Alumnus endows fellowship program at Clemson University

Published: March 1, 2011

CLEMSON — After nearly 40 years, Slade Exley still remembers the names attached to the awards he won as a civil engineering student at Clemson University: The Ronald J. Britz Award for an outstanding junior ROTC engineering student included a small trophy and recognition during the ROTC drill on awards day; the Wilbur Smith Outstanding Transportation Engineering Student award carried with it a $50 prize.

"I don't even know if Clemson still has the annual awards day in the spring, but these two recognitions are something that I cherish," said Exley, who earned bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering from Clemson in 1972 and '74.

Now, after a successful career as a transportation engineer, Exley has established an honor of his own for students at his alma mater: the Slade F. Exley Endowed Fellowship in Transportation Engineering.

"I want to give other civil engineering students the opportunity to be recognized for their work and to be motivated to pursue a career in transportation, a career that has been most fulfilling and rewarding to me in many ways," Exley said. "I hope this endowment will help Clemson continue to provide quality educational leadership in the transportation engineering area of which I was beneficiary."

Exley is senior vice president and chief administrative officer of Jackson, Miss.-based Neel-Schaffer Inc., one of the largest privately held engineering firms in the South with more than 350 employees, including about 160 graduate engineers.

Fellowships funded by Exley's $100,000 gift will go to students pursuing graduate degrees in civil engineering who intend to pursue careers as traffic/transportation engineers. Preference will be given to students who are serving or have served in the United States Armed Forces or Reserve. Recipients will be announced during the Civil Engineering Honors and Awards Banquet, still held each spring.

"This gift is truly appreciated and comes at the time when the nation's infrastructure needs more civil engineers that can help rebuild more sustainable and resilient transportation systems," said Nadim Aziz, chairman of the civil engineering department. "With this fellowship we will be able to recognize outstanding students who plan to pursue careers in transportation engineering."

Exley's gift is part of The Will to Lead capital campaign, Clemson's multiyear effort to raise at least $600 million to support students and faculty with scholarships, professorships and enhanced learning and research opportunities with top facilities and technology.

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