Governor Mark Sanford presents the Governor's Award to Dr. Peggy Ratliff, Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

On Oct. 8, the Claflin University School of Humanities and Social Sciences received the Governor’s Award in the Humanities for their exemplary support of public humanities programs.

Claflin is the fourth university in the state to be recognized and the first Historically Black College or University.

“This award means a great deal to the School and faculty,” said Dr. Peggy Ratliff, dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. “I’m happy we are being recognized in this way. We have hard-working faculty and I’m grateful they are being recognized for their work effort. This is not only an award for us, but the entire university to be proud of.”

Established in 1991, the Governor’s Awards in the Humanities recognize outstanding achievement in humanities, research, teaching and scholarship; institutional and individual participation in community-based programs that promote public understanding of ideas and issues related to the humanities; excellence defining South Carolina’s cultural life to the nation or world; and exemplary support for public humanities. Since 1991, 49 awards have been presented through the Humanities Council, the state-based program of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

“This recognition is indeed special as Claflin has a tradition of providing programs in the humanities to audiences around the world,” said Claflin University President Dr. Henry N. Tisdale. “From the Claflin University Jubilee Singers touring the country in the early 1900s to the Concert Choir performing internationally, to having the first art department established at a university in the state of South Carolina, Claflin University has always been committed to producing and promoting humanities programs. We are extremely proud of this recognition.”

For over a decade, the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Claflin has provided quality programs in the humanities free of cost to the public in the greater Orangeburg community and in the lowcountry region of South Carolina. All six departments in this school provide free public programs. The School’s lyceum series produces a variety of community events each year including concerts, year-long art exhibits, senior citizens programs and a humanities festival for high school students.

“We try to include all aspects of the community in our lyceum programs,” Dr. Ratliff said. “Claflin is known for having community involvement and providing quality programs to the greater Orangeburg community and surrounding areas. It’s a tradition. We have a rich history of proving these programs to the community. It really fits right in with the university’s mission and goals.”

Dr. Ratliff said the Governor’s award represents a team effort for all department faculty members. She hopes the recognition helps the School of Humanities and Social Sciences to recruit the best and brightest students and faculty and provide events for the community that they may not otherwise be exposed to.

“The great thing about this award is it recognizes our outreach to the community,” she said. “One of the strategic goals of the university is more community involvement. I hope this honor and recognition helps others in the community become more involved in activities at Claflin.”

Claflin will host the John Brown Orchestra on campus on Oct. 29 in the W. V. Middleton Fine Arts Center and the Columbia City Ballet on Nov. 12. For more information about lyceum events, contact the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at 803-535-5232.