FERRUM, Virginia -- Ferrum College's Sam Whitt has been selected to represent Conference Carolinas at the 2025 NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum. This year's forum will be held Thursday through Sunday, November 20-23, in Dallas Texas. A rising senior football player from Pinnacle, North Carolina, Whitt is majoring in Business Administration major with a concentration in marketing.

The NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum, created in 1997, has served as a life-changing experience for more than 5,000 student-athletes who have grown personally and professionally as a result of their attendance. Student-athletes selected to attend the forum return to campus with invaluable leadership skills, a refined understanding of the relationship among personal values, core beliefs and behavioral styles, and the support of a close personal network of like-minded peers to provide continued connection and dialogue after the program concludes. This best-in-class programming experience serves as a transformational opportunity for student-athletes and administrators to build a leadership toolkit and develop vital self-awareness that allows them to realize their potential. 

"While my time at Ferrum College has shaped my leadership journey, the opportunity to attend the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum is a vital step forward in my continued growth," said Whitt. "Being able to share my experiences with other student-athletes will foster conversations about our shared experiences and discuss how we can better serve our peers, athletic departments, and institutions. The valuable insights gained through these conversations could help me lead my teammates and fellow student-athletes with greater intention and grace. The Forum will allow me to broaden my network with professionals, colleagues, and friends who have similar experiences and aspirations, opening doors to me that extend past Ferrum College."

Participating student-athletes and attending administrators and coaches return from the forum with enhanced leadership capabilities that allow them to thrive personally, professionally and even athletically. They build a family of team members that encourages vulnerability, challenges one another with diverse perspectives, and provides unconditional support during and after the program. To learn more about the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum, click here.

Ferrum College announced in April 2024 its intention to reclassify from NCAA Division III to Division II. Ferrum relinquished its seven-year membership in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, officially joining Conference Carolinas on July 1, 2025.