SPRING - January 2012 - Volume 20
	Just look at what West Scholars were doing as the fall semester came to a close! Early completion by four Scholars! Volunteerism! Attendance at forums, workshops, and presentations! Athletics! Performance Arts! A great end to a wonderful 2011. HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE! WHAT SCHOLARS ARE DOING! West Scholars Win Third Place At Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Event Each holiday season the campus comes together for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Service, to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season. The Cannon Student Center is decorated for the season and faculty, staff, and students participate in the popular performance of the Twelve Days of Christmas. For the third year in a row, West Scholars volunteered to practice and perform their role as the Eleven Pipers Piping. This year, Scholars won the third place prize for a performance that involved using Boomwackers as their instruments during the singing of Jingle Bells! Ah ….... such talent! Our West Scholars are represented in other portions of the song also, and are seen before and after the event enjoying the celebration. The website photos are filled with West Scholars at this event. Front Row: Sydney Smith, Taylor Lee, Maggie McKee, Jacob Regensburger, and Tara Borre. Back Row: Chris Money, Michelle Newberger, Cristin Ritchie, Lindsay King, Suzy Williams, and Kyle Griewisch. FYI – The “pipes” are called Boomwackers. They make great music! Among the “Drummers Drumming” .... Catawba’s drum major, and ’08 West Scholar, Brent Messenger, along with ’11 Scholar, Patrick Karriker. SGA Officer and ’08 Scholar Sarah Moore ’09 Scholar Suzy Williams, in the center Pictured here, ’09 Scholar, Christina Faircloth, ’10 Scholar, Allison Andrews, ’09 Scholar Aubrey Barton, and ’09 Scholar, Casey Baucom (left photo) and (right photo), ’08 Scholars, Julie Gilley and Sarah Morse. – all enjoying the holiday celebration. Left photo, ’11 Scholar, Jana Burkhardt and ’08 Scholar, Sam Lackey. Center photo, ’08 Scholar Sarah Moore. Right photo, ’11 Scholar Courtney Tunstall. (and of course Santa!) Congratulations to our Pipers Piping for your “win” – free pizza party catered by Chartwells! Sustainability and the Catawba Landscape The Center for the Environment invited faculty, staff and students to a “Lunch and Learn” with the topic covering Sustainability and the Catawba Landscape, on Monday, November 28^th at 1:00 p.m. in the dining hall’s Community Room. Students making presentations included Sarah Moore, ’08 West Scholar, from Mocksville, NC, Jacob Snyder and Alex Abell. The presentation looked at what other campuses are doing and what Catawba is doing both now and in the future. An open discussion took place following the presentations. Catawba College November Community Forum by Jessica Everett, ’09 West Scholar, Winston-Salem, NC Catawba College's Forum on November 15th titled, "Why Are Humans Selfish?" included a panel which consisted of Trevor Eppeheimer, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at Hood Theological seminary; Seth Holtzman, chair of the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Catawba College; Pete Prunkl, former Associate Professor of Psychology at Quincy College; and Robert Voelker, Evolutionary and Molecular Biologist and former Lutheran pastor. The topic for the evening was original sin/selfishness. The purpose of the forum was to approach the topic from four different disciplines to gain new insight on the matter. Each member of the panel spoke for approximately ten minutes on selfishness and the nature of sin from the perspective of their discipline. Dr. Seth Holtzman helped to define the difference between sin and original sin as well as explain why a philosopher would even be included in such a discussion. His view was that philosophy helps one to understand how a topic should be and should not be approached. Dr. Eppeheimer used a passage from Romans, chapter seven, in which the apostle Paul explains the nature of sin in his life. Dr. Prunkl talked about studies that show approximately what percentage of our genes affect how agreeable or selfish we are. Dr. Voelker spoke on evolution, natural selection and of the process of survival of the fittest that influence our selfish nature. The panel then opened the floor to discussion so that the audience could respond and ask questions. The atmosphere was very casual. The panel used first names when referring to one another and dressed business casual as to help create a more relaxed discussion. This helped to support audience participation I think. I invited my father to the event and we both enjoyed listening to all the different perspectives. I enjoyed even more, hearing the questions and comments from fellow audience members. While I may not agree with a lot of the information presented, I learned a lot and it opened my mind to new ideas. I plan to attend future forums and hope that my father will continue to join me as well. Honors Program Thesis Presentation Sarah Morse, ’08 West Scholar, North Berwick, Maine The College Honors Program extended an invitation to faculty, staff and students, to attend the first honors thesis presentation of the 2011-12 academic year. On Monday, November 21, Sarah Morse presented her thesis entitled, “The Implementation of Interactive White Board Strategies in a Local Fifth Grade Classroom” at 2:30pm in Ketner 210. Sarah’s thesis committee members include Dr. Cyndi Osterhus, Dr. Sheila Brownlow, and Dr. Barry Sang. Environmental Student Internship Experience Presentations All faculty, staff and students were welcome to attend! Monday, November 21, 2011 - 3:00 – 4:30 PM. Included among the presentors: Dan Couchenour, ’10 West Scholar, Fort Mill, SC 3:00 p.m. Dan couchenour - “Sustainability at Catawba” The Frontline of Sustainability with Dr. John Coonrod of The Hunger Project by Cameron Beard, ’10 West Scholar, Conover, NC On Tuesday, November 15^th, Catawba College’s Center for the Environment sponsored a presentation on world-wide starvation. The keynote speaker for the event was Dr. John Coonrod, executive vice president of The Hunger Project—an organization dedicated to the sustainable end of world hunger. Dr. Coonrod earned his bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, and went on to earn his master’s and PhD from the University of California-Berkley. Dr. Coonrod became The Hunger Project's first volunteer in 1977, joined its staff in 1985, and has participated in the development and implementation of all its programs. Dr. Coonrod focused his presentation on successfully achieving “The Millennium Development Goals”. These goals are a pathway to ending chronic hunger, which affects 925 million people