Miranda Dougherty: Dreams+Work=Success

By Tom Steele
Director, Academic Outreach and Athletic Initiatives

Miranda Dougherty’s dog, Oliver, is a mutt who does not have a pedigree. However, Dougherty, a junior defender on the Ferrum College women’s soccer team, has a strong soccer pedigree. Dougherty’s father, Scott, played soccer for Villanova, and with her dad as coach, Dougherty began her soccer career at the age of five.

Dougherty, who grew up in Waretown, NJ credits her parents with influencing her success on the field and in the classroom. Her dad was her “field coach” and her mom, Kristy, was the “academic coach.” Her parents’ support drives Dougherty to be the best at everything she attemps. As a double-major in Criminal Justice and Psychology, with a 3.97 grade point average, Dougherty’s “dream career” is with the FBI. Recently, she has taken steps to make her dream a reality by contacting FBI staff members and aligning herself to be considered for an internship following graduation.

Dougherty discovered Ferrum College after being contacted by then-head coach James Lofton. The atmosphere surrounding the College appealed to Dougherty, as well as the sense of “family” within the soccer team. All was off to great start until a torn ACL shortened Dougherty’s freshman season.

When asked to name her most memorable experience at Ferrum, Dougherty says it is her comeback to soccer after two surgeries to correct the torn ACL. “Overcoming the injury setback required me to remain positive, and move beyond the feeling that my soccer career was over. That experience helped me develop a deeper level of mental toughness,” said Dougherty, who, with the support of her teammates and parents, returned to the field in a win over Emory & Henry.

Dougherty’s sports idol is Mia Hamm, an iconic figure in women’s soccer. In the 1990s, Hamm was known as the best in the sport. Like Hamm, Dougherty wants to be the best at everything she does. Her determination to overcome setbacks to succeed on the field and in the classroom is taking this Ferrum College athlete towards realizing her goals in soccer and in her career.

Jevontè Blount '18: My Experience as a Governor's Fellow

This summer, I was part of Governor Northam’s first class of Governor’s Fellows since he took office in January 2018. I was assigned under the Secretary of Natural Resources and worked with the Secretary and Deputy Secretaries on various projects, including one regarding coastal resiliency. 

Throughout the program we had daily brown bag lunches with key figures in Governor Northam’s Cabinet. It was an opportunity to learn about the responsibilities of each department, the agencies they oversee, to soak in as much information as we could about their journey from where they started to where they are now. 

Jevontè Blount '18 (right) with Governor Ralph Northam. Jack Mayer photograph.

My major project that I spent majority of my time working on was with initiating and presenting a plan to the Governor’s Chief of Staff to improve recycling within state buildings like the Patrick Henry Building.

Towards the end of the program the Fellows had a policy project competition. This took five major problems impacting the Commonwealth and the United States and we had to find a feasible solution. My group was given the topic of rising student debt crisis. We won!

Jevontè Blount '18 (far right) with his policy project competition teammates. Jack Mayer photograph.

About Jevontè Blount ’18:

Jevontè Blount ’18 was a 2018 Governor’s Fellow, one of only 22 rising college seniors, graduating seniors, or graduate students from across the state named to the prestigious program by Virginia Governor Ralph Northam. Blount, from Hampton, Virginia, graduated from Ferrum College this past May with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. During his tenure at Ferrum College, he was in the Ferrum College Honor Society, on the Dean’s list, and served as Ferrum College Residence Hall Association president. Blount now in studying in the Master in Public Administration program at Virginia Commonwealth University. 

About the Governor's Fellows Program:

(https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/all-releases/2018/february/headline-822716-en.html)

"Governor Chuck Robb created this prestigious program in 1982. Since then, it has offered college students a hands-on opportunity to learn about state government at the top level. Previous members have gone on to pursue careers in various levels of state and federal government, each using their skills acquired during their Fellows experience.

Fellows are given the opportunity to cultivate and sharpen leadership skills by taking on various tasks and projects. The Fellows also learn from special guest speakers from the administration and take field trips across the Commonwealth."

Study Abroad 2017 2: Joshua Sanders '18 in China

By Joshua Sanders '18

July 10, 2017: Greetings again from China! Today officially ends my period of working in the chemistry lab and tomorrow marks the first day of my UNAI CTGU Summer School classes.

