The University of South Carolina recognized 17 College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management students for outstanding leadership and performance at the annual USC Awards Day ceremony.
USC President Michael Amiridis presented the President's Award to David and Nicole Tepper Department of Sport and Entertainment Management student Emese Simko.
The President’s Award is based on academic accomplishments, leadership achievements, co-curricular involvement and service to the Carolina community. Recipients have demonstrated major achievement in the categories of service, leadership, academics and research. Students chosen to receive this honor are among the university's most exceptional graduating seniors.
Lauren Frasier-Jeffries, also a David and Nicole Tepper Department of Sport and Entertainment Management student, earned the HRSM Dean’s Award for Outstanding Leadership.
The award recognizes a graduating senior for significant contributions to the College of HRSM. The award recipient has provided outstanding leadership to an HRSM student organization and positively impacted the college’s brand through service in the HRSM Leadership Program.
The HRSM Academic Excellence Awards are presented annually to one student in each major, selected by faculty for their scholastic achievement. This year’s recipients are:
- Abigail Boatwright, Retailing with concentration in Retail Management
- Jacqueline Chapdelaine, Interdisciplinary Studies in Services Management
- Abby Foy, Retailing with concentration in Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations
- Mahaley Gann, Sport and Entertainment Management
- Trevor Lazarus, Hospitality Management
- Jingjing Zhou, Tourism Management
Lazarus also earned a USC Outstanding Senior award, along with nine other HRSM students. Students who receive the Outstanding Senior award have demonstrated major achievement in the categories of service, leadership, academics and research.
The HRSM recipients for 2026 are Ben Drago (Sport and Entertainment Management), Nicholas Grover (Sport and Entertainment Management), Todd Hardy (Sport and Entertainment Management), Wade Jefferson (Interdisciplinary Studies in Services Management), Lazarus, Branden Miller (Sport and Entertainment Management), Maggie Thrasher (Sport and Entertainment Management), Carys Waddington (Hospitality Management), Gabrielle Walters (Tourism Management) and Brianna Watts (Sport and Entertainment Management).