Board Member Spotlight
Clete Boykin ’79*
Celeste “Clete” Boykin, a Manning native, grew up in Lancaster and graduated summa cum laude from Lancaster High School. Once at Clemson, she was one of the first African Americans to be a member of Tiger Band.
In 1979, she graduated with honors and received a Bachelor of Science degree in plant sciences. She joined E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company as the first African American woman to work as a sales and marketing representative in the company’s Agricultural Chemicals business.
Among Clete’s many volunteer leadership roles for Clemson, she is a former member of both the University’s Board of Visitors and the Clemson University Foundation Board of Directors. Currently, she chairs the Clemson Institute for Parks Board of Advisors. She is a member of the Clemson University Tiger Band Association and a longtime board member of the Baltimore/Washington, DC Clemson Club.
She has helped to organize various Clemson events in the Washington area, including 2017’s Clemson Day at the White House honoring the University’s national championship football team. She also helps students of color in the D.C. area who are interested in attending Clemson with advice about the correct points of contact on campus and taking campus tours.
Clete is a member of the Clemson Legacy Society, which honors donors who have included Clemson in their estate plans, and she supports Clemson athletics as a member of IPTAY.
Clete is an extremely proud member of the “Benet Babes,” a group of Clemson alumnae who lived on the fourth floor of Benet Hall and who won the 1978 Women’s Intramural Flag Football Championship. In 2015, the group established a scholarship fund to give future students the opportunity to make their own lifelong friends and memories while getting a high quality Clemson education.
* This information was taken from the Clemson Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award website.
Upcoming Events
See AllClemson's MiSTERS in DC
Clemson's MiSTERS in DC
March 18
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6:00 pm
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8:00 pm
Founded in 2000, the Call Me MiSTER® (Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models) program was created to inspire minority young men to pursue meaningful careers in education. What began as a partnership between Clemson University and three other institutions has grown into a national success, now spanning more than 75 colleges and universities. Through academic support, tuition assistance, and job placement, Call Me MiSTER is transforming lives and shaping the future of education.
This March, our Club is proud to help host Call Me MiSTER Director Mark Joseph, a former MiSTER himself, along with several current students as they visit DC during Clemson’s spring break. Alumni, parents, and students are invited to join us for a special evening reception on Wednesday, March 18 from 6:00–8:00 p.m. at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington to meet Mark and the MiSTERs while hearing first hand stories of their success and celebrating the program’s incredible impact.
Registration is just $7 for Club members (who may bring three guests at this rate) and $20 for non-members and includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine, and soft drinks, along with complimentary valet parking.
Learn more about the Call Me MiSTER program here.
Young Alumni at DC Defenders
Young Alumni at DC Defenders
May 9
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1:30 pm
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3:30 pm
Join the Clemson Young Alumni Club for an afternoon of football and fellowship as we cheer on the DC Defenders at an exciting home game!
📅 Saturday, May 9
⏰ Kickoff: 1:30 PM
📍 Game Location: Audi Field
Before the game, meet up with fellow Tigers for a pre-game gathering at 12:00PM at:
Solace Outpost in Navy Yard
71 Potomac Ave. SE
Washington, DC 20003
Come early to grab a drink, meet other Clemson young alumni, and get ready to head over to the stadium together to watch the Defenders bring the energy. Whether you’re a football fan or just looking for a fun way to connect with fellow Clemson grads around DC, this is a great chance to show your Tiger pride and enjoy a great afternoon in the city!
Wear your Clemson gear and bring your Tiger spirit!
