Holley’s new position is supported in part by the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, which recently awarded Ferrum College a $143,000 grant to support the CCAS in expanding and initiating academic support programs. This grant will help bolster Ferrum College’s efforts to ensure equity in student outcomes and increase the academic performance, persistence, and graduation of first-generation students, low income students, and students with disabilities who demonstrate an academic need for support.
Holley is uniquely qualified to step into this role, and she is excited to begin a new chapter in her career at Ferrum College. “For over twenty years, I have had the pleasure of working with successful Ferrum College graduates once they leave our campus as alumni. In my new role, I look forward to supporting our first-year and first-generation students by personally working with them face-to-face on a daily basis. I will now have the opportunity to support future generations of graduates by creating programs for success and retention,” said Holley.
Holley’s new office will be located in the Michael T. Christian ’63 Center for First-Year Experience, made possible by a generous contribution from alumnus Michael Christian, and located in Stanley Library. Part of the CCAS, the Michael T. Christian ’63 Center serves all incoming freshmen, including those who are the first in their families to attend college. Its goal is to integrate first-year students into college life by connecting them to an academic and social network of professors, mentors, and classmates, as well as to other resources at Ferrum College such as clubs, campus engagement, and career services, to help them have a successful college experience.
Wiggins looks forward to welcoming Holley to his team. “Tracy’s work will be instrumental in helping our students to be successful at Ferrum and beyond. She brings a vast array of experience to this important position and will provide outstanding services to our students. We are fortunate to have her,” said Wiggins.
Many people assume the typical college student is a young adult living on campus with financial assistance from their family or other support system and are surprised to learn how many graduates are “nontraditional.” Among the characteristics the National Center for Education Statistics uses to define nontraditional students are those who delay enrollment in post-secondary education and who work 35 hours or more per week while enrolled, qualities that apply to both Creel and Drakeford.
Creel, who has worked at Ferrum College for 16 years, pursued her degree for many of those years. Initially, she took a few “fun” courses like guitar and piano, but did not concentrate on a path geared toward a degree. Several years into her classes, she decided to make them count by choosing courses that would apply to any Business Administration concentration area, but she waited for years before she declared a major/degree. About her achievement, Creel stated, “This has been a lifelong dream of mine and I can’t believe it has happened!”’
Drakeford has worked at the College for 43 years. She started classes in 1981, took a long break, and then decided to complete the requirements for her degree. She noted graduation was an emotional moment for her because, “I accomplished something that I started [that] I feel anybody can do if they decide to go back and finish their college education. Education is everything and no one can take it away from you, ” Drakeford said.
Inside Rockefeller Center, David Garten looks outside his office window at the bustling city streets of Manhattan. Despite working in one of the most iconic areas of New York City, Garten reminisces of the beauty seen in the night sky above Ferrum College. “At night you see more stars than you ever could possibly believe,” recalls Garten.
Born and raised in Orlando, FL with strong family roots in West Virginia, Garten ’98, was recruited by Coach Dave Davis to play football at the College. He describes his first visit to campus as arriving in an oasis within a beautiful landscape of mountains. It was different than anything he had seen in Florida, but he immediately felt at home with the coaches and his teammates.
Garten credits the College for instilling in him a certain amount of resiliency and grit. Having played football the entire four years he attended, Garten says, “We practiced on a field covered with rocks everywhere, and we did that every single day, all through the fall.” He adds that, “You grow really close to one another. You’re doing it day-in and day-out, in the mud on the rocky field.”
The resiliency and discipline he learned on the football field spilled over to his other pursuits as well. After graduating from Ferrum College with a B.S. in Social Work, Garten worked in the juvenile justice and specialized foster care system before attending graduate school at Columbia University. At Columbia, he earned dual master’s degrees in social policy and public administration and quickly found himself working on Capitol Hill for former U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey and former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton of New York.
Garten’s time in D.C. and New York politics prepared him for his current gig: New York real estate. He is currently employed by RXR, a real estate and infrastructure development company in New York City, as the Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs.
Garten draws a straight line from his time at Ferrum to his professional success, stating, “It has been instrumental in helping me navigate from the worlds of bareknuckle D.C. and New York politics to [the world of] New York real estate.” At RXR, David works with a dynamic team advancing one of the largest and greenest office buildings in New York City history, a new terminal at JFK International Airport, the redevelopment of a city’s downtown, and much more. “I’ve been really fortunate to work with some amazing and dedicated people throughout my career. And it has been incredibly rewarding to work alongside so many individuals on the RXR team who embody what Ferrum is all about.”
Now with his own family, Garten looks forward to visiting the College with his wife, Melanie, and their son, Rohan. From nights spent beneath starry skies, to his time on the football field, to hanging out with friends on the ground floor of Bassett Hall, Garten wants them to see what makes Ferrum so special.
“You are not only getting a unique college experience, but you also get an education that is as applicable to the classroom as it is to life,” he adds. “You’re in close proximity at a small school [and must] figure out how to get along with others who might be different than you. That’s what life is about, and that experience is something that is unique to Ferrum.”
Article written and submitted by freelance writer Amy Shelor Dye with contributions by David Garten ’98.
For Bryan Slater, every day is Labor Day.
