Ferrum, VA, October 2, 2026— Ferrum College will hold a special commencement ceremony on Thursday, October 8, at 11:30 a.m. in Vaughn Chapel to celebrate and confer the degree of Jamarion Montford, a senior defensive back in football from Newport, North Carolina, before his upcoming deployment overseas in service to our country.
Montford, who is majoring in Psychology with a minor in Media and Communication, serves in the North Carolina Army National Guard’s 29th Division Sustainment Brigade, reflagged from the 113th Sustainment Brigade in July 2026. He holds the rank of Specialist and will soon deploy overseas as a Behavioral Health Technician with Charlie Company, 230th Brigade Support Battalion.
In August 2026 Montford was one of 92 Ferrum College student-athletes to receive NCAA Division II Athletics Directors Association Academic Achievement Awards. These students have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale, have completed at least two years of college level work, and have been active members of an intercollegiate team during their last academic year.
Montford was also one of eight Ferrum players selected in January 2026 for the College Sports Communicators 2025 Football Academic All-District Team. These students must compete in 90 percent of the institution’s contests played or must start in at least 66 percent of the institution’s contests. Undergraduate student-athletes must have at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average.
The special ceremony will allow Ferrum College to recognize Montford’s academic achievement and honor his commitment to military service before he departs. His family will attend, including his mother, Pansy Montford, and his siblings, Javien, Jenesis, and Josiah.
In addition to celebrating Montford, Ferrum College is proud to recognize two additional Panthers who have also been deployed. They are Zeke Surber, a four-year offensive lineman from Pulaski County who now serves as a Lance Corporal with Fox Company, 2nd Division, 1st Marines in California, and Specialist Tripoom Jala (TJ), a transfer student who played two seasons for Ferrum College and served as captain during his final season. He now serves with Charlie Company, 1-116 Regiment, MSCT (Mobile Brigade Combat Team), Red Dragon Battalion, 29th Infantry Division in Virginia.
In addition, the College will confer blessings upon Private Henry Faulkner, son of Ferrum College Associate Professor of Mathematics Bryan Faulkner, also serving alongside Specialist Jala, who is connected to the College and, by extension, is one of our Panthers.
The College is grateful for the service and sacrifice of these Panthers and for the example they set through Ferrum College’s enduring motto, “Not Self, But Others.”
Ferrum College President Dr. Mirta M. Martin said the College is proud to celebrate Montford and the other Panthers in this meaningful way.
“Jamarion and these other Panthers represent the very best of Ferrum College,” said President Martin. “They have balanced academic achievement, athletic commitment, and military service with extraordinary character and dedication. It is our honor to celebrate their accomplishments and to send them forward with our gratitude and our prayers for their safety and protection.”
Ferrum College officials noted that the ceremony reflects the College’s deep respect for service, sacrifice, and the values embodied by its students and alumni. The event will provide the Ferrum College community an opportunity to gather in gratitude and support for Montford and for all Panthers who serve.
“Ferrum College has always been a place that honors service and family,” President Martin added. “This ceremony is a meaningful reminder of the strength, courage, and purpose that define our students and alumni. We are proud to stand beside Jamarion and the other Panthers as they answer the call to serve our nation.”
The special commencement ceremony will be held at Vaughn Chapel on Ferrum College’s campus.
About Ferrum College
Founded in 1913, Ferrum College is a private, professional four-year liberal arts college nestled in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. As the College of Opportunity, Ferrum College offers an academically rigorous, hands-on education that empowers students to discover their purpose, develop their talents, and lead lives of service and significance. Guided by its enduring motto, Not Self, But Others, Ferrum College is committed to developing graduates of character who lead with integrity, serve with compassion, and make meaningful contributions to their professions and communities. Through innovative academic programs, NCAA Division II athletics, experiential learning, and a steadfast commitment to student success, Ferrum College prepares graduates who enter with promise, leave with purpose, and transform the world.
