"Our alumni are care providers, educators, administrators, lawmakers, and game-changers. A true testament to the College of Nursing is the success of our alumni. This evening we honor two alumni who embody the values of the college and the profession of nursing." - Dean Andrews 

Outstanding Nurse Alumni Award: Lauren Booth, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC (MSN' 16)

About Lauren:

Lauren is a Diabetes/Endocrinology Specialty Family Nurse Practitioner at S.C. House Calls. She has a background in Critical Care, Cardiology, Ortho/Neuro, Psychiatry and Home Health. During Lauren's 20-year career in healthcare, she spent ten years as an RN holding positions of staff nurse, charge nurse and house supervisor, and has spent the last six years practicing as a Nurse Practitioner.

Lauren is the President of the Capitol Nurse Practitioner Group in Columbia, SC, one of the largest continually growing NP organizations with a mission to advance, support, and promote the role of the NP in SC and nationally through virtual communications. She is passionate about providing opportunities for growth, development, and mentorship to NPs and NP students.

Lauren has been an active member of Sigma Theta Tau Alpha Xi and Pi Lambda chapters, AANP, ANA, SCNA, and the American Association of Psychiatric Nurses. 

She has been the recipient of the June Boggs Scholarship, Daisy Award at Palmetto Richland Hospital, and awarded for her outstanding leadership of Capitol Nurse Practitioner Group.

Lauren has been an active member of the UofSC College of Nursing Alumni Council since 2018. She is currently enrolled in the Amy V. Cockcroft Leadership Fellowship program at the College of Nursing's Center for Nursing leadership.

Outstanding Young Nurse Alumni Award: Captain Xavier Pollard, RN, BSN ('18)

About Xavier:

After high school, Xavier completed Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood. While serving, Xavier enrolled in the University of South Carolina College of Nursing's Bachelor of Science program and prepared for his Army ROTC Commission.

Following his commissioning in 2018 as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, