Year: 2019

Greetings fellow Tigers!

“There is something in these hills.” You know it from the moment you first step onto campus. It’s something special – a feeling of knowing immediately that you are home. As our graduates prepare to bid farewell to the Clemson campus and embark on futures as teachers, researchers, engineers, nurses and architects, they are likely feeling a wave of emotions – anxiousness, happiness, sadness and excitement. But it doesn’t matter how many miles away we travel, our bond as Clemson Tigers is unbreakable.

Congratulations, graduates! Your hard work and persistence have paid off, and you can now proudly say, “I went to Clemson!”

Our students aren’t the only “graduates” being celebrated. A select group of faculty and staff “graduated” this month from Clemson’s signature leadership development program – the President’s Leadership Institute (PLI). The goal for PLI is that graduates leave the program with a greater appreciation of what it takes to keep Clemson a leader in higher education and that they gain knowledge and skills that will allow them to grow in their careers – at Clemson or elsewhere.

When you walk around the campus, you will see the powerful impact of your gifts to Clemson. It’s the discoveries in the labs, students succeeding in the classroom and the victories on the field. I recently shared with you the details of Week of Gratitude when our students wrote thank you notes to our donors. Now I would like to share a special video with you recapping the event. The lifetime of impact your gifts are having on our students was unmistakable during this Week of Gratitude.

Clemson University College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities Dean Richard E. Goodstein has announced that he will step down effective Aug. 15, 2019. He plans to return to teaching after leading the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities for nine years. Rick will return to the faculty of the performing arts department, where he served as chair from 1998 until 2010. He was appointed dean of the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities in 2011 after serving as interim dean for a year. Rick first joined the faculty of Clemson University in 1982, working with the bands first as assistant director and then as director of bands beginning in 1990. Rick has been a strong and passionate leader for the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities, and I know he will continue to make a powerful impact on our students upon his return to the classroom!  You can read more here.

B-Inspired!
Graduation is a time of reflection, nostalgia and celebration. While we often think of the ways that we can inspire our graduates to make a difference in the world, we forget that we can be inspired by them – to see limitless possibilities for the future. They are leaving Clemson ready to make significant impacts on the world. And thanks to your support to Clemson University, they have the knowledge, experiences and courage to pursue greatness in the future.

To our graduates, remember to embrace this special moment. It is one that will stay with you forever. And may it inspire you to someday give back to the place, and the people, that made it all possible.

Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke

Greetings fellow Tigers!

Our students are in the midst of wrapping up the spring semester, and campus has been noticeably quieter as they have been busy with final exams this week. We are reaching the end of another academic year on campus and preparing to bid farewell to our graduates – who are focused on moving forward to their next great adventure. We can’t wait to see what lies ahead for them as they transition from students to alumni!

Clemson University will confer more than 3,000 degrees during Commencement ceremonies next Thursday and Friday, May 9 and 10, in Littlejohn Coliseum. Undergraduate, master’s and doctoral graduates from each college will receive their degrees during one of four ceremonies. You can find additional information about graduation, including details on the four ceremonies, parking and the clear bag policy, here. For those unable to attend, all ceremonies will be streamed live online. To view, click here or visit tv.clemson.edu/. The spring 2019 Doctoral Hooding Ceremony will be at 7 p.m. May 9 in the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts.

MLB player Brad Miller has made a significant gift to the Clemson baseball program, which will help fund the renovation of the player-development facility at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, specifically the instruction and technology for hitting. Miller was a career .339 hitter with a .451 on-base percentage in 191 games (189 starts) over three seasons at Clemson. He had 36 doubles, eight triples, 16 home runs, 135 RBIs, 173 runs, 143 walks and 46 steals. He was a two-time member of the USA National Team and two-time All-ACC Academic selection. In 2011, Miller was drafted in the second round (No. 62 overall pick) by the Seattle Mariners. During that season, he was a team co-captain who won the Brooks Wallace Shortstop-of-the-Year Award. He was also a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy along with earning first-team All-America honors by ABCA, Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball. He was named ACC Player-of-the-Year, Clemson’s first since 2002 (Khalil Greene), after hitting a team-high .395 with five home runs, a .498 on-base percentage and 21 steals in 56 games. He was recently acquired by the New York Yankees organization. You can read more here. Thank you, Brad, for your commitment to Clemson University and our athletic programs!

