Current Top Scholars

Our Top Scholars are students with outstanding academic talent, exemplary character and intellectual curiosity. They are often found at the forefront of undergraduate research, winning competitive national fellowships and leading campus initiatives.

Meet the Top Scholar Class of 2029

A small, diverse group, our first-year Top Scholar cohort represents 30 in-state students and 28 out-of-state students across 32 different academic majors at the University of South Carolina.

The university welcomes up to 25 in-state 1801 Scholars each year. 1801 Scholars excel alongside their Carolina, McNair and Stamps peers to create a strong, unified body of Top Scholars.

Rileigh Ballentine, electrical engineering (pre-law)

Hometown: Moncks Corner, S.C.
Sam Floyd, biological sciences (pre-med)

Hometown: Florence, S.C.
Evan Furtaw, biochemistry and molecular biology (pre-med)

Hometown: Mount Pleasant, S.C.
Rhodes Johnson, biology & dance (pre-med)

Hometown: Greenville, S.C.
Grace Zhang, neuroscience (pre-med)

Hometown: Greenville, S.C.

The Carolina Scholars program was developed for in-state students in 1969. More than 800 students have participated in the program, which has been an integral factor in keeping many of the state's most gifted students in South Carolina.

William Beasley, economics

Hometown: Columbia, S.C.
Jackson Burnett, public health (pre-med)

Hometown: Duncan, S.C.
Eunwoo Choi, international business (pre-law)

Hometown: Lexington, S.C.
Tristen Cordi, mechanical engineering

Hometown: Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Andrea Elya, biology (pre-med)

Hometown: Florence, S.C.
Meredith Finley, neuroscience (pre-med)

Hometown: Charleston, S.C.
John Gardner, international business (pre-law)

Hometown: Lexington, S.C.
Taylor Godbolt, pharmaceutical sciences

Hometown: Mullins, S.C.
Erin Helsel, political science (pre-law)

Hometown: Greenville, S.C.
Preston Kunkle, political science (pre-law)

Hometown: Chapin, S.C.
Patrick Li, chemistry & mathematics

Hometown: Columbia, S.C.
Kirsten Miller, political science (pre-law)

Hometown: Easley, S.C.
Addison Moore, political science (pre-law)

Hometown: Greenville, S.C.
Halen Moss, biochemistry and molecular biology (pre-med)

Hometown: Columbia, S.C.
Sophia Myers, mathematics

Hometown: Anderson, S.C.
Claire Pollack, chemistry (pre-dental)

Hometown: Fort Mill, S.C.
Hari Shanmugam Baraneedha, computer engineering

Hometown: Fort Mill, S.C.
Sarah Slaughter, chemical engineering (pre-law)

Hometown: Aiken, S.C.
Khushi Udani, biology (pre-med)

Hometown: Lexington, S.C.
Ali Wallam, biomedical engineering (pre-med)

Hometown: Columbia, S.C.

The McNair Scholars program was established in 1998 by Robert and Janice McNair as the out-of-state counterpart to the Carolina Scholars program.

Liam Amick, political science

Hometown: Louisville, Ky.
Mika Angelovici, international business

Hometown: Columbia, Mo.
Callie Barger, biological sciences

Hometown: Statesboro, Ga.
Ashley Becker, BARSC-M.D. (pre-med)

Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Reese Caparelli, environmental studies (pre-law)

Hometown: Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.
Erin Conlon, data science

Hometown: Long Island, N.Y.
Tanmai Darbha, psychology (pre-med)

Hometown: Cary, N.C.
Gavin Flynn, biochemistry and molecular biology (pre-med)

Hometown: Holbrook, N.Y.
Nicholai Galusha, international business

Hometown: Greendale, Wis.
Marin Gebhardt, international business

Hometown: Longmeadow, Mass.
Anna Goldsmith, nursing

Hometown: Morresville, N.C.
Addison Green, biology (pre-med)

Hometown: Buford, Ga.
Chase Johnson, biological sciences (pre-med)

Hometown: Hickory, N.C.
Jack Kwait, international business & finance

Hometown: Merion Station, Pa.
Basilia Mekhaiel, biological sciences (pre-med)

Hometown: North Bellmore, N.Y.
Sarah Redell, biochemistry and molecular biology (pre-med)

Hometown: Sheboygan, Wis.
Ben Roach, political science (pre-law)

Hometown: Forest City, N.C.
Lindsey Samuel, neuroscience (pre-med)

Hometown: Fair Lawn, N.J.
Cam Sewell, biochemistry and molecular biology (pre-dental)

Hometown: Kingsport, Tenn.
Lily Shelton, biomedical engineering (pre-med)

Hometown: Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Kate Sniffen, international business & finance

Hometown: Lindenhurst, N.Y.
Brielle Stone, sports and entertainment management (pre-law)

Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Geena Ungerer, aerospace engineering

Hometown: Monroe, N.C.

The Stamps Scholars program initially was established to support five in-state scholars, but has expanded to include five out-of-state scholars as well.

Madelyn Brotherton, history

Hometown: Greenville, S.C.
Hailey Crick, political science (pre-law)

Hometown: Lexington, S.C.
Anjali Dash, BARSC-M.D. (pre-med)

Hometown: Fort Mill, S.C.
Emma Goddard, international business

Hometown: Mont Belvieu, Texas
Kensley Green, biomedical engineering (pre-med)

Hometown: Blythewood, S.C.
Ben Ilyin, international business (pre-law)

Hometown: Marlboro, N.J.
Zayd Kidwai, BARSC-M.D. (pre-med)

Hometown: Spartanburg, S.C.
Swarnim Maid, international business & operations and supply chain management (pre-law)

Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Nysha Reddy, BARSC-M.D. (pre-med)

Hometown: Newnan, Ga.
Manshi Swain, neuroscience (pre-med)

Hometown: Frisco, Texas

Scholar Hub

From scholar events and community building to leadership opportunities, Top Scholar guidelines, expectations and more, we provide current Top Scholars need-to-know info in one convenient place.

South Carolina Honors College