The Office of the President at Claflin University announced today that Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York) will be the keynote speaker for its May 12, 2007 Commencement Convocation.

Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, Claflin University President, said the entire Claflin Family is looking forward to Senator Clinton’s address given her commitment to education and her service as a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. He added that Claflin University is appreciative of Senator Clinton’s earnest commitment to education and her advocacy for making college affordable and accessible.

“This commencement is an opportunity to both congratulate and encourage the graduating class as they pursue professional and graduate school opportunities in diverse, innovative, new and exciting fields, and I am so thrilled and honored to be a part of such a special day,” Senator Clinton said.

The University will confer 318 undergraduate and graduate degrees during the ceremony, which takes place at the Seventh-day Adventist Worship and Convention Center, Highway 4 in Orangeburg County beginning at 11am.

Claflin University, founded in 1869 and located in Orangeburg, SC, is an independent four-year liberal arts institution and affiliated with The United Methodist Church. It is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Currently there are 1800 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs.

The University has four schools offering 33 majors: The School of Business, nationally accredited; The School of Education, nationally accredited, The School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, with accreditation in the Department of Chemistry; The School of Humanities and Social Sciences, with accreditation in the Department of Music, English Education and Art Education. Claflin is also accredited to offer a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Education in Educational Studies and a Master of Science in Biotechnology.

For the past 11 years, U.S. News and World Report ranked Claflin in the top tier as an outstanding comprehensive liberal arts institution in the Southeast region. Recently, the Chronicle of Higher Education listed Claflin as having the second highest graduation rate among very selective HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities).

For more information about Claflin University’s 137^th Commencement Convocation or the University, contact the Office of Public Relations at 803-535-5351 or email Helene Carter, Director of Public Relations at hcarter@claflin.edu