Kirkley Fallaw always imagined herself as a Clemson Tiger. Tabitha Swygert’s Clemson journey began during a high school summer program. Andrew Woodard arrived from Ohio after visiting forestry schools across the country.
Different starting points led all three to the same destination.
As graduation approaches, these three College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Life Sciences (CAFLS) ambassadors are reflecting on what brought them to Clemson and CAFLS, as well as the opportunities that encouraged them to stay, grow, and give back.
Together, their stories show how CAFLS meets students where they are and helps them discover where they are headed.
Kirkley Fallaw, packaging science
For Kirkley, Clemson was an integral part of her family’s story. Raised by two Clemson graduates, she grew up hearing about campus life and the value of a Clemson degree. Finding the right major took time, until packaging science offered a place where science, math and creativity could intersect. Learning that the program was part of CAFLS, the same College her father had spoken so highly of, made the decision feel deeply personal.
From her first semester, Kirkley found a supportive academic home. Faculty challenged students while remaining approachable and encouraging, helping her build confidence early on. That confidence grew through hands-on learning, including a six-month co-op with Arthrex, which pushed her outside her comfort zone and into real-world problem-solving across departments in a packaging engineering environment.
Back on campus, she saw that growth reflected in her coursework, including a senior project that tested packaging designs against the realities of distribution. The experience reinforced both her skills and her sense of direction.
Kirkley became a CAFLS ambassador to give back to the College that had given her so much. Her favorite memory from the role stems from a simple yet meaningful tradition: handwriting postcards to admitted students. One student later reached out to share how much the note meant. That moment reminded Kirkley how small gestures can have a lasting impact and how deeply the people of CAFLS shape the student experience.
“Kirkley is the kind of leader who makes everyone feel welcome,” said Paula Beecher, director of alumni and career services for CAFLS. “I’ve watched her take younger Packaging Science students under her wing, helping them find their place. She’s incredibly smart, but what stands out even more is how approachable and down-to-earth she is. Kirkley never hesitates to give her time, whether it’s mentoring students or talking with prospective families. Coming from a proud CAFLS family, with her dad as a graduate, she’s continuing that tradition in the best way possible.”
After graduation, Kirkley will return to Arthrex as a business analyst, building on the professional confidence she developed through co-ops and internships.
While Kirkley’s story is rooted in legacy and discovery, Tabitha’s journey reflects the power of early exposure and hands-on opportunity.
Tabitha Swygert, agricultural mechanization and business
Tabitha’s introduction to CAFLS came early. As a high school junior, she attended the South Carolina Commissioner’s School for Agriculture, spending a week exploring Clemson’s campus and its majors. The experience transformed curiosity into clarity and set her on a path to Clemson.
When she enrolled, Tabitha was struck by the number of clubs, organizations and leadership opportunities connected to CAFLS, and by how quickly those opportunities became community. Hands-on learning became the foundation of her academic experience.
Her senior capstone project brought that learning together. Working with classmates and mentors, Tabitha planned and built a combine header used to demonstrate agricultural safety. The project was the culmination of years spent applying classroom skills in hands-on settings. She also worked with Clemson Extension’s Agricultural Safety Program and at the Clemson Beef Farm, gaining experience that bridged the gap between education and practice.
As a CAFLS ambassador, Tabitha became an advocate for a major she believes is often misunderstood. Agricultural mechanization and business, she said, can sound intimidating, but its flexible, hands-on curriculum prepares students for a wide range of roles across the agricultural industry. Her favorite ambassador moments came during open houses, where she enjoyed meeting prospective students and then seeing many of them again on campus as first-year students. Helping lead breakout sessions and tours of shops and labs made the experience especially meaningful.
“I first worked with Tabitha as a transfer student, and it didn’t take long to see her drive and initiative,” said Maddy Powell, who coordinates student recruitment for CAFLS and works closely with the ambassadors. “Once at Clemson, she fully embraced CAFLS—serving as a CAFLS ambassador, supporting recruitment efforts and stepping into leadership roles wherever she was needed. Tabitha consistently went above and beyond, and she truly represents the kind of engaged, service-minded leader we hope every ambassador becomes.”
After graduation, Tabitha will step into a production supervisor role with Cal-Maine Foods in Newberry, South Carolina.
If Tabitha’s experience highlights the value of applied learning close to home, Andrew’s story shows how CAFLS draws students from far beyond South Carolina and gives them reasons to stay.
Andrew Woodard, forest resource management
Andrew’s path to Clemson followed a nationwide search. Originally from Ohio, he visited forestry programs from the West Coast to the Southeast. When he arrived at Clemson, the setting along Lake Hartwell stood out, but it was the welcome that sealed the decision. Sitting in on a CAFLS ambassador session and talking with faculty eager to share the program’s potential made him feel seen.
“I first met Andrew when he visited campus as a high school student, and I was immediately impressed by his focus, communication skills and passion for forestry,” said Don Hagan. “Unsurprisingly, he excelled academically and took advantage of many leadership and professional development opportunities while here. I’m confident he will thrive in his graduate program at the University of Georgia and go on to become one of our most successful and influential alumni.”
Andrew’s Clemson experience was shaped by experiential learning. Through the CAFLS Career Fair, he secured two internships with Weyerhaeuser, working in logging operations, timber cruising, marking and sale estimation. Those experiences clarified his goals and prepared him for graduate study.
Beyond the classroom, Andrew balanced coursework with outdoor leadership, working with Clemson Outdoor Recreation and helping lead backpacking trips along the Foothills Trail. Inspired by the welcome he received as a visitor, he served as a CAFLS ambassador for three and a half years. Recently, two students he spoke with during campus visits reached back out to say they had chosen Clemson.
After graduation, Andrew will head to the University of Georgia to pursue a master’s degree that blends forestry and business, preparing for a career in land and timber investment.
Though their paths now diverge, the experiences that shaped them share a common foundation.
About the CAFLS Ambassadors
The CAFLS Ambassadors are a student leadership organization within Clemson’s College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences. They represent the College at events and connect with prospective students, alumni, donors and other key audiences, helping advance CAFLS’s mission and support student success.
