Dear Friends,

We are gathered here in front of the President’s home lawn for one of Clemson’s great traditions which is the freshman picnic at the President’s home, and we’ve just started our academic year and I wanted to contact you specifically and say thank you. And the reason I am thanking you is for the significant part you played in helping Clemson achieve a Top 30 ranking in U. S. News and World Report.

Our vision is to move into the Top 20 and we had to get into the Top 30 in order to get to the Top 20. So what we’re excited about is that we begin this year with real momentum and we know that it would not have been possible without your commitment, your dedication, and encouragement -- and for that we are very grateful. And what’s important about all of these rankings is not the ranking itself but its significant message about the improvement in the quality of a Clemson education, an improvement in the quality of the Clemson experience. We have raised the quality of our programs in all areas - smaller classes, higher faculty compensation, higher graduation rates. What that all means is that a Clemson degree is going to mean more in the future than it ever has before. And for that and your contributions we say thank you, and “Go Tigers!”