For some, the war in Ukraine feels distant and out of reach.
But for Mariya Dzhyoyeva and Roman Bohdan, the situation is personal.
Dzhyoyeva, an assistant professor of Modern Language at Ferrum College, hails from Ukraine. And Bhodan, an assistant professor of Business at Ferrum, is from Crimea. The two participated in an Inquiring Minds panel discussion held February 28, 2022, on campus about the Russian invasion in Ukraine. They were joined by Michael Hancock-Parmer, an assistant professor of History.
“I think I speak for all of us in that what we want you to see is that it is a very nuanced, complicated situation,” Hancock-Parmer said. “On the simple side, the human cost requires our compassion—the loss of life, the invasion of a sovereign state. But at the same time, as I kind of warn my students, it can be too easy to go looking for heroes and villains, to sort of put up flags or statues.”
The panel discussed many topics, including the subject of timing and why this conflict is happening now, as opposed to occurring earlier.
“For me personally, this invasion hasn’t started five days ago. It started eight years ago… since or even before 2014,” Dzhyoyeva said. “They realized that Ukraine would not back away from it (being independent), so it was just a question not of if (Russia would invade), but a question of when.”
Bohdan agreed the invasion had been ongoing and added that the attitude of some Ukrainians toward Russia has changed. “It’s not an easy process,” he said. “It’s all Ukrainian spirit. And the majority of the political leaders–they have become nationalists, and it’s very difficult to conquer them. That’s why we still have independent Ukraine up to this point. Otherwise, it would be very quick, a very quick reunion. But it’s all lasted since probably 2004.”
Bohdan believes much of the resistance stems from the fact that Russia is dealing with deep internal issues, and Ukrainians–even former supporters of a Russian union–now want no part of a reunification.
“I guess now people more realize that they don’t want Russia because Russia has its own problems… Because in Russia there is totalitarianism… So if they go to protest, they will be arrested. They will get criminal records,” he said.
Bohdan also said some people were more nostalgic about Russia, especially those from the eastern part of the country. Many of those people no longer feel that way, he said.
“(They) might have wanted to be closer or to be reunited, but now they’ve changed their minds because Russia has its own political issues. And some even realize that the current president is losing reality,” Bohdan said.
Members of the audience also wanted to know the panel’s thoughts on NATO support for Ukraine.
“This is very difficult to provide an exact answer, but I can say that there is never enough,” Bohdan said. “The war is ongoing, and the fight is the Ukraine’s fight, so they need as much as possible—a lot of supplies and ammunition.”
Dzhyoyeva expressed concern over whether NATO support would heighten tensions. “As a Ukrainian Canadian, I am very proud of what Canada has done for Ukraine so far in terms of military and military aid,” she said. “Now should they go further? I don’t know. Because they do realize how fragile the situation is. And we don’t know if going further would cause something that gets completely out of control…”
Another topic raised was the Ukrainian response to the invasion and people defending their homes and homeland.
“I’m proud, but at the same time, I’m embarrassed and angry,” Dzhyoyeva related. “When I go to social media and read what the people of Crimea post there, it is a stark contrast with Poland, with Bulgaria, with Hungary that are now receiving Ukrainians as fugitives. And that level of humanity is an exact opposite of what you see in Crimea…The sentiment there is not like the rest of Ukraine… There is a very significant sector of population that genuinely supports Russia.”
Bohdan explained his amazement at the nationalistic spirit of the Ukrainian people. “There is a group where local people post videos, how they fight. And I’m watching, and I’m just very proud, because some people, just by their bare hands, fight the armed Russians,” he said.
Remarks were also made about the cost of the war, both financially and otherwise. Bohdan argued that this is no mere invasion—no matter how it is portrayed. “That’s a war, and it’s (been) a war since 2014, because Russia annexed Crimea. Crimea is part of an independent country… So that’s not a crisis. That’s a war. It’s (a) real war,” he stated.
