The very best of Ferrum College was on display this month as our community gathered for a special commencement ceremony honoring Jamarion Montford, a senior football student who received military deployment orders before he could participate in our scheduled commencement ceremony in November.

Through the extraordinary efforts of our faculty, staff, coaches, and many others across campus, Ferrum College ensured that Jamarion could complete this important milestone before deploying. Faculty worked together to fulfill his academic requirements, coaches stood beside their student-athlete, and staff coordinated the many details that made the ceremony possible. A community came together because one Panther mattered. Thank you!

This was more than a commencement ceremony. It was a powerful expression of our motto, Not Self, But Others, and a reminder of what makes Ferrum College so special. We do not simply speak about community; we live it. We do not simply prepare students for careers; we prepare them for lives of service and significance.

That same spirit of dedication and collaboration drives our broader progress. Ferrum Rising is ultimately about people – students who choose Ferrum College, families who entrust us with their children’s futures, faculty and staff who invest in student success, alumni who reconnect with their alma mater, and donors who believe in our mission.

Early in September, Ferrum College was honored to be named one of three finalists for Roanoke Region’s 2026 Business of the Year Award. While we did not receive the top distinction, being selected as a finalist was a significant honor and a strong affirmation of the important and transformative work taking place across the College. It was a meaningful recognition of the dedication, progress, and impact of YOU – our Ferrum College community. THANK YOU!

This is all possible through the collective efforts of our Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, coaches, students, alumni, donors, families, and friends, who continue to strengthen our foundation while advancing the mission of the College of Opportunity.

SAVE THE DATE!

Come Home. Join Us. Be Part of the Panther Family.
Fall is a special time at Ferrum College, and we want YOU to be part of the excitement! Mark your calendars for these upcoming opportunities to celebrate our campus, our traditions, and the Ferrum College spirit.

October 17 | Home Football Game
Come cheer on our Panthers and experience the pride, energy, and excitement of Ferrum Athletics.

October 24 | Ferrum College Blue Ridge Folklife Festival & Arts and Crafts Show
Celebrate the traditions, creativity, and community that make Ferrum College such a special place.

October 31 | Homecoming
Come home to Ferrum College! Reconnect with friends, celebrate our students, and join the Panther Family for a day of memories and fellowship.
Whether you are a student, family member, alumnus, friend, faculty member, staff member, or neighbor, there is a place for you at Ferrum College.
Show up. Wear your black and gold. Bring your Panther pride. Join the Panther Family!

Academic Affairs
Ferrum College continues to expand academic opportunities that prepare students for meaningful careers while preserving the personal attention, mentorship, and hands-on learning that define a Ferrum College education.

Initiatives in engineering technology, nursing, education, and other professional pathways reflect our commitment to responding to workforce needs while maintaining a strong liberal arts foundation. These efforts require thoughtful collaboration among faculty, staff, and institutional leaders to ensure that innovation remains grounded in our mission and values while ensuring a Ferrum College education remains relevant.

Our responsibility extends beyond providing academic opportunities. We must ensure that students receive the support and encouragement they need to persist, graduate, and achieve their goals.

As you know, four new academic programs were approved by our Board: Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technologies (BSET), Accelerated RN to Masters in Nursing (MSN); Masters of Arts in Teaching (MAT), and Masters in Athletic Training (MSAT). Thank you to everyone for carrying out this important work.

In addition, a $3 million Title III grant was submitted to DoE to support the launch of the BSET.
20% increase in returning students – The College achieved its strongest first-year retention results in recent history, representing the highest retention percentage believed to have been achieved since becoming a baccalaureate institution – (50 years ago!!!)

The STAR Program continues to demonstrate the impact of focused student support. During the past year, 134 students participated in full-semester STAR programming, and 89 experienced GPA improvement. These results reinforce the value of intentional intervention and individualized support.
Moving forward, student success will require continued collaboration across campus. Faculty, staff, coaches, advisors, and every member of the Panther Family have a role in helping our students reach graduation and prepare for lives of service and significance.

Financial Stewardship
The long-term success of Ferrum College depends upon responsible stewardship of the resources entrusted to us. Over the past year, we have continued strengthening our financial foundation through careful planning, disciplined decision-making, and a shared commitment to sustainability.
Ferrum College presented a balanced FY 2026–27 budget to the Board, contingent upon achieving certain milestones. Achieving the balanced budget depends upon meeting enrollment expectations, monitoring our financial position carefully, and maintaining appropriate cost-containment measures. We must remain disciplined in our spending and responsive to changing circumstances as we work to achieve the balanced budget we proposed.
To everyone who has contributed to this progress, thank you. A stronger financial foundation will allow us to sustain and strengthen the people, programs, and opportunities that make a Ferrum College education transformational.

Athletics
Ferrum College’s transition to NCAA Division II continues to expand opportunities for student-athletes while contributing to enrollment, campus engagement, and Panther pride.
During the current academic year, Ferrum College supports 21 NCAA athletic teams and 578 student-athletes. Approximately 255 new student-athletes joined the College this year, representing an important part of our enrollment momentum.
Our commitment extends beyond competition. Student-athletes achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.17, reflecting the importance of balancing academic responsibilities with athletic participation.
The Division II journey is about developing the whole person—academically, athletically, and personally. Continued progress will require careful planning, sound financial stewardship, and the collective commitment of our Panther Family.

Campus Operations
Physical Plant
The dedicated work of our Physical Plant team provides the foundation for a campus where students can live, learn, and thrive. Throughout the past year, the team has balanced daily operational needs with major repairs, infrastructure projects, campus improvements, and the preparation of residential spaces for students.
Among the most significant accomplishments was the repair and restoration of Adams Lake and the dam, returning the lake to normal water levels and preserving a beloved feature of the Ferrum College campus.

