Tiger Tales

Mackenzie Kingerski is a senior psychology major and the current president of the Clemson chapter of It’s On Us. The initiative aims to bring awareness and support to survivors of interpersonal violence. Kingerski has served on the executive board of the Clemson chapter for three years. Her roles have included the Domestic Violence Awareness Month chair, secretary and president.

In 2019, It’s On Us organized The Women's March Against Violence in support of survivors of interpersonal violence. Kingerski saw the march on campus and across social media and was immediately interested in getting involved with the organization.

As president, Kingerski primarily communicates with the national organization, oversees other leadership positions and facilitates collaborations with other organizations at Clemson and in the community. She is also involved with Kappa Delta and Order of Omega, keeping her extracurricular involvement minimal so she can dedicate her time and energy primarily to It’s On Us.

When asked about what the organization means to her, Kingerski said, “It’s about building a community for survivors of interpersonal violence and those who are allied to preventing and bringing awareness to these issues at Clemson.”

Kingerski truly loves the community created through It’s On Us and their efforts to raise awareness about interpersonal violence prevention and response at Clemson. She is working to create change through the Clemson chapter of It’s On Us, which she hopes to continue after she graduates in December. Kingerski plans to attend graduate school and incorporate advocacy for survivors into her work. She also hopes to continue to be a resource for the Clemson chapter and help in any way that she can.

“We have a lot of people who follow our Instagram and engage with our posts, but we also want people to come to our events and get involved… [we hope to] build that sense of community with the events that we’ve been doing,” said Kingerski.

Kingerski wants the Clemson community to know that It’s On Us is a safe space for everyone. She encourages anyone seeking support to reach out personally or message the It’s On Us Instagram.

It was surreal. He just couldn’t believe it was over. 

“All the hard work we had put in really paid off,” said Malik Balogun, reflecting on the moment he had been announced as the new student body president. “Thankful is the one word to describe how I felt.” 
 
Balogun knew he needed to run for president when he realized that although he felt right at home at Clemson, many of his friends did not. The Clemson experience needed to be revived. 

“Every student that comes through this University should feel like this is their home and not just their school,” Balogun said. 

Together with running mate Julia Blouin, the political duo and their team created a campaign platform with a goal to increase student engagement on campus. While there were stressful times, the candidates kept positive spirits. This supportive relationship strengthened their perseverance and helped lead them to a win. 
 
Balogun’s ties to Clemson run deep. Growing up, he remembers visiting the University with his mother who is a very involved alumna. His mother’s pride and loyalty to the University through her scholarship endowment and seat on the Alumni Board encouraged Balogun to give Clemson a chance. After seeing all of the students’ smiling faces and falling in love with the industrial engineering program during his campus tour, Balogun decided Clemson would be his home for the next five years.
 
The industrial engineering major is involved with the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, IPTAY Student Advisory Board, Student Alumni Council and works in the College of Engineering Dean’s Office. 

The student body president encourages incoming students to step out of their comfort zones. “Don’t take the natural path. Veer off and see what other options are out there on Clemson’s campus.” Some of Balogun’s favorite experiences at Clemson arose from having an open mindset and trying new things.  

“I really have a passion for meeting new people and establishing and valuing relationships…it's never been a task for me,” Balogun said.

To keep with the newly elected duo throughout their term, follow on Instagram.

