Sheila Cregger (1978), Creighton Waters (1993) and Molly Doggett (2012) are this year's Distinguished Honors Alumni. Each has made significant impacts on their local communities and beyond.
Honors College international business alumni Carter Mulchaey and Amber Tu reflect on their exclusive opportunity to study at the University of Oxford, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world.
South Carolina Honors College alumna Dr. Elizabeth Mack is a recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Physician Alumni Award.
Tremayne Ansani had big plans before he even set foot on campus, but he had one overarching goal: to create and support community. Four years and a double major later, the Honors College graduate sat on the commencement stage as the recipient of the university’s highest student honor, the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award.
It happened a decade ago, but lessons learned from the catastrophic flooding of Oct. 1-5, 2015, in the Midlands of South Carolina are still being reckoned by USC researchers and former Honors students who were involved in the flood’s aftermath.
USC's chapter of Habitat for Humanity is building homes and futures. Led by president and McNair scholar Ria Kothari, the club works in the community almost every weekend to build homes to improve access to affordable housing.
Change is a constant in the field of visual design — and Garnet Apple Award winner, Honors Pearce Faculty Fellow Meena Khalili embraces it.
McNair scholar Kylie Mudie has been passionate about the science of skincare and beauty products since she was in middle school. This summer, the junior chemistry major connected with students and industry professionals at Spelman College's Black Beauty STEMinist Lab Intensive.
Honors College senior Luci Green initially decided to study chemistry in college, but after taking a course taught by a visiting law professor, she began considering a new path.
South Carolina Honors College sophomore Jacob Boutin spent the summer in New Mexico exploring the technological capabilities of nanosatellites: small satellites that are making a big impact in the field of aerospace engineering.
Shapeshifting cryptid creatures lurk in curious places throughout Julia Elliott’s new book, Hellions. Elliott fashions from her imaginative gray matter strong female protagonists who harness their power in unusual ways.
For nearly 14 years, Amy Taylor-Perry has taught general chemistry classes and labs at USC. Hundreds of students take these courses each semester, and Taylor-Perry has designed them to provide a solid foundation. She has now received the Michael J. Mungo Undergraduate Teaching Award, with her nomination endorsed by the entire Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
Courtney Tkacs has lived all over the world, the product of growing up in a military family. She moved to Lexington her sophomore year of high school and found her home in South Carolina. Today, Tkacs is working to make her University of South Carolina home a better place by serving as the student body president for the 2025-26 term.
English professor Ed Madden wants to use the written word to help people connect to each other and to amplify voices often overlooked or ignored. For his achievements in teaching, research and service, Madden was awarded the 2025 Carolina Trustees Professorship in Humanities, Social Sciences, Business and Law.
South Carolina Honors College assistant dean Chappell Wilson reflects on her Honors education and career -- and the importance of interdisciplinary education. She's just as motivated by current students' ideas and energy as she was when she was a student herself.
Josh Dawsey works at the forefront of U.S. politics. He has covered the White House extensively and has twice won the Pulitzer Prize for his reporting with teams from The Washington Post. His new book "2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America" tells the story of the tumultuous election season.
Chemistry and computer science senior Christian Ruff talks about how his experiences at the University of South Carolina have helped shape him.
Do non-prosecution policies related to drugs and drug-related crimes achieve their goal of reducing drug-related overdoses? South Carolina Honors College graduate and McNair Scholar Samuel Maloney spent over a year collecting and analyzing the data needed to answer this important question, focusing on opioid use disorder. His thesis presents unprecedented contributions to the field of public health.
Luke Hodges says he found the arts community he was looking for when he transferred into USC's English and Honors programs more than 10 years ago. Looking back, the writer and documentary filmmaker says he there was an "insane smorgasbord of opportunities" at USC.
Honors alumna and graduate student Morgan Grace Steele decided to change paths after participating in the South Carolina Washington Semester program. After reflecting on her experience in the course University 101, she decided to pursue a master’s in higher education and student affairs.
Honors student Zach McClure graduates from USC with a deep passion for big questions, complex answers, and a Yale Law School acceptance. From studying abroad to analyzing judicial credibility, his journey blends critical thinking with purpose-driven advocacy.
Dean Steven Lynn shares an update on the state of the South Carolina Honors College and the many exciting things ahead.
The roots of Adm. Jacob Shuford’s 35-year U.S. Navy career –– which took him to top postings all over the world –– were planted and nurtured in the honors program at the University of South Carolina.
Meet 2012 South Carolina Honors College graduate and McNair scholar Bryarly Bishop, the voice behind some of America's best-known brands. Her vocal talents span from commercials and video games to vocal albums and short films, showcasing the versatility of the human voice.
Alex Thompson is a leader in both choral and community settings. As co-founder and the first president of the Black Honors Caucus, she was determined to create a welcoming space for Black students in the South Carolina Honors College. As a choral conductor, she encourages her students to use their harmonized voices as a form of self-expression.
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