A program that came to campus a few years ago is coming to fruition.
The “Ferrum Promise” allows students who receive an appropriate associate’s degree from a Virginia community college to transfer to Ferrum College and graduate with a bachelor’s degree in four semesters/two years if they complete the required courses and hit each benchmark.
Among the first students to go through the program was Claudia Cooke, who walked the commencement stage for a Bachelor of Social Work degree during this year’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, April 23, 2022.
Cooke received her associate’s in General Studies with a specialization in Human Services from Patrick Henry Community College in December of 2019. In August of 2020, Cooke enrolled and transferred to Ferrum College to major in Social Work. “I am very surprised to know that I was (one of the first ones) to go through this program,” Cooke said.
Throughout her time at Ferrum, Cooke participated in the Ferrum College Marching Band (color guard) her junior and senior year and was also part of the National Honor Society of Leadership and Success. Moreover, she was also inducted into the Social Work Honor Society (Tau Rho Ferrum Chapter) in April of 2021.
“I am excited that she’s among the first, but I hope that she is among the first of many,” said Jason Powell, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences.
The Ferrum Promise program is the brainchild of college President David Johns and previous Provost Aimé Sposato. The two introduced the program to campus in November of 2019.
“There are about a dozen (students) in agreements (with the Promise) right now,” Powell said.
If the student does not complete their bachelor’s degree in those two years after transferring, the rest of their tuition is free. The “Ferrum Promise” applies to students who are enrolled full-time and meet certain academic requirements.
The Ferrum Promise program was created to prevent students (nearly 40 percent) from spending extra years to receive a bachelor’s degree due to their credits from their community college not adequately transferring.
“This is not what they (transfers) expected, and it’s frustrating, time-consuming, and expensive,” said Eric Grundman, Ferrum College’s senior enrollment officer. Students at community colleges find out about the program mainly through their academic advisors.
To make this happen, Ferrum has partnered with two-year institutions to make education more affordable and accessible for students. “Our strongest partner in this is Virginia Western Community College,” Powell said.
The “Ferrum Promise” includes many majors offered by Ferrum College. Learn more here.
Article written and submitted by Lindsey M. Foster, editor of The Iron Blade.
Read Molly Hunter’s article about Claudia Cooke that appeared in The Franklin News-Post here.
Watch Joe Dashiell’s interview with Claudia Cooke that appeared on WDBJ-7 here.
Ferrum College celebrated its 106th commencement on Saturday, April 23, under sunny skies in W.B. Adams Stadium as 185 graduates from 15 different states received their diplomas. The commencement exercises included the presentation of student and faculty awards and a keynote address by journalist and bestselling author Beth Macy.
Dr. Kevin Reilly, vice president of Academic Affairs, opened the ceremony by welcoming all those gathered to celebrate the seniors’ achievements. Following the invocation given by Campus Minister Laura Robinson, President David Johns took the podium to welcome the crowd and remind the graduates that success comes from teamwork, hard work, determination, and the love and support of family and friends.
Johns then commended the graduates on their dedication and progress. He instructed them to use what they had learned, saying, “We are all given this one life; it is precious, a gift. I urge you to invest your life in healing the world. One of the hallmarks of a Ferrum College graduate is that we are committed to our motto – Not Self, But Others. Whatever your path—business, human services, education, health care, public service, the military, further study, agriculture, the arts, justice work—whatever it is, do the best work you possibly can, and through your work, make the world healthier, happier, more free and just, make it better.”
Following the president’s remarks, Ferrum College Board of Trustees Chair D. Scott Showalter ’73 and Alumni Association President B. Clay Wiley ’06 each gave their greetings on behalf of their respective boards. They were followed by the presentation of faculty and student awards.
Assistant Professor of Accounting and Program Coordinator of Accounting and Business Sadie Wallace received the Exemplary Teaching Award, in recognition of her excellence and commitment to teaching, concern for student welfare in areas beyond academic studies, scholarship, and service to the College, her profession, and the greater community. In addition to her work at the College, Wallace, who is a Ferrum alumna and former student athlete, is a member of the Franklin and Bedford County Volunteer Fire Departments and helps coordinate the local Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program for STEP (Solutions That Empower People, Inc.).
