DATE: August 09, 2008

CONTACT: Calvin Becker, (864) 656-2174
bcalvin@clemson.edu

WRITER: Teresa C. Hopkins, (864) 207-1163
hopkin1@clemson.edu

Clemson awards more than 600 degrees

CLEMSON – Margaret Hebard Lloyd, who received an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree today at Clemson University’s summer graduation ceremony, encouraged the graduates to “follow your bliss.”

Speaking on behalf of the 92-year-old Lloyd, Clemson Vice President for Public Service and Agriculture John Kelly said Lloyd has followed the bliss philosophy coined by historian and teacher Joseph Campbell.

“Margaret is a constant seeker of new knowledge and has never stopped learning and growing. That is her bliss,” Kelly said. “’Follow your bliss’ is a short yet rich statement with benefits to all of us.”

Born in Philadelphia but transplanted to areas such as Camden and Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Lloyd’s philanthropic endeavors have focused on projects that provide outlets for connecting people to their natural surroundings, thus creating a better appreciation for the environment.

According to Kelly, Lloyd challenges the graduates to never stop learning and growing while they “follow their bliss.”

Lloyd extended her philanthropic work to Clemson with a gift of nearly $10 million that includes an 852-acre parcel of land on the Wateree River in Kershaw County to be used as an environmental education center. The gift also provides $2 million to fund an endowed chair in urban ecology and restoration. Her generosity to Clemson enhances the university’s ability to involve and educate citizens about the wise use of natural resources and opportunities for environmental sustainability.

Of the degrees conferred Saturday, 318 were bachelor’s degrees, 259 were master’s degrees and 56 were Ph.D.s.

Andrew Ryan Dalton, of Cullowhee, N.C., and Scott Thomas Iacono, of Satellite Beach, Fla., each received the Board of Visitors Graduate Researcher Award for 2008. The award recognizes the outstanding contributions of graduate teaching assistants who are nominated each year by the student body.

Brooke Sholars Conroy, of Metairie, La., received the Faculty Scholarship Award, created in 1959 by Clemson faculty to recognize the highest scholastic achievement.

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