The Ferrum College Blog

Springtime Sysco Food Show

2012-03-20T14:58:00.000-04:00

Students, faculty, and staff gathered in Franklin Hall's Blue Ridge Mountain Room to taste a number of foods distributed by Sysco.

The whole campus tasted foods at the Sysco Food Show.

Natural soups from scratch were a hit.

Many types of foods were offered.

Michael A. Martin, director of food services (left)

Michael A. Martin, director of dining services, notes that events like these — one in the fall from US Foods and this inaugural springtime show — helps plan out what the cafeteria carries. "Getting feedback like this [from faculty, students, and staff] on new products helps us stock cafeteria items that will be popular," he said.

Many of the products at the show were natural, organic, and made from scratch. Michael explains that trends shape these types of shows and there is increasing interest in the marketplace for natural and organic foods. This national trend fits well into dining service's long-term commitment to include more organic options into its menu.

This stuff here — the roast!

Logging likes and dislikes.

Donna Doss filling out a survey in between bites.

Opportunities with the Criminal Justice Club

2012-03-19T13:31:00.001-04:00

BY VICTORIA, PANTHER BLOGGER

The Criminal Justice Club offers many opportunities for Criminal Justice majors and minors to gain experience and learn more about the different careers in the field. For example, when the club attends national or regional conventions, members are given opportunities to have ride-alongs with police officers, participate in mock crime scene investigations, and meet some very influential professionals within the criminal justice field.

The connections that club members like me make with the field professionals give us an upper edge in getting employed in the field after we finish our education. We can meet FBI agents, police officers, crime scene investigators, and many other members in the field at these conferences. We learn first-hand about the aspects of each of these jobs so that we can be more educated in making our career choice. Meeting these professionals and hearing what they had to say about their occupations has helped me to narrow down my choices in deciding what I want to do within the criminal justice system.

If it were not for the Criminal Justice Club, I would not have learned as much about the different career paths within the field as I know now. The club fundraises throughout the year in order to obtain money to attend the conventions, which help members gain experience and knowledge that cannot be merely learned in a classroom. The conventions also give me the opportunity to travel to different parts of the country. So far, I have visited Nashville, Tennessee and New Haven, Connecticut with the club. During these trips, we have visited the University of Yale, the Mississippi River, and many other places. The club’s convention trips are an all-around great and beneficial experience!

Horticulture Students Improve Community through Design-Build Projects

2012-03-19T10:19:00.001-04:00

BYADJUNCT PROFESSOR - TRENDA LEAVITT

Cleanup of Wedding Garden – March 13, 2012:
Mitchell Hardbower, Jessica Foley, Deanna Reid, Hannah Quick, Patrick Scott

Ferrum College Horticulture Majors have been engaged in design projects in the larger community and improvement of campus through design–build projects through the College of Natural Sciences & Mathematics’ Horticulture 411.

Here's a look at what they've been up to this semester:

Within the Landscape Design & Management course, the students are assisting the town of Gretna with two public park projects — their projects will be presented to town council in early April
Students are touring related businesses in the region, including: Reynolds Clark Development in Gretna, VA, Duis Nursery in Bedford, VA, Seven Oaks Landscape & Hardscape in Redwood, VA, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of VA, and Evergreen Landscape Contracting of Chatham, VA
Several spaces on campus have been designed by the group — these projects are in the construction planning stages under the direction of Jay Prillaman, director of grounds
Emerson Creek Pottery is available for purchase at the Ferrum College Bookstore to fund campus design–build projects
Students improved Community Arboretum Gardens (Wedding & Conifer) last week through weeding, mulching, and planting
The horticulture program and community arboretum were founded by Dr. Bob Pohlad
Ferrum College design team 2012 includes Jessica Foley, Hannah Quick, Deanna Reid, Mitchell Hardbower, and Patrick Scott

Site Visit and Tour of Gretna, VA:
Reynolds Clark Development’s Gretchen Clark& Tim Reynolds shared civil
& environmental engineering and planningwith the group in Gretna, VA.

Completed Garden Improvements:
Deanna Reid, Hannah Quick, Jessica Foley, Patrick Scott, Mitchell Hardbower

Once in a while, the stars all line up...

2012-03-16T15:33:00.000-04:00

BY GARY HOLDEN, SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR

It was just after dark — the bottom of the sixth in thesecond game of a doubleheader — and the Ferrum Panther softball team was deadlocked in a 2-2 tie.

The night had already been one for the storybooks, and itwas about to become even more magical...

On Wednesday, March 14, 2012, Ferrum College softball teammember Lindsay Etherton was playing her last two games with the team prior todeploying with her U.S. Army Reserves unit. She had been honored with a specialSenior Day Ceremony before the start of play during the home USA doubleheaderwith Averett. Her parents had surprised her, and the Roanoke Times had been there to record the story of her sacrifice for the nation. Emotion was plentiful.

Lindsay started at designated hitter in the opener and went1-3. Her lone base hit was a single in the bottom of the first inning that wentto the left of Averett third baseman Chrissy Pickert, who then spun back to theright where shortstop Jenna Rudder could not field the ball. Lindsay earned an RBI on the hit,scoring third baseman Brittany Barlow from second. It was the final run for the Panthers that inning as they took a 5-2 lead. The team went on to win 7-3.

In the nightcap, Lindsay didn't see the field until coach Vickie Van Kleeck brought her in to pinch hit in the bottom of the sixth inning withthe game tied 2-2. That's when the magic happened. Playing under the lights on an unusually warm late winter evening, Lindsay dug in at the plate. Just then, a military jet did a fly-by so low you couldn'thear anything else.

Everyone looked up to see the plane's outline and the lightson the bottom of the plane. It looked, sounded, and felt like the jet was about100 feet off the ground. It was too eerie that Lindsay was the player coming tothe plate at that moment in the game. It made the hair stand up on the back ofmy neck, just as it did now as I wrote this. Others said the same thing. Someone in the crowd yelled, "That's a fly-over for Lindsay!"

After the deafening noise passed, play resumed and Lindsay promptly ripped a single to center field todrive in the eventual game-winning run. Averett's first three batters in the top of the seventh inning went downin order, and Ferrum earned a 3-2 nail-biter.

A better script could not been could not have been writtenand I count this as one of the most memorable moments of my 20 years at Ferrum.

· The Roanoke Times was on hand to cover the day's events (read the article) »

· See our photo collage of Lindsay's Senior Day Ceremony »

Lindsay leaves the week of March 25 to rendezvous with herreserve unit in Morgantown, W.Va. The unit has already been informed they can expect to be back inAfghanistan by late spring or early summer. Lindsay is an amazing young womanand we pray for her safety, as well as the safety of all the members of herunit and all our troops all over the world

Religion, Ferrum Style!

2012-03-15T09:23:00.001-04:00

BY GRANT, PANTHER BLOGGER

Many people have a major misconception when it comes to religion at Ferrum College. Because Ferrum College is a Methodist College, many people automatically think that the only thing that is present on campus is Methodist activities. The truth is though, that although Methodist activities are present on campus, Ferrum is open to many different denominations and religious beliefs.

I am the current president of Ferrum Christian Fellowship, a member of Mu Sigma Chi (Men Serving Christ), and I lead a Bible study on Tuesday nights here at Ferrum. Being involved in the campus ministries on campus, I can tell you personally that they will not disappoint. In the multiple Bible studies and at Monday Night Praise—which is basically church on Monday night—we do not teach philosophy or specify a certain denomination, but instead, we proclaim the Gospel and Jesus’s Holy Name.

Sanctus Real

The religious groups here on campus are not only greatly involved in Monday Night Praise and Bible studies, but we also participate in many other activities. Some of these activities include hosting Christian concerts, cookouts, tailgates, bonfires, pancake dinners, movie nights, car washes, game nights, Super Bowl parties, bake sales, Relay For Life activities, intramurals, and many other events. Last year, we had Sanctus Real come to campus for our “Big Christian Concert,” and this year, we are having The Afters join us.

In this week alone, we had Monday Night Praise, an intramural volleyball game and a Bible study at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, another Bible study on Wednesday, and we’ll be having a bonfire tonight and our typical Friday night game night tomorrow. This is just to show you a glimpse of a week here on campus regarding religious activities.

The religious group at Ferrum is literally like a family, and through it, I have experienced memorable moments and met people that will affect my life forever. Now, it is your turn to get the experience. Even if you are not religious, try it out, meet new people and have amazing experiences. Here at Ferrum, our motto is “boredom is a choice”; you have to go out and find things to do because activities won’t just come and find you in your room. Ferrum College is open to many different beliefs and ideas, and as a community, we are willing to accept many different things that each student brings to the table.

Black & Gold, Let’s Go Panthers Go!

2012-03-14T09:14:00.001-04:00

BY ANNA, PANTHER BLOGGER

As you know, I am an athlete for Ferrum College. I love to be out on campus supporting all of our sports teams! I have at least one friend, if not more, on each team that I support, so watching them during a game or a match shows my friends that I care about them and support their extracurricular activities. By doing this, it builds a bond much greater than just hanging out with them outside of class.

Ferrum College offers so many sports for both men and women, and the growth of our athletics department is remarkable! From soccer to swimming, and cheerleading to tennis, our campus is flourishing with sporting events all year long! In order to help facilitate our healthy growth of sports teams, we are adding a new building to campus known as the Hank Norton Center, which will provide a work-out and training location for students and athletes. Learn more about our new Hank Norton Center on our website!

Our team at a conference competition in Georgia

However, when I say I am an athlete, I am an athlete! Most people don’t consider cheerleading to be a sport, but here at Ferrum College, IT IS! Unlike cross country, baseball, lacrosse, etc., our season goes all year long. We are present at every home football game and several away football games during the fall and we are present at every home men’s and women’s basketball games during the winter. We also cheer competitively against other colleges and universities in the USA South Conference, such as Christopher Newport University, Greensboro College, and Methodist College.

My friend & I on the field at a Virginia Tech game

Just like any other team, in order for us to compete and travel, we have to fundraise a bit. Our fundraisers, however, are unlike most. This year, we got the chance to work at the Martinsville Speedway on Race Day in the fall and work at some Virginia Tech football games. For me, these were amazing experiences and network-building! With just these two fundraisers, I got the chance to watch my first race and to stand down on the football field in Lane Stadium for the Virginia Tech vs. Miami game for the final touchdown of the tied game with 1 minute left!

We're doing a two and a half high pyramid at a home game

We strive to show our support for Ferrum Athletics the best way possible, and I believe actions are louder than words. We not only cheer on the sidelines to keep the spirit among the crowd involved but we also stunt. We throw girls as tall as two people high in most pyramids to where it is required that you possess skill, technique and poise to place yourself in precise positions and situations. As I always say, “With most sports, you are either catching or throwing a ball. However, we cheerleaders are catching and throwing a body!” To be loud and proud about your support for someone is one thing, but to actually be present and in the action is much better in my eyes.

The Science Programs at Ferrum Open Doors!

2012-03-13T10:13:00.000-04:00

BY DARRYL, PANTHER BLOGGER

Hey everyone,Being a Biology major, a chemistry minor, and forensic science minor has opened almost every door in the science community. Biology is an extremely broad field and you can take it anywhere from studying rocks to studying whales. It is also a great foundation for any professional field in health care.

The Biology program here is extremely detailed. You aren’t just learning information to forget it after you take a test. The information builds on top of itself, and you have to learn how to apply it in real life situations.

General Biology is just that, general: you get a broad base of what the science community has to offer. After that class, you can focus on courses that interest you from anatomy (if you want to work with people) to vertebrate zoology (if you like to study animals) and so many others. All of the Biology labs have been revamped to be more exciting and hands-on. We are also one of a few schools that allow the use of cadavers in anatomy labs. Most undergraduate programs never see a cadaver, let alone work with one. Ferrum definitely prepare you for your future studies if you chose to continue your education. Biology is an incredible field to go into, especially if you’re not sure what you want to do in the science field. Biology is definitely the way to go because all doors will be opened.

Chemistry and Forensic Science are very similar: a lot of chemistry. These maybe difficult subjects, but the professors are top-notch and will do everything in their capabilities to help you succeed. They also just got all new equipment. It is brand-spanking new—you can even play with the bubble wrap as they unpack it!

The labs are extremely fun; the aspect of making something out of two seeming less ordinary products is fascinating. Forensic Science is definitely more hands-on; we do labs that a forensic scientist would do in the field and in labs, like make a casting of a foot or fingerprinting. Maybe I’m just a science nut, but I’m okay with that.

If you guys have any questions, I’ll be happy to answer them for you.

Thanks for reading,

Darryl

There’s no “I” in Team!

