Following Clemson’s first-ever AAU National Tournament run, the club ice hockey team believed their success this season would prove their value to Clemson. However, the team was informed by the Student Funding Board just weeks later that they would receive barely a quarter of the financial assistance requested for the 2023-2024 season. “It is very discouraging when the school does not (recognize our potential) even when we have done everything they want to see–and then some,” assistant captain Thomas Samuelsen said. While the team recognizes that the amount of money requested is significantly higher than in previous years, they attribute these necessary finances to their growth and success over the past few seasons, including a trip to West Chester, Pennsylvania, to represent Clemson at Nationals. The Student Funding Board had a record-breaking number of requests this year, with over 200 organizations requesting funding valued at more than double the amount available to the board ...