Claflin University Magazine

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Magazine

Impactful Research Dr. Nicholas Panasik Receives NSF CAREER Award

{Volume I, No.1}

Fall Winter

2011 Departments

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Research

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Students

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Faculty and Staff

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Claflin Panthers

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Advancement

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Alumni

Biofuel research aims to produce win-win situation for environment, economy

Claflin students gain global perspectives with International Studies Program

Impactful Research Dr. Nicholas Panasik advancing research initiatives at Claflin

Features

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Cynthia V. Anderson

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Department of Energy Exec, Claflin alumna brings expertise to Claflin board

Claflin and Boston Claflin and Boston universities linked by history, ideals

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Fisher/ Tisdale Wedding

Dr. Omar Bagasra to develop vaccine center in Pakistan

Fifteen inducted into Claflin University Athletics Hall of Fame

Claflin launches $96.4 million capital campaign

Young alumni giving on the rise

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A Message From the President

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President Dr. Henry N. Tisdale Vice President for Institutional Advancement Rev. Whittaker V. Middleton Assistant Vice President for Communications and Marketing Ms. Sonja Bennett Editor Ms. Charlene Slaughter Associate Editor/Writer Mr. Lee Tant Photography Mr. Cecil J. Williams Graphic Design Ms. Sherry Simmons Board of Trustees Ms. Cynthia Anderson Mr. James A. Bennett Mr. Michael Brenan Mr. David R. Campbell Mr. Marshall F. Clarke Mr. Ted Creech Mr. Gregory Cummings Mr. Calvin H. Elam Mr. Paul V. Fant Mr. Gregg N. Frierson Ms. Virginia Maxwell Grose Mr. Moses L. Harvin Mr. C. John Hipp, III Dr. Albert Humphrey Dr. Carolyn P. Jenkins Ms. Mattie Mallory Reverend Larry D. McCutcheon Mr. Kenneth E. Middleton Ms. Caroline N. Watson Reverend Hugh A. Westbrook Ms. Nancy Wilson Young Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, Ex-Officio Trustees Emeriti Dr. Miriam M. Abernathy Dr. Ladda B. Cook Judge Richard E. Fields (Retired) Chief Justice Ernest A. Finney, Jr. (Retired) Dr. Clemmie B. Hatchett Reverend Dr. Granville A. Hicks Reverend Dr. James E. Hunter, III Dr. Rhett Jackson Dr. Jonas T. Kennedy Mrs. Florence Houck Steele Reverend Harold G. Wallace

A Historic University

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t Claflin University, we value and are fulfilling our mission of teaching, research and service as the oldest historically black university or college in South Carolina. There is prestige in being first, but it also challenges us to take a leadership role in the 21st Century. Claflin has assumed that role and makes a compelling case demonstrated by a profound and passionate commitment to make a difference in groundbreaking research.

This issue of the Claflin Magazine provides examples of the University’s journey to greater excellence.

Our faculty and students are sustaining a phenomenal period of significant research in such areas as biofuels, cancer, diabetes and weapons remediation. Research in the natural sciences is complemented by research in the social sciences and the faculty is keen on taking advantage of research opportunities in all disciplines, motivated by a desire to advance knowledge and enhance the human condition.

We take pride in featuring the impressive work of Dr. Nicholas Panasik, who was recently honored with the National Science Foundation’s CAREER Award. This award is the most prestigious honor presented to a junior faculty member for research, teaching and mentoring.

Dr. Panasik’s research involves protein folding and design, particularly enzymes to expand their functions.

Since 1996, Claflin’s faculty has captured two Governor’s Professor of the Year Awards and two Governor’s Professor of the Year Awards for Scientific Awareness. One of those recipients is Dr. Angela Peters, who also serves as president of the South Carolina

Chapter of the American Chemical Society and is the first woman of color to hold the position. Other recipients of the Governor’s awards include Dr. Omar Bagasra and Dr. Rebecca Bullard-Dillard. Dr. Bagasra’s research is intently engaged in discovering a vaccine to eradicate HIV/AIDs and the cause for breast cancer as well as prostate cancer.

The University’s culture of excellence in teaching and research encourages and attracts the attention of gifted students. Claflin’s vision for the future includes establishing the foundation and research infrastructure that will keep students in the pipeline to help close the gap of underrepresented minorities pursuing careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines.

Brandyce Coes is a shining example of our commitment. She is a recipient of the UNCF/Merck Undergraduate Research Scholarship that carries a $25,000 award, two summer internships in the laboratory of the pharmaceutical giant and a $10,000 award to the Department of Chemistry.

Claflin is on its way to greater distinction and recognition as an institution seriously engaged in cutting-edge research. We will remain committed to do our part in this arena and encourage your support in spreading our successes and sustaining our viability.

Sincerely,

Henry N. Tisdale President Fa l l

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Claflin Research

Impactful Research

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hile Nicholas Panasik’s classmates were busy making wooden bowls and toolboxes in middle school shop class, he was making a helium neon laser based on plans he read in a science magazine.

“I got an ‘A.’ We spent a lot of the rest of the semester using the laser to burn holes and light things on fire,” the self-professed geek said of his class experiment.

This was perhaps the first signal that Panasik was a scientific prodigy in the making who would later use his gift to conduct groundbreaking research and teach young minds his methods.

Now an assistant professor of biology at Claflin, Panasik’s intricate mind has etched its way into the upper echelon of the nation’s junior faculty. The National Science Foundation recently awarded Panasik with their much sought after Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program grant that could potentially be worth up to $750,000.

“It’s incredibly prestigious,” Panasik said. “This is one of the highest grant awards an individual can receive from the federal government.”

The NSF grant supports junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education and research.

It provides fuel for Panasik’s research that aims to make the production of the alternative energy source biofuel more cost effective and efficient. The funding will be used for research equipment and supplies, undergraduate and graduate research on the project and to bring a post-doctoral fellow to work with Panasik.

Indeed, Panasik’s resourceful mind has transformed far beyond the shop class laser that began his foray into science.

Through his innovative teaching methods and keen research eye, Panasik is now aiming that laser at one of America’s

Dr. Nicholas Panasik Advancing Research Initiatives at Claflin

most troubling academic phenomena – the lack of minorities pursuing careers in science.

“What really brought me to Claflin is its teaching mission,” he said. “I really feel I can make a difference and open up opportunities for students that would not have them otherwise.”

Impactful Research With America’s dependence on foreign oil and constantly rising gas prices fast becoming a hot button issue in the nation’s mind and on Capitol Hill, the need to discover alternative sources of energy is urgent.

At Claflin, Panasik and student researchers are on the frontlines of discovering an avenue to make the production of biofuels less expensive and more efficient. The building block of biofuel is the cellulose in plant biomass. Currently, enzymes used to break biomass down to cellulose heat up dramatically. That is problematic because the cellulose needs to cooled down in order to function properly, which Panasik notes is one of the most expensive steps in its production.

Using what Panasik calls directed evolution, enzymes can be redesigned to work under a variety of different conditions. Meaning the answer to inexpensively cooling the cellulose so it’s usable could be close at hand.

By latching psychrophilic, or cold-loving, bacteria unto the enzyme in a test tube, Panasik believes he can engineer the enzyme to work at higher temperatures and therefore break down the cellulose without the need for expensive cooling techniques.

“It’s basically genetic manipulation,” Panasik said. The process essentially involves copying the cold-loving gene for cellulose millions of times which create small, random mutations. Those genes are then introduced to higher temperature organisms that don’t have the ability to break Fa l l

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down cellulose. By feeding the new organisms cellulose for food at higher temperatures than normal, most of the new bacteria will die. But a handful of them will survive and can be harvested for further study.

“By repeating this process over and over, eventually a new enzyme with a much higher temperature resistance can be found,” he said.

Innovation in the Classroom “I don’t think anything is more important to Claflin’s mission than teaching students. It is incredibly rewarding to see students who are struggling with intellectually challenging issues finally get it. You see that light in their eyes spark. Being a part of that process is one of the reasons why I love my job,” Panasik said.

Last spring, Panasik was awarded the James E. Hunter Excellence in Teaching Award, the University’s highest honor for a professor. While there is certainly vast degree of expertise required to execute Panasik’s research; the Chicago native is also dedicated to unlocking the art of teaching.

His students have an array of learning techniques at their disposal. If they are auditory and visual learners, they can receive his lectures – either on video or tape - prior to class via the University’s Web site. Students are also asked to edit Panasik’s video lectures into a PowerPoint presentation during the semester, which he says reinforces the lesson and ensures an accurate understanding of the material. He reports the exercise has lead to a 14 point increase in exam scores.

Another assignment in each of the Hunter Award winner’s class has students grade their classmates’ exams.

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graded. This is another reinforcement mechanism and helps with retention, he said.

Panasik also likes to engage his protégés with a thought provoking questions at the end of each class. “Students use whatever knowledge they have to try and figure it out. As a class, we attack the problem. We used that brainstorming as a teaching exercise,” said Panasik.

Panasik is not afraid to include his students work on his research projects involving protein thermostability. Under his method, students learn the basics for research in the classroom and apply it in the laboratory. The NSF grant was awarded, in part, because of Panasik’s ability to incorporate research into his teaching.

The grant will also fund undergraduate and graduate research projects. Students who contribute to the research will be able to present their findings at science conferences with this funding, he said.

Panasik teaches a course on teaching and leadership at the University, which is designed to help graduate students learn best practices for instruction. Those students perform assessments on implementing student research into the curriculum and its effect on learning.

“Teaching is far more than explaining material from a text book. It’s about discovering the best avenues to have your students truly learn the subject matter and apply it beyond the classroom,” Panasik said. “That’s my number one goal at Claflin University – to prepare visionary young minds for success and to solve the problems affecting our future” But it’s not all test tubes and microscopes for this professor.

Once a semester, Panasik invites his research students to his home - which by the way is entirely voice automated

Claflin Research due to his programming skills – for a reception to play volleyball and ping pong.“I usually get my butt kicked,” Panasik said.

Evolution of a Scientist As a youngster in Chicago, Panasik said he was “very much a geek growing up.”

It was at the tender age of six that Panasik realized science would be his calling. The best friend of his mother, Anna Carol, had a son, Michael Lollar, who was attending graduate school at the University of Chicago. Since both of Panasik’s parents worked, she offered Lollar a deal. Lollar could stay with the Panasik family as long he watched young Nicholas when he came home from school.

“Michael would ask what I did in school and what I learned that day,” Panasik recalled. “I would then ask him what he learned in school that day.”

Lollar’s answers would astound the young Panasik.

“He was truly unique in that he could take something really complicated and explain it to a child,” said Panasik.

That day Lollar had learned about black holes in one of his courses.

“It was so utterly amazed that I knew science was what I had to do for the rest of my life,” Panasik said.

That revelation led to Panasik’s laser experiment in shop class.

He entered college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with the intention of pursuing a degree in physics. But the young scientist changed his mind after witnessing “all the cool things” he could with biochemistry. After finishing his undergraduate degree, he went on to get his master’s degree and doctorate in molecular biology and biochemistry from Pennsylvania State University.

Panasik then took a post-doctoral fellowship at the prestigious John Hopkins University to teach biophysics.

Then, the mission of Claflin University brought the burgeoning researcher to Orangeburg.

wanted to truly make a difference with his students and at the institution where he taught.

“I really want to establish a Ph.D. program in biotechnology at Claflin,” Panasik said. “That would be very rewarding.”

Thus far, Panasik has noted that many Claflin graduates have gone on to represent the University at top graduate programs like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, John Hopkins, Princeton University and Tufts University, among others.

Panasik also credited the administration, particularly President Henry N. Tisdale, Assistant Vice President for Research Dr. Rebecca Bullard-Dillard and Dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Dr. Verlie Tisdale, for his success at the University.

“One of the things about Claflin is the fantastic administration. They are incredibly supportive. President Tisdale has a clear vision for the University. He is very supportive of making your ideas go forward. That keeps us tightly focused on the really important goal of educating our students,” Panasik said.

Bullard-Dillard noted that Panasik is advancing tremendous research and graduating first-class students at Claflin.

“Nick Panasik is great for Claflin University.

Since his arrival, our students have become involved in groundbreaking research along his side. And his presence is exponentially increasing the national profile of our University on campus. It’s because of people like Nick Panasik that Claflin is steadily advancing its mission,” Bullard-Dillard said. President Tisdale said Panasik has been instrumental in fulfilling the University’s vision to become internationally recognized as a top undergraduate research institution.

“We are extremely proud to have Dr. Panasik recognized and honored as one of the nation’s top faculty. He is deserving of this award for he has demonstrated his exceptional gifts as a teacher and scholar who models the University’s vision of excellence in teaching and learning. I am particularly pleased with his commitment to undergraduate research, mentoring students and placing our graduates in the top research universities throughout the country,” Tisdale said.

“I really want to establish a Ph.D. program in biotechnology at Claflin”

Making a Difference at Claflin A little more than five years ago, Panasik was still teaching at Johns Hopkins. While the experience was fruitful, he

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Claflin Research Claflin Student Research Aims To Solve Global Issues

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Will it ever be possible to make every organ donor a universal one? Is it conceivable that the risk for breast cancer in African-Americans could be significantly reduced? Do individuals with lactose intolerance ever have a prayer of drinking cold milk without fear of severe consequences?

Claflin University researchers are getting closer every day to answering a definite “yes” to each of these burning questions. Through innovation, technological enhancements and a unique research collaboration between faculty and students, the University is steadily becoming ground zero for groundbreaking research.

Sian Ramlal, a Master of Biotechnology degree candidate from Trinidad and Tobago, is making strides toward eliminating the genetic component that requires organ donors and recipients to match.

Latrice Jones is examining ways to regulate zinc levels to reduce the risk of African-American women being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Martin Chidyausiku is developing an enzyme he hopes will allow lactose intolerant people to drink cold milk.

President Henry N. Tisdale said these remarkable projects are a direct result of the University’s commitment to excellence in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) areas.

“At Claflin University, we are dedicated to providing solutions to critical global issues,” Tisdale said. “We have a superbly brilliant faculty, top notch students and state-ofthe-art technology and facilities right here on our campus.

Together, we are advancing a vision that will make the world a better place.”

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At Claflin University, we are dedicated to providing solutions to critical global issues

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The Gift of Life Sian Ramlal Seeks To Revolutionize Organ Transplantation

Recent Claflin Masters of Biotechnology graduate Sian Ramlal works on her research with organ transplantation matching in the James S. Thomas Science Center.

For a moment, imagine a world where those needing an organ transplant can survive without finding a donor match.That’s the vision of second year Claflin University graduate student Sian Ramlal. The Trinidad and Tobago native is close to removing the genetic component that requires compatibility between donors and their organ recipients.

“Hundreds of thousands of people are dying waiting for organ transplants,” Ramlal said. “The donor registry has a demand than is far outweighing the supply. Every six minutes someone is added to the organ transplant list. Every day, 16 people die waiting for an organ transplant.”

The United Network for Organ Sharing, a private non-profit organization that manages the transplant system for the federal government, reported there were more than 108,000 people waiting for organ transplants.

Ramlal’s research specifically seeks to knock out the three human leukocyte antigens (HLA) which dictate that donors and recipients be genetically aligned for a transplant to be successful.

