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.  

173 seniors from 12 different states earned degrees from Ferrum College during the 105th commencement ceremony on May 1, 2021.

5/1/2021

On Saturday, May 1, 2021, 173 Ferrum College graduates from 12 different states crossed the commencement stage at Adams Stadium during a socially distanced graduation ceremony. 

The night before, on Friday, April 30 at 6 p.m., the College hosted an in-person ceremony, also at Adams Stadium, for the class of 2020. This ceremony followed last year’s commencement exercises, which were held virtually due to COVID-19.  Friday’s keynote speaker was Virginia’s 2021 Teacher of the Year Anthony Swann. Class of 2020 graduates dressed in regalia and took photos with Ferrum College President David Johns. See photos from that event here.

The class of 2021’s commencement exercises began on Saturday at 10 a.m. and included award presentations under mild, sunny skies. The keynote speaker was New York Times bestselling author Jeff Selingo, who has written about higher education for more than two decades. 

The ceremony began with the ringing of the historic Schoolfield Hall bell by President Johns and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Aimé Sposato. Afterward, Sposato opened the commencement ceremony with a warm welcome to the graduates, family, friends, faculty, and staff. She noted that “each graduate has a special person or many people that have supported them throughout the past four years,” and thanked them for “sending care packages at just the right time, enduring virtual classes on Zoom, and sometimes getting late night phone calls accompanied by a few tears, doubts, and challenges.” 

Following the invocation given by Reverend John Heck of Saint Peter’s-In-the-Mountains Episcopal Church, Johns took the podium to welcome the crowd and remind the graduates to thank their families for the support they received over their years at Ferrum. 

Johns then commended the graduates on their dedication and progress. He instructed them to use what they had learned, saying “We are all given this one life; it is precious, a gift. I urge you to invest your life in healing the world. One of the hallmarks of a Ferrum College graduate is that we are committed to our motto – Not Self, But Others…Through your work, make the world healthier, happier, more free and just. Make it better.”

Ferrum College Board of Trustees Chair Scott Showalter ’73 and Alumni Association member Beth Simms ’09 each gave greetings on behalf of their respective boards. Afterward, Professor of Religion David Howell, who is retiring after 23 years of service in teaching, was recognized.

The presentation of awards followed. Professor of Environmental Science Delia Heck received the Exemplary Faculty Award, which recognizes a Ferrum College faculty member who embodies excellence in and commitment to teaching, demonstrates concern for student welfare in areas beyond academic studies, and is recognized as a competent scholar. Heck received numerous nominations for her service to the College and the greater community.

The Senior Academic Excellence Award was presented to Alexzondra Mattson ’21 of Virginia Beach, VA. This award is based on grades earned in all college courses by a full-time student, including those taken at Ferrum, as well as those received in transfer from other colleges or universities. Mattson maintained a 4.0 GPA and has earned a Bachelor of Science in pre-professional health sciences with a pre-med emphasis. She has been accepted to multiple Juris Doctor of Law programs and plans to make a decision soon.  

Jack Sheehan ’21 of State College, PA, received the Arthur S. Owens Leadership Award, which is presented annually to the senior chosen by the faculty who best exemplifies the qualities of leadership, initiative, honor, and outstanding character. Recipients of this award must also hold an excellent academic record, have participated in extra-curricular activities, and shown creative initiative in making Ferrum College a better place to study, work, and live. His next step is to attend graduate school at Utah State University.

The Lillie Warwick Slaven Award was presented to Mia Brower ’21 from Kernersville, NC. The award is given to a student who exemplifies the ideals of the ministerial profession and is recognized as an outstanding student leader at Ferrum College. 

Christian Haley ’21 of Boones Mill, VA, received the James T. Catlin Citizenship Award, which is given each year to the student who has best demonstrated qualities of citizenship and leadership. 

Mattson was awarded one of two Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards. The other went to Jacob Wilson ’21 from South Boston, VA. Recipients of this award are of noble character, spend their time bettering humankind, and apply fine spiritual qualities to their daily living. Wilson’s future plans involve teaching science in a secondary education setting.

Following the awards presentations, Selingo addressed the graduates, telling them to “get ready to navigate the ambiguity of life, heed the forces that take you in different, even opposite directions, and focus on what’s most meaningful to you…and in all your decisions, small and large…be patient, optimistic and yes, have a little faith.”

Student Government Association President Kintwon Pettiford ’22 of Hillsborough, NC then greeted the crowd and introduced Brower as the senior class speaker. She sent best wishes to the graduates and serenaded the crowd with a beautiful a cappella song.  

Johns and Sposato conferred degrees on the eight first-ever Ferrum College graduate students receiving the degrees of Master of Science in Psychology and Education Specialist in Teacher Leadership and Coaching. The degrees were awarded by Dean of the School of Graduate and Online Education Studies Sandra Via.

Fifteen Boone Honors Program (BHP) graduates were also individually recognized and awarded a medallion by the program’s director, Professor of English Lana Whited. This year marks the highest number of honors medallion recipients, with a previous record of ten recipients in 2014. Read more about the fifteen BHP graduates here.

After the conferring and awarding of undergraduate degrees by Johns and Sposato, the crowd was asked to join in the singing of the College’s “Alma Mater.”

See photos of the 105th Ferrum College commencement ceremony here.

Davon “D” Robinson ’21 and Morganne Flinkstrom ’21 were featured in Roanoke Times and Franklin News-Post articles by Karen Dillon. Read about D here and about Morganne here. 

Jack Sheehan ’21 received the President’s Cup. Read about him in this Franklin News-Post article.