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Participating Catawba seniors learned from College alumni and friends about transitioning from college to life after; what to expect when managing personal finances; and living in community. Other topics covered in the series included the correct way to network, mingling, appropriate reception topics, and basic dining etiquette rules.
Members of the Catawba College Alumni Association Board of Directors were actively involved in the series, said Margaret Faust, Catawba College Director of Alumni and Parent Relations. "This was a great networking opportunity for our seniors. They had an a chance to make contact with some of our most active alumni and this contact may benefit them professionally after they graduate."
The first three sessions of the series were held on consecutive Thursdays in February. Topics and facilitators for each of these sessions included:
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- "From Backpack to Briefcase!" with Tim Harris '87 alumnus employed by Philip Morris USA, Inc. in Richmond, Va.; ;
- "Personal Finance!" with Catawba Professor Emeritus Al Carter of Salisbury; ;
- "Living in Community" with Dianne Scott, Director of Rowan Helping Ministries.
The multi-part finale was held Feb. 24 and included a networking opportunity with Catawba's Alumni Association Board of Directors. It was followed by a "mocktail" party, where students explored the art of mingling. The evening concluded with a meal.
Margaret Faust praised both the participating students and Alumni Board members, who came from as far away as Alabama "to enhance the future success of our students." She said plans were to turn this inaugural series into an annual event for seniors.
"One of the students who attended relayed a conversation he had with his mother," Faust said. "When telling her of the benefit of the series, she commented to him about how pleased she was that Catawba was doing this. That student's older brother, who had attended another private school in Catawba's conference, had not been offered such exceptional preparation."
