8/13/2021
In celebration of a new semester, Ferrum College is inviting its campus community to an All-Campus Welcome on Monday, August 16. The day’s events, which will be hybrid in nature, will be devoted to getting to know campus members, building community, and connecting with each other.
A link will be provided to the campus community to watch a virtual welcome video prior to returning to campus and participating in the All-Campus Welcome. The video will provide updates about new faces on campus, major projects on the horizon or in the works, and some fun news from each department.
Director of Student Activities Justin Muse ’05 will also host two virtual Kahoot! trivia sessions, with prizes, at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Login instructions will be emailed on Monday morning.
The day will close with a 1 p.m. ice cream social in the Panther’s Den on campus. Everyone must follow Ferrum College’s physical distancing protocols and wear masks while inside (except when eating) regardless of vaccination status. The patio will be open for those who wish to be outdoors.
8/12/2021
Students, faculty, staff, and alumni are now able to swipe a new Ferrum College branded bank card, brought to them by Carter Bank & Trust.
The bank has partnered with Varsity Financial Services to bring free online and mobile banking, free bill pay, and free peer-to-peer payments to local colleges and universities. Through this partnership, Ferrum’s campus community can enroll and receive a free Ferrum College branded debit card. The College will also enjoy ongoing revenue to support its teaching priorities.
“Our partnership with Carter Bank & Trust and Varsity Financial Services will provide a necessary service to our students and community, while also benefitting Ferrum College,” said Vice President for Institutional Advancement and External Relations Wilson Paine ’07. “This is a great way to show your Panther pride.”
Learn more about Varsity Financial Services here.
8/11/2021
Ferrum College’s Blue Ridge Institute and Museum (BRIM) has announced the return of the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival on October 23, 2021 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The event will happen on the Ferrum College campus, rain or shine.
New to this year’s festival, the BRIM is offering a $5 discount for every festival ticket pre-sold online. Purchase tickets online here. If bought in-person on the day of the festival, tickets are $15 each.
With food, music, and crafts, and events like horse pulls, mule jumps, and coon dog races, the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival has been called “thoroughly authentic” by the New York Times. It’s also a major venue on the Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail. See photos from 2019’s Folklife Festival here.
The BRIM also invites patrons to become “Friends of the BRIM.” Members get exclusive benefits like free tickets to the Folklife Festival, free admission to the Farm Museum, discounts on workshops and gift shop items, and more. Click here to become a member.
8/11/2021
After a chaotic 2020-21 season, Ferrum College’s sports competitions will resume this fall. Panther football opens at home with a 6 p.m. game against Averett University on September 4. Head Coach Cleive Adams ’02 will instruct the Panthers against Averett’s Cougars, a team he coached for six years prior to his 2020 arrival at Ferrum College.
Additionally, the College is inviting Panther fans to become members of the Panther Club, which has supported Ferrum athletes for over 50 years. Memberships provide Ferrum’s 27 varsity athletic programs with leadership development, advanced technology for game streaming, and upgrades to athletic areas. Panther Club members will also receive exclusive benefits, including reserved parking at games, access to the President’s Suite, free decals, and more. Click here to learn more and join the Panther Club.
“Last season was unique in many ways,” wrote Director of Athletics John Sutyak, in an email about the Panther Club. “In the end, all of our student-athletes had the opportunity to compete in meaningful games. We [sent] our men’s and women’s wrestlers to their respective national championships, resulting in one all-America honoree. Additionally, we had three academic all-American student-athletes, three ODAC Scholar Athletes of the Year honorees in their respective sports, and 190 student-athletes were named academic all-ODAC, the fifth most in the conference.”
Check out the Panthers’ fall football schedule here.
Cross country begins with the Virginia Tech Invitational in Blacksburg on September 1. The 2021 cross country schedule is here.
Men’s soccer starts with a home game against Pikeville on August 22. Here’s the fall schedule.
Women’s soccer will begin its season away against Lynchburg on August 25. The fall 2021 schedule is here.
The equestrian program is gearing up for the University of Virginia IHSA Show in Charlottesville on October 9. The 2021-22 schedule is here.
The field hockey team is poised to go up against Lincoln Memorial in a home opener on August 28. Check out the 2021 field hockey schedule here.
Women’s volleyball begins the season with a home game against Patrick Henry on August 28. The fall schedule is here.
Visit the Ferrum College Athletics website for more fall 2021 sports information.
