A night to celebrate, a future to build: SC State shines at Garnet & Blue Extravaganza

Alumni, students and supporters filled Oliver C. Dawson Stadium to honor 130 years and support student success.

ORANGEBURG, S.C. — For one night at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, South Carolina State University’s past, present and future came together as more than 1,000 supporters celebrated 130 years of excellence and invested in student success.

The university held its Garnet & Blue Extravaganza Powered by Prisma Health on Saturday, April 18. The evening featured food, fellowship, dancing and performances by student musicians, while alumni and supporters from across the country returned to campus to celebrate and give back.

“This is the power of the Lord. God always seems to know just the right time, place and purpose to bring everything together,” SC State First Lady Agatha Conyers said.

SC State President Alexander Conyers said the focus was on supporting students, whom the president described as “the one constant throughout these 130 years.” 

More than 200 student volunteers assisted with the extravaganza, including setting tables, escorting attendees to their tables, serving food, taking photographs and conducting video interviews. Their efforts helped make it a successful event for alumni and supporters from all over the country, including one attendee who was 97.

Championship moment energizes the night

Members of the SC State football team were recognized during the event as the 2025 HBCU national football champions and received their championship rings before an enthusiastic crowd.

SC State head football coach Chennis Berry and his players and staff were honored for their historic season, which culminated in a victory at the 10th annual Celebration Bowl on Dec. 13 in Atlanta. The Bulldogs defeated Prairie View A&M University 40-38 in the fourth overtime after trailing 21-0 at halftime, rallying to secure one of the most thrilling victories in the game’s history.

 “We don’t take your support lightly. You were a part of this journey,” Berry said.

He said his team was taught to dig deep and hold the rope through the season’s challenges.

“Our team held the rope through it all. We’re not done yet,” he said.

"It’s like coming to my second home."

Gregory and Frances Massey Harley of Charlotte, N.C., are members of the university’s Thomas E. Miller Society, which recognizes cumulative philanthropy from individuals, couples, organizations, associations, corporations and foundations that have made total gifts of $100,000 or more to the university.

The Harleys said they were proud to support the extravaganza and its mission to support student scholarships and university priorities tied to academic excellence and innovation.

“I graduated here in 1973 with a degree in speech pathology. Dr. Harold Powell, I loved him. I still love him. I got the best education. I have a wonderful career as a speech language pathologist,” Mrs. Harley said.

“My heart is always here, and we support however we can often because we know that without South Carolina State, we would not be where we are today. So we love it,” she said.

Her husband said he felt the same way.

“I got a lot of help from people when I was coming through. There’s one, though, that was a living example of that, Mr. Robert Evans. He was over the dining hall in food services.

“He had a giving heart, so that’s why I try to emulate what he did. He helped me make it in school, so what we try to do is help other students make it through school,” he said.

Generations of Bulldogs give back

Sumter resident Carl Dicks, a 1982 graduate of SC State, said several members of his family also graduated from SC State, including his mother-in-law, who is 98 and a Thomas E. Miller Society member.

“My mother-in-law is a member of the Class of ’48. She’s here tonight. She’ll be 99 in October. She’s still walking, too. She’s a little forgetful, but I am, too. She’s doing very good, but we’re a Bulldog family, and we love it,” Dicks said.

He said he hopes the university continues an upward trajectory. 

“I was an engineering technology major when I was here. We’re moving in the right direction because technology is just going to be the thing of the future. So I think we’re doing good as far as getting to where engineers can actually get professional licenses and that kind of stuff,” Dicks said.

Dr. Deidra Hill, a 1986 SC State graduate, said she was happy to support the university at the extravaganza because “South Carolina State has always supported me.”

“From the time that I was a freshman here to the time that I graduated, it has been such a rewarding experience for me. This is not just where I went to college, this is also where I learned life skills. Anytime that I can help other students that are coming behind me, I don’t miss out,” Hill said.

“It’s really about supporting the students and giving them an opportunity to finish their education. I majored in English and now I’m a higher education administrator at Howard University. I run the communications department for development and alumni relations,” she said.

 Belicia Jones, a 2006 SC State graduate, said she has a daughter who is a sophomore at SC State.

“My daughter is a current student and cheerleader. My vision for the school is for us to keep our family dynamic and for all students to prepare for the world as young Black men and women because when I was here, it prepared me,” said Jones, who majored in criminal justice.

Support turns into impact

Cedar Evans, a member of the SC State Class of 1973, said, “There’s so much happening. I’m so excited to be here. The raising of scholarship funds for our students is first and foremost. To be a part of the event is just amazing.”

“It’s my understanding that we may have already met and possibly exceeded our goal, and that just makes my heart feel so good to know that we have funds to give scholarships to our current students and also to our incoming students in the fall,” she said.

Evans, a resident of Augusta, Ga., said she hopes the university can continue to provide students with a solid education

“My vision is that we will be able to graduate each and every student who comes as a freshman. We want to see them come through the door in the beginning and leave in the end with the most wonderful four years of experience that any student could possibly have anywhere,” Evans said.

Her optimism reflected the outcome of the evening.

By the end of the night, $1.4 million had been raised, with more than 200 students set to receive $1,300 scholarships. Funds will support:

• Student scholarships: $300,000
• Athletics: $500,000
• Security initiatives: $250,000
• University priority fund: $100,000
• Concert Choir travel to New York City for a June performance at Carnegie Hall: $50,000

 Honoring legacy while looking ahead

 Dr. Lucy Reed Wilson, 95, a 1951 SC State graduate from Hartsville, S.C., made a special tribute to her alma mater via video.

She served as the First Lady of Norfolk State University for 15 years and is the grandmother of NFL quarterback Russell Wilson.

“It was SC State who polished me up, dusted me off and made me realize that college was possible even for a great-great granddaughter of slaves,” Wilson said.

“God always has somebody waiting in the wings to help you realize your potential, and it was South Carolina State University that helped me realize my potential,” she said.

Celebration, recognition and momentum

U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn, an SC State alumnus, was among those who made remarks, including thanking the university president and his wife for their innovation in helping propel the university forward. 

“Their innovation is on display this evening,” said Clyburn, noting that his connections with the university run deep. He, for example, went to high school with Dr. Wilson and was a schoolmate of then-SC State College head football coach emeritus Willie Jeffries.

“I now know why I’m here tonight. Thank you for continuing to support the university,” he said, noting that

he pledged to do more than what he provided for the university in a federal appropriations bill last year.

Conyers said the congressman was able to secure, for example, $15 million for a new ROTC building and $30 million in research funding for SC State’s nuclear and technology research program.

 “We’re going to get more,” said Clyburn, noting that the current university administration would go down in history as its most innovative. 

SC State Board of Trustees Chairman Douglas Gantt said the university was celebrating 130 years of Bulldog tenacity, academic excellence and transformational leadership.

“The legacy lives,” he said.

 Yolanda Williams, president of the SC State National Alumni Association, said, “We gather united in purpose. Thank you for being part of this journey.”

The SC State Concert Choir opened the evening with a performance of numbers from popular Broadway shows and returned to the stage as the evening wrapped up to wish the university a happy 130th birthday in song. 

The SC State Jazz Ensemble — student musicians led by Grammy-nominated SC State alumnus and instructor Willie Bradley — entertained the crowd during dinner with a guest saxophonist. The highlight of the performance was an impromptu vocal performance by student Courtney Johnson, who also provided the evening’s invocation.

The night was capped off with dancing to music provided by SC State alumnus DJ Shakim.

If you missed the Garnet & Blue Extravaganza, you can still contribute to the cause by visiting the link below

Donate here.