University of South Carolina students, employees and alumni will soon be able to shop at the new Apple Authorized Campus Store, and it has a new name. Gamecock iHub was chosen from among four finalists in a bracket-style voting campaign on social media. More than 1,000 votes were cast to help pick the name.

The store is scheduled for a soft opening in May with a grand opening celebration planned for the start of the fall semester in August. Gamecock iHub will be the first of its kind in the region and only the second AACS in the nation managed and operated by students.

The first all-student staff, made up primarily of students from the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, has been hired and their training is underway. The students will be supervised by Store Manager Saundra Koesters, Department of Retailing instructor and store director Mike Watson, and Jeffrey Campbell, associate professor and chair of the Department of Retailing.

Gamecock iHub will be located on the first floor of the Byrnes building on the corner of Sumter and College streets, and will feature a wide range of Apple products on display and for sale, from tablets and laptops to accessories like AirPods. These products will be available for purchase (at a special price, thanks to an education discount) by anyone affiliated with the university — students, employees and alumni. The store will also offer in-house product repair and services by Apple authorized staff.

More information including store hours will be announced as opening day approaches.