Those HLA genes present barriers to transplant compatibility because they activate the body’s immune system if a donor’s organ is not a perfect match.

This causes the body to view the new organ as a foreign entity and therefore reject it.

Got Milk?

Junior Biology Student Aiming to Help the Lactose Intolerant The American Diabetic Association says that tens of millions U.S. citizens – and up to 80 percent of AfricanAmericans – are affected by lactose intolerance, a condition which makes it difficult or even impossible for individuals to digest dairy products without health consequences.

At Claflin, Tamuka Martin Chidyausiku is hoping to help people with Tamuka Chidyausiku lactose intolerance painlessly enjoy a cold glass of milk through his research.Chidyausiku is working under the tutelage of Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Nicholas Panasik.

Panasik and Chidyausiku are attempting to manipulate enzymes to break down lactose at cold temperatures; a research breakthrough that would lengthen and strengthen the life of dairy products for those who are lactose-intolerant. So far, the only milk enzymes in existence for lactose free products are processed at warm temperatures with a very limited shelf life. Chidyausiku says enzymes spontaneously adapt to their environment in nature. Now, he is investigating whether or not the same changes can be forced to occur in a lab.

“We’re taking evolution and putting it in a test tube,” said Chidyausiku, a junior biology major from Zimbabwe.

So far, Chidyausiku said the enzyme is working at 70 degree Celsius, which is not low enough for lactose intolerant individuals to drink milk cold.

“We need to break down to 4 degrees Celsius and then all you would need to do is drink the milk,” Chidyausiku said.

Chidyausiku said the research could have major applications down the road.

“We think if our research works on these enzymes, then it can apply to most enzymes, including those which affect processes in the human body,” he said.

This past summer, Chidyausiku held an internship at Yale University School of Medicine. He is also the chaplain of the Student Government Association and the vice president of the Claflin chapter of the American Chemical Society.

Tests confirm that Ramlal has managed to knock out all of those genes.

The next step is to move beyond cells and test the process on tissues, she said.

The hope is this method will dramatically improve the transplant process by allowing any organ to be transplanted from donor to recipient without the need for a precise match.

If that goal is realized, it could be used for kidney, heart, liver and bone marrow transplants, among others.

“The biggest impact of this technology will be in stem cell research,” said Ramlal’s mentor, Director of the S.C. Center for Biotechnology Dr. Omar

Bagasra. “In a few years we will be able to grow human tissues in laboratories like blood vessels that can be used for heart bypass surgery. This will require HLA knockout for everyone to get the bypass.”

Bagasra added, “This could create a new world for transplantation surgeons. She is making tissues that would not require matching and will save millions of lives.”

Ramlal presented her research last year at major conferences in Charlotte and Philadelphia. She completed the Masters of Biotechnology program this spring, and plans to pursue a doctorate in microbiology.

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Family Ties Breast Cancer Finding Worthy Opponent in Claflin Graduate Student There’s a sense of purpose when second-year Claflin University Masters of Biotechnology candidate Latrice Jones burns the midnight oil in the lab.

However, her current research literally hits close to home. With every look inside the microscope, Jones hopes she is inching closer toward reducing African-American women’s chance of contracting breast cancer.

Over the past year, three members of her close-knit family have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Her aunt Barbara discovered she had the disease eight months ago. To make matters worse, Barbara’s daughter, Kanisha, received the same bad news just weeks later.

Throw in the fact that Jones’ other aunt, Rose Marie, has been battling it too for more than a year and the research is far more than just a means to an end – it’s personal.

“I’ve always had this urge to leave my stamp in life,” Jones said. “The basis of my research is to develop a preventative measure to decrease the risk of African-Americans contracting breast cancer.”

African-American women with breast cancer possess a higher mortality rate – 32 out of every 100,000 die from the disease – than any other ethnicity in the U.S., according the federal National Cancer Institute.

Jones received the Scholar-inTraining Award from the American Association for Cancer Research to attend a conference in Miami where she presented her research.

Jones’ mentor, Bagasra, first presented her with the fact that AfricanAmericans have less than normal levels of zinc in their cells when she arrived at the University. Bagasra believes the lack of zinc makes them more susceptible to illnesses like diabetes, prostate cancer and breast cancer.

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Latrice Jones examines test cells in the lab at Claflin. Jones’ research theorizes that there is a link between zinc and breast cancer in African Americans.

Jones has taken on the theory as her personal cause.

To rectify the situation, Jones is working tirelessly to find a perfect cocktail of supplements and diet to eradicate zinc deficiency by testing cells in the lab. She noted that too much zinc could also increase the likelihood of breast cancer for African-Americans.

“We’re trying to find the appropriate level of zinc for the proper level of cell maintenance and cell function,” she said.

While the research still hasn’t reached a definitive conclusion, Jones is cautiously optimistic it will pay great dividends toward preventing others from suffering like her family members.

“My research won’t cure breast cancer,” Jones said. “But it should prevent some women from having their lives turned upside down.”

After receiving her Masters of Biotechnology degree from Claflin this coming spring, Jones plans to work for a top research company and later obtain a Ph.D. in public health.

Breast Cancer Statistics •

Breast Cancer is the second leading cause of death among women. In 2010, nearly 40,000 people perished from the disease.

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There are 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

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There have been more than 207,000 women newly diagnosed with invasive breast cancer so far this year.

Claflin Research

Claflin University Forensics Lab Opens Doors, Closes Opportunity for Criminals In South Carolina, criminals are literally getting away with robbery. The culprit here is that the backlog of forensic evidence sent to the State Law Enforcement Division is so great the agency can only accept it for capital crimes like murder and rape.

Claflin University will now have villains thinking twice before committing a crime thanks to the opening of its Forensic Lab on campus. The lab will allow the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety and other local law enforcement agencies to quickly analyze evidence obtained from crime scenes, and subsequently put the bad guys behind bars.

The federally funded lab opened in November of 2010 because of funding secured by U.S. Majority Whip James Clyburn and Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Kristna Addanki, a research associate at Claflin and certified forensic scien-

DNA, fingerprinting — it is becoming the gold standard.”

Addanki noted the University went the extra mile to ensure the evidence processed there is beyond reproach.

The lab is equipped with state-ofthe-art analysis machinery, a secure entrance and exit, a high air pressure

tist, noted the lab will process and analyze drug and DNA evidence on site.

“This is now the gold standard for crime solving,” said S.C. Center for Biotechnology Director Dr. Omar Bagasra. “You need solid evidence.

system and office space for Claflin and law enforcement officials.

“Samples can be processed almost immediately,” Addanki said.

Eventually, Addanki said the University is going to provide courses for

Molecular Science Research Center

individuals to become certified forensic scientists. The training courses will provide participants with various levels of certification.

“The courses will focus on techniques, instrumentation and methodology. The lab is certified by Federal Bureau of Investigation,” he said.

The University views the training as an opportunity to fill a void of certified forensic scientist in the Southeast.

“They will be able to spread out across the state,” said Dr. Verlie Tisdale, dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. “In addition to that, we have scientists in the research area returning to the school.”

One such former student is Addanki, ’08. He had to take courses in New York and Massachusetts to complete his forensic scientist certification. The Claflin training will make it dramatically easier for aspiring forensic scientists in the area, he said.

Orangeburg Department of Public Safety Chief Wendell Davis praised Claflin for assisting law enforcement in keeping the streets safer.

“Claflin has the motto of being visionary,” Davis said. “I appreciate President (Dr. Henry N.) Tisdale’s being visionary in seeing the benefits this lab will have for the community.”

Times and Democrat Staff Writer Richard Walker contributed to this story.

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Claflin Research Programs Attract Two Nobel Laureates—and an Astronaut

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The revolutionary research emerging from the laboratories at Claflin University attracted some big names in the world of science last year. Two Nobel Laureates and a NASA astronaut made appearances at the University to share their experiences with faculty and staff and simultaneously learn about Claflin.

A New Era A Noble Vision Dr. Luc Montagnier, the man who co-discovered the HIV/AIDS virus captivated the audience at a packed W.V. Middleton Fine Arts Center by unveiling a new approach to treating HIV. He advocates taking advantage of the fact that the current antiretroviral therapy partially restores the immune system of HIV patients. After using the current treatment to restore some function to the immune system, Montagnier wants to develop a therapeutic vaccine and use antioxidants to fully restore immunity of patients.

In addition, he wants to aggressively Dr. Luc Montagnier identify and target the residual HIV cells that linger from the current treatment.

The lecture was hosted by the South Carolina Center for Biotechnology at Claflin University. The center’s director, Dr. Omar Bagasra, is a longtime associate of the 2008 Nobel Prize winner for physiology and medicine. Bagasra himself recently made headlines with his theory to cure the HIV virus. Most HIV vaccines under development seek to stop the virus from entering a human cell, but Bagasra is proposing the development of a vaccine that stops HIV once it’s already inside.

While at Claflin, Montagnier spoke with students and attended a reception in his honor at Dunwalton, the home of President Henry N. Tisdale.

Claflin University Masters of Science in Biotechnology student Victoria Desormeaux was pleased Montagnier’s efforts extended to help those in Africa where an estimated 22 million people on the continent are affected

by HIV/AIDS, according to the United Nations. During his presentation, the Nobel Laureate discussed two facilities in Africa that are assisting in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Desormeaux was also pleased that Montagnier aspired to raise the level of treatment of those afflicted by the virus.

“It wasn’t just on a scientific level. It was a on a public health level,” she said.

Dr. Montagnier greets President Henry N. Tisdale, far right, Dr. Verlie Tisdale, dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and Dr. Omar Bagasra.

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Dr. Robert L. Satcher, Jr.

Claflin University’s state-of-the-art Molecular Science Research Center opened in 2010. NASA astronaut Dr. Robert Satcher, a native of nearby Denmark, issued the keynote address at the public unveiling ceremony.

“We’ve always tried to achieve a better life for ourselves and future generations,” Satcher said to an audience of faculty, staff, students and children from local middle and high schools.

“Education has been a cornerstone of this strategy.”

There is no better place to foster a scientific education than at Claflin’s Molecular Science and Research Center which features what The State’s senior reporter, Wayne Washington, called “space age equipment.”

For example, students have access to such equipment as a glove box to examine combustible materials and a high-performance liquid chromatography machine, which is used to filter out samples for analysis.

The Center is also home to the only Bruker BioSpin 700 Megahertz Ultrashield Plus in the state’s higher education system. The Ultrashield Plus can completely breakdown the structural outline of any compound.

Claflin Research

In addition to the equipment, the 14,000 square foot Center has SMART classrooms, multiple laboratories, faculty offices, study rooms and an atrium. The University recently added a forensics lab wing to the Center in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies. The forensics lab will allow law enforcement agencies to analyze crime scene evidence in a timely and accurate manner.

Funding for the forensic lab was made possible through the efforts of U.S. Congressman Jim Clyburn and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham.

Satcher was selected by NASA in 2004 as an astronaut candidate. Last year, he made his first flight into space, where he traveled to the International Space Station and made two spacewalks. Satcher has spent more than 250

hours in space. He is also a licensed orthopedic surgeon in three states and holds memberships in a wide variety of professional and community organizations. Satcher is also an Episcopal Lay Minister at churches in Chicago and Houston and has taught at numerous institutions, including Northwestern University.

Inspired by the Spirit Nobel Laureate Dr. Martin Chalfie said he was extremely impressed by the enthusiasm and dedication exhibited by the faculty, staff and students at Claflin University during his visit to campus “I really like what I see. It is actually inspiring,” Chalfie said.

Claflin students eagerly demonstrated their diverse scientific research to the 2008 winner of the Nobel Prize in chemistry.

Chalfie first became interested in visiting Claflin after meeting Assistant Professor of Chemistry Dr. Nicholas Panasik at a conference at Yale University last fall where the Nobel Laureate was the keynote speaker. He was intrigued by what Dr. Panasik told him about ongoing research at the University.

After reviewing students’ research, Dr. Chalfie, who is the chair of biological sciences department and the William R. Kenan, Jr. professor of biological sciences at Columbia University, said Claflin students would be excellent candidates for summer internships at the Ivy League school.

During his lecture titled “Adventures in Nontranslational Research,” Dr. Chalfie said recent trends in the scientific world have shifted away from nontranslational, or basic, research. Over the last decade, he noted the focus is geared toward Dr. Martin Chalfie translational research which seeks to eliminate sickness and diseases. However, he counseled that research with other objectives can sometimes lead to those sought after answers.

“Science goes in strange ways,” he said. This is how Dr. Chalfie arrived at his discovery that green fluorescent protein (GFP) could be used to highlight genetic proteins in animals such as mice and worms.

This is a discovery that scientists believe will eventually lead to revolutionary breakthroughs in cancer treatments, neurological disorders and HIV/AIDS research, among other areas. For his discovery and development of GFP, Dr. Chalfie was co-awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2008.

Earlier that day, students from Furman University, Orangeburg Preparatory School and Felton Laboratory School had the privilege of asking Dr. Chalfie questions when they visited the Molecular Science Research Center on campus.

Chalfie’s visit to Claflin was made possible by a grant from the American Institute of Physics.

Pictured with Dr. Martin Chalfie are, from left, Dr. Omar Bagasra, Dr. Nicholas Panasik, Dr. Rebecca Bullard-Dillard, President Henry N. Tisdale, Dr. Mohammed Chowdhury and Dr. Verlie Tisdale.

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Claflin Research

Biofuel Research Aims to Produce Win-Win Situation for Environment and Economy Protecting the environment and reducing America’s depen100 new hi-tech jobs to the area down the road. Bullarddence on foreign oil are predominant topics of discussion Dillard noted new agricultural and logistics jobs could be among politicians and the public alike these days. Claflin created as a result.

University researchers may well have designed the blue The environmental impact is great as well because the print to solve both all while addressing another of the nasource of butanol, sugar cane, is a renewable energy source tion’s most significant issues – job creation. unlike petroleum. Because current vehicles wouldn’t need The federal Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to be modified to use butanol as a source, it would give all (DARPA) awarded the University a $4 million grant to furmotorists the option of putting butanol in their tanks instead ther its existing research for producing butanol, a renewable of the less environmentally friendly gasoline. alternative fuel that has an energy content and price point The Claflin biofuel research is also looking at a way to comparable to gasoline. make sugar cane tolerant to growing in colder temperatures.

In 2008, Claflin researchers The plant is mostly grown in began to think of avenues that hotter climates on U.S. soil like would simultaneously produce alSouth Florida.

Advantages of Butanol ternative fuel and provide farmers “This will give farmers in South with another cash crop to grow.

Carolina and the entire Southeast an • Butanol has 95 percent of the energy On that end, sugar cane became option to grow sugar cane as a cash content of gasoline, significantly more an attractive crop because it didn’t crop,” Bullard-Dillard said. than ethanol. reduce the food supply.

Another off shoot of the Claflin • It doesn’t need to be mixed with Assistant Vice President for biofuel project is the potential to gasoline unlike ethanol.

Research Dr. Rebecca Bullard-Dildevelop more efficient jet fuel.

