FERRUM, VA (October 19, 2022) – Former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore will be the inaugural speaker for the new Gentry Locke lecture series hosted by Ferrum College on Monday, November 14, 2022. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held from 6:00–7:00 p.m. on campus in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room in Franklin Hall. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Registration is required here.
The lecture series is a partnership between Ferrum College and Gentry Locke, a prominent Virginia law firm with offices in Roanoke, Lynchburg and Richmond. The Gentry Locke lecture series will bring two experts and thought leaders to the College per academic year to discuss current social and cultural topics of interest.
“Gentry Locke is pleased to sponsor this speaker series, and we are proud of our long association with Ferrum College,” commented Kevin Holt, a partner at Gentry Locke. “For decades, the College has brought thought leaders from various fields to campus and the wider community. The speakers have challenged and enlightened their audiences and, in many cases, have opened windows to the world for Ferrum students. We look forward to Governor Gilmore and future speakers continuing in that tradition.”
Gilmore’s breadth of domestic and international experience made him an attractive choice as this year’s speaker. In addition to serving as Virginia’s Attorney General and, later, Virginia’s Governor, he most recently concluded his service as U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Following his term as ambassador, Gilmore led a delegation sponsored by the American Foreign Policy Council to assess the status of Ukraine. The delegation conducted numerous meetings in Kyiv, and continued to Mariupol and battlefield visits in southern Ukraine.
Ambassador Gilmore stated, “I look forward to speaking at Ferrum College for its inaugural Gentry Locke Lecture Series. I will bring my passion for foreign affairs to this lecture. Serving as Ambassador to the OSCE I can expand on how much our allies—especially in western and eastern Europe—rely on American leadership during these trying times.”
Wilson Paine, vice president for Institutional Advancement & External Relations, believes these types of events are what makes Ferrum an asset to students and the broader region. “The Gentry Locke lecture series represents an investment in Ferrum College’s continued work to provide a holistic, transformative educational experience to students in our region, to impact the vitality of our community, and to recognize Gentry Locke for their partnership and tireless work on behalf of the College,” said Paine.
To learn more about the Gentry Locke lecture series or to register to attend, please click here.
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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
5/24/2021
EPD 202 students sit on the steps they built leading to the Dr. Carolyn Thomas memorial bench during the three week May 2021 E-Term. Dr. Bob Pohlad photo.
During a three-week Environmental Planning and Development (EPD-202) Experiential Term (E-Term), led by Professor of Environmental Science Delia Heck and Professor Emeritus of Biology and Horticulture Bob Pohlad, seventeen Ferrum College students built, repaired, and beautified three sites on campus. In the process, they donated almost $5,600 in labor to the College, and one recent graduate even landed a job thanks to his involvement.
Alumnus Stephen Murphy completed the EPD-202 E-Term just days after earning his Bachelor of Science in environmental science this May 2021. He was then offered a job as a maintenance technician with Bedford Regional Water Authority. “My work with the E-Term and my previous job experience were key contributors for me to get the job,” Murphy explained. “During the interview, I was able to point to many examples of working with my group, and the collaboration between all of the E-Term groups. BRWA was impressed with my experience and that Ferrum has such a hands-on program.”
“This class was an excellent opportunity for our students to participate in experiential learning at its best,” said Heck. “They were able to learn about concepts of sustainability, engage in the work of repairing, building, and creating garden and riparian spaces, and develop a sense of pride in their efforts, their project, and the campus.”
For the first four days of the E-Term, the students assessed the sites: the memorial bench honoring Pohlad’s wife, the late Professor Emerita of Biology and Environmental Science Carolyn Thomas, and the riparian buffer zone and garden, all at Adams Lake; the conifer garden and the Jess Goode memorial garden, both in the campus community arboretum area; and the pond and stream feature, and wedding gazebo and garden, also in the arboretum area. Students thought about lighting and electricity aspects, hardscapes, soil types, and plant design.
The rest of the E-Term was spent in approximately 200 hours of field work. After the work was complete, the students presented to the community their processes, before and after photos, maintenance plans, next steps, and donation opportunities on Friday, May 21, 2021 in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room. A tour of the sites followed.
“After all these years of teaching, it still amazes me how well the students respond to the opportunities of experiential learning,” said Pohlad. “I saw the same enthusiasm and pride in their work this year as I saw over the last twenty. By doing these types of projects, each student leaves a legacy for future students to learn from and a place to honor the memories of those who have been an important part of our Ferrum community family. Their efforts and comments on work around Carolyn’s bench were especially touching to me.”