Hancock-Parmer went on to discuss the various sanctions and the effects they may or may not have on Russia. He believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is confident in his country’s ability to weather these effects.
“The narrative is that he is prepared for the sanctions. He is saying, ‘Oh of course they are going to do this and this and this, but we can withstand all of this.’ One of the things he’s saying is, ‘We will be able to sustain our way of life without the West,’” he explained.
Regardless of the motive for war, both Russia and Ukraine are feeling the costs.
“The average Russian citizens are also paying the price,” Dzhyoyeva remarked. ”If you look at social media, people are talking about how ordinary people aren’t able to make payments or transactions and complaining about it…and then it’s been over 3,000 arrests over internal protests just in two days,” Dzhyoyeva remarked. “It’s amazing that people dare to protest like this.”
Hancock-Parmer agreed. “It’s amazing that it’s that high…because I don’t think they’re being handled politely,” he said. “I don’t think the situation is going to come into the brightest of focus, but at the same time, (we should do) anything we can do to build our understanding and build our concern and compassion for other people in the world who are going through hell at the moment.”
Steaming ovens were humming, and the kitchen was buzzing with laughter and quick movements amongst the staff. In the background, you could hear the clanging of the cutlery against the stainless-steel pots as a whiff of the sizzling vegetables and fried plantains wafted through the air.
The scene was Ferrum College’s Franklin Dining Hall, lively and bustling as Midoven Lormejuste, freshman, had students floating in to eat what was dubbed “The Haitian Station Takeover”.
Lormejuste, a nursing major and student chef, cooked up a heart-warming meal with his Haitian family recipe of Legum and Diri (rice with bean gravy and legume.)
“The gravy is a tough thing to make. You have to really take care of that one,” he said. While he worked, he talked about the dish.
“This ingredient requires way too much stuff,” he joked. “If I ever create a time machine, and I go back in time, I’m gonna have to talk to the person who created this dish. There are just too many steps and too many ingredients.”
The idea for the takeover came about when Lormejuste and Aladdin Food Services Director Levi Briggs were joking around.
“I was going around the dining hall making sure stations were ready for service,” Briggs recalled. “I don’t remember what we were first talking about, but I do remember ‘ML’ (Lormejuste) saying, ‘we should cook Haitian food’, and that rhyme: ‘Haitian Station Takeover’ just jumped into my head.”
Briggs told Lormejuste to pick a dish and bring in the recipe.
“He asked me if I was joking, and I told him, ‘No,’” Briggs said. “I also told him that he would be responsible for cooking the dish. ‘ML’ stepped up and brought me a recipe. Aladdin bought all the items on the list. We talked about his menu, set a date, and he embraced the challenge.”
All in all, Lormejuste felt the meal went over well.
“The reactions that I got were amazing!” he said. “Everyone loved it, and I will definitely do it again. I would wanna do better than the first time. I do have other recipes to share, but I would need to think about it.”
Briggs also felt the event came off smoothly.
“It was a great success,” he said. “We had students trying something new. ‘ML’ did a great job describing and teaching the diners about the recipe’s origin and why that dish was special to him. It opened a door for other students to step up and share food that has meaning to them.”
Jeffrey Maddy, freshman, whose parents are Haitian, also enjoyed the meal and praised its authenticity. “Spot on!” Maddy said. “I wish Ferrum would do more food like this, like cultural food, because it would be much better for other people to experience it.”
The only drawback to the event, Lormejuste said, was in the cutlery. “One thing that I was upset with was people using forks,” he said. “Because we weren’t Americans that day, but Haitians.”
Lormejuste qualified the statement, saying that generally, Haitians don’t use the utensil. “We don’t really use forks because there is no use for it,” he said. “You were to mix everything up and scoop it to your mouth.”
Traditionally, he said, people use either spoons or their hands. “It depends on your class in society,” he said.
The “class in society” and growing up in Haiti helped him choose the path of being in the medical field, Lormejuste said.
