essential remembering history is to promoting justice today. Her many contributions to life in Franklin County also showed her deep dedication to being an upstander,” said Dr. Susan Mead, a Ferrum College faculty member organizing the event.
Margaret Smith Buford
In addition, Buford will be remembered as a Franklin County Virginia Master Gardener who gave special attention to Ferrum College’s Holocaust Memorial Garden, located on campus. “The beautification of the Holocaust Memorial Garden was a special labor of love for Margaret Buford, who was one of its most dedicated caretakers.” said Mead.
Those in attendance will be the first to see a new plaque, given by her friends, to be placed in the garden and dedicated to Buford’s role as a community upstander. The program will also include remembrances from fellow Master Gardeners and local environmental activists who worked by her side to enhance and protect the beauty of Franklin County.
For more information, please contact Dr. Mead at smead@ferrum.edu.
Samantha Smith-Herndon
In addition to being named a 2018 Outstanding Young Alumni recipient by Ferrum College in a September 22 ceremony, Samantha Smith-Herndon ’12 has been selected as a Middle Border Forward Fellow and invited to participate in the Leadership Southside program through the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce.
As an October 2018-September 2019 MBF Fellow, Smith-Herndon will participate in “a year-long leadership development program designed to introduce emerging leaders to the opportunities and challenges within the Middle Border region, encourage civic engagement and create a network of grassroots leaders poised to make a change where they live and work,” according to MBF’s website.
Smith-Herndon will also take part in the September 2018-April 2019 Leadership Southside class which will focus on developing leadership skills and strengthening roles of individuals, professionals, and community members. She was one of 18 chosen participants.
A 2012 Ferrum College graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in horticulture, Smith-Herndon is currently employed by The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research as a research associate. She volunteers at Southern Virginia Career Choice Expo where she actively engages more than 4,000 students to career choices in the Southwest Virginia communities. She is a remote pilot-section 107 licensed agriculture drone operator with a passion for UAV technology, horticulture, plant sciences, agriculture and education. Additionally, she spent several summers with Ferrum College’s Water Quality Program as an associate of the Virginia Department of Health’s Marina Education Program, an initiative which seeks to educate recreational boaters regarding the detrimental effects negligent boating practices have on public waterways. She is currently working on her master’s degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, with hopes to continue her studies of conservation practices in Appalachia.
Mark Gignac, executive director of The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research stated, “We proudly congratulate Samantha on her achievements and appreciate the talent, professionalism and passion she brings to her work day in and day out. We benefit tremendously from her leadership of our drone program, which positively impacts precision agriculture as part of our regional economic transformation efforts.”
Read more about Smith-Herndon’s achievements here.
Ferrum College will celebrate the inauguration of its twelfth president, David L. Johns, Ph.D., on Friday, October 19 at 10 a.m. The ceremony will be held in Vaughn Chapel located on the College’s campus. Phyllis Karavatakis ’76, chair of the Ferrum College Board of Trustees, will install Johns. Beth Rushing, president of the Appalachian College Association, will bring the keynote address. The ceremony may be watched streaming live online here.
Johns became president of Ferrum College on January 1, 2018. Prior to arriving at the College, he served as vice president for academic affairs and dean of college at Union College in Kentucky.
To celebrate this historic moment, Ferrum College invites members of the College, community and Ferrum alumni to join in the festivities surrounding the inauguration. These events begin on Thursday evening, October 18, when the College hosts Rev. Anna Woofenden, visiting pastor of peace and spirituality at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Mount Vernon, Ohio, as part of the Rev. Dr. Wasena F. Wright, Jr. ’60 and Mrs. Patricia G. Wright Endowed Lecture Series. She will speak about “Food and Faith: Conversations from the Soil and Around the Table” at 7 p.m. in the Panther’s Den located in lower Franklin Hall on campus. This event is free and open to the public.