“This E-Term was lots of fun, lots of hard work, sweat and tears, but overall it was rewarding. We took a project that had been going on for over twenty years, worked on by many Ferrum students, faculty, and staff, and now we get to add our names to that legacy,” said rising senior Lauren Ries. “We walked into E-Term not knowing much about the projects but we walked away knowing more about landscaping, hard work, and ourselves. And we have tons of good memories. Hard work does pay off!”
“The students discovered and recovered hidden treasures, while creating their own,” said Heck. “They built memories, skills and connections that will last a lifetime.”
See photos from the EPD 202 E-Term here.
Learn more about Ferrum College E-Terms here.
Read the Roanoke Times’ coverage of the students’ presentation on May 21.
5/19/2021
The Ferrum College Workshop Porch Stage at FloydFest, circa 2016.
Across-the-Way Productions, Inc. has announced that FloydFest will take place this year, in person, from July 21 – 25, 2021. Ferrum College is excited to once again partner with the festival to sponsor the Workshop Front Porch and bring festival-goers a variety of interesting outdoor activities.
This year’s theme “invites patrons to embark on an odyssey to celebrate FloydFest 21, the latest annual offering of the Southeast’s premier summer outdoor music festival,” per the festival’s Facebook page.
During the festival, the College invites attendees to stop by its sponsor tent and the Workshop Porch Stage, which offers an intimate listening environment as well as an opportunity to engage with musicians as they share songs, stories, and techniques in a hosted, workshop style environment. They can also visit the Outdoor Adventure Tent to sign up for the Ferrum College 5K Trail Running Race to be held on Sunday, July 25 at 9:30 a.m. Top runners will receive prizes in several categories. The race incorporates parts of the FloydFest site and two laps on the Moonstomper Trail. In addition, there will be College-sponsored opportunities to learn fly-tying, fly-casting, screen- and block-printing, felted flower making, stamped metal jewelry making, and to enjoy hikes on Rocky Knob scheduled throughout the festival.
Read more about FloydFest 21~Odyssey, order festival tickets, see the Ferrum College Workshop Porch schedule, and find information about the FREE Ferrum College 5K Trail Running Race at https://floydfest.com.
4/28/2021
President David Johns and Board of Supervisors Chairman & Blue Ridge Supervisor Tim Tatum cut the ribbon during the ceremony that dedicated the new Ferrum Pedestrian Bridge.
The Franklin County Board of Supervisors, Ferrum College, and the community celebrated the completion of the Ferrum Pedestrian Bridge with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at 10 a.m. Over 50 people attended the outdoor event, which took place on the Timber Line Road side of the pedestrian bridge in Ferrum.
The 360-foot-long bridge connects the Ferrum College campus sidewalk to the Dollar General Store located on the Virginia Route 40. The separate pedestrian bridge runs parallel to the narrow Sheriff Shively Bridge and is essential to keeping Ferrum students and other pedestrians safe as they cross the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks.
“We are proud to partner with the Franklin County Board of Supervisors, VDOT, and the Village of Ferrum to create a safe walking space for our students and community members,” said President David Johns. “This pedestrian bridge is an important asset for Ferrum, for business and for recreation, and it is going to strengthen ties in our community for years to come.”
“The new pedestrian bridge is very important to the community, and the College,” said Franklin County Board of Supervisors Vice-Chairman and Blue Ridge Supervisor Tim Tatum. “It is something that the community and College have promoted for some time. The recent Ferrum Village Plan identified this as a need to create a more walkable community that would benefit the community, the College, and the businesses in the area.”
The County successfully secured funding for the project through the Virginia Department of Transportation’s revenue sharing program and local matching funding from Franklin County and Ferrum College.
“Processes like this tend to be slow and that’s okay as long as we get there,” said Ferrum community member Bobby Thompson, who has been a longtime advocate for the construction of the pedestrian bridge. “We’ve experienced a really good partnership between the college community, VDOT, and the county. The Ferrum community is more connected now.”
4/23/2021
Dr. Lana Whited, BHP director and English professor at Ferrum College, stands with 15 BHP graduating seniors.
On Thursday, April 22, 2021, members of the Boone Honors Program were honored during a banquet held in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room from 6 – 8:30 p.m. Special recognition went to the fifteen graduating seniors, the largest group of graduates in the program’s two-decade-long history (the previous record was ten in 2014). Of the fifteen seniors, twelve are or have been intercollegiate athletes and some competed in multiple sports. Their names are listed below.
