Kasia Zielinski '11
Athletic Training Graduate; Attending Graduate School at East Carolina University

"I chose Catawba because I felt like it was home from the moment I stepped on campus. Playing many sports growing up, I knew I wanted to pursue Athletic Training since high school. I searched for schools which offered Athletic Training as well as NCAA Division II tennis. Though I knew my career was the most important thing to me, the Athletic Training staff were willing to allow me to play tennis while obtaining my career goals. Catawba was a perfect fit for me, and I do not regret my decision in any way. I could not have asked for a better group of staff and students. I am attending Graduate School at East Carolina University to obtain a Master's degree in Health Education. I plan on working as an athletic trainer at a high school or college in the future."

VIDEO: Student Athletic Trainers in Action

Kendrick Mayes '11
Therapeutic Recreation Graduate; Psychology Minor

"I chose Catawba because I enjoy the small town atmosphere that the campus community provides, and I knew Catawba would be somewhere I could excel tremendously, because of the supportive faculty and staff that this fine institution has. I decided to major in Therapeutic Recreation because I enjoy providing others with the opportunity to maintain a meaningful, satisfying, and healthy lifestyle. During my Practicum at the Lutheran Home At Trinity Oaks, I had an opportunity to do this while I served as Assistant Activities Director. I plan to attend Winston-Salem State University, where I will receive a Master's degree in Physical Therapy.

Lainey Edwards '11
Physical Education Graduate; Volleyball

"Catawba was a perfect fit for me because of their competitive athletics program, as well as their wonderful Physical Education Department. I have always had a passion about physical education and I love being active. Catawba was the school which had the best balance for me in majoring in Physical Education and playing collegitate volleyball. All of my professors were helpful in so many ways. From scheduling my classes to being available for individual meetings, they were always my biggest fans. Being able to succeed in the classroom and on the court made my college experience even more special. I look forward to impacting children and teaching the importance of physical activity and nutrition in their lives."

Anna Dellapenta '11
Recreation Graduate

"I chose Catawba because I knew I would receive the attention both in and out of class that would be necessary to become the finest in my field. A degree in Recreation will provide me the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of occupations, and will allow me to do what I love, which is being active. In the future, I hope to own my own outdoor ministry/camp that will offer people a chance to get away or learn new skills."

Hannah Thomas '11
Physical Education Graduate; Cross Country

"I chose Catawba because of the small atmosphere and the welcoming faculty and staff. The Physical Education program allowed me to enter the classroom during my first year, and prepared me for my future in the school system. I chose Physical Education because I enjoy working with kids and am passionate about the health of our future generations. I hope to teach Elementary PE at a school in North Carolina."

Jennifer Dameron '11
Exercise Science Graduate

"I chose Catawba because of the great academics that it had to offer as well as sports. I also loved the small school atmosphere and how the professors care about each student. I wanted to do something that kept me active and away from sitting behind a desk while staying in the sports atmosphere. I really enjoyed the program. There are a lot of amazing people that helped me along my path to becoming a Physical Therapist."

Beverly Maurice '10
Therapeutic Recreation Graduate with minors in Biology and Psychology

"I chose Catawba for the commute and also for the pre-med program. If you want to attend a school where faculty and staff will get to know you personally and help you find the best path to meet your educational goals, Catawba would be the ideal school for you.

After college, I want to provide therapeutic recreation services to individuals with disabilities or special needs. I would like to pursue a master's degree in bioethics."

While at Catawba, Maurice's activities included: President of the Pre-Health Organization, President of the P.E. Majors, writer for The Pioneer, Team Captain for Walk For Babies, Catawba's American Red Cross Blood Intern, Psych Club, Tri-Beta, Phi Epsilon, ACS, Co-founder of the Already Been Read Book club, Venaculars fan,  Arrowhead staff.

John Poulos '07
Athletic Training

"You couldn't ask for better professors and instructors. They challange you in and out of the classroom. The students in the program become a very tight knit family which supports each other through thick and thin. We are given some of the greatest opportunities anyone could ask for, from working with the 19 varsity sports at Catawba, the Chicago White Sox, Doctor's offices, and the rehabilitation clinic."  

Tammy May '07
Athletic Training

"The Athletic Training Program at Catawba College has been a wonderful experience for me. It has given me the opportunity to work with a variety of sports teams, as well as clinical settings within the community. The program does a wonderful job of challenging the students to display their clinical skills as well as leadership skills. The professors do a good job of providing us with the knowledge and skills to pursue a career in athletic training or a number of related allied health fields."

Matt Agner '05
LRT/CTRS; Physical Therapy Aide at Rowan Regional Medical Center Physical Rehabilitation Clinic

"The best part of my experience as a Therapeutic Recreation major at Catawba College was the diversity of training I received. I had the experience of observing and assisting in the fields of Occupational, Speech and Physical Therapy, as well as community and school settings. It's a fun major, especially establishing good relationships with the clients."

Stephanie Walden Gault '03
Nurse in Intermediate Care Unit at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC

"The whole reason I decided to go into nursing was due to my college internship in the Trauma and Intensive Care Unit at Baptist Hospital. Without that I wouldn't have had the opportunity to explore the variety of careers available in the medical profession. I knew I liked to work with people, but that internship showed me new ways to do that — instead of working around people's health problems, I wanted to help fix those problems."

After her graduation from Catawba, Stephanie earned her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing through the Accelerated Option Program at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center's Winston-Salem State University campus.

Tom Riley '96
LRT/CTRS; Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and Head Football Coach at North Carolina School for the Deaf in Morganton, NC

"My experience at Catawba gave me many hours of hands-on experience helping persons with disabilities in both clinical and community settings. The professors' open-door policy and the benefit of having small classes allowed me to interact and learn much more than a textbook could teach me. My elective course in sign language prepared me for a career I had not foreseen."

Cristyn Harrison '05
LRT/CTRS; Graduate Student at University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Exercise and Sport Psychology; Employed at Murphy-Wainer Orthopedics

"Attending Catawba College was one of the best decisions I have made in my life. My educational experience at Catawba not only allowed me to receive my degrees but it prepared me for national certification exams (Athletic Training and Therapeutic Recreation) and the real world after college. The professors provided me with connections to valuable and influential internships and job opportunities. Catawba College allowed me to build relationships with my professors, coach and staff, who became my family with whom I could share my dreams and concerns and always receive support, feedback, direction and references."