"Chrysalis" to Host Halloween Coffee House at Ferrum College on October 30
2025-10-30 20:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | Panthers Den
A Halloween coffee house for the campus and community will be held on Thursday, October 30 in the Panthers Den at Ferrum College, beginning at 8 p.m. “Chrysalis Literary and Arts Magazine” invites students, faculty, and staff to read original poems and short stories, sing, or present other talents.
“Chrysalis” and other student groups host open-mic coffee houses held several times throughout the academic year. Anyone is welcome to attend and participate without signing up in advance. Free cookies and coffee will be served.
If you wear a Halloween costume, you could win a prize. Senior Scout Lynch has been seen working with a massive ball of yarn to crochet her costume called Lord of the Strings. Suspense is building as her friends and professors are eager to see her newest original creation. English professors who attended last year’s Halloween coffee house are shown in the photograph.

The editor of “Chrysalis” is Scout Lynch and the faculty advisor is Professor of English Katherine Grimes. Past issues of “Chrysalis” can be read online and the Fall 2025 issue will be revealed on November 20 at 7 p.m. in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room in Franklin Hall.
The Panthers Den is located on the ground floor of Franklin Hall. For additional information, contact Dr. Katherine Grimes at kgrimes@ferrum.edu.

Biblical Scholar and Social Media Influencer Dan McClellan to Speak at Ferrum College
2025-11-06 18:00 - 19:30 | Vaughn Chapel, Ferrum College, Rt. 40, Ferrum, VA, 24088, United States
Ferrum College will host Dr. Dan McClellan, biblical scholar, social media influencer, and New York Times best-selling author of The Bible Says So: What We Get Right (and Wrong) About Scripture’s Most Controversial Issues, for an engaging evening lecture on Thursday, November 6, 2025, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in Vaughn Chapel on the Ferrum College campus. The event is free and open to the public.
McClellan’s presentation will examine the ways misinformation about the Bible circulates in contemporary culture and how rigorous, evidence-based scholarship can help correct it. His work centers on bridging the gap between academic research and public understanding, translating complex ideas into accessible insights. Through his widely followed TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube channels, as well as his award-winning podcast with Dan Beecher, Data Over Dogma, McClellan engages diverse audiences in informed dialogue about scripture and religious traditions.

Veterans Day Program
2025-11-11 11:30 - 12:30 | Vaughn Chapel, Ferrum College, Rt. 40, Ferrum, VA, 24088, United States
The Veterans Day Program on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at 11:30 AM in Vaughn Chapel, will feature Professor Emeritus Melvin Macklin speaking about the importance of veterans in today’s uncertain world. Dr. Macklin served as an Army Sergeant and Radio Communications Specialist from 1965 to 1969, in Germany and in Vietnam during the TET Offensive.
Dr. Macklin’s teaching and research over the past fifty years have focused on Holocaust studies and American literature, especially African American literature and slave narratives. He has taught in the English Department at Ferrum College since 2008.
This program is a special opportunity to recognize and show our gratitude to the men and women who have served in our armed forces. All members of the local and college community are encouraged to join the college in this meaningful event.

Black and Gold Transfer Scholarship Day
2025-11-12 08:30 - 14:00
Ferrum College’s Scholarship Day is an exclusive, invite-only event for admitted students with strong academic achievement. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the Boone Honors Program, connect with faculty and current students, explore educational opportunities, and much more. For details, please get in touch with the Office of Admissions at admissions@ferrum.edu.

5K Color Walk/Run Benefiting Stepping Stone Mission
2025-11-15 08:15 - 11:00 | Main campus near Schoolfield Hall, 150 Wiley Drive, Ferrum, VA, 24088, United States
Ferrum College’s Nursing, Social Work, and Teacher Education programs are teaming up to host a 5K Color Walk/Run on Saturday, November 15, 2025, raising awareness of hunger in the community while bringing students, faculty, staff, and neighbors together for a fun and meaningful cause. Check-in and registration will take place from 7:30 to 8:15 a.m. in front of Schoolfield Hall on campus. The link to register in advance is below.
The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. with a welcome from Ferrum College President Mirta Martin, followed by remarks at 8:40 a.m. from Staci Moles of Stepping Stone Mission of Franklin County. A pre-race group photo will be taken on the steps of Schoolfield at 8:45 a.m., and the race will officially begin at 9:00 a.m. A post-race group photo and celebration will conclude the event.
For more information, see the following articles
“Color for a Cause” by student editor Grace Weaver.
Ferrum College website article

