Julie Gilley '12
History Major

"I've always enjoyed looking at the personal stories of history, digging deeper past the dates and understanding why things played out in certain ways. Catawba's History Department gives me this opportunity and more. All of the professors challenge me to look for new meanings in ideas and concepts I thought I knew well. But, even more, they offer to help me grow as an individual. I know that I can ask for help in any area — whether it's understanding things from class or asking them to help me answer 'what do I really want to be when I grow up?' — and they will listen. Catawba's History faculty challenge me to grow in my future profession as a teacher as well as a person."

Kimberly Renspie '12
Political Science Major (American Politics)

"Aside from a beautiful campus set in a great small town like Salisbury, what drew me to Catawba was the opportunity to develop a close working relationship with all of my professors. I feel they have been able to build upon my strengths and have challenged me to excel, both in and out of the classroom. My dream is to someday work in politics at the state or local level where I feel I can have the most positive impact on those constituents. The knowledge I'm gaining and the support I'm receiving from the very involved faculty at Catawba gives me confidence that my dream is well within my sights."

Steve Ross '12
History Major

"I chose Catawba because I wanted a small classroom where the professors knew me by name. I concentrate better and learn more with fewer people in my classes, which Catawba offers as a small college. After visiting twice and receiving such a great welcome from the Admissions staff, the Lacrosse coaches, and my campus tour guide, I knew I belonged at Catawba. I chose History as my major because I enjoyed the different History classes I took in high school. I have always enjoyed watching the different programs on the History Channel and finding out new information pertaining to History. When I began taking History courses at Catawba I was unsure about my options for the future as a History Major. After taking several classes and having countless talks with History faculty about my options, I discovered a career possibility in Historic Preservation.

After graduation, I plan on earning a Master's degree in Historic Preservation at the University of Maryland."

Crystal Ignatowski '12
Political Science Major (International Relations)

"My goal is to go to law school and eventually practice [maybe] International Humanitarian Law. I came to Catawba because of the small class sizes and the unique ability to travel ... I chose Political Science because I want to make a difference on a large scale. =)"

Joseph Peterson '13
Politics Major (Pre-Law)

"Catawba was the ideal fit for me. The small campus setting in the South is a great environment, and I love North Carolina and Salisbury. The professors have a great line of communication with students and are never too busy to listen to you. I chose the Politics major with a concentration in Pre-Law because it is a challenging and interesting courseload, and I enjoy studying the inner workings of government and the law. I hope to someday use this major to of course graduate from law school, return to Maryland to work my way up in my local State's Attorney's Office where I currently intern, and perhaps enter the realm of local, state, and maybe even national government someday. "