Latest news with #Claflin
CNET
2 days ago
- Politics
- CNET
82% of HBCUs Fight Internet Deserts: One Institution's Strategy for Change
Imagine trying to complete your senior research project without access to a stable internet connection. Or consider how difficult it might be to do work on a group project if you're constantly getting kicked off your Wi-Fi. That's the reality for many students at historically Black colleges and universities. Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack, president of Claflin University, shared a story about an email he received a few years ago from a student facing that very scenario. The student wrote: 'It is my prayer that Claflin's passion for education aligns with its compassion. I am currently typing my senior research paper at the local McDonald's that I drive to nine miles every day to do this work because my town doesn't have Wi-Fi bandwidth.' She said she would sit in the parking lot for four hours daily to work on her senior thesis. Shortly after receiving this email, Claflin University partnered with the Student Freedom Initiative to help provide students with broadband access. According to a 2021 McKinsey report, 82% of HBCUs are located in broadband deserts. These broadband deserts are areas that either severely lack access to adequate internet or have little internet at all. Despite this, broadband programs aimed at closing the digital divide in the US are currently in retreat. In May, President Donald Trump announced the termination of the Digital Equity Act, calling it 'racist' and 'unconstitutional.' This $2.75 billion program was part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law from 2021. It was established to help close the digital divide by increasing broadband adoption. This program was also essential to funding digital literacy initiatives for public schools and colleges, with some states and local governments already beginning to receive grant rewards. With the untimely end of the DEA, those funds never reached their destination. Locating local internet providers In 2020, students at Claflin University and the surrounding areas in Orangeburg, South Carolina, struggled with inadequate internet access because they lived in a broadband desert. 'The only way for students to actually get access to content was to come together in areas that provided [broadband] access, which created a problem,' said Keith Shoates, the president and CEO of the Student Freedom Initiative. He highlighted that at a time when students were supposed to be in quarantine, they were forced to come out of isolation and put themselves and their peers at risk just to do their schoolwork. The Student Freedom Initiative is a nonprofit organization that seeks to reduce the wealth gap through education. In 2023, SFI partnered with technology company Cisco, providing 5G internet service across campus. While the Orangeburg community still faces challenges from being in a broadband desert, Claflin University has since transformed its broadband desert into a thriving space for students. A long history of HBCUs in broadband deserts Access to an adequate internet connection equips students to do better in the classroom and beyond. But many HBCUs are in broadband deserts. These broadband deserts are located primarily in the Black Rural South of the US. According to a report from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, the Black Rural South consists of more than 152 counties in 10 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. This information pretty much matches data from the Student Freedom Initiative. As seen from the map above, the Student Freedom Initiative currently works with more than 25 HBCUs in broadband deserts, all located along the Black Rural South in the US. These include Tuskegee University, Florida A&M University, Xavier University of Louisiana and Hampton University. Knowing the history of HBCUs helps one better understand these broadband deserts and how they exist. HBCUs are among the most underfunded institutions in the country because of the effects of historical and present-day systemic racism and practices like digital redlining. The term redlining dates back to the New Deal era in the 1930s when banks denied residents from 'at-risk' neighborhoods, predominantly from Black communities, to qualify for loans. During this era, government agencies created color-coded maps, highlighting which neighborhoods are least to most risky in terms of loan-worthiness. Digital redlining is a discriminatory practice that involves internet providers excluding their services in certain locations. If you take a look at a map, you can see the distinction between areas with broadband and those without. According to data from the US Census Bureau (PDF), residents in urban areas were more likely than those in rural areas to have broadband internet subscriptions. Moreover, more than 90% of households in the urban south had broadband access in 2021, versus 85% in the rural south. For example, Mississippi, New Mexico and West Virginia ranked the lowest in broadband access. US Census Bureau Although redlining has been illegal for quite some time, a form of digital redlining still exists, as seen by the lack of competition among internet providers in the Black Rural South. HBCUs are located in areas with inadequate broadband infrastructure and it doesn't help that these institutions are severely underfunded by at least $12 million in more than 15 states. According to a Brookings Metro report (PDF), 'HBCUs are chronically