8/6/2021
Panther Family:
I hope you are as excited as I am for a new year of connection, growth, and community. There are great opportunities for us in the months ahead, and I am eager to get underway.
As we navigate through this pandemic, it’s more important than ever that we work together to follow the guidelines I am sharing with you today. Many of these guidelines are familiar to us by now, and exercising them together with civility and grace will benefit us all as we continue to live with our new normal.
We are stronger together.
We are ready to welcome the entire Ferrum College family back to campus for the 2021-22 academic year — students, faculty, and staff. We’ll have some challenges along with our opportunities, to be sure, but as we have seen time and again, when we work together as one, we triumph as one.
Last year, our hard work and determination paid off. Together, we kept each other safe and healthy, and we upheld our motto: not self, but others. I am proud of how well we did last year, and while the world is making progress, we are not wholly through this pandemic. I wish we were, but we are not. Thus, we will need to continue caring for each other, so we can continue spending time together.
EFFECTIVE MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2021
Vaccines
At this time, Ferrum College strongly encourages all members of our campus community to get vaccinated. We will host a vaccination clinic on campus soon, and urge all students, faculty, and staff (who are able) to get vaccinated. You can also find a vaccination location near you here. Vaccinations are available at no cost to you and they are our best defense in stopping the spread of this virus and getting back to normal.
Testing
If you aren’t feeling well, get tested for COVID-19 at a pharmacy or health care provider’s office. If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please refrain from participating in campus activities and get tested. Find a testing location near you here. In the future, additional testing may be required.
Face Coverings
As COVID-19 variants are now impacting both vaccinated and unvaccinated people: all students, employees, and visitors must wear face coverings while indoors at this time – regardless of vaccination status. Face coverings are strongly recommended outdoors when social distancing is not feasible or realistic.
We will communicate adjustments regarding face coverings if they change; we are hopeful vaccinated students and employees will not need to wear face coverings in the near future.
Self-Monitoring
Continue to monitor yourself for symptoms of COVID-19. If you notice symptoms, find a testing site near you right away and get tested. Students contact the Office of Student Life and Engagement. Employees contact Human Resources.
Classes and Campus Life
Most classes at Ferrum have returned to in-person instruction with some protocols from our previous semesters remaining in effect for the Fall. Some classes will be offered online or in a hybrid format. Reasonable accommodations will be available for those who cannot attend in-person due to quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19.
Key protocols: Face coverings while indoors and continued practice of social distancing. Face coverings are strongly recommended outdoors when social distancing is not feasible or realistic.
The Dining Hall will be open for indoor dining and takeout options will be available. Dining Services employees and diners will need to follow College protocols regarding face coverings when not eating or drinking.
Events, Visitors, and Athletics
Everyone will be required to wear face coverings during indoor events. For outdoor events where social distancing is not possible, face coverings will be strongly encouraged.
Ferrum College welcomes prospective students and their families, alumni, friends of the college, and vendors to campus. Face coverings are mandatory for all visitors while indoors and are strongly recommended outdoors if social distancing is not possible.
All Ferrum Athletics teams will be competing as scheduled, and student-athletes and athletic staff will follow conference guidance. Currently, spectators are permitted to attend games and must follow Ferrum College’s visitor protocols.
Continued Monitoring
Ferrum College will continue to monitor and adjust protocols based on campus and regional COVID-19 activity, as well as recommendations from the CDC, local department of health, and the Governor’s Office.
I want to thank you all in advance for your help with these guidelines.
We all want to return to normal as quickly as possible, and we are nearly there — in person classes, athletics, campus events and activities; it is awesome to be back together! Let’s work together to squash this virus and maintain a campus environment that is safe and healthy for the entire Panther family. I strongly encourage all faculty, staff, and students to be vaccinated to help us avoid additional restrictions. We are always stronger together, and I am looking forward to a dynamic and rewarding academic year.
Sincerely,
David L. Johns, Ph.D.
President
Learn more about Ferrum College’s plans for fall semester 2021 by visiting www.ferrum.edu/stronger-together.
8/7/2021
Laura Robinson
Ferrum College is pleased to announce that Laura Robinson has been named campus minister. She will officially join the Ferrum College family on August 9, 2021.
“I’m looking forward to talking to students, getting their ideas, and implementing them to make Student Ministry a program that reaches Ferrum students where they are,” said Robinson.