2012-03-12T09:45:00.000-04:00

BY VANESSA, PANTHER BLOGGER

Being a part of Ferrum’s newspaper, The Iron Blade, and the Ferrum Women’s Lacrosse team has been remarkable. I first became interested in The Iron Blade when I picked up the journalism practicum class my sophomore year. I’d had really great English professors that made English so much fun to learn. I was a bit nervous when I first walked into my journalism class because I thought, “what am I doing? I don’t even know how to write in this format! And now the whole school is going to see my writing skills.” I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. At the time, my professor and advisor for The Iron Blade was Dr. Lana Whited. She made journalism so enjoyable to learn that I stuck with it. It wasn’t until my senior year that I was asked by our newly appointed Iron Blade advisor Dr. Karl Roeper if I could be a part of the editors group where I was named News Editor. It’s a great responsibility to have and from which I’m still learning each day. Check out our most recent issue of The Iron Blade online newspaper »

Photo by Gary Holden

The Ferrum Women’s Lacrosse Team is like my second family at Ferrum. A big part of me staying and really enjoying my experience at Ferrum to the fullest has a lot to do with my team and coaches. The variety of personalities and ideas on this team is quite remarkable. I have seen great women graduate and join our lacrosse team here at Ferrum for the past 3 years. All of us have shared so many memories together and to be able to share something special with each one of them is a big deal to me. As part of the NCAA Division III USA South Conference, we were able to travel to many places, such as Georgia, North Carolina and different parts of Virginia. Traveling together was a great way for our team to bond and then bring that bond and connection out on the field. Hard work and dedication has brought us a long way since my freshman year in the program. I’m definitely going to miss my head coach, Karen Harvey, our new assistant coach, Mary Cuddihy, and my teammates/sisters.

Lacrosse team photo by Gary Holden

Greetings from Ferrum College Student Blogger, Addissew!

2012-03-08T13:31:00.000-05:00

BY ADDISSEW, A PANTHER BLOGER

My name is Addissew, and I’m a freshmanmajoring in biology and minoring in psychology. I’m originally from Ethiopia. I came to the United States about a yearago. I moved with my family to a citycalled Falls Church in Virginia. I had moved in the middle of my senior year ofhigh school and was able to graduate by the end of the academic year. I found outabout Ferrum College through the help of my College and Career Advisor, whohelped me in applying to the college before the deadline passed since most ofthe deadlines for other colleges had passed.

I got an acceptance letter and ascholarship from Ferrum College, as well as from the other colleges I hadapplied to. The location of Ferrum College attracted me since it has anisolated campus which is beneficial to concentrate on school work and there arefewer distractions compared to a campus located in or near a city. Both thedrive to Ferrum and its campus have beautiful scenery! One feels close tonature in Ferrum with the fresh air, lots of trees, a pond with different typesof ducks and the occasional sight of deer grazing.

The teacher-to-student ratio is effectivein that a teacher knows all his/her student and is able to help any studenthaving troubles with the course material. Additionally, the Writing and Math Centersaid students with their course materials when the professors areunavailable. Academic assistance isabundant at Ferrum.

Greetings from Ferrum College Student Blogger, Grant!

2012-03-08T13:28:00.001-05:00

BY GRANT, A PANTHER BLOGGER

For those of you who do notknow me, my name is Grant, and I am a sophomore here at Ferrum College. I amcurrently working towards getting a Bachelor’s of Science with a Biology and Pre-professionalScience major along with a Chemistry and Business minor. I also am working onan independent research project with Dr. Gazdik to determine gene regulation ofM. smegmatis as a model for tuberculosis. I am originally from Georgia where Iwas born in Savannah and have lived in Augusta and Atlanta, GA. I spent mymiddle school and high school years in Chesapeake, Virginia and have recentlymoved to Greenville, South Carolina.

I plan on graduating in Mayof 2014, and hope to go on to the University of Georgia and get my Doctorate ofVeterinary Medicine as well as my Ph.D. specializing in infectious diseases throughthe dual degree program that the University of Georgia offers.

Christianity is an integralpart of my life, and there is no exception when it comes to my involvement inthe campus ministries here on Ferrum College’s campus. I am an active part ofMu Sigma Chi (the Christian fraternity on campus), and I am also the presidentof the Ferrum Christian Fellowship. Alongwith attending Monday Night Praise, I lead a Bible study every Tuesday night at8 p.m. in the Lighthouse behind the Hank Norton Center. I am a regularattendant at one of the many local churches as well. My involvement on thiscampus stretches further than the campus ministries, though. I also am a memberof the Minds In Medicine Club, the Ferrum Outdoors Club, the Boone HonorsProgram, and also act as a PAL tutor for biology. Some of you may see me onyour visit to Ferrum because I am a Student Ambassador, too.

One question many people askme is, “How in the world did you find Ferrum, and what about it keeps youaround?” My answer to them would simply have to be that my high school footballcoach suggested that I look at Ferrum because it is his alma mater; I would alsosay that at Ferrum, I have never felt like a number, but instead, a humanbeing. Due to the smaller number of students here at Ferrum, I have had the opportunityto experience things that I never would have at a larger university.

Since my first visit toFerrum, I have always felt at peace and right at home here. Just as an exampleof the homey feeling that Ferrum exudes, one of my favorite memories at Ferrumis sitting around the small Christmas tree with all my roommates and friendsopening our Secret Santa presents while eating a Christmas breakfast. These arethe people that you meet and experiences that stick with you the rest of yourlife. Hopefully, you will read my blog posts and get some sense of the trulywonderful Ferrum experience.

Greetings from Ferrum College Student Blogger, Anna!

2012-03-08T13:10:00.001-05:00

BY ANNA, A PANTHER BLOGGER

Hey guys, I’m Anna. I am a transfer graduatefrom Virginia Western Community College, and my major is Business Management. Iam from Buchanan, Virginia where I started my own photography business while Iwas in high school. I went to community college to get my general studies takencare of and then transferred to Ferrum College to focus on my core curriculumclasses, as well as to build a network with faculty and friends that cannot befound anywhere else. With my Business Management degree, I plan to advancefurther as a professional photographer with my business, and to possibly workfor the Discovery Channel or National Geographic. With high hopes, I know I canachieve my goals one day. I am a senior this year, and I plan to graduate May5, 2012.

Oncampus, Ferrum College is nicknamed “God’s Country,” and it fits! I found out about Ferrum because my cousinattended school here and I came to see him graduate; I fell in love with thecollege! The scenery at Ferrum, the friendships that my cousin had, and the learningatmosphere that the college offers all made me realize that Ferrum could be theplace for me. I graduated from Virginia Western in 2010 and the only place Icould imagine myself going was Ferrum!

Ferrum is small and rural, but that is not abad thing. You are not just a face; you are a face with a name, and everyoneactually cares about who you are and where you are outside of class. Yourgrades and extracurricular activities are just as important to them as they areto you. I am constantly in the samebuilding every day—Beckham Hall—and I have come to know that my fellow studentsin the business department and my teachers are my family. We look out for oneanother.

My number one piece of advice is to Go To Class! I never miss class unless I am sick, and eventhen, I email my professors to tell them I am sick. That shows my teachers thatI care. One time I missed my final exam in Accounting because of a long storyof events, and my professor sent a resident assistant to come see if I wasokay. I was frantic and he knew that me missing class rarely happened, so he offeredto give me my exam and I passed the class with an A. Instances like mine do nothappen often, so take control of your studies.

My second piece of advice is to Get Involved On Campus! There are so many clubs, sports andorganizations to fit anyone and everyone, and you can be involved in as many asyou want! I currently am Student GovernmentPresident, a cheerleader, a sister of Zeta Chi Epsilon, and a member ofStudents in Free Enterprise. At the sametime, I still have the title of professional photographer and take pictures ofcampus and my life here as much as possible. There are also plenty of otherthings to do off campus as well. My favorite thing to do is to drive toPhilpott Lake and sit on the beach or the dock and do homework, or go out for aday with sorority sisters and fraternity brothers. We don’t swim all the time,but just to have a nice relaxing spot off campus with a pretty view is a luxurythat I must take advantage of.

Allin all, there is no Facebook status, thesis paper, picture from an event orblog post that can express to you how much I love Ferrum. Having cookouts withmy fraternity brothers and sorority sisters, cheering so hard that I lost myvoice, studying with my classmates and making websites for a local cabinetryshop are just a FEW of the things I did in one semester, but in a year, thememories just get to be too many to list! The faculty, staff, students and family I have made at Ferrum truly areone-of-a-kind and I could not ask for more. Whether it is a Saturday night or aTuesday afternoon, a memory to cherish is made here.

Greetings from Ferrum College Student Blogger, Brittany!

2012-03-07T09:59:00.002-05:00

BY BRITTANY, A PANTHER BLOGGER

My name is Brittany, and Iam from Fredericksburg, VA, which is located just between Washington D.C. andRichmond. I am interested in photography, field hockey, sign language, and sciencesthat deal with the structure or function of the human body.

I gained knowledge aboutFerrum College from several letters that I received explaining the variety ofprograms offered. I officially decided to attend after taking a tour of theschool and seeing how the classes were structured in small sizes, and theamount of hands-on work available. Another deciding factor was the interest shownby professors through the subjects they are most involved in.

Through the variety ofclasses, majors, and minors, Ferrum has prepared me and is still preparing mefor my future career. It has provided a structure of professionalism,integrity, and a growing compassion to pursue the dreams I want to accomplishno matter how long it may take to get there. Over the next two years, I plan ongraduating with a major in Pre-Professional Sciences and a double minor inMathematics and Forensic Sciences. As for my long-term goals, I plan on goingto graduate school to further continue my education on becoming a medicalexaminer.

Currently, I am involved in intramural volleyball, and also attendingMinds-n-Medicine meetings when my schedule allows. I am also employed at theStarbucks on campus, and I usually work two to three days a week. When I havethe opportunity, I volunteer at the Mary Washington Hospital back at home inFredericksburg, as well as complete service hours for the community.

Brittany taking an order at campus Starbucks

Being at Ferrum for thepast two years has had its ups and downs, but my favorite memory is the peoplethat I have met who have helped me work to where I am and where I am going inlife. Everyone on campus is wonderful and show that they care and havecompassion for our dreams as much as we do. They have been there with guidancethrough almost every situation I have faced, and I am so thankful to have themhere.

Greetings from Darryl!

2012-03-07T09:54:00.002-05:00

BY DARRYL, A PANTHER BLOGGER

Hey! My name is Darryl and I’m from Richmond,Virginia. I’m currently a senior here at Ferrum College, majoring in Biologyand minoring in both Forensic Science and Chemistry. I’m currently applying to masters programs forPublic Health, and I’m waiting to hear back soon.

After I achieve my masters,I’m planning on attending either dental or medical school.I found out about Ferrum from somefriends in high school. I was extremely late in applying to schools and onlyapplied to two. I got into both and chose to come here. Ferrum’s campus is gorgeous, with great viewsand fresh air. I also like the small classroom settings; it makes it easier tohave one-on-one interaction that you wouldn’t achieve at larger schools. Thisis great when it’s time for getting letters of recommendation if you choose tocontinue your education further because the instructors truly know who you are.The icing on the cake for me with Ferrum has to be the ducks. There aren’t manyplaces where you routinely see ducks crossing the road on your way to class.

Ducks on the way to class

I’m extremely active in FerrumCollege’s community. I’m the senior class secretary, a member of and thetreasurer of Pi Kappa Alpha, a member of Minds-N-Medicine, and I’m also doing researchthat has the potential to get published. There’s absolutely never a shortage ofthings to get involved in at Ferrum!

Ferrum has given me great leveragefor my future. I’m a more rounded person due to the opportunities here: I’ve been able to attend multiple chemistryconferences and use equipment that most universities won’t let you touch untilyou’re in graduate school. Ferrum has given me the opportunity to step up mycompetition.

I’ve been at Ferrum for 4 years andhave made many fond memories, but my favorite ones are the snow days. A group of friends and I always end up goingsledding and snowboarding down one of Ferrum’s numerous hills, or havingsnowball fights for hours. It’s just like being a child again, with no worries.

Greetings from Ferrum College Student Blogger, Caleb!

2012-03-07T09:38:00.004-05:00

BY CALEB, A PANTHER BLOGGER

Hello all! My name isCaleb, and I’m from Staunton, Virginia. Iam currently a freshman here at Ferrum College. I am presently majoring inEnvironmental Science with an Outdoor Recreational minor. This first year hasbeen an amazing change in my life. Not only am I studying EnvironmentalScience, but I have also had the opportunity to work on hands-on researchprojects – projects that involve the American chestnut tree and others thatinvolve forensic science. Besides school, I am heavily involved in the Ferrumcommunity. I am a member of both the Ferrum volunteer rescue squad and theHenry Volunteer Fire Department. I am so happy that Ferrum chose me, and yes, Isaid Ferrum chose me.

Student Blogger Caleb

I say Ferrum chose me because it really did! I had neverheard of Ferrum, Virginia or even the college two and a half years ago. I onlyfound out about this amazing place by way of my sister’s college, ShenandoahUniversity. My parents were up in Winchester, Virginia having lunch with mysister, and then someone from the college came up and started talking about allthat SU had to offer. Like most parentsdo, my parents somehow threw my name into the mix and said that I was lookingat Virginia Tech. The person speakingwith us said that I should look into Ferrum because it seemed to match up withwhat I wanted to do, not that Virginia Tech is a bad school. So I got moreinformation and the first time I came down here to this gem hidden in the BlueRidge, I fell in love. I fell in love with the place itself and also thepeople.

