Ferrum College News

Ferrum College Celebrates Excellence at Annual Awards Ceremony

FERRUM, VA (April 16, 2025) – Ferrum College honored the outstanding achievements of its students, faculty, and staff during the annual Academic Awards Ceremony held on Friday, April 11, in Vaughn Chapel. The event highlighted academic accomplishments, leadership, service, and the spirit of the College motto that defines its community, “Not Self, But Others.”

The highest student-athlete honor, the President’s Cup, was awarded to two exceptional seniors: Bri Bitz and Zachery Beckner. This prestigious award recognizes students who embody the College’s core values—academic excellence, leadership, service, and character.

Bitz, a soccer player who earned a bachelor of science in psychology with a minor in coaching, is now pursuing a master’s degree in clinical and counseling psychology. Beckner, a wrestler set to graduate on May 3, will receive a bachelor of science in recreation leadership with minors in coaching and outdoor recreation. Both recipients have made significant contributions to campus life and maintained GPAs above 3.2, while excelling in athletics as well as the classroom.

Newly inducted members of academic honor societies were recognized, as well as student leaders of campus publications The Iron Blade and Chrysalis. Interim Dean of Faculty Eric Vanden Eykel and program directors presented undergraduate academic awards, followed by the presentation of special awards by Provost Delia Heck, including the following.

Lily Allen received the Arthur S. Owens Leadership Award for the senior who best exemplifies the qualities of the late civic leader and humanitarian Arthur S. Owens: leadership, initiative, honor and outstanding character, as well as an excellent record in academics, extracurricular activities, and creative initiative in making Ferrum College a better place to study, work, and live. Allen, who serves others outside the classroom in activities such as tutoring, also received the Outstanding Student in Pre-Professional Health Sciences: Pre-Vet Award. She has a double major in that field and Agricultural Sciences: Animal Science.

Scout Lynch, a junior and member of the Boone Honors Program, received the James T. Catlin Citizenship Award for the student who has best demonstrated qualities of citizenship and general leadership ability, as judged by vote of the faculty. Scout also received a commendation as editor-in-chief of Chrysalis Literary and Arts Magazine for the past two years and awards for outstanding student in English and Political Science.

Awards provided at colleges nationwide by The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation are presented to students and community members selected by the faculty based on their merit and in recognition of their fine spiritual qualities, which they apply in their daily living. The recipients must be of noble character and spend their time in the interest and betterment of humankind. This year’s student recipient is senior music major Emily Walker, who has minors in education and history. As a member of Orchestra Appalachia, the Panther Singers, and the Bluegrass Brass, as well as the tennis team, she plays and sings in many places around the community and the region.

Two community members were honored with Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards: Nell Fredericksen and Jason Powell.

An artist and adjunct professor of art and biology, Fredricksen also manages the Ferrum College Empty Bowls program. Every year she organizes students and community volunteers who make hundreds of bowls and donate other items for the Empty Bowls event, which funds the Panther Pack food program at Ferrum Elementary School.

Powell is associate vice president of Academic Affairs and chief innovation and research officer. He has served the college as a chemistry professor and academic administrator since 2001, spearheading recent initiatives that provide training to fill the workforce needs of nearby communities. He is a deacon of Franklin Heights Church and supports children of his church and community in many ways, through foster care and adoptive parenting as well as work with homeschool networks.

Vanden Eykel also presented the Exemplary Faculty Award to Nancy Brubaker ’94, associate professor of animal science and program coordinator of agricultural sciences, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to student success and academic innovation. Vanden Eykel described Brubaker as “outgoing, deeply involved in campus life, and a major part of our local community.” A faculty member since 2013, she is also a licensed veterinarian who advises and assists a wide variety of college and community student clubs and civic organizations, including the Franklin County Humane Society.

Ferrum College Board of Trustees Chair Scott Showalter ’73 presented the Sam Lionberger, Jr. Trustee Awards—established by the Board to honor exceptional contributions by faculty and staff. Nominated by Staff Council and Faculty Council, this year’s honorees were Felicia Woods ’98, who retired recently after more than 42 years of service at the College, including in the offices of the president and the physical plant, and Ashley Atkinson, assistant professor and program coordinator of Teacher Education.

In their nomination, the Staff Council praised Woods for her long-standing commitment to Ferrum College, positive impact on operations and administration across all areas of campus, and her deep understanding of the College’s operations, mission, history, and culture. They stated, “Felicia Woods embodies our organization’s values and spirit, and her contributions deserve recognition.”

The Faculty Council described Atkinson as “an exceptionally positive and supportive faculty member whose expertise in classroom management and trauma-informed pedagogy makes her an invaluable asset to the college. She consistently challenges students to think critically, respect diverse perspectives, and engage deeply with complex issues. Her commitment to collaboration, student well-being, and innovative teaching enriches the entire campus community.”

“The Academic Awards Ceremony is a celebration of the intellectual curiosity, discipline, and dedication that define our students and faculty,” said Ferrum College President Mirta Martin. “Today, we honored those who strive not just for academic excellence, but for the pursuit of knowledge that transforms lives and communities. I could not be more proud of their achievements and commitment to the values we hold dear at Ferrum College.”

