by Allijah Motika '14 - Here we go again! So ... today and yesterday have been insane. There isn't any other way to describe it. Yesterday none of the faculty arrived until the last session of the night from 7:30 to 9:00 and it was so frustrating waiting and waiting for them to get here. We were told that they'd arrive at 1:30, 3:45, and 4:30 before the real time of 7:30 actually happened. So in other words yesterday was a huge tease.

by Mark Wineka, SalisburyPost.com [EDITOR'S NOTE: Tyler Howe is a 2011 Catawba College graduate, while his brother, Andrew, graduated in 2007] - This is a story about bands of brothers. And a father. During pre-game festivities Friday night, the Salisbury and North Rowan high school bands performed together. A cool thing, but even cooler when you know that the bands are directed by brothers — Tyler Howe at Salisbury and Andrew Howe at North Rowan.

Welcome to the "Don't Worry, Be Happy" blog ... those four words have definitely been something that I've had to remind myself so far. First of all let me just say that getting here was the most insane travel experience of my life. Due to Hurricane Irene my original flight was canceled and I had to find another way to get to Rhinebeck, NY where the workshop is being held. My friends Kat Tierney and Meghan McLaughlin (both Catawba graduates) also ran into the same problem...

One is a Toastmaster and has authored four books, including one entitled, "Cows Are People Too: Lessons from Someone Out Standing in the Field." One signed his employment contract in Borneo and left his job at the Smithsonian Institution to come to Catawba College. Another is a nationally certified athletic trainer with a keen personal interest in motorsports. Then, there is one who can solve a Rubik's Cube in just two minutes and is interested in studying the sociology of religion.

The subject was stories at Catawba College's Opening Convocation on Thursday, August 25. Lumberton native and author Jill McCorkle wove that subject into her keynote address, telling students gathered, "we all have a story to tell," and encouraging them "to make the most of yours." McCorkle, a professor in the MFA in Creative Writing program at N.C. State University, shared the importance of storytelling in her own life.

[Katie Earl Etters is a 2010 Catawba College graduate who majored in Elementary Education (K-6). Etter's father is among the music faculty at Catawba.] When the calendar turns to August, children, teachers and parents know all too well it's time for school again. Even now there are children moaning and groaning, while at the same time their parents are in the background trying to hide laughter.

Spartanburg Day School in Spartanburg, South Carolina has announced new faculty and staff members for the 2011-2012 school year. Among the new hires is Catawba College alumnus Ken Winslow to teach physical education in the lower and middle schools, in addition to being the varsity boy's soccer head coach. Winslow majored in Physical Education and Recreation.

The annual Club Fair was held between 5 and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, August 24 in Leonard Lounge of the Cannon Student Center. The event was an opportunity for students to get involved. Many clubs on campus set-up tables and displays about their organizations trying to generate interest in their club among students, particularly first-year students.

Thirteen students were commissioned for service as Junior Marshals by Catawba College President Dr. Joseph B. Oxendine in a ceremony held Wednesday, August 24 in the Hurley Room of the Cannon Student Center. These Junior Marshals, who assist College Marshal David Pulliam, assure that order and dignity are observed during formal occasions of the college, including Opening Convocations, Awards’ Day, Baccalaureate, and Commencement. Marshals also serve at the annual Service of Lessons and Carols.

Catawba College sophomore Allijah Motika of Asheville will participate in a vocal workshop August 28 through September 2 with ten-time Grammy Award winner Bobby McFerrin. The workshop will take place at the Omega Center in Rhinebeck, N.Y. During the workshop, Allijah will report on his experiences via blog entries that will be available on the Catawba College website. Along with participants from around the world, he will be joined at the workshop by two Catawba Alumnae....

More than 120 members of the Class of 2015 participated in this year's Freshman Retreats sponsored by the Lilly Center for Vocation and Values. The students were joined by more than 40 members of the Catawba faculty and staff and members of the Lilly Center Retreat Leadership Corps (RLC)...

Catawba College will mark its 160th year of operation when students, faculty, and staff gather for Opening Convocation on Thursday, August 25. Author Jill McCorkle, a native of Lumberton, will be the speaker for the event that begins at 11 a.m. in Omwake-Dearborn Chapel.

By Sarah Campbell, salisburypost.com - In a sense, Catawba College alumna and China Grove native Tammy Tutterow is coming home. Sure, she never left the area. But when she graduated from South Rowan High School in 1992 she wasn’t exactly expecting to come back, to the school that is. But this fall, Tutterow will start her teaching career by launching to school’s first marketing program.

