by Terri Hill '09. Wow! That is one of the first things that comes to mind when I reflect on this trip. Our Internet [at the host church] has been down for a while, since day one to be exact so now that it is up, let me give you a day-by-day play-by-play. Arriving in Pascagoula was exciting to say the least. We were so tired of riding and napping, arriving anywhere was a good thing. After unloading from the bus and praying, we settled in for something to eat and a few games. From day one, people

The shy smile on George McCleave's face spoke volumes about how the Brightmoor Nursing Home resident felt about the Christmas tree he was given by Catawba College students. The tree was a final project for the students' Operations Management class, a product that different teams had assembled using specialized tools and seven different raw materials, including coat hangers.

Catawba College's Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society were among student affiliates from five institutions recognized for their entry into the National Chemistry Week Chemvention contest. The entries were creative and innovative hands-on activities for elementary school children and centered on the 2009 theme of "Chemistry – It's Elemental."

Catawba College students are saving money by buying and selling used books and the College bookstore is committed to help continue that trend by securing as many used books as possible. Students were able to buy more than 50% of their textbooks used for the Fall 2008 semester and through used books sales and buyback dollars saved more than $244,000 during the 07-08 fiscal year.

Pascagoula, Mississippi is the destination for 12 Catawba College students who will participate in a mission building trip during part of their Christmas break, December 13-19. Catawba Chemistry Professor Dr. Mark Sabo organized the trip which is co-sponsored by the College and his church, First Presbyterian Church in Salisbury.

A new Business Mentor Program launched by Catawba College's Ketner School of Business will pair junior and senior business majors with successful business leaders who are members of the Business Advisory Board, alumni or friends of the college. The program will provide an essential link between the classroom and business reality, according to Professor Pam Thompson, chair of the Ketner School of Business.

"The students of Catawba are here not just to take away an education but to give something back, and by giving back to the community, we're also educating ourselves further,” explains Catawba College Senior Daniel Robertson. Robertson, who hails from Little Rock, Arkansas, not only coordinates volunteers and volunteer projects on campus for Volunteer Catawba, but he is an active volunteer in his own right.

Catawba College's chapter (#1002) of the Collegiate Music Educator's National Conference received its seventh straight annual "Chapter of Excellence Award" for exceptional activities in service and professional development in music education at the 2008 N.C. Music Educators Association In-Service Conference held annually in Winston-Salem at the Benton Convention Center.

by Amanda Sowards '10. November 4, 2008 will always be a highlight of my life. As I grow older and start a family, I hope to be able to share my first time voting experience with my children and grandchildren when the day comes that they anxiously wait for and their voice can equally be heard as a citizen of the United States of America.

Through the Independent College Fund of North Carolina, Charlotte-based Clariant Corporation – the U.S. headquarters of one of the world's leading makers of specialty chemicals – has awarded three $2,000 scholarships for the 2008-2009 academic year to students planning for careers teaching math or science.