The B-Note Blog

Greetings fellow Tigers!

Although they grew up a few hours from Clemson, the McGregor family’s history is deeply rooted in orange Clemson soil. They fondly remember tailgates and Clemson football games, and their love of Clemson was eventually passed down to children and grandchildren. Sam ‘49 and Betty instilled in their children the value of giving, and the McGregors created a family tradition of giving back to honor one another. They have always recognized how gifts from others made a powerful impact on their lives. Without the generosity of others, the financial struggles of paying for college would have certainly changed the outcome of their lives. Choosing to establish an endowment at Clemson was an obvious choice for them – as was the choice to give toward the ’55 Exchange. Naming the endowment for their parents – that was an even more obvious choice. Clemson students created a flavor – McGregor’s Salty Caramel Glazed Southern Beignet Ice Cream – specifically for the McGregor family to show the University’s appreciation for the family’s establishment of the Sam Evans McGregor ’49 & Betty Ulmer McGregor Clemson University MicroCreamery Endowment Fund. With their time, talent and treasures – specifically this endowment – the McGregor family is ensuring that future generations of Clemson students have the opportunity to receive a top education and have experiences that are uniquely Clemson. They hope this gift encourages others to give – and it can be as simple as visiting the ’55 Exchange. Click here to read more about the McGregor family’s endowment and the family’s story of how their childhood memories inspired their ice cream flavor.

TECHKON – the innovation leader in high-precision color measurement solutions for the global print and packaging communities – recently announced its donation to Clemson’s Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics. The donation is valued at more than $100,000 and includes the SpectroVision Inline Quality Inspection System, SpectroDens handheld devices, and multiple seats of ChromQA, Techkon’s Color Quality Assurance Software. This partnership will allow students to keep pace with advancing technologies and will give them access to the tools they are likely to see upon graduation. You can read more here.

Clemson University’s Board of Trustees held its summer quarterly meeting on campus last week, approving a $1.35 billion budget for 2019-20, Phase II approval of a renovation and expansion of Daniel Hall and a feasibility study for Clemson’s next capital campaign. During the meeting, President Clements shared with the board the results of a record-breaking year in fundraising, in which Clemson eclipsed $176 million for the first time. At the conclusion of the quarterly session, the board conducted a two-day retreat, taking a holistic view at the future of the University with a focus on quality, efficiency and relevance. Topics included future enrollment, tuition and budget projections, future facility needs and continuing efforts of affordability and access. You can read more about the Board of Trustees’ meeting here.

B- forever loyal!
Stories, like those of the McGregor family, are a testament to the philanthropic spirit on which our University was built. It is because of the generosity of those who came before us that we are a top university today, and the generosity of those who will follow in our philanthropic footsteps is ensuring Clemson’s success in the future. Thank you, Clemson alumni, donors and leaders, for your loyalty to our University!

Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke

Greetings fellow Tigers!

Year after year, I am amazed by the Clemson family and your resilient commitment and support for our University. Join me in celebrating another record-breaking year for philanthropy at Clemson!

Thanks to 35,254 donors, Clemson raised more than $176 million! This total is made up of $106.35 million cash, gift-in-kind and pledges, $28 million in planned gifts and $42.3 million in IPTAY annual gifts.

It is because of each and every one of you – our donors, volunteers, alumni, friends and partners – that we reached the largest annual fundraising total in Clemson’s history. The results top-off another extraordinary year at Clemson! We surpassed our fundraising goals. We were named among the top-25 national public universities for the 11^th consecutive year. Capital projects are molding before our eyes every day on campus. And we celebrated another National Championship for our Clemson Football team!

Your hard work and devotion to this university are making a real impact on Clemson students, helping us to be a top university – on and off the field.

I am excited to celebrate Clemson’s many accomplishments with you, and I am continuously amazed by your dedication and determination to support our University and move us forward. Your contributions make a difference! The proof is in the numbers:

-105 new scholarships and fellowships created.
-67 new endowments created.
-52,758 total number of gifts.
-22.25% alumni participation.
-$2.25 million in unrestricted gifts.
-25 one-time gifts exceeding $1 million.

