6th Annual Stand Up Carolina

Hero Awards

James serves as a positive role model for a young male who has a troubled home. James makes visits to his home to see how

things are going and also signed the young male up for the local

SCSO Explorers Program. James coordinated with all of his

partners to gather things at Christmas time so that this

young man could have a special holiday since his parents were

unable to at the time.

James Ardis

Patricia ArmstrongPatricia Armstrong always goes above and beyond to

help me when I need it. She makes sure that students are being guided in the

right direction and she is always there if you need to

talk to her about a situation.

Mary BarradasA young woman knocked on Mary's

door - she was hysterical, having been hit on the head and sexually assaulted. Mary called the police

and EMS and offered to accompany her to the hospital until her mother arrived. She stayed with the woman

to help comfort her while law enforcement talked with her. Mary helps everyone, not just family or

co-workers.

Debbie Beck

Dr. Beck went above and beyond Student Health

Service's general policy to help a student. Dr. Beck was

approached and informed of this student's dilemma and

fragile health. Her decision to support him in this crisis and approve his transport to and

from MUSC by our Medics was God sent.

Emily BordiukDuring the campus lockdown,

Emily immediately took action by finding the safest location for

everyone to gather and dealt with some adversity from those who did not fully understand the severity

of the situation. She put aside her fears to be a leader and calming

presence when her sisters needed it.

Rebecca BradleyBecca is very concerned about safety on

campus, especially at night. She was part of the group that helped start Walk Home Cocky and now serves as the Executive Director of the program. Becca has the gift of words. I

have seen her talk with people for hours who are struggling with mental illness, tragedy, stress, etc. She is a great listener and when

she speaks, I am always amazed at how much discernment she shows. She is very involved

at First Baptist Church, helping with the college ministry leadership team and praise band. She also helps with a middle school

girls group, volunteers at service events, and helps in any other capacity that she can.

Davontay BrownDavontay witnessed an intoxicated student getting

kicked out of a bar. Upon being kicked out, the student fell and hit his head on the concrete. Once they

realized he was bleeding, Davontay and a few other students stepped up to make sure the student was

okay. Davontay and another student tried to control the bleeding, asked the injured student questions to gage his consciousness, and kept him attentive until the police arrived. Stepping up in stressful situations and applying knowledge he learned to save someone's

life makes him a hero in my eyes.

Ashley noticed an argument between 2 students in front of the library.

Thinking the argument seemed too hostile to not intervene, Ashley

followed the female student into the library - she had an appointment at the Student Success Center - and

checked in with her to make sure she was okay. During this appointment the

student disclosed having been sexually assaulted. The SSC staff

contacted the appropriate resources to get help for the student. I'm not sure if Ashley knows how much she impacted this student's life. Just five minutes of speaking to this student

could have changed things for the rest of her life.

Ashley Byrd-White

Anna CapelAnna is an alumna who is a

survivor of being drugged and sexually assaulted. With

encouragement of friends and family, Anna has kept a blog about

her experiences in hopes of helping other survivors. It has

taken incredible courage for Anna to be so open about her

experience, but she is willing to do so to help others.

As a Residence Life Coordinator, Dan responded

to several high-level incidents and ensured that each student received the highest level of care. He

went above and beyond to offer to drive one student home to Charleston who

was not receiving support from home. The students in East Quad are appreciative

to have an administrator who goes above and beyond

for them.

Daniel Colascione

She has always helped me to solve the most

delicate problems concerning my pay

check and my status as an international

graduate student. Those people, like Dee Dee, are the everyday

heroes.

Dee Dee Cronise

Tina Devlin is an asset to the University of South Carolina. She is the Campus Wellness Associate Director for Faculty and Staff. She

volunteers her time to many causes and makes a difference in the lives of people at USC and in

the community. Tina puts in countless extra hours to improve

wellness programs at USC. Because of Tina's warm

personality and smile, the Faculty/Staff Wellness Office is a

place where people feel welcome. She encourages the

community to take small steps to become healthier individuals. I

admire her work ethic and dedication to the USC family!

