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Alumni Awards and Nominations

About The Awards

Ferrum College and the Alumni Association proudly honor the achievements and lasting impact of alumni through a variety of annual awards and recognitions. These honors celebrate graduates from every era of the College’s history — Ferrum Training School, Ferrum Junior College, and Ferrum College — who exemplify excellence, service, and the Panther spirit.


How To Make Award Nominations

Learn how to nominate a deserving alum for these prestigious honors.

Ferrum College will recognize the outstanding achievements of alumni who exemplify the three eras of Ferrum College: Ferrum Training School, Ferrum Junior College, and Ferrum College.

Nominees should

  • have a record of exceptional career achievement and of service to their community, church, or other organizations.
  • have been active in College life during their time at Ferrum and have remained involved in and supportive of Ferrum College as alumni.
  • be an alumnus or alumna of Ferrum College.  If not a Ferrum graduate, nominees should have attended Ferrum College (as a Junior College attendee) for three or more semesters, or attended Ferrum College (as a four-year college) for four or more semesters.
  • exemplify in all aspects of their lives the spirit of Ferrum’s motto, “Not Self, But Others.”

Distinguished Alumni Award Nomination Form

The Outstanding Young Alumni Award

In honor of our younger alumni, we have created an award that recognizes their accomplishments and achievements within the last 15 years.

  • Awards are given to young alumni who bring honor to their alma mater through outstanding achievements.
  • Nominees must have received an undergraduate degree from Ferrum College within the last 15 years.
  • Nominees must demonstrate outstanding promise and success in a professional career.
  • Other attributes considered will be civic, cultural, and charitable involvement.
  • Submissions will be accepted from Ferrum College alumni, faculty, and staff.

Outstanding Young Alumni Award Nomination Form

Beckham Medallion Award
Named after Dr. Benjamin M. Beckham, the first president of Ferrum College, the Beckham Medallion is the highest tribute bestowed upon an alumnus/a. The distinction honors those who exemplify the College motto, “Not self, but others,” and who have demonstrated exceptional career success, service to their community, and dedication to Ferrum College.

In honor of over 80 years of Panther Athletics, and in recognition of the many contributions Ferrum student-athletes have made throughout their careers, the Ferrum Alumni Association and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced its inaugural season of the Ferrum College Alumni Sports Hall of Fame in 1994.  It is very important that the selection committee receive as complete a package as possible for each nominee, including playing records/statistics, athletic honors, and continuing achievements and service since leaving Ferrum. Committee members rely mostly on the information provided in the nomination package, so completeness is important. In order to be considered, nominees should:

  • Exemplify the highest ideals of small college athletics, sportsmanship, and the spirit of Ferrum’s motto, “Not self, but others.”
  • Have excelled in one or more sports while at Ferrum College, and then have gone on to achieve significant success in a career field.
  • Be an alumnus or alumna of Ferrum College. If not a Ferrum graduate, the nominee should have attended Ferrum for three or more semesters. The selection committee and the Alumni Board of Directors may also induct honorary members such as coaches and other individuals who made a significant impact on Ferrum Athletics.
  • Have graduated or transferred from Ferrum College at least 10 years prior to nomination. This year we are looking for student-athletes who left the College prior to June 2015.  

Sports Hall of Fame Nomination Form


Ferrum College Alumni Awards for 2026

Ferrum College Celebrates Alumni Achievement and Donor Generosity at Annual Awards Ceremony

Ferrum College will honor exceptional alumni and dedicated supporters during the Alumni Awards and Donor Appreciation Ceremony on October 31, 2026, in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room. The event will highlight distinguished achievements, lifelong service, and the lasting impact of philanthropy on the College and its students.



About the Recipients

A headshot of Greg Scott Craddock. Wearing a grey suit with a red tie with a black and gold drop.

Gregory (Greg) Scott Craddock ’92


A headshot photo of Frank Agler Boxley. He's wearing glasses, a black suit, a white undershirt, and a red tie.

Frank Agler Boxley, III ’17

A headshot photo of Darrell '74 and Bonnie Huffman '75. Darrell is wearing a grey suit with a navy blue tie. Bonnie is wearing a blue dress and a gold necklace. The back drop behine them is black and gold.

