FCHS’s Eagle Tech program offers students an innovative learning environment with an instructional focus on collaboration and project-based learning (PBL). Students use technology to complete group projects as they would in a real-world work environment; the ultimate goal is college and career readiness.
Eagle Tech Ecology Teacher Chekka Lash stated, “My students were provided with the opportunity to experience what a college environment is like and to appreciate Ferrum College, which is a true gem in our community. The ecotourism course was the perfect mix of fun and collaboration. My students have chosen PBL as their preferred mode of learning and are used to presenting their work. I think it was great for them to experience PBL as guests instead of presenters. They had so much fun, and we really appreciated the hospitality!”
See more photos 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. During the ceremony, faculty and students were presented with 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, received the Senior Academic Excellence Award for earning a perfect 4.0 GPA during her 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, presented annually to the student who has best demonstrated qualities of citizenship and general leadership ability as judged by vote of the faculty. Wimbush is in the Army National Guard and currently on deployment in Djibouti.
“The students had the opportunity to speak with a native speaker and immerse themselves in the culture,” said Ramirez. In addition to teaching, she was able to take two classes per semester at the College as part of the Fulbright grant, which included American History II and Literary Studies this spring.
The Fulbright FLTA Program is sponsored by the United States Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. As part of the Fulbright Foreign Student Program, the Fulbright FLTA Program is designed to develop Americans’ knowledge of foreign cultures and languages by supporting teaching assistantships in over 30 languages at hundreds of U.S. institutions of higher education. The program offers educators from over 50 countries the opportunity to develop their professional skills and gain first-hand knowledge of the U.S., its culture, and its people. U.S. campuses enhance their teaching of languages and expose students to a true understanding of people of different nations.
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.
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.
On Friday, April 22, 2022 – Earth Day – Ferrum College 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 Faculty Emerita of Environmental Science Carolyn Lee Thomas, who passed away in January 2020, the fund will primarily support experiential learning projects for students in environmental science, agriculture, and biology.
A beloved member of the Ferrum College community, Thomas taught environmental science at the College for more than 41 years. In addition to her work on campus, Thomas loved the learning that occurred outside the classroom. She and her husband, Faculty Emeritus of Biology and Agriculture Bob Pohlad, traveled to all 50 states as well as to numerous locations around the world. In 2003, they traveled with three Ferrum College students to Malawi, Africa to set up water quality equipment and train Malawian scientists how to operate it. More recently, the couple toured the Galapagos Islands in 2017, and took groups of Ferrum College students for Experiential-term adventures to the Virgin Islands and Ireland.
Ferrum College Professor of Environmental Science Delia Heck said Earth Day 2022 was a fitting day to announce the newly endowed fund. “The theme for this year’s Earth Day is ‘Invest in Our Planet.’ That is exactly what Carolyn did with her entire career and with her very life. It is what scholarships from this fund will do – invest in our planet through the lives of Ferrum College recipients,” said Heck, who taught alongside Thomas and was a long-time friend. “Carolyn’s former students, friends, colleagues and family members are providing opportunities for students to engage in experiential learning that will have benefits for years to come. Carolyn would be so excited to see how we have committed ourselves to passing on the torch of scientific education.”
Wilson Paine, vice president of Institutional Advancement & External Relations, noted that the endowment of the Carolyn L. Thomas Memorial Fund was cause for celebration on many fronts. “Not only were we able to raise over $25,000 to create this endowment, but we did so with the support of roughly 150 donors. The vast number of individuals who supported this effort signifies the impact Carolyn had on so many during her time at Ferrum College,” he said. “My sincere gratitude goes out to Bob and Carolyn’s family who were instrumental in this momentous achievement that will honor Carolyn’s life and commitment to our students and the environment.”
“Our family is deeply appreciative and overwhelmed by the generosity of everyone’s gifts to honor my soulmate Carolyn’s memory with this endowed fund. Generated funds used for student experiential learning are exactly what she would want,” said Pohlad. “Carolyn was dedicated to helping her family, students, colleagues, friends, and the broader scientific community know how to make the environment better. She worked tirelessly over the years through her water quality studies and teaching not only to educate us on what should and could be done, but also exemplified that behavior in her daily life. Her legacy will live on through the use of this fund.”
