Clemson University senior Breyon Dent remembers that when he was young, he used to go to work with his grandfather, mixing mortar to help lay brick for buildings around their hometown, Hollywood, S.C.
“I told him, ‘I don’t want to do this for the rest of my life,'” Dent recalled. “And he said, ‘Well, then you have to sit down in class and behave– and you have to go to college.'”
Dent did exactly that, and with help from the Boyd Scholars program, he is now weeks away from crossing the stage at Littlejohn Coliseum to claim his Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Clemson University.
He has a job lined up with Turner Construction, where he will be helping erect buildings on Clemson’s campus. But he won’t be mixing mortar– the job is in field engineering.
Dent is just one example that the Boyd Scholars program is accomplishing what it set out to do starting as far back as 2017: producing more engineering graduates by giving students a boost early in their academic journeys.
The program was made possible by the generosity of the Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Foundation, whose investment played a pivotal role in helping Clemson launch Boyd Scholars.
It is part of a broader effort at Clemson to help engineering students stay on track to timely graduation, even if they need help with math or are unsure of their ability to keep up with college-level courses.
Kate Johnson, who was Outstanding Boyd Scholar in 2024, graduated that same year with a Bachelor of Science in materials science and engineering, with a double minor in chemistry and nuclear engineering. She now works as a nuclear engineer with Duke Energy, a job she loves, and is on track to pass the exams needed to become a licensed Professional Engineer.
“Boyd Scholars played an important role in building my confidence initially and helping me understand how to network and build my own support system,” Johnson said. “And they helped me with a trajectory for my career, showing me the core classes that I would need, helping me pick a major and showing me the path to industry. I really appreciated that coming in as a new student.”
First-year students who are interested in becoming Boyd Scholars take their first steps by entering the General Engineering Learning Community, a program that allows them to spread their foundational first-year coursework across three terms–fall, spring and summer.
Participants who earn a C or better in all courses during the fall and spring terms and meet other requirements are eligible to apply to become Boyd Scholars.
Those accepted receive the Boyd Award, which covers tuition, housing and meals during the summer term. That support allows many students to stay on campus for summer coursework and remain on track to choose a major at the start of sophomore year.
Of the 474 students who joined the General Engineering Learning Community from 2019-24, 227 became Boyd Scholars. In all but one of those years, the percent of Boyd Scholars who remained in engineering at the start of sophomore year ranged from 90-100%.
Michael Kiernan, a lecturer in Clemson’s Department of General Engineering and a leader for Boyd Scholars, said the program is a game changer for its participants.
“The Boyd Scholars program keeps talent crucial to the future workforce from slipping between the cracks,” Kiernan said. “The program gives them the support and time they need to build their math foundation while staying on track in engineering. We are deeply grateful to the Boyd family for making this possible.”
For several Boyd Scholars, such as Amy Jordan, most memorable are the friends they have made.
Jordan, who is this year’s Outstanding Boyd Scholar, said that when she first arrived at Clemson she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to make friends, but that changed. She is now on track to earn her Bachelor of Science in bioengineering in May, and she plans to remain at Clemson to pursue a Master of Engineering in the same discipline.
“I would definitely say it was a sister community that I found,” Jordan said. “It was the sense of meeting people who were just like me, and it made me feel less alone and confused. And not only that, but it helped me with networking, too.”
Joe Watkins, chair of the Department of General Engineering, said the Boyd Scholars initiative helps ensure that promising students reach their full potential while preparing for careers that are critical to the nation’s workforce.
“Programs like Boyd Scholars help us ensure that as many students as possible are prepared for high-demand engineering careers that strengthen our communities and economy,” Watkins said. “We are incredibly grateful to the Boyd family for making this opportunity possible for so many Clemson students. Their investment in the future makes all the difference.”