worldwide. The Hunger Project has developed three pillars that lead to achieving the goals: mobilizing people at the grassroots level to build self-reliance, empowering women as key change agents, and forging effective partnerships with local governments. As a teacher in the 21^st century, sustainability and the environment are becoming increasingly important topics. It is imperative that we educate our youth on topics like this one that will have significant effects on their lives. As a prospective math teacher, I could have my students graph data on world hunger, look at how it has changed over time, and then find ways to lower the number of hungry people around the globe. Another perspective on John Coonrod, Ph.D., “The Frontline of Sustainability” by Kyle Griewisch, ’10 West Scholar, Banner Elk, NC John Coonrod is a man of many talents. Out of college he graduated as a nuclear physicist. However, the list of accomplishments does not stop there. While working on Wall Street, he met for a seminar, through the organization known as The Hunger Project. After falling in love with the ideals and direction of the organization, he became the first full time volunteer. Some years later he joined the staff and has led The Hunger Project to many feats that would not have been possible without his help. John came to Catawba College, not asking for donations, but to show us the potential this earth has for sustainability. He began by giving us a few points on what The Hunger Project has done to be successful. Mobilization was the first word to flash across the screen. What does that mean? Well to John, mobilization is the idea that ANY person can make a difference for themselves through action and confidence. He went on to describe how just sending immediate food to a starving person will do nothing for them. Yes, they may have a full stomach, but what moral lesson have you taught them? By giving them immediate food, it reinforces the idea that they are dependent on organizations. This is not to say that we cannot provide resources. The Hunger Project provides resources that the villages and people can use to understand the idea that they can begin to make a difference themselves. They essentially give them the tools to start over. It is a process that takes the upmost care; it is slow yet redeeming. Independence is the final goal for all of the sovereign places they help. One way that people can gain this confidence is through the establishment of local democracy. They need a group that is large enough to have a voice, yet small enough to still know everybody. They need to eliminate gender discrimination. As women gain voices and education through society, they will realize that they do not need large numbers of children, because if taken care of, one child will grow to be strong. It also takes patience. You must build on success and steady growth. Other ideas that help reduce population growth are the introduction of contraceptives and health facilities. Coonrod goes on to describe the agricultural means in which they are helping. Another term was introduced; Agroecology is the application of using land resources to create a sustainable food production. Strategies that The Hunger Project introduces are for small scale groups of people and rely on lots of manual labor and upkeep. However, they work - planting trees for sustainable wood farming, composting, intercropping, drip irrigation, zero emission vehicles, and micro-dose fertilization are the core resources that The Hunger Project institutes. Through these resources, it is possible to create a sustainable world. For our sake, I hope it works. Student Volunteerism and Operation Christmas Child by Sydney Hyder, ’11 West Scholar, Asheboro, NC The box-packing for Operation Christmas Child was a great experience. About 30 to 40 students gathered to put together 200 boxes for the project. What was scheduled for two hours took about one and was a wonderful time! We started off with a video of a young boy named Raplh from the Philippines, who received a box from Operation Christmas Child. It was a sweet video and got everyone in the mood to make boxes! Everyone worked really hard and we had a real feeling of community, even though a lot of us didn't know each other. It was a good personal experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat! The Arrowhead – Fall Issue is Available Lizzle Davis, ’09 West Scholar, East Bend, NC The Fall issue of The Arrowhead, Catawba’s Literary Arts Magazine is out, and Lizzle Davis has two poems published in the issue. Congratulations, Lizzle! First Generation Student from the Class of 2015 Catawba continues to meet the needs of its first generation college students. West Scholars have always numbered among the first generation students. The ’11 West Scholars are represented by Chris Money, King, NC and Sydney Smith, Salisbury, NC MONEY SMITH "Living Globally" First Year Seminar (Fall 2011) Catawba College first-year students enrolled in the "Living Globally" first year seminar learned about globalization in an unexpected way — from their t-shirts. Read more » Pictured, in attendance, is Michelle Newberger, ’11 Scholar, Lutz, FL on the right (wearing glasses) Alpha Chi Helps Habitat for Humanity (11/5/11) Members of Catawba's Alpha Chi Honor Society teamed up with Habitat for Humanity of Rowan County and St. Luke's Episcopal Church of Salisbury on a recent build. Members of the project's coordinating committee include Catawba College staff members Karen Setliff and Cathy Hollady, and Johnny Setliff (SEGS Class of 2010). Alpha Chi is a national college honor society that admits students from all academic disciplines. Membership is limited to the top 10 percent of Catawba's juniors & seniors. There are currently 41 active members in the Catawba (North Carolina Omicron) Chapter. Pictured below is ’09 Scholar, Lizzle Davis, of East Bend, NC (in the gray sweatshirt), installing cabinets and doing yard work. Other West Scholars who are members of Alpha Chi are ’09 Scholars, Amelia Baity, Hamptonville, NC and Christina Faircloth, Belmont, NC. Center for the Environment Celebrates 15th Anniversary Sarah Moore, ’08 Scholar, Mocksville, NC By Kathy Chaffin, SalisburyPost.com The Center for the Environment's 15th anniversary celebration on November 10 elicited a host of praise and appreciation for the work of the Center and for those who have brought its mission to life. Among the 80-plus people at the celebration included Catawba officials and professors, members of the Center Advisory Board and supporters. "The Center is all of us," said Executive Director John Wear, "and we all feel very proud of what we have accomplished." Environmental Education major Sarah Moore, who serves as a student intern at the Center, spoke highly of everything from