“Sam's life was a reflection of his strong faith and his love for friends and family. We could think of no better way to honor his legacy at Clemson.”
- Ken Cadden
Sam Cadden had just completed his sophomore year at Clemson when his life was tragically cut short at the age of 21 following an automobile accident in the summer of 2015. A young man full of spirit, he was intimately involved in a number of activities on Clemson’s campus during his undergraduate experience.
Sam was a financial management major and member of the finance council at a local church in Clemson. He was employed at M.H. Frank Men’s Shop and had interned for U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and at the Terminus Group at Morgan Stanley. He was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and also active with the Knights of Columbus.
While going through his personal belongings, Sam’s parents — Ken and Mary — discovered a list of goals he had written. One item on the list stated Sam wanted to have a building on Clemson’s campus named after him someday. Also on the list was his desire to express his faith in a way that would make a difference for others.
As the Caddens thought of ways they could honor their beloved son, building a chapel at Clemson in his memory seemed like the perfect answer. It prompted their lead gift of $1.5 million to help make his dream a reality.
