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 AllTigertown Bound Student Send-Off - MD
Tigertown Bound Student Send-Off - MD
July 16
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6:30 pm
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8:00 pm
The Baltimore/DC Clemson Club will welcome incoming students and their families at a casual gathering in Annapolis, MD. Join us at this free event to meet new students and discuss all things Clemson! Local Alumni, current students and current parents will be in attendance to help answer questions you may have. We look forward to meeting you and welcoming you to the Clemson Family!
Tigertown Bound Student Send-Off - VA
Tigertown Bound Student Send-Off - VA
July 17
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6:30 pm
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8:00 pm
The Baltimore/DC Clemson Club will welcome incoming students and their families at a casual gathering in Vienna, VA. Join us at this free event to meet new students and discuss all things Clemson! Local Alumni, current students and current parents will be in attendance to help answer questions you may have. We look forward to meeting you and welcoming you to the Clemson Family!
Young Alumni Happy Hour - July
Young Alumni Happy Hour - July
July 24
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5:30 pm
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7:30 pm
Celebrate summer with our Clemson Young Alumni and current students. Held at Mission Navy Yard in DC, these happy hours are super casual and open to all local young alums, current students and interns. We’ve verified with Mission that students/interns 18+ will be admitted, but you must be 21 to purchase alcohol. No registration is required – just show up!
Mission Navy Yard
1221 Van St SE, Washington, DC
Crab Feast
Crab Feast
August 2
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2:00 pm
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6:00 pm
Don’t miss one of our favorite summer events – back for its 23rd year!
Held on the banks of the beautiful West River in Shady Side, MD, the menu for this all-you-can-eat Crab Feast also includes low country boil, hush puppies, hot dogs, beer and soda. Don’t be shy if you’ve never had crabs before – we’ll teach you to pick like a pro.
And there is more to do than just eat! Go for a swim in the pool, try to catch a few crabs yourself, take out a kayak or canoe or join a guided boat tour of the river. A huge thank you to Mark ‘91 and Cindy ‘90 Derrick for hosting.
Early Bird Registration is $44 for Club Member adults and $19 for children (ages 4-12). Non-member tickets are $85 for adults and $39 for children. Clemson Club Members may register for up to 4 member tickets even if the guests are not Clemson alumni or Club Members. Children under 3 are free. Early Bird pricing is available until May 9 so don’t delay!
