Daughter’s major gift honors Orangeburg couple’s lifelong devotion to SC State
Alumna Lauren Dawkins Portorreal donated $10,000 to honor Lamar and Loretta Dawkins for their service, leadership and community impact.
ORANGEBURG, S.C. – South Carolina State University alumna Lauren Dawkins Portorreal recently made a $10,000 contribution to the university in memory of her parents, Lamar Dawkins Sr. and Loretta Dawkins, who were long time Orangeburg business owners, community leaders and loyal supporters of SC State.
President Alexander Conyers expressed his gratitude on behalf of the university.
“We are humbled by Mrs. Portorreal’s generous contribution in honor of her parents, who were pillars of the Orangeburg and Bulldog communities,” Conyers said. “Her gift will not only preserve their legacy but also strengthen the foundation of opportunity for today’s students.”
Pillars of Orangeburg and loyal Bulldogs
Portorreal’s parents were long-time residents, business owners and community volunteers in Orangeburg. The donation reflects the lifelong commitment her parents showed to the university they both attended and championed.
Portorreal said Lamar and Loretta were proud SC State graduates and unwavering supporters of the university — “passionate advocates for its existence, its contributions to the community, and its growth as the formidable, progressive institution it is today and always has been.”
“Their deep love for SCSU extended beyond the classroom, as they cheered tirelessly for the Bulldogs administration, the students, and their athletic and academic programs, especially football and basketball,” she said.
Beyond their business success in Orangeburg, Lamar and Loretta dedicated decades to alumni leadership and community service.
Lamar, a 1944 graduate in mechanical arts, served in multiple roles with the SC State National Alumni Association and was a charter member of the Bulldog Booster Club. Lamar was named National Alumnus of the Year in 1980.
His restaurant, “Lamar’s,” a bar and grill that sat between the neighboring campuses of SC State and Claflin Universities. It served and provided jobs for many aspiring students, struggling musicians and local citizens. He was long remembered for supporting fellow alumni, often providing meals and resources. Alumni still recall gathering there to enjoy his fried chicken and potato salad, which became part of the shared Bulldog tradition.
Loretta shared in that commitment, and together the couple built a reputation for service, mentorship and steadfast advocacy for SC State.
Portorreal, who graduated from SC State before earning a degree from Georgetown University, served on the university’s Board of Visitors for seven years. She lives in Orangeburg with her husband, George Portorreal, and is retired from real estate. She now works in commercial development and finance.
Praise for SC State’s current leadership
Portorreal’s contribution also reflects her confidence in the university’s current direction.
“I am very happy to see how well the university has performed under the leadership of President and First Lady Conyers and endeavor to remain a strong supporter of the institution’s commitment and service to the people of the community,” she said
She praised the couple as a team whose shared vision is shaping SC State’s future.
“To President Alex Conyers and First Lady Agatha Conyers, I am here today to simply say, a grand thank you,” Portorreal said. “Thank you for the very hard work that often goes unseen in the quiet hours of the morning and late into the night.
“Thank you for your tireless dedication — a dedication not to a job, but to a mission — a purpose ordained for two of the best people I know,” she said. “You both embody the spirit of honor, of service, and you give not just a part of your lives to this great institution, but your whole hearts.”
She called Conyers a “visionary leader” whose “professional representation on every stage” ensures SC State’s reputation “soars to new heights.”
She described the first lady as “the epitome of what class looks like in public,” noting her role as a role model for women, her influence on students and her behind-the-scenes contributions that “are the bedrock upon which so much of this progress is built.”
Portorreal said her parents would have wanted their gift to contribute to the progress being made at SC State.
“Their legacy lives on in the students, the faculty, and programs they championed, and it is my hope that this gift adds to the wonderful contributions, hard work and dedication by the present President and First Lady Conyers as they continue to advance the university even further,” she said
Gifts made in memory of loved ones help preserve important legacies while opening new opportunities for students. Alumni and friends interested in making similar contributions can learn more at www.scsu.edu/give.