Ferrum, VA, October 8, 2026—Ferrum College held a special commencement ceremony in Vaughn Chapel on Thursday, October 8, to celebrate and confer the degree on Jamarion Montford, a senior defensive back from Newport, North Carolina, ahead of his upcoming overseas deployment in service to the United States.
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.”
Click here to view additional photographs.
