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Watch the 148th Matriculation Day Convocation 
Online


Claflin University will host its 148th Matriculation Day Convocation at 11 a.m. on Thursday, September 7 in the Edward L. Tullis Arena at the Jonas T. Kennedy Health and Physical Education Center with the theme "Claflin LEADS: A Shared Vision for the 21st Century." All students, faculty and staff participate and the general public are also invited to attend.

You can watch the 148th Matriculation Day Convocation service live on September 7 at 11 a.m. by clicking here
Claflin University and Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts
 

The Claflin University community is responding to Hurricane Harvey national relief efforts in a variety of ways. This is to inform you about those efforts and how you might participate.
 
The Division of Student Development and Services, along with the Student Government Association, has launched a benevolent giving campaign under the name "Claflin Cares." To begin the campaign, the Student Government Association has donated $500 for the disaster relief fund. The Hurricane Harvey disaster relief effort will receive one hundred percent of the donations. To donate to the "Claflin Cares" campaign, click here.
 
The Athletics Department is sending t-shirts, warmups, shoes, toiletries and other nonperishable items to the University of Houston (U of H) Athletics Department for distribution to those in their community affected by Hurricane Harvey
 
D.R.E.A.M. Gospel Choir is collecting cases of bottled water to send to Houston.

You may also mail in financial donations to:
 
Claflin University
c/o Institutional Advancement
400 Magnolia Street
Orangeburg, SC 29115
 
For more information about Claflin Cares, please call the Division of Institutional Advancement at (803) 535-5357.
Claflin President Elected to SC Chamber of Commerce Board of Trustees
  

President Henry N. Tisdale was recently elected to serve on the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors for 2017-18. Leadership terms for the Board of Directors begin on October 1, 2017. "We are grateful for the leadership of our Executive Committee and Board of Directors," said Chamber President and CEO Ted Pitts. "We look forward to working together not only to make the Chamber stronger but to make South Carolina's business environment more competitive than ever."
Employee News
Claflin University announced the appointment of Barbara Steadman as major gifts officer in the Division of Institutional Advancement.
 
"We are pleased to welcome Ms. Steadman to Claflin's fundraising team," said Reverend Whittaker V. Middleton, vice president for Institutional Advancement at Claflin."Her primary responsibility will be cultivating and soliciting individual gifts to the University of $50,000 or more which is critical to the success of our strategic plan, "Claflin LEADS: A Shared Vision for the 21st Century."
 
Steadman has 20 years of experience in fundraising, board governance, alumni relations, media relations, web development and marketing. She comes to Claflin from the South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics where she served as director of development.
 
Previously, Steadman provided support for successful capital campaigns at Coker College in Hartsville, S.C., and a $105M campaign at Allegheny (Pa.) College.  She also served as the director of resource development at Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault.
 
Steadman is a member of the International Rotary and the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She has worked with several community organizations including the Community Foundation for a Better Hartsville and the Hartsville Chamber of Commerce.
 
Steadman is a graduate of the University of North Dakota where she earned a bachelor's degree in communications.
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,  zelee@claflin.edu, or  Derrick L. Quarles, '14, m anager of the Annual Fund/Alumni Relations, at ( 803) 535-5311,  dquarles@claflin.edu
Alumni News

On August 31, Taylor Janae Jones, '17, was commissioned as a second lieutenant  in the Army Reserves. The Columbia, S.C. resident earned a bachelor's degree in mass communications from Claflin University. 

The Service of Episcopal Consecration was held for Bishop Kenneth Leroy Gibson, '79, on July 15, 2017. Bishop Gibson has been in the ministry for 39 years. He has pastored Savannah Grove FWB Church and Jordan Chapel FWB Church. He is also employed by the Florence-Darling Technical College as a counselor for the Upward Bound Program for Darlington, Lake City, Marion, and Timmonsville High Schools. 

Anthony "Duke" Hallmon, '16, is  running as a candidate for the Orangeburg County Council District 6 seatHe is an advisory board member for the OCSD5 Technology Center Business Department, a classroom volunteer for the district, a member of The New Generation of Funeral Service Practitioners Association, recording secretary for the Delta Zeta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, a board member for the I'm Possible Scholarship Fund and a mentor for Open Minded Mentoring.

Kenita D. Pitts, '13, was re-elected for a second term as president of the South Carolina State University Staff Senate. Her duties include promoting the welfare of the staff by examining issues and policies that affect the staff and providing input to the university administration.  Pitts currently serves as the student services program coordinator for the Division of Student Affairs at South Carolina State University.
Panther Pride
Claflin Falls to Shaw in Volleyball Season-Opener

The Claflin University volleyball team lost to Shaw University, 0-3, (16-25, 16-25, 6-25) in its 2017 season opener at the C.C. Spaulding Gym in Raleigh, N.C.

As a team, Claflin (0-1) recorded 18 kills with 24 digs over the three sets.  

Diara Lewis paced the Lady Panthers with six kills.  Lewis also had six digs in the contest. Jamie Dobson and Jordan Wallace contributed four kills each. Defensively, Alycia Perez-Johnson picked up eight digs and Jewel Moody had two block-assists for the Lady Panthers. 

Claflin will return to action on Wednesday, September 6, when they travel to Tigerville, S.C. to face North Greenville University in a non-conference matchup. The game will begin at 6 p.m.


September 6, 2017
In This Issue
Connect with Us
@Claflin is published by the Office of Communications & Marketing 
President: Dr. Henry N. Tisdale
Vice President for Institutional Advancement: Rev. Whittaker V. Middleton
Assistant Vice President for Communications & Marketing: George Johnson Jr.
Public Relations Director: J. Craig Cotton
Social Media and Public Relations Coordinator: Bernita Cooper
Web Communications Manager: Colin Myers
Sports Information Director: Romanda Noble-Watson
Photographers: Cecil Williams, Geoff Henderson and Colin Myers