By Dr. John Wear, Director of the Catawba Center for the Environment A recent Associated Press story reminded me of how important the Catawba College Center for the Environment is to the education of our students. A young man in a northwestern state reacted shrilly to development’s encroachment on the habitat of an endangered species. The result was not the preservation of the habitat but a backlash of anger against his tactics.

Most of the workshop participants were developers and planners and engineers and surveyors. But not all. Seven Catawba College students took advantage of the professional workshop April 20 that featured Randall Arendt, an internationally known land-use planner and advocate of “conservation planning.” Hosted by the Catawba Center for the Environment in partnership with the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other organizations, the workshop was held in the Center facility

In Catawba College’s past, it has been called “a library,” but in the future, after extensive renovations and a new three-story addition, it will be “the academic center” on campus. Plans for such a facility were recently unveiled to college trustees during their annual retreat in Southern Pines.

At their annual retreat, Catawba College Trustees unanimously authorized the official launch of a $35 million campaign to raise funds to bolster the College’s endowment. This move is the latest in a string of efforts under way to reposition Catawba as a “more selective” institution.

Gordon A. Kirkland Jr., Associate Dean of Admissions at Catawba College, is moving to the athletics department, it was announced today by Dennis Davidson, director of athletics. Kirkland, a member of the admissions staff since 2000, will become assistant to the athletic director, effective June 1. Davidson said that Kirkland’s duties will include coordinating all athletic recruiting, assisting Catawba’s coaches with initial contacts and campus visits, as well as other duties.

To mark her ninetieth birthday, Rachel Smith Walker’s three sons did something special; they established an endowed scholarship in her honor at her alma mater, Catawba College. The scholarship will be awarded annually to an academically gifted student who is among the most need-based student applicants.

Local business owner Charles Taylor, Jr. was honored Wednesday, May 11 at Catawba College as the recipient of the prestigious Adrian L. Shuford, Jr. Award for Distinguished Service. The award was presented during the College’s annual President’s Circle Dinner, held to recognize the institution’s major donors, in the Cannon Student Center.

Many of the students who study music through the Catawba College Community Music Program participated in several spring recitals on April 24. All recitals, including both piano and instrumental programs, were performed on the campus of Catawba College for family and friends. Musical selections were inclusive, ranging from classical to contemporary styles.

Ask Catawba College Men’s Basketball Coach Jim Baker why he chose to create a junior varsity men’s basketball team and he’ll tell you it is because the need is there. Each year, he sees dozens of young players who are not quite talented enough to land a slot on the varsity basketball team, but who want to play ball, nonetheless.

Catawba College’s Vice President and Dean of Students Dr. Carl Girelli is so accustomed to the life and sights in Costa Rica that he doesn’t even take photos there anymore, but his students do. “No matter how many times I’ve seen it all, it’s still a real kick to watch new students experience this,” Girelli explains. “It’s a life-changing experience for them. The first year we went, I had a student who cried for a week because she was homesick. We called her Miss Rain. Now, we could call

View the photo galleries for the 2005 Catawba College Baccalaureate Service, Marshal's Walk and Commencement Ceremonies...

“I can’t wait to move on – to put everything we’ve learned into action, especially music,” said Jason Rigney of Danville, Va., a 2005 Catawba College graduate. “You can’t really know the business until you’re in it.” Rigney was one of 300 Catawba College graduates who received their diplomas in two separate ceremonies held Saturday in Keppel Auditorium on campus. This cum laude graduate plans to leave Salisbury later this month bound for Nashville, Tenn., accompanied by the three other mem

ExxonMobil announced today that more than $559,800 has been donated to 33 colleges and universities in North Carolina , including Catawba College, through the ExxonMobil Foundation’s 2004 Educational Matching Gift Program. ExxonMobil employees, retirees, surviving spouses and directors contributed nearly $142,000 to North Carolina institutions of higher education in 2004, which was matched by the ExxonMobil Foundation with $418,000 in unrestricted educational grants.

It took a tractor, a trailer, a generous donor and a lot of strong backs and willing hands. Catawba College students planted 25 trees Tuesday and Thursday afternoon in an ambitious project that will add 53 trees to the Catawba campus. Twenty five students planted the 8-to-12-foot 300-pound trees under the supervision of Kurt Cribb, special projects coordinator for the Catawba Center for the Environment and Dr. John Wear, center director.