South Carolina Honors College

2021 News

'My new queen': Miss Gamecock Pageant resumes after year-long pause

Honors student and Goldwater Scholar Felicia McGill is crowned the Miss Gamecock 2022 pageant-winner.

UofSC holds food drive to address community needs ahead of the holidays

Honors was one of many units, departments and organizations on campus that participated in the Gamecock Pantry Great Food Race! Honors successfully collected 676 items for donation.

No boxes for her

Honors first-generation student and Stamps Scholar Layne Scopano works hard to make sure that there are opportunities and options for all.

A Letter from the Dean

"Because of strong support of the university’s leadership, faculty members, friends and alumni, we have been able to grow our resources and continue to deliver an extraordinary educational opportunity." —Steve Lynn, Dean of the South Carolina Honors College

Born to teach

In a state where many teachers did not return to the classroom for the 2021-2022 school year, these SCHC educators found the strength to continue teaching and to push through obstacles.

Finding history in landscapes

Professor Kent Germany has made a name for himself in the Honors College as a favorite among students. In 2021 he was named the winner of the Michael A. Hill Professor of the Year award.

There's no place like home

Honors alumna Julye Johns Bailey, a recognized medical malpractice lawyer, credits her BARSC major for giving her a well-rounded college education and the courage to explore new things.

A Collection of Firsts

Honors student and Carolina Scholar Felicity Ropp may have been the first person in her family to attend college, but she will not be the last.

More Than Just A Creative Outlet

After becoming the lead student curator of the Honors College's Cultural Connoisseurs Initiative, junior Aidan Thomason reflects on her relationship with art.

Alumna’s passion for environment leads to career at EPA

Honors graduate and national fellowships recipient Hali Kerr joins the Environmental Protection Agency as an attorney-advisor. With this new role, Kerr hopes to have an impact on making our air cleaner.

President Biden Announces Key Regional Appointments for EPA, HHS, and USDA

Honors graduate Laurie Funderburk has been announced as President Biden's appointee for State Executive Director, Farm Service Agency, South Carolina.

Mayor’s Fellow Program

We are excited to announce that Honors student Blakely Harden has been selected as a Mayors Fellow for the City of Columbia.

South Carolina Senior awarded Rotary Global Grant to Thailand

Honors College senior Clare Steiner has been named a recipient of the Rotary Global Grant to pursue graduate studies abroad in 2022-2023.

Verzyl Named to USA Diving Pan American Team

Honors college freshman, Sophie Verzyl, has been selected by USA Diving to compete in the UANA Junior Pan American Championships. Verzyl is one of four women who were selected to the A-group and one of 30 athletes who will be competing for Team USA.

Composer David “Clay” Mettens Wins Hermitage Prize

Honors alum, and accomplished composer, David "Clay" Mettens has won the 2021 Hermitage Prize in Composition. Clay's compositions have been performed by the Brussels Philharmonic, Washington National Opera, Spektral Quartet, and Ensemble Dal Niente, among others.

Freeman-ASIA Scholarship awards three UofSC students in 2021

Three University of South Carolina students, Madison Clark, Hannah Gardner and Chloe Penaflor, have been named 2021 Freeman-ASIA Scholars.

Former leader of Columbia’s Trustus Theatre assumes marketing role with SC Philharmonic

Honors graduate Chad Henderson will be beginning his journey as the new marketing and communications director for the South Carolina Philarmonic starting August 16th. With an impressive background in directing with the Trustus Theatre, we are excited to see him in this new role.

2021 Ginny Looney Servant Leader Award Recipient

Honors student Antonia Adams has been named the 2021 Ginny Looney Servant Leader Award Recipient. Antonia's service work has had a great impact throughout the entire South Carolina community.

Comics in the classroom

Honors professor Courtney Lewis has always wanted to teach a class about American Indian voices in pop culture. When the University Libraries acquired the Gary Lee Watson Comic Book Collection, she was able to do just that.

Poets&Quants Top 50 Undergraduate Professors Of 2020

Honors professor Daniel Ostergaard has been named one of Poets&Quants Top 50 Undergraduate Professors of 2020. After 2 decades of working in the public and private sectors, we are lucky to have him as a member of the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business.

‘The Queer Cookies Cookbook’ pairs poetry with recipes in a sweet celebration of community

Honors and Top Scholar graduate Tyler French is now the man behind 'The Queer Cookies Cookbook.' The book combines his two passions, poetry and cookies, in the most exciting way.

