Student Story

At Catawba, the student isn’t just a number.”

Eva Troast is a junior at Catawba College. She is an Integrated Marketing Communications major and a Digital Media Production minor. She is also the Student Fellowship Coordinator for the Tom Smith Fellows.

The Tom Smith Fellows are traditional first-year and incoming transfer students selected based on their incoming grade point average and those that best embody the qualities of Catawba - Scholarship, Character, Culture, and Service. In the program, students participate in practical experience, professional development, and engagement with the business community. They take part in projects with impact, service, giving back, leadership development, business and career exposure, social events, and domestic and international travel.

For Eva, leading and coordinating the Tom Smith Fellows has been a dream. “I have connected with the fellows on an academic and personal level to help them achieve their educational and professional goals with the help of Dr. Christine Lynn. So far, the Tom Smith Fellows have held an etiquette dinner, a trolley tour of Rowan County businesses, and a trip to New York City. During the visit to New York City, students interacted with several successful alumni and learned more about city life,” she said.

Eva’s impactful role with the Tom Smith Fellows has been complemented by her academic experiences at the Ketner School of Business. Reflecting on her journey, she said, “So far, I have had excellent experiences with the classes and professors in the Ketner School of Business. Dr. Christine Lynn has been my biggest advocate in pursuing my academic goals within the School of Business.”

Building on her academic success and leadership experience, Eva has also gained valuable hands-on experience through her summer internship at BILSTEIN of America, Inc. in Mooresville, North Carolina where she worked as a Sales Intern for the Aftermarket and Motorsports division. “My responsibilities included communicating with current and potential customers, providing exceptional service and creating long-lasting relationships, and organizing and analyzing sales data, inventory management, etc.,” she said.

Her internship at BILSTEIN has been a great way to apply what she's learned in the classroom, and it ties right back to why she chose Catawba in the first place. She said, “I chose Catawba because of the connection that students and faculty can make. At Catawba, the student isn’t just a number. All the staff I interacted with know me well, and I appreciate that. It’s one of the things I value in a school.”

Other aspects of Catawba that Eva values are the campus and the people. She said, “I love Catawba’s campus. It’s so gorgeous even in the winter, and I’ll never get tired of the historic looking buildings or the various landscapes. I also love the people at Catawba. Everyone that I have met has been very kind.”

Eva has learned a lot so far during her time at Catawba, but the main lesson she has learned is that it's okay to welcome change and try new things. She said, “If a student wishes to change their major because they've had a change of heart, that's okay. If a student wants to join new clubs outside of their interests, that's okay. It is okay to embrace change and try new things. It's an important, if not the most important, part of the college experience.”