Tabatha Chitwood ’19, a third grade teacher at Ferrum Elementary, transitioned to virtual learning in March due to COVID-19.
Alumna Tabatha Chitwood ’19 knew she was always meant to be a teacher.
“I did a co-op my senior year [in high school] and loved it, but I had children first before going to college,” she explained. Chitwood spent her pre-college years working as a restaurant manager, server, and bartender, but never lost her drive to educate children.
She attended Virginia Western Community College for regular classes, and dabbled with becoming a nurse, but ultimately decided to pursue her teaching dream by enrolling as a non-traditional student in Ferrum College’s teacher education program. She graduated in May 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts.
“I was a single mother of two boys that played soccer and football. I was busy working two jobs full-time. But I found balancing everything easy because I am used to doing everything on my own,” she said.
In fact, Chitwood found higher education to be so manageable and worthwhile, she has enrolled at Liberty University to pursue a master’s degree in administration and supervision, with the goal of eventually becoming a principal or administrator. “But I will be teaching for a long time first, because I enjoy it,” said Chitwood.
After graduating from Ferrum, Chitwood was hired as a third grade teacher at Ferrum Elementary School.
“It was evident from the first day of school that Tabatha made instant connections with her students and throughout the year formed a bond that helped every student be successful,” said Jennifer Talley, principal at Ferrum Elementary. “Her classroom is a fun and engaging place for students to learn. She provides a variety of hands-on activities to enrich the learning experience for every student.”
Little did Chitwood know that her first year teaching would be so unusual. On March 13, 2020, Franklin County Public Schools closed abruptly for the remainder of the school year to tamp down the spread of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19.
“Transitioning to virtual learning was hard,” said Chitwood. “We continued using Google Classroom, which is something that we did from the first week of school. That part was easy. Technology is easy and fun for me. The hard part was not seeing my students in person.”
“I am sure she never expected her first year of teaching to transition so quickly from a typical classroom to a virtual classroom. Not only did Tabatha accept the challenge, she embraced the opportunity to provide the richest experiences for all of her students,” said Talley.
Chitwood worked diligently to conduct weekly Google Meets for her students to stay in touch. She also made the work interactive, assigning virtual field trips and hands-on projects like building solar ovens so students could harness the sun’s power to make s’mores.
She said transitioning to virtual learning during her first year of teaching went smoothly, thanks in part to the teaching strategies she learned at Ferrum College.
Chitwood is looking forward to hopefully returning to her in-person classroom in the fall. She is using the summer to continue dreaming up unique and creative ways for her next class to learn, noting “I just hope my students will look back and say I had a positive impact on their lives.”
Learn more about Ferrum College’s teacher education program, including the new elementary education major, here.
Celebrities surprised graduates during the College’s virtual commencement ceremony. Top, right to left: Alumnus Mike McColl ’93; Connor Trinneer; Ty Burrell; Graham Phillips. Bottom, right to left: Joel McHale; David Baldacci; Jamie McShane; Keegan Michael Key.
At the end of Ferrum College’s 104th commencement which was celebrated in an online ceremony, graduates and viewers were surprised by eight celebrity guest appearances.
The pre-recorded appearances were coordinated by alumnus, actor, writer, and producer Mike McColl ’93, and included well wishes from actor Ty Burrell of the television show Modern Family; comedian Joel McHale of The Soup, Community, and Card Sharks; author David Baldacci; actor Graham Phillips of Riverdale and The Good Wife; actor Jamie McShane of Sons of Anarchy, Murder in the First, and Bloodline; comedian Keegan Michael Key; and actor Connor Trinneer of Star Trek Enterprise.
Watch the celebrity appearances in the coverage of our 104th commencement here.
Alumna Caitlin Menefee ’09 with her husband Earl and daughter Ella.
Alumna Caitlin Menefee ’09 owns and operates Forget Me Not Flowers, a quaint flower shop located in the small but bustling town of Somerville, VA. “It’s kind of a thoroughfare,” she explained in a Fauquier Times article. “From the beginning, people have seen our sign and stopped on their way home to pick up flowers.”