Following the inauguration on Friday, October 19, the community is invited to participate in a family-friendly bike tour hosted by Ferrum Outdoors at 1 p.m. Also at 1 p.m., the 27th Annual Corron Classic Panther Open Golf Tournament will commence at Great Oaks Country Club in Floyd. Registration at www.ferrum.edu/homecoming is required for both events.
Community members are also invited to bring a lawn chair and enjoy the following outside events that are free and do not require registration: The Homecoming parade will process down Wiley Drive on campus beginning at 4 p.m., followed by food trucks and children’s activities, plus live music by Twin Creeks Stringband at 5:15 p.m. and The Blue Crawdads at 7 p.m. Fireworks over Adams Lake at 9 p.m. will conclude the evening’s events with s’mores immediately following outside Stanley Library.
Homecoming and Family Weekend festivities will continue on Saturday, October 20, with reunions, tailgating, and a 4 p.m. football game showcasing the Ferrum College Panthers versus the Washington and Lee Generals at W.B. Adams Stadium. Football game tickets are available at the gate for $10 cash only. The weekend festivities will conclude with a 9:30 a.m. worship service at Saint James United Methodist Church in Ferrum on Sunday, October 21.
For more information regarding Dr. Johns’ inauguration, Rev. Woofenden’s presentation, Homecoming events, and to register for events, please visit www.ferrum.edu/homecoming or call the Alumni Office at 540-365-4216.
For more information regarding Dr. Johns’ inauguration, Rev. Woofenden’s presentation, Homecoming events, and to register for events, please click here or call the Alumni Office at 540-365-4216.
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More information about Dr. Johns: Johns graduated from Malone University in Canton, Ohio in 1985, then earned an M.A. in Theology from the Earlham School of Religion, an M.L.S. from Kent State University, and a Ph.D. in Theology from Duquesne University in 1999. He taught at Wilmington College and the Earlham School of Religion; worked as a college chaplain and an academic librarian; lectured at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Puebla, Mexico, the Instituto de Jorge Fox in Ocotepeque, Honduras; and was a scholar-in-residence at the Centro de Estudios Ecuménicos in Mexico City.
Ferrum College will host Rev. Anna Woofenden as part of the Rev. Dr. Wasena F. Wright, Jr. and Mrs. Patricia G. Wright Endowed Lecture Series on October 18 at 7 p.m. in the Panther’s Den on campus. Rev. Woofenden’s presentation, “Food and Faith: Conversations from the Soil and Around the Table,” is free and open to the public.
According to her website, Rev. Woofenden strives to “re-imagine church as an interconnected organism, worshiping, loving, and serving together while transforming a plot of land into a vibrant urban farm and sanctuary.” She is a proponent of the “food and faith movement” with an emphasis on liturgy and entrepreneurial ministry.
Currently of Saratoga Springs, NY, Rev. Woofenden is the founder of The Garden Church and Feed and Be Fed Farm in San Pedro, CA. She is now consulting, teaching, writing, speaking, and coaching across the country and recently began “The Food and Faith Podcast.” She serves as the visiting pastor of peace and spirituality at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Mt. Vernon, OH.
The late Rev. Dr. Wasena F. “Buddy” Wright, Jr. was a 1960 graduate of Ferrum College, a recipient of the College’s highest alumni honor, the Benjamin M. Beckham Medallion, and a member of the College’s Board of Trustees. Rev. Wright served in United Methodist churches throughout the Virginia Conference, including his last pastorate as a senior pastor of Annandale United Methodist Church (UMC). He was Council Director for the Virginia Conference of the UMC until his death in July of 2003. Through gifts from Rev. Wright, his family and many friends, an endowment was created to assist Ferrum College students pursuing church-related vocations in study abroad, and to establish a biannual lecture series to bring prominent theologians, authors and scholars to the campus.
Rev. Woofenden’s lecture comes as a lead-up event to the inauguration of the College’s twelfth president, David L. Johns, Ph.D., which takes place on October 19 at 10 a.m. in Vaughn Chapel on campus. Festivities following the inauguration include food trucks, children’s activities, live music and fireworks. Click here to learn more.
