Car Show “Shined” On Despite Rain

By Mary Stoudt

Hundreds of cars rolled in - amid the rain falls - as attendees to the sixth annual Moonshine Heritage Car Show hosted by the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum on Apr. 24, marking the first in-person event for the BRIM since the outbreak of the COVID. 

(Vehicles at the sixth annual Moonshine Heritage Car Show. Photo credit: Mary Stoudt.)

Chrysalis’s Spring 2021 Edition Officially Revealed

By Lindsey Foster

Ferrum College’s Chrysalis Literary and Arts Magazine had their official reveal of the spring 2021 edition on Apr. 19, 2021, about two months after the autumn/winter 2020 issue was released in February 2021. This event - with refreshments provided - returned to an in-person meet at the Blue Ridge Mountain Room in Franklin Hall. 

(The cover photo of Chrysalis’s spring issue was taken by Riley Church and is titled Between the Smoky Mountains.)

Panthers Recognized at 2021 Academic Awards Ceremony

By Lindsey Foster

Every year at Ferrum College, students are recognized for their academic achievements in a plethora of disciplines. And even the pandemic cannot overturn the joy of celebrating this year’s Academic Awards Ceremony, which took place on Apr. 16, 2021.

(Senior Jack Sheehan outside his dorm with his Ferrum College President’s Cup award. Photo Credit: Justin Talley.)

Dance Team Performed 2021 Showcase

By Lindsey Foster

With their first event “lip sync battle” initiated in 2020, the Ferrum dance team aims to hold a series of events and activities for the campus to come together every year. The second event this team offered was titled “2021 dance showcase”, which occurred on Apr. 17, 2021 and consisted of group and solo performances from the dance team. In accordance with the COVID-19 guidelines, this showcase was open to Ferrum College students only while pursuing to prompt some audience participation.

(All dance team members taking a bow at the end of the showcase with announcer Daeshawn Barrett. Left to Right: Senior Mahnoor Mughal, Senior Helen Ogbole, Senior Elisha Hudson, Freshman Sheldon Mills, Junior Daeshawn Barrett, Sophomore Tatyana Barley, Senior Serena Johnson, Sophomore Summer Lawson, Junior Hafashimana Restina. Photo Credit: Lindsey Foster.)

A Merry Bright Future Awaiting Mary Stoudt

By Lindsey Foster

Way before the graduation season of 2021 counted down, Ferrum College’s student newspaper - formally known as The Iron Blade - was saying farewell to senior Mary Stoudt, one of the few student staff members and editors that have served the college newspaper for the longest possible time.

In fall 2017, Stoudt - after graduating from Milton Hershey School in Hershey, PA -  joined Ferrum. Since then, she has been an integral part of The Iron Blade, where she served as news editor, layout editor, co-editor, editor-in-chief, among many other positions. Four years later, it’s now time for Stoudt to bid farewell to the place where she has left behind a plethora of legends.

We hope this isn’t a goodbye, but rather a see you later.

(Mary Stoudt taking graduation photos in front of the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum. Photo Credit: Dakota Fletcher.)

Gertie Goose Led Panthers on a Chase

By Mary Stoudt

Miss Gertrude "Gertie" Goose sent an email to every Ferrum student on April 5, informing them that 50 eggs were hidden throughout the main loop of campus to be found, which was part of this year’s Egg Hunt event. 

(Ferrum students hunting for Miss Gertrude "Gertie" Goose's Easter eggs. Photo courtesy of Ferrum College.)

Ferrum Finished Fourth Place in ODAC

By Lindsey Foster

The Panthers ended their first-ever winter season with a loss against the Tigers of Hampden-Sydney College. Hampden-Sydney defeated Ferrum with a score of 49-21 at Everett Stadium. This loss led to Ferrum a fourth-place finish of the season in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. 

(The Ferrum College Football team grouping together on the field at Everett Stadium. Photo courtesy of Ferrum Athletics.)

Ferrum Announced In-person Graduation Ceremony

By Mary Stoudt 

Totally a surprise to the class of 2021, Ferrum College made an official announcement on Mar. 26 that in-person graduation will take place on May 1 at 9:00 a.m. at Adams Stadium.

(211 Ferrum College Graduates Received Their Diplomas during the 103rd Commencement. Photo courtesy of Ferrum College.)

After a Year of COVID, Panthers Treated to Appreciation Week

By Mary Stoudt 

After a year of fighting against the COVID, adjusting to online and hybrid classes, and dealing with other day-to-day stressors, Ferrum College students were surprised with a student appreciation week from Mar. 29 to April 1 hosted by the Office of Student Life and Engagement. 

(Students participating in the tie-dye mask event on the Quad. Photo courtesy of Ferrum College.)

Ferrum College Learned About Agriculture

By Lindsey Foster

National Agricultural Week is an event that takes place at Ferrum College annually. This year, the Ferrum Agriculture Club and Collegiate Young Farmers hosted agricultural week from Mar. 22 to Mar. 26. These organizations used this week as a time to inform the Ferrum campus about the importance of agriculture. 

(Sophomore Kristina Cossa petting goats in the quad outside Franklin. Photo Credit: Shela Muriel.)

Fourth Friday Recital Streamed Music Students

By Lindsey Foster

Fourth Friday Recital is a recurring monthly music event that includes guest artists, faculty, and students from the department of music at Ferrum College. A recital recently took place on Mar. 26, 2021 and was streamed on Ferrum College’s music department’s Facebook page. This was also the second Fourth Friday Recital in the spring 2021 semester.

(Introduction photo of the Fourth Friday Recital. Photo Credit: Lindsey Foster.)