Clemson Engineers for Developing Communities (CEDC) hosted its 2025 Spring Summit at the end of the semester, showcasing the innovative, student-led projects that are making a difference in South Carolina and beyond. Held at the Hendrix Student Center, the event brought together students, faculty, alumni, and community partners to celebrate another year of impactful work and leadership development.
Founded in 2009, CEDC is a service-learning program within the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences (CECAS) that empowers students to develop sustainable solutions for low-capacity communities while cultivating critical leadership, project management, and community engagement skills.
This year’s Summit highlighted projects across South Carolina, Haiti, Ecuador, and Colombia. From water system designs in the Amazon to infrastructure resilience planning across South Carolina, students tackled real-world challenges with creativity, compassion, and a focus on strengthening community capabilities.
New for 2025, CEDC introduced the Challenge Coin of Leadership, a tradition that encourages students to recognize leadership excellence among their peers. Each coin represents a commitment to passing leadership forward, building a culture of service and accountability that extends beyond the classroom.
The Summit also spotlighted major initiatives like ResilientSC, a growing effort to address two critical challenges facing South Carolina:
- Brain Drain: With 37% of college graduates leaving the state, ResilientSC is launching programs to retain young talent and support local communities.
- Infrastructure Vulnerability: South Carolina faces more than $375 million in disaster recovery costs each year, highlighting the urgent need for proactive resilience planning. Through ResilientSC, students are helping communities strengthen critical infrastructure and prepare for future challenges.
In addition to project presentations, students hosted a cultural awareness reception featuring Mediterranean cuisine, emphasizing the importance of global engagement through food, conversation, and shared experiences.
Several students were recognized with awards for outstanding service and leadership:
- Distinguished Service Award: Nate Polakowski, Ian Krinock, and William Pautler
- Excellence in Leadership Award: Ayden Fournier
As CEDC continues to grow, its mission remains clear: Serving the developing world, developing those who serve.
“The true measure of our success is not what we build, but who we lift up,” said David Vaughn, Director of CEDC and Professor of Practice in CECAS. “Through CEDC, our students are not just becoming engineers—they’re becoming leaders, change-makers, and community builders.”
For more information about CEDC and how to get involved, visit cecas.clemson.edu/cedc.
