Clemson held its annual Service Member and Veteran Graduation Recognition on Monday in the Almeda Jacks Ballrooms of Hendrix Student Center. Undergraduate and graduate students were recognized for their service to the United States military and for preparing to graduate from Clemson University. The honorees were presented red, white and blue cords to go atop their graduation regalia.
Military and Veteran Engagement led a program that included remarks from leadership the Veterans Commission, Student Affairs, Student Veterans Association and Clemson Corps. Graduates and their guests also heard a keynote address from Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Hank Morrow, executive secretary to Clemson University’s Board of Trustees. Morrow is a 1977 Clemson graduate who went on to an extensive career in the military before returning to Clemson last fall.
“These graduating students had every reason to say ‘no’ to serving this country and instead pursue their own interests, but they responded and said, ‘yes,’” Morrow said. “That is worthy of an award that cannot be actively pursued in any material award. I submit that our sacrifice was, in and of itself, the greatest award that can be bestowed on us. My wife Julie and I are grateful to have attended this event to celebrate the many accomplishments of this group. We’re extremely proud of their service and even more proud to call them Clemson graduates.”
One doctoral candidate was among seven graduate students recognized Monday, while eight undergraduate student veterans were part of the celebration honoring May and August 2023 graduates.
“I am proud of each of our service members and veterans,” said Emily DaBruzzi, director of Military and Veteran Engagement. “They are all prepared and ready to go on to do great things. I challenge this group to dream big and remember to inspire others along the way.”
“We are better as a community because these students have spent time with us,” added Kimberly Poole, assistant vice president and senior associate dean of students. “These students have added to our understanding of inclusive excellence. They’ve been engaged and made a difference as leaders — outside of Clemson and during their time here.”
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DOCTORAL AND MASTER’S GRADUATES
Nick Rader
• Ph.D. in rhetoric, communication and information design
• Native of Los Angeles, California served four years in the U.S. Navy as a navigation specialist
• Served during three deployments to the Middle East
Kennedy Dunn
• City and regional planning
• Native of Syracuse, New York served six and a half years in the South Carolina Air National Guard as an armament systems technician
• Served during deployments to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia
Coy Lawson
• Civil engineering
• Native of South Boston, Virginia served six years in the U.S. Air Force as a systems craftsman
• Served during deployments to Southwest Asia and Kuwait
Cliff Lutz
• Master of business administration
• Native of Piedmont, South Carolina served six years in the U.S. Army as a field artillery officer
• Served during a deployment to Afghanistan
August St. Louis
• Computer engineering
• Native of West Point, New York served two years in the U.S. Army as an air defense artillery officer
Tia Streiffert
• Professional accountancy
• Native of Wasilla, Alaska served four years in the U.S. Air Force as a broadcast journalist
• Former president of Clemson’s Student Veterans Association served during a deployment in Germany
George Strickland
• Applied economics
• Native of Marion, South Carolina served six years in the U.S. Navy as a surface warfare officer
• Served during deployments to the Middle East, Caribbean and South American
BACHELOR’S GRADUATES
Nick Benson
• Psychology
• Native of Hemingway, South Carolina served four years in the U.S. Navy as a ships serviceman
Jordan Bishop
• Biology
• Native of Longs, South Carolina served in the U.S. Marine Corps
• Member of SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society
Michael Cincis
• Financial management
• Native of Matawan, New Jersey served five years in the U.S. Marine Corps as an infantry rifleman
Allison Franklin
• Graphic communications
• Native of Columbus, Indiana served eight years in the U.S. Air Force in personnel services
• Served during a deployment to Afghanistan
Trevor Hobbs
• Biological sciences
• Native of Naples, Florida served five years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a ground electronics transmission systems maintainer
W. Brian Kirby
• Criminal justice
• Native of Goose Creek, South Carolina served 20+ years in the U.S. Army as an airdrop technician
• Served during multiple deployments to Panama, Kuwait and Afghanistan
• Leader within Clemson’s Student Veterans Association and SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society
Mariel LeCouter
• Sociology
• Native of Fairfax, Virginia served eight years in the U.S. Navy as a cryptologic technician
• Secretary of the Student Veterans Association served during deployments to Japan and Germany
John Matta
• Mechanical engineering
• Native of Cumberland, Rhode Island served five years in the U.S. Army as an infantryman
• Served during a deployment to Iraq
• Recipient of Clemson’s Outstanding Student Veteran Award for 2021-22