Dear Ferrum Friends,

With record snowfalls and cold weather continuing into late March, we all wondered if we’d ever see spring. It has finally arrived though, and the daffodil, forsythia and redbud blooms now bursting forth seem more beautiful this year than ever.

What an incredibly exciting time it is at Ferrum! We just received official word that Wes Astin, our Dean of the Chapel and Religious Life, has been named Chaplain of the Year by the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation. You may recall that Pete Crow was named Outstanding Educator of the Year in 2003 by the same organization. It is nearly unprecedented for a college of Ferrum’s size to have two members of our community recognized nationally within a span of two years for their extraordinary accomplishments.

Our amazing Ferrum student athletes continue to garner honors, most recently in baseball, basketball, tennis and golf. Jim Hodgson, Criminal Justice faculty member and Director of the Virginia Center for Criminal Justice Studies, has co-edited a new book published by Criminal Justice Press. The University of Tennessee Press is publishing Associate Professor and Bonner Scholars Director George Loveland‘s new book, due out in May. Our annual Employee Recognition Dinner on March 31 was a wonderful opportunity to recognize the dedication and commitment of our faculty and staff, in particular those with long-term years of service.

Those of you who have visited campus recently know that the building and renovation surrounding FerrumPLUS! is in full swing. In spite of the inevitable upheaval associated with major construction, we have recently played host to the Virginia Humanities Conference, the United Methodist Board of Higher Education Ministries (BHEM), a Model United Nations event, the 8th Annual Women’s Leadership Conference, a group from the Virginia Tobacco and Indemnification Commission, and the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.

Future events include International Diversity Days from April 12-14, our spring concert and Spring Fling, and a special reunion gathering as we officially celebrate 50 Years of Ferrum College Football on May 20-22 We are greatly honored that Sen. John Warner has accepted our invitation to speak at Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 7. Don’t forget to check out the Alumni Calendar for upcoming events statewide, and be sure to take a look at Panther Preview, our new campus-wide calendar, for a complete listing of events week by week.

I was recently listening to National Public Radio while driving to an off-campus meeting, and was struck by the announcer’s phrase, “this program was made possible by the generous contributions of our listeners.” I realized that at Ferrum, everything we do is made possible only through your continuing and selfless generosity and your commitment of time, talent and treasure that enables and inspires us to fulfill our mission and provide our students with one of the finest educational experiences available in Virginia or elsewhere. We are profoundly grateful for your support.

Ferrum's Wes Astin Named Chaplain of the Year!
Ferrum College is proud to announce that the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation, which comprises 124 United Methodist preparatory schools, colleges and universities across the country including Duke, Vanderbilt, Emory, Syracuse and Boston University, has named Rev. C. Wesley Astin, Jr., Dean of the Chapel and Religious Life, Chaplain of the Year. The Award Ceremony for Chaplain of The Year will take place in Vaughn Chapel on Wednesday, April 27th at 4:30p.m. followed by a reception. The event is open to the public and will feature speakers as well as the award presentation by the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation.

The Chaplain of the Year award recognizes and encourages excellence in ministry to UM-related schools, colleges, universities, and theological schools. Each year a chaplain is selected whose ministry is acknowledged as extraordinary. Nominees should demonstrate excellence in programming in at least three of the seven following areas: enhancement, understanding, and appreciation of the institution's relationship to The UMC; development of voluntary community service programs; spiritual growth of students; opportunities for student leadership development; strengthening global awareness; the role of values in higher education; and building a sense of community on campus. Read more...

FerrumPlus!: The Campus is a Ch-Chh-Changin'
A visit to the Ferrum campus right now will quickly show you the changes taking place in many corners. The most obvious work is being done inside Franklin and Beckham Halls as well as the space where the new dorm will reside. Check out our updated FerrumPLUS website to catch the latest photos and behind-the scene looks! Photos here...

Warner to Speak at Commencement
U.S. Senator John W. Warner will speak to the graduating class of 2005 on Saturday, May 7 at 10:30 a.m. on the front lawn of Ferrum College. Now serving in his twenty-sixth year in the Senate, Warner chairs the influential Senate Armed Services Committee. In this capacity and throughout his career, he has shown unwavering support for the men and women of the armed forces. He has also been a champion of modernizing the structure and operations of the military to ensure its effectiveness in the 21st century.Read more...

For more Commencement Information and the home for our live broadcasy May 7th, click here!

Ferrum Celebrates 50 Years of Ferrum Football With Reunion
Ferrum College will celebrate 50 years of Ferrum Football with a special reunion on May 20-22, 2005. This special weekend event will feature a golf day, social events, meals with coaches, campus tours, team photos and gatherings, a special banquet and more. Read a special letter from Coach Hank Norton and find the registration Information, schedule & more here...

Ferrum Athletic News
The Athletics website features several new stories including: Three Earn USA South Honors, Senior Kent Doughty was named Golfer of the Week, sophomore Brett Thomas Baseball Player of the Week, and freshman Jesse Bowles Baseball Rookie Pitcher of the Week; In March, Ferrum College had two men's tennis players earn Player of the Week honors in the USA South Athletic Conference; The Women's Basketball Coaches Association and Eastman Kodak Company announced the 2005 NCAA Division III All-America Team, and Ferrum College point guard Tara Toland (North, S.C./North) has been named to the honorable mention squad.  Toland averaged 18.5 points and 7.4 assists this season. Catch up on all your Athletic news here & read more...