But it’s not a holiday.
Slater (Ferrum ’82) was recently tapped by Virginia Governor Glen Youngkin to be the Commonwealth’s Secretary of Labor.
The appointment came on Jan. 6, accompanied by a ringing endorsement from the Virginia’s Head of State.
“Workforce development will play a crucial part of jumpstarting our economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Youngkin said upon selecting Slater. “Bryan’s experience and leadership will be critical to the development of talent, training of workers, and protection of Virginia’s right-to-work laws that will attract investment to Virginia. Bryan will be a key partner in fixing the Virginia Employment Commission and delivering results for the Commonwealth.”
Slater brings a wealth of experience to the governor’s administration.
He served as Secretary of Administration for Governor James Gilmore (R-VA) and as Director of Administration for the Attorney General’s Office under Attorney General James Gilmore.
He also was the White House Liaison at the U.S. Department of Labor under President George W. Bush, where he managed all non-career appointee hiring, and as a congressional relations officer for the Department of Housing and Urban Development under President George H.W. Bush.
Most recently, he served as Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management at the U.S. Department of Labor and Assistant Secretary of Administration for the U.S. Department of Transportation under President Trump.
It’s now been barely a month since Slater got the nod, and already his docket is full, as the General Assembly has been in session, and he has been pulled in multiple directions. Still, he took time to reflect upon his time on campus.
“The foundation for my career began at Ferrum,” he said. “It’s where I got involved in politics and where my interest in government and politics began.”
As Slater reminisced about Panther life, his thoughts turned toward some of his former professors.
“Dedicated faculty members like Richard Smith, Doug Foard, Sasha Saari, and others took the time to get to know me as a person, as well as a student,” he said. “Their guidance and mentorship made a significant difference in my life.”
Former classmate Carthan F. Currin (Ferrum ’84) and president of The Virginia College Fund, spent quite a bit of time on campus with Slater.
“I first met Bryan in an honors western civilization class taught by Dr. Richard Smith in 1980, and from those early days at Ferrum, Bryan has enjoyed a stellar career in public service, having served two Virginia governors, and three United States presidents,” Currin said. “The foundation that Ferrum provided was the key for Bryan’s success in his career and life.”
And now, after more than 20 years in politics, Slater still credits Ferrum as the kick start to his career.
“Ferrum gave me a chance to prove myself. If it hadn’t been for Ferrum, none of this would have been possible,” he said. That same possibility is an opportunity he hopes to create by paying it forward.
“I want to make sure that others can enjoy the benefits of a Ferrum education that I received,” Slater said. “My parents were hard-working, blue-collar folks, and I feel fortunate to be in a position to make sure current Ferrum students have the same opportunities that I had during my time there.”
Article written and contributed by Assistant Professor of English & Journalism David B. Campbell.
The 2020 Sports Hall of Fame inductees (L to R): Becky Piloto Fennessy ’92, Bobby James ’84, Shelby Irving ’84, and Elizabeth Adams O’Neal ’00. Not pictured: Kathy Bocock ’84 and Jim Hartbarger.
10/30/2021
In a brisk, outdoor ceremony at the Franklin Hall Quad on Saturday, October 30, Ferrum College recognized its 2021 Distinguished and Outstanding Alumni Award recipients, as well as its Sports Hall of Fame inductees for both 2020 and 2021.
After President David Johns opened the ceremony, Director of Athletics John Sutyak recognized the 2020 Sports Hall of Fame inductees. These individuals excelled in one or more sports while at Ferrum College, exemplifying the highest ideals of small college athletics, sportsmanship, and the spirit of Ferrum’s motto, “Not Self, But Others.” They have since gone on to achieve significant success in a career field. They are: Elizabeth Adams O’Neal ’00 of Wake Forest, NC; Kathy Bocock ’84 of Greensboro, NC; Shelby Irving ’84 of Danville, VA; Bobby James ’84 of Rocky Mount, VA; and Becky Piloto Fennessy ’92 of Avondale, PA. Special recognition was given to Coach Jim Hartbarger of Silva, NC, who served as Ferrum’s head men’s basketball coach from 1964-67, and produced a 71-15 record.
Sutyak then recognized the 2021 Sports Hall of Fame inductees: Trica Moore Barber ’06, of Sneads Ferry, NC; Melvin Dillard ’92, of Hampton, VA; Roben Sutphin Thomas ’96, of Woodbridge, VA; Tara Toland ’05, of North, SC; and Mark White ’96, of Deltaville, VA. Special recognition was also given to Gary Holden, who is in his thirtieth year as Ferrum’s sports information director and his eighteenth year as assistant athletic director, and to Vickie Van Kleeck, who served as head softball coach for 24 years.
2021 Sports Hall of Fame inductees (L to R): Melvin Dillard ’92, Tara Toland ’05, Trica Moore Barber ’06, Vickie Van Kleeck, Roben Sutphin Thomas ’96, Mark White ’96, and Gary Holden.
The Distinguished Alumni Award was bestowed upon Rev. Dr. Burton White ’84 by Vice President for Institutional Advancement & External Relations Wilson Paine ’07. White’s exceptional service to his community includes 31 years spent in ministry and the creation of Solutions Pastoral Counseling, LLC, which offers counseling services to the Ferrum community for free or a reduced cost.