• Butanol can be used as fuel with lard said the University has a patBullard-Dillard said the waste from current vehicles. No modification ent pending on a microorganism it producing butanol is rich in carbon is necessary. developed that turns the cellulose and if fused with oxygen it will have from sugar cane into butanol. a higher energy content than today’s • Butanol can be transported with “The theoretical research is jet fuel. the existing infrastructure used done. We are ready to move into Claflin President Dr. Henry N. for gasoline. application and scale,” BullardTisdale noted the University’s Dillard said. biofuel research is part of a campus And that’s where the funding effort to have a positive environmenfrom the DARPA grant will prove quite useful. She noted tal impact locally and globally. that money will move the University through the final stages “The team of faculty and students who continue to conof the patent, hire new researchers and allow for the design of tribute to this project are to be commended for their extraora demonstration scale production facility through a partnerdinary vision,” Tisdale said. “Their efforts will undoubtedly ship with private industry, which will run the plant. manifest into incredibly remarkable consequences for our Bullard-Dillard expects that facility to showcase the planet, our community and our economy.” feasibility of mass producing butanol as an alternative to Dr. George E. Miller, III, vice president for academic gasoline. After the end of the two-year DARPA grant, she affairs, Dr. Verlie Tisdale, dean of the School of Natural anticipates the facility will be approximately 90 percent Sciences and Mathematics, Dr. Omar Bagasra, director of ready to produce up to 200,000 gallons of butanol per year. the S.C. Center for Biotechnology, and Dr. Mohammed K. The hope is that the University’s collaborations with Or- Chowdhury, chair of the Biology Department, are faculty angeburg County and private industry will potentially bring contributors to the Claflin University Biofuel Project.

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Claflin Students Brandyce Coes Receives $25,000 UNCF/Merck Scholarship

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Claflin University junior Brandyce Coes loves to play tennis and says she’s received a grand slam of opportunities at the University. The most recent one was an ace for Coes – a $25,000 UNCF/Merck Undergraduate Research Scholarship Award that will allow her to conduct research at one of the pharmaceutical giant’s facilities during the next two summers.

Coes was among only a handful of students selected nationwide for the UNCF/Merck Scholarship. “I was so excited. It is truly an honor to be chosen and to represent Claflin,” she said.

The Department of Chemistry will also receive a $10,000 grant in conjunction with Coes’ scholarship. Coes’ research interests are in pharmacology and medicinal chemistry.

“Hopefully, I will gain some valuable insight into the pharmaceutical industry with this experience,” she said.

At Claflin, Coes is working on U.S. Department of Defense funded project with Department of Chemistry Chair Dr. Angela Peters that aims to deactivate the toxic compound in anthrax.

The Warner Robins, Georgia native said her first three years at Claflin have greatly prepared her for the road ahead.

She is a member of several campus organizations such as the National Society of Leadership and Success, the American Chemical Society and the Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society.

The Alice Carson Tisdale Honors College student recently returned from the Emerging Researchers National Conference in Washington, D.C. The conference allows students in the STEM areas to network and become more familiar with graduate schools.

This summer, Coes participated in a summer research internship at Harvard University thanks to the Leadership Alliance, a national consortium of 33 universities that seeks to develop underrepresented students into outstanding leaders and role models in academia, business and the public sector while preparing them for graduate school.

Coes researched inflammation as it relates to asthma with post-graduate students while at Harvard. “It really gave me insight into the skills needed to excel at a top graduate research institution and the best practices for applying to those schools,” she said.

When Coes finishes Claflin next spring, she plans to attend a top graduate school to either receive a Ph.D. or a

Junior Brandyce Coes

Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Her top choices now are returning to Harvard or attending the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Roosevelt Ratliff, assistant vice president of leadership development, recruited Coes to apply for both the UNCF/Merck Scholarship and the Harvard internship. He said Coes is a prime example of what students can achieve when they choose to attend Claflin.

“We have a vast network of scholarships and internships opportunities for our students that prepare them for leadership, service and success,” Ratliff said. “Ms. Coes is continuing a long standing tradition of Claflin University readying the next generation of visionary leaders.”

Coes first came to the Claflin campus when she was in high school. She attended a summer science camp at the University sponsored by the National Nuclear Security Administration, a branch of the U.S. Department of Energy.

“I feel in love with the campus. I met with (dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics) Dr. Verlie Tisdale and she assured me and my mom that this was the place to excel in sciences. I can confidently say nearly four years later that Dr. Tisdale was more than right about that statement,” Coes said.

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Student Students Brandon Singleton too Claflin k this picture

of a Japanese temple. Sin is one of seven Claflin gleton students who participat ed in the International Program last fall.

Studies

ace Otieno from Exchange student Bonif eractivity of the Kenya is enjoying the int classrooms at Claflin.

Claflin student Maggie Malloy helped organize a fashion show for a bridal magazine during her study abroad experience in Kenya.

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Claflin Students

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“Watashi wa bokensha desu!”

To most of us, the words above are lost in translation.

For Claflin University senior Brandon Singleton, they make perfect sense.

The phase means, “I’m an adventurer!” in Japanese. And it’s a good thing Singleton is familiarized himself with that language because he’s spent this past fall in Japan thanks to the Claflin International Studies Program.

Singleton was one of 12 Claflin students who studied overseas during the 2010-2011 academic year. Afton Anderson, Baige C. Allen-Nichols, Aaron Shepard, Ariel Atterberry and Racquelle Givens all spent a semester in Spain. While Amani Turnage and Faith Thompson studied in England and Maggie Malloy and Carolyn Smith went to Kenya. Joining Singleton in Japan was Jeremy Holder.

The Florence native Singleton was literally a world away studying Japanese language and culture at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka.

“The world is so big and has so many places and things to experience,” Singleton said. “I am having the time of my life here and this will always be a treasured experience.”

The mass communications major noticed there are stark differences in the way Japan approaches sexuality and fashion compared to the United States.

Singleton is chronicled his experiences in a blog which covers everything from his struggles writing the three alphabets of Japanese to an impromptu encounter with a group of Michael Jackson impersonators.

Director of the International Studies Program Dr. Donald G. Pace noted interest and student participation among the student program has piqued recently. He points out Claflin students who studied abroad in the past have labeled the experience as transformative personally and academically.

“At the University, we strive to ensure our students possess a truly global perspective of society,” Pace said. “To that end, there is no better avenue than to afford them a diverse portfolio of places to study overseas. The International Studies Program at Claflin is an opportunity for our students to step outside their comfort zones and deeply broaden their outlook on the world.”

Claflin students are able to study in a myriad of nations, including Kenya, Ireland, England, France, Spain and India, among others.

Students from other nations can also choose to attend Claflin for a semester as well. This summer, four Masters of Business Administration students from the School of Management Sciences in India took courses at the University through a newly formed exchange program between the two institutions.

Boniface Otieno from the United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya is the latest international student to join the Claflin Family. He has noticed the classrooms at Claflin produce far more two-way conversations than his school back home.

“Everyone chips in and contributes. It’s a very interactive learning environment,” Otieno said.

The international business student hopes to gain perspective on various cultures while at Claflin. So far, he has discovered waving means something different totally in America. In Kenya, Otieno notes the wave is used to gesture people to come toward you rather than saying hello.

“People are so polite. It’s so fulfilling to hear profound statements from the students. The culture is so entrenched.

It’s amazing to see this part of the world,” said Otieno, an aspiring corporate CEO. “This experience is providing me an opportunity to have a different view and reach different conclusions.”

During the spring semester, Maggie Malloy traveled to Otieno’s home country for her study abroad experience.

She helped to conduct a fashion show for a bridal magazine that will air on Kenyan television. Malloy said it was confusing at the event because the event organizer was speaking in Swahili.

“I know at least 20 words now so I can somewhat follow conversations,” Malloy said.

She said the Kenyan culture bears a slight resemble to Southern customs. “Greeting everyone in a room is common and can be rude if not done. I had to acknowledge all 24 models individually by either a hug or a handshake.

Back home, eye contact and smile is enough to acknowledge someone. Here, handshakes are a must.”

She also noticed public displays of affection are not well received in Kenya.

Malloy studied Arabic and international law at the United States International University in Nairobi during her semester abroad.

Vivian Alexander, a senior education major from Trinidad and Tobago, spent last year at the ENFOREX Language Academy in Barcelona, Spain. Alexander noted he was quickly forced to learn Spanish in classes because after the first day that was the only language spoken.

He recalled the Barcelona atmosphere as safe and friendly. Children would play soccer in the parks. Nearby a group of elderly men would play cards. And next to them, Alexander said, a young couple would display why he said Spain is a “romantic culture.”

Alexander said the Spanish life is more laid back than what he experiences in the U.S. “I really enjoyed it. The academic experience was great.

It was exactly what I wanted,” he said.

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Claflin Students

Claflin Student Awarded Prestigious Woodrow Wilson Fellowship

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Tiffany Miller’s fascination with foreign cultures began at an early age. As her father, a retired U. S. Marine, traveled across countries, she tagged along and developed an enduring affection for the transparent differences in world mores and customs. Her continued pursuit of exploring the world led to the Claflin University student being awarded the firstever Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship in the institution’s 141-year history.

“Being accepted into this prestigious program will establish my foundation for a career in the international arena and I hope to help improve relations between different nations,” Miller said.

The Pickering Fellowship, which is awarded annually by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, will pay for Miller’s graduate school expenses. In addition, she will participate in two summer internships – one at the U.S. Department of State and another abroad – over the next two years. The goal of the fellowship is to cultivate students who are ready to pursue diplomatic careers with the U.S. Foreign Service upon completion of graduate school.

The Fellowship will pair Miller with a mentor who currently serves as a Foreign Service officer. She recently participated in an orientation session at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. Claflin President Henry N. Tisdale said Miller’s accomplishment demonstrates the University is cultivating students with global perspectives.

“Ms. Miller is continuing Claflin’s rich tradition of attracting students who have the vision to be the first to achieve an ambitious aspiration,” Tisdale said. “I have no doubt that she will represent Claflin impressively.”

Miller’s insatiable thirst for knowledge about diversity started as a child when her father was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. There, she formed relationships with Japanese students, became immersed in the culture and learned the basics of their language.

“As a six-year-old, I sought to learn everything I could about Japanese culture. I involved myself in every activity such as learning to use an abacus, taking karate, playing taiko drums and many other things,” Miller said.

She was a student in the American military school while in Japan. Because of Japan’s desire to further their relations with Peru at that time, Spanish was introduced into her school’s curriculum. That allowed Miller to add a third language to her verbal repertoire.

Due to her father’s position in the military, she also lived in Vietnam, South Korea and California before her family settled in Jacksonville, North Carolina. However, it was

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Ms. Tiffany Miller sits in front of a picturesque view during her internship in Ecuador.

during her world travels that Miller decided to seek a career as a diplomat. For her, such a career would serve two goals: quenching a desire to learn about other cultures while simultaneously assisting to improve America’s foreign relations.

In Jacksonville, Miller learned about Claflin through a college fair. After receiving a full scholarship to the University as a Presidential Scholar, she decided to enroll here. At Claflin, she has furthered her endeavor to be academically diverse. She is an American Studies major with three minors: Spanish, religion and mathematics. Miller received her degree on May 7.

Thus far, the decision to matriculate at Claflin is proving fruitful as she already has three internships and a summer program to her credit.

In the summer of 2008, she studied Afro-Ecuadorian culture in the South American country, Ecuador. The following summer, subsequent to her recruitment by Dr. Roosevelt Ratliff, assistant vice president for leadership development, she received an internship to Princeton University where she researched the similarities between Latin American and Northern African tribes before, during and after colonization.

She was mentored that summer by Princeton Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. Karen J. Weaver.

“Her commitment and intellectual curiosity were refreshing. Whenever we met it was clear to me that she strived to achieve excellence in all of her endeavors. These qualities coupled with her tenacity and perseverance will ensure her success in the Pickering Fellows program and beyond.

What a tremendous asset she will be to the program,” Weaver said of Miller.

This past summer, Miller engaged in a business management internship with Sam’s Club, a subsidiary of WalMart Stores, Inc. She believes that experience will assist in facilitating business negotiations with her Foreign Services career.

In 2009, she was also selected to participate in the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program.

“I love to involve myself in new activities in order to make me a well-rounded person. I don’t believe in being stagnant,” she said.

Miller hopes to return to Princeton for graduate school.

By successfully completing the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, Miller will be enlisted as a Foreign Service officer for at least three years.

Her ultimate career goal is to become an ambassador to a country in South America.

Claflin Students

Journalist Ed Gordon Advises Students to Envision Greatness at Spring Convocation

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Before she even met Emmy Award winning journalist Ed Gordon, Claflin University sophomore Aubrey Jackson was ready to seize the opportunity to interview the man who has interviewed so many iconic figures over the past 20 years.

Jackson had displayed the same initiative that catapulted Gordon’s meteoric rise from a small time television host on a Detroit public access channel to becoming one of the most respected names in news.

Prior to Gordon addressing the campus as the keynote speaker of the 2011 Spring Convocation, Jackson got her shot after the veteran television anchor and reporter told his remarkable story to students in the Department of Mass Communications.

Jackson, a broadcast journalism major, asked Gordon questions about his career trajectory, his family and diversity in the media field.

“He was relaxed and comfortable, which is a trait I found inspiring. Mr. Gordon solidified the importance of empowering yourself. He said, ‘You have to create opportunities and not wait for them to arrive on their own.’ I look up to him,” the aspiring television anchor said of their conversation.

Gordon is currently the host of Weekly with Ed Gordon, a talk show that highlights the most important stories from politics to pop culture, and also the critically acclaimed Conversations with Ed Gordon, both which are featured on the BET network. He formerly was a contributor for NBC’s The Today Show and Dateline, CBS’ 60 Minutes II, MSNBC and host of NPR’s News and Notes. In a previous stint with BET, he was the host of BET Tonight and anchor of BET News.

But when Gordon stood at the podium at the Claflin Spring Convocation, he wasn’t there to discuss his incredible life and the accolades that come with it. Instead, he invoked the theme of the ceremony “Envisioning Greatness” to encourage and inspire the student body.

He noted it that simply envisioning greatness was only half the equation.

“In order to become great, you have to envision yourself as great. But you can’t live just in your vision. Be ready for opportunities because you never know when they may come. Greatness is born from success. Success is born from preparation. Preparation comes from a dream,” Gordon said to the packed audience inside the Tullis Arena of the Jonas T. Kennedy Physical Education and Health Center.

Gordon started his address by noting he was once a little kid who grew up in Detroit. But during his visit to Claflin, it was clear that little kid has morphed into a confident man

Emmy Award winning journalist Ed Gordon addresses the audience as the keynote speaker at the 2011 Claflin University Spring Convocation on Jan. 20.

Emmy Award winning journalist Ed Gordon, right, wears his new Claflin University Panther ball cap he accepted from Executive Vice President Drexel Ball, left.

who is equally comfortable speaking with the president of the United States or a group of university students.

“I started small and built my way up,” he told Mass Communication students. “The more you know about your craft, the better of you’ll be.”

Junior Colin Nelson was highly impressed by the manner in which Gordon carried himself. “I learned for him that you gain a lot from being personable,” said Nelson, a mass communication major.

It was Gordon’s forthright personality and intelligence that built his astounding resume’ of memorable interviews that has included Nation of Islam Leader Louis Farrakhan, Oscar winning actress Halle Berry and embattled former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, among countless others.