underfunded due to state underinvestment, lower alumni contributions (related to lower Black incomes and Black wealth), and lower endowments.' Plenty of studies have shown that low-income communities often lack access to adequate home broadband connections. The McKinsey report noted earlier also shows that more than 81% of HBCUs are in counties where the median wage is below the national average and, compared to non-HBCUs, are in areas where the projected job growth is below the national average. Why does this matter? Improving broadband infrastructure would not just benefit HBCUs or the millions of disconnected Americans in rural communities but could help the US economy at large. Broadband access for HBCUs could mobilize the economy There seems to be a wave of uncertainty regarding the country's current state of broadband programs. The Affordable Connectivity Program ended in May 2024, leaving more than 23 million households without access to affordable home internet and, with the recent news about the Digital Equity Act, disconnected Americans may rely on federal funds primarily from the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program. But states have run into delays in receiving those funds because of bureaucratic changes. Additionally, there could be further holdups in light of potential changes to the program from the new administration. According to some estimates, most states may not hear back on a timeline until June or July. Shoates emphasized SFI's commitment to helping students, regardless of where federal broadband programs stand in this country. 'We're still moving forward because the problem still exists,' Shoates said. He emphasized the significance of moving forward with non-federal sources to address the broadband gap for students. In addition to their partnership with Cisco in deploying 5G internet hotspots for Claflin University, SFI also connects these HBCUs to high-net-worth individuals, organizations and other philanthropists in their network. The Student Freedom Initiative was founded after Robert F. Smith, a philanthropist and Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, gave nearly $34 million to the graduating class of Morehouse College in 2019, paying off their student loans. Smith currently serves as SFI's chairman. Without the federal backbone support, nonprofit groups such as SFI will work with state legislatures and their corporate partners to keep the wheels moving. Still, eliminating or stalling federal funding from this equation will slow the reduction of the broadband gap. Warmack, Claflin's president, conveyed that federal broadband funding can really help, especially for severely underfunded institutions such as HBCUs. For example, Claflin University received a $2.9 million grant from the Connecting Minority Community Project through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which helped provide wireless internet on campus and in the surrounding areas. Shoates maintains that investing in HBCUs and improving their broadband infrastructure could potentially increase economic activity by half a trillion dollars, which would be reflected in the country's GDP. McKinsey According to data from McKinsey, a strong HBCU network could increase Black worker incomes by about $10 million, contribute at least $1.2 billion in incremental business profit, reduce student loan debt by $300 million and provide $1 billion in additional consumer expenditures. Broadband access and future student outcomes According to a 2021 report from the Institute for Higher Education Policy (PDF), 13% of Black students primarily use a tablet or cellphone to complete their coursework, compared to 8% of college students who do not. More than half of Black students who reported having unreliable internet connections complained about being able to access only some content online and or that it's difficult because of slow internet. From the 2021 report, Online Isn't Optional. Student Polling on Access to Internet and Devices. Institute of Higher Education Policy Yvette Thomas, SFI's program director of Institutional Transformation, said that HBCUs face persisting challenges because of the lack of high-speed broadband and the digital gap, which restricts students from accessing resources and online professional opportunities. Thomas spearheads the execution of HBCU capacity building, including modernizing the Information Technology infrastructure. 'When kids come to college, they usually come with at least five to six devices for the network and it slows the network down,' Thomas said. Without access to a high-speed internet connection, students can fall behind in the digital landscape, especially in the new era of artificial intelligence. 'There's gonna be this 26-mile marathon and they're gonna be on mile two … and that puts them at a competitive disadvantage,' Shoates said. He added that broadband access is imperative to students as it equips them with the proper digital literacy skills they need in the workforce. Claflin University has since transformed its broadband desert into a space that provides 5G internet for students but what about the other 82% of HBCUs still living in these internet deserts? Who's to say that there aren't others with similar experiences to that Claflin student driving to a McDonald's parking lot for Wi-Fi just to complete work? Without the federal backbone support, the work of SFI, its corporate partners and generous donations from philanthropists are vital to help reduce the broadband gap in the meantime.