Paine then presented the Outstanding Young Alumni awards to Paul Jaglowski ’12 and Ra’meer Roberts ’13. Jaglowski was an Academic All-American and the 2012 recipient of the Ferrum College President’s Cup. Jaglowski also founded Feedtrail, a software company that empowers healthcare organizations to deliver an exceptional and human-centered experience, and has served on Ferrum’s Alumni Board of Directors, as well as the board of directors for Maison Fortune Orphanage in Hinche, Haiti. In 2018, Jaglowski was named as one of the 30 Rising Customer Experience Superstars under 30 (CS 30 Under 30) by CX Network.
Outstanding Young Alumni and Distinguished Alumnus (L to R): Paul Jaglowski ’12, Rev. Dr. Burton White ’84, and Ra’meer Roberts ’13.
During his time at Ferrum College, Roberts was named to the Dean’s List, served as the College’s radio host in 2008 and 2009, and was a member of the basketball staff from 2009-12. After graduation, Roberts established the Black American Scholarship of Empowerment at Ferrum, which gives an annual gift of $250 to one male and one female African-American student. He currently works as the assistant director of residence life for conduct at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Read more about the award recipients and inductees below.
See photos from the event here.
Rev. Dr. Burton White was a day student at Ferrum College while serving as a student pastor in the Virginia Conference, United Methodist Church. While at Ferrum, he received the C.P. Minnick award and academic scholarship. After leaving Ferrum, he continued his scholarship at Duke University, Divinity School, where he received his Masters of Divinity in Theology in 1988. Later he received his Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Counseling from Virginia Union University in 2010.
Rev. Dr. Burton White spent thirty-one years active in the Virginia Annual Conference as an ordained Minister, serving rural and small-town churches. He worked with two mission teams for the Church in Mississippi for hurricane relief leading one team and also served as District Youth coordinator on two Districts and camp coordinator. He has served in various positions on the district level in four districts.
Rev. Dr. Burton and his wife Rev. Mary White, both live in Ferrum. Rev. Dr. Burton is still active in and pastor emeritus at St. James U.M.C. in Ferrum. Upon retirement, he formed Solutions Pastoral Counseling, LLC. in Ferrum, offering counseling services to the greater community at reduced or no fee.
Paul Jaglowski graduated from Ferrum College in 2012 with a degree in International Studies, Spanish, and Economics. While at Ferrum, Paul was recognized for being 1st Team Academic All-American 2012, Varsity Baseball Conference Player of the Year 2012, All-Region 2012, All-State 2012, Academic and Athletic All-Conference 2009-2012, and Team Captain 2010-2012. Paul was on the Dean’s List every semester and received Ferrum College’s President’s Cup in 2012.
After graduating from Ferrum, Paul worked for OnDeck Capital and Booz Allen Hamilton in Washington, DC. In 2017, he co-founded Feedtrail, a software company that empowers healthcare organizations to deliver an exceptional and human-centered experience. Feedtrail has changed the way hospitals across 14 countries engage with their patients and improve their care and overall experience. In 2018, Paul was named as one of the 30 Rising Customer Experience Superstars under 30 (CS 30 Under 30) by CX Network.
During his time away from the college, Paul stayed connected by serving as a member of the Alumni Board of Directors and is a Board Member for Maison Fortune Orphanage in Hinche, Haiti. Paul represents and lives Ferrum’s motto of “Not Self, But Others” as he continues to serve the greater community around him and make a significant impact in those communities.
Ra’meer Roberts graduated from Ferrum College in 2013 with a degree in Business Administration. His education journey continued with a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University.
During his time at Ferrum, Ra’meer was recognized on the Dean’s list, served as Ferrum College’s radio host 2008-2009, and was a member of the Ferrum College Basketball staff 2009-2012. However, Ra’meer’s relationship with Ferrum didn’t end with graduation, and he continued to live the college motto “Not Self, But Others” when he established the Black American Scholarship of Empowerment (B.A.S.E.). The B.A.S.E. scholarship gives an annual gift of $250 to one male and one female African-American student at Ferrum College. Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Wilson Paine stated, “I’ve been so impressed with his compassion and the responsibility he feels towards our students and Ferrum’s future. His commitment to turn words into action is an inspiration to us all.”
Currently, Ra’meer serves as the Assistant Director of Residential Life for Conduct at Virginia Commonwealth University. In his professional endeavors, Ra’meer is passionate about supporting students to reach academic goals as they navigate and become more accustomed to college life.
Trica Moore Barber ’06 of Sneads Ferry, NC, played softball for four years at Ferrum from 2003-06. She helped the Panthers win the 2005 USA South Tournament and earn the college’s second ever NCAA Division III Softball Tournament appearance. Moore Barber earned USA South All-Conference first team and Virginia Sports Information Directors All-State first team accolades in 2006. She also made the USA South All-Tournament Team in 2004 and 2005, and USA South 50th Anniversary Softball Team in 2015. Moore Barber holds school records for career at-bats and career home runs, and earned Ferrum batting titles in 2004 and 2006. She served two years as assistant softball coach at Ferrum after graduation, before embarking on a career in nuclear medicine technology. She currently works as a Health Physicist and Associate Radiation Safety Officer for the U.S. Department of Defense.