the building, which she described as a "refuge" for students, to the faculty, staff and supporters of the program. Read more... Musical Recitals The Music Department extended an invitation to faculty, staff and students for attendances at two music recitals on Monday, November 14, Peeler-Crystal Lounge. Both recitals were presented in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education at Catawba College. Brent Messenger, ’08 West Scholar, Kannapolis, NC, performed a Percussion Recital 7:00 p.m.; and Melanie Hudson, performed a Horn Recital 7:30 p.m. Catawba Students Travel to DC to Protest Construction of Keystone XL Pipeline MOORE COBB Photo Credit: Eli Wittum, Compliments of the Student Newspaper, The Pioneer November 9, 2011 • Jennifer Goble, Guest Writer This past weekend, 12 Catawba College students joined 12,000 protestors from around the United States in Washington, DC on Sunday afternoon to protest TransCanada’s proposed 1,700 mile Keystone XL pipeline. Environmentalists are concerned that the pipeline could cause contamination of drinking water near vital aquifers. Should the pipeline be constructed, oil will be extracted from tar sands in Alberta, Canada and be transported to the Gulf Coast, refined, and exported. President Barack Obama is expected to make a decision regarding the pipeline by the end of the year. Catawba seniors, Jennifer Goble and Sarah Moore, ’08 West Scolar from Mocksville, NC, organized the trip. “I wanted to make a group to inform others about the tar sands oil in Canada. I found Tar Sands Action on Facebook, did a little more research, and then Jennifer Goble and I decided to make a group that Catawba Students could join,” senior Sarah Moore said. After more research, Sarah discovered a protest was occurring in DC through Tar Sands Action and invited students from around campus to join her. Sarah expressed her thoughts, “As American citizens, it is our right to exercise our freedom to tell those in leadership that the decisions they make effect us all and that we are watching and we are listening.” The students left campus Saturday evening, stopped in Virginia for the night, and left Sunday morning to travel to the White House. Students carried signs and an inflatable pipeline through the streets of downtown D.C. chanting, “Yes we can! Stop the pipeline!” The chant drew parallels to President Obama’s campaign slogan. Occupy DC also joined the parade through the streets shouting “We are the 99 percent” and carried Occupy Earth to show their support for the pipeline protest. All of the students felt that their efforts played an important role in letting Obama know that Americans are opposed to the construction of the pipeline. “I decided to protest the pipeline because I am opposed to perpetuating America’s addiction to oil,” said Sarah Robinson, a senior Environmental Science major. “…If Obama wants to create jobs, he should look towards renewable energy rather than fossil fuels.” Kyra Thurow stated “The protest against the pipeline is a cause I believe in. This trip was the most rewarding experience I’ve ever had and I felt like I made a difference….”The pipeline is a big environmental disaster. I believe it is our duty to take care of our creation.” The twelve protestors from Catawba who participated were Sydney Byerly, Gareth Cobb, ’11 West Scholar from Salisbury, NC, Susan Ethridge, Jennifer Goble, David Idol (Catawba College alumnus), Sarah Matulis, Sarah Moore, Trevor Morrison, Sarah Robinson, Justin Smith, Morgan Soulantikas, and Eli Wittum. Environmental Catawba Outreach (E.C.O.) donated money for the van rental to transport students to D.C. “E.C.O. was proud to sponsor a group of students that took a stand for the environment.” said Kyra Thurow, President of E.C.O. Dr. John Wear, Director of the Center for the Environment at Catawba College, and Robin Lundy of Robin Farms in Davie County also donated money for the trip. SGA Sophomore Class In Action . Compliments of the Student Newspaper, The Pioneer November 1, 2011 • Sean Fontaine Thursday October 27th marked a memorable date in the lives of the residents at Trinity Oaks Assisted Living, located just off of Klumac Road in Salisbury, NC, as the SGA Sophomore Class Officers hosted a Halloween celebration as a great way to give back to the community and make a difference too. This year’s officer team is as follows: President - Olivia Myers, Vice President - Sean Fontaine, Treasurer - Richard Shuping, Senator - D.J. Colson, Senator at Large -James Everidge, and Secretary - Anne Mabry, ’10 West Scholar, China Grove, NC The party opened up with officer introductions by Jay Laurens, Catawba coordinator for outreach programs at the Lily Center, and a wonderful dinner served by the excellent staff at Trinity Oaks. The party featured bingo that included numerous prizes for the residents to enjoy. A cake walk gave the residents a chance to stretch their legs and win more prizes while walking to “spooky” Halloween music. The night came to a close with corn-hole and mingling among the residents and students. The most moving moment of the entire night came from a resident named Glen, who commented on the manners of the students and “how wonderful it is to see young adults reaching out to me and making me feel like a part of the community.” The SGA sophomore class really wanted to plan an event that would not only be fun but meaningful to the residents who don’t get the daily interaction with their family members and friends. The student presence impacts each and every one of them. The smiles on their faces as they call out bingo or the friendly banter at dinner, even the simple gesture of “Hey, How you doin?” brightens their day in so many ways. Who knew giving back to the community could be this rewarding and fulfilling? Catawba Students Participate in Veterans Day Service MESSENGER LEE VEITENHEIMER Six Catawba College brass students performed for a Nov. 9 Veterans Day Service/Meal at Stallings Memorial Baptist Church. The students included Brent Messenger, ’08 West Scholar (Music Education), Melanie Hudson (Music Education), John Lincourt (Music Performance), Taylor Lee, ’11 West Scholar (Music Education), Zach Veitenheimer, ’11 West Scholar (Music Education), and Ryn Crawford (Theatre Arts). These students performed 30 minutes of brass music representing songs from all branches of the military, as well as standards in patriotic music. Over 100 veterans were in attendance, representing all five branches of the military. One highlight of the event featured an emotional presentation recognizing all soldiers who have been determined "Missing In Action" in all military conflicts. MESSENGER LEE VEITENHEIMER Catawba College Department of Music Presented a Student Performance Hour on November 11, 2011 at Omwake-Dearborn