@Claflin: Skipp Pearson Jazz Event, Paul Robeson One Man Show, Home Depot and more

The World Needs Visionaries

Claflin Alumni Celebrate Past, Present and Preparing Visionary Leaders for the Future

at 44th Annual International Alumni Association Conference

The Claflin University International Alumni Association's 44th Annual Convention was a time of reflection, celebration, and for developing new strategies to increase fundraising and support for the University. The convention was held April 5-8 at the Atlanta Renaissance Concourse Airport Hotel in Atlanta, Ga.

The annual Alumni and Friends Corporate Breakfast on Friday, the President's Luncheon and the Orange and Maroon Ball on Saturday and the Alumni Worship Service on Sunday were among the conference's featured events. Other activities included workshops, business and planning sessions for the alumni, Greek fraternity and sorority meetings, and a memorial service.

The Honorable Kasim Reed, who served two terms as the 59th Mayor of the City of Atlanta, was the keynote speaker. Reed received an honorary doctorate from Claflin following his speech during the University's 2012 commencement. Reed's parents, Junius and Sylvia, attended Claflin during the 1960s.

"Stories like Claflin need to be told in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the New York Times, the Washington Post and other similar publications," Reed said after hearing Claflin President Henry N. Tisdale list the names of national publications which had provided media coverage of the University during the past year. "The story needs to be told because we needed a reminder so that it will need no debate on whether HBCUs need to exist."

"About 10-12 years ago, articles were written asking if we still need HBCUs," Reed said. "I don't think people are asking that questions right now. The fact of the matter is if you look at the success rate of people who graduate from institutions like Claflin, Howard University and Spelman College, you will find they have a disproportionate amount of success in life. If the United States' greatness and prominence is tied to the overall health of this economy, you cannot have people of different races unable to compete in the mainstream of America and continue to have an economy that strives. In Tom Friedman's book, That Used To Be Us, he talks about how if people from all races and communities were fully participating in the economy, including those in rural and what is described as poor areas, the American economy would be expanded by 400 billion dollars a year and 4 trillion dollars over the next 10 years. That's exactly what Claflin University does. It takes young people who need to part of the mainstream and it puts them at the heart of the mainstream."

At the end of Reed's speech, Claflin President Henry N. Tisdale presented Reed with a Presidential Citation in appreciation for and recognition of his leadership, vision and passion for creating transformative opportunities for Atlanta's diverse populations.

Presidential Citations were also presented to the Lettie Whitehead Foundation and Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, who were among more than 30 corporate partners and supporters attending the breakfast.

Mrs. Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans was an extraordinary philanthropist and the wife of Joseph B. Whitehead, one of the original bottlers of Coca-Cola. When Mr. Whitehead died, Lettie Pate took over her husband's bottling business and real estate interests, guiding both to great success. The Foundation has awarded more than $583 million in grants since its inception in 1946 and has generously supported Claflin University since 1990. Carrie Davis Conway, senior program officer with the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation accepted the award on the organization's behalf.

Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research's highly-competitive Scientific Summer Scholars Program provides Claflin students an opportunity to work alongside leading NIBR scientists as they conduct invaluable patient-driven research. The Swiss-based global healthcare powerhouse began its relationship with Claflin in 2009. Dr. Amari Johnson, global head for diversity and inclusion, accepted the citation on behalf of Novartis.

Dr. Clemmie B. Hatchett, '43, was presented a Presidential Citation in appreciation for and recognition of her energy, enthusiasm, able advocacy, and a legacy of opening doors for Claflin University and her students in Atlanta and well beyond.

Hatchett grew up in Florence, S.C., and went on to earn a master's from Atlanta University and a doctorate from Georgia State University. Hatchett is a constant inspiration to her daughter, Judge Glenda Hatchett, and she started the AIDS ministry in her church, Providence Missionary Baptist Church, more than 25 years ago. Hatchett is also credited for starting the annual Corporate Breakfast, which now serves as the Convention's official kick-off event.

Tisdale took center stage on Saturday during his "State of the University" presentation at President's Luncheon. "This convention allows us an opportunity to celebrate the progress of Claflin University. However, we also want to show that we are responsible and charitable alumni who are prepared to reach back and give back to help the next generation of visionary leaders," Tisdale said. "We must remember that to who much is given, much is required."

Tisdale's presentation focused on the University's most recent achievements which included a record fall enrollment of more than 2,100 students the largest and most diverse and talented freshman class in the University's history; Claflin's annual ranking as a Top 10 Institution in several national publications such as Washington Monthly Magazine, Forbes.com and U.S. News and World Report; and media coverage in the New York Times and the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

"Our vision is that Claflin University will be recognized as a leading 21st Century institution that develops a diverse and inclusive community of globally engaged visionary leaders," said Tisdale. "That is our future state of excellence at Claflin University."