Chrysalis Literary & Arts Magazine Reveal Fall 2025
2025-11-20 20:00 - 21:30 | Blue Ridge Mountain Room, 215 Ferrum Mountain Road, Ferrum, VA, 24088, United States
The reveal of the Fall 2025 issue of Chrysalis Literary and Arts Magazine is November 20 in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room, 8 p.m. Free and open to the public and campus community. Refreshments will be served.
Prizes for writing and visual arts will be awarded. Contributors to the fall issue will talk about their work and read some excerpts.
The editor is senior Scout Lynch, who will graduate the following day.
The photographs show the staff and contributors and cover of the Spring 2025 issue.
See digital copies of back issues here: https://www.ferrum.edu/…/student-publications-and…/
For further information, contact the advisor, Dr. Katherine Grimes, kgrimes@ferrum.edu.

Ferrum College Fall Commencement 2025
2025-11-21 15:00 - 16:00
Ferrum College’s Fall Commencement will be held on Friday, November 21, at 3:00 PM in Vaughn Chapel. The ceremony will last approximately one hour, with President Dr. Martin delivering the keynote address.
Following Commencement, guests are invited to enjoy a meal in the Franklin Hall cafeteria from 5:00 to 8:00 PM. The cost is $12.50 per person.
Click here to watch the ceremony online.

Grand Ole Ferrum Opry
2025-11-21 19:00 - 20:30 | Vaughn Chapel, Ferrum College, Rt. 40, Ferrum, VA, 24088, United States
The Grand Ole Ferrum Opry returns in a pre-Christmas edition that will honor Bobby Radford. Performers will include Orchestra Appalachia, the Panther Singers, guests Remington and Christian Davis, and more.
Free and open to the public in Vaughn Chapel on the Ferrum College campus.
For more information, contact Emily Blankenship-Tucker, program coordinator for Music & Theatre at Ferrum College, ebtucker@ferrum.edu.

Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas Dec 5-14, 2025
2025-12-05 19:00 - 2025-12-14 14:00
It’s three days before Christmas, and Mayor Fox has just announced a Christmas talent contest with a grand prize of fifty dollars! Meanwhile, times are tough for Ma and Emmet Otter since Pa passed away, and winning that prize money would allow them to buy each other a secret Christmas gift. Emmet considers forming a jug-band with his friends, but in order to do that he’ll have to put a hole in Ma’s washtub. The problem is, Ma earns money by doing other folks’ laundry in the washtub. Ma thinks about hocking Pa’s old toolbox so she can make a costume for the contest, but Emmet uses those tools to do odd jobs. As Christmas Eve and the talent contest quickly approach, will Ma and Emmet sacrifice what little they have, or will their Christmas wishes come true?
Coming back to Ferrum College for our third year, this family favorite is sure to please with new surprises!
About Us:
An optional dinner or lunch is served before the show in Franklin Hall next door, and is served by the actors in the tradition of The Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre. Both Franklin Hall and Schoolfield Hall, where our performances are held, are handicapped accessible. We offer alternative meals for those with food allergies when given advance notice: please note dietary and mobility restrictions in the comments at checkout.
Meal ticket sales often end before the show dates, and may not be available at the door. Purchase tickets at www.ferrum.edu/theatre-tickets.
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.
Read more about the 2023 production and the creation of many puppet characters here: https://cardinalnews.org/2023/12/07/ferrum-brings-a-much-loved-puppet-christmas-to-the-stage

Christmas at the Farm
2025-12-19 16:00 - 19:00 | Blue Ridge Institute and Museum, 20 Museum Dr., Ferrum, VA, 24088
UPDATE: On December 19, the decision was made to move the event indoors at the museum, because of high winds outdoors. Other plans remain the same. Join us around the Christmas tree inside the museum at the address below!
Join us at the 1800 farm museum for our annual traditional Christmas in the Blue Ridge. The 1800 farm at the BRIM will be lit with lanterns and we will have cookies, cider, and a variety of vendors selling their unique items. This annual event is FREE and open to the public and we hope you will share this special time with us.
Photo by Dr. Bob Pohlad