Additional gifts to the Carolyn L. Thomas Memorial Fund may be made by visiting https://www.ferrum.edu/giving/give-to-ferrum-college/ and selecting the Carolyn Thomas Memorial Fund designation.
“Real dear to me,” is the way Gary Ingram describes how he feels about Ferrum College. Ingram graduated with an associate degree in Chemistry from Ferrum College in 1977 when it was still a junior college. A Franklin County and a Ferrum community native, Ingram says that the College was a big influence in his life before he ever became a student. Growing up, he spent many hours on the Ferrum campus with friends whose parents worked at the College and has fond memories of playing basketball in the gym with those friends. The Ferrum College influence extended even to his extracurricular activities as his Boy Scout leader was a math and physics professor at the College.
After becoming a student at Ferrum, Ingram says that he enjoyed his math classes and even received a mathematics award during his time at the College. He also played tennis under legendary tennis coach Bud Skeens.
“Ferrum College is helpful,” Ingram says, “Like a family.” He refers to the College’s motto of “Not Self, But Others” stating that, “If you get that one principle, you will go far in life.” Ingram continues to give back to the College and urges other alumni to do the same: “Ferrum College is so important to the community. It offers students a diverse range of academics and gives so many students the opportunity to attend college that might not be able to attend otherwise.” One other attraction, he adds, is that most of the professors live and serve in the communities around Ferrum College.
Since graduating, Ingram has enjoyed a successful career in the glass and mirror industry. He has been part-owner in Finch Industries for 20 years. The company is a leading supplier in North America of decorative glass and mirror products that are used in the furniture, medicine cabinet, manufactured housing, RV, and decorative wall industries. He also helped build the Rocky Mount Bowling Center located about 12 miles north of the Ferrum College campus. He sold the business to its current owners after running it for a few years. Ingram currently lives in North Carolina near the Greensboro area with his wife of 33 years, Georgeanne. He’s also the proud dad of daughters Laura, Meg and Marci, and granddaughters Emma, Natalie, and Abigail.
Although a lot has changed since his days running around campus as a kid, he still finds time to visit. His last time on campus? The Folklife Festival in 2019. With each visit, Ingram reflects on how much Ferrum has meant to him and how much he owes to his hometown college.
Article written and submitted by freelance writer Amy Shelor Dye.
President David Johns and Athletic Director John Sutyak presented the 2022 President’s Cup award to senior Arielle Eure from Summerfield, NC. A member of the Boone Honors Program, Eure received the President’s Cup for exhibiting excellence in athletics, campus and community leadership, character, and academics, all while maintaining a GPA of at least 3.2. Eure will receive her Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Performance later this month during the College’s April 23 commencement ceremony.
Academic awards were then presented to students by the dean of their school and their professors.
A list of award recipients and honor society members follows.
See photos from the event here.