After graduating from Ferrum College in December 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in general agriculture and a minor in history, Menefee opened Forget Me Not Flowers in 2011 in Grove’s Store in Somerville. “I worked in flower shops throughout high school and college, and knew it was something I was good at,” said Menefee. “I learned a lot from my experiences at each flower shop and with a family background of small business, I decided to give it a try.” The store, originally established by her great-grandfather in 1908, has been continuously family owned and operated since opening. Menefee and her mother manage Grove’s Store in the historic building which now includes a small contract post office and a convenience store.
Forget Me Not Flowers has been very successful. After opening her first location in Somerville, she then expanded to include a Remington location in 2012. Running two shops was time consuming, but Menefee managed without trouble. “At the time, I had several employees and was able to maintain both locations. Over the years, not only has the flower industry changed, but so did my life. I married my husband Earl in 2016 and we had our baby girl Ella in 2018,” she said.
This past January, Menefee consolidated her two shops into just the Somerville location to provide a more streamlined service for her customers. She hires part-time help during the busy holiday and wedding seasons, but otherwise runs the shop herself. Ella accompanies her mother to work most days: “She’s 19 months old and the happiest baby you’ll ever meet. Everyone knows Ella’s sweet smile, and she’s the light of our life,” said Menefee.
Forget Me Not Flowers serves the entire southern Fauquier County area along with the towns of Warrenton and Culpeper. Visit Forget Me Not Flowers online at www.forgetmenotva.net.
Read more about Menefee and her flower shop in this Fauquier Times article.
Director of Athletics John Sutyak
Director of Athletics John Sutyak reflected on his first two months in his new role with a letter of introduction to Ferrum College alumni.
Dear Ferrum Panther Alumni,
As I sit in the Norton Center, it is hard to believe that I have been here now over two months as the Director of Athletics at Ferrum College. It is also unfathomable that I would be sitting here in the last half of March with no contests being played and the season suspended indefinitely. The events in our world due to COVID-19 have certainly forced us to reevaluate how we live and work. It has been a life altering experience for all.
With that said, I couldn’t be more thankful to be a part of the Ferrum family during these turbulent times. The welcome I have received from alumni, faculty, and staff upon my arrival was nothing short of tremendous and has only solidified the feeling I experienced when I first came to Ferrum on my interview. This truly is a special place and I am so glad to have joined the Ferrum community.
My initial days on Ferrum Mountain Road were filled with an enormous amount of support from campus leadership, faculty, and staff. It is clear how important the intercollegiate athletic experience is on campus and I am honored to have the opportunity to work with so many talented coaches and staff members. I have been intentional in engaging our athletics and campus staff, faculty, and student-athletes to learn what it is that makes the Ferrum athletic experience special. Additionally, I have learned how we can further enhance our work as a department, and college, in delivering a student-athlete experience that is second to none.
Being present as Ferrum announced the start of a track and field program was a great way to begin my tenure here and I am thankful for the work that Head Cross Country Coach Mark White and Interim Athletic Director Gary Holden did in getting that program started. Since then, I had the privilege to experience some fantastic performances on the playing surfaces. I was able to witness numerous school records in the pool at the ODAC swimming & diving championships, observe Alisha Elizalde ’20 become our first all-American in women’s wrestling, see the men’s wrestling team win a fifth consecutive Southeast Wrestling Conference championship (and have two men qualify for the NCAA championship), watch men’s basketball advance to its first ever ODAC playoff at the Salem Civic Center, and experience the softball team achieve a national top-25 ranking. I have no doubt that with the support of the campus, and you all as our alumni, we will continue to witness great things out of future Panther teams in the years to come.
I won’t lie: the last few weeks have been an emotional roller coaster. While we all know that suspending the season under the blanket of a global pandemic was the right thing to do, it has been difficult for all of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff to see the spring season suspended indefinitely. Despite the current disappointment, I have been inspired by the level of resilience and perspective of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff. They all know that it is OK to be disappointed at a season being disrupted, but they also haven’t lost sight of the seriousness we face as a world right now and that the health and safety of everyone is of the utmost importance.
