CAFLS Alumni Awards

Award Guidelines

• CAFLS Alumni Distinguished Service Award

  PURPOSE: For the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences (CAFLS) at Clemson University to recognize one alumnus annually for outstanding service to Clemson University, success in their professions or personal callings, and commitment to the communities to which they belong. This is the highest honor bestowed upon a former student by the College.

  ELIGIBILITY: Nominees must: fulfill purpose of award; be an alumnus of Clemson University; not have been an undergraduate student at Clemson University in the past five years; not be a candidate for public office; not be an elected member of the CAFLS Agriculture Alumni Board of Directors at time of selection.

  SELECTION CRITERIA: Nominees will be considered for this award based on the significance of their contributions as indicated below, and with the following weightings applied to each category:

  • Dedication and service to Clemson & the College of Agriculture, Forestry & Life Sciences – 50%
  • Devotion to faith, community, and public service – 25%
  • Professional and/or family achievements and accomplishments – 25%

  WAIVERS: These requirements are guidelines for the selection of nominees and may be waived by the CAFLS Agriculture Alumni Board of Directors in cases where extenuating circumstances exist. Such a waiver requires the support of a two-thirds majority of the CAFLS Agriculture Alumni Board membership. 

  NOMINATIONS: The Policy, Process and Awards Committee of the CAFLS Agriculture Alumni Board will accept nominations of individuals annually. Each nomination must utilize the official nomination form, and contain a minimum of three letters of support, with one being authored by the nominator. The total length of a nomination – inclusive of the requisite official nomination form and letters of support – must not exceed nine one-sided pages. Self-nominations will not be accepted. Nominations should convey to the selection committee the merits of each nominee, assuming that no prior knowledge of the candidate exists and that committee members are unfamiliar with the candidate. If a candidate is not selected within three years of the date of the original nomination, the nomination will be disregarded and a new nomination must be submitted if the nominee is to receive further consideration. In no case should a nominee be informed of the nomination. The nominator should seek information and supporting materials in a confidential way.

• CAFLS Professional Achievement Award

  PURPOSE: For the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences (CAFLS) at Clemson University to recognize no more than two alumni annually for outstanding service and dedication in their professional responsibilities and accomplishments along with their service to Clemson and the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences.

  ELIGIBILITY: Nominees must: fulfill purpose of award; be an alumnus of Clemson University; not have been an undergraduate student at Clemson University in the past five years; not be a candidate for public office; not be an elected member of the CAFLS Agriculture Alumni Board of Directors at time of selection.

  SELECTION CRITERIA: Nominees will be considered for this award based on the significance of their contributions as indicated below, and with the following weightings applied to each category:

  • Significant professional achievements and accomplishments – 60%
  • Participation and leadership within career-related or general professional associations/organizations, professional development activities and civic/community engagement – 25%
  • Dedication and service to Clemson and the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences – 15%

  WAIVERS: These requirements are guidelines for the selection of nominees and may be waived by the CAFLS Agriculture Alumni Board of Directors in cases where extenuating circumstances exist. Such a waiver requires the support of a two-thirds majority of the CAFLS Agriculture Alumni Board membership.

  NOMINATIONS: The Policy, Process and Awards Committee of the CAFLS Agriculture Alumni Board will accept nominations of individuals annually. Each nomination must utilize the official nomination form, and contain a minimum of three letters of support, with one being authored by the nominator. The total length of a nomination – inclusive of the requisite official nomination form and letters of support – must not exceed nine one-sided pages. Self-nominations will not be accepted. Nominations should convey to the selection committee the merits of each nominee, assuming that no prior knowledge of the candidate exists and that committee members are unfamiliar with the candidate.

  If a candidate is not selected within three years of the date of the original nomination, the nomination will be disregarded and a new nomination must be submitted if the nominee is to receive further consideration. In no case should a nominee be informed of the nomination. The nominator should seek information and supporting materials in a confidential way.

• CAFLS Young Alumni Award

  PURPOSE: For the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences (CAFLS) at Clemson University to recognize no more than two young alumni annually for their ‘ever loyal’ dedication to Clemson and the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences and their impacts in business, leadership, community, educational, and/or philanthropic endeavors.

  ELIGIBILITY: Nominees must: fulfill purpose of award; be an alumnus of Clemson University’s College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences; and have graduated (graduate or undergraduate) within the past 10 years.

  SELECTION CRITERIA: Nominees will be considered for this award based on the significance of their commitment to Clemson and the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences; professional accomplishments; and community impact following these criteria:

  • Upholding the University’s core values of honesty, integrity, and respect
  • Demonstration of an ‘ever loyal’ relationship to Clemson and the College
  • Demonstration of characteristics of a ‘Determined Spirit’
  • Impacts in business, leadership, community, educational, and/or philanthropic endeavors

  WAIVERS: These requirements are guidelines for the selection of nominees and may be waived by the CAFLS Agriculture Alumni Board of Directors in cases where extenuating circumstances exist. Such a waiver requires the support of a two-thirds majority of the CAFLS Agriculture Alumni Board membership.