Perhaps Gordon’s most famous interview came when he became the first journalist to talk with O.J. Simpson after the former NFL star was acquitted of murder charges in 1996.

Aside from his skills as an interviewer, Gordon captured praise for his coverage of watershed news events such as the death of Princess Diana, the prison release of South Africa’s Nelson Mandela and the Monica Lewinsky scandal that nearly derailed the presidency of Bill Clinton.

He is the recipient of the NAACP Image Award, the National Association of Black Journalist’s Journalist of the Year Award and was once named to People Magazine’s annual list of “50 Most Beautiful People.”

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Claflin Students

Claflin Student Brings Legendary Coach to Life in New Book

Three years ago, recent Claflin University graduate Stacie Davis recalled a class assignment to describe someone who has been influential in her community.

The Marion native immediately thought of Taft M. Watson, the local highly successful head basketball coach of Terrell’s Bay High School. Davis turned what had been a five-page essay into “The House That Taft Built,” an insightful look into the life of a Marion icon who made winning state basketball championships commonplace.

“I just started talking to him about his life. His story was so intriguing that I just kept adding to it,” Davis said.

She thought to herself, “Why hasn’t anyone ever penned a book about him? I thought it would be significant to let South Carolina know about him because he’s done so much for this area.”The book is available at www. bookemon.com.

University’s Office of Communications and Marketing maintained a blog titled “Visionaries on the Move” which chronicled their experiences.

Senior chemistry Jennifer Ozonma held not one but two internships over the summer. She started off the summer working for five weeks as an academic contractor at Eli Lilly & Company in Indianapolis. Then, the visionary took her talents to Boston for an 11-week internship with Novartis, AG, a Swiss pharmaceutical company.

“Overall, I had the time of my life in corporate America. There’s just something cool about walking around with a company ID, and being referred to as an employee,” Ozonma said.

Meanwhile, junior education student Isaiah Jones was at Emory University as a UNCF/Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow. The Fellowship is for students who desire to become tenured professors at a college or university.

“I can truly say the participants of this program are transformative and profound in their perspectives and total outlook on society,” Jones said.

A total of 23 students participated in the “Visionaries on the Move” blog this past summer.

Claflin University Addresses National Need to Educate Non-English Speaking Students

Claflin University Students Spend Summer Interning Across America During the summer, Claflin University students from all majors participated in a wide variety of prestigious internships ranging from higher education institutions like the Yale University School of Medicine to companies such as athletic shoe giant Nike. The 18

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Hispanics are now the national population’s largest minority group.

As a result, many children of Hispanic migrants are entering school without a basic knowledge of the English language; a phenomenon that is literally forcing educators back to the chalkboard to bridge the language barrier.

An authority on the issue, Claflin University Assistant Professor of Education Dr. Nan Li is developing a model for teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students that can be used as a template across the nation thanks to a $1 million U.S. Department of Education grant awarded in 2007.

Li’s National Professional Development Program places Claflin student teachers into local elementary school classrooms. The approach serves two goals – instructing pre-service teachers on the best practices for bringing ESOL students up to speed while simultaneously addressing the need to educate them.

“They’ve been a big help to us. I don’t know what we would do without the NPD program that Claflin offers,” said Susan Zeigler, principal of Edisto Primary School in Cordova.

The NPD program has worked with students in Orangeburg Consolidated School Districts 3, 4 and 5 and the Calhoun County School District.

Claflin University MBA Students, Professor Visit India A contingent of graduate students and a professor from the Claflin University School of Business visited India this spring to study emerging markets.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our MBA students to study how India is fast becoming one of the world’s premier economic beacons,” said School of Business Dean Dr. Harpal Grewal. “In this global economy, it is a challenge to educate students on how the international market works from a classroom. At Claflin, we are providing our business students with firsthand experiences and that translates to success after graduation.”

Claflin Students

Master of Business Administration students Laura Roquemore, Camilla Martin and Mary Layton left for India on March 8 along with Dr. Benjamin Yumol, assistant professor of business administration. During their 10 day trip, the group studied Indian culture, religion and economy.

They were hosted by Amity University in Delhi, an institution with which Claflin has a student exchange agreement. The quartet will also visit the School of Management Sciences (SMS) in Varanasi. This past summer, four SMS graduate students took courses at Claflin as part of Claflin’s exchange agreement with that institution.

The trip was being funded by a grant from Proctor & Gamble and an anonymous donation.

well-known figures such as U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint and acclaimed film director Randall Wallace, the man behind movies such as Pearl Harbor, Braveheart and the recent smash Secretariat. Brown also noted he had a brief conversation with former University of Florida Gators football coach Urban Meyer.

Shatavia Wynn to Become First Panther to Attend Yale Divinity School

Keiwon Brown Inspired at National Prayer Breakfast Claflin University junior Keiwon Brown wasn’t among the more famous patrons at the 59th annual National Prayer Breakfast on Feb. 3. But the Columbia native perhaps came away as the most inspired person there.

“It was a breath of fresh air. At the breakfast, it failed to matter if you were a Democrat or Republican, famous or not famous. We were all there to develop a more personal and spiritual relationship with God,” Brown said.

Brown heard President Barack Obama discuss how his Christian faith impacts the highest office in the land at the breakfast. “He talked about how he prays in the Oval Office and holds prayers over the phone with world leaders. It makes me want to pray even more,” Brown said.

The National Prayer Breakfast is held each year in Washington, D.C. and is designed to bring together people from all walks of life for fellowship and prayer. Members of Congress and other world leaders are often in attendance.

At the breakfast, Brown sat with other students who were invited. But he also shared the table with some

Claflin University Concert Choir Performs at Inauguration

Shatavia Wynn has become the latest Claflin University student accepted to a prestigious graduate school. This fall, the Spartanburg native will become the first student from the University to attend Yale Divinity School.

“It’s a humbling feeling,” said Wynn. “I’m definitely excited but also nervous. However, I know Claflin has prepared me well.”

She desires to pursue a doctorate in women’s studies.

Wynn says Claflin has been a nurturing experience and helped her instill a strong work ethic. Wynn also credited life growing in the church for her success.

“Faith has been something that has sustained me during my four years at Claflin. It’s been something I’ve nurtured and cultivated here,” said Wynn.

The Claflin University Concert Choir showcased their talents as thousands gathered to witness the historic inauguration of Gov. Nikki Haley.

“It was truly an honor to be the only college choir invited to the inauguration,” said Ariel Manning, a biochemistry major. “The atmosphere there was that of a sense of pride and renewal for our state.”

The Claflin Concert Choir performed twice at Haley’s inauguration. They first sang Carl Haywood’s “Sixty-Seventh Psalm.” At the conclusion of the ceremony, Claflin Department of Music Chair and Choir Director Dr. Isaiah McGee conducted a rendition of “God Bless America” where Claflin students performed alongside the Sandlapper Singers and the S.C. Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities Chamber and All-School Choirs.

McGee said he strives for the Concert Choir to be a seasoned ensemble that represents the University as student ambassadors.

“On behalf of Claflin University, we would like to thank Gov. Haley for inviting us to perform at her inauguration,” McGee said. “It was truly an honor to perform before the entire state of South Carolina.”

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DOE Exec Brings Expertise to Claflin Board 20

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C y n t h i a V. A n d e r so n

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s a young student at Claflin University, Cynthia V. Anderson’s professors realized she possessed an illuminating wealth of potential. Her intellectual light has been harnessed into kinetic energy ever since and led to Anderson’s 2009 appointment as director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Environmental Management Recovery Program.

“Claflin University is an excellent school. It allowed me to get the attention and the opportunity to interact with professors and students,” said Anderson, ’80. “Claflin recognized my potential in science and math.”

Anderson was named to the Claflin University Board of Trustees in 2010. She views it as a privilege to serve and give back to her alma mater.

“I believe we need to give to the community.

Being on the Board of Trustees provides me with the chance to mentor and give oversight for other African-Americans in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM),” Anderson said.

In her capacity at the U.S. Department of Energy, Anderson is responsible for managing $6 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds for environmental purposes and job creation. The Environmental Management Recovery Program administers shovel-ready projects in areas like waste management, decontamination, facility decommissioning and restoration.

Anderson’s department currently has 17 projects in development spread out across 12 states.

She was elevated to the position in Feb. 2009 by Assistant Secretary for Environment Management Dr. Inez Triay. Previously, she was the deputy chief

operations officer, director of the Office of Site Support and Small Projects and led the Office of Waste Disposition, all within the U.S. Department of Energy.

Anderson began her federal career in 1994 at the Charleston Naval Shipyard where she worked with nuclear powered submarines. The Claflin alumna moved on to serve in several capacities at the Savannah River Site before ascending to the U.S. Department of Energy headquarters in Washington.

When she’s not in the boardroom or at a project site, Anderson is busy volunteering her sparse moments of free time with organizations such as the American Red Cross and the Boys & Girls Club.

Anderson is extremely passionate about recruiting minority and female students to study in the STEM areas. To that end, she has presented before the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund.

Anderson resides in Alexandria, Virginia and has one daughter, Mekala. Her hobbies include reading and anything related to science fiction.

She graduated Claflin with a degree in chemistry and computer science and also has an MBA from Nova Southeastern University.

Anderson is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and was a science tutor for fellow students while at Claflin.

“It was a great institution that catered to the needs of the students. Serving on the Claflin board, I speak with a great pride that this tradition has carried on. I would recommend the University to any student seeking to transform themselves,” she said.

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Claflin L Claf lin and Boston Universities Linked by History, Ideals

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Lee Claflin amassed quite a fortune with his shoe factory in Boston. And like a shoe, the University that today bears his last name was built with one piece at a time.

Claflin was an instrumental force of change in higher education during the latter part of 1800s. Through his generous monetary gifts, he established endowments at Wilbraham Academy, Boston Theological Seminary and Wesleyan University, where he served as a trustee for 18 years.

His greatest legacy remains founding both Claflin University and Boston University, two institutions separated by nearly 1,000 miles but linked by their shared history and ideals.

Recently, Boston University President Robert A. Brown spoke at Claflin’s 141st Founders’ Day Convocation.

Since the two schools were founded by the same man in the same year, 1869, Brown was an appropriate orator for the occasion.

Brown said the most important common trait they shared was “a commitment to equality of opportunity.”

“From the beginning, both institutions have been open to all, regardless of race, gender or religion,” he said.

Besides those common factors, both institutions are strongly affiliated with the Methodist church. During the period leading up to 1869, there was a growing school of thought in the Methodist community that ministers should be formally trained. Ministers in prior years would merely study prescribed books on theology as an apprentice traveling from town to town. Between the years of 1829 and 1850, nearly 400 Methodist institutions were opened.

The Rev. Timothy Willard Lewis, the first missionary sent by the Methodist Church to the emancipated people of South Carolina, and Dr. Alonzo Webster, a teacher at the Baker Theological Institute in Charleston, acquired the land where Claflin University would begin in July 1869. They had substantial financial support from Lee and William Claflin, who was Lee Claflin’s son and the governor of Massachusetts at that time. Months later, a Board of Trustees was named and a charter was secured to establish the University.

Webster was named as Claflin’s first president. It was the first institution of

Boston

higher education in South Carolina to open its doors to African Americans.

Further north, a similar occurrence was happening earlier in Boston. A group of Methodist leaders there wanted to create a school to educate ministers. They knew of a Methodist school in Newbury, Vermont that educated young men and women named Newbury Seminary, where Webster was a former graduate. Newbury administrators willingly shared space for the new school, which was known as the Newbury Biblical Institute.

The Institute eventually moved to Concord, New Hampshire and then to Boston in 1867. Lee Claflin was a trustee of the school and, along with Isaac Rich and Jacob Sleeper, sought to expand it. Two years later, Gov. William Claflin signed the charter which founded Boston University.

Today, the name Claflin resonates strongly on the campus of Boston University. There is a residential house named Claflin Hall. The Claflin Society recognizes Boston University’s most generous donors. A portrait of Lee Claflin overlooks their boardroom.

And the signature of Gov. William Claflin adorns Boston University’s charter.

Moving down the Atlantic Ocean, Claflin University has emerged as one of the premier undergraduate teaching and research institutions in the nation.

It has expanded the size exponentially and the physical plant has increased dramatically.The University has added many programs spanning all disciplines in the academic realm.

Now, the two institutions have established a student exchange program with plans to expand to faculty exchange and other partnerships and initiatives. Claflin student Andre Rodriguez spent his spring semester at Boston University.

“These two universities have a kinship. We are born of the same principles, ideals and values, all of which resonate in the makeup of our universities today,” said President Henry N. Tisdale. “The partnerships we are forming represent a ‘coming home’ for both institutions. It’s a family reunion that we hope will be fruitful in the years to come.”

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r. Damany M. Fisher and Ms. Danica Camille Tisdale were united in marriage on Saturday, October 30, 2010 at the historic Centenary United Methodist Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

Three Hundred Fifty family members and friends of the couple were in attendance. The bride was given in marriage by her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Henry N. and Alice Carson Tisdale of Orangeburg and North Charleston. The bride wore a ribbon-adorned, ivory, “fit-andflare” style gown designed by Priscilla of Boston. The groom wore a traditional gray morning suit. The wedding colors were charcoal gray, ivory, white, and green. The setting of the wedding, Centenary United Methodist Church, was quite significant to the bride and her family as it was the “spiritual birthplace” of Claflin University in 1865 and one of Charleston’s first African-American churches. The pews, windows, and alter were decorated with white calla lilies, white cymbidium orchids, white roses, and traditional Southern smilax—the work of floral designer, Steve Lovelace of The Ivy Porch.

From the rafters, the 60-member Claflin University Concert Choir under the direction of Dr. Isaiah McGee provided beautiful a capella choral music. The bride walked down the aisle to a stunning rendition of Moses Hogan’s “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me,” and carried a bouquet of calla lilies, cymbidium orchids, and roses. The double ring ceremony was officiated by the Rev. Larry D. McCutcheon of Trinity United Methodist Church-Orangeburg, and the Rev. Lorenzo Moses of Centenary United Methodist Church-Charleston.

The newlyweds traveled to the reception in a white horsedrawn carriage.

After the 11am ceremony, a champagne luncheon was held at The Francis Marion Hotel. Guests were treated to a champagne surprise bar and heavy hors d’oeuvres, and were entertained by the sounds of the Claflin University Jazz Quartet. The reception tables were ornamented with candelabras and bountiful arrangements of roses, orchids, and calla lilies. The all-white theme for the room provided an ethereal atmosphere and complimented the bride’s attire.

The couple and their guests dined on a delicious four-course

meal and were wowed by the four-tiered, magnolia-adorned wedding cake created by Elaine Mincey of Elaine’s Events.

In addition to the personalized sweet grass roses at each place setting, guests were invited to help themselves to the all-white “candy bar” created by Sugarlicious Events of Mt. Pleasant. The bride was serenaded by members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and by alumnae of her alma mater, Spelman College. Afterwards, guests danced to the music of the six-piece band, “Still Cruizin.’

On Sunday afternoon, family and friends enjoyed a brunch hosted by the bride’s parents at their home in North Charleston.

