FERRUM, VA (April 18, 2025) – Ferrum College’s literary and arts magazine, Chrysalis, will host its spring publication reveal on Wednesday, April 23, at 8 p.m. in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room in Franklin Hall. Refreshments will be served, and community members are invited to attend.
Chrysalis is both a club and a practicum course for students who submit their work and earn course credit for compiling, editing, and laying out the magazine each semester. They sponsor coffee houses several times a year for the college community and the end-of-semester reveal.
For the reveal, contributors—including students, faculty, and staff—will read from their work and discuss the visual artwork featured in the spring issue. Prizes for outstanding work in poetry, prose, art, and photography will also be announced during the evening. Scout Lynch, a junior and two-year editor-in-chief of Chrysalis, will emcee.
“At Ferrum College, we take pride in celebrating the creative spirit of our students, faculty, and staff,” said President Mirta Martin. “The Chrysalis reveal brings our community together to honor the artists, photographers, and writers who make our campus so special. I encourage everyone to join us to celebrate Ferrum’s creative talent.”
Professor of English Katherine Grimes reflected on the growth of the magazine, which was an annual publication before she became the advisor in 2012. Some years earlier it began publishing art as well as writing.
“Chrysalis began 55 years ago, in 1970. Most magazines for the first 45 years were less than half the size of Chrysalis today. We received about 150 submissions this semester, so we could not print them all. Part of the increase is the result of photography submissions, as phone cameras have made taking pictures so simple. But part of it is increased interest in the magazine, for which we are grateful. We also appreciate our contest judges. We hope that lots of folks will come to the reveal on William Shakespeare’s birthday in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room,” said Grimes.
