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 AllFootball Thursday Lunch - September
Football Thursday Lunch - September
September 10
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12:00 pm
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1:00 pm
Join us for a special lunchtime discussion all about Clemson Football with guest speaker David Hood, Senior Writer at TigerNet.com—one of the most trusted sources for Tiger sports news.
David brings years of insider experience covering Clemson athletics, and he’ll share behind-the-scenes insights, preseason predictions, recruiting updates, and what fans can expect from the Tigers this year. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just enjoy staying in the know, this is a great opportunity to connect, ask questions, and get the scoop straight from a veteran reporter who lives and breathes Clemson football.
If you join us in person, lunch will be provided. Club members may register themselves at the member price plus one guest at the member price. $10 for Club members, $25 for non-members.
Not a Club member? Join today!
Football Watching Party vs GA Southern
Football Watching Party vs GA Southern
September 12
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7:30 pm
Come out to cheer on our Tigers with fellow local alumni, parents, and fans. Everyone is welcome – whether you’re a die-hard fan or just want to be part of the Clemson spirit. We’ll be getting together all season long at the locations listed below to watch the games, celebrate the touchdowns, and enjoy food and drink specials exclusively for our group. It’s the perfect way to connect with fellow Tigers and bring a little orange and purple Death Valley spirit to game day!
2026 Game Watch Locations
- Arlington, VA – Astro Beer Hall (Shirlington Village)
- Bethesda, MD – BT’s
- DC – Problem Child (Navy Yard)
Don’t forget to check in when you arrive each week at the parties, and we’ll make an Annual Fund donation in your name from the Club. We’re always looking for more Tigers to help host these great events. Want to volunteer for a game or two? Contact beth@clemsonclub.org.
SC Honor Flight
SC Honor Flight
September 16
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8:00 am
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12:00 pm
Honor Flights are BACK!
Representing the Clemson Family while welcoming South Carolina veterans to Washington, D.C., on an Honor Flight is both a privilege and a humbling experience. As these American heroes arrive, Club volunteers proudly greet them with enthusiastic applause, warm smiles, handshakes, and heartfelt expressions of gratitude for their service and sacrifice. For many veterans, this welcome is a meaningful recognition that may have been missing when they returned home from military service. It is an emotional reminder that their courage, commitment, and dedication to our nation have not been forgotten. Standing alongside fellow volunteers to honor these remarkable men and women reflects the Clemson spirit of service and provides an unforgettable opportunity to thank those who have given so much to protect the freedoms we enjoy every day.
Greeters must plan for arrival at DCA no later than 7:45am to allow for parking, walking to the group meeting point and passing through security. The group meeting point will be in front of The Café at DCA North, just outside the North Security Checkpoint.
Please note that registration for this event will close on Sunday, September 13th to allow time for processing the Gate Access Passes.
*** Please read the FAQs on the registration page carefully. ***
“We can’t all be heroes. Some of us have to stand on the curb and clap as they go by.” – Will Rogers
Young Alumni Happy Hour
Young Alumni Happy Hour
September 17
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6:00 pm
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8:00 pm
Kick off football season with the Clemson Family!
Join the Baltimore/DC Clemson Club Young Alumni for a happy hour with fellow Tigers and young alumni from across South Carolina. We’re excited to partner with the South Carolina State Society and University of South Carolina Young Alumni Council for a fun evening celebrating the start of football season.
Baltimore/DC Clemson Club
with South Carolina State Society and the
University of South Carolina Young Alumni Council
Thursday, September 17, 2026
6:00 – 8:00PM
Solace Outpost
71 Potomac Ave. SE
Washington, DC 20003
This event is free for members of the South Carolina State Society and $30 at the door for non-members.
*** Be sure to check in at the Clemson table. Registering will enter you into our raffle for fun Clemson items! ***
Football Watching Parties vs UNC
Football Watching Parties vs UNC
September 19
@
12:00 pm
Come out to cheer on our Tigers with fellow local alumni, parents, and fans. Everyone is welcome – whether you’re a die-hard fan or just want to be part of the Clemson spirit. We’ll be getting together all season long at the locations listed below to watch the games, celebrate the touchdowns, and enjoy food and drink specials exclusively for our group. It’s the perfect way to connect with fellow Tigers and bring a little orange and purple Death Valley spirit to game day!
2026 Game Watch Locations
- Arlington, VA – Astro Beer Hall (Shirlington Village)
- Bethesda, MD – BT’s
- DC – Problem Child (Navy Yard)
Don’t forget to check in when you arrive each week at the parties, and we’ll make an Annual Fund donation in your name from the Club. We’re always looking for more Tigers to help host these great events. Want to volunteer for a game or two? Contact beth@clemsonclub.org.