The team also completed critical infrastructure work and continued addressing residential and campus needs, including the reconstruction of Moore Hall following the sprinkler break and flooding. These efforts are essential to maintaining safe, functional facilities and a positive experience for students, employees, and visitors.
We recognize that maintaining an aging campus infrastructure requires ongoing attention and investment. The work of our Physical Plant team remains essential to the College’s daily operations and long-term sustainability.

Student Affairs
Student success begins with belonging, and Student Affairs plays a central role in creating an environment where students are known, supported, engaged, and encouraged to grow as individuals and leaders. This year, the division has continued developing initiatives to strengthen students’ connections to campus life, including more intentional opportunities for commuter students to participate and engage throughout the day. This opportunity was identified through the Campus Climate Survey that was conducted last fiscal year.
Through programming, support services, leadership opportunities, campus traditions, and student-centered initiatives, Student Affairs continues working to ensure that every student has opportunities to build meaningful relationships and feel connected to the Panther Family.

Enrollment Management
Ferrum College continues to build enrollment momentum as more students and families recognize the value of a Ferrum College education.
Enrollment has surpassed 1,000 students, reaching its highest level in six years and representing 57% growth since 2023. This progress reflects the dedication of our Admissions team, faculty, staff, coaches, alumni, and many others who share the Ferrum College story and welcome prospective students into our community.
While this growth is encouraging, enrollment remains challenging and a priority of the College. We must continue reaching prospective students, strengthening the recruitment process, and helping families understand the academic opportunities, personal attention, and value that distinguish Ferrum College.

Institutional Advancement
The generosity and commitment of the Ferrum College community continue to make a meaningful difference. During the past year, Advancement efforts generated more than $2 million in annual giving, including significant estate commitments. These gifts represent more than financial support. They reflect a belief in our students, our mission, and the generations of Panthers who will follow.

The Ferrum Rising vision provides a framework for engaging alumni, donors, and friends in advancing the priorities that will shape the future of the College. Every gift, conversation, introduction, and expression of support helps strengthen our ability to provide transformational educational opportunities.
We are deeply grateful to those who continue to invest in Ferrum College and believe in what our students can accomplish.
We also recognize the need to continue to identify and engage with our alumni. Efforts in this area have increased with regional alumni meetings and will need to increase further to help bring our alumni home.

Looking Ahead: Continuing the Journey Together
As we look toward the future, we do so with gratitude for the progress we have made and a clear understanding of the work that remains. Enrollment growth, student retention, academic innovation, financial sustainability, philanthropy, alumni engagement, and operational excellence must remain shared priorities. These efforts are interconnected, and success in one area strengthens our ability to advance the others.

We celebrate where Ferrum College is today, while recognizing we have not yet reached where we need or want to be. There is still important work ahead.
Enrollment and student success require all hands on deck. Every member of the Panther Family has a role in sharing the story of Ferrum College, welcoming prospective students and their families, supporting those already here, and helping our students persist through graduation.

The true measure of our progress is found not simply in numbers, budgets, or new programs, but in the lives we change: the student who discovers confidence because a faculty member believes in them, the graduate who enters a profession prepared to serve, and the family who knows Ferrum College is where their student belongs.

Ferrum College is stronger today because of the dedication of people who believe in this institution and in the students we serve. We have momentum, a clear sense of purpose, and a community committed to the work ahead. Every improvement creates another opportunity to transform a life through education.

Thank you for all you do for Ferrum College and for the students who entrust us with their futures. Together, we will continue building a College of Opportunity where students enter with promise, leave with purpose, and lead lives of service and significance.

Onward and Upward with gratitude!
M3

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The first-year investment from the U.S. Department of Education will support the development of an applied, hands-on engineering technology degree designed to prepare students for high-demand careers in civil, construction, and environmental engineering fields. The program will combine academic instruction, embedded internships, registered apprenticeships, and industry-aligned credentials to equip students with the skills employers need now and in the future.

Chairman of the Ferrum College Board of Trustees Scott Showalter praised the College’s boldness and the promise of the new program.

“Ferrum College has always believed in the power of education to change lives,” said Showalter. “This first-year funding is a remarkable investment in that belief. It will open doors for students who may never have imagined a path into engineering technology and will help build a stronger workforce for the communities we serve. We are proud of the leadership that brought this opportunity to fruition and grateful for the confidence this award places in Ferrum College.”

Ferrum College President Mirta M. Martin said the funding is a meaningful step forward for the institution and the region it serves.

“This is a powerful affirmation of Ferrum College’s mission as a College of Opportunity,” said Martin. “This first-year funding allows us to begin expanding access to a high-value academic program that will prepare students for meaningful careers while also strengthening the economic future of rural Virginia. We are deeply grateful for the support that made this possible, and we are excited to see the impact this program will have on our students, our region, and generations to come.”

Provost Richard Grant emphasized the program’s academic significance and its alignment with Ferrum College’s mission.

“The launch of Engineering Technology represents an important step forward for Ferrum College and the students we serve,” said Grant. “This program brings together rigorous academics, applied learning, industry partnerships, and career preparation in a way that aligns directly with workforce needs across Virginia. Most importantly, it creates new opportunities for our students to earn a high-value degree, gain practical experience, and enter careers where they can make an immediate impact. This is exactly the kind of innovative, mission-driven program that expands opportunities for students while strengthening the future of the region.”

The Engineering Technology program was developed in response to documented workforce needs and sustained student interest in engineering-related pathways. It will serve Ferrum College’s largely rural, Pell-Grant-eligible, and first-generation student population by providing access to a career-focused degree that aligns directly with employer demand in the Commonwealth and beyond.

