The University of South Carolina's College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management is proud to welcome the seventh and newest cohort of Tepper Scholars. The four incoming freshmen will join the renowned David and Nicole Tepper Department of Sport and Entertainment Management and its most prestigious scholarship program.
Created in 2020, the David and Nicole Tepper Scholars Program recruits the best and brightest sport and entertainment management students and enriches their education opportunities, and ultimately, their careers. The Teppers own the Carolina Panthers, Charlotte FC and Bank of America Stadium. They are active philanthropists and strong supporters of access to education.
In addition to academic merit and a commitment to sport and entertainment management, the scholarships are awarded to students who bring a variety of life experiences and perspectives to the campus community. Tepper Scholars receive funding to cover a substantial portion of their tuition costs for four years as undergraduate students, and they benefit from direct mentorship and career development opportunities with The David & Nicole Tepper Foundation and Tepper Sports and Entertainment.
The Tepper Scholars Program is about opening doors for talented students and giving them the mentorship and real-world experiences to make the most of their opportunities. We’re proud to welcome this new cohort and excited to support these scholars as they pursue their goals and build the careers they envision for themselves.
Ethan Budden
Sumter, South Carolina
Ethan Budden graduated with honors from Sumter High School in May 2026. In the spring of his senior year, Ethan worked at the Masters Tournament as a golf cart attendant, learning valuable networking skills with his fellow co-workers and staff members. He had the fortune of meeting highly ranked PGA professionals, which was an unforgettable experience. In summer 2024, he worked as a poll manager and volunteered with his local YMCA. Ethan was an active member of the Student Government Association and served as co-chair of the student activities committee. He also served as parliamentarian of Key Club. In 2024, he was inducted into the National Honor Society and maintained a 4.84 GPA. In addition, Ethan was selected as a Palmetto Pride Youth Ambassador, working with a select number of students around South Carolina to eliminate litter in the state. He is also passionate about pursuing a career in the sports industry, aspiring to become an agent and hopes to work for a company like Klutch Sports Group in the future.
Chase DeCurtis
Matthews, North Carolina
Chase DeCurtis graduated from Butler High School in 2026 while also completing dual enrollment coursework at Central Piedmont Community College. He was a member of the National Honor Society, as well as a four-year varsity baseball player, captain of SAAC, Captain of Unified and a Senior Board member. He was actively involved with Special Olympics North Carolina, where he developed a strong passion for sport management, inclusive athletics and team leadership. He also worked as an umpire for 20/20 Umpires and as a camp counselor at Camp Bow Wow, interned with Draft Kings and Fan Duel, and is currently a member of Charlotte Young Life. Chase led the planning and execution of a successful fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in honor of his mother by organizing a baseball game between his high school team and the Matthews Fire and Police Departments. He plans to pursue a career in sport business.
Sarah Kuntz
Baltimore, Maryland
Sarah Kuntz graduated from Eastern Technical High School where she maintained a 5.3 weighted GPA and was a member of the National Honor Society, English Honor Society and Social Studies Honor Society. She served as vice president of One Love and as media director for her school’s sports club while competing as a varsity volleyball and track athlete. Outside of the classroom, she gained work experience as a lifeguard, server, hostess and gymnastics coach, and also coached her school’s boys’ club volleyball team. Sarah hopes to pursue a career in sport law and management to become an agent for professional athletes.
Sarah Spychalski
Coppell, Texas
Sarah Spychalski graduated from Coppell High School. Throughout school, she worked with the Coppell chapters of Pratham and Create for Kids, where she served as the secretary and vice president, respectively. Working with these organizations helped Sarah develop her communication and leadership skills. She also interned part-time as a social media manager for two Coppell Independent School District board members. Sarah was an active member of the National Honor Society, Student Council, her studio dance team and her high school’s drill team, the Lariettes. Despite her busy schedule, she maintained a 5.4017 GPA. She is passionate about working towards a career in the NFL and hopes to someday create a nonprofit of her own to help anyone who needs support to either get started in a sport or a career in the sport industry.