2026 Archive

Author Julia Elliott, brown shoulder-length hair and wearing a brown suit, sits in a chair holding her book surrounded by group of onlookers

USC professor Julia Elliott wins one of fiction's most prestigious prizes

July 23, 2026, Kristine Hartvigsen

Known for her fluid, label-defying prose, author Julia Elliott found herself in excellent company last month among a literary cadre of distinct, even unconventional voices. She read the work of her fellow finalists with awe, never thinking she would win. But it was her name announced over the sound system as the winner of the Carol Shields Prize for Fiction for her critically acclaimed, genre-bending short-story collection "Hellions."

Topics: Faculty, Academics, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, South Carolina Honors College

Braden Guliano stands next to a rack of computer equipment

Braden Guliano builds technology career with internships, mentors and entrepreneurial spirit

July 10, 2026, Chris Horn

Braden Guliano has been a man on a mission at USC. In just three years, he completed a bachelor’s degree in integrated information technology at the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing while completing multiple internships and launching his own tech consulting business on the side.

Topics: Students, Alumni, Research, Experiential Learning, Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, South Carolina Honors College, Meant To Be USC

Pages of a thesis document amid stacked books

From thesis to courtroom: Honors College honed skills, discipline for successful alumni

June 03, 2026, Carol J.G. Ward

Alumni Kathy Carlsten and Peter Siachos, who both graduated from the University of South Carolina Honors College in 1997 and the Joseph F. Rice School of Law in 2000, say they draw on the critical thinking and collaborative skills, the debate-oriented approach and intellectual ambition required in honors courses in their legal practices.

Topics: Alumni, Academics, Graduate Studies, History, Leadership, Careers, Joseph F. Rice School of Law, South Carolina Honors College

USC alumna Stephanie Kyle smiles warmly while standing in front of a financial data display board showing stock tickers

Connecting the dots: Alumna Stephanie Kyle thrives in global supply chain and beyond

May 01, 2026, Dan Cook

From an early age, Stephanie Kyle had an appreciation for people from all over the world. She entertained thoughts of traveling far from South Carolina for college, but everything changed when she toured USC. As a student, she traveled widely and got involved in student organizations focused on global business and supply chain. Today, she is pricing director at a major global company.

Topics: Alumni, Academics, Experiential Learning, Careers, Darla Moore School of Business, South Carolina Honors College, Meant To Be USC

Student stands and waves at commencement cermony

Class of 2026

April 27, 2026, Megan Sexton

As the Class of 2026 prepares to walk across the commencement stage, graduates leave the University of South Carolina with memories of enduring friendships, newfound passions, supportive mentors and life-changing experiences.

Topics: Students, Alumni, Recognition, Student Voices, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, Darla Moore School of Business, College of Education, Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, The Graduate School, College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, College of Information and Communications, school-of-law, School of Music, College of Nursing, Arnold School of Public Health, College of Social Work, South Carolina Honors College

group of people together in front of a window with three standing and two sitting

USC has five Goldwater Scholars in 2026

March 27, 2026, Collyn Taylor

Five University of South Carolina students earned the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship in 2026. This sets a record for the most Goldwater Scholars at USC in a single year and marks the 34th consecutive year the university has had at least one Goldwater Scholar.

Topics: Students, Research, Scholarships, Recognition, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, South Carolina Honors College

Artist rendering of a new student residence at the McBryde site

USC Board of Trustees receives master plan updates, formally approves hospital and other projects, honors US and USC anniversaries

March 19, 2026, Andy Shain

The USC Board of Trustees formally approved a number of new construction and renovation projects, including a neurological hospital and rehabilitation center, and received updates on the university’s master plan, including redeveloping the student union and developments on South Main Street. Trustees also adopted a resolution in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the 225th anniversary of the founding of USC.

Topics: Students, Alumni, Faculty, University Leadership, University President, Academics, Undergraduate Admissions, Initiatives, Health Sciences, Campus Construction, SC Impact, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, medicine-columbia, South Carolina Honors College

A hand dabs a brush into a palette of paint.

USC Brain Health launches student-driven arts program

February 09, 2026, Nicole Carrico

Students Ansley Martin and Stella Tew have been working with USC Brain Health to launch a program called Vibrant Minds, an expressive arts initiative that combines neuroscience, creativity and social interaction to support older adults living with neurological conditions. The program helps adults facing cognitive challenges connect with their memories and each other through art and creative projects.

Topics: Students, Experiential Learning, Health Sciences, Service, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, South Carolina Honors College

Thomas Mullikin smiles for the camera in a bowtie.

All the tools: Tom Mullikin's eclectic career leads to South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

February 05, 2026, Marketing and Communications

2025 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award winner Tom Mullikin has enjoyed a long and eclectic career. Now, the longtime environmental lawyer is managing the Palmetto State’s fish, wildlife and natural areas as director of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

Topics: Alumni, Recognition, SC Impact, Service, Leadership, Careers, Joseph F. Rice School of Law, South Carolina Honors College, Carolinian

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