Book for discussion October 19: Are You Now or Have You Ever Been? A Novel of the Hollywood Blacklist, with author Amanda Cockrell joining us.

Location: We will meet in the Magnolia Room this time (enclosed room in the dining hall upstairs in Franklin Hall) and gather about 5:30 to have dinner.

Amanda’s overview of the novel:

Elizabeth Sydney’s film career spanned the Golden Age of Hollywood and barely survived Sen. Joe McCarthy’s infamous Red Scare hunt for Communists that produced a blacklist that shattered careers. Some of her costars and writer friends weren’t so lucky. Now she wants to be buried in her back yard and the will is invalid if she doesn’t get her way. A combustible assortment of industry friends, family, former lovers, a man no one has hitherto heard of, half a dozen charitable beneficiaries, and an ungovernable horde of media descend on the small California town where she retired and picked out a spot in her oak grove. As they try to break the will, her reasons begin to surface in the story of an old betrayal of friends by friends and by the country’s own government.

Amanda’s website with overview and review excerpts.

Hollins U Substack page with comments by Amanda about the novel.

Also known as the Time Traveler’s Book Club, this group usually discusses one novel per month – different kinds of novels chosen by the group in fall for the following year, and occasionally a nonfiction book.

This is a small community group open to anyone, not a Ferrum College organization. No sign-up or prior notice is required. If you haven’t finished a book (and don’t mind spoilers) or haven’t read the book but you’d like to hear a book discussion anyway and see what it’s like, just show up. Participants acquire the books on their own from a library or bookseller.

For more information and to get on the group’s email list, contact Lana Whited at Ferrum College, lwhited@ferrum.edu, or Susan Selvage, sselvage22@yahoo.com.

Amanda Cockrell

Upcoming Books

Discussion of books for 2027 will be finalized during this last meeting of 2026.

Nov.  16    Nobody’s Girl by Virginia Roberts Guiffre

December – no meeting

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Arrive any time between 7 p.m. and 8:30. Chairs are available for everyone and if you have mobility issues, or you’re carrying a big instrument, you can pull up near the door. With chilly weather upon us, the music jam has moved from outdoors to a new venue with space for more people–the Rex Stephenson Theatre in the lower level of Schoolfield Hall in the middle of the campus (between Franklin Hall and Stanley Library).

Instruments are sometimes available from the college library next door, if you want to try one out.

See the Facebook page Appalachian Music at Ferrum College for updates and more photos and videos.

Specific directions for getting to the Rex Stephenson Theatre and other campus details are at this link.

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Hannah, who will graduate in November 2026, will discuss her research on how a bachelor’s degree in theatre arts promotes student wellness.

Inquiring Minds offers lively, informal presentations and activities on various interesting topics for the entire community. Stanley Library at Ferrum College presents the series on most Wednesdays during the academic year, in the LEaP Studio on the library’s main floor during the campus’s community hour from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

All are welcome to attend for free.

The photos show Hannah in recent Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre performances on campus. In the top photo, she played a mother squirrel who performs in a variety show with her child squirrels within the musical Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas. Besides performing, she served as prop master for a musical and has often assisted in the box office as well as working with lights and a variety of other backstage tasks. She also performs with the college choir. On campus she has been employed by Stanley Library, the counseling center, and the athletics program. She has been active in several Ferrum College student organizations.

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Always the fourth Saturday in October, this legendary festival is coordinated by the Blue Ridge Institute & Museum (BRIM), the official State Center for Blue Ridge Folklore and a major venue on The Crooked Road Music Trail.

October 24, 2026, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission is FREE this year.
Parking: $20 per family vehicle (car/minivan, truck), $50 per van or shuttle, $100 for buses

Click here to purchase advance parking tickets in the BRIM online store (do not use Shopify link to 2025 tickets).

Celebrating the rich heritage and traditions of the Blue Ridge region, this year’s festival will offer a full day of live entertainment, traditional demonstrations, handcrafted arts, and family-friendly activities, while introducing new artisans, interactive experiences, and expanded attractions. In a new arts and crafts show, more than 100 artisans will offer handmade jewelry, folk art, woodworking, pottery, textiles, and other unique creations.

Traditional foods such as country ham biscuits and fried apple pies are always popular at the festival.