Pre-wedding events included a wedding shower in Atlanta, Georgia hosted by the bridal party and Dr. Maisha T. Winn (sister of the groom); a garden shower in Orangeburg hosted

by Mrs. Portia Jennings, Mrs. Ouida Jones, and Mrs. Erma Jones (cousins of the bride); a wedding shower in Kingstree, South Carolina hosted by Mrs. Patricia Bettard, Mrs. Sheila James and Ms. Andrea June (cousins of the bride); and a bridal luncheon hosted by Mrs. Kimberly Loadholt Pool and Mrs. Rowena G. Loadholt (friends of the bride) in Charleston.

The couple hosted a candlelight rehearsal dinner in honor of their family and friends at the Wentworth Grill, The Renaissance Historic District Hotel in Charleston.

Damany is a graduate of the University of California, Davis with a B.A. degree in History; and the University of California, Berkeley with M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in History. He is a History professor at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California. Damany is the son of Dr. James A. Fisher and the late Mrs. Cheryl A. Fisher of Sacramento, California. Danica is an alumna of Spelman College and Temple University with B.A. and M.A. degrees in English, respectively. She is a Ph.D. candidate in Women’s Studies at Emory University, and a Program Associate for The Children’s Defense FundCalifornia in Los Angeles. Danica was the first AfricanAmerican woman crowned “Miss Georgia” in 2004 and a Top Ten Finalist at the 2005 Miss America Pageant. Danica and Damany live in Southern California.

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Faculty & Staff Claflin University Professor Dr. Omar Bagasra to Develop Vaccine Center in Pakistan

South Carolina Center for Biotechnology Director Dr. Omar Bagasra was tapped to establish a first-of-its-kind institute in Pakistan that will produce critically needed vaccinations for children.

Bagasra spent three months on sabbatical developing protocols and training personnel at Dow University of Health Sciences in Karachi to create vaccines that aren’t constrained by patents.

The end game of Dow’s Vaccine Center is to immunize children from such diseases as tetanus, tuberculosis, measles and mumps. It will seek to put the brakes on Pakistan’s practice of importing vaccines from Western nations, a financially draining move which Bagasra says cost the Middle Eastern country $3 billion annually and still leaves many children unprotected from a myriad of diseases. Throw in the fact that massive flooding in Pakistan last fall exacerbated the lack of affordable vaccines and that equates to a public health crisis, Bagasra said.

Bagasra said his primary role will be to choose a staff and teach scientists quality control at the Dow Vaccine Center to ensure vaccines are not toxic and contain the correct dosage.

“This will be the first institute in any developing nation to make any childhood vaccines,” he said.

“However, the biggest hurdle is quality control.”

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Founded in 2003, Dow is publicly funded by the Pakistani government and has established 37 new specialized institutions in the past five years such as an oral health and diabetes centers. It is one of the fastest growing universities in South Asia and has a student population of more than 40,000 students.

Bagasra first visited Dow several years ago to deliver a lecture at a microbiology conference. The former S.C. Governor’s Professor of the Year was then approached by Dow Vice Chancellor Dr. Masood Hameed Khan about possibly starting a vaccine center there.

The conversation sparked Bagasra’s interest and eventually led to his appointment as the Vaccine Center’s interim director.

President Dr. Henry N. Tisdale lauded the humanitarian angle of Bagasra’s upcoming work in Pakistan while on sabbatical from the University.

“We all join together in applauding Dr. Bagasra’s selfless contribution to both improving and saving the lives of Pakistani citizens,” Tisdale said. “The true impact of Dr. Bagasra establishing a vaccination infrastructure in Pakistan is that children will be to walk toward the future unafraid of disease.

Dewees Named Baldrige National Quality Award Examiner

Claflin University Director of Testing and Assessment Services Mrs. Bridget P. Dewees was appointed to the Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the highest federal acknowledgement for

performance excellence, for the third time.

“I feel like it’s my way of providing service to the country,” said Mrs. Dewees.

As a board member, she is responsible for receiving and evaluating the applications that determine which five organizations receive the honor each year.

The Baldridge Award, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology, began in 1987 to recognize quality and excellence in five categories: manufacturing service, small business, education, health care and nonprofit. Past winners have included Boeing Aerospace Support and Motorola.

The Board of Examiners is comprised of approximately 500 members who are leading experts in their respective industries. Dewees is one of only three South Carolinians currently serving on the board.

“It’s an honor to be chosen as well as a serious commitment,” she said.

Dewees brought her expertise in analyzing quality to Claflin in 2010. She is responsible for implementing and managing a comprehensive testing and assessment programs for the University.

“I came to Claflin because I want to help this institution continue to grow,” she said.

In 2005, Gov. Mark Sanford presented Dewees with the South Carolina Quality Forum’s Champion for Excellence Award, which is given annually to an individual who inspires others in their organization toward achieving quality. She is a member of the S.C. Quality Forum Steering Committee and serves on the Board of Judges for the S.C. Governor’s Quality Award Prior to joining Claflin, Dewees was the director of quality and a business instructor at Trident Technical College in Charleston. She has also worked as an accountant at Wachovia. She received her undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Business Administration degree from Webster University.

Ted Creech Joins Claflin University Board of Trustees

Ted Creech, director of external affairs for AT&T in South Carolina, has been appointed as the newest member of the Claflin University Board of Trustees.

“We are pleased to welcome Mr. Creech as a distinguished member of our Board of Trustees,” said President Dr. Henry N. Tisdale. “His addition to our University’s governing body will undoubtedly become a great asset as Claflin continues to move forward with our mission to educate young men and women of vision who possess global perspectives.

Claflin is pleased this experienced and successful executive will bring another sound voice to our boardroom.”

At AT&T, Creech is responsible for directing local government, external, community relations and economy development activities for the communications giant’s operations in South Carolina.

Prior to that, he was AT&T’s legislative affairs director to the South Carolina General Assembly and regional director for AT&T in the Lowcountry.

During his previous career with BellSouth, Creech worked on several landmark regulatory initiatives, directed communications for the company’s thenemerging Internet business and lead the corporate launch of broadband DSL. Creech was formerly the chair of the Charleston Regional Development Alliance Board, the ThinkTEC division of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Summerville Chamber of Commerce Board. In addition, he also served as a citizen appointee to the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments Board and board and executive committee of the Charleston Trident Urban League.

Creech is a 1981 graduate of the University of South Carolina. After finishing school, he worked in television and radios news, where he won several state and national reporting awards, before transitioning into the corporate world.

Creech and his wife, Rosa, reside in Summerville and have three sons.

Claflin Physician Dr. Spencer C. Disher Honored with Orangeburg County Council Resolution Dr. Spencer C. Disher has served Claflin University and the Orangeburg community with his medical expertise since 1963. For his nearly five decades of service, the Orangeburg County Council officially recognized that dedication with a formal resolution during their February meeting.

“Of course, I was indeed appreciative and humbled by it. I am thankful the citizens of Orangeburg have allowed me to serve for the past 48 years,” said Disher, who is the medial director of student health services at Claflin.

When he started practicing medicine in Orangeburg, Disher was one of the few African-American doctors in the area. And Claflin was far from being home to state-of-the-art facilities and cutting edge academic programs that it is in 2011.

Instead of being hired following an exhaustive interview process that permeates today’s job market, Disher was hired back then by Claflin’s

“I am thankful the citizens of Orangeburg have allowed me to serve for the past 48 years” sixth president, Dr. Hubert V. Manning, after a nice conversation and a handshake.

Things sure are different nowadays, Disher noted. But what hasn’t changed is Disher’s commitment to provide excellent medical care to Claflin students.

“It’s been great,” Disher said. “There have been quite a few changes over the years with the recent construction of new dorms and science buildings. The academics here at this great University have also increased in terms of both quantity and quality,” he said.

A native of Darlington, Disher graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from South Carolina State University and completed a medical degree in 1960 from Meherry Medical College School of Medicine.

Disher has been chair of the grants and proposal committee of the board of trustees for the National Medical Association, a member of the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners and was formerly chief of staff at the Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg. He is currently chairs the executive board of the Palmetto State Medical Dental Pharmaceutical Association, where he was also a past president in 1975.

Disher is married to Annette Moorer Disher and has eight children.

He is a member of New Mount Zion Baptist Church. In his spare time, he enjoys playing with his dog, Max, in addition to hunting and fishing.

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Sonja A. Bennett Assistant Vice President of Communications and Marketing Claflin University appointed Sonja A. Bennett as assistant vice president of communications and marketing in January.

“I feel I bring a diversity of experience that will benefit Claflin University. My main goal is to let the world know the many exemplary contributions that Claflin University makes in our society,” Bennett said.

A veteran in both broadcast journalism and public relations, Bennett arrives at Claflin having formerly served as associate vice president of marketing and communications at Saint Augustine’s College in Raleigh, North Carolina.

This is a homecoming of sorts for Bennett, who spent her childhood living in Orangeburg very close to the Claflin campus off Goff Avenue with her parents, Clarence and Veretta Abraham. She attended nearby Felton Laboratory School and graduated from Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School.

Today, Bennett is amazed at the strides the University has made under the leadership of President Dr. Henry N. Tisdale.

“I’m in awe of what of Dr. Tisdale has done to paint a progressive, innovative vision for the institution. It is truly humbling that he has chosen me to lead Claflin’s communication and marketing efforts,” Bennett said.

Her credentials in communications and marketing span both the public and private sectors. Previously, she has served as communications coordinator with the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, director of communications and public relations for the non-profit N.C. Community Development Initiative, Inc. and regional corporate liaison for Strayer University. Prior to that, she was a seasoned broadcast journalist and producer who worked with television stations in North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia and Indiana.

“The Claflin University family welcomes the addition of Sonja Bennett to our team. Her experience and leadership in the area of public relations and marketing will prove invaluable as we prepare to position our University as one of the premier undergraduate teaching and research institutions in the world,” Tisdale said.

Some advice Bennett received as a young reporter in Alabama during an interview with the late Coretta Scott King has stuck with her to this today. King told Bennett that God gave her dreams and aspirations and to never let anyone or anything stop them from becoming a reality.

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Recent Appointments

During visits back to Orangeburg, she witnessed the transformation at Claflin and desired to be a part of moving the University’s vision forward.

“It’s a life changing opportunity for me and I’m looking forward to it,” she said.

Bennett holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Indiana University and a master of business administration degree from Strayer University. She is the mother of two children, Raven and David. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, reading and spending time with friends and family.

Tijuana R. Hudson Associate Vice President of Fiscal Affairs Tijuana R. Hudson, CPA, has joined Claflin University as Associate Vice President of Fiscal Affairs. Hudson brings to her position a wealth of fiscal experience, knowledge and management in higher education.

A certified public accountant, she most recently served as vice president for administrative and financial affairs at Wilberforce University in Ohio. In that leadership role, she managed the Office of Human Resources, Business Office, Financial Aid Office, Bursar’s Office, Auxiliary Enterprises, Police Department, and Physical Plant/Facilities.

Hudson also served as chief financial officer at LemoyneOwen College in Memphis, Tenn.; director of finance, Church Health Center in Memphis; and senior assistant for Deloitte & Touche in Memphis. Hudson has been an entrepreneur and served in other fiscal leadership positions.

Hudson received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, Greensboro, N.C., and became a Certified Public Accountant in May 1992, North Carolina State Board of CPA Examiners.

Hudson is married to Rodney Hudson and they have two sons, William and Christopher.

Claflin Panthers Fifteen Inducted into Claflin University Athletics Hall of Fame Claflin University inducted 15 of its greatest athletes and coaches into the Athletics Hall of Fame during a ceremony in February.

“This is a time to both acknowledge and appreciate the rich athletic history of Claflin University and recognize

many of those who have helped to author it,” said Athletic Director Dr. Timothy J. Autry.

The late Hampton Jordan, a legendary softball coach at the University, was among those inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame.

During his 20-year tenure at Claflin from 1988 to 2008, his softball teams captured an astounding 13 Eastern Athletic Intercollegiate Championships and he was named the conference’s coach of the year six times. Claflin Sports Information Director Dr. Lionel Sabb noted that Jordan was so revered by his peers that the EIAC’s Coach of the Year Award is named in his honor. While at Claflin, Jordan also served as director of student activities. He was a 1975 graduate of Fort Valley State University with a degree in sociology.

Felicia Jenkins was named to the all-tournament team during the Lady Panther’s run through to the semifinals of the 1992 NAIA Championship Tournament. Today, she is thrilled to be a part of the 2011 Claflin Athletics Hall of Fame class.

“I’m been blessed to play and coach the game. The game has been good to me. I’m very humbled that I was even considered to be in the Hall of Fame,” said Jenkins, who has been the head coach of Benedict College women’s basketball team for the past six years.

Jenkins played two seasons for the Lady Panthers, averaging 12 points and six rebounds per game during her career. Jenkins was coached by the late Nelson Brownlee, the legendary Lady Panthers coach who was a previous Athletic Hall of Fame inductee. She is also a former assistant coach for the Lady Panthers during the tenure of former Head Coach Miriam Samuels. She is also a veteran of the United States Army and has three children. Her oldest son, Kris, is one of the nation’s top high school sophomore basketball players

and is being heavily recruited by top college programs.

This is the second class of the Claflin Athletics Hall of Fame. The first class, featuring 21 inductees, was inducted in 2009.

Members of the 2011 Claflin University Athletic Hall of Fame class are: the late Hampton Jordan, softball coach; Precious Caldwell, ’92, women’s basketball; Wanda Niles, ’94, women’s basketball; Joseph Canty, ’73, men’s basketball; Randy Simpson, ’93, men’s basketball; Otis Smart, ’75, men’s basketball; the late Macarthur Seaberry, ’71, compliance coordinator; Eric Mitchell, men’s basketball; George Lee, ’72, athletics administrator, tennis; Wendall Samuels, Sr., ’64, football, men’s basketball; Felicia Jenkins, ’92, women’s basketball; Norvell A. Chambers, ’60, football; Kershena A. Dickey, women’s basketball, and the late James Guydon, men’s basketball coach.

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Claflin Panthers

Volleyball The Claflin University volleyball team had a successful season, finishing first in the SIAC Eastern Division. The Lady Panthers finished the season with a 24-6 record and Head Coach Vernell Keitt-Capers was named SIAC Coach of the Year. Claflin defeated Savannah State University this season for their first win over a Division I opponent as a member of the NCAA Division II. Other highlights include Lauren Calvin, who was named SIAC Player of the Week three times; Faith Simmons and Toi Haynes-Shelman, named SIAC volleyball Players of the Week, respectively; Deisha Rivers was named to the All-Conference First Team and Calvin was named to the All-Conference Second Team and Haynes-Shelman was selected to the SIAC All-Academic Team with a 3.66 GPA.

Women’s Basketball A new era of women’s basketball began at Claflin University as former Francis Marion assistant Tiffany Tucker was named the new head coach.

The UNC-Chapel Hill alum was a member of the Lady Tar Heels that earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament from 2001 to 2005 while winning back-to-back Atlantic Coastal Conference titles in 2004 and 2005. Tucker went on to serve as an assistant coach at Carrboro (NC) High, Allegheny College and Radford University.

Having the opportunity to serve in the coaching ranks at various levels, it is Tucker’s hope that her experience will help Claflin reach new heights during her tenure.

