Catawba awardrecipients strive to be the very best
Catawba College President Joseph Oxendine encouraged those who received awards during the annual Awards Convocation to ěshow off, brag modestly, throw your chest out and feel good.î But more important than the awards received, he said, was a characteristic shared by all of the recipients.
ěAt some point, you decided you were going to excel and strive to be the very best,î Oxendine told the award recipients. ěYou won these awards for the spirit of striving to be the very best.î
The convocation was held at 11 a.m. April 14 in Omwake-Dearborn Chapel and was an opportunity for the campus community to celebrate the gifts and talents of students, and the strengths and abilities of a few faculty and staff members.
Most of the awards distributed at the convocation were eco-friendly. They were made of Catawba blue, 100 percent recycled glass, a symbol of Catawbaís commitment to environmental responsibility and another campus initiative to promote a greener, more sustainable lifestyle.
Student Government Association officers
Outgoing SGA President Kendra Joyner of Petersburg, Va., was presented a gavel traditionally awarded to the retiring president of the Student Government Association (SGA). Joyner served as SGA president during ë10-í11 academic year.
SGA officers for the 2011-2012 academic year were installed. They include President Yakir Malul of Rishon Le-Zion, Israel; Vice President Sarah Moore of Mocksville; Secretary Jana Burkhardt of Willoughby, Ohio; and Treasurer Gail Murray of Shallotte.
Service to community and leadership awards
Jan Gillean, assistant dean for campus activities and programming, received the Kenneth Clapp Tri-Delta Award. Established by the Class of 2000 in recognition of the work of Dr. Ken Clapp, college senior vice president and chaplain, it is presented annually to a member of the faculty or staff who demonstrates dedication, devotion and dependability.
Student Sarah Moore of Mocksville and staff member David Najarian received the Leader in Environmental Stewardship Award. It is presented to the person(s) who best exhibits outstanding leadership ability and uncommon commitment to environmental stewardship through the facilitation of activities and initiatives that promote the wise use of the earthís resources.
The recipients of the annual Paul Fisher Service Awards for the spring semester were Anastasia L. Barkova of Huntersville and Kendra Joyner of Petersburg, Va. Jackie Hodgson of Pittsfield, Mass., was recognized as the annual recipient of the Paul Fisher Service Award and received a scholarship provided by Farmers and Merchants Bank as well as an engraved plaque.
Fifteen students were announced as inductees into Whoís Who among Students in American Universities and Colleges. Nominated by members of the college community and selected by a committee of faculty and students, these students are active leaders and scholars on campus. They include the following students from the area: Andrew Thomas McMillan, Salisbury; Laura Elaine Ritchie, Salisbury; Elizabeth Nicole Sloop, Salisbury; Rebecca Lucille Scott, Mt. Pleasant; Stephanie Michelle Hill, China Grove; and Joseph Stephen Manser, Mooresville.
Academicachievement awards
Will Honeycutt of Richfield and Sarah Thorp of Advance received the Sherrill & Smith Award in Business Administration. This award is given annually by the partners of Sherrill & Smith to the senior in the Ralph W. Ketner School of Business who achieves the best scholastic average during the year.
The Millard F. Wilson Award for Excellence in Business was presented to Timothy Cook of Hickory. Given annually to a senior in recognition of outstanding service to the Ralph W. Ketner School of Business, it also recognizes excellence in academic achievement. The late Professor Millard F. Wilson, chair of the business department from 1949-1979, established the award.
Whitney Mullis of Kannapolis received the Dr. Charles Turney Award. This award was established by family and friends in memory of Turney, retired chair of the English department at Catawba. The recipient of the award is a rising senior English major with at least a 3.5 GPA and a demonstrated aptitude for and interest in the discipline of English studies.
Elizabeth G. ěLizzleî Davis of East Bend received the Rebecca H. Frantz Essay Prize this year. This prize is given by alumnus Edwin Nance of Altoona, Pa., in memory of the mother of three former Catawba College students. It is awarded annually to the writer of an essay judged by faculty to be the most original.
Davis also was selected by the English department faculty to receive the Martha H. Morehead Award. The award, given in honor of a late Catawba professor emeritus of English, is presented for the outstanding single work ó poem, short story or graphic contribution to the Arrowhead, the collegeís annual literary publication.
Jessica Everett of Winston-Salem received the Bethany and Aidan Sinnott Poetry Award. This award was established by the English department in honor of Dr. Bethany Sinnott and in memory of Dr. Aidan Sinnott. The award is given to the student who demonstrates the greatest potential as a poet, based on a portfolio of his or her work.
The Elisabeth Scranton History Award was presented to Philip Yarbrough of Lexington. It is given in honor of a former professor of history to the student who has attained the highest academic average during his or her senior year and who represents the ideals of liberal scholarship in the area of history.
Lori Beth Fraley of Cleveland and Jacob Hill of Salisbury received The Chemistry Prize, given annually to a student selected by the chemistry faculty who, in their opinion, best represents the qualities of good character, overall scholarship and excellence in chemistry course work.
The CRC Press Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award was won by Lindsay King of Kannapolis and Jacob Regensburger of Fayetteville. It is awarded annually to a chemistry major in recognition of outstanding scholastic achievement.
Joseph Manser of Mooresville received the American Institute of Chemists Award. This award honors an outstanding senior majoring in chemistry and is based on ability, character, scholastic achievement and potential advancement in one of the chemical professions.
Mark Ketterer of Hamilton, N.J., and Vickie Gammons of Mocksville were the co-recipients of the Shirley L. Haworth Prospective Teacher Award. It is presented to a senior with a 3.0 grade point average or better who majors or minors in education and who has demonstrated outstanding potential as a teacher based on observation in classroom setting by faculty and cooperating teachers. The recipient is chosen by the Department of Teacher Education faculty.
Julie Gilley of Dobson received the Student Education Association/Cynthia Osterhus Award. It is given to the student who has made an outstanding contribution to the student education association and who has shown potential to become an excellent teacher. The award is named in honor of Cynthia Osterhus ë73 of Salisbury, a former North Carolina Teacher of the Year, and now a faculty member in Catawbaís Teacher Education Department and director of the Collegeís Shirley Peeler Ritchie Academy for Teaching.
Nathaniel Griffin of Boomer and Erin Witalison of Salisbury received the Daniel E. Kirk Biology Award. It is given in honor of Dr. Daniel E. Kirk, former professor and chair of Catawbaís department of biology and former dean of the college. It is presented to a senior who has exhibited outstanding service and achievement in the department of biology.
Adam Ridenhour of Advance received The Religion Award. This award is given by the ministers of the Southern Conference of the United Church of Christ to the student in the junior or senior class who has excelled in academic work in the religion and philosophy department and has contributed actively to the religious life of the campus community.
Allison Justice of Bishopville, Md., and Jessica Gaskill of Salisbury were co-recipients of the Dr. Karl E. Hales Communication Award. This is a new award established in honor of Dr. Karl Hales, who taught communications and speech at Catawba from 1966 until his retirement in 2005. Hales is also the well-known voice of the Catawba Indians.