For Ferrum College alumni, this year’s festival will include an alumni breakfast and a lounge area inside Franklin Hall off the patio, instead of a tent outside. The Office of Alumni and Family Relations will provide details in upcoming publicity and the college website Alumni pages. Click here for alumni breakfast registration.

The post Ferrum College Blue Ridge Folklife Festival and Arts & Crafts Show appeared first on Ferrum College.

Alumni Breakfast
Saturday, October 24, 2026
9:45 am to 10:30 am
Ferrum College 
Franklin Dining Hall

Pre-registration is required if you plan to attend the alumni breakfast, at $10.00/per person, which includes tax.

Click here for alumni breakfast registration.

Please contact the Alumni Office at 540.365.4216 | alumni@ferrum.edu if you have any questions, have dietary restrictions, or will need special accommodations.

Admission to the folklife festival is free this year.

Parking: $20 per family vehicle (car/minivan/truck), $50 per van or shuttle, $100 for buses

Click here to purchase advance parking tickets in the BRIM online store (do not use Shopify link to 2025 tickets).

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Check for details, registration, and updates at this link.

2025 photo by Dr. Bob Pohlad

The post Homecoming Weekend 2026 appeared first on Ferrum College.

Class of 1976, your reunion is part of the following event:
Friday, October 30 – All Graduating Classes – Ferrum Alumni Gathering.
We will recognize the following during this event: All Golden Panthers,
       Class of 1976 50th Reunion and Golden Panthers Induction.
Also included: 1966 FJC Football Team, Mascot, and Cheerleaders (National Runner Ups – 60th Reunion).

Check in and reception for this event at 4:30 p.m., Friday
Dinner and presentation from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Optional dancing until 9:00 p.m.
See separate registration for theatre option starting at 7:30 p.m.

Special events for the reunion class also include Saturday – Class of 1976 Tailgating in the field behind W. B. Adams Stadium, 1:00 p.m. – a potluck event.

Click here for registration.

Golden Panther Chairs:

Martha Arnold Phillips 1976
Chip Phillips 1977

Click here for Homecoming Weekend details.

Contact the Office of Alumni at alumni@ferrum.edu or 540.365.4216 if you want to know more about upcoming events, becoming a member of the Steering Committee, hosting an event, etc.

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1966 Football Team, Cheerleaders, & Mascot: click here to register for the All Golden Panthers reception, dinner, and presentation on Friday, October 30 from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm.

Location: Blue Ridge Mountain Room, upper Franklin Hall. 

The post 60th Anniversary – National Runner Ups in Football – Ferrum Junior College 1966 appeared first on Ferrum College.

Friday, October 30, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 1, 2:00 p.m.

Recommended but not required: we suggest reserving your ticket on our website https://www.ferrum.edu/theatre-tickets.

About Us:

Schoolfield Hall, where our performances are held, is handicapped accessible. Please note mobility restrictions in the comments at checkout for this free event.

Email us at theatre@ferrum.edu or call the box office at (540) 365-4355. Please leave a message at the box office phone number, and we will make every effort to respond as quickly as possible.

Click here for the Homecoming Weekend schedule and other details.

Click here to read more about this play in 2025 and the history of Schoolfield Hall.

Click here for photos from the play in 2025.

The post Faith of Our Fathers appeared first on Ferrum College.

October 31, 2026
8:00 am to 11:00 am
Ferrum College
Blue Ridge Mountain Room, Upper Franklin Hall
(Breakfast Buffet)

Click here to register for the event no later than Friday, October 23.

After the morning ceremony, we invite you to stay for the home football game (Ferrum vs. Chowan University) kicking off at 2:00 p.m. Alumni award recipients and donors will be invited to join the football team just before noon in the Black Hat Walk.

This year, Panther Club members at the Captain level and above will have the opportunity to meet the 2026 alumni award recipients in the President’s Suite at Adams Stadium during the game.

The alumni award recipients will also be recognized at halftime.

You may pre-purchase tickets for the home football game for $10 per person. Game-day tickets are $20 per person, payable in cash or by card at the gate.

If you have questions, require special accommodations, have dietary restrictions, or prefer not to be photographed or recorded, please contact the Institutional Advancement Office at advancement@ferrum.edu or the Alumni and Family Relations Office at alumni@ferrum.edu.

We look forward to celebrating YOU and seeing you there.

Ferrum Rising! Together, we all rise.

2025 Alumni Award Recipients
 

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