Fifteen Catawba College students travelled to Italy with Dr. Mark Sabo during the Spring 2010 semester as part of the "Eating in the Arts and Sciences" honors course. They have shared their travel journals and recipes prepared during their studies in the form of blogs. Read blogs and view photos from Italy...

With their sights set on their futures, 276 Catawba College graduates received their diplomas Saturday, May 15 in two separate ceremonies held in Keppel Auditorium on campus. The ceremonies marked the institution's 159th year, but marked for most of the graduates, the beginning of their professional journeys. "I'll be going to one of the top schools for education in the country and I would never have dreamed of that," said 2010 Catawba College graduate Andrea Clabaugh of York, Pa.

A college alumnus and three graduating seniors received special recognition during the commencement exercises. The 2010 O.B. Michael Award, Whitener Medals, and Barbara Andrews Award were awarded during the ceremonies. Read more...

Following the May 14 Baccalaureate Service, Catawba's 2010 graduating class processed by candlelight in the traditional Marshal's Walk. After each graduate lit his or her candle from the lighted candles carried by faculty members, they made their way from the Omwake-Dearborn Chapel, along Oliver's Way, to the exterior of the Robertson College-Community Center.

She gave them sound advice born of her own life's experience, and with her self-deprecating and unconventional humor, she had Catawba College's May 14th Baccalaureate audience laughing unabashedly. Mamie McCullough, Ph.D., a popular author and motivational speaker from Dallas, Texas, was the homilist for the service held in Omwake-Dearborn Chapel as part of Commencement Exercises for the college's Class of 2010.

By Susan Shinn, Catawba College News Service. Graduates of Alpha Chi honor society paused to remember "what is" and ponder "what will be" in their graduation ceremony Friday in Catawba College's Omwake-Dearborn Chapel. About 75 students, parents, faculty and staff attended the 30-minute afternoon ceremony, followed by strawberries and cream on the lawn.

By Cyndi Allison, Barbecue Master Blog. My 2010 college newspaper class took us from print to online with The Pioneer, so I am super proud of this hard working group. We like to end the year with a cook out. I do that now, because students were a bit challenged with grilling for groups. Hum. Let's see. One forgot to bring gas. Another had damp charcoal, and I had to run in and microwave the hot dogs before we starved. So, it works out for me to go ahead and do the grilling.

Source: SalisburyPost.com - Six home-schooled students from Rowan County built a three-chambered compost bin May 1 near the Center for the Environment facility on the Catawba College campus. The students, ages 14-18, used wood and chicken wire to build the three-by-three-foot chambers, which will hold garden clippings and leaves as well as vegetables from the Center's kitchen.

Source: WBTV.com - Buzz is building that Charlotte is becoming a favorite to host the Democratic National Convention in 2012. Formal bids to the DNC do not go out until next Friday, May 21st. However, national reports say Charlotte is among four cities vying for the convention. Charlotte might be more attractive to the party because President Obama carried the state two years ago.

Catawba College will be hosting the graduation ceremonies for four Rowan-Salisbury Schools in Keppel Auditorium of the Robertson College-Community Center on campus on Friday, June 11th. The Administration Building Circle, Chapel Circle, and the Salisbury-Rowan parking lots at Catawba will be blocked off for employee parking only on this day. Other parking lots on campus will be used by patrons of the high school graduations.

By Julie Rose, WFAE.org. Tuesday's Republican primary in the 8th Congressional District came up too close to call. Tim D'Annunzio and Harold Johnson will face a run-off election on June 22nd. The outcome for Democrats in the district was more predictable, but still held a surprise. Going into the Republican Primary, Tim D'Annunzio spent five times as much money on his campaign as any of his competitors. So Catawba College political scientist Michael Bitzer says D'Annunzio was bound to do well.

Associate Professor and political expert Dr. J. Michael Bitzer recently spoke to WSOC-TV regarding the eleven people in North Carolina are running for one U.S. Senate seat. WATCH VIDEO...

Catawba College has announced its 2009-10 athletic award winners for its student-athletes. The awards were presented at the annual athletic ceremony held at the Keppel Auditorium on Tuesday, May 4. Heading the list of award winners were Kelsey Babos and Craige Lyerly, who were awarded the Lomax and Kirkland Awards for the top female and male senior athletes, and Brooke Whitley and Donzell Williams, who were given the Wurster Awards for team leadership.

High-achieving high school seniors to receive recognition for class rankings: Catawba College today unveiled a new scholarship to present to incoming, high school Valedictorians and Salutatorians. Students who achieve either one of these benchmarks will receive a merit scholarship from the Office of Admissions for their consistent, high academic achievements throughout high school. The new academic merit awards range from $1,000 to $1,500.

Catawba College's Keppel Auditorium of the Robertson College-Community Center will be the site of two graduation exercises on Saturday, May 15, and those planning to attend will need a ticket. On that day, 173 students in the College's traditional day program have the opportunity to participate in a 10 a.m. exercise, and 109 adult students in the College's School of Evening and Graduate Studies program will receive their diplomas in a 2 p.m. exercise.