The “Ferrum Promise” allows students who receive an appropriate associate’s degree from a Virginia community college to transfer to��Ģ����ý and graduate with a bachelor’s degree in four semesters/two years if they complete the required courses and hit each��benchmark.

Among the first students to go through the program was Claudia Cooke, who walked the commencement stage for a Bachelor of Social Work degree��during this year’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, April 23, 2022.

Cooke received her associate’s in General Studies with a specialization in Human Services from Patrick Henry Community College��in December of 2019.��In August of 2020, Cooke enrolled and transferred to Ģ����ý 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 Ģ����ý 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, Ģ����ý’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 Ģ����ý.��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 .

Watch Joe Dashiell’s interview with Claudia Cooke that appeared .

The post Claudia Cooke ’22 Is Among First “Ferrum Promise” Graduates appeared first on Ģ����ý.

Beth Macy is the author of the critically acclaimed and New York Times-bestselling books, Factory Man, Truevine, and Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America.�� Macy served as Executive Producer and writer on the acclaimed Hulu limited television series, Dopesick, which was based on her book and starred Michael Keaton, who won a Golden Globe for his performance as Samuel Finnix.

A longtime reporter who specializes in outsiders and underdogs, Macy has won more than a dozen national journalism awards, including a Lukas Prize for Factory Man, multiple shortlist and best-book-of-the-year honors for Truevine, and a Nieman Fellowship for Journalism at Harvard University for her newspaper writing.

A frequent speaker, teacher, and essayist, Macy has been published in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, Oprah Magazine, and Parade.
Her upcoming book, Raising Lazarus: Hope, Justice, and the Future of America’s Drug Crisis (August 2022), focuses on solutions to the opioid crisis and the heroic efforts of frontline workers applying harm reduction practices on the streets of America.

Macy was a reporter for The Roanoke Times from 1989 to 2014. She received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Bowling Green State University and her master’s degree in creative writing from Hollins University.

The Ģ����ý commencement ceremony honoring the class of 2022 will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 23, 2022, in Adams Stadium on campus. For more information, .

The post Journalist and Bestselling Author Beth Macy Will Be 2022 Commencement Keynote Speaker appeared first on Ģ����ý.

173 seniors from 12 different states earned degrees from Ģ����ý during the 105th commencement ceremony on May 1, 2021.

5/1/2021

On Saturday, May 1, 2021, 173 Ģ����ý graduates from 12 different states crossed the commencement stage at Adams Stadium during a socially distanced graduation ceremony.��

The night before, on Friday, April 30 at 6 p.m., the College hosted an in-person ceremony, also at Adams Stadium, for the class of 2020. This ceremony followed last year’s commencement exercises, which were held virtually due to COVID-19. ��Friday’s keynote speaker was Virginia’s 2021 Teacher of the Year Anthony Swann. Class of 2020 graduates dressed in regalia and took photos with Ģ����ý President David Johns. See photos from that event .

The class of 2021’s commencement exercises began on Saturday at 10 a.m. and included award presentations under mild, sunny skies. The keynote speaker was New York Times bestselling author Jeff Selingo, who has written about higher education for more than two decades.��

The ceremony began with the ringing of the historic Schoolfield Hall bell by President Johns and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Aimé Sposato. Afterward, Sposato opened the commencement ceremony with a warm welcome to the graduates, family, friends, faculty, and staff. She noted that “each graduate has a special person or many people that have supported them throughout the past four years,” and thanked them for “sending care packages at just the right time, enduring virtual classes on Zoom, and sometimes getting late night phone calls accompanied by a few tears, doubts, and challenges.”��

Following the invocation given by Reverend John Heck of Saint Peter’s-In-the-Mountains Episcopal Church, Johns took the podium to welcome the crowd and remind the graduates to thank their families for the support they received over their years at Ferrum.��

Johns then commended the graduates on their dedication and progress. He instructed them to use what they had learned, saying “We are all given this one life; it is precious, a gift. I urge you to invest your life in healing the world. One of the hallmarks of a Ģ����ý graduate is that we are committed to our motto – Not Self, But Others…Through your work, make the world healthier, happier, more free and just. Make it better.”

Ģ����ý Board of Trustees Chair Scott Showalter ’73 and Alumni Association member Beth Simms ’09 each gave greetings on behalf of their respective boards. Afterward, Professor of Religion David Howell, who is retiring after 23 years of service in teaching, was recognized.

The presentation of awards followed. Professor of Environmental Science Delia Heck received the Exemplary Faculty Award, which recognizes a Ģ����ý faculty member who embodies excellence in and commitment to teaching, demonstrates concern for student welfare in areas beyond academic studies, and is recognized as a competent scholar. Heck received numerous nominations for her service to the College and the greater community.

The Senior Academic Excellence Award was presented to Alexzondra Mattson ’21 of Virginia Beach, VA. This award is based on grades earned in all college courses by a full-time student, including those taken at Ferrum, as well as those received in transfer from other colleges or universities. Mattson maintained a 4.0 GPA and has earned a Bachelor of Science in pre-professional health sciences with a pre-med emphasis. She has been accepted to multiple Juris Doctor of Law programs and plans to make a decision soon. ��

Jack Sheehan ’21 of State College, PA, received the Arthur S. Owens Leadership Award, which is presented annually to the senior chosen by the faculty who best exemplifies the qualities of leadership, initiative, honor, and outstanding character. Recipients of this award must also hold an excellent academic record, have participated in extra-curricular activities, and shown creative initiative in making Ģ����ý a better place to study, work, and live. His next step is to attend graduate school at Utah State University.

The Lillie Warwick Slaven Award was presented to Mia Brower ’21 from Kernersville, NC. The award is given to a student who exemplifies the ideals of the ministerial profession and is recognized as an outstanding student leader at Ģ����ý.��

Christian Haley ’21 of Boones Mill, VA, received the James T. Catlin Citizenship Award, which is given each year to the student who has best demonstrated qualities of citizenship and leadership.��

Mattson was awarded one of two Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards. The other went to Jacob Wilson ’21 from South Boston, VA. Recipients of this award are of noble character, spend their time bettering humankind, and apply fine spiritual qualities to their daily living.��Wilson’s future plans involve teaching science in a secondary��education setting.

Following the awards presentations, Selingo addressed the graduates, telling them to “get ready to navigate the ambiguity of life, heed the forces that take you in different, even opposite directions, and focus on what’s most meaningful to you…and in all your decisions, small and large…be patient, optimistic and yes, have a little faith.”

Student Government Association President Kintwon Pettiford ’22 of Hillsborough, NC then greeted the crowd and introduced Brower as the senior class speaker. She sent best wishes to the graduates and serenaded the crowd with a beautiful a cappella song. ��

Johns and Sposato conferred degrees on the eight first-ever Ģ����ý graduate students receiving the degrees of Master of Science in Psychology and Education Specialist in Teacher Leadership and Coaching. The degrees were awarded by Dean of the School of Graduate and Online Education Studies Sandra Via.

Fifteen Boone Honors Program (BHP) graduates were also individually recognized and awarded a medallion by the program’s director, Professor of English Lana Whited. This year marks the highest number of honors medallion recipients, with a previous record of ten recipients in 2014. Read more about the fifteen BHP graduates here.

After the conferring and awarding of undergraduate degrees by Johns and Sposato, the crowd was asked to join in the singing of the College’s “Alma Mater.”

See photos of the 105th Ģ����ý commencement ceremony .

Davon “D” Robinson ’21 and Morganne Flinkstrom ’21 were featured in Roanoke Times and Franklin News-Post articles by Karen Dillon. Read about D and about Morganne .��

Jack Sheehan ’21 received the President’s Cup. Read about him in .

The post Ģ����ý Celebrates Classes of 2020 and 2021 During Two Commencements appeared first on Ģ����ý.

Ģ����ý is excited to host two in-person commencement ceremonies this year. The Class of 2020 will be celebrated at Adams Stadium on Friday, April 30 at 6 p.m. Following that ceremony, the Class of 2021’s commencement exercises will take place on Saturday, May 1 at 10 a.m., also at Adams Stadium. Both ceremonies will follow the guidelines set forth in that allows for a limited number of guests to attend outdoor graduations.

To find up-to-date commencement information for the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021, visit .

