Summer/Fall 2009 — Vol. 62, No. 3

New directors on board

Right: New Alumni Board members left to right Andrea MacMeccan, Evan Vutsinas, Sandy Edge, Jessie Hood, Teresa Coles.

The Clemson University Alumni Association board of directors has elected five new members to three-year terms:

• Teresa Sarvis Coles ’84 of Lexington, a principal with marketing and public relations firm RIGGS Inc., has served on Clemson’s Alumni Council and Women’s Alumni Council board.
• Sandy Edge ’72 of Clemson, a retired Air Force colonel and current director of the College of Business and Behavioral Science Academic Advising Center, is chairman of Clemson Corps.
• Jessie Richardson Hood ’94 of Atlanta, Ga., a health-policy analyst for the Centers for Disease Control, is chairwoman of Women’s Alumni Council, past-chairwoman of Clemson Black Alumni Council and board member of the Atlanta Clemson Club.
• Andrea Schinck MacMeccan ’99 of Greer, a vice president and process-design consultant for Bank of America, has served on the Alumni Council and is former chairwoman of Women’s Alumni Council.
• Evan Vutsinas ’79 of Old Hickory, Tenn., a retired air-traffic controller for the U.S. Department of Transportation, is president of the Nashville Area Clemson Club.

Call for Alumni Association Board nominations

We need your help in selecting a few outstanding alumni to join the Clemson Alumni Association board of directors.

We’re looking for candidates with sound judgment, strong work ethic, demonstrated service to the University and Alumni Association, leadership qualities and potential, and the desire and vision to advance the goals and objectives of the Alumni Association.

The board is responsible for overall policy, direction and organizational vision of the Alumni Association. Its members oversee financial and administrative affairs of the Alumni Association; establish policies and goals to fulfill its mission and purpose; deliberate and decide on any proposed contractual relationship or partnership between the Alumni Association and any outside party; and give reports to the Alumni Council.

To nominate such a candidate (by November 30), go to cualumni.clemson.edu/boardnominations or contact Wil Brasington at wil@clemson.edu.

Class of ’39 grows

While other classes are shrinking, the Class of 1939 is growing through its honorary members, who have been charged to continue the class’s legacy to the University.

During reunion they named the new honorary president — Chip Egan, interim dean of the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities, and a Class of 1939 Award of Excellence recipient.

He and other honorary members will continue the Class of 1939’s faculty excellence award, S.C. Botanical Garden endowment and projects, and a scholarship endowment.

Right: Jim Sweeny edges out a few other Class of 1939 members at the Golden Tiger Breakfast during reunion for the oldest alumnus (in attendance) and receives a Clemson Orange tie from young whippersnapper Wil Brasington, Alumni Relations senior director.

Welcome back, Alumni!

More than 600 alumni and friends returned to campus for Reunion 2009 to catch up on the University and each other. They packed in a weekend of everything Clemson from ice cream to the Jungaleers, from sports updates to tours, from memory videos to class parties.

Left: Golden Anniversary Tigers sing Clemson Alma Mater.

‘That the Tiger’s roar may echo’

Clemson’s golden anniversary class — the Class of 1959 — celebrated its 50th anniversary. Since their graduation, Class of 1959 members have given $2.8 million to support students, programs and other University priorities. Their generosity continues to help Clemson students and generations to come.

Class of ’57 opens rotunda

During reunion, the Class of 1957 cut the ribbon on its golden anniversary gift to the University, a magnificent rotunda in the President’s Park along S.C. 93.

The structure, made of sand-face finished brick, is 30 feet in interior diameter, 21 feet tall and has a domed roof covered with standing seam zinc. The centerpiece of the rotunda is a black granite medallion set flush into the brick-paved floor. The medallion has inlaid bronze elements inspired by the 1957 Clemson ring.

Web Extra: Class of ’57 opens rotunda

Class of ’60 goes ‘Green’

The Class of 1960 broke ground for its 50th anniversary project. The Class of 1960 North Green will feature a terraced green from the Carillon Garden toward the Outdoor Theater and reflection pond.

The site will include new sidewalks, lighting, benches and improved access routes to the area. The top of the green will feature the Transition Wall, which tells the story of four major milestones that took place at Clemson during the late 1950s and early 1960s: from a military school to a civilian school, from all-male to coeducational school, from college to university and from an all-white student body to an integrated one.

Greenville Club goes Solid Orange

The Greenville Clemson Club is making two new gifts to the University totaling $50,000 over a five-year period.

• $25,000 to the College of Business and Behavioral Science’s Renaissance Center in downtown Greenville. The center brings together business and community leaders with faculty and students in new business development projects.
  
  
• $25,000 to the Clemson Athletic Department for renovation of Riggs Field. The historic field is being upgraded and improved to reflect the University’s soccer legacy. (For more on the Riggs renovation, contact Bobby Couch at jcouch@ clemson.edu.)

The club is also donating $25,000 to the Children’s Museum of the Upstate.

Left: Ross Turner, president of Greenville Clemson Club, and Caron St. John, director of Spiro Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership.

Clemson Clubs prowl & growl

The Clemson Alumni Association and IPTAY took Prowl & Growl spring meetings on the road to nine locations and well over 4,000 fans. They made stops at Rock Hill; Charleston; Florence; Raleigh, N.C.; Greenville; Aiken; Lexington; Atlanta, Ga.; and the Grand Strand.

Right: Tiger fans meet the coaches during spring meetings.

Clemson alumni and supporters got to catch up on the latest University news, meet coaches Dabo Swinney and Oliver Purnell, learn some of the ins and outs of plays, relive highlight videos from the past year and dine with fellow Tigers.