President’s Cup
Arielle Eure
The Iron Blade Editor Commendation
Lindsey Foster
The Chrysalis Editor Commendation
Abigail McGovern
Ferrum Radio Commendation
Kayla Anderson
Excellence in Nursing Award
Christine K. Aigner
Jennifer Pittmon
Jane Addams Social Work Achievement Award
Roy Garcia
Jennie West Outstanding Social Work Student Award
Grace Howell
Dr. Betty N. Bailey Silver Weaver Award
Natalie Hughes
Delta Kappa Gamma Outstanding Woman in Education Award
Victoria Scott
Charles A. and Marion C. Skinner Award for Excellence in Education
Brandon Mullins
Jacob Glass
Hamblin Accounting Award
Janelle Langan
Outstanding Student in Finance Award
David Miller
Outstanding Student in Management Award
Mikayla Floyd
Outstanding Student in Marketing Award
Caitlyn Wiles
Outstanding Student in Sports Management Award
Micaela HarveyKen McCreedy Outstanding Criminal Justice Award
Brady C. Hentz
Health and Fitness Management Award
Kristin Hibdon
Exercise Science Award
Arielle Eure
Exercise Sports Studies Award
Jacob Gladstone
Frank Benjamin Hurt Award
Leondria Davis
Outstanding Student in Recreation Leadership Award
Emma Loughrey
Excellence in Ecotourism Award
Jazmin Scarberry
Eric Lee Baker Award
Abigail McGovern
Jasse Scholarship in History Award
Ashleigh Baker
Shaylise Jones
Shelby Waltrip
Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar in History Award
Demontay Wimbush
Richard L. Smith Academic Enrichment Scholarship
Jessica M. Bollinger
Outstanding Student in Spanish Award
Alan Quijada Abrego
Outstanding Student in Music Award
David Dungee
Academic Achievement in Music Award
Ashley Patrick
Theatre Arts Achievement Award
Sarah Laliberte
Erica Leed
Dance Achievement Award
TJ Baker
Outstanding Student in Agricultural Sciences Award
Madison Cogle
Shawn HavensOutstanding Student in Biology Award
Chance Dillon
Savannah Farris
Makayla Hubbard
Brooke Turner
Applied Mathematics Award
Kajuan Ahseem Madden-Mcafee
Art Department Award
Katrina Anderson
Chemistry Award
Chelsea Zizzi
Forensic Science Award
Madison Wright
Outstanding Student in Environmental Science Award
Laura Dymond
Lauren Jutras
Pre-Professional Health Sciences Pre-Med Award
Sebastian Dexter
Pre-Professional Health Sciences Award
Cassidy Burke
Pre-Professional Health Sciences Pre-Vet Award
Amber Osborne
Computer Technology and Information Systems Award
Nicholas JohnsChristine K. Aigner
Katrina Anderson
Kayla Anderson
Ashleigh Baker
TJ Baker
Jessica M. Bollinger
Cassidy Burke
Madison Cogle
Leondria Davis
Sebastian Dexter
Chance Dillon
David Dungee
Laura Dymond
Arielle Eure
Savannah Farris
Mikayla Floyd
Lindsey Foster
Roy Garcia
Jacob Gladstone
Jacob Glass
Micaela Harvey
Shawn Havens
Brady C. Hentz
Kriston Hibdon
Grace Howell
Makayla Hubbard
Natalie Hughes
Nicholas Johns
Shaylise Jones
Lauren Jutras
Sarah Laliberte
Janelle Langan
Erica Leed
Emma Loughrey
Kajuan Ahseem Madden-Mcafee
Abigail McGovern
David Miller
Brandon Mullins
Amber Osborne
Ashley Patrick
Jennifer Pittmon
Alan Quijada Abrego
Jazmin Scarberry
Victoria Scott
Brooke Turner
Shelby Waltrip
Demontay Wimbush
Madison Wright
Chelsea ZizziEmma Burrows
Daja Foxx
Elspeth Pearce
Hayley SmithMichaela Bentley
Airiana Beverley
Aubrey Billings
Austin Brown
Ellis Carson
Catherine Coffee
Madison Cogle
Kristina Cossa
Sarah Crawford
Joyce Creel
Greyson Crouch
Jaci Culler
Taylar Drumheller
David Dungee, Jr.