CNET
5 days ago
- Business
- CNET
The Top Black Colleges in the Country Are Still Living in Internet Deserts. Here's What to Know
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack, president of Claflin University, received an email from a student who had left campus and returned home to quarantine. The student wrote: 'It is my prayer that Claflin's passion for education aligns with its compassion.' 'I am currently typing my senior research paper at the local McDonald's that I drive to nine miles every day to do this work because my town doesn't have Wi-Fi bandwidth,' the student wrote. She said she would sit in the parking lot for four hours daily to work on her senior thesis. Shortly after receiving this email, Claflin University partnered with the Student Freedom Initiative to help provide students with broadband access. Broadband programs aimed at closing the digital divide in the US are currently in retreat but according to a 2021 McKinsey report, the 82% of Historically Black Colleges and Universities situated in broadband deserts aren't going anywhere. Broadband deserts are areas that either severely lack access to adequate or have no internet. Locating local internet providers In May, President Donald Trump announced the termination of the Digital Equity Act (DEA), calling it 'racist' and 'unconstitutional.' This $2.75 billion program was part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law from 2021. It was established to help close the digital divide by increasing broadband adoption. This program was also essential to funding digital literacy initiatives for public schools and colleges, with some states and local governments already beginning to receive grant rewards. With the untimely end of the DEA, those funds never reached their destination. In 2020, students at Claflin University and the surrounding areas in Orangeburg, South Carolina, struggled with inadequate internet access because they lived in a broadband desert. 'The only way for students to actually get access to content was to come together in areas that provided [broadband] access, which created a problem,' said Keith Shoates, the president and CEO of the Student Freedom Initiative. He highlighted that at a time when students were supposed to be in quarantine, they were forced to come out of isolation and put themselves and their peers at risk, just to do their schoolwork. The Student Freedom Initiative is a nonprofit organization that seeks to reduce the wealth gap through education. In 2023, SFI partnered with technology company Cisco, providing 5G internet service across campus. While the Orangeburg community still faces challenges from being in a broadband desert, Claflin University has since transformed its broadband desert into a thriving space for students. A long history of HBCUs in broadband deserts Access to an adequate internet connection equips students to do better in the classroom and beyond. But many HBCUs are in broadband deserts. These broadband deserts are located primarily in the Black Rural South of the US. According to a report from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, the Black Rural South consists of more than 152 counties in 10 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. This information pretty much matches data from the Student Freedom Initiative. As seen from the map above, the Student Freedom Initiative currently works with more than 25 HBCUs in broadband deserts, all located along the Black Rural South in the US. These include Tuskegee University, Florida A&M University, Xavier University of Louisiana and Hampton University. Knowing the history of HBCUs helps one better understand these broadband deserts and how they exist. HBCUs are among the most underfunded institutions in the country, because of the effects of historical and present-day systemic racism and practices like digital redlining. The term redlining dates back to the New Deal era in the 1930s when banks denied residents from 'at-risk' neighborhoods, predominantly from Black communities, to qualify for loans. During this era, government agencies created color-coded maps, highlighting which neighborhoods are least to most risky in terms of loan-worthiness. Digital redlining is a discriminatory practice that involves internet providers excluding their services in certain locations. If you take a look at a map, you can see the distinction between areas with broadband and those without. According to data from the US Census Bureau (PDF), residents in urban areas were more likely than those in rural areas to have broadband internet subscriptions. Moreover, more than 90% of households in the urban south had broadband access in 2021, versus 85% in the rural south. For example, Mississippi, New Mexico and West Virginia ranked the lowest in broadband access. US Census Bureau Although redlining has been illegal for quite some time, a form of digital redlining still exists, as seen by the lack of competition among internet providers in the Black Rural South. HBCUs are located in areas with inadequate broadband infrastructure and it doesn't help that these institutions are severely underfunded by at least $12 million in more than 15 states. According to a Brookings Metro report (PDF), 'HBCUs are chronically underfunded due to state underinvestment, lower alumni contributions (related to lower Black incomes and Black wealth), and lower endowments.' Plenty of studies have shown that low-income communities often lack