More About the Class of 2020’s Ceremony

Ģ����ý announced today that it will invite members of the Class of 2020 to return to campus for an in-person commencement celebration on Friday, April 30, 2021 at 6 p.m. This event will precede the College’s commencement for the Class of 2021, scheduled for Saturday, May 1.��The Class of 2020 made history last year when their commencement ceremony was held virtually��to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Class of 2020 graduates who participate in this year’s outdoor commencement exercise will be able to invite four guests to attend as they cross the commencement stage at Adams Stadium.��Graduates will be asked to wear their regalia and will have the opportunity to take a photo with Ģ����ý President David Johns.��The keynote speaker will be who teaches fifth grade at Rocky Mount Elementary in Franklin County.��The ceremony will follow the guidelines set forth in that allows for a limited number of guests to attend outdoor graduations.

In order to participate, Class of 2020 graduates must register themselves and their guests for the event by April 28 using . �� ��

More About the Class of 2021’s Ceremony

Ģ����ý will hold its 105th commencement ceremony in-person at Adams Stadium on Saturday, May 1, 2021. The College’s plans follow that allows for a limited number of guests to attend outdoor graduations.

“We are looking forward to celebrating our 2021 graduates during an in-person commencement ceremony this May,” said President David Johns. “These students have made Ģ����ý history by overcoming enormous challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is their time to shine.”

The College expects 165 graduates to walk across the commencement stage at Adams Stadium, which includes current seniors and the first graduates of Ferrum’s psychology masters degree and EdS programs. Each graduate may invite four guests, as per the governor’s order to keep outdoor events at 30 percent of the venue capacity. The event will be live-streamed for friends and family who are not able to attend.

The keynote speaker will be , who has written about higher education for more than two decades. His latest book, Who Gets In & Why: A Year Inside College Ģ����ý, was published in September 2020 and was named among the “100 Notable Books” of the year by the New York Times. Selingo is a special advisor for innovation and professor of practice at Arizona State University. He also co-hosts the podcast “FutureU” and is a regular contributor to The Atlantic.

Prior to the May 1 ceremony, graduates will have their class photo taken in Adams Stadium on April 24.��Following the class photo, graduates will be invited to take individual photos with Ģ����ý President David Johns.

The College will not host a baccalaureate and candlelight ceremony this year; however, an academic awards ceremony will be held on Friday, April 16, 2021.

Class of 2021 graduates may register and receive tickets for their guests .

The post In-Person Commencement Celebration Planned for Class of 2020 appeared first on Ģ����ý.

Ģ����ý is excited to host two in-person commencement ceremonies this year. The Class of 2020 will be celebrated at Adams Stadium on Friday, April 30 at 6 p.m. Following that ceremony, the Class of 2021’s commencement exercises will take place on Saturday, May 1 at 10 a.m., also at Adams Stadium. Both ceremonies will follow the guidelines set forth in that allows for a limited number of guests to attend outdoor graduations.

To find up-to-date commencement information for the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021, visit .

More About the Class of 2021’s Ceremony

Ģ����ý will hold its 105th commencement ceremony in-person at Adams Stadium on Saturday, May 1, 2021. The College’s plans follow that allows for a limited number of guests to attend outdoor graduations.����

“We are looking forward to celebrating our 2021 graduates during an in-person commencement ceremony this May,” said President David Johns. “These students have made Ģ����ý history by overcoming enormous challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is their time to shine.”��

The College expects 165 graduates to walk across the commencement stage at Adams Stadium, which includes current seniors and the first graduates of Ferrum’s psychology masters degree and EdS programs. Each graduate may invite four guests, as per the governor’s order to keep outdoor events at 30 percent of the venue capacity. The event will be live-streamed for friends and family who are not able to attend.

The keynote speaker will be , who has written about higher education for more than two decades. His latest book, Who Gets In & Why: A Year Inside College Ģ����ý, was published in September 2020 and was named among the “100 Notable Books” of the year by the New York Times. Selingo is a special advisor for innovation and professor of practice at Arizona State University. He also co-hosts the podcast “FutureU” and is a regular contributor to The Atlantic.

Prior to the May 1 ceremony, graduates will have their class photo taken in Adams Stadium on April 24.��Following the class photo, graduates will be invited to take individual photos with Ģ����ý President David Johns.

The College will not host a baccalaureate and candlelight ceremony this year; however, an academic awards ceremony will be held on Friday, April 16, 2021.

Class of 2021 graduates may register and receive tickets for their guests .

Watch the livestream of the ceremony .