In this year’s NFL Draft, six Clemson Tigers were drafted during the three days of selections. Clemson’s six picks in 2019 led the ACC, outpacing Miami (five), Boston College (four) and NC State (four) among conference programs producing at least four picks this year. With the six selections this year, Head Coach Dabo Swinney has now presided over 57 draft picks during his full-time tenure in Clemson, dating back to the 2009 season. Congratulations to Clelin Ferrell, Christian Wilkins, Dexter Lawrence, Trayvon Mullen, Austin Bryant, Hunter Renfrow and their coaches on a great season that culminated in the ultimate reward for these Clemson Tigers!

B- fiercely dedicated!
The contributions and support of our faculty, staff, alumni and donors have provided our students with many opportunities for learning, exploration and advancement – on and off the field. Watching our graduates conclude their Clemson experience with a degree next week is the ultimate reward to our investment in Clemson. Your commitment to Clemson through your time, talent and treasures is an inspiration to our students and our newest alumni. I am confident that they will follow your example to be fiercely dedicated to Clemson University and make great impacts on future generations of Tigers.

Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke

Greetings fellow Tigers!

Power couple – there is no other way to describe John and Laurie Gutshaw. Long before they even met, John and Laurie both relished the educational opportunities afforded to them, eventually using this education to build substantive careers and lives. The couple, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, is putting their collective power behind Clemson University through the establishment of the Kenneth John Gutshaw, Jr., (Class of ’72) and Laurie B. Gutshaw Annual FIRST Grant-In-Aid Endowment – providing support for first-generation college students at Clemson. John and Laurie Gutshaw recently met the first Clemson recipients of their generosity. “We are so excited to know the recipients of our endowment and follow their educational and professional careers,” said the Gutshaws. You can read more about John and Laurie and their endowment here.

This week, students graduating in May, August and December of 2019 have been marking Clemson traditions off their “bucket lists” during Senior Week. The Clemson Alumni Association and the Student Alumni Association have invited seniors to Tillman Bell Tower tours, a koozie giveaway and the Class of 2019 Baseball Tailgate. Today, they will rub the Rock in Death Valley, and then on Saturday, Senior Week will wrap up with the Senior Ball in the West End Zone parking lot. It is a bittersweet time for our seniors as they continue to make Clemson memories but also prepare to embark on an exciting future as graduates.

Today and tomorrow, young men will once again convene at the Men of Color National Summit along with other high school and college students, business professionals, educators, government officials and community leaders from around the country. The sold-out crowd of more than 2,000 attendees will gather at the Greenville Convention Center to identify and promote strategies that foster success from cradle to career for African-American and Hispanic males. Tiger Alliance students are the heart of what the summit is about: creating a clear pathway to college for students through involvement and engagement. Over the next two days, attendees will hear from an impressive lineup of speakers that include innovative leaders in education, government and the business world.

The summit speakers and presenters include:
–Geoffrey Canada, author; founder of Harlem Children’s Zone Inc.
–Ronald Estrada, senior vice president for corporate social responsibility and community empowerment, Univision Communications Inc.;
–Anton J. Gunn, author, leadership consultant, presidential adviser, diversity officer;
–Melissa Harris-Perry, Maya Angelou Presidential Chair, founding director of the Anna Julia Cooper Center and Wake the Vote, Wake Forest University;
–Freeman Hrabowski, president, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County;
–Joy Thomas Moore, president and CEO of JWS Media Consulting, Peabody Award-winner, mother of author Wes Moore; and
–Pedro Noguera, Distinguished Professor of Education, faculty director for the Center for the Transformation of Schools at the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA).

Attendees will also be able to choose from more than 45 breakout sessions covering such topics as “Seven Steps to Make Adversity your Advantage” and “My Destiny Is Great; Now How Do I Get There?” You can read more about the Men of Color Summit here.

B- Empowering!
Clemson University Board of Trustees are meeting today and tomorrow to discuss and plan for the future of our University. Be sure to watch for next week’s B-Note, where I will share with you updates and announcements from our Board of Trustees. Thank you, Board of Trustee members, for your dedication and support of Clemson and for working diligently throughout the year to ensure that Clemson remains a top University! And thank you, Clemson family, for your unwavering commitment! Because of the support from our University’s leaders and each of you, our students are empowered for success at Clemson – and beyond.

Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke

Greetings Tigers!

There are particular events that happen across our campus throughout the year that remind us exactly why acts of philanthropy and the generosity of your time, talent and treasures are so important. Last week, we were reminded of that importance during our Week of Gratitude event, where students wrote more than 700 thank you notes to Clemson donors. The power of philanthropy has quite possibly never been stronger at Clemson. Your support is making an infinite impact not only on current students but on future generations of Clemson students, and when our students share their stories with us, we see the direct impact of your gifts. You can view photos from the event here.

When people talk about a “living classroom,” Bessie Hanahan’s house in Charleston’s South Broad neighborhood has been exactly that to Historic Preservation graduate students the past few years. Hanahan’s friends, Historic Preservation students and representatives from the Clemson faculty gathered in Hanahan’s home on Jan. 30 to celebrate her donation to the program and the students’ work on her house. Guests from Clemson included Richard E. Goodstein, dean of the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities; Kate Schwennsen, director of the School of Architecture; and Carter L. Hudgins, director of Historic Preservation, a joint program of Clemson University and the College of Charleston’s Graduate School. Hanahan continues to be a valuable resource to the Graduate Historic Preservation program in Charleston. Her generous pledge will create the Hazel Claire Efird, Katharine Shephard Sullivan, and Mary Elizabeth Simpson Hanahan Fellowship Endowment, which will provide graduate fellowships to students enrolled in the Historic Preservation Program. Thank you, Bessie, for your gifts of time, treasures and talents to Clemson University! You can read more here.

The Clemson Alumni Association, the Clemson Annual Giving team and IPTAY have been traveling to communities throughout the region for the annual Prowl & Growl tour. Football and basketball coaches and Athletic Department administrators are updating the Clemson family on the latest news in athletics and celebrating our football team’s national championship. Fans are learning about what’s happening at Clemson University while showing their support for the Tigers. The tour has stopped in the Midlands, Charleston, Greenwood, Atlanta and Greenville. The final stops of the tour will include Stateline, Aiken and Florence. A portion of all ticket proceeds goes back to support alumni participation and provide valuable scholarship dollars for the areas’ Clemson students. Thank you to all of our Tigers who have come out to support Clemson during our annual Prowl and Growl tour!

B- forever grateful!
Your gifts, along with the dedication of our leadership, faculty and staff, are helping prepare Clemson students for the future. A gift made our University a reality, forever rooting philanthropy into our University’s culture. Expressing our gratitude for that gift and each subsequent gift has also become a part of the Clemson culture. We appreciate your support to Clemson every day, but we especially value the opportunities – such as Week of Gratitude – to formally express our gratitude. We are forever grateful!

Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke

Greetings fellow Tigers!

It was a beautiful morning in Tiger Town on Saturday to celebrate the naming of Core Campus and Stadium Suites residence halls. The five residence halls were named for deceased members of the Clemson University Board of Trustees: Kenneth Cribb, William Green DesChamps Jr., Lawrence Gressette Jr., Paul W. McAlister and Buck Mickel.

