Several individuals, including students, an alumnus and retiring faculty members, received special recognition during Catawba College's May 10th Commencement Exercises.
O.B. Michael Award
Catawba College honored Joseph S. Ferebee '42 of Misenheimer, N.C., with the O.B. Michael Award. This award has been presented annually since 1938, by the Catawba College Board of Directors of the Alumni Association, to a graduate of the College who has made an outstanding contribution to the College and/or the larger society. Originally called the Citizenship Cup, it was established by the Reverend O.B. Michael, Class of 1919, in memory of his father, an alumnus of Catawba College and pioneer teacher and preacher. Read more...
Whitener and Barbara Andrews Awards
Three Catawba College graduates were recognized during Commencement Exercises on campus for academic excellence. Two were honored as the Whitener Award recipients during the 10 a.m. ceremony, while one student was honored as the Barbara Andrews Award recipient during the 2 p.m. Read more...
Retiring Faculty Recognized
Retiring members of Catawba's faculty were recognized at commencement exercises. Those retirees include: Mrs. Joyce Caddell, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, retiring after 20 years of service; Rosemary C. Kinard, Assistant Professor of Music, also retiring after 20 years of service; Dr. Jesse McCartney, Provost and Professor of English, retiring after 26 years of service; Dr. Karen Horner Stroobants, a Professor of Psychology, retiring after 10 years of service; and William H. Trenchard, Professor of Accounting, retiring after 20 years of service.
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Deceased Faculty Member Remembered
During the 10 a.m. graduation, a moment of silence was observed in memory of Dr. Bruce Griffith, a longtime Catawba College History Professor, who died Feb. 12.
A native of West Haven, Connecticut and a 1962 alumnus of Catawba, Dr. Griffith joined the faculty at his alma mater in 1964 after earning both his master of arts degree and doctorate of philosophy from UNC Chapel Hill. At the time of his death, he shared the distinction of being senior faculty member at the college with his colleague, Dr. Patricia Whitley; both of whom had served the institution for 44 years.
In the weeks before his death, Catawba's Faculty Senate had voted unanimously to honor Dr. Griffith as the 2008 recipient of the Trustee Award for Outstanding Service to the College. He was honored with the Swink Award for Outstanding Teaching from the institution in 1976 and was the recipient of the William R. Weaver Professorship of Humanities in 1994 and 1995. He also chaired the history department for a number of years.
He is survived by wife Nancy T. "Fle" Griffith and sons Daniel, Douglas, David and Drew.
RELATED CONTENT:
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- 2008 Graduates List ;
- Whitener and Barbara Andrews Awards ;
- O.B. Michael Award ;
- Catawba College Graduates 286 Students in Two Commencement Exercises ;
- 2008 Baccalaureate Service and Marshal's Walk ;
- Graduation Information
