The Ferrum College softball team will soon notice some changes to their facility after the College successfully completed its “Batting a 1.000” campaign for a new softball complex, named after Hall of Fame softball coach Vickie Van Kleeck.
The College raised over $330,000 from 119 donors for the new complex, far exceeding its original goal of $100,000 by June 30, 2022.
The Vickie Van Kleeck Softball Complex will include new club-level seating, construction of a press box, locker rooms, and other amenities to improve the gameday experience for the players and fans.
“It was a pleasure to work with so many friends and alumni on this campaign. The success of this fundraising effort will allow Ferrum College to build the best softball stadium in the ODAC and one of the best in all of Division III,” stated Director of Development, Bart Smith. “I’m excited for our softball program and all of the athletes now and in the future that will have a chance to play in this great stadium.”
Van Kleeck was Ferrum’s softball coach for 24 seasons before retiring in 2015. During her tenure at Ferrum, Van Kleeck won 531 games, including three regular season USA South Athletic Conference championships (1994, 1995, 2013). She led Ferrum to USA South Softball Tournament titles in 2002, 2005 and 2012, earning NCAA Division III playoffs appearances all three years. She coached 140 Academic All-Conference Players, 23 All-State players, and received the 2013 USA South Coach of the Year Award. She was inducted into Ferrum College’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.
“I couldn’t be more thankful for the many donors who helped make our Batting a 1.000 campaign a success. In doing so, this allows us to move forward with the Vickie Van Kleeck Softball Complex,” stated Director of Athletics John Sutyak. “This was a true team effort to get us to our goal, which included our alumni, parents, staff, faculty, friends and a number of our current Ferrum softball student-athletes contributing to the campaign. The future is bright for Ferrum College softball.”
Ferrum College President David Johns spoke about what this new facility represents, stating “Athletics has always been an important part of the Ferrum College experience, and our softball program has enjoyed tremendous success over the years, on and off the field. We are delighted to honor Coach VVK and our softball players, past and present, with this new facility.”
With the successful completion of the campaign, the College hopes to unveil the Vickie Van Kleeck Softball Complex in 2023.
Ferrum College raised over $3.1 million this fiscal year, surpassing last year’s total by more than $500,000 and the total raised in 2020 by more than $1.1 Million. Over $835,000 was raised for scholarships and another $600,000 was awarded through grants to provide academic and financial support to the College’s students.
1,170 donors contributed to this year’s fundraising success, including 178 members of the Arthur Society. Named after the college’s seventh President, Reverend Dr. C. Ralph Arthur, the Arthur Society provides special recognition to alumni, parents, and friends who make annual gifts of at least $1,000 to the College over the fiscal year. Read more about Ferrum’s giving societies here.
This year, Ferrum College held its annual giving day on October 12, 2021 and participated in #GivingTuesday on November 30, 2021. The two events raised more than $250,000 from 384 donors, including $203,116 for the College’s Ferrum Fund, an unrestricted fund that covers scholarships, academic programming, and student research opportunities at the College.
The College also continued its trend in athletics fundraising with the successful completion of the “Batting a 1.000” campaign.” The “Batting a 1.000” campaign sought to raise funds for capital improvements to the softball facility including a press box, a team locker room, improved seating, and other amenities that will make Ferrum College’s softball facility one of the premiere stadiums in the Old Dominion Athletics Conference. With an initial goal of $100,000, the College raised over $330,000 from 119 donors. The new softball facility will be named after Hall of Fame softball coach Vickie Van Kleeck. Van Kleeck was Ferrum’s softball coach for 24 seasons, as well as the College’s Senior Woman Administrator, before retiring in 2015.
Ferrum College President David Johns expressed pride and gratitude for this year’s success, stating “I am proud of the work we are doing at Ferrum College to prepare students for good work and meaningful lives, and I am grateful to our many friends for helping to make this possible.”
“This year’s success affirms our commitment to providing a great experience for our students,” said Vice President of Institutional Advancement and External Relations Wilson Paine ‘07. “I am thankful to our alumni and supporters who recognize the important role Ferrum College plays for our students, our community, and our region. We have set a high bar for ourselves over the past few years, and I can’t wait to see where we go from here.”
