Wofford College

Wofford College.  Office of Marketing and Communications

English

Daily Announcements February 2021

ISSUE #82 | SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 | FROM THE OFFICE OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Class of 2020 celebration
Homecoming festivities will resume this fall, and the college is hosting several special events to celebrate
the Class of 2020 and honor their resilience.
A story will always follow Wofford College’s Class of 2020.
It was the college’s first graduating class in 159 years not to have Commencement
exercises.
The apostrophe and No. 20 that’ll be by their names in alumni updates will represent more
than the year they graduated. 
“We’ll always feel something special about the Class of 2020,” says David Beacham, senior
vice president for administration and secretary to the college’s board of trustees. “Their time
on campus ended abruptly during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the
country was in quarantine. We are looking forward to having them back to campus for a
really special celebration.”
The college will celebrate the class during Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 15-17.
In addition to the various events that are part of Homecoming, there will be events just for the
Class of 2020, including a Sunday morning ceremony on the seal and front lawn of Main
Building. The class is encouraged to invite up to two guests for all of the weekend’s events,
including the Sunday morning ceremony, which will conclude with a “Lemonade on the
Lawn” reception. Class of 2020 alumni should register for the weekend’s events.
The class’ four officers — Curneisha Williams, Alec Konrad, Connor Kreese and Braden
Tuttle — consulted with the college’s administration to identify a time to celebrate the class,
its achievements and contributions to the college.
“The Class of 2020 is eager to be back on campus for this year’s Homecoming celebrations,”
says Tuttle, the class secretary. “At times, our class has felt somewhat forgotten, as we did
not have an actual Commencement. I know all members of the Class of 2020 are excited to
be back and receive a proper send-off, as well as reunite with friends, faculty and staff.”
READ MORE
Lasting impact
Dr. Mandy Mills Dailey ’07 and her family have established the Dailey Family Endowed Fund to support
the college’s track and cross country teams. They’re helping others have the opportunities that she
enjoyed as a student.
Dr. Mandy Mills Dailey ’07 cherishes her Wofford College memories. Her favorite moments
include being a student-athlete, attending campus social functions and Interim travel.
She and her family want to ensure that future Terriers have the same opportunities through
the Dailey Family Endowed Fund to support student-athletes on the college’s track and cross
country teams.
“Endowing a scholarship for the women’s cross country and track teams allows us to give
back to the college in a way that hopefully strengthens the program and enhances the
recruitment of well-rounded student-athletes,” says Dailey, an optometrist in Houston, Texas.
As a student Dailey embodied the definition of well-rounded.
She was a biology major with a minor in business, who also participated in various student
organizations, a sorority and the admission ambassador program, all while lettering in cross
country and indoor and outdoor track. She also traveled to Greece and Italy during one of
her January Interim experiences.
“I hope that our contribution allows future student-athletes the opportunity to experience
everything Wofford College has to offer,” Dailey says.
READ MORE
An exercise in understanding
Mustafa Akyol to speak on “An Islamic Case for Freedom and Tolerance”
Mustafa Akyol has been called one of the top thinkers in the world today. He’ll show why in
an upcoming talk at Wofford College.
Akyol will bring his talk, “An Islamic Case for Freedom and Tolerance,” to Leonard
Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 11. The talk is open to the public.
Akyol has been a senior fellow at the Cato Institute since 2018, focusing on the intersection
of public policy, Islam and modernity. He has been a contributing opinion writer for The New
York Times since 2013, covering politics and religion in the Muslim world. Earlier this year,
Prospect Magazine of the United Kingdom listed him among the world’s top 50 thinkers.
“Mustafa Akyol is one of the most famous public intellectuals in the world,” says Dr. Philip
Dorroll, associate professor of religion and the author of “Islamic Theology in the Turkish
Republic.” “He’s had a long career as a journalist and researcher. The basic issues he works
on and talks about are how to understand and promote human rights and the values of
liberty within the Islamic tradition.”
READ MORE
‘Elevation from Within’
The Johnson Collection’s annual collaboration with Wofford is featured in a Forbes story on
the top art exhibitions on college campuses this fall. “Elevation from Within: The Study of Art
at Historically Black Colleges and Universities” will be on exhibit through Dec. 15 at the
college’s Rosalind Sallenger Richardson Center for the Arts.
READ MORE
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Conquer and Prevail Issue 82 September 30 2021