After a welcome from BHP Program Director and Professor of English Lana Whited, President David Johns greeted guests and thanked the seniors for their efforts during their time at the College. Each senior chose a professor, not necessarily in their field of study, to share comments about the senior’s time at Ferrum College as they progressed through coursework. There was lots of laughter with a few tears. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Aimé Sposato closed the program with heartfelt well wishes.
The Boone Honors Program was established in 2001 under the direction of David Howell, dean of arts and humanities, professor of religion, and director of faculty development, and is named in honor of former Ferrum College President Jerry Boone and his wife, Shirley.
See photos from the event on the College’s Flickr album.
Elina Matilda Baltins ’21
Bachelor of Science in pre-professional health sciences, emphasis in pre-med
swimming, track and field
Bryce Daniel Beard ’20 (December graduate)
Bachelor of Science in chemistry
Cayla Morgan Berry ’21
Bachelor of Science in criminal justice, emphasis in criminology
women’s soccer
Jacob Alan Blaukovitch ’21
Bachelor of Science in pre-professional health sciences, emphasis in pre-med
Bachelor of Science in biology
Bachelor of Science in chemistry
Samuel Ammon Chappell ’20 (December graduate)
Bachelor of Science in environmental science
swimming
Robert Sean Grande, Jr. ’21
Bachelor of Science in political science
football
Dakota Alexander Fletcher ’21
Bachelor of Science in computer information systems, emphasis in computer networks and cybersecurity
Jenna McKenzie Janicki ’21
Bachelor of Science in health and human performance, emphasis in exercise and sport studies
women’s soccer
Suzanne Huiwen Maines ’21
Bachelor of Arts in Spanish
Camden Vinson Mariotti ’21
Bachelor of Science in health and human performance, emphasis in exercise science
football
Alexzondra Lena Mattson ’21
Bachelor of Science in pre-professional health sciences, emphasis in pre-med
women’s soccer
John Francis Sheehan, IV ’21
Bachelor of Science in social studies
men’s lacrosse, football
Nancy Kathryn Shoaf ’21
Bachelor of Science in environmental science
swimming
Hannah Elizabeth Smith ’21
Bachelor of Science in environmental science
swimming
Victoria Katherine Wagner ’20 (December graduate)
Bachelor of Science in pre-professional health sciences, emphasis in pre-therapy
swimming
Students from the School of Health Professions and Social Sciences received academic awards in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room on April 16, 2021. Malcolm Lofton photo.
4/21/2021
Ferrum College celebrated its students during Academic Awards Ceremonies on Friday, April 16, 2021 in Vaughn Chapel and in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room. The traditional single ceremony was split into two ceremonies to accommodate COVID-19 capacity and social distancing guidelines for indoor gatherings.
Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Kevin Reilly presided over the ceremony for the School of Arts and Sciences, which took place in Vaughn Chapel. Dean of Health Professions and Social Sciences Angie Dahl presided over the ceremony for the School of Health Professions and Social Sciences that took place in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room.
President David Johns and Athletic Director John Sutyak presented the President’s Cup to senior John “Jack” Sheehan, IV, from State College, PA. Sheehan is about to receive a Bachelor of Science in social studies with minors in history and secondary education. Awards were then presented to students during both ceremonies by the dean of their school and their professors.
A list of award recipients and honor society members follows.
See photos from the event here.
