11/12/2021
Ferrum College students, faculty, staff, and community members attended the College’s annual Veterans Day ceremony in Vaughn Chapel on November 11, 2021. Ferrum College alumnus and Brigadier General (Ret.) Burt Thompson ’82 was the keynote speaker.
Retired U.S. Army Sergeant and Professor of English Melvin Macklin brought greetings to attendees on behalf of Ferrum College. After the “National Anthem” was sung, Campus Minister Laura Robinson gave the invocation and President David Johns welcomed the crowd. Vice President for Institutional Advancement and External Relations Wilson Paine ’07 introduced BG (Ret.) Thompson, who spoke about his own experience, first as a student at Ferrum College and then as a military service member. He said, “We only celebrate Veterans Day for a few minutes and then this country’s life carries on – as it should – but I think it most appropriate that we recall this occasion during the moments when we are faced with great responsibilities. Recall the contributions and sacrifices which so many men and women, and their families, have made that permits us to gather like we are today.”
Vice President for Academic Affairs Kevin Reilly recognized veterans in the audience and then Ferrum’s “Alma Mater” was sung. President David Johns ended the ceremony by speaking to attendees about veterans’ sacrifices. He said, “Do something meaningful to make life more peaceful and free.”
Ferrum College is a Yellow Ribbon school, which means that the College honors military benefits for active duty or retired military students, or dependents of military personnel. Currently, 24 of Ferrum’s students utilize military benefits.
Watch a recorded version of the ceremony here.
See photos from the event here.
More about BG (Ret.) Thompson:
BG (Ret.) Thompson served for 31 years as the Deputy Director for Strategic Plans and Policy in the U.S. Pacific Command, and retired in 2015.
As a resident of Mount Vernon, Virginia, he now serves as the president of Data Machines Corp., a service-disabled veteran-owned small business that provides solutions in data analytics, dev-ops, machine intelligence, and data science. He also supports war fighter exercises as the senior mentor and highly qualified expert for the U.S. Army Mission Command Training Program. He teaches national security decision-making and effective leadership processes as a mentor for the State Department’s Foreign Service Institute and National Security Executive Leadership Seminar.
BG (Ret.) Thompson coaches over 100 senior officers and their spouses each year on successful transition from military to civilian life as the course facilitator and instructor for the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy General Officer and Flag Officer Transition Program.
After earning an Associate of Arts degree from Ferrum College in 1982, BG (Ret.) Thompson received a Bachelor of Arts in government from Norwich University. He went on to earn a Master of Arts in Advanced Military Studies from the U.S. Army Command and Staff College; another Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College; and a Master of Science in Personal Management and Administration from Central Michigan University.
BG (Ret.) Thompson is also a 2014 recipient of Ferrum College’s Beckham Medallion, the College’s highest alumni honor. Named after the College’s first president, Dr. Benjamin M. Beckham, the Medallion is awarded to an alumnus or alumna who exemplifies in an exceptional manner the Ferrum motto, “Not Self, But Others.”
Gospel Fest 2020: “The 20/20 Vision” will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2020 at 5 p.m. in Ferrum College’s Vaughn Chapel, 40 Wiley Drive, Ferrum. This event is free and open to the public.
Sponsored by Ferrum College’s Office of Spiritual Life, the concert will feature the Ferrum College Fresh Wind Gospel Choir and Band; Bishop M.L. Hardy and the Sons of Thunder; United Voices of God; and Longwood University’s Brothers and Sisters in Christ (B.A.S.I.C.) Gospel Choir.
Read more about Ferrum College’s Office of Spiritual Life here.
Ferrum College invites the community to a special 10 a.m. Veterans Day Program to be held on Veterans Day, November 11, 2019, in the College’s Vaughn Chapel, 40 Wiley Drive, Ferrum. The program, which is free and open to the public, will honor veterans and reserve soldiers.
Ferrum College alumnus and U.S. Army veteran Greg Craddock will be the keynote speaker. Craddock has over 20 years of special operations, intelligence, and security operations experience. He was a member of the Ferrum College football team and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1992. He also holds a master’s degree in business administration from Liberty University.
