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The Passport Staff: Learning Through Hands-on Experiences

The Passport believes that its student staff should expose itself to a wide variety of learning opportunities. It offers a select group of students an avenue through which they can introduce new insights, deal with recurring ideas and also create a market place from which to share ideas. It is true that the success of The Passport is attributable to the composition of its staff. By carefully selecting the students for this publication, the faculty recognizes the importance of sustainable quality, energy, and a strong commitment to excellence. This diverse group of students also was selected to continue the rich tradition established by their predecessors and the strengths of our academic programs. It is a tradition that is sensitive to group dynamics, partial to reasoned discourse and respectful of hard work and excellence.

On behalf of the Division of History, Political Science and the Arts, we introduce you to these young men and women who wish to have an audience with you. As faculty, staff, alumni, prospective or current students, we hope you find the work of these students as a way in which to maintain, introduce and reaffirm your affection for Ferrum College. These students also hope you will see The Passport as an invitation to you to join them.

Irina Royter - Editor-in-Chief
Home Town: Charlotte, NC
High School: Myers Park
Major(s): International Studies

Irina brings to The Passport a wealth of global travel and experiences. She was born in Chechnia, Russia and lived in the Ukraine and Bahamas before moving with her family to the United States. Irina understands the importance of using communication skills to capture the essence of daily living and community building. Irina enjoys climbing, attending and participating in cultural events and is also drawn to different cultures and languages. It is not surprising that her pleasant demeanor, intelligence, and ability to work with others have been matched with success in the classroom. Irina was recently the recipient of the Outstanding Student of Russian award given at the April 15, 2005 Academic Awards Ceremony. She was also a recent inductee in Alpha Mu Gamma, the Foreign Language Honor Society. Irina says that she “fell in love with the location of Ferrum College… and that Ferrum is what you make of it.” Irina plans to spend this summer as a Ledford Lee Scholar in Ukraine studying the impact of traditional medicine on the lives of the people.

Scott Spitzer – Copy Editor
Home Town: Rocky Mount, VA
High School: Franklin County
Major(s): Political Science with a minor in History

Scott’s sharp wit belies a strong intellect and sense of community. As a member of the second class graduating from the Honors program, he continues to demonstrate a real appreciation for the value of inquiry and discovery of knowledge. Scott’s superior academic accomplishments are matched by a commitment to understand the hardships of those who are economically or politically disadvantaged. He serves currently as President of Alpha Beta Pi, the Ferrum College Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha. He was also recognized at this year’s Academic Award ceremonies as the Frank Benjamin Hurt Undergraduate Scholar in Political Science. Scott’s future plans include attending graduate school.

Victor Davidson – Feature Editor
Home Town: Winston-Salem, NC
High School: North Forsyth
Major(s): Political Science with a minor in Criminal Justice

Victor is a graduating senior (May 2005) and a multi-talented student who enjoys the small community environment at Ferrum. Although Victor participated in track and basketball in high school, he excelled as a fullback on the football team. At the fall 2004 Athletic banquet, he was also presented with his jersey (#5) in recognition of his commitment to the football program at Ferrum College. Victor enjoys listening to music (primarily R&B and Pop) and playing drums. In fact, he helps many of his friends with arranging music beats (R&B and Soul) to go with the lyrics. During this spring 2003 semester a service project in McDowell County, West Virginia benefited from Victor’s wealth of experience in building and construction. He is another young man at Ferrum whose quiet and modest persona is complemented by a strong intellect and a good sense of altruism. Victor has been instrumental in the success of Camp Ferrum, a service learning program which brings Ferrum College students in contact with elementary and middle-school aged children in Rocky Mount, Virginia

Jimmy Pride – Website Editor
Home Town: Stuart, VA
High School: Patrick County
Major(s): Political Science with a minor in Criminal Justice

Jimmy is quiet young man who maintains a good academic record as a student and who likes to work with others. He served as a Community Advisor for two years and worked on several service learning related projects in McDowell County, West Virginia. Jimmy enjoys writing and has been involved with composing press releases as a student assistant in the Sports Information office. He ran on the cross-country team for four years and also enjoys playing basketball. He plans to attend law school after Ferrum College. For Jimmy the word that best describes Ferrum College is “community.”

