President Biden will speak at SC State Friday. Here’s 5 things to know about the HBCU

For the first time in its 125 years, South Carolina State University will host a sitting U.S. President for one of its graduation speeches.

Because national attention will be focused on the historically Black university in Orangeburg, S.C., here are five things to know about S.C. State

1.) S.C. State is the only public, four-year historically Black university in South Carolina.

Throughout the state, there are eight historically Black college and universities, often abbreviated HBCUs. Only two of those, S.C. State and Denmark Technical College, are public.

HBCUs are defined as schools that opened before 1964 and were designed to primarily serve Black students. Since Black students were often discriminated against in mainstream colleges, HBCUs have been credited with helping create the Black middle class in America.

2.) The Bulldogs have produced more hall of fame football players than every other S.C. university combined.

With four hall of fame football players — Donnie Shell, Harry Carson, David (Deacon) Jones and Marion Motley — South Carolina State leads the state in number of hall of fame football players, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s website.

While Clemson University has remained a juggernaut in modern college football, the Tigers have produced only one hall of fame football player, Brian Dawkins. No other S.C. university has produced a hall of fame player, according to the hall of fame website.

Some other universities that produced four hall of fame football players include the University of Georgia, Florida State University, Purdue University and Stanford, according to the hall of fame website.

3.) S.C. State offers certain degrees that no other college or university in the state offers.

No other S.C. college or university offers a Bachelor of Science degree in nuclear engineering, a Master of Science degree in transportation, a Doctor of Education degree with a concentration in educational administration and a Bachelor of Science degree in physics with an option or concentration in medical physics, according to S.C. State’s website.

4.) One of America’s most powerful Democrats is an S.C. State alumnus.

U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., who has served in Congress since 1993, graduated from S.C. State in 1961. Clyburn’s current position is the Majority Whip, which makes him the third-highest ranking Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to his online bio.

Clyburn’s influence goes well beyond his position, however. When Biden was struggling early in the 2020 presidential primary, an endorsement from Clyburn “changed everything for Joe Biden’s campaign,” according to The Washington Post.

Clyburn was initially set to be S.C. State’s commencement speaker, but Clyburn managed to get Biden to speak instead, S.C. State Interim President Alexander Conyers said Wednesday.

5.) S.C. State has strong military ties

The “Bulldog Battalion” Reserve Officer Training Corps program has roughly 100 cadets and is among the largest producers of minority officers for the U.S. Army, according to the university’s website.

S.C. State Interim President Conyers, who is also an S.C. State alum, served in the U.S. Army for 28 years, including a tour in Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, according to his online bio.