Presbyterian College

Presbyterian College student Warner Bush is the 2025 recipient of the Mary Jeanne Byrd Award from the South Carolina Political Science Association. The prestigious honor, presented at the association's annual conference, recognizes the top undergraduate political science paper in the state. Bush's award-winning paper, "Social Issues and Self-Identification: An Ideological Analysis of the 2020 Election,"examines how American voters define ideological labels like "liberal" and "conservative," and how those definitions shape the issues they prioritize. His research concludes that social issues-especially abortion and immigration-played a more defining role in ideological alignment in 2020 than traditional economic concerns.

Caroline Rairigh didn't expect to hear her name called when the Outstanding Senior Award was announced during Presbyterian College's annual Honors Day Convocation. But the psychology major and French minor from Dahlonega, Georgia, rose to her feet and walked across the stage-equal parts stunned and grateful. The award, one of the college's highest student honors, recognizes a graduating senior who exemplifies scholarship, leadership, character, and service. For Rairigh, the moment was the culmination of four years marked by academic exploration, athletic dedication, and unexpected opportunities.

Jy Nunley's path to the stage at Presbyterian College's 2025 Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony wasn't just marked by discipline and determination. It was built on a deep, personal understanding of resilience-one shaped by her own childhood in a single-parent household and her growing desire to serve others, both in uniform and in her community. Nunley, a sociology major from Camden, South Carolina, graduated from PC on May 10 and was commissioned the day before as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. She will serve in the transportation branch of the South Carolina Army National Guard.

The Highlander Battalion commissioned three second lieutenants from the ROTC program at Presbyterian College on May 12. The former cadets, who graduated from PC on May 13, will begin serving in the U.S. Military this summer.

Presbyterian College senior Abby Katz is the first Blue Hose to become an All-American in Acrobatics and Tumbling.

When Reece Bradberry first set foot on the campus of Presbyterian College, she never imagined she would one day be conducting microbiology research that could have implications for medicine and disease prevention. Now a junior biology major with a minor in public health, the Greenwood native has spent the past year working alongside Dr. Stuart Gordon, professor of biology, to better understand bacterial genetics and antibiotic resistance. Bradberry's research, funded through the South Carolina IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (SC INBRE) program, focused on identifying bacteria capable of undergoing transposon mutagenesis-a process that allows scientists to study gene functions by inserting transposable elements into bacterial DNA. Over the summer, she and her research team collected and screened approximately 30 bacterial strains to identify candidates for further study.

Presbyterian College junior Lydia Awadalla's internship with Prisma Health in Greenville is more than just a step toward medical school-it's a chance to make a real difference in patients' lives. A biology major with minors in both chemistry and Spanish, Awadalla exemplifies the power of a liberal arts education in preparing students to bridge cultural and professional divides. Awadalla, who was born in Egypt and now calls Greenville home, has been interning with Prisma Health since last summer. Her role involves shadowing interpreters in the Spanish department, assisting in critical areas such as emergency rooms and OBGYN clinics. She also uses her knowledge of the hospital layout from previous volunteer work to help connect interpreters with the patients and staff who need them most.

Presbyterian College proudly announces the academic success of its students who were named to the Fall 2024 President's List after earning a perfect 4.0 grade point average for the semester.

Presbyterian College proudly recognizes the academic achievement of its students who were named to the Spring 2024 President's List.

Presbyterian College proudly recognizes the academic achievement of students who made the Fall 2024 Dean's List.

Presbyterian College proudly recognizes the academic achievement of students who made the Spring 2024 Dean's List.

Presbyterian College senior Avery Long was awarded Best Paper and Best Research Presentation in the Data/Analytics category at the Southeast Decision Sciences Institute annual conference in Charleston this semester.

Presbyterian College proudly celebrates the graduating Class of 2024.

Presbyterian College students recently elected new Student Government Association officers this spring. The newly-elected student leaders were sworn in this semester.

Three Presbyterian College students have stepped into leadership roles in the student-led Hispanic Appreciation Organization on campus. The active group has held a number of events that highlight the culture, language, and contributions of Hispanic students on campus.

Two Rock Hill, S.C., undergraduates at Presbyterian College had their work on cancer research published in microPublication Biology. Senior Charlotte McGuinness and sophomore Margaret Leonard have been working with PC biology professor Dr. Austin Shull on research comparing nicotine receptors on head and neck cancer patients between previous and current tobacco smokers.

Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society, celebrates students who are serving as circle (chapter) presidents. Students who serve as circle presidents are leaders amongst leaders. Members of ODK must be sophomores, juniors, seniors, or graduate/professional students in the top 35% of their class and embrace the Society's ideals. They also must demonstrate leadership experience in at least one of the five pillars of campus life celebrated by ODK: academics and research, athletics, service to campus and community, communications, and creative and performing arts. Fewer than five percent of students on a campus are invited to join each year.

Presbyterian College junior Barrett Moody of Traveler's Rest, S.C., recently organized a fundraiser in support of a mural project in Clinton, S.C. The "Mimosas for the Mural" event in late September raised enough funds for the project to move foward.

Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society, welcomed 1,869 new initiates from 78 universities during April 2023. Students initiated into the Society must be sophomores, juniors, seniors, or graduate/professional students in the top 35% of their class, demonstrate leadership experience in at least one of the five pillars, and embrace the ODK ideals. Fewer than five percent of students on a campus are invited to join each year.

Presbyterian College's Eta Delta Chapter of Alpha Alpha Alpha inducted its first 37 members Sunday at the chartering service for the new honor society for first-generation college students. Founded in 2018 at Moravian College in Bethlehem, Penn., Tri-Alpha honors high-achieving first-generation college students. PC's Eta Delta Chapter is the fifth in South Carolina and one of only five nationally affiliated with a Presbyterian Church-related college or university.