After graduating from Clemson University in 1982, Jeff Bennett spent 35 years working in video production, starting in Nashville, TN. His passion and creativity shone through the music videos of iconic country artists, such as Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton. In 2000, Bennett returned to Clemson and took a job at the University Communications Center. While there, Bennett began making cakes for coworkers’ birthdays. When one staff member requested pound cake, he brought out his grandma’s famous recipe and hasn’t looked back since.
Bennett began experimenting with flavors after his coworkers loved the cake, starting with pumpkin and banana pudding. He continued to bake for his friends and family out of his own kitchen. Around 2012, his sister recommended his baking skills to a recruiting agency in Greenville that needed Christmas gifts for clients. After tasting the pound cake, the agency placed an order for 75 cakes that Bennett would need to make over the course of three weeks. Bennett’s love for baking grew with his business.
On his way to the Orange Bowl in 2016, Bennett watched the film “Chef” which tells the story of a man who is moving back to Florida after being fired from his job and invests in a food truck. This inspired Bennett to purchase a mobile bakery, which he then took to events like Clemson’s First Friday Parade and Fall for Greenville. During the 2018 Fall for Greenville event, Bennett ran out of cakes on the first night. The next day, his truck had a 45 minute long line. He exited the truck to ask why people were waiting and they said, “Because they are so good!”
Since starting the business in his own kitchen, Bennett found a space and opened The Pound Cake Man Bakery in May 2020. Thankfully, the business has not been adversely impacted by the pandemic because it is a grab and go style restaurant, as well as delivering to on and off-campus residents. When asked why he thinks the business is so successful, Bennett says that it is a “niche business” that brings comfort to the Clemson community.
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After graduating from Clemson University in 1982, Jeff Bennett spent 35 years working in video production, starting in Nashville, TN. His passion and creativity shone through the music videos of iconic country artists, such as Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton. In 2000, Bennett returned to Clemson and took a job at the University Communications Center. While there, Bennett began making cakes for birthdays and celebrations of coworkers. When one staff member requested pound cake, he brought out his grandma’s famous recipe and hasn’t looked back since.

Bennett began experimenting with flavors after his coworkers went crazy over the cake, starting with pumpkin and banana pudding. He continued to bake for his friends and family out of his own kitchen. Around 2012, his sister recommended his baking skills to a recruiting agency in Greenville that needed Christmas gifts for clients. After tasting the pound cake, the agency placed an order for 75 cakes that Bennett would need to make over the course of three weeks. Bennett’s love for baking grew with his business.

On his way to the Orange Bowl in 2016, Bennett watched the film “Chef” which tells the story of a man who is moving back to Florida after being fired from his job and invests in a food truck. This inspired Bennett to purchase a mobile bakery, which he then took to events like Clemson’s First Friday Parade and Fall for Greenville. During the 2018 Fall for Greenville event, Bennett ran out of cakes on the first night. The next day, his truck had a 45 minute long line. He exited the truck to ask why people were waiting and they said, “Because they are so good!”

Since starting the business in his own kitchen, Bennett found a space and opened The Pound Cake Man Bakery in May 2020. Thankfully, the business has not been adversely impacted by the pandemic because it is a grab and go style restaurant, as well as delivering to on and off-campus residents. When asked why he thinks the business is so successful, Bennett says that it is a “niche business” that brings comfort to the Clemson community.

The Bennett family’s impact on Clemson spans over generations, with his father, George Bennett, serving as the head of IPTAY and starting the two-dollar bill tradition. Now with over 80 flavors of pound cake, Bennett plans to grow his business and open a new location in Greenville during 2022.

Confetti swirled on the field, fans cheered from the stands and the 2021 Men’s Soccer National Championship trophy was presented to the Clemson Tigers. For Isaiah Reid, the defender and forward who led the team to victory scoring both goals to beat Washington 2-0, it was dreamlike.

“It felt surreal…it just felt like we won a tournament. But no, we won the freaking National Championship. It probably won’t set in until I finish playing the game here at Clemson.”

Soccer has been a part of Reid’s life since he was two years old. Reid joined Discoveries Soccer Club in Rock Hill, South Carolina, inspired by his older brother, when he was six years old and never looked back. He later transitioned to Charlotte Soccer Academy in high school.

“Soccer is all I know,” Reid said. It is the only organized sport he has ever played.

Growing up, Reid rooted for the Tigers and dreamed about playing for the Clemson men’s soccer team. His dream came true sophomore year of high school, committing to play for the University on scholarship as soon as he got home from a successful scouting camp visit to Tigertown.