The first-year funding will support key elements of the program’s launch, including specialized laboratory equipment, renovation and modernization of instructional space in Bassett Hall, and the hiring of essential personnel to guide curriculum development, internships, apprenticeships, and student success. During this implementation year, 100% of grant program activities will be financed with federal money. As proposed in the grant application, non-governmental sources will not be utilized to finance the program. The program will also include embedded credit-bearing internships and direct employer engagement to ensure that graduates are ready to contribute immediately in technical fields.

The new degree program is expected to strengthen the region’s economic vitality by preparing graduates for careers in infrastructure, utilities, construction, and environmental systems—fields that are essential to the future of rural Virginia. Through partnerships with employers and community colleges, the program will also create pathways for transfer students and working adults seeking advancement through higher education.

Ferrum College officials noted that the funding supports not only academic growth but also long-term institutional sustainability. The program is expected to generate new enrollment, expand access to career pathways, and create a model that benefits students, families, employers, and the broader region.

“This is exactly the kind of mission-driven innovation Ferrum College was created to provide,” President Martin added. “We serve students who are determined to build better lives for themselves and their families. This funding helps us meet that promise in an even more powerful way.”

Implementation will begin immediately, with facility preparation, curriculum finalization, personnel hiring, and employer partnership development already underway. The College expects the first cohort of students to enroll for fall 2027 classes.

More Information

Information on Engineering Technology Program

Article on new engineering technology and nursing programs

About Ferrum College

Founded in 1913, Ferrum College is a private, professional four-year liberal arts college nestled in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. As the College of Opportunity, Ferrum College offers an academically rigorous, hands-on education that empowers students to discover their purpose, develop their talents, and lead lives of service and significance. Guided by its enduring motto, Not Self, But Others, Ferrum College is committed to developing graduates of character who lead with integrity, serve with compassion, and make meaningful contributions to their professions and communities. Through innovative academic programs, NCAA Division II athletics, experiential learning, and a steadfast commitment to student success, Ferrum College prepares graduates  who enter with promise, leave with purpose, and transform the world. Click here to learn more.

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FERRUM, Virginia, October 14, 2026 — Ferrum College is proud to launch two innovative academic programs designed to expand opportunities for students and address critical workforce needs across the Commonwealth and beyond.

Beginning in the fall semester of 2027, Ferrum College will welcome its first students into new programs for the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology (BSET) with a focus in applied engineering technologies and the Associate Degree in Nursing to Master of Science in Nursing (ADN to MSN) pathway.

Ferrum College President Mirta M. Martin said the new programs represent the institution’s continued commitment to creating accessible pathways that prepare students for meaningful careers.

“Ferrum College has always believed that education should open doors and transform lives,” said Dr. Martin. “These new programs reflect our commitment to meeting students where they are, removing barriers, and creating pathways that lead to opportunity. Whether preparing the next generation of engineering technology professionals or helping experienced nurses advance into leadership and education roles, Ferrum College is responding to the needs of our students, our communities, and our workforce.”

The BSET will prepare students for high-demand careers in applied engineering fields through hands-on learning, industry-aligned coursework, and practical laboratory experiences. Students will develop the technical knowledge, problem-solving skills, and professional experience needed to contribute immediately in fields connected to construction, civil, environmental, and other engineering-related industries. Rooted in Ferrum College’s tradition of experiential learning, the program will provide students with opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges, preparing graduates who can innovate, collaborate, and help address the evolving needs of industry and communities.

The program will strengthen Ferrum College’s commitment to experiential education while supporting regional employers seeking graduates with applied technical expertise and workforce-ready skills.

Ferrum College is also proud to launch the fast track ADN to MSN program, designed to provide licensed registered nurses (RNs) with an accelerated route to graduate education by completing both undergraduate and graduate courses within the new program. Applicants transferring with a licensed RN who already have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN) are required to complete only the graduate coursework. 

The Master of Science in Nursing will provide two distinct tracks designed for working registered nurses, Nurse Leader and Nurse Educator. The fully online program, supported with individual clinical placements, provides advanced knowledge and practical skills needed to address the national shortage of nurse leaders and academic nursing educators. Ferrum College’s unique ADN to MSN pathway creates a seamless, accelerated academic bridge and removes barriers such as additional time, unnecessary repetition, and the cost of completing a BSN first.

Virginia nursing programs provide several pathways for ADN or ASN prepared licensed RNs to pursue graduate education; however, most programs in Virginia require students to complete a BSN before entering an MSN program. While a few programs in Virginia offer post-licensure ADN/ASN to MSN options in a Clinical Nurse Leader track, Ferrum College’s post-licensure ADN to MSN program will be the first Virginia MSN program designed to prepare licensed professional nurses for advanced roles in healthcare leadership and nursing education without requiring BSN completion.

Provost Richard Grant highlighted the importance of these programs in expanding access and strengthening workforce development.

“Ferrum College is committed to developing academic programs that are both rigorous and responsive to the needs of our communities,” said Dr. Grant. “These programs reflect thoughtful planning, collaboration, and our commitment to providing students with pathways that connect education directly to opportunity. We are excited to welcome students into programs that will prepare them to make an immediate impact in their professions.”

The inaugural classes for both programs will begin in August 2027. Ferrum College will begin recruitment efforts immediately.

“These programs are a reflection of who we are as the College of Opportunity,” said Dr. Martin. “We are creating pathways for students to discover their purpose, develop their talents, and lead lives of service and significance.”

Click here for information about the BSET program

Click here for information about the ADN to MSN program

About Ferrum College

Founded in 1913, Ferrum College is a private, professional four-year liberal arts college nestled in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. As the College of Opportunity, Ferrum College offers an academically rigorous, hands-on education that empowers students to discover their purpose, develop their talents, and lead lives of service and significance. Guided by its enduring motto, Not Self, But Others, Ferrum College is committed to developing graduates of character who lead with integrity, serve with compassion, and make meaningful contributions to their professions and communities. Through innovative academic programs, NCAA Division II athletics, experiential learning, and a steadfast commitment to student success, Ferrum College prepares graduates who enter with promise, leave with purpose, and transform the world.

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Ferrum already accepts associate of arts and associate of science graduates from all Virginia community colleges with access to the Ferrum Promise for most majors at Ferrum. Since 2019, the Ferrum Promise has ensured automatic completion of general education requirements, allowing students to focus on coursework in their major area of interest and finish bachelor’s degrees in most major programs in two years, or Ferrum College covers the remaining cost.

Those who meet the established criteria will also be eligible for the Panther Promise, which offers free tuition to qualifying Virginia residential students. Ferrum lies within the service area of P&HCC, and its graduates are among Ferrum College’s most successful students and graduates. Initiatives like the Panther Promise and Ferrum Promise position transfer students for success while also fueling the economic growth of the region.

“We know that the successful completion of education and training is the major determinant in the economic mobility of our students and the overall vibrancy of our community,” said Patrick & Henry President Greg Hodges. “These MOUs will ensure that students and families are equipped with the tools that they need to complete meaningful credentials that lead to good paying jobs with family-sustaining wages.”

“At Ferrum College, we believe talent is universal, but opportunity is not. These articulation agreements reflect our unwavering commitment to ensuring that students can pursue their dreams without unnecessary barriers,” said Ferrum College President Mirta Martin. “Together with Patrick & Henry Community College, we are creating a seamless pathway that allows students to build on the strong foundation they have already established and earn a bachelor’s degree at Ferrum College in just two years. Through the Ferrum Promise and Panther Promise, we are making that pathway not only attainable, but affordable. This partnership is about far more than transfer credits; it is about transforming lives, strengthening families, and preparing the next generation of leaders who will serve our communities and contribute to the economic vitality of our region. We are proud to partner with Patrick & Henry Community College as we continue expanding access to the life-changing power of higher education.”

The memoranda of understanding signed by Hodges and Martin affirm “the shared goal of fostering educational collaboration and enhancing academic opportunities for students.”

Learn more about the Panther Promise here: https://www.ferrum.edu/admissions-aid/cost-and-aid/tuition-and-fees

Pictured left to right: Terry Young, P&HCC Dean of Arts, Sciences, Education & Business; Colin Ferguson, P&HCC Assistant Vice President of Workforce & Technical Programs; Chris Wikstrom, P&HCC Vice President of Instruction & Student Services; Greg Hodges, P&HCC President; Mirta Martin, Ferrum College President; Richard Grant, Ferrum College Provost; Lois Williams, Ferrum College Interim Vice President for Enrollment Management; and Jason Powell, Ferrum College Associate Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Planning.

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Montford graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Media and Communication, and serves in the North Carolina Army National Guard’s 29th Division Sustainment Brigade, which was reflagged from the 113th Sustainment Brigade in July 2026. He holds the rank of Specialist and will deploy as a Behavioral Health Technician with Charlie Company, 230th Brigade Support Battalion.

The ceremony brought together Montford’s family, Ferrum College leadership, faculty and staff, coaches, teammates, and members of the Panther community to recognize his academic accomplishments, athletic contributions, military service, and the character he has shown throughout his time at Ferrum.

“Today is a sacred and joyful day for Ferrum College,” said Ferrum College President Mirta M. Martin. “Jamarion, this special commencement reflects the respect we have for you, the affection we hold for you, and the gratitude we feel for the example you have set for all of us.”

Martin noted Montford’s accomplishments as a student-athlete and his commitment to serving others.

“Your academic achievement is a testament to your perseverance and discipline. Graduating cum laude is no small accomplishment,” Martin said. “You did not simply finish your degree; you pursued it with purpose.”

Montford has earned recognition for his academic achievement as a student-athlete. In August, he was among 92 Ferrum College student-athletes to receive NCAA Division II Athletics Directors Association Academic Achievement Awards. Recipients have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher, have completed at least two years of college-level work, and have been active members of an intercollegiate team during their last academic year. He was also one of eight Ferrum football players selected in January for the College Sports Communicators 2025 Football Academic All-District Team. Undergraduate student-athletes selected for the team must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 and meet participation requirements.

Ferrum College Board of Trustees member George Yancey ‘67, a Ferrum alumnus and former Black Hat football player, spoke about the special connection he shares with Montford.

“JJ and I share a brotherhood and a legacy that stretches across more than sixty years,” Yancey said. “The Black Hat is more than a tradition or a symbol. It represents the bonds formed through football, through sacrifice, through teamwork, and through the shared commitment to something greater than ourselves.”

Yancey also recognized Montford’s example as a student-athlete and member of the Ferrum College community.

“He has excelled as a student, contributed as an athlete, and answered the call to serve our country with courage and honor,” Yancey said. “He has shown us what it means to live out our motto, Not Self, But Others.”

Ferrum football Head Coach Kevin Sherman said Montford’s journey has been marked by perseverance, growth, and a commitment to serving others.

“Jamarion’s journey has been defined by hard work, change, sacrifice, perseverance, and growth,” Sherman said. “During his time at Ferrum, he has demonstrated that success is about much more than what happens on the football field. It is about how you respond to challenges, how you treat others, and the impact you choose to have on the people around you.”

Sherman encouraged Montford to carry the lessons and values he developed at Ferrum into his military service. “Your degree is an accomplishment, but your character will be your legacy,” Sherman said. “Continue to lead with humility. Continue to serve with purpose. Continue to challenge yourself to be the best version of yourself.”

