Catawba College Honors Program

Congratulations to the 2026 Catawba Honors Program Scholars and Graduates! We could not be prouder of you and all you have accomplished.

We had a wonderful time celebrating our Honors Scholars and Graduates at Monday night’s Senior Dinner! Our graduating seniors enjoyed a meal at La Cava and reflected on the experiences that shaped their journey through the Catawba Honors Program.

Thank you to all who joined us for an evening of celebration, including Deborah and D**e Messinger, Executive Vice President and Provost Monica Cowart, President David Nelson, Kimberly Nelson, Meg Dees, the Honors Faculty Board, and the members of our Scholars’ thesis committees.

Congratulations to Nikki Franz on the successful presentation of her Honors Thesis titled, ““Your Body, My Choice”: Online Aggression Towards Women Before and After the 2024 American Election.” Well done, Nikki! A special thank you to Nikki’s thesis committee: Dr. Shiela Brownlow (chair), Dr. Timothy Clark, and Dr. Diana Riser

Congratulations to Cheyanne Leger on the successful presentation of her Honors Thesis titled, “Phenomenon of Burnout: How Do Stress, Health, and Demands Predict Burnout in Undergraduate College Students?” Well done, Cheyanne! A special thank you to Cheyanne’s thesis committee: Dr. Diana Riser (chair), Dr. Brianna Randall, and Dr. Timothy Clark

Congratulations to Ila Deese on the successful presentation of her Honors Thesis titled, “Witch Hunt!: Is ‘Politically Efficacious’ Theatre Effective in the Age of Trump?” Well done, Ila! A special thank you to Ila’s thesis committee: Dr. Beth Homan (chair), Dr. Norris Feeney, and Dr. Kerstin Rudolph.

Congratulations to Mason McLain on the successful presentation of his Honors Thesis titled, “Likes, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Engagement.” Well done, Mason! A special thank you to Mason’s thesis committee: Dr. Sarah Jackson (chair), Dr. Jamie Henthorn, and Dr. Allyson Yankle

Congratulations to Jacy Noble on the successful presentation of her Honors Thesis titled, “It’s a Two-Way Street: The Coevolution of Allergies Between People and Their Pets.” Well done, Jacy! A special thank you to Jacy’s thesis committee: Dr. Erin Witalison (chair), Dr. Amanda Rushing, and Dr. Kerstin Rudolph.

Congratulations to Luke Roberts on the successful presentation of his Honors Thesis titled, “From Witches Brew to Antibiotics: Analyzing the Connection of Salamanders and Modern Medicine.” Well done, Luke! A special thank you to Luke’s thesis committee: Dr. Amanda Rushing (chair), Dr. Joe Poston, and Dr. Kerstin Rudolph.

Congratulations to Laurel Keasler on the successful presentation of her Honors Thesis titled, “Engineering Escherichia Coli for Enhanced PHB Degradation: Synthetic Biology, Environmental Application, and the Challenges for CRISPR Intellectual Property.” Well done, Laurel! A special thank you to Laurel’s thesis committee: Dr. Carmony Hartwig (chair), Dr. Sue Calcagni, and Dr. Megan Flocken

Catawba Honors students shined at this year’s Day of Scholarship! From presenting research posters and defending theses to showcasing creative works, they demonstrated the depth and diversity of their talents. Swipe through to see just a few highlights of their incredible work!