Positioned prominently at the home entrance, the EV showcase featured vehicles from a range of brands and owner groups—including Catawba’s signature trio of red, white, and blue Ford F-150 Lightnings providing power for a tailgate-worthy menu of hearty burgers and fries. The College’s contingent included Markiian Ivaniv ’27, Dr. Lee Ball, Noah Upchurch, Robbie Shinn, and Public Safety Officer Jim Fulton.
The tailgate not only highlighted the versatility of electric vehicles but also sparked meaningful connections—especially for Catawba alumnus Brian Kaelo ’25, now pursuing a master’s degree in biology at Wake Forest University. Returning to the familiar faces of Catawba’s Center for the Environment brought a sense of home.
“It was great to see everyone,” said Kaelo, “I still have a strong relationship with Catawba. Seeing them at Wake Forest felt like home.”
In regard to the turnout of the event, Kaelo described excitement sharing the passion of EVs in an interactive community setting. “The tailgate and the game were great. Catawba brought many electric vehicles from different departments around campus. Students asked questions about the EVs, and Noah Upchurch explained how they worked. I never feel alone when seeing and working with people I know who share the same interests.”
Catawba Public Safety Officer Jim Fulton, a familiar face at campus baseball games, enjoyed showcasing how electric vehicles support daily operations.
“We have an electric Mustang [Mach-e] and our newest addition, the Ford Lightning” said Fulton. “They are great for everyday use and never get below 60% charge. While we are charging them, we use our electric golf carts.”
He enjoyed the chance to take the short road trip to test the power of their truck. “I was pretty amazed how the EVs made it to and from Winston Salem, powered air fryers and grills to cook food all day and still had enough charge for 4-6 more hours of use,” Fulton remarked. “The event itself was great. The fellowship and community of everyone interested in EVs was incredibly interesting to experience.”
For students and guests alike, the display offered an engaging introduction to sustainable technology. Dr. Lee Ball, Vice President of Sustainability and Executive Director of Catawba’s Center for the Environment, noted the educational impact.
“Representing Catawba College and promoting sustainable transportation during the Wake Forest tailgate had a tremendous impact on the students,” shared Ball. “They were extremely curious about the electric vehicles on display, and they had plenty of good questions. They couldn’t believe the versatility and battery capacity of the Ford Lightnings. People just need to see EVs up close so that they can better imagine themselves in one.”
The College expressed its deep appreciation to Shelly Parker, Paige Starnes, and Heather Brutz of the NC Clean Energy Technology Center for their invitation and hospitality, making the day a meaningful and memorable experience for the Catawba community.
Catawba College remains committed to advancing sustainability, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring that—whether on campus or at a tailgate—good goes far.
