Day of Character

A day to reflect on who we are and who we aspire to be personally and collectively.

February 11, 2026

Join us for a full day of reflection, connection, and community as we explore what it means to live with integrity, resilience, and empathy. From a morning keynote with Tom Morris to an evening celebration of our community's character, the day offers something for everyone with activities designed to be engaging, meaningful, and fun!

TIME	EVENT	DESCRIPTION
9:00 – 9:30 AM	Breakfast & Coffee – Peeler Crystal Lounge	Fuel up for the day! Grab breakfast, your kindness tokens and connect with fellow participants before we begin.
9:30 – 9:45 AM	Welcome & Opening – Hedrick Little Theatre	Official kickoff to Day of Character. Learn about the day's theme and what's ahead.
9:45 – 10:30 AM	Keynote: Tom Morris – Hedrick Little Theatre	Inspirational keynote on character, leadership, and doing the right thing, even when it's hard.
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM	CHARACTER QUEST Community Monopoly – Downtown Salisbury	Teams travel to real locations across Rowan County completing character challenges. Earn Character Day Dollars for each completed activity. No fake money, just real people, real places, real character in action! Learn More! Register Your Team!!
12:00 – 1:30 PM	Digital Manners Luncheon – Peeler Crystal Lounge	Lunch with a twist! A “manners matter” luncheon for the modern age. As we gather at the table, we’ll explore what it truly means to show character not just face-to-face, but in our digital lives as well. From online interactions and social media behavior to the principles of responsible digital citizenship, this luncheon invites thoughtful conversation about how courtesy, respect, and integrity translate in a connected world. Sign Up (Required)
1:30 – 3:30 PM	CHARACTER COMMONS – Cannon Student Center	Think you have a good moral compass? Check out the character commons for a chance to earn additional Character Day Dollars! These questions will have you wrestling with real ethical dilemmas and second guessing "Does this choice do the right thing?"
3:30 – 5:30 PM	Wellness Loft Opening, Character Awards & Affirmation Station – Cannon Student Center	Celebrate the opening of our new Wellness Loft! Character Quest Awards for the morning game, plus turn in your Character Day Dollars for your Day of Character memento! Write notes to yourself and others at the Affirmation Station. Treats, chill vibes, and community.
5:30 PM	*Closing: Conversation with Tom Morris* – Tom Smith Auditorium**	Wrap up the day with final reflections and a send-off to carry character forward.

ON-CAMPUS TRACK

Can't head into the community but still want to get involved? Join the Pillar Day sessions at Tom Smith!

TIME	SESSION (Location: Tom Smith Auditorium)
9:45 AM	Dr. Jayme Shelton: Athlete & Identity
11:00 AM	Dr. Jen Case: The Athlete's Plate – Fueling Performance & Wellness
12:00 PM	Lunch
1:00 PM	Dr. Logan Daughtry: Naturally Catawba
2:00 PM	Press Conference to Break the Stigma of Mental Health Featuring Tj Johnson '25, Catawba College Track & Field Dr. Duane Aagaard: Athlete's Voice – A Letter to Your Coach/AD
3:00 PM	Dr. Charles Crowley: Capturing Your Athletic Career onto Your Resume

Then join everyone at 3:30 PM for the Wellness Loft Opening & Affirmation Station!

Think you have a good moral compass? These questions will have you wrestling with real ethical dilemmas and second guessing "Does this choice do the right thing?"

TOPIC	FACILITATORS
Ethical Reasoning & Logic	Norris Feeney & Megan Flocken
AI & Ethics	Steffanie West, Jamie Henthorn & Amanda Bosch
Integrity & Leadership	Michelle Caddigan
Accessibility	Constance Grant & Britten Olinger
Access (food, money, resources)	Brooke Magee
Sustainability	Noah Upchurch & Hannah Addair
Athletics (NIL/Sportsmanship)	Hestia Beltrane Bamaca and Jacy Noble
Title IX	Learie Nurse

We need enthusiastic volunteers to serve as Site Monitors for Character Quest (10:30 AM – 12:00 PM)!

As a Site Monitor, you will:

Be stationed at a community partner location in Rowan County
Greet teams as they arrive and explain the character challenge
Certify that teams have completed their activity
Hand out Character Day Dollars to successful teams
Serve as an ambassador for Catawba in our community

Time Commitment: 10:00 AM – 12:15 PM (including brief orientation)

Interested? Contact ChaMarra Saner at cksaner14@catawba.edu by February 1 to sign up!

Day of Character

February 11, 2026

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Day of Character

February 11, 2026

Day of Character Schedule

Character Commons Challenges

Volunteers Needed: Character Quest Site Monitors

Social

Site Menu

Your Path Starts Here.