Melvin Dillard ’92 of Hampton, VA, played football for four years for the Panthers from 1987-91. He earned CoSIDA and Football News All-America honors in 1989, as well as Kodak & Champion All-America in 1990 as defensive back and kick returner. Dillard holds school records for game and season punt return yards, season and career interceptions, season interception return yards (146) and longest punt return. After graduation, went on to work in the mental health field with both children and adults. Melvin was employed for 22 years at Riverside Hospital in Newport News, Virginia, and is now owner and operator of Dillard Lawn Care, LLC.
Roben Sutphin Thomas ’96 of Woodbridge, VA, played Ferrum softball from 1993-96 and helped the Panthers win USA South co-championships in 1994 and 1995. She was a four-time All-Conference selection in the USA South, and earned four USA South Academic All-Conference selections. She earned Academic All-District in 1994 and 1995, was a member of the VA Sports Information Directors All-State 1st team in 1996, and earned All-State honorable mention in 1995. Sutphen Thomas was the 1996 Ferrum College President’s Cup recipient. She won Ferrum’s batting title in 1995, and holds school records for single season pitching wins and for game, season, and career walks. She is married to former Ferrum football standout Zachary Thomas and they have five children. For 12 years, Sutphen Thomas volunteered at children’s schools as a mentor, tutor, and chaperon. She is employed by Prince William County Schools.
Tara Toland ’05 of North, SC, played women’s basketball four years at Ferrum from 2001-05. She holds Ferrum’s #3 spot on the all-time scoring list with 1,501 career points. Toland holds school records for season and career assists, as well as game, season and career steals. Following a stellar season in 2005, she earned USA South Women’s Basketball Player of the Year and an All-Conference first team honor, WBCA Division III All-American honorable mention and VaSID All-State first team. Toland founded the Winston-Salem Lady Warcats in 2010, a semi-pro women’s basketball team in the WBCBL and as head coach, led the Warcats to a 27-20 record with two WBCBL playoff appearances. She was named head women’s basketball coach at Allen University in Columbia, SC, in January 2021.
Read more about Toland in this article featured in The Times and Democrat.
Mark White ’96 of Deltaville, VA, played Ferrum baseball from 1991-95. He joined the Ferrum athletics staff as head cross country coach in 2018. After starting Ferrum’s track & field program in fall 2020, for which he now serves as head coach, White had his first NCAA qualifier and All-American in spring 2021. White has also coached several USA Junior National Championship qualifiers, as well as USA National Championship qualifiers, a two-time All-American and an athlete who won the silver medal for the United States in the 2014 NACAC Championships in Canada. White’s career titles have also included Middlesex High School athletic director and head football coach, and he earned Tidewater District Coach of the Year in 2005, 2006 and 2007, and Region A Coach of the Year in 2006.
Gary Holden of Ferrum, VA, has served as Ferrum’s sports information director for 30 years, and as assistant athletic director for 18. He coached men’s tennis from 1999-2008 and women’s tennis in 2002 and 2004. He was named USA South Men’s Tennis Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2006, and served four years on the NCAA Division III Men’s Tennis Committee from 2005-08. He served as head wrestling coach at Plymouth State University from 1988-91, and served as assistant wrestling coach from 1986-87. Holden earned New England College Conference Wrestling Association Coach of the Year in 1988 and 1990. He wrote and self-published “Black & Gold, A History of Athletics at Ferrum College,” in 2014. A former high school state champion wrestler, Holden was a four-year starter at Plymouth State, earned All-Conference three times, and was named to the Plymouth State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015.
Vickie Van Kleeck of Roanoke, VA, served as Ferrum’s head softball coach from 1992-2015. She served 10 years as senior women’s administrator and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee advisor, as well as five years on the NCAA Softball Rules Committee. Van Kleeck led Ferrum to USA South/Dixie regular season championships in 1994, 1995 and 2013, and to USA South Tournament titles in 2002, 2005 and 2012. She posted a 590-508-1 career coaching record with three 30-plus winning seasons, and earned the National Fastpitch Coaches Association 500-Win Milestone. Van Kleeck was the 1989 New South Softball Coach of the Year and the 2013 USA South Softball Coach of the Year. She currently serves as the NCAA Softball Rules editor, as well as the women’s basketball officiating coordinator for the ODAC.
Elizabeth Adams O’Neal ’00 of Wake Forest, NC, played soccer for four years, tennis for three years, and basketball for one year during her stint at Ferrum from 1996-00. She was Ferrum’s first-ever Academic All-American, and a four-time Dixie Conference All-Academic selection, eight-time Dean’s List member, a USA South Silver Anniversary Team member, the Ferrum President’s Cup recipient in 2000, and Ferrum’s NCAA Woman of the Year nominee in 2000. After graduation, Adams O’Neal worked for GTE in the Developer Services Marketing Integration Department in Dallas, TX. She has also worked as a payroll associate at Sunrise Senior Living, was promoted to budget analyst, and currently serves as senior director of Financial Planning and Analysis. She and her husband Keith have two daughters. After volunteering with her daughters’ ice skating team, she was also named second VP of the Triangle Figure Skating Club of NC.
