"Oh my gosh! There are no words to describe it except to say, 'I just can't wait!' " Catawba College rising senior Emily Wonderly of Hicksville, Ohio said after she toured one of the five new residence halls now under construction on campus. Wonderly was one of dozens of students on campus who took advantage of a brief, two-hour open house organized in one of the two B-building residence halls by Catawba College Facilities Director Henry Haywood.

Catawba College Sophomore Derek Daisey of Milton, Del., released his debut CD, "All Behind Me," in mid-April and was feted April 30th with an on-campus reception. Daisey, a 20-year-old music business major, wrote and performed the songs on the CD which he describes as "full of coarse realities, strong harmonies, inspired guitar riffs and captivating hooks."

Catawba College will offer two new academic majors this fall, both targeting students with an interest in environmental issues. Students can opt to pursue an interdisciplinary major in Sustainable Business and Community Development or a major in Environmental Education. The faculty approved both majors this spring.

Frances "Billy" Hedrick Johnson of Salisbury, a trustee emeritus of Catawba College, is being honored by her business associates with the establishment of a new scholarship at Catawba named in her honor. Preference for the Frances H. Johnson Endowed Scholarship will be given to employees or dependents of the employees of Johnson Concrete, Carolina Stalite and Staclean Diffuser Company.

Surrounded by friends and family, longtime Catawba College employee, Oliver Gilbert Scott of Salisbury, was recognized April 26th when a walkway and fountain on campus were dedicated in her honor. For more than 25 years in her role as assistant to the president for special events, Oliver has planned luncheons, dinners, retreats and other special occasions for the college.

Catawba College's annual Awards Convocation began on a somber note, with College Chaplain Dr. Kenneth Clapp leading those gathered in a moment of silent prayer for the victims and survivors of the April 16th Virginia Tech tragedy. The event was held in Omwake-Dearborn Chapel on campus and is an opportunity for the entire campus community to recognize student achievements in a variety of academic and service areas.Catawba's Provost Dr. Jess McCartney officiated.

Salisbury, NC, April 23, 2007. North Carolina's reputation as a breeding ground for talented singing idols proved itself again last Saturday when nearly 70 contestants competed in the preliminary round of the 2007 Salisbury Idol competition. The hopefuls first sang for two panels of judges in the Ketner Building of Catawba College. About 40 then moved on to a second phase, where 12 finalists were selected to vie this coming Saturday evening, April 28 for the $1000 grand prize.

Catawba College's Dance Team will sponsor a Charity Showcase Sunday, April 29 between 3 and 5 p.m. and area students who are in third through twelfth grade are invited to participate. The event will be held in Goodman Gymnasium on campus and pre-registration is recommended, but not necessary.

The horrendous and tragic events which occurred April 16th on the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., remind us at Catawba College that life is precious, our time together fleeting and the assurance of our safety on campus involves each of us. As time passes and distances us from this tragedy, it also makes us more aware of the suffering of the families and friends of the Virginia Tech victims. We hold them in our hearts and prayers.

Bill Noonan has been an influential roots rock songwriter and performer since long before roots rock was cool. During the 1990s, he fronted the legendary Charlotte-based Americana group the Rank Outsiders. Noonan is now performing original songs with his own band in support of a rollicking new album, Catawba City. The CD takes a cold, hard look at the sacrifices being made in this part of North Carolina in the name of progress.

Catawba College freshman, Katherine "Katy" Hill, of Fayetteville spoke on behalf of her fellow First Family Scholars when they gathered for an annual luncheon with their donors on April 12 in Peeler Crystal Lounge on campus. She said it was a First Family Scholarship that brought her to Catawba and that due to the overwhelming generosity of the donors, she and her fellow scholars have "the chance to experience a fulfilling and exciting college career."

The Catawba College Music Department will present the thirteenth annual Pops Concert on Friday, April 27, 2007, at 7:30 p.m., in the Peeler Crystal Lounge in the Robertson College-Community Center on the Catawba campus. "Hey, Look Me Over!" is a concert of popular, jazz, and swing selections by the Catawba Singers and Madrigals, directed by Rosemary C. Kinard.

Four graduates will be inducted into the Catawba College Sports Hall of Fame on April 28, during the festivities of the Hall of Fame's 30th anniversary. The inductees are (with graduation year): Allison Ankerson Makovec '95 of Virginia Beach, Va; Rodney L. Goodine of Salisbury'91; Martin S. Smith '65 of Asheboro; and Jack S. Ward '51 of Mocksville.

Maybe it's something in the water. Maybe it's the Carolina sunshine. Maybe it's the barbeque. Whatever it is, North Carolina has given the world more than its fair share of singing idols, including Clay Aiken of Raleigh, Fantasia Barrino of High Point, and Kellie Pickler of Albermarle. Are you next? Catawba College announces the first annual Salisbury Idol contest (not related to American Idol) to give singers of all ages and styles living in Rowan County and beyond the opportunity of showing th

Dr. James Slate, associate professor of economics at Catawba College, presented a paper entitled "Toward Economic Geography in the Economic Principles Course" at the 18th annual International Conference on College Teaching and Learning in Ponte Vedra, Fla., on April 5th.

Betsy Rich of Salisbury is paying tribute to the kind, loving and resilient spirits of her late husband and son through a new scholarship she has established at Catawba College. The Maynard L. and Paul L. Rich First Family Scholarship will be awarded to a student who demonstrates financial need, who feels called to the helping professions (education, psychology, religion/philosophy and pre-med), and who demonstrates a caring spirit and a sense of high moral values.

Power, sex, ambition, greed — it's just another day at the office portrayed in Catawba College Theatre Arts' production of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying!" The musical will be offered at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, April 19-21 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 22 in Keppel Auditorium of the Robertson College-Community Center on campus.

Thursday, March 29, marked the fifth year that Catawba College served as a qualifying site for the North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics state contests. The top 10 percent of participants in Algebra I and Geometry competition advanced to the regional finals held either at UNC-Greensboro or UNC-Asheville.

Catawba College's English Department is sponsoring a poetry reading by Keith Flynn on Wednesday, April 18, at 7:30 p.m. in room 300 of the Center for the Environment. The reading is free and open to the public. Flynn is the author of five books, including four collections of poetry: "The Talking Drum"(1991), "The Book of Monsters"(1994), "The Lost Sea" (2000), and "The Golden Ratio" (Iris Press, 2007), and a collection of essays, entitled "The Rhythm Method, Razzmatazz and Memory: How To Make Yo

Could North Carolina become a prime player in the race for the White House? One state senator has introduced a bill moving the state's presidential primary up to February to be part of the high stakes "Super Tuesday" primaries.

The Center for the Environment at Catawba College will host a conference for business and community leaders on how recycling can revitalize the economy and communities. "Recycling Works! Jobs, Profits & Opportunities for North Carolina's Communities" will be held at the Center for the Environment facility on Tuesday, April 17.