A Message From The President
Dear Ferrum Friends, We hope you
have enjoyed our Fall/Winter issue of FM,
the Ferrum magazine - we want to continue to update you through
this latest issue of Fe. It’s hard to believe that it’s
already the beginning of February, especially since we got through
January without any snow flying! The mild winter days and fair weather
gave us the opportunity to complete the stunning new residence hall,
a major component of FerrumPLUS!
Our first group of students
moved in on January 20. The entire campus was invited to participate
in the day-long celebration that included guided tours of the facility
during the morning. In the afternoon, faculty,
staff and students mobilized to assist the 50 residents who
moved from Roberts Hall to their new space. In particular we thank
the members of the football team for adding their brawn to the process! |
Immediately after the move to the new residence hall, demolition crews went to work on the first phase of the renovation of Roberts Hall. Now fenced off as Beckham Hall was last spring, Roberts will be reconfigured to create beautiful new faculty offices and conference space along with major refurbishments in the student residence areas. Plans call for Roberts to reopen for the fall semester, 2006.
In the meantime, progress continues on the Earl G. “Bud” Skeens Alumni Conference Center and new entrance/atrium into the dining hall area. We anticipate inaugurating this spectacular addition with some very special events during the fall 2006 semester. We will also celebrate the return and reopening of the Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre in April. We know the many loyal patrons of the BRDT, as well as new subscribers, will particularly enjoy the dramatic dining space that will be available in the Conference Center.
The completely renovated Christian Ministries and Service Center, the stand alone building located just east of the campus on the south side of Route 40, has undergone an amazing metamorphosis. Now sporting a fresh coat of white paint and colorful signage, it is barely recognizable as the former “Gray House!” Dean of the Chapel and Religious Life, Wes Astin, has moved his offices to the Center, which is rapidly becoming “the” fellowship and gathering spot for students and faculty. The welcome mat is always out for anyone wishing to stop by.
There were numerous activities on campus during January, culminating with the Dean’s List dinner on January 31, when 210 outstanding students were recognized and received honors. February and March promise even more opportunities for campus and community involvement. We were also thrilled to receive the news that Hank Norton, legendary former Ferrum football coach, will be inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame this spring.
We are making progress toward implementation of the campus/community plan approved by the Ferrum College Board of Trustees in 1999, 2002, and most recently in fall 2005. The Board continues to receive input from our many constituents and is excited to finally move forward to further the work begun by seventh Ferrum president Dr. Ralph Arthur. Beginning in the late 1960’s during Dr. Arthur’s tenure, the Board of Trustees authorized the College to make land available for the water and sewer plant, and the College began construction of homes on the east side of campus. This vision of a “seamless” campus/community atmosphere will be continued by blending additional residential housing and commercial/recreational entities to serve students, faculty, staff and community residents. Planned amenities such as walking and biking trails and aesthetically pleasing landscaping and building styles will complement the rich natural beauty of our surroundings. Many articles and editorials have been published in newspapers throughout Virginia, expressing optimism and support for the plan.
We are very excited about the growth and progress of the College and continue to thank all of you for your unprecedented support of and interest in Ferrum. I look forward to greeting you personally during some of the many alumni events scheduled this spring, and in particular to welcoming you at events on campus when you can experience firsthand the amazing and transformative changes that have taken place, with much more to come!
Sincerely yours,
Jennifer
L. Braaten
President
Recent News:
Dean's List
Announced & Celebrated |
Hank Norton
Headed for Virginia Sports Hall of Fame |
FerrumPLUS!
Update: Students Move Into the New Hall! |
Ferrum Alumni
to Gather at Strawberry Hill Races |
Why
We Count On You There are gifts of today and gifts of tomorrow. Gifts of today, like those to the Ferrum Fund or to special campaigns, allow us to literally operate each day, to provide scholarship support for students who need financial assistance, and to continue our programs and services. Gifts of tomorrow, like those you can create through your will, can help the College accomplish special goals like building needs, endowed professorships, or new programs. Ultimately, the motivation and commitment with which you support Ferrum is what truly counts to us. Therefore whether it is a gift of today or tomorrow, we gratefully count on you. If you would like free brochures on gifts of today (Ferrum Fund) or gifts of tomorrow (estate planning through wills, insurance, trusts, and so forth), please call us at (540) 365-4221 or e-mail us at development@ferrum.edu. |
Ferrum Offering
Athletic Webcasts in Spring |
In the Greer
Gallery: Jim Sconyers Presents Pinhole Photos |
Gruber
Memorial Scholarship Fund Receives Gift From GC-ESCS
|
On-Line
Giving |
Bookstore
Offers Ways to Design Your Own Ferrum College Garb! |
More
News
You Can Use
For even more
news on Ferrum College visit the News page of the Ferrum website at www.Ferrum.edu/News!
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!
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...
|
Events
in February: Shenandoah
Valley Chapter Alumni Event Events in April: Franklin
County Alumni Chapter Event Richmond
Area Alumni Event Southside
Alumni Chapter Event Events
in May:
Events in June: Charlottesville
Alumni Chapter Event
For more events on the Ferrum Campus, check out our online, interactive calendar!
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