The World Needs Visionaries
Claflin President Dwaun J. Warmack Delivers Keynote Address at 151st Matriculation Day Convocation

President Dwaun J. Warmack was the keynote speaker at Claflin University's 151st Matriculation Day Convocation held Wednesday, September 18. Read the Times and Democrat article and watch WLTX's news story about the event. Photo courtesy of Christopher Huff/T&D.   
Carolina Cluster Career Pathway Initiative Creates Career Awareness at Inaugural Carolina HBCU Talent Showcase

Students from nine colleges and universities from South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia, participated in the first-ever Carolina HBCU Talent Showcase, hosted by the Carolina Cluster Career Pathway Initiative (CPI) on Monday, September 16, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. The Carolina HBCU Talent Showcase was a premier diversity recruiting event and conference that provided students an opportunity to meet, network and discuss career and educational opportunities with more than 150 employers and college and university administrators. The event aligns with the CPI's vision of developing transformative approaches to achieve student success by producing HBCU graduates who are career-focused and prepared for high-paying jobs 
in the 21st century workforce. Claflin University, Benedict College and Voorhees College comprise the Carolina Cluster CPI. Claflin is the lead institution for the 6 million grant which was awarded by UNCF through the Lilly Foundation.
 
"The vendors were very pleased with the attendance, and they were impressed with our students," said Cathy Scarborough Franklin, executive director of the Carolina Cluster CPI Program. "There was a lot of engagement between the students and the businesses and organizations that attended the Showcase. We are looking forward to reviewing and tracking the data that will tell us how many students received interviews, as a result of the Showcase, which resulted in job offers and internships that will help launch their careers."
 
In addition to Carolina Cluster schools, Allen University, Bennett College, Fayetteville State University, Morris College, Paine College, and The Citadel also participated in the HBCU Talent Showcase.

"The HBCU Talent Showcase provided me an opportunity to establish a personal connection with some of the corporate and industry representatives in attendance," said Christoph McFadden, a senior music major at Claflin. "It's much better when you have that face-to-face interaction."  
 
McFadden, a native of Atlanta, Ga., is a member of the Alice Carson Tisdale Honors College and the Claflin University Concert Choir.
 
"I was able to establish contacts with recruiters from the Entertainment Industry College Outreach Program. They coordinate the HBCU in LA Program. Their mission is to increase diversity in Hollywood and throughout the entertainment industry. We discussed their experiential learning initiatives which offer internships with producers, actors, directors and other industry professionals. I also attended a seminar on financial literacy. The Carolina HBCU Talent Showcase truly was a wonderful event."
Honors College Welcomes 71 New Visionary Leaders

Claflin University welcomed 71 students into the Alice Carson Tisdale Honors College during an induction ceremony on Friday, September 13, at the Orange and Maroon Room. Included were 55 freshmen and 16 other matriculating students who were accepted into the program for the 2019-2020 academic year. The annual event officially introduces the new Honors College inductees to the campus community and serves as their first official meeting of the academic year.
 
The Honors College provides a full academic and college experience that includes high-level learning, ongoing academic advising, cultural enrichment opportunities, community service experiences, and other programs designed to enhance and develop the student's academic and leadership potential. As members of the Honors College, students take special honors courses in their core curriculum and within their specific areas of study. Honors courses are accelerated and academically challenging, highlighted by active engagement, collaborative problem solving, and a greater amount of reflective thinking.

"This year's theme for the Honors College is 'Actually, I Can,'" said Dr. Monica L. Greene, '96, director of the Honors College. "The theme reminds our students that they are capable of achieving their goals," she said. An Honors College graduate, Greene became the director this past August. 
 
This year's Honors College freshman class includes three Presidential Scholars as well as one who was a class valedictorian as a high school senior and one who was salutatorian of their senior class. 

The freshmen inductees hail from Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia. Eight are from international countries including the Bahamas, Ghana, Jamaica, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, and Zambia.
Make Your Plans for Homecoming 2019

Claflin University is looking forward to welcoming you "home" for Homecoming 2019 on November 14-17. Click here for the complete schedule.
 
