by Sydney Berk '13 - I say goodbye to my position as Editor of the Spotlight with deepest gratitude for those that I work with as well as this program in general. Graduating is a funny thing...

Thirteen students from Catawba College's School of Evening and Graduate Studies were commissioned as Junior Marshals in an April 20 ceremony. Dean of the School of Evening and Graduate Studies, Dr. Edith Bolick, and College Marshal, Professor David Pulliam, officiated at the ceremony.

Catawba College's Zeta Chapter of the mathematics honor society, Kappa Mu Epsilon inducted eight new members in late April at a ceremony held in Ketner Hall. The inductees included Matthew Hodgson of Salisbury; Sydney Hyder of Asheboro; Lindsay C. King of Kannapolis; Ekaterina Kruglov of Karmiel, Israel; Jacob Regensburger of Fayetteville; Cristin Ritchie of Salisbury; Brinsley Stewart of Boonville; and Frank Villa Hernandez of Kannapolis.

Three Catawba College students became members of the college's chapter of Phi Sigma Iota, the International Foreign Language Honor Society, in late April. The new members included graduating seniors Chelsea Starr of Weston, Fla., and Whitney Corriher of Salisbury, and rising senior Jordan Greene of Oak Island.

There was celebration and remembrance at Catawba College's Commencement Exercises on May 11. Three graduates and one alumnus received awards during the two ceremonies, while one student who died just five credit hours away from completing the coursework for his bachelor's degree was honored with a special tribute.

It was a very familiar figure who delivered the homily at Catawba College's Baccalaureate Service on May 10. On the eve of their graduation, College Chaplain and Senior Vice President, the Reverend Dr. Ken Clapp '70, advised the graduates to "Take wing by giving God that place of greatest importance in your lives and allowing God to direct you and call the shots."

Graduating seniors who are members of Catawba College's Omicron Chapter of Alpha Chi, national college honor society, were recognized during a May 10th ceremony held in Omwake-Dearborn Chapel.

Catawba College's End-of-the-Year Luncheon for Faculty and Staff was a time to recognize 10 individuals who are retiring from the college this year.

Students who want to make the most of their educational experience choose the Catawba College Honors Program. Our Honors program is unique for a wide variety of reasons. Classes are often team-taught by faculty members from two entirely different disciplines, often focusing on one question or topic from multiple perspectives. Students study in an environment that promotes creativity and critical thinking and the courses count toward your general education requirements for the college.

by Leanna Hicks '16 - Wow ... where did this year go? It blows my mind that I am already finished with my first year of college. It literally feels like just yesterday when I walked into an empty dorm room and had to decide where the TV was going to go ... priorities people. I think back too on how much I feel like I've grown throughout this year. After taking a gap year I was coming into a completely different world with no one I knew, I was truly on my own. Little did I know...