  NOMINATIONS: The Policy, Process and Awards Committee of the CAFLS Agriculture Alumni Board will accept nominations of individuals annually. Each nomination must utilize the official nomination form. Each nominator is asked to submit the nominee’s resume with the form as well as up to two letters of support for the nominee. Self-nominations will not be accepted. Nominations should convey to the selection committee the merits of each nominee, assuming that no prior knowledge of the candidate exists and that committee members are unfamiliar with the candidate.

  If a candidate is not selected within three years of the date of the original nomination, the nomination will be disregarded and a new nomination must be submitted if the nominee is to receive further consideration.

• 2023

  CAFLS Young Alumni
  Mallory Maher
  B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology, 2012
  M.A. in Agricultural Education, 2015
  M.S in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology, 2023
  
  CAFLS Professional Achievement Award
  Andrew Hurley
  M.A. Packaging Science, 2008
  Ph.D. in Rhetoric, Communication and Information Design, 2011

  Professional Achievement Award
  Don Still
  B.S. in Agriculture Education, 1957
  
  Distinguished Service Award
  Edgar Woods
  Agribusiness, 1983

• 2022
  CAFLS Young Alumni
  Zach Snipes
  M.S. in Plant Pathology, 2013
  
  CAFLS Professional Achievement Award
  Jamie Dozier
  B.S. Wildlife & Fisheries Biology, 1994
  M.S. Wildlife & Fisheries Biology, 1997
  
  Chris Singleton
  Masters of Forest Resources, 2001
• 2021

  Young Alumni
  Kinsley Miller
  Agricultural Education, Class of 2016
  Masters in Education, Class of 2021
  
  Sarah Wilbanks
  Agricultural Education, Class of 2009
  Animal Veterinary Science (PhD), Class of 2018
  
  Professional Achievement
  Tim Burcham
  PhD, Class of 1989

  Boyd Parr
  Class of 1974
  
  Distinguished Service Award
  Roy McCall
  Agronomy, Class of 1953

• 2020
  Young Alumni Award
  Justin Ballew
  Agricultural Education, Class of 2011
  
  Professional Achievement
  Marc Cribb
  Plant Sciences, Class of 1977
  
  K. Flint Holbrook
  Master's of Agricultural Engineering, Class of 1986
  
  Distinguished Service
  Kemp McLeod
  Agronomy, Class of 1976
• 2019
  Young Alumni Award
  Spencer McLeod
  Agricultural Mechanization and Business, Class of 2012, 2014, MBA
  
  Professional Achievement
  Dr. Thomas Dobbins
  Agricultural Education, Class of 1982
  Masters in Dairy Science, Class of 1988
  
  Dr. Matthew Burns
  Animal Science, Class of 2005, 2012, PhD
  
  Distinguished Service
  Mickey Scott
  Forest Management, Class of 1975
• 2018
  Young Alumni Award
  Sarah White
  Horticulture, Class of 2000, 2007 (PhD)
  
  Timothy Keown
  Agricultural Education, Class of 2004, 2009
  
  Professional Achievement
  Gene Kodama
  Forestry, Class of 1975, 1977
  
  Wayne Beam
  Biological Sciences, Class of 1969
  
  Distinguished Service
  Ernie Wiggers
  Wildlife Biology, Class of 1975, 1979
• 2017
  Young Alumni Award
  Will Amick
  Applied Economics and Statistics, Class of 2012
  
  Drake Yon
  Applied Economics and Statistics, Class of 2014,
  
  Professional Achievement
  Blake Berry
  Agricultural Education, Class of 2005, 2006
  
  Chalmers Carr
  Agricultural Economics, Class of 1990
  
  Distinguished Service
  Dr. John Morse
  Entomology, Class of 1970
• 2016
  Young Alumni Award
  Keenan Adams
  Forest Resources, Class of 2007
  Wildlife and Fisheries Biology, Class of 2010
  
  Kevin Sox
  Agricultural Education, Class of 2007
  
  Professional Achievement
  Pat Earle
  Agricultural Education, Class of 1978
  Animal Science, Class of 1980
  
  Glenn Stevens
  Animal Science, Class of 1983
  Agricultural Education, Class of 1988
  
  Distinguished Service
  Oscar Lovelace
  Zoology, Class of 1981
• 2015
  Young Alumni Award
  Dan Rummel
  AgriBusiness, Class of 2013
  
  Emma Konkel Klingman
  Packaging Science, Class of 2009