Clemson to award as many as 1,300 degrees; honor alumnus
December 10, 2014
CLEMSON, SC — Approximately 1,300 students will receive degrees when Clemson University holds its fall graduation ceremonies in Littlejohn Coliseum Thursday, Dec. 18.
Both ceremonies will be streamed live at www.clemson.edu/tv.
Degrees will be handed out during two ceremonies, the first beginning at 9:30 a.m. for graduates of the colleges of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences; Architecture, Arts and Humanities; and Engineering and Science.
The second ceremony, at 1:30 p.m., will be for graduates of the colleges of Business and Behavioral Science; and Health, Education and Human Development; and the School of Education.
University officials will bestow an honorary Doctorate of Humanities on alumnus Steven H. Owings (’75), in recognition of his entrepreneurial spirit and loyal support of his community, family and alma mater.
Owings has consistently supported his alma mater with advice and financial contributions, serving on both the advisory board for Clemson’s College of Business and Behavioral Science and the Clemson University Research Foundation Board. He is a longtime donor to athletics and academics, including support of IPTAY and establishing the Steven and Linda Owings Family Endowment for Excellence in the Department of Economics in 2004.Owings earned a Bachelor of Science in economics and entered into the emerging microcomputer market in 1983. In 1992 Owings, along with the five original employees, cofounded ScanSource Inc. as a joint venture with Gates/FA Distributing. He managed the company’s growth as chairman and CEO until 2000, leading it through two public offerings. He retired as executive chairman in 2005, having established ScanSource Inc. as a Fortune 1000 company with $1.5 billion in revenues.
Owings uses his new venture, Lanett Group LLC, to participate in various real estate investments and private equity opportunities. He has served on the board of directors for multiple private and public companies as well as on various charitable foundations and community boards, including Medical University of South Carolina, Peace Center for the Performing Arts and the St. Francis Foundation.
Owings and his wife, Linda, live in Greenville.