ISSUE #73 | JULY 22, 2021 | FROM THE OFFICE OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Opportunity knocks
Dr. Youmi Efurd, Wofford’s curator, and Emma Humphries ’22, seated together at the end of the table,
work on an art project with clients of the Spartanburg Opportunity Center.
By Robert W. Dalton 
Dr. Youmi Efurd and Emma Humphries ’22 are delivering hope and comfort to local
individuals who are homeless. 
Efurd, Wofford’s curator, has designed art activities and programming for clients of the
Spartanburg Opportunity Center , which provides individuals in the community who are
homeless with food, showers, clothing, laundry services and access to additional resources. 
Each Friday, Efurd and Humphries, an art history and government double major from
Gaffney, South Carolina, lead the center’s clients in a variety of activities, including painting,
coloring, journal writing, meditation and gardening. 
It started as a research project, but it has become personal for both Efurd and Humphries.
“It’s going to be difficult to break the cycle of chronic homelessness. We all know that,” Efurd
says. “I was hoping to give them some stress relief and something they could focus on other
than their situation.” 
Humphries says she enjoys hanging out with the clients, hearing their stories and building
relationships. She says the weekly art and mindfulness sessions are informal but important,
serving as a self-care routine for the clients. 
“That’s where my research comes in,” she says. “I’m looking at certain types of crafts and
how they can aid with decision-making.” 
Efurd began volunteering at the center in December. She wanted to learn about the staff, the
volunteers, the services they provide and the clients. And she wanted them to learn about
her. 
“It’s important to have an acquaintance with them, a personal bond to some extent,” she
says. “They know me, and that’s very important.” 
READ MORE  
 
Annual scholarships
Make a gift of any amount or designate a gift of $1,500 or more to have a scholarship awarded in your
name.
Did you know that Wofford College provided nearly $44 million in scholarships to students
last year?
Scholarships make the college more appealing and competitive in attracting high-achieving
students. Wofford is a viable option for many students because of the college’s academic and
need-based scholarships. 
You can help sustain the financial commitment Wofford has made to student scholarship
support through a gift to the Wofford Fund for Academic Scholarships. Make a gift of any
amount or designate a gift of $1,500 or more and a scholarship will be awarded in your name.
FIND MORE INFORMATION  
 
Wofford athletics, RJ Rockers launch co-branded beer
Celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Terrier Club with a “Golden Session Ale” by RJ Rockers.
The Wofford College Department of Athletics has partnered with RJ Rockers Brewing Co. to
launch “Golden Session Ale.” The beer commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Terrier
Club. 
The Terrier Club was organized in 1946 as the Eleven Club by alumni and friends of Wofford
who wanted to support deserving student-athletes by raising money to fund scholarships. The
Terrier Club maintains that same commitment today, and “Golden Session Ale” is another
way for the college to benefit from alumni and community support. 
John Bauknight ’89 is an owner of RJ Rockers and is a member of the Terrier Club Board of
Directors. As a way of supporting the college and celebrating the impact of the Terrier Club
for 75 years, the idea for “Golden Session Ale” was created. 
“Golden Session Ale” became available on July 1 and is available only through the RJ
Rockers Brewing Co., located in downtown Spartanburg. The limited-edition series (1,000
cases) also will be served at Wofford alumni and community events, including the Terrier
Club Fall Kickoff on Sept. 17. Additional retail locations will be announced as they become
available. 
READ MORE  
 
Carolina Panthers return to Wofford for training camp
The Carolina Panthers will hold their 26th training camp at Wofford beginning Wednesday, July 28.
The NFL’s Carolina Panthers are returning to Wofford College for training camp. It’s the
Panthers’ 26th year practicing at the college. 
The team will hold its first practice Wednesday, July 28 at 8:30 a.m. In all, the Panthers will
have 14 practices at Wofford, and all will be free and open to the public. 
READ MORE  
 
 
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Conquer and Prevail Issue 73 June 22 2021

