Dear Ferrum Friends,

What an exciting month March has been and continues to be!  Juan Williams, nationally known NPR correspondent and television commentator, spoke to an overflow audience at Vaughn Chapel on March 10, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education; Knut Vollebaek, the Norwegian ambassador to the United States and former Norwegian Foreign Minister, will be here in conjunction with our Model UN day on March 27th; and the foremost Protestant theologian of our day, Martin Marty, will lecture on March 31.

It is a joy to be able to bring individuals of such stature and renown to our campus.  Programs and special events such as these continue to make the Ferrum College educational experience the best it can be for our students, and help foster our commitment to community involvement. 

Our Ferrum faculty and students continue to receive accolades and bring honors and recognition to the campus in many and varied ways.  Cy Dillon, Director of the Stanley Library, has just been elected president of the Virginia Library Association Foundation; Pete Verhoven, associate professor of Physical Education and Recreation, was elected president of the Southwestern Service Area of the Virginia Recreation and Parks Society.  Ferrum student Tiffany Ray has been chosen from among students at seven other schools of social work in Virginia as BSW Student of the Year, the first Ferrum student so honored.  Chaplain Wes Astin led a group of students to Belize during spring break, and in the true spirit of the Ferrum motto, “Not Self, But Others,” our students actually gave their shoes away to the local workers on the last day of their trip!  The courageous story of student athlete Tanisha Durham has not only garnered local attention from The Roanoke Times, but also on the National Collegiate Athletic Association website, NCAA.org.

Our Seventeenth Annual Employee Recognition Dinner on March 9 was another wonderful event this month, where we celebrated the commitment and dedication of so many wonderful Ferrum employees, and honored retiring faculty members Jody Brown, Rachel Denham and Jane Stogner.

And our fantastic athletic teams continue to set records!  The baseball, softball, and men’s and women’s tennis teams won a combined total of 11 games the weekend of March 13 and 14.  Go Panthers! 

Upcoming events also include International Week, from March 28-April 2, and our seventh annual Women’s Leadership Conference on April 3.  See below for other spring happenings, including special alumni news!

Blake Shelton Performs on Campus
Country Music newcomer Blake Shelton and talented family Clark wowed a Ferrum audience on February 19. Shelton was voted by the Ferrum students to be this year's big concert. Online you can catch photos and short video clips of the performances. See more...

Ferrum's Tanisha Durham Featured by NCAA
"Ferrum student-athlete uses basketball to boost life dreams" starts the front-page story of Ferrum basketball player Tanisha Durham. Her remarkable story of perseverance and success has already caught the eye of the Roanoke Times and now takes a national spotlight with a spotlight from the NCAA. Read more at NCAA.org...

Sacrificing Spring Break for Service in Belize
From Wes Astin, Chaplain: "The group left Ferrum on Friday, Feb. 27 and returned on Friday, March 5.  The purpose of the trip was to prepare the foundation for a new canteen at St. Hilda's School in Georgeville, Belize. The first couple of days the group had the opportunity to take a trip down the Lamania River and see some of the wild life and vegetation of the country. We also visited some of the Mayan Temple ruins. During our time at the school we poured the foundation and the women assisted in the school. Melissa Astin, a Ferrum Education student taught in the school. The most rewarding part of the trip for me was on the last day when I saw some of our students giving their shoes to the local workers. It was truly a 'not self, but others' experience. The group has said they are going to raise $500 for the purchase of a freezer for the school to go in the new canteen." More photos...

Institutional Advancement Babies
Some familiar faces to Alumni and friends of Ferrum College have expanded their families. Alumni and Family Services Director Joanna Coleman gave birth to Martha Katherine "Katie" Coleman on March 2, and Development Gift Recorder/Secretary Corrine Browell and Director of Public Relations Dean Browell welcomed Addison Jade Browell to the world on February 26.

Alumni Happenings
Mark your calendars for Alumni Weekend 2004. We will celebrate the induction of the Class of 1954 into the 50 Year Club, and the reunions of 1959, 1964, 1969, 1974, and 1979 during the weekend of May 14-16 th . We hope to see you there!

Reunions for the classes of 1984, 1989, 1994, and 1999 are being planned for Homecoming Weekend this fall. For information on any of these reunions, please contact the Alumni Office at alumni@ferrum.edu or 540-365-4216.

Ferrum Athletic News
The Athletics website features several new stories including:USA South honors Ferrum players in Tennis and Baseball, Baseball is off to another fantastic start; Basketball players of the men's and women's teams earn All-Conference honors; Lacrosse opens season with a win; Download the composite schedule (PDF file) of all Spring sports and catch a game; Recent scores at the online scoreboard... Read more..

The Rev. Dr. Martin Marty at Ferrum
Ferrum College has announced the creation of the Wasena F. "Buddy" Wright, Jr. Christian Ministry Lecture series and the first speaker will be renowned theologian Dr. Martin Marty on Wednesday, March 31; Email or call Wes Astin (540-365-4286) for more information. Read more...

Events In March:

Until March 28th
Signs of Spring Photography Show/Contest, Greer Gallery

Tuesday, March 16th
Roanoke area alumni, Famous Anthony's 6pm

Saturday, March 27th
Ambassador of Norway to the United States, Knut Vollebaek, guest speaker at Ferrum College's Annual Model United Nations Day

Wednesday, March 31st
Dr. Martin Marty on campus

Events In April:

April 1st - 25th
Juried Student Art Show, Greer Gallery

Friday-Saturday, April 2-3rd
Women's Leadership Conference

Saturday, April 3rd
Admissions Open House

Friday, April 23rd
Parent's Council Meeting, Ferrum College

Friday, April 24th
Ferrum College Undergraduate Philosophy Conference; "Existence & the Sacred" w/ Calvin O. Schrag

Monday, April 26th
Pulaski and Emory and Henry area alumni, Ferrum College Baseball Game against Emory and Henry 6 pm Calfee Park

See the Alumni Calendar online for more events and details...

The President's Speaking Engagements :

Saturday, March 20th
Guest Speaker at Rappahannock District Church for "Day of Celebration"

Saturday, March 27th
Keynote speaker at Annual Sister Cities Dinner, Roanoke

Saturday, April 3rd
Honorary host of "Young Audiences of Southwest, VA"

Sunday, April 25th
Guest speaker at St. Mathew's UMC, Annandale

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 Fall Open House on the Saturdays of February 7 & April 3. They can register online at this link...

Exclusive: For Fe Readers Only! Longing for days without snow? Our Fall @ Ferrum photos included a special treat just for the readers of Fe: a Ferrum desktop background wallpaper for your computer with a beautiful view of Adam's Lake, Schoolfield & the newly dedicated Stanley Library Annex. Click to download... 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...