Our President, Dr. David Johns, likes to remind us that “Ferrum” means “iron”. And it is in that vein that I remind us that all Ferrum Panthers – past, present and future – are resilient, strong, and tough as iron. My pledge to you is that we will work nonstop to continue to the proud tradition of Panther athletics, even in these tough times. As things go back to a more normal pace in the near future, my hope is that I will have the opportunity to interact with all of you, our alumni. I look forward to meeting many of you and learning about your Ferrum experience in the coming months.
Stay safe and healthy out there and Go Panthers!
John Sutyak
Director of Athletics
The group, consisting of about eight to twelve people led by Ferrum College’s Assistant Professor of Religion Eric Vanden Eykel, will arrive in Rome on July 23. Their exploration of the Eternal City will begin on July 24, with authentic cuisine and visits to museums, archaeological sites, and churches.
Vanden Eykel has visited Rome before and will serve as the group’s tour guide. At Ferrum College, he teaches courses in biblical studies, archaeology, the historical Jesus, and world religions. He received his Ph.D. in Judaism and Christianity from Antiquity from Marquette University in Milwaukee in 2014. He also holds a Master of Art in biblical studies from Marquette and a Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta.
Priority registration for alumni began on January 31, 2020. Registration to all interested parties will open on March 1, 2020.
To register, visit here.
Learn more about the trip here.
See photos from Vanden Eykel’s May 2019 trip to Rome here.
The couple experienced their first trial during the spring semester of 2016. Over Christmas break, while Pannill was visiting Germany, Lael severely broke his foot while cleaning his grandfather’s gutters. He was forced to use a wheelchair for about fourteen weeks. Once Pannill returned home from Germany, she dutifully took care of Lael, getting him to and from class and helping him walk again just before his graduation in May. “She only forgot me once at the top of the auditorium in Garber,” laughed Lael.
During that semester, Pannill’s loyalty and caring nature shone through. “I believe she would’ve played that role for anybody,” Lael said. “All semester long, she was right there by my side.”
The similarities between the couple are obvious. Both are agriculture teachers for Spotsylvania County Public Schools, both love classic country music and singer George Jones, and both plan to be lifelong educators. They are independent, professional, and their love for each other grows stronger each day.
It didn’t take long for Lael to realize he wanted to marry Pannill. “I probably asked her mother at the wrong time,” he said. “She was taking something hot out of the oven.” But the blessing was given and Lael proposed to Pannill at Kings Dominion’s Halloween Haunt.
The couple will tie the knot this Saturday, December 7, 2019, in Ferrum College’s Vaughn Chapel. “Coming back to where we first met, shared laughs and tears, and the continued love and concern from everyone at Ferrum made it an easy choice for a venue,” explained Lael. After the wedding, they will honeymoon in the Caribbean and return home in time to celebrate their first married Christmas with family.
Lael is thankful for the role Ferrum College played in his romance with Pannill. “We never would’ve met if we didn’t choose Ferrum,” he said. “I wouldn’t change a Ferrum experience for anything.”
On Monday, November 11, 2019, Ferrum College unveiled its new Craddock Veterans Lounge in Stanley Library on campus. The lounge is specifically designated as a space for veterans on campus, and was made possible by Army veteran and Ferrum College alumnus Greg Craddock ’92 and members of the Craddock family.
“It was a pleasure to unveil the Craddock Veterans Lounge today. My hope is that this lounge provides a place of peace for Ferrum’s veterans on campus to study, relax, and spend time together,” said Greg Craddock.
“We are grateful to the Craddock family for their generosity which has made this veterans lounge possible,” said Ferrum College President David Johns. “As we all know, courage, sacrifice, and selflessness are the qualities of a veteran, and we owe a great deal to those who give so much in defense of freedom. The Craddock Veterans Lounge is one way will be able to honor the heroes who are part of our Ferrum College community.”