ISSUE #71 | JULY 8, 2021 | FROM THE OFFICE OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Emerging artist
Yasmin Lee ’23, a studio art major from Columbia, South Carolina, has received two awards through the
Artists’ Guild of Spartanburg over the past couple of months. She’s photographed here with Jessica-Scott-
Felder (left), an assistant professor of studio art, after being named Best Emerging Artist by the Artists’
Guild of Spartanburg.
By Jackie Carman, Office of Marketing and Communications Intern
Yasmin Lee ’23, a studio art major from Columbia, South Carolina, has received two awards
through the Artists’ Guild of Spartanburg, and she hopes to use the recognition to better
connect the college’s relatively new studio art program with the larger Spartanburg
community.
In May, Lee received the Judy and Brant Bynum Fine Art Award for her digital collage
“Solitude.” The award is given to rising juniors majoring in fine art at Spartanburg’s colleges
and universities. Last month, she was named Best Emerging Artist by the Artists’ Guild of
Spartanburg.
“We need to build a better sense of community, and winning this award could be a way for
Wofford to build a stronger relationship with the Artists’ Guild,” says Lee of receiving the Best
Emerging Artist award. Studio art became a major at Wofford during the 2020-21 academic
year.
“Solitude” allowed her to make a statement as an artist. The work is influenced by the
Renaissance era and creates a dreamlike state for viewers.
“I start off with what I want to see and after that I build a story,” Lee says.
“Solitude” is a tale of finding comfort in her own company and enjoying the journey of learning
herself. She drew inspiration from music artist Kali Uchis and her sophomore album titled
“Isolation.” This story is represented through significant symbols within the piece.
“There are a bunch of hands willing to light this lady’s cigarette, but she is in her own tub in
her own world and is lighting her own … knowing there are others around her, she still
chooses herself,” Lee says.
READ MORE
 
Salley participates in world-class research
Dr. Mackay Salley ’95, professor and chair of the Wofford College Department of Physics, is a visiting
scholar at the University of Washington this summer. He and his colleagues are hoping to solve some
mysteries and possibly contribute to better solar cells.
Dr. Mackay Salley ’95 is spending the summer with world-class physical chemists and some
of his favorite materials — solar cells, LEDs and novel magnetic substances.
Salley, professor and chair of the Wofford College Department of Physics, is a visiting
scholar at the University of Washington in Seattle for the summer doing optical and electronic
characterization studies, which are experiments that determine the properties of materials.
Some of his colleagues are making materials that could be part of new solar cell materials,
LEDs or new computing technology (spintronics).
“The lab I am visiting is world renown for their research in novel materials,” Salley says. “It’s
exciting to be a part of this team.”
Salley has spent summers and a sabbatical in the university’s chemistry department in the
past. One of his colleagues is Dr. Daniel Gamelin, who is a professor of chemistry and the
director of the UW Molecular Engineering Materials Center (NSF MRSEC) at the University of
Washington. They met while doing post-doctoral work in Switzerland in 2001 at the University
of Bern, and they’ve kept in touch over the years.
Gamelin’s research group specializes in making thin films and nanoparticles. Salley
participates in characterization studies to help determine the properties of the novel materials
in the solar cell and LED realm. His specialty is optical spectroscopy, which is the study of
how matter interacts with electromagnetic radiation or light.
“Using light to study materials is an elegant method that gives a wealth of information from
macroscopic properties down to atomic level information,” Salley says. “Being able to apply
those techniques to promising solar cell materials that could benefit society as a renewable
energy source is super exciting to me.”
READ MORE
 
Student-athletes discuss mental health
Emma Seif ’22, a biology major from Trent Woods, North Carolina, is a member of the
Wofford lacrosse team. She was recently quoted in a column written for Yahoo! Sports that
focused on the need for mental health aid for student-athletes. Read the article.
 
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Conquer and Prevail Issue 71 July 8 2021

