Because it fell on Earth Day, Catawba College's Awards Convocation on April 22nd turned out to be just a little bit more. It was an opportunity for the campus to gather in the Omwake-Dearborn Chapel for what the Office of the Provost dubbed "Earth Hour."
Students, faculty and staff turned off the lights, left their offices and residence halls, and celebrated the achievements of some, while promoting awareness and a commitment to energy efficiency and acknowledging the precious and finite resources of Earth. The event, billed as another Green Pig Initiative, concluded with Green Pig cookies distributed outside the Chapel to all attendees. The Green Pig, introduced to the college community at the beginning of this academic year, is a campaign to promote on-campus conservation and sustainability.
College provost, Dr. W. Richard Stephens, Jr. officiated, while the award presentations were made by College President, Dr. Craig Turner, with assistance from Dr. Carl Girelli, associate provost, and Kendra Joyner, incoming SGA president for 2010-2011.
Student Government Association Officers
Outgoing SGA president Kevin Flebbe of Vineland, N.J., was presented with a gavel traditionally awarded to the retiring president of the Student Government Association (SGA). Flebbe served as SGA president during '09-'10 academic year.
SGA officers for the 2010-2011 academic year were installed at the convocation. They include President Kendra Joyner of Petersburg, Va.; Vice President Sarah Devlin of Candler; Secretary Jeremy Gardiner of Harrisburg; and Treasurer Yakir Malul of Rishon Le-Zion, Israel.
Recognitions
Brandon Coble of Yadkinville and Alyssa Halter of Hertford shared the David Hoyle Award for Outstanding Service in the area of student activities. It is awarded annually to a student who has made exemplary contributions to all areas of student activities. Coble and Halter also shared a new award, the Pioneer Award, for their hard work and leadership in taking the student newspaper, the Pioneer, from print to its current online version.
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The new Mr. and Miss Catawba, elected to serve the College in the coming year, were announced at the convocation. They are Kendra Joyner of Petersburg, Va., and Chris Clowers of Whitefish Bay, Wis.
Amber Hughes of Seattle, Wash., received the Frances Decker Wentz Award. This award is given annually to the upper class student who has demonstrated, through distinguished performance of responsibilities, a real concern and aptitude for the theory and practice of library science and service. The library staff chooses the recipient.
Erin Blalock of Denver received the Leader in Environmental Stewardship Award. It is presented to the student(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 earth's resources.
The recipients of the annual Paul Fisher Service Awards for the spring semester were announced at the convocation. They were Anastasia L. Barkova of Huntersville, Susan R. Fisher of Lititz, Pa., and Lainey E. Edwards of Asheboro. Jacob Alan Hill of Salisbury was recognized as the recipient of a scholarship provided by Farmers and Merchants Bank as well as an engraved plaque.
Rebecca Chinnis of Charlotte and Eric Schmehl of Shamong, N.J., were recipients of 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 Businesswho achieves the best scholastic average during the year. ;
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The Millard F. Wilson Award for Excellence in Business was presented to Christopher S. Beal of Goldston. 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, former chair of the business department at Catawba from 1949-1979, established the award.
Elizabeth G. "Lizzle" Davis of East Bend received the Rebecca H. Frantz Essay Prize this year. This prize is given by an alumnus, Edwin Nance, of Altoona, Pennsylvania, 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. Lizzle Davis's winning essay was entitled, "Goffman, Zimmermen, and a 'Two-Faced' Mean Girl."
Rachel Kennedy of Nashua, N.H., was the recipient of 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.
Kali McCullough of Columbia, Tenn., 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, it is presented for the outstanding single work – poem, short story or graphic contribution to the Arrowhead, the college's annual literary publication. McCullough was selected for her short story entitled, "Owner of this house lives here."
Leslie Denton of Salisbury was the recipient of the Rice, Andrews, Young Award. It is given in honor of the former chairpersons of the Catawba Department of Modern Foreign Languages to the foreign language major(s) or minor(s) who has made the highest grades in his/her foreign language studies.
