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AHA!South Carolina Honors College | University of South Carolina
contents
Message from the Dean: About the Rankings 1
Maymester Travel 3
Body Worlds 5
Fond Farewells 7
20-year Legacy 11
South Carolina Honors College in the Community 13
2012 Graduates by the Numbers 17
We Hail Thee, Carolina 19
Class Notes 21
Greetings from the South Carolina Honors College!
We have been hard at work putting together a
redesigned AHA! to better show the exciting
things happening in the SCHC.
Speaking of exciting things, the fall is already off
to a busy start! As a part of welcoming about 350
new freshmen, we launched the inaugural First Year
Flotilla, where students participated in a canoeing/
kayaking trip on the Congaree River. Our students
are enrolled in a wide variety of honors courses,
planning wonderful research projects, participating
in internships and serving in the community and are
either currently studying abroad or are preparing
to study abroad. Updates on these activities and
more can be found in your email inbox with The
Honorable Mention, as well as online through
our website and social media pages.
We hope you enjoy this issue of AHA!
The AHA! Editorial Board
AHA!South Carolina Honors College | University of South Carolina
2 1 | AHA! Fall 2012
Message from the Dean
About the Rankings
I promised in the last issue of this magazine to talk about the No. 1 ranking
of our Honors College by “A Review of Fifty Public Honors Programs,” the
first-ever ranking of honors programs, which was published this past spring
just as the spring AHA! went to press. It’s nice to be ranked highly by anyone
(or almost anyone) anytime, but what does this ranking mean? What was it
based upon, and how significant, really, is it?
The rankings are important not only because they’re the only rankings
around (and we did well), but also because they were based on reasonable
standards. There were in fact two separate rankings — one for “Overall
Excellence” and another for “Honors Factors Only.” We were ranked No. 1
in terms of “Honors Factors Only,” which compared honors colleges against
each other. This ranking was based on five considerations: curriculum,
graduation rates, honors residence, study abroad and priority registration.
These are objective measures — easy to count, hard to argue with — except
perhaps for the residence hall scores. There were three living spaces that
were given perfect “10” scores, and our new Honors Residence was one of
them. Someone might want to argue about whether one dorm is better than another,
but if you’ve seen where our freshmen and some upperclassmen live, with many
common study and social spaces, a lovely restaurant and Starbucks café, state-of-the-
art smart classrooms, washers and dryers that text your cell phone when your clothes
are done, and so forth — well, it’s hard to see how the dorm could be much better. I
suppose we could have a beachfront view, but the amazing Strom Thurmond Wellness
and Fitness Center is steps away, and the Riverwalk and baseball stadium are just a bit
further, and the views of the football stadium and campus and city lights are quite nice
indeed.
Our curriculum, which accounted for the bulk of the ranking, is unparalleled. We’re
offering 222 honors courses this fall, with an average class size of 14, and we’ll offer a
similar number of courses this spring. Our students take about a third or more of their
courses as honors courses. This remarkable investment in our program is owed to
visionary leadership by a succession of USC presidents, robustly continued by President
Pastides, and previous deans (Bill Mould, Peter Sederberg, Davis Baird and Tayloe
Harding). We also do very well in terms of prestigious scholarships, graduation rates
and study abroad, but what truly sets our honors college apart is the course of study
we offer.
The “Overall Excellence” ranking was based on these five considerations plus one
more: prestigious scholarships. What’s the difference between the two rankings? As
the review editor explains it, “Honors Factors Only” ranks the honors college itself;
“Overall Excellence” ranks the Honors College in the context of its university. Counting
prestigious scholarships reveals something crucial about the quality of the student
body as a whole. Our student body has seen spectacular advances: I believe there
are only 11 universities that have increased their incoming students’ SAT and ACT test
scores every year for the past decade, and only one university that has increased the
size of the incoming class and the average scores. That school is the University of South
Carolina. Even so, there are still schools that have more students who win prestigious
scholarships, and so we were ranked No. 11 with this additional category. (Did I mention
that we were ranked numero uno in terms of honors colleges?)
So that’s how the rankings worked. As I’ve said many times since this news came out,
we’re delighted, but we’re not resting on any laurels or luxuriating in our success. We
are working every day to make the South Carolina Honors College even better.
Steven Lynn
Dean, South Carolina Honors College
3 | AHA! Fall 2012 4
Maymester Travel
The South Carolina Honors College sponsored two study away courses for Maymester 2012: SCHC 451D King Arthur in Medieval Britain and SCHC 362S Treasures of India: North and South.
Dr. Scott Gwara led the King Arthur in Medieval Britain course.