Madison Cogle ’22 of Camden, WV; Makayla Hubbard ’22 of Penhook, VA; Brandon Mullins ’22 of Union Hall, VA; and Brooke Turner ’22 of Rocky Mount, VA, each received Senior Academic Excellence Awards for earning a perfect 4.0 GPA during their time at the College.
Abigail McGovern ’22, of Roundhill, VA received the Arthur S. Owens Leadership Award, presented annually to the senior chosen by the faculty who best exemplifies the qualities of Arthur S. Owens: leadership, initiative, honor and outstanding character. Recipients of this award must also hold an excellent academic record, have participated in extracurricular activities, and shown creative initiative in making Ferrum College a better place to study, work, and live.
Jonathan Taylor ’22 from North Dinwiddie, VA, received the Lillie Warwick Slaven Award, which is given to a student who exemplifies the ideals of the ministerial profession and is recognized as an outstanding student leader at Ferrum College.
Demontay Wimbush ’22, of Bassett, VA, was awarded the James T. Catlin, Jr. Citizenship Award, named in honor of the late James T. Catlin, Jr. of Danville, VA, and presented annually to the student who has best demonstrated qualities of citizenship and general leadership ability as judged by vote of the faculty.
Following the awards presentations and her introduction of the keynote speaker, Beth Macy, Professor of English Lana Whited joined President Johns in presenting Macy with an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa.
After receiving her honorary degree, Macy addressed the graduates, telling them, “You’ve spent four years or so honing your own distinctive voices. You entered this university with promise, and you’re leaving now with purpose. It’s time for the world to hear you.”
Next, Student Government Association President Mikayla Floyd ’22, of Chesapeake, VA, introduced Senior Class President Andre Williams ’22 of Virginia Beach, VA, who presented the senior class gift to Dr. Johns, and then introduced Kajuan Madden-McAfee ’22 of Harrisonburg, VA, as senior class speaker.
Madden-McAfee congratulated the class of 2022 and thanked them for the honor of being asked to speak. He spoke about their shared experiences at the College and told a biblical parable about a young boy and his boat that has inspired and guided his life.
Next, Johns and Reilly conferred and awarded the graduate and undergraduate degrees. The ceremony closed with the singing of the College’s “Alma Mater.”
A celebratory picnic lunch followed on Franklin Hall quad for all in attendance. The weekend events also included a traditional Baccalaureate service on Friday evening in Vaughn Chapel.
See commencement photos for the class of 2022 here.
To view the archived video of the commencement ceremony, please click the on-demand tab here.
Ferrum College is pleased to announce that journalist and bestselling author Beth Macy will be the keynote speaker for its 106th commencement ceremony on April 23, 2022.
Beth Macy is the author of the critically acclaimed and New York Times-bestselling books, Factory Man, Truevine, and Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America. Macy served as Executive Producer and writer on the acclaimed Hulu limited television series, Dopesick, which was based on her book and starred Michael Keaton, who won a Golden Globe for his performance as Samuel Finnix.
A longtime reporter who specializes in outsiders and underdogs, Macy has won more than a dozen national journalism awards, including a Lukas Prize for Factory Man, multiple shortlist and best-book-of-the-year honors for Truevine, and a Nieman Fellowship for Journalism at Harvard University for her newspaper writing.
A frequent speaker, teacher, and essayist, Macy has been published in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, Oprah Magazine, and Parade.
Her upcoming book, Raising Lazarus: Hope, Justice, and the Future of America’s Drug Crisis (August 2022), focuses on solutions to the opioid crisis and the heroic efforts of frontline workers applying harm reduction practices on the streets of America.
Macy was a reporter for The Roanoke Times from 1989 to 2014. She received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Bowling Green State University and her master’s degree in creative writing from Hollins University.
The Ferrum College commencement ceremony honoring the class of 2022 will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 23, 2022, in Adams Stadium on campus. For more information, click here.
173 seniors from 12 different states earned degrees from Ferrum College during the 105th commencement ceremony on May 1, 2021.
5/1/2021
On Saturday, May 1, 2021, 173 Ferrum College graduates from 12 different states crossed the commencement stage at Adams Stadium during a socially distanced graduation ceremony.
The night before, on Friday, April 30 at 6 p.m., the College hosted an in-person ceremony, also at Adams Stadium, for the class of 2020. This ceremony followed last year’s commencement exercises, which were held virtually due to COVID-19. Friday’s keynote speaker was Virginia’s 2021 Teacher of the Year Anthony Swann. Class of 2020 graduates dressed in regalia and took photos with Ferrum College President David Johns. See photos from that event here.
