Here’s a round-up of education briefs from around Southwest and Southside. There’s no full-time education reporter west of Richmond. You can help change that. Help fund us.
* * *
Ferrum College surpasses fund-raising goal
Ferrum College raised over $3.1 million this fiscal year, surpassing last year’s total by more than $500,000 and the total raised in 2020 by more than $1.1 million, according to a release from the school. More than $835,000 was raised for scholarships and another $600,000 was awarded through grants to provide academic and financial support to the college’s students.
The college says 1,170 donors contributed to this year’s fundraising campaign.
Meanwhile, the “Batting a 1.000” campaign sought to raise funds for capital improvements to the softball facility including a press box, a team locker room, improved seating, and other amenities that will make Ferrum College’s softball facility. With an initial goal of $100,000, the college raised more than $330,000 from 119 donors. The new softball facility will be named after Hall of Fame softball coach Vickie Van Kleeck. Van Kleeck was Ferrum’s softball coach for 24 seasons, as well as the College’s Senior Woman Administrator, before retiring in 2015.
* * *
Meade elected chair of Hollins University board
Debra C. Meade, retired president and publisher of The Roanoke Times, has been elected chair of the Hollins University Board of Trustees.
Meade spent 30 years at The Roanoke Times. Hired as a reporter in 1983, she eventually president and publisher in February 2007. At the time, she was one of only two dozen women publishers of metropolitan newspapers in the country. She retired in 2013 after the paper was sold to new owners.
She has been a Hollins trustee since 2016. She is also a founding board member of Cardinal News.
* * *
Virginia Western to host free family moving nights starting July 23
Virginia Western Community College will host a series of free family movies nights in its Community Arboretum starting July 23 with a showing of the 2013 animated film, “Epic.” Based on William Joyce’s 1996 children’s book, “The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs,” the movie focuses on a teenager who finds herself transported to a deep forest setting where a battle between the forces of good and evil is taking place.
“The Secret Garden” will be shown September 17, followed by “The Lorax” on April 22, 2023. All of the films will start at dusk and be shown in the ellipse lawn, in front of the Arboretum’s new gazebo.
Popcorn, sodas, water and candy will be offered for sale. Attendees should bring chairs or blankets to sit on. Outside food is welcome, but alcohol is prohibited.
All of the movies are rated PG. A campus map and parking information is available at 2020 Campus Map: virginiawestern.edu.
The movie series is made possible by an Innovation Grant from the Virginia Western Community College Educational Foundation, a nonprofit that raises funds for student and faculty support as well as the Community Arboretum.
Virginia Western’s Community Arboretum sits on two acres and encompasses 11 gardens. In May, the Arboretum staff and volunteers installed three bog gardens that are filled with carnivorous plants. They are in the process of building a new native garden. Learn more about the Arboretum at Virginia Western Community Arboretum – Virginia
Western Community Arboretum. The Community Arboretum is open daily to the public from dawn to dusk.