Honoring a Legacy: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2026
2026-01-19 11:15 - 12:00 | Vaughn Chapel, 80 Wiley Dr., Ferrum, United States
On Monday, January 19, 2026 from 11:15 am to noon in Vaughn Chapel, the Ferrum College campus and community will come together to observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The keynote speaker for this event, Dr. Melvin Macklin, will talk about “The Making of a Dream.”
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a National Day of Service and a powerful call to action to reflect on Dr. King’s enduring legacy of justice, equality, and nonviolent service, and to commit ourselves to his vision of the Beloved Community.
Dr. Macklin served in the United States Army as a Sergeant and Radio Communications Specialist from 1965 to 1969, including service in Germany and Vietnam during the Tet Offensive. He later earned his Ph.D. in Literary Studies from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2008, becoming the first recipient of the university’s Certificate in Holocaust Studies. He has taught in Ferrum College’s English Department since 2008 and was named professor emeritus in 2021; he continues to teach part-time.
His teaching and scholarship focus on Holocaust studies, African American literature, and slave narratives, and he has authored several works on African American history and culture. Throughout more than fifty years in education, Dr. Macklin has remained dedicated to continual self-improvement and to affirming, in the spirit of Dr. King, the dream and vision of a more just world.
Dr. Macklin will share firsthand experience, educate, and empower every member of our community. Please plan to join us for this insightful program and time of reflection.
Photo of Vaughn Chapel by Dr. Bob Pohlad.

Friday Science Seminar: Horticulturalist Dr. Josh Kardos
2026-01-23 11:30 - 12:30 | Garber Hall 106, 80 Wiley Drive, Ferrum, 24088, United States
Please join us on January 23 at 11:30 AM, in Garber Hall 106, for Friday seminar. The guest speaker will be Dr. Josh Kardos.
Dr. Josh Kardos became interested in horticulture as a young boy while working in his grandmother’s garden. During high school and college, he worked for a garden center, a woody nursery, and an herbaceous greenhouse, and as an undergraduate research assistant in an ornamental plant breeding program. Dr. Kardos obtained his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in horticulture from the University of Georgia. After graduate school he worked as the plant breeder and general manager of a startup ornamental plant breeding company in Georgia. He then moved from Georgia to North Carolina to work for a startup, internationally owned vegetable grafting operation, where he was involved in all aspects of production and management.
Although Dr. Kardos enjoys production horticulture, he realized that training and leading employees brought him the most fulfillment. Therefore, he sought an opportunity to teach horticulture to undergraduates from his years of experience in the green industry. He began teaching horticulture at Virginia Tech as an instructor in 2020. Last fall, he was promoted to Collegiate Assistant Professor with a 75% teaching and 25% scholarship and leadership of teaching appointment. He teaches Indoor Plants, Plant Propagation, Herbaceous Landscape Plants, Greenhouse & CEA Management, Production of Food Crops in CEA, and Ornamental Plant Production & Marketing.

Auditions - The Music Man - New Day & Time!
2026-02-06 18:00 - 20:00 | The Rex Stephenson Theatre – Schoolfield Hall, 215 Ferrum Mountain Rd, Ferrum, VA, 24088-2611, United States
The Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre at Ferrum College announces open auditions for our mainstage spring musical, Meredith Willson’s The Music Man, to be performed March 19-22, 2026​. Auditions are open to all, including non-majors, community members, faculty, staff, and students at Ferrum College.
Updated 1/27/26 after winter weather delays – Auditions are February 6, 6:00 – 8:00 pm in the Rex Stephenson Theatre, in lower Schoolfield Hall on the Ferrum College campus. Performers should prepare 32 bars of a song in the style of the show. Please bring prepared sheet music in the key you wish to sing. Sides will be provided. Come prepared to move! Contact Emily Blankenship-Tucker at ebtucker@ferrum.edu with questions.
Click here for more information about the Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre.
Junior Danielle Wilburn, assistant editor of The Iron Blade and a BRDT performer, described the Tony-award-winning play as “a classic Broadway favorite filled with fast-talking charm, big ensemble numbers, and plenty of small-town mischief. The story follows Professor and con-man Harold Hill through River City, Iowa. With its lively music and colorful cast of characters, the show offers multiple opportunities for performers to jump in, have fun, and shine together on stage.”
Click here for photos from last year’s spring musical, Mary Poppins.