Craddock now serves as chief executive officer of Patriot Group International (PGI), Inc. PGI was founded in 2005 by former special operations and intelligence professionals to offer services to select clients within the intelligence, defense, and private sectors. In 2009, Craddock led a group of private investors to acquire PGI. Under his leadership, PGI earned over $10 million in revenue within two years of operation. In 2014, PGI was named to Inc. Magazine’s “Fast 500” which recognizes the 500 fastest growing privately owned companies in the United States.
During his Army service, Craddock served as a ranger and Special Forces soldier, and was among the first boots on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq. Prior to joining PGI, he served as an Anti-Terrorism Force Protection (ATFP) consultant to the United States government.
Following the Veterans Day Program in Vaughn Chapel, the community is also invited to attend the Craddock Veterans Lounge unveiling in Stanley Library, made possible by the generosity of Greg Craddock and his family. Light refreshments will be served.
Read more about Patriot Group International, Inc. here.
The campus community celebrated Ferrum College students during its annual Academic Awards Ceremony on Friday, April 12, 2019 in Vaughn Chapel.
After Dean of Chapel Jan Nicholson Angle offered the invocation, President David Johns welcomed students and their families, faculty, and staff, and expressed his pleasure in “celebrating today students who are not content with doing the minimum—meeting basic expectations. These students know that to be successful means stretching and daring to do a little more.”
“I am proud of our honorees,” continued Johns. “Let’s do more than congratulate them today; let’s thank them—because when they strive for and achieve excellence, they inspire us to do the same.” He closed by presenting the President’s Cup to senior Alexandria Dixon who is about to receive her bachelors degree in business administration with concentrations in management and finance, and a minor in philosophy. Awards were then presented to students by the dean of their school and their professors.
Provost Aimé Sposato bestowed special awards and closed the ceremony with these words of encouragement: “In just a few weeks, you will be walking across the Commencement stage — ready to take on the world. As you begin your next journey, carry a little bit of Ferrum College in your heart as you reach for the stars. We are honored to call you Panthers!”
A list of award recipients and honor society members follows.
See photos from the event here.
The Iron Blade Editor Commendation
AnnGardner Eubank
The Chrysalis Editor-in-Chief Award
AnnGardner Eubank
The Chrysalis Staff Member of the Year Award
Leya Deickman
The Eric Lee Baker Award for the Outstanding Student in English
Heather Ellis
The Outstanding Student of Russian Award
Suzanne Maines
The Spanish Award
Olivia Webster
The C.P. Minnick Award
Lorrie Ellis
The Acey-Wood-Rose Award for Excellence in Religious Studies
Christian Haley
The Jasse Scholarship in History Awards
Christian Haley
Pedro Arrocena-Jacuinde
Jack Sheehan
Jennifer Stough
Erica Tuck
The Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar in History Award
Claire Bailey
The Art Department Award
Atenoya Morris
The Theatre Arts Achievement Award
Sierra Pearson
Jasmine Williams
Lacey Matthews
The Dance Achievement Award
Sierra Pearson
Malcolm McRae
The Outstanding Music Student Award
Sierra Pearson
Corey Sutphin
The Agricultural Sciences Award
Sean Trollinger
The Biology Award
Quentin Montgomery
The Chemistry Award