One of the things that I think sets Ferrum apart from allthe other colleges in the state of Virginia is the fact that the community isso actively involved in the college; you don’t see that much anywhere else. Yes,Ferrum is a smaller college, but please don’t let that fool you. Just becauseFerrum doesn’t have thousands of students, it is, in my book, the best collegethere is. It is not unusual for me to walk to class and know almost everyone Isee. You are not going to get that closefamily that you get here anywhere else.

I have loved my first year down here inbeautiful Ferrum, Virginia so far, and I look forward to the next three yearsto come. I can’t wait to see what great thing I am going to do here at FerrumCollege. Have a good one y’all!

Greetings from Vanessa!

2012-03-07T09:35:00.002-05:00

BY VANESSA, A PANTHER BLOGGER

My name is Vanessa and I’m fromBurke, Virginia (Fairfax County area). I’m a senior at Ferrum College majoringin Spanish and double minoring in English and Journalism. Many of friends wouldsay that I’m outgoing, charismatic and easy to get along with, and I like tothink I’m like that too. : ) I lovetraveling and being able to take some time to myself and read a good book. I’mlooking forward to graduation this May, and I am looking forward to hopefullygetting an internship this summer at C-SPAN so that I’m able to further myexperience in the media communications field.

I found out about Ferrum College during my senior year inhigh school when I received a pamphlet in the mail. I first wondered whereFerrum was, and I was interested in what they had to offer. I did some researchand came to discover its location and what things were nearby. Being from thecity, I knew that this would be a big change for me. But once I was here andsaw the mountains, the campus, and everything around it, I was sold. I thenfound out what the school had to offer academically. Ferrum has a variety ofmajors and minors. They also had study abroad options that I was reallyinterested in.

A captain on the lacrosse team

Ifeel as though anyone is able to love Ferrum as much as I do. If you getinvolved in clubs and organizations, then you’ll always be busy and have somethingto do. Ferrum is like home. Everyone is so friendly and caring here….it’ssomething you can’t find in just any school. Small colleges like Ferrum offeryou the attention that you need to succeed in your future. Being able to justgo to my professor’s office and talk about an assignment or questions aboutlectures without having to wait for days is awesome. It helps you prepare forassignments in a detailed and prepared manner, which is a good habit to havefor the future.

I have loved being a part of the Ferrum College Women’sLacrosse Team. I have been a part of the team since freshman year and haverecently been named captain along with two other seniors on the team. I’m alsoinvolved in our first international sorority on campus, Delta Phi Epsilon, and I’mthe News Editor for the Iron Blade, Ferrum’snewspaper.

I definitely have to say that the greatest memory I havemade at Ferrum thus far would have to be the friends I have made throughout theyears, not only with students but also with faculty members!

Greetings from Ferrum College Student Blogger, Victoria!

2012-03-06T16:14:00.000-05:00

BY VICTORIA, A PANTHER BLOGGER

Student Blogger Victoria

I am Victoria and I am a sophomore at Ferrum College. I am studying criminal justice as my major with minors in psychology and sociology. I would like to use my education in these fields to eventually work in the federal law system.

I come from a small town called Claudville, Virginia which is about an hour south of Ferrum. One of the main reasons that I chose to attend Ferrum College is that it was close to my hometown and was also the same type of setting that I was raised in. I found out about Ferrum through one of my friends who is currently a junior at the college. She told me about Ferrum and invited me to visit it for a weekend, and I knew from that point that Ferrum was the college for me.

I love the atmosphere and beautiful scenery around the Ferrum College campus. I also liked that it is a small school, which means that it is easier for professors to interact and help the students in their classes. The professors at Ferrum College have been more than helpful to me in making important decisions about my future and with simple tasks, such as helping with an assignment. Professors here are always willing to help students with anything that they need and to offer suggestions to students on how they can improve their work.

In addition to attending classes at Ferrum, I am also a student ambassador and a very active member of the Criminal Justice Club. The Criminal Justice Club, along with my classes, has provided me with many useful connections with people that could help me to get a job after I graduate. The club and classes have also helped me gain a lot of knowledge and experience about the criminal justice field. I believe that Ferrum College is doing a great job at preparing me for my future while also offering me many opportunities to be involved in campus and community activities. Ferrum College has provided me with many memories of spending time with new friends that will last a lifetime!

Greetings from Ferrum College Student Blogger, Jordan!

2012-03-06T16:13:00.000-05:00

BY JORDAN, A PANTHER BLOGGER

Student Blogger Jordan

Hey everyone! My name is Jordan and I am a sophomore atFerrum. I am 20 years old and I amfrom Virginia Beach. I’m a Theatre major, and I play on the Women’s Lacrosseteam. I also am an Admissions Ambassador, in the Collegiate Choir, a ResidentAssistant, Secretary of Residence Hall Association, and the Features Editor forthe Iron Blade. I plan to be an actress and producer after I graduate!

What I love about Ferrum is that it has so much to offer andeveryone is so welcoming. I alsoloved the small community and the countryside of Ferrum. Since I am a Theatre major, I love allof the professors and other students. The professors are always willing to help and make each student betterfor the future.

If you have any questions about anything, feel free to askme!

Saludos (Greetings) from Ferrum College Student Blogger, Anneleisse!

2012-03-06T12:41:00.000-05:00

BY ANNELEISSE, A PANTHER BLOGGER

Student Blogger Anneleisse

Hola, potential Panthers! My name is Anneleisse and I’m currently a second semester freshman from Castle Rock, Colorado. I found Ferrum College thanks to their first year swim team and our coach, Lindsay DeLaRosby, who recruited me. Not only did I come to Ferrum because of a sport but also because the size of the school was a great fit considering that I actually want a teacher to remember who I am or at least recognize if I ever need help in the class.

Here at Ferrum, I plan on majoring in Pre-professionalscience; my long-time goal is to be a dentist, and later on, to participate increating a foundation for those who can’t afford a dentist. Ferrum has been agreat experience so far! Thecampus is the perfect size for you to make it on time to classes, everyone isso friendly, and academic help is always available. Although it’s a smallcampus there are many activities that take place. Besides being on the swim team, I plan on being part of theLambda Sigma Honor Society.

Thanks for reading my blog and let me know if you have any questions!

Intro to Environmental Science Students' Eco Dorm Project Underway

2012-03-05T12:54:00.000-05:00

This week, some of the Ferrum College students who took Intro to Environmental Science in the Fall of 2011 will see the results of their classroom work outside Riddick Hall when they return from spring break.

While they were gone, a section of asphalt pavement outside the dorm was replaced with turf block, one of the recommendations that the students identified last fall in their Eco Dorm proposal.

Turf block is permeable pavement that allows rainfall to move down into the ground instead of running off into storm drains. In addition the light-colored turf block, which will be planted with grass, should reduce heat loading to the non-air conditioned Riddick Hall, helping it stay cooler in the fall.

According to Assistant Professor of Biology and Environmental Science Glen Stevens, the students worked for most of the semester developing ideas, pricing options, and putting together a report and poster session on ways to improve the quality of life in the Lakeside dorms while reducing energy usage. Their results were presented to Ferrum College President Jennifer Braaten and Senior Vice President for Business Affairs Bobby Thompson, who together developed the Eco Dorm concept. The turf block installation underway is just one of the proposed projects that ranged from lighting retrofits to edible landscaping.

Students taking the course Quantitative Environmental Methods in the fall of 2012 will measure the temperature difference in the turf block sections of the dorm wall compared to the asphalt paved areas. Many of the students who developed the proposal will work on the assessment phase as well.

“I think this is a great development, and a very empowering project, as the students can really see the results of their classroom work,” said Dr. Stevens, who is grateful for the support and encouragement the students have received from College administrators. “They got a lot out of simply presenting the proposal, but to have it actually begin to be implemented speaks to the practical applications of what they learn in the classroom, and about the strong linkages between administration, operations, and academics here at Ferrum.”

“Stop Hunger Now” Event Embodies Ferrum College Motto “Not Self, But Others”

2012-02-23T17:50:00.002-05:00

More than 400 Franklin County and College community members combineefforts to package and ship over 50,000 meals to countries in need.

Ferrum, Va. (Feb. 21,2012) – This past weekend more than 400 people came together on the FerrumCollege campus and packaged 52,000 meals during the third annual Stop HungerNow event, which brought true meaning to the College motto “Not Self, ButOthers.” With the $13,000 cost of ingredients covered by donations, thesehighly nutritious meals were packaged in just three hours and will be shippedto feed the world’s most impoverished.

Co-sponsored by the Ferrum College Rotaract Club, the RockyMount Rotary Club, and Mu Sigma Chi, the Stop Hunger Now event included fundraisers,donors and volunteers from Ferrum College Greek societies and serviceorganizations, as well as Boy and Girl Scouts, churches, civic groups, familiesand individuals from around Franklin County.

“So many individuals and organizations helped support thisStop Hunger Now event and many College faculty, staff, students and parishionerswere part of the effort,” said Ferrum College President Dr. Jennifer Braaten. “Weare proud of the amount of time and energy that so many from our community devoteto help so many other people both locally and around the world.”

Stop Hunger Now event organizer and former Ferrum Collegeboard member, Walter Hughes, agreed. “The wonderful partnership is soappreciated between the College, Rotary, churches, clubs, and fraternities andsororities,” he said.

Through Stop Hunger Now’s packaging program, volunteerspackage life-saving meals combining rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables, flavoringand a mixture of 21 vitamins and minerals into reasonable servings of six. Themeals are easy to transport, have a long shelf life and cost only $0.25 permeal to create. All costs are covered by donations. Since the program’sinception, more than 155,000 volunteers have packaged more than 58 millionmeals.

Thirty-one Ferrum College Dining Services Employees Complete Recent Customer Service Training

2012-02-06T17:27:00.002-05:00

Thirty-one Ferrum College Dining Services employees recently completed the second in a series of six customer service training classes, which give them valuable insight into how to "WOW" their customers.

In an attempt to be competitive in today’s market even acollege cafeteria has to go above and beyond. That’s how Ferrum College Assistant Director of DiningServices Mike Ferguson ’81 sees it.

“We can’t just be service thinkers, we must also be customerservice providers. We try veryhard to keep our staff updated on the latest trends because the majority seethemselves as ordinary people,” said Ferguson. “When we put them through a customer service training classthey come to realize that they are extraordinary people.”

Thirty-one members of the Ferrum College dining hall staffrecently completed the second in a series of six classes in the “CustomerService for Dummies” training series. “Although that title doesn’t seem inviting, the classes offer vital and professionalinformation that’s broken down in simple terms,” said Ferguson. “Students gainvaluable insight about how to “WOW” the customer.”

Taught by Ferguson and Dining Services Office Manager KimAllen, the series of customer service training classes is offered twice yearlyin the spring and in the fall. While taking the classes is not required ofdining services employees, it is strongly encouraged. After completing theseries of training classes, each staff member must complete a written exam andreceives a certificate.

“The benefits of completing all six classes is being able tototally understand a customer’s concern when they’re unhappy with your serviceand know how to effectively resolve the issue with or without upper management,”Ferguson concluded.

Holiday Greetings from Dr. Jennifer L. Braaten

2011-12-12T15:59:00.000-05:00

Dear Faculty, Staff & Students,

As the semester winds down, I want to thank all of you for being suchgood citizens of Ferrum College and for helping to create an environment inwhich we can teach, learn, study and enjoy extra-curricular activities in anatmosphere of civility and respect. As we celebrate the joys of this preciousholiday, some of us may also burden ourselves with trying to choose the perfectgifts or bake the most deliciouscookies. Because we don’t want to lose sight of the true meaning ofChristmas with unrealistic expectations, it becomes even more important for allof us to remember the simple message at the heart of the season:

“Peace on earth and joy to all.”

We can make that message resonate throughout the campus andbeyond through our kindness and consideration for one another and in so doingpersonify our enduring motto “Not Self, But Others.” And remember, it truly is the thought, not the actual giftthat counts - even a lumpy gingerbread man tastes as delicious as a perfectone! Enjoy this time and have a blessed and holy Christmas and avery Happy New Year!

Sincerely yours,

Jennifer L. Braaten

President

Ferrum Outdoors- A Look Back at the Fall Semester by Aaron Conover

2011-11-21T14:32:00.001-05:00

The Climbing Wall

The sunlight hitting the trees and hills was at a noticeablydifferent angle the other day as I was driving in the mountains. This got methinking about the seasonal change that is around the corner and the transitionfrom warm days to winter. It also reminded me of all the great adventures thatFerrum Outdoors had this fall so far.

We traveled for some of these adventures and for othersstudents were able to play right on campus. One of our most popular activities was the Night Zip Line. Participants donned harnesses and helmets to traverse the High Ropes Course then stepped off the platform into the darkness for their zip ride. Studentshad many other opportunities for being active including weekly bouldering wall,disc golf, trail running and mountain bike sessions plus the rock climbingtower.

Night Time Canoeing

The region around Ferrum offers a wide variety ofoutdoor-based activities and we did our best to take advantage of them.Philpott Lake had the water and the night provided the stars for an eveningcanoe trip and the following weekend we paddled kayaks down the James River.Then we switched out the lifejackets for trail shoes for a hike in Rock CastleGorge. The Radical Reels Tour,which is part of the Banff Mountain Film Festival, brought us to the edge ofour seats at the Jefferson Center in Roanoke with adrenalin filled films aboutmountain biking, skiing, rock climbing, kayaking and longboarding, which madeeveryone ready for an even bigger adventure.