Spring Career and Internship Fair
2026-02-12 11:00 - 13:00 | Blue Ridge Mountain Room, 215 Ferrum Mountain Road, Ferrum, VA, 24088, United States
Explore career and internship opportunities and connect with employers at Ferrum College’s Spring 2026 Career and Internship Fair. This event is free to attend.
Location: Blue Ridge Mountain Room, Franklin Hall
Information on academic programs at Ferrum College
Questions: Leslie Holden, Director of Career Development | lholden@ferrum.edu | 540.365.4460

Wrestling Alumni & Friends Gathering & Match Day
2026-02-13 17:00 - 20:00 | Swartz Gym, 435 Ferrum Mountain Road, Ferrum, VA, 24088, United States
Ferrum College Wrestling is entering an exciting new era as we transition to NCAA Division II and Conference Carolinas — and we want YOU to be part of it! Join us Friday, February 13, 2026, for a Wrestling Alumni & Friends Reception at 5:00 p.m. in the Swartz Gymnasium Trophy Room, followed by Ferrum Wrestling vs. Coker at 6:00 p.m. After the match, alumni and friends are invited to continue the evening with a casual gathering at Jose’s Mexican Grill in Ferrum, VA. This night is designed to reconnect teammates and supporters, honor our tradition, and rally around the next era of Ferrum Wrestling. We hope you’ll join us for all or part of the evening.
Click here to register and confirm your attendance today!

Alumni Sweetheart Society Valentine's Event — Open to All!
2026-02-14 18:00 - 21:00 | Blue Ridge Mountain Room, 215 Ferrum Mountain Road, Ferrum, VA, 24088, United States
Dear Panther Family,
Some relationships begin in the classroom, others at the student union, on the field, or during a late-night study session in the library. No matter where your spark first ignited, your story is part of our shared Panther history.
You’re invited to the Alumni Sweetheart Society Valentine’s Event—a festive evening celebrating love, connection, and community at Ferrum College. While the Sweetheart Society honors alumni couples who met on campus, this event is open to everyone who would like to attend. Students are welcome to attend and may use Metz dining dollars.
Whether you’re married, dating, longtime partners, single, alumni, or simply looking for a fun and elegant Valentine’s celebration, we welcome you to join us for a memorable night back on campus.
Event Details
Saturday, February 14, 2026 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Blue Ridge Mountain Room, Franklin Hall
Formal/semi-formal (optional black tie for those who want to go all out!)
Black, gold, red, and white color theme
Registration Rates
Early-bird (expires January 31, 2026)
• $50/couple
• $25/single
Advance Registration (expires February 10, 2026)
• $60/couple
• $30/single
At the Door
• $70/couple
• $35/single
Enjoy an evening of great food, music, selfie photo opportunities, and more as we celebrate love in all its forms. Space is limited, so we encourage you to reserve your spot early.
Click here to register today.

Have a special story to share? Click here to tell us your sweetheart story.
We can’t wait to welcome you back to Ferrum for this signature Alumni Engagement event. Let’s celebrate love, laughter, and lasting connections—right where so many memories were made

The Work of Hands and Hearts: An Evening of Poetry and Prose with Aaron Fagan & Patrick Dacey
2026-02-19 18:00 - 19:30 | Blue Ridge Mountain Room, 215 Ferrum Mountain Road, Ferrum, VA, 24088, United States
“The Work of Hands and Hearts” is an intimate, one-night literary event celebrating the dignity, struggle, and spirit of working people through poetry and fiction. Acclaimed poet Aaron Fagan and award-winning fiction writer Patrick Dacey will share selections from their work that explore labor, class, and the everyday beauty found in persistence. The reading will be followed by a moderated conversation and audience Q & A, offering insight into how each author approaches the lives and language of work in contemporary America.
The Blue Ridge Mountain Room is in the upper level of Franklin Hall. Parking is available along Ferrum Mountain Road (behind Grousbeck Hall or the Panther Grounds campus store) or Wiley Drive (just past Adams Lake and Franklin Hall).

