Celebrating excellence: SC State welcomes largest class of Clyburn Scholars

U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn challenged the scholars to follow the legacy of the institution’s founding president, Thomas E. Miller. 

ORANGEBURG, S.C. – South Carolina State University on Friday inducted 10 new Clyburn Scholars into the Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College, representing the largest class in the university’s history.
 
“The Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College continues to inspire excellence at South Carolina State University, and we are proud to welcome the largest class of Clyburn Scholars in its history,” SC State President Alexander Conyers said. “These outstanding students represent the very best of our university’s academic tradition.
 
“I know they will carry forward the values of service, leadership and scholarship that define the Clyburn legacy,” Conyers said. “Their success reflects the strength and growth of SC State as we prepare the next generation of leaders.”
 
This year’s Clyburn Scholars cohort represents a competitive and diverse group of high-achieving scholars drawn from science, mathematics, technology, business, fine arts, humanities, education, and social sciences.
 
Each scholar demonstrates the character, leadership, and civic commitment that define the Clyburn legacy. The newly inducted scholars are:
 
·      Aleena Allen - Summerville, South Carolina
·      Jayrah Bostic - Orangeburg, South Carolina
·      Jewel Edwards - Columbia, South Carolina
·      Rhiazia Grant - Fountain Inn, South Carolina
·      Ja’Leeah Jones - Fort Mill, South Carolina
·      Savanna Mansel - Simpsonville, South Carolina
·      Dashon Pinckney - Columbia, South Carolina
·      Malcolm Salters - Kingstree, South Carolina
·      Kelsey Whetstone - Orangeburg, South Carolina
 
“Our Clyburn Scholars are builders of ideas, of community, and of opportunity,” said Dr. William H. Whitaker Jr., the Honors College’s dean. “This record cohort reflects the growing demand for a transformative Honors experience that blends scholarship, leadership, global engagement, and service. We are honored to walk with them as they lead with purpose.”

A proven leader’s challenge

The Clyburn Scholars were presented during the annual induction ceremony and breakfast at the I.P. Stanback Museum and Planetarium, with U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn delivering the keynote address.
 
Clyburn and his late wife, Dr. Emily England Clyburn, both of whom graduated from SC State in 1961, were the original benefactors who established the scholarship fund and garnered support from high-profile donors. The Honors College bears Dr. Clyburn’s name because of her commitment to fostering excellence at SC State.
 
In addressing the scholars, Clyburn drew inspiration from one of his predecessors in Congress, SC State’s founding president, Thomas E. Miller.
 
“Thomas E. Miller's life is an interesting one that ought to be instructive for all of us and maybe for the entire nation,” Clyburn said. He noted that while Miller was not Black, he had been adopted by a Black family as a child and maintained a Black identity throughout his life. 
 
“When they were debating what to do about educating the formerly enslaved, and that debate was taking place here in South Carolina, Thomas Miller was serving in the South Carolina Legislature,” Clyburn said. “He saw an opportunity during that debate to establish an HBCU – a land grant college here in South Carolina, and he took it.
 
“He had a choice to live a comfortable life, but he decided to do what he could to help make this place, this country, a better country,” Clyburn said.
 
The congressman encouraged the scholars to take a similar path.
 
“We have got to do the things that are necessary to make this country a better place,” Clyburn said. “And as we go through life, I want you to remember the legacy of Thomas E. Miller, who made a choice.”
 
Clyburn said his late wife, too, made the right choices, including her support for the Honors College that now bears her name.

Rigor and critical thinking

Dr. Frederick Evans, SC State provost and vice president for academic affairs, described Friday’s induction as a historic moment for the university.
 
“With the induction of the largest class of Clyburn Scholars in our history, we affirm that South Carolina State is not only attracting the best and brightest minds but also cultivating them to become the kind of leaders our world urgently needs,” Evans said. “The Honors College is, as I often say, the tip of the spear for academic rigor and innovation at SC State.
 
“Across our colleges and disciplines, our faculty partner with Honors to create research-rich, interdisciplinary experiences that challenge students to think critically, ask bold questions, and design solutions to real-world problems. You, our newest scholars, will deepen and carry forward this culture of inquiry and excellence,” he said,
 
Dr. Windy Stephenson, the Honors College’s executive director of academics and scholarship services, pointed to the wrap‑around support that will shape the scholars’ journeys.
 
“From merit awards and research placements to advising, mentorship, and professional development, we surround our scholars with the resources they need to thrive,” Stephenson said. “This class will benefit from expanded pathways in undergraduate research, internships, service‑learning, and graduate readiness.”
 
The Honors College serves 141 students from across the U.S. and around the world. The College’s academic profile continues to rise with incoming GPA markers and engagement indicators that outpace state and national public HBCU norms.

Beyond a ceremony: What comes next?

The induction is not an endpoint but an invitation to deeper study, broader service, and leadership that bends toward the common good. In the months ahead, the Honors College will continue scaling undergraduate research, strengthening the Innovation & Leadership Hub, and expanding experiential learning through internships, co‑ops, industry site visits, and global experiences.
 
Advisors and faculty mentors will guide scholars through graduate‑school preparation, competitive fellowships, and high‑impact projects that address community needs.
 
“Honors is where high standards meet higher purpose,” Whitaker said. “We are intentional about pairing rigorous academics with mentorship and service because we are not simply preparing graduates. We are cultivating leaders who will solve hard problems with competence, with conscience and will one day lead the world.”
 
About the Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College
Named in honor of the late librarian, educator, and civil rights advocate Dr. Emily England Clyburn, the Honors College at South Carolina State University offers a rigorous, holistic academic environment that fosters critical thinking, leadership, civic responsibility, and global engagement. The College prepares high-achieving students to thrive in competitive graduate programs, professional careers, and public service through high-impact practices and interdisciplinary learning.
 
For more information about SC State’s Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College, contact Dr. William Whitaker, the Honors College’s dean, at wwhitak3@scsu.edu or 803-533-3710 or Dr. Windy A. Mack Stephenson, the Honors College’s executive director, at wmack3@scsu.edu or (803) 516-4610.