The University of South Carolina Union held Commencement Exercises on Saturday, April 29th on the grounds of USC Union’s Patrons Park and welcomed Dr. Ann Carmichael as the commencement speaker.
Dr. Ann C. Carmichael earned her PhD from the University of South Carolina and her Masters in Student Personnel Services from Clemson University. Dr. Carmichael joined the USC Salkehatchie administration in 1991, initially serving as Director of the Walterboro Campus and Coordinator of Development, overseeing the institution’s multi-million-dollar capital campaign. After becoming Dean of USC Salkehatchie, Dr. Carmichael was instrumental in partnering with the University to bring the four-year nursing program to the campus, building a state-of-the-art student housing complex, increasing enrollment to record numbers, and raising over ten million dollars in private gifts and grants. She retired from the university as Dean Emerita in 2020. An active participant in the greater Salkehatchie community, Dr. Carmichael serves on the Southern Carolina Regional Economic Development Alliance Board of Directors Executive Committee and is chairman of the Savannah River Site Redevelopment Authority Board. She is also active in her church, having served as chairman of deacons, personnel committee, and trustee. Dr. Carmichael has served as a certified judge for the Miss American Preliminaries and judged numerous pageants. She is a former Miss South Carolina All American Girl and fourth runner up in the national pageant. She was the former Miss Union in the Miss South Carolina Pageant. She received the SC Department of Commerce 2019 Rural Leadership Award at the 29thAnnual South Carolina Rural Summit. Upon her retirement, she was recognized by the South Carolina Senate and House of Representatives for her years of dedicated public service to the University of South Carolina Salkehatchie.
Trent Turner was awarded the Kennedy Academic Award this year. The Kennedy Award was established by Mr. B.F Kennedy and his late wife, Myrna, to publicly recognize and reward the US.C. Union graduate with the Highest GPA each year. The recipient exemplifies the love of learning and commitment to excellence. Trent Turner grew up in Waynesville, North Carolina and went to Tuscola High School. As a student-athlete, Trent not only excels within the classroom but also on the field as a Bantams baseball player. Playing in over 90% of games last season, Trent finished the season with a .350 batting average. This included 36 hits, 9 doubles, 4 triples, 4 homeruns, 35 runs batted in, and scored 32 runs, all the while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. His coaches and the Athletic Director describe him as a great leader both on and off the field. Looking ahead, Trent will play for the next 2 years at Western Carolina, an NCAA Division One college in North Carolina.
It has been a tradition of the University of South Carolina and its campuses to award a scholarship for the upcoming academic year in honor of our commencement speaker. This year’s recipient is Hannah Madison Copeland.
Hannah graduated from Union County High School, where she participated in USC Union’s dual enrollment program. Enrolling at USC Union last fall, she has distinguished herself academically, earning President and Dean’s List honors. She is the recipient of the Public Communications Award for 2023 and a member of the USC Union Research Club. She recently attended the Southeastern Psychological Association’s annual meeting, presenting, along with Union campus students and faculty, a conference session entitled, “Adverse Childhood Experiences and Mental Health of Two-Year College Students.”
Hannah’s family describes her as hardworking, a critical thinker, emotionally intelligent, genuine, and an achiever. She reports that her favorite people aren’t people, but rather animals, with her animal “family” consisting of six horses, a dog named Waylon, and her cat Sir Snoof.
Hannah is a nursing major, with plans to enroll in the USC Union/USC Aiken joint nursing program. Her long-term goal is to become a nurse anesthetist. Currently, she works at the Union Medical Center as an ER Technician, an Administrative Assistant, and a Companion to Homicidal and Suicidal Patients.
Also recognized was Dr. Emily Schafer as USC Union’s Teacher of the Year. Dr. Emily Schafer is an Assistant Professor of Psychology. Her contributions within and outside of the classroom demonstrate her commitment to student learning and success. Dr. Schafer is an inspiring teacher who has a knack for creating engaging, safe, and thought-provoking learning environments, where all students feel valued, supported, and heard. She creates unique learning opportunities for students, having mentored several undergraduate student researchers and developed a study abroad program to Guatemala that she will lead this summer. On campus, she is engaged in meaningful and high-impact service activities that advance our mission. Her contributions to the academic community are widely recognized, publishing extensively in leading academic journals, and presenting her work at numerous conferences around the world. Dr. Schafer embodies the highest standards of academic excellence, and we are proud to honor her with award and look forward to her continued contributions.
The following list of candidates for graduation was prepared before final grades were reported, and inclusion herein does not constitute evidence of graduation. The listing of a name in this program should not be construed as an indication that the person will in fact receive a degree from the University of South Carolina at this commencement. Conversely, the absence of a student’s name from this list does not necessarily mean that the person will not be awarded a degree. Honors for degree candidates are based on the cumulative grade point average on file at this time. Honors to be printed on the diploma will be based on the final cumulative grade point average on all collegiate work.
The letters GLD beside the candidate’s name indicates the student has completed requirements to achieve Graduation with Leadership Distinction.
ASSOCIATE IN ARTS
Andrew Duncan Baxley, High Honors, Dual Associate
William Berry, Highest, Honors, Dual Associate
Sydney Hope Dunlap, Dual Associate
Kallee Grace Garner, High Honors, Dual Associate
Arthur Burton Hahn, Dual Associate
Jasma Tironda Hill, Dual Associate
Lauren Elizabeth Hines, High Honors, Dual Associate
Za’Kyah Janae Jeter-Walton, GLD, Dual Associate
Jonathan D Overton, High Honors, Dual Associate
Elizabeth Hope Pruitt, Dual Associate
Nathan Kevin Robinson, Dual Associate
Destiny Sanders, Dual Associate
Karsyn Elizabeth Sprouse, High Honors, Dual Associate
Trent Turner, Highest Honors, Dual Associate
Jarrett Thomas Whitley, Dual Associate
Molly McKinley Winstead, High Honors, Dual Associate
Tamika Tierra Boler
Gabriel Clark
Brandon Coleman, Honors
Daniel Cooper
Bryson Daniel, Highest Honors
Thomas Dartez, High Honors
Jose Antonio Fernandez, Jr.
Rachel Cole Gallman
Madeline Suzanne Gilstrap, Highest Honors
Jacob Gregory
Ebony Nicole Hall
Elizabeth Jane Hoefer
Jaymeson T Huff
Janie Cecilia Knox
Loren Bryce Metts
Kayla Jeanette Moore
Ethan Phillips
John Caleb Pickens, Honors
Alexander Ramirez Bernal, Highest Honors
John James Roman
Madeleine Emma Rosoff
Hannah Elizabeth Sandford
VonDravius Sands
Shanya Amir Smith
Shamya T Smith
Tyler Vespe, High Honors
Alexis Ayana Wallington
Jameon Williams
Lillie-Grace Elizabeth Williford
ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE
Helena Michelle Alexander, High Honors
Tykaylee Danielle Altman
Alexandra Morgan Bell, Honors
Jamarri Xzavion Booker, Honors
Nicholas Warren Boswell, High Honors
Cali Collins, Honors
Ansley Connelly
Jaryn Sidney Cudd
Michaela Storm Davis
Jessica Evette Dawkins, GLD
Kellie Elaine Egeland, Highest Honors
Daniela Elizondo Rios
Christian Blain Estes, Honors
Jak Everett, Highest Honors
Kate Everett, High Honors
Albert Farmer
Rachel Cole Gallman
Willa Marie Garner
Timothy Garner
Lydia Shannon Gault, High Honors
Riley Dianne Gregory, High Honors
Mary Ada Elizabeth Heithold, Honors
Bethany Grace Henderson
Rileigh Jade Inglett, High Honors
Haley Sierra Jackson
Seth Alexander Jones
Lori Killian
Charles Mattison Lake
Sarah Lawter, Honors
Michael Leone
Jordan Lipsey
Lauren Michelle Lynch
William Mayes
Kionna Tiayaishia Mcbeth
Annastacia C McKnight
Kyle Murray
Amber Northcutt
Marcos Quithuac Perez-Gonzalez, Highest Honors
Malik Price
Kelis Danielle Rodgers, High Honors
Joseph Phillip Smith
Shanya Amir Smith, Honors
Shamya T Smith, Honors
Corenza Zykiria Stewart
Jeffrey Aidan Strickland
Taliyah O’drionna Thomas
Hannah Elizabeth Truett, Honors
Madison Hope Truett
Oscar Ventura-Marquez
Alexander Vinalay
Jesse M Wicker, High Honors
Darius Ryan Witherspoon
Seth Xavier Woods
Eric B Yelton
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING
Makenzie Grady Edwards
Brianna Nicole Fish
Hannah Faith Gilliam
Madilyn Elizabeth Grant
Hannah Hockgeiger
Grace Elizabeth Lee
Carson Scott Nance
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA COLUMBIA PALMETTO COLLEGE PROGRAMS
BACHELOR OF ARTS – LIBERAL STUDIES
Rachel Lillian Avila
Tony Vernon Baughman, Cum Laude
Alexis Breonna Chantwoine Beatty
Conner James Black
Nikki Leigh Cromer
Jane Katryn Guevarra Enabore
William Daniel Harmon, Summa Cum Laude
Daniel Joseph Hood
Caden Anthony Jackson, Magna Cum Laude, GLD
Haley Nicole Martinez, Magna Cum Laude
Jackson Dallas Munroe
Taylyn McKynzie Price
Shyquasia Alexion Smith, Cum Laude
BACHELOR OF ARTS – ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP
Madison Beaty, Magna Cum Laude
Skylar Behney
Sally Barnes Dillon, Magna Cum Laude
Genevieve Gamble
Kindra West Horne
Sarah Jane Knight
Keivarius DaShaun McGee
Hunter David Taylor
Amber Elizabeth Thompson, Summa Cum Laude
Marlena White
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