Over the past three years at Clemson, Reid has proven himself to be a standout. He attributed much of this season’s success to the brotherhood and collective mindset his teammates shared. Everyone believed they could win it all and worked together to fight until the very end.

“The love and the passion we have for the game and each other was really the main reason why we were able to go the whole way,” Reid said.

Not only has being on the Clemson soccer team made Reid a better athlete, it has also made him a well-rounded individual and student leader. His coaches and teammates focus on self-sacrifice and community involvement.

“In all aspects of life, they make me better,” Reid said.

A junior sports communication major and business minor, Reid is involved with ClemsonLIFE and the UPIC internship program. As a social media content strategist, you can catch him hosting the “Ask a Tiger” Instagram story series every Wednesday on the account.

Reid looks forward to his senior year and anticipates entering the draft for the American Professional Soccer league next January. He wants to continue to play the game for as long as the game lets him.

Ricky Sapp felt lost after hanging up his cleats. After five years of playing for the NFL, the former Clemson Football standout, experienced anxiety and depression for over a year. 

Luckily, Sapp made a career from pushing past obstacles. Now the 5-star high school football recruit has returned home to work with players and former coaches in the weight room. He says that what brought him back to his roots was his love of people and life.

After retiring from the NFL, Sap had the opportunity to speak to a high school football team and soon was offered a volunteer coaching position. After much convincing, he accepted the position. To his surprise, working at that school would unveil his purpose in life. Sapp fell in love with working with students. Following his passion, he went on to work as a substitute and high school ISS teacher. While it was hard for him to leave his students, he is thrilled to be back at Clemson.

Returning Clemson, the part-time motivational speaker works under Coach Batson for Clemson Football strength and conditioning. “I’m home,” said Sapp when asked how it feels to be back in the Upstate.

Sapp's first campus visit, over a decade ago, set the tone for the future of his sports career. Back then, the South Carolinian teen had countless offers from college football programs. However, after visiting other universities, something kept bringing him back to Clemson. Sapp called his years at Clemson “the best time of my life.” 

Clemson Football enabled Sapp to pursue his childhood dream. In 2010 he was drafted to the Philadelphia Eagles. From there, he had the opportunity to play in the NFL for five years. Also, during this time, he founded the Ricky Sapp Foundation, which encourages young people to make positive changes in their life. 
 
When Sapp was asked what advice he would give to a college student in today’s world, he responded with “Enjoy it, enjoy this experience… write down options of what you want to do… figure out what you’re passionate about… your gift will make room for everything else…”
 
If you have the opportunity to have a conversation with Sapp, you will not be disappointed. He is full of positivity and great advice.

Sluggish mid-winter blues have nothing on the human highlighter, Alex Ittenbach. 

With his signature neon yellow sportswear, Ittenbach, 22, lights up campus on overcast days. And while his neon yellow backpack, baseball cap, kicks, and hair epitomize fashion, Ittenbach says he’s not attempting to start a trend.

“I’m just trying to be who I am,” Ittenbach said. “[My fashion] brings out the positivity in me. It’s unique, creative and I love it.” 

Also called 4H (the human highlighter from Hilton Head), Ittenbach said his brand identity began in 2015 when Nike came out with a neon line. Though he is now an avid pickleball player, the then-tennis player was inspired.

When Alex isn’t playing pickleball — a paddleball sport that combines elements of badminton, table tennis and tennis — he’s working on his degree in Parks, Recreation, & Tourism Management, with a main focus on sports and hospitality. 

“I can see myself being in a stadium, any stadium, and taking care of [sports goers’] needs and managing the whole area of the stadium since I have a passion for sports,” the athlete said. 

For more human highlighter content, follow Ittenbach’s Instagram at . Bonus: if you’re up for a game of pickleball, slide into his DMs. People-person Ittenbach adds, “If anyone wants a challenge, I’ll beat them.”

