University’s impact celebrated at annual Clemson Day at the State House

A rainy morning couldn’t dampen the strong Clemson University presence that took over Columbia, the state capital of South Carolina, on Wednesday, March 5. Administrative leaders, students, staff and affiliated board members came together to celebrate “Clemson Day at the State House,” an annual event focusing on the University’s impact over the past year.

President Jim Clements kicked off a full day of presentations inside the Palmetto Room, a block away from the State Capitol. Clements introduced members of the Board of Trustees and some of the other VIP guests in attendance. He shared several University facts and rankings, including Clemson’s growth to 59 national scholars this past semester. He also spoke about existing facility renovations and new construction projects, including the Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center set to open in the coming months.

“There’s not another University in the country like ours — I hope we never forget how lucky we are,” Clements said. “We’re crushing it in academics, athletics, research and student life — there are so many great things happening across the board.”

Elevating the Student Experience

After lunch, most of the focus shifted toward showcasing the first pillar of the Clemson Elevate strategic plan, delivering the No. 1 Student Experience.

“Our students are brilliant, and our future is in great hands with the type of leaders we have at Clemson,” Clements said.

Members of Clemson Undergraduate Student Government — who are preparing to close out their term — have experienced a federal and state government tour over the past week. President Kellan Fenegan and Vice President Dré Moxie led a group visiting Washington, D.C. from Feb. 26 through March 2 for ACC Advocacy Days, alongside student government leaders from other conference schools. The group spent time touring the capital and also met with congressional staff for South Carolina’s elected senators and representatives.

Wednesday, Fenegan and Moxie were among an expanded group of students who spent the entire day in Columbia, primarily interacting with members of the Board of Trustees and Board of Visitors.

“Sharing some of our priorities was important,” Fenegan said. “Seeing how eager and excited these alumni and board members are to help made this event a great opportunity for us as student leaders.”

Executive Director C. Bradley Thompson presented on the Snow Institute for the Study of Capitalism and Lyceum Program. Currently, the Lyceum Program offers scholarships to 10 new students each year. Following a transformational $25 million gift from Dave and Lynette Snow last October, the program is doubling its scholarship support. Thompson introduced one of those current scholars, Claire Woynerowski — a junior economics major from Annapolis, Maryland.

“When I first stepped on campus, I was immediately welcomed into the Clemson Family,” said Woynerowski, a member of Tiger Band’s drumline and an aspiring lawyer. “I was amazed to learn how many ways there were to grow as a student inside and outside of the classroom. I’m grateful for every opportunity I’ve been given at Clemson.”

Neil Burton, executive director of the Center for Career and Professional Development, moderated a student panel on experiential learning. Four engineering majors and a management major — all in-state students — shared some of their takeaways applying classroom knowledge into experiential learning opportunities with large companies such as Arthrex, Bosch and Lockheed Martin.

Thomas Ross is a senior management major from Piedmont, South Carolina who went through a couple of internship rotations with BMW. His first was with the organization’s quality management department and second was with supply chain management.

“I was able to learn one part of the business and apply that knowledge to the logistical and operational side for my second rotation,” Ross said. “I feel it’s prepared me well as I get ready to look for jobs in the supply chain industry over the next year or so.”

Moving Fiercely Forward

Vice President for Marketing & Communication Sharon Martin and Vice President for Advancement Brian O’Rourke co-presented on Clemson’s ambitious (and concurrent) brand and capital campaigns. Martin spoke about some of her team’s goals for the creative campaign, including increased enrollment from target markets and increased engagement from donors and other key stakeholders.

Clemson raised $259M in private gifts last fiscal year, part of its bold goal aligned with the recently launched public phase of the capital campaign known as Fiercely Forward. Ultimately, Clemson aspires to raise a total $1.889 billion — a figure created with Clemson’s 1889 founding in mind. Fiercely Forward incorporates three pathways, connected to the three pillars of Clemson Elevate:

• Launching lives of significance (No. 1 Student Experience);
• Unlocking human potential (Doubling Research by 2035);
• Igniting change through ingenuity (Transforming Lives Statewide and Beyond).

“Every gift matters,” O’Rourke said. “We want the entire Clemson Family to be part of this campaign.”

Board of Visitors Legislative Leadership Award

Clemson Day also included the annual presentation of the Board of Visitors (BOV) Legislative Leadership Award. The 2024 recipient was Shannon Erickson, who chairs the South Carolina House of Representatives Education Committee. Her daughter attended Clemson and was a coxswain on the rowing team.

The award was presented by Scott Garvin, chair of the BOV Legislative Committee.

“Shannon was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2007 and has served Beaufort’s residents with distinction ever since,” Garvin said. “She has worked tirelessly with Clemson on several legislative priorities, including name, image and likeness (NIL) regulation in collegiate athletics. We’re in a better place because of her service to the state of South Carolina.”