The Upper Gauley River in West Virginia gave us just that.This section has over forty rapids including five solid Class V’s making it oneof the premier rafting destinations in the country. It can be paddled throughoutthe year but for a short time a release from the dam on Summersville Lakebrings the water flow up to an impressive level and we got to experience it.

Kayaking on the Chesapeake Bay

You may notice there is a water theme going on. Well, itcontinues. Ferrum Outdoors partnered with the City of Roanoke Parks andRecreation’s outdoor department and we traversed over to Mathews, VA on theChesapeake Bay for some sea kayaking during fall break. This location is uniquebecause it allows kayaking in the Bay right from the beach and exploring thewaterways that flow into it. A full moon paddle and one at sunrise topped offthis excellent trip.

The Roanoke Outdoor Circus came to town and Ferrum Outdoorshelped out and participated during the inaugural weekend of this completelyoutdoor recreation focused event. Activities included slack lining and biketrials shows, live music, sustainability activities, educational programs,trail running and mountain bike races, a city wide gear treasure hunt pluslocal vendors on hand providing equipment demos. We teamed up with members ofthe Recreation Club to manage the two campground areas that were on site.Everyone did a great job and enjoyed in the event.

We decided to wrap up the Ferrum Outdoors season with rockclimbing and sailing. Pilot Mountain State Park in North Carolina has a largerange of climbs that sit on top of what looks like a butte, which providesexcellent views and an increased feeling of exposure while climbing. PilotMountain is one of our favorite areas to go and all the climbers pushedthemselves until their arms and legs where spent.

Sailing on Smith Mountain Lake

Those who signed up for sailing were rewarded with a breezyand sunny day, the perfect combination. Ferrum Outdoors is a member of the Virginia Inland Sailing Associationon Smith Mountain Lake and their intercollegiate sailing program and theyprovided us with Flying Scot sailboats, instructors and the marina from whichto operate. Flying Scots are fast, Olympic class boats that are responsive andstable and with experienced skippers and teamwork, we were able to put themthrough their paces.

We were sad to wrap up the fall but felt very fortunate tohave had these opportunities. We appreciate the support of the administration,faculty, staff and student leaders that make it all happen. The spring semesteris just as chocked full of activities so be on the look out for what is comingup.

See you out there!

Support Ferrum Basketball at the Roanoke Tip-Tournament on Sunday, November 20

2011-11-16T14:38:00.003-05:00

This Sunday, November 20, come support the Ferrum College basketball team during the Roanoke Tip-Off Tournament. Join other Ferrum fans in Roanoke College's Bast Gymnasium at 2 PM to watch the Panthers take on the Maroons. Then join us for the Post-Game Tailgate at Mac & Bob's (316 East Main St, Salem, VA) and meet Coach Tharp, Coach Fuller and the Team!

The Tailgate Party is $5 per person, cash bar. For more information about this event or to RSVP, please contact Ferrum College at 1-877-FERRUM1 or alumni@ferrum.edu by November 16, 2011.

Thanksgiving Message from Ferrum College President Dr. Jennifer L. Braaten

2011-11-16T13:32:00.010-05:00

Dear Students, Faculty & Staff,

It’s hard to believe that the end of the semester is in sight! I want to wish you all the blessings of Thanksgiving and safe travels to those heading out of town. The Empty Bowls event last Sunday, sponsored by the Art Department, was a great success. I’m reminded that the name “empty bowls” can also present us with the opportunity for a prayerful reflection on the bounty in which most of us share.

We want to congratulate the football team for finishing 7-3 overall and 6-1 in conference play, earning a USA South runner-up finish under Head Coach Dave Harper and his staff. We anticipate All-Conference honors for many of our players, which will be announced later this week.

Congratulations as well to our new women's swimming team and Coach Lindsay DeLaRosby on winning their inaugural home meet last Friday night at the Swartz Gym pool. The team posted an impressive 110-60 win over Emory & Henry, with over 100 fans in attendance!

Very special congratulations are also in order for Gilda Woods, Associate Vice President and Dean of Admissons, and everyone who had a hand in our most successful Panther Preview to date last Saturday! In our various capacities, whether teaching and learning in the classroom, working on musical productions and dramatic plays, or taking part in various student activities, we all make a great Ferrum College team!

Sincerely,

Jennifer L. Braaten
President

Take Back The Night by Courtney Joyce

2011-10-19T15:22:00.009-04:00

Take Back The Night is an annual event on Ferrum College campus. As I helped plan this event, it moved me and made me realize how big an issue this is.
In many domestic violence cases there is more than one person impacted. Often, there is a child involved as well. So the violence is not only hurting the abused spouse or significant other, it is hurting the child.

This can affect children by making them turn to violence or act out in school. Domestic violence is not the only issue upon which Take Back the Night shines a light. It also recognizes sexual abuse victims.

Sexual abuse can happen at any age. In many cases, sexual abuse happens at the hands of someone that the victim knows. It is not unusual for the abuser to be a family member or a close friend. That often results in the victim not wanting to report the incident. Keeping these things to themselves only causes them more problems.

Take Back The Night is a great event for people to tell their stories, and see people being supportive of them. Several of the speakers this year will be telling their story for the first time. These speakers are amazing and the situations they have survived have only made them stronger.

I believe victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse become stronger as they realize they have a support system and people support the decisions they have made no matter what they are.

I encourage you to attend the Ferrum College Take Back the Night program Monday October 24, in Vaughn Chapel. We will have speakers and light refreshments.

2011-06-06T10:32:00.007-04:00

The following is a letter from Ferrum grad and now Peace Corp volunteer Cristy Hickson. she has been in Moldova for a year now, and is clearly having a positive impact -- taking the Ferrum motto of Not Self, But Others to the other side of the world.

Noroc!

It’s summertime, and boy oh boy, am I happy! I LOVE Moldova in the spring and summer. There is new life everywhere: little chicks, baby goats, cows, and horses! I LOVE IT! It is so cool to see a baby horse attached to his/her mother who is pulling a wagon or to watch the mama goat encourage her baby to walk through the big, scary puddle that is separating the baby goat from the rest of his group. My tutor’s cat just had kittens, I could watch them play all day! Literally. And there is green everywhere, just absolutely beautiful.

It is hard to believe that I have been here a year, and that I will be leaving in a year. I am looking forward to coming home, but at the same time I know there is so much I am really going to miss about Moldova - my new friends and family, my students, the fresh fruits and vegetables, the singing and dancing at every party, my host mom’s sense of humor, the endless fields of sunflowers, and the kids all saying “good morning” to me as I walk through the village at six in the evening! Moldova has become my home away from home! I am going to make sure I enjoy every lasting minute I have here! I am hoping to come home a better and stronger person who lives a healthier life and who tries to live in the moment.

Vice President Joe Biden was in Moldova in March! In his speech, he discussed how the U.S. wants to continue it’s partnership with the Moldovan people and government to work towards democratization of not just Moldova, but the whole region. He also brought up the issue of human trafficking, a huge problem in Moldova. After his speech, he met with Peace Corps Volunteers and individuals who work for the U.S. Embassy in a small meet-and-great event; this was my favorite part of the day. He said our work in this country is very important and that we need to ensure three things in this country: 1.) a transparent government without corruption, 2.) an end to the human trafficking crisis, and 3.) free press. I don’t think I will ever forget this day!

One of my favorite topics to talk about with anyone who is willing to listen is the kids in my club! They have worked so hard this year and I could not be more proud! After their last presentation about diabetes, I asked them what they wanted to do next. They decided to prepare skits about the fact that we are all different and unique! I loved that they chose this topic. Their skits were awesome and the audience really enjoyed the whole presentation. Check out our blog and website, http://brav-sanatate.blogspot.com/ and https://sites.google.com/site/bravicea2010/.

On April 16th, everyone was encouraged to come together to clean Moldova in an event called “Hai Moldova”. I worked with the Principal at my school to organize this clean-up event in our village. Every student participated and I think they really enjoyed it! It was really cool to see everyone work together towards a common goal. The village looked great after the clean-up, I could not believe how much trash we ended up collecting. I am certain we will do this again next year, and I am hoping they will continue it after I leave.

By far, in Moldova, Easter (Paștele) is my favorite celebration! Most people head to the church between 10pm-3am to pray and give thanks, they then head home, grab the food they have been preparing for the past week, and head back to the church around 4am. Everyone forms circles surrounding the church, each family prepares a display on the ground or in a basket which includes special sweet bread, red colored eggs, wine, a lit candle, and the food they have been preparing for the past week. The priest then walks around the circles chanting and blessing the food by splashing droplets of holy water over the people and their food. Everyone is supposed to eat the blessed food first thing in the morning for three consecutive days. It was such a beautiful ceremony, I didn’t take any pictures of it this year (a big mistake!), but next year I will definitely take pictures.

The Sunday following Easter is known as Memorial Easter (Paștele Blajinilor). On this day, people go to the cemetery with food and wine to remember those who have passed away. Everyone surrounds the graves of their loved ones and eat, drink wine, and tell stories about the person who they have devoted this day to. Many people even bring tables and benches. The priest also chants and blesses every grave on this occasion; he does this by pouring a dash of wine alongside every grave. I visited my host mom’s husband and son. Her husband died 13 years ago, I believe he had liver problems; her son died as a young boy, he drowned in the bath tub. I loved listening to her talk about her husband and son, she loves them very much!

I am involved in a group called GLOW (Girls Leading Our World), and I love working with this group. I helped organize a training a few weeks ago, it was a big success (in my opinion!). We invited Volunteers and asked them to bring 2-3 students from their school. We ended up having around 15 Volunteers and 30 partners, which was a great turnout. We talked to the participants about how to organize a summer camp. The girls I brought with me said they really enjoyed the seminar and they are looking forward to organizing a summer camp in our village. Our hope is that these girls will develop many skills, self-confidence, and will continue organizing events in their villages even after a Volunteer no longer lives there. I am looking forward to helping out with some of the camps other Volunteers are planning!

The last day of school was today! It’s so unreal how fast this year has flown by! As some of you know, we won a grant to paint a mural! Yay! So I will be working on this for a few weeks with my students. The new Volunteers will arrive on June 8th, so I will be really busy helping them feel welcome their first few days in country. I can’t wait to meet all of them! I will admit I have been Facebook stalking them! ;) Our summer camp will begin at the end of June, it is for girls in grades 5th-7th. I am most excited about this! And then we are starting a girl’s club in July, I am hoping it will turn into something like Girl Scouts! My Mom will also be here in July!! Woohoo! Other than these plans, I just hope to help my host mom in the garden, play with the kids in my village, travel around Moldova, and enjoy the nice, sunny weather!

That’s all! I didn’t write about everything, in hope that you will stay interested, I hope you found some of this interesting!

Love Cristy :)

--
Cristy Hickson
Health Education for Schools and Communities Volunteer
Peace Corps Moldova
Str. Grigore Ureche #12
2001 - Chisinau, Republica Moldova
Email: hickson.crystal@gmail.com

Why is the soup in my wine glass? (And other questions of etiquette.)

2011-04-14T10:57:00.011-04:00

The waiter brought the soup, a beautiful tomato gazpacho. Yet something was wrong. As each person was served, the well dressed guests at the table became more nervous. The soup was in a champagne glass, and for good measure, a grilled goat cheese sandwich served as a make-shift lid. What in the heck are you supposed to do with that?

Those are the types of questions Ferrum’s graduating seniors faced during the eighth annual Professional Protocol Dinner last night in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room.

Career Services Director Rol Walters figured out a long time ago that knowing which fork is for salad could be the final hurdle for graduating seniors entering the workplace. “These people have spent four years preparing for the job market, and we don’t want them to lose an opportunity if they can’t handle a business lunch or dinner,” said Walters.

So Walters teams up with Jack Sharlowe FMP, an expert on protocol, and Ferrum College Chef Bo Bernard. Chef Bo comes up with gourmet dishes that challenge even veteran business diners, while the Tuxedo clad Sharlowe guides students, staff and local business people through the minefield of potential mistakes.

“No more than two sugars for your coffee or tea, more than that is excessive,” he cautioned. “Don’t salt your food before you taste it. That’s pre-judging.”

Sharlowe also guided the group through the standard rules of how to carry on polite conversation without dominating the table. He gave basic advice on how to place the napkin in your lap, (diagonally and partially folded) and how to place your fork and knife on your plate to indicate to the wait staff that you are resting, but not yet finished with your meal.

Bite by bite, we finished our peanut butter and jelly (sliced grapes on cranberry walnut bread crouton with powdered peanut butter) our cucumber wrapped spring salad, and roasted Chicken Oscar – on the bone – with rosemary risotto. (I NEVER order chicken on the bone in polite company.) For dessert we enjoyed Baked Tart Tatin – a spiral sliced granny smith apple stuffed with caramel cream cheese served on puffed pastry. Beautiful and delicious, but hard to eat without using your fingers.

Oh – and the soup in the champagne glass with the grilled goat cheese? You set the sandwich on your bread plate. Since the soup is in a glass you may drink it or spoon it – making sure to dip the spoon away from your body.

