Wells Fargo supports Call Me Mister, Emerging Scholars programs

Published: March 14, 2012

Call Me Mister image by: Clemson University

CLEMSON — Wells Fargo has given $210,000 to Clemson University to support the Call Me MISTER and Emerging Scholars programs. The gift will provide first-year scholarships for 50 young men in the Call Me MISTER program and fund six students throughout their Emerging Scholars experiences.
 
“We are pleased to make this grant to Clemson University to show our support for talented young people and education,” said Rick Redden, regional president for Wells Fargo in South Carolina. “This helps demonstrate Wells Fargo’s ongoing commitment to South Carolina. We’re responsible for being leaders to promote the long-term economic prosperity and quality of life for everyone in our state. If they prosper, so do we.”
 
Clemson University established Call Me MISTER (Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models) in 2000 to place more male teachers from diverse cultures and backgrounds in elementary school classrooms. The program provides tuition assistance for its students in teacher education at participating colleges, an academic support system to help assure the graduates' success and a system for social and cultural support.
 
There are 143 Misters currently enrolled at Clemson or in the partner colleges: Anderson University, Benedict College, Claflin University, Coastal Carolina University, the College of Charleston, Morris College, Newberry College, South Carolina State University, Southern Wesleyan University, the University of South Carolina Beaufort, Greenville Technical College, Midlands Technical College, Tri-County Technical College and Trident Technical College.
 
The Emerging Scholars Program, which Clemson established in 2002, provides high school students in economically challenged counties in South Carolina the knowledge and skills to succeed in college. The program focuses primarily on students from three counties that rank the lowest in per capita income: Hampton, Bamberg and Allendale.
 
Since the program began, 100 percent of the Emerging Scholars students have graduated from high school, with 90 percent choosing to attend college or join the military in their first year out of high school. Seventy-nine percent of the program participants who graduated from high school and continued their education went to either a research institution or a four-year college/university.
 
“We're excited about Wells Fargo partnering with us,” said Clemson President James F. Barker. “This will allow students who need the mentoring, encouragement and direction of the Emerging Scholars Program to succeed, and will also underwrite the development of mentors and positive role models in the classroom.”

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