Have you heard the fabulous news about the Emeritus College’s new endowed scholarship fund – a special initiative to permanently provide funds for undergraduate scholarships? The Emeritus College provides one or two scholarships annually; however, it is a non-endowed fund which we replenish each year. Participants in Skip’s Trivia always donate a few dollars to play trivia. This is one of the ways the Emeritus College funds student scholarships. Recently, Dr. Elaine Richardson initiated the process to set up an endowed undergraduate student scholarship fund and is asking our emeritus faculty to make gifts to the new endowment for Give Day 2026 – now through April 8.
Join the Emeritus College on a tour of Susan Lenz’ Mouse House Studio [ Register below!]
Cateechee was once an active, self-contained mill village with a church serving those who labored in the Norris Cotton Mill, the first big manufacturing plant in Pickens County. The village included a company store, school, post office, cafe, barber shop, hotel, and more than ninety houses. The mill closed and the village declined. In 2023, the church was purchased by Susan Lenz and Steve Dingman and renovated into their home and sanctuary-sized fiber arts studio. They moved from Columbia in March 2024. The tour will include both the studio where artwork is for sale and the two-story living space that was once Sunday school rooms and office space. Susan’s artwork has been part of both the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Smithsonian Craft Shows. She has pieces in the permanent collections of the Textile Museum and the Department of Interior Museum, both in Washington, DC. Susan creates a variety of artwork, from inexpensive but original greeting cards to wall-hanging work that is also carried by the Grovewood Gallery in Asheville North Carolina and Spiralis Gallery in Easton, Maryland.
Place: Mouse House Studio [Cateechee Mill Church]
Date: April 8, 2026
Time: Meet at the church at 9:45 am
Park: Parking is on the grass on the left side of the structure
Bring: Cash and card in case a piece of art catches your eye
The Emeritus College will award the Kenelly-Voss Distinguished Emeriti Award and the I. Dwaine Eubanks Emeritus College Fellows at Emeritus Day on April 29, 2026. Below, please find the award descriptions and a link to each award nomination form. These links take you to our website, and the nomination form is on the same webpage as the award description. Please fill out the online form (type in your recommendation or if you prefer, upload your recommendation letter in a document): we no longer require email submissions. Please contact Victoria at vmushef@clemson.edu if you need help.
Thank you, Robert Hogan, Chair of the Emeritus College Awards Committee
Award Descriptions and Nomination Links
Kenelly-Voss Distinguished Emeriti Award
The late John Kenelly established this award to recognize emeritus faculty members who have made outstanding contributions to the Emeritus College, Clemson University, and the greater Clemson community and society. The name of the award also pays tribute to John’s late wife, Charmaine Voss. In addition to recognition by the Emeritus College, the award provides $500 toward a Clemson program selected by the recipient.
Many emeritus faculty members steadily render valuable service to the Emeritus College and Clemson University without compensation. The designation of Emeritus College Fellow has been created to honor those individuals.
Please mark your calendars and plan to attend two special events on the American Revolution in South Carolina as we mark the 250th anniversary.
~On February 26, at 10:00 am, Dr. Rod Andrew, Clemson Professor of History, will present “Andrew Pickens and the Revolutionary War in the South Carolina Backcountry, 1775-1782.”
~On March 27, at 10:00 am, Carolyn Nations, Chair, Pickens County SC250 Committee, will discuss the work of the SC250 Commission and the Pickens County Committee, featured events, and the American Revolution in the Upstate.
The Memoir Interest Group is excited to share with you that they recently published a book, “The Sixties: The Long Decade, 1954-1974.” To celebrate this special occasion, the Emeritus College is hosting a book signing event on Friday, February 13, 2026, 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm. Details are provided below.
All 13 authors will be on site to chat and sign your copy of The Sixties book. During this gathering of friends, we will enjoy light refreshments and brief readings from the authors. Barnes and Noble will be present to sell copies of the books. Please come on out and enjoy this special social occasion!
Event: The Sixties Book Presentation and Signing Social
Date: Friday February 13, 2026
Time: 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Place: The Emeritus College, 511 Westinghouse Rd. in Pendleton
Special notes: Barnes and Noble and 13 authors present
Refreshments Served: Come on out and enjoy friends during this special time of sharing memories of the Sixties period.
December 10, 2025, Wednesday, 10: 00 am – 11:30 am, Hybrid, Forgotten Narrative and the Passage of Time: Making a Plan for Your Precious Possessions by renowned fiber artist, Susan Lenz. Susan is a fiber and mixed-media artist renowned for her ability to transform found objects, such as those found at estate sales, antique shops, flea markets and mother nature, into meticulously composed works of art. The daughter of German immigrants, Susan has built a life devoted to creativity, craftsmanship, and artistic exploration. Working from her studio in a restored church within the historic Cateechee mill village near Central, South Carolina, Susan employs both hand and machine stitching, alongside book arts and three-dimensional assemblage. Her obsession with repurposing found treasures reflects her fascination with forgotten narratives and the passage of time. Her work has been featured in national publications, juried exhibitions, and esteemed fine craft shows, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Smithsonian. She has appeared on art quilting television programs and South Carolina ETV’s Palmetto Scene. Her pieces are included in the permanent collections of the Textile Museum and the Department of the Interior Museum in Washington, D.C., as well as the McKissick Museum in South Carolina.
Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Time: 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Hybrid: Zoom and In Person at the Emeritus College. Please email emerituscollege@clemson.edu for the Zoom link or attend in person at the Emeritus College in Clemson’s Regulatory Building at 511 Westinghouse Rd.
The Print House does have the Emeritus College official university logos and permission to use them on other products they sell; if you have a special item you would prefer to order, please contact The Print House directly.
The Emeritus College receives a small portion of the proceeds from the sales of apparel which supports our social events and programs.
November 17, 2025, (Monday), 10:00 am – 11:30 am, Hybrid, Holiday Tech Talk with Doug Henry. Join Doug, our CCIT Support Consultant, as he provides his suggestions and moderates others’ ideas on helpful small, inexpensive, and more expensive tech products to consider this holiday buying season. Doug will feature items under $10 and others to fit all budgets with freebie suggestions. He will also discuss how to repurpose or upgrade existing tech. Stay to the end for a drawing for a Logitech remote mouse donated by Tigertech Shop. Email emerituscollege@clemson.edu for the Zoom link