In 2016, Robinson began assistant teaching New Testament courses at Duke University. She served as the head teaching assistant for Duke Divinity’s New Testament survey course, and then transitioned to teaching her own class in 2019. She is a 2015 James B. Duke Fellowship recipient, and has extensive experience in audio and video production with co-hosting her own podcast, “New Testament Review.”
A native of Zionsville, IN, Robinson received her Bachelor of Arts in English and religious studies from Indiana University in 2011, and her Master of Arts degrees in biblical exegesis (2013) and systematic theology (2014) from Wheaton College in IL. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in religious studies at Duke University.
“[Laura] is a young, dynamic, experienced, and energetic pastor who will bring so much to our college community,” said Dean of Student Success Dave Wiggins, who chaired the search committee for Ferrum’s campus minister. “We are very fortunate.”
Robinson is looking forward to getting started. “My hope for the Student Ministry program is to make it a program that is centered on students and directed by them,” she said. “Some of my current ideas include prayer walks in the woods, craft sessions, book discussions, and movie nights. These are really powerful ways students can think about spirituality and connect with God.”
Learn more about Spiritual Life at Ferrum College by visiting here.
7/11/2021
Homeschoolers’ Day Camp, 2017.
The Blue Ridge Institute and Museum (BRIM) of Ferrum College is pleased to announce a new membership initiative, called “Friends of the BRIM.”
“This is our first ever membership campaign,” said BRIM Director Bethany Worley. “These membership opportunities are an exciting part of the BRIM’s future. This is a great way for us to share what we do—which is documenting the rich cultural heritage of the Blue Ridge region and bringing it to life for all generations. We look forward to connecting with our special ‘Friends of the BRIM’ and offering unique opportunities just for them.”
The initiative encompasses four membership packages with various perks:
Moonshiner Membership is $30 per year ($25 for senior citizens) and includes free admission to the Blue Ridge Farm Museum for the year along with two single-use guest passes, discounts on workshops and gift shop items, access to exhibit previews and members-only events, and more.
Homestead Membership may be purchased for $60 per year and includes free admission to the Farm Museum for two adults and two children, four single-use guest passes, discounts on workshops and gift shop items, access to exhibit previews and members-only events, and more.
Folklorist Membership is $150 per year and includes the same perks as the Moonshiner and Homestead tiers, with additional discounts on workshops and gift shop items, an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour, two free tickets to the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival, and more.
Mountaineer Membership is the highest tier and costs $500 per year. These members will receive free admission to the farm museum for four visitors, four single-use guest passes, discounts on workshops and gift shop items, a behind-the-scenes tour for up to eight people, access to exhibit previews and members-only events, four free Folklife Festival tickets, Folklife Festival t-shits, and an exclusive parking pass for the Festival.
“Friends of the BRIM” memberships will become available for purchase on July 13, 2021 and beyond, on the BRIM’s online gift shop site. Click here to visit and become a member.
Additionally, the BRIM is offering a $5 discount to those who purchase tickets for this year’s Folklife Festival, scheduled for October 23, through its online gift shop site. Tickets will go on sale online on July 16, 2021. Click here to buy them. More information about this year’s Festival will be available soon!
Learn more about the BRIM here.
7/9/2021
Photo by Stephen “West” Nuttycombe, Jr. ’18
Ferrum College raised over $2.5 million this fiscal year (July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021), surpassing last year’s total by more than $600,000. In addition to the increase in overall fundraising, the College is also celebrating an uptick in its Arthur Society members, its leadership giving society for individuals and businesses who contribute over $1,000 annually. Read more about Ferrum’s giving societies here.
For the second consecutive year, Ferrum experienced record-breaking fundraising for athletics by raising over $128,000. This comes on the heels of the recent announcement of the Black Hats football endowment that will provide ongoing support for the Ferrum College football program.
With over 1,000 donations (a 10 percent increase from last year’s giving), the Ferrum Fund raised more than $385,000 in unrestricted dollars, which will be used to develop new academic programs programs, support scholarships, provide student research opportunities, and more.
In addition to athletics and the Ferrum Fund, the College raised more than $500,000 for scholarships and over $560,000 (including the endowment) for the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum.