Click here to view event photographs.

Academic Awards

The Iron Blade Editor Commendation
Kyle Markowitz

The Iron Blade Assistant Editor Commendation
Grace Weaver

Chrysalis Editor Commendation
Scout Lynch

Chrysalis Staff Member of the Year
Mattie Green

Hamblin Accounting Award
Heather Whitlow

Outstanding Student in Finance Award
Greyson Crouch

Alexandria Dixon Outstanding Student in Management Award
Heather Whitlow

Outstanding Student in Marketing Award
Brandon Jones

Outstanding Student in Sports Management Award
Myia Smith

Ken McCreedy Outstanding Criminal Justice Award
Margaret Hodges

Outstanding Student in Health and Fitness Management Award
Jacob Vanremortel

Outstanding Student in Exercise Science Award
Kayla Fedison

Frank Benjamin Hurt Award
Scout Lynch

Outstanding Student in Recreation Leadership
Joey Provence

Outstanding Student in Psychology
Kenzee Chaffin and Jordan Booker

Eric Lee Baker Award
Scout Lynch

Jasse Scholarship in History Award
Abigail Hudson

Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar in History Award
Raylee Wilson

Richard L. Smith Academic Enrichment Award
Grace Weaver

Outstanding Student in Spanish Award
Alyssa Lagomarsino
Grace Weaver

Kirk Cash Scholarship Award
Django Burgess
Aryahna Tyree

Outstanding Student in Music Award
Gabriel Alvarez
Layla Freeman

Theatre Arts Achievement Award
Troy Smith

Outstanding Student in Agricultural Sciences Awards

Animal Science
Amber Lynn Gillen

Crop Science
Laney Patterson

Equine Studies
Megan Thomas

Outstanding Student in Biology Award
Erin Harden
Trevor Jeffries

Outstanding Student in Environmental Science
Riley Hines

Pre-Professional Health Sciences Pre-Med Award
Haley Woodward

Pre-Professional Health Sciences Pre-Therapy Award
Ashlynn Mitcham
Trenton Sayers
Kayla Fedison

Pre-Professional Health Sciences Pre-Vet Award
Lily Allen

Pre-Professional Health Sciences General Award
Savanna Walker

Computer Science Award
Cameron Easley

Acey-Wood Rose Award for Excellence in Religious Studies
Raylee Wilson

Special Awards

President’s Cup
Bri Bitz
Zach Beckner

Arthur S. Owens Leadership Award
Lily Allen

James T. Catlin Citizenship Award
Scout Lynch

Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards
Emily Walker (student)
Jason Powell (nonstudent)
Nell Fredricksen (nonstudent)

Exemplary Faculty Award
Nancy Brubaker

Sam Lionberger, Jr. Trustee Awards
Felica Woods (staff)
Ashley Atkinson (faculty)

Excellence in Nursing Award
Leeann Scarborough

Jane Addams Social Work Achievement
Kiara Williams

Dr. Betty N. Bailey Silver Weaver Award
Macey Moore

Jennie West Outstanding Social Work Student Award
Macey Ayers

Delta Kappa Gamma Outstanding Women in Education Award
Jamie Paige Adams

Charles A. and Marion C. Skinner Award for Excellence in Education
Elementary Education
Macey Moore

Middle Education
Elizabeth Parrish

Secondary Education
Amber Lynn Gillen

All-Level Education
Madison Cruz

Teachers of Promise Awards
Macey Moore
Amber Lynn Gillen
Sierra Faith Pope
Jamie Paige Adams
Madison Cruz

Honor Societies

National Society of Leadership and Success
Fall ’24 Inductees
Dylan Amend
Katie Arthur
Jamal Ash
Willow Cooper
Eliza Copes
Micaaiyah Dickerson
Kolby Feguson
Aaliyah Fortune
Kayleigh Franklin
Layla Freeman
Sarah Gallagher
Mattie Green
Madelyn Grosvenor
James Heckman
Tyler Holley
Layla Newman
Isabella Noto
Stone Pierce
Lillian Purcell
Sara Rah
Jayden Smith
Allyson Tubbs
Rylie Turner
Alondra Vera
Danielle Wilburn

Spring ’25 Inductees
Maegan Cash
Logan Custer
Rayshawn Dixon
Taylor Dutko
Nicole Heck
Breanna Herlihy
Jackson Hutchinson
Colton Johns
Blake Jones
Alyssa Lagomarsino
William Purdie
Angel Ramos-Mendoza
Naomi Ramos-Mendoza
Emily Smith
Makayla Twiggs
Kaira Williams

Kappa Delta Pi
Quinn Haden

Pi Sigma Alpha
Scout Lynch

Sigma Tau Delta
Cierra Feazell
Mattie Green
Naomi Ramos-Mendoza
Macey Moore
Madison Nunn
Sierra Pope

ODAC All-Academic Team