The World Needs Visionaries
|
|
Remembering Chief Justice Ernest A. Finney Jr.
|
A capacity crowd that included family members, friends, colleagues and elected officials from throughout South Carolina packed Claflin's James and Dorothy Z. Elmore Chapel last Saturday for the "Celebration of Life" tribute for retired South Carolina Chief Justice Ernest A. Finney Jr. Finney died on Sunday, December 3 at age 86.
"Justice Finney was responsible for bringing me to Claflin," said Claflin President Henry N. Tisdale. "He was chair of Claflin's Board of Trustees. It was his phone call and he extended the offer. He was my boss, but Justice Finney was also my partner and my friend. He shared the vision of Claflin moving to a new level of excellence and becoming a premier institution of higher education in the Southeast."
Finney served on Claflin's Board of Trustees for more than two decades and was elected as its chairman in 1986. In 2003, the University granted him the status of trustee emeritus.
Finney graduated from Claflin in 1952. He graduated from the law school at South Carolina State University in 1954. In 1972, Finney was elected to the S.C. House, joining its Judiciary Committee. Four years later, he was elected the state's first black Circuit Court judge. Finney was elected the first black Supreme Court justice since Reconstruction in 1985. He rose to chief justice in 1994 and
he held that position until he retired in March 2000.
"Justice Finney knew the South was a problem because of its history of social injustice and the denial of human rights," said Tisdale. "But he knew the law would be the basis for change.
His legacy will live forever. He will be remembered as an exceptional visionary leader."
NOTE: Memorial donations may be made to the Ernest A. Finney Jr. Endowed Scholarship Fund at Claflin University. Contributions may be made online or mailed to: Claflin University, Office of Institutional Advancement, Attn: Rev. Whittaker Middleton, 400 Magnolia Street, Orangeburg, SC 29115.
|
Claflin University Walks Away with Two Awards at HBCUgrow Conference
|
|
George Johnson Jr., (last on first row) assistant vice president of communications and marketing, accepted the two awards for Claflin University at the HBCUgrow Conference.
|
Claflin University was presented with two awards at the HBCUgrow Conference on November 9 in Raleigh, North Carolina. HBCUgrow is a consortium of people dedicated to helping HBCUs grow enrollment and alumni giving, and tackle the changing landscape of marketing challenges. Held annually, the conference offers its participants intensive workshops and celebrates excellence in the areas of military friendly campuses, website, marketing, innovation and leadership.
Claflin received a bronze award in the category of Military Friendly and a bronze/judges' choice award in the categoy of Website. Winners were chosen based 50% on the judges' vote and 50% on the people's vote.
|
Student Spotlight
|
Ja'Quan D. Sellers, a sophomore criminal justice major, is a member of M.O.V.E.R.S. (Men of Valor Emphasizing Respect and Service) and Claflin's NAACP chapter. Sellers was on the Dean's List for the fall 2016 semester and the Spring 2017 semester. He has participated in every special community service project hosted by the Program for Service Learning and Community Service and has completed more than 50 hours of service.
|
Student Spotlight
|
Claflin University students traveled to New York City to participate in the HBCU Leadership Summit on
November 27 through 29 at the multinational finance and investment banking firm Goldman Sachs. The inaugural HBCU Leadership Summit at Goldman Sachs was a three-day summit in which student leaders from HBCUs around the country networked and built relationships with Goldman Sachs professionals and HBCU alumni. Students also participated in extensive leadership case studies and workshops facilitated by Goldman Sachs professionals.
Pictured from left to right:
Agabai Okoronkwo, senior, computer science major
Trisana Fairweather, senior, business administration major
Charmaine Lindsay, senior, biology major
Ashesh Neupane, senior, computer science major
Sabina Dankwa, senior, business administration major
Isheka Orr, senior, environmental science major
Hillary Mokaya, senior, business administration major
Chiamaka Azih, senior, computer engineering major
|
Alumni Notes
|
Danny Swain, '05, was recently recognized for his contributions in an Emmy award-winning program in the 2016-2017 Outstanding Animated Program category. The Television Academy Primetime Emmy Awards honored Swain for the original song featured during the fifth season premiere of FOX's animated show Bob's Burgers. Swain is a recording artist and record producer and his works have been featured on Sesame Street, in GQ Magazine, and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
Congratulations to Cecil Williams, '60,
who received the Order of the Palmetto from Governor Henry McMaster on December 12, 2017. Williams is a photographer, publisher, author and inventor best known for his photography documenting the C
ivil Rights Movement
in
South Carolina
beginning in the 1950s.
The Order of the Palmetto is the state's highest civilian honor awarded to citizens of South Carolina for extraordinary lifetime service and achievements of national or statewide significance. The Order of the Palmetto is a once in a lifetime achievement. According to the Times and Democrat, Williams' wife, Barbara Johnson Williams, was the catalyst for the award. She wanted to make sure he was acknowledged for all that he's done for, "the city, the state and even the nation."
|
Panther Pride
|
Claflin Men's Basketball Team Ranked Eighth in the South Region of the D2SIDA Media Poll;
Panthers Rank Nationally in Scoring Defense and Field Goal Defense in NCAA Division II
The Claflin University men's basketball team is ranked eighth in the South Region of the Men's Basketball Division II Media Regional Poll, sponsored by D2SIDA.
In addition, the Panthers are ranked third in NCAA Division II in field goal defense holding their opponents to 37 percent shooting and fifth in scoring defense allowing just 61.4 points per outing.
The Men's Basketball Division II Media Poll, sponsored by D2SIDA, is in its fourth year of existence. The regional poll is released every Monday, followed by the national poll on Tuesday. These weekly rankings are independent of the official NCAA Regional Rankings that will be released closer to the end of the season. All records are as of Sunday evening.
Claflin currently sits in first place in the Southern Intercollegiate Collegiate Athletics (SIAC) East Division with a 4-0 conference bill, 2-0 in the East Division. The Panthers are 10-1 overall and are in the midst of a nine-game winning streak.
Charles Earns Second SIAC Men's Basketball Player of the Week Honors
For the second time in two weeks, Claflin University men's basketball player Jaleel Charles has been named the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Men's Basketball Player of the Week. The Player of the Week honors were announced by the league office on Tuesday, December 12.
Charles assisted the Panthers to a 2-0 record last week to lead Claflin to a 10-1 overall record and 4-0 in conference play. He averaged just shy of a double-double as he finished averaging 12.3 points and 9.3 rebounds for the week. Despite the initial 20-point deficit, the Panthers finished with a win over CIAA opponent Winston-Salem State on December 4 as he scored a season-high 29 points with nine rebounds and one block. The New York native also recorded his second straight 20-point plus game (23) in the win over Saint Augustine's.
|
|
|
Connect with Us
|
Panther
Cam
|
Claflin University's Career Services and Program for Service Learning made a donation of toys to the Marine Corps Reserve's Toys for Tots program for the holidays. Pictured here dropping off the donation is Jabian Cooper, '16, coordinator for service learning and community service.
|
|
|
|
|
@Claflin is published by the Office of Communications & Marketing
President: Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, '65
Vice President for Institutional Advancement: Rev. Whittaker V. Middleton, '73
Assistant Vice President for Communications & Marketing: George Johnson Jr.
Public Relations Director: J. Craig Cotton
Social Media and Public Relations Coordinator: Bernita Cooper, '12
Web Communications Manager: Colin Myers, '07
Sports Information Director: Romanda Noble-Watson
Photographers: Cecil Williams, '60, Geoff Henderson and Colin Myers, '07
|
|
|
|