The World Needs Visionaries |
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Claflin University Partners with Planet Fitness for Internship Program with Students Majoring in Human Performance and Recreation and Sports Management
by Daa'iyah Fogle, student writer
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Pictured from left: Joyce Johnson, club manager, Planet Fitness; Clarissa Graham, instructor/coordinator of clinical experiences and community engagement; Kristin Bobenage, human resources director, Planet Fitness; Justin Josey, intern; Dr. Natasha Ferguson Dennison, associate professor of sports management and program coordinator; and Nathan Chaplin, assistant professor/coordinator of human performance and recreation activities. [Photo by Daa'iyah Fogle] |
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Amid a global pandemic, Claflin University continues to make strides to increase educational opportunities for its students. The University recently launched a partnership with Planet Fitness to provide internships for students majoring in human performance and recreation and sports management. The partnership officially began with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Wednesday, February 9, 2022.
Justin Josey, a senior sports management major, was the first Claflin student selected for the internship. He will work with Planet Fitness during the 2022 spring semester. As an intern, Josey will provide support to various departments and gain hands-on experience in facility management, operations, sales, marketing, and community outreach.
“I am excited to see what we both can accomplish through the partnership,” said Kristin Bobenage, Planet Fitness human resources director. “We have never done this before, even in the Columbia, S.C. market. We are participating in a program like this for the first time. Our goal is to tailor the internship to the specific needs of the student.”
For Josey, this program is a perfect opportunity to build experience and connections before he graduates in May 2022.
“This internship means a lot to me because my goal is to work with corporate partnerships and marketing once I graduate,” said Josey.
“I’m just looking forward to the experience and connecting with people. I heard there are a lot of good opportunities with Planet Fitness branching from their current partnerships, so I want to make a great first impression.”
Clarissa Graham, instructor and coordinator of clinical experiences and community engagement at Claflin University, has worked diligently since September 2021 to bridge a partnership with the University and Planet Fitness. Dr. Nathan Chaplin, assistant professor/coordinator of human performance and recreation and Dr. Natasha Ferguson Dennison, associate professor of sports management & program coordinator, also contributed to the success of the initiative.
“I think this is an opportunity for greater exposure for the students in the internship program. It allows them to connect with others, gain real-world exposure, and apply what they learn in their classes in a professional setting,” said Graham. “We want this partnership to provide mutual benefits. We want to create value for Planet Fitness just as they are creating value for us in allowing our students to intern with them.”
As for the future of this partnership, Claflin University plans to continue having high-caliber HPR and Sports Management students intern with Planet Fitness to gain experiences that will help them in their career pursuits.
“We are grateful to Claflin President Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack for his visionary leadership and to Dr. Anthony A. Pittman, dean of the school of education, for his continued efforts to spearhead partnerships within the community. We also thank our partners at Planet Fitness for their support in creating and developing this internship,” said Graham.
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Claflin School of Business Scholars Capture Highest Finish for an HBCU at National Diversity Case Competition |
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Pictured from left: Dr. Benjamin Yumol, Brianna Williams, Therese A. Lapierre, and Frederick Uy. |
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A trio of Claflin University School of Business scholars became the first team from a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) to advance to a bracket final at the 11th National Diversity Case Competition held last month at Indiana University. The National Diversity Case Competition provides career opportunities for top-level, diverse talent from colleges and universities across the country. The history-making team of Therese A. Lapierre, Brianna Williams, and Frederick Uy were runners-up in the competition, that was hosted by IU’s Kelley School of Business.
“Claflin University is the only HBCU that ever reached this level in this competition," said Dr. Benjamin Yumol, associate professor of management in Claflin’s School of Business. “It confirms the competitiveness of our program and its students. It also highlights the school’s initiatives to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.”
LaPierre is a senior business administration major from Denmark, S.C. and Williams is a junior marketing major from Moncks Corner, S.C. Uy is a senior from Tacoma, Wash. He has dual majors in business administration and computer science.
“I’m really proud of what we accomplished,” said Uy, who has accepted a full-time position as a financial analyst with Google after he graduates. “Brianna and Therese were amazing teammates. We proved that HBCUs can compete with other top universities. Our achievement was a testament to how Claflin professors in the school of business are helping us develop the intellectual, management, and practical skills necessary for successful careers in business.”
The event is held annually during the weekend before the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday and was hosted virtually for a second straight year. The event featured workshops, networking sessions, and presentations about career opportunities for top-level, diverse talent from colleges and universities across the country companies that value inclusion.
“We are proud to once again, host this competition. A founding principle of this event is that diversity in business benefits all of us. The value to society of this event is as important today as it was when we welcomed the first NDCC participants to Kelley in 2012,” said Idalene “Idie” Kesner, dean of the Kelley School and the Frank P. Popoff chair of strategic management.
The case problem used during the competition addressed a real-world issue for many companies: how to increase adoption of robotics and automation for small and medium-sized businesses, particularly those that are minority-owned. Judges were looking for creative solutions that leverage the students’ diverse backgrounds and encourage a solution where authentic differences in backgrounds, experiences, cultures, and thoughts are appreciated.
