Public School officials from area high schools or representatives from 10 different systems were on Catawba College's campus Wednesday, September 24, 2008 attending an update luncheon. At this third annual event, college administrators briefed them on recent enhancements to different academic programs, including special scholarship opportunities available to students.

Programs featured included Music Business, a concentration offered to students pursuing a major in Music; Business Administration, with new scholarships available for business scholars; Education, with two new scholarships programs offered through Catawba’s Ritchie Academy for Teaching; and efforts being made through Catawba’s Lilly Center for Vocation and Values to help students narrow and focus on their career options.  Speakers about each of these programs included Dr. David Fish, associate professor of Music and director of the Music Business concentration; Professor Pam Thompson, chair of the Ketner School of Business; Dr. Cynthia Osterhus, director of the Ritchie Academy for Teaching and assistant professor of Teacher Education; and the Rev. Dr. Kenneth Clapp, director of the Lilly Center for Vocation and Values.  Dr. Michael Bitzer, dean of admissions, also spoke to attendees about the myriad scholarship opportunities available to students considering Catawba College.

Two Catawba College students were also on the program, Melissa Alesi, a junior from Selbyville, Del., majoring in Music Business, and Lauren Klopp, a senior from Lexington, N.C., majoring in Political Science with an emphasis in the American Political Experience.  Melissa sang and played the guitar, showcasing one of her original compositions, while Lauren spoke about why Catawba, a small, private, residential institution was the right fit for her.

Phillip J. Kirk, Jr., Catawba's vice president for external relations, served as emcee for the luncheon, an annual event he began when he joined Catawba in 2006.

Luncheon attendees represented the following high schools or school systems: Rowan-Salisbury, Lexington City, Mooresville Graded, Kannapolis City, Davie County, Iredell-Statesville, Thomasville City, Stanly County, Central Cabarrus High and Gray Stone Day.