A veteran of the U.S. Army, Craddock has over 20 years of experience in special operations, intelligence, and security operations. He was among the first boots on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq. He graduated from Ferrum College in 1992 and holds a master’s degree in business administration from Liberty University. Craddock now serves as the chief executive officer of Patriot Group International (PGI), Inc. Under Craddock’s leadership, PGI earned over $10 million in revenue within two years of operation and was named to Inc. Magazine’s “Fast 500” in 2014. In 2017, PGI was selected as the Government Contractor of the Year in the $25-75 million category.
The Craddock Lounge unveiling followed a special Veterans Day ceremony honoring veterans, soldiers, and reservists, held in Vaughn Chapel on campus. Craddock was the keynote speaker.
See photos from the Craddock Veterans Lounge unveiling and special Veterans Day Program here.
Wagner spent three years at Ferrum College until he was recruited by Houston in the 1993 Major League Baseball draft. His professional career includes stints with the Houston Astros (1995-2003); Philadelphia Phillies (2004-2005); New York Mets (2006-2009); Boston Red Sox (2009); and Atlanta Braves (2010). Wagner now coaches high school baseball at The Miller School in Albemarle County.
“There is absolutely no way somebody that hasn’t been to Ferrum could understand the beauty of Ferrum and what it entails,” Wagner concluded during the interview.
Learn more about Wagner’s athletic achievements here.
Read more about Wagner in this Roanoke Times article.
One hundred percent of Ferrum College’s teacher education program graduates are employed, according to data gathered across three years, from 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Ferrum College teacher education program graduates: spring 2017 (top); spring 2018 (left); fall 2018 (right).
“Approximately ninety percent of our graduates secure full-time employment in their endorsement area by the start of the next school year,” explained Assistant Professor of Teacher Education Christine Christianson. “It is typical for several of our student teachers to interview for and be offered positions before graduation in May. Graduates who are not employed full-time by the start of the school year in August typically work part-time coaching or teaching in a district they targeted until a full-time position in their endorsement area becomes available.”
Franklin County Public Schools has hired forty-seven percent of Ferrum College’s teacher education graduates. The other graduates are teaching in South Carolina, North Carolina, and all over Virginia, including Southwest Virginia, Northern Virginia, Tidewater/Hampton Roads, Southside, and Piedmont regions. Employment data for May 2019 Ferrum College teacher education program graduates will be available in spring 2020.
This fall 2019, Ferrum College began offering courses for a new Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education. This degree comes with the state education board’s approval of 53 new teaching preparation programs and allows Ferrum College students interested in teaching in an elementary school setting to earn a degree focused in elementary education.
Christianson explained that Ferrum College usually has more elementary education students than other endorsement areas. Over the last three years, sixty-three percent of Ferrum’s teacher education graduates received an elementary endorsement (pre-kindergarten through sixth grade); twenty-three percent received an endorsement in health and physical education in all grades; and fourteen percent earned an endorsement in secondary subjects, like social studies and English, for sixth grade to twelfth grade.
Ferrum College teacher education program graduates: spring 2016 (top); fall 2016 (bottom).
“Well-prepared educators are influencers at a critical time in the development of elementary-aged children,” said Ferrum College Provost Aimé Sposato. “Our new four-year elementary education degree provides future teachers with the skills and hands-on experience in the classroom they will need to gain employment in school districts throughout the state and region. Our dynamic faculty share their passion and expertise as experienced educators with the students and guide them through the licensure and job search process.”
Christianson noted there is a teacher shortage crisis across the nation. “In Virginia last year, there were one thousand unfilled teacher positions on the first day of school. At Ferrum, we have the capacity to grow our teacher education program, and we are working to do that in several ways: we are offering a dual credit education course at Franklin County High School beginning in Spring 2020; we are participating in campus activities such as the Academic Majors Fair, Academic Fair Open House, and Major Decision Day to promote our program; and we promote our program and our students’ achievements on social media,” said Christianson.
