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First Graduate Degree Students Make History
First Graduate Degree Students Make History on May 1, 2021
The first cohort of Ferrum College graduate students received their degrees in May. (L-R) Jason Woods, Brittany Andino, Leya Deickman, Callie Wheeler, Ashley Lambeth, Katie Ingram, Mario Vasquez, and Eric Grundman.
On May 1, 2021, eight graduate degree students were honored during Ferrum College’s 105th commencement ceremony. These students are the first graduate degree recipients in the institution’s history.
“It was such a joy and honor to be able to call the names and watch our first graduate students be hooded on stage at this year’s commencement ceremony,” said Dean of the School of Online Graduate and Education Studies and Associate Professor of Political Science Sandra Via ’04. “I am so proud of these students for their hard work and dedication.”
The Master of Science in Psychology and the Education Specialist Degree (EdS) in Teacher Leadership and Coaching programs are completely online and offer graduate students the chance to complete the curriculum in just one year. Each program prepares students for career advancement or to enter a doctoral program.
Leya Deickman, who received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Ferrum in 2019, is a proud member of the first graduate degree class. True to its promise, the program took Deickman a year to earn a Master of Science in psychology. Because of her organized and energetic nature, she was also able to work full-time at the College as an area coordinator for the Office of Student Life and Engagement, compete for the women’s wrestling team, and remain a dedicated mother to her young son Kendall.
“Being a full-time graduate student, staff member, student-athlete, and still managing my home life was extremely demanding,” said Deickman. “There were many days where Kendall would have to come to practice and there were days where I went to my office an hour early to just get some quiet time to do homework. But the beauty in online courses is that you can shape your schedule however
