OTE | 2024 Issue 1

GREAT TASTE TACKLE GAME DAY WITH

PROUD PARTNER OF THE CLEMSON TIGERS

22 SHE WILL TRIUMPH

Clemson launches campaign celebrating 50th year of varsity women’s athletics.

24 EMPOWERED BY POWER

28 BACK IN THE FIGHT

Aby Vieira’s journey with the POWER Women’s Leadership Academy to becoming an empowered professional.

Veteran offensive lineman Walker Parks returned in 2024 with a repaired ankle — and a refreshed perspective.

34 A DEEPER LOOK

Clemson Men’s Soccer’s Alex Meinhard shares life before Clemson and his career as a collegiate athlete.

38 RESILIENCE, STRENGTH, & GROWTH

“Quit soccer or do the surgery,” Mackenzie Duff’s incredible journey back to the pitch.

Ashby Burton

Kelsey Tibbs

CO-EDITORS ART DIRECTOR CONTRIBUTORS

Trent Alley

Tim Bourret

Ashby Burton

Linda Davis

Jonathan Franchi

Autumn Froitland

Kelsey Tibbs

Brian Hennessy

Nik Johnson

Valerie Johnson

Jeff Kallin

Katherine Klein

Reed Kramer

Cecelia Macchione

Billy Milam

Carson Riley

Gabe Smith

Ross Taylor

Aby Vieira

Chauncey Wiggins

Dylan Whitman

Ben Winterrowd

Ben Winterrowd

42 THE NATURALBORN LEADER

From high school class president to Clemson SAAC president, Jake Serra’s road to leadership.

44 FROM SETBACKS TO SUCCESS

How senior Aźyah Dailey has found greatness in the face of adversity.

48 THE WINNING EDGE

The UPIC Internship program prepares student-athletes for career opportunities after college.

50 ACC UNITY TOUR REFLECTION

Clemson Men’s Basketball’s Chauncey Wiggins reflects on the opportunity to participate in the ACC Unity Tour.

52 LIFE BEYOND THE SIDELINES

Spotlighting the commitment of Clemson Cheer and Tiger Band.

Orange: The Experience is published six times annually exclusively for donors to the IPTAY Scholarship Fund. A minimum priority contribution is $60, but contributions of all amounts are welcome. To join IPTAY, call 864-656-2115 or log on to ClemsonTigers.com/IPTAY. To advertise in this publication, contact Mike Money by email at mmoney@clemson.edu

If you have recently changed an address or phone number, please call the IPTAY office at 864-656-2115 or visit ClemsonTigers.com and click on the IPTAY tab. You may also send your name, IPTAY number, new mailing address, email address or phone number to: IPTAY, P.O. Box 1529, Clemson, SC 29633.

Another academic and athletic year is underway here at Clemson!

Seeing the students back on campus and our athletic teams returning to competition is always exciting. Before we look ahead to the year, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the 22,321 donors who made generous contributions to support more than 575 Clemson student-athletes. It was a record year for the IPTAY Annual Fund, which fuels the support IPTAY offers to the young people who wear the Paw, providing scholarships, academic support, new and upgraded facilities, nutrition, strength and conditioning, support for spirit squads and Tiger Band, and much more. What we do is not possible without each of you. Thank you for being an IPTAY donor!

There are many ways to support our student-athletes, with the IPTAY Annual Fund being a critical part of that effort. In addition to your IPTAY 2025 gift, I want to provide you with additional opportunities to get involved with IPTAY during the upcoming year. Due to the ever-changing landscape in college athletics, the following year will be transformational, especially as we continue to navigate this unchartered territory. We hope that you will consider these areas of support:

HEAR HER ROAR

Clemson has begun celebrating the 50th Year of Women’s Athletics at Clemson. The last five years have been an incredible time for our female student-athletes and the direction of women’s sports. We’ve seen inaugural seasons, a first overall draft pick, a long list of accomplishments, sellouts to see our female student-athletes compete, and have provided opportunities for

these women to excel at the highest level.

A contributing factor to that success is the Hear Her Roar fundraising initiative led by IPTAY’s Lauren Gaulin, Director of Major Gifts. During the 50th year, I encourage you to find a way to be involved in our women’s athletic programs to lay the foundation for success for the next 50 years. Contact Lauren at LGaulin@clemson.edu or visit our website to learn more and make your impact!

IPTAY LEGACY

Many of you have read stories over the past year about people who have committed to IPTAY through IPTAY Legacy, our reimagined planned giving program. IPTAY Legacy ensures that we sustain student-athlete support for generations to come.

When a planned gift commitment of $100,000 or more is made, additional Priority Points can be received or allocated at the time of the gift. To learn more about this program and your options, contact our office or read more in the coming pages.

TIGER CUB CLUB

We all know a young Tiger Fan: your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, friend, etc., who wants to be All In! The Tiger Cub Club is for all youth 12 and under to be involved with Clemson Athletics. For just $40 annually, or a sustaining member for $500 at birth, these young Tigers receive invitations to events throughout the year, an annual age-appropriate gift package, participation in the annual Summer Reading Program, and more.

The Tiger Cub Club is an excellent way for these young Tigers to establish their

IPTAY accounts early, begin building Priority Points, and be All In for the Tigers! As we continue to emphasize the growth of this program, reach out to Kelly Geiger, Director of Collegiate and Pre-Collegiate Programs, to sign up a child today or with any questions you may have at Geiger3@clemson.edu.

NIL

Transformational change in college athletics is here to stay. NIL support is crucial for our athletic programs to remain successful now and for the foreseeable future. Gifts to the 110 Society are the best way to support Clemson’s NIL initiatives. Please visit 110Society.com to explore options for involvement. I ask all donors to consider giving 10% over and above your IPTAY annual gift directly to the 110 Society. This will enable us to remain competitive and to maintain the Clemson standard of excellence. Clemson is competing against the top programs in all sports, and we need to provide the necessary resources to equip them with every tool possible to excel at this highest level. I sincerely appreciate your thoughtful consideration.

Each of these avenues of support is vital to our operation, so I hope you will look further into each opportunity. Please do not hesitate to contact anyone on our staff with questions. You can reach our office at 1-800-CLEMSON or by messaging IPTAY@clemson.edu.

Thank you for what each of you do to support IPTAY and Clemson studentathletes! As always, Go Tigers!

DAVIS BABB IPTAY CEO

IPTAY MISSION

IPTAY provides resources to support the academic, athletic, and personal development of Clemson University student-athletes and the competitive success of Clemson Athletics.

IPTAY VISION

IPTAY will be the model fundraising organization in intercollegiate athletics providing unmatched support for student-athlete success and exemplary service to our donors.

IPTAY CORE VALUES

STUDENT-ATHLETE SUCCESS

IPTAY will provide the resources necessary to afford Clemson student-athletes the best opportunity to excel academically, athletically, and personally.

INTEGRITY

In all ways IPTAY will lead with honesty, trustworthiness, responsibility and ethical behavior, while complying with all national, conference and university regulations.

WHAT WE SUPPORT

STUDENT-ATHLETE SCHOLARSHIPS

Each academic year, IPTAY has the responsibility of funding all student-athlete scholarships. IPTAY also provides the largest academic endowment ($10.3M) on campus to the general student body.

TEAMWORK

IPTAY will be intentional and collaborative in all phases of our mission including IPTAY staff, investors, internal (coaches, university staff and board members) and external partners, student-athletes and stakeholders.

TRANSPARENCY

IPTAY will effectively communicate the purpose and outcomes of consistent and fair policies that drive philanthropic support for Clemson Athletics.

IPTAY will be trustworthy stewards of the contributions of our donors and volunteers, valuing and expressing appreciation for their time, talent, and resources while supporting all Clemson student-athletes.

ATHLETICS FACILITIES ACADEMIC SUPPORT

In order to place our coaches and student-athletes in the best position to succeed, it is important that we are able to provide them with both new and upgraded facilities. This enables our coaches to recruit and train the best and brightest young men and women at the highest level.

The Nieri Family Student-Athlete Enrichment Center provides resources such as tutoring and mentors for all of our 575+ studentathletes so that they may succeed in the classroom.

OTHER AREAS WE SUPPORT: Student-Athletes Services (leadership development, community engagement, sports psychology, nutrition, strength & conditioning), Mascots, Tiger Band, and Cheer.

12 YEAR ANNUAL GIVING TREND

8,489

MAJOR GIFTS

Clemson depends on the generosity and foresight of donors to build and maintain collegiate athletic excellence. Gifts that build an endowment and support major facilities and large-scale initiatives leave a lasting legacy and are vital to the future and the quality of athletics at Clemson. Major gifts may be in the form of cash, real estate, securities, gifts-in-kind and a number of other options. DOLLARS

$23.6M

These transformational gifts of $2.5 million and above have been integral in allowing resources for Clemson to offer state-of-the-art facilities for our 21 sport program, impacting 575+ student-athletes each year. Another particular focus of the Cornerstone Partner program is on building the athletic endowment. These gifts build a lasting legacy and ensure the future of the university’s athletic program and the student-athletes who sustain it.

IPTAY Legacy is the guarantee that the priorities of IPTAY continue for years to come. These visionary gifts ensure that opportunities exist for future generations of studentathletes. These gifts continue long into the future, and many planned gifts are part of major gifts.

PREMIUM SEATS

ONE IPTAY

IMPACT OF SUPPORT

TEAMS MADE FINAL 8 OF

Drafted first overall in Athletes Unlimited Softball College Draft Valerie Cagle 4 Women’s

First season of Clemson Gymnastics completed Gymnastics

Elite 8

Men’s Basketball makes first Elite 8 in 40 years.

Final 4 Women’s Soccer makes program first Final 4.

No. 1

Men’s Soccer wins the National Championship.

GPA Record GPA (3.31) in Spring 2024.

Women’s Golf advances to NCAA Nationals play for first time.

3,201

74

BLOCK C CLUB

Block C Club helps to enhance the lifelong experience of Clemson student-athletes. Block C Club has four main purposes as a part of its mission - to provide fellowship among all letterwinners, recognize and honor former student-athletes, provide outreach to letterwinners in an effort to re-engage them with Clemson University and to educate current coaches and student-athletes about the history of Clemson athletics.

BLOCK C CLUB DOLLARS GIVEN

$75,450

HEAR HER ROAR

ELEVATING WOMEN’S ATHLETICS AT CLEMSON

BLOCK C CLUB MEMBERS

957

The Hear Her Roar initiative was launched in line with the 50th anniversary of the groundbreaking Title IX legislation in an effort to continue raising awareness and financial support for Clemson’s women student-athletes. The momentum behind the growth of athletic opportunities for women at Clemson has never been more tremendous.

POWER Women’s Leadership Academy took an incredible trip this past spring allowing the group to spend a full day with Nike with host Courtney Thompson. The group visited the Nike World Headquarters campus and toured the LeBron James Innovation Center. While in Portland, POWER hiked Multnomah Falls and then visited Columbia Sportswear, the Portland Trailblazers and then traveled to Seattle. The student-athletes enjoyed a professional styling session with Nordstrom to identify and build a wardrobe that fits their professional needs. They then embarked on a tour of the Amazon Spheres followed by a networking event with various professionals in the Seattle area. The group wrapped up the trip by touring the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, attended a Lululemon workshop, visited the Seattle Storm and the Space Needle.

HEAR HER ROAR DOLLARS GIVEN

$9.7M+

HEAR HER ROAR DONORS

270+

All donors have the opportunity to make gifts that will directly impact a specific program and its student-athletes. In conjunction with IPTAY, coaches and athletic department administrators are able to identify needs for their respective programs and solicit support for those needs. Each year, sport-specific dollars raised through individual endowments and Support Your Sport initiatives help fuel each program and its annual operations. To learn more about a sport-specific gift, contact a member of the IPTAY Major Gifts team to make an impact on the sport of your choice.

ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE

Orange: The Experience is a 64-page magazine published six times this past year. Orange: The Experience is packed with exclusive features on celebrating student-athlete success, showcasing Clemson’s dedicated coaches, and many inspiring IPTAY donors. The magazine also portrays up-close and behind-the-scenes photography of various athletic facilities and sporting events. Orange: The Experience promises an immersive and enlightening read that resonates with Clemson alumni, fans, former student-athletes, and supporters alike.

For the upcoming 2025 fiscal year, Orange: The Experience will be decreasing from six publications a year down to four publications. Orange: The Experience will also be offering an online presence through Clemson+ to extend content to the greater Clemson audience. The magazine will possess enriching stories and information on student-athletes, donors, and Clemson Athletics that can not be found anywhere else.