Mery Estrella
Hailey Ferguson
Daja Foxx
Amber Gillen
Jacob Gladstone
Tayvon Harris
McKenzie Haynes
Matthew Henniger
Joshua Hite
Jackson Horton
Emmanuel Hughes
Morgan Hundley
Darin James
Ainsley Kelley
Sydney Kincaid
Camryn King
Janelle Langan
Shaniya Marable
Macey Moore
Kristian Negron
Alberto Pineiro
Deontae Reed
Hafashimana Restina
LaShawna Scott
Taylor Seal
Allison Setlak
Faith Settle
Kiana Somerville
Stephanie Staats
Josie Stanbery
Clayton Stanford
Morgan Taylor
Benjamin Thomas
Ryann Tyree
Benjamin VanDerHyde
Jacob VanRemortel
Savanna Walker
Jada Waller
Magen Weaver
Abigail White
Demontay Wimbush
Adam Woody
Andrew WringDaniel Aguirre
Briana Anderson
Ali Austin
Jerrick Ayers
Elina Baltins
James Banks
Cayla Berry
Faith Bibbo
David Bishop
Jacob Blaukovitch
Blake Boggs
Jessica Bollinger
Ametria Booker
Dustin Boothe
Kai Bowers
Simon Bradford
Justin Brady
Bryan Breeden
Arin Bunker
Cassidy Burke
Camryn Burke
Jacob Carroll
Khari Carson
Joshua Chartier
Kobe Clifton
Brianna Coerper
Emily Cook
Nicolas Cook
Luke Costley
Sarah Crawford
Dakota Creasy
Bayley Cunningham
Sebastian Dexter
Darin Douglas
Brogan Dudley
Joshua Ellerbe
Jordan Ellis
Tyler English
Cole Epperley
Sarah Estes
Arielle Eure
Emilie Fairman
Makayla Fincanon
Lacey Flanagan
Jeromy Fletcher
Morganne Flinkstrom
Pedro Fonseca
Olivia Fox
Madison Friel
Kayren Gaither
Leo Galpin
Catelyn Gamble
Alvaro Garaizar Gonzalez
Roy Garcia
Nathaniel Girardi
Jacob Glass
Daniel Golden
Tysen Gotschi
Jaelyn Gray-Palmore
Tyler Greaver
Joshua Greenway
Enzo Guercio
Laurynn Hackett
Bryce Hall
Jarrett Hamby
Keri Hamlet
Dustin Hardbower
Anne Carter Harding
Daisy Harris
Dazon Harrison
Micaela Harvey
Cameron Hawkins
Abbey Hayes
Nick Helton
Matthew Henninger
Brady Hentz
Andrew Hill
Joshua Hite
Bailey Hodges
Mia Holmes
Haleigh Horne
Jackson Horton
Grace Howell
Natalie Hughes
Morgan Hundley
Daphne James
Jenna Janicki
Darrian Johnson
Christian Johnson
Nicholas Johnson
Davon Jones
Titus Jones
CheMaiya Jordan
Riley Keating
Tanner Kennedy
Todd Kennedy
Gabby Kermon
Sydney Kincaid
Camryn Kiing
Lindsay Koogler
Ty Lam
Joseph Lama
Ashton Lambeth
Xavier Lewis
Cole Lipinski
Michael Lopez
Emma Loughrey
Kajuan Madden-Mcafee
Jenelle Manni
Camden Mariotti
Alex Mattson
Morgan McCoy
Abigail McGovern
Tyson Measamer
David Miller
Daniel Mitchell
Matthew Montgomery
Liza Montgomery
Brayden Moore
David Morgan
Justin Motley
Jonathon Munsey
Carly Nelson
Erin Nelson
Jessy Nichols
Roman O’Brienhalla
Woojin Oh
Raekwon Parker
Rah’quan Payne
Chrissy Paz
Kat Pendergrass
Brett Pennington
Zachary Phipps
Jordan Pickard
Genesis Pineiro
Casey Raggett
Molly Rgaland
Carlton Redd
Jamon Reed
Hattie Rieck
Everette Rivers
Ashley Roberts
Christopher Rodriguez
Camilo Rojas
Nicholas Roth
Cade Rouse
Zachary Saalweachter
Brianna Sawyer
Jazmin Scarberry
Tori Scott
Taylor Seal
Lyndsey Sears
Allison Setlak
Seth Shaffer
Collen Shaw
John Sheehan
Grey Sherfey
Katie Shoaf
Hannah Smith
Andres Solares
Good Somkidlert
Time Somkidlert
Quvadus Spratley
Clayton Stanford
Harley Steger
Kyle Stevens
Skyla Strohm
Skyler Swaney
Hunter Tharpe
Benjamin Thomas
Mikayla Thorpe
Jacob Tomlin
Arielle Tritt
Jeremiah Valentine
Jose Villacis
Yanni Virgin
Tori Wagner
Jada Waller
Zachery Walsh
Brittany Warren
Breanna Weaver
Kassie Widner
Caitlyn Wiles
Eric Workman
Madison Wright
Matthew Yarbrough
Isaac Yeaman
Carrington Young
Chelsea Zizzi
Martin ZuluagaLaShawna Scott
Morgan TaylorJessica BollingerJessica Bollinger
Sean Cohen
Leondria Davis
Emilie Fairman
Andrew Hill
Reagan Lawson
Conner Sides
Charles TisbyMikayla Floyd
Kayren Gaither
Abigail McGovern
Brandon Mullins
Kacey Whorley