From there, the perfection of the day seemed only to grow, as members of the Clemson family gathered for reunions, celebrations and traditions. The weekend was wrapped up on Sunday with the Ring Ceremony in Littlejohn Coliseum. More than 1,100 Clemson students walked across the stage, shook President Clements’ hand and received their class rings. The Clemson Ring is a tradition that connects our Clemson family long past our time as students on campus. In more recent years, the Ring Ceremony has become a special tradition for our students, symbolizing one of their last big Clemson moments. I know all those who received their rings on Sunday will wear them proudly and say, “I went to Clemson.” You can view photos from the ceremony here.

Even though Clemson’s tradition of philanthropy is an underlying theme to everything at our University, we have had the opportunity recently to honor our most longstanding tradition. There are special days throughout the year that truly remind us of how our University was founded by a single act of philanthropy – and how that gift and all subsequent gifts have made us a top University. Founder’s Day is one of those special days. It is a day for us to pay tribute to the vision and legacy of Thomas Green Clemson.

Last week the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity hosted Founder’s Day at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Pendleton. Provost Jones led the ceremony, and Dr. Bill McCoy delivered the benediction, during which he highlighted the legacy of Thomas Green Clemson and how we honor his legacy today, saying, “We are the legacy of Thomas Green Clemson. We roar in strength, and we serve in might.” The University celebrates Founder’s Day annually to mark the passing of Thomas Green Clemson in 1888. Through his will and gift of property to the state of South Carolina, Clemson University (then Clemson Agricultural College) later became a reality. You can view photos from Founder’s Day here.

We recently celebrated the Abney Foundation and their generosity to Clemson University students. The Abney Foundation provides unrestricted University-wide scholarships for South Carolina students who have the greatest need. Members of the foundation were able to meet and mingle with many of the recipients of the Abney Foundation Endowed Scholarship Fund and see the great impact their foundation is having on our students. Thank you, Abney Foundation, for your support of Clemson University students! You can view photos from the event here.

What started with an idea during a tailgate, developed into a business class project and eventually earned a team of Clemson grads a $100,000 investment. During an appearance on ABC’s Shark Tank, businessman Mark Cuban made the team the offer for a 20 percent equity share. The team presented the Kanga Kase Mate, a lightweight, insulated cooler-carrier that keeps 12- and 24-packs cold. The team, led by Logan LaMance, a 2018 College of Business management graduate, tapped various sources for funding and expertise in product development and distribution. A year ago, Kanga launched a Kickstarter campaign that generated about $35,000, which has been reinvested in inventory. To date, Kanga has sold about 7,000 Kase Mates, with all of the revenue being reinvested. The Clemson team is currently working on product deals with Anheuser-Busch, Wicked Weed Brewing, Flying Dog Brewery, The Home Depot, several apparel brands and a casino in Illinois to market its product.

B- a part of something special!
The events over the past week have shown us that the Clemson spirit is alive and well – and possibly stronger than ever! Whether it was fans coming together to cheer for our football team, alumni and friends gathering for the Spring Fling, or celebrating our founder and his legacy, the bond among Clemson Tigers is something truly special.

The energy of our students preparing for exams at the end of another academic year is palpable, and there is something about Clemson in the spring that makes the pride we feel seem especially powerful.

Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke

Wow, Tigers!

For our fourth annual Give day, I am thrilled to announce to you that 4,125 alumni and friends raised $2,087,947! I am blown away by your generosity and commitment to Clemson. Thank you, Clemson family, for demonstrating your pride and loyalty to our University during Give Day. Every gift will be essential as we continue to reach our goals and rise to even greater heights.

This year’s total includes a $500,000 gift made by the Schwehr family of The Woodlands, Texas. Michael ’81, Linda and their daughters Laurel and Victoria ’16 made this gift in support of global service learning. Give Day is a reminder of the importance of private giving and the power of individual donors. By supporting the critical needs of our students, faculty, staff and facilities, the Clemson family is moving our University forward, and yesterday was a tremendous day for Clemson.

