Clemson's 'The Judge' Urges Students to Commit Themselves to a Cause

CONTACT: LISA GARRETT, EXT. 1506

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7/29/2002
(By Lisa Garrett)

CLEMSON -- Your life changes when you commit yourself to a cause and you want to make a difference, Jeff Davis, former pro football player and captain of Clemson University's 1981 national championship football team, told a group of students and parents at Tri-County Technical College's 22nd annual Upward Bound awards banquet.

Upward Bound is designed to help high school students bridge the gap between secondary school and college and to provide them with financial and academic resources to prepare for postsecondary education. The Upward Bound project, sponsored by Tri-County, serves 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders from Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties.

"My goal is to empower you to give to others to obtain your goals in life. When you are willing to go for a worthy cause, you can make an eternal impact," said Davis, who is field director of Call Me MISTER, a scholarship teaching program to recruit, train ,certify and secure employment for 200 black males as elementary teachers in S.C.'s public schools. The program is a collaborative effort between Davis' alma mater, Clemson University, and three historically black colleges and universities: Benedict College, Claflin University and Morris College.

"Find out what you believe in and stand up for it. When you find your calling, no one can stop you. It will lead you to a destiny of greatness," said Davis, who was nicknamed 'The Judge' during his Clemson football career.

"Everyone should have a cause. I want to move you to action to become a part of change in society -- because you have the power. When you have a purpose in life and an education, you can react and respond to the struggles we face as a people," he said.

"Be willing to serve, and you will get back. I came back to Clemson
to serve and to be a role model. I came back to give a little something back. If someone would have told me that at age 42, I would feel the best of my life is ahead, I wouldn't have believed them," said Davis, who was the 1981 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year and was named First Team All American by the United Press, the Football Coaches Association, the Football Writers Association, the Walter Camp Foundation and Football News. He was inducted as the fourth member of Clemson's Ring of Honor in 1995.

"Football gave me an opportunity to fulfill a childhood dream. Education gave me the ability to continue to dream, to have choices," said Davis, who was raised in a single parent home by his mother and grandmother. "You have so many challenges at every turn. To face them, you have to know who you are."

Davis found a male role model in his high school coach. After high school, he received an athletic scholarship to play football at Clemson University, and then he played professional football for the Tampa Bay Bucaneers.

Today, Davis, the father of six, is showing a team of 90 young African-American men that they have the power to change children's lives by becoming teachers. African-American males make up less than 1% of elementary school teachers.

"Call Me MISTER" is a reference to Sidney Poitier's famous line from the movie, "In the Heat of the Night." MISTER is an acronym for Men Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models. Davis says, "We help the young men understand that if you can become a man with character, you can become an even better teacher."

Call Me MISTER received a $100,000 Use Your Life Award from Oprah's Angel Network. Davis, an ordained pastor, resides in Clemson with his wife, Joni, and their six children.

Following Davis's speech the following students from tri-county high schools were honored for their outstanding achievements:

Outstanding Academic Achiever Bridge Component Awards (students taking University Transfer and College Prep classes):

-- Ryan Breazeale, of Pickens, a 2002 graduate of Pickens High School. He will be attending Spartanburg Methodist College in the fall.

-- Marlon Glover, of Belton, a 2002 graduate of Belton-Honea Path High School. He is currently attending school at The College of Charleston.

-- Mirryian Grant, of Seneca, a 2002 graduate of Seneca High School. She will be attending North Greenville College in the fall.

-- Victor Hill, of Anderson, 2002 graduate of Westside High School. He will be attending Clemson University in the fall.

-- Latasha Hunt, of Williamston, 2002 graduate of Palmetto High School. She will be attending Lander University in the fall.

-- Nicole Johnson, of Pendleton, a 2002 graduate of Pendleton High School. She will be attending Winthrop University in the fall.

-- Latisha Lomax, of Anderson, a 2002 graduate of T.L. Hanna High School. She will be attending Francis Marion in the fall.

-- Lena Means, of Pelzer, a 2002 graduate of Palmetto High School. She will be attending Lander University in the fall.

-- Chantel Robinson, of Plickens, a 2002 graduate of Pickens High School. She will be attending Greenville Technical College in the fall.

-- Valtrece Rutledge, of Pelzer, a 2002 graduate of Palmetto High School. She will be attending USC-Spartanburg in the fall.

-- Joshua Turmon, of Piedmont, a 2002 graduate of Duluth High School. He will be attending Tri-County Technical College in the fall.

-- Kashia Webb, of Pickens, a 2002 graduate of Pickens High School. She will be attending Anderson College in the fall.

Upward Bound Perfect Attendance Awards for 2001 - 2002

Tennille Martin and Jessica Scott, both of Pendleton.

Most Improved Awards:

Most Improvement in English Award -- Savannah Simpson, of Pendleton.

Most Improvement in Mathematics Award-- Jessica Scott, of Anderson.

Most Improvement in Science Award -- Brad McCullough, of Williamston.

Most Improved in Spanish Award-- Candice Hunter, of Anderson.

Most Outstanding Awards:
Outstanding Achievement in English -- Chanel Gilliam, of Belton.

Outstanding Achievement in Math -- Tennille Martin, of Pendleton.

Outstanding Achievement in Science -- Savannah Simpson, of Pendleton.

Outstanding Achievement in Spanish -- Chanel Gilliam.

SAT/ ACT Awards:
These are awarded to seniors who have scored above a 1000 on the SAT or above a 20 on the ACT:

Ryan Breazeale, of Pickens; Marlon Glover, of Belton; and Nicole Johnson, of Pendleton.

Honor Roll Awards (One Semester)

Marlon Glover, Belton Honea Path High School; Cassell Gray, Westside High School; Tennille Martin, Pendleton High School; Jessica Scott, Pendleton High School; Matthew Wakefield, Pickens High School; and Shayla Williams, Pendleton High School.

Honor Roll Awards (All Year)

Neisha Austin, Pickens High School; Jerecia Hall, Seneca High School; Antwon Hill, Liberty High School; Victor Hill, Westside High School;
Latasha Hunt, Palmetto High School; Nicole Johnson, Pendleton High School; Sierra Shuler, Palmetto High School; and Savannah Simpson, Pendleton High School.

SGA- Student Government Association of Upward Bound

Marlon Glover, of Belton, president for the 2001- 2002 Component.
Kashia Webb, of Pickens, vice president for the 2001- 2001 Component.
Sierra Shuler, of Williamston; secretary for the 2001- 2002 component.
Desiree Goldsmith, of Westminster, treasurer for the 2001- 2002 component.

Scholar's Bowl Awards

Representing Tri-County in Basketball are the following students:

Joshua Burgess, Pickens High School
Jerecia Hall, Seneca High School
Terrance Hill, Liberty High School
Amanda Ligon, Pendleton High School
Matthew Wakefield, Pickens High School

Serving on Tri-County's academic team are the following students:

Captain: Mr. Antwon "Moose" Hill, Liberty High School
Cassell Gray, Westside High School
Jeremy Hallums, Liberty High School
Tennille Martin, Pendleton High School
Crystal Sanders, Seneca High School
Jessica Scott, Pendleton High School
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