“Our College faced unusual and uncertain circumstances during the 2020-21 academic year,” said President David Johns. “This year’s success can be attributed to individuals who were encouraged by Ferrum’s response to COVID-19, our unwavering commitment to our students, and to our vision for the future. We are grateful for the support shown to our students and campus community.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, College officials were unable to visit constituents for most of the 2020-21 academic year. Ferrum was also forced to cancel Homecoming and other alumni events. To combat these challenges and keep constituents engaged, the College launched a series of mini-campaigns that began last August with a mask campaign in which supporters could make a contribution in exchange for receiving a Ferrum College face mask. The mini-campaigns also included the College’s Giving Day that raised over $100,000, the virtual sell out of Adams Stadium to support athletic teams, and culminated with the “It’s the People” campaign that encouraged folks to make a gift in honor or memory of an individual who played an important role in their own Ferrum journey.
“We appreciate the alumni and friends of Ferrum College who have increased their giving or gave for the first time during the pandemic,” said Ferrum College Board of Trustees Chair Scott Showalter ’73. “I encourage others to do the same to help future students realize their dreams.”
Make a gift and learn more about what your gift supports by visiting here.
7/8/2021
Ferrum alumni enjoyed a Washington Nationals game (2018).
After more than a year of solitude due to COVID-19, Ferrum College alumni are now able to safely gather and reconnect per updated CDC guidance for fully vaccinated individuals.
“Ferrum alums are ready to get back together,” said Director of Alumni and Family Programs Tracy Holley. “We’ve all missed each other and are excited to put into action the plans we’ve been making over the last year.”
A list of upcoming alumni events follows. Some details are not finalized yet. Holley reminds everyone to continue watching the Alumni and Alumni Association Facebook pages for updates.
Additionally, the College is pleased to introduce a Build Your Own Event (B.Y.O.E.) option, in which alums are invited to create their own events, and Alumni and Family Programs will help spread the word. “We want to get reconnected with each other and our community,” explained Holley. Interested participants should email Holley at alumni@ferrum.edu to get started.
Upcoming Alumni Events:
July 15, noon: Alumni Lunch at Mac & Bob’s, Salem
July 15, 7:00 PM: Salem Red Sox Game
July 27, noon: Alumni Lunch at Golden Leaf Bistro, Danville
July 27, 6:30 PM: Greensboro Grasshoppers Game
July 21 – 25, all day: FloydFest21~Odyssey
July 30 – 31, all day: Float Trip down James River
August 12, 7:00 PM: Alumni Virtual Wine Tasting with Beliveau
August 19, noon: Alumni Lunch at P.F. Chang’s, 9212 Stony Point Pkwy, in Richmond
August 19, 6:00 PM: Alumni Event at Topgolf, Richmond
September 17: Alumni Event in Hampton (more details to come)
September 18, 4:00 PM: CNU Tailgate & Game
October 8: Alumni Event in Bridgewater Area (more details to come)
October 15, 5:00 – 8:00 PM: Alumni Kick-Off at 202 Social House, Roanoke
October 16, 8:30 AM: Homecoming & ABOD Meeting
October 16, 11:00 AM: Golden Panthers Induction
October 23, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Blue Ridge Folklife Festival
October 30, 11:00 AM: Alumni Awards and Sports Hall of Fame
7/8/2021
Ferrum College is pleased to announce that its campus is once again open to the public. This reopening comes after the May 2021 guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which updated COVID-19 safety protocols for vaccinated individuals.
While the College is not requiring students, faculty, or staff to receive the vaccination at this time, President David Johns said that the institution is strongly encouraging it. Ferrum has joined the White House COVID-19 College Vaccination Challenge which seeks to vaccinate as many young adults as possible prior to them returning to campus for fall classes. This means that Ferrum has committed to taking the following action against the virus: engaging every student, faculty, and staff member by providing resources to get vaccinated; organizing its college community by implementing a vaccination plan; and delivering vaccine access for all.
“We will definitely host at least one flu and COVID-19 vaccination clinic on campus, ideally in early September, where students, faculty, staff, and the community can get either or both vaccinations,” explained Dean of Student Life and Pandemic Coordinator Nicole Lenez. “Or if it is easier for a community member to get vaccinated elsewhere, we’ll help them find a clinic. All they need to do is reach out to our Student Life office by calling (540) 365-4461 or emailing studentlife@ferrum.edu.”
More information about upcoming vaccination clinics will be available in the near future.
