Stories for Alumni

Fractured shards forming a Gamecock rests on a garnet-painted wall.

Adding the next piece: Scholarship provides financial aid to accounting majors

February 15, 2024, Victoria Nelson

After earning an undergraduate degree in business administration from the College of Charleston, Columbia native Jeff Kososki took advantage of his proximity to USC by enrolling in several accounting classes needed to earn his CPA designation. His love for the Gamecocks, and the community, never stopped. Now his family is honoring his legacy with the Jeff Kososki Endowed Scholarship Fund, which provides financial aid to accounting majors in the Darla Moore School of Business who are working toward their CPA certifications.

A portrait of Leroy Chapman.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution editor-in-chief Leroy Chapman inspires next generation of journalists

January 22, 2024, Craig Brandhorst

In March 2023, University of South Carolina alumnus Leroy Chapman Jr. made headlines — as the first person of color to be named editor-in-chief of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. It was a big deal for the 155-year-old paper, for the city of Atlanta and for journalism in general. It was also a big deal for Chapman’s alma mater, which recognized his professional achievements with the 2023 College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Award.

Joe Rice with his wife at the law school dedication ceremony.

USC's newly named Joseph F. Rice School of Law reflects powerhouse attorney's ambition, philanthropy and commitment to the profession

January 17, 2024, Craig Brandhorst

Attorney Joe Rice is one of the most respected plaintiff’s attorneys in the country. The cofounder of the Charleston-based Motley Rice law firm has secured hundreds of billions of dollars for clients, taking on Goliath-sized opponents like Big Tobacco and the financiers of 9/11.

Wendy Lower, author of “The Ravine: A Family, a Photograph, a Holocaust Massacre Revealed”

Henry and Sylvia Yaschik Foundation supports conversation about Jewish history

November 07, 2023, Rebekah Friedman

In the spring, audiences at USC had the chance to learn more about Jewish history from award-winning author and Holocaust expert Wendy Lower. Her weeklong fellowship with the university’s Jewish studies program was made possible by a generous gift from the Henry and Sylvia Yaschik Foundation.

The Owen family of three young boys holding their infant brother

Clay and Grainne Owen lead Gamecocks in support of curing children's cancer

June 07, 2023, Megan Sexton

When Clay and Grainne Owen’s son Killian died of leukemia at age 9, the family’s tragedy became their mission — to find better treatments and make childhood cancer a curable disease. Their charity, Curing Kids Cancer, has raised more than $25 million since 2005.

Morgan Romano poses in her Miss North Carolina crown.

Engineering alumna uses beauty pageants, philanthropy to inspire STEM interest in young girls

January 26, 2023, Kyndel Lee

Miss USA Morgan Romano knows all too well that only 28% of the STEM workforce is made up of women, and she's using her platform to spark interests in young girls and help create a pipeline for more women to purse careers in the STEM fields.

Kelly Adams on the UofSC Horseshoe

UofSC alumna guides employer's gift to Center for Civil Rights History and Research

April 12, 2022, Megan Sexton

Alumna Kelly Adams, managing director of state government and regulatory affairs for the energy infrastructure company Williams, was instrumental in her employer’s gift of $1.5 million to the university's Center for Civil Rights History and Research.

Dance Marathon students with Cocky

Dance Marathon raises $931,016

April 12, 2022, Allen Wallace

On April 9, nearly 2,000 University of South Carolina students spent the day dancing together, closing more than a year of work with a huge success as they raised $931,016 to support the Child Life program at Prisma Health Children's Hospital.

Man in red cap wearing gloves gives another man a packet of face masks

Having COVID-19 may make you more charitable

October 22, 2021, Nancy Buchan and Orgul Ozturk

A 2020 online study found that people in the United States who were more directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic were 9 percent more likely to donate to charity than others, and they donated 9.2% more money. The study replicated in Italy found similar results, Moore School professors Nancy Buchan and Orgul Ozturk write in The Conversation with co-author Gianluca Grimalda, Kiel Institute for the World Economy.

Jason Caskey, president/CEO of University Foundations

University Foundations president/CEO Jason Caskey talks about role in supporting UofSC

August 23, 2021, Chris Horn

Jason Caskey was named president and CEO of University Foundations in 2018 after a 28-year career in public accounting. The 1990 Darla Moore School of Business graduate oversees the university’s Educational Foundation and Development Foundation, which include the university’s investments from donors and real estate holdings, respectively.

Ian MacLeod and Shane Weatherford on balcony smiling.

VA program helps veterans transition to medical careers

November 09, 2020, Margaret Gregory

Two members of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia Class of 2024 are bringing unique perspectives as they train for their future careers in medicine. Before entering medical school, Ian MacLeod and Shane Weatherford served their country in the U.S. armed services. Both are able to pursue their education thanks to the Veterans Healing Veterans Scholarship.

David and Nicole Tepper

UofSC announces Nicole and David Tepper Scholarship to support sport and entertainment management education, diversity and COVID-19 relief

July 13, 2020, Allen Wallace

The University of South Carolina has announced the establishment of The Nicole and David Tepper Scholars Program in the university’s acclaimed Department of Sport and Entertainment Management. The program will provide four-year scholarships to a cohort of four incoming freshmen each year. Tepper Scholars will receive $10,000 per year toward their education and will gain access to additional enrichment opportunities.

Gov. McMaster shakes hands with USCDM Pres. Justin Gill

Governor proclaims South Carolina Dance Marathon Day

February 26, 2020, Allen Wallace

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster issued an official proclamation declaring Feb. 26, 2020 as South Carolina Dance Marathon Day. The proclamation recognizes the UofSC Dance Marathon for raising a record $1,038,156 for the hospital in 2019 and for their ongoing efforts to support the kids at Prisma Health Children's Hospital.

DC alumni club

Alumni club endows scholarship for D.C.-area students

December 17, 2019, Page Ivey

The DC Gamecocks are serious about celebrating their alma mater. They watch football games and participate in special events related to their days at the University of South Carolina. But, more recently, the alumni club, one of the larger ones outside of South Carolina, took on the goal of endowing a scholarship for students from the D.C. area, including Maryland and Northern Virginia.

Uzbekistan plaza

Retailing professor wins Fulbright for work in Uzbekistan

June 04, 2019, Allen Wallace

The Fulbright program is one of the most famous and prestigious scholarship programs in the world, with 59 alumni who also have Nobel Prizes and 82 Pulitzer Prize winners. Many people in academia try throughout their career and never win a Fulbright Scholarship. Professor Mark Rosenbaum, chair of the University of South Carolina Department of Retailing, now has three.

Andrew Super

Graduating senior leaves legacy of HOPE for people with disabilities

May 06, 2019, Allen Wallace

Andrew Super will graduate from the University of South Carolina May 11, but earning his diploma might be the second most impressive thing he has accomplished during his college career. In the past two and a half years, he has helped provide numerous free prosthetic devices for children and veterans in need, through a company he co-founded.

Miracle Kid Ellington Hewitt at Dance Marathon 2018

For the Kids

February 28, 2019, Allen Wallace

A year ago, University of South Carolina Dance Marathon made history, raising more than a million dollars for the kids at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital (then known as Palmetto Health). Just days after that success, they began working to do it again. That yearlong effort concludes Saturday with the student organization’s annual Main Event.

football operations center

Under 1 roof

February 19, 2019, Diane Veto Parham

Taking the new Cyndi and Kenneth Long Family Football Operations Center from concept to completion was a team effort that promises a big win. The 110,000-square-foot facility in Gamecock Park will transform the student-athlete experience for football players at the University of South Carolina, Athletics Director Ray Tanner says.

allen montgomery

Moving on up

January 17, 2019, Chris Horn

Allen Montgomery could do a fair impersonation of the Energizer bunny — he just keeps going and going. The 80-year-old audiology professor in the Arnold School of Public Health has run more than 100 marathons, the last one just a couple of years ago, and he has no immediate plans for retirement. He’s even figured out a creative way to help his academic department consolidate in one space on campus — something that’s never happened since communication sciences and disorders was created as an academic unit in 1972.

USC Dance Marathon earned three national awards after raising more than $1,000,000 for Palmetto Health Children's Hospital.

Dancing to the Top

July 24, 2018, Allen Wallace

USC Dance Marathon claimed three national awards at the 2018 Miracle Network Dance Marathon Leadership Conference held in Indianapolis, Indiana. The student organization raised more than $1,000,000 during the 2017-18 school year for the kids at Palmetto Health Children's Hospital.

Steinway piano

A grand gift

May 30, 2018, Chris Horn

The definition of a grand piano is simple — a large piano with the body, strings and soundboard arranged horizontally and supported by three legs. But what makes a piano “grand?” Willson Powell and Karen Brosius can point to the piano they bought 37 years ago — and have now donated to the University of South Carolina's School of Music.