The Tiger Walk leads to many things for the average Clemson student — the Oculus, the West End Zone, Frank Howard Field, the most exciting 25 seconds in college football, and, hopefully, championships.
But for Charlie Rohaley ’25, the Tiger Walk led directly to a great first job, and before his time at Clemson was over, he had a couple of championships of his own.
Making his mark on the walk
Charlie came to Clemson from Charleston to major in Construction Science and Management (CSM) in the Nieri Department of Construction and Real Estate Development. His choice was prompted in part by his great uncle, Walker “Buzz” D. Willis ’66, who was part of the program’s first graduating class when it operated under the name of “building science.”
During his sophomore year, he had an opportunity that he describes as the single best part of his Clemson Experience: an internship with the construction firm of Brasfield & Gorrie, working on the renovations of Memorial Stadium.
Among the many tasks he was assigned as an intern, there is one high-stakes job that he can see the result of every time he visits. He and another student were responsible for making sure that the plaques displaying the names of every Clemson Football team captain were placed in chronological order.
“It was surreal to contribute to something that’s such a big part of Clemson tradition, and it gave me a firsthand look at how classroom lessons come to life in the field,” he said.
He was also responsible for meeting with landscapers to ensure that the landscape architect’s designs were accurately carried out around the project and was given a pocket-sized plaque that commemorated his involvement.
While making his mark at Memorial Stadium and shining a light on the football program was a definitive part of Charlie’s Clemson Experience, his own moment in the spotlight was ahead.
Championship material
Charlie credits Vivek Sharma, Associate Dean of Student Excellence in the College of Architecture, Art and Construction (CAAC), with making the biggest impact on him. Sharma was not only his professor, but also his coach for Clemson’s Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Construction Science and Management team.
“He’s shaped me into the leader I am today and taught me that being a leader doesn’t always mean being the loudest person in the room; it’s about leading with preparation, humility, and confidence,” Charlie reflected.
ABC competitions bring hundreds of construction science students from dozens of schools together to test their skills and be judged by industry professionals. With Charlie on the team and Sharma coaching, Clemson won back-to-back championships. He remembers those wins as his proudest moments as a Tiger.
“That experience pushed me technically and personally,” he said. “It took teamwork, preparation, and trust in one another to compete at that level, and it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my Clemson journey.”
“It was an honor to help showcase what Clemson Construction Science and Management is all about.”
“What we really build”
If you read the resume of Charlie’s student career, you can begin to guess something that is obvious the second you meet him in person: he has charisma.
In between the ABC Competition championships, he took a leadership opportunity in one of Clemson’s most cherished traditions. In 2024, he served as Homecoming Coordinator for the 30th Annual Habitat for Humanity Homecoming Build on Bowman Field. During his senior year, he served as president of the Clemson chapter of the Constructors Guild, was invited to join the Sigma Lambda Chi Honor Society and became a member of the first Dean’s Student Leadership Academy and Council in CAAC.
He was also invited to speak about his team’s success at the Fiercely Forward campaign launch, to the President’s Advisory Board and to the Board of Trustees. He even had his own moment on Frank Howard Field, being selected as the Student of the Game for Clemson’s November 1 home game against Duke.
“Those opportunities showed just how much impact our program and students can have across the entire University, and it was an honor to help showcase what Clemson Construction Science and Management is all about,” he said.
Charlie’s internships with Brasfield & Gorrie led directly to the start of his career. After graduation, he plans to join their Greenville office as an assistant project manager, continuing the CSM program’s decade-plus record of 100 percent job placement.
As a graduating senior who has made the most of his Clemson Experience, Charlie has five pieces of advice for incoming students.
“One, be a sponge. Two, get involved early. Three, your reputation starts now. Four, find mentors and be coachable. Five, remember what we really build,” he said.
What do we really build at Clemson?
“Community.”
