Jana Burkhardt '14
Middle School Education Major; SGA Executive President '12-13; On the Women's Golf Team; Resident Assistant

"I am majoring in Middle School Education with concentrations in Social Studies and Science. I want to teach at the middle school level because the students are at the point where they can be still creative and they are beginning to form their own opinions. They are fragile, and I want every person that comes through my classroom door to know that no matter what, they will have someone who is invested in their success. Learning can be fun and interesting, and without a doubt I will make social studies a class that students look forward to. I do not see my self in any other career path. 

I chose Catawba because of the opportunities the West Scholars program had to offer. I am from Ohio, so this program gave me a family to join from the moment I stepped on to the campus. I know that when it comes time to look for a job, the professors in this program will help me to do so. While I love where I am from, I intend to stay in North Carolina for the rest of my life to fulfill my passion as an educator."

Caroline Bostian '14
Elementary Education Major; on the Swimming Team

"I chose Catawba because I am a swimmer, and I loved the swim program at Catawba. I also had heard great things about the Education Program at Catawba, my aunt graduated from here with Elementary Education as a major and talked so well about the program. I also liked the fact when I came and visited I saw that all the classes were small which I loved, I did not want to be a number, I wanted a relationship with my professors and that is exactly what I got. I choose Elementary Education because I love younger kids, I coach a swim team during the summers and I always worked with kids that were five and six years old and I fell in love with that age group and knew that I wanted to teach Elementary school. I want to be either a first or kindergarten teacher and I can't wait!"