In 2019, we celebrated our two newest Academic Cornerstone Partners – visionary individuals who committed transformational funding of $2.5 million or more to help set the course for Clemson’s future success as one of the nation’s top-ranked public universities.

Cornerstone gifts celebrated this year included:

-$2.5 million to the College of Business from Ben and Cheri Phyfer, our youngest Cornerstone Partners.
-$2.5 million to the College of Business from Dan and Nancy Garrison, our first Cornerstone Partners for both Academics and Athletics.

You can read more details about this year’s fundraising results here. Click below to watch a video highlighting the impact of your gifts this year.

Much of our fundraising success can be attributed to our outstanding leadership team at Clemson. From President Clements, to our executive leadership team, to our amazing board members and volunteers, they work dutifully and faithfully to establish – and exceed – lofty goals for Clemson each year. During the next two days, we are welcoming our Board of Trustees back to campus for meetings. I would like to extend to each of them – on behalf of the University – our sincerest gratitude for their hard work and commitment to maintaining Clemson’s spot at the top.

With another record-breaking philanthropic year, the Clemson family has proved that we are nothing short of remarkable. The power of philanthropy has never been stronger among the Clemson family. The support for our students, faculty and staff will continue to create life-changing experiences as we move forward. We are celebrating the success of 2019, but the best is yet to come! Thank you for supporting Clemson and for making a difference in Clemson’s future.

Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke

Greetings fellow Tigers!

Leaders at Clemson University and Duke Energy recently joined together to unveil the Explore Mobile Lab, along with seventh- and eighth-grade students participating in the Project WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) summer camp on campus, which also is sponsored by Duke Energy. The mobile lab will be managed by the University’s College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences. Student-focused activities will be aligned with state standards in science and math and designed to show students how the math and science they learn in the classroom applies to real life. The lab is an innovative approach to educating middle school students across the Palmetto State about the critical and growing field of engineering. The Explore Mobile STEM lab is the first of its kind at Clemson and was made possible by a $400,000 gift from Duke Energy. This creative partnership between the University and Duke Energy is unique to South Carolina, and the program hopes to educate and engage young scientists and engineers who will be the future workforce for industries such as electric utilities that will need those skills to power communities in the 21^st century. You can read more about the Explore Mobile Lab here and view photos from the unveiling ceremony here.

Clemson graduate and Miss Clemson Morgan Nichols, of Lexington, was recently crowned Miss South Carolina 2019 at Township Auditorium. Morgan ’19 lists as her platform a commitment to STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – with a goal of convincing students to stick with those fields. Morgan earned her undergraduate degree in the College of Science’s department of genetics and biochemistry. She also had a minor in business, and she plans to pursue a master’s degree in business administration once her year as Miss South Carolina comes to a close. She will receive a $60,000 scholarship and compete in the Miss America Pageant in September. You can watch the exciting moment when she was crowned Miss South Carolina here and read more about Morgan here. Congratulations, Morgan!

B- Moving Forward!
I am infinitely moved by our dynamic students, our outstanding faculty and staff and our partners who believe in what Clemson stands for. Because of your generous support of our goals and values, you are securing our spot as a top university and moving Clemson forward – and upward.

The new fiscal year is officially underway, and I am looking forward to another fantastic year at Clemson! I will be sharing with you next week the fundraising results from 2019, so watch for the B-Note to see how the Clemson Family joined together to support Clemson in 2019.

Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke

Greetings fellow Tigers!

Your support to Clemson and our students is a testament to our collective devotion to future generations. Your gifts are creating unforgettable moments for our students that are making a powerful impact on their success today, tomorrow and forever. Together, we are forever changing their lives and providing them with a strong foothold toward their future.

