From Spain to standout student-athlete: USCA graduating senior earns top honor

Excellence takes many forms at the University of South Carolina Aiken, and Ainhoa Colino, a graduating senior double majoring in psychology and exercise and sports science, embodies it all.

With a perfect 4.0 grade point average, Colino has been named USCA’s Outstanding Senior Student for Spring 2026, an award that highlights not only academic achievement but also leadership, service and resilience.

She will be recognized during USCA’s May Commencement ceremony, starting at 6 p.m. May 6 in the Convocation Center.

Originally from Spain, Colino arrived in the United States alone, stepping far outside her comfort zone to pursue both academics and athletics. What followed was a college journey defined by determination, growth and an experience she says she’s grateful to have had at USCA. Colino will be the first in her family to graduate abroad.

“I’ve had a lot of highs and lows,” Colino said. “Being far from family is hard, but it’s helped me grow so much as a person. I’ve had opportunities here that I don’t think I would have had if I stayed home.”

Colino was recruited for racewalking by Columbia College in South Carolina in 2022 and later transferred to USCA in 2024. As a member of the cross-country team, she’s earned All-American honors while balancing the demands of a rigorous double major. Along the way, she also navigated multiple injuries, setbacks that tested her resilience, but it’s never derailed her progress.

“I had never been injured before coming to the U.S.,” she said. “But I learned how to understand my body better and take care of it. That knowledge, combined with my studies and my team, really helped me improve.”

Colino’s academic success speaks for itself. Aside from her 4.0 GPA, she’s a Magellan Scholar, a member of the Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology and has been actively engaged in multiple research projects geared toward psychology and exercise sports science. Her work has been presented at conferences across the country, including one internationally in Barcelona, Spain.

To add more to her success, Colino can even speak five languages fluently, which include Spanish, Italian, Basque, French, and English. Despite having a strong foundation in English, she recalls the early adjustment to conversational slang and constant immersion.

“It was overwhelming at first,” she said. “But now I feel completely comfortable.”

Her nominator for outstanding senior, Dr. Adam Pazda, a psychology professor at USCA, described her as “the perfect student,” noting that in more than a decade of teaching, he has never encountered someone more deserving of the honor.

“On the ground level, Ainhoa is remarkably talented, intelligent and hardworking, and a delightful student of psychology,” Pazda said.

He recalled a time when he would try to trick Colino on tests saying, “She gets perfect scores on every exam and assignment. I have tried multiple times to trick her into making a mistake and she dosen’t fall for it,” Pazda said jokingly.

“We have seen some perfect GPA students come and go over the years, but how about a student athlete? How about an All-American track and field superstar juggling the demands of a collegiate athletic program while at the same time maintaining a 4.0? With a double-major! Not a problem for Ainhoa,” Pazda said.

For Colino, success is about more than accolades; it’s about connection, curiosity and making the most of every opportunity.

“I originally wanted to be a fashion designer, but I’ve been involved in track since I was 8,” she said. “I’ve always been interested in how the body works and how to improve performance. When I found out exercise science was a major, it felt like the perfect fit.”

Adjusting to life in the United States wasn’t always easy. She quickly noticed cultural differences, particularly in how people build relationships.

“In Spain, people are more open and spontaneous,” she said. “In the U.S., it can feel more surface-level at first. But once you open up, you can build meaningful connections.”

Over time, she found her place forming friendships, traveling with teammates and classmates, and embracing new experiences. From academic conferences in New Orleans to personal trips across cities like Chicago and Charleston, Colino made it a priority to explore beyond campus during her final year.

After graduation, Colino plans to continue her education abroad, having been accepted into a master’s program in exercise science in the Netherlands. She hopes to eventually earn a PhD and pursue a career in academia, combining teaching, research and travel.

“I want to do a little bit of everything,” she said. “Teach, work with students, stay connected to athletics, and keep learning.”

For Colino, being named outstanding senior is both an honor and a reflection of the people who supported her along the way.

“I didn’t even know this was something I could receive,” she said. “When I found out, I was shocked. I called my parents right away.”

As she prepares for the next chapter, Colino leaves behind a legacy at USCA that is as impressive as it is inspiring, one defined not just by achievement, but by perseverance, passion and purpose.

Go Back More News