Make a gift and learn more about what your gift supports by visiting here.
Photo credit: Stephen “West” Nuttycombe, Jr. ’19
10/14/2021
On October 12, 2021, Ferrum College celebrated its own day of giving, ending the campaign with a record-breaking day: $109,382 from 275 donors. This year’s total more than doubles last year’s, when Ferrum received $56,786 from over 260 donors on December 1, 2020 during #GivingTuesday, the global day of giving.
“During a time when it seems that unity is scarce in the world, our college community has once again joined together to enrich the lives of Ferrum students,” said President David Johns. “They will benefit from the generosity of our alumni, employees, and friends for years to come, and I am proud of the work we’re doing to educate our future leaders.”
The theme for Ferrum’s Giving Day was “The Tie That Binds,” which celebrates the long-lasting relationships that are built on campus between students, coaches, faculty, and staff.
“Through the years, spanning decades and generations, it is our shared experience that brings us all together as members of the Ferrum family,” said Vice President for Institutional Advancement and External Relations Wilson Paine, who is a 2007 Ferrum College alumnus. “The support we continue to receive is just astounding, and I am proud of our collective commitment to Ferrum students.”
Photo by Brad Holley Photography
10/5/2021
The Ferrum College community will celebrate its Giving Day on Tuesday, October 12, 2021. The theme of this day is “The Tie That Binds,” which pays tribute to the relationships shaped at Ferrum College.
Vice President for Institutional Advancement and External Relations Wilson Paine, who is also a 2007 alumnus of the College, spoke about his own experience: “Ferrum College has played an intricate role in our lives beyond just the classroom. As a student at Ferrum, I met friends whom I’m even closer to now, nearly two decades later. They have been by my side through some of life’s most important milestones – my first job interview, my wedding, the birth of my children. Through it all, I’m reminded that Ferrum College has been the tie that binds us all together.”
On or before October 12, the College invites donors to honor the relationships forged at Ferrum by signing up to make a monthly recurring gift to the Ferrum Fund at www.ferrum.edu/give.
The Ferrum Fund provides current and future students with:
8/12/2021
Students, faculty, staff, and alumni are now able to swipe a new Ferrum College branded bank card, brought to them by Carter Bank & Trust.
The bank has partnered with Varsity Financial Services to bring free online and mobile banking, free bill pay, and free peer-to-peer payments to local colleges and universities. Through this partnership, Ferrum’s campus community can enroll and receive a free Ferrum College branded debit card. The College will also enjoy ongoing revenue to support its teaching priorities.
“Our partnership with Carter Bank & Trust and Varsity Financial Services will provide a necessary service to our students and community, while also benefitting Ferrum College,” said Vice President for Institutional Advancement and External Relations Wilson Paine ’07. “This is a great way to show your Panther pride.”
Learn more about Varsity Financial Services here.
4/12/2021
Despite a nationwide slowdown in fundraising, Ferrum College is on track to have a successful philanthropic year by exceeding last year’s giving numbers. Colleges and universities across the nation have felt the strain in fundraising over the last year due to COVID-19. According to a national Education Advisory Board survey, one in four institutions is experiencing a 30 percent or more decline in fundraising revenues, and over 50 percent report a significant slowdown in major giving.
“This feat won’t be easy and will require a successful fourth quarter, but if we can pull this off, Ferrum College will be in rare company among higher-ed institutions across the nation,” said Vice President for Institutional Advancement and External Relations Wilson Paine ’07.
This fiscal year-to-date, which runs from July 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021, Ferrum College has already exceeded last year’s total for athletics fundraising, which marked a previous school record. The College has also nearly doubled the total number of gifts received from 2019. “On March 31, 2019 we had received 970 gifts to the College, and we are already at close to 1,700 for this fiscal year,” Paine said, noting that over 350 of this year’s gifts came from first-time donors.
While Paine acknowledges that the College has seen a slowdown in major gifts, likely attributed to the persistence of the pandemic and the lack of face-to-face meetings, Ferrum College has found success through a number of mini-campaigns, including the Virtual Sell Out Adams Stadium campaign and Giving Tuesday. In two years, the College has grown its Giving Tuesday success from 42 gifts totaling $6,255 in 2018 to this past year when it raised $112,601 from 314 gifts.
