Gift continues to transform business education at Clemson University
Since 2018, 40,592 students have learned and thrived at the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business, made possible with a generous $60 million gift. And each has come across this quote from Powers, which greets visitors as they pass through the doors of Powers Hall.
The words are a reminder of the man who worked hard to make his own ambitions come true. Years ago, Billy Powers had to make the difficult decision to leave his studies at Clemson College to help on his family farm. He never forgot the disappointment of having to leave college, but his dedication and sacrifice, along with a strong work ethic, prompted him to become one of the most successful businessmen in South Carolina. Throughout his career, Billy and his wife, Ann, have never stopped doing the right thing for others.
When the Powerses’ grandson, Chandler Burns ’15, unexpectedly passed away in 2016, they decided to give a gift in his honor to Clemson University. In the five years since the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business opened, their generosity has inspired opportunities for future business leaders through their own philosophy of compassion, honesty and hard work.
“The key to success is hard work. You always want to do the very best you can do, and if you plan well, you can accomplish more.”
Wilbur O. “Billy” Powers
Five Areas of Powerful Impact
1. For Students
The demand to be a business student at Clemson has surged in recent years. Applications to the College have grown by 144 percent since 2018, and 25 percent of all University undergraduate applications are to the College. First-year to sophomore retention (94 percent) and graduation rates (80 percent) exceed the University’s and national average.
2. For Learning
With Signature Programs, business students gain hands-on, authentic work experience before graduation. In the Leadership Signature Program, students take on C-suite roles in a simulated company environment where they organize meetings and events. Through the J. Daniel and Nancy Garrison Sales Innovation Program, students develop their sales skills through industry partnerships. Delivered by the Erwin Center for Brand Communications, the Brand Communications Signature Program offers students experiential learning through branding projects for actual clients and through Cadency, the College’s student-led brand agency.
3. For Support
Support for the College has provided students, faculty and staff with the resources needed to succeed, including additional endowed professorships and scholarships.
4. For Research
In the past five years, business faculty have been cited more than 71,000 times and published in more than 70 articles in FT50 journals. To recognize faculty who have achieved continued excellence in teaching, research and/or academic service, the Powers Distinguished Fellows and Powers Emerging Fellows were created. Through monthly research seminars, business faculty can share their findings with Clemson’s academic community.
5. For Recognition
Because of the recent success of the College, national and international recognition continues to grow. Some of the most prominent rankings from the last five years include:
- Top 50 Public Undergraduate Business Programs (U.S. News & World Report, 2025)
- Top 25 Public Undergraduate Accounting Programs (U.S. News & World Report, 2024)
- Top 10 World’s Best MBA Programs for Entrepreneurship (Poets & Quants, 2024)
- Top 50 MPAcc Programs (TFE Times, 2025)
- No. 13 Best Undergraduate Marketing Degree Programs (College Choice, 2024)
— Jacob Chambers ’19