“I saw that health was the biggest issue we have–and poverty. I was like, ‘You know what? If I ever have the chance to do better, I need to have the knowledge of being in the medical (field), and hopefully one day, I can go back home and share that knowledge.’ That would make a big impact,” he said.
Meanwhile, the current avenue for getting back home is achieved through the international cooking.
“My hope is that the student is transported back to fond memories, and it shows that we care about them,” Briggs said. “This is one of the wonderful things about America—people come from all over the world and proudly share aspects of their culture.”
Lormejuste agreed. “I was happy with how the meal came out,” he said. “It tasted like home.”
Since the end of January, thirty-three Ferrum College accounting and business students have assisted with STEP’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program along with the College’s own VITA site. The VITA sites provide FREE online tax preparation assistance to families and individuals usually earning less than $57,000 annually. As trained and certified volunteers, the students are able to prepare most standard IRS documents (i.e. 1040) and submit returns electronically. They will also help their clients take advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and more.
In addition, the VITA program will offer two self-service options that will allow taxpayers to prepare and file their own return online, while having access to the VITA volunteers who can answer questions throughout the process.
“Our students put in a tremendous amount of effort to learn the new tax laws and regulations to properly prepare tax returns for our clients,” says Sadie Wallace, assistant professor of accounting and VITA program director at Ferrum College, who notes that they have prepared more than 100 returns already this season. “This program would not be successful without the countless hours of commitment and dedication the students put in to help serve the Ferrum College community and the surrounding areas.”
To get started with the Ferrum College VITA program and have your taxes prepared and submitted by program volunteers, please visit https://bit.ly/Ferrum-College-VITA-Program or call (540)365-4259.
To participate in the self-service option to prepare and file your taxes yourself while having access to VITA volunteers who can answer your questions, visit TaxAct (for those who make less than $65,000 and are under the age of 56) here https://www.taxact.com/ffa/vita or Online Taxes (for those who make $73,000 or less) here https://www.olt.com/main/VITA/getstarted.asp.
The filing deadline to submit 2021 tax returns or an extension to file and pay tax owed is Monday, April 18, 2022, for most taxpayers. However, to take advantage of the VITA services, the deadline to submit documents for preparation is April 8, 2022.
Those taking advantage of this volunteer program should have all tax-related documents, including W-2s, photo identification, last year’s tax return, and social security cards for themselves and dependents.
Ferrum College senior Abigail McGovern sits at a desk at the Blue Ridge Institute.
Carefully and meticulously, she handles an 80-year old document.
Yellowed corners and faded ink sometimes make the fragile manuscripts difficult to read, but McGovern painstakingly works with the papers in order to catalogue and archive them.
“The ultimate goal of this project is to digitize all of the Appalachian folktales and stories collected by the folklorist James Taylor Adams in the 1940s and eventually save them all in the digital archives,” McGovern says. “(It’s also to) put them all on (English Professor) Dr. (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.
“My responsibilities for this project primarily include working the archive at the BRI,” McGovern says. “All of the tales, except for the ones I’ve already scanned, are still on paper. So mostly, I read them and scan them into the computer system. And slowly, I’ve been working my way through transcribing them, because a lot of the originals are somewhat unstable and really hard to read.”
McGovern says she has been enjoying diving into the aging stories and bringing the project along, which is being funded via an Appalachian Colleges Association Summer Research Grant.
“My favorite part of the project is transcribing the folktales,” McGovern says. “Everything is so fascinating and interesting, and I like being able to get a deeper look into Appalachian culture and history. I also really like working on the AppLit pages, because I also really enjoy reading those tales, and I get sucked down fairytale rabbit holes when I do that.”
She says the number of tales awaiting archiving number in the hundreds.
“Some of them are pieces of advice or old wives’ tales or legends from direct sources and things like that,” she says.
McGovern, an English major who also aspires to be a writer, says the project has fanned the flames of her educational fire.