The students and programs across our campus are consistently demonstrating the impact of your support – such as the Emerging Scholars Program. This program was created with the goal of intertwining diverse families into the fabric of Clemson. For three sets of brothers — the Figueroas, the Polites and the Orrs — the program helped Clemson become a vital part of life for entire families that never would have envisioned being Tigers a few short years ago. Since its inception, the program has been consistently steering high school students from South Carolina’s Interstate 95 Corridor — a chain of predominantly poor, rural counties running from the North Carolina border down through South Carolina to its southern tip at the Georgia border — into attending college. The Emerging Scholars Program aims to establish a college-going culture among selected program participants through academic enrichment, developing leadership skills and increasing college preparedness. The results have been impressive: 100 percent of the Emerging Scholars students (more than 700) have graduated from high school, with 90 percent going on to attend college or join the military the next year. You can read more about Emerging Scholars and these three sets of brothers here.

B- Proud!
Have you accepted the challenge to demonstrate your commitment to Clemson by making your annual gift? There’s still time – you have until June 30! And don’t forget to encourage your fellow Tigers to do the same!

If you make your annual gift by the end of this fiscal year, you will receive a free national championship decal. Visit our website or call 864-656-5896 to make your gift by this SUNDAY and help us create memorable moments for our Clemson Tigers!

As this fiscal year ends, I am reflecting upon the many successes at our university and taking the time to express how PROUD I am to be a part of the Clemson family. We are consistently ranked among the best – academically and athletically. Because we are recruiting and retaining the best faculty, we are also attracting the brightest students. All of this culminates into successful alumni who are impacting our state, our nation and the world!

With the upcoming national holiday, please take the opportunity to celebrate our independence and express how PROUD you are to call America your home. As our University celebrates the holiday, the B-Note will also be taking a break next week, but I would like to wish you all a happy and safe Fourth of July!

Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke

Greetings fellow Tigers!

Last Thursday and Friday, we welcomed our Golden Tigers to campus for the 50th anniversary of their graduation from Clemson. Each year, Golden Tigers are invited back to campus to reunite with their old classmates and friends to reminisce about their days as students and to learn about what is happening at Clemson today.

The Class of 1969 was honored by being inducted into the Golden Tiger Society – a formal event resembling graduation. Each Golden Tiger was presented with a Golden Tiger lapel pin and an official Golden Tiger Society Induction Certificate to commemorate the day. The Golden Tiger class also presented their Class Gift to the university – a total of $1,551,773 given toward scholarship support, endowed faculty positions, research support for technology, and capital construction.

Throughout the two days, the Class of 1969 enjoyed time with their fellow classmates during tours of the Allen Reeves Football Complex, the Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics, Fort Hill, Watt Family Innovation and Douthit Hills. Classes that have previously been inducted into the Golden Tiger Society also joined them for these exciting activities. Our newest Diamond Tiger (75 years!), Hubert Bowick ’44, received his Diamond Tiger certificate and medallion from President Clements and Wil Brasington.

Melinda Chappell’s passion for Clemson led her to Tiger Town while her childhood experiences led her to a major. Her numerous surgeries as a young child that resulted in physical therapy inspired her to major in recreation and parks administration with an emphasis in therapeutic recreation. Upon graduating, Melinda was able to fulfill her goal and utilize her degree and her passion for helping children and teens struggling with physical disabilities by working for a psychiatric hospital as a recreational therapist.

During her career as a recreational therapist, Melinda has also worked tirelessly with nonprofits, including the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Muscular Development Center in Columbia, Limitless Sports, Coastal Adaptive Sports and Teen Angels. In addition to her involvement with non-profits throughout the area, Melinda is currently the director of the North Myrtle Beach Aquatic and Fitness Center. Considering ways to leave a legacy that reflected both her passion for helping others through sports and her love of Clemson, she created the Melinda E. Chappell ’82 Endowment for Recreational Therapy to provide unrestricted support for the Clemson University Recreational Therapy (CURT) Program – or its successor. When funds are reached to endow this program, a second endowment, the Melinda E. Chappell ’82 Golf Endowment, will be directed to the Clemson Ladies Golf Team. Thank you, Melinda, for your unwavering commitment and passion for Clemson! You can read more about Melinda’s planned gift to Clemson here.

B- Challenged!
Each year when we welcome our Golden Tigers back to campus, I am reminded of the faithful bond among Clemson Tigers. Throughout the weekend, cadence counts erupted spontaneously. Their loyalty to Clemson was almost tangible. It was felt through every memory of the past shared and every new memory made. As they greeted their classmates, it seemed as though they were students on the Clemson campus just yesterday.