“That we are in a position to exceed last year’s fundraising totals across a range of metrics (number of gifts, Ferrum Fund, overall giving, and athletics giving) is a testament to the hard work of our entire Institutional Advancement team and our loyal donor base who have answered the call to support Ferrum College during this challenging year,” said Paine, “The future is bright at Ferrum College, and I’m excited at what we will be able to accomplish over the last three months of the fiscal year and into next year.”
If you would like to make a gift to Ferrum College, please visit www.ferrum.edu/giving.
Ferrum College is pleased to share its annual report for 2020. In the following letter included within this year’s report, Vice President for Institutional Advancement and External Relations Wilson Paine ’07 highlights some of the College’s achievements.
Dear Ferrum Family,
It is difficult to look back on this past year without mentioning the impact COVID-19 has had across the globe, including here at Ferrum College. From Zoom meetings to face masks, COVID-19 has altered how we live, work, and play in a way that seemed unimaginable a year ago. But it hasn’t all been bad. This pandemic has jolted us from our normal routines, reset our perspective on what is important, and created a sense of solidarity among all of us who care deeply about the future of our College.
This was especially evident last March, shortly after we transitioned to virtual learning for the remainder of the spring semester. At the time, I did not know what the overall impact would be, but I knew it was going to be substantial both for the College and our students. So, I recorded a video asking you for help. And the response was overwhelming.
As you’ll see, the College saw a 33% increase in giving to the Ferrum Fund and a 40% increase in athletics giving compared to the previous year, while significantly growing our number of donors. We also raised over $300,000 in scholarships, introduced new giving societies, held our first virtual alumni events, produced multiple marketing videos, and designed a website specifically dedicated to the College’s COVID-19 response – www.ferrum.edu/stronger-together. And last, but certainly not least, we produced this 2020 Annual Report to highlight the College’s achievements in this unprecedented year.
These achievements are a testament to the hard work of the Institutional Advancement team and to the variety of ways that each of you support Ferrum College and our efforts to build a bright and prosperous future for our students. I hope you are as proud as I am in what we, together, were able to achieve.
With Panther Pride,
Wilson Paine ’07
Vice President for Institutional Advancement JTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwYWxsb3dmdWxsc2NyZWVuJTNEJTIydHJ1ZSUyMiUyMGFsbG93JTNEJTIyZnVsbHNjcmVlbiUyMiUyMHN0eWxlJTNEJTIyYm9yZGVyJTNBbm9uZSUzQndpZHRoJTNBMTAwJTI1JTNCaGVpZ2h0JTNBNTAwcHglM0IlMjIlMjBzcmMlM0QlMjIlMkYlMkZlLmlzc3V1LmNvbSUyRmVtYmVkLmh0bWwlM0ZiYWNrZ3JvdW5kQ29sb3JGdWxsc2NyZWVuJTNEJTI2ZCUzRGZlcnJ1bV9jb2xsZWdlX2FubnVhbF9yZXBvcnRfMjAyMCUyNmhpZGVJc3N1dUxvZ28lM0R0cnVlJTI2dSUzRGZlcnJ1bWNvbGxlZ2UlMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZpZnJhbWUlM0U=
12/3/2020
Ferrum College celebrated #GivingTuesday on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 with an invitation for donors to be “Ferrum Bold” by making a gift of any size to any program. The College ended the day with gifts totaling a record-breaking $56,786 from over 260 donors.
As part of this year’s #GivingTuesday, Ferrum participated in a two-part challenge issued by the Jessie Ball duPont Fund: if the College raised at least $25,000, the duPont Fund would match it with another $25,000. Additionally, if at least 200 people made donations through the College’s website on Giving Tuesday, the duPont Fund would kick in another $25,000, bringing the total to an extra $50,000 for Ferrum College.
Ferrum met both requirements to receive the combined $50,000 in challenge gifts, bringing the total amount raised to $106,786.
“This Giving Tuesday was another reminder of the generosity and overwhelming support Ferrum receives from its alumni, faculty, staff, and friends,” said President David Johns. “The impact of Tuesday’s gifts will be felt for years to come.”
