Ferrum College will award degrees to 187 graduates when it celebrates its 102nd annual commencement on Saturday, May 5, 2018. The ceremony, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Hart International Plaza in the center of campus, will include the presentation of student, faculty and alumni awards. Among the award recipients of the day will be alumnus Paul L. Harris, Jr. ’65, who will receive the Benjamin M. Beckham Medallion, the College’s highest alumni honor. Ferrum College President David Johns, who began his tenure as the twelfth president of the College on January 1, 2018, will give the keynote address. A picnic lunch on the lawn for graduates and their guests will follow the ceremony.
Graduates will also participate in a traditional Baccalaureate service on Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. in Vaughn Chapel. The service will conclude with a candlelight ceremony at Hart International Plaza to symbolize the light of knowledge that the new graduates will carry forth into the world.
Please note:
Rocky Mount native Michael Chitwood will read from his latest book of poetry, Search and Rescue, at Ferrum College Monday, April 16, at 7 p.m. in the Panther’s Den.
Michael Chitwood’s poetry and fiction have appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, Poetry, The New Republic, Threepenny Review, Virginia Quarterly Review, and numerous other journals. His books of poetry include, in addition to Search and Rescue, Salt Works, Whet, The Weave Room, From Whence, Poor-Mouth Jubilee, Spill, and Gospel Road Going, a collection of poems about his native Appalachia, Both Spill and Gospel Road Going were awarded the Roanoke-Chowan Prize for Poetry. He has also published a collection of essays, Hitting Below the Bible Belt, and a collection of essays and short stories called Finishing Touches. In addition, he recently co-edited Best Creative Nonfiction of the South, Volume II: North Carolina.
Son of Elaine Chitwood and the late T. W. Chitwood, the writer is a graduate of Franklin County High School and Emory & Henry College. Michael Chitwood currently lives in Chapel Hill, where he teaches at the University of North Carolina.
Chitwood’s reading is part of Ferrum College’s Earth Week celebration. A reception and book-signing will follow his presentation.
Soprano Aimé Sposato and pianist Robert Thieme will perform A Classical Afternoon Recital at Ferrum College on Friday, April 13, 2018. Their performance will be held in Vaughn Chapel beginning at 12:15 p.m. The event is open to the community and admission is free to all.
Sposato has performed over 24 operatic roles and over 30 oratorios roles, receiving critical acclaim for performances in major concert halls, recital halls, and cathedrals throughout the world, including the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, the Music Centre in Strathmore, Carnegie Hall in New York City, Notre Dame and Sacre Coeur Cathedrals in Paris, Basilica di San Marco in Venice, the Papal Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican in Rome, St. Stephen’s in Vienna, the National Concert Hall in Budapest, and the Rudolfinum Concert Hall in Prague. Sposato joined the leadership team of Ferrum College as provost in July 2017 and holds a faculty appointment as professor of music, voice.
Thieme served as the director of the West Virginia University Opera Theatre, head of accompanying, and coordinator of vocal studies from 1996-2013. He also served as co-artistic director of the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. His experience also includes conducting and staging opera, operetta and musical theater productions. Thieme has worked with a number of opera companies, most recently conducting a production of Pagliacci for the Opera Fundación de Panama.
More about Dr. Aimé Sposato: Prior to joining the Ferrum community, Dr. Aimé Sposato served as the associate dean for undergraduate studies and professor of voice at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Va. During her 24-year tenure at Shenandoah University, Sposato maintained an active performing career while training young singers in the studio and classroom and was recognized by her peers. She was awarded the Exemplary Teacher of the Year Award.