(L-R) Dyes Methylene Blue, Crystal Violet,
Methyl Orange, and Sulforhodamine B. 

I found some really interesting data through my work in the lab. In this photograph, I show the four dyes I worked with this summer. The Methylene Blue (MB) and Crystal Violet (CV) are separated from the Methyl Orange (MO) and Sulforhodamine B (SRB) because the MB and CV are cationic dyes and the MO and SRB anionic dyes, meaning that the blue and violet dyes have a positive charge on the dye molecules, and the MO and SRB have a negative charge on the dye molecules.

The biochar I used in all of my research was suspected to be anionic as well (negatively charged.) This was supported by some of my data: the negatively charged dyes didn’t absorb at all on the surface of the biochar, following the old phrase “opposites attract”. Just like magnets, the negative charge of the dyes was repelled by the (suspected) negative charge of the biochar. Also like magnets, the positive charge of the cationic dyes was attracted to the negative charge of the dye.

Though I’m not sure exactly how my data will be used, I have given over all of my data to my research advisor here at China Three Gorges University, and will be told later on if any of my data will be used in any future research or publications.

Joshua Sanders in front of the only Christian church in Yichang.

Before he returned to Ferrum, Dr. Johnson took me to downtown Yichang and showed me around. We visited the only Christian church in Yichang and a popular public park near the Yangtze river, which was filled with people and families exercising and enjoying their weekend. We also went to Wuhan to meet two students, Dawn and Feng, who previously came to Ferrum College, and Pan Xiaojie, from the Wuhan Institute of Hydroecology, who visited Ferrum’s Smith Mountain Lake Water Quality Lab in the summer of 2016. During this trip, Dr. J and I visit the Yellow Crane Tower and had a meal at a crawfish restaurant. Crawfish have become incredibly popular in southern China over the past few years.

Tomorrow the summer school classes start, so I will have another update to send out as soon as I go on more adventures and meet other people who have come to study in China. I hope everyone is enjoying their summer, and I look forward to sending out some more pictures and info before I head home. I can’t wait to be back stateside, and I’m definitely ready to be back at Ferrum for my senior year for classes this year. Until then, I’ll be learning, meeting new people, and having adventures. Until next time!

See additional photographs here.

#MyFerrum Experience in Academics

by Brett W., Panther Blogger

With the onset of the #MyFerrum campaign, I thought it would be a wonderful idea to write some of my upcoming blogs on different facets of #MyFerrum experience!

In my freshman year, fall of 2012, I began my horticultural path by being enrolled in BIO-202, Introduction to Plant Science.  I sat directly up front and remember the first day being the only freshman in the class.  Because I had taken AP Biology in high school, the credits transferred and I was able to take the 200-level class during my first semester at Ferrum.  I also took AGS-110 Issues in Agriculture that first semester, which really broadened my horizons on how much further agriculture reached than just my realm of greenhouses and floristry.

The next semester, spring of 2013, I enrolled in HOR-321 Plant Propagation, which was taught by my advisor, Dr. Pohlad.  I had the amazing luxury of being just one of six in that class, which let me begin to develop a relationship with my advisor and with Ferrum's agricultural program that couldn't be matched anywhere else.  We did projects such as help run the Plant Sale that occurs every spring, and even fill the planters and design the flowers of Dr. Braaten's home.  We went on field trips to Virginia Tech to view their tissue culture lab, and we traveled to Riverbend Nursery to get a tour and first-hand look on how a commercially larger-scale operation is run.  That same semester, I started my green roof practicum and took both half-semester horticulturally-derived topics in science classes:  SCI-124 Edible Wild Plants and SCI-130 Healthy House Plants.  This was also the semester that I traveled abroad to Peru for my E-Term, and the Honor's Program enriched the class by producing a field guide for the orchids of the Inca Trail!

The following fall of 2013, I took HOR-410 Greenhouse Management also with Dr. Pohlad, which was my first 400-level class in my field.  This had more of an impact than I expected, which was very fortunate for me.  Back when I toured Ferrum College before I was a student, my admissions counselor brought us through the Academic Resource Center and talked about the Peer Assisted Learning Program, where students can be tutors to help fellow students learn and understand specific classes better.  I remember her explaining that and how I could not wait to eventually one day be a PAL tutor in a horticulture class!  Well, three semesters later, I was asked if I wanted to help out and tutor BIO-202 since I was proficient in my knowledge and already taking my major classes in my sophomore year.  I obviously said "yes"!