Tina Devlin

In January, on the Yik Yak app, an anonymous person posted that they were on top of a parking garage on campus and that they were going to jump if no one talked them out of it.

Seeing this, Lauren proceeded to comment on the post saying that people cared about them and that they were an important part of the

“Gamecock family." The person responded saying that no one cared because no one came to talk to her.

Lauren then called the campus police to get them involved and was

informed that they successfully talked the student out of the

attempt and they received help.

Lauren Eck

Michelle Eichleberger“She helped me out through

the difficult times I had. She was always making time for me even if she was busy. I

truly appreciate all she did for me. I will never forget

Michelle. She has a golden heart”

I am nominating my wonderful friend Brooke Everhart because she has ensured that I, a kidney

patient, can make it through graduate school here. Sometimes

I had to wait an hour for an evening shuttle to pick me up.

Brooke volunteered to take me to my car every night. She knew it was too far and too dangerous to walk from the Horseshoe to the Coliseum. In January of 2014, I

received a call from my transplant center suggesting that

I go to the hospital. Having no direct knowledge of where I should go, she came to my

apartment and drove me to the closest hospital that could handle

my case.

Brooke Everhart

Julia has helped so many of us who are international students

in countless ways. From helping us access medical care, to helping register our children for school, to navigating traffic

fines and emergency room visits, we all know we would

not have been able to do any of these things without Julia's

kind help. These are things she does not have to do; she does

them because she cares deeply and wants to provide all the support she can. We cannot

thank her enough for her help to us as international and EPI

students.

Julia Ferillo

Tayler FlowersTayler advocates for a future that

includes fewer adolescents and young adults who are closed- minded and

commit horrible acts of hate, discrimination, and intimidation. Tayler

finds ways to educate herself about diversity and how to create an inclusive

environment for others to mitigate bigotry, hatred, and misunderstanding of others' lifestyles and beliefs. She is

using this knowledge to positively influence her young students.

Erik FrankforterErik noticed a friend posted a

suicidal statement on Facebook and acted fast by

contacting police and resident mentors. As a result, his

friend received medical help. Erik has continued to provide

support to this friend.

Christy Friend is the Director of the Center for Teaching

Excellence. She touches the lives of her staff and visitors to

the CTE in a very positive way. She gives us a voice and

provides us with the confidence to help faculty and graduate

teaching assistants to become better teachers. Christy writes powerful hand-written thank

you notes. She is always willing to give her time and

contributions to university and community service

projects. Christy looks to make us better in our positions and seeks to foster a positive and inspiring environment for all

who teach at USC. 

Christy Friend

While working on research with Dr. Hartstone-Rose in Washington DC, I learned that my mom, who lived in

Alabama, had died unexpectedly. Dr. Hartstone-Rose made arrangements

for me to get home and gave me emergency cash and a comforting

hug. I truly believe that without my experience in Dr. Hartstone-Rose's lab, I would be in a much darker place emotionally. He deserves

recognition for his excellence as an academic mentor, and on top of that, he certainly deserves recognition for

the warmth he shows toward his undergraduates outside of academia. Dr. Hartstone-Rose has saved my life and my future simply by offering a

kind word and checking in when I'm feeling most alone. He is, without

question, a hero in my eyes.

Adam Hartstone-Rose

A mother of 3, a wife, a daughter, and a teacher are all words that describe Shannon Henry.  What

you may not know about her though, that is weaved into her

very core, is her passion for teaching women of all ages how to

defend themselves if ever presented with a life threatening situation. Shannon is a certified

women's self-defense instructor. If I were to give you a word or

phrase that describes her it would be “She’s all heart!” Shannon not

only shows up to teach, she invests in the lives of her

students. I am amazed and impressed by the consistency of her character, which is shown

each time she walks onto campus.