More About the Class of 2020’s Ceremony

Ģ����ý announced today that it will invite members of the class of 2020 to return to campus for an in-person commencement celebration on Friday, April 30, 2021 at 6 p.m. This event will precede the College’s commencement for the Class of 2021, scheduled for Saturday, May 1.��The Class of 2020 made history last year when their commencement ceremony was held virtually��to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Class of 2020 graduates who participate in this year’s outdoor commencement exercise will be able to invite four guests to attend as they cross the commencement stage at Adams Stadium.��Graduates will be asked to wear their regalia and will have the opportunity to take a photo with Ģ����ý President David Johns.��The keynote speaker will be who teaches fifth grade at Rocky Mount Elementary in Franklin County.��The ceremony will follow the guidelines set forth in that allows for a limited number of guests to attend outdoor graduations.

In order to participate, Class of 2020 graduates must register themselves and their guests for the event by April 28 using .

The post Ģ����ý Will Hold In-Person Commencement for Class of 2021 appeared first on Ģ����ý.

The virtual event will feature videos from Ģ����ý President David L. Johns, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Aimé Sposato, along with members of the senior class. Retired Professor Emeritus of Environmental Science and Biology Bob Pohlad will bring the keynote address. In addition, a number of celebrities will make guest appearances.

Although the ceremony will be delivered differently this year, the College will follow much of the traditional commencement format including the bestowing of faculty and student awards, presentation of graduates, and conferring of degrees. The Panther Marching Band will also perform the College’s “Alma Mater”.

“I wish we could gather on campus with family and friends to celebrate our new graduates. Nevertheless, we will not allow anything to stand in the way of honoring and recognizing the remarkable achievements of our students,” said Johns. “In the history of semesters, none has been more unusual than this one. The class of 2020 will be remembered for generations to come because they faced the most daunting of circumstances, and yet they exhibited imagination, grace, and grit. They are Ferrum Strong, and they are ready for anything life presents them!”

View program details here.

The post 104th Commencement Will Celebrate 199 Graduates In Virtual Ceremony appeared first on Ģ����ý.

Plan to watch it ����

Find more details here.

The post Virtual Commencement Planned for May 9 appeared first on Ģ����ý.

Provost Aimé Sposato opened the commencement ceremony to welcome the crowd of family, friends, faculty, and staff on hand to celebrate the graduates’ achievements. “Commencements are often thought of as bittersweet endings,” Sposato noted. “But as the word ‘commence’ means, we are truly celebrating beginnings on our campus today. This is your moment to shine.”

Following the invocation given by Dean of the Chapel Jan Nicholson Angle, President David Johns greeted the crowd and instructed the graduates to thank their friends and families for their love and support, as “great achievement requires a group effort.” Johns then reminded the students of Mother’s Day, stating, “Your mother will always be smarter than you!”

In closing, Johns reflected: “Amazing things happen here at Ģ����ý each and every day – sometimes in big and splashy ways, but very often, in small and incremental ways. And, before you know it, we gather together in this place to celebrate the transformation of lives that has taken place.”

Ģ����ý Board of Trustees member Suzanne Smith ’98 and Alumni Association Vice President Twyla Tatum ’04 each gave their greetings on behalf of their respective boards. Five distinguished faculty members, who will retire after 154 years of combined service to the College, were recognized: Dr. Faye Angel, Dr. William “Dub” Osborne, Dr. Bob Pohlad, Professor Susan Spataro, Dr. Carolyn Thomas, and Dr. Demetri Tsanacas.

The presentation of awards followed. Associate Professor of Biology, Katie Goff, received the Exemplary Faculty Award, which recognizes a full-time faculty member at Ģ����ý who exemplifies excellence and commitment to teaching. Goff, who was recently honored at the College’s employee recognition lunch for 10 years of service to the institution, is beloved by her students and passionate for the campus community. ��Along with her commitment to guiding students on their career pathways, she is the dedicated advisor for Minds-N-Medicine, a club that supports students’ experiences as early career health professionals.

Three graduates received the Senior Academic Excellence Award: Leya Deickman, of Fayetteville, NC; Koby McMahon, of Annapolis, MD; and Joshua Wright of Stuart, VA. The award is based on grades earned in all college courses by a full-time student, including those taken at Ferrum, as well as those received in transfer from other colleges or universities. All three seniors maintained a 4.0 GPA. Deickman earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology; McMahon received a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice; and Wright received a Bachelor of Science in mathematics.

Leya Deickman ’19 also received the Arthur S. Owens Leadership Award, which is presented annually to the senior chosen by the faculty who best exemplifies the qualities leadership, initiative, honor and outstanding character. Recipients of this award must also hold an excellent academic record, have participated in extra-curricular activities, and shown creative initiative in making Ģ����ý a better place to study, work, and live.

Following the awards presentations, Rev. Hitchcock addressed the graduates. “Life is yours,” he said. “There is nothing that can hold you back. You were educated for a purpose.” Hitchcock closed with a charge to the graduates: “You are going to change the future; we depend on you. Ferrum, get busy living!”

Student Government Association President Lawrence Baranski ’19, of Williamsburg, Va., then introduced Senior Class President Andrew Meadows ’19, of Chatham, Va. After presenting the senior class gift to President Johns, Meadows introduced Deickman as the senior class speaker.

After thanking the class of 2019 for the honor of being asked to speak, Deickman referenced her extraordinarily busy schedule as a full-time student, full-time mother to her four-year-old son, residence hall advisor, and athlete, among other activities. She explained that she was able to do it all with the support of this graduating class. “Whether we do it intentionally or not, we all contribute to the success of others by simply supporting them in both small and large ways,” Deickman said. She closed with advice: “While this moment will pass us by, just as all of the experiences of college, let us be mindful of those who surround us in support and who have led us to this very day. Be willing to accept help when it is offered so you can be successful…and always be willing to give help, so you can be that support for someone else.”

After the conferring and awarding of degrees by Johns and Sposato, a celebratory picnic lunch was held under tents on Franklin Hall quad for all in attendance. The weekend events also included a traditional Baccalaureate service on Friday evening in Vaughn Chapel followed by a candlelight ceremony at Hart International Plaza symbolizing the light of knowledge that the new graduates will carry forth into the world.

Watch the archived live stream of the 103rd Commencement Ceremony

See photographs from the 103rd Commencement Ceremony

See photographs from the Baccalaureate and Candlelight Ceremony .

Chantal Aaron ’19 was profiled in Christina Nifong’s article, “Jamaican Student Smiles Through Her Struggles” in The Roanoker Magazine.

Mark Kellam ’19 was featured in The Roanoke Times article by Casey Fabris.

The post 211 Ģ����ý Graduates Received Their Diplomas during the 103rd Commencement appeared first on Ģ����ý.

Set up continues for Ģ����ý’s 103rd commencement.

Ģ����ý will celebrate the 103^rd commencement on Saturday, May 11, 2019 in Hart International Plaza in the center of campus. The College is expecting approximately 211 seniors to walk the commencement stage to receive their diplomas. The ceremony, beginning at 10 a.m., will include the presentation of student, faculty, and alumni awards.

Advocate for inclusion and longtime friend of President David Johns, Rev. Bruce Hitchcock, will address the 2019 graduates. “I am pleased Bruce Hitchcock will join us for this year’s commencement ceremony,” said Johns. “We both grew up in Ohio and I am eager to introduce him to Virginia’s Blue Ridge and to the fine people of Ģ����ý.”

Graduates will also participate in a traditional Baccalaureate service on Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. in Vaughn Chapel. The service will conclude with a candlelight ceremony at Hart International Plaza to symbolize the light of knowledge that the new graduates will carry forth into the world.

Please note:

• In the event of rain, commencement exercises will be held in Swartz Gymnasium.
• Commencement will be streamed live online . The archived ceremony will be available for viewing, usually within 24 hours, by following the and choosing the On Demand tab.

The post Over 200 Graduates to Receive Degrees during 103rd Commencement on May 11 appeared first on Ģ����ý.

Graduates will also participate in a traditional Baccalaureate service on Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. in Vaughn Chapel. The service will conclude with a candlelight ceremony at Hart International Plaza to symbolize the light of knowledge that the new graduates will carry forth into the world.

Please note:

• In the event of rain, commencement exercises will be held in Swartz Gymnasium.
• Commencement will be . The archived ceremony will be available for viewing, usually within 24 hours, by following the and choosing the On Demand tab.

The post 187 Graduates to Receive Diplomas as Ģ����ý Celebrates 102nd Annual Commencement appeared first on Ģ����ý.