Sposato received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh; a Master of Music degree from Duquesne University, where she received a graduate fellowship in opera; and served as a graduate teaching fellow in opera throughout her Doctoral of Musical Arts degree at West Virginia University. Specializing in music of the 17th and 18th centuries, Dr. Sposato has performed over 24 operatic roles and over 30 oratorios roles in the U.S. and throughout Europe. She refined the art of Baroque Ornamentation for the voice at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Sposato has received critical acclaim for performances in major concert halls, recital halls, and cathedrals throughout the world, including the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, the Music Centre in Strathmore, Carnegie Hall in New York City, Notre Dame and Sacre Coeur Cathedrals in Paris, Basilica di San Marco in Venice, the Papal Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican in Rome, St. Stephen’s in Vienna, the National Concert Hall in Budapest, and the Rudolfinum Concert Hall in Prague. For some diversion, she was was often heard singing the national anthem for the Pirates, Penguins, and NASCAR.
More about Mr. Robert Thieme: Robert Thieme retired from West Virginia University (WVU) as Professor Emeritus after teaching for 29 years. He served as the director of the WVU Opera Theatre, head of accompanying, and coordinator of vocal studies from 1996-2013. Thieme has served as coach and accompanist for many singers and instrumentalists throughout the United States and Europe. His experience also includes conducting and staging opera, operetta and musical theater productions. He has taught classes in vocal repertoire and vocal diction. In 2008 he retired as co-artistic director of the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria after serving on the faculty for 21 years. Thieme was a frequent keyboardist with the Wheeling Symphony and accompanied all operatic productions of the West Virginia Symphony. He has worked with a number of opera companies and most recently conducted a production of Pagliacci for the Opera Fundación de Panama.
Dorothy Carroll ’18 has been named the Virginias Collegiate Honors Council (VCHC) Honors Scholar of the Year. According to VCHC President John S. Sound, this is a unique honor bestowed on a student who has demonstrated extraordinary potential as an Honors Scholar, and who embodies the scholarship, character, and ambition associated historically with honors students and the VCHC.
As VCHC Honors Scholar of the Year, Dorothy will receive a $500 cash award/scholarship and a complimentary Southern Regional Honors Council (SRHC) Conference registration. She will be honored during the joint VCHC/SRHC Conference, which will be held April 5 – 7, 2018, in Washington, D. C. At the conference awards ceremony on Friday, April 6, Dorothy will give a talk highlighting her educational accomplishments, her future educational goals, and what it means to her to receive this award.
Dorothy, who is from Birmingham, AL, will graduate in May with a Political Science degree, with an emphasis in Democracy, Justice, and Civic Engagement. She is also a member of the Boone Honors Program.
“The Boone Honors Program has taught me hard work and dedication. It promotes academic excellence and leadership through its GPA requirements and enrichment projects. The program has provided me many opportunities with encouragement and support along the way, and I could not imagine my college experience without it,” said Dorothy, who plans to move to the D.C. area and work as a paralegal specialist after graduation in May.
About the Virginias Collegiate Honors Council: According to its website, the Virginias Collegiate Honors Council, now more than twenty five years old, joins universities, colleges, and community colleges throughout Virginia and West Virginia to support and enhance programs and activities to meet the needs of exceptionally talented and motivated students. (www.vchc.net)
Meatless Monday is a global movement that encourages people to choose not to eat meat one day a week. Reducing your intake of meat and animal products, particularly from industrial sources, can help protect your health, the health of the public, and the environment. Even a small change – like cutting meat from your diet once per week, can make a difference.
When: Monday, April 16, all day
Where: Franklin Hall Cafeteria
The solution to many of our most pressing environmental problems was invented over a hundred years ago. The bicycle is a simple, ever-evolving machine that benefits individuals, communities, the economy and the environment. Drop by Franklin Hall and see some icons of bicycle history.
When: Monday, April 16 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Franklin Hall Atrium
Explore campus while searching for different items found in nature. Come by the info table to pick up instructions and your score card. Take selfies and use the hashtag #FChunt for the chance to win a gift card. Winner will be announced on Friday, April 20. Sponsored by REC 450 Special Event students.
When: Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: Franklin Hall Atrium
Explore career options within the fields of sustainability, alternative energy technologies, and ecotourism along with variety of other green careers.