Tisdale talked about the importance of the Strategic Plan: Claflin LEADS: A Shared Vision for the 21st Century and how LEADS is an acronym for Leadership and Professional Development; Experiential Learning; Academic Excellence; Diversity and Inclusion, and Student Success.

Among Claflin's "Points of Pride" is the Alice Carson Tisdale Honors College which began in 1994. The Honors College Honors Class of 2017 had a 96 percent, four-year retention and graduation rate.

The Career Pathway's Initiative, a $6 million grand funded by the UNCF/The Lilly Endowment and the UNCF sponsored Economic Impact Report were also highlighted in Tisdale's report. Claflin is the lead institution for the grant which is a partnership that includes Benedict College and Voorhees College. The purpose of the initiative is to provide every student a four-year pathway, guided by a team of proactive advisors, mentors and experiential learning opportunities to prepare them for successful careers after they earn undergraduate degrees.

"The state of South Carolina is investing more than $300,000 and the Mellon Foundation is investing $500,000 to support this important initiative," said Tisdale. "We need you - the alumni - to partner with us. We need your support and participation with our mentoring program and work with our students both on and off campus."

The HBUCs Make America Strong Economic Impact Report was underwritten by Citi Foundation and the economic estimates were prepared by the University of Georgia's Selig Center for Economic Growth. The report revealed that Claflin generates 835 jobs in Orangeburg, S.C. and $79 million in economic impact. The study also estimates that Claflin graduates will earn $1 billion in lifetime earnings.

"HBCUs make America strong because we invest in our communities, said Tisdale. "This is a landmark study that shows what Claflin is doing in our community in terms of jobs. This report also says that graduates are earning 1 billion dollars or more with their degrees than what they would have without it," Tisdale said. "This report answers the question, Why HBCUs? It shows that HBCUs have value."

The CUIAA made presentations to several members for their outstanding achievements, including Estalla Rickenbacker, '73; and Ret. Colonel Howard Butler, '74, (Distinguished Service); Gertie Tippitt, '69; Tryphenia Sumter, '65; Vernon Wallace, '73; and Daisy Thompson DeWitt Webster, '74 (Alumnus Special Achievement Award); Jaqueline D. Lawrence, and S.C. House Rep. Jerry Govan (Non-Claflinite Service Award. The Spartanburg/Cherokee Chapter was the lead all chapters in fundraising and was named Chapter of the Year. The Washington D.C. Chapter was recognized for recruiting the largest amount of students to Claflin.

Claflin University Athletics Inducts its Largest Class into Chi Alpha Sigma NCAHS

The Claflin University athletics department inducted its largest class of student-athletes (24) into Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society (NCAHS). The induction took place on Monday, April 9 at 6 p.m. in the Orange and Maroon Room. The charter class of the Claflin University chapter was inducted in 2015 and consisted of 14 student-athletes.

Each student-athlete received an initiation pin and certificate of membership during the ceremony.

Claflin is one of nine institutions in the state of South Carolina to have membership in Chi Alpha Sigma.

The members of the Claflin University Chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma represent the 4 A's of NCAHS (Athletics, Academics, Achievement, and Attitude) and is comprised of student-athletes from the baseball, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's track and field and volleyball teams.

The 2018 inductees are: Haneef Britt (men's basketball), Kayla Cato (softball), Timothy Christian (men's basketball), Saeviah Conyers (softball), Jamal Devine (baseball), Ishawn Francis (women's track and field), Ashleigh Green (volleyball), Taija Johnson (women's basketball), Darrell Langston (baseball), LaKaylin Lee (softball), Jamaica Miller (women's track and field), Albert Miller (men's basketball), Chelise Morman (softball), Dillion Parker (baseball), Clyde Parker (baseball), Daija Pegues (women's track and field), Jhi Piper-Murles (volleyball), Kaela Robinson (softball), Carmen Robinson (women's basketball), Darnesha Sampson (softball), Courtney Taylor (volleyball), Jamelah Thomas (softball), Torriun Towers (baseball), and Benjamin Williams (men's basketball).

Chi Apha Sigma was founded at DePauw University in Green Castle, Indiana, on May 17, 1996 as a student-athlete honor society for the recognition of high academic achievers and sport letter winners at the collegiate level.

Chi Alpha Sigma recognizes students who are of good moral character and receive a varsity letter in their sport while maintaining a 3.4 or higher cumulative GPA by their junior or senior year and have been in residence at the institution for one year. The mission of the NCAHS is to bring honor and recognition to deserving student-athletes, their families, teams, athletic departments, and colleges in much the same way as Phi Beta Kappa honors academic achievement. The governing board of Chi Alpha Sigma represents all levels of competition in the NCAA.