“I’m about fighting,” Tucker said. “I’m about fighting to win. I’m about fighting to be the best in the classroom. I’m about all the other things besides the basketball. Basketball is only a piece. It’s only a vehicle to take us where we want to be.”

Claflin finished the season with an 8-19 record. Season highlights include Natalie Davis being named to the SIAC All-Conference Second Team and Lasaundra Barron and Britanni Goodwin were named SIAC Players of the Week.

Track and Field The Claflin Track and Field season was highlighted this year by national recognition for triple-jumper Laquan Priest. Priest earned All-American status with his fifth place finish in the NCAA National Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For the second consecutive year he was named South Region Male Field Athlete of the Year. He was also the 2010 SIAC triple-jump champion, SIAC Male Field Athlete of the Year and the SIAC Field Athlete of the Week after a first place finish in the long jump at the North Florida Invitational Track and Field meet.

“I am very pleased with my accomplishments this season, but it has not come without determination and hard work,” he said.

Keyona Smalls was voted the Women’s Track Athlete of the Year in the South Region. She earned her recognition with a 54.54 time in the 400 meter dash, which was the second best time in the nation. Smalls was also the SIAC champion in the 400 meter dash this season.

In other highlights, Larry Brunson named SIAC Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week. Latycia Milton was selected South Region Indoor Track Female Field Athlete of the Year for the second year in a row and SIAC All-Conference Female Field Athlete.

Softball The Lady Panthers began the season with a 14 game winning streak. This was the best start of the season for Lady Panthers’ softball since becoming a member of the SIAC and NCAA Division II. The victims of the Lady Panthers’ early success were Edward Waters College, Johnson C Smith, Benedict College, Paine College and Spelman College. Coach Matisse Lee was named SIAC Softball Coach of the Year. Other team accomplishments include Myiah Smith being named SIAC Softball Player of the Week twice; Kristian Spearman was named Pitcher of the Week twice; Shaquisha Woods was named Pitcher of the Week; Antonya Pharr and Myiah Smith were named to SIAC All-Conference Second Team. Smith was named to SIAC All-Tournament Team. The Lady Panthers finished the season with a 33-15 overall record, 14-12 in the SIAC. 30

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Baseball The Claflin baseball team was ranked 10th in the final Black College Baseball.com Division II/NAIA poll. The Panthers finished 24-22 overall after finishing second in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference East Division. They finished a game short of reaching the tournament final after losing to Albany State. The baseball team earned the SIAC’s first place trophy for academic standing.

In other season highlights, Donald Smith and Lenard Williams were named to the SIAC baseball preseason All-Conference First Team; Fedor Herrera was named to the SIAC Preseason Baseball Second Team; Breylon Emory was named SIAC Pitcher of the Week; Chauncey Davis, Donald Smith were named to SIAC All-Conference First Team; Brett Bullard and Breylon Emory were named to SIAC All-Tournament Baseball Team. Bullard, Fedor Herrera, and Andy Till were named to SIAC All-Academic Team.

Men’s Basketball The Panthers experienced a rebuilding year, as the team posted a record of 12-16.

The Panthers were competitive, but inexperience in the backcourt caused Claflin some close victories. The mid-season injury to point guard Ja’Wan Davis did not help as Head Coach Ron Woodard had to utilize his backups at the position.

The post was the most solid position as Stacy Mcalister, Efe Odigie and backup Jazwan Wilson helped make Claflin the most feared team in the paint area.

Shooting guard Eric Salley had a solid season, scoring 30 or more points 6 times and tallying 40 points on one occasion. Salley named SIAC Player of the Week three times. He ended his career fourth in the nation in scoring, and earned First Team All-SIAC in basketball. Salley was also chosen to participate in the Black Colleges and Universities All-Star Classic on April 23 2011, in Columbus, Ga. Stacy McAlister was named SIAC Player of the Week

Cheerleading The Lady Panthers cheerleading squad won the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship this season. It was the first time the cheerleading squad has formally participated in a competition since the University gained NCAA status.

“This was very gratifying. It was a surprise. But I did have a good feeling about it,” said Coach Meko Ravenell. “The team and I owe tremendous gratitude to our visionary Athletics Director Dr. Timothy Autry and the entire department for their support.”

Ravenell also acknowledged Assistant Coach Leslie Simpson and Lanequa Ferguson, the squad’s chaplain, for their instrumental roles in the victory.

Team Captain Jasmine Cobb, a senior from Greenville, noted Claflin beat out four-time defending SIAC Champs Morehouse College to capture the title.

“I’ve been on the team the past four years. It was a lot of dedication and hard work for us to get here,” Cobb said. “I just told the team that we practiced this routine and we got it. We went out there knowing that we could win it. It was exciting – a little breathtaking.”

Go Panthers !

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Advancing Claflin Claflin Launches Historic $96.4 million Capital Campaign

T

The Campaign for Claflin University, the most ambitious strategic fundraising effort in the institution’s 142-year history, was publically launched on June 30 during a press conference at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

Claflin University President Dr. Henry N. Tisdale said the $96.4 million campaign would make a strong university even stronger and prepare its graduates to solve the world’s most critical problems of the 21st century.

“This is an effort that will propel this institution to achieve our vision of becoming one of the premier undergraduate teaching and research universities in the world, and help strengthen our state’s ambition to be on the front line of innovative research and technological advancement in this global society,” Tisdale said.

To date, The Campaign for Claflin University has raised more than $55 million toward the campaign goal. The University has secured commitments and contributions from a vast array of constituents. With the theme “Imagine the Possibilities” the campaign seeks to elevate Claflin’s already lofty standing in the realm of higher education to unprecedented heights.

Campaign Chair James A. Bennett, a member of the Claflin Board of Trustees, outlined how funds from the campaign will support not only the University but the nation, region and world.

“This campaign calls us to ‘Imagine the Possibilities’…

It calls us to open our minds to the many opportunities

Capital Campaign Chair James Bennett discusses The Campaign for Claflin University.

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President Henry N. Tisdale addresses local media at a press conference marking the launch of the capital campaign.

we will create for promising young people who want to go to college, pursue their dreams and make better lives for themselves and those around them,” Bennett said.

The campaign is focused on three specific areas where the funding will be utilized: building the endowment, strengthening academic programs and enhancing infrastructure.

“This capital campaign challenges us take bold steps to make Claflin University even stronger,” Bennett said.

“Claflin is well positioned among premier institutions of higher learning, but this campaign ensures that we will educate and graduate students who will strengthen our nation’s workforce and use their chosen careers to solve some of the world’s most critical problems. I invite you to join this great University and imagine the endless possibilities now before us as we take this journey to invest in the future of Claflin University.”

Following the press conference, a luncheon/symposium was held at the convention center. The university hosted local business, government, and community leaders and informed them about the details of the campaign. Later, a dinner was held on the Claflin University campus. University administrators, faculty, staff, and students were joined by members of the Orangeburg community to celebrate the launch of the historic campaign.

Imagine the Possibilities…

Marcus Fogle Named Manager of the Annual Fund

Call Center to Help Make Claflin the First to 50 Alumni and friends of Claflin University have been receiving friendly phone calls to thank them and ask for their continued support. The University’s Call Center has been instrumental in reaching more alumni and has garnered tangible results.

Vice President for Institutional Advancement Rev. Whittaker V. Middleton noted the Call Center is an integral component of Claflin’s First to 50 Campaign, a fundraising initiative that seeks to make the University the first Historically Black College or University nationally to reach the plateau of a 50 percent alumni contribution rate.

Last year, 43 percent of Claflin’s alumni made financial contributions to the institution.

In addition, he noted the Call Center is a way to thank all supporters of the institution.

“Through the Call Center, we are able to engage more of our alumni on a regular basis,” Rev. Middleton said.

The funding for the Call Center came from part of a $1 million United Negro College Fund/Kresge Foundation Capacity Building Grant. The University hired Marilyn Keenan to be the Call Center Coordinator.

Keenan comes to Claflin with a vast knowledge of the telecommunications industry. She had a 25-year career with Bell South/AT&T where she served in a variety of capacities.

In addition to creating a broader network of alumni and other stakeholders, the Call Center is going to provide around 20-25 students the opportunity to earn a little extra money as well as gain experience in telemarketing.

Since opening last spring, the Call Center has made more than 52,000 calls to constituents and garnered north of $121,000 in pledges.

Claflin University is pleased to announce Marcus Fogle,’ 09, has been appointed as manager of the annual fund in the Division of Institutional Advancement.

“I plan to bring innovative ideas to the table. Giving is a learned trait.

My goal is to encourage all of our distinguished alumni to frequently and passionately give back to our institution,” Fogle said. “I also plan to utilize the latest technology to assist the Division’s efforts to become the first HBCU in the nation to have a 50 percent alumni giving rate.”

As manager of the annual fund, Fogle is charged with coordinating the annual fund campaign for the University.

Fogle recently earned a master of business administration degree from the Claflin’s School of Business, where he previously graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business management.

“I love the faculty and staff at Claflin. They really show you that anything is possible. I felt at home right away here,” Fogle said.

The Columbia native was a residential advisor during his time as a student at the University. He feels that connection with the student body

“I love the faculty and staff at Claflin. They really show you that anything is possible. I felt at home right away here”

will inspire them to become thoroughly engaged in fundraising. He particularly wants to have younger alumni more involved in the institution’s fundraising activities as well.

Vice President for Institutional Advancement Rev. Whittaker V. Middleton believes Fogle’s longtime connection with the University will improve the Division’s capacity to reach its fundraising goals.

“We are on a valiant mission to position Claflin University among the top institutions in the world. To reach that goal, we need talented and motivated individuals such as Mr. Fogle to inspire and recruit alumni to this noble cause,” Middleton said. “The Division of Institutional Advancement at Claflin is one of the strongest advancement teams around and it just got even stronger with the addition of Mr. Fogle.”

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Advancing Claflin

William H. Johnson, center, presents a check for $75,000 to Vice President for Institutional Advancement Rev. Whittaker V. Middleton and President Henry N. Tisdale.

Norfolk Southern Foundation Awards Claflin University $75,000 Norfolk Southern Foundation, the philanthropic giving affiliate of the Norfolk Southern Corporation, has awarded Claflin University a three-year $75,000 grant to support of the University’s academic scholarship fund and campus infrastructure enhancements.

“I am extremely pleased that the Norfolk Southern Corporation has chosen to continue supporting Claflin’s core commitment to excellence in undergraduate teaching and research,” President Dr. Henry N. Tisdale said.

“Such generous contributions from our corporate neighbors suggest a collaborative effort which benefits our community generally and the University’s mission specifically.”

William H. Johnson, senior attorney and chief intellectual property counsel for Norfolk Southern, presented the first installment check of $25,000 to Tisdale on May 5.

Johnson, a 1972 honors graduate of Claflin University and a member of Claflin’s Board of Visitors, is an exemplary model of the kind of visionary leaders the University boasts of producing. After graduating from Claflin, he went on to Duke University School of Law where he received his Juris Doctorate degree in 1975 and further studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Temple University.

He joined Norfolk Southern in 1999 and was recently recognized in the 8th edition of the Law 2011 publication, 34

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as one among the talented attorneys representing the in-house law departments of the top 500 companies.

“As a major corporation operating in both large and small communities throughout the eastern United States, the Norfolk Southern Corporation takes its role as a corporate citizen seriously and is committed to support the communities it serves. This grant to Claflin is consistent with that recognition and commitment,” said Johnson.

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.

From left to right: Vice President for Institutional Advancement Rev. Whittaker V. Middleton, John Featherston, Nora Featherston, President Dr. Henry N. Tisdale and Trustee Emeritus James E. Hunter.

John and Nora Featherston Honored during 2010 Leadership Giving Luncheon John S. and Nora B. Featherston first heard about Claflin University in the early 1990s through their affiliation with the United Methodist Church.

The longtime residents of Spartanburg, South Carolina have been admirers and generous contributors to the University ever since.

The Featherstons were recognized

by Claflin University as the 2010

I n s t i t u t i o n a l Adv a n c e m e n t

Leadership Giving Special Honorees for their contributions to the institution.

“Claflin has high academic standards,” said Mrs. Featherston. “Claflin fills a real need in our state and has many distinguished alumni. We just enjoy the campus. It is beautiful, classy place.”

The Featherstons have established an endowed scholarship for students here at the University.

“I have met some of the recipients from our scholarship fund. They seem to me to be outstanding young men and women who will make a difference in the world one day,” she said.

The couple shares a passion for children and they are long-time advocates of higher education. The Featherstons are lifelong members of the United Methodist Church and faithful members of Trinity United Methodist Church in Spartanburg. They have two children, John S. Jr., and the late Wilson Hull.

A total of 203 supporters of the University made cash gifts of $1,000 or more to Claflin, totaling $636,632.80 between Oct. 16, 2009 and Oct. 15, 2010. Those individuals were honored at the luncheon which occurred during 141st Homecoming and Founders’ Day Weekend.

Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation Awards Claflin $82,000 for Scholarships Claflin University is pleased to announce that the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation awarded the institution an $82,000 grant for general scholarships during the 2011-2012 academic year.

President Dr. Henry N. Tisdale noted that the Whitehead Foundation has supported the University’s efforts to educate young women of vision since 1994.

“Because of the generous contributions by the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation over the years, countless students have benefited from a world class education at Claflin University,” Tisdale said. “The Foundation has

Advancing Claflin

awarded the University its largest grant yet in the upcoming academic year. This is evidence of a fruitful collaboration which serves to educate the next generation of visionary leaders.”

The Whitehead Foundation provides grants for need-based scholarships to deserving Christian women who are residents of nine Southeastern states.

The Atlanta, Georgia based foundation was established in 1946.

our Athletics Department. It will ensure our student athletes are accomplished both on and off the field of play.”

Vice President of Institutional Advancement Rev. Whittaker V. Middleton, left, and President Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, right, accept a check from Claflin Trustee and Bank of America Senior Vice President Gregg N. Frierson.

Bank of America Contributes to Claflin Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance Dr. Jerome Fitch, right, accepts thanks from President Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, center, on behalf of his aunt, Rachel B. French, for her donation to the Athletics Department.

Athletics Director Dr. Timothy J. Autry is pictured on the left.

Claflin University Athletics Department Receives $25,000 Contribution Rachel B. French of Bradenton, Florida graciously donated $25,000 to the University’s Athletics Department.

“This is a very generous contribution coming to the University for our Athletics Department,” said President Henry N. Tisdale. “The Claflin family would like to thank Mrs. French for her support.”

The donation is to assist the Department of Athletics in the areas of academic support for student athletes and compliance enhancements.

French is the aunt of Dr. Jerome Fitch, assistance athletics director for compliance at Claflin.

Athletics Director Dr. Timothy J. Autry expressed gratitude for French’s support of Claflin student athletes.

“We most humbly appreciate Mrs. French’s philanthropy,” Autry said.

“This funding will allow us to further excel in areas critical to the success of

A Bank of America contribution will ensure Claflin freshman have adequate computers to tutor and prepare students for the rigors of higher education.

In December, Claflin Trustee Gregg N. Frierson, a senior vice president

with Bank of America, presented President Dr. Henry N. Tisdale with a check acknowledging a $22,500 grant.

