Any student-athlete, regardless of academic class, who competes in a conference-sponsored sport and achieves at least a 3.25 grade point average for the academic year is eligible for consideration for ODAC All-Academic Team recognition.
This year marked the third straight season the ODAC All-Academic Team topped 2,500 honorees, with 2,505 honorees across the ODAC included in the 2021-2022 list. The 2021-2022 All-Academic Team also surpassed 1,000 for the 16th straight year, and surpassed 2,000 for the fifth time in six years.
Click here for a sortable list of Ferrum College student-athletes earning All-Academic Team honors.
An Alleghany County native and graduate of Covington High School, Bowman received her Bachelor of Arts in history and English from the University of Virginia in 2003 and her Juris Doctor from Campbell University in 2007. Her career has been rich with experience in the legal profession, sales and marketing, recruitment, and advancement in a variety of settings including corporate, educational, and nonprofit organizations. As a professor, she also enjoys working with students in the classroom introducing them to basic legal concepts, guiding ethical discussions, and encouraging them to be engaged with the political process.
Bowman was most recently employed by Campbell University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lillington, North Carolina, where she served as executive director of External Affairs and Alumni Engagement since 2020. Previously held positions at the school include director of Alumni Engagement and Health Policy beginning in 2017 and director of Marketing and Communications beginning in 2014.
Growing up in the Roanoke Valley, Bowman knows the value and legacy of Ferrum College to the region. She looks forward to working with the dedicated and experienced Institutional Advancement team to amplify the Ferrum College brand, tell its stories, and increase affinity among all constituencies. “My office will partner with institutional leadership to develop advancement strategies and lead a team that works collaboratively with students, alumni, and friends to meet these institutional goals,” she said.
Bowman and her husband, Dr. Andy Bowman, director of Continuing Education and clinical associate professor of Pharmacy Practice for the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences at Campbell University, are both native Virginians. While Dr. Bowman will continue to serve in his current roles at Campbell University in the immediate future, they are both excited to make their long term home in Franklin County. “I grew up in Alleghany County and my husband’s family has been part of the agricultural and educational communities of Franklin County for generations. We are very happy to come home to the mountains to be a part of the invaluable service Ferrum College and its alumni provide to Southwest Virginia and beyond,” said Bowman.
Ferrum College senior and Boone Honors Program member Jess Bollinger ’23 is double majoring in History and Political Science and has three minors: Psychology, Sociology and International Studies, with an emphasis in human rights. A resident of Bedford, Virginia, Bollinger is an ambassador for the Admissions Office, works for the school’s groundskeeping crew, and has been a member of the Ferrum College Women’s Basketball team for three years.
During the May 2022 experiential term, Bollinger traveled to Rome, Italy, to participate in HIS 297: An American in Rome, utilizing a travel scholarship provided by the Boone Honors Program. She recently returned from a summer term study abroad experience at the University of Limerick in Limerick, Ireland, where she participated in a three-week activism and campaigning class. The course, led by speakers and activists, required students to develop their own campaigns within small groups. Bollinger hopes to use the skills she acquired in her future career and journey toward being a global citizen and activist. This fall, she will attend the University of Westminster in London, England as an exchange student, where she will complete the required courses to finish her history major.
Assistant Professor of Sociology Susan Mead knows she will have a very good class when she sees Bollinger seated in her classroom the first day of the semester. “Ever since we met in Ferrum’s Appalachian Cluster program her first semester, I have been able to count on Jess to ask the hard questions, to speak up against injustice, and to give her all to every task at hand,” said Mead. “Jess is both a realist and an idealist: she helps her fellow students understand difficult circumstances others face in everyday life, while dreaming of ways she and others can make a difference in those lives. From day one, Jess has created a path for herself to make an impact on individuals, and in communities, worldwide. I cannot wait to see where she will go next!”
Bollinger was recently awarded the Richard L. Smith Academic Enrichment Scholarship, which honors the memory of Ferrum College history professor Richard L. Smith. Recognizing Dr. Smith’s vast scholarship in world history, the award is presented annually by the history department to a student who has demonstrated academic excellence, intellectual rigor, and a keen interest in academic research or engaging with other cultures.