Kathy Bocock ’84 of Greensboro, NC, played basketball, softball, and volleyball at Ferrum from 1981-83. After graduating, she served as head women’s basketball coach and head softball coach at Averett University from 1993-07, adding the role of Senior Woman Administrator her last 10 years. She led the Cougars to the 1995 Dixie Conference softball regular-season co-championship and was named Coach of the Year. She also led the Averett’s 2000 softball team to a 31-13 overall record and a #3 regional ranking. Bocock joined Elon University as a volunteer assistant softball coach in 2009, then served as assistant coach in 2010 and 2011. She was promoted to head softball coach at Elon in 2012, and earned more wins in her first two seasons than any other coach in school history. She has won 463 games as a head softball coach in her career at Averett and Elon combined.
Shelby Irving ’84 of Danville, VA, played women’s basketball and softball at Ferrum from 1980-84. She worked at Danville Parks & Recreation after graduating from Ferrum, then served as head women’s basketball coach at Averett University from 1985-87. In 1987, she became Danville’s first female firefighter. In 2004, Irving was promoted to assistant fire marshal and in 2005, graduated Summa Cum Laude from Danville Community College with an Associate Degree in Fire Science. She was honored as Firefighter of the Year in 2006, then promoted to chief fire marshal in 2007. Danville Community College named Irving their 2010 Outstanding Alumni recipient. Irving is a two-time recipient of the “Ruby Archie” Award for service, a Bank of America Neighborhood Champion, and a Community Strong Person of the Year. She is the first African American chief officer, and currently the highest-ranking African American officer in the Danville Fire Department.
Bobby James ’84 of Rocky Mount, VA, has been part of Ferrum’s Black Hats football program since 1979. He earned his B.S. in recreation and leisure, and also served as a team manager as a student from 1979-83, then as assistant football coach and assistant men’s basketball coach from 1984-91. James worked at Franklin County High School in nearby Rocky Mount as a teacher, assistant girls basketball coach, and assistant softball coach from 1992-05. He accepted a full-time assistant football coach position with the Panthers staff in 2006. James has served as a staff member at Camp Hanover since 1983, and has worked with camp staff on Habitat for Humanity projects, feeding at homeless shelters, and gleaning at local farms to deliver produce to local food pantries. He also spent three seasons on the football coaching staff for the Roanoke Steam, an Arena Football League 2 program headquartered in Roanoke, VA.
Becky Piloto Fennessy ’92 of Avondale, PA, played Ferrum softball and women’s basketball from 1988-92. She was a USA South (Dixie) All-Conference first team selection in 1990 and 1991, earned spots on the Dixie All-Tournament Team in 1989 and 1990, and was the Dixie Conference Tournament MVP in 1989. Piloto Fennessey is currently second on Ferrum’s all-time season batting average list with a .537 average in 1991. She won Ferrum batting titles in 1989, 1990 and 1991. She currently works as a senior director of Global Professional Services at Actifio, Inc., a software company headquartered in Waltham, MA. Prior to joining Actifio, Piloto Fennessey spent 13 years with IBM as an executive architect, and was a volunteer member of the IBM Mentor Program. She holds multiple certifications as a certified architect with Open Group, ITIL Foundation.
Coach Jim Hartbarger of Silva, NC, served as Ferrum’s head men’s basketball coach from 1964-67, and produced a 71-15 record. His teams won three straight Cavalier Tarheel Conference titles and Hartbarger was named Coach of the Year all three seasons. He also served a year as dean of students. After leaving Ferrum, he worked as an assistant coach at Virginia Tech from 1967-70 before being named head men’s basketball coach at Western Carolina University, where he spent five seasons at the helm. Hartbarger’s 1970-71 team compiled a 25-5 record. In 1975, he and his wife bought a historic inn and restaurant, The Jarrett House, located in Dillsboro, NC, which they owned and operated with their sons for 40 years. Hartbarger was inducted into the Western Carolina University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Salem (WV) College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.
7/8/2021
Ferrum alumni enjoyed a Washington Nationals game (2018).
After more than a year of solitude due to COVID-19, Ferrum College alumni are now able to safely gather and reconnect per updated CDC guidance for fully vaccinated individuals.
“Ferrum alums are ready to get back together,” said Director of Alumni and Family Programs Tracy Holley. “We’ve all missed each other and are excited to put into action the plans we’ve been making over the last year.”
A list of upcoming alumni events follows. Some details are not finalized yet. Holley reminds everyone to continue watching the Alumni and Alumni Association Facebook pages for updates.
Additionally, the College is pleased to introduce a Build Your Own Event (B.Y.O.E.) option, in which alums are invited to create their own events, and Alumni and Family Programs will help spread the word. “We want to get reconnected with each other and our community,” explained Holley. Interested participants should email Holley at alumni@ferrum.edu to get started.
Upcoming Alumni Events:
July 15, noon: Alumni Lunch at Mac & Bob’s, Salem
July 15, 7:00 PM: Salem Red Sox Game
July 27, noon: Alumni Lunch at Golden Leaf Bistro, Danville
July 27, 6:30 PM: Greensboro Grasshoppers Game
July 21 – 25, all day: FloydFest21~Odyssey
July 30 – 31, all day: Float Trip down James River
August 12, 7:00 PM: Alumni Virtual Wine Tasting with Beliveau
August 19, noon: Alumni Lunch at P.F. Chang’s, 9212 Stony Point Pkwy, in Richmond
August 19, 6:00 PM: Alumni Event at Topgolf, Richmond
September 17: Alumni Event in Hampton (more details to come)
September 18, 4:00 PM: CNU Tailgate & Game
October 8: Alumni Event in Bridgewater Area (more details to come)
October 15, 5:00 – 8:00 PM: Alumni Kick-Off at 202 Social House, Roanoke
October 16, 8:30 AM: Homecoming & ABOD Meeting
October 16, 11:00 AM: Golden Panthers Induction
October 23, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Blue Ridge Folklife Festival
October 30, 11:00 AM: Alumni Awards and Sports Hall of Fame
6/9/2021
Wilkins earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Ferrum College in 2004 and went on to receive a Master of English from UNC-Greensboro. Now, she works as a lead claims representative at Genworth Financial Services in long-term care claims, which she described as “a really wordy way to say I handle escalations.”
But her real passion was ignited during a conversation with her cousin, who is a lawyer in the district attorney’s office in Chesterfield, VA. Her cousin said she would make a good victim’s advocate, so Wilkins began looking into volunteer programs. During a Get Downtown festival hosted by her hometown of Lynchburg, she explored a victim’s advocacy program through the YWCA and Lynchburg General Hospital, and discovered a true need that she knew she could fill. Now, Wilkins receives calls from the hospital to support sexual assault victims through the forensic nurse process. “[I] offer a distraction or a hand to hold, whatever it is they might need,” she said. “I love it so much.”
4/8/2021
When Ferrum College alumna Star Norton ’11 began her doctoral candidacy at Virginia Tech three years ago, she knew she wanted to research the inequities experienced by African-American students within the education system. She narrowed her research field to include the experiences of 14 former students of Lee M. Waid Elementary School during the desegregation process which began in May 1965 in Franklin County, VA. Out of her research was born Lee M. Waid: An Oral Historical Case Study of Students from an All-Black Rural Virginian School between 1963 and 1970.
“This dissertation serves as the culmination of my research over three years and was a requirement in order to fulfill the graduation requirements to obtain my Doctorate of Education from Virginia Tech in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies EdD,” said Norton. She received her EdD in December of 2020.
The case study is a deep dive into Black education in Southwest Virginia when integration was happening nationwide, and includes accounts of commonalities and differences in students’ experiences. Among the interviewees was Ferrum College Associate Dean of Admissions Edwina Prunty.
“As an educational leader and qualitative researcher, I take seriously the importance of examining the inequities and tribulations faced by African-Americans before and after the desegregation of public schools,” Norton explained. “One way social justice researchers can make a positive impact is by talking with community stakeholders who lived through historic events, such as the desegregation of Franklin County Public Schools.”
Norton graduated from Ferrum College in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts with a double-minor in teacher education and psychology. At Ferrum, she served as class president for three years and vice president for one year. She also served as a resident advisor, member of Alpha Phi Omega, Student Leadership and Engagement worker, and in a variety of other clubs and organizations. In 2014, Norton earned a Master of Education in Administration and Supervision from Liberty University. She is the first in her family to graduate from high school and college.
Originally from the Tidewater area, Norton has remained in Franklin County since attending Ferrum College. She has served in various education roles, including as a teacher, instructional coach, and school administrator. She hopes that her research will continue to shed light on the history of desegregation of schools and the students who lived through it. She believes those past experiences can impact present educational policy and practice. “I hope that this study adds to the literature of the history, legacy, and influence of Black education,” she said.
Read Norton’s case study here.
Ferrum, VA, January 24, 2021 — The Roanoker magazine has announced its “40 Under 40” Class of 2021, a group nominated by the magazine’s readers for their outstanding leadership, career achievements, and community involvement in the Roanoke Valley. Two Ferrum College graduates, Tim Pohlad-Thomas and Beth Simms, are on this year’s list.
RIDE Solutions Outreach and Communications Specialist Tim Pohlad-Thomas is a 2008 graduate of Ferrum College. The Roanoker article describes him as a “tireless advocate for our region” with a passion to help residents find alternate travel options, which save money and enhance physical fitness. He is a 2018 graduate of Leadership Roanoke Valley and currently serves as vice president of the Clean Valley Council board, as a board member of 5 Points Music Foundation, as the Experience Outside Program chair with Get2KnowNoke, and as the FloydFest Outdoor Adventure director.
“When I learned that I had been chosen for the ‘40 Under 40’ Class of 2021, I was honored and surprised,” said Pohlad-Thomas. “I felt honored because on the list I accompany many other incredible people doing great work for the region, including Ferrum graduate Beth Simms. I was surprised because I didn’t know I had been nominated, and I do what I do because of my passions and my love of helping others and not to receive accolades. Growing up around Ferrum College and going to school there certainly helped me understand why the motto ‘Not Self, But Others’ is important no matter where you end up in life or what you end up doing.”