access to adequate home broadband connections. The McKinsey report noted earlier also shows that more than 81% of HBCUs are in counties where the median wage is below the national average and, compared to non-HBCUs, are in areas where the projected job growth is below the national average. Why does this matter? Improving broadband infrastructure would not just benefit HBCUs or the millions of disconnected Americans in rural communities but could help the US economy at large. Broadband access for HBCUs could mobilize the economy There seems to be a wave of uncertainty regarding the country's current state of broadband programs. The Affordable Connectivity Program ended in May 2024, leaving more than 23 million households without access to affordable home internet and, with the recent news about the Digital Equity Act, disconnected Americans may rely on federal funds primarily from the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program. But states have run into delays in receiving those funds because of bureaucratic changes. Additionally, there could be further holdups in light of potential changes to the program from the new administration. According to some estimates, most states may not hear back on a timeline until June or July. Shoates emphasized SFI's commitment to helping students, regardless of where federal broadband programs stand in this country. 'We're still moving forward because the problem still exists,' Shoates said. He emphasized the significance of moving forward with non-federal sources to address the broadband gap for students. In addition to their partnership with Cisco in deploying 5G internet hotspots for Claflin University, SFI also connects these HBCUs to high-net-worth individuals, organizations and other philanthropists in their network. The Student Freedom Initiative was founded after Robert F. Smith, a philanthropist and Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, gave nearly $34 million to the graduating class of Morehouse College in 2019, paying off their student loans. Smith currently serves as SFI's chairman. Without the federal backbone support, nonprofit groups such as SFI will work with state legislatures and their corporate partners to keep the wheels moving. Still, eliminating or stalling federal funding from this equation will slow the reduction of the broadband gap. Warmack, Claflin's president, conveyed that federal broadband funding can really help, especially for severely underfunded institutions such as HBCUs. For example, Claflin University received a $2.9 million grant from the Connecting Minority Community Project through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which helped provide wireless internet on campus and in the surrounding areas. Shoates maintains that investing in HBCUs and improving their broadband infrastructure could potentially increase economic activity by half a trillion dollars, which would be reflected in the country's GDP. McKinsey According to data from McKinsey, a strong HBCU network could increase Black worker incomes by about $10 million, contribute at least $1.2 billion in incremental business profit, reduce student loan debt by $300 million and provide $1 billion in additional consumer expenditures. Broadband access and future student outcomes According to a 2021 report from the Institute for Higher Education Policy (PDF), 13% of Black students primarily use a tablet or cellphone to complete their coursework, compared to 8% of college students who do not. More than half of Black students who reported having unreliable internet connections complained about being able to access only some content online and or that it's difficult because of slow internet. From the 2021 report, Online Isn't Optional. Student Polling on Access to Internet and Devices. Institute of Higher Education Policy Yvette Thomas, SFI's program director of Institutional Transformation, said that HBCUs face persisting challenges because of the lack of high-speed broadband and the digital gap, which restricts students from accessing resources and online professional opportunities. Thomas spearheads the execution of HBCU capacity building, including modernizing the Information Technology infrastructure. 'When kids come to college, they usually come with at least five to six devices for the network and it slows the network down,' Thomas said. Without access to a high-speed internet connection, students can fall behind in the digital landscape, especially in the new era of artificial intelligence. 'There's gonna be this 26-mile marathon and they're gonna be on mile two … and that puts them at a competitive disadvantage,' Shoates said. He added that broadband access is imperative to students as it equips them with the proper digital literacy skills they need in the workforce. Claflin University has since transformed its broadband desert into a space that provides 5G internet for students but what about the other 82% of HBCUs still living in these internet deserts? Who's to say that there aren't others with similar experiences to that Claflin student driving to a McDonald's parking lot for Wi-Fi just to complete work? Without the federal backbone support, the work of SFI, its corporate partners and generous donations from philanthropists are vital to help reduce the broadband gap in the meantime.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
USC's Powell, Furman's Dempsey headline SCAHOF class