President Clements first shared the results this morning, expressing his gratitude for you – our donors – on behalf of Clemson University. You can view photos from the event here. You can also read additional details about Give Day here, including more about our generous challenge gift donors – Jeff Brown and family, C.J. Spiller, Andy Cajka and family and Clemson Clubs. Thank you all for your contributions during this remarkable day of giving. Yet again, I am amazed and humbled by our ability to come together as the Clemson family to support the place we all love. What an amazing 24 hours! Please watch a special thank you video here.

Last Friday evening, the Clemson Alumni Association honored the recipients of the 2019 Clemson Alumni Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor that the association bestows on former Clemson Tigers. This year’s award winners were Lori Anne Carr ’90, M’92, Titus Duren ’71, James T. McCabe, John N. “Nicky” McCarter Jr. ’80 and Gregory C. Smith ‘84. The prestigious Clemson Alumni Distinguished Service Award is based on three main criteria: personal and professional accomplishments; dedication and service to Clemson University; and devotion to community and public service. Members of the Clemson family nominate potential honorees, who are then selected by the Clemson Alumni Association as outstanding alumni, public servants and examples to others. You can view photos from the evening here. I would like to say a special congratulations to the recipients and also thank you for your dedication and service to Clemson University.

B-there!
I hope to see many of you in Tiger Town this weekend when our fellow Tigers return for the Clemson Spring Weekend and the Clemson Family Spring Fling. The Clemson Alumni Association is hosting the Clemson Family Spring Fling prior to Clemson Football’s Spring Game from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Shaw Family Lot. Guests will enjoy tailgating with their organizations, listening to a live band and purchasing food at different food trucks. In its third year, the Clemson Family Spring Fling is a reunion event created by the Clemson Alumni Association that provides an opportunity for alumni who participated in Greek organizations, student organizations, organized intramural teams, sports teams and other student activities to gather with their former classmates. This is a free, family-friendly event, and anyone is welcome to walk through the tailgate area to enjoy the music, food and games. Hope to see you there!

Clemson Athletics has a full lineup of events scheduled for its annual Clemson Spring Weekend, spanning six sports. Athletic events throughout the weekend include women’s and men’s tennis, men’s golf, baseball, men’s soccer and football. Clemson’s nationally ranked baseball team hosts Louisville in a three-game series beginning Friday night at 6:00 p.m. The annual Spring Game starts at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday with live radio coverage on the Clemson Tigers Network. If you’re unable to attend the game, be sure to watch it on ESPN.

I hope to see you all this weekend when alumni and friends return to Clemson for reunions and celebrations!

Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke

Greetings fellow Tigers!

Since the very beginning, Clemson’s strength has been rooted in the loyalty of its people – YOU. The Clemson spirit and the values it embodies have bound together all who call this campus home. We give to honor the faithful investment of those who came before us and to ensure the strength of Clemson for those who will follow us. I invite each of you to join as ONE on April 3 and GIVE. Together, we can bring more students into the Clemson family through undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships, build cutting-edge facilities, recruit renowned faculty and professors who pass down their knowledge to our students, and extend our reach to impact our nation and the world.

ONE DAY.
ONE GOAL.
ONE CLEMSON FAMILY.

Tomorrow night, the Clemson Alumni Association will honor the recipients of the 2019 Clemson Alumni Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor that the association bestows on former Clemson Tigers.

The 2019 Clemson Alumni Distinguished Service Award winners are:

-Lori Anne Carr ’90, M’92 of Ridge Spring, vice president and administrative manager of Titan Farms and the owner and president of Palmetto Processing Solutions;
-Titus Duren ‘71 of Eastover, a retired long-time educator;
-James T. McCabe, a retiree from Clemson who left school to fight in World War II and went on to a successful career;
-John N. “Nicky” McCarter Jr. ‘80 of Columbia, president and CEO of Defender Services Inc. and a Clemson trustee; and
-Gregory C. Smith ‘84 of Alpharetta, Georgia, president of Blue Vista Ventures LLC.

