4/26/2021

Brooke Turner ’21 poses with research snails.

Ferrum College senior, STEM scholar, and Franklin County native Brooke Turner has been named an Appalachian College Association (ACA) Ledford scholar for 2021. Turner received a $1,000 stipend to fund her undergraduate research project, titled “Using Approach-Avoidance to Study Addictive Behavior in Snails.”

Turner will use the scholarship money to study the addictive behavior of pond snails by injecting the snail’s food with nicotine. “In psychology, approach-avoidance is known as a conflict because the goal is both appealing and unappealing,” she explained. “I will use approach-avoidance to observe if the snails approach or avoid the nicotine. By observing the behavior of the snails, I will be studying the addictive effects of nicotine.”

In September 2021, Turner will submit her research findings and a video recording of her final project presentation which will be posted on the ACA website.

Turner has been working with Dean of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Chemistry and Physics Jason Powell on this project for over a year. “The pandemic delayed her work, but the Ledford award she received from the Appalachian College Association will mean that she is able to continue her work into the summer,” said Powell. “I am honored to have been able to help shape her research question as she pursues this independent research project.”

“I hope to finish my research over the summer and publish my findings in an undergraduate research journal,” said Turner.

Turner will graduate a semester early, in December 2021, when she will earn a Bachelor of Science in pre-professional health sciences with an emphasis in pre-medicine. She is triple-minoring in biology, chemistry, and psychology.

According to the ACA website, “the Ledford Scholarship, named for Colonel Lee B. Ledford, offers financial assistance for summer research projects to undergraduate students enrolled at ACA member institutions. Undergraduate students from all disciplines, applying various methodologies, are eligible.”

Virginians for Veterans (V4V) has given a generous gift to establish an endowed scholarship to benefit Ferrum College students. 

The scholarship will be awarded to a Ferrum student who has demonstrated a financial need and is also a veteran, active or reserve military personnel, or the dependent of a military service member or veteran. Preference will be given to those who reside in Virginia.

“Our board unanimously voted in favor of the Ferrum scholarship, and we hope it is the first of many that we are able to provide throughout the Virginia higher education system,” said V4V Director and President Roddy Davoud.

“We are honored that Virginians for Veterans has partnered with Ferrum College to help advance their mission of supporting our veterans and their families,” said Vice President for Institutional Advancement and External Relations Wilson Paine ’07. “This scholarship is the latest iteration showcasing Ferrum’s commitment to our military service members and complements our efforts to expand access to more students through scholarships and financial aid.” 

The V4V scholarship comes just over a year after the unveiling of the Craddock Veterans Lounge in the upper level of Ferrum’s library. The lounge is specifically designated as a space for veterans on campus, and was made possible by Army veteran and 1994 Ferrum College alumnus Greg Craddock and his family.

Ferrum College is a Yellow Ribbon partner school, meaning the College works with the Department of Veterans Affairs to match education benefits, ensuring the tuition and fees of a veteran or their dependent is paid in full. This program is commonly referred to as the “GI Bill.”

“As V4V has matured, our board has turned to different means to do good things for veterans and their families. Establishing an endowed scholarship is a wonderful way to assist veterans and their family members as they obtain an education that will help them fulfill the American dream,” said Davoud.

Per their website, V4V is a “charity formed by a group of Richmond business leaders to raise funds for specific local and regional veteran support groups.” To date, the charity has raised nearly $1,000,000 to support veterans. Learn more about V4V here.

Ferrum College will host a virtual Veterans Day celebration on Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2020, at 10 a.m. Viewers may watch the ceremony on Ferrum College’s main Facebook page, here.  

If you would like to contribute to the V4V Endowed Scholarship at Ferrum College, please visit here.

Alumnus Ra’meer Roberts ’13

Alumnus Ra’meer Roberts of Richmond, VA, has established a scholarship for African-American students at Ferrum College. 

The Black American Scholarship for Empowerment, or B.A.S.E., will give an annual gift of $250 to one male and one female African-American student at Ferrum College, to be used for books and supplies. Recipients must live on campus, be enrolled full-time, be in good academic standing with a GPA of 2.5 or higher, and demonstrate a financial need.

“According to national studies, African-Americans have the lowest graduation and retention rates in higher education among other ethnic groups. This statistic is primarily due to two factors: financial stability and first-generation status,” explained Roberts. “Based on the current social climate of our country and the financial strain on our colleges and universities from the [novel coronavirus] pandemic, I felt a need to assist African-American students in their pursuit of a good, quality education.”

Roberts has firsthand knowledge of these statistics because he has worked in higher education for over six years, currently serving as the coordinator for Student Conduct at Virginia State University. 

Originally from Paterson, NJ, Roberts graduated from Ferrum College in 2013 with a degree in business administration. He went on to earn his Master of Educational Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University and is currently pursuing his doctoral degree with the intention of continuing his career in higher education as a dean of students. Roberts’ long-term goal is to become a vice president or provost for student affairs. 

“It’s been an honor to work with Ra’meer in establishing this important scholarship. I’ve been so impressed with his compassion and the responsibility he feels towards our students and Ferrum’s future,” said Vice President for Institutional Advancement and External Relations Wilson Paine. “His commitment to turn words into action is an inspiration to us all.”

Learn more on the B.A.S.E. Facebook page.  

To make a gift to B.A.S.E., click here, then click the ‘give now’ button, designate ‘other’ in the dropdown menu and type ‘B.A.S.E.’ in the designation box.

The Clements Family Endowed Scholarship supports Ferrum College students with financial aid and is awarded to students from Southside Virginia localities who have achieved at least a 2.5 GPA.

“Ferrum was just the right place for me when I was looking for direction in life,” says J. Peter Clements ’77. “With the College’s strong emphasis on community involvement and leadership, I was allowed to really develop those attributes. By establishing this scholarship fund, we will be able to help others from Southside Virginia have a chance to experience the sense of community and family that really sets Ferrum apart.”

Clements is a past member of the Ferrum College Board of Trustees and President and CEO of the Bank of Southside Virginia. He is a member of both the Ruth and Arthur Societies at Ferrum College, served on the Board of The College of William & Mary, and is a member of The United Methodist Church.

The Will “Frog” Pettus Agriculture Scholarship was established in April 2010 by the Ferrum College Ag Alumni Association, and is given to Ferrum College students who are studying life science or agriculture. The original goal was to raise $25,000 to endow the fund. Fundraising efforts are ongoing with the goal to assist as many future Ferrum College students as possible.

If you would like to support the Will “Frog” Pettus Agriculture Scholarship please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 540-365-4299.

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.