President David Johns, BRI Co-director Roddy Moore, Provost Aimé Sposato, and BRI Co-director Vaughan Webb attended the VCA event at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond.
The Ferrum College Blue Ridge Institute & Museum (BRI) was recently named a Bedrock Institution by the Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA), which celebrated its 50th Anniversary by honoring people and organizations who have inspired and championed Virginia cultural heritage for over 50 years. One of the 50 for 50 Arts Inspiration Awards, the Bedrock Institution category recognized institutions that have been in existence more than ten years, have demonstrated artistic excellence, and are a significant benefit to their community. BRI Co-directors Roddy Moore and Vaughan Webb accepted the award on Wed., Jan. 31, 2018, during an event recognizing award recipients that was held at the Virginia Museum of Fine Art in Richmond.
“It was exciting to be present to see our BRI receive the much-deserved Bedrock Institutions Award,” said Ferrum College President David Johns, who also attended the event. “Although I am new to the area, I have already heard many across the Commonwealth speak about the BRI’s impact on this region. Its historical focus adds a distinctive element to Ferrum College academic programs. Our museum exhibits, festivals, and outreach programs celebrate the culture and peoples of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I’m proud of our staff and their accomplishments.”
Since 1973, the BRI has documented, interpreted, and presented the folkways of Virginia, especially those of the Piedmont and western parts of the state. The Institute’s focus on the people whose artistry reflects longstanding family and community customs is respected nationwide. The Commonwealth of Virginia designated the BRI the official “State Center for Blue Ridge Folklore” in 1984. Together Moore and Webb have over 80 years experience as folklorists in the region and have long worked to bring audiences face-to-face with authentic regional folk arts and the people who carry on those traditions.
“Folk culture is always changing. It is important to continue to offer fresh outlooks on the traditional arts, as they reveal all of us to be tradition-bearers in an ever-evolving society,” said Moore.
The BRI was chosen as one of the 50 for 50 Arts Inspiration Award winners from an original pool of over 350 nominees by a panel of former Commissioners and arts leaders and confirmed by the full VCA Board.
Irma Smart
President David Johns recently announced a generous gift from Ms. Irma Smart of Axton, VA to initiate a Ferrum College Women’s Golf program. The gift provides start-up funds for the program, training, and other opportunities for student-athletes.
A member of the Ferrum College Board of Trustees since 2015, an avid golfer and member of Forest Park Country Club as well as Chatmoss Country Club in Martinsville, VA, Smart says, “Our golfers travel to tournaments around the country and are ambassadors for the College and the sport. Golf’s unique in that it’s scored individually and as a team, so it builds a sense of personal integrity and responsibility. It’s my pleasure to be able to extend that opportunity and experience to a whole new set of student athletes. And – since golf isn’t a spectator sport, there are fewer opportunities to raise funds for the program. I’m hoping that the publicity surrounding the gift will inspire others to support Ferrum College programs – both athletic and academic.”
Ferrum College currently fields 22 NCAA Division III teams and will move from the USA South to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) for the 2018-2019 school year. The Panthers have sponsored a men’s golf team for almost 50 years into the late 1960s, and had club competition back as far as 1954.
“I’m very proud of the Ferrum College golf program,” says eighth-year head men’s golf coach Adam Crawford, who will also coach the women’s team. “We’ve built a remarkably successful program so I’m excited about adding the women’s team to continue that tradition. Ms. Smart’s donation will allow us to enhance the total experience for students and help us compete for championships. I think the timing is fantastic especially as we transition into the ODAC. I’m deeply appreciative of her willingness to make a difference in the lives of our students and I’m very optimistic about the interest I’ve already received from potential students regarding the program.”
This commitment to student athletes has allowed the College to launch seven new varsity sports in recent years – with women’s golf as the eighth. According to President Johns, “Athletics has always been an important part of a Ferrum College education. Offering successful varsity and club programs brings motivated students to Ferrum from all over the country – and that benefits all of us. Team sports, when combined with a lively academic program, cultivate lasting values of cooperation, respect, and excellence. Adam Crawford and all of our coaches, are teachers and mentors who work tirelessly to help our students succeed, not only for a season, but for a lifetime.”
Guy Beatty
Ferrum College is one four schools, members of the Virginia College Fund (VCF) consortium, to benefit from a $2,700,000 gift from the Guy E. Beatty Revocable Trust. The gift is the largest in the history of the VCF and the funds are designated to assist with scholarships and general support for member institutions, noted Jim Dill, VCF Executive Director. “This is a transformational gift for The VCF. We are grateful to Guy, his widow Betty, and the Beatty family for their long-term generosity and belief in a private college education. Guy was a long time board member and fully believed in our schools and the students they produce.” Mr. Guy E. Beatty passed away in 2013. He was President and CEO for the Beatty Management Company, located in McLean, Virginia. The VCF was one of several beneficiaries of his charitable trust.
Expressing his gratitude for the Beatty gift, Dr. David Johns, Ferrum College president, stated that, “Our students will benefit for years to come from this generous gift. Guy and Betty Beatty lived the Ferrum College motto, ‘Not Self, But Others’ through their deep faith and strong desire to help others. We are grateful for their inspiring gift, and for the VCF who assists us in our work of helping students complete their education.”
Disbursement of the Beatty Trust funds was based on the full-time enrollment figures of each institution with Ferrum College receiving $ 688,572, which will support financial aid for deserving students. In addition to Ferrum College, member schools include Averett University in Danville, Virginia, Bluefield College in Bluefield, Virginia, and Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
The VCF is in its 53rd year of assisting member schools who serve a unique demographic. Recent statistics show that 94% of these students are Virginia residents, 31% are minorities, 20% are among the first generation in their families to attend college, 49% come from low to moderate-income households, and 91% require some type of financial aid in order to pursue their dreams of a higher education. During its history, the VCF has raised over $23,000,000 for its member schools and students.
In recognition of Black History Month, Ferrum College will honor the contributions of African American golfers in the advancement of the game of golf with an event on Mon., Feb. 19, 2018, featuring special guest Albert R. Green, the first African American Class A PGA Professional in the Mid-Atlantic Section of the PGA, and a viewing of the documentary Uneven Fairways. The program will take place from 6 – 9 p.m. in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room on the Ferrum College campus. A reception will follow the documentary screening and Q&A session.
The Uneven Fairways documentary, narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, reveals the little-known stories of African-Americans who were forbidden to play golf at its highest level but refused to accept their exclusion. The documentary celebrates the men and women of the United Golf Association — the “Negro Leagues” of golf — who challenged segregation and paved the way for future stars of the game. While it is a sports documentary, the issues it raises are an important part of American history.
“By detailing the struggles that these African-American players went through and the challenges they overcame, our hope is that their dedication and perseverance will inspire other men and women of all ages and races to take up the sport, or moreover, to have the courage to overcome obstacles and blaze trails in all of their endeavors,” said Dr. Lynise Anderson, dean of student affairs and campus wellness at Ferrum College.
For additional information or to RSVP for the event, please contact the Ferrum College Office of Student Affairs and Campus Wellness at 540-365-5049 or email iterrill@ferrum.edu.
Ferrum College will commemorate and honor the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. next week with The True Black History Museum traveling exhibit celebrating black history and a visit from Free Hugs Project founder Ken Nwadike, Jr.
For Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Mon., Jan. 15, 2018, The True Black History Museum’s exhibit, A Tribute to the African-American Journey, will be on display from 9AM – 2PM in the Panthers Den in Franklin Hall on campus. Over 150 rare and authentic artifacts will be shown, including original documents from historic figures such Frederick Douglass, Mary McLeod Bethune, Booker T. Washington, Rosa Parks, George Washington Carver, Angela Davis, President Barack Obama, and many other great African-Americans. There will also be a lecture and Q&A session at 11:30AM.
Please note: In support of these activities, we will use the Midday Special Program Schedule.
