FERRUM, VA, April 30, 2026 — Ferrum College will hold its 110th Commencement Ceremony this Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in the Hart International Plaza on campus, celebrating 144 graduates and marking a milestone moment for students and their families. Among those crossing the stage will be standout seniors Erin Harden of Clifton Forge, VA, and Hannah Wray of Rocky Mount, VA, who will each graduate with three degrees.
Erin Harden (pictured right with Dr. Katie Goff) will graduate with B.S. degrees in Biology, Biological Chemistry, and Pre-Professional Health, with a pre-med emphasis. A Boone Honors scholar and member of Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Harden has earned numerous academic accolades, including the 2025 Outstanding Student in Biology Award. This year, she also received the President’s Cup, one of the College’s highest student honors.
Harden’s influence extends well beyond the classroom. Dr. Goff praised her for serving as such a proficient lab assistant for several years, saying, “She has quietly, consistently become one of the most essential parts of my lab.” A Women’s Basketball team captain and 2025 ODAC All-Sportsmanship Team honoree, Harden has been a dedicated leader on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for four years, including serving as secretary during the 2025–2026 academic year. She has also been actively involved in community service through Ferrum College’s athletic programs.
Ferrum College Athletic Director Cleive Adams ’02 described Harden as a leader who consistently sets the standard through her actions, “a great teammate who genuinely celebrates the successes of others over her own personal success.” He emphasized the pride and excellence with which she represented her team, the College, and her community—truly reflecting Ferrum’s motto, “Not Self, but Others.”
Hannah Wray (pictured left with Dean of Faculty Eric Vanden Eykel) will graduate with B.S. degrees in Pre-Medicine and Biological Chemistry, and a B.A. in Religious Studies, along with minors in Forensic Science and Spanish. A Presidential Scholarship recipient and Boone Honors scholar, Wray has earned multiple academic distinctions, including the Doug Foard Award, the Acey-Wood-Rose Award for Excellence in Religious Studies and this year, both the Forensic Science Award and the C. P. Minnick Award, which recognizes a student who demonstrates exemplary character and academic achievement in religion and philosophy.
Wray has also played a significant leadership role on campus. She has served as chair of the Honors Advisory Council, president of the Chemistry Club, and a recruiting assistant for the Ferrum College Black Hats, contributing to both academic and student life initiatives across the institution.
Dr. Vanden Eykel praised Wray for her “curiosity, honesty, and intellectual self-awareness,” adding that her frequent questions about all she studies are the hallmarks of “a serious thinker” and a truly educated individual.
Ferrum College President Mirta Martin reflected on the significance of commencement and the promise of the Class of 2026.
“On the eve of Commencement, we are proud to celebrate the Class of 2026 and all they have accomplished during their time at Ferrum College. Erin, Hannah, and their fellow graduates exemplify the determination, curiosity, and character that define this class. As they prepare to cross the stage, we know they carry with them the values of Ferrum and the promise of meaningful impact in the world,” she said.
Harden and Wray stand out as examples of academic excellence, leadership, and service—hallmarks of the Ferrum experience. This year’s Commencement also carries special significance as the College marks 50 years since awarding its first four-year degrees, a defining milestone in its history. As part of the celebration, Ferrum will recognize Martha Arnold Phillips ’76, the institution’s first four-year degree recipient, honoring her place in this legacy moment.
Click here to read more about Ferrum College’s 110th Commencement.
Click here to read about the Boone Honors Program banquet.
Roanoke Times subscribers can click here to read Jason Dunavant’s article about Hannah Wray, which appeared in the newspaper on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
