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Experience: Student Leadership and Engagement
Student Leader - Katherine Harland
This isn’t exactly how Katherine Harland envisioned her college experience. A native of Jacksonville, Florida, her dream was to be in an urban environment. And not necessarily one ripe with rabid devotion to its college football team.
Harland, a senior architecture major, and member of the National Scholars Program, was one of eight students in the program to enroll in Fall 2020 at the height of a global pandemic. Engaging in campus life was all but non-existent as the University navigated modified operations. “I was desperate for an avenue to be involved in and ended up finding the campus Habitat for Humanity chapter.”
An Unparalleled Clemson Tradition
Harland became involved as a first-year student and ran for an executive board position as a sophomore. She was named vice president of the chapter and spent a year learning the organization. The past two years, Harland has served as chapter president, leading a group of 12 officers who oversee the annual Homecoming project and other organizational activities.
Its most visible project occurs each fall as part of Clemson’s Homecoming Week. Hundreds of volunteers—students, faculty, staff and local community members—come together and construct the framework for a Habitat home on Bowman Field in the span of days.
Discover Your Involvement Fit
Habitat is a global non-profit committed to providing permanent, affordable housing solutions to low-income individuals and families. Year after year, Clemson’s campus chapter works in conjunction with the local Pickens County Habitat to build area homes.
If you are looking for ways to get involved on campus, or volunteer in your local community, visit the Center for Student Leadership and Engagements website and learn about the over five hundred ways you can get involved with a student organization or make an impact through leadership and service opportunities.
“Now that I’ve been here, I can’t imagine being anywhere else… I feel really blessed for my time at Clemson. ” - Katherine Harland
A Framework For Success
Reflecting on the honor of presiding over the chapter during the 30th anniversary of the Homecoming build on Bowman Field, Harland says, “I’ve met people from all areas and have been provided with incredible leadership opportunities, It’s really cool to be part of a milestone this year”.
Following graduation, Harland hopes to enroll in graduate school and become a licensed architect. She plans to pursue a career based in community service, inspired by her work with Habitat. Meanwhile, she’s looking forward to Homecoming Week 2023 and the construction of a new home on Bowman Field. It’s undoubtedly been a big part of her transformational journey.
