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.)

In an effort to maximize the students’ and other attendees’ safety, the traditional single ceremony was split into two separate events at two different locations. The School of Arts and Sciences’s ceremony was held in the Vaughn Chapel and for the School of Health Professions and Social Sciences, its ceremony was held in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room in Franklin Hall. Both were live-streamed on Ferrum College’s website for internal and external viewers who cannot participate in person.

One award winner from the School of Arts and Sciences was senior and lacrosse player Jack Sheehan. Sheehan won this year’s Ferrum College President’s Cup. This award is typically presented to a student who exhibits excellence throughout their time at Ferrum in academics, athletics, campus and community leadership, and character. Along with these qualifications, the recipient must also be a senior with a minimum GPA of 3.2 to receive the award.

“It’s an honor to win this award and to be the first men’s lacrosse player to achieve this,” said Sheehan. “It has been a goal of mine to work towards the award since I learned about it my sophomore year. My professors, advisors, and coaches have done so much for me during my time here to help me reach my academic and athletic goals here at Ferrum College and I’m extremely thankful for them.” 

Senior Camryn Burke won two awards from both schools. In the School of Arts and Sciences, Burke won the “Outstanding Student in Biology” award. Burke also received the “Outstanding Student in Pre-Professional Health Sciences Pre-Med” award from the School of Health Professions and Social Sciences. Both awards are annually presented to students who excel academically in the program/major, meaning that Burke excelled in both biology and pre-professional health sciences (Pre-Med) majors. 

(A photo of Camryn Burke’s awards she won from both the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Health Professions and Social Sciences. Photo Credit: Camryn Burke.)

“I am so thankful to have received both of these awards. It is truly a great way to wrap up senior year,” said Burke. “Academically, undergrad hasn’t always been easy. Being recognized at the academic awards ceremony really emphasizes that hard work pays off. I feel truly honored as I know my professors, and these faculty, had to select only a few recipients amongst many successful students. This ceremony, and these awards, only solidified that graduation is here and we did it.”

There were many other recipients of different academic awards from both schools. To find a list of all recipients, you can visit the Ferrum College website.