While Bollinger is undecided about all she wants to do in the future, she recognizes the importance of using her education to help better the world. She plans to join the Peace Corp upon graduation for at least a two-year term. It is also her desire to go into the United Nations and work in the Humanitarian Aid department. In her free time, Bollinger enjoys traveling, working out, learning new languages and cultures, advocating, exploring nature, watching Harry Potter films, learning, and hanging out with friends, family, and pets.
Bollinger reflected on how the Boone Honors Program has impacted her life, the extra opportunities the program has added to her educational experience at Ferrum College, and how honors education will benefit her upon graduation and beyond. “While being in Honors, I have had the opportunity to take classes outside of what I need for my majors. I think these classes have been a great opportunity for me to learn more about the outside world in my nation, as well as others. I absolutely love learning, especially pertaining to different languages, cultures, and societies. These classes, as well as the opportunity to study abroad, are very beneficial for me,” said Bollinger.
The travel scholarship provided by the Boone Honors Program allowed Bollinger to study in both Ireland and Italy, which she would not have been able to accomplish without the program’s support. The scholarship covered most of the financial requirements for the trip to Italy and allowed her to work on saving for the trip to Ireland. Bollinger also credits the honors professors with being globally aware of different customs or issues in other nations, with challenging her to ask questions and be open to differences, and with teaching her skills she can apply in the real world.
The Boone Honors Program was established in 2001 under the direction of Professor Emeritus of Religion David Howell and is named in honor of former Ferrum College President Jerry Boone and his wife, Shirley. Currently under the direction of Professor of English Lana Whited, it is an interdisciplinary, liberal arts program committed to challenging students enrolled in the program, and the campus culture as a whole, to strive for excellence. Students in the program have the opportunity to study language through the intermediate level, take small multidisciplinary seminars for some of their general education requirements, work closely with professors in courses within their major or minor, present research at undergraduate research conferences, attend special dinners with visiting campus guests and speakers, and participate in special Honors social activities and trips. Besides the academic opportunities, benefits include friendships with faculty and other students from across the college who may share similar interests and passions, chances to examine and clarify values and ideals, having stimulating and broadening cultural experiences, and getting a head start on preparing for graduate school or one’s career. In addition, every student in the program is eligible to receive up to $3,000 in travel scholarship for a study abroad experience.
The College raised over $330,000 from 119 donors for the new complex, far exceeding its original goal of $100,000 by June 30, 2022.
The Vickie Van Kleeck Softball Complex will include new club-level seating, construction of a press box, locker rooms, and other amenities to improve the gameday experience for the players and fans.
“It was a pleasure to work with so many friends and alumni on this campaign. The success of this fundraising effort will allow Ferrum College to build the best softball stadium in the ODAC and one of the best in all of Division III,” stated Director of Development, Bart Smith. “I’m excited for our softball program and all of the athletes now and in the future that will have a chance to play in this great stadium.”
Van Kleeck was Ferrum’s softball coach for 24 seasons before retiring in 2015. During her tenure at Ferrum, Van Kleeck won 531 games, including three regular season USA South Athletic Conference championships (1994, 1995, 2013). She led Ferrum to USA South Softball Tournament titles in 2002, 2005 and 2012, earning NCAA Division III playoffs appearances all three years. She coached 140 Academic All-Conference Players, 23 All-State players, and received the 2013 USA South Coach of the Year Award. She was inducted into Ferrum College’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.
“I couldn’t be more thankful for the many donors who helped make our Batting a 1.000 campaign a success. In doing so, this allows us to move forward with the Vickie Van Kleeck Softball Complex,” stated Director of Athletics John Sutyak. “This was a true team effort to get us to our goal, which included our alumni, parents, staff, faculty, friends and a number of our current Ferrum softball student-athletes contributing to the campaign. The future is bright for Ferrum College softball.”
Ferrum College President David Johns spoke about what this new facility represents, stating “Athletics has always been an important part of the Ferrum College experience, and our softball program has enjoyed tremendous success over the years, on and off the field. We are delighted to honor Coach VVK and our softball players, past and present, with this new facility.”
