Clemson Alumni Association names volunteers of the year

Published: November 24, 2009

Senior director for alumni relations Wil Brasington, left, and Alumni Association President Leslie Callison, right, present Ann Hunter of Greenwood and Allen Martin of Vienna, Va., the 2009 volunteers of the year awards. image by: Clemson Alumni Association

CLEMSON — The Clemson Alumni Association has named Ann Harvin Whetstone Hunter of Greenwood and Allen Martin of Vienna, Va., its volunteers of the year for 2009.

Hunter, a native of St. Matthews, graduated from Clemson in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree and in 1982 with a master’s degree, both in chemical engineering. After working for Union Carbide in Greenville, she became a homemaker after the birth of her daughter, Rebecca. She describes herself as a “full-time mom and a full-time volunteer.”

Hunter has volunteered in many positions in the Greenwood community and with Clemson University. She was in the PTO for her daughter’s schools, serving as president and in other leadership positions, and was recognized twice by Greenwood High School as Volunteer of the Year. She has been a Girl Scout leader for more than 20 years, is a deacon at the Greenwood Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, a member of the Greenwood Woman’s Club and is past-president of Greenwood’s Danse De Noel Assembly.

For Clemson, Hunter is the chairwoman of the reunion and special events committee for the alumni board of directors. She has served on the Women’s Alumni Council and has been an IPTAY representative for 12 years. She is on the board of directors for the Greenwood Clemson Club and is serving in her 14^th year as the club’s treasurer. She and her husband, Wilson, who also is a Clemson alumnus, help host receptions for high school students interested in attending Clemson.

Martin graduated from Clemson in 1969 with a degree in history. He worked for 22 years as chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Bob Livingston of New Orleans. In 1999, he joined Livingston to start the Livingston Group, a lobbying firm in Washington, D.C. A native of Anderson, Martin received the Order of the Palmetto from Gov. Jim Edwards in 1974. 

Martin is an advocate for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and has run 15 marathons to raise money for the organization. He also is an active member and deacon in his church.

Martin is a member of the Clemson Alumni Association board of directors, serving as chairman of the special interest groups committee. He has been a member of the Washington/Baltimore Clemson Club since 1978. Currently a member of the club’s board of directors, he has served two terms as club president. He is a charter member of President Barker’s Leadership Circle.

Martin said he enjoys helping alumni in his area reconnect with Clemson, and he has helped start new Clemson Clubs across Virginia. He works with the university’s Michelin Career Center to help students and alumni find internships and jobs.

“The contributions of both Ann and Allen over the past year are nothing short of awe-inspiring. They are tireless advocates for Clemson and great servants of the Alumni Association. Therefore, we felt it only fitting to recognize both of them with this honor as an expression of our gratitude,” said Wil Brasington, senior director of alumni relations.

The Alumni Association Volunteer of the Year award is the highest recognition and greatest expression of appreciation extended to an individual by the Alumni Association staff for outstanding service and volunteerism. Presented annually since 1988, the award has only been presented once before to two individuals in the same year.

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