Chapel: 3:00 p.m. that included: Zack Veitenheimer, ’11 West Scholar, Tobaccoville, NC – playing tuba Catawba Catapult by Daniel Couchenour, ’10 West Scholar, Ft. Mill, SC On Sunday, November 6, 2011, I worked the Catawba Catapult, a high school lacrosse showcase held at Catawba. While players got to showcase their talents for local college coaches, they also worked with other players to provide advice for on and off the field. While working this, I was able to talk to players about how important it is not to only think about lacrosse in college. It was great to let players know that your education is more important than any sport you will ever play in college. Being able to stand as a role model figure is important because it presents the opportunity to help and provide advice and education for others to make life-changing decisions. Teachers have some of the biggest voices in a student-athletes’ life, and this event helped me become more than prepared to help all my future students. An Honors Presentation by Bransyn Motley “The Health and Progeny of Norodom Sihanouk, the Longest-Reigning Living Monarch” by Anna Toole, ’10 West Scholar, Simpsonville, SC The class deals with the life of the former King of Cambodia, Norodom Sihanouk. The objectives of the presentation were to inform us about the health of the former King, the growing health concerns as he ages, and to give us information about his children. King Sihanouk was born on Halloween, and today, he is 89 years old. The life expectancy in Cambodia is around 50 years old, so his long life is a rarity. However, he suffers from three chronic medical conditions, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cancer. The first condition, type 2 diabetes, means that his body cannot produce enough insulin in order to break down sugars. His diabetes was most likely brought on by an unhealthy diet. The second condition, obesity, is where one’s body mass index is too high for one’s height compared to weight. Currently, the former King is not obsese, but multiple times during his life he has lost weight and then put it back on, which puts him at a great risk for heart disease, heart attack, diabetes, and high blood pressure. This also affects his posture. The third condition is cancer. He has successfully beaten cancer three times. The primary sites of his cancers have been his colon and stomach. He moved to China for medical treatment, and the Chinese used radiation and chemotherapeutic agents to put the cancer in remission. Today, he attributes his victory over cancer to them. Former King Sihanouk has 7 wives and 14 children. One of his sons, Norodom Sihamoni, is now the current King of Cambodia. Many of his children and wives died during the attack of the Khmer Rouge in the 1970’s. Also, a few of his children died from medical diseases such as leukemia and malaria. The current King, King Sdech Krom Khun Norodom Sihamoni, is considered the leading artist of the Cambodian Royal Family. He has been dedicated to the promotion of Cambodia’s cultural heritage. He starred in the 1967 film “The Little Prince” and graduated in 1975 from the Academy of Musical Art in Prague. During the reign of the Khmer Rouge, he was placed under house arrest. After their reign ended, he served as his father’s secretary while his father organized a liberation movement. He is fluent in Khmer, French, Czech, Russian, and English. On October 29, 2004 he was coronated as King. This presentation was very informative and provided the audience with an overview of the former King’s medical issues and children. I had never heard of him before so it was a great opportunity to learn new material about different parts of the world. NOTE! Anna Toole offered her own Honors Presentation entitled Norodom Sihanouk: The Musician King, on Tuesday, November 15^th at 9:30 in Ketner Hall. Scholar’s Presentation to the President’s Climate Commitment Committee by Daniel Couchenour, ’10 West Scholar, Ft. Mill, SC On Wednesday, October 26, 2011, the President’s Climate Commitment Committee met at 1:00 PM at the Center for the Environment building room 300. In this meeting, the committee discussed some actions that help encourage our campus community to engage in greater participation of sustainability on campus. To that end, Catawba student and Center for the Environment intern, Dan Couchenour, took the first 15 minutes of the meeting to discuss some of the innovative ways various colleges have promoted and encouraged green practices on their campuses through Green Office and Green Dormitory Recognition Programs. Following Dan’s presentation, the committee discussed a possible recognition program here on Catawba’s campus. There was time scheduled for members of the audience to participate in the discussion also. CATAWBA ATHLETICS NEWS Recognizing and following our West Scholar athletes! Soccer Following ’10 Scholars, Kyle Griewisch, Banner Elk, NC and Anna Toole, Simpsonville, SC GRIEWISCH TOOLE (11/4/11) catawba athletics website Men's Soccer Season Ends With Semifinal Loss at SAC Tournament ROCK HILL, SC -- Catawba fell to Lenoir-Rhyne 2-0 in a battle of upset first-round winners during a semifinal of the 2011 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Men’s Soccer Tournament at the Manchester Meadows Soccer Complex. The seventh-seeded Bears advance to Sunday’s final where they will face top-seeded Anderson. The Catawba Indians, seeded-sixth, end its season at 9-9-2. Read More: http://www.gocatawbaindians.com/article.asp?articleID=4664 (11/3/11) catawba athletics website Toole Named Second Team All-SAC in Women's Soccer ROCK HILL, SC -- Catawba sophomore Anna Toole (Greenville, SC/Mann HS) has earned second team All-South Atlantic Conference honors in women’s soccer.  It was announced by the league office on Thursday.  The defender was the lone selection from Catawba on the women’s All-SAC teams. Toole started all 16 matches for the Lady Indians on the back line.  She helped the defense to four shutouts on the season as Catawba allowed 1.75 goals against per match. Read More: http://www.gocatawbaindians.com/article.asp?articleID=4661 Lacrosse Following Dan Couchenour, ’10 Scholar, Ft. Mill, SC and Jon Williams, ’11 Scholar, Hillsborough, NC COUCHENOUR WILLIAMS Swimming Following ’10 Scholars David Garcia, King, NC, and Caroline Bostian, Pfafftown, NC, and ’11 Scholar, Courtney Tunstall, Mt. Airy, NC GARCIA BOSTIAN TUNSTALL (11/21/11) Catawba athletics website Catawba School Records Fall in Wingate Fall Frenzy Meet CHARLOTTE, NC -- The Catawba swim teams competed in the Wingate Fall Frenzy at the Mecklenburg Aquatic Center over the weekend. The men finished sixth out of 10 teams and the women placed seventh out of 11 in the competition. (11/13/11) catawba athletics website Catawba Swimming Competes With East Carolina GREENVILLE, NC -- Catawba traveled to East Carolina University for a dual meet on Saturday afternoon. Caroline Bostian (Pfafftown, NC/Reagan HS) placed first in the 100 fly with a time of 1:04.04. The 200 medley relay team of Yarborough, Kassner, Kruglov and Bostian finished fourth with a time of 1:54.27. The swim teams will be in action again on Nov. 18-20 at the Wingate Invite. http://www.gocatawbaindians.com/article.asp?articleID=4679 (10/29/11) catawba athletics website Men's Swimming Victorious at Boo Bash SALISBURY, NC -- Catawba’s men were champions and the women second at the Boo Bash Relays held on Saturday afternoon at the Johnson Pool.  Limestone scored 116 points to out-distance the Lady Indians by twenty in the women’s event. Catawba took the men’s event with 120 points, twenty better than Limestone. The men won six events. Magnus Lundgren (Alvsjo, SWEDEN/Varmdo HS), Christoffer Stolt (Stockholm, SWEDEN/Fryshuset HS) and Theo Zatterstrom (Stockholm, SWEDEN/Fryshuset HS) took a win in the 300 Fly, with Stolt, Yakir Malul (Rishon Le-Zion, ISRAEL/Makif Chet) and Andrew McCollister (Rockwell, NC/Salisbury HS) winning the 300 Breast. Lundgren, McCollister, Zatterstrom and Mikael Karlsson (Norsborg, SWEDEN/Tullinge Gymnasium HS) earned the 800 Free, while Malul, Lundgren, Zatterstrom and Karlsson swam away with the 400 Medley. McCollister, Zatterstrom and Toomas Goutt (Saint Witz, FRANCE/Lycee Leonard de Vinci HS) took home the 1500 Free, as Malul, Lundgren, McCollister and Karlsson won the 400 Medley 4 x 100 IM. The women claimed victory in three relays. Caroline Bostian (Pfafftown, NC/Reagan HS), Lindsay Yarborough (Lexington, NC/C. Davidson HS) and Katia Kruglov (Karmiel, ISRAEL) took the 300 Back, while Kruglov, Janin Kassner (Giesen, Germany/Andreanum HS), Britney Tomsula (San Jose, CA/Valley Christian HS) and Courtney Tunstall (Mount Airy, NC/E. Surry HS) earned the 500 Free. Bostian, Kruglov and Tunstall finished things off for Catawba by winning the 1500 Free. Baseball Following ’10 Scholar Cameron Beard, Conover, NC, and ’11 Scholars, Matt Laurens, Salisbury, NC and Justin Morris, Rockwell, NC BEARD LAURENS MORRIS Basketball Following ’08 Scholar, Matt Tamer, Winston-Salem, NC http://gocatawbaindians.com/index.asp (11/12/11) CATAWBA ATHLETICS WEBSITE Men's Basketball Picks Up First Win of Season Against Morris College SALISBURY, NC -- Catawba secured a 88-72 victory over Morris Saturday afternoon at Livingstone’s Trent Gymnasium in the consolation game of the Highway 52 Shootout. The Indians equal their record at 1-1 as the Hornets fall to 0-2. Read More: http://www.gocatawbaindians.com/article.asp?articleID=4678 Tennis Following ’09 Scholar, Maggie McKee, Mt. Airy, NC http://www.gocatawbaindians.com/sport.asp?sportID=16 Cross Country Following ’10 Scholar, Anne Mabry, China Grove, NC http://www.gocatawbaindians.com/sport.asp?sportID=5 Golf Following ’10 Scholar, Jana Burkhardt, Willoughby, Ohio and ’08 Scholar, Samantha Lackey, Seville, Ohio BURKHARDT LACKEY (10/26/11) catawba athletics website Women's Golf Places 15th at Flagler Fall Slam ST. AUGUSTINE’S, FL -- Catawba wrapped up its fall schedule in women’s golf by finishing 15th among 20 teams at the Flagler Fall Slam.  The event was held at the 6,062-yard, par-72 Marsh Creek Country Club.  Lynn claimed the team title, with the top two individuals, winning by two shots over Carson-Newman. Catawba Finishers 45. Leslie Long, 83-82=165 45. Madison Kennedy, 84-81=165 84. Kelly Wilson, 93-86=179 92. Tailar Murphy, 95-90=185 93. Jana Burkhardt, 103-85=188 Softball Following ’09 Scholars, Amanda Terry, Cordova, NC and Casey Baucom, Marshville, NC and ’11 Scholar, Sydney Hyder, Asheboro, NC TERRY BAUCOM HYDER http://www.gocatawbaindians.com/sport.asp?sportID=14 Volleyball Following ’08 Scholars, Alecia Marsha (Shay) Meeks, Kings Mountain, NC and Taylor Doss, Boonville, NC and ’09 Scholar Denise Grissom, Stokesdale, NC MEEKS DOSS GRISSOM (11/28/11) CATAWBA ATHLETICS WEBSITE AVCA Honors Four From Volleyball in Post-Season Awards LEXINGTON, KY -- Four members of the Catawba volleyball team have earned post-season honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association.  Juniors Kaitlyn Whitmer (Ferrum, VA), Jordan Raye (Boonville, NC) and Jenny Young (Roanoke, VA) were named to the All-Southeast Region team, while senior Shay Meeks (Kings Mountain, NC) claimed honorable mention all-region honors. (11/19/11) CATAWBA ATHLETICS WEBSITE Volleyball's Season Ends With Regional Semi Loss to Wingate The Catawba had its volleyball season come to an end as top-seeded Wingate won in three-sets in the semifinals of the 2011 NCAA II Southeast Region Tournament on Saturday night at Cuddy Arena.  Shay Meeks (Kings Mountain, NC/Kings Mountain HS) added six kills for the Lady Indians. (11/18/11) CATAWBA ATHLETICS WEBSITE Volleyball Grinds Out 5-Set Win Over LMU to Advance to Regional Semis Catawba College senior outside hitter Shay Meeks (Kings Mountain, NC/Kings Mountain HS) piled up 21 kills to lead the fourth-seeded Indians past number five seed Lincoln Memorial University in NCAA Southeast region quarterfinal action Friday evening in Cuddy Arena.  An ace from junior Denise Grissom (Stokesdale, NC/Rockingham Co. HS) gave the Indians a 2-1 lead in the match. .  LMU would not go away, cutting the lead to two at 13-11 on a Fowler kill.  Catawba responded with a kill from senior middle blocker Taylor Doss (Boonville, NC/Starmount HS) to take a 14-11 lead then claimed the match on an LMU error.  (11/16/11) Catawba athletics website Shay Meeks Shay Meeks of Kings Mountain, NC was announced as the Catawba College Athlete of the Week for the week beginning November 14, 2011. Meeks, a senior, is a member of the Volleyball team and is majoring in Elementary Education. Read more about Meeks' achievements in the Volleyball news section. Meeks: Catawba vs Pfeiffer (11/14/11) catawba athletics website Volleyball Heads Back to Regionals INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- Catawba will be one of 64 teams to compete in the 2011 NCAA Division II Volleyball Championships, it was announced by the national office on Sunday night.  The Catawba Indians will play with eight other teams in the Southeast Regional Tournament which will be held on the campus of Wingate University this coming weekend. The Lady Indians join four other South Atlantic Conference schools in the regional.  