CLEMSON+

Clemson Athletics and IPTAY activated several team features and series with behindthe-scenes content on Clemson+, the official video streaming service for Clemson Athletics programs. Whether it’s getting behind-thescenes access to your favorite teams or reliving some of Clemson’s most memorable moments and games, you get it all on Clemson+.

IPTAY donors and IPTAY Collegiate Club members receive access to Clemson+ for free as a benefit of membership. Tune in on your smartphone, computer or mobile device on the following streaming platforms:

S C GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATES LOTTERY FUNDS EACH YEAR

MOMENT IN CLEMSON HISTORY

On September 4, 1994, Clemson Women’s Soccer played its first game as a program at North Carolina. The first-ever women’s soccer team finished their inaugural season 15-4-1 and received a berth to the NCAA Tournament.

TIGER LETTERWINNERS

BY: TIM BOURRET

SPOTLIGHT

On April 22, 2010, I printed a page from the NFLDraftScout. com website that featured the top NFL draft prospects for the 2013 draft. The draft was three years away, so it was a listing of the top players in the nation who had just finished their first year.

The No. 1 player on the list was Clemson safety Rashard Hall. Listed second was Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, who would go on to be the top pick of the 2012 draft. Others on the list included Stephon Gilmore, Manti Te’o, and Luke Kuechly, all of whom were first or second-round selections and had (Gilmore still playing) significant NFL careers.

I showed the list to Hall the next week, and while he had a positive reaction, I could tell he had a mature attitude about it.

Hall had plenty of reasons to get carried away if he wanted to. He had just finished a freshman All-American season in which he had 55 tackles and six interceptions, second in the ACC and eighth in the nation in interceptions.

Hall always had football and his long-term career goals in perspective. He was being prepared for life after football was always at the forefront.

“My parents instilled in me at a young age that education and relationships were important, and you weren’t going to play football the rest of your life.”

The native of St. Augustine, Fla., hit the books hard and earned his undergraduate degree in August 2011, less than a month before the start of his junior season. At the time, he joined Nick Eason and Willie Simmons as the only Clemson Football student-athletes to graduate in three years.

Hall had an outstanding career,

including earning All-ACC honors in his senior year 2012. He earned one of the ACC Thacker Awards for exceptional performance on the field and in the classroom and was a national semifinalist for the Senior Class Award.

He is still fourth in Clemson history in interceptions (14), third in turnovers forced (17), fourth among defensive backs in total tackles (302), and third in games started at his position (43).

A knee injury set him back after playing four preseason games with the Rams. He was among the team’s top tacklers in the preseason but was released just before the regular season.

Rashard Hall is among the most prepared for life after football among all the Clemson Football players I worked with as sports information director for over 40 years.

Proof of that is in a book he recently published, “The Scholar AthELITE.”

The front cover includes an endorsement from Head Coach Dabo Swinney that states, “Every college athlete, coach, athletic director, and student-athlete development professional must read.”

I have read the book and firmly endorse Swinney’s statement. The book is broken down by years, from freshman through senior, with reviews of every difficulty a student-athlete faces when they set foot on campus. The book is written concisely, breaking down lists of do’s and don’ts as seen through Hall’s experiences.

Hall earned two master’s degrees in addition to his undergraduate from Clemson. He found time to earn those degrees while working in sales with Johnson & Johnson. He worked as a graduate assistant academic advisor in Vickery Hall for the football program,

working for two years with Merrill Lynch and then spending six years with P.A.W. Journey under Jeff Davis.

Now, he has started his own consulting company, Scholar athELITE, bringing the transformative career experiences he developed in P.A.W. Journey to athletes at universities nationwide.

These initiatives, which contributed 100 percent career placement over the past six years and included global travel opportunities, are now accessible to help other athletes achieve similar success.

One of the basic tenets of the book stresses that student-athletes need to surround themselves with good people.

“When the Rams released me, one of the people who helped me transition was (teammate) Coty Sensabaugh. He really helped me embrace my journey and understand my strengths.”

Another central point of the book is to realize the resources at your disposal.

“By stepping outside the athletic bubble, I discovered other ways to go pro and achieve the life I had envisioned – and the same is possible for all athletes. As a student-athlete, I took advantage of opportunities like a marketing class in New York City and internships with Clemson Tiger Sports Properties, Coca-Cola, and the NCAA Players Association.”

“Those experiences expanded my NFL dream – not only did I want to play for a team, but I aspired to own one. The way I invested in my college experiences and relationships proved invaluable as I transitioned to life beyond the field.”

Hall’s timing is right as more and more schools realize the responsibilities associated with preparing their studentathletes for life after sports. Hall firmly believes that development must begin and be practiced while athletes are still in college to succeed in this effort.

While the book has many timeless tenets, it is also contemporary in that it discusses the new era of the transfer portal and Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities.

To learn more, the book is available on SchAthElite.com.

CREATE YOUR NEW Tiger Tradition

Owning a condo at Lakeside Lodge Clemson is like owning your own piece of Clemson. It’s here for you on every game day, graduation, reunion, or when you just need a break from everyday life.

When you can’t be here, rent your condo to other fans and offset the cost of ownership through our hotel management rental program. When you are here, you’ll be just 2 miles from campus, on the lake, and have access to some of the best amenities of a luxury resort, including our restaurant and bar, Traditions on the Lake.

Call us today and start your new Tiger Tradition at Lakeside Lodge.

BEYOND THE GAME

BY: VALERIE JOHNSON

MIA MOORE

VOLLEYBALL | JUNIOR | FRISCO, TEXAS

HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE NIKE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, AND WHY DID YOU APPLY?

MM: I heard about the Nike internship program through the Nieri StudentAthlete Academic Success Center. I saw it and was interested, so I decided to apply because I have always wanted to be involved in sports in my future career. I also love fashion, so the combination of the two is what drew me to apply for this internship.

WHERE WAS THE NIKE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM LOCATED, AND HOW LONG WAS THE INTERNSHIP?

MM: The internship was located in Beaverton, Ore., from June 1st to August 1st.

WHAT AREA DID YOU WORK IN NIKE, AND WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE DEPARTMENT/WHY?

MM: I worked with the GPS Sport Team, and my favorite department that I was able to network with was

the North America Marketing team, which oversees all the marketing in the United States. This was my favorite department because, as a marketing major, I thought it was so cool to be able to interact with those people and understand more about what they do and how they are so successful.

AS A MARKETING MAJOR, HOW DID THE INTERNSHIP HELP YOU WORK TOWARDS YOUR FUTURE CAREER GOALS?

MM: This internship helped me work towards my future career goals of being able to understand the way marketing works at a major corporation like Nike and connect with the consumer in many ways. My career goals are to be involved with sports at the highest level and to be able to market teams, clothing, athletes, and many other aspects of sports. Being at Nike was a great start to gain that experience and

really understand what it takes to be successful in this industry.

AS A MEMBER OF THE TEAM’S GEAR/EQUIPMENT LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE, HOW HAVE YOU APPLIED YOUR INTERNSHIP TO HELPING DESIGN/ PICK THE TEAM’S GEAR FOR THE SEASON?

MM: As a member of my team’s Gear/ Equipment leadership team, I have applied the skills I learned through my internship by being able to work within my committee and decide what we wear on the road and away trips. Through this committee, I am able to make sure my teammates and I look as best as we can on the road. I am excited to take what I learned with this internship into designing the team-issued gear for next season and see what we come up with!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE NIKE SHOE?

MM: My favorite Nike shoe would be the all-silver P-6000 or the Jordan 4.

ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT AWARDS

2023 - 2024

The winners of three major Clemson Athletic Department awards for the 2023-24 academic year were announced in August. Ousmane Sylla, the top goal scorer on Clemson’s National Championship Men’s Soccer team and MAC Hermann Trophy winner is the recipient of the Frank Howard Award, presented the Clemson athlete who brought honor to Clemson. Will Shipley, the first Clemson running back to earn Academic AllAmerican honors, is the recipient of the IPTAY Athlete of the Year, the award presented to the student-athlete who was successful on the field of competition and in the classroom. Cam Cannarella, who overcame a shoulder injury in the fourth game of the season to earn All-America honors on Clemson’s Super Regional team, is the recipient of the Brandon Streeter Award, the honor presented to the student-athlete who has overcome injury or illness to perform at a high level on the field of competition.

WILL SHIPLEY Football

IPTAY ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Two-time Academic All-American; first running back in Clemson history to earn Academic All-America honors.

· Joined Don Kelley (1970-71), Steve Fuller ..(1977-78), Kyle Young (1999-2001) and Chad Carson (1999-2001) to become the fifth multi-time Academic All-American in program history.

· Became the first Tiger scholarship football ..player on record to graduate in three years with a 4.0 GPA.

· Believed to be the first FBS player on record to produce 4,000 career all-purpose yards and earn a degree with a perfect 4.0 ..GPA in only a three-year span.

· Wuerffel Trophy semifinalist whose service and philanthropy earned him Clemson’s ninth all-time selection to the AFCA Good Works Team.

· Only player in ACC history to be named.. first-team All-ACC in three different categories in a single year (2022).

· Recorded 2,747 yards and 31 touchdowns on 526 career rushing attempts, 602 ..yards and two touchdowns on 85 career receptions in 1,526 offensive snaps, 36 career games (27 starts) from 2021-23.

· Finished his career ranked in the Top 10 in school history in total touchdowns ..(33),.rushing touchdowns (31), 100-yard rushing games (10), all-purpose yards (4,253) and kickoff return yards (904).

· 2023 team captain who was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round ..of the 2024 NFL Draft.

OUSMANE SYLLA

Men’s Soccer

FRANK HOWARD AWARD

Won the Hermann Award, the Heisman Trophy of men’s college soccer.

· Led the Tigers in goals, assists and points in 2023, leading the team to the National ..Championship.

· MVP of both the ACC Tournament and the College Cup.

Also first team All-American, All-ACC, first-team All-Atlantic Region.

· Ranked 14th in the nation in total goals with 13, eighth in assists with 10, and fifth in total points with 36. Finished 10th in the nation in game winning goals with five.

· Scored key goal in National Championship victory over Notre Dame.

· Earned his degree in sociology in just three years with a minor in French Studies.

Received an ACC Academic Excellence ..Award from the Atlantic Coast Conference in the spring of 2024.

CAM CANNARELLA Baseball

BRANDON STREETER AWARD

Sophomore outfielder Cam Cannarella picked up in 2024 where he left off in the 2023 season, when he was ACC Freshman-of-the-Year.

· Third-team All-American in 2024 according to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

He did so despite suffering a shoulder injury in the fourth game of the year and ..playing through it the entire season, unable to slide head first or steal a base in 2024.

· He hit .337 with 16 doubles, three triples, 11 homers, 60 RBIs, 58 runs and a .417 on-base percentage in 58 games.

· He had a team-high 29 multiple-hit games, including eight three-hit games, and 16 multiple-RBI games.

He hit safely in each of his first eight games in 2024 and had a 17-game hitting ..streak dating to 2023.

· He was named ACC Player-of-the-Week on April 29, as he was 9-for-20 (.450) with two homers, two doubles and six RBIs in four road games.

· He was invited to the USA Collegiate National Team Training Camp in June, the second year in a row he was invited.

SHE WILL TRIUMPH

Clemson launches campaign celebrating 50th year of varsity women’s athletics.

BY: JEFF KALLIN

The Clemson Athletic Department launched its celebratory campaign, signaling the beginning of the 50th year of varsity women’s athletics on July 18, 2024. The campaign, centered around the phrase ‘She will Triumph,’ celebrates the rich history of the people and events that have made Clemson Athletics what it is today while signifying the continued growth and competitive excellence of the future of women’s athletics.

Women’s athletics at Clemson have grown to more than 250 studentathletes across 12 varsity sports and saw more than 150,000 fans in attendance at its home competitions in 2023-24. The 2024-25 athletic year marks the 50th competitive season for women’s basketball and women’s tennis.

Over the past 49 years, Clemson’s Athletic Department has been defined by its growth and support of women’s athletics, including adding four varsity women’s sports within the past 12 years. Clemson’s women’s programs have accounted for 23 team ACC Championships, 18 individual NCAA Champions, 10 Olympic Medals, and countless individuals with incredible accomplishments inside and outside athletics.

From leadership positions at major companies, heads of athletic departments, media personalities, coaches, doctors, professors, professional athletes, and all those in between, varsity athletics has been a

significant facilitator to thousands of positive outcomes for those that have triumphed in every aspect.

