@Claflin: Claflin University Becomes Regional Hub for Coding and Creativity and more

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Claflin University Becomes a Regional Hub for Coding and Creativity

Today, Claflin University announced it will become a regional hub for Coding and Creativity as part of Apple's Community Education Initiative and Tennessee State University's HBCU C2 initiative designed to bring coding and creativity experiences to historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and their communities.

"We are extremely excited and grateful for our selection as a partner with Apple's Community Education Initiative," said Claflin University President Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack. "Job market experts predict that career opportunities in coding and software development will increase exponentially during this decade. This partnership enhances the University's commitment to student success by preparing our graduates for careers relevant to today's job market. This partnership also aligns with our leadership of the UNCF-Carolina Cluster Career Pathway Initiative and its focus on producing career-ready HBCU graduates."

Claflin's STEM agenda (Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) includes its computer science program which launched in 2006. Since then, the program has produced exceptional graduates who have received internships and job opportunities at prestigious Fortune 500 and technology and engineering companies throughout the United States. In 2017, the program was accredited by the Computer Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Claflin is one of only three private colleges or universities in the state of South Carolina with ABET accreditation. Equally significant, Claflin is among very few UNCF (United Negro College Fund) institutions with an ABET-accredited computer science program.

Later this month, faculty from Claflin will participate in Apple's virtual Teacher Coding Academy to learn about coding and app development using Apple's comprehensive curriculum, which utilizes its easy-to-learn Swift programming language.

As part of its Community Education Initiative, Apple is supporting Claflin with equipment and professional development to help the university become the pre-eminent regional HBCU C2 hub to bring coding and creativity to Orangeburg.

Alumni News

The Claflin University International Alumni Association will award a minimum of four (4) one thousand dollar ($1,000) scholarships, with the possibility of renewal annually, to eligible students who plan to matriculate at Claflin University during the next school year and/or to students who are presently enrolled at Claflin University. Please click here for the application. The deadline for the application is Friday, July 31, 2020.

Former Claflin University track and field standout Faith McKie, '20, is among 605 female student-athletes nominated for the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year Award. A former hurdler/sprinter for the Lady Panthers, McKie was crowned Miss CIAA 2020 and Miss Claflin University 2019-2020. A 2020 Summa Cum Laude graduate with a degree in sport management with a minor in Spanish, McKie was the 2020 CIAA Indoor Track and Field silver medalist in the pentathlon.

During her quest for Miss CIAA 2020, McKie received the highest online popular vote out of all 12 contestants, giving her the honor of having $2,000 donated in her name to the Harvest Hope Food Bank in her school's local community by Food Lion Feeds. In 2019, she was a grand-prize winner of the CIAA Essay Contest Presented by Coca-Cola Consolidated and Food Lion, earning her a $5,000 scholarship.

Dennis Richmond Jr., '17, a freelance journalist for the New York Post, recently wrote about Claflin University in an article titled "These are the colleges where black students really matter." In his article, Richmond noted that Claflin was where he received "an incredible education from some of the brightest minds teaching the art of public speaking, philosophy, and Black History." He also praised HBCUs for being " a safe haven where young minds can feel truly embraced by a racially diverse faculty who will empower them for the future." Richmond is also the founder and director of The New York-New Jersey Historically Black College and University Initiative, which prepares students by exposing them to opportunities only found at HBCUs. Click here to read the full article from Richmond.

Employee News

Assistant Athletics Director Matisse Lee, '08, participated in the first-ever virtual 2020 NCAA/Women Leaders in College Sports Leadership Enhancement Institute (LEI) on July 13-16. The LEI Institute provided high-level leadership development training on industry-specific topics and featured industry professionals. "I was grateful for this great opportunity and the nomination from CIAA Commissioner Jackie McWilliams to participate," said Lee. "I'm always excited about a chance to continue my growth and bring back the knowledge gained to my Alma Mater." Lee is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), Women Leaders in College Sports, and National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A) where she is a member of the Student-Athlete Development Committee. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Romanda Noble-Watson, sports information director, has been voted secretary of the D2 Sports Information Directors Association (D2SIDA). The selection is a two-year appointment beginning this fall through spring 2022. With more than 23 years in the sports information field, Noble-Watson is familiar with working on national boards and committees. She has worked the last five NCAA Division I Women's College World Series as a member of the media coordination team and has previously served as the timeout coordinator for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament (2013 and 2014). She is currently a member of the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Region III Selection Committee, the Black College Sports Information Directors Association (BCSIDA), Female Athletic Media Relations Executives (FAME), and College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) where she is a member of the Special Awards Committee. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc .