It’s a sunny April afternoon at Clemson University. The flowers are beginning to bloom, classes are wrapping up for the day, and hundreds of students in identical green shirts are scattered across campus, preparing to take off. Suddenly, their phones buzz in unison with the first clue, sending them sprinting in all directions and marking the beginning of The Pursuit.
The Pursuit — a multi-day philanthropic event open to all — is emerging as one of Clemson’s most unique and engaging traditions. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the community are invited to participate in a series of mental and physical competitions for a chance to win prizes and contribute to a cause that is very close to home.
The Pursuit kicks off in early March with two trivia nights — one at New Realm Brewing Company in Greenville, South Carolina on March 4 and the other at Nick and Mike Bar and Grill in Clemson on March 11. Both events are from 6-8 p.m and provide an opportunity for off-campus supporters to join in the fun.
The on-campus portion begins April 1 with a third trivia night at downtown Clemson’s Charleston Sports Pub. This event will be split into three shifts — 5:30-7 p.m, 7:30-9 p.m, and 9:30-11 p.m. Questions at each trivia night will focus on Clemson history, pop culture, word scrambles and more.
The following day, April 2, is the signature scavenger hunt. Teams of two don their iconic green attire and position themselves according to carefully constructed strategies. At 5:45 p.m, the first clue is posted on Instagram @clemsonpursuit, and each pair sets off on a specific route, which leads them through the ins and outs of campus towards an electrifying finish in Memorial Stadium. The winners receive a large prize from an impressive collection — including mopeds, Clemson rings, parking passes and more.
Established by Kathleen McKissick, The Pursuit began in 2012 as a premiere spring event to match the energy of a chaotic fall football season. The unique tradition originally supported the Student Emergency Fund — a University program dedicated to financially assisting students who experienced crises such as a medical accident, loss of a parent, apartment fire and other situations. In 2024, Director Sarah Catherine O’Connell recognized a more pressing issue on campus — food insecurity. Thus, the Students Helping Students Fund was born.
Operating through the Clemson University Foundation, the Students Helping Students Fund directly sponsors meal plans for individuals in need. Every dollar raised through The Pursuit goes straight to the fund — business sponsorships, individual sign-up fees, general donations and more.
“The goal of this fund is to allow students to focus on just being a student,” says senior health science major Anna Holstein, 2026 director. “If you’re stressed about where your next meal is coming from, it’s hard to focus on building an incredible student experience and loving Clemson the way a lot of people can.”
Students seeking this financial support are asked to fill out an application through Tiger Quest. The deadline to apply for a Fall 2026 meal plan is April 30; any later submissions will be considered for the following spring. Applications are reviewed anonymously by a student committee and allocated appropriately. Last year’s event raised $68,000 for the Students Helping Students Fund, which was divided into a total of 27 meal plans for the Fall and Spring semesters. It marked an incredible jump from the previous year, which produced a sum of $48,000. Holstein hopes to continue this upward trend and raise $75,000 through the 2026 Pursuit, taking an even larger step towards the eradication of food insecurity at Clemson.
“It is so cool to see the students’ passion for this event. They participate in The Pursuit to have fun and improve their Clemson experience, but they also know they are helping another Clemson student in a time of need, honoring the central purpose of this event,” says Dan D’Alleva, junior marketing major and assistant director.
The two incredible students leading this year’s Pursuit — Holstein and D’Alleva — are committed to making the 2026 event a memorable one. Their work began as early as March 7, the day after the 2025 edition. The following spring, summer and fall were spent assessing feedback, gathering sponsorships and promoting the fundraiser to a broad Clemson audience.
“I think the best part is seeing the results of this behind-the-scenes work. Every time we get a business to sponsor, that is two more meal plans for students in need, and it’s really fulfilling to see that all come together,” says Holstein.
D’Alleva echoes her appreciation. “It’s so amazing to see how much support we get from local businesses, who might not even understand the scope of food insecurity on campus. To see the community rally behind the cause has been so special,” he says.
Looking forward, Holstein and D’Alleva hope to see The Pursuit continue to grow, working to combat food insecurity with increasing donations and, ultimately, embedding itself into Clemson history.
“Our goal is to build a culture — to raise awareness about both the event and the Students Helping Students Fund by growing The Pursuit brand,” D’Alleva says. “Our two March trivia nights, for example, are new this year, and we’re hoping they will encourage the community beyond the University to get involved now and in the future.”
Students and other interested parties can register on The Pursuit website. The sign-up fee is $30, which will go directly to the Students Helping Students Fund, and each registered student will receive a free t-shirt for the event.
There are also multiple ways for people to get involved, even if they aren’t interested in participating. Businesses and student organizations who sponsor the event will have their logo displayed both on the videoboard in Memorial Stadium and on the back of the event t-shirt. Individual donations to the Students Helping Students Fund can be sent through the Clemson University Foundation. Email Holstein at alholst@clemson.edu for more information.
When asked what they want students to take away from this experience, both Holstein and D’Alleva expressed their hopes for the event to be a special and memorable piece of each individual’s Clemson experience.
“When they see The Pursuit logo across campus, I want them to say, ‘I know that event — I had so much fun! I can’t wait to do that again next year!’” says D’Alleva. “As college students, this event offers a much-needed break from the stress of the day and gives each person an opportunity to have fun and connect with the University on a new level.”
Holstein agrees. “I hope that, especially for students who might not always feel as looped in, participating in The Pursuit will help them truly feel like a part of the Clemson Family — like a part of something bigger than themselves. Whether this comes from having a blast rubbing the rock and running down the Hill or donating money to a good cause, I will consider inspiring that feeling in others a success for us.”