Fans will notice several tentpole celebrations at different points in the year, including:

· Development of a 50th-year logo.

· Consistent promotion of the Hear Her Roar Campaign, which directly supports and helps fund women’s athletics.

· In-venue celebrations, guests and recognitions across athletics.

· Original video docuseries focused on the growth of women’s athletics.

· Social media campaign and recognitions.

· Deep collaboration with ClemsonWorld on special features throughout 2024-25.

· Original apparel line.

· Launching a new podcast focusing on issues and opportunities within women’s athletics called, “She Will ..Triumph”.

· Continued promotion and engagement of Beyond the Paw podcast and writing ..opportunities.

· Featured placement throughout ORANGE: The Experience.

· Enhanced coverage of the POWER ..Women’s Leadership Academy, which held its third POWER Summit on July 20.

SHE WILL TRIUMPH: Looking to build upon the rich history of Clemson Athletics, ‘She

Will Triumph’ became the springboard to celebrate the previous 50 years and all the achievements that have been accomplished during that span while guiding the next 50 years of excellence. In conjunction with the 50-year logo, Clemson Athletics will use ‘She will Triumph’ as a motto and symbol of the bond that every member of Clemson Women’s Athletics has shared throughout history and will continue to share with future generations. Originating from the alma mater chorus as “Dear Old Clemson, we will triumph And with all our might That the Tiger’s roar may echo O’er the mountain height,” “She will Triumph” guides the foundation of empowerment and victory for every stride and forward progress Clemson continues to make towards success. The 50th year is more than just a milestone; it’s a movement.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF WOMEN’S ATHLETICS AT CLEMSON

When Hall-of-Fame Athletic Director Bill McClellan took over the athletic department in 1971, Clemson had no women’s varsity athletics teams. Just four years later (and three years after the passing of Title IX), McClellan announced in September of 1975 the elevation of basketball, fencing, swimming and tennis as the first women’s varsity sports. By 1977, Clemson had also added volleyball and field hockey, enhancing facilities and infrastructure quickly. Six of the first eight programs had a final top 20 ranking within their first five years.

“She

Will Triumph,” Clemson’s 50th Year of Women’s Athletics Campaign.

The first varsity women’s athletics competition was a women’s swimming tri-meet against Brenau and Appalachian State on Nov. 11, 1975. Mary K. King was the first woman to earn a head coach title at Clemson, as she led both the tennis and basketball programs in their first seasons (197576). Women’s tennis finished its first season 10-2, and women’s basketball finished with a 13-11 mark that season. Fencing finished its inaugural season 2-6 overall, and swimming was 6-5. Over the next two decades, Clemson would add cross country, track and field and diving. Soccer began competition in 1994, Rowing in 1999, Golf in 2013, Softball in 2020, Lacrosse in 2023 and Gymnastics in 2024. Clemson’s first individual national champion was Tina Krebs, who, in 1983, won the indoor 1000-meter race. She would add NCAA titles in 1985 (indoor 1500m) and 1986 (indoor mile). Clemson has 18 individual national championship performances (13 in track & field, four in swimming,

and one in rowing), 23 ACC team championships, and ten Olympic medalists.

Each year, more than 275 women are suited up in orange and purple. Thousands of female athletes have called Clemson home and participated in a total of 16 sports throughout the years. In addition to the studentathletes, Clemson presently has women in head coach roles for seven sports – men’s and women’s cross country, volleyball, golf, rowing, lacrosse, and gymnastics.

In the 2023-24 season, women’s golf and women’s soccer had their best seasons ever, advancing to the NCAA quarterfinals or better. Gymnastics made the NCAA Championships in its inaugural season, and lacrosse ranked third nationally in attendance. With a recent infusion of more than $50 million in facility upgrades, including rowing, tennis, softball, lacrosse, gymnastics, volleyball and track & field, Clemson is poised for long-term success.

EMPOWERED BY POWER

My Journey with the POWER Women’s Leadership Academy… my journey to becoming an empowered professional: Aby Vieira.

BY: NIK JOHNSON & ABY VIEIRA

Regarding women’s athletics here at Clemson, there is no shortage of support, resources, and opportunity for our Tiger studentathletes to thrive. One unique initiative that continues to make an extraordinary impact on our female student-athletes is the POWER Women’s Leadership

Academy. Current senior Clemson Softball student-athlete Aby Vieira provides perspective on her experiences as a part of last year’s POWER cohort and a exclusive inside look into their annual trip.

I believe the skills, networking opportunities, confidence, and professionalism I have acquired will be invaluable to my future. “ ”

As a female Clemson studentathlete, I was fortunate to be accepted into the POWER Women’s Leadership Academy for the 2023-24 academic year. I grew my leadership skills as a woman in athletics through a transformative experience. I was part of a cohort of 18 female student-athletes across nine sports. With this group, we went through eight different lessons throughout the academic year that covered topics like “owning the hard,” “owning your voice,” “owning your genius,” and “owning your wholeness.” These lessons were not just theoretical; they provided practical tools to help me navigate the professional world.

After our lessons, we started preparing for our summer trip to Oregon and Washington. On this trip, we could put the skills we learned to work. We were put in real-world situations to network and through life-like tests. We explored the Nike Campus, Columbia

Headquarters, Amazon, Nordstrom, Seattle Storm’s WNBA facility, Portland Trail Blazers’ NBA facility, and The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center during the visit. We visited a womanowned and operated sports bar called The Sports Bra. Our trip was geared to the professional interests of each individual in our group, offering unique perspectives on various professional environments. We were put into situations that intentionally made us uncomfortable and forced us to adapt and overcome real-world challenges.

This was all a bit nerve-wracking, yet an extremely rewarding experience. The entire experience truly tested and refined my public speaking abilities and networking skills in a way that would not have been possible without this hands-on setting.

As our week came to an end, we prepared for the POWER Women’s Leadership Summit. This was our

final benchmark to put everything we learned to the ultimate test. In this setting, we were divided into groups to teach one of the eight lessons that we had learned. We were put in front of an audience of over 125 individuals, including fellow student-athletes, IPTAY donors, professors, and other professionals. This final presentation was the culmination of our growth as individuals and as a cohort.

Reflecting on my time with POWER, I believe the skills, networking opportunities, confidence, and professionalism I have acquired will be invaluable to my future. As a female athlete, professional opportunities in sports are limited. Having skills beyond athletic prowess is a necessity. POWER has given me the expertise to become a professional in any career path.

ABY VIEIRA

Thanks entirely to the support of Hear Her Roar, POWER is now beginning its fourth year of operation. In its early stages, the program’s impact on the female student-athletes here at Clemson has been remarkable, providing each cohort with a unique experience of both personal and professional development. “It helps the student-athlete have more confidence in who they are as people, but also athletically and academically,” said Tori Niemann, Assistant AD for StudentAthlete Development and POWER cofounder. “It’s the holistic development of the student-athlete. For them to build a network and a community, find more sense of belonging, and develop their identity outside of their sport, I think that’s POWER’s impact.”

Through participating in developmental workshops, attending their annual capstone business trip, and organizing a women’s leadership summit, POWER has allowed female student-athletes at Clemson to discover themselves professionally and better articulate what they want to pursue after their time on campus. Even more so, POWER enables female Tiger studentathletes to grow as individuals, building their confidence and adequately preparing them for a lifetime of success after their time at Clemson. Simply stated by Niemann, “[POWER participants] just walk taller.”

The women of POWER are provided an unparalleled experience that no other athletic program in the country currently offers their student-athletes.

The program affirms Clemson’s commitment to the female studentathlete experience while on campus, putting action behind their intentions. “The thing that I hear the most from our student-athletes is ‘Clemson cares about me as an individual, not just as someone in my sport,’” said Executive Sr. Associate AD and POWER cofounder Stephanie Ellison-Johnson. “To have that intentional focus on our women, to put them in a position to be successful in whatever career, it is something that no one else is doing, and to the lengths in which we are doing it.”

Because of the devoted support of IPTAY members, POWER is here to stay. “This is not a one-year, checkthe-box thing,” said Niemann. “We’re not stopping POWER. This isn’t just something to celebrate [an anniversary]; this is part of our culture now that we do this for female student-athletes.” With that commitment comes a continuous opportunity for IPTAY members to

directly impact future Clemson female student-athletes and the longevity of the POWER program. POWER is entirely donor-funded and simply cannot operate without the generous financial support of donors to Hear Her Roar. Thus, donor support is crucial to ensuring that Clemson has the necessary resources to continue to impact its female studentathletes through POWER for years to come. “We could not do anything we’ve done without donor support,” said Ellison-Johnson. “To see donors step up with POWER and the Hear Her Roar campaign… and we have Clemson people behind that and willing to support, it does not go unnoticed from an administrative standpoint what our donors have done and continue to do for us.”

To learn more about how you can contribute to the POWER Women’s Leadership Academy, contact Lauren Gaulin at IPTAY by email at LGaulin@ clemson.edu or by phone at 864-6562608.

You can make a difference in the lives of Clemson’s female studentathletes by making a contribution today. Through Hear Her Roar, you can have a direct impact by making a gift to support scholarships, state-ofthe-art facilities, and student-athlete experiences. Your gift to Hear Her Roar can ensure success, the tradition of excellence, and help build the legacy of women’s athletics at Clemson for many years to come.

WHAT IS HEAR HER ROAR?

Hear Her Roar is a fundraising initiative led by IPTAY. Hear Her Roar raises awareness and financial support for Clemson’s women student-athletes, providing them a premier collegiate experience both athletically and academically.

HEAR HER ROAR PLAYS AN INTEGRAL PART IN:

· Providing scholarships, a nationally acclaimed academic experience, and state-of-the art training facilities and competition venues ensuring success both academically and athletically.

· Recruiting exceptional women to be part of the Clemson Family.

· Empowering and developing female student-athletes to become leaders in their workplace, family, and community.

· Ensuring an elite student-athlete experience that is unrivaled across the country.

WHAT IS 50 FORWARD?

· 50 Forward is a fundraising goal to secure 50 gifts of $50,000 or more to celebrate 50 years of Clemson Women’s Athletics.

· This effort would total at least $2.5 million in support to Hear Her Roar. (Equivalant to a Cornerstone Gift)

· Gifts are payable over a five year period and will ensure success for Clemson Women’s Athletics for the next 50 years & beyond.

· A Block C sweater will be gifted to each donor who makes a gift to 50 Forward.

To learn more about how you can make a difference in the lives of Clemson’s female student-athletes, use the resources below to make your impact today!

Scan the QR code below to recieve more information on how you can make an impact.

LAUREN GAULIN

DIRECTOR OF IPTAY MAJOR GIFTS

Email: LGaulin@clemson.edu Phone: 864-656-2608

BY: ROSS TAYLOR

BACK IN THE FIGHT

Veteran offensive lineman Walker Parks returned in 2024 with a repaired ankle — and a refreshed perspective.

Before the assembled media could even muster a question, the deep bass of Walker Parks’ voice reverberated into the microphone at Clemson’s Smart Family Media Center.

“Back in the fight.”

It was the evening of Aug. 1, and Parks — the six-foot-five, 305-pound, fifth-year offensive lineman from Kentucky — was the first player to speak following Clemson’s first fall camp practice.

In 2022, Parks played the majority of Clemson’s ACC Championship campaign with torn ligaments in his ankle suffered in an early October win against NC State. He missed most of the offseason after undergoing ankle surgery to repair three lateral ligaments and address bone spurs, but he entered the 2023 season ready to restore his game.

“I was joking with Coach earlier; I said it’s kind of like a rusty truck you find in your grandpa’s barn right now,” Parks said in August 2023. “I need some polishing, some new wheels and maybe some gas, but I’m getting back to it and working on getting better every day.”

That rusty truck didn’t stay out of the shop long. In the second game of Clemson’s 2023 season, Parks suffered another ankle injury, and an MRI revealed that Parks’ subtalar joint — the joint that acts as a bridge between the foot and ankle — had fused together. Parks faced two different surgery options: one that would definitively fix the ankle but instantly end his football career, or another that Parks and medical personnel called “a flip of the coin.”

Parks opted for the coin flip but admitted that doubt was present amid his recovery. Athough, his doubt was repelled by one single thought of his

final snap at Death Valley:

“There’s no way that was it.”

Despite the season-ending injury, Parks battled to return for 2024 following a medical redshirt. In his recovery, he dropped to 260 pounds in December. His diligence with his nutrition, rehabilitation and training led him to add 45 pounds back by the start of fall camp eight months later.

His most crucial gain, though, was his perspective.

“It was very tough, but I will say it was very beneficial,” Parks said. “I think last season I was so stressed out all the time for the wrong reasons. I was not present. I was not where I needed to be. Mentally, I wasn’t in the moment. I was looking ahead, focusing on the playoffs, or ‘Do I come back for a fifth year, or do I try for the NFL?’ My mind was all over the place. I was very — I don’t want to say ungrateful because I love this place and I love these coaches — but I wasn’t in the right mindset. Then [the injury] happened, giving me a whole new perspective.

“I go from playing my senior season with my best friends, some of my favorite teammates of all-time — Will Putnam, Will Shipley, [Jeremiah] Trotter, the list goes on and on, [Justin] Mascoll — playing with guys I’ve worked with for the last couple of years. Now I’m having surgery, and I’m laying in bed in a cast, and I’m watching all my friends play.

“It gave me a reset and fully restored me and restored my faith in Christ. This gave me time to look at myself and decide and figure out what was important to me. So, I developed as a man and as a player. It made me so much tougher, too, and it’s a constant reminder that it can end any day for any player… I think it’s one of the best things that could have happened to me, honestly.”

“We need him,” Swinney said.

“We need that fire. We need that presence. We need his leadership.”

“

Parks credited the support system at Clemson and his family for guiding him through his hardship. While he was quick to cite Clemson’s coaching staff, training staff and nutrition staff, the support of his teammates on the offensive line carried additional weight in his comments.

“They would literally bring me food and just sit there and hang out with me because I couldn’t walk. They’d say, ‘Hey, we’re praying for you,’ and they’d bring me food, and they’d check in on me all the time,” Parks said. “These dudes, these aren’t my teammates;

these are my brothers. That’s my family. You talk about having a good support system, and it’s so much different when you have guys you love that you want to fight for and play with.”

Head Coach Dabo Swinney said he is always prayerful for the health of his players. But, asked at the start of camp to expound specifically upon Parks’ return, emotion emerged from Swinney’s voice.

“Keep him in your prayers, man. I’m praying for that guy,” Swinney said. “There is nobody more committed to football, first of all, or to Clemson or

to this team than Walker Parks. He’s just tremendous. He’s one of the best leaders I’ve ever been around, one of the most committed people I’ve ever been around.”

From the objective perspective of on-field performance, Parks’ impact on Clemson is evident. He entered the 2024 season as Clemson’s active leader in career snaps with 2,107 over 39 games and 28 starts from 2020-23.

However, within the program, Parks has been regarded as one of its most important player voices and one of its most passionate leaders.

“We need him,” Swinney said. “We need that fire. We need that presence. We need his leadership. We need his knowledge. We need his experience. These last couple of years have been really hard on him… I’m just praying

he can have the type of season that he’s worked for because he truly does deserve it.”

To understand Parks’ devotion to Clemson, it’s best to understand its origin. Parks is the son of former Kentucky offensive lineman David Parks, and many assumed Walker would follow his father’s footsteps four miles down the road from Lexington’s Frederick Douglass High School to the University of Kentucky.

After a prospect event in the region in July 2017, Parks snuck into Memorial Stadium in Clemson and told his father he wanted to play in that stadium. He returned to Clemson 11 months later as a relatively under-the-radar participant in the Dabo Swinney High School Football Camp. By design, the Parks family hoped to draw minimal attention to his status as a Division I prospect with five or six offers. Parks quietly competed in camp, impressing Swinney and Offensive Line Coach Robbie Caldwell and earning an emotional offer from Clemson.

In 2021, unfounded rumors began to swirl that Parks could transfer to return home to Kentucky. The rumors were quickly squelched when David took to the message board of Tiger Illustrated to remind Clemson fans of who his son is and aims to be.

“If you’ve ever heard Dabo tell the story, he offered Walker right after camp ended, and Walker cried,” David Parks said. “He absolutely did. We hugged and laughed and cried. He had done it. He had come to the No. 1 program in the country, completely unknown, fought his ass off to leave his mark and earned his spot - on his own! The posts from [recruiting reporter Paul] Strelow showed the Kentucky kid in the white tank top that had earned his offer.”

“From that day forward, Clemson had his heart. He’d have probably committed then if I’d have let him. Since then, his goal has been to build himself into the absolute best player he can be and to represent the Clemson standard – Best is the Standard.”

Parks’ passion to represent that standard is further buttressed now by another powerful force: gratitude.

“The perspective changed for me. I wake up every morning. I stand up and come into this building, and I’m just like, ‘Thank you, God,’ because I’m so happy to be here and so happy to be part of it,” Parks said. “I thank God for being back and for being able to be a Tiger.”

PHOTO OF THE ISSUE

Clemson Volleyball fans gather for opening weekend of the newly renovated Jervey Gym.

Clemson Volleyball welcomed 2,185 fans into Jervey Gym for its home-opening weekend, marking the first time fans have been in the space since renovations were completed.

A DEEPER LOOK

Alex Meinhard shares life before Clemson and his career as a collegiate athlete.

BY: KATHERINE KLEIN

Alex Meinhard, a graduate student from Estonia, is co-captain of the 2024 men’s soccer team. After winning the National Championship in his first year playing at Clemson, Meinhard started the 2024 season strong, scoring the first goal for the Clemson Tigers. Meinhard’s story goes beyond Clemson, with him beginning the sport in first grade. Meinhard took his career to the next level before even attending a university, playing on Estonia’s U18 and U19 national teams. After attending The University of Tulsa as an undergrad, Meinhard looked to further his academic and soccer career at Clemson and finish his last two seasons at the collegiate level.

“My fascination for the sport happened when I was five years old,” Meinhard said. “I was playing video games, and I found this soccer game, and I loved it.” He quickly expressed his desire to play with his mom, to which his mom promised he could begin his soccer training when he started first grade. Not forgetting the promise, Meinhard went to his mom on the first day of first grade and said, “I am in first grade now. Can I go to soccer practice?” He loved the sport from the first day he played and knew this was something he would continue.

Meinhard’s soccer career differed from that of most people in the United States. In Estonia, he would attend practice six times a week. In the first

five years of playing, practices would range from 1-2 hours and usually took place later at night due to the lack of fields in Estonia. He grew up playing soccer at home, except for the summer of 2014 when he had the unique opportunity to play in Germany. He said the experience of playing far away from home was, “Similar to collegiate-level of staying away from your parents and the first steps of thinking about going pro.” This experience grew his view of the sport, as he was surrounded by players who had soccer as their life, and it instilled a positive attitude within him, knowing this sport was suitable for him.

Along with playing in high school, Meinhard played for the Estonian National U18 and U19 teams. Meinhard said playing for the National teams, “Was part of the reason why I was able to come to the [United] States after those games; when teams and schools are looking at players, that one was the thing that stood out and allowed me to come here.”

While Meinhard’s love of soccer is strong, he knew he wanted a good education. He was drawn to attend school in the United States because it allowed him to play the game and get an education. Getting a good education is essential to him because, “No matter what I do in life, if I play soccer for a while, it’s going to end at some point.”

Due to tearing his ACL twice and his

meniscus once, Meinhard could not play in his first three years at The University of Tulsa. Looking back on this experience, he reflected, “I was devastated, but at the same time, those injuries gave me all these opportunities now to play later in my career.”

Along with attending Clemson to play in his last two years of eligibility, Meinhard was drawn to Clemson because of their master’s program. He received an undergraduate degree in psychology and is pursuing his master’s in Transportation Safety Administration. Clemson stood out to him with its outstanding soccer program and Clemson’s unique education opportunity, as it is the only school in the United States that offers a master’s degree in traffic safety. With experience working for programs and organizations focused on preventing drunk driving, he hopes to build a career on top of this. Winning a National Championship in the first year of attending a university was a surreal experience for Meinhard. He explained, “At first, I didn’t realize that we won. It hit me a while later, and I understood that we did what most people would never do and never accomplish. It is just a testament to the team we were last year, the people, the coaching staff, and everyone involved.”

He recognized that this wasn’t just the work of the team last year but a decade of building the program to be what it is today.

Meinhard had the unique experience of scoring the first goal of the 2024 season in front of his parents, who flew in from Estonia for the match. “ ”

In his second season at Clemson, Meinhard is one of three team cocaptains for the 2024 season. Before becoming one of the team’s captains, he had to prepare himself for this experience and the increased leadership role. To prepare himself, he had to, “Understand what other great leaders did, how they did it, and what some good things I could take from other leaders.” In preparing the team, he knew that the team already had high standards, so his role with the other captains was to uphold these standards and hold the team accountable. Being a captain comes with a big responsibility, and he has recognized that his role is to step up when the team needs him and be a role model for others. In being awarded this role, “I am trying to embrace it as much as possible and try to evolve with it and raise the floor around me.” His overall goal is to hold the team accountable and to ensure they are going in the right direction to achieve a successful season.

Meinhard had the unique experience of scoring the first goal of the 2024 season in front of his parents, who flew in from Estonia for the match. They usually visit once a year for two to three weeks, as the journey to America consists of flying over 5,000 miles. For Meinhard, being able to see his parents is unique enough. “To be able to play in front of them reminds me of when I was younger, when they just came to the field and watched me play in a way that made it feel like a day job, like being like a young kid again.” In scoring the first goal of the season, he expressed that he was just happy if they were happy.

Looking forward to the rest of the season, he recognizes the pressures of being a reigning national champion. He knows it will be difficult but wants to hold up the notion that, “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.” The season is a journey, and his goal for the team is not to stay in the same spot but to try to evolve and grow as a team and an individual. Playing for Clemson, he knows they all have high ambitions, but, “Me personally, I’m just trying to stay in the moment and not overthink ahead. The season goes by fast, and we have a lot of games; there’s no point in thinking about what’s going to happen in ten days.” Meinhard is looking forward to continuing to be a leader for the team both on and off the field and working hard to bring out the best in everyone around him.

RESILIENCE, STRENGTH, & GROWTH

“Quit soccer or do the surgery,” Mackenzie Duff’s incredible journey back to the pitch.

BY: AUTUMN FROITLAND

In the 2023 season, the Clemson Women’s Soccer team forever changed the program’s legacy by advancing to the 2023 College Cup. Through ups and downs, the team fought for their place in history and allowed themselves to hang a new banner at Historic Riggs Field to remember their incredible journey forever. Senior Mackenzie Duff was a valuable part of that journey, even though she was going through a battle of her own. After helping the team make history, Duff had to make a crucial decision on whether soccer would remain a part of her story.

Joining the team as a freshman in the 2021-22 season, Duff was excited to begin her college career in a Tiger uniform. However, if someone were to look at Duff’s freshman year statistics, they would find that Duff only played three games the whole season. That isn’t because Duff wasn’t capable or

“

“ “I was told I either needed to quit soccer and go on blood thinners for the rest of my life, or I needed to get surgery.”

ready to contribute at the collegiate level. It was for her medical safety that she remained off the pitch.

“My freshman year, I was lifting, and I felt something funky happen in my right arm,” Duff said. “I went to the hospital, and they told me I had blood clots, and I needed to go on blood thinners for three months, so I was taking them for almost the entirety of my freshman year.”

After getting things under control during her freshman year, Duff could play like usual in her sophomore and junior years, as she had told doctors and staff she felt good enough to compete.

In her sophomore season (2022-23), Duff played 14 games and recorded two starts as she continued to improve after every match. Duff truly shined her junior year (2023-24) as she played in all 26 matches and was able to create history for the entire program.

In the most historical season for Clemson Women’s Soccer, Duff netted six goals and earned one assist for a total of 13 points on the year. A consistent starter, Duff started 23 out of 26 matches for the Tigers. After finishing her junior season at the College Cup, Duff met with her doctors as she still felt pain down her neck despite her incredible performances during the year.

When meeting with the doctors, Duff faced what would end up being the most difficult decision of her career. “I was told I either needed to quit soccer and go on blood thinners for the rest

of my life, or I needed to get surgery,” Duff said.

Faced with two choices, Duff had to decide what was best for herself and her future. Regardless of the surgery’s intensity, Duff was not ready to give up soccer.

“I got the surgery, which removed my cervical rib and also two of my scalene muscles,” Duff said. “I spent five days in the hospital, and then I was on bed rest for about a month before I could return to school and slowly make my way back into practice. I was out for about four months before I was cleared and could play my first game.”