Christina OubkeoThe Environmental Science Award
Katherine Anderson
Tamiah Palmer
The Environmental Studies Award
Caitlin Spencer
The Health Sciences Award
Taylor Atkinson
Hayden Storms
The Pre-Professional Health Sciences Award
Jared Williamson
The Pre-Professional Science Award
Chantal Aaron
The Mathematics Award
Joshua Wright
The Award for the Outstanding Student in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Chantal Aaron
The Management Award
Noah Collins
Alexandria Dixon
The Finance Award
Christian Cromer
Jake Martin
The Decision Support Award
Emma Grammer
The Marketing Award
Chanté Elam
The Hamblin Accounting Award
Sierra Roach
The Outstanding Student Researcher Psychology Award
JC Hazelwood
The Outstanding Student in Psychology Award
Rachael Ellis
The Health and Human Performance Award
Anton Traquair
The Recreation Leadership Award
Samantha Davis
The Jane Addams Social Work Achievement Award
Guy RamseyThe Outstanding Social Work Student Award
Alexandra Young
Taylor Woods
The 2019 Dr. Ken McCreedy Outstanding Criminal Justice Graduating Senior Award
Koby McMahon
The Dr. Betty N. Bailey Silver Weaver Award
Bethany Fletcher
The Delta Kappa Gamma Outstanding Woman in Education Award
Cheyenne Strickland
The Charles A. and Marion C. Skinner Award for Excellence in Education
Elementary Education
Molley Massey
Rachel Lowe
All-Level
Kelsey Mosley
Joshua Grimard
The Frank Benjamin Hurt Award
Matt Wright
The Rising Star Award
Gabrielle Reichard
Model United Nations
The Most Effective Delegate
Zachary Bullard
Model United Nations
The Most Effective Delegation
Zachary Bullard
AnnGardner Eubank
The Advisor’s Choice Award
Zachary Bullard
President’s Cup
Alexandria Dixon
The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards
Student Recipient
Mark Kellam
Faculty Recipient
Dr. Delia Heck
Non-Student Recipient
Dr. Ed Cornbleet
The Lillie Warwick Slaven Award
Alexis Hatcher
The James T. Catlin Citizenship Award
Lawrence BaranskiChantal Aaron
Pedro Arrocena-Jacuinde
Katherine Anderson
Taylor Atkinson
Claire Bailey
Lawrence Baranski III
Zachary Bullard
Noah Collins
Christian Cromer
Samantha Davis
Leya Deickman
Alexandria Dixon
Chanté Elam
Heather Ellis
Lorrie Ellis
Rachael Ellis
AnnGardner Eubank
Bethany Fletcher
Emma Grammer
Joshua Grimard
Christian Haley
Alexis Hatcher
JC Hazelwood
Mark Kellam
Rachel Lowe
Suzanne Maines
Jake Martin
Molly Massey
Lacey Matthews
Koby McMahon
Malcolm McRae
Quentin Montgomery
Atenoya Morris
Kelsey Mosley
Christina Oubkeo
Tamiah Palmer
Sierra Pearson
Guy Ramsey
Gabrielle Reichard
Sierra Roach
Jack Sheehan
Caitlin Spencer
Hayden Storms
Jennifer Stough
Cheyenne Strickland
Corey Sutphin
Anton Traquair
Sean Trollinger
Erica Tuck
Olivia Webster
Jasmine Williams
Jared Williamson
Taylor Woods
Joshua Wright
Matthew Wright
Alexandra YoungChantal Aaron
Bryce Beard
AnnGardner Eubank
Dakota Fletcher
Suzanne Maines
Nancy Shoaf
Victoria WagnerTaylor Brown
Samantha Combs
Kevin Ramirez
Charissa Reter
Satin Alicia Lee WilliamsMarquis LeeHallie ChappellOlivia Fox
Amber Scott
Mallory ScottMegan Allen
Renee Alleyne
Elina Baltins
Ametria Booker
Makenna Carden
Graham Doucette
Mikayla Floyd
Dominique Harper
Brady Hentz
Danielle Johns
Lauren Jutras
Abigale Light
Morgan McCoy
Kenzie Mosley
Amber Osborn
Hunter Tharpe
Ayanna Virgin
Carissa WilliamsAbigail Baker
Lawrence Baranski III
Katelin Benton
Hunter Berrier
Cayla Berry
Ysabella Bettilyon
Matthew Boyd
Mia Brower
Ashley Charters
Kimberly Clements
Samantha Combs
Taylor Darnell
De’Asia Darrington
Leya Deickman
Dakota Fletcher
Christian Haley
Rachel Hancock
Clifford Harrison
Caitlin Hodges
