Catawba College News Service 

SALISBURY — Catawba College launched the official start of its 174th academic year at its opening convocation held Aug. 20, in the Omwake-Dearborn Chapel. The first day of class was Aug. 21.

Catawba welcomed its second-largest undergraduate class and the largest graduate class in the last 10 years, with more than 540 new undergraduate students and over 110 graduate students as of August 20th.  

The incoming class consists of high-achieving students, boasting a 3.68 cumulative GPA. The new students comprise 275 individuals from North Carolina, as well as students from 20 different states and 19 countries outside of the U.S. Approximately 149 members of the class are first-generation students, who mark the first members of their families to attend college.

At the opening convocation, President David P. Nelson shared several updates from over the summer, including Catawba baseball winning the Southeast Regional Championship and advancing to the National Championship Series, ending up third in the nation.

Catawba is ranked No. 32 in the Learfield Cup. It was named a Green Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. The Illumina Next Generation Sequencing Workshop and Certificate Program occurred at the Bill and Shari Graham Genomics Laboratory. The National Environmental Summit was held once again on campus. A 10-day Water Keeper Alliance Bootcamp was held in collaboration with Communications and Environment and Sustainability. Catawba received its second $200 million gift to the endowment in three years.

He also informed everyone of the good opportunities coming, including renovations to the Smokestack into a student-focused space, renovations of two residence halls (Stanback and Salisbury-Rowan), and the construction of a new 150-bed residence hall. Catawba will also implement Dreamscape Learn, an immersive learning experience that combines innovative teaching with the emotional power of cinematic storytelling.

President Nelson offered the convocation address, reminding them of the Catawba Ideal, scholarship with character and culture for service, and asking students what it would look like to make that ideal part of their daily lives at Catawba College. 

“Our formation as a virtuous people — whether as a nation or a city or a family — or a college — is the pathway to what Aristotle called ‘the good life,'” he said. “In terms of the Christian faith of the founders of Catawba College, this is the way to blessedness. and in the terms of our nation’s founders, this is the road to happiness. This is the way of the good.

“And good goes a long way. When scholarship is cultivated within the ground of character and culture, we can bring our best to the world for its good. This is the “to what end” of the Catawba Ideal: Scholarship, with Character and Culture, for Service. For good. It is good not just for ourselves but also for our community and our world.”

He ended the address with, “Let’s celebrate all the good in our midst, and let’s resolve to do the good that is ours to do. Let’s have a good year, Catawba.”

Pastor Kendra Joyner-Miller ‘11 offered the invocation, followed by Nelson and Dr. Monica Cowart, executive vice president and provost, installing this year’s junior marshals and new Student Government Association (SGA officers). Campus and community greetings were offered by Salisbury Mayor Karen Alexander; SGA President Cothren; Catawba Chair of the Board Bob Arnold ’71; Faculty Senate Chair Dr. ChaMarra Saner; and Staff Council Chair Holly Bautista.

The campus community joined together for a welcome back reception following the opening convocation in front of the Corriher-Linn-Black Library. The cookout was fully solar-powered and was a zero/near zero waste event featuring locally sourced and sustainable food.