@Claflin: GivingTuesday, Inauguration Highlights and more

November 24, 2021

The World Needs Visionaries

A Message from the President

Greetings Claflin Family,

I write to express my gratitude to alumni, faculty, staff, students, and other Claflin University supporters for making 2021 Homecoming a truly special occasion. Each event – including our student-focused activities and programs for our alumni, friends, and other guests – created an environment that celebrated our appreciation for each other and this historic University. I am especially appreciative of the Inauguration Committee’s professionalism and dedication to ensuring that the Investiture Ceremony was a first-class presentation that embodied the values, traditions, and culture of Claflin University.

However, these accomplishments could not have been possible without the collective efforts of Team Claflin and the entire campus community. Alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends – Thank You! – for your commitment and support to making 2021 Homecoming memorable and outstanding.

As we prepare for the holiday season, I am hopeful you will be able to spend time with your families and others that you love. I am also hopeful that you will reflect on how you have been blessed and if possible - reach out to help someone less fortunate.

Please stay safe and have an enjoyable Thanksgiving!

Sincerely,

Dr. Dwaun Warmack

President

Give to Support Student Scholarships on Giving Tuesday

Claflin University will hold its annual GivingTuesday Campaign on November 30, 2021, from 12 a.m. until 11:59 a.m. This year’s GivingTuesday fundraising goal is $50,000 that will support need-based student scholarships through the Claflin Fund.

GivingTuesday was launched in 2012 and it is observed on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It has become an international movement that celebrates charitable giving at the beginning of the Christmas and holiday season.

Invest your financial resources in a Claflin University student. Your gift of $10,000, $1,000, $100, $25 or at any level - will help us reach our goal of $50,000 or more in one day.

Share on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, or Instagram how to donate. Contact family, friends, and classmates via phone or social media to promote GivingTuesday and make a difference in the lives of Claflin students.

Ways to give on Tuesday, November 30:

Call (803) 535-5357
Text CUGiving to (844) 596-3403
Givelify
alumni.claflin.edu/ClaflinFund

Spread the word. Invite 10 of your friends and family to join you in GivingTuesday. Please call (803) 535-5357 for more information.

In Case You Missed It: Watch the Rebroadcast of the Inauguration Ceremony of Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack

The inauguration of Claflin University’s ninth president, Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack, was held on Friday, November 19, 2021, at 10 a.m. Click here to watch the rebroadcast of this ceremony..

You may also read articles about this historic event:

Warmack seeks elevation, transformation at Claflin; investiture ceremony held for president (Times and Democrat)
In Photos: The Investiture of Dr. Warmack (Times and Democrat)
Claflin University inaugurates Dwuaun Warmack as ninth president (WLTX)
Inauguration of new president at Claflin University (WLTX)
Claflin president puts community at heart of transformative 'ministry' at university (Times and Democrat)

Claflin University Senior Named a Rhodes Scholar Finalist

Shone Nairn Jr., a Claflin University graduating senior from Nassau, Bahamas, was recently named a finalist for a 2022 Rhodes Scholarship, a first in Claflin’s 152-year history. Nairn is a mathematics major with a 3.9 grade point average, and a member of the Alice Carson Tisdale Honors College. He represented Claflin University and the Bahamas when he appeared before the Commonwealth Caribbean Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee on November 22-23, 2021, to interview for the prestigious award.

Founded in 1902 in accordance with the Last Will and Testament of the diamond magnate and British colonial statesman Cecil J. Rhodes, the internationally acclaimed Rhodes Scholarships have been awarded annually for over a century to superior students and future leaders from around the world. The merit-based Rhodes Scholarships are awarded to approximately 100 students globally and cover, by tradition, all costs related to two to three years of graduate study at Oxford University in Britain. The highly coveted prize, which acknowledges academic excellence, leadership potential, moral character, and an overall well-roundedness in service to the public good, is the oldest, and according to most observers, the most prestigious graduate scholarship in the world.