With the successful completion of the campaign, the College hopes to unveil the Vickie Van Kleeck Softball Complex in 2023.
1,170 donors contributed to this year’s fundraising success, including 178 members of the Arthur Society. Named after the college’s seventh President, Reverend Dr. C. Ralph Arthur, the Arthur Society provides special recognition to alumni, parents, and friends who make annual gifts of at least $1,000 to the College over the fiscal year. Read more about Ferrum’s giving societies here.
This year, Ferrum College held its annual giving day on October 12, 2021 and participated in #GivingTuesday on November 30, 2021. The two events raised more than $250,000 from 384 donors, including $203,116 for the College’s Ferrum Fund, an unrestricted fund that covers scholarships, academic programming, and student research opportunities at the College.
The College also continued its trend in athletics fundraising with the successful completion of the “Batting a 1.000” campaign.” The “Batting a 1.000” campaign sought to raise funds for capital improvements to the softball facility including a press box, a team locker room, improved seating, and other amenities that will make Ferrum College’s softball facility one of the premiere stadiums in the Old Dominion Athletics Conference. With an initial goal of $100,000, the College raised over $330,000 from 119 donors. The new softball facility will be named after Hall of Fame softball coach Vickie Van Kleeck. Van Kleeck was Ferrum’s softball coach for 24 seasons, as well as the College’s Senior Woman Administrator, before retiring in 2015.
Ferrum College President David Johns expressed pride and gratitude for this year’s success, stating “I am proud of the work we are doing at Ferrum College to prepare students for good work and meaningful lives, and I am grateful to our many friends for helping to make this possible.”
“This year’s success affirms our commitment to providing a great experience for our students,” said Vice President of Institutional Advancement and External Relations Wilson Paine ‘07. “I am thankful to our alumni and supporters who recognize the important role Ferrum College plays for our students, our community, and our region. We have set a high bar for ourselves over the past few years, and I can’t wait to see where we go from here.”
Make a gift and learn more about what your gift supports by visiting here.
Photo credit: Stephen “West” Nuttycombe, Jr. ’19
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.
Casey Raggett ’22 is the first Ferrum College graduate to sit for and pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX). The NCLEX, developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, tests the competency of nursing school graduates in the U.S. and Canada.
Raggett is part of the College’s inaugural graduating class of nursing students in the pre-licensure BSN program, which prepares students to sit for the NCLEX.
To learn more about the nursing programs offered at Ferrum College, click here.
He came and went like the wind. Determined. Driven. Focused. Quiet. Unassuming. “When he was here, he was in the zone,” said Rachel Walton, Interlibrary Loan Coordinator/Technical Services Assistant at Stanley Library. “He was dedicated to his project.”
The person is Micah Allen, a 2022 Ferrum College graduate who majored in history and political science, from Goochland County—just outside Richmond. The project was tracing the history of the Black Student Union (BSU) at Ferrum College and the inclusion of Black students in general. He mined old, bound volumes of the campus newspaper the Iron Blade from the late 60s to early 80s, identifying anything related to the BSU, scanning and transcribing the articles as he moved through them.
The work was similar to a project he undertook with the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum. The BRIM project focused on digitizing all of the Appalachian folktales and stories collected by the folklorist James Taylor Adams in the 1940s, saving them all in the digital archives, and posting them all on Professor of English Tina Hanlon’s AppLit website. Hanlon’s website site, AppLit: Resources for Readers and Teachers of Literature for Children and Young Adults, has been up and running for 20 years and has won the Appalachian Studies Association’s e-Appalachia award in the past.
“I scanned and transcribed the folk stories,” Allen said. “I first got one of the stories and then scanned it using a printer to get it onto the computer. After the scanning process, I then transcribed what I just scanned onto a word document, word-for-word, to the best of my abilities.”
Bethany Worley, BRIM Director, sang Allen’s praises on the project. “Micah was such a pleasure to work with,” she said. “He was detail oriented, which is a must when working with archival materials. I appreciated his enthusiasm for the special collection of folktales, history, and folksongs of the James Taylor Adams collection.”
For his part, Allen relished the undertaking. “I enjoyed my time working at the BRIM and doing this project because I saw it as preserving the history of the region,” Allen said. “Doing this allows future generations to be able to learn about their home and culture.”
Allen’s main interest, however, seemed to be his Stanley Library internship and the BSU/Iron Blade research he conducted. “I found some interesting editorials written in the Iron Blades in the early 80s dealing with the Black Student Union getting more funding than other groups on campus,” he said. “I found them interesting just to see the individual arguments being made for why they are getting more money than other school organizations.”
At some point, he said, the BSU apparently disbanded on campus. “I have not found if or when the BSU dissolved,” Allen said. “I was told that there was a point where they kind of just disappeared, but now I have seen that they are back. I hoped the further I went into my research, I would be able to find the answer.”
As is the case with many students, Allen underwent a time of growth here at Ferrum. “He was definitely one of our Class of 2022 star graduating seniors in the history major, and I have had the luck to watch him grow,” said Assistant Professor of History Michael Hancock-Parmer. “Micah arrived as a shy, typically insecure freshman student—maybe convinced that he was just going to see things through, not sure of what he was going to be capable of. Somewhere along the road, he came into his own.”
Fellow Assistant Professor of History Nicole Greer Golda echoed the sentiments. “Micah really blossomed in his years at Ferrum and developed a deep knowledge of our recent past, especially African American history,” Greer Golda said. “His senior seminar research into the meanings of democracy in the United States for African Americans during World War I demonstrated his commitment to preserving a wide array of sources.”
Allen plans to continue his education at J. Sargeant Reynolds in Richmond and study as a paralegal.
Article written and contributed by Assistant Professor of English & Journalism David B. Campbell.
Each summer, Ferrum College faculty, students, and SMLA representatives and volunteers monitor the lake water for nutrients, bacteria, and algal blooms. Stakeholders and local health departments use collected data to inform the community of any concerns.
Ferrum College Professor of Environmental Science and Smith Mountain Lake Water Quality Monitoring Program Director Delia Heck has been an integral part of the program for 17 years. “For me, the SMLWQMP is an excellent example of the synergy possible between academia, citizen scientists, government agencies, industry, and regional advocacy groups to ensure the viability of our water resources. Ferrum College faculty, staff, and students work closely with the Smith Mountain Lake Association and its members on a weekly basis to run the program. This work wouldn’t be possible without the support of Appalachian Power Company, Bedford County Regional Water Authority, Smith Mountain Lake Association, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and Western Virginia Water Authority.”
“I am the intern responsible for the total phosphorus portion of the water quality project,” said student intern and Ferrum College senior Emma Brubaker. “I love this project. Working under and learning from these professors has already been one of the best experiences I’ve had. I can’t wait to see everything I learn this summer while doing something I love.”
Ferrum College senior and student intern Shane Hernandez’s family visited Smith Mountain Lake long before he was ever born. He has many wonderful memories of the lake and feels great to be able to do something for the lake and the community. “My job is to collect, analyze, and identify algae samples. While it is not the most entertaining job, I still find a great amount of satisfaction knowing that I am helping the community. It is awesome to learn more about the lake I have spent most of my life on.”
“I’m one of the main leaders on bacteria sampling and analysis,” said student intern and Ferrum College junior René Settle. “I am very excited about what I’ve learned here so far. I especially love being out on the lake and on the boat, even if I do get a sunburn. It’s so fun to be able to see the data come in and understand the reason behind the numbers.”
Faculty Emeritus of Biology and Agriculture Bob Pohlad has been involved in the program from the early days as a support person. He became directly involved in harmful algal bloom and invasive weed identification in 2007 as the need arose for expertise in this area. Pohlad was married to the late Ferrum College Faculty Emerita of Environmental Science and Smith Mountain Lake advocate Carolyn Thomas. Thomas, who passed away in 2020, was one of the original scientists, together with Ferrum College Faculty Emeritus David Johnson, who founded the Smith Mountain Lake Association’s Water Quality Monitoring Program. Involved in the program from the beginning until her death, Thomas worked closely with Ferrum College students analyzing water samples.