The prestigious Clemson Alumni Distinguished Service Award is based on three main criteria: personal and professional accomplishments; dedication and service to Clemson University; and devotion to community and public service. Members of the Clemson family nominate potential honorees, who are then selected by the Clemson Alumni Association as outstanding alumni, public servants and examples to others. We are looking forward to honoring these special members of our Clemson family.

Carl Sobocinski, originally from New Hampshire, first headed south to study architecture at Clemson University. But once he started waiting tables, he soon realized his true passion was hospitality. In the mid-90s, he took a leap of faith and opened his first restaurant, The 858 in Greenville. That one venue launched his Table 301 Restaurant Group, now with 10 signature restaurants covering a wide range of cuisines – from Soby’s New South to Passarelle French Bistro to Jianna’s Modern Italian. Carl has been a powerful influence on the culinary culture in Greenville for more than 20 years, and now he is reflecting on his legacy and how he can help future generations of entrepreneurs. To learn more about Carl’s culinary journey, watch the full segment from CBS here.

B-Ready!
Please join us on April 3 for our fourth annual Give Day when Tigers from across the globe will join together on one special day to give back to Clemson – a place we all love. Give Day is an important reminder of how impactful every gift is for Clemson students.

With your commitment and support on Give Day, you will help Clemson address some of its most pressing needs. Every gift – large or small – matters. When we all come together as the Clemson family, there is no limit to the impact we can have. So mark your calendars now and plan to make a difference with us on Wednesday, April 3. Read more about Give Day here, watch this year’s video, and be ready to join your fellow Tigers to stand together so Clemson can stand forever!

Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke

Greetings fellow Tigers!

Honorable, compassionate and loyal – these are the characteristics that every Clemson Tiger aims to represent. But U.S. Army Col. Ben Skardon – a 101-year-old survivor of the Bataan Death March and revered alumnus and professor emeritus of Clemson University – simply and humbly embodies these wonderful qualities. He is a true American hero, and we are honored to call him a friend and member of the Clemson family. Last week, for the 12^th year, Colonel Skardon participated in the Bataan Memorial Death March, alongside “Ben’s Brigade,” to honor those who didn’t survive the real Bataan Death March or the years of confinement in prisoner of war camps that followed. He is the only survivor of the real death march who walks in the event. We are thrilled to be able to cheer for him from afar – year after year – during this incredible journey in New Mexico. Colonel Skardon can serve as an inspiration to us – his fellow Tigers – as we strive to exemplify the revered characteristics of our most dedicated Clemson Tigers.

Service and philanthropy are traditions that date back to the very beginning of Clemson, and we continue to honor those traditions today. Michael Wilson’s favorite Clemson memory is helping to conduct the soldier’s cross ceremony on Military Appreciation Day in honor of those who have fallen in the line of duty – including his great uncle, who also attended Clemson. Michael’s memories of his family’s Clemson legacy inspire him to serve, and that is why we give – to honor those who gave before us. Join Michael and the rest of the Clemson family on April 3 for our fourth annual Give Day – when we will come together as ONE Clemson family and stand together so Clemson can stand forever.

Mary Welch came to know Clemson vicariously through her father, Joel Hallman Radcliffe. A graduate of the Great Class of ’39, Joel studied engineering at Clemson and would go on to serve as a much-admired officer in World War II. A man of uncompromising character, Joel was part of a class of men known for both their courage and charitable nature. Most of the class would serve in World War II, 26 of whom would be killed in action. On their return from combat, the brotherhood would stay together, giving back to Clemson every step of the way. Their major gift was the Natural Heritage Garden, a part of the South Carolina Botanical Gardens, and included the ’39 Bell Tower in the Carillon Gardens as well as the Class of 1939 Award for Excellence. Mary has created The Joel Hallman Radcliffe ’39 and Mary Radcliffe Welch HA ’39 Heritage Gardens Endowment to provide unrestricted support for the preservation, maintenance and improvement of the Natural Heritage Garden in the South Carolina Botanical Gardens at Clemson University. Mary’s gift will help sustain these gardens, forever memorializing her father’s class in the year-round beauty of the flowers and shrubbery. You can read more about Mary and her gift to Clemson here.