Ferrum College teacher education graduates are proud of the knowledge they received in the program. “Being part of the teacher education program at the College was simply amazing,” explained Tabatha Chitwood, who graduated this past spring and is now a third grade teacher at Ferrum Elementary School. “Not only was I provided with various opportunities to work in my desired field, I was able to make strong connections within the county I have always called home. I also felt empowered by the small class size and was able to make special bonds with friends that are now my colleagues. If I had to do it all over again, I would still choose Ferrum College.”
Learn more about Ferrum College’s teacher education program here.
Watch WDBJ-7’s coverage of this exciting news here.
Additional recent data confirmed an employment rate of 100 percent for spring 2019 teacher education graduates. Per Christianson, “All 14 of the graduates were offered and accepted full time employment during the academic year following graduation.” Data for spring 2020 graduates is still pending.
Members of the Scott family cut the ribbon commemorating the Leo H. Scott Educational Pavilion.
The Blue Ridge Institute and Museum at Ferrum College celebrated the completion of the Leo H. Scott Educational Pavilion with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Blue Ridge Farm Museum on Wednesday, October 16, 2019.
Leo Scott was often called the backbone of the Ferrum community.
Named for the late Leo Hamilton Scott, a Ferrum local who was often described as the backbone of the community, the pavilion was made possible by his wife Geraldine Scott and her grandchildren Chase and Kelli. The Scott family is a longtime presence in the town of Ferrum and strong supporters of the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum, and Ferrum College.
“The educational pavilion is my special gift to Leo,” said Geraldine. “It means a great deal to me for everyone to be able to use it, from school children, to the Ferrum community for reunions and parties, to college students. I can’t wait to see it in use.”
Scott was a 1951 graduate of Ferrum Junior College. In 1953, he founded Leo Scott Cabinets and employed many local father and son pairs to custom-make cabinets that were shipped throughout southeast Virginia. Scott was active in the Ferrum community; he founded the Ferrum Rescue Squad and Ferrum Volunteer Fire Department. In 2001, Ferrum College awarded Scott the Benjamin M. Beckham Medallion, the most prestigious alumni award named after the College’s first president. He was also named Franklin County’s Farmer of the Year in 2013. Scott passed away in February 2017 at age 84.
“We are so grateful to the Scott family for this generous gift to the 1800s farm museum,” said Bethany Worley, director of the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum. “We’ve needed an educational facility for decades to serve our growing numbers of school tours, homeschooling events, and for the annual Blue Ridge Folklife Festival. The Leo H. Scott Educational Pavilion will also be instrumental in our community fellowship. Everyone can be a part of Ferrum College.”
“The Leo H. Scott Educational Pavilion will be a center for learning, recreation, and reflection for years to come,” said Ferrum College President David Johns. “It will stand as a lasting memorial to a beloved member of this community. We are grateful to Geraldine Scott for her gift to Ferrum College and to the Village of Ferrum.”
Read more about Leo Hamilton Scott in this Franklin News Post article.
Learn more about the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum here.
With Homecoming 2019 festivities occurring this upcoming weekend, Ferrum College is also anticipating the return of four of its notable alumni.
On Thursday, October 10 at 6 p.m. in the Panthers Den in lower Franklin Hall on campus, alumna Melanie Rooks ’15 will share how her Ferrum College experience prepared her for working at a nonprofit focused on educational programming in South Africa.
On Friday, October 11 from 3 – 4 p.m. in the Founders Room on campus, alumni Bernice Cobbs ’98, Lloyd Parker ’79, and Mika Smith ’16 will participate in an alumni panel detailing how their Ferrum College education prepared them to launch successful careers.
Read more about Rooks, Cobbs, Parker, and Smith, below.
For those who can’t join us on campus, the Alumni Panel may be watched online here: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/ferrumadmin
Click here to see the Homecoming 2019 schedule of events. Register for events here. Most events are free but registration using the “Tickets” link is required.
Melanie Rooks graduated from Ferrum College in 2015 with a degree in psychology. While at the College, she served two years as president of the Student Government Association. After graduation, Rooks began working for Lift Every Voice, a non-profit organization focused on educational programming in South Africa. Rooks spent time in Capetown, South Africa in conjunction with Lift Every Voice and now periodically visits Ferrum College’s classes to share information about leadership and transformative change. She was named Ferrum College’s first Citizens Engaging in Service alumni recipient for her work.