Participants included 140 undergraduate students from 35 of the nation’s widely respected business schools. Claflin was one of three HBCUs at the competition. Teams competed for $22,000 in prize money and each team included two members from an underrepresented population. Prizes were awarded to the winner, the finalists, and the runners-up in each bracket. The University of Denver was this year’s top finisher.
“Events such as the National Diversity Case Competition allow our students to showcase their talents and skills to industry leaders, representatives of prestigious graduate schools, and other talented students,” Yumol said. “It also provided them an opportunity to apply and integrate knowledge learned in the classroom and present it in a professional and business-like manner. Participating in these types of events can also lead to internships and jobs after graduation.”
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Watch Claflin Senior Compete in Madden NFL HBCU Tournament |
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Tune in on Saturday, February 12 at 3 p.m. ET on the NFL YouTube or Twitch channels to find out if Eric "ThatGuyDJ" Minor from Claflin University or Rodney "RockoTuff" McKay from Virginia Union University will take home the Madden NFL 22 x HBCU Tournament title. Both will be competing for the championship title from the NFL's west coast headquarters located next to SoFi Stadium in Hollywood Park, home of Super Bowl LVI. Minor is a senior computer science major from Suffolk, Va.
Both have been in Los Angeles this week for job shadowing opportunities and events with the NFL. They will also attend Super Bowl LVI, on Sunday, February 13, 2022, at SoFi Stadium.
This year's tournament features NFL partner prizing including Microsoft Surface Pro X tablets, in addition to other official League products.
The NFL partnered with GCN (Gaming Community Network), a GameSquare Esports company that manages the online qualifiers, including registration and online tournament execution, player communications, competitive integrity, and the professional broadcast on February 12.
Click here to watch a recent episode of NFL Total Access in which Minor and McKay talk about their experience in the tournament.
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CIAA Basketball Tournament Passes Now On Sale |
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In addition to the highly anticipated Division II basketball championship, the annual tournament will again offer a multitude of official celebratory affiliated events that appeal to a diverse demographic of alumni and fans, including community engagement, Super Saturday, step-shows, and concerts. Staple events such as Fan Fest, Education Day, and Career Expo will again be featured during tournament week, one of the country’s premier college basketball and cultural experiences.
Newly announced artists confirmed to perform at the official CIAA events during Tournament Week include Big Daddy Kane, YoYo, Monie Luv, Rakim, and Michel’le. Previously announced performers included The Magnificent DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Legendary DJ Kool.
This will be the conference’s first basketball championship in Baltimore since 1952, after hosting a Charm City-themed virtual tournament experience in February 2021. Fan housing and hotel packages are currently available at ciaatournament.org.
COVID-19 Guidelines
To ensure that all appropriate health and safety protocols are being addressed due to COVID-19, the following safety plans and guidelines* have been developed.
- Patrons at the CIAA Basketball Tournament will be REQUIRED to wear face coverings for all games in Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, Maryland. Vaccinations are recommended but not required.
- Those attending any official ancillary events during CIAA Tournament Week will be REQUIRED to wear face coverings. Proof of vaccination and/or negative COVID test results will be required at select private (Invitation-Only) events.
*Guidelines and Protocols are subject to change at any given time due to recommendations provided by the City of Baltimore, the State of Maryland, Center for Disease Control (CDC), NCAA Sports Science Institute, and the CIAA Athletic Trainers Association. Please check back periodically at the 2022 CIAA Basketball Tournament COVID 19 Guidelines and Protocols website for updates.
About the CIAA
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. In 2020, the conference celebrated the special 75th anniversary of its Championship Basketball Tournament - an event that has become a must-see in the African American community. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member-institutions: Bowie State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Saint Augustine's University, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. Chowan University is an associate member in football and women’s bowling.
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Central Savannah River Area Alumni Chapter to Host Alumni Association Convention in Augusta, Georgia |
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The Central Savannah River Area Alumni Chapter will host the 47th Claflin University International Alumni Convention on April 21-24, 2022, in Augusta, Ga. This year's planning committee is pleased to welcome attendees to Augusta where the theme for the Convention is "Feeling Good from the Garden City to the Hilltop High."
Click here to download the convention schedule/brochure.
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Panther Pride - Athletics Headlines
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400 Magnolia Street
Orangeburg, SC 29115
1.800.922.1276
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@Claflin is published by the Office of Communications & Marketing
President: Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack
Interim Vice President for Institutional Advancement: Dr. Marcus H. Burgess, '96
Assistant Vice President for Communications & Marketing: George Johnson Jr.
Public Relations Director: J. Craig Cotton
Web Communications Manager: Colin Myers, '07
Student Writer: Daa'iyah Fogle
Director of Athletic Media Relations: Trevin Q. Goodwin
Photographers: Cecil Williams, '60, Geoff Henderson and Colin Myers, '07
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