This special edition of The Tiger is my favorite to put together. Not only does it reflect countless hours of work from all our team, who each write a brief, but it also showcases what makes this community special: the people within it.

Clemson is not a big city like Greenville or Columbia, where the options for bars and coffee shops are limitless. While voting was open, most of our categories listed every option in the area, nearly all of which are locally owned.

Our team and I took the time to meet the owners, managers and employees of these businesses to understand what makes them stand out as Clemson’s best. I hope that as you read through these pages, you find a place to enjoy and savor.

As for the slices of college life, our team has provided a chance for you to see who makes up the Clemson Family in the hope that you will choose to be a part of it.

In my four years at Clemson, I am thankful for the opportunities I have had and the knowledge I have gained. Most of all, though, I am thankful for everyone that I met along the way.

David Ferrara is a senior economics and philosophy major from Shelton, Connecticut. David can be reached at [email protected].