Congratulations, Tigers! For the first time since 2002, the Clemson women’s basketball team will be playing in the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers were selected as the nine-seed in the Portland regional and will face No. 8 South Dakota at 6 p.m. CT on Friday, March 22. Regardless of the outcome of tomorrow night’s game, this team has had a truly amazing season, and the entire Clemson family is incredibly proud of their success! Go Tigers!

B- committed to the future!
Campus has been noticeably quieter this week as students have either returned home, traveled to exciting destinations or participated in service projects during Spring Break.

When the students return to campus next week, they will be in the home stretch for finishing out the semester, and it won’t be long before we will be congratulating our newest graduates. But it’s because of your gifts and support that their success is possible. Their victories in the classroom, discoveries in the laboratories, service to the community and achievements after graduation can be directly attributed to your support and loyalty. Thank you for your commitment to Clemson and future generations!

Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke

Greetings fellow Tigers!

It is one of my favorite times of the year – when I can reflect on how extremely lucky I am to call Clemson my home and to be a part of the Clemson family.

It has been an exciting week for Clemson baseball! But it wasn’t luck. It was hard work, dedication, talent and determination. The Tigers swept No. 3 North Carolina last weekend. During the first game of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon, Pinch-runner Elijah Henderson scored on a balk with one out in the ninth inning, winning the first game of the series 3-2. During the second game, Clemson scored multiple runs in each of the first five innings and totaled 20 hits in its 17-3 victory over No. 3 North Carolina. On a 2-2 pitch with two outs in the ninth inning, Logan Davidson crushed a two-run homer to lift No. 20 Clemson to a 5-4 walkoff win over No. 3 North Carolina on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers, who swept North Carolina in three games for the first time since 1997, improved to 12-3 overall and 3-0 in the ACC. The Tigers then faced another ranked opponent, Coastal Carolina, last night in Clemson. The 8-5 victory over No. 11 Coastal Carolina improved the Tigers to 13-3, while the Chanticleers fell to 13-4-1. Go Tigers!

Following one of the most remarkable turnarounds in ACC history, Clemson women’s basketball head coach Amanda Butler has been named the ACC Coach of the Year. Butler is the first Clemson women’s basketball coach to receive this honor since Jim Davis in 1994. Butler has been named a semifinalist for the 2019 Werner Ladder Citizen Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year award, as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. She is one of 10 candidates tabbed as a semifinalist for the national award and is one of four Atlantic Coast Conference coaches on the list. Playing in their first ACC Quarterfinal game since 2009, Coach Butler’s Clemson Tigers (19-12, 9-7) held their own against the No. 3 Louisville Cardinals (28-2, 14-2) at the Greensboro Coliseum on Friday. Clemson fought to the end but came up short to the Cardinals, 75-67, to bring the Tigers’ ACC Tournament run to an end. The Tigers return home with their sights set on the postseason. The team will find out its postseason fate on Monday, March 18 when the NCAA Tournament Selection Show airs at 7 p.m. on ESPN. Congratulations, Coach Butler, on an amazing season and these much-deserved accolades!

Clemson University men’s basketball team secured a 67-55 victory over Syracuse on the day that fans and the University honored the team’s senior class. Clemson’s four senior starters scored the last 27 points of the contest over the last nearly 14 minutes of the game to help seal the double-digit victory on Senior Day. The Tigers (19-12, 9-9 ACC) ended their regular season with the victory and then headed to Charlotte for the ACC Tournament. The Tigers faced NC State as they entered the tournament yesterday afternoon and fell by one point in the waning seconds of the game. The Tigers are waiting to see what is next for postseason play.