My design for the Adam's Lake Riparian garden

Since then, I have taken HOR-418 Plant Pest Management, which let me become legally licensed in pesticide application, and HOR-411 Landscape Design and Management, which presented me the opportunity produce and present a design for our Titmus Agricultural Center entrance and the Adam's Lake Riparian garden.  My proposal was actually chosen and reproduced for the Adam's Lake Riparian garden restoration project!  The semester after those two classes - in the fall of 2014 - I took HOR-415 Plant Disease, AGY-315 Soil Science and Management, and AGS-417 Agricultural Business Management.  While still continuing to tutor the BIO-202 class, I also did another practicum where I was additionally a Lab Assistant for the class.  This gave me valuable experience first-hand on how to work in a lab as a facilitator while also providing me the opportunity to hone my skills in teaching and explanation.

My Riparian garden design being implemented!

Currently, I am enrolled in BIO-419 Plant Physiology and Biotechnology, which I am loving, and I am I beginning to undertake a project studying tissue culture and phytohormone application.  This project, tied in with my junior seminar paper, is helping me and teaching me how to properly go about producing and conducting graduate-level work.  This semester, I also began tutoring HOR-321 Plant Propagation, which I took just year before, so I have a feeling of accomplishment that really helps me get up in the morning.  I have this all thanks to #MyFerrum experience!

With only AGS-314 Animal/Plant Breeding & Genetics left to complete my major's required classes and BIO-306 Nonvascular Plants & Fungi left to take as an elective to complete the requirements to be invited into the National Biology Society, I know that my time left here at Ferrum is coming to a close.  But a year is still a lot of time to continue to make my mark on this campus because:  This is #MyFerrum. 

Adventures in Granada, Spain

by Delana S., Panther Blogger

As another part of the program, we went to Granada, where we toured the city, saw a flamenco show, and stayed in a four-star hotel.  Talk about being a little fancy on our trip (hahaha), but it was really beautiful! 
When we first arrived, we checked into our hotel and then headed into the center of the city, where we then split off into groups to go explore and find places that interested us.  That night, we went to the Alhambra to see some parts of it.

My friend Devin and me

My group consisted of my friend Devin and me because smaller groups are sometimes better than big ones.  We went to a tea restaurant, which also had sweets, and we sat and talked.  It was a very relaxing atmosphere and there weren't a lot of people.  We were in an alley with lots of shops at this point, so we also got some shopping done and explored what these shops in Granada had to offer.  Just to make sure I mention it, Granada means pomegranate, which do grow there.

The beautiful city of Granada

An alley of many shops

La Alhambra at night

La Alhambra was absolutely amazing during the night and even more captivating and mesmerizing during the day.  I have no words to describe what I saw, but you may be able to get a sense of it because I do have a lot of amazing and gorgeous pictures of the buildings, the gardens, and the views of the city.

Besides just touring the city, we also went to a Flamenco show, which blew me away!  It was passionate, intense, and I couldn't look away for any part of it.  Since my thesis focuses on Flamenco, I tried to talk to some of the dancers, but it was not very productive because Flamenco is such a big part of who they are that it was hard for them to answer my questions.  I don't blame them for that though because based off of my research, you start learning Flamenco at a young age and then it is something that is always part of who you are.  I am taking a Salsa/Flamenco class here and it is definitely not easy!  The salsa part I have down, but Flamenco is a bit more technical since both sides of your body eventually do the same thing, but you also have to focus on your arms and your movements.  It is very interesting to learn, and I know that I will try to demonstrate it for my friends when I come back home.  Plus, I also promised my mom that I would show her a few of my new moves. She just laughed at me and nodded.

Overall, Granada was a relaxing trip and helped us get a break from our studies and exams.

Weekend Trips, Bonding Time, and Exploring Madrid

By Delana S., Panther Blogger

Since the last time I wrote, a lot has happened!  My friend Annie and I spent our long weekend in Madrid checking out the city, exploring the sites, and making new friends.  It was not my first time in Madrid, but since she wanted to take a trip with me and eventually go to Madrid, I agreed and I am glad that I did.  Three of our other friends from our program met us there, along with some French girls that we have gotten to know during our time here.

We stayed at a hostel that was central in the city in the sense that from there, you could walk to everything and get anywhere that you needed to.  It was called Las Musas and it was very nice! The hostel gave us a variety of activities to participate in:  pub crawls, flamenco shows, walking tours of the city, and more.  The staff were all so nice and were thoroughly surprised that we knew Spanish so well.  That really allowed us to make friends, and they gave us all the information that we wanted on where to go, where to eat, and things of that nature.  We stayed in Madrid for three days and four nights.

My friend Annie and me

Night number one was spent resting, interacting with the other people staying at the hostel, and getting to know the area we were staying in.  That in itself was an adventure, but that's how I like to live.  The next day was spent checking out all of the great artwork in el Museo Nacional Del Prado (Prado Museum).  It was great that we decided to do that because it rained off and on the entire day, but luckily, we were inside where it was nice and dry.  I remember going to the Prado before, but it was great going to tour it again with my friend and finding pieces that we really and truly enjoyed.  After that, we spoke with some of the people from the area and they told us about a unique little restaurant that had amazing food.  Annie and I were very happy with what we ended up ordering, and the employees were very funny and welcoming.  They thought that we were pretty amusing as well, since the whole time we were there, we spoke in a mix of English and Spanish, depending on what we were talking about.  That night, we participated in a pub crawl and met lots of new people from all over the world, but there were especially a lot of Australians.

Royal Palace view from the gardens

My friends Meriem, Felle, and me

The next day, we met up with our friends at the Palacio Real (Royal Palace of Madrid), walked around a little bit in the gardens, and enjoyed our time together.  How vastly different our lives are now due to our experiences here and meeting one another!  I know that I at least have 30 or so new friends on Facebook, and many of them are from here in Spain, Ireland, France, or other countries.

My friend Alex and me

View from the Reina Sofia

We then went on to explore the Museo Nacional de Arte Reina Sofia (Reina Sofia National Art Museum) and looked at all of the great works there.  The most amazing piece was a painting by Picasso that took up the whole room!  It was magnificent and one of the best parts of touring the museum.  That was my second time there and I highly recommend that travelers to the capital go visit it.  Other than that, it was a nice train ride home and doing homework for class the next day.  Well, until next time!  :)

A Great Experience at the VAHPERD Conference!

by Amanda Roberts, Guest Blogger
 
Hi, everyone!  My name is Amanda and I am in my second year here at Ferrum College. I am a Health and Human Performance major for Physical Education, and I have a minor in Coaching.  I am the Physical Activities Club Secretary and am also a member of Ferrum's softball team.

On Nov. 7th, twelve of my classmates and I traveled to Virginia Beach for a Virginia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (VAHPERD) Conference for the weekend.  This conference is for Physical Education teachers to explore and learn about different teaching strategies to use in their own classrooms. I attended multiple sessions throughout the weekend, but one of my favorites was watching a new sport called Spikeball.

Our class presented "Ballroom Dancing in Physical Education."  Ballroom dancing is an excellent method to train the body and improve coordination.  This presentation focused on introducing basic ballroom dance steps into PE classes.  From recent studies, we have learned that many school systems are removing dancing from their Physical Education departments, especially partner dancing.  We demonstrated different dances, including the Cha-Cha, Slow Waltz, and Tango, to name a few.  The feedback we received from the members attending the session was amazing!  Many attendees wanted the link to our video to teach their own classrooms.

My partner, Jesse Wall, and I before our performance

We also had two other students, Michael Rucinski and Melva Herron, who performed in the Kaleidoscope Dance Performance on Saturday night.  They choreographed their own routine while putting a twist on ballroom dancing with modern music. The video can be viewed below or by following this link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrHu-PsTuC8&feature=youtu.be

 

Overall, I loved attending the conference. We had the privilege to interact with teachers all over the state of Virginia.  By having the opportunity to do this, I know that choosing to be a Physical Education teacher is the right path for me. I can't wait to attend another conference in the future!

