We may have celebrated the “New U” with our logo redesign this semester, but we are the same USC Union that has been providing affordable, accessible education and quality college experiences to our community since 1965. In the spring, we will mark 60 years as an institution, and we think each year has been better than the last. Here is a rundown of all things USCU for 2024!
Athletics
Though Bantam soccer finished their season just short of the region finals, the team made USCU history once again with an impressive number of awards. Julien Fodisch (second team), Juan Rodas (first team), and Pedro Rocha (first team) were named All Region players while goalkeeper Colby Suber received an honorable mention. Mila Mzamane was also named first team All-Region and received his second consecutive Region 10 Division 1 Player of the Year Award. This is the third consecutive player of the year award for USCU soccer, following Mzamane’s win in 2023 and Nico Steinweg’s win in 2022.
The Bantam Anglers Team of Tanner Hadden and Caleb Hudson won a College Bassmaster division title, being named Anglers of the Year for the Lunkers Division Trail for which they received an award and a $1000 dollar prize at the opening of the College Bass National Championship on Aug. 21. Hudson and Hadden also qualified to compete in the championship, alongside fellow Bantam Anglers Kaleb Butts and Chase Rogers, where they placed 4th and 7th out of over 1,500 anglers. The team finished their 2023-2024 season ranked 25th in the nation out of over 450 teams.
Class of 2024 softball player Grace Starnes set new career records for hits (124), doubles (25), triples (7), and stolen bases (77). Other notable achievements were Abby Benfield, who tied the single season record with 5 triples in her freshman year, Sophie Caley who had 10 career Home Runs placing her in 2nd on the leader board, Brianna Compton who finished her pitching career with 17 wins and 128 Ks, and Madison Goossens tied the record with Hannah Truett (22-23) with 17 Hit By Pitches.
Bantam Baseball player Colin Ingle also set a school record during a March 26 game against Blue Claws Post Grad, by throwing the first no hitter in USCU history, winning the game for the Bantams.
This year’s soccer, softball, and volleyball rosters include 19 international student athletes from all around the world.
Campus Improvements
Construction on The Coop, the Lady Bantams Softball complex, is in full swing. All underground work is complete and dugouts, restrooms, and a press box are now taking shape.
As you drive onto our campus, you will notice a few new external features. A new brick sign has been installed on the lawn of the Main Building to welcome visitors, and the Rippy Courtyard behind the bookstore has been expanded to include more space and outdoor seating.
This summer, USC Union received a Historic Preservation Stewardship Award at the 29th Annual South Carolina Historic Preservation Awards, which was held at the SC State House on June 20. This award recognizes those who have ensured the ongoing preservation of historic buildings, structures, or sites through long term care, planning, management, and protection, and highlights our three main buildings- the Whitener Central Building on East Academy Street, the Main Building on Main Street, and the newly acquired Bell Street School located on Peachtree Street in Clinton, which serves as our USC Union Laurens Location.
Bantams celebrated the “New U” in August with the rollout of our new athletic logo. This fresh rendition of our mascot, Blaze the Bantam, was created by Arrowhead Design Group in Spartanburg, replacing the image that had been in place since 2013.
Nursing
Our USC Aiken School of Nursing at Union class of 2024 is already doing our school proud in local hospitals. All nine graduates passed the NCLEX (nursing licensure exam) shortly after their pinning ceremony in July and are working at hospitals in Union, Spartanburg, or the surrounding area.
The nursing department also received a grant from the Lutz Foundation (501-C3) in Chester to purchase a MATT (MedVision Auscultation Task Trainer), a tool for learning heart, lung, and abdomen sounds. The simulator mimics the look and feel of a human torso so that nursing students can listen with stethoscopes and learn to make diagnoses based on what they hear.
Academics
Our USCU faculty have made great strides in research and publication this year!
Dr. Tekla Johnson received two funded grands, the PURE Grant for “Origins of the Human Family” and the Digital Exhibit Summer Faculty Fellowship Archives at Johnson C. Smith University’s Duke Memorial Library. Johnson also completed a quarterly presentation for the Black Power Archive Collective. Johnson’s chapter in a book project titled African American (Urban) Removal will be published by USC Press in 2025.
Dr. Steve Lownes received two funded grants, the PURE Grant for “Live Translations of Languages in Multiplayer Games” and the Latin American Film Festival grant. Lownes hosted the festival at USCU this fall during Hispanic Heritage Month, showing 5 Latin American films.
Dr. Lee Morris was a distributed scoring leader for Advanced Placement Biology Exam this summer and developed and taught a one-day elective class, “Native Plants for Pollinators,” for the Certificate in Native Plant Studies at Clemson University.
Dr. Emily Schafer published “A Review of the Impact of Childhood Trauma and Assessment of Potential Intervention” in OBM Integrative and Contemporary Medicine (May 2024). She also completed a presentation on “Predictive Factors of Traditional and Cyberbullying” (July 2024).
Dr. Katie Klik, along with Dr. Schafer, completed a presentation on “An exploration of Faculty Welfare and Student Success: The Impact of Campus Social and Work Environment.” (July 2024). They also received Palmetto College summer funding to work on aligning Faculty Welfare data with the PC strategic plan and subsequently incorporating specific measurable goals and suggested initiatives.
Prof. Randy Ivey published a book of short stories titled The Gift of Gab.
On Friday, April 19, 2024, four USC Union students presented their work at poster sessions in Columbia at Discover USC. Sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Research, Discover USC allows students in the USC System to present their research, scholarship, leadership and creative projects. Itzeli Cruz, a dual-enrollment student, presented her poster “Dental Improvements: Technological Advancements and the History of Oral Health in South Carolina.” Her project was conducted with her mentor Dr. Andrew Kettler as part of the Palmetto Undergraduate Research Experience (PURE).
Student athletes Tim Groenenberg, Michael Murphy, and Rogelio “Junior” Contreras presented their posters as part of the requirements for their Graduation with Leadership Distinction (GLD) in Global Learning, mentored by Dr. Steve Lownes. Tim presented “A Journey of Leadership,” Michael presented “The Smell of Culture Shock,” and Rogelio presented “Mexican Family: Spanish in the Home and Spanish Abroad.” The GLD is an additional distinction to undergraduate degrees, both at the associate’s and bachelor’s levels, and represents a student’s commitment to engagement beyond the classroom and application of their learning in the “real world.”
This summer, a group of USC Union and USC Lancaster students and faculty traveled to England to visit a variety of famous writers’ homes and sites of literary inspiration. They toured sites like the Lakes District, the homes of writers like William Wordsworth and the Bronte sisters, visited William Shakespeare’s birthplace, saw historic sights in London, and attended a Shakespeare production at the Globe Theatre.
This summer, USC Union, USC Upstate, and Union County Schools established the Fast Track to Teaching or 2+2 program to provide an educational pathway for local students to obtain a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, elementary education or middle level education. This program incorporates dual enrollment and general education coursework that USC Union has an established record of providing with the local school district, with the expertise of USC Upstate’s College of Education, to grow new teachers right here in this community. It will increase accessible and affordable opportunities for students in this area to access more bachelor’s degree pathways, while serving the community by helping to produce more high-quality teachers to fill large teaching shortages in the surrounding schools.
The partnership that is at work allows for students to get the first two years of the degree for free through some combination of free dual enrollment coursework from USC Union while still Union County High School students (LTAP funding) and/or while regular associates students at USC Union (LIFE, Pell, Union County Scholarship), and then further savings through teacher education incentive programs during/after time as upper division USC Upstate students (e.g. SC Teacher, etc.). The affordability of this initiative for the students, combined with the flexibility of taking classes and doing practical experiences in Union and/or in Spartanburg, should help to attract more students into the teaching profession than otherwise would opt to go that route. Cari Conely, USC Union’s new Education Coordinator, will oversee this program for our campus.
Looking to the Future
In 2025, USC Union will launch their 10 Year Master Plan, which will provide an updated roadmap for designing, developing, budgeting, and implementing projects to enhance the physical environment of the campus – facilities and the landscape. The plan will operate with the guiding principles of “USC Union – Live, Learn, Play, Prosper” and proposes to boost traditional student enrollment by creating more on campus spaces for students to gather and building connections with downtown Union and Foster Park. A significant feature in the plan will be the design of a convocation center at the corner of North Mountain Street and East Academy Street, which will include a gym, weightroom, men’s and women’s locker rooms, concessions, and coach’s offices. The spaces will also include a new parking lot and an expansion of Patron’s Park. The plan also includes improvements to the Baseball and Soccer fields in Jonesville. Additions to the Laurens Location will include a driving and chipping range for the Bantam Golf Team, boat storage for the USC Union Anglers, and kitchen renovations to provide a space for HRSM classes.
The full remodel of the USCU Main Building is nearing completion.
During the week of April 7-11, USC Union will celebrate our 60th Anniversary. Events for the week will include a Kickoff Party, Movie at Patrons Park, Legacy Society launch, Spring Fling, 10 Year Master Plan rollout, Concert at Patrons Park to conclude activities on Friday, and much more!
The university will launch our alumni association in mid-January. Contact uscualumni@mailbox.sc.edu if you are interested in joining and stay tuned for more information in the new year!
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