Derek (Chief) Paschal: Life after Catawba
Photo Credit: Zandi Watts
By Erin Kidd, writer
February 11, 2010
Filed under Alumni, Spotlights
When I think about the alumni that I had the pleasure of meeting while at Catawba College, one person automatically comes to mind. This student was caring, friendly, always gave great advice, and could always make me smile. Most of my favorite memories happened with him right by my side. I truly believe that he helped make my college experience something I can look back on for years to come and smile about. His name is Derek Paschal.
Now, the name Derek Paschal might not ring any bells for many students. I myself find it difficult to use his real name. However, when I mention the name CHIEF, a mountain of bells begins to ring.
Paschal was a very popular person while he was here at Catawba. In fact, it was often hard to get some Chief time because he always seemed to be busy. He was involved in almost everything. Most students may remember him as a Head RA, but he had a hand in many other activities. Golf, Residence Life, SGA, and Philomathean Society are just a few of Paschal’s claims to fame he had while at Catawba College. His list also includes:
Business Administration with accounting concentration
Men’s golf team 2005-2009
MVP Men’s Golf -2007
2009 South Atlantic Conference Golf Coach’s “Spirit of the Game” award recipient
Resident Assistant- 2006-2008
Resident Assistant of the year- 2007-2008 academic year
Head Resident Assistant 2008-2009
Residence Life’s Programmer of the Year 2008-2009 academic year
Intramural Supervisor- 2007-2009
Philomathean Society 2006-2009
SGA Senator 2008-2009 academic year
Founder of the Residence Hall Association (Catawba Chapter)-2009
Paschal graduated from Catawba in May of 2009. Although many of us were sad to see him go, he has been very successful in the “real world”.
After graduation, he traveled to South Africa to visit his brother who is a missionary in Johannesburg. Upon returning from South Africa, Paschal began his first job with Wells Fargo Financial in Winston Salem working in consumer lending and sales. Three months after starting this job, he received and accepted an offer from Bank of America in Charlotte to work with the group who prepare the quarterly and annual reports for the entire bank. The group files them with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which is a government agency that oversees the activities of major corporations. Paschal’s group is called SEC Reporting and his job title is Reporting Analyst. His job is to review numbers that the company’s business partners throughout the bank send them, make sure they make sense, and organize them into paragraphs or tables.
Paschal seems to be enjoying his new life in Charlotte. His office is located right in “uptown” Charlotte, just a few blocks away from the center at Trade Street and Tryon Street. Paschal speaks highly of his new apartment, saying, “My apartment is less than a mile from “uptown.” It overlooks I-277, the Panther’s stadium, the Bobcats arena, and the “uptown” skyline.” He rides the Lynx, an electric public train system, to and from work every day. The nightlife in Charlotte is also keeping Paschal busy, “The nightlife is fun; it seems like there is always something to do or something going on somewhere, and Panthers and Bobcats games are fun to go to as well.”
Derek Paschal is making Catawba proud. His accomplishments in the “real world” are very exciting. He also left a legacy here at Catawba College. Whether you knew him as an RA, a member of the golf team, or just a guy you could hang out and play corn hole with on the weekend, Derek Paschal, aka Chief, touched most of us somehow while he was here. He was a true friend and he will always be Head RA in my heart.
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