It will not be until spring break of 2015 when students in a Catawba College Honors Class depart for Greece, but the two faculty members who will be leading that excursion are trying to drum up interest in their course and its capstone trip this fall.
The spring 2015 Honors course, "My Big Fat Greek Heritage," offers students enrolled in it an opportunity to travel to Greece with faculty members, Drs. Norris Feeney and Seth Holtzman.
On Saturday, September 6, these faculty members and a group of Catawba students piqued their appetite for all things Greek by attending the annual Yiasou Greek Festival, held on the grounds of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Charlotte. This annual event showcases Greek food, dancing, religion, history, clothing, and other aspects of Greek and Greek-American culture.
Students ate baklava and spanakopita, watched costumed groups perform traditional Greek dances in traditional costumes, listened to talks about Greek philosophy and history, had small Greek flags painted on their arms, marveled at the sublime iconography inside the church during a guided tour that interspersed micro-lectures on Orthodox Church history and doctrine with liturgical hymns sung by a small choir, and soaked up the friendly crowds and beautiful late-summer day.
The Yiasou Greek Festival served as Catawba's Honors Program's designated cultural event for this fall semester. Catawba College's International Club, sponsored by Dr. Hake, was also well represented.
Drs. Norris Feeney and Seth Holtzman hoped the festival would introduce students to Greek culture while generating in interest in and support for their spring 2015 Honors course. The two will hold an interest meeting, scheduled at 3 p.m. Tuesday, September 30, in ADM 322, for all Honors students who have any interest in the course. At that meeting, firm registration and deposit deadlines will be explained and projected costs and financial aid will be discussed.
Drs. Feeney and Holtzman will also be available for questions during the first hour of the upcoming International Studies Fair, scheduled on campus from 11:00am-12:30pm on Thursday, September 18, in Leonard Lounge in the Cannon Student Center. Students who cannot attend the Fair or the interest meeting should contact Dr. Feeney (704-645-4598; ntfeeney@catawba.edu) or Dr. Holtzman (704-637-4229; sholtzma@catawba.edu).