“This project has made me extremely interested in Appalachian culture and literature,” she says. “I learn more every time I work with the files. I’m already really interested in folklore and mythology and history, so I’m really loving being a part of this project.”
Commonalities across localities and geographic areas have also piqued McGovern’s curiosity.
“It’s really interesting to see what unique tales Appalachia has, as well as how the stories from this region connect to stories from other regions of the world that may or may not be similar,” she says.
One plan is to report on the project at the Council of Independent Colleges’ final workshop in Baltimore in late April and then for McGovern to continue work within the summer ACA fellowship.
Hanlon says she has been excited for McGovern to be in on the project.
“When Abigail took my Appalachian Literature course in 2020 and chose to write about folktales for her research project, I jumped at the chance to recruit her for our granted-funded Humanities Research for the Public Good project, ‘Preserving and Sharing Old and New Stories from the James Taylor Adams Collection and the Public’,” Hanlon said.
Beyond the project, McGovern wears many hats on campus. She is editor of Chrysalis and is co-president of Help Save the Next Girl.
“Abigail is one of the most reliable, dedicated, and mature students I have ever taught,” says Katherine Grimes, English Professor and faculty adviser to Chrysalis. “She has a positive attitude and a quiet leadership quality that, combined with her work ethic and time management skills, make her quite successful as editor of Chrysalis.”
Grimes likewise praises McGovern’s pen. “She is also a talented writer, having won both poetry and prose contests almost every semester, always with different judges,” Grimes says.
English Professor Lana Whited, who works with McGovern in several capacities, including Help Save the Next Girl and the Boone Honors Program, also gives McGovern high praise.
“Because Abigail tends to focus on the work, not on racking up achievements to list on her resume or hogging the stage (so to speak), many of our faculty colleagues are surprised to learn the extent of her leadership roles on the campus,” Whited says. “In her co-curricular involvement, as a peer tutor, and just in the day-to-day classroom setting, she plays an important mentoring and supportive role with younger, less experienced students, as she is ‘the tide that floats all boats.’ Her quiet nature belies her considerable impact on this community.”
Upon graduation this spring, McGovern plans to enter an MFA program for creative writing.
Hanlon’s site can be accessed here.
Article written and contributed by Assistant Professor of English & Journalism David B. Campbell.
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.
1/27/2022
We will be hosting a mobile vaccine and booster clinic on February 9 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in the commuter lot. In order for the Virginia Department of Health to know which vaccines and boosters to stock, please sign up for an appointment for the appropriate vaccine below. This is open to the public, we welcome family members and friends to sign up as well.
If not vaccinated and/or boosted, we encourage you to get the shot. Individuals who are up to date in their vaccinations/boosters are not required to quarantine if they are in close contact with a COVID positive individual.
Thank you for wearing your facemask at all times in doors, quarantining when feeling symptoms, keeping your distance, and washing your hands. It takes all of us working together to protect the health and safety of our community. As always, reach out if you have any questions or concerns about our COVID-19 mitigation efforts on campus.
Stay healthy!
Angie Dahl, Ph.D.
Vice President of Student Development and Campus Life
Associate Professor of Psychology
Ferrum College
Roberts 15
Ferrum, VA 24088
(540)365-4404
The reason Woods knew every word wasn’t because it was a radio favorite of his. The reason is because Woods wrote and recorded the song. The budding musician was hearing himself for the first time on the air waves.
“I started to get emotional,” he said. “I called everyone and told them to tune in.”
Since that time, Woods has been putting more and more time and energy into his music. And it seems to be paying off. The song is gaining airplay on Christian radio stations, he has a management and promotional group pushing his single, and he is logging more performing dates.
“I usually would do 15 live shows a year,” Woods says. “My management team and I are working on a tour schedule.”
Still, he tries to stay grounded about the industry. “Distributing a song doesn’t mean that you’re instantly going to become a big hit,” he says. “It comes with making connections and paid promotions and so much more. There’s going to be a thousand ‘Noes’ before you hear that one ‘Yes.’”
