![\"Young](\"http:\/\/clemsonworld.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/LifeLong_Roaring10.jpg\")
<\/a>Young Alumni Roaring Ten<\/p><\/div> Ables (center) with Brasington and Hunter<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n During Homecoming weekend, the Alumni Association honored Sonya Ables \u201979 (center) as the 2013 Volunteer of the Year, the highest recognition and greatest expression of appreciation extended to an individual by the Alumni Association staff for outstanding service and volunteerism. A member of the Alumni Association board of directors and an IPTAY life member, Ables has served as president of the Women\u2019s Council, where she created the annual Bring Your Daughter to Clemson program, which allows girls ages 6 to 18 to learn about academics, campus life and student activities. She also has been an at-large member of the Clemson Alumni Council and a member of the Alumni National Council. She is pictured with Wil Brasington, senior director of the Alumni Association, and Alumni Association president Ann Hunter. Guarding of the Rings<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n You probably know about the Ring Ceremony, which was begun in 2000 and provides a memorable way for seniors to receive their Clemson rings. Held twice a year, the ceremony includes a lesson on the history, heritage and symbolism of the Clemson class ring from University historian Jerry Reel. You might not know what happens the 24 hours before that event. \n\t\t
\nThis fall, the Young Alumni recognized ten young alumni who have made an impact in business, leadership, community, educational and\/or philanthropic endeavors, while exemplifying Clemson\u2019s core values of honesty, integrity and respect.\u00a0Meet this year\u2019s Roaring Ten.
\nPresident of the Nashville Area Clemson Club, Benjamin Thomas Miskelly<\/strong> works with his church as a youth leader, with \u201cRebuilding Together Nashville\u201d on the board of directors and as a Clemson representative with the ACC\/SEC Leadership Council. He is an urban planner and graphic designer with the Metropolitan Nashville Planning Department.
\nBrianna A. Woodsby<\/strong> is a student in Clemson\u2019s MBA program. President of the Spartanburg Clemson Club, she is active in Junior League of Spartanburg and is an IPTAY representative. International trade manager with AFL, she is chair of the advisory board for Wofford\u2019s Kappa Delta chapter and active in Spartanburg Young Professionals and the United Way Young Leaders Society.
\nThe youngest human resource director in the history of Milliken & Company and the youngest chair of the Spartanburg County Republican Party, Joseph Nicholas \u201cNic\u201d Lane <\/strong>serves on the Student Affairs Advisory Board and works closely with the Michelin Career Center, offering advice on how to make students competitive in today\u2019s professional environment. He also is on the board of the Blood Connection.
\nMichael Blake Berry<\/strong> was named 2011 Teacher of the Year at Pendleton High School and selected by the S.C. Association of Agricultural Educators as the Outstanding Young Teacher. He is president of the S.C. Association of Agricultural Educators and president of the historic Pendleton Farmers Society.
\nOdessa Sirman Armstrong<\/strong> serves on the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences Alumni Board and stays engaged with the Clemson Black Alumni Committee. She is a member of the Emerging Leaders Development Program in Washington, D.C.
\nAn attorney with the Cranford Law Firm, Shaun W. Cranford<\/strong> has served as president of the Columbia Clemson Club, where he led their first Clemson Day at the Statehouse. He also is a leader in the club\u2019s efforts to raise funds for a $25,000 scholarship endowment.
\nPresident of the MBA Alumni Society, Stephen Epps III<\/strong> is a member of IPTAY, Alumni Council, Greenville Luncheon Planning Committee and Greenville Young Alumni. Active with PULSE, a leadership development program for young professionals, he was recognized as volunteer of the month for July 2013.
\nTanner James Smith<\/strong> (not pictured) was the first basketball player in Clemson history and only player in the ACC for 2012 to combine +10 points, +5 rebounds, and +4 assists per game for a season. He currently plays in the MHP RIESEN professional basketball team in Germany. He is founder of \u201cTanner\u2019s Totes,\u201d a nonprofit established to help teens cope with long-term hospital care.
\nFormer president of Clemson\u2019s Young Alumni and an active member of the Richmond Clemson Club, Victoria Watson Longshore<\/strong> serves on her church\u2019s hospitality committee and volunteers with the Virginia Special Olympics.
\nWilliam R. Cathcart Jr.<\/strong> received the 2010 Distinguished Leadership Medal for Journalistic Excellence by the U.S. Business Institute. He has worked as managing editor of the Charleston Mercury and as media adviser and speechwriter for the president of the Republic of Georgia, where he also advocates for the region\u2019s cystic fibrosis patients.
\nPictured (clockwise from left): Cathcart, Miskelly, Epps, Cranford, Berry, Lane, Woodsby, Armstrong, Longshore.
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\n<\/a>Ables named Volunteer of the Year<\/h3>\n
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\n<\/a>A NEW TRADITION: Guarding of the Rings<\/h3>\n
\nPreceding the ceremony, the rings are displayed in Memorial Park near the Scroll of Honor. Members of Clemson Corps stand guard over the rings throughout the day (and the night) before the ceremony and then process, carrying the rings to Littlejohn Coliseum for the ceremony.
\nIf you\u2019ve lost your ring, never purchased one or you\u2019d like to honor your son or daughter with a ring for their graduation, go online to clemson.edu\/ring<\/a>. There\u2019s also a line of related jewelry available.
\nCLUB HIGHLIGHT: Arizona Club colors the desert orange<\/h3>\n