" I live in Pacer Downs and I love it. I love how I can go back to my room during the day if I have a break between classes. I also feel that I have met more people by living on campus. I do not think that I would have had a good college experience if I would not have lived on-campus."
- Katie Gerth , Early Childhood Education major
Did You Know?
USC Aiken has some of the best professional schools in South Carolina. All three - business, nursing, and education - have received the highest level of accreditation possible. This means more opportunities for you to learn from the best and brightest the University has to offer.
"After coming to USC Aiken, I was really able to get involved in alot of great community service projects tha benefit both the local community and beyond."
- Marcus Allen, Business Marketing major
"In each of our housing facilities, you'll find RAs like me, as well as professional staff members, who have undergone special training to help students deal with some of the common issues that may arise when living away from home for the first time."
- Erin Smith, Elementary Education major
"The best part of being a nursing major and actually being in the nursing program is the reputation USC Aiken nursing students carry. Many students and professors know that to get into the program here is competitive, and to be in the program is an accomplishment."
- Shelby Williams, Nursing major
"During the course of my freshman and sophomore years, I was a resident in the Pacer Downs. When I first met my roommate my freshman year, we became the best of friends from the get-go. We found out that we were so much alike in many ways. We connected like brothers, and we are still roommates today during our junior year. "
- Anthony (T.J.) Langford, Communications major
"Being a communication major at USC Aiken has definitely prepared me for effective communicating in a real world setting. I've even been able to communicate in a different language for guests at Disney, thanks to the French courses I’ve taken at USC Aiken. I constantly find myself using concepts that I’ve learned in the classroom; some of which I wouldn’t have been able to use until later after college. "
- Paige Jeffcoat, Communications major
Intern for The Walt Disney Company
"USC Aiken was my very first choice because it wasn't too far from home, but I still got to leave home and experience something new. There were other colleges that I looked at, such as Emory, Winthrop, and USC Columbia, but I'm glad that I chose USCA. "
- Shantivia Boneparte, Exercise & Sports Science major
"I enjoy the small campus environment. My professors know me and speak to me even when I’m not in class. I enjoy walking around the quad and seeing people I know, and I am able to meet new people everyday."
- Lehe Drawdy, Political Science major
"I chose USC Aiken because you have more time one-on-one time with your professors, and the beauty and cleanliness of the campus and its surroundings are great. Also, I received a scholarship to play baseball."
- Houston Taylor, Secondary Education (History) major
"Our campus is just the right size to get involved. You can get connected through Greek life, community service, sports, theatre, music, academic clubs, or student government - just to name a few. At USC Aiken, you'll develop relationships with other students, making our campus your perfect home away from home."
- Brittany Leverette, Communications major
"At USC Aiken, everything we do is with you in mind. Come to our campus, and you'll witness our professors, our staff, our students - the entire USC Aiken community - working together toward one common goal: your success. Our small class sizes offer a setting for personal attention from faculty - so you're an individual, not a number."
- Annie Zhao, Business major
"For many of our students, getting involved in community service is an essential piece of their college mosaic. Making a difference in the lives of others is what USC Aiken is all about."
- Jon Boyles, Business major
"We want to provide you with the tools for a successful future. From the moment you set foot on our campus, you'll discover a multitude of programs to mold you into a more engaged citizen and prepare you for success. Through opportunities like the First Year Experience or organizations like Peer Educators, you'll learn what it takes to be a more well rounded individual."
- Ken Kennedy, Nursing major
University of South Carolina Aiken Student Receives Discovery Day Award for New Orleans Research
May 14, 2008 8:09 AM
Heather Davis, a recent USC Aiken graduate and participant in the Honors Program, won second place at the University of South Carolina’s competitive Discovery Day presentations on April 25. The history major presented her research about the effect of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans’ music production during the Arts & Music section of the Discovery Day presentations.
Dr. Maggi Morehouse, assistant professor of history, served as Davis’ mentor for the research project, during which Davis visited New Orleans in June and July 2007 and conducted oral histories from natives involved in the city’s music scene. The inspiration for the research came about when Davis watched a documentary during Morehouse’s Honors Interdisciplinary Inquiry course. Knowing of her interest in African American music, Morehouse encouraged Davis to apply for a Magellan grant and further research the topic of roots music. After Davis selected a topic and developed a proposal for the grant, she was awarded a coveted Magellan Scholarship, enabling her to conduct field research on her chosen topic: “Music Production in Post-Katrina New Orleans.”
According to Davis, “Katrina was obviously a major historical event for our country. I have found great passion in connecting music and historical events, and New Orleans is such a musical city that this was not a difficult arena to look at these connections. The music community's state after Katrina is so multi-layered and wrought with complexities. While this event affected a large population on the gulf coast, each individual has a unique story. Collecting oral histories helped me practice the methods of my field, but even more importantly, it provided primary source material for future researchers who wish to study Hurricane Katrina and its affect on music culture in New Orleans.”
In addition to the Discovery Day presentation, Davis presented her research at USC Aiken’s Research Day and the Honor’s Program capstone presentations. She was also honored as the Outstanding Student of History at the University’s Academic Convocation ceremony, held April 17.
“Winning an award for this research was an absolute honor, especially considering the wonderful projects presented by the other scholars in the arts and music category,” Davis said. “It is nice to be recognized for something you feel so passionately about, and I am glad that others understood the premise and importance of collecting these valuable oral histories from the mouths of those who live with Katrina's aftermath on a daily basis.”
Morehouse said that although she served as Davis’ mentor during the project, she was inspired by her student’s personal growth. “Mostly, I was her student as she taught me so much in the year she’s been working on this project,” Morehouse said. “I thought I knew a thing or two about culture, history, and Louisiana music, but I learned so much more from Heather’s fieldwork and beautifully constructed presentations and project. I’m sure to bring this new information into the classroom, and thus Heather’s research project will continue to influence future USCA students.”
Dr. Maggi Morehouse and Heather Davis