When: Monday, April 16 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Where: Franklin Hall Atrium
Get active and have fun with friends! Come out to Bassett field for a best of three Ultimate Frisbee championship. The winning team win gift cards. Sponsored by REC 450 Special Events students.
When: Monday, April 16 from 4 to 6 p.m.
Where: Bassett Field
Get some exercise and challenge yourself during our week outdoor climbing tower sessions. Contact Ferrum Outdoors for directions to the climbing tower at ferrumoutdoors@ferrum.edu. Sponsored by Ferrum Outdoors.
When: Monday, April 16 at 4 to 7 p.m.
Where: Ropes Course
Poet Michael Chitwood, native of Rocky Mount, Virginia, is a lecturer in the Department of English and Comparative Literature at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is also the author of several books of poems inspired by growing up in Appalachia. Sponsors are the English program, the Boone Honors Program, and Chrysalis.
When: Monday, April 16 at 7 p.m.
Where: Panther’s Den
The ENG 211: Literature and the Environment class will be leading a hands-on learning experience about Henry David Thoreau on-site at the Thoreau cabin.
When: Tuesday, April 17 from 11:15 a.m. to 12:10 p.m.
Where: Thoreau Cabin Follow the signs from the tennis court trailhead.
Take a walk in the woods on the campus trails. Sponsored by Ferrum Outdoors.
When: Tuesday, April 17 from 12 to 1 p.m.
Where: Campus Trails. Meet at the Tennis Court Shelter
The Ferrum College Giving Garden is a volunteer-run initiative located at the Titmus Agricultural Center. The Giving Garden was started by students, staff and faculty with the mission to grow fresh produce for local families in need in our community. To date, have donated nearly 4,000 lbs of produce to feed local families. When volunteering at the garden, please wear closed toed shoes and clothes that can get dirty and bring a water bottle. Contact Dr. Angie Dahl with questions, adahl@ferrum.edu.
When: Tuesday April 17 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Where: Titmus Agricultural Center
Keep Ferrum College forever green by collecting trash in our forest and creeks. Trash bags and work gloves provided.
When: Tuesday, April 17 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Where: Meet at Burrows-Skeens Tennis Complex picnic shelter
Our blue planet is part of an unfathomable and endless Universe. Using Augmented Reality software, we will explore the night sky, the constellations and the myths and stories we have created to explain them. Hosted by Todd Fredericksen and Chris Mayer
When: Tuesday, April 17 at 8:30 p.m.
Where: Meet at the tennis court picnic shelter at 8:30 p.m.
Walk to School Wednesday urges everyone to avoid driving their cars to class for one day. Walking to school saves gas and gives our environment a break from all the toxins that cars release in the air. This also gives us time to bond with one another in a creative way. Sponsored by REC 450 Special Events students.
When: Wednesday, April 18 all day
Where: Atrium of Franklin Hall
Healthy People Healthy Planet is an event for community members that promotes living a life of overall wellness. Topics will feature physical fitness, nutrition, finance, and mental health. Workshops will include money saving tips on how to eat healthy on a budget as well as information on how to start your own home garden. Interactive competitions for parents and children will offer fabulous prizes while teaching how to live a life of wellness.
When: Wednesday, April 18 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Ferrum YMCA
Gather with friends and family around the campfire for an evening of S’mores, lemonade and live acoustic music. This family-friendly event will take place at the fire ring located in the Ferrum forest on campus. Bring a flashlight or use the one on your phone. Start at the tennis court trailhead and follow the signs to the fun. An ATV utility cart to bring up those who have mobility issues.
When: Wednesday, April 18, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Where: Meet at the fire ring just beyond the Thoreau cabin or at the tennis courts and follow the signs.
Seven students from REC 421 Issues in Sustainable and Ecotourism have chosen topics about sustainability, nature, and ecotourism and developed their own TED Talks.Come out and support them.
When: Wednesday, April 18 from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m.
Where: Panther’s Den
Mountain Biking is a great way to exercise, have fun and get out with friends. Stop by the quad next to Franklin Hall and try out some of Roanoke Mountain Adventure’s sweet rides.
