Former Clemson Football Player, Shaq Lawson, Gives Back

FORMER CLEMSON FOOTBALL PLAYER, SHAQ LAWSON, GIVES BACK TO CLEMSON

CLEMSON, S.C. – IPTAY announced that Clemson Football alumnus Shaq Lawson, a Central, S.C. native, has made a significant gift to support Clemson University’s P.A.W. Journey (football player development) and Call Me MiSTER® (teacher development) programs. His generous commitment will be instrumental in the continued success of these initiatives and the establishment of the world’s next prominent leaders and educators.

“It is truly an honor for me to give back to Clemson, a place that helped me achieve a childhood dream to play in the NFL,” said Lawson. “Clemson is a special place, and it was important for me to make sure that the next generation of Tigers receive that same opportunity.”

Lawson enjoyed a stellar college career with the Tigers from 2013-15, earning consensus All-America honors in his final season at Clemson. The standout defensive end was selected 19th overall by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Despite a major shoulder injury that limited his rookie season to ten games, Lawson played 109 career NFL games with the Bills, Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans, New York Jets and the Carolina Panthers across the 2016-24 NFL seasons with 207 tackles, 26.0 sacks, seven forced fumbles and an interception.

Both P.A.W. Journey and Call Me MiSTER® pursue visions that positively impact the futures of young men and women at Clemson.

P.A.W. Journey is a leadership initiative that holistically develops Clemson Football scholar-athletes through personal growth, life skills and civic engagement, and career and professional development. P.A.W., an acronym for “Passionate About Winning,” encourages football student leaders to maintain a continually competitive posture towards all aspects of the journey of life. This program prepares young men to apply their leadership skills while challenging them to seek new victories in their careers, communities, and households. P.A.W. Journey supports four pillars: Striped, C.U. In Life, 5^th Quarter, and Overtime – each dedicated to producing First-Class Men and World-Class Leaders. To learn more about P.A.W. Journey, click HERE.

“The leadership Shaq has shown in giving back to Clemson is the embodiment of a first-class man and world-class leader,” said Jeff Davis, Assistant AD of Football Player Relations. “His gift to P.A.W. Journey and Call Me MiSTER® will ensure the continuation of transformative leadership and development opportunities, and the difference that will be made for current and future Clemson students will be immeasurable. On behalf of Clemson University and Clemson Athletics, we thank Shaq for his continued commitment to excellence.”

The Call Me MiSTER® (Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models) program is an award-winning teacher recruitment and retention program with a 25-year track record. Participants make a commitment to teach in hard-to-staff underserved communities for as many years as they received financial and programmatic assistance. Call Me MiSTER® addresses the teacher pipeline shortage in South Carolina and will help ameliorate disparities and educational outcomes across the state. More than 20% of eligible graduates have been awarded Teacher of the Year, including five District Teachers of the Year. The commitment to developing career educators is evidenced by the program having produced 14 educational doctorates, nine professors of Teacher Education, and 46 school administrators, including the current South Carolina Elementary Principal of the Year—Mr. Marquice Clark, Ed.D. More information about Call Me MiSTER® can be found HERE.

“While growing up in Clemson and Central, the Call Me MiSTER® program and Mr. Holton were instrumental in shaping me into the person I am today,” Lawson said. “I am committed to paying it forward by ensuring the program has the necessary resources to support underserved youth and young adults in the future.”

For more information on how you can make an impact and support Clemson Football and P.A.W. Journey, contact Aaron Dunham at dunham@clemson.edu.