The class of 2021’s commencement exercises began on Saturday at 10 a.m. and included award presentations under mild, sunny skies. The keynote speaker was New York Times bestselling author Jeff Selingo, who has written about higher education for more than two decades.
The ceremony began with the ringing of the historic Schoolfield Hall bell by President Johns and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Aimé Sposato. Afterward, Sposato opened the commencement ceremony with a warm welcome to the graduates, family, friends, faculty, and staff. She noted that “each graduate has a special person or many people that have supported them throughout the past four years,” and thanked them for “sending care packages at just the right time, enduring virtual classes on Zoom, and sometimes getting late night phone calls accompanied by a few tears, doubts, and challenges.”
Following the invocation given by Reverend John Heck of Saint Peter’s-In-the-Mountains Episcopal Church, Johns took the podium to welcome the crowd and remind the graduates to thank their families for the support they received over their years at Ferrum.
Johns then commended the graduates on their dedication and progress. He instructed them to use what they had learned, saying “We are all given this one life; it is precious, a gift. I urge you to invest your life in healing the world. One of the hallmarks of a Ferrum College graduate is that we are committed to our motto – Not Self, But Others…Through your work, make the world healthier, happier, more free and just. Make it better.”
Ferrum College Board of Trustees Chair Scott Showalter ’73 and Alumni Association member Beth Simms ’09 each gave greetings on behalf of their respective boards. Afterward, Professor of Religion David Howell, who is retiring after 23 years of service in teaching, was recognized.
The presentation of awards followed. Professor of Environmental Science Delia Heck received the Exemplary Faculty Award, which recognizes a Ferrum College faculty member who embodies excellence in and commitment to teaching, demonstrates concern for student welfare in areas beyond academic studies, and is recognized as a competent scholar. Heck received numerous nominations for her service to the College and the greater community.
The Senior Academic Excellence Award was presented to Alexzondra Mattson ’21 of Virginia Beach, VA. This award is based on grades earned in all college courses by a full-time student, including those taken at Ferrum, as well as those received in transfer from other colleges or universities. Mattson maintained a 4.0 GPA and has earned a Bachelor of Science in pre-professional health sciences with a pre-med emphasis. She has been accepted to multiple Juris Doctor of Law programs and plans to make a decision soon.
Jack Sheehan ’21 of State College, PA, received the Arthur S. Owens Leadership Award, which is presented annually to the senior chosen by the faculty who best exemplifies the qualities of leadership, initiative, honor, and outstanding character. Recipients of this award must also hold an excellent academic record, have participated in extra-curricular activities, and shown creative initiative in making Ferrum College a better place to study, work, and live. His next step is to attend graduate school at Utah State University.
The Lillie Warwick Slaven Award was presented to Mia Brower ’21 from Kernersville, NC. The award is given to a student who exemplifies the ideals of the ministerial profession and is recognized as an outstanding student leader at Ferrum College.
Christian Haley ’21 of Boones Mill, VA, received the James T. Catlin Citizenship Award, which is given each year to the student who has best demonstrated qualities of citizenship and leadership.
Mattson was awarded one of two Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards. The other went to Jacob Wilson ’21 from South Boston, VA. Recipients of this award are of noble character, spend their time bettering humankind, and apply fine spiritual qualities to their daily living. Wilson’s future plans involve teaching science in a secondary education setting.
Following the awards presentations, Selingo addressed the graduates, telling them to “get ready to navigate the ambiguity of life, heed the forces that take you in different, even opposite directions, and focus on what’s most meaningful to you…and in all your decisions, small and large…be patient, optimistic and yes, have a little faith.”
Student Government Association President Kintwon Pettiford ’22 of Hillsborough, NC then greeted the crowd and introduced Brower as the senior class speaker. She sent best wishes to the graduates and serenaded the crowd with a beautiful a cappella song.
Johns and Sposato conferred degrees on the eight first-ever Ferrum College graduate students receiving the degrees of Master of Science in Psychology and Education Specialist in Teacher Leadership and Coaching. The degrees were awarded by Dean of the School of Graduate and Online Education Studies Sandra Via.