Shannon Henry

Zoe HenricksonAlthough Zoe does not live close to

campus, she is always the first person people call when they need a

ride. Not only does she insist that you ride with her instead of walking across campus at night, she makes

sure you get all the way to your door before she leaves. Zoe is my support system, and without her this last year would have been

much, much worse.

Derek HomadAfter struggling with

epilepsy, there was no one besides Derek Homad who

helped me through an emotional time. I cannot

explain how much his friendship has meant to me over the past few months.

Janet Hudson was recently named the Faculty Associate

Director of Innovative Teaching at the Center for Teaching

Excellence. Janet is very involved on the USC campus and in the community. Janet is always the

first person to support my community service causes. She donated to my scholarship fund

and supported me during my Campus Wellness food and

supplies drive. Janet is also very involved with the 2015 heart walk, wellness, and academic

committees on campus. She is a positive presence at the CTE and

in the USC community. 

Janet Hudson

On October 7, 2013 Steven Hughes witnessed an escalating incident between an off-duty police officer and a female patron. The escalation of

events became verbal and physical as the off-duty police officer physically restrained the patron

against her will. Steven was able to intercede on the female patron’s behalf by videotaping this

incident, and then assisting the responding police with information that supported the female

patron's complaints of being physically abused. The videotape of the incident was shown locally

and then nationally on the news as it became evidence in the case against the off-duty police officer. Steven had multiple interviews after the incident, with a variety of media outlets, and in

each interview he did a great job of representing himself well, and of course advocating for the

patron that had been assaulted. If Steven had not interceded this woman's rights would not have

been protected! Steven is a great role model for the College of Nursing, USC, and of course the

military where he is employed as a helicopter/aircraft mechanic.

Steven Hughes

Ashton JonesAshton is an Ed.S. student in the

School Counseling program. At her school placement, she dealt with a student who had suicidal ideations and when doing so, remained so

calm and professional. This student wasn't seeing Ashton regularly, but heard she was a good person to talk

to when they were feeling upset. Ashton touches everyone she meets and she is the kind of future school counselor anyone would be lucky to

have.

Mac Juraschek

“He has been my best friend since I have been at school.

He is my mentor and my role model. Mac is the

nicest and best friend I have ever had. I love him”.

Ebony Langhorne participates in all forms of leadership. As both a student

and a philanthropist, she has gone above and beyond the call of duty each year since beginning her Ed.S. program in Counselor Education. Though she is a full-time graduate student, Ebony still

makes time to serve as a Peer Health Educator for Student Health Services and became the Founding President of Phi Sigma Theta Honor Society. In this

role, Ebony organized fundraising initiatives for Ronald McDonald House Charities and Relay for Life. She also arranged the First Annual Clothing

Drive for Transitions homeless shelter. Ebony always finds time to help other people and that speaks volumes about

her character.

Ebony Langhorne

Alisa LiggettThis past year, my life had been filled

will more downs than ups. Thankfully, I had Alisa. No matter how busy her

schedule was, she made time to listen to me and help me work my way through

the things that I could control. In a time where things in my life could have gone terribly wrong for me as a person, as a student and as a Carolinian, Alisa was there to remind me that the world still

cared. She impacted me in ways that she does not even know about. I am forever

thankful for her presence in my life.

Lil’ MamaLil' Mama is an unsung hero

who brightens the day of everyone she meets. This woman has changed my

world forever by encouraging me to keep my head up and strive for my goals when I was ready to

give up.

Claire Mariaca

This young lady took the action to warn other female students about a situation that she experienced to

prevent anyone else from going through what she experienced.

She took the initiative to reach out to others even when she was

going through a time of healing. This takes strength to do and

really shows that she cares for others.