When: Wednesday, April 18 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Quad next to Franklin Hall
There will be two guided rides on the campus trail. Roanoke Mountain Adventures will be providing expert instruction and their sweet mountain bikes. First come first serve! Or you can bring your own mountain bike to join the ride. Sponsored by Ferrum Outdoors.
When: Wednesday, April 18
Where: Meet at the Cycling Center next to the YMCA
Presenters: Dr. Chris Mayer and a Distinguished Panel of Opinionated Professors. Healthy refreshments will be served.
When: Wednesday, April 18 from 4 to 5 p.m.
Where: LEAP studio in the Stanley Library
Challenge yourself with this fun and popular activity. Experience zipping through the trees in the dark. FREE! Sponsored by Ferrum Outdoors.
When: Wednesday, April 18 from 7:30 to 10:00 p.m.
Where: Ropes Course. Get directions from Ferrum Outdoors at ferrumoutdoors@ferrum.edu
Register by Monday 4/16 at www.ferrumoutdoors.eventbrite.com
Join certified instructor, Leah Yetzer, on this hour-long outdoor yoga session that will feature meditations and poses inspired by Mother Earth. Mats will be provided or bring your own if you prefer.
When: Thursday, April 19 from 8 to 9 a.m.
Where: Dyer Hall Patio
We will discuss the health benefits of Earthing also known as Grounding. Scientific evidence supports the miracles that this simple activity can provide. Come find out what it is and what it can do for you! Be prepared to be barefoot!
When: Thursday, April 19 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Where: Panther’s Den
We have bottles/cans that are set up on shelves and people will throw balls of trash at them and attempt to knock them down and win a prize. Sponsored by REC 450 Special Events students
When: Thursday, April 19 from 1:15 to 3:00 p.m.
Where: Quad
Disc Golf is great exercise and fun. Discs and instruction provided if needed. Sponsored by Ferrum Outdoors.
When: Thursday, April 19 from 5:15 to 7:15 p.m.
Where: Practice Tee next to Tennis Court Shelter
Humans were first inspired to create music by the multitude of sounds within nature that surrounded them. Music has the ability to stir thoughts, feelings, emotions, and passions. It is our hope that this concert under the trees will stir these things within the listener, just as nature inspired humans to create it. Hosted by Ferrum Collegiates, Concert Choir, and Theatre Arts
When: Thursday, April 19 from 5:15 to 6:00 p.m.
Where: Huge Oak Trees in front of Bassett Hall
Showing of a 2009 documentary on Lyme Disease -“Under Our Skin” by director Andy Abrahams Wilson. “This documentary investigates the epidemic we are now facing and traces its flourishing to a negligent and corrupt health care system. Interviews with patients and doctors paints a clear picture of a medical industry that has decided to place profits ahead of the health of the people it is supposed to be treating.”
When: Thursday, April 19 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Where: Panther’s Den
Seven students from REC 421 Issues in Sustainable and Ecotourism have chosen topics about sustainability, nature, and ecotourism and developed their own TED Talks. Come out and support them.
When: Friday, April 20 from 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Where: Panther’s Den
Bring your own shirt and add a bit of earth art to it! Student leader will assist.
When: Friday, April 20, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Where: Quad
Come fly with us! Celebrate and learn about butterflies and their critical role as pollinators. Fly butterfly kites and plant seeds for flowers they need to live. Each participant will receive a pollinator seed package so that he/she can plant a butterfly garden at home. Sponsor: REC 450 Recreation Special Events students
Where: Meet at the Quad in front of Franklin Hall
When: Friday, April 20 from 2:00 p.m to 4:00 p.m.
Come and climb trees like researchers in the Amazon Rainforest. Using safe professional arborist equipment you will scale to new heights.
When: April 20 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Where: Large oak trees in front of Bassett Hall
Grab two of your friends and compete in a 3-on-3 tourney. Winning team will receive gift cards.