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Feb. 3, 2025) – Lower Richland High's Richard Seymour, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, World Cup standout Clint Dempsey of Furman and Coastal Carolina baseball coach Gary Gilmore, who led the Chanticleers to the 2016 NCAA title, highlight the 10-member South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame's induction Class of 2025. Also being enshrined include the University of South Carolina's All-American catcher Landon Powell and five-time WNBA All-Star Shannon Johnson of Hartsville; Clemson offensive lineman Harold Olson, who helped the Tigers to the 1958 and '59 ACC titles and Susan Hill-Whitson, the most celebrated tennis player in Clemson history; Ralph Lundy, who led Erskine and College of Charleston soccer to unprecedented heights; Erskine basketball legend Don Whitehead and Claflin's storied women's basketball coach Nelson Brownlee, who will be enshrined posthumously. 'Once again, we have another impressive class that will be enshrined in our state's hall of fame in May,' said Executive Director Andy Solomon. 'Our nominating committee has a most difficult challenge annually, and this year was no exception. They created a competitive ballot from more than 200 names and, as expected, the best rose to the top. We are thrilled with the tremendous individuals who create the Class of '25. The South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame's Induction Banquet honoring the class of 2025 is set for Monday, May 19, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. The 10 individuals will be forever enshrined with the state's highest athletic honor. The SCAHOF Banquet is the largest annual celebration of Palmetto State sports stars under one roof. The traditional introduction of past inductees, the 'Walk of Legends,' is one of the event's highlights. The affair, which includes a reception and dinner, begins at 5:30 p.m. Tables of eight may be purchased online at 2025 SCAHOF Inductees Nelson Brownlee (Women's Basketball; Orangeburg; Claflin) Nelson Brownlee enjoyed an unparalleled career as a high school and college coach that spanned 42 years. An Orangeburg native and S.C. State graduate, Brownlee began his coaching career in 1958 at Mt. Vernon High School in Mt. Vernon, Ga. He later coached 14 years at Wilkinson High in Orangeburg and two years at Orangeburg-Wilkinson following the merger. Brownlee gained national notoriety as head coach at Claflin University in Orangeburg for 27 years (1974-2001). He won more than 600 games and remains one of the winningest coaches in NAIA history. He led Claflin to 12 NAIA national tournaments including a pair of second place finishes. In addition, his Claflin squads captured seven NAIA District 6 championships, 17 EIAC (Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) titles and six SEAC (Southeastern Athletic Conference) championships. Brownlee earned a number of Coach of the Year accolades and was twice named the Converse National Coach of the Year. He produced several All-Americans including two-time NAIA National Player of the Year honoree Miriam Walker-Samuels. He was inducted into the Claflin Athletic Hall of Fame posthumously in 2011. Brownlee died in 2003. Clint Dempsey (Soccer; Furman) Clint Dempsey ranks as the most recognizable former Furman athlete worldwide and one of the most impactful players in the history of United States Soccer. The Nacogdoches, Texas, native guided the U.S. National Team to three consecutive FIFA World Cups in 2006, 2010, and 2014 while becoming the first American to score in three World Cups. After a three-year career at Furman (2001-03) in which he earned 2002 United Soccer Coaches All-America honors and was twice named all-region. Dempsey was the eighth overall selection of the New England Revolution in the 2004 Major League Soccer Draft. He claimed MLS Rookie of the Year honors and the first of three consecutive MLS All-Star citations before moving to English Premier League side Fulham FC in 2006. In six years with the London club, Dempsey helped Fulham avoid relegation and reach the Europa League while becoming the most prolific American goal scorer in the league's history and Fulham's all-time leading scorer in the Premier League with 50 goals. Following a stint at Tottenham, the midfielder returned to the United States to join the Seattle Sounders and guided the club to the Supporter's Shield in 2014 and MLS Cup in 2016. A 2022 inductee into the National Soccer Hall of Fame, Dempsey finished his career as a three-time U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year (2007, '11, '12) and three-time Honda U.S. Player of the Year (2006, '11, '12). His 57 goals in 141 appearances with the U.S. National Team tie him with Landon Donovan as the USA's all-time leading goal scorer. In his three years as a standout for head coach Doug Allison at Furman, Dempsey tallied 19 goals, was a three-time All-Southern Conference choice, helped the Paladins to a pair of regular season title, and two NCAA Tournament bids. In 2002, the Paladins reached the Sweet Sixteen and garnered a No. 8 national ranking. He was inducted into Furman's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008 and the SoCon Hall of Fame in 2014. Gary Gilmore (Baseball; USC Aiken, Coastal Carolina) A former Coastal Carolina center fielder, Gary Gilmore began his head coaching career at USC Aiken (1990-95) where his teams went 253-102-2 and appeared in the NCAA DII College World Series in 1993. Gilmore