FERRUM, Va. -- Ferrum College is proud to celebrate National Student-Athlete Day. Created in 1987 by the Institute for Sport and Social Justice, National Student-Athlete Day is celebrated annually on April 6.

National Student-Athlete Day honors high school and college student-athletes for balancing academic excellence with athletic competition. It recognizes the hard work, leadership, and community service of roughly 8 million U.S. student-athletes. The day spotlights those who maintain high GPAs (3.0 or higher) while participating in sports and promotes the positive influence of athletics on society.

The day is celebrated in partnership with the NCAA and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). Over 4.4 million student-athletes have been recognized since the day's inception.

National Student-Athlete Day emphasizes that individuals are "students first, athletes second," highlighting their commitment to future career success beyond sports.

Ferrum sponsors 21 varsity teams and one club program, with over 420 student-athletes competing during the 2025–26 academic year. The Panthers are currently in their first year of transitioning into NCAA Division II as proud members of Conference Carolinas.