Grandma Gatewood Took a Walk, Feb. 20-22
2026-02-20 19:00 - 2026-02-22 14:00 | The Rex Stephenson Theatre – Schoolfield Hall, 215 Ferrum Mountain Rd, Ferrum, VA, 24088-2611, United States
In 1955, Emma “Grandma” Gatewood, a 67-year-old Ohio woman in Keds, carrying her things in a homemade sack, walked the entire Appalachian Trail. She hiked nearly 2,200 miles from Georgia to Maine. She was the first woman to complete a solo thru-hike and later did it again twice.
Her story is about grit, stubborn hope, and that deep Appalachian knowing that if you keep putting one foot in front of the other, you’ll get where you’re meant to go. Grandma Gatewood Took a Walk by Catherine Bush brings this true story to the stage. It offers a reminder that it’s never too late to start over, chase freedom, or answer the call of the trail. If these mountains mean something to you, come walk a while with Grandma Gatewood.
Performances February 20 and 21 at 7 p.m., February 22 at 2 p.m. An optional pre-show dinner is served on Saturday at 5:30 and Sunday at 12:30.
Directed by Emily Blankenship-Tucker, with visiting performer Becky Prophet as Grandma Gatewood and Rebecca Crocker performing thirteen supporting roles.
Produced with permission of the playwright.
The play has adult themes and is not intended for children. It is based on a true story, as told in the nonfiction book Grandma Gatewood’s Walk by Ben Montgomery (2014), and in Gatewood’s diaries and interviews.
www.ferrum.edu/theatre-tickets
Click here to read more about it.

Ferrum College Alumni Engagement - 419 West, Roanoke, VA
2026-03-03 17:00 - 21:00
Panthers in the Roanoke area, we’re coming to you! Join fellow Ferrum alumni for an evening of connection, conversation, and community at 419 West. This regional stop is all about bringing the Ferrum spirit closer to home—no long drive back to campus required.

Date: March 3, 2026
Time: Registration: 5:00 – 5:30 pm | Meet & Greet 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Location: 419 West, 3865 Electric Road, Roanoke, VA 24018

First Round of appetizers on us. Participants are responsible for all subsequent food and beverage orders (including tax and 20% gratuity).
This regional tour is designed to bring the spirit of Ferrum directly to you. It is the perfect opportunity to reconnect, share ideas, and network with fellow Panthers without having to make the long journey back to campus.

To register, click here.

Open Mike Night
2026-03-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Panthers Den
An Open Mike Night for the campus and community will be held on Wednesday, March 11 in Franklin Hall at Ferrum College, beginning at 7 p.m. “Chrysalis Literary and Arts Magazine“ invites students, faculty, and staff to read original poems and short stories, sing, or present other talents.
“Chrysalis“ and other student groups host open mike coffee houses several times throughout the academic year. Anyone is welcome to attend and participate without signing up in advance. Free refreshments will be served.
The editor of “Chrysalis” is senior Mattie Green (shown reading from her work in the photo) and the faculty advisor is Professor of English Katherine Grimes. The Fall 2025 issue and other past issues of “Chrysalis” can be read online and the Spring 2026 issue will be revealed at the end of the semester. A limited number of free printed copies of the magazine are also available each semester.
“Chrysalis” is both a club and a practicum course for students who submit their own work and earn course credit for compiling, editing, and laying out the magazine each semester. They encourage students, faculty, and staff to submit original work early in each semester and to read from their work and discuss visual artwork at the coffee houses and end-of-semester reveal.
For the Open Mike event, go to the Panthers Den on the ground floor of Franklin Hall. Contact Dr. Katherine Grimes for additional information, at kgrimes@ferrum.edu.

Bachelor of Social Work Program 50-Year Anniversary Event and Alumni Gathering
2026-03-13 08:30 | Blue Ridge Mountain Room, 215 Ferrum Mountain Road, Ferrum, VA, 24088, United States
Celebrate 50 years of impact and community at the Ferrum College Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Program’s 50th Anniversary Event and Alumni Gathering on March 13, 2026, in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room of Franklin Hall. The day begins with check-in and registration at 8:30 a.m., followed by ACES training from 9:00 to 11:45 a.m. Following lunch on your own, the afternoon program beginning at 1:00 p.m. will feature guest speakers, including Ira Colby, the founding father of the Ferrum College BSW Program, along with alumna Holly D’Heron ’09 and alumnus Ralph Branch III ’14, followed by a Phi Alpha Initiation Ceremony. The celebration continues with an alumni social and gathering at Jose’s Mexican Grill (Ferrum location) immediately after the event.

