063-Annual-Report-2023-v13 Final pages - Flipbook - Page 6
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The College of Education recently honored alumni, partners and friends during its Alumni and Friends Celebration. The
Distinguished Friend of the College Award is presented to an individual or organization that has demonstrated strong
commitment to College initiatives, research endeavors and programs, while the College of Education Distinguished
Partnership Award allows the College to recognize a partnership that has provided sustained or innovative support.
Distinguished Friend of the College Award
Mark and Kathryn Richardson
Mark ’83 and Kathryn Richardson are
passionate about the power of education, and
they are particularly passionate about paving
a path for future generations to have access
to educational opportunities at Clemson
University. With a transformational gift of $10
million to support scholarships for Clemson
students, the Richardsons became Clemson
University’s newest Academic Cornerstone
Partner in November 2022.
Mark Richardson, a 1983 Clemson graduate,
former 1981 National Championship
Football team athlete, University trustee
and a successful businessman; and Kathryn
Richardson, an Elon University graduate
who loves being an honorary member of the
Clemson Family, know how a college degree
can forever impact a student’s life. They have
seen it firsthand through their support of
scholarships and programs that pave a path to
Clemson University.
The College of Education, along with two of its
marquee programs, is a grateful recipient of
the Richardson’s generosity. The Richardsons’
gift includes funds for the College in general,
and also to both the Call Me MISTER® and
Clemson LIFE programs.
Distinguished Partner of the College Award
The Shepherd Hotel
Clemson LIFE (Learning Is For Everyone) is
a post-secondary education program with
the specific purpose of helping young adults
with intellectual disabilities obtain the life
skills necessary to gain employment and live
independently.
Preparing LIFE students for jobs after
graduation is vital to the program’s success,
and LIFE has relied on partnerships both on
and off campus over the course of its history
to make employment attainable for this
population of students. Our College is thrilled to
honor one of those valuable partners, and one
of the newest in the Clemson community.
The Shepherd Hotel is a 67-room boutique
hotel in downtown Clemson that offers guests
an upscale experience, and employment of
individuals with intellectual disabilities is
a core part of the Shepherd Hotel mission.
The downtown Clemson hotel and restaurant
employs over 40 individuals with intellectual
disabilities in collaboration with Clemson LIFE.
Clemson LIFE students and alumni use the
hotel as both a training ground and long-term
employment opportunity. Shepherd Hotels
envision thoughtfully designed boutique hotels
in or around college campuses that offer an
inclusive post-secondary education program.
Top: Mark and Kathryn Richardson. Bottom: Rich Davies (left) and Rick Hayduk accept the distinguished partnership award at the September
Alumni and Friends Celebration.
3 | College of Education