Bon appétit.

To view more photos from the evening, click here.

Dessert Discussion: Christianity vs. Atheism

2011-04-13T12:21:00.003-04:00

Public Relations Intern Meagan Hodges has been attending the College's Dessert Discussions. Here are her thoughts on the most recent discussion.

Dessert Discussion: Christianity vs. Atheism

Dessert discussions have been happening approximately every two weeks on campus in the Confetti’s Lounge located in the basement of Bassett Hall. This is a great opportunity for students, faculty, staff, and Residence Hall Educators to take part in meaningful conversations on key issues, such as “civility” and “racism in the media” in a relaxed setting. Desserts and drinks are served to get participants’ minds flowing, and this week’s discussion consisted of Christianity, Atheism, and chocolate tart pie. Residence Hall Educators Joseph Fridley, Demond Hairston, Toni Davis, and Professor of Mathematics Jobriath Kauffman facilitated the discussion and were joined by several other Ferrum students and other participants on Monday, April 4th, 2011.

Among the topics discussed were faith and religion, life after death, the existence of God, Heaven and Hell, and free will. Professor Kauffman opened with comments on “The Last Supper” and Jesus’ Resurrection from the Bible. On Christianity, Professor Kauffman’s view was that “You are a Christian if you believe that Christ is who he said he was.” Faith was defined in the discussion as “What you do not know and choose to believe.”

Opposing views were given to support both Christianity and Atheism, and some students proclaimed agnosticism, meaning that they believe God’s existence can be neither proven nor disproven. An issue these students had with Christianity was the problem of reconciling humanistic free will with God’s “ultimate plan.” Hypocrisy in Christians and churches was another reason given by students for not accepting Christianity. Also, some presented the view that the fear of death is the only real reason that people turn to religion.

Religion was also discussed in terms of cultural relevance. It was mentioned that “both Atheists and Jesus hated “religion” because of the wedge it drives between humans. Cultural references, such as the movie Dogma, were brought up, as well as the impacts that these influences have on religion today. Toni Davis, Residence Hall Educator, said that college is a time that many students are faced with evidence or other cultural influences that cause them to question the religion they were raised in. One student affirmed this statement by saying that she was “still searching” for religion or spirituality.

The session came to a close with Professor Kauffman telling his story of how he kept his faith through his college years. He left his family in Pennsylvania to go to college in Tennessee. Upon arriving, he met a fellow student from China who he instantly bonded with. This friend invited Kauffman to the local Chinese Ministry, and even though he could not understand the message, this was what got him back into the rhythm of worshiping and attending Sunday school.

Brad Barbour, a local man from Henry County, had been an active participant in the conversation all along. He worked on campus previously, found out about the discussion via email, and thought the topic was of such interest that he decided to come out. He said that “Real love is not a feeling, it’s a choice,” regarding the choice to accept Christianity, and he thoughtfully closed the discussion by stating that “Either side will never get anywhere by arguing.”

House Party is No Fun.

2011-04-11T14:21:00.013-04:00

“Being pregnant isn’t as cute as I thought it would be,” said Ferrum College student Katie Duff.” With groan she added, “It’s also heavier.”

Katie is one of about 200 students who are learning first hand the consequences of their actions. She's wearing an outfit that makes her look and feel pregnant.

Other students were suspended from school, sexually assaulted at a party and learned they had contracted various sexually transmitted diseases. Oh yeah – some went to jail and others died.

It’s part of an exercise called, House Party put on by the College Department of Student Affairs.

“It shows students how close they are to life changing decisions, when they don’t even realize it,” explained Student Health Programs Coordinator Jill Adams, who heads the program.

Students begin the exercise by attending what looks like a keg party in the Panther’s Den. There is loud music, a pair of kegs in the middle of the room, and sorority sisters dancing and drinking from red plastic cups. It looks for all the world like an actual college party.

As the students mingle, volunteers pass out slips of paper that indicate what the student “did” after drinking too much and making bad decisions. “You have alcohol poisoning, go to the hospital,” said one slip. “You were charged with assault for fighting,” said another.

The first student went to a station manned by Ferrum Biology Professor Katie Goff, playing the role of doctor who informed the young lady that she had required CPR and nearly died after having her stomach pumped. She was dispatched to another station, where she would need to explain herself to volunteers posing as her parents.

Student Marcavious Rose, meanwhile learned that his assault charge, though dropped would still be cause to dismiss him from school. “We can’t take a chance on a student who has shown he is willing to do bodily harm to another student,” explained Vice President of Student Affairs Andrea Zuschin.

Down the hall there were even worse stories. Brittany Jones learned she had been sexually assaulted at a party after passing out. Claude Johnson walked by with a sign around his neck. It announced he’d contracted gonorrhea.

When asked about the exercise, every student said it made them realize how close they could be to making a life changing mistake. Volunteers, like Amy Pendleton of the Perinatal Education Center in Rocky Mount, who handed lifelike crying babies, to students who learned they’d become pregnant, said they would rather spend the time now, than helping kids learn, “once it’s too late.”

Pendleton drove the point home by setting the baby’s adjustable temperament to ‘irritable.” Said one student tasked with carrying, feeding and changing the crying baby’s diapers, “This is way harder than I thought.”

Chef Bo to Go

2011-03-21T14:36:00.005-04:00

Chef Timothy “Bo” Bernard is about to take a nice trip to Philadelphia – all expenses paid by the Campbell’s Soup company. He is one of four finalists for a contest to see which food service chefs from across the nation could come up with a recipe worthy of taking its place on the back of the Campbell’s can.

He entered the contest, “on a whim,” he told me. “I saw this on-line contest and figured, ‘Why not?’”

Chef Bo’s recipe, called Frenchy Fusion Noodle Bowl, was offered to students today for the first time. Think of it like French Onion soup with linguini, bean sprouts, mushrooms, and lean beef. There are a few other ingredients, but discussions of things culinary require an expertise beyond my pay grade – if not my palette.

In a word, this dish is good. It’s filling and has more substance than the French Onion soup you might have before your meal. This was a meal in itself, though not as heavy as typical comfort foods.

Of course next week, the judges, who have more refined palettes will be deciding what they think. Campbell’s is flying Bo to Philadelphia where he will present his recipe in person. If he wins, Campbell’s will give him a $500 shopping spree in the Campbell’s store and perhaps will put his recipe on the back of a can – the one you buy in the store, or perhaps the 50 oz. food service size, used by chefs who cook for hundreds at a time. If he wins, Bo says he’ll bring back $500 worth of stuff for Ferrum College students.

If not, we have a new dish to eat at the dining hall. I highly recommend it.

Spanish Fashion Show: Another Salute to Cultural Diversity at Ferrum

2011-03-09T14:26:00.005-05:00

Ferrum College Public Relations Intern Meagan Hodges (below) recently joined other students in a fashion show -- presented in Spanish! Her take on the event is our latest blog.

The first annual Spanish Fashion Show was held Wednesday, February 23 in the Grousebeck Auditorium. Organized by Spanish Professor, Patty Suppes, along with her students in Spanish 102, the show was a lively way to showcase cultural diversity and help students feel more comfortable with speaking in a different language. She got the idea from a friend that does a show similar to this every year, and it’s a big hit at that college. Being a student in this elementary level of Spanish, I thought the fashion show was a “perfect fit” because we were learning about clothing and accessories at the time of the show.

Each student in the class chose an outfit and wrote a detailed description of what they planned to wear in Spanish. On the day of the show, students swapped descriptions so that they could present someone else as they walked down the stairs in the auditorium and onto the “runway”. Outfits ranged from the casual, to the formal, to the bizarre. Ferrum student, Sierra Hampton, wore an outfit suitable for a rainy day with boots and a rain coat. Another student, Jessica Goad, wore a beach-style dress with flip-flops perfect for summer. Ferrum Junior, Isaac Hawks, dressed as a lumberjack. It was exciting to see students’ creativity and style come out through their choice of attire, and to see them interacting with one another and the crowd in the Spanish language.

Overall, the turnout was a bit disappointing, but Professor Suppes plans to make the Spanish Fashion Show a yearly event. She hopes to see more and more students interested in cross-cultural activities and learning new languages. Students Elise Foster and Kristian Green said that the show was a fun learning experience, so hopefully next year more students will have the same reaction. Activities like these are among the many reasons that make me proud to be a well-rounded Ferrum student!

Spring Break with the Choctaw

2011-03-03T11:27:00.015-05:00

Ferrum College Dean of Chapel Wes Astin is spending spring break with a group of Ferrum College Students, on a mission trip with the Choctaw Indians. Wes has been sending daily dispatches and photos as the team lives the Ferrum College Motto, "Not Self, But Others."

Day 1

We started out day out with breakfast together before hitting the road. We went to Sterling’s home for a day of painting. Sterling is one of the elders of the Choctaw tribe.

During our lunch break the group learned about what is happening in the Choctaw community with the Chief who is in his third year in this position. the Chief is not popular with the Choctaw people right now.

At the end of our day of painting we returned to the Mission Center where we prepared a meal of hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, and a Birthday Cake. We were blessed by having Howard, one of the members of John’s Memorial UMC, and members of his family with us to celebrate Howard's 25th Birthday. Following dinner all of the men (well with the exception of ONE of us) had a very intense and LONG game of basketball. The 25 year old, Howard, put a “hurting” on these young men!

All-in-all, it was a great day of mission and ministry!

Until the next post........

Day 2

Yesterday morning began with breakfast and morning devotions. Brad “Loops” Donahue, a psychology major, shared from I Thessalonians 5:17 (seek that which is good, rejoice always, and pray without ceasing.) The group shared how they experienced our new friend Howard on the basketball court the previous evening “seeking that which was good.” He is an awesome athlete and he was constantly making sure that everyone had their time with the ball even when he could have made every shot, every time! So often we want to show off our skills when our greatest skill is seen when we try to highlight others. Kind of sounds like the Ferrum motto in there somewhere, doesn’t it? “Not Self, But Others.”

We then returned to John’s Memorial UMC which is located on Tribal land where we spent a LONG day cleaning and painting. It was a very productive day as we completed painting every room and repaired the ceiling in the fellowship hall. Two of us will return this morning to finish a couple of small touch up points that needed to dry overnight.

We returned to the Mission site around 5 pm where several of the crew began grilling chicken, preparing veggies and potatoes for our dinner. Following dinner we left the site for the Tribal hospital where we visited one of the elders of the tribe and a member of one of the local United Methodist Churches.

David had a stroke a few weeks ago and lost use of his right side. He can’t speak but he is able to sing. So, we gathered around his bed (it was a crowded room with all of us and some members of his family) and we sang, we prayed for David, and we sang some more. This was a very meaningful evening.

After we said our good byes and good wishes to David, we returned to the site, where our friend from last year’s visit, Tisha, came and shared history of the Choctaw people and some updates on the tribal chief. Needless to say, many are hoping for a change in that role in the next election.

We ended our day with scripture and prayers and then we gathered in our small room where all 10 of us live and sleep and sat around and talked, and talked, and talked, until this old preacher decided it was time to hit the bed.

Day 3

Well, yesterday was another very productive day. We began with morning devotions and breakfast. This day we stayed at the mission site and did some much needed painting and cleaning.

Andrew and I returned to John’s Memorial UMC to finish up a small painting and spackling job that we were not able to complete the previous day. The rest of the crew stayed at the site and built a new door into the sanctuary of the church there, painted, picked up trash and repaired the trash receptacles that Rocky the Raccoon had destroyed in order to have his nightly feasts.

We took a couple of hours in the afternoon to return to the “Mother Mound” - the site the Choctaw people memorialize the start of all creation that gave this tribe life. From there we visited the site remembering the Freedom Summer Murders, when three voting rights activist came to Mississippi to investigate the burning of Mount Zion Church and were murdered. This was a very educational and moving experience for the team. It reminded us of the great price that many pay in living out the “Not Self, But Others” motto of Ferrum.

Upon our return to the Mission Site we continued some final painting and the Church & Community Worker, Steve, asked the group to paint one of the entrances with a mural of some sort depicting the group including the names of those here. So, as we continue in this covenant relation with this mission we hope to add to the names as the years come and go.

As we begin today we will finalize some painting, have breakfast with some of the folks at the site, load up and begin our journey back home.

What a Spring Break experience! We came to serve and, as always, our lives were changed forever!

Thank you Ferrum College for allowing me to be a part of such meaningful experiences.

Thank you to the many who gave financially so that these student’s could minister and be ministered to in such a meaningful way!

Blessings,

Wes Astin

Doughnuts the Ferrum Way.

2011-02-25T11:37:00.006-05:00

So I'm walking in from getting my free Starbucks coffee at the bookstore, and lo and behold who is approaching me but two people offering the opportunity to try new doughnut flavors for campus.

Are you kidding me? Not only will there soon be doughnuts on campus, but the folks in food service are making sure they pick the ones that people actually want.

Now that's service. Correction. That's service the Ferrum College way.

Assistant Catering Manager Alyson Seidel and Vending Manager Chris Foley have already offered the new options to students -- in a taste test, and in the dining hall. This day they were offering members of the administration the chance to opine on whether the creme filled varieties are better than say the blueberry cake option. (They are!)

After tasting, we were asked to complete a survey. It asked which ones we like best, would be purchase the occasional doughnut, and what would we be willing to pay.

So far the favorite seems to be the raspberry jelly-filled with white icing. It is followed closely by the Bavarian Creme filled and the Long John.

All I know is that we will soon have a doughnut option -- The Ferrum way!

To Be Civil… or Not to Be Civil

2011-02-07T10:21:00.012-05:00

Ferrum College recently offered an evening discussion called, "Shut the (bleep) Up." Issues related to civility. While it might seem obvious that people should be civil to one another, there were strong arguments that people used civility to "hide" their personalities. Public Relations Intern Meagan Hodges participated in the event and blogs about it below.

By Meagan Hodges
Public Relations Intern
Have you ever felt that someone has been uncivil or disrespected you? Sure you have. In fact, I’m sure there have been numerous instances. This is why the “Shut the [Bleep] up – Conversations about Civility” event, held on February 1st in the Confetti’s Lounge in Bassett Hall, was so important. Twelve students and two faculty members spoke out openly of examples in their own lives of how they have been disrespected, and voiced their opinions about the advantages and implications of civility.

Joseph Fridley, Residence Hall Educator, facilitated the discussions and asked questions such as, “Why is civility important to a community?” Other topics discussed included the curtain of civility between online and real world behavior, the context of civility, and cursing. There was much debate on whether cursing should be used only in certain places or instances, or if it should be intolerable all together. Some agreed that vulgar language has no place in society, whether it is in public or private, but the consensus amongst students was that as long as it doesn’t offend anyone, that there is a time and place for cursing.

The pros and cons of civility were also a hot topic. Many said that there are no cons to civility because it’s about respect. Others said that enforcing civility is a form of judging. Zachalee Mercado, Ferrum student, said, “Civility hinders society because no one knows who you really are.” Often times, people hide their true selves in an effort to be civil. Other students expressed their doubts about a completely civil society because of the lack of interest of some people to behave in a civil manner. Justin Beveridge, Ferrum student, said, “Civility works more when it’s something that everyone buys into.”

This discussion was part of a series of themed conversations to be held throughout the course of the semester to help shed light on pressing issues involving the campus community. These events provide a safe public forum for students and faculty to voice opinions, and along with provided food and drinks, creates a friendly atmosphere for participants. I hope these discussions will aid in getting students involved in making positive changes on campus. In the words of Joseph Fridley, “Civility only works as a whole if students enforce it.”

Ferrum Outdoors: Caving

2011-01-26T10:06:00.004-05:00

By
Aaron Conover
Adventure Programmer
Ferrum Outdoors

Students donned helmets and headlamps this past Sunday (January 23, 2011) in preparation for Ferrum Outdoors’ next adventure. A brisk wind blew a few snowflakes around as they made their way up the trail to the Cave entrance. Once there, everyone felt the warm air that was flowing from the small opening and looked forward to getting out of the cold. So, they grabbed their packs, turned on their lights and crawled in.

Caves generally maintain a fairly constant temperature year round. This is based on an annual average for the area where the cave is located -- which means that for this region of Virginia it is approximately 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes an inviting environment for a winter activity and also bat hibernation. Many caves are closed this time of year because of this. The cave we visited has a section that is ideal for exploration and does not disturb the area where the bats have settled in for their long winter nap.

This is a wild cave so there are no walking paths, tour guides (except for the trip leaders) or electric lights on the walls. The first room that the cavers entered provided an array of stalagmites, stalactites, columns and other formations. It was also the place where they sat down and turned off their headlamps to let their eyes adjust to complete darkness. But, in order to see more they had to turn the lamps back on, crawl through openings, help each other climb down and out of passages plus get a little bit muddy. The participants had fun working as team, learning proper caving techniques and experiencing a unique underground environment on this trip.

What It Means eans to be a Ferrum Student-Athlete

2011-01-19T09:34:00.006-05:00

Ferrum College football player TJ Grzesikowski has had a full life over the past four years. In addition to being an outstanding punter, he has been involved in the floowing campus activities:
History and Social Studies Major
Secondary Education Minor
Phi Alpha Theta- Member
Kappa Delta Pi-Member
PAL Tutor
Undergraduate Assistant

Yet, clearly it is the Ferrum Athletics traditions of excellence that stands out in his academic career. Below he shares some thoughts on what it's like to be a Panther -- or as he puts it, to "wear the black hat."

One of the most startling trends of the 21st century student-athlete is the type of pressure being placed on us to not only perform on the field, but to also perform in the classroom. I remember my Seminole High School principal used to tell us “no matter how good you can swing a baseball bat, it’s the wood bat with a #2 on it that you carry in the classroom that’s most important and will get you any where in life.” This same message follows me to Ferrum College and has been echoed over the years.

My 4 years at Ferrum College have been filled with many a memory and filled with quite a few influential characters. One of the best that I have ever talked to would be Mr. Hank Norton. I am by no means a good ol’ Southern Virginia boy, but after listening to some of Coach Norton’s stories of kickers that have come and gone, its makes you feel like you’re just one of the good ol’ boys from another team passed. It’s people like Mr. Norton that make Ferrum College what it is today.

Coach Dave Harper is not only a mentor and a coach to me, but Coach Harper is a product of how Ferrum Football and Ferrum Athletics have transformed boys into men with moral character. I have been blessed and honored to wear the Black Hat and represent Ferrum College Athletics and no doubt have become a product of the Ferrum Football program.

What the new Hank Norton Center will bring to Ferrum College is a brilliant capstone to an institution that has embraced not only the 21st century but kept true with the traditions and history that brought Ferrum College to where it is today. What makes Ferrum Athletics unique are the close-knit friendships and time shared between us student-athletes not only in our own sports -- but across all sports. While at most colleges football keeps to itself and soccer and baseball to themselves, here at Ferrum we all share classes, dorms, and now we can even share state-of-the art athletic, classroom, and locker room space in the same building.

I hope the new facilities will bring more of the great Ferrum College student-athletes like those I have played with and those who have come here in years past. The future looks bright around campus with new dormitories, renovated classroom space, and upgraded facilities everywhere you turn. I am very excited to see Ferrum Athletics following in the same direction. I hope that I can return to Ferrum College and see more positive growth that will benefit everyone in the Ferrum Family. Go Panthers!

Alone With My Thoughts

2011-01-18T10:32:00.003-05:00

Ferrum College Student Meagan Hodges wrote down her thoughts as she joined two other Ferrum students at the Salzburg Global Seminar in Austria in early January 2011. Meagan and the other students were there to participate in lectures, field trips and conversations with students from around the world, with the larger goal of creating "Global Citizens." Her thoughts below from midway through the conference.

I am now lying in bed with only my thoughts and emotions to keep me company. I have cried more this week than I have the entire last semester. Being able to talk about so many pressing issues on personal and global levels is not something I am used to. I feel that I can just be myself amongst these other eager students without having to worry about being judged. We have all felt so guilty because on occasions, each one of us has judged someone here without being conscious of it. Instead of avoiding the problem we thought we had with that person, we approached them in order to not only give a proper apology, but to gain from that person what we initially thought was a flaw.

Learning about myself and my goals has given me a new perspective on my life and my purpose, and now I know that it is okay to be unsure where that path may lead me. Surprising myself with what I can accomplish will be the greatest success of all. Dr. Fluker’s wife, Sharon, was such an encouragement after I had a rough time over dinner trying to discern where I stand and what role I play in our universal community. She said that there needs to be more genuinely involved women in higher education, with which I agree, but she spoke it in such a way that was relative to me because she said that she has been where I am. She too has had to make choices that seem so difficult to get her where she is today.

Along with me, she hated high school, but loved to learn. She was genuinely interested in my family and my studies and just let me speak a little bit about my story and what makes me my own person. Just as Walter said, it is the remembering and re-telling of our own stories that help us to connect with ourselves and others that are not all that different from us.

The Sights and Sounds of Music in Austria

2011-01-13T20:01:00.002-05:00

Imagine this if you can: Our Seminar group stayed in a renovated horse stable from which we had an impeccable view of the Swiss Alps, dined in the marble hallway of the Schloss Leopoldskron Palace for every meal, and we were able to see and visit the fortress of the castle located at the top of the old town of Salzburg. The weather was cold, but there was no harsh wind as there is in Ferrum. A light dusting of snow covered the ground, which was just enough for an aesthetic perk without turning the trip in to a mess. The lake in front of the palace was almost entirely frozen over, so a few daring individuals decided to take a stroll (or a skate) on the ice.

The old town was about a fifteen minute walk from our residence for the week. This was convenient, although we opted to take a cab if we were in a hurry. The walkways were cobblestone and there were horse and buggies roaming the streets. Outside of the monolithic cathedral was a hotspot for unknown musicians to plug and play their instruments. While we were there, we witnessed an electrical and an acoustic guitarist, followed by a violinist, all of whom demonstrated their love of classical music.

The shopping and dining in the small town of Salzburg ranged from the low key to the most exquisite. Needless to say, our group opted for the modest options. It was so interesting to explore the specialty shops and the souvenir kiosks. I couldn’t look in any direction without seeing Mozart, his chocolates, or giant pretzel vendors. After our shopping expedition, Cody, Jessi, and I stopped for dinner to enjoy some authentic European foods and beverages.

Waking up every morning to walk to the palace for breakfast was a treat, not only because of the food, but because of the breathtaking mountains. Every day the snow covered Alps appeared differently in every light, from the bleak, cloudy mornings, to the rosy red sunrises. Many from the seminar noticed that the shape of the mountains was not that of those in Appalachia. The Alps were jagged and steep instead of rounded and less inclined than they are here.

Just taking it all in was harder than one might think. I was on sensory overload, and I am beginning to feel that way right now even as I recall my experience. I am still not adjusted to the time zone and am having a difficult time coping with being immediately immersed in the demanding world of academia; however, in the spirit of the Salzburg Seminar faculty, I must “Stay awake” to my surroundings, and remember my task of becoming a global citizen.

Ferrum Students in Salzburg: Dachau Visit and More

2011-01-07T09:34:00.004-05:00

Where do you think? Where do you remove yourself to slow down and remember? I am writing this from the WC (yes the water closest) the other fellows and myself were just dismissed from the Dachau debrief. We traveled today to the Dachau memorial site in Germany. The experience was as you might assume personal, somber and thought provoking.
During the debrief my colleagues were so captivating with enthusiasm and words of passionate meaning it warmed my heart. Individuals spoke about change, the power of leaders, words that change people, the importance of revisiting memories, the journey of knowledge and knowing what to do with that knowledge.
An important point was made that I hope those who read this will help hold me accountable for; “always leave room for others to have a voice.” Think about that. Take this to your bathroom. Read it and remember it. Always leave room for others to talk. This is a challenge I feel we all struggle with in our daily lives whether in the work place, marriages, friendships, discussions, personal battles or confrontations with people we love. You never know why a person says or does what they do but you hear what they say, that is your perception.
Reinhold said, “Tolerance is still better than no tolerance at all.” But can we do more? Is there more to this act of tolerance? Should we “do” more?
Walter made the statement, “not just for the other but with the other.” Powerful huh! Seeing the sufferings of people, humans no different than you or me that is mind boggling. But what is more boggling or troubling is knowing that we need change and we need as humans to be for the other and that certain people oppose this. I leave you with this last question What IS love… an experience?

Ashe,
Jessi

(To find the meaning of Ashe Google “Ashe African”)

Okay. Now I finally have time to type and the internet isn’t working in our rooms, so once again this blog will be read long after the events have taken place. I finally had the chance to get some much needed rest last night as well.

Walter Fluker is the man. I was a part of the lecture of a lifetime yesterday. We were singing, moving, holding hands, crying, and laughing. I feel that I made so many connections with so many different folks. We learned a song and got to hold a “talking stick” with which we all spoke the words “From the center of all things I call myself …” and inserted a name or group of people that we would wish to speak for that do not have a voice. We all said something profound (or profoundly funny to lighten the mood).

Today was the visit to the Dachau Concentration Camp. We were all given audio tour guides and got to walk around the camp, learn, mourn, and reflect on our own experiences at our own pace. As a first time visitor to such an atrocious place of cruelty and extinction, I was taken out of my comfort zone and challenged to sort my own feelings. It was a mixture of melancholy, somberness, personal revelations, and joy to be able to experience and learn from a site of history. Tonight is a debrief so that we may ask questions and share our own thoughts about the day.

I plan to type and write a ton on the plane ride home, so I hope that is okay. Honestly, our schedule has been so jammed and I have just wanted to experience this beautiful place and absorb the sites and the information. I will be in touch!