Honors College offers Semester at the Coast for students

The University of South Carolina Honors College will host a “Semester at the Coast” program for the first time in the Spring 2022 semester when 10 students with interests in science, the environment and health will be studying at the Baruch Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences.

Breakthrough Star: Vanessa Kitzie

Honors professor and researcher, Vanessa Kitzie, is recognized for her work serving LGBTQIA+ people and communities, particularly in South Carolina. The success and funding received for her research continues to make her standout among others in her field.

Mungo undergraduate teaching award winner: Melissa Moss

Honors professor and Pearce Faculty Fellow makes a huge impact in the Honors College as a teacher, mentor and leader. As a recent recipient of the Mungo undergraduate teaching award, she’s recognized for her commitment and accomplishments in the classroom and beyond.

Waking up to rockets

As an engineering major in the Honors College, Cole Shubert '19 had big dreams, but he never expected to find himself with a career that's out of this world.

Psychologist Mark Weist works to dismantle hierarchy, replace it with partnership

Honors professor Mark Weist receives SEC faculty award for transformative work in school behavioral health.

Always up for a challenge

Outstanding chemistry major. Honors resident mentor and ambassador. Musician. And just an all-around nice guy. Recent Honors graduate Ian Bongalonta explored many different paths during his time at UofSC and always rose to meet the challenge.

An issue of moral urgency

The South Carolina Honors College's 2021 Mould award winner Nicole Chandonnet examines the memorialization of J. Marion Sims for her senior thesis.

Joel Thayer Undergraduate Paper Competition winners announced

Recent Honors graduate Nancy Jones earned first place for her senior thesis titled "Sexism and traditional masculinity in country music: Characteristics and impact on the ‘ideal’ heterosexual relationship."

Fresh perspectives

Naomi Kemp is a study in contradictions. Or what, at first, might seem like contradictions. But as she approaches graduation, it’s obvious that her biology major and art studio minor have combined to create a unique Honors experience that led to her senior thesis and a future of devoting herself to others.

Class of 2021: Darren Burton

Darren Burton, who grew up in the tiny town of Estill, South Carolina and attended high school in Irmo, will graduate with leadership distinction in May with a degree in accounting from the Darla Moore School of Business and the South Carolina Honors College.

Piecing it together

Honors College senior Sophie Kahler discovers that sometimes the most interesting things are very close to home. Read how this geography major's interest in the mysteries abounding in the area she grew up led to her research being published and culminating into her senior thesis.

Columbia senior wins first place in annual state writing contest

Two South Carolina high school juniors and two seniors have won the top awards in the annual South Carolina High School Writing Contest. Presented by the South Carolina Honors College, the eighth annual contest asks the question: How can we make South Carolina better?

Upperclassmen turn extraordinary experiences into Honors College senior theses

In their senior theses, Honors students conduct research of their choice. These students are taking this opportunity to examine aspects of their personal life and develop them into valuable analyses.

Booked solid through 2028

Honors College student Sydney Womack’s calendar has been booked nearly solid during her four years at South Carolina and little wonder — she majored in biomedical engineering, minored in mathematics, earned a performance certificate in the School of Music, conducted undergraduate research and co-authored a scholarly article and three poster presentations. She also attended football, basketball and baseball games whenever she could, held leadership positions in two engineering student societies and regularly volunteered to pitch STEM career opportunities to high school students.

Most likely to succeed

Brianna Lewis was voted “most likely to become a brain surgeon” in the first grade, and the Simpsonville, S.C.-native will soon begin earning the “Dr.” portion of that prediction. She’s headed to medical school this fall after wrapping up four years in the Honors College and two bachelor’s degrees — one in biology and another in experimental psychology.

Swanger award winner uses her drive for hard work to help others

Payton Ramsey has overcome a visual disability from childhood to become the first member of her family to attend college. The South Carolina Honors College student has spent her time at UofSC perfecting her leadership skills and expanding her mind through research. For her efforts over her four years at South Carolina, Ramsey received the 2021 Steven N. Swanger Award, the university’s second-highest undergraduate honor.

3 brothers, 3 Goldwater Scholarships, 1 passion

Reggie, Connor and Ian Bain all double majored in mathematics and a field of science, they’re all alumni of the University of South Carolina’s Honors College (Ian graduates in May) and Carolina Scholars and each was named a Goldwater Scholar, which is considered the nation’s most prestigious undergraduate award for STEM majors.