Emily is one of the most amazing women I have had the pleasure of knowing. She works

with local women's shelters for battered women constantly. Her devotion to Sistercare and spreading domestic violence awareness is astounding and the importance she places on them is evident to everyone she knows. Along with Sistercare, Emily has brought recognition

to a non-profit organization called "Free the Girls", which collects gently used bras and

gives them to women who have been involved in sex trafficking with hopes of putting an end

to it. She continues to shed light on issues such as sex trafficking and domestic violence

every day. Emily is not one who brags or expects respect for what she does. She does

these things because she loves them, and she is a true philanthropist.

Emily Martin

After seeing a post on Yik Yak that indicated a suicide

attempt, Alan took screen shots of the post and walked to the police department to make sure that we were able to see the post. Alan's quick actions

allowed investigators to review the post and comments and gain enough information to

identify and locate the person who posted it, potentially

saving their life. USC needs more people like Alan in its

community, someone who will go out of their way to help a

complete stranger.

Alan McDonnough

Baker noticed a young man standing on the

rails of the Blatt bridge saying that he was

planning to take his life. Baker convinced the young man to come

inside to talk with him and got him to the

hospital and to safety.

Frederic “Baker” Mills

Kyle Monts, David Parks, and Walter

Harper Kyle, David, and Walter were in an Introduction to Counseling class in the fall. For their final project they updated a popular negative phone app to use it for positive feedback. When one user noted that

counseling had not helped and that they were depressed, these young men intervened to

encourage that person to seek help. They also explained that there is no shame in seeking

mental health services. They very well may have saved a life.

Jennifer Myers

Jennifer Myers is a licensed counselor and is the Assistant

Director of Campus Mental Health Initiatives. She has worked tirelessly to train

suicide prevention gatekeepers and to help reduce the stigma around seeking mental health

services. This campus is a better place simply because

Jennifer is here.

Mr. Nelson reflects the pillars of an exceptional leader and passionately serves students and staff beyond the delivery of emergency care, which is his current role as the EMT-I First Responder Supervisor Assistant Chief. Striving to uplift those around him on campus he aims to bring

comfort to those in need and takes the additional steps to confidently ensure quality in his care for the patients he

serves.

Cedrick Nelson

Aakash PatelMr. Patel noticed a student in distress and took a risk. He initiated conversation with a person who was at risk for

taking a suicidal action, and responded quickly. He activated an emergency response, getting assistance to the student quickly. This defines a hero. Thank you, Mr. Patel, for being a part of our

Carolina Community!

Venisha uses her education to advocate for all students she comes in contact with.

As a woman of color, Venisha has set a prime example of strong leadership and has paved the way for other

minority leaders like herself to step in to new leadership

roles.

Venisha Pendergrass

Ashton Peterson

Ashton really changed my outlook on

others and what they may have to

deal with.

Dr. Rinehart inspires her female students in her

WGST class and exemplifies women

empowerment through her research on

terrorism in Israel. Dr. Rinehart gave us

information about harassment, sexual

assault, hate crimes, and domestic violence. She also took the time to

hear our voices on the matter.

Christine Rinehart

Tiffany Rogers is one of my colleagues in the Counselor

Education Ph.D. program. Tiffany has a passion for research

regarding relationships and gender. During Fall 2014, Tiffany presented to my U101 class on

relationship violence. After class, students pulled Tiffany aside to

talk to her about their relationships and issues with

dating/ domestic violence. Tiffany's ability to make people feel at ease while learning

about such uncomfortable topics is what makes her a hero regarding

relationship/dating/ domestic violence.

Tiffany Rogers

Allison RyanAllison uses her leadership

positions here at USC to help minimize incidents of hate and

discrimination and raise awareness about the cultural

diversity of students on campus. Allison is my Hero because she makes it a point to educate at

least one person every day about what it means to be an inclusive

and accepting individual.

Gabriela SantosAfter being hit by a car on campus

while walking to class, my roommate Gabriela immediately dropped

everything she was doing to accompany me to Student Health Services as well

as driving me to meet my mother. After the incident she drove me to my

internship and picked me up from classes, as I was unable to drive. Her display of friendship was extremely

touching and without her I would not have been able to successfully resume a

normal schedule.