A number of Ferrum College students and faculty participated in the Appalachian College Association Summit that was held in Kingsport, TN at the end of September. Students who presented research included Ledford Scholars Forrest Brown, a senior from Ferrum, VA; Rachael Ellis, a senior from Rocky Mount, VA: and Taylor Darnell, a junior from Rural Hall, NC. In addition, Boone Honors Program member Quentin Montgomery, a senior from Ararat, VA, moderated a roundtable discussion for other honors students from ACA schools.
Ferrum College faculty presenters included Dr. Allison Harl, Dr. Lana Whited, Dr. Nancy Brubaker, Dr. Tim Durham, and Mr. James Cabiness.
Read more details below.
Ledford Scholarship recipient Forrest Brown, a senior from Ferrum, VA, presented his research project, “Aspect and Elevational Diversity Gradients for Appalachian Mountain Forest,” which focused on potential gradients that create unique species in the Appalachian Mountains. Forrest is majoring in environmental science and minoring in biology.
Ledford Scholarship recipient Taylor Darnell, a junior from Rural Hall, NC, presented “The Chemical Arsenal of Fraser Firs,” which showcased research findings of the compositional differences of Fraser firs from tree farms in Virginia and North Carolina, with the intent of comparing and quantifying the values of known terpenes that are insecticidal in nature. This is the second year that Taylor has received a Ledford Scholarship for this research. He is studying chemistry, horticultural science and business management.
Ledford Scholarship recipient Rachael Ellis, a senior from Rocky Mount, VA, presented a research project entitled, “The Effects of Neurofeedback on Working Memory and Attention.” This research studied the effects of electroencephalography (EEG) technology on six first generation students, with findings that suggested that frontal asymmetry neurofeedback could be useful in reducing negative emotion. Rachael is double-majoring in health science and psychology and minoring in chemistry and biology.
Boone Honors Program member Quentin Montgomery, a senior from Ararat, VA, moderated a roundtable discussion for other honors students to discuss program function and brainstorm honors program solutions. Quentin is the chair of Ferrum College’s Honors Advisory Council and is majoring in environmental science and biology, with a minor in chemistry.Ferrum College faculty also participated in the ACA Summit. Associate Professor of English Allison Harl presented research entitled, “What a Small Private College Learned from Assessing Their New Writing Across the Curriculum Initiative.” Professor of English and Director of the Boone Honors Program Lana Whited facilitated “Honors in Appalachia: A Roundtable Conversation.” Nancy Brubaker, assistant professor of animal science and agricultural sciences, and Tim Durham, assistant professor of agronomy and agricultural science, hosted a joint presentation session entitled, “Legacy Pedagogy in Agricultural Education: The Liberal Arts Tradition Informs Experiential Learning.” Executive Director of Academic Resources, James Cabiness, presented on “Integrating the Curricular and Co-Curricular to Enhance Student Success.”
On Monday, October 1, the Blue Ridge Mountain Room at Ferrum College filled with over 200 students, faculty, staff and community members, eager to participate in “Saving Ourselves: A Symposium on the Opioid Crisis,” which featured New York Times Best-Selling author, Beth Macy.
The program, hosted by Martha Haley-Bowling, assistant professor of social work, and Lana Whited, professor of English and director of the Boone Honors Program, began in the afternoon with a continuing education event for regional social workers. The education event featured two parts: “Ethical Lapse and Relapse” and “Virginia’s Behavioral Health System and Opioid Crisis.” Later in the evening, Macy gave insight to the research she completed while writing her newest book, Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America. Following a reading of excerpts from her book, Macy and a diverse panel from the community answered questions and discussed the opioid crisis and its effect.