Pohlad noted he was fortunate to be able to work side-by-side for over forty years with Thomas at Ferrum College doing what they both loved, teaching and sharing knowledge and passion for nature with others. “Carolyn found an ideal place to study lakes when we came to Ferrum in 1978 where we lived between Smith Mountain Lake on one end of Franklin County and Philpott Lake on the other. Her passion for sharing this interest with others manifested itself in her teaching and outreach to community groups. She always was willing to share her research results at local, regional, and national meetings to promote stewardship and care of the environment. Her passion for caring for the environment was her driving force right up until she passed away in 2020.”
Ferrum College recently announced the endowment of the Carolyn L. Thomas Memorial Fund, which will provide critical support to the College’s natural science programs. Established in memory of Thomas, the fund will primarily support experiential learning projects for students in environmental science, agriculture, and biology. Pohlad stated, “The endowed Memorial Fund in her name supports the experiential learning that she felt so passionate about both through class trips we took and students who worked with us over the years on the Smith Mountain Lake Water Quality Project. I am so appreciative of all of those who donated to honor her and her legacy of helping others. She truly was a Not Self, But Others person throughout her life.”
To view additional photos of the Smith Mountain Lake Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program, click here.
To learn more about the Carolyn L. Thomas Memorial Fund, click here.
The Ferrum College Iron Blade newspaper is a student-written, student-managed, and student-produced newspaper which covers the daily life and culture of Ferrum College. One print issue is published and distributed on campus each month. After every print, all articles are published online.
Assistant Professor of English and Journalism and Iron Blade Adviser David Campbell is extremely proud of the students for this achievement. “Our goal is not to win awards. Our goal is to publish a top-notch newspaper that adheres to the guidelines and criteria of quality journalism. I tell the students that if we craft our paper properly, then things like awards generally take care of themselves. It proved to be the case this time.”
Assistant Editor Brandon Mullins ’22 is honored to be part of a nationally-recognized publication. “We did have some initial setbacks, and we are a small, rural college to begin with, but we were able to succeed in the end thanks to the diligent efforts of our team. For us to reach national acclaim vouches for Ferrum’s commitment to journalistic excellence, I think. And I’m confident that the Blade will continue to shine in the times to come.”
Editor Lindsey Foster was amazed when she received notification of the award. “As editor-in-chief, I am truly honored that our team won this incredible award. We have worked so hard this past year and the program has really grown. I am very proud of our Iron Blade staff.”
Dr. Kevin Reilly, vice president of Academic Affairs, noted he is also proud of the students and Campbell for winning the award. “It represents countless hours, including late evenings and weekends, putting together a newspaper that is truly elite. It also provides evidence for the greater community of what we already know here at Ferrum College: our students, faculty and staff are exceptional.”
For more information on the American Scholastic Press Association awards, please visit https://www.asan.com/annual-yearbooks-magazine-newspapers-contest
For more information on The Iron Blade, please visit https://www.ferrum.edu/campus-life/the-iron-blade/
About this photo: The Iron Blade student staff who recently visited The Franklin News-Post office in Rocky Mount included (front row from left) Anna Rymer, freshman; Refentse Maselwa, freshman; Bella Eddy, freshman; Editor Lindsey M. Foster, junior; Caroline King, junior; Assistant Editor Marina J. Powell, freshman; (back row from left) Sports Editor Cody Gibson, junior; Monzelle Campbell, freshman; C.J. Hughes, freshman. Not pictured are Assistant Editor Brandon Mullins, senior; Julius Asbury, sophomore; Sean Cohen, freshman; Michael Hamm, freshman; Jordan Luckey, freshman; DeeDee Tiddle, freshman; Katrina Anderson, senior.
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.
Wright and his teammate, Taehoon Song, created their award winning model by combining a popular statistical model (the logistic-growth model) with a popular biological predictor (growing degree days or GDD). The judges appreciated the simplicity and interpretability of this approach, with one remarking that the team provided “a wonderful demonstration of the power of using the simplest possible model that captures the key biological aspects of the question.”
Ferrum College Professor of English and Director of the Boone Honors Program Lana Whited stated, “Josh’s success in this competition obviously required the application of critical thinking skills drawn from multiple academic disciplines and really illustrates the benefits of liberal arts education.”