Ferrum Elementary teachers Natalie Quesenberry and Tressa Moore worked with VCE Agent Cynthia Martel to plan the hands-on experience for their students. The Growing Kids and Trees Seedling Project provided each student with a free tree seedling to take home and plant. They also provided ten hardwood seedlings for the classes to plant on the Ferrum College campus in the Ferrum College Community Arboretum. First, Fisher shared with students the importance of trees, such as preventing erosion, providing oxygen and shade, and in making products such as medicines. Next, students were provided a demonstration on where and how to plant their seedling. Finally, students got their hands in the dirt as they helped to plant bald cypress and swamp chestnut oak seedlings in the Arboretum.
The Arboretum was established over twenty years ago and is the product of many hours of student, faculty, staff, and community members’ efforts over the years. It is an important teaching resource for classes at Ferrum College. The diversity of trees, wildflowers, and habitats provides a living and learning laboratory for the college and the community.
Pohlad shared, “The Arboretum contains many areas that honor or are in memory of people important to Ferrum College. In May 2021, the Ferrum E-Term class cleaned and enhanced existing gardens to rejuvenate the area. To see the local Ferrum Elementary School students adding trees to this area was so wonderful and makes this a truly community garden.”
Quesenberry stated, “The elementary school is right across the street from the college and it makes it very easy to tap into this rich resource. Our students were so excited to work alongside the college students and to help plant the seedlings. I think both groups came away from this experience feeling good about helping each other and our world in this small way. When we collaborate with the college, wonderful things are achieved! I love how Ferrum College staff and students are investing in all of our futures by sharing their time and knowledge with our students.”
Since 2007, the purpose of Growing Kids and Trees Seedling Project has been to improve water quality by restoring forest cover to residential and rural lands, particularly riparian areas along streams. This project is made possible by a gift from the Virginia Forestry Educational Foundation, and matching funds from Huber Engineered Woods, Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, and Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Customer Owned Electric Cooperatives.
To view more pictures, click here.
April 5, 2022 – Ferrum College has expanded its graduate degree offerings with two new programs: a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction, and a Master of Science (M.S.) in Athletic Coaching.
Both programs will be 100% online and can be completed in one year. The M.Ed program will begin on June 20, and the M.S. in Athletic Coaching will begin in the fall.
President David Johns, who is in his fifth year at Ferrum College, notes that this is a strategic move for the College. “This is an important step for us as we grow this part of Ferrum College. With these new programs, we are aligning our academic offerings to student interest and jobs that are in demand in the marketplace,” says Johns.
The new graduate degree programs also represent areas of strength and growth at the institution. Ferrum College boasts a 100% placement rate for its Teacher Education graduates and athletics has been an instrumental part of the Ferrum College experience dating back to its time as a Junior College.
“The M.Ed. can act as a standalone program for teachers that want to increase their knowledge base and work in the classroom, and it serves as a bridge program between our undergraduate Teacher Education program and the Ed.S. program,” says Sandra Via, dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies, who notes that the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that curriculum and instructional coordinators’ employment will continue to increase at a rate of six percent over the next ten years.