Their allegiance and commitment to Clemson fifty years after graduation – which they demonstrated with a gift to our University – is an inspiration to each of us. I encourage each of you to be challenged by their unwavering support to Clemson. Make your annual gift before June 30, and encourage your fellow Tigers to do the same!

If you make your annual gift by the end of this fiscal year, you will receive a free national championship decal. Call us at 864-656-5896 or visit our website!

Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke

Greetings fellow Tigers!

I recently came across this quote: “The results of philanthropy are always beyond calculation.” It resonated with me, as I often find it difficult to truly communicate the infinite impact of your gifts. With your gifts, you are providing future generations with a world-renowned and top education. You are providing them with a one-of-a-kind experience. You are forever changing the course of their lives. You are shaping our students as individuals, citizens and future leaders and innovators. You are giving them a place within the Clemson family. And when you’re a part of that family, you know there’s no greater place to be. The impact of your gifts is often intangible, but it is everywhere throughout our campus. And the changes happening before our very eyes – every day – is a reminder of how much we can accomplish when we come together as the Clemson family.

I’ve witnessed first-hand the power of philanthropy among Clemson Tigers – most recently with the new College of Business building and the Snow Family Outdoor Fitness and Wellness Center. When construction on the new education facility at the Snow Center reached its latest milestone, general contractor Sherman Construction welcomed key stakeholders from Clemson University, architect Cooper Carry and various project partners for a luncheon at the construction site, celebrating the near-completion of timber installation on an innovative project. Targeted to open later this fall, the new Outdoor Education Center will serve as home to Clemson’s Outdoor Recreation and Education (CORE) program.

Recently, several of the Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) staff members were able to take a tour of the construction site and get a glimpse of what the future holds for our College of Business – and our University. When the doors to the building open to our students in 2020, the impact of your gifts will be immediate and far-reaching. For those of us on campus, we can see the amazing transformation daily. You can also keep track of the progress of the building here. To learn more about the new building and how you can support the future for the College of Business at Clemson, click here.

Five new board members have been selected to serve three-year terms on the Clemson Alumni Association board of directors beginning July 1. The alumni board has 22 members and is the governing body for the Clemson Alumni Association. Primary responsibilities of the board include general oversight of the programs and initiatives of the association, financial audit and review, the establishment of governing policies and strategic planning. Thank you, Lori Anne Carr, Michael Clark, William “Bill” Thomas Linton III, Melanie Pniewski and Brad Smith, for your dedication and leadership to Clemson!

Last Friday, Bubba Britton and Patrick Sapp of the Clemson University Alumni Association joined the Philadelphia Clemson Club for their 3^rd Annual Golf Tournament. During the golf outing and silent auction dinner, the club raised more than $7,000 for their scholarship fund in one day. Thank you, Philadelphia Clemson Club, for your support of Clemson University and your commitment to our students through scholarships!

B-Ready for the Future!
Clemson University is an exciting place to be! With more developments comes more opportunity to evolve and change even more students’ lives. There will always be “something in these hills.” We can’t often put it into words, but the Clemson family feels it. We honor our past while being ready for the future.

During the next two weeks, I propose this challenge: encourage your fellow Tigers to make their annual gift before June 30! The spirit among our Clemson family is strong and like no other, and I am confident that you will accept this challenge and inspire your fellow Tigers to give. Our goal is within our reach, but we can’t do it without your support. Together, we can achieve anything! Together, we are making a difference today, tomorrow and forever!

Call us at 864-656-5896 or visit our website to make your annual gift before the end of our fiscal year, June 30, and receive a free national championship decal.

Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke

Greetings fellow Tigers!

Of all the seasons on our campus, summer seems to be the quietest. But as you walk across Bowman Field, pass by the gates of Memorial Stadium or grab a quick bite at Core Campus, you will see students on their way to summer classes and young students here for camp. You will hear the buzz of construction sites across campus, in particular, the new College of Business building that is transforming before our eyes daily. You will see faculty and staff walking to meetings, planning for the next semester. You will hear the sound of whistles blowing on the fields as our student-athletes prepare for the next competition. And even though it may not look as busy, the entire Clemson family is still working diligently to protect our spot as a nationally-ranked University – on and off the field.