Click here to register today!

Ferrum College Softball Alumni Gathering & Doubleheader
2026-03-14 13:30 - 17:00 | Vickie Van Kleeck Softball Complex, 215 Ferrum Mountain Road, Ferrum, VA, United States
Ferrum College softball is entering an exciting new era as we transition to NCAA Division II and Conference Carolinas — and we want YOU to be part of it! Join us Saturday, March 14, for Softball Alumni Day as the Panthers take on King University in a Conference Carolinas doubleheader! Reconnect with teammates, swap stories from your playing days, and celebrate the legacy that continues to shape Ferrum Softball today.
Event Schedule
1:30 p.m. – Alumni Check-in & Registration
2:00 p.m. – Alumni Gathering + Game One
Look for the Alumni Tent near the dugout when you arrive!
Register today and help us pack the stands with Panther pride!

Empty Bowls 2026
2026-03-15 11:00 - 14:00 | Blue Ridge Mountain Room, 215 Ferrum Mountain Road, Ferrum, VA, 24088, United States
The 16th annual Empty Bowls event at Ferrum College will be on March 15, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
This event funds Panther Packs food for Ferrum Elementary School children to take home throughout the school year. Any family with food insecurity can sign their children up to receive food every week. Throughout the winter, college students, Blue Ridge Potters Guild members, and other volunteers make hundreds of clay bowls. At the event, the college dining service provides soup to eat in the unique bowl you purchase.
The silent auction offers a variety of items made by potters and other artisans–a great place to buy gifts. Throughout the school year, community and college volunteers purchase nonperishable food and pack it in bags that are delivered to the school.
In 2025, Empty Bowls at Ferrum College had record attendance and proceeds, raising over $13,000. Participating in a national network of Empty Bowls fundraisers to provide food where needed in any locality, this is the sole fundraiser for the Panther Packs program at Ferrum Elementary. With the price of food rising in recent times, every bowl donated and sold is important.
For more information, contact Nell Fredericksen, adjunct professor of art, nfredericksen2@ferrum.edu.
Check the Ferrum College Empty Bowls Facebook page for more photos and previews.

The Music Man – March 19-22, 2026
2026-03-19 19:00 - 2026-03-22 14:00
By turns wicked, funny, warm, romantic and touching, The Music Man is family entertainment at its best. Meredith Willson’s six-time, Tony Award-winning musical comedy has been entertaining audiences since 1957 and is a family-friendly story to be shared with every generation.
This production is directed by Emily Blankenship-Tucker, with a multigenerational cast of Ferrum College students, faculty, staff, alumni, local children, and other community volunteers.
The Music Man follows fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill as he cons the people of River City, Iowa, into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band that he vows to organize – despite the fact that he doesn’t know a trombone from a treble clef. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian, the librarian, who transforms him into a respectable citizen by curtain’s fall.
Click here to read more about the show.
About Us:
No preshow meal will be served on Thursday or Friday, March 19 & 20 – Join us for the Fish Fry Friday in Franklin Hall (sold separately at the dining hall) on Friday March 20.
An optional dinner or lunch is served before the show (on Saturday and Sunday only) in Franklin Hall next door, and is served by the actors in the tradition of The Blue Ridge Dinner Theatre. Both Franklin Hall and Schoolfield Hall, where our performances are held, are handicapped accessible. We offer alternative meals for those with food allergies when given advance notice: please note dietary and mobility restrictions in the comments at checkout.
Meal ticket sales often end before the show dates, and may not be available at the door. Tickets are available at www.ferrum.edu/theatre-tickets.
Thursday is Student Night. Area high school students will be admitted for $1 cash, and younger children are free.
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.
Follow Ferrum College Theatre Arts in Facebook and ferrumtheatrearts in Instagram for cast announcements and other previews.