The Town of Rocky Mount’s Cultural and Economic Development Director Beth Simms, a 2009 Ferrum College graduate, was also named to The Roanoker’s list. Simms was nominated because of her work in establishing a $5,000 grant from the Reset Rocky Mount Small Business Grant Town’s allocation of the CARES Act, which aided local businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In The Roanoker article, Simms is praised for “her ability to focus on the big and small picture at the same time.” She is a 2017 graduate of the E. A. Morris Fellowship for Emerging Leaders program and currently serves on Ferrum College’s Alumni Board of Directors.
“I am honored to be named to The Roanoker Magazine’s ‘40 Under 40’ list,” said Simms. “There are three of us from the Ferrum community and two who graduated from Ferrum College. I believe this proves that Ferrum students carry Ferrum’s motto of ‘Not Self, But Others’ with them throughout their lives. I am grateful for the positive attention this article has brought to Ferrum, Rocky Mount, and Franklin County!”
Read more about Pohlad-Thomas and Simms in The Roanoker Magazine’s “40 Under 40” article.
A group shot of Lindsey and her True North Treks counterparts during their Green River Utah trek in September 2017.
If you missed the first showing on True North Treks’ “To The Stranger (Who Has Loved You),” you can watch it on Friday, November 13, 2020, from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. CST (8 – 9:30 p.m. EST)! Register to watch it here.
In 2013, just three months after graduating from Ferrum College with her Bachelor of Science in environmental planning and development, Lindsey Shelton Deitterick was diagnosed with cystosarcoma phyllodes, an extremely rare sarcoma of the breast. She was 22 years old.
“I was in shock,” she said. “Phyllodes tumors themselves are very rare, accounting for only about one percent of all breast cancers. It is even rarer for them to be malignant.”
But Lindsey’s was malignant.
As a student at Ferrum College, Lindsey had noticed a lump in her breast a few months before graduation. Upon evaluation, she was told it was a cyst; however, in just weeks, the lump had grown from the size of a marble or grape, to a the size of a bar of soap.
She initially underwent a biopsy which revealed a tumor so large that it bent the biopsy needle. Two weeks later, Lindsey had a lumpectomy which resulted in another follow-up surgery to remove even more tissue. She was offered chemotherapy and radiation but declined both because those treatments aren’t known to have high success rates for cystosarcoma phyllodes.
“It was actually more risky for me to take chemo or radiation,” she explained. “I might have gotten another type of cancer from the treatment.”
Lindsey eventually opted for a single-side mastectomy and then underwent reconstructive surgery, for a total of four surgeries at UVA.
After her surgeries, she went through a dark, deep depression for a while. “I lost a lot of friends during that time, people I had known since kindergarten, because they didn’t understand what I was going through and it scared them,” Lindsey explained.
She decided to temporarily relocate from her hometown of Nathalie, VA, to Roatán, an island off the northern coast of Honduras, where she lived with an aunt and worked on a tour boat for about two years. “It was a great relief,” she said.
Six months after returning from Honduras, she started trying to find other young adults who had battled cancer. She wanted to connect with people her own age who had undergone a similar experience. “At that point, I still hadn’t met anyone my own age that had been diagnosed with cancer,” she explained.
Lindsey found peace by practicing yoga and mindful meditation during the trek.
In her research, Lindsey came across True North Treks, a non-profit group who helps teens and young adults who have cancer or have survived cancer to connect with each other through backpacking and canoeing trips in the wilderness. She decided to sign up for one of the treks. There were only a couple of places left on a week-long trek to canoe the Green River in Utah. She read the qualifications: she had to be fit to do the trek, and she would need to be comfortable in front of a camera. This trek was going to be part of a documentary called To The Stranger (Who Has Loved You), which premiered in February of 2020.
“On a whim, I decided to go for it,” she said. “I was worried about putting myself out there, but I needed to do it at that point. I was one of the last people to get a spot on that trek.”
In September 2017, Lindsey joined a group of nine other survivors of various types of cancer to paddle 55 miles on Utah’s Green River. She was the youngest at 26 years old; the oldest was 34. “It was very rewarding,” she said. “I had never been that far out west. It was a great adventure.”
Even though she had prepared for it, having a three-person documentary crew follow her for a entire week was difficult. She was instructed to make video diaries and wore a mic the entire trip. Even her canoe was equipped with a Go-Pro.
“It was interesting, to say the least. As soon as we landed in Grand Junction, Colorado, we had a camera in our face. It was a little shocking,” she remembered.
While she was on the trek in Utah, Lindsey and the group delved into some very deep emotions. She said that sometimes the camera felt like an invasion. At one point, Lindsey and another survivor wanted to have a private conversation. “We found a bunch of huge boulders to scramble up. We were talking and we looked over, and there was a guy with a camera trying to creep over the side of the rock! Some of our conversation made it into the documentary,” she laughed. “I like having those memories now.”
After completing the trek, the documentary’s producers wanted to learn more about Lindsey, her life, and her backstory. Throughout the rest of 2017 and into 2018, she was followed and filmed intermittently, and completed her own video diaries for the documentary. In fact, one of the cameramen even attended her wedding to get more footage.
Once the trek was complete, Lindsey felt a renewal of herself and the return of confidence that cancer and treatment had initially stolen from her. “I felt more ‘me’ than I had since my diagnosis,” she explained. “I came into myself more.”