Since graduating from Clemson University in May 2021, Carlyle Griffin has taken her talents to new levels. As a former intern at the Pearce Center for Professional Communication, Griffin began her professional career at Clemson while working closely with clients to create deliverables such as social media content, videos and website designs. This hands-on experience taught her how to truly listen and communicate with others, preparing her for the future.

While at the Pearce Center, Griffin was able to take the lead on various client projects, including Call My Name and First Baptist Clemson. Griffin became the team lead for Call My Name during her second semester with the Pearce Center. She says that this project consisted mostly of event coordination, graphic design and social media work. Not only did she enjoy working with Dr. Rhondda Thomas and Call My Name because of the creative aspects of this project, but Griffin was also fascinated by the historical content of the project. Learning about the history of Clemson was a special part of her experience at the Pearce Center.

Griffin also worked closely with First Baptist Clemson, an inclusive community of faith located close to campus. Her main tasks for this client included spearheading their website redesign and filming, editing and producing videos for sermons. Griffin describes her experience at the Pearce Center as “invaluable” because she was able to work in a client-facing role and develop a solid base of knowledge on which to grow. The Pearce Center allowed her to work in many facets of public relations, communication and marketing.

As a Clemson grad, Griffin currently works full-time for a financial company on their direct mail marketing team. Her role as a marketing coordinator allows her to use both the analytic and creative parts of her mind. She is also pursuing music full-time in Nashville, TN. Her latest release, “Symptomatic Daydream”, showcases her incredible writing and vocal abilities.

Performing is on Griffin’s long list of passions. She began performing in church when she was five years old. At age 10, she received her first guitar. After a few years, she began to learn to play music and write her own songs. Her love for music continued to grow and she realized that this was something that she could pursue. Griffin said that, “It is rare to find something that you love and want to pursue at a young age.” She continued to perform during her time at Clemson, singing hits from artists like Amy Winehouse and Fleetwood Mac. Now located in Nashville, Griffin began singing in a new setting.

When asked about her new single and budding music career, Griffin emphasized the importance of networking. She credits a Nashville specialty, Writers’ Rounds, which are events hosted at different venues where artists and songwriters are invited to perform their music in the local area. Griffin loves hearing what other artists are doing, meeting new faces, and learning about others’ creative processes. Griffin met the producer of “Symptomatic Daydream” at one of the Writers’ Rounds in 2021. After he heard a sample of her song, he was inclined to produce the record and work with Griffin to release it.

“It's the best feeling to put all that work into something and know that people want to hear it,” says Griffin. The collaborative environment fostered by Nashville and its people allowed her to take this next step within the music industry. Griffin is currently deciding what comes next for her music career, but she hints that there are two projects on the horizon. Her talent and drive ensure success for Griffin and make listeners excited for her future releases.

“Symptomatic Daydream” can be streamed on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and iHeart Radio now. It is also available for purchase on iTunes and Amazon Music.

You may know her as UberQueen, the smiling face you see when ridesharing around downtown Clemson. More than a smiling face, local rideshare icon Tesshea Adams’ business savvy is unparalleled. She can be found not only driving students in downtown Clemson but also engaging with folks on social media.

“It is exceptionally fulfilling,” Adams says as she describes her experience as Clemson’s most beloved Uber driver. One of Adams’ favorite parts of the job is meeting the faces of the Clemson community, especially the students.

While going through a divorce, Adams was looking for something to do and stumbled upon Uber. Being a social media manager at the time, Adams applied her knowledge of social media marketing to her new venture. “I made my social media accounts before I ever even took a drive,” Adams said.

Since her children call her “Queen,” and Uber means “super,” Adams combined the words together, applying her knowledge of social media marketing to her new venture to create the memorable name UberQueen.

