Three CAH students honored for their impact on the Clemson community

The College of Arts and Humanities (CAH) honored three students with awards for their outstanding achievements in and outside of the classroom.

The college’s top honors are the Blue Key Academic and Leadership Award, given to Claire McDonald; the Dre Martin Service Award, given to Miah Bernard; and the Phi Kappa Phi Certificate of Merit, given to Mason Gibbs.

“Ever since I came to Clemson, I have been blown away by the caliber of our students,” said Dean Nicholas Vazsonyi. “Without a doubt, they are the best in the State. The three students honored here are the cream of the crop. They all have bright futures ahead of them and we wish them well, wherever life takes them.”

The winners were nominated by faculty and peers and recognized alongside departmental awardees at the CAH Honors and Awards ceremony on Friday, April 11.

Claire McDonald

Majors: English (’25) and Environmental and Natural Resources (’26)

Hometown: Columbia

The Blue Key Academic and Leadership Award is given to one student in each of the University’s nine colleges who has distinguished himself or herself in terms of academic scholarship and campus leadership.

A former “painfully shy kid”, Claire McDonald’s English studies have equipped her to help others feel comfortable in the outdoors, something she enjoys herself.

For the past four years, she’s spent the majority of her time in two places: in Daniel Hall studying various works of literature and at the Snow Family Outdoor Fitness and Wellness Complex as the most recent Open Enrollment Trip Manager.

“English pushes you to approach everything a little more critically and take a second before jumping in,” she said. “At Clemson Outdoor Recreation and Education (CORE) we always talk about ways we can help our participants and bring them into the group before going on a trip. Instead of tweaking on the go, we want to start on the best foot possible.”

Not only did her English studies help her grow in empathy and critical analysis for the good of others, McDonald also notes the practical skills she’s taking with her as she leaves Clemson.

 “It’s really important to have the English background of being analytical and being able to form an argument and write down your thoughts in a way that people can understand,” she said.

After finishing her second degree, McDonald plans to attend law school and go into environmental law. In addition to CORE, she has served as an Assistant Editor for the South Carolina Review literary magazine, a counselor at Green River Summer Camps, and as an intern at various law firms in the Upstate.

Miah Bernard

Major: Language (Spanish) and International Health (’25)

Hometown: Aiken, SC

In memory of Chardrevius “Dre” Martin, the College of Arts and Humanities presents this award annually to a student in the college who is highly committed to service in our surrounding community, demonstrates a passion for helping others and possesses a strong academic record.

A lover of language and culture, Miah Bernard came to Clemson for the Language and International Health (LIH) program. Once here, Bernard’s Clemson Experience was marked by service.

Bernard’s areas of service spanned across the university and the world. She worked at a hospital in Ecuador, led the LIH society, served as a CAH Student Ambassador and was president of the Clemson Shag Dance Club. The heart behind all of it? Bringing people together.

“For me, it was always deeper than knowing the language,” she said. “It was knowing the traditions and beliefs and attitudes that people approach things from in everyday life. The humanities are so good at teaching you to dig deeper. I feel like a lot of other programs don’t get into that part.”

Bernard is currently pursing program coordinator positions within healthcare. She hopes to be in a health environment and use her practical Spanish skills to connect people to resources and information, eventually developing programs and health initiatives of her own.

Mason Gibbs

Majors: Religious Studies (’24) and History (’24)

Hometown: Clinton, SC

Each year, the Clemson Chapter of the National Society of Phi Kappa Phi provides a Certificate of Merit for a student majoring in the College of Arts and Humanities that has demonstrated high scholastic achievement.

The Religious Studies community quickly became a home away from home for Mason Gibbs.

From classmates to the Philosophy and Religion faculty, the intellectual community Gibbs found centered on helping students learn and process ideas together. Studying the humanities in this rich community opened a door to a level of intellectual stimulation he had never experienced and now can’t imagine life without.

“Engaging with the world authentically and in a deep, meaningful way is an important part of what the humanities teaches you to do,” he said. “It shapes your relationships with other people.”

During his junior year, Gibbs was invited to join Phi Beta Kappa — the nation’s oldest academic honor society. He was also invited to assist with the teaching of an AP World History Class in his hometown high school.  After the superintendent reviewed his performance, he was asked to teach both sections of the class on his own.

Outside of the classroom, Gibbs found community in the Clemson Fencing Club. As a junior, he began coaching and quickly found how applicable his humanities studies were to working and learning alongside a novice fencer.

“I loved teaching the process and breaking down things into simple concepts so that people can start building that foundation,” he said.

Gibbs plans to attend graduate school with the goal of becoming an educator.