Montford’s family attended the ceremony, including his mother, Pansy Montford, and siblings Javien, Jenesis, and Josiah. Speakers recognized the family’s role in supporting him throughout his academic, athletic, and personal journey.

In addition to celebrating Montford, Ferrum College recognized three other Panthers who have been deployed: Zeke Surber, a four-year offensive lineman from Pulaski County who now serves as a Lance Corporal with Fox Company, 2nd Division, 1st Marines in California; Specialist Tripoom “TJ” Jala, a transfer student who played tennis two seasons at Ferrum and served as a team captain during his final season and now serves with Charlie Company, 1-116 Regiment, MSCT (Mobile Brigade Combat Team), Red Dragon Battalion, 29th Infantry Division in Virginia; and Private Henry Faulkner, son of Ferrum College Associate Professor of Mathematics Bryan Faulkner, who is serving alongside Jala.

Martin told Montford and the other Panthers who serve that they remain part of the Ferrum family wherever their service takes them.

“Never forget that you are not walking this journey alone,” Martin said. “Your family has made sacrifices that words can hardly capture.”

“As you depart to serve our country, please know that the entire Panther Family will keep you in our prayers,” Martin added. “Ferrum will always be home. Once a Panther, always a Panther.”

The College expressed its gratitude to Montford, Surber, Jala, Faulkner, their families, and all members of the military who serve the nation. Their commitment reflects Ferrum College’s enduring motto, “Not Self, But Others.”

Additional Coverage

Click here to view additional photographs.

Click here to watch the WSLS TV-10 coverage of the event.

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Montford, who is majoring in Psychology with a minor in Media and Communication, serves in the North Carolina Army National Guard’s 29th Division Sustainment Brigade, reflagged from the 113th Sustainment Brigade in July 2026. He holds the rank of Specialist and will soon deploy overseas as a Behavioral Health Technician with Charlie Company, 230th Brigade Support Battalion.

In  August 2026 Montford was one of 92 Ferrum College student-athletes to receive NCAA Division II Athletics Directors Association Academic Achievement Awards. These students have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale, have completed at least two years of college level work, and have been active members of an intercollegiate team during their last academic year. 

Montford was also one of eight Ferrum players selected in January 2026 for the College Sports Communicators 2025 Football Academic All-District Team. These students must compete in 90 percent of the institution’s contests played or must start in at least 66 percent of the institution’s contests. Undergraduate student-athletes must have at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average.

The special ceremony will allow Ferrum College to recognize Montford’s academic achievement and honor his commitment to military service before he departs. His family will attend, including his mother, Pansy Montford, and his siblings, Javien, Jenesis, and Josiah.

In addition to celebrating Montford, Ferrum College is proud to recognize two additional Panthers who have also been deployed. They are Zeke Surber, a four-year offensive lineman from Pulaski County who now serves as a Lance Corporal with Fox Company, 2nd Division, 1st Marines in California, and Specialist Tripoom Jala (TJ), a transfer student who played two seasons for Ferrum College and served as captain during his final season. He now serves with Charlie Company, 1-116 Regiment, MSCT (Mobile Brigade Combat Team), Red Dragon Battalion, 29th Infantry Division in Virginia. 

In addition, the College will confer blessings upon Private Henry Faulkner, son of Ferrum College Associate Professor of Mathematics Bryan Faulkner, also serving alongside Specialist Jala, who is connected to the College and, by extension, is one of our Panthers.

The College is grateful for the service and sacrifice of these Panthers and for the example they set through Ferrum College’s enduring motto, “Not Self, But Others.”

Ferrum College President Dr. Mirta M. Martin said the College is proud to celebrate Montford and the other Panthers in this meaningful way.

“Jamarion and these other Panthers represent the very best of Ferrum College,” said President Martin. “They have balanced academic achievement, athletic commitment, and military service with extraordinary character and dedication. It is our honor to celebrate their accomplishments and to send them forward with our gratitude and our prayers for their safety and protection.”

Ferrum College officials noted that the ceremony reflects the College’s deep respect for service, sacrifice, and the values embodied by its students and alumni. The event will provide the Ferrum College community an opportunity to gather in gratitude and support for Montford and for all Panthers who serve.

“Ferrum College has always been a place that honors service and family,” President Martin added. “This ceremony is a meaningful reminder of the strength, courage, and purpose that define our students and alumni. We are proud to stand beside Jamarion and the other Panthers as they answer the call to serve our nation.”

The special commencement ceremony will be held at Vaughn Chapel on Ferrum College’s campus.

About Ferrum College

Founded in 1913, Ferrum College is a private, professional four-year liberal arts college nestled in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. As the College of Opportunity, Ferrum College offers an academically rigorous, hands-on education that empowers students to discover their purpose, develop their talents, and lead lives of service and significance. Guided by its enduring motto, Not Self, But Others, Ferrum College is committed to developing graduates of character who lead with integrity, serve with compassion, and make meaningful contributions to their professions and communities. Through innovative academic programs, NCAA Division II athletics, experiential learning, and a steadfast commitment to student success, Ferrum College prepares graduates who enter with promise, leave with purpose, and transform the world.

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Heck (on right in photo) was recognized for nearly a decade of volunteer leadership with Tri-Area Community Health (TACH), where she has served on the Board of Directors since 2016 and currently serves as treasurer and chair of the Finance Committee. The award honors an individual who has made an outstanding voluntary contribution to advancing community health care.

“Dr. Delia Heck’s recognition as Volunteer of the Year reflects her steadfast commitment to serving others and strengthening the communities around her,” said Ferrum College President Mirta M. Martin. “Through her leadership, dedication to our students, and service to organizations across our region and beyond, Delia consistently applies her expertise and compassion to benefit others. This well-deserved honor recognizes her many contributions to Ferrum College, our communities, and the countless people whose lives she has touched through her service.”