Explore Your Opportunities!

by Dannica B., Panther Blogger

At Ferrum College, there are so many fabulous opportunities, such as studying abroad, E-Terms, different courses, internships, and so much more!  I am only a sophomore here at Ferrum and I already feel like I am so involved with the school.  From Greek life to clubs, I am forever busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I love everything I do here at Ferrum and I know that at the end of the day, everything I do will be so rewarding for me.  A major benefit to doing so much is it looks so fantastic on your resume. It's one thing to say you graduated with a degree, but it's the little details that count. The opportunities you take make you unique and that's what employers look for. Ferrum College makes sure its students have access to great opportunities!

Since I am only a first-semester sophomore, I haven't had much opportunity to travel abroad and do internships yet. Even though I've always had the particular mindset that I would do an internship when I became an upperclassman, I took a risk and applied to the Disney College Program.  I found out about this program from one of Ferrum's campus-wide emails. I had little to no confidence that I would get in because I figured I was too young and inexperienced.  I was completely wrong because I got an interview the same day I applied, and a few weeks later, I got an acceptance email into the program!  I think that was one of the happiest days of my life because who doesn't want to intern at Disney?!

It was so easy to apply; it was like a regular college application.  When they review your application, they offer you an online interview, and if they're interested in you, they offer you a phone interview. Then after a few weeks, you will find out if you were accepted or not.  I do have a few experiences that I believe helped me get the internship.  The more you do, the better and more interesting you will be to potential employers. If you're interested in possibly interning for Disney, just visit www.disneycollegeprogram.com.

I am so excited for my internship!  From January to June next semester, I will be working in the restaurants and the outdoor carts, and there are so many benefits to this internship.  I will earn a small stipend for the internship which will pay for my housing, and I will earn credits toward my major at Ferrum for the classes I take at Disney. I know it will be a fantastic experience and will be such a great resume-builder.  It will give me good experience working outdoors and working with people from all over the country, which I know will help prepare me for a future career in outdoor events!

 

A Guided Hike of Ferrum's DeHart Botanical Garden!

by Brett W., Panther Blogger

Every year, Ferrum College has a different overarching theme for both semesters that is chosen by one of the three different academic schools, which rotate turns to choose the theme.  In my freshman year, our theme was "Sustainability," which was headed by the school I am in - Natural Sciences and Math.  Last year, it was chosen and run by the School of Social Science and Professional Studies and was titled "Sustaining Community Engagement," which touched on philanthropy.  Well, this year, the theme was up to the School of Arts and Humanities, and they created the current theme titled "Roots and Routes."  Because the theme is supposed to be an integral part of life here at Ferrum College, many activities, speeches, and programs that occur through the year are part of the theme event.

Well, on October 4th, a guided hike of the DeHart Botanical Garden of Ferrum College was given to fulfill one of these theme events.  It took about 45 minutes by van to reach the site, and once we were all there and unloaded ourselves, we began the trek up the mountain.  Having Dr. Pohlad, my advisor and the head of the Horticulture Program, lead the tour made it all the better. We explored a cave, discovered a neon orange edible mushroom, and some people even ate a jelly fungus!  Being able to see and appreciate all these extra little things that Ferrum College has to offer really and truly makes me proud of my school and confirms my belief that this is where I am meant to be.

F-E-R-R-U-M

by Laken P., Panther Blogger

As I am caught in the bittersweet moment of my third and final year at Ferrum, I have truly realized how my short time here has greatly impacted my life as a whole. Facing the uncertainty of the future, along with the memories of the past has led me to think about what has made the past few years ones that I will never forget. A reflection of the life experiences I will take away with me at graduation can easily be broken into FERRUM -- a word that is more than just a school name but is also a major part of my life.

Family. There is a quote that reads, "Here's to the nights that turned into mornings, with the friends that turned into family."  Here at Ferrum College, the "Ferrum Family" isn't just a concept we tell potential students to sell them on our great school; it's an actual pure and raw state that can be felt from the first few weeks on campus and well into alumni status. The common bond of Panther Pride connects each of us, making Ferrum the tight-knit community that it is. Since I have been here, I have met so many wonderful people that make me wonder how I ever made it through the first part of my life without them. Whether it's my roommates, Greek family, club members, or study groups, the people I have met on this campus have truly become some of my closest friends. Every year, another graduation pulls some of us apart, but it is nice to know that we will always be a part of the Ferrum family and have each other to lean on for the rest of our lives.

