Claflin News

Rev. Dr. Reginald Blount, assistant professor of Formation, Youth and Culture at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, will deliver the 2012 baccalaureate address to the Claflin University Class of 2012 on Friday, May 11.

Before the Claflin University Class of 2012 steps into the world to make their imprint, they will hear from a visionary man who has made a tremendous impact on one of the nation’s largest metropolitan cities – Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. Reed will deliver the keynote address at the 2012 Claflin University Commencement Convocation on Saturday, May 12 at 11 a.m.

“How bad do you really want it?” Steven Dial, a multimedia reporter for WLTX News 19 in Columbia and 2011 alumnus, posed that question to a sea of Claflin freshman clad in white dresses and black suits as they prepared to be officially confirmed into the University family on April 10.

The Children’s Defense Fund has awarded Claflin University a $50,000 grant to establish a six- week summer program to enhance the academic and cultural growth of local elementary school African-American male students. “We are thrilled to partner with Claflin University and hope this effort will grow as we seek to ensure every South Carolina child has an education that prepares them for the future,” said Marian Wright Edelman, president of the Children’s Defense Fund.

Claflin University alumni from around the world will assemble in Augusta, Georgia April 12-15 for the 38th Annual Claflin University International Alumni Association (CUIAA) Convention. A staggering 45 percent of Claflin University’s alumni contributed to the Orangeburg, S.C. institution last year – which is the highest alumni giving rate among all Historically Black Colleges or Universities in the nation. The University has more than 200 alumni from the CRSA who continue to support Claflin.