With the successful surgery behind her, Duff is now able to reflect on the experience as she completed the “most painful surgery on the cardiovascular floor.” Although Duff trusted her doctors and the surgeons, she still had fears about going under anesthesia and what the recovery process was going to be like.

“I think the thing that went through my mind was, ‘am I going to wake up?’” Duff said. “I know that’s pretty dramatic, but I hadn’t gone under anesthesia since I was seven when I got my tonsils removed, which is a super simple surgery. They also told me I would wake up in a ton of pain because it was the most painful surgery they performed on the cardiovascular floor.”

Duff’s three-year medical journey has come to a close, as she can now look ahead and focus on her career. With the 2024 soccer campaign underway, Duff

has been able to come back stronger for her senior season and can go out on the pitch without worrying about her medical issues coming back and taking soccer away from her story.

“I think it’s honestly one of the biggest reliefs of my life knowing that I can play soccer and not have to worry about getting a blood clot because I’m in the weight room trying to get stronger,” Duff said. “I do still deal with a few complications, just with pain and everything, but it’s manageable. It definitely serves as a reminder of how far I’ve come.”

Like with any surgery, the procedure is going to leave a scar. For Duff, she embraces two new scars right above her collarbone. Some might want to hide their scars as they don’t want to show others what they have been through. For Duff, her scars symbolize more than just surgery, instead, it is a symbol of her incredible journey and her determination to keep fighting.

“I think my scars symbolize my resilience, my strength and also my growth,” Duff said. “To be able to go through such a traumatic experience, a lot of people would take the easy way out, and they wouldn’t get the surgery; they would just quit. But for me, it showed how motivated I am and also how strong I can be.”

As Duff moves forward in her career, she understands that these types of moments don’t just impact her as a soccer player but as a person as well.

“I think my scars symbolize my resilience, my strength and also my growth,” Duff said. “ ”

“It’s changed my entire perspective on life,” Duff said. “You never know when something like this could change your future. I think it also helped me grow in my faith as a person because when something crazy like this happens to you, you sit there and evaluate how you got to where you are and what route you can go. Should you go the negativity route or the positivity route? I think it changed just everything about me as a human.”

To making program history and showing resiliency through scars, Mackenzie Duff’s journey has been incredible. The journey, however, is not over yet, as this fall, she continues to play in what could be her final season in a Tiger uniform. Proud to wear the Paw and proud to wear her scars, Duff’s legacy will forever be engraved into Clemson Women’s Soccer history.

BY: AUTUMN FROITLAND

THE NATURALBORN LEADER

From high school class president to Clemson SAAC president, Jake Serra’s road to leadership.

Ever since high school, Jake Serra knew he wanted to lead. Entering his junior year at Clemson and competing in his third season on the cross country and track & field team, he can now add a new title to his resume as he is the president of Clemson’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

This is not the first time Serra has been elected to lead by his peers, as he was the class president for three years at Westerly High School in Rhode Island. Throughout those three years, Serra felt that the leadership role came more naturally to him and that he was drawn to it.

When arriving at Clemson, Serra knew his focus would be academics and athletics, but he was also searching for something to differentiate himself from others.

“I asked myself, ‘What can I do to set myself apart from everyone else and have an impact on the team?’”

Serra said, “I’m a legacy person, so I’m always wondering how to positively impact and help my community. So, if it’s not winning a national title for the track team, maybe I can go into SAAC. I was fortunate to have a lot of teammates in SAAC; those were the ones who brought me in, and they were just super passionate about it. Seeing other student-athletes passionate about something that’s not just running.”

With a passion for leadership and the drive to help others, Serra didn’t take long to make an impact while on the SAAC board. Starting as a team representative, Serra brought forth ideas and suggestions that would help improve the student-athlete experience for cross country/track & field athletes and all Clemson athletes in general.

SAAC’s previous president was about to graduate, so the board needed to find a new leader. After earning endorsements from former president Julia Walsh and leader Megan Bornkamp, Serra was elected the new president of SAAC as he now oversees the entire board for Clemson.

“I was hoping I would become the president but not my junior year, so the chips kind of fell the way I was hoping they would,” Serra said.

With a new title, Serra’s role has completely changed as he is no longer only representing athletes from the cross country and track & field teams. Instead, Serra is representing all Clemson student-athletes from all

sports as he is charged with bringing their thoughts and concerns to the Clemson athletic department, the ACC and the NCAA.

“I oversee all of what we do in SAAC,” Serra said. “I’m the one that will be the middleman between the administration and the student-athletes, but one of my goals is not just to have it be me but also to have our committees communicate with the administration. I also advocate for student-athletes. The most specifically different thing I do is I wear a lot of hats for other organizations while representing student-athletes. For example, I’m in Clemson Undergraduate Student Government, where I’m the secretary of athletics affairs. I always represent SAAC and advocate for student-athletes, so I wear hats for many different roles.”

As the landscape of college athletics continues to change and evolve, Serra and the other athletes in SAAC are working towards making the experience at Clemson unique and special. Most importantly, they want athletes to understand that they have a voice.

“The landscape of college athletics is changing, and it’s not just changing in big ways; it’s also changing at a fast

rate,” Serra said. “As student-athletes, we are the beneficiaries of everything, but we aren’t the ones making these laws or having input in many of these issues. We are the ones that are supposed to benefit. For many studentathletes, it’s like, ‘I’m getting my feet dirty, and I’m able to make an impact here.’”

Serra has experienced many unique opportunities through SAAC. Still, he feels that his favorite element of SAAC is the relationships built with people outside of the team they represent and the networks formed with administrators. With those relationships, Serra has seen the different sides of each athlete and knows that they each trust in his ability to create change.

“You would never know that Phil Mafah, one of the best football players in the entire country, is on our NIL and Branding Committee trying to advocate for student-athletes in the branding department,” Serra said.”

“That’s super cool to be a part of because I am building great relationships. As the president of SAAC, it’s cool to see all these studentathletes have the trust and respect for me to lead them.”

FROM SETBACKS TO SUCCESS

How senior Aźyah Dailey has found greatness in the face of adversity.

BY: CECELIA MACCHIONE

Plagued by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic during her recruitment and the heartache of injury, senior Azyah Dailey has shown resilience in the face of adversity. She has done everything in her power to work towards the goals she laid out for herself as a student-athlete and for a future beyond what she does on the court. Once arriving on campus, Dailey capitalized on her Clemson experience through the Black Student-Athlete Summit, POWER Women’s Leadership Academy, and the support of the staff to set herself up for a prosperous future.

The Port Charlotte, Fla., native had a nontraditional journey to division one volleyball. For many athletes, the path

to collegiate sports is a well-trodden journey of in-person campus visits and touring athletic facilities. For Dailey, the pandemic redirected her to Clemson via virtual official visits. “The COVID-19 pandemic directed me here…Clemson was one of the few schools to accept me without a campus visit. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise.”

Though volleyball was not her first love (softball had that honor), a chance to try out for her middle school volleyball team set her on a different path. “Despite not making the team initially, I persisted and earned a spot the following year. Even now, people in my hometown tell this story to young girls due to my success in volleyball.”

Playing at Clemson has been a transformative experience on and off the court. “Wearing the Clemson Paw catches people’s attention, allowing me to share my journey and growth at a university. As I embark on my senior year, I have witnessed my transformation into a confident and resilient woman that I could not envision during my uncertain freshman year.”

Key to this transformation has been the support of her coaches and the entire volleyball staff, who have fostered a nurturing and open environment. “Our unique personalities are celebrated, and the coaches demonstrate a deep understanding of each of us. I’ve developed strong bonds with the coaching staff on and off the court.” A crucial factor in building the bonds with the staff was the initiation of NVA or ‘No Volleyball Allowed’ chats. Each student-athlete is on a three-week revolving schedule where they have one-on-one meetings with each staff member that can include anything but the discussion of volleyball – practice or game-related. The camaraderie extends beyond the gym, with personal connections that include sharing social media posts and even FaceTime calls with Head Coach Simpson Kirr’s children.

Adversity has significantly influenced her development as a leader and trusted teammate. Facing two knee surgeries, she had to dig deep to find her place on the team. “Facing adversity and learning to listen have helped me evolve into a better version of myself. Trust is what builds relationships.” This resilience has earned her the trust of her teammates and taught her valuable life lessons.

Now a senior, she takes pride in mentoring younger players. “It is incredible to think back to my freshman year. I am thankful for the opportunities I have had, thanks to the amazing people I have met during my first three years. Now, all I want to do is pass on this knowledge to help the younger players,” she reflects, acknowledging the role experience plays in leadership. Her journey has not been without its challenges, mainly when dealing with injuries. “After my first surgery, I embarked on a journey of selfdiscovery, which helped me face the second surgery with more clarity about my future. Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing about how these injuries shaped me.”

Majoring in sociology and completing a micro-internship at Adobe’s New York office, Dailey has set herself up for a bright future following her time at Clemson. Her involvement in POWER and the Black Student-Athlete Summit has already started to pay dividends in shaping her mindset outside of volleyball. “Clemson provides extensive resources for its athletes, ensuring that you leave with more than what you came with. (These experiences) have helped me develop as an individual beyond my sport. The wealth of experiences and opportunities I have had at Clemson will help set me apart from others when future employers look at my resume.”

Looking to the future, she has clear aspirations to work in the athlete branding space. “Post-college, my goal is to work as an agent for professional or collegiate athletes. I am deeply engaged in Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) initiatives at the moment and aspire to continue in sales or branding within this field after graduation.”

After graduating this past summer and currently playing in her final season as a volleyball player, her journey at Clemson is a testament to resilience, growth, and community power. Her story serves as an inspiration, not just to her teammates but to all who face challenges and rise above them.

THE MAN BEHIND THE PLAN

While you enjoy the games from the stands, Jon Allen works hard behind the scenes to ensure that every fan has a great gameday experience at Clemson.

BY: JONATHAN FRANCHI

The Clemson Football gameday experience is one like no other.

With 81,500 passionate fans packing Death Valley plus more fans outside tailgating and enjoying the community atmosphere that Clemson offers, the Clemson campus turns into a small city for seven Saturdays a year. Most people don’t realize that while having fun these days, there is a lot of hard work and preparation done behind the scenes to ensure that those Saturdays are the best experience

possible for those in attendance. One man who is a key piece in this process is Senior Associate Athletic Director of Facilities, Operations, and Events, Jon Allen.

Growing up down on the coast in Ocean Springs, Miss., Allen was a big sports fan. He participated in a lot of basketball, track, and cross country and knew he wanted to work in athletics in some capacity. Allen attended LSU for his undergraduate degree before pursuing his graduate degree in sport

management at the University of Florida. Prior to landing in Clemson, Allen worked in an event operations role for three years at the University of Oklahoma and three years at LSU. Now, Allen has found a home here in Clemson as he is now entering his tenth year working in event operations.

“I called my wife, sitting in the airport in Greenville after my interview, saying, ‘If I’m fortunate enough to get this job, this place is unbelievable. This is a no-brainer for us.’”

In his role as Senior Associate AD of Facilities, Operations, and Events, Allen has oversight of the event operations area, the facilities department, the grounds department, everything gameday related, and is now a main point of contact for capital project planning. Allen works closely with the operations of football gamedays because of the required preparation. The logistics of a football gameday is an all-day affair, from managing parking and traffic in the morning, efficiently running the stadium operations and handling situations that arise during the game, and then reversing everything and directing traffic on the way out. There is certainly a lot that goes unnoticed behind the scenes regarding staffing, security, and many other aspects that Allen has oversight over to make gamedays a joy for all.

“The big piece of what we try to do on a gameday is that we care about the driveway-to-driveway experience. From the time you leave your house in the morning to the time you return in the evening, everything outside of you pulling out of your driveway to pulling back in, we try to manage in the best way possible.”

Working on the operations side of the business, things are not always going to operate perfectly, and there is always room for improvement. Allen does a great job of always looking forward and thinking of ways to enhance the overall experience for everyone involved.

“For those seven Saturdays a year, this campus turns into basically a small city. Around 100,000 people on campus for a city the size of Clemson with limited infrastructure with traffic and roadways coming into town takes a ton of coordination. I think with all things, you need to look at it from a

30,000 foot view. You want to strive to be perfect, but you’re never going to be perfect. Issues are going to arise. What I try to preach and what I try to strive for is just improvement. Every time, we just need to do a little bit better than we did the last time. And if we can do that, we can do some pretty good things and have a pretty good experience.”