The campus community will continue to celebrate King’s life on Thurs., Jan. 18, with a visit from peace activist, video journalist, and YouTube personality Ken Nwadike, Jr., who will give an address designed to promote peace and unity at 7PM in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room in Franklin Hall on campus. Nwadike is the founder of the Free Hugs Project, which produces motivational videos to spread love, inspire change, and raise awareness of social issues. His Free Hugs videos have reached millions of viewers on Facebook and YouTube. Nwadike also overcame many challenges as a former homeless student athlete and now owns Superhero Events, an event production company that raises funds and awareness for homeless teens.
Both Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration events are free and open to the public. For more information, please contact the Student Leadership & Engagement Office at (540) 365-4441 or slet@ferrum.edu.
Ferrum Ag students Sean Trollinger and Jody Jefferies work in new hydroponic greenhouse facility. Dr. Bob Pohlad photograph.
The facility was funded through a Tobacco Commission grant, with matching funds provided by Ferrum College. The goal of the grant program is to identify profitable, alternative revenue streams for farmers to transition out of tobacco. Off-season lettuce production has the potential to be very lucrative for farmers interested in supplying public schools and other organizations.
Now that the new hydroponic facility is in operation at the Titmus Agricultural Center, Ferrum College Assistant Professor of Agronomy and Agricultural Science Tim Durham will be providing educational programming to farmers in the immediate five county service area to demystify the technology to potential “converts”.
“It’s definitely unconventional. No soil is used. Instead, the facility uses nutrient film technique. As the name implies, a thin film of nutrient rich solution is trickled through channels resembling gutters,” explained Dr. Durham. “Lids on the tops of these channels have small spaces to seat plants. The roots dangle down, where they wick up their liquid feed. It’s like an IV for plants.”
The facility is a centerpiece of the Agriculture Program’s continued effort to develop the Titmus Agricultural Center as a hands-on learning hub, as well as a recruitment and retention tool for students.
After planning, siting, and construction, the first growing cycle began at the start of the Fall 2017 semester. Two Agriculture Program students, Sean Trollinger, a junior studying Agronomy and Agribusiness, and Jody Jefferies, a senior studying Animal Science, volunteered for course credit. They were responsible for seeding, planting, nutrition, and general upkeep – all while gaining real-world experience to add to their resumes.
As part of Ferrum’s “Farm to Table” initiative, the first crop of romaine and bibb lettuce was sold to the campus dining hall. Extra heads were given to faculty and staff, with 200 pounds (along with 600 pounds of field grown cabbage) donated to Stepping Stones Mission in Rocky Mount.
“The goal is for Ferrum College to supply most of its lettuce needs in-house. Since we’re a demo/teaching facility, we’re also considering diversifying with cucumbers and tomatoes. I hope we can serve as a model for other colleges to engage their farmer community, students, and focus on homegrown sustainability,” said Dr. Durham.
See additional photographs here.
Read The Franklin News-Post story by reporter Julissa Hill here.
Watch the WSLS TV10 news story by reporter Erin Brookshier here.
As we celebrate various holiday periods such as Advent, Hanukah, and Christmas, we join millions the world over who gather with families and friends and pray for peace.
We share the gift of presents and presence and focus on the importance of community, and care, and compassion.
At Ferrum College, students, faculty, staff, alumni and Franklin County residents recently hosted multiple events on campus and in Rocky Mount – all of them emphasizing the beauty of our area, our wonderful people who live and work here, and the community spirit we share.
Sharing the photos from this time will let you see and hear the joy, and let you feel the hope we have in our faith, family and friends at Ferrum College!
Over 100 donors supported Ferrum College with $26,466 in gifts during #GivingTuesday 2017, held this year on November 28.“We are thrilled at the Ferrum College response to Giving Tuesday. Alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends, joined the greater community in kicking off the charitable giving season and giving back to a non-profit they support. Ferrum is grateful for the loyal and dedicated support of our generous donors,” said Vice President for Institutional Advancement George Seals.
#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. #GivingTuesday is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (in the US) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday to begin the holiday giving season and inspire people to collaborate in improving their local communities and to give back in impactful ways.
If you would like to make a year-end gift to Ferrum College, please make your donation on or before December 31, 2017, at giving.ferrum.edu or by contacting the Institutional Advancement office at (540) 365-4221.
