FERRUM, VA — August 12, 2025 — Ferrum College began the 2025–2026 academic year with a college-wide convocation and its annual Light of Knowledge Ceremony, marking an important moment in the College’s history. This fall, Ferrum welcomes its largest incoming class since 2018 and begins its provisional year as a member of NCAA Division II athletics—a year of growth, progress, and new beginnings.
At the heart of the ceremony was Ferrum College President Mirta M. Martin’s address, which captured the spirit of the theme “Ferrum Rising.”
“This is a year of firsts. A year of renewed momentum. This is the year Ferrum College rises,” said President Martin. “We are growing. We are united. We are Ferrum Rising. But rising isn’t just about what the College accomplishes—it’s about the choices each of you makes every day. If you make just one better decision each day—about academics, your health, integrity, relationships, service to your community, and yes, your faith and your values—you will transform your future; you will transform the world. One better decision—that’s how greatness begins, that’s how legacies are built. You belong here, and together, we will rise as one Ferrum.”
Her words set the tone for the tradition that followed. As the lights in Swartz Gym dimmed, students, faculty, and staff passed the light of knowledge from one cell phone to another, gradually filling the space with soft, warm light. The gym became a sea of twinkling “flames”—a powerful and moving symbol of unity and hope.
President Martin reflected on this striking moment, saying, “Look around… from one light, hundreds have emerged. That is the power of knowledge. That is the power of education; that is the power of passing it forward; that is the power of ‘Not Self, But Others.’”
The Light of Knowledge ceremony symbolizes more than just illumination; it represents the torch passing from Ferrum College’s senior class to the newest Panthers. Through this ritual, the incoming class is welcomed into a legacy of leadership and support, carrying forward the light of learning, family, and connection that defines Ferrum College.
With the excitement of a record-breaking class, a strengthened financial foundation, and the transition to Division II athletics, the message is clear: Ferrum is rising.
