Members of the Catawba community have received yet another unexpected benefit from the Lilly Center for Vocation and Values. That thanks to one of the initiatives of the Center which introduces students to seminaries and graduate schools which will prepare them for vocations in Christian ministry.

J. Michael Bitzer, assistant professor of political science at Catawba College, earned his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Georgia’s School of Public and International Affairs. Bitzer participated in commencement exercises at UGA this past Saturday.

Several area students were among the 14 from Catawba College who will be included in the 2005 edition of "Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges." The students were selected based on their academic achievement, service to the community, leadership in extracurricular activities and potential for continued success.

Catawba College Mathematics Professor Dr. Paul Baker was recently honored by the Mathematical Association of America for demonstrating his professionalism in the field of mathematics over the past 35 years. He received a certificate of recognition from that organization.

A total of 229 students have been named to the Dean's List for the fall semester at Catawba College, according to Dr. Barbara Hetrick, vice president and dean of the college.

December 20th, a new book by Author Susan Vreeland, the scheduled speaker for Catawba College’s 19th annual Brady Author’s Symposium next spring, will be available in bookstores. In "Life Studies," a collection of art-related stories, Vreeland continues her own literary trend of examining art and artists.

An icon in the history of Catawba College has passed from the scene. Marion M. “Chub” Richards ‘41, who ably served his alma mater in a variety of staff and faculty positions over 38 years, died Tuesday, December 7, at his home in Salisbury. He was 85 and had been ill for several months.

Elisa Alfieri of Salisbury watched over a small group of Catawba College students as they worked with children from Nazareth Children’s Home to create Christmas ornaments. She knew that the ornaments they made would be used to decorate a tree in the Association of Retarded Citizens’ Festival of Trees fundraiser held at the Salisbury Civic Center in early December. She also knew that after the Festival of Trees event the tree which they decorated with those ornaments would find its way to Nazaret

The Catawba College Center for the Environment recently received an award for its contribution and dedication to improve the state’s air quality during the 2004 ozone season.

The Archibald and Frances Rufty Foundation has made a gift to Catawba College to fund the Lt. Joe Hearne Rufty Memorial First Family Scholarship. The scholarship is being established in the memory of Mrs. Rufty’s step-son and the late Mr. Rufty’s son, who was killed in Vietnam on January 29, 1970.

November 1, the City of Salisbury Fire Department opened a satellite office on the campus of Catawba College. The office, staffed by Captain Doug Stevens, is located in Jann House on Summit Avenue. Salisbury Fire Chief Robert Parnell says the opening of the new satellite office is another step toward the department’s goal of "increasing our fire safety presence on the campuses of Catawba, Livingstone and Rowan-Cabarrus Community colleges." Although Catawba is the first of the institutions t