Top stories of the week; George Strait at Memorial Stadium; Fiercely Forward Friday

DAILY NEWSLETTER
MAY 1, 2026

ABOVE THE FOLD

Good morning! Check out the top stories across the University this week. Today's Fiercely Forward Friday spotlights a graduating senior who exemplifies academic excellence, leadership and global engagement; George Strait will headline tomorrow's Death Valley Nights concert at Memorial Stadium.

TOP 5 THIS WEEK

Three-photo collage of a football player, yellow flowers in Cemetery HIll and two Clemson scientists looking at a cotton plant.

The University announced its 2026 Spring Award recipients.

Clemson received an $11 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund to develop more sustainable cotton.

Nine Clemson players heard their names called at the 2026 NFL Draft.

A team of faculty and staff was honored for their historic preservation efforts at Woodland Cemetery and African American Burial Ground.

April Purvis will be the next chief executive officer of the Clemson University Foundation.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND CAMPUS

Three Clemson jerseys labeled Johnson, Strait and Flores.

George Strait will perform in Memorial Stadium tomorrow at 6 p.m. alongside Cody Johnson and Wyatt Flores. Expect traffic and potential parking impacts on main campus.

The Clemson Outdoor Recreation and Education (CORE) program will host Summer Kickoff at the Lake this Sunday from 4-7 p.m. This event is designed specifically for University employees and their families to learn more about the programs and services CORE offers.

Sections of Highway 93 will experience disruptions on Monday, May 4, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. while crews remove damaged sections of speed bumps. To maintain traffic flow, only one lane will be closed at a time.

FIERCELY FORWARD FRIDAY

This week’s Fiercely Forward Friday spotlight is Sara Alkelani, a Clemson student whose achievements exemplify academic excellence, leadership and global engagement. As a National Scholar, Rhodes Scholarship finalist and Norris Medal winner, Alkelani represents the highest level of student achievement. Her work spans research and service, reflecting a commitment to addressing complex challenges with thoughtful, informed perspectives.