Ferrum Professor James F. Hodgson in New Book
Dr. James F. Hodgson appears in the new book Public Policing in the 21st Century: Issues and Dillemas in the U.S. and Canada as an editor and contributor (click here for ordering information). Recently his book Sexual Violence: Policies, Practices, and Challenges in the United States and Canada has been re-released in softcover (click here to order).

Relay for Life Collects Over $12,000 to Fight Cancer
Not deterred by rain, walkers of all ages attended the Ferrum College Relay for Life in the Fitness Center. Held for the second year in a row after a fantastic first year, the 2005 Relay for Life brought the touching tributes and donor power back again this year, aided by a performance of the Beatles tribute band Hard Day's Night. Relay For Life is the signature activity of the American Cancer Society. Relay is a unique event that offers Ferrum the opportunity to celebrate cancer survivors, remember those lost to the disease, and raise funds to help continue the fight against cancer.  It is a family-oriented, community-based event where teams collect donations, then take turns walking or running around a track for 24 hours.  While not walking, team members and supporters, including cancer survivors and city officials, camp out around the track field enjoying music, food, live bands and other entertainment, camaraderie and the knowledge that they are making a difference. Read more...

Former Attorney General and Local Alums Highlight Women’s Leadership Conference Mary Sue Terry, former Virginia attorney general and gubernatorial candidate, was the featured speaker for the 8th annual Women’s Leadership Conference at Ferrum College on April 4 and 5. Guests and forums spoke on the topic “Examining Our Assumptions about Gender: Yours and Mine” for the full-day event. Photos from the event here!

The Protocol Dinner
Ferrum Seniors and local businesses came together with help from SIFE and the Career Services office to enjoy the annual Protocol Dinner. The special etiquette-filled event featured generously sponsored tables, presentations on first-interview techniques and dress, and incredible food from Chef Bo. Catch photos from the event here!

Virginia Humanities Conference 2005
On March 18th and 19th, Ferrum College played host to the Virginia Humanities Conference (VHC) welcoming and encouraging participation by individuals and scholars from any and all of these disciplines: history, literature, drama, philosophy, and the arts (visual arts, music, dance, and architecture). The VHC is held annually, rotating among Virginia college and university campuses each year and bringing together individuals with an interest in the Humanities and a desire to participate in a scholarly exchange of ideas in a very broad, interdisciplinary context. Originating nearly 30 years ago, the Conference typically welcomes not only submissions from the academic community but from those outside academe as well. Qualified graduate students, under the guidance of a supporting faculty member, are encouraged to participate in the Conference as a means of gaining insight into yet another aspect of academics. Read more...

Loveland's Book Due Out in May
Ferrum Associate Profesor and Bonner Scholars Director George Loveland has a new book, Under The Workers' Caps arriving in May, published by the University of Tennessee. "Under the Workers’ Caps chronicles how employees of Champion Paper successfully and audaciously engineered the purchase of the company and turned the mills into a worker-owned business. Although they lacked formal training in business, the six men artfully forged an alliance with environmental groups, financial powerhouses, and county and state governments to reach their goal" Read more about the book and how to order here...

Ferrum's Mac Users Featured in Roanoke Times
Sure there aren't many of them on campus, but don't underestimate the zeal and productivity of this group of devoted Apple Computer users. The Roanoke Times featured them in a nearly three-page article in a March Neighbors section. Read a scan of the article here...

On-Line Giving
The development office is pleased to announce that you can now make your gift to Ferrum on-line using our secure server and your credit card. It is safe, secure, and an easy way to support the Ferrum Fund or any of the other exciting activities happening at Ferrum. From the Ferrum College homepage, follow the SUPPORT FERRUM link to our on-line giving site. Ferrum uses gifts from alumni and friends to enhance the educational opportunities given to our students. Please support the College and make your gift on-line.

Alumni Calendar

Events In April:

April 11th Spring Concert

April 12th-14th Ferrum Diversity Days

Saturday, April 16th
Richmond Chapter
Strawberry Hill Race
More details to follow

Saturday, April 23rd
Secretarial Sciences Alumni
On campus, 3:00 pm
More details to follow

Events In May:

Saturday, May 7th Graduation-Beckham Award presented

Friday-Sunday, May 13-15th Alumni Weekend-A Celebration of Golden Reunions

Friday-Saturday, May 20-21st Ferrum College
Football Reunion with Hank Norton For more information, please click here.

Tuesday, May 24th
Washington DC, Kilroy's Springfield, 6pm. Wes Astin, guest speaker.

Events In June:

Monday, June 13th
Hampton Area
Alumni and Friends of Ferrum College
12:00-2:00 pm
More details to follow.

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

Mark your calendars for Homecoming 2005!
The Corron Classic Panther Open will kick off the celebrations on Friday, September 30th. Reunions are being planned for after the big game on Saturday, October 1st. Nancy Miles Grand Pre and Jim Orr are working to bring the Class of 1985 back together for the weekend. For more information on Homecoming, please contact the Alumni and Family Services Office at 540-365-4216/ alumni@ferrum.edu.

Refer A Student:

...And His or Her Fee Is Waived! Download the form for Alumni Referral, give it to a prospective student and they can use it to defer the application fee! It's a small Word document file that could make a big impact! Download here! Also suggest that they attend a Spring Open House on the Saturdays of February 19 & April 16. They can register online at this link...

Read Past Newsletters
A new archive is available for readers of Fe to browse past issues from our launch in March of 2003 to the present! Click to visit...