There are many ways for students at the University of South Carolina to get involved across campus and hone their leadership skills. Senior social work major Evey Konstantopoulos has seemingly found and gotten involved with most of them.
Not only has she served as a peer leader for University 101, she’s worked with Gamecock Recovery, Sustainable Carolina and was the co-director for the university’s Pillars for Carolina Program.
That is on top of her coursework and the other leadership roles she’s held during her time at USC. Which is why the university honored her Thursday (March 16) with the Steven N. Swanger Award.
“During my undergraduate career at the University of South Carolina, I have worked diligently to ensure I made a positive impact on campus. My leadership and service involvement have driven my time at the university, shaping my passion for helping others and commitment to bettering my community,” she says.
“I have taken what I have learned in my social work courses and put it back into the university, advancing student success, community building, and the expansion of access to opportunities for students.”
The award has been given annually since 1978 to honor the memory of Steven Swanger, an outstanding student leader at USC. The honor recognizes a senior for their significant contributions to the university as an Omicron Delta Kappa member.
“The time I have spent at this university is characterized by the work I have done and the impact I have had on fellow students. I have created sustainable change and expanded opportunities, working tirelessly to encapsulate what it means to be a Carolinian."
In Konstantopoulos’s time at USC she’s mentored a staff of over 50 people who were in charge of Pillars for Carolina, a community-building program for hundreds of first-year college students.
By collaborating with 7 different campus offices, we created $16,500 in scholarships for low-income students, providing them the opportunity to attend the program,” she says. “As a result of my dedication and commitment to supporting first-year students, the scholarships and connections I facilitated continue to benefit students beyond my time with the Pillars for Carolina program”
She also mentors first-year students through University 101 programs, serves as an ambassador for USC’s Leadership and Service Center and plans community outreach events with Gamecock Recovery to help students battling addiction on college campuses.
The Glen Burnie, Maryland native has interned with the South Carolina Department of Social Services where she completed over 400 field education hours to provide services to families in the child welfare system.
As she gets ready to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in social work, her next steps will likely be defined by the service and leadership that got her to this moment.
“The time I have spent at this university is characterized by the work I have done and the impact I have had on fellow students. I have created sustainable change and expanded opportunities, working tirelessly to encapsulate what it means to be a Carolinian,” she says. “I believe these contributions embody the values of the Outstanding Senior award and exhibit my dedication to the university community.”