The purpose of the organization is to encourage and reward high academic scholarship, recognize outstanding academic achievement, encourage good citizenship, moral character, friendship and to mentor and provide leadership to other student-athletes.

The official motto of the society is "Excellence in Athletics and Academics" and there are more than 284 chapters in 41 states and the District of Columbia.

The Alonzo Webster Wright Lyceum Series presents The Legacy Show

Renowned violinist Tami Lee Hughes will perform during "The Legacy Show" performance as part of the University's Alonzo Webster Wright Lyceum Series, beginning at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 16 in the W. V. Middleton Fine Arts Center. The event is free and open to the public.

Lee Hughes will be accompanied by pianist Byron Burford-Phearse.

Lee Hughes has performed on numerous recordings, including projects for Grammy award-winning artists Donnie McClurkin, Fred Hammond, and Aretha Franklin. Additionally, she has performed on the BET network program "Sunday Best" with Grammy-award winning artist Kirk Franklin and has appeared live in concert with Smokey Robinson.

Burford-Phearse has performed with critically acclaimed vocalists such as Suzanna Guzman, Alvi Powell, Robert Sims and Angela M. Brown.

In 2007, Vergil Wright presented a $100,000 gift to Claflin to establish a lyceum series in honor of his father Rev. Alonzo Webster Wright. The Lyceum series helps to nurture the personal and academic growth of students by expanding their intellectual and personal development in social, civic, and academic realms.

For more information about Claflin University's Lyceum Series, please call Dr. Peggy S. Ratliff at (803) 535-5233 or [email protected] .

Claflin to Host One-Man Show on the Life of Paul Robeson

Claflin University will host "The World is My Home: The Life and Times of Paul Robeson" on Thursday April 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the W.V. Middleton Fine Arts Center. The one-man show, produced by Stoogie Kenyatta, is free and open to the public.

The late Paul Robeson was an American bass baritone concert artist and stage and film actor who became famous both for his cultural accomplishments and for his political activism. He was also an all-American football player who played in early NFL. Robeson graduated in 1919 from Rutgers University as valedictorian, received a law degree from Columbia, passed the NY Bar in 1922 and became the first African American lawyer with a New York law firm.

Kenyatta's entertaining, laugh out loud, music filled show with audience participation, call outs, covers Robeson's friendships with Albert Einstein, W.E.B. Dubois, Cab Calloway and many others who contributed to the cultural movement known as the Harlem Renaissance. This show, like Robeson's life, serves as a cultural ambassador inspiring us to greater achievement and a more noble life.

Stogie Kenyatta was classically trained at the African American Studio in Harlem, Henry St. Settlement & Al Fann Theatrical Ensemble. A finalist in the N.Y. State Theatre competition with artistic director, John Houseman, he also studied screenwriting and political science at the University of California and later privately with Ivan Markota at the Van Mar Academy for Television & Film Acting.

Claflin University to Host Launch Event for Skipp Pearson Scholarship Fund for Jazz Music

On Thursday, April 26, from 7 until 10 p.m., Claflin University will host the launch of the Skipp Pearson Scholarship Fund for Jazz Music. Sponsored by the Skipp Pearson Jazz Legacy Foundation, the event will be held in Ministers' Hall.

The event at Claflin is just one of six events of the "Come Let Freedom SWING" performance schedule of the Carl Payne Big Band. At this event, attendees will listen to the memorable sounds of the Big Band Era. The event is also a celebration of the endearing virtues of jazz music as an educational tool, force for peace, instrument for intercultural dialogue and global cooperation.

Thales Thomas "Skipp" Pearson, who earned a bachelor's degree at Claflin in 1974, was a native of Orangeburg and a celebrated jazz musician who worked for more than six decades to keep live jazz alive in South Carolina as an educator and entertainer. He died on June 5, 2017, following a battle with advanced bone cancer. Pearson received the state's highest civilian honor, the Order of the Palmetto, in January 2017. He was also the recipient of the state's highest artistic honor, the Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Governor's Award for the Arts.

"By the grace of God, I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to share my talents as a musical artist with others across the world," said Pearson in a testimonial that appeared in a Claflin alumni publication. "I must credit time I spent at Claflin for excelling my natural drive to seek out the best life has to offer."

Click here for tickets to the event.

Honors College UNIV Students Learn About Philanthropy and Give Back to University

On Wednesday, April 11, students from the Honors College UNIV 102 class presented Claflin University with a donation of $1,110.50. The funds were generated from products sold during the recent CALA-Bash event.

Prior to the financial presentation, Rev. Whittaker V. Middleton, vice president for Institutional Advancement, gave a presentation to the students about how funds are raised for the University. In the presentation, he explained that most of the funds raised for the University are returned to the students in the form of scholarships.

