Claflin University News February 27, 2019 CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY TO HOST GALA TO CELEBRATE 25 YEARS OF VISIONARY AND TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP BY PRESIDENT HENRY N. TISDALE AND FIRST LADY ALICE CARSON TISDALE Event to feature music by Grammy nominated saxophonist and flautist, Najee In honor of 25 years of visionary and transformative leadership by President Henry N. Tisdale and First Lady Alice Carson Tisdale, Claflin University is hosting "A Legacy of Visionary Leadership Gala" on Monday, April 1, 2019, at 6 p.m., at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center (1101 Lincoln Street, Columbia, S.C.). The black tie event will feature multi-platinum and Grammy nominated saxophonist and flautist, Najee, and dance music by Columbia, South Carolina's own, the Friends Band. To purchase tickets for the gala, please call Tammy McCottry at (803) 535-5665. To serve as a sponsor for this event, please call Marcus Burgess at (803) 535-5238. For more information on tickets and sponsorship, please visit https://alumni.claflin.edu/tisdales-legacy-event-. "This event will provide the Claflin community and constituents an opportunity to express our appreciation for the Tisdales' dedicated service and unwavering commitment to academic excellence during their 25-year tenure at the University," said James K. Lehman, chairman of the Board of Trustees and managing partner of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP, of Columbia. "Together, the Tisdales have guided Claflin to new heights and helped secure the University's status as a leading 21st Century institution of higher education. The proceeds from this event will support the endowed scholarship fund the Tisdales have established to support deserving Claflin students," Lehman said. A 1965 honors graduate of Claflin University, Tisdale returned to his alma mater in 1994 and launched his exceptional tenure at the first historically black college and university in South Carolina. On April 17, 2018, President Tisdale announced his retirement effective June 30, 2019, after serving Claflin University as its eighth president for more than two decades. Through President Henry N. Tisdale and First Lady Alice Carson Tisdale's exceptional leadership, the University has made many notable and historic achievements: * For eight consecutive years, U.S. News and World Report has ranked Claflin University among the Top 10 HBCUs (2019 Ranking #7). Claflin University is also one of only four South Carolina universities/colleges and one of only four HBCUs ranked by U.S. News and World Report as being the "Best National Liberal Arts Institutions." * Ranked Number 1 among HBCUs by U.S. News and World Report's Short List for annual alumni giving of approximately 50 percent * The Alice Carson Tisdale Honors College, established in 1994, provides students unique preparation for successful careers after graduation * Four S.C. Governor's Professors of the Year and two National Science Foundation Early Career Development Faulty Awards since 1996 * Prestigious academic scholarship designations: Fulbright U.S. Student Program (2008), Marshall Scholarship, The Harry S. Truman Scholarship (2014) and the ESB Luard Morse Scholarship (2019) * Exceeded $100 million Capital Campaign goal raising more than $105 million - making it the largest fundraising campaign in Claflin's history * Selected as a frontier set network institution by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to pursue transformational change in higher education * The Jonas T. Kennedy Health and Wellness Complex which provides holistic health, nutrition, and lifelong wellness education to the Claflin University campus community and area residents * The Molecular Science Research Center (MSRC) designated a core research facility by the South Carolina Research Authority * The James and Dorothy Z. Elmore Chapel which serves as a place for worship and educational building for those students who are studying religion and philosophy as well as humanities and social sciences. This crown jewel of the campus was erected debt free. SANDRA M. PHOENIX HBCU Library Alliance Executive Director Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW Atlanta, GA 30314 404-978-2118 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org/ sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org%3cmailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org>> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/