@Claflin: Claflin Ranked Top 10 in SC, Solar Eclipse Event and more

The World Needs Visionaries

Claflin University Ranked in Top 10 Among South Carolina

Colleges in Annual College Choice Poll

Claflin University continues to garner national recognition for excellence in higher education. In its most recent poll, College Choice ranks Claflin eighth among the 25 Best Colleges in South Carolina. College Choice is a leading online authority in college and university rankings and resources.

Claflin University is the only historically black college or university (HBCU) listed in the ranking.

College Choice uses data related to academic quality - including test scores and student-to-faculty ratios to develop its rankings. Student body diversity, tuition and fees, and return on investment and the expected early career income for graduates are other variables. Data used by College Choice are provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. News & World Report, and Payscale.

"Claflin's ranking among the top colleges and universities in South Carolina is indicative of the University's commitment to producing visionary leaders with global perspectives and our emergence as a leading 21st Century institution of higher education," said President Henry N. Tisdale. "It also reflects the University's world-class faculty, supportive and loyal alumni, and compassionate administrators."

For 17 consecutive years, Claflin has received national recognition as a leading liberal arts and a "Top Tier" university by prestigious print and online publications, including U.S. News and World Report, Forbes, and Washington Monthly. Claflin was selected 2015 HBCU of the Year by HBCU Digest and Forbes recently named Claflin the top HBCU in alumni annual giving percentage. The University's 47 percent alumni annual giving percentage ranks among national leaders at all colleges and universities. Black Southern Belle Magazine ranked Claflin as a "Heavenly Campus" for preserving the attractiveness and historical nature of the campus.

Founded in 1869, Claflin is the oldest HBCU in the state of South Carolina. The University is affiliated with The United Methodist Church. Claflin was chartered and continues to provide educational excellence and to prepare students without regard to gender, race, religion or ethnic origin.

To view the entire College Choice ranking, click here.

Claflin Prepares for Total Solar Eclipse; Hosts Educational and Viewing Opportunity

On August 21, Claflin University will host a total solar eclipse viewing event for the entire campus and community. On this day, people across the Untired States will witness the paths of the sun and moon intersecting. The eclipse is charted to begin in Oregon and end off the coast of Charleston. The last total solar eclipse with a similar path to this one occurred on June 8, 1918, crossing the United States from Washington State to Florida.

Witnessing this historic event with the Claflin University family will be the students of nearby Mellichamp Elementary School. "We thought it was important to showcase this major event with fun and educational activities," said Verlie Tisdale, dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. "We also knew that because Orangeburg is in the direct pathway of the eclipse, we couldn't miss out on this opportunity to see and witness it live," she said.

Claflin's eclipse events will begin at 12 p.m. and will continue throughout the afternoon. Highlights of Claflin's eclipse event include guest speakers and educational presentations on the history of the American solar eclipse, demonstration and activity tables, live coverage from NASA and eclipse viewing glasses. The start of the partial eclipse will begin at approximately 1:14 p.m., the total eclipse will begin at 2:43 p.m., the end of the total eclipse will begin at 2:45 p.m. and the end of the partial eclipse will be at 4:07 p.m.

After August 21, the next total solar eclipse over North America will occur on April 8, 2024. For information on Claflin's solar eclipse events, click here.

Make Your Plans for Homecoming 2017

Claflin University is looking forward to welcoming you "home" for Homecoming 2017 on November 16-19.

Many events are planned for your enjoyment and participation. We will also celebrate reunion for the classes of 1937, 1942, 1947, 1952, 1957, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007 and 2012 . Celebrate your class with a memory that last forever.

If you are a class officer/agent, please contact Zelda M. Lee, '77, d irector of the Annual Fund/Alumni Relations, at ( 803) 535-5348, [email protected], or Derrick L. Quarles, '14, m anager of the Annual Fund/Alumni Relations, at ( 803) 535-5311, [email protected].

Alumni News

Princess (Williams) Gadson, '15, recently launched her cosmetics line Gadson and Co. Cosmetics, LLC. Gadson's passion for empowerment and cosmetics lead her to begin the product line. "Although beauty comes from within, there's absolutely nothing wrong with enhancing your outer beauty. The right shade of lip stick can make a woman want to take on the world. It's a feeling that we should have every day," said Gadson. Gadson serves as the founder, owner and operator of the online boutique which includes a collection of 3-D Mink Eyelashes, matte, crème and liquid lipsticks and more. To shop, visit www.gadsonandco.com.

Project Life: Positeen, founded and directed by Dr. Liz Zimmerman Keitt, '70, is an after-school tutorial program that has been making an impact on the lives of Orangeburg area youth since 1992. The program will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a gala on Saturday, August 19, in the Jonas T. Kennedy Health and Physical Education Center. At its beginning, the program served middle school students in the Orangeburg city gym, and as enrollment grew it relocated to Claflin's campus, and then to Trinity United Methodist Church. The program is now headquartered at "The Smart Shop" in Orangeburg. The program also has sites at Mellichamp, Brookdale and Sheridan elementary schools. Claflin students, along with a group of retired teachers, assist with tutoring students in grades K5 through high school. Students receive tutoring in math, English-language arts, science, social studies, and writing. For more information on Project Life: Positeen, call (803) 534-4263 or email [email protected].