2025 Alumni Awards Panther icon

At the Alumni Awards ceremony during Homecoming in November, the College honored seven distinguished alumni who have made a positive impact in their chosen fields.
Demetria stands at a podium on a stage, smiling while speaking into a microphone, wearing glasses and a patterned jacket with a red corsage, with blue stage drapery behind her.
Demetria Noisette Clemons ’75
Alumni Award of Honor
Educational consultant
Charleston
Demetria Noisette Clemons ʼ75 worked for more than 34 years in education as a principal specialist for the South Carolina Department of Education and as principal, grant coordinator, counselor and teacher for several school districts.

A Charleston native, Clemons graduated early from high school and enrolled at the College at age 16. Three years later, she walked across the Cistern with a Bachelor of Science in psychology. She earned a Master of Education in counseling from The Citadel and has taken extensive coursework in educational administration from American University.

For her exemplary efforts for the betterment of both the Board of Trustees and the College, Clemons received the Doctor of Humane Letters degree in May 2025. The Excellence in Collegiate Education and Leadership awards program at the College acknowledged her services to the student community by establishing the Demetria N. Clemons Distinguished Mentoring Award. Clemons’ generosity of time, spirit and wisdom has contributed significantly to the past, present and future success of CofC students.

Arlinda smiles while speaking at a podium onstage, wearing glasses and a dark patterned dress, with softly lit blue and purple curtains in the background.
Marcus stands at a podium addressing an audience, wearing a light-colored blazer over a white shirt, smiling as he speaks under blue stage lighting.
Cynthia speaks at a podium onstage, wearing a maroon dress and pearl necklace, smiling slightly as she looks toward the audience against blue draped curtains.
Arlinda smiles while speaking at a podium onstage, wearing glasses and a dark patterned dress, with softly lit blue and purple curtains in the background.
Arlinda Locklear ’73
Karen Burroughs Jones ’74 Distinguished Alumni Award
One of the nation’s foremost attorneys in federal Indian law
Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
Marcus stands at a podium addressing an audience, wearing a light-colored blazer over a white shirt, smiling as he speaks under blue stage lighting.
Marcus Hammond ’09
Alumnus of the Year
Entrepreneur and community builder
Melbourne, Fla.
Cynthia speaks at a podium onstage, wearing a maroon dress and pearl necklace, smiling slightly as she looks toward the audience against blue draped curtains.
Cynthia Marcengill Legette ’93
Howard F. Rudd Jr. Business Person of the Year
Relationship manager and principal at Diversified Trust
Chapin, S.C.
Yolanda stands at a podium speaking to an audience, wearing glasses, a black blazer, and a floral blouse, with blue stage drapery behind her.
Lancie gestures while speaking at a podium onstage, wearing a patterned short-sleeve shirt, with a large circular emblem and dark background behind him.
Deniz speaks at a podium onstage, wearing a black lace dress and looking to the side as she addresses the audience, framed by blue curtains and stage lighting.
Yolanda stands at a podium speaking to an audience, wearing glasses, a black blazer, and a floral blouse, with blue stage drapery behind her.
Youlanda C. Gibbs ’98
Outstanding Service Award in Medicine
Founder and executive director of Palmetto Palace
Johns Island, S.C.
Lancie gestures while speaking at a podium onstage, wearing a patterned short-sleeve shirt, with a large circular emblem and dark background behind him.
Lancie Affonso ’96 (M.S. ’08)
Honors College Distinguished Alumni Award
Senior instructor of computer science, entrepreneurship and management
Charleston
Deniz speaks at a podium onstage, wearing a black lace dress and looking to the side as she addresses the audience, framed by blue curtains and stage lighting.
Deniz Houston ’16
Young Alumnus Award
Digital policy officer for the Delegation of the European Union to the United States
Washington, D.C.
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