@Claflin: Claflin Comes to Town, 2018 Homecoming, Alumni News and more

The World Needs Visionaries

Claflin Comes to Town Scholarship Fundraiser Scheduled for October 25 in Charleston

Claflin University is taking its "Claflin Comes To Town," fundraiser reception to a place of historic significance, Charleston, S.C., on Thursday, October 25 at 6:30 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church (446 Meeting Street). The reception is held for the benefit of The FOCUS100 Scholarship Fund, which provides financial assistance for deserving students.

"A large number of students and alumni are from the Charleston area and Claflin's history is deeply tied to the city, as well," said Claflin University President Henry N. Tisdale. "Claflin was founded in 1869 and its first president was Dr. Alonzo Webster, a prominent Methodist minister and a teacher at the Baker Theological Institute which was founded in 1866 in Charleston. In 1870, Baker Theological Institute merged with Claflin University."

President Tisdale will discuss the impact and importance of FOCUS100 Scholarships at the reception as part of his "Envisioning Excellence Farewell Tour." Tisdale, who has provided visionary leadership at Claflin for 25 years, announced last spring that he will retire on June 30, 2019. Tisdale has stated that increasing funds for FOCUS100 and other scholarship program are among his top priorities.

Established in 2004 by the Claflin University Board of Visitors, the FOCUS100 Scholarship Fund has been a major source of support toward helping students fulfill their dreams of graduating from Claflin University. The Board of Visitors has set a fundraising goal of $1 million for this year. The scholarships offer supplemental support for students who experience an unexpected financial crisis, such as a family or health related emergency, that may cause them to withdraw from school without earning a degree. FOCUS100 Scholarships have contributed to the marked increase in the retention rate for first-year students during the past decade.

To RSVP for "Clafin Comes To Town," please contact Ms. Tammy McCottry at [email protected] or (803) 535-5665. If you cannot attend the event and would still like to donate, please click here.

Make Your Plans for Homecoming 2018

There are just 49 days until Homecoming 2018! Claflin University is looking forward to welcoming you "home" for Homecoming 2018 on November 15-18.

Many events are planned for your enjoyment and participation. We will also celebrate reunion for the classes of 1943, 1948, 1953, 1958, 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, and 2013. Celebrate your class with a memory that last forever. Click here to view a schedule events for Homecoming 2018.

If you are a class officer/agent, please contact Zelda M. Lee, '77, director of the Annual Fund/Alumni Relations, at (803) 535-5348, [email protected].

Alumni News

Janice Marshall, '70, will be featured in the 2019 South Carolina African American History Calendar. Marshall is the executive director of the Clyburn Scholarship and Research Foundation and also secretary of the Claflin University Board of Trustees. She has served on the Board since 2013. The South Carolina Department of Education will unveil the calendar at a Gala on Tuesday, October 9, at 7 p.m. at the Koger Center for the Arts in Columbia, S.C. For more information and tickets, click here.

The Colleton County Alumni Chapter received the Small Chapter of the Year Award at the Legacy of Leaders Awards Luncheon on Friday, September 28, at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. The luncheon was hosted by the National Black College Alumni (NBCA) Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc. during its 33rd Annual Hall of Fame Weekend on September 26 through 30. Each year at this event, alumni of Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) are honored for significant contributions they have made to their respective institution. This event promotes the viability of HBCUs and highlights the accomplishments of their alumni. The mission of the NBCA Hall of Fame Foundation is to serve as a catalyst and partner for ensuring the stability, strength and excellence of the nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Panther Pride

Claflin Falls to UNC Pembroke in 2018 Home Opener

The Claflin University volleyball team dropped its 2018 home opener to UNC Pembroke, 3-0 (24-26, 18-25, 22-25) on October 2 at the Jonas T. Kennedy Health and Physical Education Center . The loss drops the Lady Panthers to 4-7 overall while UNC Pembroke improves to 5-11 with the win.

The Lady Panthers will return to the road for their next two matches beginning this Saturday, October 6, when they travel to Raleigh, N.C. to face Shaw University in a CIAA Southern Division Match. Claflin will face Benedict College on Tuesday, October 9, in Columbia before returning home next Saturday, October 16, to host Livingstone College in a 2 p.m. CIAA Southern Division Match.

Claflin University Former Track and Field Athlete Trisana Fairweather Named a 2018 NCAA Woman of the Year Finalist

Former Claflin University track athlete Trisana Fairweather, '18, has been selected as one of nine finalist for the 2018 NCAA Woman of the Year Award. The announcement was made by the NCAA via social media on Tuesday, October 2. The nine finalist will be honored at an awards dinner on Sunday, October 28 in Indianapolis, where the 2018 Woman of the Year will be named.

Finalists were selected from a group of 30 Woman of the Year honorees who will be recognized during the event. This group of 30 includes 10 honorees from each NCAA division and represents a range of sports. Schools nominated a record 581 college athletes for the award.

Fairweather, a native of Hope Bay Port Antonio, Portland Jamaica, graduated Summa Cum Laude this past May with a bachelor's degree in business administration (concentration in accounting). She is currently pursuing a master's degree in accounting at Indiana University.

In 2016, Fairweather was the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Champion in the 200 meters and was named the Claflin University Female Athlete of the Year, as well as the institution's Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. She was twice named SIAC Women's Track Athlete of the Year (2015, 2016). She earned seven U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-America honors and holds five Claflin track and field individual records, including marks in the 55-meter, 60-meter, 100-meter, 200-meter and 400-meter events. She also was a member of two relay teams that hold school records - the 4x100 and 4x400.

The Woman of the Year Award honors graduating female college athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in academics, athletics, service, and leadership.

Claflin Basketball Coaches and Athletes to Participate in CIAA Media Day

The Claflin University head men's and women's basketball coaches, along with student-athletes from both teams, will participate in the 2018 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) inaugural virtual press conference on Friday, October 5. The virtual press conference will take place from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. with Claflin coaches and players scheduled to be interviewed at 11:45 a.m.

For additional information please visit http://theciaa.com.

Claflin SAAC and Orangeburg Department of Public Safety Host Gang Prevention & Intervention Summit a Success

More than 1,200 fifth and sixth grade students from Orangeburg County Consolidated School Districts 3, 4, and 5 were in attendance on Thursday, September 27, at the 2018 Gang Prevention & Intervention Summit hosted by Claflin University Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety. The conference was held in Tullis Arena at the Jonas T. Kennedy Health and Physical Education Center on the campus of Claflin University.

The mission of the conference was to provide activities to the students that will teach them steps to creating a safe community environment for the citizens of Orangeburg County through violence education, intervention and prevention.

Donations for the Summit were provided by Ci-Ci's Pizza, Claflin University Athletics, and the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety. Volunteers included Claflin University SAAC members along with other Claflin student-athletes, coaches, and athletic staff members. MORE