To see photos taken at Prowl & Growl or to find out what’s coming up for your Clemson Club, go to cualumni.clemson.edu and click on Clemson Clubs.

Calling alumni in Florence

The Clemson Alumni Association is looking for leaders in Florence to help start a new Clemson Club. Clubs bring together alumni, IPTAY members, friends and parents to support the University and have fun. To find out more, go to cualumni.clemson.edu or contact Reed Cole at lcole@clemson.edu.

Daughters’ weekend, Tiger tradition

Women’s Alumni Council hosted its 11th Annual Bring Your Daughter to Clemson Weekend in May. More than 200 parents and daughters enjoyed a weekend full of exclusive activities and Tiger traditions. Mark you calendar for next year’s event, May 15-16. For more information, go to cualumni.clemson.edu/women.

Right: Ashleigh Palmer, Elizabeth-bleu Donovan and other alumni daughters have a great Clemson time on campus in May.

Clemson Corps’ memorial takes shape

Clemson’s new Scroll of Honor Memorial, overlooking Memorial Stadium, reminds us all of Clemson alumni who gave their lives in service of country.

The Clemson Corps — dedicated to the University’s military heritage and current ROTC programs — maintains the Scroll of Honor, which includes names of 469 alumni who were killed from WWI through the current wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Scroll of Honor’s new Web site (cualumni.clemson.edu/scrollofhonor) allows family and friends to send comments, photos, awards, etc., for alumni listed on the scroll. You can post material on the Web site or send it through e-mail to scrollofhonor@ clemson.edu or by mail to Scroll of Honor Memorial, 404 Shorecrest Dr., Clemson SC 29631.

Update your Clemson calendar!

Check the Alumni Association events calendar for these and more events at cualumni.clemson.edu.

CAFLS tailgate & golf
Clemson’s College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences (CAFLS) kicks off its annual tailgate on September 19 at Fike Recreation Center. Doors open at 8 a.m. before the Clemson vs. Boston College ballgame at noon.

CAFLS Alumni Golf Tournament is Thursday, October 1, at the Walker Course with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. For more information on both events, contact Sennah Honea at schonea@clemson.edu or (864) 656-8998.

Baltimore/D.C. events
Baltimore/D.C. Clemson Club’s annual Congressional Reception is September 22. Its Clemson vs. Maryland Tailgate is October 3. For more information, go to www.clemsonclub.org.

Nashville Golf Tournament
The annual Nashville ACC/SEC Golf Tournament, organized by the Nashville Clemson Club, is set for October 12. Go to www.accsec-golf4casa.org for details.

CBBS receptions
The College of Business and Behavioral Science will be holding alumni receptions in Raleigh (November 12) and Florida (December 2, 3, 4). For information, contact Meredith McTigue at mmims@clemson.edu or (864) 656-3177.

Outstanding!

The Alumni Association recognizes outstanding service to and for Clemson throughout the year.

Honorary Clemson Alumni

The Alumni Association has made it official: These three individuals — who exemplify the passion and spirit typically found among the most dedicated of former students — have earned the title of Honorary Clemson Alumni.

Robbie Templeton of Greenwood, a Super Tiger recipient, has been a tireless supporter of Clemson through IPTAY, his Clemson Club and as a Clemson parent. He’s the Greenwood Clemson Club secretary and has also been its president, vice president, treasurer and director. He has assisted with Clemson’s Board of Visitors’ high school reception in the Greenwood area. His son, Rett, is a junior at Clemson.

Van Jones of Charlotte, N.C., a Golden Tiger recipient, has been a leader in the Charlotte Clemson Club, was instrumental in reviving his club’s Young Alumni chapter, and is a longtime IPTAY volunteer. He and his wife, Ashley ’94, are Fort Hill Society scholarship donors. He’s pictured (left)with Brian O’Rourke, director of development and alumni affairs.

Robert Barkley of Anderson has been shaping future Clemson alumni several decades. Director of undergraduate admissions, he travels the country promoting the University’s vision to prospective students. His work has been instrumental in attracting an annual freshman class that continues to surpass itself in academic achievement and position Clemson as a top-choice institution. His efforts support the value of the Clemson degree that he will now hold as an honorary alumnus.

Students’ choice

Clemson students have spoken. Their choice for the Alumni Master Teacher for 2009 is Bill Fisk of Clemson’s Eugene T. Moore School of Education.

Fisk, who’s been with Clemson for two decades, is chair of teacher education and professor of educational foundations. He’s taught courses in human growth and development, child development, learning theory, tests and measurements, and educational psychology. Regardless of his subject matter, his students describe his teaching as animated, interesting, insightful and influential.

The Alumni Association recognizes excellence in teaching as part of Clemson’s mission. This award is presented for outstanding undergraduate classroom instruction to a faculty member nominated by the student body and selected by the Student Alumni Council.

Researchers’ choice

The 2009 Alumni Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research goes to Stephen J. Klaine, professor of biological sciences and interim director of Clemson’s Institute of Environmental Toxicology.

Web Extra: Steve Klaine: Impacts of Land Development

Klaine’s work focuses on characterizing the effects of human activities on ecosystem health, particularly on aquatic ecosystems. His laboratory examines the effects pesticides, metals, pharmaceuticals and nanomaterials can have on fish and the water they live in. He also develops and researches strategies for land development that reduce the impacts on aquatic ecosystems.

The Alumni Association recognizes research excellence as another part of Clemson’s mission. The award is administered by the Office of University Research with a selection committee from each of the academic colleges who are members of the Sigma Xi and/or Phi Kappa Phi honor societies.