Ferrum College student, Tiffany Weaver, was the only college student in the state of Virginia given the honor of representing over 20,000 of her fellow Virginia TAG recipients at a recent meeting with Governor Tim Kaine in Richmond.

    Weaver, a junior majoring in biology, met with Governor Kaine during a Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV) meeting in Richmond on Friday, October 12th.  During the meeting, several CICV presidents, including Ferrum’s president Dr. Jennifer Braaten, met with the Governor to discuss the state’s Tuition Assistance Grant (TAG) program and the group’s commitment to access and affordability to a college education for Virginia students.  Weaver was introduced to the Governor and spoke about how TAG helped turn her dream of attending college into a reality.  “I really felt honored and privileged to be given the opportunity to tell my story,” says Weaver.  “If it wasn’t for the TAG program, I would not have been able to afford a college education.” 

    Weaver is a first generation college student in her family.  She says her parents would have struggled to come up with the money to send her to college.  After graduating from Franklin County High School Weaver looked at several colleges in Virginia but says she found a home here at Ferrum College.  “The minute I stepped on campus I knew I wanted to go to school at Ferrum.  The campus was beautiful, the people were genuine, and there was always a friendly face.”  More importantly, she says, was the attention she received from the financial aid office.  “They sat down with me and went over all my options,” she says.  “Once they estimated the cost, I was amazed.  I realized for the first time that I actually could afford a college education.”

    CICV was instrumental in starting the state’s TAG program. TAG provides annual grants to Virginia residents who are full-time students at eligible private colleges and universities in Virginia.

    Weaver is a Bonner scholar, co-captain of the cheerleading squad and volunteers with countless community service projects. She plans on attending medical school after graduation and hopes one day to become a forensic coroner.

    For more information about Tiffany Weaver and her trip to Richmond, contact the Ferrum College Public Relations office at (540) 365-4300.

     Ferrum College is a four-year, private, co-educational, liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Ferrum offers a choice of nationally recognized bachelor’s degree programs at a cost well below the national average for private colleges. For more information on Ferrum, visit www.ferrum.edu.