Class of 2026
As the Class of 2026 prepares to walk across the commencement stage, graduates leave the University of South Carolina with memories of enduring friendships, newfound passions, supportive mentors and life-changing experiences.
USC NEWS & EVENTS
Behind the beak: The student inside Cocky
Before the crowd sees him, there’s a quiet shift. The suit goes on. The posture changes. And Brayden Hensley becomes Cocky. To fans, Cocky is all energy and antics. But inside the suit is a criminology and criminal justice major balancing school and a role that demands constant performance.
Newest Udall scholar excels in work across surf and turf
Learn about USC's 19th Udall Scholar, Kayla Thompson, a first-generation, science-loving, rugby-playing, future environmental policy advocate. Her journey parallels that of her benefactors in many ways, and this honor motivates her to continually do more.
Reading between the feathers: How two students turned a mascot role into years of service
You may know Cocky from game day at Williams-Brice, but some of his biggest fans sit on classroom floors, not stadium seats. Behind the yellow beak are two seniors who’ve been involved with Cocky's Reading Express for the last four years. Meet Walker Weaver and Emma Connelly.
USC has five Goldwater Scholars in 2026
Five University of South Carolina students earned the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship in 2026. This sets a record for the most Goldwater Scholars at USC in a single year and marks the 34th consecutive year the university has had at least one Goldwater Scholar.
In the News
“This deadly virus is way more prevalent in SC than US overall and it’s not measles or COVID”
(feat. Melissa Nolan, epidemiology and biostatistics) The State
Who tells SC’s history? Heritage Act update etches monuments, memorials in stone.
feat. Bobby Donaldson, USC Center for Civil Rights History and Research) The State
“Amid the legal smoke, Rodney Scott hopes to reopen his namesake Charleston barbecue restaurant”
(feat. Lisa Eichhorn, law) The Post and Courier
“Murdaugh retrial isn’t about innocence; it’s about jury integrity, an SC professor says”
(feat. Colin Miller, law) WLTX News 19
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Student Spotlight
Once banned from school, education graduate reflects on completing her Ph.D.
This spring, doctoral graduate Zo Sediqi will walk across the stage to receive her diploma from USC’s College of Education. As a woman born and raised in Afghanistan in the 1990s, the moment carries special significance: Sediqi is one of only a handful of Afghan women anywhere in the world to earn a Ph.D.
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Student Spotlight
Sullivan winner ready to improve disease treatments
A decades-long fascination with life has inspired Rachel Kiser, one of two Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards recipients, to dedicate her career to improving drug treatments for diseases.
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Student Spotlight
Sullivan winner dedicated to service, community improvement
Leadership and service is at the heart of everything Santiago Avendaño Palacio, one of two Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award recipients, does.
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Research Spotlight
School of Medicine scientist explores new approach to treating blood clot-induced lung tissue damage
Blood clots in the lungs are a leading cause of cardiovascular-related deaths. But what if gene editing, made possible through ultra-small nanoparticles, could effectively treat clot-induced tissue damage? For USC School of Medicine Columbia scientist Colin Evans, the question is no longer hypothetical.