E-term. One of the best experiences I have had not only at Ferrum, but in my whole life, was the opportunity to travel abroad with a Ferrum E-term (Experiential Term) class. I took an Environmental Science class where we traveled to Ireland to study the culture, heritage, landmarks, and natural history.  We flew into Dublin and spent time traveling around the entire country learning about the rich history of Ireland.  I learned more than I ever have in any other class because I was able to learn the material by visiting landmarks, meeting people from other countries, and experiencing life outside of America. Without this opportunity that Ferrum provided to take an E-term course, I probably would have never had a chance to visit and explore Ireland and Northern Ireland in the way that I did this past summer.  The class and trip are definitely something that I will talk about and treasure for the rest of my life as I hold close the memories of kissing the Blarney Stone, seeing Fungie the Dolphin, walking to the edge of the Cliffs of Moher, climbing the Giants Causeway, and feeding baby sheep - just to name a few!

Recruitment. I thoroughly enjoy being an Admissions Ambassador and Panther Blogger as they are both ways for me to personally connect with potential students long before they ever decide to make Ferrum their home. Sharing my stories and experiences allow me to open up and give potential students a glimpse of Ferrum that propels well beyond an official visit or a website of information.  One of the most important factors in choosing a school is finding a place you can call home, and I am honored that I am able to help future students make that decision. As an Admissions Ambassador, I have given countless campus tours, listened to personal stories and backgrounds, and answered any and all questions that arise. Watching a parent's eyes light up when they realize that their child has found a new home for the next few years is an experience that I wouldn't trade for anything. From athletic recruits, special guests, future students, and other special campus events, I gladly step up to tell everyone what makes this place so special. I sometimes have too much to say simply because I love this school and everything about it so much!

Responsibility. Everyone says a college is the time to truly discover yourself, learn what you are meant to do in life, and work hard to achieve your goals. When you pick a major, throw in extracurricular activities, meal times, hours of homework, athletic practices and time to sleep, sometimes it seems like you won't even make it through the day, much less the whole semester or year.  In my time here, I have learned that college is the place where the days drag on for what seems like forever, but the weeks and months fly by. It seems like only a few days ago that I was at home too excited to sleep because I knew I would be moving into my first dorm room the next day. Looking back on the short two years that I have been here, I cannot believe I am facing my senior year of college.  I opened my mailbox the other day to find an application for graduation; that's when it hit me that my undergraduate career is almost over. In the time since my first semester here, I have definitely noticed a change in the way I study, finish my homework, and schedule out my days ahead of time. I have used the skills and resources provided to me to work and ensure that I get a little better each semester. Responsibility is a skill that must be developed in each individual person, but Ferrum does an excellent job of helping guide students to their goals through Freshman Gateway courses, senior capstones, advisor meetings, and professional prep classes.

Unicorns. Of all my campus activities and organizations, my favorite is my sorority, Delta Phi Epsilon, whose international mascot is the unicorn. Being a sister of Ferrum's first national Greek organization has brought me some of my closest friends, helped me become a part of something so much bigger than myself, and allowed me constant opportunities to give back to the community. Within the sorority, I have found roommates, best friends, future bridesmaids, study partners, role models, and mentors all while being involved in something that has made me a better and well-rounded person. Delta Phi Epsilon chartered on Ferrum's campus in 2011 and has continued to grow each and every semester. Being a member of an international organization allows for the opportunity to network with alumni, find sisters all across the world, and work hard to raise funds for our philanthropies. We raise money and awareness for our official philanthropies, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) and Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), as well as to contribute to the campus and local community. I can't believe that I only have a semester and a half left on campus with my sisters and fellow unicorns, but I know that no matter where I am in the world, they will always be there loving and supporting me.

Mentor. I am involved in many clubs and organizations on campus, and I hold a leadership role in several of them. I am the Vice President of Academic Affairs for Delta Phi Epsilon, Secretary of the Minds-n-Medicine club, and a member of the Honors Advisory Council for the Boone Honors Program.  I also serve as a mentor for the Gateway seminar that freshmen take each fall. Through the opportunities that Ferrum has given me to step up and be a leader, I feel more confident going into the rest of my life with experience and knowledge. There are so many clubs and organizations on campus that allow students to be a member and/or student leader - there really is something for everyone. Becoming involved is one of the best ways to expand horizons, build resumes, and meet new people, and I'm so glad I have been able to take advantage of it all in my short time here!