At TACH, Heck’s service extends beyond her role as treasurer. She participates in VCHA conferences and advocacy efforts, represents TACH in grant-related groups with the University of Virginia, serves on the health center’s Trillium Award Committee, and advocates for initiatives that support staff education and community engagement. TACH also serves as the health center for Ferrum College, enabling Heck to help strengthen the relationship between the two organizations.

“Each year, we ask our members to shine a light on colleagues who demonstrate exceptional dedication, leadership, and service to their patients, health centers, and communities,” said VCHA CEO Tracy Douglas. “These awards give us an opportunity to celebrate those who consistently go the extra mile and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.”

Heck’s commitment to service is closely tied to her work at Ferrum. In addition to serving as a professor and program coordinator for Environmental Science and Sustainability, she directs the College’s Smith Mountain Lake Water Quality Monitoring Program. She previously served as provost and chief academic officer, director of Assessment and Institutional Research, and director of the Quality Enhancement Program.

Throughout her Ferrum College career, Heck has combined teaching, leadership, and community engagement. She has taught experiential learning courses, including the science course in the interdisciplinary Appalachian Cluster Program, and has led study-abroad courses in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, and Ireland. She also served for many years on the College’s Women’s Leadership Conference organizing committee and directed the conference for a time.

Heck’s contributions to Ferrum have been recognized with the 2019 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, the College’s highest honor for character and service, and the 2021 Exemplary Teaching Award. She also served as faculty leader for Ferrum’s 10-year Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges re-accreditation review and currently serves on the Commission’s Principles of Accreditation Revision Committee. 

“Service has always been central to who Delia is as a member of the Ferrum College community,” Martin said. “She brings that same spirit to her work with Tri-Area Community Health, her environmental work, her teaching, and the many communities she serves. Her example reminds us that the impact of a Ferrum education extends far beyond our campus and that our responsibility to others is one we carry wherever our work takes us.”

Heck’s service also extends to environmental justice and community resilience. She serves on the Episcopal Church’s Task Force on Care of Creation and Environmental Racism and participates in Episcopal Relief & Development’s Climate Resilience Community of Practice. During a yearlong sabbatical, she helped ten Haitian Episcopal churches and their affiliated schools transition to solar power through a grant from Episcopal Relief & Development. She was also one of twenty-two delegates selected to represent the Episcopal Church’s Presiding Bishop’s Office at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai.

Heck was among ten members of Virginia’s health care community recognized on Thursday, September 17, during the 2026 VCHA Annual Meeting and Conference in Williamsburg, VA. Her award reflects a career of connecting education, community engagement, environmental stewardship, and service to others, values she continues to bring to Ferrum College and the communities it serves.

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Love (on the right in the group photo at the lake) plans to retire next May after thirty years as the College’s lab technician. She has served as the lab and field coordinator of the SMLWQMP for twenty-nine years, working closely with over one hundred student interns overall, as well as faculty and dozens of community volunteers each summer on the lake and in the Ferrum College labs.

The SMLA Board of Directors selected Love as the 2026 recipient of the Johnston Award. Named after the SMLA’s founder, this award goes to “one or more people who have made the greatest contribution to the quality of life at Smith Mountain Lake either during the prior calendar year or over an extended time period.” It will be presented with several other annual community awards at the SMLA Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on October 15, 2026, at the Skelton 4-H Educational Conference Center in Wirtz, Virginia.

Past recipients of the Johnston Award from Ferrum College include Professors Emeriti Bob Pohlad and David Johnson, who still work with the water quality program and other campus and community organizations, and the late Professor Emerita Carolyn Thomas, who founded the water quality program with Johnson in 1986-87.

Pohlad called Love the “go-to person for life and physical sciences” at the College because of the many ways she helps to prepare and test-run lab sessions for science courses. He added that for the SMLWQMP “she is also an amazing scientist, editor, volunteer monitor liaison, boat driver, strawberry-shortcake-maker, and student technician supervisor.”

As a nominee for the Johnston Award, Love was commended for maintaining rigorous scientific standards, ensuring certified data integrity, mobilizing the volunteer network by helping to train and equip dozens of volunteers every May, and inspiring future environmental leaders by mentoring student interns throughout every summer. She pioneered HAB toxin testing in response to growing community concern over harmful algal blooms, helping to expand Ferrum’s lab equipment for conducting advanced toxin analysis and thus adding a vital layer of public health protection for lake residents and visitors.

Love’s nomination also commended the “collaborative bridge” created with her as “the central link connecting” program participants and government agencies, making the SMLWQMP’s collaborative model “one of Virginia’s most successful cooperative environmental programs.”    

The nomination recognized Love as a tireless and “dedicated lake advocate” who applies her editorial skills in the SMLWQMP’s safety-first summer newsletters to keep the community informed and engaged, demonstrating her “deep personal connection to SML and her love for southwest Virginia.” 

“I am truly honored to receive the Melvin Johnston Citizen Volunteer Award,” said Love. “It has been my pleasure to work for the Smith Mountain Lake Water Quality Program with so many wonderful people, especially the citizen scientists without whom this program would not be possible. I am proud of what I have been able to contribute to this important project.”

Professor of Environmental Science Delia Heck, director of the SMLWQMP, described this regional award as one of several recent recognitions showing “that Ferrum College’s motto, Not Self But Others, is more than words on a page.”

Katelynn Barreda ‘24, a 2024 student technician, said, “Carol Love brought so much dedication and kindness to the SML Lab that summer. I’ll always cherish our sandwiches out on the lake—those moments gave us the chance to talk, share stories, and get to know each other beyond the lab. Her warmth and genuine spirit made the summer all the more memorable.”             