For the 27th year this fall, Catawba College's Community Music program will be providing musical instruction for children and adults in the Rowan-Salisbury area. The program, under the direction of Erin Harper and with the addition of some instructors, offers a wide variety of classes, everything from private piano lessons to a new class called Exploring Music Theory.

It was cloudy and humid on the Catawba College campus on Saturday, August 13, but that did not stop resolute first-year students, with their families in tow, from moving into their residence halls. Although some students had already staked their claims on campus earlier in the week, including athletes, resident assistants, and members of the Catawba Pride Marching Band, the influx of first-year students will help fill the residence halls to capacity.

It was 1973 when Catawba College last had a Marching Band that performed on the field during halftime of football games, but that will all change this year. On September 17, fans attending Catawba's first home football game of the season will be entertained and energized by the Catawba Pride Marching Band.

Catawba College Professor of Political Science Dr. J. Michael Bitzer was recently featured on the IndependentTribute.com website. Bitzer was asked to comment on the topic of who will be chosen to serve out the term for for N.C. House of Representatives legislator Jeff Barnhart, who announced he would be retiring from the General Assembly.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011 was a hot summer evening on the Catawba College campus, but a really cool event took place in the Kirkland Lobby of the Abernethy Physical Education Center. Catawba's inaugural Silent Auction, a fund-raising event for the college Athletics Department, brought alumni, Chiefs Club members, faculty, staff, and fans of the college out for food, beverage, fellowship and a chance to bid on some hot items.

The Catawba Pride Marching Band will offer an exhibition on Friday, August 12 on the Catawba College practice field near the Whitley Softball Field off of Lantz Avenue. Fans of the Pride are encouraged to begin arriving and bring lawnchairs around 5 p.m., and the exhibition will begin at 5:30 p.m.

By: Sarah Pisciuneri, News 14 Carolina - While most North Carolina colleges are cutting back in this tough economic time, one is expanding its music program. Salisbury-based Catawba College is calling their recent expansion an investment in the future. When the Catawba Indians hit the football field this fall, they will be joined by the Catawba Pride, a full marching band, something the college hasn't seen since the 1970s.

Catawba College wants to achieve climate neutrality by 2030, according to the plan it submitted as a signatory of the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment. To get there, the institution will have to change the way it uses energy and reduce the amount of energy it uses. Carrie Gonnella, an Environmental Defense Fund Climate Corps Public Sector Fellow, spent ten weeks at Catawba this summer. During that time, she was busy, assessing the college's energy usage and costs...

Catawba is one of only 20 North Carolina public and private institutions included in Forbes' "America's Top Colleges 2011," and is ranked 476 among the 650 best undergraduate colleges. The Forbes' rankings were prepared by the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, a Washington, D.C. think tank founded by Ohio University economist Richard Vedder. The rankings focus on post graduation success, student satisfaction...

Of the 2,500 four-year colleges in the United States, Catawba has been ranked among "The Best 376 Colleges" by the prestigious Princeton Review in its 2012 annual college guide. This places Catawba among the top 15 percent of American colleges. The Princeton Review's "The Best 376 Colleges" annual college guide was available on newsstands August 2. Only about 15% of America's 2,500 four-year colleges and three colleges outside the U.S.A. are profiled in the book.

"Make it a week long next year, instead of just three days!" said C.J. Burns of Fellowship United Church of Christ in Chesapeake, Virginia. Phyllis Horton, C.J.'s pastor at Fellowship UCC, chimed in "I agree. We're planning to bring a whole busload of young people next year!" The sentiments of Burns and Horton were echoed by others who recently participated in Church Youth Empowerment Weekend 2011 (CYEW 2011) at Catawba College. July 15-17, more than 70 youth and leaders from 20 churches...

Members of Catawba College's Presidential Search Committee were announced today by Mr. Paul Fisher, Chairman of the Catawba College Board of Trustees. The Committee, chaired by Trustee Bill Graham, a 1983 Catawba graduate, has begun a national search for the college's 23rd president.

Rowan County Commissioners approved a resolution today recommending that the N.C. Department of Transportation name five miles of the highway "Congressman Earl B. Ruth Memorial Highway."Ruth, a native of Spencer, was a coach, professor, Athletic Director and Dean of Students at Catawba College before being elected to Congress in 1968. A Republican, he won re-election twice and served briefly as governor of America Samoa, from 1975 to 1976.

[Catawba College Trustee and alumnus Bill Graham '83 was awarded the Community Care Clinic's 2011 Humanitarian Award] By Mark Wineka, SalisburyPost.com - Lawyers develop strong hides out of necessity, and it's a good thing given all the ribbing Salisbury attorney Bill Graham absorbed Friday night.