ISSUE #93 | DECEMBER 16, 2021 | FROM THE OFFICE OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
A meeting of icons
Boss and Santa met during the college’s holiday party for the families of faculty and staff.
They entertained children and participated in photo ops. Here’s to Terriers everywhere
making Santa’s Nice List.
Track star
Thanks to her internship with the CheckIt4Andretti Foundation, Grayson Carter ’22 found herself on the
go-cart track with members of the Andretti family, including 81-year-old IndyCar legend Mario Andretti.
By Robert W. Dalton
If she wanted, Grayson Carter ’22 could add a line to her resume that would make her the
envy of current and former IndyCar drivers everywhere: “Wrecked Mario Andretti.”
Thanks to her internship with the CheckIt4Andretti Foundation, Carter got to travel with the
Andretti family to Buford, Georgia, for the opening of an Andretti Indoor Karting and Games
entertainment center. The outing included family patriarch Mario, whose storied racing career
includes four IndyCar championships.
As part of the festivities, the group took to the track for a friendly go-cart competition. At one
point Carter, who earned the nickname “Lapped Traffic” because of her driving abilities, saw
the 81-year-old Andretti closing in on her. As he made his move to go around her, Carter
swerved and sent the legendary driver careening into the wall.
“I was determined that no one was going to pass me, so I put the man into the wall,” says
Carter, a religion major from Charlotte, North Carolina. “I apologized after the race. He
laughed and said he would have done the same thing to me. He was very kind about it.”
READ MORE
Alexander to retire
Shirley Alexander is a familiar face to many on campus, especially around the Mungo Student Center,
where she’s responsible for the building’s housekeeping. Alexander is retiring and looking forward to
more time with family.
Shirley Alexander is retiring from Wofford College after 27.9 years of service. She likes 
emphasizing that point nine.
Alexander has spent her Wofford career in housekeeping. There were stints in Greene Hall, 
Sandor Teszler Library, Burwell Dining Hall and Wightman Hall. She’s lost track of how long 
she’s been responsible for the Mungo Student Center but knows it has been at least 10 
years.
“I just like the environment and the students,” Alexander says. “Some talk like they know you 
and thank you for what you do.”
Dec. 16 is her retirement date.
Her workdays normally start at 5 a.m., an hour before her shift begins, so she can get a head 
start on the day.
“Shirley is on campus before the sun comes up this time of year and she does a fantastic job 
of keeping the Mungo Student Center sparkling, safe and enjoyable for Wofford students, 
staff and our AVI (culinary services) partners,” says Roberta Hurley, vice president and dean 
of students. “We will miss her.”
READ MORE
MLK Day On at Wofford
Be a part of the MLK Day WoffordX Talks
On Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, Wofford students, faculty, staff and alumni will come together for
conversation, service, learning, listening and discovery. In addition to community service
opportunities and three sessions of activities and seminars, you can participate by presenting
a WoffordX Beloved Community MLK talk on the afternoon of Monday, Jan. 17. If you would
like to be considered, please submit your 3- to 5-minute essay based on the following
prompt. Talks must be submitted by Jan. 7, 2022. Presenters will be informed by Jan. 10.
There is a 750-word limit.
PROMPT: In the October 1966 issue of Ebony, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. responded to
critics of his nonviolent philosophy by evoking the importance of what King described as
“the beloved community.” According to King, “Only a refusal to hate or kill can put an
end to the chain of violence in the world and lead us toward a community where men
can live together without fear. Our goal is to create a beloved community, and this will
require a qualitative change to our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives.” If
Wofford aspires to create its own beloved community informed by its commitment to
liberal arts education, nondiscrimination and its historical ties to the United Methodist
Church, what should our beloved community look like? What qualitative and quantitative
changes are we prepared to make (or have we already made) to make it a reality?
Submit your essay at: Wofford.edu/MLKWoffordXTalks.
For information on sessions, topics, times and locations, visit Wofford.edu/MLKDayOn.
Remembering George Holliday III
The Wofford College campus was in mourning during the fall of 1967. Wofford students
Johnny McLane, George Holliday III, Robert Kendall and Robert Conrad were killed in an
automobile accident along I-26 while returning to campus. Holliday was a member of the
Class of 1968 and the Terrier golf team. In 1969, his family established the George Holliday
Memorial Junior Golf Tournament and a scholarship for student-athletes competing on the
Wofford men’s golf team. The tournament, which is considered a premier junior event, was
held for the 53rd year over Thanksgiving weekend. A golf blog recently profiled Holliday.
Follow us @woffordcollege
 