Clemson University’s rich military history was front and center in the nation’s capital recently when videos of veterans’ military service remembrances were presented to the Library of Congress. At a Baltimore-Washington Alumni Club event in Washington, D.C., College of Business Dean Wendy York added 25 veteran interviews to the Library of Congress’ collection of more than 120 Clemson remembrances that had previously been submitted. The videos were recorded by a Creative Inquiry class under the direction of Vernon Burton, a Clemson history professor, who was also in attendance with some of his students. The class is comprised of students across various majors on campus. Its goal is to document military veterans’ experiences through professional-level interviews and videography. You can read more here.

Hundreds of students who transfer from South Carolina technical colleges to Clemson University will soon be eligible for scholarships as part of a new program backed by nearly $5 million from the National Science Foundation. The plan calls for more than 300 transfer students to receive $3 million in need-based scholarships over the five-year life of the grant. The scholarships will be open to students who plan to pursue Bachelor of Science degrees in engineering or computing in Clemson University’s College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences. The rest of the funding will pay for an assortment of programs, many aimed at helping transfer students form a community to support each through some of higher education’s most challenging majors. Researchers will also study the results of the program to learn what leads to success and share their findings with the nation. Researchers are calling the program Student Pathways in Engineering and Computing for Transfers, or SPECTRA. The idea behind SPECTRA is to help recruit, retain and graduate transfer students as they begin to make up a bigger share of the Clemson student body, largely because starting at technical colleges can reduce higher education costs. You can read more here.

After 25 years of dedicated service to the Historic Properties Advisory Committee, Chairman Bill Steinkuller and member Andy Calhoun are retiring. Bill and Andy were both instrumental in organizing the committee, and on behalf of our University, I thank them for their commitment and service to Historic Properties and Clemson University. I was honored to join Will Hiott, director of Historic Properties, to present the proclamations at the Historic Properties Advisory Committee meeting last Saturday.

B- A Part of Something Special!
Regardless of the changes happening around Clemson, our core values, beliefs and the spirit of the Clemson Tiger remain steadfast! We are a University steeped in our traditions, from our military heritage to our commitment to academic and athletic excellence. No matter how far away we may travel or how long the time between our visits may be, to be a Clemson Tiger is to be a part of something special. Thank you for your support of our great University!

Don’t forget make your annual gift before the end of our fiscal year, June 30. You can do so by giving us a call at 864-656-5896 or visiting our website. Your generosity is moving Clemson forward and powerfully impacting our students as they prepare to leave their mark on the world.

Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke

Greetings fellow Tigers!

I had the honor of joining Clemson University leadership, alumni, donors and student leaders (past and present) for a groundbreaking ceremony last Thursday for the Samuel J. Cadden Chapel. The chapel, named after a Clemson student who passed away unexpectedly in 2015, will be located adjacent to the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts and be an inviting venue for all people to celebrate, meditate and reflect.

Ken and Mary Cadden, the parents of Samuel J. Cadden, made the lead gift of $1.5 million in June 2016 that set forth an impressive fundraising campaign. Less than three years later, pledges received for the chapel from more than 1,500 donors exceed $7 million. Among the 1,500 donors are four pillar donors, Charles and Susan Barker, Roy McCall, Melvin Younts and Ashley Johnson, who have made significant pledges to the chapel. It is because of these generous gifts that a dream shared among many members of our Clemson family is now coming to fruition.

Ken and Mary were in attendance Thursday and spoke of their strong desire to carry on their son’s legacy. Sam Cadden was a rising junior majoring in financial management at the time of his death. He was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and Knights of Columbus. Following his death, his parents discovered a wish list that included a desire to one day have a building at Clemson named in his honor. The Caddens drew one step closer to making their son’s dream come true Thursday. The reception concluded with a ceremonial groundbreaking in a trough fittingly filled with orange sand. Other special guests included Jim and Beth Clements, Almeda Jacks, Clemson graduate and former student chapel committee chair Matt Gabriel and several past student leaders who had volunteered their time to the chapel over the years. You can read more about the chapel and the groundbreaking event here, view photos here and watch a video recapping the event here.

The Schwehr family, including Michael William ’81, Linda Pogue, Laurel Michelle and Victoria Leigh ’16, have made a $500,000 gift to Clemson University that will increase opportunities for students and faculty to engage globally. The gift will create the Schwehr Family Global Service Learning Annual and Schwehr Family Global Service Learning Endowment, both of which will support service-learning, research and engagement in under-resourced communities. The Schwehr Family Global Service Learning Annual will be used immediately to support student and faculty opportunities in developing countries. It will provide annual competitive seed-funding grants to faculty for the development of new Global Service Learning programs. Once fully funded, The Schwehr Family Global Service Learning Endowment will provide financial support to programs designed for students from any of the colleges. Thank you, Schwehr family, for your commitment and generosity to our students, Clemson and global engagement! You can read more about their gift here.

On Sunday, the Clemson Corps hosted a community-wide Memorial Day service at Clemson University’s Scroll of Honor Memorial honoring the men and women who have died while serving in the U.S. military. This year’s ceremony recognized the 75th anniversary of World War II’s D-Day landings. Prior to the ceremony, on Friday afternoon, a group of Clemson alumni and friends placed American flags around the Scroll of Honor to honor the 493 Clemson alumni who made the ultimate sacrifice in service for our country. Col. Ben Skardon placed flags on stones honoring two men who saved his life in a Japanese prison camp in WWII. Col. Ben Skardon is a 101-year-old survivor of the Bataan Death March and revered alumnus and professor emeritus of Clemson University. But simply and humbly put, he is a true American hero.

B-Inspired!
As Clemson Tigers, we strive to be loyal, dedicated, passionate and honorable. Stories of our most admirable Clemson Tigers – like the Caddens and Colonel Skardon – inspire us to exhibit those characteristics we revere the most. Thank you for your unwavering support to Clemson that is allowing us to break ground on our newest facilities, make the discoveries of the future, address the most critical challenges and transform lives and communities. Because of each of you, we are building a better future for our students – today, tomorrow and forever.

The Samuel J. Cadden Chapel is a wonderful place to show your support of Clemson. You can make your gift to the chapel here and powerfully impact the lives of Clemson students for generations to come.

Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke

Greetings fellow Tigers!

The Clemson Corps will host a community-wide Memorial Day service honoring the men and women who have died while serving in the U.S. military on Sunday, May 26, at Clemson University’s Scroll of Honor Memorial. This year’s ceremony, which will begin at 4 p.m., recognizes the 75th anniversary of World War II’s D-Day landings. The guest speaker will be retired Army Lt. Col. Claude Cooper. Cooper, a 1967 graduate of Clemson University, served two tours with the Green Berets in Vietnam and also completed assignments with the 82^nd Airborne Division and the 7^th Special Forces Group. He is the recipient of the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, Purple Heart, Combat Medic Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge and the Master Parachutist Badge. The memorial service will feature the placing of a wreath, a 21-gun salute and the playing of “Taps.” You can read more here.

Like many of us, Clemson has enriched Kimberly Bruce’s life. Now she is sharing that enrichment with future generations of Clemson students through the Kimberly A Bruce ’92 Graphic Communication Endowment – specifically those who will follow in her footsteps in the graphic communications program. But the graphic communications program is not where her path at Clemson began. It wasn’t until later during her freshman year when she heard a friend discussing his graphic communications classes that her interests were sparked. She sat in on one class – and that was all it took. She realized she had found her passion. Shortly after, she changed her major to graphic communications, and coincidentally, changed the course of her life. Kimberly credits the program with preparing her for success after graduation, providing her with the capabilities to adapt to our ever-changing world. Through this endowment, Kimberly will provide future generations the same enrichments she was able to experience as a student. Thank you, Kimberly, for making your mark on our University through a gift that will have a powerful impact on future generations of Clemson students! You can read more about Kimberly and her thoughtful gift to Clemson here.