Darrell Huffman ’74 & Bonnie Huffman ’75


Ferrum College Celebrates Alumni Excellence

Ferrum College proudly recognizes the outstanding achievements of its alumni through three major annual ceremonies: the Alumni Awards, the Sports Hall of Fame Induction, and the Golden Panthers Induction. 

These honorees exemplify the dedication, achievement, and enduring spirit of the Ferrum community.

Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026

On Saturday, September 5, 2026, Ferrum College honored seven inductees with an on-campus Sports Hall of Fame Ceremony. 

Later that day, the inductees were recognized during halftime at Ferrum’s home football game against Emory & Henry University.

The Ferrum Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026 included athletes from multiple eras and disciplines, including three football players, two baseball players, one softball player, and one lacrosse player.

Read more about the Class of 2026 here.

Golden Panthers Induction

The Class of 1976 will be formally inducted into the Golden Panthers on Saturday, October 31, 2026, celebrating alumni who have reached their 50th class reunion milestone.


Past Alumni Award Recipients

Explore past recipients below.

2026 award recipients

Distinguished Alumni Award:

Gregory (Greg) Scott Craddock ’92

Outstanding Young Alumni Award:

Frank Agler Boxley, III ’17

Beckham Medallion:

Darrell Huffman ’74 & Bonnie Huffman ’75

2026 Sports Hall of Fame:

Jim Altis ’68

Richard “Dickie” Childress ’74

Kaitlyn Culler Hicks ’13 

Brooke Hewartson-Thomas ’13

Daryl Irvine ’85 

Chad Maddox ’95

Chris Silk ’07

2025 award recipients

Distinguished Alumni Award:
Sarah Q. Wagner ’94 and William Wagner ’94

Outstanding Young Alumni Award:
Alexandria M. Dixon ’19

Beckham Medallion:
George D. Yancey, Sr. ’67

2025 Sports Hall of Fame:

Chuck Banks ’84

Heath Deaver ’90 (formerly Heath Burcher)

Dustin Hamoy ’08

Paul Jaglowski ’12

Derek Mitchell ’11

Ashley Norton ’10

Stephanie Schreyer ’08 (formerly Stephanie Perih)

Brett Thomas ’07

Russel Walton ’90

2024 award recipients

Distinguished Alumni Award:
Keith E. Fisher ’68

Outstanding Young Alumni Award:
Rachel Wells ’16

Beckham Medallion:
Baxter F. Phillips, Jr. ’66

2024 Sports Hall of Fame:

Tesla Akers Southcott ’13
Ken Blackley ’61
Dr. Lynn Grine Dillon ’66
Sterling “Butch” Dusharm ’68
Gail Holley
John Morabito ’76
Tim Reynolds Jr. ’15
Cary Stockdell ’68

2023 award recipients

Distinguished Alumni Award:
Nancy Swartz Beach ’75

Outstanding Young Alumni Award:
Beth Simms ’09

Beckham Medallion:
Scott Showalter ‘73

2023 Sports Hall of Fame:

Melisa Buchanan-Craft ’01
Tanisha Durham ’04
Andre Levisy ’89
Melvin Martin ’75
Angela Thomas ’90
George Yancey ’67

2022 award recipients

Distinguished Alumni Award:
Carthan Currin ’84

Outstanding Young Alumni Award:
Matthew Woods ’12

Beckham Medallion:
Phyllis Karavatakis ’76

2022 Sports Hall of Fame:

Frank C. Haywood, Jr. ’72
Matthew Jordan ’95
Jim Kitts ’94
Don Testerman ’73
Andra Thomas ’90

2021 award recipients

2021 Distinguished Alumni Award

Rev. Dr. Burton White ’84

For a full listing of Ferrum College Outstanding Distinguished Alumni Recipients, click here. 

2021 Outstanding Young Alumni Award

Paul Jaglowski ’12
Ra’meer Roberts ’13

2021 Sports Hall of Fame:

Trica Moore Barber ’06
Melvin Dillard ’92
Roben Sutphin Thomas ’96
Tara Toland ’05
Mark White ’96
Gary Holden—Special Recognition
Vickie Van Kleeck—Special Recognition

Ferrum College
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