Sincerely,

Meagan Hodges

35 Years of Jack Tales

2011-01-06T10:29:00.004-05:00

In December, the Ferrum Theater troupe known as the Jack Tale Players celebrated 35 years of productions. We'll have more about that in a future blog. In the meantime, the Ferrum College faculty recognized Professor Rex Stephenson with a proclamation which reads as follows:

14 December 2010

RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING
the Thirty-fifth Anniversary of The Jack Tale Players

WHEREAS, for thirty-five years, The Jack Tale Players have played a significant role in perpetuating the traditional music and stories of the Blue Ridge Mountains; and

WHEREAS, for thirty-five years, The Jack Tale Players have brought the joy of live theatrical performance to children in regional schools and to national and international audiences; and

WHEREAS, for thirty-five years, The Jack Tale Players have served as a training ground for acting students in storytelling, improvisation, and children’s theatre; and

WHEREAS, for thirty-five years, The Jack Tale Players have served as ambassadors of culture and good will to the larger community;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT

The Ferrum College faculty congratulates The Jack Tale Players and Dr. R. Rex Stephenson on the occasion of the group’s thirty-fifth anniversary, expresses its appreciation for representing Ferrum College with distinction, and extends its best wishes for many more successful years of celebrating our native cultural traditions.

___________________________________
Lana A. Whited, Chair
Ferrum College Faculty Council

Ferrum Students at Salzburg -- Arrival

2011-01-04T08:08:00.004-05:00

Four students from Ferrum College, Caitlin Fournier, Meagan Hodges, Jessi Naff and Cody Wright are in Salzburg, Austria from January 3-10, where they are participating in the Salzburg Global Seminar on Global Citizenship. Their trip was paid for by a grant from the Melon Foundation. For more background on the trip click here. The students have agreed to share their thoughts and revelations with occasional blogs and photos from the seminar.

Jessi Naff sent the following on January 3, 2011.

Are you awake? This was the question and the purpose of the first day here in Salzburg. When first hearing this I assumed David Goldman and Jochen Fried were talking about the jet lag from the 8-hour flight to Munich and then the 2-hour ride to Salzburg. They were, but what I realized after the talk they gave was that keeping us awake has a twofold meaning. Being awake both physically and mentally is what the goal of the day was!

I write this with a gigantic smile on my face, in the words of Travis Campbell who is a resource specialist at the seminar “this is only the first night!” I was the last fellow to leave the reception after an in depth conversation with another seminar fellow. Travis joined our conversation about experiential learning towards the end of the reception. I think I could have sat for hours (if I was not so jet lagged) and talked about the experiential term I took at Ferrum last May. The other seminar fellow I was talking to goes to Brevard College. He is a wilderness leadership and experiential education major. He found my trip amazing! I also mentioned the internships I have had while in the education program. It really surprised me that he found our programs at Ferrum so interesting. I assumed all colleges had experiential opportunities for their students.

Wow, I cannot wait to share more with you all! The opening lecture really was amazing. “Mapping Ethnocentrism” it really goes to show travel is the best educator. Stepping back and evaluating where you came from can really lead to new beliefs, attitudes and values if you have an open heart and open mind. David left us with an excerpt from this poem and I will leave you with it as well.

All good people agree,
And all good people say,
All nice people, like Us, are We
And every one else is They:
But if you cross over the sea,
Instead of over the way,
You may end by (think of it!) looking on We
As only a sort of They

2010-12-13T11:51:00.004-05:00

By Lana A. Whited
Professor of English and Director of the Boone Honors Program

In the classroom, I ask a lot of questions to which I already know the answers, leading students in paths of knowledge that I have already traveled. So what I have enjoyed most about working with senior Whitney Scott in an independent study this fall is the opportunity to be a student again myself.

Whitney’s project will ultimately serve as the material for Ferrum’s first honors thesis. An English major from Rocky Mount, Whitney will write the thesis in the spring semester and present her work in April 2011 at the college’s Arts & Humanities Symposium.

For her project, Whitney selected 11 novels dealing with the concept of utopia or dystopia – literary depictions of societies that are either perfect or severely warped. She and I began our work in May with a reading list and a general interest in looking at roles for women in these societies, not even knowing for sure what questions the primary sources would raise.

To some extent, I am out of my element with Whitney’s project, as most of the novels represent the science fiction/fantasy genre, an area of literature that, except for my extensive work with Harry Potter, I have largely avoided.

By fall break, Whitney had nearly completed her reading list, and I was struggling to keep up. She had become increasingly interested in three novels: Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale (1986), Suzy McKee Charnas’ Walk to the End of the World (1974) and The Fifth Sacred Thing (1993) by Starhawk.

In particular, Whitney began to examine the role of religious fundamentalism – specifically Christian extremism – in the formation of the dystopias depicted in each of these three novels. She was intrigued by Margaret Atwood’s comment that she tried to set The Handmaid’s Tale in her native Canada but found that it worked much better amid the religious fervor that characterized the United States during the rise of the Moral Majority. As I was a college student at that time and Whitney was not born yet, I could help her understand the sociopolitical context of Atwood’s novel.

Her exploration of this topic led to an interesting discussion of witchcraft persecution and how European societies (and those, like ours, derived from Europe) have always tended to demonize women who defy social norms and conventions. Whitney read the Malleus Maleficarum or “Hammer of Witches,” a treatise written by an inquisitor of the Roman Catholic Church in 1486 and commissioned by Pope Innocent VIII himself. The document, which provides specific directions on identifying witches, ignited the worst period of witchcraft trials in Europe.

Another aspect of Whitney’s project that I have really enjoyed is the way she has recruited a team of faculty to collaborate in mentoring her. Her thesis committee also includes Dr. Susan Virginia Mead, a sociologist who has taught Starhawk’s novel repeatedly in Sociology 101, and Mr. Danny Adams, a member of the Stanley Library staff who knows the genre of science fiction better than most of the English faculty. English professor Karen Duddy, who is teaching “Women in Literature” this semester, has served as a sounding board for Whitney’s ideas. And Stanley Library Director George Loveland has helped with her secondary research and her study of George Orwell’s famous dystopia, “1984.” Simultaneously with her independent study, Whitney enrolled in Dr. Milt Rowan’s “History of Women in the 20th Century” course, which has deepened her understanding of the waves of feminism that have shaped our country in modern times.

On Wed., Dec. 9, just as Fall exams were beginning, Whitney presented her preliminary theories to a group of English professors and other interested faculty, staff, and students. One of the faculty members present called the project “a multidisciplinary undertaking of considerable sophistication.” Another said that Whitney was already working with texts the faculty member’s daughter hadn’t discovered until she took women’s studies courses in graduate school.

Just a few days before the presentation, Whitney received an e-mail from a graduate program director who had read about the project in the Council of Undergraduate Research’s student database. The director invited Whitney to apply to her university’s doctoral program in English, which includes faculty specializing in gender studies and feminist theory.

So as she prepares to undertake the writing of the thesis, Whitney will also begin planning the next phase of her education. Those of us who are fortunate enough to work with her are eager to see what she will teach us next.

Note: Whitney’s thesis blog, “All Fullness, All Vacancy,” is posted at http://www.hervillage.wordpress.com.

Ferrum Students Camp in the Snow

2010-12-10T11:08:00.005-05:00

By Aaron Conover
Adventure Programmer
Ferrum Outdoors

The only sounds that came to my ears when I woke up during the night were those of snowflakes hitting the side of the tent and the wind roaring through the trees on the ridge above. As I drifted back to sleep, it occurred to me that there were probably not too many people out there backpacking on this cold and snowy weekend except for maybe Dan Caston (Instructor of Recreation and Ferrum Outdoors Coordinator), thirteen students from Ferrum College and Roxy the trail dog. This was because Dan was leading the experiential portion of the Winter Camping 105 class and invited me to join them.

The original plan was to hike in and stay overnight in the backcountry at the Mount Rogers Recreational Area which offers unique terrain consisting of open slopes, red spruce and Fraser fir, massive rock outcroppings and free roaming ponies. The forecast called for Mount Rogers called for multiple inches of snow and low temperatures in combination with gusting winds. That prompted a location change.

We opted to stay closer to home and moved our adventure to the lower elevations of McAfee’s Knob instead of an epic atop the 5,729ft high Mount Rogers.

The goal of the course was (and is) to teach the necessary skills to safely and successfully camp overnight during the winter. The students took this knowledge and put it to a real test by developing their own food and personal equipment lists, packing a backpack with all the gear, hiking in 3.5 miles, setting up a tent, cooking meals on a lightweight stove and making a fire to help keep them warm. Although the keeping warm part of the program was met with varying degrees of success, everyone had smiles, all of their fingers, toes and paws at the end of the trip.

Thoughts on the December 3 Lockdown.

2010-12-06T10:03:00.006-05:00

Event shows campus systems work.

If you have any connection with Ferrum College it would have been hard to miss the news last Friday (Dec. 3, 2010) that the school was on lockdown during the overnight hours after a student called 911 to say she heard a loud noise that could have been a gunshot.

Ultimately, there was no evidence of any kind of threat, and despite the best efforts of police and even the maintenance staff, (which combed Basset Hall looking for anything that could have made a loud noise) we still do not know the source of the sound.

Be that as it may, Ferrum College should be proud of the way this event was handled. Campus police, along with Franklin County and State Police were on the scene 1 minute after Franklin County Dispatch received the 911 call.

Here’s why:

Police Chief Libby Legg, a former Lt. in the Roanoke City Police department has fostered relationships with the county and the state. The Ferrum Police headquarters serves as Franklin County’s western outpost for the Sheriff’s Department and a sub-station for State Police. That doesn’t mean we always have Troopers and Deputies on the premises – but they are here more than in years past, and they were here the night of December 3. Kudos to Chief Legg for creating an atmosphere where law enforcement officers feel comfortable and welcome.

Another success was the campus notification system. With the press of a single button, the Ferrum community was notified via the campus website, text messaging, Facebook, Twitter, and e-mail that a lockdown was in place, but that there were no injuries. The campus siren sounded with the pressing of another button to coincide with the other messaging. The lockdown was lifted via the same mechanism – minus the siren.

To Lockdown or Not Lockdown?

This one wasn’t as easy, and the decision was not made lightly. Campus leaders convened in the President’s Conference Room in John Wesley Hall to discuss the options. Had only a single student heard the noise, there may have been no lockdown. But when police arrived, several other students said they had also heard a sound. With no explanation for the sound forthcoming, the group felt that if we were going to err, it would be on the side of the safety of Ferrum students.

The lockdown allowed campus police to do an orderly search of campus and each residence hall and to confirm there was no need for alarm. That way, when the all clear was signaled around 5:30 a.m. – we were confident there truly was no threat.

To View the story that aired on WDBJ-7 Click here.

2010-11-22T16:17:00.006-05:00

By Kimberly P. Blair
Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Ferrum College

As the fall semester gathers to a close, we eagerly look forward to the holidays and time with friends and family. It is essential that at some point during all the festivities for me to take time to reflect on the many things for which I am thankful. This year, near the top of the list, is the gratitude I feel for the Ferrum family of alumni, parents and friends. Their expressions of continued support for this wonderful place are inspiring.

I drove by the location for the Hank Norton Center today and saw the crews with their heavy machinery working on the utility and water lines in preparation for the foundation of the Center. Ferrum Mountain looms over the sight displaying the last vestige of fall color and showing signs that change is in the air. The construction activity and the Center itself generate feelings of progress and opportunity for the future for our College.

It will transform that section of campus and will give us an opportunity to showcase our student athletes and provide a more competitive facility for recruitment for our outdoor sports. The Center is an exciting development for Ferrum.

Again, during this season to give thanks, and throughout the year, we feel blessed for the progress of the College made possible by the unrelenting support from the “Ferrum Family.” Go Panthers!

Kimberly P. Blair

Ferrum College's First Mountain Bike Race

2010-11-08T17:00:00.008-05:00

By Aaron Conover
Assistant Director of Ferrum Outdoors

The brisk and sunny morning on Saturday, October 30th provided a perfect setting for a mountain bike race. The riders started the 2.5 mile course at Chapman Pond working their way through the woods to connect with a challenging ascent. After regaining their breath, they descended a fun, newly built single track section then pedaled to the finish. All the riders returned sporting smiles with their bikes (and themselves) intact.
This event came together because of the students here at Ferrum College. Brian Wilson, Matt Fioramonti, Matt Foster, Max Ruozzi and Zack Johnson participated in designing the course layout, trail design and new trail construction. Erin French handled the registration plus timing and Henry Buchanan was out on the course making sure everyone was safe on the day of the race.

Ferrum Outdoors is excited about the growth of mountain bikers on campus and is looking forward to expanding the opportunities and resources for them. New Trails, riding technique and repair clinics, group rides and another race are in the works. Those with bikes or without can contact us at ferrumoutdoors@ferrum.edu or call (540) 365-4324 to take part in activities or receive more information.

Race Results:
1. James Turbyfill
2. Matt Fioramoniti
3. Max Ruozzi
4. Brian Wilson
5. Aaron Conover

Folklife Festival 2010 = Success.

2010-10-27T09:29:00.006-04:00

If you were at the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival this year you saw a lot. A lot of people. A lot of food. A lot of animals. A lot of community.

The festival was moved this year to be more on the west side of campus -- nearer its host the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum. It made the crowds look a little bigger because people were more clustered -- but initial indications were that the crowd actually was bigger.

Festival coordinator Roddy Moore received estimates from the state police that put the number of people between 10-12 thousand.

Beyond the numbers, many of the food vendors told me they simply ran out of food. Attendees seemed understanding, while those looking to raise money for say, the local church, were tickled to death.

