FERRUM, VA (February 3, 2023) – Ferrum College was one of three Virginia private colleges invited to attend “Thanks for TAG Day” in Richmond on January 30, 2023. Hosted by the Council for Independent Colleges in Virginia, the event’s purpose was to thank legislators and delegates for supporting the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG)—the only state aid available to private institutions—and to request permission to increase the grant amount.
Ferrum College Senior Financial Aid Counselor Greg Frith, Financial Aid Counselor Brianna Hall, and Financial Aid Counselor Leigh Mattox met with Delegate Wren Williams, who represents parts of Franklin County, as well as legislative assistants for Delegates Marie March and Leslie Adams, who represent the neighboring counties of Floyd and Henry, respectively.
“We were able to request an increase of an additional $250 for the 2023-2024 academic year with funds that are already available. Each of these delegates or their assistants have ties to VTAG, and we feel confident that they will assist in approving this increase since the funding is already available,” said Leigh Mattox, financial aid counselor.
CICV Director of Government Relations Sabena Moretz also connected them with Ferrum College alumna Sheryl Reddington ’93, who works as the legislative assistant to Cliff Hayes, the delegate for the Chesapeake and Suffolk areas. “Sabena also took us on a quick trip inside Capitol Hill where we got to sit in on the opening remarks of the General Assembly Senators gathering from Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears,” concluded Mattox.
The “Thanks for TAG Day” event is an annual event that occurs at the end of January once the Virginia General Assembly has restarted. The financial aid office will not know about the fund increase until sometime in the spring or early summer.