Similarly, employment opportunities for coaches are expected to grow twelve percent over the next ten years, says Via. “The M.S. in Athletic Coaching takes a holistic approach to athletic coaching so that students that earn this degree will be able to support and mentor the whole student-athlete,” she says.
Ferrum College launched its graduate school in the fall of 2020 with a Master of Science in psychology and an Education Specialist Degree (EdS) in teacher leadership.
Learn more about Ferrum College’s graduate programs here.
Ferrum, VA, March 21, 2022 — Learn how to craft and tell a story from expert dramatist and Ferrum College Professor Emeritus Rex Stephenson of the Jack Tale Storytellers. Through observation, small group discussion, and hands-on exercises, participants will learn the basics of oral storytelling, then be invited to tell a story of their choice before a live audience.
On April 7 and May 5, the Jack Tale Storytellers will perform tales from the James Taylor Adams Collection of Southwest Virginia folklore archived at the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum (BRIM). Storytelling and opportunities for participants to share their own stories will continue on April 21 and May 19.
Open to all ages, this free two-workshop series will be offered at the Franklin County Public Library in Rocky Mount and then at the Westlake location. Though the second workshop will build on the first, participants may attend either or both. Registration is not required.
Workshop #1
Enjoy a performance by the Jack Tale Storytellers featuring a folktale from the James Taylor Adams Collection and learn how Ferrum College and the Blue Ridge Institute & Museum are preserving this treasure trove of Southwestern Virginia folklore. Learn how to choose, prepare and practice, at home, a story to tell at Workshop #2.
Workshop #2
Listen to storytelling led by Rex Stephenson. Then tell your own story in an informal and supportive setting.
Franklin County Public Library, Rocky Mount location
April 7 & 21, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Franklin County Public Library, Westlake location
May 5 & 19, 2:00-3:30 p.m.
The Storytelling Workshop series is made possible through a Humanities Research for the Public Good grant from the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and a partnership among Ferrum College, the Blue Ridge Institute & Museum, and Franklin County Public Library. Professor of English Tina Hanlon is the lead faculty member for the project “Preserving and Sharing Old and New Stories from the James Taylor Adams Collection and the Public,” funded by a CIC grant for 2022-23.
About the photograph by Dr. Tina Hanlon: The Jack Tale Storytellers—Kristina Stump ’97, Emily Blankenship-Tucker, Rachel Blankenship-Tucker, Professor Emeritus Rex Stephenson, and Professor Emerita Jody Brown—perform at the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum pavilion at Ferrum College for summer school children in June 2021.
As part of its commitment to being one of the nation’s premier Division III athletic programs, Ferrum College is excited to announce the “Batting 1.000” fundraising campaign for capital improvements to its softball facilities. With the successful completion of this campaign, the plan is to complete the “Vickie Van Kleeck Softball Complex” prior to softball opening day 2023.
Van Kleeck was Ferrum’s softball coach for 24 seasons, as well as the College’s Senior Woman Administrator (SWA), before retiring in 2015. Her contributions to the sport of softball, and women’s athletics, have inspired generations of players, as well community members. Naming the new softball complex in her honor will further cement her legacy as one of the all-time great Ferrum College mentors.
“This project will improve our softball program and enhance the game-day experience of our Ferrum College fans. These enhancements will not only have a positive impact on the lives of our current student-athletes, they will create another landmark on our beautiful campus, and will provide an important resource for this community,” says President David Johns.
The “Batting 1.000 Campaign” seeks to raise a minimum of $100,000 by inspiring 100 donors to pledge at least $1,000 each to be used for the construction of new, state-of-the-art softball facilities. Enhancements will include new club-level seating, a press box, locker rooms, restrooms, and concessions, among other additions.
To support the “Batting 1.000 Campaign” with your online donation or pledge, please click here.
To learn how your business can help or for information about potential naming opportunities, please contact Director of Development Bart Smith by calling 540-420-8891 or email bcsmith@ferrum.edu.