The Iron Blade Editor Commendation
Mary Stout
The Chrysalis Editor-in-Chief Award
Abigail McGovern
The Chrysalis Staff Member of the Year Award
Abigail McGovern
The Hamblin Accounting Award
Lola Cannaday
The Outstanding Student in Agricultural Sciences Award
Lindsay Koogler (equine studies)
Hunter Wimmer (agricultural education)
Zoey White (agribusiness)
Jarred Collier (crop sciences)
Macey Vest (animal science)
The Outstanding Student in Finance Award
Jeremiah Valentine
The Outstanding Student in Management Award
Matthew Yarbrough
The Outstanding Student in Marketing Award
Reina Balderas
The Outstanding Student in Sports Management
Mia Holmes
Outstanding Student in IoT Lab
Mason Hamer
Outstanding Student in Programming
Nicholas Johns
Outstanding Student in CIS Public Speaking
Helen Ogbole
CIS Academic Award
Nicholas Cook
Dakota Fletcher
The Eric Lee Baker Award for the Outstanding Student in English
Abigail McGovern
The Outstanding Student in Environmental Science Award
Alexis Davidson
Michelle Musick
Katie ShoafThe Jasse Scholarship in History Awards
Demontay Wimbush
Daeshawn Barrett
Andrew Hill
Charles Tisby
The Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar in History Award
Christian Haley
Fern Stough
The Outstanding Student in Music Award
Julio Salazar
The Academic Achievement in Music Award
Kiersten Jones
The Acey-Wood-Rose Award for Excellence in Religious Studies
Lauren Ries
Outstanding Student in Spanish Award
Suzanne Maines
Douglas W. Foard Award of International Studies
Suzanne Maines
The Theatre Arts Achievement Award
Erica Leed
Alyssa Robles
The Dance Achievement Award
Sarah LaLiberte
2021 Dr. Ken McCreedy Outstanding Criminal Justice Graduating Senior Award
Cayla Morgan Berry
The Outstanding Student in Health and Human Performance Award
Camden Mariotti
The Outstanding Student in Exercise Science Award
Kendra Powell
The Outstanding Student in Exercise Sports Studies Award
Jenna Janicki
The Frank Benjamin Hurt Award
Robert Sean Grande
Mikayla Thorpe
Outstanding Student in Pre-Professional Health Science Pre-Med Award
Elina Baltins
Alexzondra Mattson
Camryn BurkeThe Pre-Professional Health Science Pre-Therapy Award
Joshua Greenway
The Outstanding Student in Biology Award
Camryn Burke
The Outstanding Student in Psychology Award
Alexzondra Mattson
The Jane Addams Social Work Achievement Award
Mia Brower
The Jennie West Outstanding Social Work Senior Award
Madison Brown
The Dr. Betty N. Bailey Silver Weaver Award
Mallory Scott
Delta Kappa Gamma Outstanding Woman in Education Award
Amber Scott
Charles A. and Marion C. Skinner Awards for Excellence in Education Award
Elementary Education
Sarah Ellis
Secondary Education
Jack Sheehan
All-Level
Cade Rouse
President’s Cup
John F. “Jack” Sheehan, IV
4/13/2021
Last year, Ferrum College introduced the first ever virtual Panther Toast to maintain connections in the Ferrum family during isolation and social distancing. The College is continuing the tradition this Saturday, April 17, by inviting members of campus, alumni, and friends to join in on the second annual virtual Panther Toast. All day long, participants are invited to toast each other by pouring any beverage and posting a photo of their toast to social media, tagging #FerrumCollege, #PantherToast, and fellow Panthers, former professors, and athletic coaches.
See last year’s Panther Toast photos on the Ferrum College Flickr album here.
3/30/2021
Ferrum College is excited to host two in-person commencement ceremonies this year. The Class of 2020 will be celebrated at Adams Stadium on Friday, April 30 at 6 p.m. Following that ceremony, the Class of 2021’s commencement exercises will take place on Saturday, May 1 at 10 a.m., also at Adams Stadium. Both ceremonies will follow the guidelines set forth in Governor Ralph Northam’s March 17 order that allows for a limited number of guests to attend outdoor graduations.
To find up-to-date commencement information for the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021, visit www.ferrum.edu/commencement.
Ferrum College announced today that it will invite members of the Class of 2020 to return to campus for an in-person commencement celebration on Friday, April 30, 2021 at 6 p.m. This event will precede the College’s commencement for the Class of 2021, scheduled for Saturday, May 1. The Class of 2020 made history last year when their commencement ceremony was held virtually to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Class of 2020 graduates who participate in this year’s outdoor commencement exercise will be able to invite four guests to attend as they cross the commencement stage at Adams Stadium. Graduates will be asked to wear their regalia and will have the opportunity to take a photo with Ferrum College President David Johns. The keynote speaker will be 2021 Virginia Teacher of the Year Anthony Swann who teaches fifth grade at Rocky Mount Elementary in Franklin County. The ceremony will follow the guidelines set forth in Governor Ralph Northam’s March 17 order that allows for a limited number of guests to attend outdoor graduations.
In order to participate, Class of 2020 graduates must register themselves and their guests for the event by April 28 using this link.
Ferrum College will hold its 105th commencement ceremony in-person at Adams Stadium on Saturday, May 1, 2021. The College’s plans follow Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s March 17 announcement that allows for a limited number of guests to attend outdoor graduations.