The theme for this year’s Giving Tuesday was “Ferrum Bold” and focused on stories of students and alumni who embody the toughness and resiliency that Ferrum has adopted this year through the slogan: Ferrum Means Iron.
“At a time when we are all being pulled in multiple directions, I am truly in awe of our supporters’ generosity,” said Vice President for Institutional Advancement & External Relations Wilson Paine. “I am so proud of the Ferrum family and the Institutional Advancement team for their commitment to our students and programs.”
Per their website, the Jessie Ball duPont Fund “is committed to creating communities of belonging for the people, organizations and places that [philanthropist, businesswoman, and community steward] Jessie Ball duPont knew and loved.” Visit here to learn more.
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.
The newly renovated Carter Center for Academic Success includes a space for the PRIDE program, which focuses on academic & personal excellence for student-athletes. Donna Winge photo.
In the summer of 2020, the Carter Center for Academic Success, formerly known as the Academic Resources Center, received a facelift thanks to alumnus Maury Carter ’53 and his family.
“Seven siblings from my generation were Ferrum scholars,” said Carter. “Ferrum College provided more than a college textbook education. Taught there was an outstanding education, but equally important: compassion.”
“It is an exciting time for those of us who work in the Carter Center for Academic Success,” said Dean of Student Success and Assistant Professor David Wiggins. “Now the Carter Center is even more beautiful and functional. The students are thankful for a place where they can study individually or collectively, get peer-assisted tutoring, and learn new skills to help them with their academic success. We are very grateful to the Carter family for their gift.”
Located on the lower level of Ferrum College’s library, the newly renovated Carter Center is open 24 hours a day and boasts all new furniture, paint, carpeting, and ceiling tiles, plus a new camera and monitoring system. It provides resources and services to help students achieve their greatest academic potential, including one-on-one tutoring support, individual advising sessions, study groups for first-year students and military veterans, and support for students with learning differences.
Carter’s family was not financially secure during the College’s early days. “A family of ten. Mom and Dad and eight siblings,” remembered Carter. “A poor family a bit different from the students from more populated areas. Our parents could not have afforded to send any of us to college. Ferrum College made the dream of attending college possible for our family. The professors understood us and taught us well.”
After graduating from Ferrum, Carter went on to enjoy a successful career in real estate investment, primarily in Virginia and central Florida. Based in Orlando, Maury L. Carter & Associates has closed approximately $1,500,000,000 in real estate transactions on over 200,000 acres of land since the 1990s.
“The Carter family moved to Ferrum in 1914, one year after the College opened, and have been part of the Ferrum story ever since,” explained Vice President for Institutional Advancement Wilson Paine ’07. “This gift represents over one hundred years of support from the Carter family, and is a testament to their commitment to our students, the College, and the region.”
“I love the people there,” said Carter. “I love the town and Ferrum College. When I am on the College’s campus, I have a special feeling: a feeling of being at home.”
Learn more about the Carter Center for Academic Success by visiting here.
Read 1953 alumnus Maury Carter’s full thoughts below:
“‘Not Self, But Others.’ Ferrum College provided more than a college textbook education. Taught there was an outstanding education, but equally important: compassion. ‘Not Self, But Others.’
“There in them hills was a family called Carter. A family of ten. Mom and Dad and eight siblings. Seven siblings from my generation were Ferrum scholars. A poor family a bit different from the students from more populated areas. Our parents could not have afforded to send any of us to college. Ferrum College made the dream of attending college possible for our family. The professors understood us and taught us well.
“I believe my brother began attending Ferrum around 1920. Many of our family members have attended during our 100 year relationship with Ferrum College.
“On a personal note, I say that Ferrum College kept me out of tanks in Korea. I graduated in 1953 and entered the U.S. Army. After the rigorous basic training, we were being assigned locations, most to Korea. Out of a group of several hundred, I was selected to serve as a personnel specialist. This assignment taught me how to perform in an office environment and it prepared me for a position in aerospace.
“I love the people there. I love the mountains. I love the town and Ferrum College. When I am on the college campus, I have a special feeling: a feeling of being at home.”