Before the trip, students had three on-campus seminars outlining
Arthurian history, narrative and material culture. They met in the
library’s Special Collections to examine real medieval manuscripts
and get to know how the legends were disseminated. They tackled
Gildas, Bede, Chretien de Troyes, Robert de Boron and Malory.
They learned about Romans, Celts, Round Table, Holy Grail, Courtly
Love, the joust and the cultural world of Arthurian romance. During
the Maymester trip, the class visited key Arthurian sites in England,
including the cities of Winchester, Caerleon, Tintagel, Glastonbury,
Salisbury, Bath, Postbridge and London.
Dr. Hal French led students in exploring the timeless treasures
of India by studying its historical, cultural and spiritual heritage.
Before departing for India, the class held four pre-sessions to
establish a solid knowledge base. Students learned how the
disparate elements of Indian life evolved from earliest Vedic times
through the modern period and how the diverse elements internally
and externally affected its complex history. They visited sites that
reflect these elements, from geographical phenomena that are
rich with spiritual significance such as the holy Himalayas and the
Ganges, to monuments such as the Taj Mahal, to natural locations
such as the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, to spiritual centers like the
Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh and the vast temple complex
at Madurai in Southern India. A sampling of modern city life was
also encountered in New Delhi, Mumbai and the southern coastal
city of Cochin.
by Ashley Riser
Honors College students get a close-up view of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, during their recent Maymester trip. The two-week travel course, Treasures of India: North and South, included visits to historical monuments and religious sites in the cities of Delhi, Rishikesh, Mussoori, Agra, Kochi, Periyar, Madurai and Mumbai.
5 | AHA! Fall 2012 6
Honors College advisor Rebecca Shrader is always looking for opportunities to expand the educational opportunities of her students. When she learned that the BODY WORLDS Vital exhibit, which had been displayed throughout the United States and the world, was coming to the South Carolina State Museum, she was committed to making the exhibit available as a part of her advisees’ Honors College experience.
In March, the South Carolina Honors College sponsored a
free, private viewing of the BODY WORLDS Vital exhibit.
Eighty students from a variety of majors were able to view
the exhibit, which shows the contrast between healthy
bodies and bodies in medical distress, as well as bodies
in motion. Shrader and the other Honors College staff
members were pleased with the turnout.
Senior BARSC and pre-med student Eeshwar Chandrasekar
said, “As a pre-med student, I am fascinated by the
intricacies of the human body and its functioning. I was
amazed by how extensive the displays were. It’s one thing
to read about the body in my physiology textbook, but
to see the different systems in the body firsthand was
simply incredible. I would definitely recommend that
anyone visit.”
Other students, like Denise Burrow (2012), were simply
intrigued by the concept of human bodies as artwork.
“It’s absolutely incredible how they were able to fan out
the body; it’s hard to conceptualize how everything works
until you see it.”
Body Worldsby Doreen Rinehart
Enjoying the exhibit. Photo courtesy of BODY WORLDS Vital
7 | AHA! Fall 2012 8
Fond Farewells
“ I remember attending a minority recruitment event for the university in the ballroom of what was then the Holiday Inn. The event included a featured performance by Jim Burns himself, who gave a preview of his renowned Motown class. He cued the music and, in his commanding style, had hundreds of prospective students and President Sorensen himself singing ‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine.’” — Ryan Holt (2006)
“ By the time I decided to retire from the Honors College and the university in 2002, I had grown to love the college: its mission, the fantastic students and the great staff that made it all happen. My hope was that Dean Sederberg would find a replacement who shared my particular values, and especially my core value: students first. Enter Jim Burns. When I learned that he had been offered and had accepted the position, I was ecstatic. Everything I knew about Jim said he was a perfect fit. Over the years, I had developed a great respect for him and his work, and I knew that he put students first. I realized I would miss going to work in the best office on campus every day, but I could rest easy with Jim’s hire. History proved I was right about Jim. My only regret is that we never worked together on a daily basis. He will confirm that I do try to pester him as much as possible. I think he knows it’s a sign that I’m fond of him too.” — Jim Stiver (SCHC faculty, past associate dean)
“ Early this millennium, the university leadership decided to eliminate the Provisional Year Program, an initiative to which Jim devoted a couple of decades of dedicated service. In a subsequent meeting with the provost, I was asked if I would consider taking Jim on in the Honors College. I replied, ‘Let me think about it,’ one-second pause, ‘OK.’ Of course, I had to drive a hard bargain with Jim. I told him that if he accepted the position as assistant dean, he would still have to teach his honors seminar each semester as part of his duties. Luckily for the college, he reluctantly agreed to continue teaching. I am honored to have Jim as both a colleague and a friend.” — Peter Sederberg, (dean emeritus 1993-2005)
“ Jim Burns acquired a reputation in applied professional sciences as a remarkably gifted English instructor. I approached the irascible dean of APS with the idea that Jim might teach an honors English course. He bristled, but acquiesced. That’s when I found out that Jim Burns was not only a superb teacher, but also an amazing advisor. I likewise discovered that he has a strikingly low tolerance for bs. Jim’s humor and tolerance and fiercely high standards have led many students to achieve beyond their expectations. I was delighted when Jim joined the college, and I am sad to see him leave.” — Bill Mould, (dean emeritus 1974-1994)
“ Jim Burns enrolled me in my first classes at the university. He hired me as an office worker after my freshman year, where I stayed throughout college and paid my way through graduate school debt free. He taught what was easily the most engaging and informative class I ever took, The History of Motown Records and Popular Music. Yet none of these things are as important as some of the interesting advice he shared with me over the years. At Honors Revocation when I didn’t know what to say in front of hundreds of parents and students, he told me ‘Thank your mother, or I will stab you in the neck.’ When I got engaged, he called my new fiancée and told her ‘We can get you out of this. There is still time.’ I regret that future students will miss out on his skill as an educator, his dedication to the university and most of all his humor. And in case you’re wondering, he gave us a very nice waffle iron at the wedding.” — Marlowe Leverette (2010)
“ I remember Prof. Burns’ classes as the most fun of my college career at USC. I took both African-American literature and his Motown class, and in both he mixed serious discussions of history, race and culture with a fun-loving atmosphere that made students feel not only comfortable, but also enthusiastic about class discussions and activities. He maintained academic integrity while treating us like friends. I still smile remembering his classroom catchphrases ... ‘Oh, come on, y’all!!!’ Thank you, Prof. Burns, for helping make my time at USC memorable.” — Hilary Schramm Culbertson (2005)
In December 2012, the South Carolina Honors College will celebrate the retirements of Patsy Tanner and Jim Burns. Tanner joined the SCHC in 1973, when the honors program was only five years old. Burns has been teaching at USC since 1980. He first started teaching honors courses in 1990 and joined the SCHC staff as assistant dean in 2003.
As we prepare to say farewell to Patsy and Jim, we asked students, alumni, faculty and former deans to share fond memories of them.
9 | AHA! Fall 2012 10
“ Patsy was a mainstay in the Honors College office during my years at USC. I recall her giving me a key to the building so that I could use the typewriter (yes, the typewriter!) on the third floor after hours to type my applications for medical school. My freshman year the office was located across the Horseshoe, I believe at Lieber College, then moved to its current location. After graduating I had not been back to USC for quite some time. However, due to the wonders of digital photography and the Internet, I was reviewing a newsletter from the Honors College a year or so ago and immediately recognized Patsy in one of the photos. She looked the same as in the mid ’80s! Patsy, congratulations on your retirement, and thanks for helping so many honors students along the way!” — Jim Jamison (1986)
“ There were many years when I was a faculty member at USC when I thought Patsy Tanner was the Honors College, and I guess going back far enough, when I was first at USC in 1982, it was Patsy and Bill — I think. Patsy was always a great source of knowledge, wisdom and help for me as I worked in the Honors College. She knows everyone, and she was the SCHC budget process for me. Patsy was — is — focused on doing right by the students, and she always helped me find a solution that served the students’ best interests. Patsy taught me about the real spirit of being a Gamecock. I learned more about football from her than anyone else — this is of course saying something about my own ignorance of football as well as Patsy’s knowledge of the game.” — Davis Baird (dean emeritus 2005-2010)
“ One person is the Honors College: Patsy Tanner. Deans come and go, talking of Michelangelo, but Patsy has always been there to run the college and the Honors Program before that. She was there when I was appointed director of the Honors Program in 1974. She was there when I returned as the college’s second dean in 1994. She was there when I left 11 years later. She is the institutional memory of the place. I don’t think we can let her go ... someone get a chain!!!” — Peter Sederberg, (dean emeritus 1994-2005)
“ Patsy Tanner joined the Honors Program when there were just two of us — and I immediately went on a two-week vacation, leaving her to read files and brochures and figure out what we were all about. I returned to a knowledgeable and committed colleague whom I had the tremendous good luck to work with, almost without break, for the rest of my time at USC. Patsy Tanner is the best part of my 17 years with the Honors College. I know no one more professional and compassionate, more competent and more principled. Her commitment to her family, her faith and the Honors College is unsurpassed. Our college explodes with lots of very smart people, but no one as wise as Patsy Tanner. I have missed Patsy since I retired, but not nearly as much as the college will miss her. — Bill Mould (dean emeritus 1974-1994)
“ Patsy has always been incredibly helpful with anything I had questions on about my sponsored research, and was also a great chaperone for the Maymester class I took to Greece. We couldn’t have asked for a better chaperone than Patsy, who was always happy to help someone.” — Mackenzie Sunday (SCHC, Class of 2014)
While we will all certainly miss
Jim and Patsy, we wish them the
best in their retirement. During
their time in the SCHC, both Jim
and Patsy have made a lasting
impact on students, faculty and
staff members and alumni. As
Dean Emeritus Bill Mould put it,
“Patsy and Jim stand for many of
the college’s ideals, but especially
for those often left unspoken:
humor, compassion, decency,
commitment. However many
academic degrees we may have
accumulated, we all have much to
learn from them.”
11 | AHA! Fall 2012 12
This year, the university celebrates
20 years of having students named
Goldwater Scholars, and all of
them — yes, all of them — are from
the South Carolina Honors College.
This past spring, Cole Franks, Daniel
Grier and Gerry Koons were added
to this impressive list of aspiring
scientists and researchers whose
undergraduate work is worthy of
winning a national scholarship.
In fact, 33 undergraduates and two alumni from the Honors
College won national fellowships and scholarships or were named
finalists in 15 prestigious competitions in the 2011-2012 academic
year. To see a complete list of the winners and finalists, please
visit www.sc.edu/ofsp.
Students applying for these awards are assisted by the Office
of Fellowships and Scholar Programs, a relatively new area for
a 200-year-old campus. The office actively recruits and assists
students to apply for the Goldwater Scholarship as well as the
Rhodes Scholarship, Marshall Scholarship, Truman Scholarship,
National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship, and many
others.
For graduates of the Honors College, these fellowship and
scholarship winners add value to the excellent education received
at the university. And this recognition brings our campus into the
national spotlight: a national nod of approval for the education
provided by your undergraduate institution.
In 1990, Anil Swami may not have known he would be part of
a 20-year legacy. But winning a Goldwater Scholarship 20 years ago, he did just that.
by Jan Smoak
Legacy20-year
2012 Goldwater Scholars (left to right): Daniel Grier, Cole Franks and Gerry Koons
13 | AHA! Fall 2012 14
Trying to put the total impact the South Carolina Honors College faculty, staff and students have on the Columbia community is impossible to do in one piece. In an effort to do this topic justice, we have broken it into a two-part feature. The fall 2012 issue focuses on faculty-led initiatives. The second part, focusing on student-led initiatives, will be available in the spring 2013 issue.
For example, Karen Mallia’s SCHC 372C Communicating for a Cause
students worked with three area nonprofits in the fall 2011 semester:
the National Alliance on Mental Illness — MidCarolina, the South
Carolina HIV/AIDS Council and the Nickelodeon Theatre. After working
throughout the semester on communication plans for each agency, the
students presented agency representatives with copies of the plans to
serve as an implementation manual. The plan was especially moving
for 1987 SCHC alumnus Dr. Jacob P. White, deputy director of the
South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council. White said, “We were all astonished
by the thoroughness and sensitivity given to the issue, organization
and mission. In all sincerity, it was an emotional experience, bringing
some of us to tears that this group of intelligent and articulate young
people could encapsulate the 17 years of SCHAC and present a plan of
which we were in such desperate need.” The plan will be transformative
for White’s organization in several ways. SCHAC is reviewing the
messages and recommendations and is in the process of updating their
website, logo and plans for social media. In large part due to her work
with SCHC 372C, Mallia was awarded the 2012 Outstanding Service-
Learning Award, which honors a faculty member who has integrated
service learning into his or her classes.
by Ashley Riser
Above: Professor Karen Mallia receiving the faculty award for Outstanding Service-Learning for the class she teaches for the SCHC, Communicating for a Cause
Right: Palmetto Place’s older girls walk with a three-year-old after a trip to a farm. Photo courtesy Palmetto Place
In 2011-2012,6 SCHC courses
helped 25 agencies!
21 hours87 students
x> 1,800 service
hours
15 | AHA! Fall 2012 16
In addition to teaching service-learning
courses, faculty members are leading
the way in service by directing service-
based senior theses or serving as
second readers. Examples of recent
service-based theses include Cullen
Clair’s Soles4Souls collection drive
and Kizer Crum’s Super Healthy Kids
program. Clair’s thesis project, directed
by Pat Hanley, management instructor
from the Moore School of Business,
and with Susan Alexander, director of
service learning and undergraduate
research for the SCHC, as his second
reader, made an impact on the Columbia
community and beyond by collecting
gently used shoes that will be distributed
to those in need throughout the United
States and the world. Directed by
Mindi Spencer, assistant professor in
the department of Health Promotion,
Education and Behavior, and Teresa
Moore, clinical associate professor for
the Department of Exercise Science, as
the second reader, Crum’s Super Healthy
Kids program is a health promotions
program designed to increase healthy
behaviors among children. Through
an afterschool program, she taught
children about healthier options and had
them participate in physical activities
to broaden their exposure to healthier
lifestyle options.
While the past impact on the Columbia
community has been significant, new
initiatives are underway. Former
AmeriCorps VISTA member Stephanie
Gross visited community partner sites to
discuss agency needs and expectations
of student volunteers. What resulted was
a binder that has become a wonderful
tool in assisting in the service placement
process, helping the right student find
the right agency.
The Honors College staff has “adopted”
the Palmetto Place Children’s Shelter, a
shelter for children who are victims of
abuse and neglect. Director Erin Galloway
is an SCHC alumna, class of 1996, and
is enthusiastic about the partnership.
Says Galloway, “It is such a privilege
to connect the South Carolina Honors
College and Palmetto Place Children’s
Shelter. We are excited about the
possibilities for this partnership and
what it means for our kids, who come
from homes of poverty, neglect and
abuse. When faculty and staff come
together as a team for a cause, everyone
wins.” In August, SCHC staff members
donated children’s clothes, school
supplies and gift cards. Our current
AmeriCorp VISTA member, Sandra
Greene, and staff assistant Alison
Salisbury went to Palmetto Place to
sort school supplies and stuff backpacks
for the first day of school. SCHC staff
members will continue to support various
projects with Palmetto Place throughout
the year.
The benefit of service members to the Columbia community (and beyond) is felt not only by the community
but also by the faculty who help initiate the service opportunities. Says Mallia, “some have questioned my
sanity in developing a course where students of any discipline learn communication principles and best
practices and develop a strategy and campaign — in one semester. Students with a passion for learning and
dedication to service have proven them wrong every time I’ve taught the class. Honors College students are
a very special group on so many levels.” The college is honored to work with such dedicated faculty members
who believe in our students and to be home to students who believe they can make a difference and who act
on that belief.
Below: Super Healthy Kids Program participants show off strong and healthy bodies. Photo courtesy of Kizer Crum
“ When faculty and staff come together as a team for a cause, everyone wins.” — Erin Galloway
17 | AHA! Fall 2012 18
As always, we are very proud of our graduates. We’d like to
share a little bit about what this year’s graduating class is up to
now that they are alumni of the South Carolina Honors College.
Compiled by Doreen Rinehart and Laura Smentek (SCHC, 2012) 12% were planning to continue looking for a job after graduation. In today’s market, that is a significant figure!
2012 Graduates by the Numbers
of the Class of 2012 are continuing their education this fall. They are enrolled in graduate master’s and Ph.D. programs near and far, including those at Duke, the University of Virginia, Yale, Carnegie Mellon, Wisconsin, UC-Irvine and Northwestern. They are attending medical school at MUSC, Johns Hopkins and UNC Chapel Hill. SCHC pre-law graduates were bound for Wake Forest, Emory and Georgetown.
49% of our students already had jobs lined up. These graduates are now working at places like Bank of America, Oppenheimer Funds, ESPN, Deloitte, the Limited Brands, Intel, Liberty Mutual and BMW.
27% 88%
of the Class of 2012 had postgraduate placement in jobs, graduate programs, internships or national fellowships at their time of graduation!
19 | AHA! Fall 2012 20
We Hail Thee, Carolina
Investing in the promise of this great university and securing Carolina’s future success form the core goals of Carolina’s Promise, the University of South Carolina’s historic — and ambitious — $1 billion capital campaign. Carolina’s Promise means that we must invest well in the success of our students, for they truly represent the best promise of tomorrow.
South Carolina Honors College main campaign goals through the students’ eyes
Here at the South Carolina Honors College, our promise to our
students is to offer increased financial support for learning
opportunities inside and outside the classroom, thereby
preparing them for their futures through individually tailored
educational experiences. Our promise to alumni, parents and
communities far and near is that we will educate our students
today in traditional and unique ways to prepare them to be the
leaders of tomorrow.
The South Carolina Honors College seeks to raise $18 million
during the Carolina’s Promise campaign. The lion’s share of our
goal is for direct student support in the form of scholarships,
research fellowships, study abroad grants, internship stipends
and service-learning support.
Endowed Scholarships: $13,650,000 goal
“It’s a great honor for me to be the first student to receive a Belser Scholarship. It was
vitally important for me because without my scholarships I would have needed student
loans. Now I can undertake graduate study or begin my career without loans hanging
over my head.” — Maria Piroli, biomedical engineering
Endowed Research Grants: $600,000 goal
“I’ll be attending George Washington University School of Medicine in the fall of 2012,
and the research I did through the Honors College was a big factor in my acceptance.
Being able to conduct undergraduate research is an enormous plus for students at
SCHC — I was told my research really set my application apart from the others.”
— Lauren Miyares, Class of 2012
Study Abroad Scholarships: $1 million goal
“My internship at the World Health Organization in Switzerland fundamentally changed
my perspectives of medicine and health policy because now I relate everything I
do in the Honors College to what I’ll do after medical school — all because of the
opportunity I received to study abroad and what I learned there.”
— Rahoul Ahuja, pre-med, B.Ar.Sc. major
Internship Program Support: $750,000 goal
“The knowledge I gained as an intern for First Citizens Bank was a life-changer for me
because I gained a wealth of technical expertise outside the classroom as a financial
analyst. Those two summers were an experience that will continue to impact my career
for years to come.” — Jackie Parnell, finance
Service-Learning Support: $250,000 goal
“In the Law and Ethics of Outdoor Conservation (course) we learned why the
environment should be taken care of and respected by learning to want to respect it
ourselves. My group paired with Sustainable Midlands and the South Carolina Litter
Enforcement Association and did a few river cleanups. After the cleanups, we did
research on how to educate the youth on litter and what it does to ecosystems and the
environment. This class set a new standard for what a college course should be.”
— Rachel Price, environmental science
These goals reflect our belief that learning occurs in more places than just inside the classroom. We strive to expand the boundaries of learning beyond the classroom walls to encompass an array of educational opportunities for each student based on his or her own interests, abilities and career goals.
It is your belief in the promise of Carolina that will make this campaign successful. Become a champion for Carolina. Invest in the promise of this great university, and challenge others to do the same. Together, we will secure Carolina’s future.
If you would like to support the campaign and help advance the Honors College student experience, please contact Chappell Wilson at 803-777-7511 or [email protected].
21 | AHA! Fall 2012 22
1970’sDarline Waring (1976) is a National Board Certified Teacher in Early Adolescent Mathematics, 2009-2019. She retired from teaching in 2010 and plans to teach for Trident Technical College in developmental studies.
Sarah Springer (1977) is practicing law in Katy, Texas, trying to grow her law firm so that she can do more traveling. She has recently completed trips to Long Beach, Calif., Washington, D.C., Bar Harbor, Maine, and Boston, Mass.
Gail Ingram (1978) published an article in the July 2012 issue of the Organization of American Historians’ Magazine of History. The article is titled “Doing National History Day with Your Students.”
Daniel Davis (1979) retired from the federal government in 2004 and has been working with USC’s Postal Service since 2007.
1980’sTeresa Mizzell Hatchell (1980) serves as the executive director of the Tri-County Regional Chamber of Commerce, representing eastern Orangeburg, upper Dorchester and western Berkeley counties.
Ron Brackett (1985) is now the assistant managing editor/editing and design for the renamed Tampa Bay Times. Ron has been with the Times, formerly the St. Petersburg Times, since 1985. He is married to Jan, and they have two children, Ben, 19, and Molly, 16.
Robert Scearce (1987) is currently enrolled in the Accelerated Master’s Program, Systems Engineering, at the University of Virginia.
1990’sKirk Baston, M.D., (1990) assistant professor in the Department of Medical Education, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, was selected by the school’s first- and second-year medical students as “Outstanding Teacher of the Year.”
Debbie Deutschmann (1992) is an attorney with Honda of America Mfg. Inc. and was named president of the South Carolina Chapter of the Association Corporate Counsel.
Shane Swanson (1992) joined Eladian Partners LLC as general counsel at the end of 2010. With offices in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., New York City and London, Eladian Partners is developing sophisticated trading systems across geographies and multiple asset classes. Shane is responsible for all legal and regulatory matters for the Eladian group of entities.
Stanfield Gray (1993) recently launched the DIG SOUTH interactive conference and expo. Opening April 12-14, 2013, in Charleston, S.C., DIG SOUTH will celebrate the Southeastern knowledge economy. For more information, visit www.digsouth.com.
Ian Merrill (1993) is an investment banker at Barclays in New York. He previously practiced corporate law at Sidley Austin LLP, also in New York. He and his wife, Carolyn, have two children and live in Manhattan.
Stacy Elizabeth Thompson (1994) received the Katharine Heath Manning Perry award in May 2012 from the Junior League of Columbia, which recognizes a member who has excelled in community volunteerism and activism through her JLC placement and through extensions of her JLC work and training. Stacy served this past JLC year as vice president for community and currently serves as president of the Board of Directors of the Disability Action Center and as
Fourth/D.C. Circuit representative on the board of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives.
Laura Hall (1996) began a new job at the beginning of the Arab Spring managing more than $8 billion in U.S. foreign assistance to the region. Over the past year and a half, she has helped our transition to civilian lead programs in Iraq and has supported our embassies in countries undergoing historic transitions to democratic rule. Her team has mobilized more than $1 billion in economic, elections, civil society, humanitarian and rule of law assistance that will help citizens change their governments to be responsive to their demands for dignity, freedom and inclusive economic
opportunity. She considers it a privilege to support her colleagues in the field as they navigate these challenging times and to provide the resources to realize the secretary and president’s vision for a new approach to assistance in this changing region.
Teresa Wilson (1996) is serving the City of Columbia as the assistant city manager. She is responsible for the Office of Economic Development, the Community Development Department, the Office of Business Opportunities, all development corporations, governmental affairs and community relations, grants administration and the Office of the Mayor.
Clay and Brooke Woody (1999) celebrated the birth of their eighth child, Ford Freeman Woody, on July 25.
Mandy and Dan D’Alberto (1997) welcomed their third child, daughter Emerson Kaye (Emmy), this July.
2000’sEmily Flemming (2001) returned to the United States in 2011 to begin a Master of Divinity program at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colo., after a successful 10-year career as an executive recruiter in Germany. She will be married to Regis Schoedel in Peaceful Valley, Colo., on Aug. 11, 2012, and hopes to be ordained as a United Methodist Elder (pastor).
Class Notes
Catherine McLoud (1971) is serving as the chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Sarah Hammond (2002) has written a musical that was accepted to the O’Neill Center National Music Theatre Conference. Only four shows were accepted for summer 2012. For more information, please visit www.theoneill.org.
Allison Skipper (2004) has been promoted to manager, public relations, at the South Carolina Ports Authority in Charleston, S.C., where she is responsible for all external communications, media and community relations for the agency. She joined the Ports Authority in 2004. Allison has earned the Accreditation in Public Relations designation and a professional certificate from the College of Charleston’s intermodal transportation and global logistics program. She resides in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
23 | AHA! Fall 2012 24
Rachel Moyle Beanland (2003) has opened Kismet Communications alongside her sister, Eve Moyle. Please visit www.kismetcomunications.com for more information.
Carolyn (Perozzi) Burns (2003) and William “Bill” Carl Burns III (2003) welcomed William Robert Burns (“Liam”) on March 6, 2012.
Katherine Umstetter (2003) is expecting her second child in December 2012.
Andrew Frassetto (2004) spent five years in Arizona, two years in Denmark, and now works for a science NGO in Washington, D.C., helping to operate university-centered earthquake research infrastructure. Despite
his travels, Andrew manages to squeeze in a walk on the Horseshoe every few years.
Christina Scheer (2004) and her husband, Isaac D. Scheer (2003), welcomed their second child, Dorian Conrad, into the world on June 12, 2012. Mom, Dad and big brother Lucas are in love!
Bobbie Wofford-Kanwat (2004) has been appointed a full-time magistrate judge for Richland County.
Hilary Schramm Culbertson (2005) is serving as the communications and marketing coordinator at the National Center for Safe Routes to School. She manages all aspects of communications for the program, which
supports children all around the country safely walking and biking to school, as well as the annual Walk to School Day and Bike to School Day events. For more information, please visit www.saferoutesinfo.org.
Priscilla Larkin (2005) married Trevor Christopher Harris (from Cambridge, England, and a graduate of the University of Aberdeen) at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, S.C., on Feb. 18, 2012. They now reside in Colombes, France, on the west side of Paris, where Trevor works as the pastor of a French-speaking evangelical protestant church (Eglise Protestante Evangelique de La Garenne Colombes: www.epe-garenne.org/accueil.html).
Kelly Riffenburg (2005) gave birth to a baby boy, Nathan Steven Riffenburg, on Jan. 25, 2012. She and her husband, Eric, currently reside in Columbia.
Jason Wheeler (2006) graduated with an M.D. and M.S.C.R. (Master of Science in Clinical Research) in 2011 from the Medical University of South Carolina. He is now pursuing a Ph.D. at MUSC in the molecular cellular biology and pathobiology program, with an emphasis in cardiovascular pathophysiology.
Josh Kammerer (2007) recently graduated from the Yale Divinity School with a Master of Divinity and will be completing a nine-month chaplaincy residency at Bridgeport Hospital’s Pastoral Care Department in Bridgeport, Conn. Bridgeport Hospital is part of the Yale-New Haven Hospital system. Josh is also seeking ordination as an Anglican deacon and eventually as an Anglican priest in the Anglican Church of Rwanda. He has become somewhat of an evangelist of the Carolina Shag in the northern regions of the United States.
Hannah Markwardt (2007) earned her M.A. in Social Science Education from the University of Central Florida in 2010. While there, she was selected as Florida’s 2008 James Madison Memorial Fellowship recipient,
which provides full fellowships for graduate school for teachers of the U.S. Constitution. Hannah is now teaching in Palm Bay Florida and attended the 2012 George Washington Teachers’ Institute at Mt. Vernon. She recently gave a presentation titled “Starting an UpStanders (Anti-Bullying) Club” at the 17th Annual Teacher Institute for Holocaust Studies.
Sasha Magee (2008) graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a J.D./M.B.A. in May 2012.
G. Lee Cole Jr. (2009) is a partner of Cox & Cole, Attorneys at Law in Williamston, S.C. He plans to graduate from Anderson University in December with a Master of Ministry degree and is seeking ordination in the United Methodist Church.
Heather Judd (2009) graduated in May 2012 from the University of Florida Levin College of Law with a Juris Doctor and a Certificate in Environmental and
Land Use Law. She plans to practice in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area.
Megan JoAnn Roseen (2009) and Gregory Daniel Lawrence
were married on July 7, 2012, in Wake Forest, N.C. The two will remain in Wake Forest as Greg attends seminary at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Megan works as an assistant editor and administrative assistant in the area.
2010’sDavid Ensor (2010) completed a year’s study in the International Chinese Language Program at the National Taiwan University in Taipei as a Boren Scholar. Currently, he is traveling throughout Asia to extend his experiences in that region. When he returns to the United States in the fall, he will have lived and/or traveled in Malaysia,
Thailand, Laos, China, Taiwan and India and will have completed a PADI Divemaster program.
Isabel Arias Williams (2011) married Taylor Williams (Moore School 2011) on Aug. 13, 2011, and they recently bought a home in Columbia. Isabel works for a Columbia-based business process outsourcing partner to the health care industry, AMCOL Systems.
Chloé Greene (2012) has taken on a new position as a researcher and administrative assistant with the African-American Studies Program at the Columbia campus of USC. She also works in the evenings as an after-school teacher
for the EdVenture Children’s Museum.
Daniel Wohleber (2012) has accepted a position with Liberty Mutual and is working as a financial development program associate on a two-year rotation in the Boston office. At the end of the rotation, he will have served in three different divisions within the company.
Bryan Payne (2008) and Kacie DuPuis (2008) were married in Charleston, S.C., on June 2, 2012. The couple currently resides in New York City. (photo by Juliet Elizabeth Photography)
Ryan Holt (2007) was named to the Board of Directors for the Lexington Medical Center this spring. A Lexington County native, Ryan is an attorney with Sweeny, Wingate & Barrow P.A. in Columbia. He is a deacon at First Baptist Church of Columbia and a member of the Lexington Rotary and has served on the University of South Carolina Alumni Association’s Richland-Lexington Board and the College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Council.
Reggie Bain (2012) is attending Duke University this fall to begin pursuing a Ph.D. in high-energy physics. He will remain in close contact with the new leadership of Carolina Science Outreach, a group that he started together with several other honors students while at Carolina, during the coming year.
Alexa Erbach (2008) is currently in a New York production titled “Jack’s Back” and has received positive reviews for her performance. She is also slated to work in a production of August Strindberg’s “Playing with Fire” later this year.
South Carolina Honors CollegeUniversity of South CarolinaColumbia, SC 29208
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
The University of South Carolina is an equal opportunity institution.12199 UCS 10/12
As a Gamecock, my impact has No Limits.Gerry Koons, South Carolina Honors College
sc.edu/nolimits
The pain in their faces is all too familiar to Gerry Koons. She understands the
penetrating stares, the endless questions and the fear of the unknown. As an
undergraduate researcher at the University of South Carolina, she’s studying
craniofacial disorders at the cellular level. Gerry knows that some scars are
more than skin deep, so she’s finding new ways to help people heal.
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