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South Carolina Honors College

2023

Undergraduate students win Tulane Health Policy Case Competition

Honors College students Anusha Ghosh and Muskaan Makkar and Capstone Scholar Hima Vadlamani are the 2023 winners of the nationwide Tulane Health Policy Case Competition, which invited undergraduate students to propose solutions to New Orleans’ homelessness crisis.

A Letter from the Dean

Dean Steven Lynn shares an update on the state of the South Carolina Honors College and the many exciting things ahead.

USC and SCHC alumnus Roger Barnette Cycle of influence

Following in his father's footsteps, Roger Barnette attended the University of South Carolina, loved his college experience and learned what he needed to have successful career. Now he's helping the Honors College recruit today's top talent from the Atlanta area and beyond.

'Where there's hope, there's life'

Having lived in Amsterdam, Brazil, Paris and Washington, D.C., Coy Gibson is happy to be in his home state of South Carolina. And with good reason: His position as director of finance and operations of the Anne Frank Center at the University of South Carolina allows him to boost the Palmetto State’s reputation as a forward-moving place to live.

The strategist

Alumna Sharon Panelo was an English major in the South Carolina Honors College 21 years ago, but she always knew she “wanted to find that intersection of what I’m good at, what the world needs and how I can make a living, of course.” Today, she brings her love of literature and talent for creative writing to the world of strategic communications.

Because the oceans affect us all: Professor brings fun critters, surprising humanity to Oceans course

Honors professor Michelle Hardee not only brings science into the classroom but fun and humanity as well. Her devotion to Honors students and the oceans is why she received the Honors Outstanding Faculty Award this year.

24/7 PR: Stephen Brown’s multiverses

PR guru, movie critic, collector and diehard Gamecock fan — alumnus Stephen Brown does a little bit of everything

Honors presents alumni awards at 2023 Homecoming Brunch

Nothing says homecoming more than alumni returning to their alma mater and reconnecting over good food and even better memories. That is why the Honors College has hosted their annual Brunch for alumni and their families for over 20 years.

Origin of USC fall break

If you've got big plans for your Fall Break this week, you can thank Honors College alumnus Jim Franklin, the third African American student body president at USC, who says the mid-semester break was the “one wish” of his administration after he was elected in 1988.

Honors Family Picnic is the biggest yet

The South Carolina Honors College saw their biggest attendance ever for the annual Honors Family Weekend Picnic. This year, 2,285 people registered, approximately 500 more people than last year.

Verzyl Claims Three Bronze Medals for Team USA

South Carolina diving’s Sophie Verzyl claimed three bronze medals at the FISU World University Games in China this August out of five events competed.

Investigating the mysterious world of plants

2023 William A. Mould Senior Thesis Award recipient Kirsten Fisher's three year research project, “Deciphering Green Leaf Volatile Perception in Plants", details how plants can warn each other about impending harm and actively defend themselves from it.

Change of plans: A canceled study abroad trip leads to a new career goals

One week before Josh Hughes planned to study abroad in Ukraine, his trip was canceled because of the escalating conflict with Russia. He was disappointed-- until a new opportunity arose in Kyrgyzstan. Now, he's returned to his host country on a Critical Language scholarship.

Student body president aims for change

Student body president Emmie Thompson and running mate ran on a platform of small, tangible changes. She hopes the small changes she makes on campus can make a huge impact a student’s life.

The Pursuit of Excellence

Linda Stephens began her higher education journey as a Gamecock and first generation college student from a small town in South Carolina. She has since become an award-winning judge, all while encouraging other women to push for their own intellectual achievements.

Project Vida makes an impact for Honors students, community

For six weeks every semester, Project Vida works with Ezekiel Ministries, an after-school program for inner-city children, to teach children about living a healthy lifestyle. 

A Letter from the Dean

Dean Steven Lynn discusses a new Honors College project that will provide Honors students with ways to connect to Honors Alumni for mentorship, meet and greets and employment and internship opportunities.

Hold the door: Honors College alumni open path to creating music

You never know what will be behind the next open door. Evan Delp and Bob Magee (both 2021, international business) had no idea that a chance meeting during a scholarship interview at the Honors College would lead to a lifelong friendship and joint pursuit of their musical passion.

The Making of a Public Servant

A Truman Scholar, and USC’s first Samvid Scholar, Bennett Lunn discusses how these scholarships have helped jumpstart his career in educational policy.

"Raison d'Etre": French professor re-creates the joy of learning a new culture

Lara Lomicka, professor of French and applied linguistics in the South Carolina Honors College took her first trip to Paris at the age of 15 with her French class. Now she revels in giving her Honors students the same soul-opening experiences she had when she first traveled to France.

'People are our biggest resource'

Recipient of the SCHC’s 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award, Lori Clos Fisher reflects on her time in the Honors College and the relationships that have shaped her career in Finance.

Alumni News - Spring 2023

See what our Honors College alumni have been doing lately.

Combining public health and medicine to end Black maternal disparities

The public health curriculum enabled Taylor Williams to discover her passion for addressing Black maternal mortality, including how policy change and community-wide interventions can improve health outcomes for these women and their children.