Fifteen Boone Honors Program (BHP) graduates were also individually recognized and awarded a medallion by the program’s director, Professor of English Lana Whited. This year marks the highest number of honors medallion recipients, with a previous record of ten recipients in 2014. Read more about the fifteen BHP graduates here.
After the conferring and awarding of undergraduate degrees by Johns and Sposato, the crowd was asked to join in the singing of the College’s “Alma Mater.”
See photos of the 105th Ferrum College commencement ceremony here.
Davon “D” Robinson ’21 and Morganne Flinkstrom ’21 were featured in Roanoke Times and Franklin News-Post articles by Karen Dillon. Read about D here and about Morganne here.
Jack Sheehan ’21 received the President’s Cup. Read about him in this Franklin News-Post article.
3/30/2021
Ferrum College is excited to host two in-person commencement ceremonies this year. The Class of 2020 will be celebrated at Adams Stadium on Friday, April 30 at 6 p.m. Following that ceremony, the Class of 2021’s commencement exercises will take place on Saturday, May 1 at 10 a.m., also at Adams Stadium. Both ceremonies will follow the guidelines set forth in Governor Ralph Northam’s March 17 order that allows for a limited number of guests to attend outdoor graduations.
To find up-to-date commencement information for the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021, visit www.ferrum.edu/commencement.
Ferrum College announced today that it will invite members of the Class of 2020 to return to campus for an in-person commencement celebration on Friday, April 30, 2021 at 6 p.m. This event will precede the College’s commencement for the Class of 2021, scheduled for Saturday, May 1. The Class of 2020 made history last year when their commencement ceremony was held virtually to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Class of 2020 graduates who participate in this year’s outdoor commencement exercise will be able to invite four guests to attend as they cross the commencement stage at Adams Stadium. Graduates will be asked to wear their regalia and will have the opportunity to take a photo with Ferrum College President David Johns. The keynote speaker will be 2021 Virginia Teacher of the Year Anthony Swann who teaches fifth grade at Rocky Mount Elementary in Franklin County. The ceremony will follow the guidelines set forth in Governor Ralph Northam’s March 17 order that allows for a limited number of guests to attend outdoor graduations.
In order to participate, Class of 2020 graduates must register themselves and their guests for the event by April 28 using this link.
Ferrum College will hold its 105th commencement ceremony in-person at Adams Stadium on Saturday, May 1, 2021. The College’s plans follow Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s March 17 announcement that allows for a limited number of guests to attend outdoor graduations.
“We are looking forward to celebrating our 2021 graduates during an in-person commencement ceremony this May,” said President David Johns. “These students have made Ferrum College history by overcoming enormous challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is their time to shine.”
The College expects 165 graduates to walk across the commencement stage at Adams Stadium, which includes current seniors and the first graduates of Ferrum’s psychology masters degree and EdS programs. Each graduate may invite four guests, as per the governor’s order to keep outdoor events at 30 percent of the venue capacity. The event will be live-streamed for friends and family who are not able to attend.
The keynote speaker will be New York Times bestselling author Jeff Selingo, who has written about higher education for more than two decades. His latest book, Who Gets In & Why: A Year Inside College Admissions, was published in September 2020 and was named among the “100 Notable Books” of the year by the New York Times. Selingo is a special advisor for innovation and professor of practice at Arizona State University. He also co-hosts the podcast “FutureU” and is a regular contributor to The Atlantic.
Prior to the May 1 ceremony, graduates will have their class photo taken in Adams Stadium on April 24. Following the class photo, graduates will be invited to take individual photos with Ferrum College President David Johns.
The College will not host a baccalaureate and candlelight ceremony this year; however, an academic awards ceremony will be held on Friday, April 16, 2021.
Class of 2021 graduates may register and receive tickets for their guests here.
3/26/2021
Ferrum College is excited to host two in-person commencement ceremonies this year. The Class of 2020 will be celebrated at Adams Stadium on Friday, April 30 at 6 p.m. Following that ceremony, the Class of 2021’s commencement exercises will take place on Saturday, May 1 at 10 a.m., also at Adams Stadium. Both ceremonies will follow the guidelines set forth in Governor Ralph Northam’s March 17 order that allows for a limited number of guests to attend outdoor graduations.
To find up-to-date commencement information for the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021, visit www.ferrum.edu/commencement.