I was in the School of Public Health building when the

shooting occurred. My class was evacuated. We left all our belongings in the classroom

and were evacuated to a room in the School of Music. Mrs. Schlaefer not only kept us safe inside the school of

Public Health while we were there, but she also arranged

for water, food and cell phone chargers to be brought to us during our 6 hour evacuation in the School of Music. These may seem like small acts but they meant the world to us.

Ellen Schlaefer

Jessica SidoWhen I was  physically assaulted recently,

Jessica Sido reported the incident to the SAVIP office. She inquired about the resources for

survivors on campus and accompanied me to all the offices including SAVIP, Student Conduct, and the Police Department. Her willingness to go out of her way to support and empower me made a powerful difference to my emotional

state and condition. Jessica is a compassionate young lady on her way to graduating from the University and I nominate her because I feel

like she deserves recognition for boldly standing up for me in my time of crisis.

After having a stressful interaction with a student

in a class, I became extremely anxious and upset. Caitlyn realized

that I was having difficulty attending

classes and offered to go with me. In addition to

her own classes she attended mine and also

sat in on the labs I taught. I am truly blessed to have

her in my life.

Caitlyn Smith

Marla SmithMarla has encouraged me to get my documentation complete for

Student Disability Services, understanding how participating in University events, clubs, and activities not only helps occupy our time but helps us grow as leaders. Ms. Smith is always

introducing people to new parts of campus and also goes above and beyond to make sure every Gamecock feels at home when they walk into her table time.

Paul SolomonI have been fortunate to have Dr. Solomon as an

instructor during my SLIS studies. I appreciate that he allows us to send him assignment drafts and

provides feedback so assignments may be improved until the due date. I feel that I have grown into a more competent and confident

librarian because of his positive and instructive feedback. Now a doctoral student, I was sexually harassed by a fellow student in my department.

Once I informed Dr. Solomon of the harassment, he has supported me 500% percent. He not only

listened, but he stood up for me when it mattered most. The aftermath was almost just as bad as the

harassment and I would not have continued my enrollment thus far without Dr. Solomon's support.

During the tragic events that occurred in the Arnold School of Public Health, Alex took the

necessary precautions to ensure that the laboratory was

safe and quickly notified the police of the situation. He

demonstrated composure and quick thinking to ensure the

safety of many other individuals all while giving little regard for his own personal safety. Alex is

a role model in which the University and the Exercise

Science Department can take pride.

Alexander Sougiannis

When I asked graduate students to describe Dr. Mindi Spencer, these were some of the answers that came up: "caring", "selfless", "a true advocate", "compassionate", "strong" and "free spirited." Dr. Mindi Spencer is a gracious mentor and is passionate about her students’ learning. By her academic guidance and emotional support, I was able to get through the hardest times of my PhD journey. She is truly a hero, not only for me, but for a lot of students whose lives she has touched.

Mindi Spencer

Emily provides support and mentorship to all class levels

in Preston Residential College, specifically first years. Emily is

willing and available at any hour of the day and night to

help someone if they ask. She makes sure everyone feels included, and like they are truly home at Carolina at

Preston. Emily demonstrates the University of South Carolina's motto of "No

Limits" because for Emily, as a Gamecock, her support and

love have no limits.

Emily Thickens

My 9 year old son Gustavo periodically suffers from seizures. In general,

medication controls his seizures. When he experiences an increase in

metabolism, or a change in weight and height, which all growing kids do, he

has a spike in epileptic episodes. During the Fall semester his seizures went on for two weeks. During these

two weeks, Lori Vann and Laura Thompson helped in so many ways from

answering calls from my son's school when a seizure happened, to tracking me down in the middle of a lecture to

notify me, and taking over a class when I had to leave campus urgently. They dropped what they were doing and helped me and my son out. They

deserve a big raise for their efforts and most certainly this award.