was the American Baseball Coaches Association's NCAA DII Coach of the Year in 1993. Gilmore, who was named head coach at Coastal Carolina in 1996, led the Chanticleers to a 1,118-597-3 record over 29 seasons. He led the Chanticleers to the 2016 College World Series title and 19 NCAA Regional appearances overall. Gilmore was inducted in the ABCA Hall of Fame in 2022 and the USC Aiken Hall of Fame in 2014. Gilmore earned his 1000th career victory in a 4-3 win over Presbyterian on April 17, 2014. He led Coastal to the national championship with a 4–3 victory over Arizona on June 30, 2016. It was Coastal's first trip to the College World Series. Gilmore, who was a 10-time conference Coach of the Year, retired after the 2024 season and finished with a career record of 1,371-699-5 over 35 seasons. Susan Hill-Whitson (Tennis; Clemson) Susan Hill-Whitson is the only four-time ACC MVP in Clemson's women's sport in history and one of just two in school history. Hill-Whitson, who participated in the women's pro tennis tour from 1977-81, remains the only four-time ACC MVP in conference women's tennis history. She is one of just two tennis players to win No. 1 singles league title four years in a row and was named to ACC's 50-year Anniversary team in 2002. She was named one of Clemson's top 20 student-athletes of the 20th Century by The State newspaper and was the first female athlete to be inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame (1986). Inducted into the state of Tennessee Tennis Hall of Fame in 2009, she was a three-time All-American (1978, 1979 and 1981) and was the 1980 ACC Tournament MVP. The ACC's top doubles champion with her sister Carolyn, in 1979, Hill was Clemson's team MVP four straight years. Hill posted a four–year singles record of 126-20 (.863 winning percentage), still the best in Clemson history. She also won 82 percent of her sets (261-57), also the best winning percentage for sets in Clemson history. Dropping just one match against an ACC opponent in her career, Hill recorded a 33-5 record as a freshman, 23-3 as a sophomore, 40-3 as a junior and 30-9 as a senior. Shannon Johnson (Basketball; Hartsville, USC) Guard Shannon Johnson concluded her stellar USC career by finishing second on the school's all-time scoring list with 2,230 points. She remains the lone Gamecock to average 20-plus points per game over three consecutive seasons, including a school-record 24.7 ppg in 1995-96. Johnson, who earned All-America honors as a senior, was a three-time first-team all-SEC member (1994-96) and a finalist for the Wade and Naismith awards. Johnson helped the 2004 USA Olympic team to a gold medal in Athens, Greece. Johnson was a five-time WNBA All-Star (1999, 2000, 2002-04) playing for the Orlando Miracle (1999-02), Connecticut Sun (2003), San Antonio Stars (2004-06), Detroit Shock (2007), Houston Comets (2008) and Seattle Storm (2009). Johnson scored 30-plus points in 17 career games and 20-plus points in 57 games. She holds several school records, including nine 3-pointers made in a game against Arizona State in 1995. Johnson was coached at South Carolina by SCAHOF member Nancy Wilson. She served as head basketball coach at Coker College from 2015-20. Ralph Lundy (Soccer; Erskine, College of Charleston) Former College of Charleston and Erskine College men's soccer coach Ralph Lundy retired in 2019 after 44 seasons and ranks in the top-25 in all-time wins amongst Division I coaches after posting a career coaching mark of 453-350-66, including a 323-279-53 record at CofC. Lundy began his coaching career at Erskine College in 1976. Over 11 years he compiled a 131-71-13 with 10 winning seasons. He led the Flying Fleet to seven district titles and three NAIA National Tournaments. Lundy was inducted into the Erskine Athletics Hall of Fame and an annual soccer award is given in his honor. The North Carolina native was a three-sport athlete at Western Carolina, where he competed in soccer, wrestling and baseball. He helped the Catamounts to an 8-2 soccer record in 1970 and a trip to the NAIA District V playoffs. He served as co-captain of the team in 1971 and led the Catamounts to a 7-2-2 record. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1972. After a two-year stint with the U.S. Marine Corps, Lundy returned to Western as a graduate assistant and earned his master's degree in physical education. Prior to attending Western Carolina, Lundy spent two seasons at Brevard College where he played baseball and soccer. In 2006, he was enshrined in both the Brevard College and Western Carolina Halls of Fame. He led the College of Charleston to a 323-279-53 record during his 33 years as head coach from 1987-2019. His Cougar teams enjoyed 19 winning seasons, five conference championships and five appearances in the NCAA Tournament including an Elite Eight appearance in 1994. Lundy's win total includes victories over five national champions, as well as, Notre Dame, Stanford, Ohio State, Wake Forest, North Carolina, N.C. State, Duke and South is a member of the College of Charleston Athletic Hall of Fame. Lundy has dedicated his life to the game of soccer for the state of South Carolina. He works with state and local officials to help build soccer facilities. He also worked as state director for the S.C. Youth Soccer Association for 10 years, served as director of the Mount Pleasant Youth Soccer Club and was co-director of the McDonald's All-American High School boys and girls soccer games played in