Ferrum College will hold its 105th commencement ceremony in-person at Adams Stadium on Saturday, May 1, 2021. The College’s plans follow Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s March 17 announcement that allows for a limited number of guests to attend outdoor graduations.
“We are looking forward to celebrating our 2021 graduates during an in-person commencement ceremony this May,” said President David Johns. “These students have made Ferrum College history by overcoming enormous challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is their time to shine.”
The College expects 165 graduates to walk across the commencement stage at Adams Stadium, which includes current seniors and the first graduates of Ferrum’s psychology masters degree and EdS programs. Each graduate may invite four guests, as per the governor’s order to keep outdoor events at 30 percent of the venue capacity. The event will be live-streamed for friends and family who are not able to attend.
The keynote speaker will be New York Times bestselling author Jeff Selingo, who has written about higher education for more than two decades. His latest book, Who Gets In & Why: A Year Inside College Admissions, was published in September 2020 and was named among the “100 Notable Books” of the year by the New York Times. Selingo is a special advisor for innovation and professor of practice at Arizona State University. He also co-hosts the podcast “FutureU” and is a regular contributor to The Atlantic.
Prior to the May 1 ceremony, graduates will have their class photo taken in Adams Stadium on April 24. Following the class photo, graduates will be invited to take individual photos with Ferrum College President David Johns.
The College will not host a baccalaureate and candlelight ceremony this year; however, an academic awards ceremony will be held on Friday, April 16, 2021.
Class of 2021 graduates may register and receive tickets for their guests here.
Watch the livestream of the ceremony here.
Ferrum College announced today that it will invite members of the class of 2020 to return to campus for an in-person commencement celebration on Friday, April 30, 2021 at 6 p.m. This event will precede the College’s commencement for the Class of 2021, scheduled for Saturday, May 1. The Class of 2020 made history last year when their commencement ceremony was held virtually to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Class of 2020 graduates who participate in this year’s outdoor commencement exercise will be able to invite four guests to attend as they cross the commencement stage at Adams Stadium. Graduates will be asked to wear their regalia and will have the opportunity to take a photo with Ferrum College President David Johns. The keynote speaker will be 2021 Virginia Teacher of the Year Anthony Swann who teaches fifth grade at Rocky Mount Elementary in Franklin County. The ceremony will follow the guidelines set forth in Governor Ralph Northam’s March 17 order that allows for a limited number of guests to attend outdoor graduations.
In order to participate, Class of 2020 graduates must register themselves and their guests for the event by April 28 using this link.
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.
Ferrum College will honor 199 graduates during an online commencement on May 9, 2020 at 10 a.m. The College was forced to postpone its 104th in-person commencement ceremony because of the coronavirus.
The virtual event will feature videos from Ferrum College President David L. Johns, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Aimé Sposato, along with members of the senior class. Retired Professor Emeritus of Environmental Science and Biology Bob Pohlad will bring the keynote address. In addition, a number of celebrities will make guest appearances.
Although the ceremony will be delivered differently this year, the College will follow much of the traditional commencement format including the bestowing of faculty and student awards, presentation of graduates, and conferring of degrees. The Panther Marching Band will also perform the College’s “Alma Mater”.
“I wish we could gather on campus with family and friends to celebrate our new graduates. Nevertheless, we will not allow anything to stand in the way of honoring and recognizing the remarkable achievements of our students,” said Johns. “In the history of semesters, none has been more unusual than this one. The class of 2020 will be remembered for generations to come because they faced the most daunting of circumstances, and yet they exhibited imagination, grace, and grit. They are Ferrum Strong, and they are ready for anything life presents them!”
View program details here.
Dr. Bob Pohlad photo.
Ferrum College President David Johns announced today in an email communication to campus that courses will continue to be taught online for the remainder of the spring semester, and that spring commencement would be hosted virtually.
The College’s decision comes after yesterday’s Executive Order from Governor Ralph Northam, which closed all K-12 schools in Virginia for the remainder of the school year due to the coronavirus outbreak across the country.
“In light of these local and statewide announcements, it is prudent for us to take these steps so students and families can plan accordingly,” Johns wrote in the email.
The College initially moved to an online distance learning plan effective last Wednesday, March 18, with the intention to reassess the option to have students return to campus to finish coursework after April 6.