Currently a Tri-County student, the mom of three is pursuing a career in radio. From attending classes to taking care of her kids to launching her clothing company to Ubering, Adams balances all that life throws at her with the thought that “there is nothing a woman can’t do.”
As an open communicator with strangers, friends and clients alike, she also believes in speaking openly with her own children. Wanting to raise her kids to be self-sustaining, even the youngest, at age 9, already knows how to cook whole meals for the family.

When talking to her children about their futures, Adams encourages her children to go wherever their hearts desire, rather than following the idea of a legacy by attending Clemson University. “I’ve always told them, ‘even though you see Mommy in Clemson all the time, you have all my riders here all the time, we go to restaurants here and everyone knows me in Clemson, I do not want you to go to Clemson because of that.’” She wants them to go where they will get the best education for them rather than going to somewhere familiar to them.

If you get the chance to Uber with the Queen, make sure to sign her guest book. She never rips out a page, no matter the obscenity, imagery or choice words included in an individual’s message. Each and every one of these messages is posted to her Instagram account for her and her followers’ entertainment.

“Everything that I do, I just want to continue to uber it, to make it better and be the best at it that I can be.”

Thanks to our followers and Clemson community for a great first semester with Tiger Tales! We are so excited to continue sharing the stories of those doing great things in Clemson. Look out for more stories to come!!

When Hud, Kevin, Eli, Gray and Bryan opened the retail store Stripes, they had no idea of their impact on the community.

“Opening day was like a movie. We knew the opening day would be big, but we weren’t expecting it to be as big as it was. At one point, someone told us there were over 100 people, and the line was wrapped around to Study Hall,” Hud said.

The vintage store, located on N. Clemson Ave, had a similar response on Black Friday, showcasing the need for a store like Stripes within the community.

“We knew we were doing the right thing when we saw how many people were waiting to get into our store for both events. In Clemson, there are not that many clothing stores, especially for men,” Kevin said. “So we wanted to create another space for people that allows them to express themselves.”

Stripes mainly sells vintage clothes and sneakers from the ’70s through the ’90s but will occasionally sell more hype retail, like Nike Dunk or Nike Air Force sneakers. Unique pieces for the store are not always easy to find - the owners often find themselves traveling as far as Georgia or Tennessee to bring their customers high quality clothing. Additionally, customers can bring their own vintage pieces to the storefront to sell to the five owners.

When we talked to Hud, Kevin and Eli, they prided themselves in embracing their own individual style, a reason why they work so hard to find unique clothing for their community.

“A lot of people dress the same in Clemson, and we want to promote being your own person,” said Eli. “Our main goal is to create a culture in our community where everyone is embraced for their uniqueness.”

Stripes does this by occasionally offering free merchandise on a first-come, first-serve basis to their Instagram followers by hanging up a T-shirt or putting a pair of sneakers outside.

“Clemson has really embraced our community, and we want to give back,” Kevin said. “We wouldn’t be here without the community, and we want people to know we really appreciate their support.”

As for what’s next for Stripes, the opportunity is endless. While there isn’t a set five-year plan, all of the men agreed that they wanted to continue to grow into the biggest and best vintage store they can and continue to grow the community around Clemson.

To follow along with Stripes, follow them on Instagram () and head into the store to check out their offerings.

While many people associate Clemson with the university, it is far more than just a college town. Clemson is a dynamic place full of community members that contribute in different ways through their jobs, organizational affiliations and interests. According to The Princeton Review, Clemson has the best town-gown relations among every school in the nation, proving that the community has a positive relationship with students because of what they contribute.

Kelly Durham is a long-time resident of Clemson, SC, Durham grew up in Clemson after his family returned to the city in 1966. He enjoyed the idyllic nature of the town while attending Daniel High School and then the university, graduating from Clemson University in 1980. During his collegiate career, Durham was a part of the ROTC program, inspired by his own father’s involvement in ROTC at Auburn University. After graduation, he was commissioned to spend four years in the US Army and later returned to South Carolina to pursue graduate school.

Durham’s father was not the only inspiration for becoming involved with ROTC. He wanted to give back to the community that raised him. Durham said, “If you want to live in a society, you should contribute to that society.” His experience in the military was very eye-opening, leading him to recognize how lucky he felt to be in Clemson. However, it also made him realize how much opportunity for success in his career existed outside of Clemson, too.

After returning from the military, Durham became involved with the private business sector because his friend owned a Wendy’s franchise and needed to hire someone for their marketing endeavors. Durham jumped on the opportunity and they later became business partners. Durham continued his work in private business until 2015 when he sold his shares and retired in Clemson. These unexpected opportunities shaped Durham’s life.

When Durham turned 50, he continued with these unexpected opportunities and decided to pursue his love of reading and write a book. After facing struggles with publishing, Durham wrote his second novel, “Berlin Calling,” a fiction novel that takes place in Germany before and during World War II. A publishing company decided to publish this novel under their banner and since then, Durham has written eight books and co-authored four others. His passion for reading and writing has occupied him since retiring from private business.

Outside of his involvement with various boards, such as the Board of Visitors and the Board of the Community Foundation of Greater Clemson, Durham says that he is most proud of the work that he has done for Clemson’s Scroll of Honor, the memorial dedicated to Clemson alumni who died during their military service. Durham writes profiles on the individuals that detail their histories and contributions. He takes a lot of pride in this work because these people “sacrificed their futures for our todays” and now he gets to help tell their stories.

As a Clemson graduate, Durham had great advice for undergraduate students. He said, “Participate as fully as you can, not only in your classes or interacting with professors and faculty members...get involved in activities and service organizations, play intramural sports if you're into sports, whatever you're into, jump in with both feet. Like Coach Swinney says, be ‘All In’ because this is a great opportunity for you to try a myriad of different things. Find out what you like. Find out what you don’t like.”

It is evident that Durham took advantage of the opportunities that Clemson created for him while in school and what the community creates for him today. His involvement and experiences are truly inspiring and evident of how Clemson can impact your life.

To describe Linda White as a trailblazer in the Clemson community would only scratch the surface.

The coach has made tremendous strides in her career and in the community by creating opportunities for women in sports and working closely with non-profits. Starting as a coach and transitioning into administrative roles, White’s career seems to illustrate who she is and what she is passionate about.

White began coaching and teaching at Wando High School in Mount Pleasant, SC. Then in 1986, program upgrades due to Title IX requirements led to an increase in the University’s women’s sports teams. Clemson hired White as the first full-time head volleyball coach. White later became the first female senior administrator and athletic director, ensuring that women in athletics were given a platform. Her work at Clemson continued with community outreach efforts and the establishment of the Be a T.I.G.E.R! Program.

“Even though I was always in athletics, there were never opportunities for me,” White said. She wanted to make sure that her players did not face the same issues as her because there was no reason for women in sports to have unequal opportunities. White says that helping to create changes for female athletes, such as starting the first female volleyball and basketball all-star games in the state and helping to establish the South Carolina Coaches Association for Women, was the most meaningful part of her career. She also loved seeing what the young women did with their lives and careers after graduation.

White’s impact on the community changed when she started the Be a T.I.G.E.R! program, which aimed to push athletes to think about what they can do for others outside of sports. Teamwork, integrity, gratitude, education and respect are the pillars of the program. White built this program to give back to the community that gave so much to her after losing her daughter. She says that the Be a T.I.G.E.R! program “helped heal her heart.”

Outside of her role in the Be a T.I.G.E.R! program, White is involved with Helping Hands, a local foster home, as well as serving on the foundation board for the city of Clemson. When asked why she believes in the importance of giving back to your community, White said, “Each of us can have an impact on one person’s life.”

Being involved in the community makes it stronger and improves everyone’s lives. White’s favorite saying is, “Believe there is good in the world, be the good.”