Love is an avid hiker. She and Heck undertook the great adventure of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa, in 2022, and then shared their story with the College and the public. Pohlad wrote about Love’s retirement plans in Facebook that “you have earned a chance to kayak, travel, and hike whenever you want.”

Ferrum College President Mirta Martin said, “For nearly three decades, Carol Love has been the heart of the Smith Mountain Lake Water Quality Program. Her quiet dedication, extraordinary expertise, and steadfast commitment to our students and community have helped build a nationally respected program while touching countless lives along the way. Ferrum College is deeply grateful for Carol’s remarkable legacy of service.”

Photos courtesy of Dr. Bob Pohlad and Smith Mountain Lake Water Quality Program.

The bottom photo shows Heck (left) and Pohlad honoring Love at 40th anniversary dinner.
Read about the dinner here.

Smith Mountain Lake Water Quality Program at Ferrum College

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Professor Emerita Thomas, an environmental engineer who taught biology and environmental science at Ferrum College for forty years, began the water quality program in 1986-87 with Professor Emeritus David Johnson. The award was made possible by a memorial fund intended to support student work and established after Thomas died in January 2020. 

Professor Emeritus Bob Pohlad (on the right in the 2026 group photo next to Johnson and then Cutcliff), with Instructor of Biology Chekka Lash, presented the award to Cutcliff at the end of the anniversary celebration. With her major in environmental sustainability, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) after graduating this semester. 

Cutcliff was one of four student technicians working all summer for the water quality program (on the right in the boat photo with college lab supervisor Carol Love). “I like doing the total phosphorus testing,” she told The Roanoke Times in an article that describes how the students spend days on the water collecting samples from the lake and from the homes of volunteer monitors, as well as many hours analyzing samples in the college labs. The June 7 article says, “Each student challenges themselves to be as accurate as possible.”

Lash, who works in the program as ecologist, GIS manager, and field and lab scientist, provided the following overview of Cutcliff’s work.

Over the summer, Ashly provided valuable spatial data support for the Smith Mountain Lake Association’s Dock Watch Program by developing a series of maps. Her primary objective was to map and label GPS point locations of participating docks across Smith Mountain Lake. Building on this spatial baseline, she

• Mapped and symbolized individual dock locations accurately across the lake basin.
• Incorporated SMLA water quality zones by aligning legacy association boundary maps with current spatial datasets.
• Designed thematic choropleth maps (using colors to show statistics) to display program metrics clearly for association stakeholders.

The scope of the project served as an ideal bridge for Ashly to sharpen her cartographic and data management workflows as she prepares to pursue a career as a GIS technician. Throughout the process, she demonstrated exceptional professionalism—receiving constructive design and data feedback with grace, implementing revisions promptly, and maintaining an organized, adaptable workflow.

Her initiative, receptiveness to technical guidance, and consistent effort make her a strong candidate for her future goal career in geospatial analysis. She is currently working on another GIS project with Ferrum Park.

Since Ferrum Park was newly created for the village of Ferrum in late 2024, after local citizens formed a nonprofit agency and gained ownership of eight-four acres of unused county land adjoining the college woods in the vicinity of Chapman Pond, Cutcliff’s internship focusing on GIS mapping of the park provides another valuable service to the community as well as preparation for her career. Ferrum College students have helped with short-term park projects such as clearing trails and building a shed near the Rt. 40 entrance, and Ferrum Park offers more extended internship opportunities.

Cutcliff is from Dumfries, Virginia. A family connection influenced her choice of a college, since her great-uncle was the eighth president of Ferrum College, the late Dr. Joe Hart. During Dr. Hart’s presidency Ferrum’s first four-year bachelor’s degree programs were developed in the 1970s and 1980s, including one of the first environmental science majors in the nation. Dr. Hart’s son Evan Hart wrote in Facebook that Cutcliff’s great-uncle and his wife Carolyn Hart “would be so proud of her earning this award.”

Pohlad, who was married to Thomas for nearly forty-five years, explained that the Carolyn L. Thomas Memorial Fund reached the endowment level a few years ago, thanks to many “kind donations” after her death from cancer. He added, “We made the decision in the beginning to award a stipend to a student for a project pertaining to the lake. This year we are pleased to be able to give the first award in memory of Carolyn to Ms. Ashly Cutcliff.”

After Thomas died, Professor of Environmental Science Delia Heck said, “She was as passionate about water quality, environmental science, the natural world, and women in science on the day she retired as her first day forty-one years earlier when she began teaching.” 

Thomas and Pohlad jointly received the Ecological Society of America’s Eugene P. Odum Award for Excellence in Ecological Education in 2016. Thomas also received the Melvin Johnston Award from the Smith Mountain Lake Association for her decades of work and leadership of the water quality program.

Dr. David Johns, who was Ferrum College president when Thomas died, said that she “was for so many of us a model of fierce intellect, creative imagination, and personal courage. She had a way of exciting curiosity in her students and of inviting us all to be better people. Her fingerprints are on all of our lives—thousands of us.”

Cutcliff said after receiving the Carolyn L. Thomas Award, “I was quite honored to have been picked as the first recipient. I never had the privilege of meeting Dr. Thomas, but I hope that she would have been pleased with me being the first recipient of this award.”

A SMLA article published September 17, “Celebrating a Legacy of Lake Stewardship,” about the history of water quality monitoring at the lake and the fortieth anniversary celebration, pays tribute to Thomas, “who developed, managed and ran the program for decades. Dr. Thomas’ passionate commitment to the Ferrum students and Smith Mountain Lake still shines in the program today.”