The SAC’s representation in the Championship field more than doubles that of the other two conferences in the Southeast Region. Catawba (23-7) drew the #4-seed and will face conference foe Lincoln Memorial (22-6) in the opening round. (11/13/11) catawba athletics website Volleyball Falls in SAC Final in Four Sets to Wingate HARROGATE, TN -- Catawba played top-seed Wingate three tight sets, but the Bulldogs were able to claim the 2011 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Tournament Championship with a four-set win on Sunday afternoon at Mars Gym on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University. Catawba’s Shay Meeks (Kings Mountain, NC/Kings Mountain HS) and Jenny Young (Roanoke, VA/Patrick Henry HS) earned All-Tournament honors. Meeks led the Catawba attack with 16 kills to go along with nine digs. Catawba took a 9-6 lead in the opening set on a Meeks kills. Catawba led 17-13 after a Wingate error, but the Bulldogs reeled off the next five points to take a one-point lead, highlighted by two kills each from Murach and Krauser.  Meeks tied it at 19 with a kill, but the Bulldogs pushed the lead back to two on a pair of Krauser kills. Another Meeks kill trimmed the deficit to one at 21-20 then Wingate responded with the final four points of the set. The Lady Indians used a 3-0 run to take an 18-13 lead, getting kills from Meeks and Whitmer. Two kills and a block from Meeks highlighted a 6-0 run to give Catawba a 14-10 lead in the third set. The Lady Indians took a 20-18 advantage on a Wingate error, but kills from Krauser and McGowan, along with a Catawba error put the Bulldogs on top 21-20. Meeks answered with a kill to tie it at 21. The fourth frame was tight early, with a Meeks kill getting Catawba to within one at 9-8.  The Bulldogs answered with a 6-0 run to take a seven-point lead and gain the momentum.  McGowan had a kill and a block in the flurry, while Willis finished it with an ace.  A Whitmer kill trimmed the lead to six at 16-10 then Wingate reeled off seven consecutive points to make it 23-10. 11/12/11) catawba athletics website Volleyball Advances to SAC Final After Sweep of Mars Hill HARROGATE, TN -- Catawba swept past sixth-seeded Mars Hill to reach the championship match of the 2011 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Tournament on Saturday afternoon at Mars Gym on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University. Shay Meeks (Kings Mountain, NC/Kings Mountain HS) collected nine kills and had three aces with 10 digs. Taylor Doss (Boonville, NC/Starmount HS) had a pair of kills and a block in the late surge. Meeks served a pair of aces to stretch the margin to 17-14.  The Lady Indians used a five-point run to increase the margin to 22-15 before Meeks killed off the final point. http://www.gocatawbaindians.com/sport.asp?sportID=7 (11/10/11) CATAWBA ATHLETICS WEBSITE Volleyball Places Four on the All-SAC Teams ROCK HILL, SC -- Catawba placed four members on the 2011 All-South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Teams as released by the league office on Thursday.  Setter Jordan Raye (Boonville, NC/Starmount HS) and outside hitter Kaitlyn Whitmer (Ferrum, VA/Franklin Co. HS) were first team picks, while outside hitter Shay Meeks (Kings Mountain, NC/Kings Mountain HS) and libero Jenny Young (Roanoke, VA/Patrick Henry HS) were second team selections. Read More: http://www.gocatawbaindians.com/article.asp?articleID=4673 (11/5/11) catawba athletics website Volleyball Claims #2 Seed for SAC Tournament With Sweep of Anderson SALISBURY, NC -- Catawba swept past visiting Anderson in South Atlantic Conference volleyball action on Saturday afternoon at Goodman Gym.  The Catawba Indians claimed the #2-seed for the upcoming league tournament, winning the match 25-20, 25-16 and 27-25 to improve to 21-6 overall and 14-4 in the SAC.  The Trojans fall to 8-22 and 4-14. In its final home match of the season, the two Lady Indian seniors helped Catawba to the win. Shay Meeks (Kings Mountain, NC/Kings Mountain HS) posted a match-high 15 kills with 11 digs, two blocks and two aces, while Taylor Doss (Boonville, NC/Starmount HS) put down six kills and added two blocks. Read More: http://www.gocatawbaindians.com/article.asp?articleID=4666 Cheerleading Following ’09 Scholars, Whitney Corriher, Salisbury, NC, Maggie McKee, Mt. Airy, NC, Lizzle Davis, East Bend, NC and ’11 Scholar Jamie Gynn, China Grove, NC CORRIHER MCKEE DAVIS GYNN TEACHER EDUCATION NEWS “To prepare reflective teachers who possess the professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for effectively teaching students in a diverse society.” "A Tuna Christmas" Plays at Catawba Nov. 29-Dec. 2 The cast of"A Tuna Christmas" includes juniors Sara Coon of Dallas, Texas; Jamie Caputo of Greensboro, Theatre Education major; Bristol Glass and Sean Henderson of Concord; Katie Higgins of Durham; and Rayshaun Sandlin of Knightdale. They are joined by senior Kat Campagna of Branford, Conn. , and sophomore Jordan Clifton of Wake. Catawba Licensure Completer on National Television Pam Belk appeared on the Dr. Oz television program, on Wednesday, November 30^th, discussing the Davidson-Lexington Communities in Schools backpack meals program. Pam let us know that filming lasted for eight hours and the show used only about a minute and a half. Pam completed a teacher licensure only program in middle school language arts at Catawba. Creative Writing Poetry Reading Includes Three Education Majors Dr. Janice Fuller invited faculty, staff and students to join students in the Creative Writing Poetry course as they read poems written during the semester as part of their final exam project. The reading took place in the mezzanine of the Corriher-Linn-Black Library at 7:00 pm on Sunday, December 4. Among the fifteen students participating were three Teacher Education majors: Danielle Garzon, Jesse Siak, and Chelsea Starr. The Catawba Dance Ensemble Presents LOVERS, LIARS, & CLOWNS, A presentation of nine original dance pieces, CHOREOGRAPHED AND PERFORMED BY STUDENTS, 2:30 PM SUNDAY 11/20 and 7:30 PM MONDAY 11/21, IN THE FLORENCE BUSBY CORRIHER THEATRE - ADMISSION WAS FREE! Two Teacher Education majors were among six others, who were choreographers for the event. They are Kylie Beinke and Gabriella Bressi. Math Department Capstone Presentations The Math Department invited faculty, staff and students to attend their capstone presentations on Friday, December 2, 2011 starting at 1:15 PM in Ketner Hall 210. These 15-20 minute presentations, based on their research, are required of all math majors taking our capstone course - MATH 4400: Capstone Experience. Presenter: Spencer Ashley , Algebra and the Rubik’s Cube Presenter: Bridgett Henderson, ’08 West Scholar, Statesville, NC, The Mathematics of Roller Coasters Presenter: Deon Cuffie-Joseph, Soccer: Just Another Mathematics Class Presenter: Josh Weaver, Blackjack
- Holiday – New Year January 2, 2012 - ’08 and ’08 Cohort Excursion - NYC January 7 – 10, 2012 - Cooperating – Student Teaching Seminars January 11, 2012 - Holiday – Martin Luther King, Jr. January 16, 2012