“We are looking forward to celebrating our 2021 graduates during an in-person commencement ceremony this May,” said President David Johns. “These students have made Ferrum College history by overcoming enormous challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is their time to shine.”
The College expects 165 graduates to walk across the commencement stage at Adams Stadium, which includes current seniors and the first graduates of Ferrum’s psychology masters degree and EdS programs. Each graduate may invite four guests, as per the governor’s order to keep outdoor events at 30 percent of the venue capacity. The event will be live-streamed for friends and family who are not able to attend.
The keynote speaker will be New York Times bestselling author Jeff Selingo, who has written about higher education for more than two decades. His latest book, Who Gets In & Why: A Year Inside College Admissions, was published in September 2020 and was named among the “100 Notable Books” of the year by the New York Times. Selingo is a special advisor for innovation and professor of practice at Arizona State University. He also co-hosts the podcast “FutureU” and is a regular contributor to The Atlantic.
Prior to the May 1 ceremony, graduates will have their class photo taken in Adams Stadium on April 24. Following the class photo, graduates will be invited to take individual photos with Ferrum College President David Johns.
The College will not host a baccalaureate and candlelight ceremony this year; however, an academic awards ceremony will be held on Friday, April 16, 2021.
Class of 2021 graduates may register and receive tickets for their guests here.
2021 Emerging Fiddlers’ Contest Winners: Stewart Werner III (first place, left), Colby Helms (second place, top right), and Cheyenne Grantham (third place, bottom right).
Ferrum College hosted the first annual Ferrum Fiddlers Festival, which was held virtually on Saturday, January 23, 2021. The event, presented by the Appalachian Music Program and the Department of Music, included workshops, concerts, and the Ferrum Mountain Emerging Fiddlers’ Contest. The contest was open to musicians and singers aged 24 and under.
Three young Franklin County musicians took home top prizes in the competition which included entries from as far away as Georgia. Stewart Werner III, a Franklin County High School senior from Rocky Mount took home the top prize, which included a $4000 Ferrum College scholarship, for his performance on the banjo. Colby Helms of Boones Mill, a 2020 graduate of FCHS, won second place, including a $2000 scholarship to Ferrum College, for his performance of an original song about the Franklin County moonshine conspiracy. Eleven-year-old Cheyenne Grantham, also of Boones Mill, took third place with her old-time fiddle contest entry.
The festival took place online via YouTube, Zoom, and Facebook, and drew viewers from around the United States and the world. Contest judges and guest artists included Tyler Hughes, Tray Wellington, Martha Spencer, Rachel Eddy & Emily Hammond, and Shohei Tsutsumi, who gave the day’s final performance from his home in Osaka, Japan. View photos from the event on the Ferrum College Flickr album.
Ferrum College offers a four-year undergraduate Bachelor of Music degree as well as major and non-major studies woodwinds, brass, piano, percussion, voice, and Appalachian Music. Visit here or email music@ferrum.edu to learn more.
This article was written by Director of Appalachian Music and Adjunct Lecturer of Theatre and Music Emily Blankenship-Tucker.
Ferrum College will honor 199 graduates during an online commencement on May 9, 2020 at 10 a.m. The College was forced to postpone its 104th in-person commencement ceremony because of the coronavirus.
The virtual event will feature videos from Ferrum College President David L. Johns, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Aimé Sposato, along with members of the senior class. Retired Professor Emeritus of Environmental Science and Biology Bob Pohlad will bring the keynote address. In addition, a number of celebrities will make guest appearances.
Although the ceremony will be delivered differently this year, the College will follow much of the traditional commencement format including the bestowing of faculty and student awards, presentation of graduates, and conferring of degrees. The Panther Marching Band will also perform the College’s “Alma Mater”.
“I wish we could gather on campus with family and friends to celebrate our new graduates. Nevertheless, we will not allow anything to stand in the way of honoring and recognizing the remarkable achievements of our students,” said Johns. “In the history of semesters, none has been more unusual than this one. The class of 2020 will be remembered for generations to come because they faced the most daunting of circumstances, and yet they exhibited imagination, grace, and grit. They are Ferrum Strong, and they are ready for anything life presents them!”
View program details here.
Ferrum College is planning to hold a virtual commencement for graduating seniors on Saturday, May 9, 2020 at 10 a.m. The ceremony will include the presentation of graduates, special speakers, conferring of degrees, and a video of the Panther Band.
Plan to watch it here.