Student Profile - Aaron Perry

On Wednesday, March 28, senior marketing major Aaron Perry won $50,000.00 in South Carolina State University's Entrepreneurship Business Plan Competition - The Bulldog Startup Challenge. The Bulldog Startup Challenge is sponsored by local business owners Sidney Fulton, III and Jacquelyn Fulton.

This event is for young entrepreneurs looking to obtain financial assistance to start their own business or to produce a product and the award can be used for either or both.

The name of Perry's company is Revolutionary Strength Technology and his product is Super Shoulder. The main target market for this product are athletes in the elementary, middle, high school, college and professional levels. This product helps athletes develop stronger shoulder muscles that increase their performance in their sports.

The concept for the product was first thought of as a class assignment in Dr. Robin Davis' Entrepreneurship class. He is currently in the process of obtaining a patent for the product.

Perry also plays baseball for Claflin University.

Student Profile - Detravious Brinkley

On Friday, April 13, sophomore computer science major Detravious Brinkley will receive the South Carolina Student Achievement Award from South Carolina Campus Compact. The award is presented to a student who has exhibited outstanding leadership and innovative approaches in their community service or service learning endeavors both on their campus and within their community that addresses public issues, effective community building, and integration of civic engagement into the college experience. He will receive the award during 2018 Civic Engagement Leadership Summit at Winthrop University.

Countdown to the 2018 Commencement Convocation

According to the calendar, there are 29 days until the 2018 Commencement Convocation at Claflin University on Saturday, May 12. Please visit the University's website for an outline of all activities including a schedule of events, speakers, Golden Anniversary Class, hotels, directions, and more. The Baccalaureate speaker is Rev. Otis Scott Jr., '69, and the Commencement speaker is April Ryan.

President Tisdale Agrees to Get in the Dunking Booth

Claflin University is among the list of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) competing for grants to beautify and upgrade their campuses through the Home Depot's Retool Your School program. This marks the ninth year of the program and participating schools are divided into three clusters based on student enrollment. There will be one (1) $50,000 Grand Prize Grant, one (1) $40,000 2nd Place Grant and (1) $30,000 3rd Place Grant recipient per cluster. Claflin is in Cluster 2.

President Tisdale has agreed to get in the dunking booth - only if Claflin University is declared first or second place winners in the competition. Right now, Claflin third place. To catch up and pass the second place school, Claflin needs more than 35,000 votes.

Claflin University needs your votes and committed individuals to vote unlimited amounts of times for Claflin at www.retoolyourschool.com.

You can also get friends and family to vote as well.

And don't forget that a post on Instagram and Twitter using the hashtag #Claflin_RYS18 counts as a vote too (just make sure you are spelling the hashtag correctly).

This competition ends on Sunday, April 15 at 11:59 p.m.

Thanks, President Tisdale, for your gracious offer!

Employee News

Ashley Schofield, Claflin University controller, is one of 45 mid-level administrators in higher education nationwide selected by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) to participate in the 2018-2019 Senior Leadership Academy.

Individuals chosen for the year-long program are administrators in higher education who have been identified by their institutions as having the potential for senior leadership positions in independent colleges or universities. Schofield will participate in an opening seminar in St. Louis, Missouri, November 2-4, 2018, and a closing seminar in Washington, DC, June 20-22, 2019. She also will undertake a mentoring program, work with experts, participate in webinars, and engage in a series of readings and case studies during the academic year.

Panther Pride

Claflin Falls to North Greenville in Non-conference Baseball Action

The Claflin University baseball team fell to North Greenville University (NGU) for the second time this season, losing 14-5 on Wednesday, April 11 at Mirmow Field.

The non-conference loss dropped Claflin to 11-24 on the season, heading into an important Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) East Division series with Clark Atlanta. The three-game series gets underway at Historic Mirmow Field, Friday, April 13 with a single game at 5 p.m. followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, April 14, starting at 1 p.m.

Saturday is designated as senior day where the senior members of the baseball team will be recognized in a pre-game ceremony at 12:30 p.m. MORE

North Georgia Sweeps Claflin in Non-conference Softball Doubleheader

The Claflin University softball team dropped a non-conference doubleheader to the University of North Georgia (UNG) Nighthawks falling 10-0 and 9-1.

The Lady Panthers fell to 14-24 overall while UNG improved to 42-1. MORE

Claflin Sweeps Fort Valley State University in SIAC Softball Series

The Claflin University softball team outscored Fort Valley State University (FVSU) 26-8 over three games as they swept the Lady Wildcats in a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) series. The Lady Panthers defeated FVSU 8-1 on Friday, April 6 (8-0) and 10-7 in a doubleheader on Sunday, April 8.

The wins pushes Claflin's record to 17-24 overall and 9-4 in the SIAC. FVSU, who saw their nine-game win streak snapped on Friday, falls to 15-12 overall and 5-8 in the SIAC. MORE