Black & Gold Open House
2026-03-20 09:00 - 13:00
We’re thrilled to invite you to Ferrum College for our Black & Gold Open House – a special event designed just for prospective students! Spend the day exploring campus, meeting faculty and students, taking a guided tour, and learning what life at Ferrum is all about. Plus, enjoy a complimentary lunch in our award-winning dining hall.
Planning to apply? Bring a copy of your high school or college transcripts to receive an admission decision on the spot. We also encourage you to start your application before you arrive to make the process even faster!
For more information about attending, email admissions@ferrum.edu or call 540-365-2121. Click here to register.

Ferrum Tennis Alumni & Friends Round Robin
2026-03-20 15:30 - 18:00 | Burrows Skeens Tennis Courts, 333 Wiley Dr, Ferrum, VA 24088
Join us on Friday, March 20, for A Celebration of Legacy and Competition at Ferrum College! Alumni, supporters, and current student-athletes will take the court together for an afternoon of connection, competition, and Panther pride.
Burrows Skeens Tennis Courts
Registration: 3:30 p.m.
Play begins: 4:00 p.m.
As Ferrum Athletics moves into NCAA Division II, we’re celebrating the tradition that built our program and the alumni who continue to shape its future.
Come back, reconnect, and represent the Black & Gold!
Click here to register.

Agripalooza: Where Innovation Meets Tradition
2026-03-24 08:00
Ferrum College will host Agripalooza: Where Technology Meets Tradition on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in celebration of National Agriculture Day. Presented in partnership with the Virginia Small Business Development Center, Greater Roanoke & NRV, and Franklin County, Virginia, the in-person conference will bring together farmers, entrepreneurs, and community partners to explore innovation and opportunity in today’s agricultural economy. The Commonwealth’s Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, Katie Frazier, will headline the program as the keynote speaker.
Registration for Agripalooza is $50 per person and includes access to all conference sessions, networking opportunities, light refreshments, and lunch. Additional event details and registration information are available at the Virginia SBDC website at roanokesmallbusiness.org/agripalooza.

Blood Drive at Ferrum College March 25
2026-03-25 10:00 - 15:00 | Vaughn Chapel, Ferrum College, Rt. 40, Ferrum, VA, 24088, United States
Ferrum College Nursing and the American Red Cross are hosting a blood drive at Ferrum College.
Please join our lifesaving mission and schedule an appointment today!
Site: Lower Level of Vaughn Chapel
Address: Vaughn Chapel, 80 Wiley Dr, Ferrum, VA, 24088
Date: Wed Mar 25, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 03:00 PM
Blood Program Leader Name: Tammy Hodges, thodges@ferrum.edu
Blood Program Leader Phone Number: 540 365-5558
Download the Red Cross Blood Donor App on the App Store or Google Play or text BLOODAPP to 90999. Schedule appointments, view your blood type and results of your mini-physical, and track your donations.
The need for blood is constant and only volunteer donors can fulfill that need for patients in our community. Nationwide, someone needs a unit of blood every 2 to 3 seconds and most of us will need blood in our lifetime.
Thank you for supporting the American Red Cross blood program!
More information about nursing and allied health programs at this link.

Don’t Wait! Now Is The Best Time To Write That Book!
2026-03-25 11:30 - 12:30 | Stanley Library, 150 Wiley Drive, Ferrum, 24088, United States
Many college students dream of writing a book someday—but most believe they need more experience, more confidence, or permission before they can begin. In this engaging and practical talk, bestselling author Jane Fenton challenges that assumption and reveals why now is the best time to start writing and sharing your work. Drawing from her real-world experience publishing multiple books and building an audience from the ground up, Fenton breaks down the core principles behind writing a book people actually want to read. Students will learn why it’s important to know your audience, how social media can be used to connect with your readers, and why imperfect, authentic content consistently outperforms polished perfection. This presentation reframes writing a book not as a distant dream, but as a powerful tool for confidence and career momentum—whether students plan to become authors, entrepreneurs, or professionals in any field. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how to begin, practical steps they can take immediately, and the realization that waiting is often the biggest obstacle of all.
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.