Bernice Cobbs graduated from Ferrum College in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts in liberal arts and a teaching endorsement. She went on to receive a Master of Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Virginia (2002), a Master of Education in educational leadership from Radford University (2007), and a Doctor of Education in educational leadership and policy studies from Virginia Tech (2014). In June 2019, Cobbs was named the 2019 Outstanding Middle School Principal of Virginia, an honor received for her work at Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Rocky Mount, VA, where she served as campus principal from July 2015 to July 2019. She was named Boones Mill Elementary’s Teacher of the Year in 2003 and 2004. Also in 2004, Cobbs was honored as Franklin County Public School System’s Teacher of the Year and Virginia’s Region VI Teacher of the Year. She received the 2005 Virginia Lottery Excellence in Education Award and was named a Ferrum College Distinguished Alumna in 2008.
Lloyd Parker is a 1979 graduate of Ferrum College where he earned his Bachelor of Science in public affairs and administration. He served as Student Government Association president, chaired the Judicial Council, played on the tennis team, and sang in the choir. He has 35 years of experience as a paramedic and served in emergency medical services (EMS) leadership roles in both VA and FL for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for eleven type I incidents, including the earthquake in Haiti; the 1998 Florida wildfires; the Florida Groundhog Day tornadoes; and hurricanes Andrew, George, Charlie, Frances, Jeanne, Katrina, Rita, and Gustav. He also performed leadership roles for four national security special events: the Barack Obama presidential inauguration; the Fourth of July event held at the US Mall; and two State of the Union addresses). He also served on the incident management team at two NFL Super Bowls. Today he works for the George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates as EMS chief for US Army bases in Kuwait.
Mika Smith graduated from Ferrum College in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry. She went on to earn a Master of Science in forensic science with a concentration in drug analysis and toxicology from Virginia Commonwealth University. Upon graduating in May 2018, Smith began working with the toxicology section as a forensic laboratory specialist at the Virginia Department of Forensic Science western laboratory located in Roanoke, VA. She currently is employed as a forensic scientist in the toxicology section at the western laboratory.
Ferrum, VA, September 21, 2019 — In an alumni awards ceremony held Saturday, September 21, 2019 in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room on campus, Ferrum College honored four distinguished alumni and inducted five more alumni into the Sports Hall of Fame.
Samuel Camden ’66 was recognized as Ferrum College’s 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. This annual award recognizes alumni who have a record of exceptional career achievement and service to their community, church or other organizations; were active in college life; and remain involved and supportive of Ferrum College.
Outstanding Young Alumni were also recognized: Tyler Lee ’14, Miesha Williams ’16, and Courtney Cox ’17. These recipients are honored for their accomplishments and achievements to Ferrum College within fifteen years after their graduation.
The award recipients are nominated by alumni, faculty, or staff, reviewed by the Nominations Committee of the Alumni Board of Directors, and approved by the president.
Additionally, five alumni were inducted to the Ed George Ferrum College Sports Hall of Fame: football player Cleive Adams ’02; soccer and lacrosse player Carrie Conques ’03; football, baseball, and volleyball player Mason Lockridge, Jr. ’61; basketball player Quincy Quick ’94; and cross country runner Julie Burton Stevens ’03.
Sam Camden ’66
Sam Camden, of Roanoke, VA, earned his associate degree from Ferrum Junior College in 1966. In 1968, he obtained a Bachelor of Science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and began his career in human resources that same year with Burlington Industries, the world’s largest textile company. He also worked in human resources for Sara Lee and Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He retired from Virginia Tech in 2012. Camden is an active member of the Vinton Host Lions Club and helps to conduct mock interviews for Ferrum College’s Career Services department. He and his wife, Brenda, have two sons and a daughter, three grandchildren and three step-grandchildren, and are active members of the Ferrum College Golden Panthers.