Sarah Peyton Hodges
LaErica Hubbard
Jonathan Iraggi
Jenna Janicki
Zack Jones
Gabriella Kermon
Rachel Knick
Lindsay Koogler
Allison Kurfees
Kayla Lentini
Alexzondra Mattson
Mikayla Moreno
Atenoya Morris
Autum Murray-Burns
Christina Oubkeo
Tamiah Palmer
Addison Philpott
Casey Raggett
Gabrielle Reichard
Destiny Roane
Davon Robinson
Amber Scott
Morgan Scott
Natasha Shelton
Cayla Stephens
Victoria Wagner
Brittany Warren
Grant Welch
Haley Yates
Rebecca YearyJamecia SmithPedro Arrocena-Jacuinde
Nancy Shoaf
Erica TuckLeya Deickman
Sierra Helton
Mallory Hall
Brianna Martin
Christopher RodriguezKathryn Bonner
Ametria Booker
Susan Cook
Leya Deickman
Kayla Divers
Daishi Dudley
Chanté Elam
Koby McMahon
Autumn Potkay
Mary Stoudt
Jasmine WilliamsJasmine Agee
Mark Allen
Jason Anstice
Max Baker
Cayla Berry
Jacob Blaukovitch
Tanner Brooks
Taylor Brown
Tucker Brown
Sianna Burgos-Altman
Mikayla Cannaday
Henry Carkhuff
Antonio Carrabotta
Chris Clarke
Dominick Claxton
Kimberly Clements
Noah Collins
Bailey Cooper
Taylor Darnell
Konner Deeds
Leya Deickman
Alexandria Dixon
Taylor Dodson
Moore Dolue
Miranda Dougherty
Alison Ford
Benjamin Foster
Tyler Fullem
Abigael Germeroth
Raekwon Giggetts
Courtney Gosslin
Hunter Goulart
Nick Helton
Anitria Henderson
Layura Henley
Shannon Johnson
Alicia Jones
CJ Kaashif
Lindsay Koogler
Breanne Kretzer
Allison Kurfees
Brooke Lewis
Michael Lyons
Brian Mann
Jake Martin
Alex Mattson
Ashley McAllister
Koby McMahon
Kevon McNeil
Hailey Meyer
Vicki Meza
Kiani Mohica
Christian Mosier
Travis Murray
Tim Ortega
Sirena Pangelinan
Austin Pennington
Matthew Poirier
Kevin Ramirez
Sierra Roach
Courtney Rudd
Samantha Sabater
Brendon Schrantz
Kali Setzer
Jack Sheehan
Kasey Sheets
Nancy Kathryn Shoaf
Brett Sommers
Cheyenne Strickland
Payton Stuart
Brandon Turner
Victoria Wagner
Shane Walker
Jasmine Wilson
Gloria Wood
Robert Ziehfreund
On Friday, February 22 at 12:15 p.m., Ferrum College provost and soprano Aimé Sposato, tenor Byron Jones, bassist John Moir, and pianist Robert Thieme will perform A Musical Conversation Between Friends in Vaughn Chapel on the Ferrum College campus. This classical voice recital will incorporate works by Mozart, Schumann, Mendelssohn, and Strauss, and is free and open to the community.
Sposato, of Ferrum College, 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.
Jones, of Shenandoah University, has more than two decades experience in opera, concert, and recital in locations such as the Kennedy Center Concert Hall and Millennium Stage. He is a singer and stage director, and has performed with the Washington Opera, Baltimore Opera, Opera Vivente, and Florentine Opera. He carries an affection for French cabaret songs and visits Schroon Lake in New York during the summer months to instruct at the Seagle Music Colony, a top training program for opera. Jones currently serves as associate professor of music (voice) and chair of the voice division at Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University.
Moir, of Bluefield College, has enjoyed singing with the Opera Pacific, Pacific Chamber Opera, Santa Barbara Civic Opera, the Roger Wagner Chorale, and the San Diego Master Chorale. A bit of a comic, he was also a founding member of the San Diego Gilbert and Sullivan Company, which is now the San Diego Comic Opera. His resume includes performances with the Akron Opera, Eastman Chorale, the Colgate University Chorale, and the San Diego Civic Light Opera. He has experience as a performer, singer, conductor, in choir and artistic direction, and now serves as an assistant professor of music and conductor of Bluefield College’s vocal ensembles.