A Message from Interim President Jennifer L. Braaten
“As the fall semester comes to a close and another fall turns to winter I’m reminded that Dorothy from Wizard of Oz said it best, ‘There is no place like home!’
It has been a pleasure coming home and working with the Ferrum Family the last six months. Although enjoying retirement and my time in Arizona, when I was asked by the Board of Trustees to assist them in a time of Presidential transition I could not say no. It was a request to “give back” and care for a place that I love. When I arrived this summer there were many tasks that needed to be accomplished and it seemed like a long, uphill climb. We have worked across department lines and are on a path to healing and progress.
Ferrum College is in good hands now. We have welcomed many new faces to the family including coaches, faculty, staff and senior leadership positions of president-elect Dr. David Johns, provost Dr. Aime Sposato, and Vice President for Enrollment Management, Mr. James Pennix. They all have started making their mark on Ferrum and leading it in the right direction. I am confident the campus community will continue to work together along with the new leadership team and that Ferrum will not only survive, but thrive.
I’m proud of what we have achieved in this short but busy time – and have highlighted a few big accomplishments. The Admissions team has increased applications by 66% from last year. Criminal Justice students and professor competed and brought home awards from the American Criminal Justice Academy Region 4 conference. Three students were awarded grants from Virginia Academy of Science for proposed research projects this fall. Dr. Tim Durham was named the 2017 Science Policy Fellow from Entomological Society of America. The Roanoke chapter of the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants awarded Nashiem Bryant ’18 top honor at their 2017 Student Night. Ferrum College was awarded entry into the Old Dominion Athletic Conference and had many student athletes win top awards in their sport; including but not limited to Damian Beasley ’19 with the 2017 Virginia State Intercollegiate Golf title, Keith Ricks ’18 and Graham Holley ’19 with All-Conference men’s soccer, Alex Mattson ’20 first team All-East women’s soccer, Zarkia Mattox ’19 with Preseason All-American, and Brian Mann ’20 and Montel Lee ’19 were selected as USA South Conference Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the year, respectively, for football. Our Golden Panthers, and other alumni, have been engaged and meeting on a regular basis. We’ve increased the endowment $600,000 this year including one named endowment for the late Mrs. Lucy Norton.
It is my wish for Ferrum to continue on the path to success. We as the Ferrum Family – faculty, staff, coaches, students, alumni, parents and friends – need to come together and support the institution that we know and love. I call upon all the members of our “household” to join me in helping Ferrum move ahead on a strong fiscal foundation in the coming year. You can make a donation at giving.ferrum.edu or by contacting the Institutional Advancement office at (540) 365-4221. Giving Tuesday, the global social media movement will be on November 28th. Please remember Ferrum during this time and support our students, faculty and programs. We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without the support from faithful and loyal supporters like you.
Thank you for another wonderful six months at Ferrum College. I look forward to hearing all the new and exciting things that will come from Ferrum in the future.”
John Spataro photograph.
Ferrum College’s annual Christmas Concert will be held on Sat., Dec. 2, 2017 at 7 p.m. in Vaughn Chapel on campus. This year’s Christmas Concert will feature the talents of students in various music ensembles including the Concert Choir, the Collegiates, and the Handbell Choir. A musical welcome to the Christmas season, the evening will take listeners on a musical journey from the “Sounds of Wonder,” to the “Sounds of Fun,” to the “Sounds of Hope” and finally, to “The Reason for the Season.”
The program is free and open to the community. Donations of non-perishable food items for the St. James Food Bank will be welcomed.
Board of Trustees Chair Phyllis Q. Karavatakis ’76 announced today that Dr. David Johns has been appointed the twelfth president of Ferrum College. Johns currently serves as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Union College, a private, United Methodist affiliated, liberal arts institution in Barbourville, Kentucky. He will assume his new role as president of Ferrum College on January 1, 2018.
Johns was the top candidate in a field of semi-finalists with experience and expertise in the roles of either president, provost, or vice president at comparable higher education institutions. The search committee consisted of Ms. Karavatakis, as the chair, along with Ferrum College trustees, alumni, faculty, student, and staff representatives who had not served on prior selection committees. In September, members began the review of applications from a deep field of qualified higher education administrators. Using professional search protocol, members then narrowed the field and conducted off-campus interviews with several semi-finalists. The committee brought their unanimous recommendation to the full Board of Trustees for their consideration and final selection.