For Woods, however, the “Noes” are undaunting.
“It’s a tough business to get into,” he says. “The main thing (in order) to become very successful in the music business is to make the most connections and to be passionate about your music and to really stay focused on the course of your music.”
One aspect that has allowed Woods to focus on his music, he says, is the education he received at Ferrum. The Graphic Arts graduate credits his coursework with aiding his musical endeavors.
“Ferrum really opened up some doors to prepare me for my career. During my graphic design classes, I loved to design album covers, edit photos and make logos. With that knowledge I can now design my own album covers, edit my own photos, and create a logo for myself.”
Woods also uses those skills in more traditional settings. “Right after I graduated from Ferrum in 2020, I had four clients that I helped with designing their own personal logo for their business and editing photos/videos that were sent to me,” he recalls. “I did this for a year while doing music gigs.”
Jake Smith, Assistant Professor of Art, remembers Woods well from his graphic arts classes. “He never left the building,” Smith says. “If he wasn’t in the lab, he was upstairs (in Vaughan Chapel) playing music. He has an incredible work ethic and is genuinely a fine young man.”
Tom Steele, Director of Academic Outreach and Athletics Initiatives, also worked closely with Woods during his time on campus and echoes those sentiments. “Dalais is an amazing young man,” Steele says. “During his time at Ferrum, he was the keyboard player for the praise team band. He was also the pianist for the ‘Ferrum College Blues Group’, which consisted of faculty, staff, and student members. This guy is a monster on the keys.”
Steele recalls Woods diving heavily into the music—both writing and recording—during his final years at the college. “He has written many gospel/praise songs and is now heavily into his recording,” Steele says. “Dalais was a Dean’s List student who was an outstanding campus citizen. He was also one of the nicest, most humble young men whom I have had the pleasure of knowing.”
Steele also offers high praise for Woods’ current single. “Rejoice is a high-energy song that has a feeling of ’90s pop music with a happy message, tight harmonies, and a sweet groove. I love this song.”
The tune can be found on Apple Music, Spotify, Youtube Music, Amazon, I Heart Radio, and Dezzer. And in March, Woods will release his next single, “Follow”. He is excited about the project and the prospects it could bring.
“This is going to be my biggest working project ever!” Woods says. “(And) if there’s anything I can do to help Ferrum out please let me know. As an alum, I am here to support Ferrum in any way possible. And last but not least, all praises to God for allowing me to continue to serve and share his word!”
Article written and contributed by Assistant Professor of English & Journalism David B. Campbell.
Emmy Award Winning actor Ron Jones
12/9/2021
Ferrum College invites students, faculty, staff, and members of the community to join in a celebration of the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Thursday, January 27, 2022. The free event will be held in Vaughn Chapel at 7 p.m.
The keynote speaker will be Emmy Award Winning actor Ron Jones, who serves as the executive director and artistic principal of Dialogues on Diversity, a social justice and diversity theater company. Jones will perform a live character portrayal with video to depict MLK’s “Poor People’s Campaign.” This campaign included a broad cross-section of cultural groups who came together to fight against poverty. It was described by King as “the beginning of a new co-operation, understanding, and a determination by poor people of all colors and backgrounds to assert and win their right to a decent life and respect for their culture and dignity.”
The celebration is sponsored by the Ferrum College Office of Student Activities; the Committee on Diversity, Inclusion, & Equity; and the Black Student Union.
12/9/2021
Rotarians Tyler Carter of Carter Bank and Al Flora of Sleep Safe Beds (both left) stand with Ferrum student Madison Cogle ’23 (center), Director of Career Services Leslie Holden, and Ferrum student Lauren Ries ’22 (far right) at the “Little Food Pantry” at Ferrum Faith Assembly of God Church.