Conquer and Prevail Issue 93 December 16 2021

ISSUE #67 | JUNE 10, 2021 | FROM THE OFFICE OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Inspired giving
Wofford students benefit from new high-profile gifts for experiential learning.
When Jerry Richardson ’59 gave $150 million to Wofford in February — one of the largest
ever single gifts to a U.S. college — he also inspired others to give.
One alumnus, wishing to remain anonymous, gave $5 million in support of the vision laid out
by the college’s trustees and administration, and to express his appreciation for “all the good
Mr. Richardson has done.”
Richardson’s most recent $150 million gift to the endowment is designated to support four
areas of the college: the renovation and repair of Richardson-named buildings, a boost to the
minimum compensation on campus to $15 per hour, need-based scholarships and need-
based experiential learning opportunities, something that’s a hot topic in higher education
today and aligns perfectly with Wofford’s mission and core values.
The anonymous donor simply asked the college to use the gift so that it could further
Wofford’s reputation as a national liberal arts college and provide a complete experience for
students.
Two million dollars of that gift is being used to match donations being made to support
student experiences. Trustee Howard Coker ’85 also made a gift to support gift matching
initiatives.
“I was given an opportunity at Wofford that I’ve been able to leverage, and we have an
obligation to make Wofford better,” says Coker, CEO of Sonoco. “While we have a
responsibility to provide a higher value experience for today’s students, there’s an
understanding that they will, too.”
Each of the gifts supporting student experiences involved donors closely examining student
needs to enhance their Wofford experience.
Susu and George Dean Johnson Jr., entrepreneur, business leader and founder of The
Johnson Group, recently established the Corry W. Oakes III Endowed Interim Support Fund
in honor of Corry Oakes ’89, Johnson’s business partner and immediate past chairman of the
Wofford College Board of Trustees. The award supports opportunities for international travel,
internships and other experiences during the Interim for students with financial need.
READ MORE
Staying on course
Ole Berg ’22 competes in a race in June 2020 in Rudskogen, Norway. Berg and his father will compete at
the same track beginning Friday. (Motorphoto by Jorn)
By Robert W. Dalton
Ole Berg ’22 grew up watching his father, Paal, race on the Norwegian Grand Touring circuit.
When he was old enough, Berg got behind the wheel of his own car to follow in his father’s
footsteps.
This coming weekend in Rudskogen, Norway, they’ll race at the same event for the first time,
although in different classes.
“I so appreciate him sharing this great sport with me,” says Berg, a finance and economics
double major from Oslo and a back on Wofford’s soccer team. “It’s really cool.”
Berg raced go-carts while growing up and jumped up to the Norwegian GT4 class in 2019,
driving a Honda Civic. He moved up to GT3 and a Porsche in 2020.
“GT3 is by far the most competitive class,” Berg says. “The cars are much faster, about 360
horsepower.”
Berg spends his weekdays working remotely on his internship as an analyst with Leedon
Park Capital, a private equity firm in Charlotte, North Carolina. Then it’s off to the gym or a
race car simulator for a workout.
The races are a weekend event. On Fridays, drivers get a feel for the course, and the teams
try to get the right setup for the car. Saturdays begin with a warmup and qualifying, followed
by the first race. Two more races on Sundays complete the weekend.
READ MORE
 
Spring 2021 Dean’s List
Read the names of students who made the Dean’s List during the spring semester.
JEDI Town Hall
Watch a recording of the June 3 Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Steering
Committee town hall that discussed the committee’s work over the past year,
recommendations and next steps.
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Conquer and Prevail Issue 67 June 10 2021

ISSUE #69 | JUNE 24, 2021 | FROM THE OFFICE OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
On the innovation team
Maggie Royce ’22, an English major from Cary, North Carolina, is the lone intern on the Chick-fil-A
enterprise innovation team this summer.
Maggie Royce ’22 never imagined that a Chick-fil-A gift card she received in 2020 would lead
to more than a chicken sandwich and waffle fries.
Royce won the gift card through a women’s ministry. Her mother suggested that Royce
investigate internship opportunities with the company.
“I’d never really thought about it,” says Royce, an English major from Cary, North Carolina. “I
started the interview process last August. It was an extensive process with five or six
interviews.”
Royce was selected for an internship with Chick-fil-A’s enterprise innovation team, which is
housed at the company’s support center in Atlanta, Georgia. The company is hosting about
75 interns this summer, but Royce is the only one with the enterprise innovation team.
READ MORE
Acknowledging commitment
Dr. David Wood, senior vice president for advancement, served Wofford College for 24 years and has
been part of major campus milestones during that time. He recently announced his retirement.
Dr. David S. Wood began his career at Wofford College by shepherding the Terriers into the
Southern Conference at the dawn of the NCAA Division I era. He capped it by leading a
comprehensive campaign that netted more than $470 million in gifts and pledges. In between,
he helped implement the college’s plan to carefully grow enrollment.
Now Wood, the senior vice president for advancement, has announced his retirement after 24
years of service. He previously served as director of athletics, senior vice president for
planning and as provost.
Calhoun Kennedy ’89, executive director for advancement, will serve as interim, and Wood
will remain connected to the college during a national search for his replacement.
“David has served the college with distinction, integrity and grace,” says President Nayef
Samhat. “He has been a true servant leader who has worked in whatever capacity the college
needed most. His influence has been transformational.”
Wood arrived in 1997, serving as director of athletics. Wofford had made the jump to NCAA
Division I two years earlier, and Wood helped steer the Terriers’ entrance into the Southern
Conference.
“Prior to my coming here, Wofford, in my opinion, made one of the boldest decisions in the
history of liberal arts colleges by choosing to move up to Division I athletics,” Wood says.
“There was a natural skepticism, and there should have been. Obviously, we demonstrated
that we could do it, and I was just delighted to play a small role in all of what has occurred
here.”
Starting in 2002, Wood helped put together a plan to slowly grow the college’s enrollment. At 
the time, Wofford had 1,050 students. The plan called for incremental increases – first to 
1,250 students, then 1,450 and 1,600.
READ MORE
Offensive coordinator Wade Lang announces retirement
Wofford football offensive coordinator Wade Lang has announced his retirement effective
June 30. A 1983 graduate of Wofford, he has spent 33 seasons as an assistant coach,
including the last 31 as offensive coordinator.
As a member of the coaching staff, he has been a part of 12 NCAA Playoff appearances (two
NCAA Division II and 10 NCAA FCS) and seven Southern Conference championships. He
has coached over 20 All-Americans, five Academic All-Americans, 150 All-Southern
Conference players, two SoCon Freshmen of the Year and two SoCon Offensive Players of
the Year.
Under Lang's direction, Wofford has consistently ranked among national leaders in team
rushing, total offense and scoring. Wofford has finished either first or second in the Southern
Conference in rushing in 22 of the past 24 years, and the Terriers have been among the top
10 in rushing nationally for 24 consecutive seasons.
He has coached some of the most prolific quarterbacks in college history, including Shawn
Graves, Travis Wilson, Josh Collier, Ben Widmyer, Mitch Allen and Joe Newman.
READ MORE
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Conquer and Prevail Issue 69 June 24 2021

ISSUE #53 | FEB. 24, 2021 | FROM THE OFFICE OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
A special announcement from President Samhat
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Richardson '59 with Richardson Scholars at the Topping Out Celebration of the Jerry 
Richardson Indoor Stadium. Richardson Scholars from left: Hawkins Shepard '20, Matt Edwards '17, Katie 
Beuerlein '18 and Omar Elmore '19.
Dear Wofford family,
It is with great honor and celebration that I announce a $150 million gift to the college's 
endowment from Jerry Richardson '59. This brings his "For Wofford" campaign total to $257.3 
million! Mr. Richardson signed the documents earlier today in his Charlotte, N.C., office.
Mr. Richardson's commitment to the liberal arts and our college — students, staff, faculty and 
alumni — has always been a constant. This most recent gift will ensure that students with 
unlimited potential are no longer limited by resources.
Please read the news release below and join me in thanking him for his decades of 
generosity, vision and leadership!
With boundless gratitude,
Dr. Nayef H. Samhat
President
Richardson gives record $150 million to Wofford College
Endowment
Jerome J. Richardson, founding owner of The Carolina Panthers and long-time business 
leader in the Carolinas, has given $150 million to Wofford College, his alma mater. The gift — 
the largest in the college's history — is designated for the endowment with a focus on need-
based scholarships and experiences for Wofford students.
With this gift, Richardson's contributions to Wofford exceed $262.6 million, among the largest 
individual commitments ever to a U.S. college or university. The $257.3 million he has given 
since 2014 as part of the current "For Wofford" campaign is the largest single campaign gift 
made to a national liberal arts college.
"Mr. Richardson's loyalty to Wofford College and his commitment to the student experience 
have been a constant since he came to Spartanburg from Fayetteville, N.C., on a modest 
football scholarship in 1954," said Wofford President Nayef Samhat. "After he graduated, he 
gave even when he had very little to give, and throughout his life's journey, he has 
remembered his alma mater without fail. This gift is Mr. Richardson once again changing the 
game for Wofford College students, and we are forever grateful for his love of our college and 
the countless ways this gift will impact our students, our community and ultimately our world."
The $150 million endowment gift will focus on four areas:
Need-based financial aid that will affect hundreds of students each year.
Off-campus U.S and global study opportunities, student and faculty research, 
internships and entrepreneurial learning opportunities.
An initiative to transition all of the college's support staff to a minimum wage of $15 per 
hour.
A special fund for the maintenance, repair and improvement of campus buildings.
Read the entire news release.
The life of Jerry Richardson
Jerry Richardson participated in an interview with the college's alumni magazine, Wofford 
Today, in 2017. He discussed his humble beginnings and major influencers in his life, 
including Wofford faculty. Read the story.
No. 51
Jerry Richardson's No. 51 football jersey was retired at Wofford in 2011. The above video 
documents his relationship with the college, which began in the 1950s as a student-athlete 
and captures his success as a businessman and NFL team owner.
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Conquer and Prevail Issue 53 Feb 24 2021