I'm in Alicante, Spain!

by Delana S., Panther Blogger

I officially just completed week three of my time in Spain, and let me say that it is amazing!  I live with a wonderful host mother named Andrea, who is an amazing cook and very funny.  We live in an apartment building where there are three other students in the same program.  All of us have become pretty good friends and hang out frequently.  Things are great here and yet, I am also doing a lot of work for when I go back to Ferrum in the spring.  Everyone in the program comes from many different places around the United States, and each has a unique story and background that brings us all closer together.

As far as the city itself goes, it is beautiful and hot.  There is never a lack of sunshine here, and it makes taking a siesta more necessary than in the United States.  Also, it's too hot to do much of anything else, except go to the beach, which I have done a healthy amount of.  In all honesty, it feels like I traded one beach for another, since most of my time at home this summer was spent at the beach there.  The only difference is that this one is nicer in the sense that I can walk all the way out to my shoulders before it starts to get deep, and I can see my feet.  The water is not super-clear, but you can see the bottom and that is always a plus when swimming!

The Universidad de Alicante (University of Alicante) is where I am taking classes and spending an ample amount of my time during the week.  Granted, I do not have Friday classes and that is a huge plus in my book, and I am only at the University when I need to be.  The University used to be the airport during the civil war and there are some remnants of that through one of the buildings and the setup of some of the university walkways.  The campus is huge and it is taking a little bit of getting used to, but it is pretty diverse with a multitude of cafeterias, a bookstore, ATM, fountains, and fauna.  The best part of the University so far is that it is close to the city, but not in the middle of it since it is a little set off and makes its own mini-city within the campus.  It is also very common to find friends sitting/laying in the shade just hanging out or doing work.

When it comes to meeting people within the city, we all know that I am not shy and love interacting with strangers.  With Alicante being on the coast and a great tourist location, you can meet a lot of different people outside the university.  I have made a British friend by the name of Alexius, whom I met one day when I was asking for directions.  He remembered me the next time we saw each other and we became friends from that point on.  I have also made friends with two Spanish girls, Veronica and Esther, who are both really interesting to talk to and help me with whatever I need to do or get around here in the city.  They are also great people to go out with and eat tapas or grab ice cream with.  Tapas would more or less be the United States version of appetizers.

I do have some plans to travel and visit a few places around Spain, and so far, I have been to Valencia. It is a unique city that they say is similar to Alicante in many aspects, but at the same time, it is different.  While there, we toured around the city and during my free time, I was able to go with a group of my friends to enjoy some nice Paella, which had chicken and mushrooms in it.  Paella is a Valencian rice dish that can contain an assortment of ingredients.

Every day is a learning experience in Alicante.  It is not my first time in Spain, but it is in this new city, and I have figured out my way around it mostly.  More is sure to happen as my time here continues, but until then...

From Ferrum College to Zambia, Africa

by Brittany Gale, Alumna and Former Panther Blogger

Changing the world may be as simple as passing by someone on the sidewalk and saying "hello" just to make them feel appreciated, or it could be cracking a joke and making them smile or laugh.  We do not always understand how much those things can change someone's day, but coming from such a small campus, many cannot imagine changing the world one person at a time half a world away in an area where nothing is like the "norm" that we are used to in the United States.  It is that once-in-a-lifetime experience that pushes someone to recognize the amount of objects and opportunities that we have placed in front of us.  So, what can we say from experiences like this?  Yes, it is life-changing and makes us appreciate what we have, but most of all, it pushes us to come back and give everyone we have in our lives a much-deserved thank you for everything they have done for us.

OMNI, Orphan Medical Network International offered such a wonderful trip to two lucky students for the second time this past summer, and not only did myself and Blake Sproles have a wonderful time, but we have taken advantage of the opportunities that we came across while on a medical mission in Zambia, Africa.