As part of the “Feed 10 Million Challenge,” the Rotary Club of Rocky Mount and Ferrum College’s Rotaract Club have partnered to end local food insecurity.
In November, the Rotary Club installed a converted newspaper vending machine at Faith Assembly of God Church in Ferrum, located just down the street from the College. The “Little Food Pantry” will be stocked with food for anyone in the community who needs a free meal. Ferrum’s Rotaract Club will work with other clubs on campus to collect food and items to restock the pantry.
“The Rotary Club of Rocky Mount is excited to partner with the Ferrum College Rotaract Club,” said Rotary Club president and Ferrum alumnus Joey Cornwell ’02. “We have not had a chance to collaborate on a project yet, and are excited to see how this Little Pantry impacts the Ferrum community.”
So far, the Rocky Mount Rotary Club has installed six Little Food Pantries throughout Franklin County. The boxes are located at Glade Hill Rescue Squad, Snow Creek Rescue Squad, Heavenly Manna Food Bank, Essig Center, and Faith Assembly of God Church. Additional boxes are planned for two more locations in January.
“The Rotarians and the College’s Rotaract members volunteered a few hours to set up this pantry and will have numerous opportunities to add to those hours as they work to collect food to keep it filled for those in need,” said Cornwell. “The Little Pantry, volunteer hours, and the initial donation of food that’s been collected has resulted in 3,852 meals toward the ‘Feed 10 Million Challenge’ that is a major initiative for Rotary Zones 33 and 34 of Rotary International. We’ve been so humbled by Franklin County’s generosity to fill a need and keep these Little Pantry boxes stocked.”
To date, the Rotary Club of Rocky Mount and its “Moo Crew” have provided over 23,000 meals for folks in Franklin County. The Moo Crew purchases and delivers gallons of milk to local food pantries.
“Rotaract is all about the community, and I’m glad we have been able to help out again this year,” said Ferrum senior Lauren Ries ’22. “We wanted the local community to have an accessible way to get food. [Director of Career Services] Leslie Holden worked out all the details, and Madison [Cogle ’23] and I were more than willing to help set-up and coordinating re-stocking. I hope we are able to do even more for Ferrum College and the Ferrum community next semester.”
Ferrum College campus and community members are encouraged to donate food. Please drop off food items with Leslie Holden in lower Roberts Hall, room 2. See a list of items needed here.
Read more about the Rotary Club’s endeavor in this WSLS article.
Learn more about Ferrum College Rotaract Club by visiting the Student Activities page and clicking on “Service.”
NOA Director Aaron Conover (left) stands with freshman Hawker Michaud at Adams Lake. Michaud is an ecotourism major and part of NOA’s staff.
11/22/2021
In October, Ferrum College’s Norton Outdoor Adventures (NOA) was the first college- or university-based outdoor recreation program in the state to be awarded a $3,000 Virginia Wildlife Grant from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. The grant has traditionally been given to organizations or agencies that provide programming to students who are high school age and younger.
In September, NOA Director Aaron Conover was contacted by Department officials. They had seen information on fly fishing courses being offered by NOA and they were branching out to higher education institutions.
Launched in 2014, the Virginia Wildlife Grant Program’s mission is to be a funding resource for schools, nonprofits, and government agencies with an emphasis on connecting youth and diverse populations to the outdoors. The grant is a partnership between the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the Wildlife Foundation of Virginia. The program is supported by the sale of merchandise and gear from ShopDWR, the One Shot Turkey Hunt Fundraiser, and private donations.
The Ferrum College Hunters and Anglers Group will specifically benefit from the additional funding. This group is designed to bring together students from different backgrounds that are interested in being outdoors. A Bass Fishing Club, Fly Fishing Club, and a Clay Shooting Club will be formed as part of this organization.
Conover stated, “We are very honored and excited to be awarded this grant. It will be a great help in launching the Ferrum College Hunters and Anglers group which focuses on introducing students to these life long outdoor pursuits, providing leadership opportunities and promoting conversation of the resources we use.”
