Claflin University's Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration: 50 Years Later will be held Thursday, January 11, at 11 a.m. in the W.V. Middleton Auditorium with The Rev. Dr. Joe F. Singleton, pastor of Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in Williston, S.C., delivering the keynote address. 

 

The program will celebrate the Rev. Dr. King's life, legacy and leadership of the Civil Rights Movement and the struggle for equal justice and economic empowerment. The event will also feature remarks by Claflin President Henry N. Tisdale and musical selections by the Claflin University D.R.E.A.M. Gospel Choir. The event is free and open to the public.

 

Rev. Singleton served as a public and district school administrator and educator for more than 33 years. He is a native of Bamberg (S.C.) County and a 1971 graduate of Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School. He earned a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from South Carolina State University in 1975. He received his master's degree in 1978 at the University of South Carolina and his Education Specialist degree in 1998 at SCSU. He earned a doctorate in theology in 2008 at Beacon University in Augusta, Ga.

 

Rev. Singleton is the moderator of the Storm Branch Educational and Missionary Association.  He is also president of the Lower Counties Ministerial Coalition and a member of the Delta Zeta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.   

Spring 2018 New Student Orientation (NSO) activities were held January 8-10. T he activities included informational sessions led by university administrators, interactive activities with orientation leaders and presentations that provided students with comprehensive information on campus resources. The students represent various geographical locations including South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Antigua and Nigeria.

Nenna Odeghe, a native of Lagos, Nigeria, is excited to begin courses towards her degree in business administration. Odeghe is confident that the skills she learns at Claflin will assist her with making an economic and business impact in Nigeria. "The level of unemployment in Nigeria continues to increase and I am hopeful that I can gain knowledge on how to create jobs for citizens in my country," said Odeghe.

Florence, S.C., native and business administration major Amir Jordan looks forward to being immersed in the campus culture and making an impact on campus. "Attending college will allow me the opportunity to engage academically, socially and with community service projects that I did not participate in as a high school student," said Jordan.

The NSO activities concluded on Wednesday, January 10 with the confirmation ceremony and students walking through the "Arch of Confidence" symbolizing their moment of entry into the Claflin Family. The convocation speaker was Dr. Angela W. Peters, vice provost for academic programs. Peters encouraged the incoming students to take advantage of their matriculation at Claflin while finding their purpose and passion.

President Henry N. Tisdale led the confirmation/induction portion of the program. Tisdale challenged students to take advantage of their academic courses and the resources the University has to offer.  "At Claflin we develop visionary leaders through a wholistic approach. We expect every student to become positive change agents and improve the human conditions of others on campus and in the community," said Tisdale.

Young graduated from Claflin in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in English. She participated in the Army ROTC program at Claflin University through the cross-enrollment agreement with South Carolina State University. She was the first female commissioned from the ROTC program to earn the rank of Brigadier General. Young earned a master's degree in adult education at South Carolina State and a master's in executive development from Ball State University. She also holds a master's degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.

 

Young has served in command and staff positions in the continental United States and Hawaii with First Army, Joint Forces Command, U.S. Army Reserve Command, and in Afghanistan with NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (NTM-A/CSTC-A). Among her other key assignments were G1, U.S. Army Reserve Command; Commander, Theater Support Group-Pacific; Army Reserve Warrior Transition Liaison Program Manager; CJ1, Chief Strategic Initiatives (Kabul, Afghanistan);  and Executive Training Officer, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Division. 

 

Young was the recipient of the 2010 Order of the Saint Maurice presented by the 197th Infantry Brigade and the 2011 Horatio Gates Bronze medal by the Adjutant General Regiment.  Her military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service.

The Claflin University men's basketball team pushed its season winning streak to 15 games, rolling past Tuskegee University 73-51 in a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) contest Saturday, January 6 at the Tullis Arena. Claflin is 16-1 overall and a perfect 9-0 in the SIAC.
 
Claflin will host Paine College in a SIAC East Division contest at home on Saturday, January 13. The game gets underway following the women's game at approximately 3:30 p.m.

Claflin Defeats Tuskegee in SIAC Matinee

Claflin University defeated Tuskegee University, 83-62, in a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) women's basketball game on Saturday, January 6 at the Tullis Arena.  The win improved Claflin's SIAC worksheet to 7-2 and 10-7 overall, while Tuskegee drops to 2-12 and 1-5.

The Lady Panthers will conclude their three-game homestand on Saturday, January 13 against Paine College in an SIAC East Division matchup at 1:30 p.m.