“We’re estimating that about 270 people attended the event, and the momentum for change was palpable. I’ve seldom seen a larger gathering of our community’s human resources marshaled in one place: the president of Piedmont Community Services, the principal at Benjamin Franklin Middle School, a juvenile court judge, an assistant commissioner from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health, our sheriff, the commonwealth’s attorney, the college president and vice president for academic affairs, representatives from Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital, parents who have lost children to opioid addiction, recovering addicts, mental and behavioral health professionals working every day with addicts in various stages of recovery, and a New York Times Best-Selling author, Beth Macy. Beth is fond of quoting the author James Baldwin: ‘Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed that is not faced.’ The purpose of this event was to confront, full-face, the opioid crisis, to ‘be woke’ to our capacity to initiate change,” said Dr. Whited, following the event.
Dr. Haley-Bowling stated, “It was amazing to see and hear the energy in the room last night as people talked about how the opioid epidemic has affected them personally and professionally. One of the keys for me is where do we go from here? We had an amazing dialogue but we can’t let it stop there. I know I will be looking for avenues to keep this conversation going.”
To see more photos of the event, visit here.
To read more about the event, click here.
Ferrum College will host electric cellist, vocalist, and elephant conservationist Jami Sieber for two campus events during the first week in October. On Thurs., Oct. 4, Sieber will perform a concert in Vaughn Chapel from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. On Fri., Oct. 5, Sieber will highlight her work with Thai elephants at the College’s Natural Sciences and Mathematics Friday Seminar from 1:25 to 2:45 p.m. in Garber Hall #106 on campus. Both events are free and open to the public.
Per her website, Sieber’s music strives to “open the heart, defy the mind, and set the body to dancing.” She has received accolades throughout Europe, Asia and North America for her use of looping devices and electronics not usually associated with the cello. Music Editor Lloyd Barde from “Common Ground Magazine” noted, “In Jami Sieber’s hands, the cello becomes a statement for longing and freedom, for unbridled expression, and a prayer to tenderness that encompasses every emotion.”
In addition to her musical work, for 12 years Sieber has led the “Come Find Your Elephant Self” tour through Northern Thailand, which focuses on the education of elephant preservation in Thailand. During the October 5 seminar, Sieber will relay her experiences of working with Asian elephants, which inspired her CD “Hidden Sky,” and the insight she has received by learning about the relationships between elephants and their caretakers, or mahouts.
Read more about Jami Sieber and her work on her official website at www.jamisieber.com.
Ferrum College Associate Professor of Environmental Science Delia Heck has accepted a three-year appointment to the Episcopal Church Task Force on Care of Creation and Environmental Racism.
The role of the task force is to recommend appropriate changes in federal, state or local law so that effective judicial remedies can be obtained to address governmental decisions with respect to land use, industrial, energy and transportation development, and application of environmental standards. The task force will accomplish this goal by studying disproportionate health or environmental impact on those living closest to the land in subsistence cultures, ethnic minorities or poor communities.
The group is made up of approximately twenty people from across The Episcopal Church which comprises the US, Taiwan, Haiti, Ecuador, Micronesia, Honduras, Columbia, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
“This appointment allows Ferrum College to have a front row seat in discussions about how our faith calls us to respond to issues of environmental justice and creation care in the political, social and economic arenas at the local and national levels. It demonstrates to our students that the journey begun with their Ferrum College education is not limited by our geography or size. Rather, their passions and drive, combined with the opportunities and experiences provided here, empower them to achieve their life’s dreams,” stated Dr. Heck.
This appointment follows Dr. Heck’s five trips to Haiti, the first taking place in June 2017, where she assessed the energy, economic and social justice needs of the country.
Watch Dr. Heck’s September seminar on her experiences in Haiti here. Also, read more about her work in Haiti in The Franklin News-Post article here.
About the photograph: Dr. Heck is meeting with members of St. Simon St. Jude in Duny, Haiti about their need for solar energy and how they might use the energy if a solar energy system was to be installed at the school. She was there with members of their videography team as well as members of the Haitian non-profit Voices & Actions which works to help women in a neighboring village by raising chickens, goats, pigs, and tilapia to sell at wholesale price in order for the women to sell the livestock in the market at retail price. The difference in the prices allows them to earn money to support their families by paying for school fees, food, clothing, etc.
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.
