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.

Catawba College alumnus Tomas Smogner '12, is one of only two students chosen to represent Ernst and Young - Sweden in the International Intern Leadership Conference this summer in Florida. Only twelve students were selected from the Nordic countries. Tomas majored in Accounting at Catawba and was a member of the Men's Basketball team. He is currently working toward a Master's degree in Accounting, Auditing, and Analysis at Stockholm University.

Catawba College has announced its 2012-13 athletic award winners for its student-athletes. The awards were presented at the annual athletic ceremony held at the Keppel Auditorium on Tuesday, April 30. Heading the list of award winners were Nick Lomascolo and Jenny Young, who were awarded the Kirkland and Lomax Awards for the top male and female senior athletes, and Eoin Duffy and Taylor May, who were given the Wurster Awards for team leadership.

Members of the Catawba College community gathered in Omwake-Dearborn Chapel on April 23 to celebrate achievement. The occasion was the annual Awards Convocation.Scheduled the day after Earth Day, the awards distributed were eco-friendly, made of Catawba blue, 100% recycled glass. They symbolized the college's commitment to environmental responsibility and are a reminder to the recipients to promote a greener, more sustainable lifestyle.

As the 2012-2013 academic year comes to a close, Catawba College students are thinking about their futures. For some graduating in May, a next step — graduate school — is on their minds. For those with a year or so to go before they earn their undergraduate degree, thoughts are on how to enhance their future opportunities and make themselves ready for the next steps after Catawba.

Five new members will be inducted into the Catawba College Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, April 27, during the festivities of the Hall of Fame's 36th anniversary. The inductees are (with graduation year): Heath Bost '95; Charla Doss Hill '91; Stephanie McCormick '94; Red Richardson '49 (deceased); and Nick Sabol '98.

Catawba College freshman, Nathan Hatley, is one of the recipients of a 2013 Sacks for Cystic Fibrosis Scholarship, awarded by the Boomer Esiason Foundation. Nathan was one of the $10,000 scholarship recipients announced on Super Bowl Sunday. "This scholarship is going straight toward my tuition," Hatley said, noting that he had submitted his application materials for the scholarship to the Foundation in early January. "I'm just so grateful to have received it."

When Gordon A. Kirkland, Jr. '70 of Clemmons retired as director of athletic development at Catawba College in December, he did so quietly, likely hoping for little or no fanfare. Instead, he received a tribute in the form of a new Endowed Scholarship, established in his honor by his fellow alumni, members of the Catawba Chiefs Club members with whom he had worked, and friends.

Two Catawba College alumni and former football teammates will be across the field from each other in New Orleans during Super Bowl XLVII on Feb. 3. San Francisco 49ers Defensive Line Coach Jim Tomsula '90 and Baltimore Ravens Kicking Consultant Randy Brown '89 will share both a Catawba connection and a healthy rivalry at the game.

Catawba College Baseball Coach Jim Gantt was recently awarded the 2012 Walter Rabb Award, presented annually to the North Carolina Amateur Baseball Coach of the Year. This is the second time that he has been honored with this award; he also received it in 2002. Gantt's 2012 team went to the 2012 NCAA II College World Series with a 45-17 record, the second most wins in school history. In his 17th year serving as head baseball coach...