Jane Fenton is author of the Repo Girl series of novels about a young woman who repossesses cars for a living and keeps running across dead bodies. They have been called “fast-paced mysteries with lots of laughs and a little romance.” Jane is an avid reader of books that combine romance, mystery, and laughter because they’re as satisfying as a triple fudge sundae—without the calories. Although she shares her heroine’s love of Roanoke City, good friends, junk food, stray dogs, and Jeep Wranglers, she’s quite happy to create these fun misadventures from the comfort of her quiet farmhouse in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia where she lives with her family.
Jane Fenton website

Janine Latus: We Need to Talk (about Relationship Abuse)
2026-03-30 11:30 - 12:30 | Panthers Den
Janine Latus, author of the nonfiction book If I Am Missing or Dead, will return to the Ferrum College campus on March 30 to lead a discussion about relationship abuse. The event will take place in the Panthers Den in Franklin Hall at 11:30 a.m. All are welcome for free.
Latus is a journalist, author and advocate who describes herself as a “fierce warrior against sexual assault and domestic violence.”
She travels the world telling her own stories about domestic violence and educating clients who have included the U.S. Navy, Major League Baseball, and many other companies, nonprofits, and schools. Her work has inspired thousands of people to recognize relationship abuse, break free, and heal. One previous host called her “the most compelling speaker on sexual assault and relationship violence that I have ever heard.”
In addition to being a widely sought-after speaker, Latus is also a writing teacher and her New York Times best-selling book, If I Am Missing or Dead, was published in 2007. She earned a bachelor’s degree in horticulture and a master’s degree in journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia. One Amazon reviewer wrote about her book, “I give this story . . . my highest recommendation. I would like to track down the journalism professor who once gave Janine Latus a ‘C’ and buy her a copy of the book.”
After one of Latus’ previous three visits to Ferrum College, Professor of English Lana Whited wrote, “I have seldom heard the undergraduate students on our campus quieter than when Janine Latus was speaking to them. At the end of my class, students filed out, shaking her hand and offering their thanks. Over the course of the three days she spent on our campus, she spoke in five classes, at a campus-wide program, and with clients at our local women’s shelter. On campus, I frequently saw students talking with her privately, sometimes with tears in their eyes. Janine helps victims of abuse understand that they neither deserved nor provoked it, and she encourages them on their own healing journeys. She is generous with her time and talents and unwavering in her crusade to spare others what she and her sister Amy endured. Her message resonates long after she has gone.”
You can watch a TED talk by Latus on YouTube, and you can read her feature stories at janinelatus.com.
Copies of her book will be available for purchase, and a reception will follow the program. It is sponsored by the Ferrum chapter of Help Save the Next Girl, as well as the Quality Enhancement Program and the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement.
Help Save the Next Girl is a national nonprofit organization formed in honor of Morgan Dana Harrington, a 20-year-old Virginia Tech student who was abducted and murdered in 2009. It seeks to sensitize young women and girls to predatory danger. The foundation fosters mutual respect and camaraderie with young men, and is committed to be an active, imaginative presence on campuses and in clubs and violence prevention forums across the country. Help Save the Next Girl continually develops vital relationships with media and law enforcement. Its connections enhance its ability to quickly disseminate urgent information, such as about a missing person. Help Save the Next Girl also provides outreach support to victims’ families. Its media presence also promotes its mission to keep young women and campus communities alert to predatory danger. It participates actively in endorsing legislation that augments safety practices in communities. Through diligent activism in education, victim support, and legislation, it creates a strong foundation against violence as it strives to help save the next girl.

More background:
“If I am missing or dead, this has obviously not protected me,” wrote Janine Latus’s youngest sister, Amy, in a note she taped to the underside of her desk in 2002. The note was found after Amy disappeared during the same spring when Janine left her own marriage–escaped, she would say–due to feelings of being “afraid, controlled, inadequate, and trapped.” A journalist by training, Janine turned her skills in investigation and analysis to the question of how she and her sister, “two seemingly well-adjusted, successful women,” ended up in relationships with men who regularly assaulted and denigrated them physically, emotionally, and psychologically. The result was If I Am Missing or Dead: A Sister’s Story of Love, Murder, and LIberation, published by Simon & Schuster in 2007. On the momentum of the book’s success, Latus launched a crusade to take her insights wherever they might be useful–to college campuses, civic and advocacy organizations, and training sessions with organizations such as the U.S. Department of Defense and Major League Baseball.
Information provided by Dr. Lana Whited and Ms. Janine Latus.
