Forged As One

Ferrum College welcomed students, faculty and staff to campus for the start of the 2022–2023 academic year with the theme Forged As One . During a variety of activities and events, the community was reminded of the importance of working together, forged as one, for the greater good of Ferrum College and its students.

It is hard to believe the 2022 calendar year is behind us, which marks the end of my third year as a member of this community. It has certainly been a wild ride, one of which I have been honored to be a part of.

Last year marked a moment in time where we finally felt a sense of normalcy. The COVID-19 restrictions placed on our student-athletes lessened as the year went on, and we were able to continue to compete in a safe manner. All this has been due to the dedication, commitment and care of our entire athletic staff. The teamwork and commitment that it took to pull us through a difficult environment is inspiring and one in which all members of the Ferrum community can be proud of.

Our coaches and support staff have continued to work diligently as we navigate our way through the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Every sport in the ODAC is filled with national title contenders, which means our students get the opportunity to compete against the very best each game. In doing so, the support of all of you, Panther Nation, has never been more important.

And you have shown up! This past fiscal year saw us reach new heights in athletic fundraising, as over $600,000 was raised to support all of our varsity athletic programs. This includes our Batting 1.000 Campaign, which allowed us to break ground on the Vickie Van Kleeck Softball Complex and put us on track to have our renovated softball facility completed in time for the 2023 softball season.

As we close the book on 2022 and look forward to a promising 2023, I just wanted to thank everyone in the Ferrum community for your continued support. Your support in attending games on campus, or when we compete on the road, is inspiring to our students and staff. Additionally, your philanthropy in providing financial assistance to support all 27 of our Panther teams allows our students the opportunity to see that their connection to Ferrum doesn’t end when they graduate.

Thank you for your continued support of Ferrum College. Whether you are donating your time, your talent, or your treasure, it means more than you will ever know.

Go Panthers!

John Sutyak Director of Athletics