FERRUM, VA, April 30, 2026 – The Boone Honors Program at Ferrum College celebrated graduating honors students at its annual banquet on April 26, 2026. Members of the program, faculty, staff, and family members gathered in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room on campus.
Dr. Dan Caston, director of the Boone Honors Program, welcomed all who attended. Then Ferrum College President Mirta Martin expressed her mixed feelings at this time of year when seniors prepare to leave the college. “You leave us in a week but you will never leave us,” she told the graduates. She praised them for exemplifying the college motto “Not Self, But Others,” and said, “You are ready to change the world.”
After an invocation by Pastor Dave Taylor and lunch, Dr. Nancy Brubaker, assistant director of the Boone Honors Program, recognized each of the Honors Advisory Council members. These students help oversee the honors program throughout the year.
Each senior honors student selected a mentor to speak on their behalf. The eleven students and their mentors are listed below. While every student is an individual and some were praised for their self-awareness and personal growth, some common themes emerged as each mentor explained why they were proud of their students. Persistence, diligence, and devotion to Ferrum College were often mentioned. The mentors admired the way these students demonstrated their ability to apply their studies in practical work and internships, as well as their leadership and interest in helping others. Curiosity, “drive and positive energy,” thoughtfulness, and integrity were recognized in tributes to the students.
The Boone Honors Program was established in 2001 under the direction of Dr. David Howell, professor of religion, and is named in honor of former Ferrum College President Jerry Boone and his wife, Shirley. Program members complete five honors-designated seminars, twelve hours of enrichment projects, and Global Perspectives coursework. Many receive travel scholarships. At their commencement ceremony, students completing all requirements are presented the Boone Honors Medallion.
Professor of English Lana Whited, who served as interim director in Fall 2025, offered brief remarks. She asked the students to recognize that their superpower is “to shine light into dark places.” She was surprised when Dr. Brubaker presented the gift of a rocking chair, in appreciation for her dedication to the Boone Honors Program over the past two decades. Dr. Whited directed the program from 2007 to 2024.
Dr. Caston praised Dr. Whited’s leadership and her “devotion to student excellence.” The oak rocking chair, for reading lots of books and rocking her grandchildren, has a plaque on the back with a statement of thanks, the Ferrum College seal, and her favorite quotation from a fictional professor in the Harry Potter series: “It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
Provost Richard Grant thanked the graduates for “the difference you’ve made in the lives of all of us,” and for representing the very best of Ferrum College. He said, “You make us better through your actions and participation,” praising their commitment to lifelong learning and to living lives of service.
Ms. Corretta Patterson, director of Alumni Relations, recognized the graduates’ achievements by saying, “You are the blueprint for those that follow in your footsteps.” She encouraged the graduates to stay connected and explained many ways they can continue participating when they become lifelong members of the Ferrum College Alumni Association at their commencement ceremony on May 2.
Zachary Daigler – Cherryville, NC
B.S., Health & Human Performance: Health and Fitness
Mentor: Dr. Johanna Ferguson
Erin Harden – Clifton Forge, VA
B.S., Biology
B.S., Biological Chemistry
B.S., Pre-Medicine
Mentor: Dr. Katie Goff
Ignacio Herandez Velasquez – Sanford, NC
B.S., Health & Human Performance: Exercise Science
Mentor: Ms. Lori Casey
Kenneth Howard – Rolesville, NC
B.S., Business Administration: Financial
Mentor: Mr. Sam Martin
Brandon Jones – Harrisburg, NC
B.S., Business Administration: Marketing
Mentor: Mr. Bryan Harvey
Holly Scout Lynch – Rocky Mount, VA
B.A., English (Fall 2025 graduate)
Mentor: Dr. Ed Hally
Anna Milliron – Vinton, VA
B.S., Psychology
Mentor: Dr. Abigail Jamison
Anna Newman – Haw River, NC
B.S., Biological Chemistry
Mentor: Dr. Dane Fausnacht
Jadyn Patton – Suffolk, VA
B.S., Pre-Therapy
Mentor: Ms. Erin Saleeby
Hannah Wray – Rocky Mount, VA
B.S., Pre-Medicine
B.A., Religious Studies
B.S., Biological Chemistry
Mentor: Dr. Eric Vanden Eykel
Ashli E. Wuss – Huntington, NY
B.S.W., Social Work
Mentor: Dr. Martha Haley-Bowling
Click here for additional photographs from the 2026 honors banquet.