Understanding that problems will arise is a difficult part of the job, but Allen truly just wants the best experience for everyone involved. When asked about what he enjoys most about his job, Allen talked about how he, as a family man himself with young kids, loves seeing fans enjoy these experiences with their families and friends. He understands how much Clemson and Clemson Athletics mean to people and does his best to help these fans make lasting memories.

“Clemson is a tight-knit community. This is how people build their memories

with their family throughout the year, so that’s not something I take for granted. I feel honored that I’m able to try to have a part in making these days special and hopefully making them somewhat seamless so people can come in and just focus on having a good time.”

In a sports-centric town where people are passionate about their Tigers in all athletics, it is important to give these fans the best possible experience with up-to-date facilities and smooth operations on gamedays. It is people like Jon Allen who work incredibly hard behind the scenes in preparation for these large events in all sports so that fans can just relax and cheer on their Clemson Tigers. Clemson has established such a rich tradition with their athletics, and Jon Allen always has the best interests of the fans on his mind so that they can enjoy everything that Clemson offers.

THE WINNING EDGE

The UPIC Internship program prepares studentathletes for career opportunities after college.

BY: GABE SMITH

UPIC (University Professional Internship and Co-op Program) aims to provide students with professional skills and competencies that will enable them to be competitive applicants in the job market during college and upon graduation. Research from the most recent 2023 National Association for College and Employers national survey shows that “Paid interns get more than twice as many job offers as those who participate in an unpaid internship or no internship at all.”

Since the fall of 2022, Clemson Athletics has had 139 studentathletes complete a UPIC Beyond the Game internship on campus, which is 160 hours over one semester. The program allows students to engage in professional opportunities, earn income, and receive guidance to navigate their career choices. UPIC will enable students to explore their interests, gain insights into different fields, and make informed decisions about their future career paths.

According to a 2023 statement from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), employers are more concerned about competency and

skills. Therefore, applicants with the ability to highlight skills, knowledge, and understanding in their applications and resumes will stand out from the competition.

The program provides studentathletes real-world experience while working alongside professionals, better preparing them for their careers after Clemson. ONE Clemson has partnered with UPIC, which offers opportunities for student-athletes participating in internships to earn a competitive wage and have the upper hand when entering the job market. Additionally, studies reveal that employers indicate that they give the edge to the candidate who has internship experience when considering two equally qualified candidates for a job opening. ONE Clemson has played a pivotal role in the growth of this program. Since 2019, One Clemson has graciously donated over $225,120 to the UPIC Beyond the Game internship program, creating countless opportunities for Clemson student-athletes. This year alone, their contributions will help fund twenty-six internship opportunities.

The two most crucial factors in getting hired after graduation are having an internship and whether it was a paid experience. This insight guides the Clemson Athletics Student-Athlete Development team’s practices and approaches to supporting our studentathletes, which is only possible with the help of groups like ONE Clemson.

The contributions and experiences provided by ONE Clemson are invaluable to our student-athletes as they grow into young adults and professionals in their lives post athletics. Just this past summer, twelve student-athletes were able to take advantage of this program and complete an internship during their off-season. Additionally, fourteen student-athletes completed microinternships across the country this past May. Some of these opportunities included marquee companies such as The Late Show, Def Jam, Adobe, and Google. Each internship costs approximately $2500. If you are interested in supporting student-athlete internships, please contact Sharon Kingman through reaching out to Tori Niemann at niemann@clemson.edu

“I’d highly recommend UPIC to those who have the chance to experience it as I felt that my time as an intern was full of learning new tools and developing new skills I could take with me into the real world. From collaboration to learning how to achieve tasks on your own, the skills I learned made me go out of my comfort zone and I was very appreciative of that. I feel as though I can walk into a professional setting and not feel timid or out of place after doing both my internships, and I have UPIC to thank for that. Furthermore, I was able to make new friends and even create good bonds with my mentors who can help me in future endeavors if I ever need them.”

TITUS SANDY JR. Men’s Soccer

“I am currently placed at the Department of Marketing, which is a big step for me in getting more handson experience in the marketing field. I am in charge of the social media platform posts, newsletters, blogs, and more. The experiences I have received from doing UPIC internships have changed my life and allowed me to apply concepts that I have learned from my classes and in my everyday life. I strongly encourage athletes to take part in these internships because it gives you hands-on experience, and you get to meet new people and learn new things.”

Shantae Foreman Women’s Track & Field

“UPIC was an impactful opportunity to introduce myself into the professional atmosphere. Being able to complete an internship in a familiar setting on campus helped me become more comfortable as I was learning to create good workplace habits and experience. Participating in a UPIC internship gave me both resume and practical experience that helped me land my top external internship!”

Lilly Lippeatt Gymnastics

BY: CHAUNCEY WIGGINS

This year, I was selected to take a trip to Charleston, S.C. and participate in the ACC Unity Tour. The ACC wants to continue supporting student-athletes through many meaningful educational opportunities, including social justice. The ACC Unity tour is where three to four studentathletes and some administrators from each ACC school come together to learn about social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion.

We were able to spend time visiting critical sites throughout the city. First, on the trip, we visited the Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, the International African American Museum, and the McLeod Plantation Historic Site. All of those places were very humbling to see. We also toured the Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. That’s the oldest black church in the southern part of the United States. In 2015, there was a shooting massacre where nine people were killed. We were told how it happened, which reminded us that we can never take life for granted. It was sad for me to know that they were there for Bible study, and then nine people had lost their lives.

Something that stuck out to me was Boston College Men’s Basketball Head Coach Earl Grant. He is from Charleston, and his message about growing up and how he got to Boston College was very memorable. Another moment that stood out to me was when half of us went crabbing. We were shown how to crab, which was very fun and how people used to survive from it. They had two ways of catching crabs; one was with the net, the other was with some type of food and the way I caught mine was with a chicken wing. That was my first time crabbing. After we caught the crab, I thanked the lady for letting us spend time with her and teaching us new things. We were able to eat the crabs later, and they were excellent. If I could, I would return to the same spot and do it again.

I am thankful for the opportunity to take part in the ACC Unity Tour. I

ACC UNITY TOUR REFLECTION

Clemson Men’s Basketball’s Chauncey Wiggins reflects on the opportunity to participate in the ACC Unity Tour.

met so many other athletes, and just hearing their reflections on the Unity Tour was great. It taught me how to lead in different ways and that there will always be people who doubt you, but as long as you keep believing in yourself, you can accomplish anything.

My experience will help me become a better leader because I can voice my opinion more, I will work towards my goals and learn to listen to people and be there for them. I would never have thought that I would meet that many other athletes with whom I could stay in contact. It has helped me get out of my shell even more.

It also taught me to be grateful for what I have because there have been many times when people did not have a lot, and they were always working toward living the next day. It felt even

more challenging for African Americans because of the racism that existed.

The ACC Unity Tour will improve myself as a leader for next season because this has helped me with my voice and speaking up on the right things. I will be able to help my teammates be the best they can be with all the support and positive energy I will always bring. They can also count on me to do anything they need me to do in the future. The tour has helped me remember where I came from. Nobody should ever forget their roots. It’s helped me see things I thought I would never have seen and shows me how grateful I am and that I will need to keep working towards whatever I want. It’s safe to say this experience has helped me become a better person overall.

JEFF SCOTT AND JIM ANTHONY: BUILDING A NEW LEGACY AT LONGVIEW CAROLINA

Former Clemson Co-Offensive Coordinator Jeff Scott, known for his success with the Tigers’ 2016 and 2018 National Championships, is making a new play—this time in the world of custom home building. His new venture, Haven Valley, is a custom home building company in the Upstate of South Carolina. Scott has now joined forces with Jim Anthony as a featured builder at Longview Carolina, Anthony’s latest visionary development.

Jim Anthony, who has developed over 30,000 acres including the iconic Cliffs Communities and partnered in Riverstead, brings his expertise to Longview Carolina—a 180-acre gated agrihood. Located just minutes from downtown Easley and 20 minutes from both Clemson and Greenville, the community offers spectacular 360-degree panoramic views from Georgia to North Carolina.

Residents of Longview Carolina enjoy a blend of nature and modern amenities, including pickleball courts, a swimming pool, over 2 miles of hiking and biking trails, and a mountain top facility with breathtaking vistas. The community will also feature a working organic farm, providing fresh produce through a CSA program.

Scott is constructing a model home in Longview Carolina, showcasing Haven Valley’s dedication to quality and integrity. This collaboration with Anthony underscores their shared vision of creating exceptional living experiences. With Anthony’s rich background, including collaborations with golf legends and designers like Tom Jackson, Ben Wright, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Gary Player, and Tiger Woods, Longview Carolina is set to be a premier destination for those seeking a vibrant, connected lifestyle.

Discover what it means to live “Worlds Apart, Yet Minutes Away” at Longview Carolina, where the best of nature and modern living converge.

SCAN ME

L: Jeff Scott, Former Clemson Co-Offensive Coordinator R: Jim Anthony, Luxury Developer and Conversationalist

Family walking 2+ miles of trails

Enjoying an evening social on the Mountain Top patio space

Spotlighting the commitment of Clemson Cheer and Tiger Band. LIFE BEYOND THE SIDELINES

BY: ASHBY BURTON & DYLAN WHITMAN

There’s always a specific energy inside Clemson’s athletic venues, which can be attributed to Clemson Cheer and Tiger Band. Rain or shine, early or late, Clemson Cheer and Tiger Band create a positive energy for the Tigers. One of IPTAY’s many areas of support includes Clemson Cheer and Tiger Band and their gameday presence. Made up of many unique individuals, Clemson’s pride is shared among these groups, but each has a unique story and experiences beyond the sidelines. Sabrina LoRusso, Devin Norris, and Lindsey True are just three of the many faces you see on gameday.

CLEMSON CHEER - DEVIN NORRIS

Devin is a senior biological science major from Anderson, S.C. Devin found Clemson Cheer after coming to Clemson, but it had always been his dream. He had grown up around cheerleading, thanks to friends who competed in All-Star Cheer. His love for

stunts, showcasing true strength, and being around good-spirited people drew him in. “Being part of the cheer team means spending a lot of time together, whether during practices, games, or events,” said Norris. “This shared experience helps create a tight-knit bond where everyone supports each other both on and off the field.”

When asked what he hoped people knew about Clemson Cheer, Devin stressed that cheer is much more than just getting the crowd going. “While crowd involvement is a big part of our job, being a cheerleader is much more than that. Everyone sees the final product of what we display on Saturdays in Death Valley, but our preparation starts well before then.”

The cheer squad typically practices three times a week in preparation for a Saturday football game, not counting the long days of fall camp leading up to the season.

In addition to sideline duties, the cheer team makes appearances around campus, warms up, leads the team down Tiger Walk, and keeps the energy alive. The role of this group on gameday is immeasurable, from the fan engagement, unifying the crowd, and ultimately creating the lively atmosphere that makes Death Valley unique.

Devin’s favorite gameday moment is Tiger Walk because of the interactions with the fans that gather. “Seeing the kids smile as we walk down is truly a remarkable experience and emphasizes our impact on them and the Clemson atmosphere,” said Norris. He has found a community with Clemson cheer, which completely embodies the idea of Clemson Family. This family is something that will long live past his time at Clemson. Growing up in Clemson’s backyard, Devin has always been a Tiger fan. He was used to the close-knit community feel, but it became even closer after deciding to attend Clemson.

Devin will graduate in May of 2025 with his degree in biological sciences and plans to take a gap year to pursue research before attending medical school.

CLEMSON CHEER - SABRINA LoRUSSO

Sabrina, a sophomore biology and health sciences major from Oyster Bay, N.Y., is in her first year on the Clemson Cheer team following her freshman year spent on Clemson’s Club Cheer squad. In addition to being a cheerleader, Sabrina serves on the IPTAY Student Advisory Board (ISAB).

During her freshman year, Sabrina spent much of her time at the gym practicing, refining her skills, and tumbling anywhere she could find a surface. After competing at NCA College Nationals in Daytona, Fla., she immediately returned to Clemson and had a tryout for Clemson Cheer. Sabrina made the team and joined the Clemson Cheerleading Family. “It’s like joining a new family where

everyone is cheering for your success - literally,” said LoRusso. “It’s been nothing short of amazing and rewarding simultaneously!”

Sabrina stays busy outside of Clemson cheer, serving on ISAB and working with a non-profit she cofounded with her family, the Oliva Hope Foundation. “In 2016, my twin sister Olivia was diagnosed with Leukemia. She sadly passed away a year later,” said Sabrina. “In 2018, I started the Olivia Hope Foundation with my family in her honor. It has helped me grow, and I’ve realized how much helping others helps me heal.” The foundation has raised over $1M to date, going to support organizations helping families with children going through cancer treatment.