From October 2013, Blake and I were in close competition with several other students to be selected by a panel of professors who have been pushing us and making us grow as students to earn the two spots for the trip.  For the second time, Ferrum College had made their selection between the students and narrowed it down to just a few students who would then go on to have a phone interview with Karen ReMine.  After the phone interview, all of those who had talked to Karen were nervous and we all exchanged our thoughts about what we would do if we got to go.  Once Blake and I got the phone call back from Karen, we could not help but celebrate and express our joy to everyone.  It even became a joke that some of our close friends would call us Miss and Mr. Africa.  Needless to say, we were not the only ones who could not wait to enjoy the experience and come back with so many heartfelt memories.
 
Well, what happened after we got our spots with OMNI?  There were monthly phone conferences where we would discuss several different aspects about the upcoming trip.  Karen and several others would inform those of us who were new on the trip about the culture, including food, water, rituals, clothing, politics, and religion.  After the conferences, Blake and I were getting really close to the time of last-minute packing and flying for over 24 hours.  On the flight there, I had the great pleasure of celebrating my birthday with the OMNI team.  Before that day were just people on the team, but from the time we walked into the airport and boarded the plane, we became family.  Several hours later, we finally reached Ndola Airport and saw that this airport was not much like those in the states.  Instead, there were only one or two guys actually pulling our luggage from the plane to the building and hand-throwing the luggage to us.  Woo!  The beginning of a new experience.

As we left the airport, we got to meet our wonderful body guards who were very helpful, and we began our journey for the next two weeks filled with eight clinics in several different communities and tribal areas.  During those clinics, we triaged almost 4,000 patients ranging from newborns to some that were over 100 years old.  We each had the chance to triage patients, work in wound care, pharmacy, lab, fit some patients for glasses, and shadow doctors with several ranges of specialties.  Some of the stories that I walked away with are hard to tell others, but they leave a meaningful spot in my heart no matter what is going on in my life.

The most memorable story I can share is this beautiful girl named Miracle, who was only 8 years old.  She was the first patient that I had worked with in the lab where she was tested for malaria.  She was so strong with no mother by her side, but her loving little sister was by her side the entire time. I had to prick her finger and let the test run for 10 minutes, and in that time, I could not help but play with the little girls who broke my heart because I found out their mother had died from AIDS and they were living with some family friends.  Not only was she strong enough to help care for her sister, but she was also something I would consider one of my Miracles from the trip.

Over the two weeks, there were thousands of smiles, thousands of broken hearts, thousands of tears, but more importantly, thousands of people who love one another and work together to get through one day at a time.  No matter the hurt on someone's face, they always found a way to thank us for our work and service that we had provided for them, which is more than anyone on the trip could ask for.  Although some cases broke us down, there was always one way to brighten our day and make us laugh, and that included the children of the villages.  They loved interacting with us from something as simple as taking their picture, playing ball with them, showing them hand tricks, or even the children teaching us their hand games.  The best smiles I can remember were from the OMNI school children singing songs as we pulled into the school on that very first day.  At that moment, everything became so surreal and moving to know that these children are here because they want to learn and thank us for helping them.

From beginning to end, we each changed as individuals to become better people who understand that we have so much to appreciate. It is easy for us to wake up in the morning to take a hot shower, have hot food on the table, electricity, and easily accessible medical attention even if we have a simple cold.  It is hard to put into words the ways I have changed since the trip, but that is also something that almost anyone would feel if they had such a wonderful opportunity and experience.  I left Africa in tears because the area had really shown me something new and provided some light into what I want to do with my life.  The trip has helped me realize that I will always want to help people, and even though I may be taking the long road currently, I want to go to medical school and become a doctor like those who have inspired me from the trip.

What was once a group of 21 individuals became a 21-person family who can all call upon each other if we need anything or just want to talk.  No matter what the experiences may be like, they are always life-changing and present us with wonderful memories that we can tell others.  Within the many stories that I can tell, there is one piece of advice I can offer, and that is that if you are asked if you would like to participate in something that may benefit your future, try it at least once.  There will always be lessons to learn and events that help you grow as a person.

Thanks to Karen ReMine and the wonderful OMNI team for allowing us the opportunity to join you on the trip to Zambia this past summer.  It means the world to both Blake and me, and we look forward to traveling with you all again!  2-4-1!