James Tyler Lee ’14
James Tyler Lee, a native of Rocky Mount, VA, graduated from Ferrum College in 2014 and is currently enrolled in the Master of Health Administration program at the Jefferson College of Health Sciences. He is the co-founder of Putting a Dent in Mental Health, a nonprofit that supports mental health first responders and serves on many local community boards. Lee was the youngest-ever executive board member for the United Way of Franklin County, and the first-ever college student in the country to serve on a United Way board.
Miesha Williams ’16
Miesha Williams of Baltimore, MD, received her bachelor’s degree from Ferrum College in 2016, and went on to obtain a Master of Science in applied information technology from Towson University and a Master of Business Administration from Frostburg State University. Currently, Williams works as a senior web developer for the University of Maryland. She founded Hustld Tech, a nonprofit organization based in Baltimore that provides technology-related skills such as building workshops, mentorship opportunities, and educational resources and support.
Courtney Cox ’17
Courtney Cox graduated from Ferrum College in 2017 with a degree in teacher education. She began her career as a social studies teacher at Culpeper Middle School and created a successful classroom management technique for her eighth grade students that yielded an 81 percent SOL test pass rate. Cox is the coach for Girls on the Run, a nonprofit organization that helps young girls learn self-esteem through physical activity, teaching them to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a curriculum that integrates running.
Cleive Adams ’02
Cleive Adams of Danville, VA, played football at Ferrum College from 1987 to 1989. In 1988, he helped win the South Region title, which advanced the Panthers to the NCAA semifinals. Adams became assistant football coach at Ferrum College in 2002 and then defensive coordinator in 2007. He was then recruited to Averett University in 2014 and has coached 37 All-Conference and 23 All-State, five All-Region, five Academic All-District, three Aztec Bowl, and two All-America selections, one Conference Player of the Year, one State Rookie of the Year, and one D3 Senior Classic participant.
Carrie Conques ’03
Carrie Conques of Fairfax, VA, played women’s soccer and lacrosse all four years at Ferrum College from 1999 to 2003. During her soccer career, she had 17 goals and six assists, was named Offensive Player of the Year in 2001, and served as team captain in 2003. Conques started every game but one during her four-year lacrosse career, posting 150 career points on 137 goals and 13 assists, and serving as captain in 2002 and 2003. At graduation, she held records for game, season, and career points, as well as game, season, and career goals. She currently teaches physical education at Blessed Sacrament School in Alexandria and continues to coach soccer and lacrosse.
Mason Lockridge, Jr. ’61
Mason Lockridge, Jr. of Luray, VA, played football at Ferrum College in 1959 and baseball from 1960 to1961, as well as competing with Ferrum College’s club volleyball team. After earning his bachelor’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1963 and his master’s from the University of Virginia in 1969, he served in the United States Navy from 1955 to1959. He worked in the Page County Public School system until 2001. Lockridge continues to serve on many community boards and has won a number of awards for his work.
Quincy Quick ’94
Quincy Quick, from Nashville, TN, played men’s basketball at Ferrum College from 1992 to 1994. During his basketball career, he helped the Panthers win the 1992 Dixie Conference regular season and tournament titles, as well as the 1993 Dixie regular season title. Quick went on to earn his master’s degree from Virginia State University and his doctorate from New Mexico State University. He currently serves as associate professor of biological sciences at Tennessee State University. Among other positions, he has served as the E. E. Just Endowed Professor of Biology at Grambling State University.
Julie Burton Stevens ’03
Julie Burton Stevens of Waynesboro, VA, ran cross country at Ferrum College from 1999 to 2002 and served as team captain for three of those years. She earned All-Conference honors and Academic All-Conference honors from the USA South Athletic Conference in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002; was named to the NCAA Division III All-Academic Team in 1999; and was the Dixie Conference Rookie of the Week for three weeks in September and October 1999. She received the Ferrum College President’s Cup in 2003 and teaches at Kate Collins Middle School, where she also serves as athletic director. She was named Kate Collins Middle School Teacher of the Year for 2013-2014.
