@Claflin: Warmack Receives AAC&U Scholarship, Presidential Scholarship Gala Rescheduled, CIAA Career Day and more

January 29, 2021

The World Needs Visionaries

Claflin University President Receives Association of American Colleges and Universities Scholarship

Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack is a recipient of the 2021 AAC&U-Cengage Inclusion Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to currently serving campus presidents in recognition of their outstanding leadership to advance liberal education. AAC&U (Association of American Colleges and Universities) is the leading national association dedicated to advancing the vitality and public standing of liberal education by making quality and equity the foundations for excellence in undergraduate education in service to democracy.

Claflin University Reschedules Presidential Scholarship Gala to Fall

Due to the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Presidential Scholarship Gala has been rescheduled for Fall 2021 during Homecoming Weekend.

Initially, the Presidential Scholarship Gala was to be held virtually on February 19, 2021. However, the Presidential Scholarship Gala Planning Committee agreed that it is best to reschedule this event due to the attention and resources dedicated to ensuring the health and safety of the campus community as we begin the 2021 Spring Semester. This includes COVID-19 testing for all students, faculty, and staff and following state and federal COVID-19 guidelines related to sanitizing buildings and facilities.

The gala is one of the region’s premier cultural, entertainment, and social events. Proceeds from this fundraiser supports scholarships for Presidential Scholars, high-achieving high school graduates who receive tuition, campus housing and other support because of their outstanding academic accomplishments and leadership skills. They are also members of the Alice Carson Tisdale Honors College.

Rescheduling the gala will allow us to appropriately highlight and provide the recognition our Presidential Scholars, donors, and other supporters truly deserve. It may also allow for an in-person event based on the status of the pandemic and recommendations by public health officials.

Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated, and we are hopeful that you and other Claflin supporters will stay safe. We have complete confidence that together - we will celebrate a bigger and better Presidential Scholarship Gala in the fall.

Claflin University to Participate in CIAA High School Education Day, Career Expo among the Community Events Geared to Inspire and Engage during Virtual Tournament Week Experience

As the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA^®), the nation’s oldest historically black athletic conference, prepares to host its first-ever virtual tournament week experience, there will be an abundance of events for attendees to enjoy and commemorate the 76th annual celebration of HBCU championship basketball, sports, and culture.

In keeping with tradition, the CIAA has planned a full slate of motivational, educational, and uplifting community events to compliment the elements of sports and entertainment, highlighted by High School Education Day presented by the U.S. Army and Career Expo presented by Toyota. A multi-part speaker series presented by Novant Health, Small Business Symposium presented by NASA, and a mental health series titled ‘Preserving the Whole You’ are also among the bevy of exciting community-focused events happening during the five-day cultural experience.

“One of the beautiful things about CIAA Tournament Week traditionally is the impact that extends far beyond the competition on the court. Working collaboratively with our member institutions and partners, we are intentional in our mission to create meaningful programming that inspires and empowers the communities that we serve,” said CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams. “This year will be no different as we continue to engage our core fans, students, and alumni while expanding our reach to new audiences and exposing them to the rich tradition of the conference and cultural significance of our HBCUs through our virtual platform.”

CIAA Education Day, one of the conference’s most popular events during the CIAA Basketball Tournament, reaches more than 6,000 students annually. Attendees will be able to virtually meet with the Claflin University Admissions Team to learn tips that prepare them for college and offers an inside track to the collegiate experience. The 2021 CIAA Education Day will operate two high school programs - one focused primarily on schools in Baltimore city and surrounding counties on Tuesday, February 23, and another for schools in other states on Wednesday, February 24.

Growth and opportunity will be reoccurring themes for Thursday as the conference, and its partners host multiple events throughout the day, starting with the CIAA Career Expo. The 2021 CIAA Career Expo is designed to provide organizations the opportunity to meet recent graduates and current students from CIAA member schools and other universities as well as career seekers and career switchers in a virtual setting to recruit for available positions.

A panel discussion tabbed ‘COVID-19: The Next Chapter’ will also be held on day three, while a Financial Planning Summit hosted by Cathy Hughes will be a highlight for many later in the day.

Geared towards uplifting and promoting womanhood, the Women’s Empowerment Brunch presented by Nationwide is a tournament week staple event that will take place Friday, February 26. That same day will also see six CIAA legends become the latest inductees into the John B. McLendon Hall of Fame. The star-studded 2021 class will be celebrated during a special presentation aired on the CIAA Sports Network, which will spotlight each member and feature a special Q&A session led by Commissioner McWilliams.

Registration is required, but access to these events and much more during this one-of-a-kind virtual experience is free. Early registration is strongly encouraged as space is limited. To register and view the tentative schedule of events, visit ciaatournament.org.

For the latest information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Student Spotlights

Claflin University's Student Government Association President Marquel Sanders was featured on HBCU Buzz in an article discussing the historic presidential election and what the Biden-Harris’ 2020 presidential campaign win means for HBCUs. Sanders is a senior marketing major. Click here to read his comments along with other SGA presidents that were featured. Note: Sanders is #6 on the list.

Frederick Uy, a senior business administration major and member of the Alice Carson Tisdale Honors College, shared his study abroad experience during an online presentation hosted by CIEE Study Abroad. During the summer of 2019, Uy completed a global internship as a Frederick Douglas Scholar in London, England. The Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship honors the legacy of the abolitionist and statesman with a fully funded summer study abroad program. This Fellowship is developed for students of color and selection is in the spirit of Douglass himself with special emphasis on leadership, social justice, agitation for positive change and cross-cultural understanding.

Employee News

Congratulations to Carolyn R. Snell, '83, director of career development, and Tonyetta S. McDaniel, '08, assistant program for career development, who were honored as Graduway Impact Award winners in the category of Mentoring. This award recognizes committed professionals for their exceptional dedication to mentoring and professional guidance. Graduway supports educational institutions with helping to engage students and alumni with access to a willing network offering career guidance and opportunity. Claflin launched its Panthers at Work Mentoring Program through Graduway in 2017. Click here to learn more.

Alumni News

Dr. Leon Prieto, '04, and Dr. Simone Phipps-Prieto, '05, recently received the Minority & Women Entrepreneurship Education Innovator Award from the United States Association for Small Business & Entrepreneurship on January 7. On January 21, they were also among the 30 people who were named to the 2021 Thinkers50 Radar list. They were listed alongside Management and Business academics and practitioners affiliated with universities such as MIT, Harvard Business School, and London Business School. They both serve as associate research fellows at the University of Cambridge, Judge Business School. They also received international attention for their groundbreaking book, African American Management History: Insights on Gaining a Cooperative Advantage, which makes the argument that some successful Black business pioneers such as Charles Clinton Spaulding, Alonzo Herndon, Maggie Lena Walker and others gained a “cooperative advantage” during the golden age of Black Business (1900-1930) because of the spirit of care and community, dialogue and consensus-building that they engendered.