The exhibit showcases remarkable athletic achievement from this tri-community area. “If you have a town or an area the size of Clemson, Central and Six Mile, I will gamble that the percentage of professional athletes that come out of this demographic far exceeds what should statistically,” Blondeau observes. “The school has enjoyed over the years a lot of athletic success in a lot of sports.” Beyond athletics, the school district excels in preparing students for the modern workforce. Blondeau particularly praises their Career Technical Center, which creates a direct pipeline between education and employment.“The school district does a great job, especially with training and preparing students for what comes after high school.” This vocational excellence benefits the entire region’s economic development efforts. “Those people go directly into the workforce , and that also helps the county attract industry because that training program is so good that those people walk right into those doors and they have a pipeline for modern neighborhood development concept,” Blondeau says. “There is a mixture of medical, professional retail and hospitality there. We even have assisted living over there.” Built over the past 10 to 15 years, Patrick Square is now almost completely occupied. THE DANIEL LEGACY AND EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE A unique exhibit celebrating athletic excellence reveals deeper truths about Clemson’s regional identity.The Sincerely Daniel exhibit honors African American athletes from Daniel High School, an institution that is a unifying force across multiple communities. “The school itself I think is unique in that it’s not within city limits,” Blondeau explains. “I think a lot of people consider Daniel home when they speak of their hometown.” The school draws students from Clemson, Central, and Six Mile, creating a shared identity that transcends municipal boundaries. 5 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07 CLEMSON, SC
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