Charleston. Harold Olson (Football; Clemson) During the 1950s, Clemson was beginning to establish its dominance inside the newly-formed Atlantic Coast Conference. One of the keys to the Tigers' success in their consecutive championship runs was offensive tackle Harold Olson. Olson was a three-time letterman and two-year starter for the Tigers between 1957-59, playing for legendary coach Frank Howard. Olson helped lead the 1958 and 1959 Tigers to back-to-back ACC championships and was a first-team All-ACC selection at the conclusion of the 1959 season. He earned Associated Press honorable mention All-America honors in 1959 and was also named to the Clemson Centennial team for one-platoon players in 1996. Olson was inducted into the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010 and was a first-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills (AFL). He was the 13th overall pick in the 1960 NFL draft by the Chicago Cardinals in 1960, which was the 10th-highest draft selection in Clemson history (he did not receive the notoriety then that he would today for being the #13 selection of the draft; in those days, there were only 12 teams in the NFL, so he was officially a second-round pick). He is the highest drafted offensive lineman in state of South Carolina history. Olson played for the Buffalo Bills (1960-62) and the Denver Broncos (1963-64), making the AFL Pro Bowl team in 1961 and was named first-team All-Pro in 1962. He played 70 games during his professional career. Olson remains a key piece of Tiger football history. Clemson had the 15th -highest winning percentage in college football during the 1950s. The 1959 team recorded a still-school and ACC-record four consecutive shutouts in victories over N.C. State, South Carolina, Rice and Duke. Landon Powell (Baseball; USC) Catcher Landon Powell was a standout performer for the University of South Carolina from 2001-04. He earned All-America honors in 2004 and was twice voted to the All-SEC team. For his Gamecock career, the switch-hitter belted 44 home runs, 61 doubles, and drove in 193 runs. He collected 265 career hits and scored 176 runs. Defensively, he held the school single-game, season and career record for putouts. He and also logged a record 65 assists in 2004 and recorded 190 in his career (2001-04). In 2002, Powell hit .292 with 12 homers and helped USC to a second-place finish at the College World Series. Powell hit .339 in 2003 and posted a .330 batting average in 2004. In 2010, Powell was named to the College World Series Legends Team. In 2004, he was selected 24th overall in the first round by the Oakland Athletics. For his career with Oakland (2009-11), Powell batted .207 with 10 home runs and 45 RBI. Powell is currently the head baseball coach at North Greenville University where his team captured the 2022 NCAA DII national championship. He enters the 2025 campaign with a 389-130-1 record over 10 seasons at NGU. He's also led the Trailblazers to six NCAA postseason appearances, five Conference Carolinas tournament titles and four league regular season championships. Richard Seymour (Football, Columbia) Lower Richland High School standout Richard Seymour was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022. Seymour was the sixth overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots after lettering for four seasons at Georgia (1997-00). He played 12 seasons (2001-12) in the NFL with New England and the Oakland Raiders. Seymour spent the first eight seasons of his NFL career with the Patriots and played an important role in delivering six division titles, four conference crowns and three Super Bowl championships to New England. He was named to five straight Pro Bowls with the Patriots (2002-06) and earned three straight first-team All-Pro honors (2003-05). He was also named to the AFC Pro Bowl team in 2010 and 2011 as a member of the Raiders. His five Pro Bowl berths are the most by any Patriots defensive lineman since the 1970 NFL merger. He was also a four-time team co-captain. In 2009, he was voted to the Patriots 50th Anniversary Team and the 2000s All-Decade Team. Seymour was a first-team All-SEC selection for Georgia in 1999 and 2000. He also earned first-team All-American honors by American Football Coaches and Walter Camp Foundation in 2002. Don Whithead (Basketball; Erskine, Columbia) Whitehead was four-year letter winner for Erskine (1963-67) earning All-NAIA District 6 honors after his junior and senior seasons. Whitehead scored 1,359 points during his 87-game Flying Fleet career. He was inducted into the Erskine Hall of Fame in 1986. He averaged 19.3 points per game as a junior while shooting 50.3 percent from the field and 83.1 percent from the foul line. He also pulled down a career-best 9.7 rebounds per game. He averaged 22.3 points per game as a senior knocking down 48.7 percent of his field goals and 88.1 percent of his free throws. During the 1965 season Whitehead scored 36 of Erskine's 57 points in a 59-57 overtime loss to South Carolina. Following the contest USC Hall of Fame coach Frank McGuire said someone should draft him. Whitehead was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1967 and later traded to the Houston Rockets. He also played professionally for three teams (Asbury Park, Trenton, Springfield) in the Eastern Basketball League from 1967-69. Whitehead enjoyed a stellar high school career at Brookland-Cayce High School. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
