Dr. J. Michael Bitzer will serve as Catawba College's acting provost beginning June 1. President Brien Lewis made that announcement to the campus community on May 20. Bitzer, an associate professor politics and history and chair of the Department of History and Politics at Catawba, joined the faculty in 2002. He will fill a vacancy left by the departure of Dr. W. Richard "Rick" Stephens, Jr. who will lead the academic administration at Alfred University.

"Don't be afraid to fail and if you do fail, try again, but do it strategically," North Carolina Governor Patrick L. McCrory '78 told an audience of graduates and their families and friends at Catawba College's 10 a.m. Commencement Exercise on May 11. Showing off a pair of red boxing gloves given to him by his friend George Foreman, the former Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World, McCrory relayed a story about his own failure to win the North Carolina gubernatorial election in 2008.

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.

Catawba College recognized three retiring faculty members at its May 11 Commencement Exercises. Drs. James "Jim" Beard, John B. "Jack" Green and Cynthia B. Osterhus '73 were cited for their contributions to the institution at the 10 a.m. ceremony held in Keppel Auditorium.

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."