Learn more about the VA Wildlife Grant here.
Learn more about Norton Outdoor Adventures here.
Learn more about Ferrum’s outdoor recreation programs here.
Ferrum College senior Carissa Williams is preparing for Loop Abroad sessions in Belize and Panama, which will occur after graduation in May 2022.
Loop Abroad programs are designed specifically for college-aged students who are interested in attending veterinary school or working professionally with animals. Williams’ emphasis area within her pre-professional health sciences degree is pre-veterinary science. She is also triple minoring in biology, agriculture, and One Health.
First, Williams will travel to Belize to study large animal medicine and marine conservation. “I will be working with a veterinarian on local farms, helping care for animals such as horses, cows, pigs, sheep, and goats,” she explained. “While in Belize, I will also study the Belize barrier reef, looking at biotic and abiotic components and how they interact.”
After two weeks in Belize, Williams will then head to Panama for another two weeks to study exotic animal medicine. There, she said she “will join in on clinical rounds each day and treat animals such as sloths, birds, anteaters, kinkajous, and big cats. During clinical rounds, I will be able to perform spays and neuters, and physical exams on small mammals, reptiles, and birds.”
After completion of the program, Williams will have earned about 240 clinic and service hours toward veterinary school.
Williams is a STEM Scholar in Biology recipient with the National Science Foundation Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S STEM) program. She is also a member of the Ag Young Farms Club at Ferrum.
Assistant Professor of Animal Science & Agricultural Sciences Nancy Brubaker, who is Williams’ academic advisor at Ferrum College, said, “Ms. Williams is a hard-working, dedicated student that has preserved in one of the toughest collegiate times. She is well deserving of this opportunity to spend her summer serving in the Loop Abroad program.”
Brubaker continued: “She has a wonderfully practical and mature perspective that will set her up for not only have the ability to serve the veterinary community but also to embrace the learning experience. I, and her colleagues and professors, are proud of her and wish her an experience that will help her accomplish her career goals.”
Read more about the Belize Loop Abroad here, and the Panama Loop Abroad here.
Aladdin Dining Services Staff will manage the new composting efforts. L to R: Dining Services Director Mike Ferguson, Crystal Wade, Jonathan Steen, Barry Wallace, Levi Briggs, Jackie Briggs, Clay Britton, and Courtney Pittman.
Ferrum, VA, November 18, 2021 — Faculty and staff members at Ferrum College are working together to restart the College’s composting program, which will eventually encompass a work study program and a course practicum for students.
Aladdin’s Jonathan Steen empties a bucket of raw food waste into the composter. This cycle’s batch will be ready to use at the end of December.
The masterminds behind the endeavor are Aladdin Campus Dining Food Services Director Levi Briggs and Ferrum’s Assistant Professor of Biology & Horticulture Clay Britton, who also manages the College’s hydroponics lettuce program. Aladdin, which provides meals on campus, purchases produce from the hydroponics program.
“Clay and I met a few times, mostly concerning the hydroponics program and Aladdin’s commitment to buy produce through that program,” explained Briggs. “During one of our discussions, we broached the subject of the composters. Clay wanted to find a way to get them running again. I thought it would be great for Dining Services to partner with the College to start something important, reducing landfill waste and maintaining sustainability.”
Several years ago, Ferrum College began a composting program; however, lack of time and resources caused the program to be discontinued.
Two large composters are located at the College’s Pole Barn near the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum, where much of Ferrum’s recycling is stored. In early September, Briggs spent his personal time after work for about a week cleaning out the barn so that the composters could be operational again.
Aladdin’s staff is overseeing the composting process and has partnered with Elegant Woodworks’ local custom cabinet shops, which provides the sawdust used in the composters. Although the plans are still in the works, Briggs and Britton envision the compost being used at Titmus Agricultural Farm and around campus in flower beds, herb gardens, and more.
Learn more about Ferrum’s agricultural sciences program here.