Erich Trier – Political Science Section Editor
Home Town: Middleburg, VA
High School: Loudon Valley
Major(s): Political Science with a minor in Business

Erich is a rising junior who has already made a mark on the tennis program at Ferrum. The tradition of success he achieved in high school has continued at Ferrum, especially this year in which he served as team captain. Last year, playing as the #5 (singles) and # 3 (doubles), Erich enjoyed great success on the hard court and achieved a winning record of 14-5. This year he started as #2 and finished as #3 with a record of 8-7 in singles. It is also easy to see that Erich is a student who understands the importance of academic success. He was recently inducted in to Pi Sigma Alpha, the Political Science Honor Society and named to the USA south Academic All Conference Team for the second year in a row. Erich has also demonstrated a commitment to service by working on service learning related projects in McDowell County and at the Holocaust garden on the College campus. His quiet demeanor does not eclipse his desire to do well at any task or challenge before him.

Logann Gavey – Dramatic and Theatre Arts Section Editor
Home Town: Albany, CA
High School: Albany
Major(s): Liberal Studies with a minor in sociology, English and Educational Theatre

With roots in Washington, West Virginia and California, it is easy to see why Logann has a personality of a widely traveled student. She brings to the staff an infectious level of energy that is blended with enthusiasm and commitment. Logann has harbored an interest in teaching since she was 12 years old. She has taught at various preschools and plans to continue in that professional path after completing her degree program at Ferrum. Logann’s interests include art, and dance. She believes that “location, student-faculty ratio and relationships” influenced her decision to attend Ferrum College. Logann also say that she is “happiest being with children of any age” and her most profound “desire is to provide a strong and healthy learning environment for our future generations.”

Travis Dean – Art Section Editor
Home Town: Grottes, VA
High School: Spotswood
Major(s): Art with a minor in Computer Science

Travis is a junior and the first in his family to attend college. He brings to the publication an artistic flair and a technological know-how that blends esthetics and pragmatism. Last summer, as a participant in the Appalachian Study Abroad program, Travis immersed himself into the enriched art world of Italy. Currently, he serves as Vice President of the Art club and he is also a member of Kappa Pi, the Art Honor Society. Travis’ favorite past times include playing the guitar, snowboarding and teaching himself to speak Japanese. He is already looking forward to a career in the field of 3-D animation after completing graduate school. Travis thinks that “Ferrum is a very relaxed school, and it makes a relaxed person like me, feel at home.”

Wayne Brockwell – Staff Writer
Home Town: Lawrenceville, VA
High School: Brunswick Academy
Major(s): Political Science with a minor in Criminal Justice

From his very first month, it was clear that Wayne would become extremely involved in student affairs on campus. He demonstrated the traits of a political animal that contributed to his selection as President of the freshman class and as Legislative Vice President of the Student Government Association (SGA). A more recent evidence of Wayne’s campus presence is his election for the second time as SGA President. He has evolved into a student whose eloquence is matched by a commitment to service. Wayne is instrumental in the founding of Camp Ferrum, an education through service program designed to work with at-risk children in Rocky Mount, Virginia. Furthermore, his service initiatives in McDowell County, West Virginia have included working on a variety of community-based projects. Wayne was inducted this semester into Pi Sigma Alpha, the Political Science Honor Society.

Miranda Scholl – Staff Writer
Home Town: Dryden, VA
High School: Lee
Major(s): International Studies with a minor in Russian

Miranda is a rising junior who has developed an interest in foreign cultures. She seems to combine her interest in international studies and Russian to help define her worldview. For the second year in a row, she participated in the Model United Nations in which she represented Russia