Student Affairs presented its annual student awards on Wednesday, April 30 during a divisionwide celebration of the 2024-25 academic year.
The Almeda R. Jacks Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award is presented in honor of Clemson’s former vice president for Student Affairs. It is given to the best “all around” junior or senior with a minimum GPA of 3.0 who upholds Clemson’s core values, maintains high scholarly achievement and demonstrates a cross section of involvement.
The 2025 Almeda R. Jacks Award recipient is Mary Chandler Keels.
Keels is a senior marketing and management double major from Greenville, South Carolina. She is an assistant with Campus Reservations and Events, helping coordinate over 400 student events in her role as a UPIC intern. She is a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority and has held internship positions with the Country Music Association and Palmetto Entertainment. Academically, she is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi and holds a 4.0 GPA.
The R.C. Edwards Outstanding Graduate Student Award is presented in memory of the longtime president best known for leading Clemson from an all-male military college to a major coeducational and integrated university. It is given to the best “all around” graduate student with a minimum 3.25 GPA who exhibits a high level of support for the mission, vision and goals of his/her department while going above and beyond expected duties.
The 2025 R.C. Edwards Award recipient is Benjamin Dadzie.
Dadzie is a graduate community director in the Shoeboxes. Originally from Ghana, Dadzie has advocated for fellow international students by creating a comprehensive resource guide through the College of Education. In his role with Clemson Home, he supervises 28 residential community mentors in an area with more than 600 first-year residents. Earlier this year, he received the Outstanding Graduate Student Award from the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I).
The Walter T. Cox Graduate Student Award is presented in memory of the 10th university president and longtime vice president for Student Affairs. It is given to a first-year graduate student affiliated with the Division of Student Affairs. The recipient shows excellence as a contributing member of the Clemson community through their leadership, support of the holistic academic experience and commitment to diversity and acceptance.
The 2025 Walter T. Cox Award recipient is Skylar Walder.
Walder, a New Jersey native, is a graduate community director with Clemson Home. She supervises 15 residential community mentors in an area with more than 500 first-year residents. She has a passion for the graduate student experience through participation in committees that enhance student well-being and belonging. She is an intern for the University’s advancement team, working specifically with presidential events. Walder is pursuing a master’s degree in counselor education with an emphasis in student affairs.
The Rising Star Award is presented to a first- or second-year undergraduate who is currently involved in leadership or service activities and is actively pursuing future leadership roles at Clemson.
The 2025 Rising Star Award recipient is Molly Finan.
Finan is a health science major from Tampa, Florida. She is a student assistant with Campus Recreation, and a former Employee of the Month as an operations assistant lead. Finan also completed the Certified Student Leader program through the Center for Student Leadership and Engagement earlier in her academic career.
The Matt Locke Leadership Award is presented to a student who demonstrates outstanding leadership with regard to service and devotion to humankind and Clemson University.
The 2025 Matt Locke Leadership Award recipient is Ainara Garcia.
Garcia is a senior computer engineering major from Clemson, South Carolina. She served this past year as director of the Council of Diversity Affairs within student government. Additionally, she has displayed leadership in various STEM programs and as one of the organizers of TEDxClemsonU, a popular public speaking series on campus. She was a member of Clemson’s 2023 Breakthrough Scholars cohort.
Two students received the Frank A. Burtner Scholarship. The scholarship is presented to rising juniors and seniors who display exemplary leadership qualities and outstanding academic records. The 2025 Burtner scholarship recipients are Caleb Dorr and Anna Muma.
Dorr is a senior automotive engineering major from Atlanta, Georgia. He has maintained a 4.0 GPA while holding leadership roles with the Student Advisory Board in the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences, and with the Automotive Engineering Student Association.
Muma is a junior psychology major from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She serves as president of the Psychology Club and is a Writing Fellow in the Department of English. Additionally, she has mentored students from local Title I schools through Clemson Hope. She is also a leader with Psi Chi, a psychology honor society.
