"N" is for the National Dropout Prevention Center. Founded in 1986 at Clemson, the National Dropout Prevention Center serves as a clearinghouse on dropout prevention issues and publishes materials on effective dropout prevention strategies. The center was created under the direction of Ester Ferguson, a South Carolina native serving as chair of the New York City National Dropout Prevention Fund. She came to Clemson to discuss the development of a national center and Clemson’s College of Education was chosen to house and develop the center.