Students who are currently living on campus will be allowed to stay. They will continue to receive grab-and-go meals from the cafeteria and will participate in the same online instruction as those who chose to leave campus.
Ferrum College will host a virtual commencement ceremony on May 9. Johns indicated that an in-person ceremony may take place during the fall, depending on the circumstances. “Rest assured, we fully intend to recognize and celebrate the remarkable achievements of this class,” he wrote.
“These are unprecedented times and we are all making adjustments and sacrifices for our own health and safety as well as that of others,” Johns wrote, closing his email. “We are all in this together, and we are all here for each other.”
To view Ferrum College’s official updates and announcements, please visit www.ferrum.edu/coronavirus.
Ferrum College will award degrees to 187 graduates when it celebrates its 102nd annual commencement on Saturday, May 5, 2018. The ceremony, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Hart International Plaza in the center of campus, will include the presentation of student, faculty and alumni awards. Among the award recipients of the day will be alumnus Paul L. Harris, Jr. ’65, who will receive the Benjamin M. Beckham Medallion, the College’s highest alumni honor. Ferrum College President David Johns, who began his tenure as the twelfth president of the College on January 1, 2018, will give the keynote address. A picnic lunch on the lawn for graduates and their guests will follow the ceremony.
Graduates will also participate in a traditional Baccalaureate service on Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. in Vaughn Chapel. The service will conclude with a candlelight ceremony at Hart International Plaza to symbolize the light of knowledge that the new graduates will carry forth into the world.
Please note:
Olivia Pavco-Giaccia, founder and CEO of LabCandy and an award-winning author, will deliver the keynote address on Sat., May 6, 2017 during the 101st commencement at Ferrum College. The College will award degrees to 227 graduates, including 53 with honors, during the ceremony that will be held at Hart International Plaza beginning at 10 a.m. A picnic lunch on the lawn for graduates and their guests will follow the ceremony.
Pavco-Giaccia is an award-winning children’s book author whose focus on the synergies between science, entrepreneurship, and girl-centric activism is impacting both local and national dialogs. She graduated with honors from Yale University in 2016 with a B.S. in Cognitive Science and was awarded the Henry E. Ellsworth Memorial Prize for significant research in the social sciences. In addition, she is the founder and CEO of the social venture, LabCandy, whose mission is to focus young kids’ (especially girls’) interest in science. Selected as the youngest-ever Fellow at Yale’s Entrepreneurial Institute, Pavco-Giaccia led a successful Kickstarter campaign that brought LabCandy’s brightly colored lab coats, kid-sized sparkly lab goggles, and science adventure storybooks to kids around the world.
“We need to knock down early the persistent stereotypes that say STEM isn’t for girls. I founded LabCandy to encourage young girls to imagine themselves as scientists – collaborating, creating and having fun. Our cool lab gear and storybooks take us one step closer to making that goal a reality by making science more relatable and approachable for young girls,” says Pavco-Giaccia on her website (www.labcandy.com.)
Named as a national innovator for positive change by NationSwell, Olivia Pavco-Giaccia ’s first book “Ava & The Copper Key” was awarded a Gold Medal in Moonbeam’s Children’s Book Awards. She was selected as one of Glamour Magazine’s Top 10 College Women of 2015, along with being tapped as one of HerCampus’s “22 Under 22 Most Inspiring College Women.” She is the recipient of the 2016 Upstart Award from Bustle Magazine recognizing recent graduates “who are poised to make a difference in business, arts, fashion, beauty and beyond.” She currently serves on the Champions Board of the National Girls Collaborative Project, one of the country’s largest non-profit organizations committed to girls in STEM, and is co-chair of the Young Girls’ Advisory Board there. Pavco-Giaccia’s infectious enthusiasm for this work has led to a number of speaking opportunities and community leadership roles, including participation in the White House Science Fair, the International STEM Education Association, and Net Impact’s Think Social, a Yale think tank dedicated to exploring innovative ideas for positive social impact. In high school, she was selected as a semi-finalist in the Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology for her neurobiology research at Stanford University.
In March of 2017, Discovery’s Science Channel honored Pavco-Giaccia and her work by naming her as one of their Science Super Heroes. Working with Discovery/TSC, Olivia was featured online in NowThis Her, TIME Magazine for Kids, and The New York Times.
