Clemson celebrates graduates despite icy weather

CLEMSON, SC – December 22, 2010 – A little wintry weather didn’t keep graduates, family and friends away from Littlejohn Coliseum Thursday for Clemson University’s winter graduation ceremony.

Many seats were filled in the coliseum as 1,047 degrees were awarded: 765 bachelor’s degrees, 217 master’s degrees and 65 Ph.D.s.

“In this group of graduates could be someone who could change the world,” said Jim Anthony, CEO of the The Cliffs Communities, who received an honorary doctor of humanities degree during the ceremony. “All of us have talent and opportunities. What we do with it determines our success.”

Anthony said successful people share similar traits, including humility, gratitude and dedication to service.

Anthony has established several nonprofit foundations for conservation and educational outreach programs that have positively impacted South Carolina’s youth and environment.

His land-preservation efforts and business success led to his being recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year for the Carolinas in 2000 by Ernst and Young. He was named most influential Greenvillian by Greenville Magazine in 1999 and was named to the magazine’s list of 50 Most Influential People in 2005 and 2006. The Blue Ridge Council of the Boy Scouts of America honored Anthony in 2006 with the Distinguished Citizen Award. Other awards he’s received include the 11th Annual March of Dimes Real Estate Award in 2008 and the Champions of Public Education Award by the S.C. State School Boards Association in 2009.