Can some of that money be used to make the new building ...

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Letter from President Clements

Oct 18, 2020, 9:18 PM

October 16, 2020
Dear Clemson Family:
Today is a historic day for our University.

This morning, we announced the largest act of philanthropy since Thomas Green Clemson willed the land on which our main campus sits for the purpose of creating a “high seminary of learning” to serve the state of South Carolina.

Over the past 131 years, the vision for Clemson has grown considerably, and while we strive for national prominence every day we have never lost sight of our primary mission – to serve the residents of our great home state. I am immensely proud of the work of our faculty and staff, but none of that work is possible without the ongoing support of the Clemson Family, especially our passionate donor base.

That’s why I was honored to announce this morning that two of Clemson’s great friends – Billy and Ann Powers – have provided a $60 million gift to the University to benefit the College of Business.

Billy and Ann Powers
As a result of this transformational gift – one of the largest ever given to a higher education institution in South Carolina – both the college and our gorgeous new business building will bear the name of our benefactors: The Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business. This is the first named college at Clemson and sets the stage to make the University a national leader in business education.

Billy’s ties to Clemson span more than 60 years, dating back to his time as a student. Billy had to leave Clemson to help with the family business before earning his degree, but has remained close to the University over the years. He has been a significant donor for many years, although until this gift he had done so anonymously.

That desire to help others quietly has been a driving force for Billy and Ann throughout their lives, and they have used their business success to help countless individuals and organizations around the state, especially in the Florence area where they live. In fact, Billy and Ann’s desire to not draw attention to their philanthropy was only superseded by their wish to honor the memory of their grandson Chandler Burns, a 2015 Clemson graduate, with this gift.

Chandler was an outstanding student who was on a course to play a role in the future of the Powers Companies when he tragically died in 2016 after a short illness. As part of the Powers’ gift, one tower of the building has been named in Chandler’s honor.

Billy and Ann represent the very best of the Clemson Family: Compassionate, loyal, determined, successful – and above all dedicated to improving our communities and supporting the people who live in them. It is our responsibility to live up to the confidence Billy and Ann have demonstrated in Clemson with this gift, and I am excited by the vision that Dean Wendy York, who joined Clemson from Stanford in 2018, has created for the college.

In addition to supporting the operation of the building and the college’s signature academic programs, this gift will help us attract the best faculty in the world through the creation of endowed professorships. Importantly, it also will allow us to provide financial support to talented students, with an emphasis on assisting South Carolina students.

This gift also is the result of hard work by many Clemson staff members. My deepest thanks and appreciation go out to all those involved in securing this gift, especially our Development and Alumni Relations team, led by Vice President Brian O’Rourke and Senior Associate Vice President for Development JoVanna King.

The generosity of Billy and Ann Powers will change the course of our students’ lives for generations to come and, in the process, will help create a more vibrant business and economic environment for South Carolina. We are deeply appreciative and humbled by their generosity and confidence in Clemson.
Additional information from JoVanna J. King Senior Associate Vice President for Development:
The South Tower will be named Chandler L. Burns Hall in memory of Billy and Ann’s grandson, Chandler, who died from an unexpected illness in 2016. A proud 2015 Clemson graduate, Chandler received his bachelor’s degree from the Nieri Family Department of Construction Science and Management. He will forever be remembered for his heartwarming smile, strong work ethic, and his love and devotion for all things Clemson. I cannot imagine a more meaningful and appropriate way to honor Chandler’s legacy of boundless commitment and enormous Clemson pride than to name an educational space in the new Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business in honor of him. Seeing how someone could love so deeply and accomplish so much in such a short amount of time is truly inspiring. Chandler lived a purpose- driven life, and he enjoyed every moment of it.

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$60M donation to the College of Business

Nice to see a once small-time farmer give back to his

Excellent!***

Re: Can some of that money be used to make the new building ...

I light the modern “eyesore” as described by earlier poster..

Re: I light the modern “eyesore” as described by earlier poster..

Re: Can some of that money be used to make the new building ...

To paraphrase Ron Cherry: "That's a lotta Bidness!"

Re: $60M donation to the College of Business

Re: $60M donation to the College of Business

Letter from President Clements

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