Laneika K. Musalini M ’11 is director of grants at Tri-County Technical College and a grants writer and administrator for Community Colleges of Appalachia. She also is founder and CEO of Women’s Empowerment. The 2013 recipient of Clemson’s MLK award for Excellence in Service-Community Member award, she was awarded the Duke Energy/Clemson University Center for Workforce Development STEM Innovator Award in 2012.
Raven Magwood ’12 graduated from Clemson at the age of 19 with a 4.0 GPA. She published her first book at age 12, and followed that up with another during college, 7 Practices of Exceptional Student Athletes. Magwood has written a screen play, “Switching Lanes,” scheduled to be released as a feature film later this year and travels as a motivational speaker.
Tripp James ’02, M ’04 has founded, operated and harvested several successful small businesses and currently serves as small-business programs manager for the Greenville Chamber of Commerce. A graduate of Leadership Greenville, he has heavily invested his time and talent in PULSE, Greenville’s organization for young professionals. A member of the College of Business and Behavioral Science Alumni Loyalty Board, he serves as a mentor for students.
Thomas Rhodes ’06 heads his family business, Rhodes Graduation Services, and is owner of Sumter Advertising Company and chief operating officer of Custom Bike Rings in Summerton. He designed the 2014 Clemson Orange Bowl Ring for Coach Dabo Swinney. Last year, he helped establish the Distinguished Clemson Athletes award to honor former athletes who are making a difference in their communities through non-athletic endeavors.
George Nathanial Magrath ’06 is completing a two-year ocular oncology fellowship at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. During his time at the Medical University of South Carolina, he was the first resident in South Carolina to perform laser-assisted cataract surgery. He developed web application algorithms for diagnosing complex eye diseases, melanoma and ocular inflammation, which were featured in Review of Ophthalmology and Ocular Surgery News.
Tia Nicole Williams ’05 is owner and operator of the SERVPRO franchise in Cayce, West Columbia and Lexington. She also is owner and editor of the Lexington Anchor, a monthly online publication. Former secretary and current treasurer of the Columbia Clemson Club, Williams is communications chair of the State Chamber Small Business Council and a company adviser for State Chamber Business Week, teaching high school students about business.
Steven Foushee ’05 is a project manager for Moss 7 Associates, a construction management firm in Greenville. He is the youngest of only seven registered Design Build Institute of American professionals in the state. A volunteer with the U.S. Green Building Council’s South Carolina chapter, he was in charge of education and outreach for green building initiatives. He is a member of Clemson’s Construction Science Management Industry Advisory Board.
Hannah Hopkins Pittman ’03, M ’13 is director of professional development for the S.C. Association of School Administrators. Treasurer of the Columbia Clemson Club since 2011, Pittman led efforts to fund a $25,000 scholarship endowment that revitalized the involvement of Richland County alumni. A member of Women’s Alumni Council, Pittman planned and coordinated “Bring Your Daughter to Clemson” Weekend that raised approximately $8,000 for scholarship.
Brian Ammons ’08 works in investor relations with Dow Chemical in Midland, Michigan. In 2012 he was one of six people to receive the company’s highest award in both sales and marketing. A board member of Give Us Names, a nonprofit organization formed by Clemson alumni, he spearheaded a partnership with a Chicago-based theatre company founded by alumni to donate profits from a stage production to the charitable organization.
Mary Kathryn Dempsey ’08 is a senior fundraising consultant for Blackbaud in Charleston. A member of the Charleston Junior League and Clemson in the Lowcountry, she volunteers with the Dee Norton Lowcountry Children’s Center. Dempsey devoted a lot of time to the Young Alumni Council — as a representative, at-large member and president. She is vice chair of the Alumni Council Engagement Committee and a currently serves on the Alumni Board of Directors.
Brianna Woodsby is a current student in the MBA program at Clemson. Her loyalty to the University is very evident in her endeavors as President of the Spartanburg Clemson Club, an active member of the Junior League of Spartanburg, and an IPTAY representative. In addition to her Clemson endeavors, she also serves as chairman of the advisory board for the Kappa Delta chapter at Wofford College. With a degree in Language and International Trade, she holds the position of International Trade Manager with AFL. A member of Spartanburg Young Professionals and the United Way Young Leaders Society, it is evident this nominee truly upholds the values of the Roaring 10.