That money will be used to purchase computers for the Freshman College.

“I am extremely pleased that Bank of America has chosen to support Claflin University,” said Rev. Whittaker V. Middleton, vice president of institutional advancement. “We expect this contribution to foster a long lasting and mutually beneficial relationships between us.”

Dr. Zia Hasan, vice president for planning, assessment and information technology, noted the computers will assist the Freshman College’s goal of encouraging and inspiring young scholars.

“At Claflin University, we aspire to create visionary leaders who will positively impact the world,” Hasan said.

“The critical component in becoming a visionary at Claflin is to start off on the right path. This grant will help many of our students embark along that path.”

5th Annual Golf Classic raises $30,000 Jason Tate and Rhett Jenkins had played golf together only a handful of times prior to teeing it up at the 5th Annual Claflin University Golf Classic. The duo might consider teaming up more often now after posting a score of 58 to blow away the field en route to capturing their first Classic title.

Cobblestone Park Golf Course was no match for the formula of Jenkins consistently hitting greens in regulation and Tate’s lighting putter.

The Classic is held every year during Claflin’s Homecoming Week to benefit the Focus 100 Scholarship Fund, an emergency assistance endowment for students who otherwise couldn’t attend the University due to financial hardship. The Classic raised more than $30,000 for Focus 100 this year.

“It’s having fun for a good cause,” said Tate, who is the director of food services at the University. “It was a pleasure to be out here. I’ve always been passionate about helping young people reached their path to success,” said Jenkins.

President Dr. Henry N. Tisdale thanked all of the golfers their support of the University. He also expressed gratitude Jamison’s Pharmacy, the title sponsor, and to Claflin Board of Trustees Chairman Paul V. Fant and Trustee James A. Bennett for co-chairing the event.

“I do believe that the key for our state and University is to invest in education,” Tisdale said.

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Claflin University Students Establishing Tradition of Philanthropy

In recent years, there’s been a movement among the Claflin University student body to give back to the institution that is providing them an education.

Since 2008, students have donated more than $48,000 to Claflin.

On March 28, the newly established tradition continued as the Claflin University family assembled to celebrate it’s first-ever Student Philanthropy Day, an event designed to motivate and encourage students to give back to the University.

Student Philanthropy Day was the kick-off event to Springfest. The event featured a barbeque competition between Director of Alumni Affairs/ Annual Fund Marcus Burgess and Director of Admissions Michael Zeigler.

All proceeds benefitted the University.

The competition equally served as a great fellowship opportunity for students and a chance for them to become involved in fundraising.

“Once students see what their money is going to, they will be more prone to give. I think if the students see their leadership is giving, then they will give a little to support their education. Students can support Claflin whether they give 50 cents or $10,000,” said Steven Dial, 2010-2011 president of the Student Government Association.

Victoria Desormeaux, a political science major, says it is important for students, faculty and alumni alike to give back to the institution. ”It improves the overall quality of education students receive and invokes a feeling of pride toward our institution. Everyone benefits by supporting the University,” she said.

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Claflin Continues to Expand Fundraising Capacity with $1 Million Grant Claflin University has seen a dramatic boost in philanthropic participation and the monetary amount of donations since receiving a $1 million United Negro College Fund/Kresge Foundation Capacity Building grant in 2008.

“This generous grant from the UNCF and the Kresge Foundation has afforded Claflin the ability to tremendously enhance our fundraising abilities,” said Rev. Whittaker V. Middleton, vice president for institutional advancement. “The grant has put us in position to reach our goals of increasing our alumni giving rate to 50 percent participation and engaging more support for the University.”

The University has two goals with the grant money: building capacity with alumni and Board of Trustees members and expand fundraising operations at Claflin. Thus far, Claflin’s alumni giving rate has increased from 35 percent to 43 percent annually. And the number of alumni giving and how much they give has increased as well. Trustee giving is at 100 percent.

Because of the grant, Claflin has established a Call Center to contact and thank donors and seek their continued support.

“Through the Call Center, we are able to engage more of our alumni on a regular basis,” Middleton said.

In addition, the Division of Institutional Advancement, the University’s fundraising arm, has filled five positions with the funding.

Marilyn Keenan, Call Center manager; Marion Jamison, III, major gifts officer; Marcus Fogle, manager of the annual fund; Yolanda Williams, director of prospect research; and Cassandra Odom, administrative assistant, were all appointed to their respective positions since the grant has been implemented.

“It has completely enhanced our outreach efforts,” said Leandra HayesThomas, assistant vice president for major and planned giving. “We have been able to better connect with our alumni, friends and trustees.”

Hayes-Thomas noted the Division’s fundraisers have attended professional development workshops and seminars. She also pointed that Claflin is better able to engage potential donors through the prospect research work of Williams.

Also, the University has begun a campaign called “Circles of Influence” where the University’s benefactors point out others they know who may potentially contribute to support Claflin’s mission. Hayes-Thomas said that members of the Board of Trustees are more active in the fundraising process.

With the UNCF/Kresge funding, the University has launched Net Community, an online forum for alumni. The Claflin website now features the ability for donors to contribute online to the University.

Another positive aspect of the grant is that students are giving to the University at an unprecedented rate. Students alone have given more than $48,000 since 2008.

Hayes-Thomas said the extra funding to build capacity has Claflin shooting for the next level. In addition to seeking to become the first historically black college or university to reach a 50 percent alumni giving rate, Claflin’s goal is to reach $1 million in gifts to the annual fund each year.

“At Claflin University, we have a vision to establish our institution as one of the finest undergraduate and teaching universities in the world,” Middleton said. “To accomplish that, we need tremendous resources and this grant put us in the position to achieve our vision.

I n s t i t u t i o n a l Adv a n c e m e n t

Alumni Connections Taking the Reins

Young Alumni Giving on the Rise

One of Claflin’s young alumni Ernest Mensah, ’06

Octavia Smalls, ’00, views philanthropy as a means to bring people together who want to do something positive for the greater good. It was that desire that prompted her to give back to her alma mater.

“By making an investment in Claflin, I am giving a student an opportunity for a quality education at an excellent institution,” she said. “Claflin instilled in me that to whom much is given much is required. I am giving back to an institution that gave me an opportunity to excel.”

Claflin is beginning to see its alumni support shift to a new generation as young alumni have made considerable commitments to their alma mater. According to Marcus Burgess, director of alumni relations and the annual fund, young alumni are emerging as sustainable givers to the university.

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Members of the Charlotte Alumni Chapter pose during a chapter meeting. The recent convention in Charlotte was largely spearheaded by young alumni.

“We have changed the way we engage our young alumni,” Burgess said. “In addition to communicating with them face-to-face, we are using new tools such as our alumni website, Facebook, Twitter and the Call Center technology to reach them. And we are finding out their loves and appealing to them. For example, we are planning events that cater to them and that they want to come to.”

The proof is in the numbers. Of the 2,909 alumni who donated to Claflin in 2010, 1,130 were young alumni who graduated between 1991 and 2011. That represents 38 percent of alumni donors. Young alumni accounted for 17 percent of the total dollars raised.

“These numbers show that they are not only engaged, but are choosing to actively participate in financially supporting their alma mater,” Burgess said. “What’s even better is that it doesn’t stop with their giving. These folks are taking leadership roles in our alumni chapters. Our recent convention in Charlotte was largely spearheaded by young alumni.”

Dr. Michelle McGill, ’05, now a chiropractor, said the education and life experiences she received at Claflin inspired her to give back to Claflin and “pay it forward to our up and coming stars.”

“I felt the need to contribute to Claflin in order to perpetuate its great legacy,” she said. “Claflin University is very unique; it builds an individual all-around, not just academically. Claflin helped to hone the tools that my parents instilled since I was a child, hence making me a dynamic individual; or as Dr. Tisdale would label ‘A Visionary Leader.’”

Laticia Archie, ’01, credits her interactions with leaders, supportive administrators and a diverse pool of students for her becoming a well-rounded professional and fully engaged in philanthropic initiatives.

“I have been emotionally committed to this school for a long time so the financial commitment came natural,” said Archie who is the vice president of North America Professional and Executive Recruiting at Citigroup, Inc. in New 38

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A l um n i C o n n e c t i o n s

York. “I encourage every alumni of Claflin to consider giving back. Better yet, consider the opportunity to create a legacy and make a difference in the life of someone else.

While I won’t get a financial return on my investment, I understand my return is even greater. It is providing a student with books, scholarships and room and board.”

Burgess said the Office of Alumni Affairs and Annual Fund will continue to meet young alumni where they are, in hopes of motivating them to give and to inspire others to do so. The University’s Pre-Alumni Council plants the seed early, teaching undergrads to be philanthropic and instilling in them the importance of supporting their alma mater. Ernest Mensah, ’06, said his desire to give began as a freshman at Claflin.

“Having been a beneficiary of Claflin’s investment in my own college education, I deem it a responsibility to participate in investing in the institution,” he said. “I started as a freshman during my matriculation. The history of Claflin’s benefactors since its founding is an incredible inspiring story for me.”

Mensah, who is currently employed at Goldman Sachs, said it is commendable to be charitable, but it’s even better to be strategic and targeted by contributing to endeavors you are passionate about. Giving to Claflin, he said, is one of the smartest investments alumni can make. Smalls and McGill agree.

“For other alumni considering contributing I would say, ‘what are you waiting for’” McGill said. “As a young alumna, I understand that we are actively working to achieve our goals. However, your contribution only has to come from the heart, whatever amount; collectively we make the difference!”

“Whether you have $10 or $1000…every little bit helps a student at Claflin,” Smalls added. “No donation is ever too small and it is never too late to start giving back to your alma mater.”

Alumni Connections

Claflin Alumnus Eppechal Smalls Appointed as Vice President at Wilberforce University Eppechal T. Smalls, ’98, admits he was never an ‘A’ student while attending Claflin University. But the Cincinnati, Ohio native has received top grades in the field of fundraising and, perhaps, demonstrating the value of the Claflin experience.

Smalls was recently appointed the vice president for development at Wilberforce University, a private historically black college in southwestern Ohio with an enrollment of 850 students. His vision is to build that institution’s capacity to new heights by establishing a structured fundraising program.

“It’s a grand opportunity to rebuild a program and surpass its past greatness,” he said.

Smalls first learned the various aspects of fundraising under the guidance of Vice President of Institutional Advancement Rev. Whittaker V. Middleton. Upon graduation, Middleton offered the Walterboro native the position of director of the annual fund.

“I really thank Rev. Middleton and President (Henry N.) Tisdale. That job was my start in fundraising and it really helped to get me where I am today. It’s been a true blessing from God,” Small said.

During his four-year professional tenure at Claflin, Smalls assisted in establishing four new chapters of the Claflin University International Alumni Association, raised $40,000 in gifts and pledges in one year through a phonea-thon and assisted with a $30 million capital campaign which exceeded its original target by 33 percent.

Smalls said he isn’t done progressing through the ranks of higher education. His ultimate goal is to become a college president or be appointed to a high level position with the UNCF.

Claflin University Alumni Ravenell and Williams Lead Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office In 2005, veteran lawmen Leroy Ravenell and Rene Williams graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and sociology from Claflin University. Today, Ravenell is the sheriff of Orangeburg County and Williams is his second in command.

“Claflin has definitely helped me with the administration role and the law enforcement aspect of running the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office,” said Ravenell, who was inaugurated on Feb. 4. “The role of education in law enforcement is critical. To put on paper that I have my degree from Claflin University that means a whole lot.”

Both Ravenell and Williams furthered their education after Claflin by obtaining a master’s degree in criminal justice from Troy University. Now, they are serving as adjunct professors in criminal justice at Claflin.

Ravenell was elected sheriff in January to fill the unexpired term of the late Sheriff Larry Williams, ’06. Upon taking office, the 23-year law enforcement veteran tapped Williams to assume the rank of major in the Sheriff’s Office.

“Claflin has greatly enhanced my ability to be a good leader,” Williams said. “It gave me a complete understanding of policing the community and how grasping geography can assist in our efforts to make Orangeburg safe for our citizens.”

Ravenell said his leadership style emulates that of Claflin President Dr. Henry N. Tisdale.

“I do not micromanage. I’ll tell and show my employees what needs to be done. I lead by example. I kind of look at myself like Dr. Tisdale – quiet, laid back and reserved,” he said.

Ravenell’s vision for the Sheriff’s Office is to up the ante on professionalism and originate some programs to prevent and curb crime in the county.

Ravenell began his career with the Santee Police Department and the state Department of Corrections in 1987. Two years later, he was hired by the Sheriff’s Office where he worked ever since.

Williams recalls the day several years ago when Ravenell first thought about enrolling at Claflin. The two were on a lunch break. Ravenell asked Williams if he would mind making a quick stop before dining. Williams said that would be fine.

Ravenell’s vehicle ended up at the Claflin’s Center for Professional and Continuing Studies. Doing what he jokingly referred to as “being noisy,” Williams followed his colleague to meet Dr. Gloria Seabrook, who is now the interim executive director of the Center.

Williams watched as Seabrook convinced an initially reluctant Ravenell to enroll at Claflin.

“I had served nearly 20 years in law enforcement at the time,” Ravenell said. “That was one of the reasons I had doubts about it because I was nearing retirement. But Dr. Seabrook convinced me that this was the right move.

The degree is something that has definitely helped me.”

After she convinced Ravenell, Seabrook then turned to Williams and asked, “What are you going to do?”

Williams then signed up to enroll that same day as well. “I remember I was so excited about it,” he said.

Ravenell reflected on his time at Claflin as a student and professor as overwhelming positive.

“Claflin University has a real good feel and connection with the professional world,” he said.

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Alumni Connections

Claflin University Alumni News and Notes Alumni Class Notes are an opportunity for alumni to keep classmates and the greater Claflin community informed of significant accomplishments. This information will appear in upcoming University magazines and newsletters.

We want to hear updates from you!

When writing to us, please include your full name (with maiden name, if applicable), class year and current address and phone number.

For general announcements, such as awards, recognitions, degrees earned and career advancements, please submit a brief typewritten summary of your accomplishments, along with a headshot (optional).

For marriage announcements, please also include both partners’ names and the ceremony date.

For birth announcements, please include the parents’ names along with the child’s birthdate, full name, and siblings, if applicable.

Having this information helps us serve you better. Claflin does not record engagements.

There are three ways to submit an alumni note for publication: • Write: Charlene Slaughter, Claflin Magazine Alumni Notes, 400 Magnolia Street, Orangeburg, SC 29115 • Fax: (803) 535-5352, Typed notes only, please.

• Email: cslaughter@claflin.edu • On the Web: Join Netcommunity at http://alumni.claflin.edu/Net Community// and submit your updates in the Class Notes section.

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Alumni News and Notes

Civil Rights Veterans Gaither and Davis Featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show Two Claflin University alumni who were veterans of the Civil Rights Movement appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show May 4 to discuss their experiences in the fight for equality five decades ago.

Dr. Thomas Gaither, ’60, and his sister, Glenda Gaither Davis, ’63, were among the group of the legendary Freedom Riders to appear on the show. Davis was also featured on the PBS special “Freedom Riders” that aired in May. The Freedom Riders were a group of several hundred non-violent protestors that desired to test the strength of a Supreme Court ruling that said desegregation of buses and trains across state lines was unconstitutional.