ISSUE #51 | FEB. 11, 2021 | FROM THE OFFICE OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
In the Cards
Kenzie Syiem knows firsthand the severity of COVID-19.
Syiem '23, an English and Spanish major from India, tested positive for the virus last month. 
She couldn't get out of bed for a week. She still feels fatigued easily, a lingering effect of 
COVID.
On Wednesday, Syiem was one of the first people in line to create a card of thanks for the 
frontline workers administering the COVID-19 tests to students, faculty and staff. The event 
was sponsored by the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity, which provided the paper and markers for 
those who wanted to create cards.
"Especially right now, when they're serving so many people, it's hard to feel appreciated 
when they're in the humdrum of testing so many people," Syiem says. "This is just a reminder 
that we appreciate what they do."
Syiem borrowed a quote from the late Maya Angelou to express her appreciation: "They may 
forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel."
Read more.
Her Type
Masha Vlasova's inspiration for her short film "Her Type," came from a familiar source: Her 
mother.
"We were sitting in her kitchen, and (my mother) finds so much joy in new technological 
development," says Vlasova, an assistant professor of studio art at Wofford College. "She 
happened to download FaceApp on her phone and was really excited about playing around 
with it."
FaceApp uses filters to allow people to look younger, older or present as a different gender.
"She took a picture and she put a male filter on my face and just had this wonderful, 
unscripted response because with the male filter I look like my father, who's been deceased 
for some time and they've been divorced for a long time," Vlasova says. "She was kind of 
like, 'Oh my gosh, here's my ex-husband looking back at me through this ridiculous 
application.'"
Vlasova worked with her mother, who is a Russian immigrant and a professional actress, to 
recreate that reaction in a 4-minute film, one that took only two hours to shoot in her mother's 
kitchen.
Read more.
‘Tennis ... makes us better people.’
The South Carolina Tennis Association profiled men's tennis coach Rod Ray. He shared his 
philosophies on life and tennis. The writer described their conversation as, "Talking with Ray 
is a lot like watching a great tennis match. He moves back and forth between topics about life 
and values and the importance of college tennis. His pride in his players' athletic 
accomplishments is outranked only by his pride in their academic accomplishments and 
success after college."
Read the article.
JEDI Student Survey
Students are invited to participate in a survey with the college's Justice, Equity, Diversity 
and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee to inform the committee's strategic visioning process. The 
survey should be completed by Feb. 28.
Follow us @woffordcollege