Tanner Smith played on the Clemson basketball team for four years and became the first player in Clemson history and only player in the ACC for 2012 to combine +10 points, +5 rebounds, and +4 assists per game for a season. He currently plays in the MHP RIESEN Professional Basketball team in Germany. Aside from his athletic accomplishments, he started “Tanner’s Totes,” a non-profit company helping teens cope with long-term hospital care all over the country.
Benjamin Miskelly was elected as Nashville Area Clemson Club’s President, this young man has demonstrated his true pride to the Clemson name. This candidate is very active in his community—working with Hermitage Hills Baptist Church as a Youth Leader and LifeGroup Co-Leader, with “Rebuilding Together Nashville” on the Board of Directors, and as a Clemson Representative with the ACC/SEC Leadership Council. Holding a Landscape Architecture degree from Clemson in 2011, he currently works as an Urban Planner and Graphic Designer with the Metropolitan Nashville Planning Department.
Victoria Longshore served as Clemson’s Young Alumni President in 2011, this honoree has demonstrated her exceptional advocacy and support for Clemson University. During her time as a member of the Richmond Clemson Club, she has organized many events to help the University, as well as those around her. Since her days on the Student Alumni Council, she has been committed to the Clemson Alumni Association. In her community, she serves on the Hospitality Committee within her church and works hard to coordinate several events in support of Virginia Special Olympics. She truly embodies what it means to be a Tiger.
Joseph Lane has upheld our core values of honesty, integrity, and respect. Recently promoted to Human Resource Director for Milliken & Company, this young man has become the youngest in the history of the company. This nominee continues to show his loyalty to the University by serving on the Student Affairs Advisory Board and working closely with the Michelin Career Center, offering advice on how to make Clemson students competitive in today’s professional environment and ensuring current students find jobs each year. In his community, he works on the Board of Directors for the Blood Connection. He was also recently elected as the Chairman of the Spartanburg County Republican Party, again the youngest in the history of the organization.
Steven Epps is currently serving as President of the MBA Alumni Society, our next young alumnus is proud to show his loyalty to Clemson and the Alumni Association. He remains active with the University as an IPTAY member, serving on the Alumni Council, the Greenville Luncheon Planning Committee, and as a Greenville Young Alumni Member. He remains active in his community sitting on two committees for Greenville’s young professional associations, PULSE, and was recognized as volunteer of the month for July 2013.
Shaun Cranford has shown his commitment to Clemson through his involvement with the Columbia Clemson Club. Under Shaun’s leadership the club has seen increased membership, added new events, and has raised over $10,000 in scholarships for Richland County students. Professionally, Shaun is regarded as one of the top attorneys in his field through his practice at The Cranford Law Firm. In only a few years, Shaun has built a client base that consists of over 100 Homeowner Associations through the Southeast.
William Cathcart has a well-established global reputation as a journalist, presidential advisor, and entrepreneur; this candidate has truly shown he holds the determined spirit of a Clemson Tiger. In 2010, he was awarded the first Distinguished Leadership Medal for Journalistic Excellence presented by the United States Business Institute. His articles have been featured on many prestigious news outlets including The Daily Beast, Anderson Cooper 360, The National Review Online, Georgian Journal, Humanevents.com, the Buenos Aires Herald, and CNN.com. As Managing Editor of the Charleston Mercury, he has had the privilege of interviewing many world leaders. He also worked as media advisor and speechwriter to the President of Georgia (the country). He continues to work in Georgia in business development and as producer for the country’s largest independent media company. In his philanthropic endeavors, he has become a leader in advocating for Cystic Fibrosis patients.
Michael Berry has made quite the impact on his community through his teaching endeavors. Not only was he named 2011 Teacher of the Year at Pendleton High School, but the South Carolina Association of Agricultural Educators also selected him as the Outstanding Young Teacher. He was named Outstanding Young Agri-Science Educator in the Southern States and on of the top six in the nation for 2013. Adding to his long list of achievements, he was recently elected President of the South Carolina Association of Agricultural Educators and President of the historic Pendleton Farmers Society. This Agriculture Education graduate has brought Thomas Green Clemson’s vision of blending education and science together.
Odessa Armstrong has been described as having a “good for all” mentality rather than a “good for one.” Her dedication to service makes her an ideal candidate for the Roaring 10. She currently serves on the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences Alumni Board and stays engaged with the Clemson Black Alumni Committee. Currently a member of the Emerging Leaders Development Program in Washington, DC, she works hard to distinguish herself as a professional, while working to serve and inspire others.