When: Saturday, April 21 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: Outdoor basketball courts on Lakeside.
Spend some quality time on the water this Earth Day. Transportation, equipment and instruction provided. FREE! Sponsored by Ferrum Outdoors.
When: Sunday, April 22 from 1:00 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Philpott Lake. Meet at the Franklin Lower Parking Lot.
Register by Friday, 4/20 at www.ferrumoutdoors.eventbrite.com
Nature’s wonders both large and small have served as artistic inspiration throughout our history. Participants will discover and collect small natural items such as feathers, branches, flowers, and rocks to incorporate into a watercolor painting. Poems, quotes, and earth inspired writings will be incorporated into your art. Watercolor and lettering techniques will be explored to create a unique framable sign that will continue to motivate and inspire a commitment to honor and protect the earth everyday! Free.
When: Sunday, April 22 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Where: Dyer Hall Conference Room and Patio.
Get outside and enjoy Earth Day! Get a round of disk golf in while learning more about Earth Day!
When: Sunday April 22 from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 pm.
Where: Tennis court shelter.
Prayer Labyrinths have long been a source of introspection and divine guidance. Walk the maze and contemplate your connection to nature and the Divine.
When: Sunday, April 22 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Where: Vaughn Chapel
***The Moonshine Heritage Car Show originally scheduled for this weekend has been postponed until a summer date that is yet to be determined.***The Blue Ridge Institute & Museum of Ferrum College, along with the Outlaw Cruisers Car Club of Rocky Mount, will sponsor the third annual Moonshine Heritage Car Show on Sat., April 7, 2018 at the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum on the campus of Ferrum College.
The show will highlight cars that either have a moonshine hauling history or were the type of vehicle that was used for transporting liquor. All cars have to be pre-registered. The show will run from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Afterwards, for those interested, a “run” will made from Ferrum to Twin Creeks Distillery in Henry.
The show is free and open to the public. Local favorite eateries, Bowling’s Place Hotdogs and Daylight Donuts, will be onsite.
For more information, call (540) 365-4412.
Photo credit: Terry Hall Collection
Dr. Tina Hanlon (far right) with the Appalachian Cluster 2016 field trip to Saltville, St. Paul, Dante, Pound, and Wise, VA as well as Lynch, KY.
Tina Hanlon, Ferrum College professor of English, has been selected as the post-secondary educator for the 2018 Stephen L. Fisher Excellence in Teaching Award. She will be recognized during the 41st annual Appalachian Studies Association (ASA) conference in Cincinnati, Ohio on April 6, 2018.
According to the ASA website, the Stephen L. Fisher Award for Excellence in Teaching* honors individuals dedicated to intellectual rigor and pedagogical integrity in constructing and delivering inclusive knowledge about Appalachia and its people. Selection of the award winners was made by the ASA Education Committee, who reviewed the pool of nominated candidates.
Hanlon has been teaching British and American literature at Ferrum College since 1992 and focuses on world folktales and writings for children and adolescents. Her courses also include professional writing, composition, and linguistics. She received her B. A. in English from Gettysburg College and both her M. A. and Ph.D. in English from Ohio State University.
Hanlon created Ferrum’s Appalachian Literature course and is one of three Ferrum College professors who teach the Appalachian Cluster, a unique learning community that examines modernization in Appalachia through a group of courses in English, sociology, and environmental science. Her faculty profile is at www.ferrum.edu/artsandhumanities/faculty/tina-hanlon/.
*The award was established in 2013 by the ASA Education Committee chaired by Carol Baugh. In 2015, the award was named in honor of Stephen L. Fisher, professor of political science from 1971 to 2006 at Emory & Henry College, where he helped create an Appalachian studies minor, the Appalachian Center for Community Service, and an inter-disciplinary service-learning major in Public Policy & Community Service. Fisher was the 1999 Carnegie Foundation Outstanding Baccalaureate College U.S. Professor of the Year and won numerous additional teaching awards.
