In the fall of 1999, Clemson University developed an ambitious new vision.
This new vision built on a much older vision, that of our founder, Thomas Green Clemson. Mr. Clemson dreamed of creating a "high seminary of learning" on the land he had inherited from his father-in-law, John C. Calhoun.
This new vision created the National Scholars Program to attract the brightest student leaders from across the United States.
We visualized these students working with our best teaching and research faculty.
We saw them changing our campus as leaders inside and outside the classroom.
And, ultimately, we saw them as proud alumni of Clemson University, attending the best graduate schools in the country, and working in positions of leadership around the world.
This vision became a reality in the fall of 2000, when the first eight National Scholars began their college careers at Clemson.
Ten years, 104 Scholars and 57 graduates later, we celebrate a decade of developing remarkable leaders.
For the program, this milestone year is an important one. In 1999, the program was little more than an idea. Ten years later, this idea has flourished into countless collaborative, enriching, student-led endeavors, at Clemson and around the world.
For highlights of Scholar accomplishments and the Scholars themselves, click here.
We will continue our decade's celebration with a 10th anniverary tailgate on September 26. We hope all Scholars, alumni and current, Scholar families, and supporters of the NSP will be able to stop by.