University honors Sullivan, Swanger winners

The University honored its most outstanding undergraduates April 14 at its annual Awards Day ceremony.

Highlighting the ceremony, which recognized more than 250 USC undergraduates' academic achievements, leadership, and service contributions, was the presentation of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan and Steven N. Swanger awards by President Sorensen.

The Sullivan awards, the University's highest honor for undergraduates, were presented to Kinsey C. Cooper of Easley and Jeremy Wolfe of Danville, Ky. Sullivan awards are given each year to one male and one female graduating senior for their outstanding academic achievements, campus leadership, exemplary character, and service to the community. The award, named for the 19th-century New York lawyer and philanthropist, goes to students at 54 U.S. colleges and universities.

The Swanger award, USC's second-highest undergraduate honor, was presented to Marie Connelly of Chapin. The award is named for a former president of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), which sponsors Honors and Awards Day, and is given to a graduating senior for exemplary leadership and for making significant contributions to the University community.

"These three students represent the many outstanding students who have chosen the University of South Carolina for their education," Sorensen said. "Not only do they excel academically, but each has made time to share his or her talents with the Carolina and Midlands communities. They join an impressive group of USC students who are receiving awards at this ceremony."

Cooper, Connelly, and Wolfe also were named Outstanding Seniors and to Who's Who Among American College Students during the ceremony.

Cooper, a senior public relations major, is a USAA Scholar, University scholar, and a Palmetto fellow and is the recipient of the Carolinas Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing Society Scholarship, the Collegiate All-American Scholar Award, and the Budweiser of Columbia Journalism Scholarship. She has been on the National Dean's List, the President's List, and the School of Journalism's Dean's List. Her academic record of a 3.96 GPA has earned her membership in numerous honor societies, including Omicron Delta Kappa, for which she has been historian; Mortar Board; Alpha Lambda Delta; and Kappa Tau Alpha.

Wolfe is a McNair scholar, USC's most prestigious scholarship program for out-of-state students. An Honors College senior pursuing a double major in Russian and international studies, he was named a Truman Scholar in 2004 and earned an honorable mention on the 2005 USA TODAY All-America Academic Team. He recently received the Outstanding Achievement and Student Triumph Award (TOAST) at USC.

Wolfe's academic record, which includes a 3.89 GPA, has earned him numerous opportunities to study abroad. In 2004, he received a National Security Education Program Scholarship and a Fulbright Grant to study in Kyrgyzstan. He received a fellowship from the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies to study in Israel in 2003 and a Rotary International Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarship to study in Russia in 2002. He also studied at the Anglo-American College in Prague, Czech Republic.

Connelly is a University scholar and a Palmetto fellow. She also is the recipient of a Golden Key Scholarship, Alumni Legacy Scholarship, and Our Lady of the Lake Scholarship. Her academic record, which includes a 3.89 GPA, has placed Connelly on the National Dean's List and USC's President's List and Dean's List. She has earned membership in numerous honor societies, including Omicron Delta Kappa, for which she has been president; Mortar Board; Alpha Lambda Delta; Pi Mu Epsilon; Gamma Beta Phi; Golden Key; and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

Connelly was USC's Homecoming Queen and recipient of the Thomas Moore Craig Leadership Award for ODK. Active in USC student government, Connelly has been a member of Freshman Council and Student Senate and was a campaign volunteer for four student elections. Her service on USC's campus also extended to membership with the Garnet Circle Student Alumni Council, Library Advisory Committee, Honors and Awards Commission, Campus Girl Scouts, Student Alumni Association, and Student Gamecock Club. Connelly also received the Carolinian Creed Student Award during the ceremony.

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