Laura Thompson & Lori Vann

Ford Thrift My roommate became intoxicated to the point

of incoherence. It became apparent that he was in no condition to remain at the game and that he needed to go home immediately for his safety. So a friend and myself got together and

put him in a cab and sent the cab to our apartment. At some point along the way my roommate had decided to hop out of the cab

and run off. We were unaware of this fact, and continued on to the game. Mr. Thrift, who

happened to be walking along the road towards the game, spotted him staggering and wandering through the streets. Ford then took great effort to hail a cab, placed him in the car, and gave the cabby $20 to take him back to the

apartment complex.

Dr. Torres-McGehee went above and beyond to help a graduate student that was involved in a violent relationship. Dr. Torres

McGehee immediately got her out of the violent situation and set her up with medical care. In addition, she opened up her home for the

student and her mother to stay for over two weeks during her

recovery, allowing her to get out of the violent relationship. She also

provided the student with academic assistance. I am proud to work with

Toni and she is truly an inspiring representation of a University of

South Carolina Hero.

Toni Torres-McGehee

Barbara Wachobe

Mrs. Barbara always stood by all graduate students in my department.

She has always supported me by providing the best and clear

information so I could have success achieving my objectives. For these reasons, and all the moments she

helped me, I would like to name her my hero.

Lynwood Watts

Mr. Watts is always friendly and helpful to students, faculty,

and staff. He treats everyone with respect and is very

understanding. He will bend over backward to see you

succeed and always has the best advice personally,

financially, and academically. He is not my advisor but once helped me through my entire

advisement process.

David WheatonSometimes it's not a single event that defines

someone as extraordinary, but rather a culmination of small acts that build upon one another. I am nominating David because he is the definition of generous and kind, which he

shows in both his actions and words. He is in no way materialistic, nor does he aspire to be; his

goal in life is to give back to the world. David is one of those rare people who is

genuinely happy for other people and is more than willing to listen and help those in need.

When he does help, whether that involves dropping everything to take a friend to the

emergency room or making sure a friend is safe walking back to campus at night, he does not

complain and expects nothing in return.

Skylar is a second year Ed.S. student in the Marriage,

Couples and Family Counseling program. She is a volunteer advocate for STSM

and leads and observes groups on substance abuse,

relationship violence and sexual assault. She has also done counseling at Epworth

Children's Home and is a victim service provider for

the state of SC. As a Gamecock, Skylar's

compassion has no limits.

Skylar Woodberry

Jessica was attempting to locate a student who could be at risk for harming or killing themselves and did not stop until she had activated other

campus partners to put together the very small amount of information available to her. Using her resources, Jessica

was able to respond appropriately and ensure the student’s safety. She works

tirelessly in situations like this on a daily basis to monitor any

risk to our community and responds quickly and efficiently to keep individual students and

our community safe.

Jessica Velders

Tushar YadavDr. Yadav is one of the most compassionate people I know. On January 23, he called the police upon witnessing a person jumping off

of the Blossom Street Bridge - and aided them in catching the suspect. In an earlier incident he assisted one of his classmates

who had a seizure in the school, and helped her recover before Emergency Services

arrived. He volunteers much of his time in

underserved areas in the Columbia community. He deeply cares about the

community and is eager to serve and to help those who work to protect it.

Vinny BocchinoVinny always put the best interest of others before his own. Outside of his regular job duties, he

worked overtime patrol hours as a Lieutenant of

USCPD, keeping the university and students

safe. Vinny will always be remembered in the hearts of those who knew him as

a hard-working, compassionate, energetic, and generous member of the Carolina community .

Kendra CusaacDr. Cusaac always took a big stance when it came

to informing us on sexual assault,

relationship abuse, and things of that nature. By

not sharing the information with her students, many may

have not been able to escape. She impacted

many lives and there are simply no words to

describe it.