Thieme, retired from West Virginia University, served as the director of the University’s 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 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.
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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 often heard singing the national anthem for the Pirates, Penguins, and NASCAR.
More about Dr. Byron Jones: For more than twenty years, Dr. Byron Jones has performed regularly for Washington, D.C. audiences in opera, concert, recital, and cabaret settings, to include the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Opera House, and Millennium Stage, Lisner Auditorium, and the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. He has recorded vintage songs, some from early aviation days, which are on display at the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institute.
Jones has performed Jacques Brel’s songs to critical acclaim and has received praise for tone warmth, expression, and clarity of diction. He has also directed “Riders to the Sea”; “Gianni Schicchi”; “HMS Pinafore”; “Amahl and the Night Visitors”; “Il matrimonio segreto”; “The Old Maid and the Thief/The Secret of Suzanne”; “Scene and Aria, or Mozart’s Impresario, reimagined”; and “Side by Side by Sondheim.”
A specialist of the French language, Jones has given masterclasses at Carnegie-Mellon University, The Hartt School, and Boston Conservatory. He is currently associate professor of music (voice) and chair of the voice division at Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University. During the summer, he joins the voice faculty at Seagle Music Colony at Schroon Lake in New York, where he works with young singers on artistry and vocal technique. Jones holds degrees in French Language and Literature, and in Vocal Performance, from the Universities of North Carolina, Massachusetts, and Maryland, and from Shenandoah University.
More about Dr. John Moir: Starting off as a chorister with the San Diego Opera, Dr. John Moir has enjoyed a career as a teacher, performer, singer, and conductor with more than two decades of experience in music. He has worked alongside George London, Joan Sutherland, Sherrill Milnes, Richard Leech, Aprile Millo, Beverly Sills, Richard Bonynge, Eduardo Müller, and Theo Alcantara.
Moir’s experience includes performances with Opera Pacific; Pacific Chamber Opera; Santa Barbara Civic Opera; the Roger Wagner Chorale; the San Diego Master Chorale; the San Diego Civic Light Opera; Akron Opera; Eastman Chorale; and the Colgate University Chorale, where he sang solos in Mendelssohn’s “Elijah.” He was a founding member of the San Diego Gilbert and Sullivan Company, now known as the San Diego Comic Opera. Moir also enjoyed time as artistic director with a semi-professional chorus called CORO!, which performed with Minnesota Sinfonia, Dakota Valley Symphony, and the MacPhail Center for the Arts’ Chorus “Sonomento.” Moir now serves as assistant professor of music and conductor of Bluefield College’s vocal ensembles.
More about Mr. Robert Thieme: Robert Thieme retired from West Virginia University 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.
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Flutist Sarah Shin will perform in Vaughn Chapel at Ferrum College on Monday, November 5 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Pianist Kelly Lin will accompany Shin. The recital is open to the public. From 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., Shin will also offer a masterclass open to Ferrum College and local high school students. Registration is required for the masterclass here. Both events are free.
During the recital, Shin will give renditions from various artists, to include Bach, Charles Griffes, Michael Colquhoun, Georges Enesco, Eldin Burton, and Frank Martin. Her resume includes performances in Symphony Hall in Boston, Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall in New York City, John F. Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., Gewandhaus Theatre in Leipzig Germany, and in concert venues throughout Seoul, South Korea. Shin has also participated in music festivals such as Round Top Festival Institute (TX), Brevard Music Center (NC), Colorado College Music Festival (CO), and Opera in the Ozarks (AR) as principal flute.
For additional information about the event, please contact Dr. Sixto Montesinos, director of bands and assistant professor of music at Ferrum College, at (832) 574-8162 or smontesinos@ferrum.edu.
More about Sarah Shin: Shin received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in flute performance from Carnegie Mellon University School of Music, and her master’s in flute performance from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, as a Barbara and David Jacobs Scholar. She is currently finishing her Doctorate of Musical Arts at Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts. Read more on Shin’s website.
