The University of South Carolina Union held Commencement Exercises on Saturday, April 27th on the grounds of USC Union’s Patrons Park and welcomed Mrs. Nancy Comer as the commencement speaker.
Nancy Comer, the daughter of Jackson Rash and the late Betty Rash, moved to Union from Memphis at the age of seven years old and has remained loyal to Union ever since. She is married to Bill Comer, a Union native, and they have two children and six grandchildren. After graduating from Union High School in 1974, she attended USC Union and graduated from USC Spartanburg with an Associate Degree in Nursing. After moving to Columbia, Nancy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and a Master’s degree in Nursing from the University of South Carolina. She worked at Baptist Hospital as a Pediatric Head Nurse and Nursing Staff Development Instructor, and also as Staff Nurse in Richland Memorial Hospital’s newborn nursery and medical-surgical unit. In 2020, Nancy and Bill returned to South Carolina and live in Lexington. She is a devoted advocate for USC Union and serves on the University of South Carolina’s Palmetto College Board of Visitors. They established the Marshall and Juanita Comer Memorial Endowed Scholarship which is available to Union County students who wish to attend USC Union. She is also active in efforts to restore and preserve the historic Dawkins House on the USC Union campus so that it can be put into productive use by the college. Nancy is active in her church, Cherokee Presbyterian Church, where she leads the Women of the Church ministry. She continues to maintain an active Registered Nurse license in South Carolina.
Hannah Copeland 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 USC Union graduate with the Highest GPA each year. The recipient exemplifies the love of learning and commitment to excellence. Hannah started her career at USC Union in Fall 2021 as a dual enrollment student. She graduated with honors from Union County High School in June of 2022. While attending Union County High School and maintaining a rigorous course load of honors, AP, and dual-credit classes, she was an active member of the National Honor Society, National Beta Club, International Thespian Society, and Youth Leadership Forum. Hannah is also an avid horsewoman who loves to trail ride and teach children and adults to ride. She has volunteered with the Halter Program at the School for the Deaf and Blind. This program improves the lives of children with challenges through equine-assisted services, education, and research. While at USC Union, she has continued to serve others by tutoring in numerous subject areas in the Student Academic Success Center. She has also participated in study abroad, traveling to Guatemala, and presented research with a faculty member on “Adverse Childhood Experiences and Mental Health of Two-Year College Students” at the Southeastern Psychological Association’s annual meeting in New Orleans. Hannah excels academically, receiving the USC Union 2023 Commencement Speaker Scholarship Award, the 2023 Public Communications Award, the 2024 Biology Award, and the 2024 Nursing Award. She has maintained a 4.0 GPA, securing her place on the Dean’s and President’s lists each semester, while also actively engaging with the campus Research Club, serving as its Vice President for the 2022-2023 academic year. Hannah plans to complete her college career by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a minor in psychology through USC Aiken on the Union campus.
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 Lea Baldwin. Lea graduated from Union County High School in June 2022. She took a GAP year from high school to college and enrolled at USC Union fall 2023. She has distinguished herself academically, earning the President’s List honor in the fall of 2023. She is the recipient of the Harry & Edith From Scholarship for 2023-2024 academic year and on April 12th at the USC Union Awards Ceremony was honored with the outstanding English Award. At 16 years of age, Lea lost her mother to cancer. She works full-time at Walmart, supporting herself and her sister while attending college full-time. Lea plans to graduate from USC Union with her associate degree, transfer to Palmetto College at USC Beaufort to earn her bachelor’s degree in public health and continue graduate studies at the University of South Carolina.
Also recognized was Dr. Steven Lownes as USC Union’s Teach of the Year. Dr. Lownes consistently demonstrates a student-centered approach to teaching, placing the needs of the students at the forefront and aligning his curriculum with the campus mission. Each semester, he offers a variety of courses in Spanish, Portuguese, and cultural studies, as well as senior capstone courses, ensuring students have ample options while fulfilling degree requirements, whether at the associate’s level or through the BOL or BLS degree programs at Palmetto College. Known for his exceptional level of student support, Dr. Lownes provides personalized guidance both inside and outside the classroom. Through his teaching, he cultivates critical thinking skills among students, encouraging them to explore new ideas and develop essential skills beneficial for their academic, professional, and personal growth. It is no surprise that students consistently express feeling challenged, supported, and respected in his classes. His contributions enrich the educational experience for students and create a positive working environment for all.
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 besides the candidate’s name indicates the student has completed requirements to achieve Graduation with Leadership Distinction.
ASSOCIATE IN ARTS AND SCIENCE
Emily Anthony, with High Honors
Connor Boan
Joseph C Burgess
Sophia Valentine Caley, with Highest Honors
Emma Lynn Chapman, with High Honors
William Bailey Childers, with Honors
Brianna Nicole Compton, with Highest Honors
Rogelio Contreras Jr.
Hannah Madison Copeland, with Highest Honors
Luke Gregory Davis, with Honors
Madison Davis
Blake A Exizian
Madison Goossens, with Highest Honors
Eden Savannah Harris, with High Honors
Colby Helms
Mason McIntire Jolly
Nicole Lee Moss
Matigan M Nettles, with High Honors
Audrey Stacks
Nico Steinweg, with Highest Honors
Mason Joseph Stepp, with Highest Honors
Wendy Denise Varner
Rachel Corinne Ward
Julia Elizabeth Whitney
ASSOCIATE IN ARTS
Robert Michael Barron
Tanner Belue
Brooke Marie Bowles, with Highest Honors
Nazir Turkir Brandon-Savage
Angela Grace Elliot Brown, with Highest Honors
Caley Brianne Brown
Molli Nichole Butler
Jonathan Gardener Cook, with Highest Honors
Amber Nicole Cooklin, with Honors
Kacie Dawkins
Lacie Nicole Dawkins
Kaliq Jovovne Edwards
Kelvin Marrett Eison Jr, with Honors
Tiasha Tennille Evans
Jordan Z Fricks
Emily Gelske
Elijah Gregory, with High Honors
Tim Groenenberg, with High Honors
Ebony Nicole Hall
Emmaleigh Lauren Harger
Hannah Grace Heatherly, with Highest Honors
Mary Ada Elizabeth Heithold
Catherin Margot Hodson, with High Honors
Jameson Brady Holt, with High Honors
Caleb Noah Hudson
Haley Sierra Jackson
Kelsey Kaitlen Johnson
T’Quan Jermaine Jones
Matheus Tanure Araujo Mateus, with High Honors
Najzha Isheia Mitchell
Bianca N Monteith, with Honors
Maximus Diesel Moriarty
Michael J Murphy, with High Honors
Holly Chambers Patterson
Xiomara Ramirez-Bernal, with Honors
Tyler R Strickland
Carley Michelle Sumner
DeAnna Sweat, with Honors
Rebecca Helen Thornton, with High Honors
Jennifer Zoe Whiteford, with High Honors
ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE
Mary M. Adams
Caleb Mardis Bright, with Honors
Jacob D Butts
Cadence Clayton, with Honors
Brayden C Corn, with Honors
Taylor Davis
Lateasha Foster
Marlow Gist
Clayton Michael Goff
Madison Aliyah Haney
Seth Hanson
Cole Rawlin Hunter, with Honors
Jackson Jefferson
Katie Knox
Andrew Jay LaPerle
Kristians Zigurds Levensteins ,with Highest Honors
Jameson Evitt Madden, with Highest Honors
Peyton Taylor Morris, with Highest Honors
Kyler Lee Scott Murray
Katie Dianne Painter, with Highest Honors
Jared M Penland
Mckenzie Shea Pike, with Honors
Joseph Chase Rogers, with Highest Honors
Paige Nance Sherbert
Alexander Simmons, with Honors
Angelesia Smith
Jailyn Gracie Starnes, with High Honors
Madison Stephenson, with High Honors
Jarran Lee Tennant
Micah Peyton Thacker
Christopher Austin Tucker
Oscar Ventura-Marquez
Steven Grant Ward, with Highest Honors
Amber Elizabeth Wilson, with High Honors
Kendrick Wright
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING
Sadie Kathleen Blackmon, Magna Cum Laude
Melissa Ann Catrone, Cum Laude
Brina Grace Childers, Cum Laude
Hannah Faith Gilliam,
Rebekah Margaret Goodale, Cum Laude
Garrison Nichols Hendrix, Cum Laude
Catelin Rilei Lakeman
Lauren Michelle Lynch
Kailee Hope Stepp, Cum Laude
Blakelee Wisher
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA COLUMBIA PALMETTO COLLEGE PROGRAMS
BACHELOR OF ARTS – LIBERAL STUDIES
Hannah Lee Exum, Cum Laude
Mahaganee Foster
Kristy Leight Garner, Cum Laude
Jadyn Ashley Kimbrell, Summa Cum Laude
Madyson Rhemi -Leigh Maxwell
Kevin Brent O’Connell Jr
Leeann Taylor Pundt
Jordan Whiteford Quick
Madison Elizabeth Ryder
Kendra Cherice Scott
Emily Mae Skidmore, Cum Laude
Mary Haywoood Small
BACHELOR OF ARTS – ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP
Madison Paige Addington
Christine Ann Archibald, Summa Cum Laude
Breosha Monique Curbeam
Brad Joseph Fabian, Magna Cum Laude
Genevieve Gamble
Heather McNally, Magna Cum Laude
Wende C. Miller, Cum Laude
Timothy Andrew Padgett, Magna Cum Laude
Swain Norris Thompson IV
Eleanora Marie Wiggins
Photos By Amanda Upton Photography
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