If Nairn is awarded a Rhodes Scholarship, he plans to pursue an M.Sc. degree in Energy Systems at Oxford University, a course of study which will draw heavily upon his already proven, stellar academic background in mathematics. Nairn has stated that graduate work at the University of Oxford will better prepare him for a fulsome life of public service in the Bahamas, particularly given his interest in clean energy use, as well as energy conservation, renewability, and efficiency. Nairn aspires to become an energy consultant for the Bahamian government, working, he recently said, to create a "more sustainable environment" in the Bahamas and globally.

In response to his having been recently shortlisted for the prize, Nairn further remarked: "It's an amazing experience, something new and kind of unexpected, but I'm grateful to be a part of it – and I am excited. I was overwhelmed at first," he said.

Nairn was admitted to Claflin in 2019 after being heavily recruited by the University. He enrolled at Claflin with almost a year of college credit after achieving academic success in his Advanced Placement (AP) courses. The credits he accumulated in the AP program will allow Nairn to graduate from Claflin University ahead of schedule. Reflecting upon his college journey so far, Nairn has stated “I'm grateful that I had a chance to come into contact with Claflin, and had the opportunity to apply." He remarked that he has also been appreciative of "the resources that Claflin and other Historically Black Colleges/Universities (HBCUs) have put into place to help students to achieve great things", and added, "That's something that really should be celebrated."

Famous Rhodes Scholars over the years have come from Old and New Commonwealth countries from all around the world and have included: Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke; U.S. President Bill Clinton; Jamaican Premier Norman Washington Manley; Bahamian neurosurgeon and NFL professional football player Dr. Myron L. Rolle; U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Dr. Susan E. Rice; U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright, after whom all international Fulbright awards are named; Edwin Hubble, inventor of the famed Hubble Telescope, and many others.

Claflin University to Host Inaugural Paws Up HBCU Basketball Classic

The Claflin University Department of Athletics will host this year’s premiere basketball event for Historically Black Colleges/Universities (HBCUs) in the state of South Carolina when the Inaugural PAWS Up HBCU Basketball Classic begins on December 3-4 at the Jonas T. Kennedy Health and Wellness Complex. The two-day event will include exciting basketball action, community engagement activities, and opportunities to learn more about the enduring legacies of South Carolina HBCUs. Benedict College, Morris College, and Voorhees College are the other participants.

“I am extremely excited about bringing this spectacular event to the city of Orangeburg,” said Claflin University Director of Athletics Tony O’Neal.

In addition to showcasing HBCU basketball, the Paws Up HBCU Basketball Classic will also provide high school and community/technical colleges students an opportunity to learn about the outstanding academic programs offered at these institutions. A symposium that will include presentations by counselors from each institution is scheduled for Friday, December 3, at Claflin’s James and Dorothy Z. Elmore Chapel. High School students are invited from 9-11 a.m. and community/technical college students can attend from noon – 2 p.m.

Activities for the first day will end with an alumni networking reception from 7-9 p.m. at the Claflin University Downtown Center.

On Saturday, December 4, Claflin will host the PAWS UP Women’s Brunch featuring NBA Moms at 10 a.m. at the Orangeburg County Conference Center.

The brunch will feature the mothers of former and current stars: Lucille O’Neal, the mother of NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal; Michelle Carter, mother of former NBA All-Star and Slam Dunk Champion Vince Carter; and Jamie Morant, mother of one of the league’s newest stars, S.C. native Ja Morant. The mothers of these NBA history makers will be recognized for their community service, entrepreneurship, and visionary leadership for developing programs that promote educational, cultural, and social development.

Following the brunch, the Claflin Lady Panthers will play the Benedict Lady Tigers at 2 p.m., followed by the Morris College vs. Voorhees College men’s matchup at 4:30 p.m. The Claflin and Benedict men’s teams will meet in the Classic’s finale at 7 p.m.

PAWS UP activities will conclude with a post-game comedy show featuring Rod Z will be held in the Jonas T. Kennedy Health and Wellness Complex.

For information on tickets or sponsorship, please contact the Claflin University Department of Athletics at (803) 535-5504. For more information about Claflin Athletics, contact the Office of Athletic Media Relations at (803) 535-5548 or www.athletics.claflin.edu.