Breaking barriers: Kaleb Phelps pioneers research on autism diagnosis experiences in the Black community

Phelps is set to begin conducting research on the experiences of Black families pursuing ASD diagnoses with funding from a 2023 Autism Science Foundation fellowship.

Class of 2023: Graduates look back on lessons learned at USC

Abbey Druckenmiller. Charlotte Pollack. Stephen Girard Fredenberg. Robbie Pokora. Meet just a few of the extraordinary Honors graduates that will leave USC this spring and make their marks on the world.

Public health program inspires prevention focus for future physician

With interests in maternal and child health/mortality, particularly the disparities faced by rural communities in the U.S. and in S.C., Anjali Borsum will focus on prevention during her Doctor of Medicine program at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Undergraduates earn prestigious research opportunities in Germany

Honors students Dylan Johnson, Amber Pospistle and Alexis Soucy have earned summer research experiences at top German universities as DAAD RISE interns.

Exploring the ties that bind

Breakthrough Leader and SCHC Pearce Faculty Fellow Ralf Gothe studies interactions between particles essential to quantum field theory.

Sullivan Award winner excelled despite pandemic limitations

Honors College senior Charlotte Ann Pollack did not let the pandemic stop her from excelling even when the worldwide shutdown significantly altered her plans. The Fort Mill, South Carolina, native is one of two winners of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award — the university’s highest student honor.

Sullivan Award winner leaves legacy of giving back

Honors College senior Robert William Pokora III drew on his family’s experience with organ transplant to restart an organization at the University of South Carolina that advocates for people to sign up to be donors. The Greer, South Carolina, native is one of two winners of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award — the university’s highest student honor.

Six Garnet Apple Awardees Enhance Student Learning at USC

Three Honors faculty have been awarded the 2023 Garnet Apple Award for Teaching Innovation: April Hiscox, Kristen Hogan and James Risk. The Garnet Apple honors USC's exceptional faculty who demonstrate an ongoing commitment to best teaching practices and an ongoing record of developing innovative strategies to enhance student learning in their courses.

Brooks Hearn: Rooted in research

Brooks Hearn, a senior public relations manager at Chernoff Newman and SCHC alumni, reflects on her time at USC and how it shaped her future career.

Alumna’s journey from student government to Supreme Court

Starting in the summer of 2024, the Honors alum Erin Brown will serve as a law clerk for the Supreme Court. In that role, she will work on hundreds of petitions, hearings and decisions handled by the highest court in the country.

USC Honors students earn Goldwater scholarships

Undergraduate researchers thrive at the University of South Carolina. If you need proof, look no further than the Goldwater Scholarship, a national award recognizing the exceptional work and dedication of STEM undergraduates towards their research careers.

Student Body President Emmie Thompson aims to tackle 'realistic' goals, represent all students in new role

Emmie Thompson, USC's new student body president, wants to tackle manageable goals during her time in office. According to Thompson, her involvement in Student Government has been a way for her to give back to the USC community.

USC Honors College student balances college life, national modeling career

Since coming to USC, second-year fashion merchandising and retailing student Augusta Roach has had to find balance between her college life and modeling career. While it has not always been easy, Roach said her unique experiences in both environments have helped her grow as a person and find her passions.

USC Honors College students win top Pay it Forward prize

Thrisha Mote, Anusha Ghosh, Jiya Desai and Aastha Arora earned the top prize in the Pay it Forward competition sponsored by South Carolina's electric cooperatives. The competition aims to find solutions to pressing social and economic problems in the state's rural areas.

Former student body presidents: Where are they now?

Honors alumni and former student body presidents Brian Comer, ’99 and Taylor Wright, ’18 share what they’re up to these days.

Meet the Black alumnae whose contributions are commemorated on the Horseshoe

As a tribute to the Black alumnae featured in the student-produced documentary The Backbone, USC’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion installed 18 personalized bricks on the Horseshoe. The honorees' stories span seven decades of university history.

Building a better world

Tamera Sullivan, a 2019 USC and Fulbright alumna, will now pursue a career as a foreign service officer with the Pickering Fellowship.

From side hustle to startup: McNair Institute prepares future entrepreneurs for success

Brett Nilsen and Sean Powers came to the McNair Institute with a dream of starting their own company. They left the university with strong foundations for their shoe resale startup.

Alumna Jenni Williams lives out her childhood dream

Honors Alumna Jenni Williams discusses how her childhood dream of becoming a news reporter became a reality while attending USC and the South Carolina Honors College.

Sewing & Swearingen

Biomedical engineering junior Mina Schaafsma is quite a talented student. Whether it is doing research or making her own clothes, she always makes time to pursue her academic and creative interests.

Dance and political science alumna gets creative to help marginalized youth

How do you combine a creative calling, a passion for politics and a determination to drive social change? Just ask Vivien Toumey. The Arts and Sciences alumna has turned her background in dance and political science into an impactful career in non-profit work, where she has crafted social media campaigns that have led to real policy changes.

Mt. Pleasant junior wins first place in annual state writing contest

Elliott Kate Cooper, a junior at Charleston County School of the Arts, has won the tenth annual South Carolina High School Writing Contest hosted by the South Carolina Honors College.

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