Kendra Joyner '11
Religion & Philosophy Major; Religion & Philosophy Concentration

"I knew I wanted a school that reflected my value system. I initially heard about Catawba through their ties to the United Church of Christ. I liked that the school seal includes the words character, culture, scholarship and service. These are values I try to implement in my own life. When visiting Catawba, I felt the strong sense of community, of family, that exists here among students, but also with faculty and staff. I knew I wanted to be part of this family.

I knew that I also wanted to serve people and through programs offered by the Lilly Center for Vocation and Values I began to realize I was being called to ministry. I want to advocate for people, but I also thrive off of being in community with them and growing and learning together in faith. The Religion and Philosophy major afforded me a strong academic grounding, helped me develop analytical skills, challenge and question, while affirming the core values of who I am in this world.

I am attending Yale Divinity School to earn a Masters degree in Divinity. My Catawba education allowed me to enter into this area with confidence. I am open to the Spirits movement in my life, but feel led to the needs within rural congregations. Whatever path my life takes, I have been forever shaped and molded by my years at Catawba and particularly my professors and fellow majors in the Religion and Philosophy Department."

Denisa Parsons '11
Religion and Philosophy Major

"I had friends from Catawba who spoke highly of their professors and loved the intimacy of the college life that Catawba provides. I chose Catawba because I liked the idea of small classes and one-on-one time with professors. I wanted a deeper understanding of Philosophy and the various religions out there."

Megan Fields '11
Philosophy Minor

"I declared a Philosophy minor because I feel that along with my major and my other (Creative Writing) minor, Philosophy will help me to create interesting and intellectually stimulating plays."

Josh Payne '11
Religion & Philosophy Minor

"When I was in the first semester of my freshman year I had a course that all freshmen have, first year seminar. In this class I had a professor that would change my life. Dr. Clapp's “What Should I do with my Life” first year seminar class I slowly learned that my passion was in the study of religion. I did not know at the time how to incorporate that in my education other than in my general education classes. I took two religion classes my sophomore year and a philosophy class. That year one of my two religion classes was taught by Dr. Sang. By the end of the year I expressed my great sorrow to the fact that I would not be able to take anymore religion courses. He told me that I was half way to a new combination minor called Philosophy and Religion. Second semester of my sophomore year I took Intro to Logic and I knew that this new minor was going to fit me. I found a sense of completeness in my education. I enjoyed my business classes and my minor gave me a well rounded portion of a healthy and satisfying education."