Additionally, the College is preparing for fall courses to begin on August 23. The semester will offer 14-week courses as well as two seven-week sessions, with all courses ending on November 23 prior to the Thanksgiving holiday break. The majority of courses will be delivered in the classroom (face-to-face) or through a hybrid method (50 percent virtual, 50 percent in-person). Ferrum faculty have completed an intensive online teaching certification to provide high-quality instruction both in the classroom and online.
On campus, physical distancing will be encouraged and sanitizing protocols will be maintained, including twice-daily disinfection of high-touch areas like light switches, bathrooms, and door handles. The College will not require masks indoors for individuals who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Likewise, masks will not be mandated for anyone attending outdoor events unless three feet of distance cannot be maintained.
Athletics will return to normal competition this fall, with Panther football taking on Averett University on Ferrum’s campus on September 4 at 6 p.m. For more updates, check the official Ferrum College athletic website.
“The pandemic’s most pernicious work has been to separate us, keeping us from many of the things and people we enjoy,” wrote Johns in a campus-wide email. “What we learned so well over this past year will help us as we prepare for the year ahead: we are always stronger together.”
View Ferrum College’s plan for the 2021-22 academic year, and sign up to receive news and updates, on the Stronger Together website.
Learn more about the White House COVID-19 College Vaccination Challenge by visiting here.
7/7/2021
The following article was written by Director of Academic Outreach and Athletics Initiatives Tom Steele, who also directs the Ferrum Foundations program.
A group of Ferrum Foundations students.
Having a strong academic foundation is a cornerstone of success in college. The Ferrum Foundations program provides academic strategies that will ensure success at Ferrum College and beyond. Many first-year students come to college without the mindset and skill set required to transition from high school academics to the demands of the college-level classroom. Foundations helps bridge this academic gap. During the program, students learn academic strategies from successful upperclassmen, Ferrum professors, and staff members. The goal of Foundations is to make the transition to college life and academics less daunting.
Ferrum Foundations is a two-day experience. This year, students will arrive on August 16, 2021 to begin the program, which will take place August 17 and 18. Students will learn about developing relationships with professors and advisors, where to find academic success resources on campus, and how to employ strategies to reach their scholarly potential. The program is fast-paced, filled with useful information, and offers fun evening opportunities to round out the experience.
Rising senior Chelsea Zizzi ’22 participated in Foundations as a freshman and served as a peer mentor as a sophomore at Ferrum College. Chelsea shared, “I met some of my best friends through the Foundations program, who have been able to help me in both the academic world and the social world.” Making connections and developing success strategies are the focus of this two-day head start on success.
To learn more and to register for Ferrum Foundations, visit this webpage, which includes information about the program and an online application. For additional information, contact Tom Steele at tsteele@ferrum.edu.
7/2/2021
Dr. Vanden Eykel visited Rome for research in 2019.
Associate Professor of Religion Eric Vanden Eykel has been appointed the Forrest S. Williams Teaching Chair in Humanities at Ferrum College. This endowed teaching chair designation is given to a tenured faculty member who has demonstrated excellence in teaching and scholarly work, and who is committed to scholarly research within the Humanities.
“I was thrilled to receive news of this appointment, and it’s a real honor to be recognized in this way for my scholarship and teaching,” said Vanden Eykel. His appointment letter describes him as generous and supportive of Ferrum College students and his colleagues.
The Williams Teaching Chair is a two-year appointment with the possibility of extension for another one- or two-year term. While serving, Vanden Eykel will conduct research to support two book projects, one which he is authoring himself about the Magi in the Gospel of Matthew, and another that he is co-editing with a colleague from Wingate University, Dr. Christy Cobb, which encompasses a collection of essays on sexual violence in early Christian literature. His research will also include travel during his upcoming 2022 spring sabbatical, but those details are not final yet.
“I’m hoping to take a few trips and explore opportunities for integrating travel components into some of my courses at Ferrum,” he explained.
“Dr. Vanden Eykel is one of our dynamic and engaging faculty members, and his nomination for the Williams Teaching Chair highlights his accomplishments and brings honor to Ferrum College,” said Dean of Arts & Sciences and Professor of Chemistry & Physics Jason Powell, who nominated Vanden Eykel for the position. “He was recently named a general editor for the Journal for Interdisciplinary Biblical Studies (JIBS), and I am particularly excited about the book he is writing about the Magi described in the book of Matthew. Look for him to lead an upcoming trip to Rome for members of the Ferrum College community, as well!”
Learn more about Vanden Eykel’s editing position for JIBS.
Learn more about Ferrum College’s Religious Studies program.
