“Clemson is special because of people like you.”
This powerful statement from President Jim Clements set the tone for Clemson’s sixth annual Degree Attainment Luncheon, where University leaders gathered to celebrate the achievements of eighteen full-time faculty and staff members. The event recognized individuals who completed degrees in 2024 while balancing full-time careers, embodying the “All In” spirit that makes Clemson truly unique.
Allison Honea ’07, M ’11, DNP ’24, a family nurse practitioner at Redfern Health Center, earned her Doctorate of Nursing Practice in May 2024.
“Being enrolled in the workplace where I was so closely linked to my professors…where I could seek advice and get their help in the program, made my experience much more fulfilling,” shared Honea. “It reinforced to me that I’m capable of continuing my education journey no matter my age or responsibilities, and it also showed my children that all things are possible through determination and hard work.”
This year’s eighteen honorees represented various departments and fields, from CCIT to Marketing and Communications, each with their own dedication to perseverance. The luncheon, hosted by the Office of Human Resources, also highlights Clemson’s commitment to supporting faculty and staff through initiatives like the Employee Tuition Assistance Program, which empowers employees to further their education while contributing to the University’s success.
“You deserve to revel and be proud of yourself,” Provost Jones, executive vice president for Academic Affairs, told the graduates.
Among the honorees was Patricia Carbajales-Dale, who earned her degree in International Family and Community Studies. Patricia serves as the director of the Center for Geospatial Technologies at Clemson.
“Earning my degree while balancing family life and a full-time career at Clemson has been a journey of resilience, growth and determination. It required countless late nights, weekends away from family, and an incredible amount of unwavering dedication. But through it all, I learned that perseverance, coupled with the support of loved ones, advisors and colleagues, can make even the most ambitious goals achievable,” said Carbajales-Dale.
“I am really proud of you,” President Clements told honorees. “You have all succeeded because of your resilience. You earned it. You made sacrifices. For that, I am proud.”
2024 Honorees
Stephanie Bagwell – Division of Student Affairs
Mike Bryant – Division of Research
Patricia Carbajales-Dale – CCIT
Talitha Ellington – Division of External Affairs
Bailee Jordan Floyd – College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences
Allison Honea – Division of Student Affairs
Kadalynn Morton Jones – College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences
Ellie Lane – College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences
Jason LeCroy – CCIT
Susan Sorohan – College of Architecture, Art and Construction
Melissa Speary – Academic Affairs
Casey Wallace – CCIT
Timothy Whims – Marketing and Communications for College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences
Amanda Whitman – College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences
Chani Wilborne – Office of Undergraduate Studies
Kimberly Williams – Marketing and Communications
Holly Winsett – Office of Institutional Research
Gary Wiser – Division of Student Affairs