They rode together in large numbers on those trains and buses from state to state in 1961. Freedom Riders were often met with discrimination, and in some cases violence or imprisonment.

Davis moved to Georgia after graduating Claflin. She was a teacher for 38 years. Her late husband, James, ’62, was also a Freedom Rider.

Gaither received his doctorate in plant biology/botany with a specialty in mycology from the University of Iowa. He spent 39 years as a professor and member of faculty in the biology department at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.

Cecil Williams, ’60, Inducted into National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame During the 1950s and 1960s, Cecil J. Williams, ’60, gave notice to the quiet heroes of the Civil Rights Movement through his photography. On Sept.

24, 2010, the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc. resoundingly acknowledged Williams with its highest honor – inducting him into its Hall of Fame.

Williams was among the 11 pioneers inducted to the NBCA Hall of Fame at a special ceremony in Atlanta.

He was chosen for his “exceptional achievements in the field of arts and entertainment.”

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A nationally renowned photographer, publisher and author, Williams’ photos have appeared in 126 books, 17 newspapers and 12 television documentaries. To this day, Williams, the University’s official photographer, credits his ability to tell the story of Civil Rights’ quiet heroes to Claflin.

Henry N. Tisdale, ‘65, was selected to receive the “Omega Century Award of Excellence” at the Omega Psi Phi Centennial Celebration in Washington, D.C., July 29.

Rev. Larry McCutcheon, ’72 Inducted into Fraternity Hall of Fame

The brothers of Phi Beta Sigma honored Rev. Larry D. McCutcheon by inducting him into the James T. Floyd Hall of Fame, named for the 25th national president of the organization who hails from the Southeast Region.

The induction ceremony was held at Claflin University, McCutcheon’s alma mater where he joined the Omicron chapter in 1969. Rev. McCutcheon is the pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Orangeburg and has been affiliated with the Eta Omicron Sigma Chapter in Orangeburg and the Beta Mu Sigma Chapter in Charleston. He has held both regional and international offices including the fraternity’s General Board, the Regional Director’s Council, Southeastern Regional Director, and South Carolina State Director. He has been inducted into the Distinguished Service Chapter and is a Life Member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. He serves as the Omicron Chapter advisor.

Alumni Connections

Vela McClamMitchell, ‘75 Recognized as Outstanding Claflin Alumna Vela McClam-Mitchell was acknowledged for her contributions as an outstanding alumna of Claflin University during the 65th annual United Negro College Fund National Alumni Council Leadership Conference in Birmingham, Ala. on Feb. 5. McClam-Mitchell was previously a vice president at the e-commerce corporation Worldspan, which is now owned by Orbitz.com. There, she co-developed the online travel space, an arena where patrons can book flights and hotels simultaneously, that spawned such sites as Expedia.com and Travelocity.com.

Sylvia Green-Ellis, ’78, has received the Significant Contribution Award at the Chief Financial Officer Conference held in May, 2011. She received the award in recognition of their exceptional budget and financial support provided during the implementation and execution of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act at the Department of Energy, Savannah River Operations Office.

Pamela Davenport, ’79 Receives South Carolina Outstanding Librarian Award Pamela Davenport,’79, a former work study student under the tutalege of former H.V. Manning Library Director Louisa Robinson, was the recipient of the 2010 South Carolina Outstanding Librarian Award.

The Outstanding Librarian Award recognizes and honors someone who has initiated or developed an innovative program to generate interest in reading. She received the honor at the S.C. Library Association Conference in Myrtle Beach.

Davenport is the current director of the State Library’s Talking Book Services.

Claflin Classroom Inspires Students 500 Miles Away

Six years ago, Decius Brown shook Claflin University President Dr. Henry N. Tisdale’s hand when he received a diploma in physical education. Today, Mr. Brown’s number one goal is to ensure children at his Washington, D.C. charter school have the same opportunity to walk on stage for their college graduations.

“We reach out to underserved communities. It’s really been a great thing since I’ve been here,” Brown said. “We are giving them everything they need to get to college.”

He is a physical education teacher at KIPP DC AIM Academy, a charter school for grades 5-8 located in the nation’s capital. Last year, the school administration gave him an added duty – construct an inspirational concept to motivate the young students toward magnificent student achievement with the eventual goal of seeking a higher education.

That charge prompted Brown, a native of Lake City, S.C., to think about what inspired him. It didn’t too long for Brown to think to come up with the answer- two words: Claflin University.

“Claflin played a major role in changing my life,” he said. “It inspired me to be a better person.”

Following that premise, Brown figured – and correctly so – that Claflin would also inspire his students. So, he adorned the classroom with all things Claflin. But more importantly, he instilled important hallmarks of a Claflinite, such as the Claflin Confidence and a penchant for community service.

And so the Claflin Classroom was born. The Classroom is made up of 23 African American boys. The order of the day there is to promote all aspects of student achievement. Brown says the positive reinforcement is producing positive results.

He said their test scores are rising along with their self-esteem.

Semaj Robbins, a student in the Classroom, said he loves the close knit nature of his classmates.

“We want to be part of the community. My classmates are like brothers,” Robbins said.

After observing the positive influence the Classroom had on her students, Brown’s colleague, Gaelan Gallagher, decided to email Tisdale’s office. She was quite impressed by the quick and kind response she got. However, kind words weren’t the only thing she received. The University sent each student in Brown’s class a Claflin tee shirt and other items.

Gallagher’s overtures to Claflin were unbeknownst to Mr. Brown. She decided to surprise him. She gave the students the shirts and instructed them to wear them under their jackets and sweaters when they came to school the next day.

The students then unveiled their new shirts to Brown when he walked into the Classroom.

“It really warmed my heart. I just couldn’t stop smiling,” he said. “They (the students) were excited to have the shirts.”

The students often ask questions about Claflin University which Brown happily answers.

“Now, Claflin is not just an idea. It’s something they hold in their possession,” he said.

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Claflin Alumnus Dr. Leo Twiggs to Publish Book Featuring his Renowned Art

Granita C. (Hicks) Richardson, ’88, published her first book titled “When Loving You is Right, but I Want to Be Wrong.” It can be purchased through Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com and Borders.com. The electronic version is also available for download.

Adam McFadden, ‘94 Listed Among Rochester’s Top 40 Most Influential People

Dr. Leo Twiggs, ’56, is set to release a book titled Messages from Home: The Art of Leo Twiggs in August.

The book will brush a broad stroke over the 40-year career that has made Twiggs a nationally renowned name in the world of art. Messages contains more than 150 reproductions of Twiggs’ paintings spanning 320 pages.

Twiggs said that he sought to make the book itself an artistic experience by carefully selecting and placing his reproduced art in a meaningful way throughout. Messages will also feature several die cuts renditions of his work and a 44-inch foldout section.

“I wanted my book to feel like a work of art,” he said. “In the age of electronic media, this book will be a little different.”

Twiggs first conjured up the idea of Messages in 2006 after he finished an art show at the University of Georgia, where he became the first AfricanAmerican to earn a doctorate of arts from that institution.

Those interested in purchasing Messages when it’s released in August can do by emailing ltwiggs@sc.rr.com or writing to this address: 420 Woodlawn Drive, Orangeburg, S.C. 29115.

Claflin alumni can receive the book for the special price of $54.95. The regular price is $59.95.

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Rochester Magazine, a publication dedicated to highlighting events and lifestyle in Rochester, New York, named Adam McFadden among the Top 40 Most Influential Rochesterians.

As city councilman, McFadden was instrumental in developing a troubled neighborhood. He also runs a nonprofit organization that has established youth programs like little league baseball to keep children off the streets.

“I’ve used that seat to do a lot of good things especially for minorities and the poor,” he said of his position on city council. “I think my ability to speak truth to their condition has led to some changes here.”

Tony Hemingway’ 96, Writes for Charlotte Magazine Tony Hemingway, ’96, is writing for the Charlotte Exclusive in Charlotte, N.C. His articles feature information about what’s happening in the Charlotte area. “I have been in Charlotte for a few years and have really enjoyed discovering the hidden treasures of this city. I have a passion for art, music, and writing. The only thing better than a good book, is an empty page with lots of fresh ideas.”

To read a sample of Hemingway’s articles online, visit http://charlotteexclusive.com/2011/04/weekendernightlife-guide-district-300/ or http:// charlotteexclusive.com/2011/04/ weekender-nightlife-guide-epicentre/.

A l um n i C o n n e c t i o n s

Harold Dion Sturgis, ’96, married Melody McCall on July 9, 2011.

Sturgis is currently employed as a guidance counselor with Fairfield County Schools. Mrs. Sturgis is a graduate of Alabama State University and is currently employed as a math teacher with Richland One School District. The couple honeymooned in Jamaica and will make their home in Columbia, SC. Eppechal T. Smalls, ’98 and Dr. Lola R. Kelly Smalls, ‘00, announce the birth of their daughter, Kallynn Chalice Smalls on May 14, 2011. She weighed six pounds, seven ounces.

Eric Agnew, ’99, has been a NCAA Division II coach for the past two years. He is the assistant track and field coach at Limestone College and also coaches AAU track and field.

Craig F. Nelson, ’00, and Fatima N. Nelson, ’00, announce the birth of a daughter, Sydney Nicole Nelson, on June 7, 2011. The couple also has one son, Xavier Nelson.

Wakesha Fogle, ’02, Named Greenville County Teacher of the Year Wakesha Fogle, a Northwood Middle School mathematics teacher and 2002 alumna of Claflin University, was selected as the 2010-11 Greenville County Teacher of the Year.

Fogle’s journey to the classroom was not a conventional one. With intense soul-searching and inspiration from Claflin professors whose personal stories motivated her, Fogle changed her major from accounting to elementary education and immediately began to experience academic success and fulfillment. Now teaching mathematics at Northwood, Fogle says the level of quality she provides her students has never been an accident; rather, a result

Alumni Connections

of high intention and her own personal MISTER program standard of excellence without excuses. at Claflin, realized that ministry Renarda (Reeder) McMillian,’03, and was his true Seneca L. McMillan announce the calling. birth of their son, Seneca L. McMil Today, Simons lian, Jr. on June 10, 2011. He weighed is the direcseven pounds, 14 ounces. tor of Christian Education at The Howard Jean, ’04 Potter’s House, Recognized as a ministry based Outstanding in Dallas and led Claflin Alumnus by the well-known Bishop T.D. Jakes.

Howard Jean was Simons received a Master of Divinity acknowledged for degree from Duke University in 2009. their contributions as In June 2010, he was appointed as outstanding alumni director of Christian Education at the of Claflin University Potter House. There, he is responsible during the 65th annual United Negro for managing the The Potter’s House College Fund National Alumni Council educational programs and serves a Leadership Conference in Birmingham, liaison to the Openseminary Master of Alabama on Feb. 5. Jean is the curTheological Studies Program, which rently the director of the Call Me MIS- is affiliated with Eastern University’s TER Program, an initiative that seeks Palmer Theological Seminary in to place more African-American males Wynnewood, Pa. teachers in the classroom, at Cheyney He noted his current job gives him University of Pennsylvania. an opportunity to combine his two callings: education and ministry.

Bryan Wilson, ‘04 Releases Gospel Record Bradrick Q.C. Bryan Wilson debuted his gospel McClam, ’05, album Bapolstogic 101 in 2010. The has ended a album’s first single “Everybody Clap five-year stint Your Hands” received heavy air play as Digital on gospel stations and was #55 on Journalist for the Billboard Gospel Chart the week The Lake City of Sept. 18, 2010.

News & Post, Wilson wants to dabble in acting the weekly and currently hosts his own radio Media General show “The Bapolstogic Radio Show” publication covering Lake City, Scranwhich is featured in the Champaign, ton, Coward, Olanta and Cades. While Ill. media market and online. He also at the News & Post, his stories were has formed BW Ministries, a national often times published in the Morning outreach program that seeks to serve News, the daily Media General publiunderprivileged children through cation in Florence, South Carolina. benefit concerts and motivational speaking. The Ministries also travels Ashlei Lorraine Gerald, ’06, received to churches and prisons to spread the a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from word of God. the Medical University of South Carolina in May, 2011.

Travis Simons Spreading His Ministry Beyond Claflin University Dominique D. Davis, ’09, graduated While at Claflin, Travis Simmons,’05, with a MS degree in civil and environa former member of the Call Me mental engineering from Carnegie

Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pa. Funding was provided by the HBCU STEM Fellowship Program sponsored by the Educational Advancement Alliance and the National Nuclear Security Administration. She is the proud daughter of Carmen Y. Davis and the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. James A. Davis, Jr. Rashad Myers, ’10 Making a difference in the classroom

Rashad Myers, a 2010 Claflin University graduate, just finished his first year as a fourth- and fifth-grade English/language arts and social studies teacher at Lake City College Preparatory Academy Inc. Myers earned a bachelor’s in English from Claflin and is certified in elementary education. He said Claflin University’s School of Education and Department of English and Foreign Languages were extremely beneficial in his development as a teacher.

He was also a part of the Call Me MISTER program.

Today, he said, a strong need exists for black male teachers, adding that having black male teachers lets children know that men care about their success and well-being.

“Children need to see someone they can relate to,” Myers said.

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Alumni Connections

Fulbright Award Winner Takes Claflin Confidence to Turkey Aundreta Conner Farris firmly believes you are who you are no matter where you are. As the first Fulbright Scholar in the 141-year of Claflin University she put her theory to the test by preparing students in Turkey for a higher education in America.

“When I stepped into the classroom for the first time, I heard the voices of the professors I had at Claflin,” Conner Farris said. “I felt like they were all there with me, showing me and supporting me.”

Conner Farris is an English teaching assistant at Selcuk Universitesi in Turkey in conjunction with her Fulbright Award. During her two years in the Middle Eastern nation, she has taught students in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. In addition, she is teaching advanced writing to Afghan students who will go to America in pursuit of a doctorate.

The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. It offers opportunities for students, scholars, and professionals to undertake graduate study, advanced research, university teaching and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide.

She notes that teachers in Turkey are held with high esteem. Conner Farris, a 2008 graduate in philosophy and religion, said she is particularly drawn to the hospitality of the Turkish people, something that reminds of her Southern

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roots. Many of the students have invited Conner Farris and her husband to their homes for dinner, music and “sometimes even dancing!!”

Conner Farris said becoming a Fulbright Scholar has opened up a world of possibilities. She has met Turkish diplomats and State Department officials. “It really makes you feel like part of the global community when you’re at a Fourth of July party in Turkey conversing with the Turkish ambassador to Ethiopia,” she said.

At the Fulbright orientation, there was a reception at a Turkish ambassador’s residence to welcome the scholars to Turkey. “The reception emphasized pretty early on that Fulbrighters play a major part in American diplomatic relations,” she said.

Conner Farris visited Claflin in September, meeting several students who have studied abroad.

“It’s important to remember that who you are in Orangeburg is who you will be in Portugal or Azerbaijan.

But going abroad exposes you to new parts of yourself and this exposure will positively stretch you in some way.

I’m really excited about the students I met this fall and the possibilities of more Fulbrighters coming from Claflin,” she said.

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