If you've never seen the mule jumping competition, you owe it to yourself to see it at least once -- but beware, you're likely to want a return engagement.

This year's car show was exceptionally strong -- and the antique tractors and crafts were amazing.

If you didn't see the hand carved rattlesnake on the side of a walking stick with each scale carved and painted -- you would think it couldn't be done.

"I wouldn't take less than $500 for it," was the answer when I inquired about the price. If he had said $10,000 it wouldn't have surprised me. Amazing stuff.

Keep an eye on Ferrum.edu for additional information on the Festival. We are working on a short video for our YouTube channel on a Ferrum Alum who designed a turkey call from a piece of slate and a turtle shell. Photos from the event are also available on the front page of the website.

Thanks to all who came.

Ferrum College, Belize -- and Macaws

2010-06-29T09:55:00.022-04:00

If experience is the best teacher then one of the rising sophomores here at Ferrum College must have a head full of lessons.

Take a look at the Ferrum College You Tube Channel and you'll see a couple of recently posted videos from the May e-term. The e-stands for "experiential." That's a big deal here at Ferrum. We put our education students in classrooms as freshmen. Our environmental science students are in the field doing research as undergrads, and every May the kids have a chance to go somewhere and do something cool.

One video shows an interesting study in history that took the form of a mural at Ferrum Elementary School. It's a spectacular piece in the cafeteria that spans more than 40 feet. Among the student artists, only one was an art major -- the rest were there for the experience.

Another video depicts a trip to the Virgin Islands, where Ferrum students studied coral reefs, local culture, and participated in an archeological dig. They brought back tales of barracuda, sharks, and ancient civilizations.

The next video we'll shoot will have more to do with birds and jaguars than fish, and will tie one student in particular to woman whose fight to save the nesting grounds of the scarlet macaw was the focus of a best selling book.

The Backstory.

Ferrum College this year took its first e-term trip to Belize -- a small country in Central America that was once known as British Honduras. During their three week tour, called Rain Forest to Reef: Natural Resources in Belize, students learn about the country's culture, political structure, and of course the environment. In a nutshell, the nation is primarily English speaking, not as corrupt as many of its neighbors and covered in jungle.

One of the students on the e-term trip, Abigail Lewis, opted to stay a little longer -- to intern at the Belize Zoo.

Not to digress too much -- but to understand the significance of that opportunity, you must know a brief history of the Zoo and Sharon Matola, who founded it.

Matola took a round-about route to learning how to handle large cats like lions, tigers and jaguars. (She started out as the wife of a dentist, hopped a train to Florida, joined the circus and never looked back. I told you it was interesting.)

Fast forward to Belize where she is putting that knowledge to work during the shooting of a documentary on jungle animals. The documentary over, the producer packs up and leaves her with critters which cannot be returned to the wild. With no other choice, Matola sticks a post in the ground with a sign that says "Belize Zoo."

All of this is detailed in Bruce Barcott's book, The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw, which I am currently reading. The book is not unlike other environmental thrillers such as Into Thin Air and The Perfect Storm. There's intrigue, evil, multiple sub-plots, heroes and tragedy -- but none of it is fiction. It's an actual page-turner.

Ferrum College Assistant Professor of Environmental Science, Glen Stevens left the book on my desk two weeks ago. "If you are going to do a video on the Belize group, you need to read this," he said. Now I see why.

The book details not only Matola's efforts to establish the zoo, but more importantly, her fight to prevent the building of the Chalillo Dam which would flood one of the last nesting sites in Belize of the scarlet macaw -- the beautiful parrot you may have seen for sale in pet stores. The book details the popularity of the birds dating back to European explorers who gave them to kings as gifts from the New World, to Eco-tourists who flock to the jungles to see them in the wild, to the pet trade, where people pay thousands per bird because of their colors and intelligence.

Back to the Ferrum College Angle

If the e-term group received a small dose of this story during their trip, then Abigail got the full IV version.

She is there at that same zoo, with those same jungle cats and yes, Sharon Matola, who is now a world figure when it comes to macaws, jaguars and environmental battles. Stevens has exchanged e-mails with Abby and it appears she is seeing more of the big cats than she is Matola -- but that was to be expected.

No matter. What counts is that she is there. She is learning, and she's doing it from Ferrum College -- where experience counts.

Note: We'll be posting more information, including an interview with Abby after she returns from her adventure.

One heck of a bike commute

2010-05-21T10:58:00.004-04:00

Before I could ride my bike to work, I had to ride it home. Let me explain.

One of the best aspects of Ferrum College is its location. It's just far enough away to be isolated, but near enough to have contact with cities like Roanoke and Greensboro. It's also just far enough away to make National Bike to Work Day just a bit epic.

It's 31 miles from Ferrum College to my home in Roanoke. Take the back roads through Franklin County and the scenery is as pretty as anywhere, unless you have a strong dislike for rolling farmland, mountain vistas, gurgling brooks and that kind of stuff.

In the mid-to late 1990's I bicycled these roads regularly. But that was 10 years and 20 pounds ago. I had been wondering if it was still doable and with a little nudge from a buddy who laughed earlier in the week and said sarcastically, "are YOU riding to work on Friday?" I decided I'd do it.

The fitness part of biking to work is just part of the problem. There's logistics. I wanted to have a change of clothes at the College, so I drove to Ferrum on Thursday, with the bike, all my gear and a change of clothes in my beloved Mini Cooper. My plan was to ride home from work, and get up on Friday and ride back.

It made sense for a number of reasons. First of all it was going to take 4 hours plus to make the commute. If I had ridden to work and home in the same day, that would have made for a long Friday. Plus, with minimal time on the bike so far this year, the thought of a night's sleep in between the efforts seemed like a good idea.

So at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, I hopped on my bike and headed over Ferrum Mountain and into the countryside. It was gorgeous. The sun was out, the farmers were cutting hay and for whatever reason, even Boones Mill and the truck traffic seemed quaint. I had kept my eye on Cahas Mountain in the distance and for a time it seemed to get no closer despite my efforts.

Once in Boones Mill I turned off Bethlehem Road and spent less than a mile on the dangerous Route 220 before turning off onto another country road that took me along Maggodee Creek. Just after crossing back into Roanoke County, I descended a hill local cyclists call the "Wall." My speedometer registered 57 miles an hour.

I dragged myself up the hill to my house, pleased but apprehensive. After all, it was 31 miles BACK to work in the morning.

Friday Morning.

Up at 5:30 and the thermometer said 50 degrees. That can be a chilly ride. I upgraded my jersey, threw on a nylon vest, had some coffee, toast and a granola bar and hit the road.

Remember the "Wall?" Now I had to ride up the beast. I actually took my older bike for the return trip because it has easier gearing, but the Wall -- 4 miles into the ride was more than I had in my tired legs. I rode all the way, but "cheated" by looping back and forth across the road. Think of it as creating your own mini-switchbacks.

After that is was a beautiful, twisting downhill for several miles to Boones Mill. The sun warmed things up about 10 degrees, which was perfect.

I stopped to take a photo 18 miles into the ride and thought about how lucky I was to be able to do this.

As Ferrum Mountain emerged in front of me 10 miles later I wasn't so sure. Back in the day my buddies and I played a game to see if we could maintain 10 mph all the way up. This day, success meant just another turn of the pedals.

Be that as it may, the top eventually arrived and it was a thrilling descent back into the heart of the college.

I may do it again as a test of my fitness after what I hope is a summer of riding. But tonight, I'll be happy to see the scenery from the car.

To see the route click Here.

Eating flowers and getting jobs

2010-04-15T13:01:00.014-04:00

This week, Ferrum College Student Melissa Maldonado has the keys. She was one of many Ferrum College students who attended the annual Protocol Dinner -- designed to show students how to handle a business meal and/or interview situation. Here are Melissa's thoughts.

Mom could only teach us so much when it came to table manners, but, she never had occasion to teach us about flowers in our salad. Issues such as that were right in front of us at the annual Ferrum College Protocol Dinner, where students join faculty, staff and local employers for a fancy dinner in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room.. Our host, and guide for the evening was Jack Sharlow an etiquette specialist.
Students walked into the Blue Ridge Mountain Room to find tables with more silverware than we had ever seen around a plate and a very interesting looking soup. At that moment I was intimidated.

But host Jack assured us that this dinner was a learning experience and a comfortable setting. He started off by showing us basics like the proper way to put the napkin in your lap (fold it diagonally halfway). He then told us to open sugar packets by tearing the paper only halfway. No sooner had he said that than I did what I always do – tore all the way through, leaving TWO pieces of paper on the table instead of the preferred, one. I looked around to see if anyone had noticed. The business executive for Safe Sleep beds, Mr. Al Flora to my left laughed and said " I know, its hard to break habits." This made me feel a lot better and I began to relax.

The first serving was a melon soup. In the soup was a thin bread stick with ham wrapped around it. It looked kind of like a ham lollipop. I was completely lost on how to begin eating this and by the look on everyone else’s face they were too. We are instructed to scoop the soup away from us, so would not dribble on ourselves. This made sense. As far as the ham-on-a-stick went, we were relieved to learn we could simply pick it up. I sighed in relief this dinner might be a little easier than I anticipated.
The salad was next, it came with a surprise, flowers! I was lost again. We were told the flowers were edible and that we should eat them. I did not see this coming, but why not try something new? I put the yellow flower in my mouth and shocked! It was horrible. I tried my hardest not to make a face, I could not spit it out . That would be completely inappropriate. I was glad it was all over when I swallowed it.
Our next plate was the entree; skewers with chicken steak and vegetables. I knew this was not going to be a barbecue were I could just pull it off with my teeth. To get the food off the skewer we had to use a fork and gracefully slide the pieces off individually, “one or two at a time.” With the chicken it was not a difficult task, but the steak was a completely different story. I could see the senior to the right try and scoot the steak off the skewer slowly. Then suddenly the steak launched into his lap. We knew it had to happen to at least one of us.

Finally desert and coffee. I don’t recall what it was exactly but it was absolutely scrumptious and easy to eat -- thank goodness.
Overall the dinner was a success. Everyone at the table engaged in good conversation. We all admitted that we had some manners to brush up on and that we all will take something away from the experience. I learned to always eat my flowers.

The Best Student Workers

2010-03-26T17:05:00.016-04:00

A good friend of mine used to quip of his days in college, that he, "never let classes get in the way of his education."

It always got a laugh and he had the personality to pull it off. But there's a hint of truth in there as well. Not EVERYTHING of value in college happens in class.

Nowhere was that more evident than on campus this week as Ferrum College honored it's students employees of the year. Eight work study students who went above and beyond the normal hum-drum task of dutifully performing mundane work in return for money for college.

Nominees included:
James Hunter Boyte, Information Services
Corey Elizabeth Brooks, Provost Office
Andrew Michale Maxwell, Dining Services
Wesley Adam Mullins, Campus Safety
Travis Powell Smith, Athletics
Ryan Michael Snyder, Subway
Diana Rochelle Yates, ARC
Michale Travis Zitmore, Facility Services

In a brief ceremony in the Virginia Room in Franklin Hall, Human Resources Director M.A. Whisenant told the students how her goal was to teach the students how to be good employees once they graduate.

Toward that end, nominees were graded on whether they were reliable, the quality of their work, whether they were innovative and professional and the uniqueness of the contribution they brought to the job.

Last year's winner, Bob Dill, now a senior who has two job offers and has applied to medical school, told this year's nominees that he feels the award is among his greatest accomplishments at college and that, "You may get a job in the real world, but you won't keep it unless you take to heart what you learned in your job here at Ferrum."

This year's winner is Wesley Mullins, who worked in campus safety. Police Chief Libby Legg extolled Mullin's contributions to campus safety when he volunteered to answer phones during a campus crisis last fall, among many initiatives he undertook during the year.

"Heroes rise out of tragedy,"said Legg, "and he became a hero that night."

Like I said -- Not all the lessons are in the classroom.

Spring Is In The Air

2010-03-19T14:02:00.003-04:00

For a while I thought this was a college without any students.

OK—not really. But for the first month I was here, where there was snow and wind and cold temperatures, you could drive a snowplow through campus and not hit anyone.

Students and faculty were running from building to building bundled up and mostly miserable. The grounds were covered with snow, and the wind was whipping around the brick buildings and across the ice on the lake while the gray skies offered zero reason for optimism.

Now at last, the sun is out and so is the campus community. Students are sitting outside the buildings and soaking in campus life. If nothing else they are out on the grounds instead of hiding in their dorms or classrooms. Life after spring break is much different—and better.

It is with that in mind that I offer the beginnings of the Ferrum College blog. It is to Public Relations what Spring has been to the semester—something new and refreshing and hopefully—like the sun—something that will draw the Ferrum Community far and near from their hiding spots.

There are so many worthwhile things to talk about on this campus that may not make the paper or the 6 p.m. news. But this space, along with our new Facebook Fan page (please become a fan) and a soon to come YouTube channel—not to mention an improved website will allow Ferrum to the rest of the world know what a great place this is.

Please use the comment section to help me further tell the story—or if I get it wrong to refute it.

Feel free to contact me a jcarlin@ferrum.edu.

Thanks for reading and for spreading the word about Ferrum College.