Many events are planned for your enjoyment and participation. We will also celebrate reunion for the classes of 1949, 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2009, and 2014. Celebrate your class with a memory that last forever. 
 
If you are a class officer/agent, please contact Zelda M. Lee, '77, director of the Annual Fund/Alumni Relations, at (803) 535-5348,  zelee@claflin.edu
Claflin University to Host Annual UNCF Community Prayer Breakfast 

Claflin University will host its annual United Negro College Fund Community Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, October 12, at 9 a.m. in the Jonas T. Kennedy Health and Wellness Complex. The prayer breakfast is a fundraiser to support scholarships for students at Claflin University.
 
The Rev. Eddie Jones, pastor of Canaan Baptist Church in Lone Star, S.C., will be the keynote speaker. The program also includes performances by the Claflin University Gospel Choir D.R.E.A.M. and The Community Prayer Breakfast Ministers' Choir.
 
Admission is $250 per table (10 seats) and $15 for individual tickets. 
 
Click here to purchase tickets or call (803) 535-5722.
Employee News 

Cassandra Keller, of the Orangeburg Area Mental Health Center, has joined the Counseling Center at Claflin University. Through a unique partnership with Claflin University and the Orangeburg Area Mental Health Center, students are able to receive counseling services on the campus. Keller is a graduate of South Carolina State University and Webster University with degrees in individual and family development and professional counseling. She has more than 30 years of experience in human services and has been employed at the Department of Mental Health for more than 11 years.
Alumni News 

Hayward Jean, '04, invited student leaders from Claflin to mentor students at Mellichamp Elementary School where Jean has served as principal for more than eight years. Mister Claflin Marcus Oliver, Mister Senior Caleb Green, Mister Junior Devan Johnson, as well as members of Claflin's M.O.V.E.R.S and Call Me MiSTER programs were all in attendance.
Panther Pride

Freshman Briana Reed Named CIAA Volleyball Rookie of the Week

Freshman Briana Reed  has been named the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Volleyball Rookie of the Week announced by the league office Tuesday, September 17.
 
Reed recorded 11 kills, seven digs, a solo block, and two service aces against Paine in her collegiate debut. The 5-4 hitter/defensive specialist out of Tampa, FL/Eastbay High School had a .207 hitting percentage and scored 14 points for the Lady Panthers.
 
Claflin opened the season with a 3-1 loss to Paine College on Saturday, September 14. The Lady Panthers will host Frostburg State University and Paine in a Tri-Match on Saturday, September 21. Claflin will open the tri-match against Frostburg State at 11 a.m. The Lady Panthers will play Paine in the last match of the day at 3 p.m. Frostburg State and Paine will face off at 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 21.


Claflin Baseball Hosts MLB Scout Day

The Claflin University baseball team held its annual Major League Baseball (MLB) Scout Day on Tuesday, September 17, 2019, at Historic Mirmow Field in Orangeburg. Twenty current and former players Claflin baseball players showcased their skills in front of several MLB scouts. The scouts were on-hand to evaluate the skills of the baseball players across various positions.
 
"It's always good to showcase the talent that comes through Claflin," said head coach James Randall. "Our players will undoubtedly represented the Panthers and the University well."
 
Claflin University baseball joined the Peach Belt Conference in July 2019 and will open its 2020 season in February.


Claflin Volleyball Falls to Paine in 2019 Season Opener

The Claflin University volleyball team dropped its season opener to Paine on Saturday, September 14, falling in the non-conference contest 3-1 (25-17, 14-25, 25-22, 25-21), at HEAL Complex on the campus of Paine College in Augusta, Ga. The loss dropped Claflin to 0-1 in the season. MORE
September 19, 2019
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@Claflin is published by the Office of Communications & Marketing 
President: Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack
Vice President for Institutional Advancement: Rev. Dr. Whittaker V. Middleton, '73
Assistant Vice President for Communications & Marketing: George Johnson Jr.
Public Relations Director: J. Craig Cotton
Public Relations/Social Media Coordinator: Charnita Mack
Web Communications Manager: Colin Myers, '07
Sports Information Director: Romanda Noble-Watson
Photographers: Cecil Williams, '60, Geoff Henderson and Colin Myers, '07