Dear Ferrum Friends,

Spring has arrived in Ferrum and the weather today as I write this is absolutely glorious!

I know you will particularly enjoy this issue of Fe. From news about the students who traveled to Louisiana to assist in hurricane relief efforts during spring break, to faculty innovations and achievements, this issue is brimming with information.

Ferrum Students Use Break to Help Others Recover, Gain Perspective
Ferrum College students and Dean of the Chapel Wes Astin spent 6 days in Materie and New Orleans, LA to assist in recovery efforts. They arrived on Friday, March 3, working at assigned homes each day and spending evenings on the floors of St. Matthews UMC in Materie. Their job was to "gut" our assigned homes. Breaking into two teams, it was our responsibility to go in and remove all furniture, all debris, mud, carpet/hardwood floors, walls, ceilings, appliances, fixtures and the nails from the studs. They would then treat the walls for mold. Upon completion of the work another team would come in and begin the rebuilding process. Read more...

Women's Leadership Conference 2006:
Podcast and Video
Ferrum College's podcast (available through the iTunes Music Store and at the WLC site) features the keynote speaker Frankie Patton Rutherford's address and the Mountain Women Rising performance. Also available is a large video presentation of both events. Click to see the audio/video offerings and read about and listen to our podcast here!

Holocaust 2006 Video Presentation
Holocaust survivors Morris and Riva Rosenblat, from Miami, FL, were special guests of Ferrum College's Holocaust program on March 23rd. Morris spoke on "My Experience in the Holocaust" and video is now available online here!

Academic Innovation Spotlight:
Music Appreciation Video
Gary Evans' Music Appreciation class enacts a famous Renaissance madrigal in a video available here. (Video hosted by Google.)

Update on FerrumPLUS!
by Bobby Thompson, Senior Vice President for Business Affairs

FerrumPLUS continues to be one of the most exciting projects on Ferrum’s campus in several decades. Daily, we are able to see progress being made in transforming our facilities with state-of the-art amenities to enhance the total educational experience of our students. It is truly amazing to witness the impact that FerrumPLUS is already having with the project being 75% complete.

The next milestones that are quickly taking shape are the completion of the renovation of the Franklin Hall Student Center/Dining Hall and the opening of the Skeens Alumni and Conference Center. It is extremely satisfying to don a hardhat and see the new space as construction proceeds. We are scheduled to begin using the new conference center in early June, 2006 as we welcome the new and expanded season of Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre. In the main conference area, we will be able to seat 250 guests for a dinner with spectacular views of Adam’s Lake and the Blue Ridge mountains. We believe that Professor Skeens would be very pleased with what has been accomplished as a result of his love of Ferrum and its students.

The last major facility in FerrumPLUS is the complete renovation of Roberts Hall. It will be a real treat for the thousands of students who have called Roberts home since Ferrum’s founding to see the improvements. The building will continue its original purpose of providing highly desirable student residence space in the center of campus with special attention given to preserving its enduring traditional character and personality. The generosity of Ferrum alumni and friends is making possible an exciting new area on the lower level of Roberts. Faculty have worked with our architects to design a student oriented service-learning center which will promote outreach and service to others as a valued component of the Ferrum experience. Roberts is scheduled to reopen to students in August in time for the 2006 fall semester.

Click for the latest photos of FerrumPLUS!

Naff Wins 600th Career Game
Prior to the weekend games sweeping Piedmont College, Ferrum College honored Head Coach Abe Naff for winning his 600th career game, March 25th's 3-2 triumph over the Lions. With this afternoon's game, Naff now has a career record of 601-214-3 in 22 years at the helm of the Ferrum baseball program. Naff has the Panthers to the NCAA Division III playoffs nine times and won eight conference titles.
On hand for the ceremony were Ferrum Vice President for Institutional Advancement Dr. Lee King, Naff's wife Terri, children Jessie & Casey, mother Angelia Naff, and mother-in-law Mary Jane Esperti. Naff was presented with the game ball and dugout scorecard from yesterday's game, and a plaque commemorating his 600th win. Additionally, King presented Terri Naff with a potted plant in recognition of her support of Coach Naff and the Ferrum baseball program.

Loveland's Book Up for Awards
Under the Workers' Caps: From Champion Mill to Blue Ridge Paper by Ferrum's own George Loveland has been nominated in the nonfiction category for the 9th Annual Library of Virginia Literary Awards. The book has also been nominated for a Harry Caudill Journalism Award.

BRDT Recipient of VFH Discretionary Grant
The Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre at Ferrum College has received a Discretionary Grant from the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. The grant will support informal conversations about social issues paralleling the productions in the BRDT’s 27th season. Using the historical idea of the Chautauqua Institute, the BRDT will invite resource people to talk. Each expert will introduce a topic for discussion with the listeners. Read more...

Ferrum Athletic News
The Athletics website features several new stories including: Students in Men's Tennis and Softball Named Rookies of the Week; Check out how Tennis, Basketball, Baseball, Golf, Lacrosse and more are doing! Catch up on all your Athletic news here & read more...

Environmental Symposium Dates Announced
Ferrum College will host an Environmental Symposium November 8-10, 2006 featuring major speakers, workshops and more! Sign up now for updates or contact the team to see how you can help!

Ferrum Alumnus Headed to Final Four
93’ Grad James Johnson a Member of George Mason Coaching Staff
George Mason University’s magical run through the NCAA tournament and into the Final Four this weekend in Indianapolis has special meaning for one Ferrum College alumnus. James Johnson, class of 1993 and four year member of the men’s basketball team at Ferrum, is an assistant for the Patriots and an integral part in the success that George Mason has enjoyed this season. Read more...

Ferrum Alumni to Gather at Strawberry Hill Races
Celebrate a wonderful time with your Alumni Family at
The 74th Running of the Strawberry Hill Races at
Colonial Downs-New Kent County, VA Saturday, April 15th, 2006. Put on your black and gold, and join us from 10:00am-5:00pm under the Ferrum tent. We’re located on the front rail in the home stretch. Rail Space R453 and R454 Tickets are $30.00 per person and include admission fee, a shuttle pass from the Richmond Raceway Complex, food, and drinks. Order tickets (checks payable to Ferrum College) by April 7th. We’d love to see you there! For tickets contact:
Ferrum College Alumni Office, John Wesley Hall 214, PO Box 1000, Ferrum, VA 24088; Email: alumni@ferrum.edu or Phone: 540-365-4216

Hank Norton Headed for Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
Ferrum's legendary Coach Norton will be among seven others inducted into the 2006 class of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in Portsmouth April 22nd. From the Richmond Times-Dispatch, February 1st, 2006: Hank Norton "collected 277 wins at Ferrum College, where he coached football for 34 years. He enjoyed 29 winning seasons, and boasted five unbeaten teams. Norton coached 46 All-Americans with the Panthers and 42 players signed professional contracts." Read more about the hall and see photos from last year's 50 Year Football Reunion...

Bookstore Offers Ways to Design Your Own Ferrum College Garb!
Ferrum College Bookstore has a new link called My Garb for clothing. You can design your own clothing and have it shipped directly to your home. Just click: http://www.mygarb.com/FerrumCollege/

Alumni Calendar

Photo Galleries:

Tribute to Nellie McCaslin
The Jack Tale Players and the Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre presented an evening of music and stories on March 1st in Sale Theatre. The performance is part of a tribute to the late Nellie McCaslin, a long-time friend, advisor, and actress to Ferrum College's drama programs. See more...

New Additions to the Arboretum
We have had a number of trees donated for the Arboretum and have purchased others with the Urban Forestry grant for the Riparian Restoration project. They include river birch, bald cypress, and serviceberry. See more...

Read about and listen to our podcast here!

For more events on the Ferrum Campus, check out our online, interactive calendar!