Clemson University welcomed athletes from across the country as it hosted the 25th annual Southeastern Regional Wheelchair Games (SRWG), May 18 and 19. Aside from offering adaptive sport athletes the opportunity to compete, the event aims to stimulate awareness of wheelchair sports, promote the rights of wheelchair competitors in sports and recreation, educate individuals with disabilities through athletic competition, and focus positive attention on the abilities of athletes with disabilities. Most importantly, the games help young athletes improve their mental and physical health. The SRWG has been held in Myrtle Beach for the past 24 years, but Clemson assistant professor of recreational therapy and event director Jasmine Townsend orchestrated the move to Clemson this year to better accommodate athletes. You can read more here.

B-in the moment.
As you join together with loved ones this weekend, I hope you will take a moment to remember and recognize those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to our country.

If you haven’t visited Clemson University’s Scroll of Honor, I encourage each of you to take the time to visit the monument during your next visit to the Clemson campus. The memorial is in the form of a barrow ringed with stones upon which the names of 493 alumni who died on active military service are engraved. The memorial stands as a steady, silent tribute to these heroes and provides visitors with an opportunity to remember those who have given their lives for our country.

Happy Memorial Day and Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke

Greetings fellow Tigers! It is hard to believe that another academic year has concluded at Clemson. It has been a wonderful week on our campus as we celebrated the year’s accomplishments, our newest graduates and our faculty and staff.

With a proud tradition of military excellence, it is especially meaningful for us to have opportunities to celebrate our student veterans. Graduates from Clemson University’s student veteran population were honored last Wednesday evening in the annual “Hail and Farewell” ceremony. Eighteen students were presented red, white and blue cords to place over their graduation gear. The graduates also received a letter from President Clements and a special challenge coin featuring the insignia of the military branches. Brennan Beck, Clemson’s director of military and veteran engagement, hosted the ceremony inside the David Peebles Room of the Hendrix Student Center. The graduates were joined by their families and a slew of special guests, including representatives from the Alumni Association, Clemson Corps, Graduate School, Student Affairs, Student Veterans Association and Undergraduate Studies. The evening featured a keynote address from Associate Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police Greg Mullen. He is a retired veteran of the U.S. Air Force with 22 years of combined active and reserve service. Mullen spoke to the graduates about what the next chapter of leadership would look like for them, imploring them to operate purposefully because of the ‘why,’ as opposed to the ‘what’ and ‘how.’ You can read more here.

Students, faculty and staff gathered at the Watt Family Innovation Center Tuesday, May 7 to celebrate the 2018-19 award winners during the annual spring awards ceremony. President Clements and Provost Jones were among those presenting awards. To see the list of award recipients, click here.

Clemson University helped one of the nation’s top arts festivals celebrate its 15th anniversary in Greenville last weekend. During Artisphere, Clemson professors and students from our University’s visual and performing arts programs helped kids understand the relationship between the arts and the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Clemson’s STEAM Exhibit returned with several new attractions, including a sweater dotted with LED lights that transforms musical notes into light. It was one of 12 attractions under one tent, bringing together science, technology, engineering, arts and math, or STEAM. The activities ranged from robots that draw to the dazzling delights of the kinetic arts. The activities were designed to be fun but also introduced participants to highly sought skills in the workplace, ranging from cooperation and creativity to computer coding and programming robots. The STEAM Exhibit was a collaboration of the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences and the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities. Dean Gramopadhye, of the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences, explained that the exhibit underscored the importance of STEAM education to innovation in a wide variety of fields. He went further to say, “Groundbreaking innovations of the future will require creativity, design-thinking, teamwork and effective communication.” You can read more about this year’s Artisphere and the STEAM Exhibit here.

B-Impactful!
Greg Mullen gave our student veteran graduates insightful advice – operate purposefully because of the “why.” And I felt especially motivated to share the same advice with you. These words particularly resonate with me as I think about philanthropy and the significance of giving back. As we each make a commitment to powerfully impact Clemson, the principal reason “why” is always the same – to pass on the gift of education to future generations. Thank you for making a difference for our students – today, tomorrow and forever!

Go Tigers!

Brian O’Rourke