Jessica Clark, ’08 Scholar Salisbury, NC Elementary Education Fall Student Teacher at Bostian Elementary First and foremost, the time flies! Seems like just yesterday I was at an opening picnic meeting faculty and other West Scholars, all of whom turned out to become close friends. It was nice, especially in the beginning, to have those few people that shared a common interest that I actually knew. Our numerous trips not only added to my knowledge of the teaching profession, but left me with fond memories of friends that I will never forget. As far as student teaching goes, it is definitely an experience. You simply do not understand what all goes into teaching until you live it. It may be hard at times, but it is well worth it because everything you are doing benefits the kids. I have thoroughly enjoyed student teaching and I am ready to get into my own classroom. However, I will greatly miss the kids I am working with now. They have made every minute worthwhile. Moving on and graduating is a little scary. While I am very excited to start a new chapter in my life, a lot is going to happen over the next few months and years. Once I graduate, I plan to substitute teach while I look for teaching positions in Rowan and the surrounding counties. After I teach a few years, I plan to go back to school and get my Masters and later apply for National Boards (given that it is still offered).”
So,we bid farewell to four West Scholars who completed their teacher education program early. Their departures are bittersweet but that is diminished by our knowledge that they will make the Academy for Teaching and Catawba College proud as they go forth as new educators. Congratulations Sarah Morse, Shay Meeks, Stephanie Riddle and Jessica Clark, and stay in touch!
More photos from the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration! They are obviously having a great time. Dr. Jim Stringfield and Dr. Rhonda Truitt enjoying the celebration following the performance. Volleyball season is over so we want to share some parting shots of our “VB Flyers.” As mentioned before, Shay Meeks finished in December and is off to the big world! Taylor Doss will be graduating in May. That leaves West Scholar, Denise Grissom, the lone West Scholar on the Catawba Volleyball team. We’ve followed them closely and wanted you to see for one last time –just how rarely their feet touch the ground! #5 - Alecia Marcia (Shay) Meeks, ’08 West Scholar, Kings Mountain, NC #24 - Taylor Brianne Doss, ’08 West Scholar, Boonville, NC #10 - Carla Denise Grissom, ’10 West Scholar, Stokesdale, NC - oops, injured! The only time your feet touched the floor, Denise! We are so glad you are better. Our goal is to report to readers on the activities of West Scholars and teacher education majors. We say, all the time, that West Scholars are involved in everything on campus. We know you will enjoy some photos documenting their hard work and volunteerism! Harvest Moon Ball (11/10/11) Each year, Volunteer Catawba partners with the Lutheran Home at Trinity Oaks for this very special event! The residents of this skilled nursing facility look forward to this event with great excitement each year. This year, 40 Catawba students attended the ball. Maggie McKee, ’09 Scholar with a resident of Trinity Oaks. Lizzle Davis, ’09 Scholar assisting a Trinity Oaks resident get ready for the party. Justin Morris, ’11 Scholar and a Trinity Oaks resident stepping out on the dance floor perhaps? ’09 Scholar, Aubrey Barton obviously “cutting a rug” jitterbug style. Jamie Gynn, ’11 Scholar wearing blue (foreground) and Justin Morris, ’11 Scholar in the back row performing a little line dance perhaps? Matt Laurens, ’11 Scholar enjoying the Harvest Moon Ball. Aubrey Barton, ’09 Scholar The evening’s King and Queen. Church Youth Day (11/12/11) This exciting event was for middle school and high school age Christian youth groups and individuals and included a ticket to the football game, a Catawba College t-shirt, and a tailgate lunch. Anne Mabry, ’10 Scholar, Casey Baucom, ’09 Scholar and Matt Laurens, ’11 Scholar, working the Church Youth Day registration table. Casey and Anne leading a group across campus. Is that Matt – lying down on the job? Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Packing Party (11/15/11) Students had a great time and packed 218 boxes at the Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Packing Party. Anna Toole, ’10 Scholar (on the right). Kelly Schumacher, ’11 Scholar (on rt). Casey Baucom, ’09 Scholar (left) and Sydney Hyder, ’11 Scholar (right). West Scholars upholding Catawba Residence Life standards as dormitory Resident Assistants for the 2011-2012 academic year. Denise Grissom, ’09 West Scholar Hurley Hall Jana Burkhardt, ’10 West Scholar Stanback Hall, 2^nd Floor Females Jessica Everett, ’09 West Scholar Salisbury-Rowan Hall Just a reminder, two of the Student Government Association officers at Catawba are West Scholars. Sarah Moore, ’08 Scholar "I am a senior Environmental Education major with a minor in Biology and Secondary Education. Jana Burkhardt, ’10 Scholar “I am a Middle Childhood Education major with concentrations in Social Studies and Science.” WEST SCHOLAR ALUMNI NEWS Last May, following Commencement, we asked our ’07 Scholars, who were heading off into the working world as educators, to please stay in touch with us and tell us how things are going for them. We are always so excited to hear from them and here are a few of the latest updates from our first West Scholar graduates! Kelli Ferguson, ’07 Scholar Math Teacher East Millbrook Magnet Middle School, Raleigh, NC Kelli tells us she’s finally feeling that she is “doing more than treading water” during her first year of teaching. She is teaching 7th grade at East Millbrook Magnet Middle School; which is on an A-day - B-day schedule. So she has 6 total classes, consisting of 3 regular 7th grade math classes, 2 pre-algebra classes, and 1 elective that she says she calls "math art". Kelli shares that her biggest success so far has been hearing from multiple students that she "makes math easy." She also says that her biggest struggle has been time management, as there are simply not enough hours to do it all! Kelli says she misses Catawba every day but enjoys her job and often thinks about “how blessed I am to be living my dream.” Elizabeth Sloop, ’07 Scholar Kindergarten Teacher Granite Quarry Elementary School, Granite Quarry, NC We had a short note from Elizabeth who shared her intitial nervousness with us, at receiving her first teaching job in Kindergarten. In the past few months though, Elizabeth says, “ I have found a new sense of wonder at the world around me, through the eyes of my students. When I think about how far they've come, I am simply amazed. Those who couldn't write their names, at the beginning of the year, are now writing complete sentences and know their letter names and sounds. Although there are stresses that teachers deal with on a daily basis, the reward of watching your children learn is priceless.” Philip Russ, ’07 Scholar Physical Education & Health Teacher West Lincoln High School, Lincolnton, NC Phil sent a brief email just before Thanksgiving, to update us on his life in the “real world.” Phil says he’s been attending workshops on the upcoming NCDPI curriculum changes. He was recently nominated by the students at his high school to attend the city’s teacher appreciation dinner. Phil says he is also gearing up for spring sports season, when he will be head junior varsity softball coach, and the spring strength and conditioning coach at West Lincoln High School. Phil says he learned a thing or two from Catawba about incorpoating technology into his responsibilities, and he now manages three athletic webpages on the West Lincoln High School home page. Click the Athletics tab, and see for yourself by visiting: http://wlhs.lincoln.k12.nc.us Alexa Baird, ’07 Scholar Teach for America Program, Central Elementary School, Jackson, NC “Things are going well. The month of October was really, really rough and long. We had no breaks because of the hurricane and the students absolutely needed a break, that was not on its way. My twenty-two students took their first semester benchmarks and did really well! The school-wide goal for Reading is 75 % and Math is 90 %. My students made a 62% on Reading and a 66% on Math. These are numbers I can work with. Our next benchmark goal is to make 70% on both Math and Reading. We have been learning 2 by 2 digit multiplication. We made flashcards, are singing songs, and have been taking 2-minute multiplication quizzes daily. I am finally seeing an improvement in their single-digit multiplication skills, which is essential for their success for the rest of the year. We are also starting a new Native American project, where the students are going to use recycled items from home and school to re-create a Native American village in a shoe box. Should be interesting! I had an amazing turn-out for parent-teacher conferences , meeting with sixteen out of twenty-two of my student's parents. My parents are very helpful and supportive, and it has made my first few months be pretty worry-free. I am also running a track program on Thursdays after-school. I am working with the third and fourth graders on stretching, healthy choices, and how to run properly. With the upcoming Thanksgiving break and then Christmas right behind, the students are anxious for a break and for the holiday season to get underway. I hope they get rested and are ready to conquer long-division after the New Year!” Zach Poole, ’07 Scholar Attending Law School, Charlotte, NC “I am enrolled at Charlotte School of Law, in the heart of downtown Charlotte, NC. Eventually, I plan on pursuing a career in Sports and Entertainment Law. I am taking several courses this semester, including torts, property, civil procedure, legal writing and contracts. I have been very busy this semester with a heavy course load, and adjusting to the law school environment. I will begin my final exams in December, where I have a month off before returning in the Spring. Once the Spring semester begins, I will add criminal law to my list of courses. Law school has been a challenging experince, but has been very rewarding. I have had the benefit of meeting new people from different demographics, each with diverse backgrounds and stenghts they bring to the classroom. Additionaly, I would like to congratulate the new members of the Shirley Peeler Ritchie Academy for Teaching, and I wish everyone in the Martha West Teaching Scholars Program the best of luck for the remaining school year!” Hannah Thomas, ’07 Scholar Physical Education Teacher SanLee Middle School, Sanford, NC “Middle school girls surprise me every day. Everyone has told me I was absolutely crazy for working with such a tough age, but I actually enjoy my girls (all 210 of them!). One thing I have learned about middle school girls, is they hate getting sweaty. So I am constantly having to come up with creative ideas to get all of the girls involved. I have also changed my way of teaching in the health classroom. I started with lecture and powerpoint, and after watching a few veteran teachers, I split my class into 3 groups and had two independent learning stations and one lecture/lesson station. My girls are now learning so much more! For those going into teaching, if teaching is your passion, what you learn will come naturally. I cannot believe it is already December, and soon enough I will be finishing my first year as a teacher! It is crazy how fast time flies.” Laura Ritchie, ’07 Scholar Language Arts & Social Studies Teacher North Rowan Middle School, Spencer, NC “I am finding my teaching to be one of the most fulfilling and challenging things I have ever experienced in my life. Every day is a new and rewarding surprise and I am surely sprinting through it as fast as I can! Yet, I have not faced a single milestone in this career that I did not feel that I was ready to take on. My four years at Catawba College as a West Teaching Scholar have given me answers to most of my questions, the wisdom to accept the ones for which I do not have an answer, and of course many wonderful and supportive people who I know are always on my side. I knew from early on that I wanted to be a teacher, but I could not have imagined how living my first few months of actually doing it would leave me dreaming of years of teaching to come. There are many days when I think I must have been crazy for choosing such a demanding job. However, I do believe that I would not have settled for anything less. I may not always know what to do, but I have enough knowledge to light my way. I wasn’t ready to leave Catawba but Catawba made me ready to live. Thank you to all the wonderful teachers there who taught me how to become a teacher and find it nothing less than remarkable, because of the students I was given and the experiences we have learning together. I guess I cannot tell the future teachers that it is not hard, because I have never done anything harder in my life! But I can say that I made the right choice and I love each and every day I live it.” We are so appreciative that our graduates take time out of their busy new lives, just to keep us informed on their progress as first year teachers. We miss them, but are certain they are making the lives of their students more successful every day, through a dedication to teaching. A new recruiting season is well underway! Please spread the word about Catawba College and the Teacher Education Department, Academy for Teaching and the wonderful West Scholars Program!