President Clements and other Clemson University leaders were in Philadelphia last week for the American Council on Education (ACE) conference. While there, they were able to spend some time with the local Clemson Alumni Club volunteer leaders.

President Clements also attended this month’s Second Century Society luncheon, where the group enjoyed an afternoon of fellowship and celebration and learned about some exciting initiatives happening at Clemson. The group will meet again in May and welcome Wendy York, Dean of the College of Business. During the luncheon, the group also heard about Clemson’s fourth annual Give Day, scheduled for April 3. Now is the perfect time to reflect on your favorite Clemson memories that inspire you to give back. Dr. Anjali Joseph’s favorite memory of Clemson is seeing the impact of her work when she and a group of students presented a simulated operating room in Washington, D.C. Join Dr. Anjali and the rest of the Clemson family on April 3 for Give Day. Let’s stand together so Clemson stand forever!

B-Lucky!
Most call it the “luck of the Irish.” We call it the “luck of the Tiger.” But it’s much more than luck that makes Clemson the best— it’s our outstanding students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends! As you prepare to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this weekend, I share with you this Irish blessing.

May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks.
May your heart be as light as a song.
May each day bring you bright, happy hours.
That stay with you all the year long.

Thank you for all you do for Clemson. We are blessed and lucky to have you as part of the Clemson family. Happy St. Patrick’s Day, and Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke

Greetings fellow Tigers!
Save the Date – April 3, 2019!

Please join us for Clemson’s fourth annual Give Day, when we aim to have the most Give Day donors we’ve ever had. Give Day is an important reminder of how impactful every gift is for Clemson students – whether it be for scholarships, facilities or professorships. The unity of the Clemson Family is unmatched. It’s the big wins, the meaningful classes, the impactful professors and the experiences. And because it has given us so much, it is now our privilege to give back – to make sure the students, faculty and staff who will come after us can make their own wonderful memories.

ONE DAY. ONE GOAL. ONE CLEMSON FAMILY.

On Friday, Clemson alumni and friends participated in the ONE Clemson Golf Tournament at the Cliff’s Mountain Park. This annual fundraiser supports Clemson student-athlete internships and Black Girls Golf summer golf camp scholarships. Clemson celebrities at the event included Brian Dawkins, Byron Maxwell, Kris Benson, CJ Spiller, Michael Dean Perry, Patrick Sapp, Ricky Sapp, Robert Smith and Travis Blanks. The following night, 250 people attended the ONE Clemson Main Event at the Greenville Country Club. The event included a live and silent auction, raising $50,000, including 350 online bids across six states. Eight student athletes were at the event as ambassadors, including several recipients of student internship scholarships. As a direct result of the Main Event, two student athletes will be able to attend a Black Girls Golf camp, made possible by individual donors. In total, the ONE Clemson weekend raised $90,000! These donations will meet the needs of the summer camp and help fund internships. The ONE Clemson weekend has become an important event to keep our former student-athletes engaged with the University and our alumni.

Ford Motor Company generously donated more than $80,000 in February to establish scholarships and fellowships in Automotive Engineering. The Ford Motor Company Scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students pursuing a Certificate/Minor in Automotive Engineering. Ford will help selected scholars gain industry insights and will participate in the annual CU-ICAR Awards Ceremony. This gift establishes Ford Motor Company as a sponsor in Clemson University’s AuE Certificate/Minor program. You can read more here.

B-Inspired!
Those who have given generously before us – like Thomas and Anna Clemson – have made our experiences at Clemson possible. They have been an inspiration to all who have given subsequently – whose generosity will support our University as we continue to be ranked among the best and provide our students with a top education. Because of the wonderful experiences our students have while at Clemson, we hope that one day they, too, will feel empowered by our tradition of philanthropy and give back to the place that has given them so much. I am inspired by each of you, and I hope you can find your inspiration and individual reason for giving back to Clemson.

Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke