At this year’s South Carolina Honors College Homecoming Weekend Brunch, six alumni received awards for their outstanding achievements. The 2024 Distinguished Honors Alumni recipients’ contributions span decades and disciplines, from journalism to public service.
“You’ll really enjoy reading about these award winners, who are exceptional, but they’re also illustrative,” says Steve Lynn, dean of the Honors College. “Our students and our alumni are truly doing remarkable things.”
Distinguished Honors Alumni
Josh Dawsey (‘12 journalism) is a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize for journalism and writes for The Washington Post. He earned the Pulitzer in 2022 for his contributions to the Post’s investigating of the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol. This spring, he earned a second award for a series of co-authored Washington Post articles on gun history and culture in America. Dawsey has also covered the White House for Politico and The Wall Street Journal.
“I’m thrilled to receive this award from the South Carolina Honors College,” says Dawsey. “I look back at my four years at USC as both formative and fulfilling, and I feel so lucky to have benefited from the advice of so many professors and mentors. I also feel incredibly blessed to have made lifelong friends and unforgettable memories. Thanks again for this honor, and I will forever be a Gamecock.”
Dr. Elizabeth Mack (‘99 biology, ‘03 medicine) is a pediatric critical care physician currently serving as immediate past president of the South Carolina chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics spokesperson. Her research and clinical interests include high reliability, quality and safety, health equity, child health advocacy and patient/family engagement.
“I am incredibly humbled and honored to receive this award!” says Dr. Mack. “The South Carolina Honors College had a profound impact on my growth as a lifelong student, and the connections I made as an undergraduate remain foundational to my development.”
Carolina scholar Jim Stuckey (‘89 journalism) is the vice president and general counsel of Dominion Energy. Stuckey served as a senior advisor to South Carolina Governor Jim Hodges. During his tenure in the Governor’s office, he was part of the initiative to remove the Confederate flag from the State House dome. He met his wife, Bernita, at the University of South Carolina, and all three of their children are USC graduates.
“I am honored to receive this award and grateful for the professors, staff and fellow students who made my experience in the Honors College so meaningful,” says Stuckey. “I hope that my academic and professional success will prove inspiring to all Honors College students, and particularly those students who face challenges such as growing up in a small town or being a member of an under-represented community.”
Distinguished Young Honors Alumni
Herman Phillips (‘18 film and media studies) is the co-founder and CEO of Cinapse, a cloud-based scheduling software company that is revolutionizing the film and television industry. His role in creating Cinapse earned him a spot on the 2023 Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Prior to starting his own company, Phillips worked in the assistant directors departments for shows such as The Mandalorian and Silicon Valley.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized as a Distinguished Young Alumni by the University of South Carolina Honors College,” says Phillips. “The freedom to pursue my honors thesis on production technology and filmmaking sparked a passion that continues to drive my work in media and entertainment technology at Cinapse. I’m deeply grateful for the foundation the Honors College provided and am excited to support the next generation of innovators emerging from this remarkable community.”
Carolina scholar Brad Williams, CFP® (‘11 finance and management) is the co-founder of Highlands Wealth Group, where he currently serves as director of financial planning. Before starting his own business, Williams worked for financial institutions such as Wells Fargo Private Bank of Greenville and BB&T Wealth of Pawleys Island. He is also dedicated to sharing financial education with the community, maintaining an active social media presence to promote financial literacy in a relatable way.
“Time is our most precious asset,” says Brad Williams. “Our ability to enjoy an ideal life entirely depends on how we invest our time. The SCHC has been one of my greatest investments.”
McNair scholar Jenni Williams (‘13 broadcast journalism and Spanish) has worked for WYFF News 4 in Greenville since 2013. She has produced everything from evening news to WYFF 4's weekly Spanish newscast, Aquí Para Ti, an initiative that she spearheaded. Her work as a producer earned her two EMMY Awards for newscasts in 2022 and 2023. In 2023, Williams was named the executive producer of special projects for WYFF News 4.
“I am truly honored to be recognized by the SCHC which gave so much to me,” says Jenni Williams. “I’m grateful for not only the strong education I received here but also for the countless friendships cultivated through SCHC classes and opportunities. Forever to thee!”
Each year, the Honors College selects awardees for the Distinguished Honors Alumni and Distinguished Young Honors Alumni awards. Nominations can be made by alumni, Honors faculty and staff.