Sabrina’s experiences have helped her grow during her short time at Clemson and fueled her desire to continue pursuing her passions. She loves seeing the kids on gameday, many running around in cheer uniforms, and the smiles that Clemson Cheer puts on their faces. She feels like her larger role on gameday is passing down the Clemson spirit to new generations of Tiger fans.

Over the next year, Sabrina looks forward to her growth as an athlete and the impact that she can make around campus with her various areas of involvement.

TIGER

BAND – LINDSEY TRUE

When not Shakin’ The Southland, Clemson’s Tiger Band is actively making a difference in the lives of others. Beginning in 2013, Tiger Band hosted their first drive for what was then known as Be The Match, a national bone marrow registry to help save the lives of those with blood cancers or disorders.

The NMDP (Formerly known as Be the Match) is a non-profit organization that provides patients with lifesaving treatments, including blood stem-cell donations. Each season, Tiger Band has the NMDP come out to practice and educate members on the importance of cell therapy. Members then have the option to be a potential donor with one of the largest donor registries in the world.

Partnering with just under 50 university marching bands across the country, over 200 lives have been saved with this partnership. “It is

an incredibly important opportunity for young people to participate in this initiative,” said Dr. Mark Spede, Clemson’s Director of Bands. “Now, the NMDP has an age limit for bone marrow donations at 40. Having young people nationwide participate in the match program is crucial in maximizing when someone can match as a donor. It’s been amazing to see the lives positively impacted by this initiative.”

Meet Lindsey True, a Tiger Band piccolo player and a hero. During her first season with Tiger Band, True registered with the NMDP to become a potential blood stem cell donor. A few months ago, True was contacted by the NMDP, who informed her that she had been matched to a patient in need of a donation. After working with the NMDP and traveling to Florida, she made a successful stem-cell donation and helped save the life of a patient in need.

When asked about her experience with the NMDP and donation process, True said, “The entire process was really cool! They (NMDP) flew me and my mom to Florida for the donation and paid for our hotel, meals, and transportation. During the donation

itself, I was set up in a chair with IVs in both arms, leading to a machine sorting the stem cells out of my blood. I was pretty nervous throughout the process, but the nursing staff at the facility was amazing and explained the process step by step to ease my worries. The entire process was unforgettable, and it’s so cool that the cells I donated are saving someone’s life!”

Besides helping save a life, True is a sophomore here at Clemson studying modern languages and in her second year as a member of Tiger Band.

According to the NMDP, the chances of being matched with a registered donor are between 29 and 79 percent, depending on a patient’s ethnic background, so new donors always need to have a greater chance of finding a match. If you are interested in how to join True and the rest of Tiger Band and register to potentially save a life, you can visit the NMDP official website at bethematchclinical.org.

The next time you see Devin and Sabrina leading the Tigers on Tiger Walk or Lindsey parading through campus, let them and their teammates know their gameday value!

IPTAY LEGACY: IPTAY’S PLANNED GIVING PROGRAM

Sustaining student-athlete support for generations to come.

Planned gifts are a means of ensuring the priorities of IPTAY continue for the foreseeable future and beyond. These visionary gifts strengthen the opportunities available to generations of student-athletes through bequests, life insurance, retirement assets, life insurance policies, and a number of other instruments that continue long into the future.

Our reimagined planned giving program, IPTAY Legacy, includes an emphasis on support toward the IPTAY Athletic Endowment. The IPTAY Athletic Endowment provides a constant source of financial support through continued investments and earnings. With an ambitious goal to build our endowment to $100 million by IPTAY’s 100th anniversary in 2034, we are counting on the generosity of the Clemson faithful to continue building upon the success of our 21-sport program and ensuring a bright future for our student-athletes.

PRIORITY POINTS

All IPTAY Legacy commitments of $100,000 or higher are eligible to receive priority points with an updated planned giving policy including three options.

The IPTAY Priority Points rewards system was developed in an effort to

reward gift amounts and long-term support in the distribution of season tickets and parking. Priority Points are also used for the ticket allocation process to bowl games, the ACC basketball tournament and all away football games.

Please note: This new policy is retroactive. Existing planned gift commitments of $100,000 and above are eligible to receive priority points.

Priority Point Option 1:

The donor may request to receive, in that current year, 50% of Priority Point value in connection with the planned gift.

Priority Point Option 2:

The donor may request to designate, in that current year, 50% of Priority Point value in connection with the planned gift. The designee must be a current IPTAY member.

Priority Point Option 3:

The donor may request to designate, in writing with IPTAY, 100% of Priority Point value in connection with the planned gift. The Priority Point value will be allocated to the designee upon realization of the gift.

FORMS OF PLANNED GIFTS

Bequests: A bequest from your estate may include cash, securities,

real estate and/or personal property, which can be for a specific amount or a percentage of your estate.

Gift of Retirement Assets: Assets you designate from an individual retirement account, pension, profitsharing plan, stock bonus plan, 401(k), 457, 403(b), SEP or SIMPLE plans may be eliminated from your taxable estate, and all retirement assets will also pass free of federal and state income tax.

Life Insurance Policies: Existing policies that are no longer needed to satisfy their original purpose can be an ideal asset to fund a charitable gift.

Other: Please speak with your IPTAY representative to discuss additional instruments that may be available.

For frequently asked questions and information on how to make an impact today, scan the QR code below!

SHOW YOUR TIGER PRIDE

IPTAY Unveils 2025 Credential Packet

For 90 years, IPTAY has supported Clemson Tiger student-athlete success! That success is propelled by IPTAY donors who, year in and year out, decide to join the team behind our Tigers. Here at IPTAY, we are grateful for the unwavering support and the pride donors have in their annual donation and membership. That pride often exudes passion publicly displayed 365

Are you suiting up for a big meeting? Need that extra touch to your gameday fit? The IPTAY lapel pin is the perfect small accessory for whatever occasion!

The IPTAY team is excited for the IPTAY 2025 year, and all that lies ahead for our Tiger student-athletes in the coming weeks and months. Again, their success would not be possible without the philanthropic gifts of more than 22,000 donors across the Clemson Family. Supporting IPTAY is a game-changer for Clemson Athletics. It

days a year through the yearly IPTAY credential packet.

The credential packet is mailed to donors at every level throughout the year in appreciation and acknowledgment of their donation. Included are the coveted IPTAY decals that adorn cars, notebooks, coolers, and more across the Clemson Family. Also enclosed is the annual membership card,

return address labels, compliance, Clemson+ and IPTAY discount program information, gift acknowledgment letter and an annual gift!

For the IPTAY 2025 year, which began on July 1, 2024, IPTAY is excited to reveal the annual gifts that will be sent to donors as they join throughout the year:

Whether hitting the road, the airport or just going into the office, show your support of the Clemson Tigers by sliding your new luggage tag onto your go-to bag.

provides funding that directly supports student-athlete scholarships, new and updated facilities, the Nieri Family Student-Athlete Enrichment Center, strength & conditioning, nutrition services and more. We hope new and long-time donors alike find ways to proudly display these items in support of IPTAY and the Clemson Tigers.

This script Tigers magnet is the perfect addition to any garage, kitchen, residence hall or gameday fridge. The iconic font that adorns our Tigers’ baseball and softball jerseys is sure to be the perfect touch of Tiger pride.

When making your giving decision this year, please know that the IPTAY staff is here to help you. Email us at iptay@clemson edu, pick up the phone and dial 1-800-CLEMSON, or simply stop by the office at 1 Avenue of Champions, and a team member will be happy to assist you. Go Tigers!

IPTAY LAPEL PIN

RAISED IPTAY LUGGAGE TAG

SCRIPT TIGERS MAGNET

IPTAY STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD

2024 - 2025 ISAB sets goals for Collegiate Club growth.

The IPTAY Student Advisory Board (ISAB) comprises some of Clemson’s best students who serve as the liaison between IPTAY and the student body. Each year, students undergo a rigorous application, interview, and selection process to secure one of the few open seats on the Board. ISAB members are from different states, have different majors, and have diverse involvement across Clemson’s campus to expand reach.

Each year, ISAB focuses on the retention, growth, and benefits of the

IPTAY Collegiate Club. Among managing the presence of the IPTAY Collegiate Club on social media and spreading IPTAY’s mission across campus, ISAB plans events that are exclusive to IPTAY Collegiate Club members and explore ways to help Clemson Athletics and IPTAY reach a larger portion of the student body.

The IPTAY 2024 year ended with 8,697 student IPTAY members. ISAB came into the 2024-25 academic year with sights set on growing the Collegiate Club even more during the IPTAY

2025 year. Just three months into the semester, the IPTAY Collegiate Club has well over 9,500 members, an all-time record for student membership.

As the year progresses, ISAB has goals to grow IPTAY Collegiate Club’s social media following to better spread IPTAY’s mission and vision, enhance member events, and add new events to showcase additional athletic programs. Stay tuned throughout the year to see what this group accomplishes!

|

COMMITTEE CHAIR

| Communications

WILL LAWSON

SOCIAL MEDIA/MARKETING COMMITTEE CHAIR Apex, N.C. | Senior | Mathematical Science

LUKE DAWKINS SOLID ORANGE COMMITTEE CHAIR Anderson, S.C. | Junior | Accounting & Finance

MATTHEW VLACICH MEMBER EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE CHAIR Long Island, N.Y. | Senior | Mathematical Science

WITT MILES PRESIDENT Charlotte, N.C. | Senior | Financial Management

MAGGIE ANDREWS VICE PRESIDENT Maiden, N.C. | Senior | Genetics

DAVAN McHALE SECRETARY River Edge, N.J. | Junior | Marketing

PAYTON BAGBY EVENTS

Clemson, S.C.

Senior

HATTIE BALDOCK Toganoxie, Kan. | Junior

ADAM BRADBERRY Tega Cay, S.C. | Senior

LYDIA BRANHAM Easley, S.C. | Sophomore

HAYDEN CARROLL Wilmington, N.C. | Junior

ZACHARY FREEMAN Fayetteville, Ark. | Junior

JACK HILL Sparta, N.J. | Sophomore

CAROLINE HOWARD Nashville, Tenn. | Junior

LINDSAY JOHNSON Lexington, S.C. | Sophomore

REAGAN KEYS Seneca, S.C. | Sophomore

CALEB KRICK Gilbert, S.C. | Senior

SABRINA LoRUSSO Oyster Bay, N.Y. | Sophomore

ELENA MARKATOS Barnegat, N.J. | Sophomore

ANDRÉ MOXIE Atlanta, Ga. | Senior

CARTER PARISE Kennett Square, Pa. | Junior

MANAV PATEL Anderson, S.C. | Senior

STEPHEN REBAR Philadelphia, Pa. | Sophomore

HENRI SCHMIDLY Charlotte, N.C. | Senior

ERIC SELQUIST Madison, N.J. | Sophomore

LAUREN SIMMONS Charleston, S.C. | Senior

JACKSON WILKIE Atlanta, Ga. | Junior

FROM THE IPTAY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

In 1934, as Rupert Fike and friends were starting a little grassroots club called IPTAY, another Clemson legend named Joe Sherman penned an essay that we’re all quite familiar with called, “There’s Something in These Hills.” The first line reads, “Times when so many things seem to be coming unglued are disquieting times. These are disquieting times”. While I won’t compare our times to those experienced in the 1930s, our world of collegiate athletics is transforming rapidly. Disquieting indeed.

But when that level of change makes us uncomfortable, and we start to yearn for the good ole days, it’s helpful to be nudged with a dose of healthy perspective.

I’m writing this message just a few days after I had the opportunity to experience Family Weekend as the proud parent of my daughter, who just started her freshman year at Clemson. Between the action-packed events over the two days that the school had planned, my wife, daughter and I hopped around the same campus that my grandfather had marched on as he returned from World War II. We hiked the same hills he introduced to me more than half a century ago.

While many of the elements of campus look a little different, there

will always be that deeply familiar and personal sense that we all feel when we return home to a place where we have some of the most powerful and sentiment-inducing memories of our lives.

We all know that what we have at Clemson is unique, and we fiercely fight against what is happening throughout the rest of the country. Declining attendance has permeated athletic programs for years, as has fan apathy toward schools they once graciously supported. And while we’d be naïve to say we’re impervious to those trends, the Clemson Family continues to provide resources so that we may stay true to our mission of supporting the academic and athletic growth of our 575+ student-athletes.