Ferrum College President Mirta Martin said, “Ashly Cutcliff represents the promise of a Ferrum College education. As the inaugural recipient of the Dr. Carolyn L. Thomas Award, she honors Dr. Thomas’ legacy by embracing scientific inquiry, meaningful research, and a commitment to serving others. We are incredibly proud of Ashly and look forward to the many ways she will continue to make a positive impact through her work.”

Additional Information

More photographs from the 40th anniversary celebration

Read more about the 40th anniversary celebration

Smith Mountain Lake Water Quality Program at Ferrum College

Read about Gracie Edwards, another 2026 student technican

Information about the environmental sustainability major

Give to the Carolyn L. Thomas Fund (select “Other” and write in your choice if you give online)

The post First Carolyn L. Thomas Award Presented to Ferrum College Student Technician Ashly Cutcliff appeared first on Ferrum College.

Professor Emeritus Bob Pohlad collected photographs from the past forty years that were displayed during an opening reception and buffet dinner. Many scenic views were also integrated with data and announcements in the formal slideshow after dinner. Dr. Pohlad (on the left in the boat photo) serves as botanist and senior field and lab scientist, as well as taking photographs throughout the summer program and around the campus and community.

Professor of Environmental Science Delia Heck, current director of the SMLWQMP, led the anniversary program at the dinner. Ferrum College President Mirta Martin welcomed all who attended and recognized the program’s many benefits. She said, “Forty years ago, a remarkable vision took root at Ferrum College,” bringing together partners whose “work has protected the waters of Smith Mountain Lake, educated generations of students, and demonstrated the profound impact a small college can have on its region.” She added, “We honor a legacy that has become one of the defining distinctions of Ferrum College and one of the Commonwealth’s longest-running examples of community-engaged environmental science.”

Dr. Dana Ghioca-Robrecht, who serves as data scientist and aquatic ecologist in the summer program, summarized her analysis of twenty years of data from the lake. Earlier on September 11 at a Friday science seminar on campus, Dr. Ghioca-Robrecht, who is chair of the Ferrum College School of Sciences and Agriculture, discussed in more detail her spring sabbatical project studying forty years of data. 

Dr. Heck and Mr. Tom Hardy from the SMLA presented reflections on the past and the future of the program. These scientists reported that “overall lake water quality remains very good.” A combined tsi of 50.6, in the good range for standard evaluation of a lake’s trophic state index (measuring biological nutrients in the water), indicates “a healthy, resilient lake.” The long-term data show that a consistent spatial pattern shapes the lake, with lower nutrient data near Smith Mountain Dam (which created the lake), where water quality generally improves, and higher nutrient and sediment influence in the upper channels.

The 60th anniversary of the artificial lake’s creation was also recognized. A SMLA article published September 17, “Celebrating a Legacy of Lake Stewardship,” describes changes in the types of water quality testing conducted through the lake’s history. 

Dr. Heck recognized all the community volunteer monitors, and then the current and former student interns. In 1995, monitoring of tributaries was added to the lake project, so that about thirty groups of community volunteers now monitor at eighty-four stations around the lake throughout the season. Dr. Martin praised “the extraordinary commitment of hundreds of citizen volunteers who have faithfully collected data and cared deeply for the health of the lake,” adding that “their dedication exemplifies the spirit of shared responsibility and community engagement that has defined this program from its inception.”

This year’s interns were Dashawn Nichting, Gracie Edwards, Dew Adams, and Ashly Cutcliff. Dr Martin commented that “Ferrum College students have learned science not only from textbooks and laboratories, but from the waters of Smith Mountain Lake itself. They have collected samples, analyzed data, worked alongside faculty mentors, and partnered with dedicated citizen scientists. In doing so, they have experienced the very best of a Ferrum College education—learning by doing, serving others, and preparing to make meaningful contributions long after graduation. The former student technicians have made Ferrum College proud by distinguishing themselves in careers in environmental science, research, government, and industry.”

Three individuals also received special recognitions. Mr. Dale Runyon of Bayside Marina & Yacht Club was thanked for providing a slip for the boats and keeping them serviced over the years. Mr. Hardy received a certificate of appreciation for his science and volunteer leadership as the SMLA water quality chair. Ms. Carol Love, who plans to retire next May after thirty years as the College’s lab technician, was recognized for serving as the lab and field coordinator of the SMLWQMP for twenty-nine years, working with the student technicians, faculty, and volunteers on the lake and in the lab.

The program thanked other partnering organizations including the Appalachian Power Company, Bedford Water Authority, Tri-County Lake Administrative Commission, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and Western Virginia Water Authority. Dr. Martin extended “heartfelt gratitude to American Electric Power and the AEP Foundation for their longstanding support of environmental stewardship and experiential learning.” She added, “Their generous gift of the program’s science vessel has enhanced both research and education.” The boat was donated in 2023.

The evening culminated with Dr. Pohlad and Instructor of Biology Chekka Lash presenting the first Carolyn L. Thomas Award to student Ashly Cutcliff. Professor Emerita Thomas and Professor Emeritus David Johnson began the water quality program in 1986-87 (on the left and right in the photo). The award was made possible by memorial donations since Dr. Thomas died in January 2020. Read more about the award and Ashly Cutcliff here.

Dr. Martin said, “As we celebrate this milestone, we honor those who had the courage to dream, the perseverance to build, and the wisdom to invest in something whose greatest impact would be measured not in months or years, but in generations. Their legacy lives on in every student inspired, every volunteer engaged, every partnership strengthened, and every clear, healthy shoreline of Smith Mountain Lake.”

Additional Information

More photographs from the 40th anniversary celebration

Smith Mountain Lake Water Quality Program at Ferrum College

Give to the Carolyn L. Thomas Fund (select “Other” and write in your choice if you give online)

Smith Mountain Lake Association website

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