In fall 2019, Lindsey was able to bring her husband Ryan on the same trek she took in 2017.
That confidence inspired her to reconnect with Ryan, also from Nathalie, who had been asking her out for the last decade. She had always turned him down before, but in January 2018, she was the one to ask him for a date. “Among many other things, I also credit the trek to helping me step out of my comfort zone and ask Ryan out,” she said.
The couple married in September 2018 and are now expecting their first child in November, a son they will name Boone Avery. About a year ago, Lindsey was able to take Ryan on the same Green River trek she completed. “It was really gratifying,” she said. “My husband was able to see into the eyes of other survivors and hear their perspectives, not just mine. He is truly one of my biggest supporters.”
Now, Lindsey works at VIPKid teaching English as a second language. She’s been there since September 2019.
“I am good! I’m happier than I’ve ever been. Even though it sounds cliche, it’s the truth,” said Lindsey. “My health is good. I’m extremely healthy. I have yearly check-ups and now I’m seven years cancer-free.”
The documentary, To The Stranger (Who Has Loved You), will air again in the coming weeks. Check the True North Treks’ website to see air dates and times when they are announced.
The Pathways Program provides an opportunity for current students to work, explore a career, and further NASA’s goals and mission, all while continuing their education. Learn more about the program here.
On August 17, 2020, Miller began working in the Office of Procurement for Operations Support at NASA-Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. Her duties include covering contracts, task orders, and proposals, and analyzing orders for several different departments including flight operations, safety missions, SpaceX, and Boeing.
“My first week at NASA has been unique for sure,” said Miller. “The whole agency is facing new obstacles with everyone being virtual. It’s been fun, busy, challenging, exciting, and eye opening for me. I am constantly learning new material and getting to build new relationships, and I’m very excited to see what the future holds for me at NASA.”
Miller is a 2018 Ferrum College magna cum laude graduate. She received her undergraduate degree in political science with a minor in business administration. During her time at Ferrum, she was a member of the women’s wrestling team, the women’s tennis team, and the Boone Honors Program.
Miller said her experiences at Ferrum College had a lasting impact on her. “I went on an E-term to Mexico City,” she said. “The greatest memory I have from that trip was when we visited an orphanage and we taught the children there how to do different play dough art projects with our cameras. The children were so sweet, kind, and happy to have us there. They danced and sang for us. I remember how happy they were even though they have a difficult life. It was the best experience I have ever had.”
“There are so many things to love about Ferrum,” Miller continued. “Being 1,200 miles away from home, I could always count on my Ferrum friends and family to be there for me. Ferrum gave me experiences I never dreamed of, and the family and friends I’ve always wished for.”
Now, Miller is back in her hometown of League City, TX, just a few minutes from her Pathways internship in Houston. She lives there with her husband Hunter, and their boxer terrier mix Noel. In her free time, Miller enjoys weight lifting, painting, reading books, planting succulents, and playing board games and corn hole with her family and friends.
Dr. Ed Chappell, on right, at the Public Armoury in Colonial Williamsburg, 2010. Photo courtesy of Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
On Saturday, July 25, 2020, architectural historian and Ferrum Junior College alumnus Edward A. Chappell, Jr. passed away at the age of 71. He leaves behind his wife Susan.
Chappell was born in Farmville, VA on October 16, 1948. After graduating from then-Ferrum Junior College in 1969, Chappell earned a bachelors degree in history from the College of William and Mary in 1972, and then received his graduate degree from the School of Architecture at the University of Virginia.
As a young architectural historian, Chappell traveled through Virginia and Kentucky, mapping and recording historical sites for the Virginia Landmarks Commission and Virginia’s Department of Historic Resources. In 1980, he was hired as the Shirley and Richard Roberts director of Architectural Research and Archaeology at Colonial Williamsburg. He and other historians added numerous buildings including Charlton’s Coffeehouse, the Public Armoury, and the Market House.
When Chappell retired in 2016 after 36 years of service, he held an endowed chair at the Architectural Research Department and continued to share his expertise with other historical preservationists at Monticello, Mount Vernon, Prestwood, Drayton Hall, the Historic Charleston Foundation, and Historic Annapolis.
He was a world traveler, visiting countries like Russia, the Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Bali, China, Europe, and more. On his visits, he made drawings and notes of buildings and later donated them to the Virginia Historical Society. He imparted architectural knowledge to review boards for colonial Williamsburg as well as the College of William and Mary, eventually receiving the highest stewardship award as a token of the college’s gratitude.
Former Ferrum College Board of Trustees Chair Bob Todd offered insight on Chappell’s informed yet unassuming nature: “If you met Ed, you would not assume he was an internationally known expert on architectural history. He was soft spoken and humble and never seemed to seek the spotlight. However, when engaging him about his area of expertise, one immediately recognized his mental energy and that he was someone with highly special knowledge and experience. He also possessed a wry sense of humor and an appreciation for life and inquiry. His passing will leave a huge void here in Williamsburg and beyond. We lose a lifetime of stored knowledge, not to mention a most wonderful, down-to-earth person.”
Read Chappell’s obituary in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, here.