Our Clemson Elevate strategic plan has three pillars guiding our leaders through the change we’ll inevitably experience in the coming years. One of those pillars plainly states that it’s our goal to have the “#1 Student Experience.” As IPTAY develops our strategy for the coming years, a bold but attainable statement will be that we’ll strive to have the “#1 Donor Experience” in college athletics for all IPTAY members. While bold, we already have a tremendously powerful foundation to work with and a future

that will see us reach heights we haven’t even dreamt of yet.

We come back because it’s Clemson, and it’s a deeply ingrained part of all of us. We come back religiously to see family and friends, and we covet those fall and spring weekends to reunite as one and see our Tigers play. As the landscape changes, it’s always a good reminder for me that regardless of any change in college athletics, it doesn’t change what coming home feels like. I’ll be back for all the reasons so many of you will. My deep, generational love for a place I cherish and those special to me feel the same.

Over these next four years, I’m eager to see my University in a different light, one that’s through my daughter’s eyes as I hope that she grows to love this place as much as I’ve grown to love it. But once she graduates, I know that I’ll still be drawn to this place, and I bet that she will, too, as she continues to forge friendships and connections created when she first walked onto campus.

Joe Sherman said it beautifully when he ended that famous writing by stating:

“There is something in these hills that you and I can’t define, and others can’t understand. A wave of warmth always surges through me when “outsiders” say, ‘I don’t know what it is about you, Clemson people, but your undying love for Clemson is admired by everyone I know.’

There’s something in these hills, and I suspect that’s what it is – the ability of an institution through the unending dedication and greatness of its people –its administration, its faculty, its staff, its students and alumni – to impart to all it touches a respect, an admiration, an affection that stands firm in disquieting times when things around it give impressions of coming unglued.

Yes, there’s something in these hills where the Blue Ridge yawns its greatness.”

Even as we deal with changes in collegiate athletics that weren’t fathomed a couple of years ago, our affinity for Clemson will remain unique to us and hold a deep and unwavering sentiment with memories we’ll enjoy forever.

I’ll see you soon in those hills. Go Tigers!

BILLY MILAM PRESIDENT, IPTAY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

IPTAY MEMORIALS

In loving memory of kind, generous, and dedicated IPTAY members.

Name: Suzanne McLeod Passed: January 26, 2023.

Name: Josey Welsh Passed: May 15, 2023.

Name: Jerry Balcombe Passed:May 28, 2023.

Name: Joseph S. Brown Passed: September 4, 2023.

Years of Membership: 54

Years of Membership: 42

Years of Membership: 37

Years of Membership: 45

Name: Robert Dudley Passed: October 2, 2023. Years of Membership: 21

Name: James Ashcraft Passed: November 17, 2023.

Name: John Brady Passed: November 29, 2023.

Name: Richard Anderson Passed: December 10, 2023.

Name: Patricia Stevenson Passed: January 1st.

Name: Sadie Murdaugh Passed: January 3rd.

Name: Minnie Dudley Passed: January 25th.

Name: Charles Asbelle Passed: February 8th.

Name: Dolores Norris Passed: February 18th.

Name: Henry Dukes Passed: February 21st.

Name: Lura Jayne Parker Passed: March 7th.

Name: William Polhemus Passed: March 13th.

Name: Lester Hudson Passed: March 16th.

Name: Mark Eggl Passed: March 17th.

Name: Grady Smith Passed: April 2nd.

Name: Thomas Shealy, Jr. Passed: April 6th.

Name: Edwin Bost, III Passed: April 7th.

Name: Richard L. McDaniel Passed: April 8th.

Name: Mary Joann West Passed: April 12th.

Name: Caroline Deer Passed: April 14th.

Name: Jerry Crews Passed: April 14th.

Name: George Reid Passed: April 17th.

Name: Robert Shell Passed: April 17th.

Name: Margaret Mann Passed: April 24th.

Name: Wanda Reed Passed: April 24th.

Name: William Jones Passed: April 29th.

Name: Rebecca Rook Passed: May 1st.

Name: Ann Hord Passed: May 10th.

Name: Boyce Carlise Passed: May 14th.

Name: Betty Lindler Passed: May 27th.

Name: Jay Smink Passed: June 5th.

Name: Joe Long Passed: June 16th.

Name: Alvin Berry Passed: June 18th.

Name: William Buzzhardt Passed: June 18th.

Name: Barbara Jean Wessinger Passed: June 23rd.

Name: Val Dyches Passed: July 18th.

Name: Ray Goff Passed: July 24th.

Name: Ann Smith Passed: August 1st.

Name: Lucia Bryson Passed: August 2nd.

Name: Nora Stuck Passed: August 5th.

Name: Raymond Noblet Passed: August 6th.

Name: Paul Pearce Passed: August 29th.

Name: Mary Mathis Passed: August 22nd.

Years of Membership: 59

Years of Membership: 68

Years of Membership: 57

Years of Membership: 32

Years of Membership: 30

Years of Membership: 21

Years of Membership: 49

Years of Membership: 67

Years of Membership: 59

Years of Membership: 74

Years of Membership: 53

Years of Membership: 35

Years of Membership: 46

Years of Membership: 48

Years of Membership: 63

Years of Membership: 65

Years of Membership: 66

Years of Membership: 48

Years of Membership: 4

Years of Membership: 57

Years of Membership: 45

Years of Membership: 59

Years of Membership: 64

Years of Membership: 42

Years of Membership: 49

Years of Membership: 52

Years of Membership: 69

Years of Membership: 48

Years of Membership: 63

Years of Membership: 38

Years of Membership: 60

Years of Membership: 60

Years of Membership: 49

Years of Membership: 73

Years of Membership: 59

Years of Membership: 48

Years of Membership: 67

Years of Membership: 18

Years of Membership: 64

Years of Membership: 29

Years of Membership: 65

Years of Membership: 59

1. Tina and Ricky (‘81) Doscher .... representing Clemson at .... .... ....Omaha Beach in Normandy, .. .... France.

2. Steve (‘06), Megan, Bryce, .... Susan, Isabella Mack, Mark ... .... (‘76), Gus, Carrie, Paul (‘02) .. . .. Mussman in Montepulciano, .... Italy on June 5, 2024.

3. Scott, Sheri (’88) and Bob .... .. .. Symanski at the White Cliffs ..... of Dover, England.

4. Roy (‘72) and Ann Copelan .....visiting the “Painted Pots” in .....Yellowstone National Park in .... June 2024.

5. Gil (‘75) & Nelson Little and .....Chris (‘73) & Allison Plyler ..... enjoying the Miradouro ..... Sao Pedro de Alcantara in ..... Lisbon, Portugal on May 26, 2024.

6. Sue and Tom (‘78) ..... .... ....... ..... celebrating 35th wedding .... ..... anniversary (May 1989) at . ..... Denali National Park, Ala. .....Go Tigers!

7. Anne & Winston (‘72) ..... .... .... Lawton, Lillian & Algie (‘71) .... Solomons, and Pam & Al ........ .... (‘71) Haselden at Whistler .... ..... Mountain, Canada.

8. The Goodmans and ..... .... .... .... Stevensons in Banff, Canada .... at the Skytop Restaurant.

9. Mark Crane at the top of ...... ..... the Eiffel Tower while in in .... France for the 80th .............. .... anniversary of D-Day.

10. Zach (‘05) & Grace (‘05) .... ...... Dukes, Mike Jones (‘15, ‘21), ...... and David Rankin (‘03, ‘05) ......while visiting Lake Louise ...... in Banff National Park, ...... v.... Alberta, Canada.

11. Roger and Janet Greiner .. ......visiting Split, Croatia.

12. Jackson Floys (‘26) climbing ....... the hills of Capri, Italy.

To access this issue of ORANGE: The Experience digitally, visit ClemsonPlus. com. Log in or activate your free account today!

THE PAST 50 YEARS

LAST WORD

This 2024-25 academic year is the 50th year of women’s athletics at Clemson, so it is an excellent time to reflect on the history of our women’s programs.

Even with the passing of Title IX in 1972, it took a while for most schools to get women’s programs off the ground. Clemson was no different, as it was three years before we had our first women’s sports competitions. Clemson fielded women’s basketball, tennis, swimming and fencing programs during the first academic year.

An example of how times have changed is the head coaches for those sports. Mary King coached tennis and basketball that first year, which is unheard of today. Give her credit, she took both programs to winning seasons, 10-2 in tennis and 13-11 in basketball.

It didn’t take long for Athletic Director Bill McLellan to put more money and resources into the programs. King concentrated on just one sport (tennis), leading the Lady Tigers (yes, they were called Lady Tigers in those days) to high rankings in the AIAW (NCAA-sanctioned sports did not start until the 1981-82 academic year).

Susan Hill was the first great Clemson women’s athlete as she won four consecutive No. 1 singles ACC championships for King’s program, which has not been duplicated since. Hill also earned All-American honors all four years and is a member of the Clemson Ring of Honor today.

McLellan made a great hire in the second year of the women’s programs when he brought Annie Tribble from nearby Anderson Junior College to Clemson to coach the women’s basketball team. She had taken that program to multiple national

championships and was one of the most respected women’s coaches in any sport in South Carolina.

In Tribble’s third year, she recruited a young lady from Rome, Ga. named Barbara Kennedy, and she became the greatest and most decorated women’s basketball player in Clemson history. She still is and will be for a long time.

Tribble and Kennedy led Clemson to the 1980-81 ACC Regular season championship, and Clemson played in the first NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament in 1982. Kennedy scored over 3,000 points, is still the ACC’s alltime leading scorer, and is second in rebounding.

The Clemson Women’s Basketball program flourished under Tribble and then Jim Davis, who led it to its first two conference championships in 1995 and 1999. He led the Lady Tigers to the NCAA tournament ten times in his career, including a berth in the Elite Eight in 1991.

During that same era, Wayne Coffman and the Clemson Women’s Track & Field program recruited a young lady named Tina Krebs to Clemson, and she promptly won three individual National Championships. She followed Kennedy into the Ring of Honor.

Coffman also brought sprinter Kim Graham to Clemson in the late 1980s, and she will be inducted into the Ring of Honor this fall. She won an Olympic Gold Medal in 1996 and is one of ten former Clemson women’s athletes with an Olympic medal.

A sport Clemson no longer sponsors was the top program of the 1980s, and its coach, Bob Boetner, was inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame in 2022 after leading the women’s swimming program to five national top 10 finishes

BY: TIM BOURRET

and three ACC Championships. His top swimmer, Mitzi Kremer, won two national championships and is already in the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame.

In 1994, Athletic Director Bobby Robinson added women’s soccer to the athletic landscape, and the program flourished from the get-go behind the married coaching team of Tracy and Ray Leone, who took the program to the NCAA Tournament each of their first eight years. Clemson Ring of Honor inductee Dee Arrington, the daughter of Clemson 1981 Football National Champion Vandell Arrington, is still the program’s top career scorer.

Jolene Hoover led the Clemson Volleyball program to a pair of ACC Championships and four NCAA Tournament bids, and the Clemson rowing program made the NCAA Tournament as a team in its fifth year. Clemson is the only program other than Virginia to win the ACC Championship.

Nancy Harris took the women’s tennis program to the Final Four in 2004 and 2005 behind Ring of Honor athlete Julie Coin, a First Team All-American. She had the program in the Sweet 16 nearly every season.

Fast forwarding to today, Clemson women’s athletics is flourishing in the fields of competition and the classroom.

Softball has already reached an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 and had a National Player of the Year in Valerie Cagle. Eddie Radwanski’s Women’s Soccer program is an annual NCAA Tournament team and reached the Final Four for the first time last year.

Kelley Hester’s Women’s Golf team finished fifth in the nation and reached the eight-team match play of the NCAA Championship for the first time last year.

Clemson added lacrosse in 2023 and gymnastics in 2024. The lacrosse team has been on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament for the last two years and has already been ranked in the top 25 multiple times. The gymnastics program made the NCAA Tournament last year in its inaugural season and ranked eighth in the nation in home attendance.

The only thing Clemson Women’s Athletics history is missing is a team national championship. But that day will come soon.

Supporting your breast health journey

From annual mammograms and genetic testing to diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, your breast health journey can take many different paths. Our experts will guide you at every step, offering compassionate, individualized care close to home.

Women age 40+ are encouraged to have a yearly screening mammogram. Schedule yours today at one of our convenient locations. More breast health services – to help you be your healthiest you.

Prisma.Health/BreastHealth