For an in-depth account of Carter’s early life and achievements, please visit the Maury L. Carter & Associates, Inc. website.
Ferrum College is excited to announce the creation of the Michael T. Christian ’63 Center for First-Year Experience, made possible by a generous contribution from alumnus Michael Christian.
“I made some friends at Ferrum who were serious students. As a result I became serious about succeeding in college and beyond,” said Christian, who graduated from Ferrum Junior College in 1963.
The Center will serve all incoming freshmen, including those who are the first in their families to attend college. Its goal is to integrate first-year students into college life by connecting them to an academic and social network of professors, mentors, and classmates to help them have a successful college experience. Students will also be connected to other resources at Ferrum College such as clubs, campus engagement, and career services.
“The transition from high school to college can be daunting, especially for the approximately 25 percent of our student body who are the first in their family to attend college,” said Vice President for Institutional Advancement and External Relations Wilson Paine. “The Michael T. Christian ’63 Center for First-Year Experience is designed to make sure our first-year students won’t feel lost as they begin their college journey.”
“The Michael T. Christian ’63 Center for First-Year Experience is the perfect location to study and gather with other students. FYE provides students with a variety of resources to help them perform to their highest potential. These include academic coaching, events, Gateway and Freshmen Orientation courses, and much more,” said First-Year Experience Coordinator Michelle Carter.
After graduating from Ferrum Junior College, Christian went on to earn his bachelors degree from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. He then commissioned into the United States Army as a second lieutenant and later discharged as a captain. After his military service, he became executive vice president of Nations Bank, now Bank of America, and served as president and chief executive officer of three additional community banks. He also chaired two United Way campaigns and was chairman of the board for Tusculum College. Christian remains involved as a consultant to an east Tennessee regional financial services company and has participated in other civic activities, including previously serving on the board of directors for the Federal Reserve Bank (Nashville branch) and the Tennessee Bankers Association.
“I attribute much of my success to Ferrum,” said Christian. “What I gained there is worth much more to me than the monetary donation I made to the school.”
“We are immensely grateful to Mike for his contribution to the Center,” said Paine. “Every day, he lives by our motto, ‘Not Self, But Others’, and is a true champion for Ferrum College students.”
Read more about the Michael T. Christian ’63 Center for First-Year Experience here.
Despite a spring semester that was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the cancelation of the spring athletic season, Ferrum College is celebrating a substantial increase in unrestricted giving to the Ferrum Fund and to Ferrum athletics.
“We asked our alumni and friends for support, and they responded in an overwhelming way,” said Vice President for Institutional Advancement and External Relations Wilson Paine ’07.
For fiscal year 2020 (July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020), the College saw a 33% increase in giving to the Ferrum Fund compared to last year, with close to 900 donations totaling over $400,000. Additionally, donations to athletics increased by 40% with gifts exceeding $140,000 from over 500 donors, which is double the donors from last year.
“It is extremely exciting to achieve this accomplishment during such a difficult and unexpected year,” said Director of Athletics John Sutyak, who arrived at the College in January of this year. “I’m continually impressed by our loyal supporter base and their commitment to Ferrum athletics and our student-athletes.”
Along with Ferrum’s dedicated donors and the addition of corporate sponsorship opportunities, Sutyak credits the increase in athletic giving to his coaching staff; Assistant Director of Athletics and Sports Information Director Gary Holden, and the institutional advancement staff, particularly Paine, Director of Development Bart Smith, and Director of Annual Giving Crystal Gibson.
Gifts to the Ferrum Fund go to a variety of programs at the College, including scholarships, academic programs, and student support. Ferrum Fund dollars help provide aid to students who may no longer have the means to continue their education due to financial hardships created by COVID-19.
“This is a great victory for Ferrum College and Ferrum athletics. We are grateful to our alumni, parents, and supporters who made gifts despite the shortened spring season and other challenges,” said Paine.
To learn how to support Ferrum athletics and the Ferrum Fund, and for more information about corporate sponsorship opportunities, please contact Wilson Paine at wpaine@ferrum.edu or 540-365-4211.
Learn more about the Ferrum Fund here, and more about Ferrum athletics here.