According to Ms. Karavatakis, “Of all the candidates, Dr. Johns was deemed the best fit for president of Ferrum College. During his tenure at a Methodist-related institution, Dr. Johns taught and advised a student population comparable to that found at Ferrum College in a region similar to southwest Virginia. His sense of mission, his background as a vice president for academic affairs, and his experience as a faculty member, a Southern Association of Colleges & Schools (SACS) reviewer, a college chaplain, and a college librarian allow him to understand the complexity of higher education in the 21st century.”
Johns grew up near Canton, Ohio and was the first in his family to attend college. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Malone University in 1985, his Master of Arts from Earlham School of Religion in 1989, a Master of Library Science from Kent State University in 1993, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Theology from Duquesne University in 1999.
Upon his selection as the next Ferrum College president, Johns said, “I am honored to join the Ferrum community at a time of great opportunity and promise. The College’s history of service to the region is inspiring. I believe college should be a place where we are challenged to grow, to think, and to figure out how we can contribute to healing the world. This is in Ferrum’s DNA and Susan and I are eager to work with the entire Ferrum community to ensure this continues for generations to come.”
Johns is also a peer accreditation reviewer with the SACS Commission on Colleges, the Chair of the Faculty Research Fellowship Committee with the Appalachian College Association, and is active with the Chief Academic Officers group of the Association for Independent Kentucky Colleges & Universities.
Ferrum College Theatre Arts & Alpha Psi Omega will present It Can’t Happen Here, a play by Tony Taccone & Bennett S. Cohen based on the novel by Sinclair Lewis Nov. 1 – 3, at 7 PM, and Nov. 4 at 2 PM, in Sale Theatre in Schoolfield Hall on campus. Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for non-Ferrum students and seniors and are available to purchase at www.eventbright.com or by emailing theatre@ferrum.edu. Ferrum College students, faculty and staff will receive free admission by showing their current Ferrum College I.D. at the door.
Commissioned and originally produced by Berkeley Repertory Theatre in September 2016, It Can’t Happen Here is a cautionary dark satire about the fragility of democracy and how fascism can take hold even in the land of liberty that follows the ascent of a demagogue who becomes president of the United States by promising to return the country to greatness. Witnessing the new president’s tyranny from the sidelines is a liberal, middle-class newspaper editor from Vermont who trusts the system will fix itself—until he ends up in a prison camp. Sinclair Lewis’ eerily prescient 1935 novel gets a fresh update in this adaptation that examines what brings a citizenry to the point of sacrificing its own freedom and how a courageous few can prevail to overcome the fall. (http://www.dramatists.com)
***This play contains strong adult language, material and violence and is not intended for children.***
Now in its 44th year, the festival brings together traditional musicians, craftspeople, cooks, antique tractor and engine buffs, car builders, horse and mule teamsters, dog handlers, moonshiners, tale tellers, slingshot masters, and much more. The New York Times has called the festival “thoroughly authentic.”
Special this year at the Blue Ridge Folklife are four music showcase workshops exploring the diversity of the region’s musical heritage. “A Buffet of Banjo Styles” will highlight various playing styles heard in central and western Virginia. “Songs I Learned at Home” will follow the family roots of area ballad singers. “The Music of the Legendary Carter Family Lives On” presents the artistry of A. P. Carter’s grandson and his longtime friend. “African American Gospel in the Blue Ridge” presents four distinctive styles of black voices in praise.
Other Blue Ridge Folklife Festival highlights include:
Held rain or shine, the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival is a one-of-a-kind event and a full day of family entertainment.
Priced with the family in mind, admission is: Adults–$10; Youth (6-15)–$5; and Senior Citizens (60 and over)–$5. Advance tickets can be purchased by check or credit card at 540-365-4412. Parking is free.
For more information visit www.blueridgefolklifefestival.org, email bri@ferrum.edu, or call 540-365-4412.