Dean's Letter: Spring 2021

"The South Carolina Honors College has acquired many things the past decade. Continuous top rankings since 2012 comes to mind, but there are many other large and small acquisitions to celebrate."

Eradicating barriers

Alumna and author Casey Richardson uses her voice to help people and businesses overcome personal and economic problems.

Everyone who knew him loved him

After 46 years teaching at the University of South Carolina, nearly 20 of them in the South Carolina Honors College, Don Fowler is remembered for his wisdom and dedication to students.

Lost in space? Here's what happened to 388 senior theses since 2014

For the last seven years, Honors College seniors have been uploading their theses to Scholar Commons, unsure of what would happen after that. Thanks to some digital digging by University Libraries, we now have solid worldwide data.

Alumni News - Spring 2021

See what our Honors College alumni have been doing lately.

Curiosity, scientific research lead to prestigious award for UofSC students

For the 29th consecutive year, UofSC is celebrating Goldwater success with our newest scholars - Felicia McGill, Matthew Duggan and Charlotte Pollack.

Twelve South Carolina students Recognized by the National Science Foundation, six receive Graduate Research Fellowship

Winners of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship look forward to bright careers in academia and research across STEM disciplines and beyond.

Finalists announced for 8th South Carolina High School Writing Contest

Twenty-one juniors and seniors from across the state have been named finalists of the annual South Carolina High School Writing Contest. Now in its eighth year, the contest is presented by the South Carolina Honors College in partnership with the Pat Conroy Literary Center, the South Carolina Academy of Authors, the South Carolina Writers Association, and the South Carolina State Library.

Honors student combines passion for medicine and outdoor adventure

If you can't find Honors student Maya Duffy somewhere on campus, chances are she's taken off for an outdoor adventure. Duffy is a junior majoring in biology with minors in statistics and medical humanities, but her passion is the great outdoors.

A Smart Start toward Honors success

Coming from the small town of Pageland, South Carolina, nursing student and Stamps Scholar Genna Rivers hit the ground running with her research at UofSC. Driven by her passion for nursing and caring for others, she has already made full use of her innate curiosity and the resources available to make the most of her first two years in the South Carolina Honors College.

Honors student gives back from Columbia to Costa Rica

Whether she's volunteering with doctors in Costa Rica, giving back with her sorority or mentoring Honors freshmen, Reagan Davis is motivated by her passion for helping others in nearly everything she does.

UofSC named a top producer of Fulbright U.S. students

Ten University of South Carolina students were named Fulbright U.S. Student finalists for 2020-21, earning the university elite status as a Fulbright Top Producing Institution and bringing its total number of student finalists to 120 since 2000. UofSC previously earned the top-producer designation in 2012.

Students combine creativity with entrepreneurship

Honors student Emily Martin is part of a group of students at UofSC combining creativity, entrepreneurship and philanthropy to earn money and give back to others.

Honors College graduate on front lines of U.S.-Venezuelan foreign policy

Led by a corrupt and discredited president, Venezuela is considered a danger to the U.S. and to regional and global stability. Fortunately, the newly installed Secretary of State has a steady hand on the ground — Jimmy Story, a career diplomat and South Carolina Honors College graduate who was confirmed as ambassador to Venezuela this past November.

UofSC Undergraduates Earn Gilman Scholarships

Three outstanding Honors students – Joy Bernal, Felicia McGill and Stella Strength – have been named Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program Scholars, and will receive funds to participate in study abroad programs and internships around the world.

'Be the catalyst for change': USC student Antonia Adams finds purpose in tragedy

Honors College student Antonia Adams lost both of her parents within months of each other. She managed her parents' estate and her own grief. Now she is planning to go to law school to "help people overcome their circumstances."

How growing up in Aynor prepared one of the nation’s top reporters to cover Trump

Honors alumnus Josh Dawsey excels as one of the top reporters on Capitol Hill. Read more about him in this story from The Post and Courier.

UofSC's 2021 Social Justice Award winners chosen

SCHC Pearce Faculty Fellow Dr. Toby Jenkins honored for her social justice work and advocacy for diversity in higher education.

After tragedy, student finds new beginning at UofSC Honors College

Antonia Adams’ story is filled with tragedy. But above all, it is a story of perseverance, about fighting through the uncertainty and sadness with a belief that education can restore confidence and hope.

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.