The Elisabeth Scranton History Award was presented to Thomas J. Sharp of Concord and Katherine V. Hill of Fayetteville. It is given in honor of a former professor of history to the student(s) 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.
The Braun Award in Physics, given by 1934 Alumna Mrs. Anne Blodgett Bashore, was awarded to Lori Beth Fraley of Cleveland. It is given in recognition of the student showing the most meritorious work in the field of physics.
Joseph Manser of Mooresville was presented 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 Elizabeth J. White of Salisbury. It is awarded annually to a chemistry major in recognition of outstanding scholastic achievement.
The recipient of the Mathematics Award was Cynthia M. Cook of Franklin, Pa. This award is presented annually by the mathematics department faculty to a student who has demonstrated outstanding ability, scholarship and interest in the field of mathematics.
Grant A. Gibson of Owen Sound, Ontario, was the recipient of the Environmental Science Award. It is presented annually to a senior who has best demonstrated dedication, inspiration and academic achievement in the field of environmental science.
Kati Etters of Salisbury and Deborah Griffin of East Bend were recipients of the Shirley L. Haworth Prospective Teacher Award. It is presented to a senior(s) 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.
Laura Ritchie of Salisbury 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 '73 of Salisbury, a former North Carolina Teacher of the Year, and now a faculty member in Catawba's Teacher Education Department and director of the College's Shirley Peeler Ritchie Academy for Teaching.
The College Chairman's Award in Music went to Matthew Newton of Holly Springs for his significant contribution to the programs of the music department and for his promise of future success in the field of music.
Lauren Graham of Salisbury was the recipient of the Senior Psychology Award. It is given annually to a psychology major who has been judged by graduating psychology majors, through secret ballot, as having made an outstanding contribution to the various activities of the Psychology Department.
Mallory L. Hodge of Woodleaf received the Patricia R. Whitley Award in recognition of academic excellence, loyalty, and dedication and for outstanding service to both the physical education department and the community. The award was established in 1999 by the Physical Education Department and the Student Majors Club in honor of Dr. Patricia Whitley.
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Kyle B. Ganow of State College, Pa., received the Daniel E. Kirk Biology Award. It is given in honor of Dr. Daniel E. Kirk, former professor and chair of Catawba's 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.
Kendra Joyner of Petersburg, Va., was the recipient of 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. The recipient is selected by the faculty of the Religion and Philosophy Department.
The Augustin Daly Award for Outstanding Student of the Year in Theatre Arts went to Caitlin Springs of Santa Clara, Calif. The award is named in memory of one of North Carolina's most historically important theatre figures and voted on by the Theatre Arts faculty.
Tashina Wilhelm of Mount Savage, Md., was the recipient of the Sociology Award. This new award is presented to the graduating senior who demonstrates outstanding academic achievement in the field of sociology and exemplifies the qualities of the sociological imagination.
Kyle B. Ganow of State College, Pa., and Zachary T. Owen of Charlotte were recipients of the Dean Grove Award, given annually to a student athlete majoring in mathematics or science who demonstrates leadership abilities in both areas. The late Dr. Rodger H. Lofland ‘61 established the Dean Grove Award in tribute to Dean N. Grove '40, Lofland's high school coach, biology teacher and mentor.
The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award was given to Dr. James K. Stringfield, dean of the Goodman School of Education and Physical Education and professor of education, and Nicholas A. Alfieri of Salisbury. A committee of students and faculty choose both a student and a staff member annually to receive this award. It is given in recognition of fine spiritual qualities practically applied to daily living and with the belief that these persons will uphold the spiritual standards of Catawba by their noble characteristics. The award was established by the New York Southern Society as a permanent reminder of the noblest human qualities expressed and followed in the life of its first president Algernon Sydney Sullivan.
Whitener Medal Recipients
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The recipients of the Whitener Medals were announced at the awards convocation but will actually receive their awards during Catawba's May 15th graduation exercise. They are Amber Michelle Hughes of Seattle, Wash., and Grant Alexander Gibson of Owen Sound, Ontario.
