2026 Student Awards

The Office of Undergraduate Affairs is proud to announce the winners of this year's Outstanding Public Health Awards. 

Student	Award	About
	Outstanding Public Health Student Award (Bachelor of Arts): William (Will) Barnes	William (Will) Barnes is a South Carolina Honors College student graduating with his Bachelor of Arts in Public Health degree and a minor in Medical Humanities and Culture. Originally from Gastonia, North Carolina, Will has demonstrated academic excellence with a strong commitment to leadership, and research throughout this time at USC.  In addition, Will has been involved in research serving as an assistant in the Emotion, Cognition, and Health Outcomes Laboratory, supporting studies on physical activity and cognitive health in older adults. His research has been presented at Discover USC.  During his time in the Arnold School, Will studied abroad in both Greece with a faculty-led program and for a semester in Florence, Italy.  Beyond academics, Will currently serves as a Senior Peer Leader for University 101 and a Lead Undergraduate Ambassador for the Arnold School. He has also been heavily involved in Student Government serving on the Freshman Council, Student Senate, and now as the Freshman Council Director.  After graduation this Spring, Will is attending Vanderbilt University where he will be a student in their MPH program studying Health Policy and Management.
	Outstanding Public Health Student Award (Bachelor of Sciences): Beau Fox Tran	Beau Fox Tran is a South Carolina Honors College student graduating with his Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree.  Originally from Huntersville, North Carolina, his academic and professional experiences reflect a strong commitment to improving community health outcomes through direct care, education, and preventive programs.  Beau has accumulated extensive clinical and field experience as an Emergency Medical Technician with over 500 hours serving dialysis patients and supporting chronic disease management. His work as a research assistant for the REMEDY Study highlights his interest in nutrition-based interventions, where he contributes to dietary programming, anthropometric data collection, and patient-centered health education.  He has also served as a Volunteer Medical Assistant, helping reduce language barriers for Spanish-speaking patients and improving access to care.  Beau has supported global health initiatives in Costa Rica, delivering preventive services and health education to underserved populations while managing volunteer teams.  His passion for nutrition and public health is further reflected in his experience as a teaching assistant for a course on anti-inflammatory diets and as the founder of a healthy meal preparation business.  After graduation this Spring, Beau is attending the USC School of Medicine in Greenville as a member of their Primary Care Accelerated Track (PCAT) Program.
	Outstanding Public Health Student Award (Bachelor of Sciences): Ella Forester	Ella Forrester is a South Carolina Honors College student graduating with her Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree and a minor in Chinese Studies.  Originally from Rock Hill, SC, Ella's academic journey reflects her passion for global and interdisciplinary experiences, including study abroad programs in Costa Rica and Japan.  Ella's professional experience shows her strong commitment to health equity and community engagement. As a Summer Public Health Scholars Program intern at Columbia University, she was selected from over 1,600 applicants to study epidemiology, biostatistics, and health policy while conducting research on maternal health disparities in East Harlem. At the South Carolina Department of Public Health, she contributed to HIV prevention initiatives by organizing testing events and distributing educational resources to underserved populations.  Her research with the University of South Carolina's BEACH Laboratory focuses on the relationship between the built environment and community health, particularly accessibility. Beyond academics, Ella is an active leader and volunteer, supporting sexual health education, mentoring youth in STEM, and enhancing patient care experiences at MUSC. After graduation this Spring, Ella will be taking a gap year to further strengthen her clinical experience serving and continue serving patients with a focus on improving health outcomes in underserved communities before pursuing further study as a Physician Assistant.