Conquer and Prevail Issue 51 Feb 11 2021

ISSUE #91 | DECEMBER 2, 2021 | FROM THE OFFICE OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
A walk in the park
Dr. Laura Barbas Rhoden and Dr. Jennifer Bradham led students in a quantitative and qualitative analysis
of greenspaces in Spartanburg County.
By Robert W. Dalton
During a walk around Duncan Park in the spring of 2020, Dr. Laura Barbas Rhoden and Dr.
Jennifer Bradham talked about greenspace equity in Spartanburg County. Their conversation
eventually turned into a joint research project.
Barbas Rhoden, Bradham and a group of students examined the number of greenspaces,
their locations and their amenities. They also looked at demographic data associated with
park locations and the frequency of use. Bradham’s group researched the parks through a
quantitative lens, while Barbas Rhoden’s students took a qualitative view.
Bradham, assistant professor of environmental studies, and her students identified and
assessed 76 greenspaces within the county. Drew Wilson ’23, an environmental studies
major from Sandersville, Georgia, mapped the parks and their locations using Geographical
Information Systems (GIS).
“That sounds like a big number, but there is a high concentration in the city,” says Wilson.
“There aren’t as many out in the county. It’s interesting how they are dispersed.”
The parks were mapped by ZIP code and by census tract. The differences were glaring.
“We identified a lot of park deserts,” says Wade Wood ’22, an environmental studies major
from Garner, North Carolina. “When looking at them at the ZIP code level it’s not as
apparent, but when it’s broken down by census tract, you see a lot of areas outside of the
city of Spartanburg where there are large swaths of land that don’t have any parks.”
READ MORE
Richardson Scholar
Hope Moreno ’25 is the 2021 recipient of the Richardson Family Scholarship.
By Robert W. Dalton
Hope Moreno ’25 didn’t think she’d have the opportunity to study abroad. She wasn’t certain
she would even end up at Wofford.
Then she got the news that changed her trajectory. Moreno was the recipient of the 2021
Richardson Family Scholarship.
“I am so blessed, because without this scholarship I wouldn’t be able to be at such an
amazing college,” says Moreno. “This has given financial peace to my family.”
Moreno joins Andrew White ’22, a physics major from Clover, South Carolina; Jackson
Barton ’23, a Chinese and environmental studies double major from Lexington, North
Carolina; and Alec Schrader ’24, a biology and finance double major from Fredonia, New
York, as current Richardson Scholars.
The Richardson Family Scholarship was first awarded in 1988. In addition to full tuition, fees,
room and board for four years, the scholarship includes a monthly stipend for books and
other expenses, a January travel experience and summer internships, with one presenting
the opportunity for travel abroad.
Moreno is a graduate of Spartanburg Day School. She played soccer for the Griffins until a
knee injury ended her career. She says the Day School was a close-knit community, much
like she has found at Wofford.
READ MORE
Candlelight Carols and Winter Lighting
Candlelight Carols and the lighting of the menorah is a festive Wofford tradition to kick off the holiday
season.
The college’s annual Candlelight Carols and Winter Lighting service will be live streamed 
from Leonard Auditorium through the Wofford College Facebook account at 7 p.m. 
Wednesday, Dec. 8. All student choirs will perform.
Celebrating med school acceptance
The women’s basketball team celebrated a Tuesday night win and Alexis Tomlin ’22 being accepted by
her No. 1 choice for medical school.
Wofford’s women’s basketball team didn’t just celebrate a 74-52 win against High Point
University on Tuesday night. The team also celebrated Alexis Tomlin ’22, a biology and
mathematics major from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, being accepted by her No. 1 choice
for medical school, the Medical University of South Carolina. Watch a clip of the
celebration. Tomlin was also named the Southern Conference’s Student-Athlete of the
Week for Nov. 24-30. She’s the women’s basketball team’s first-ever student-athlete of
the week.
Six Terriers earn All-Southern Conference football
honors
No. 93 Brandon Maina ’25 was one of three Terriers named to the Southern Conference’s All-Freshman
team after the 2021 season.
The Southern Conference recently announced its 2021 football postseason awards,
including the coaches’ All-Conference teams, specialty award winners and All-Freshman
team. The Southern Conference Sports Media Association also selected its football All-
Conference team and specialty award winners.
Three Terriers were named to the All-Freshman team, the second-most in college history.
The players honored include:
Offensive lineman Zak Kurz ’22, a government major from West Chester, Ohio, was named
to the coaches’ second team.
Running back Irvin Mulligan ’23, an environmental studies major from Yemassee, South
Carolina, was named to the coaches’ and media’s second team.
Defensive lineman Michael Mason ’23, a physics major from Effingham, South Carolina,
was named to the media’s second team.
Defensive back Amir Annoor ’25, an undeclared major from Nashville, Tennessee, was
named to the All-Freshman team.
Defensive lineman Brandon Maina ’25, an undeclared major from Hiram, Georgia, was
named to the All-Freshman team.
Defensive lineman Chuck Smith ’24, an undeclared major from Suwanee, Georgia, was
named to the All-Freshman team.
READ MORE
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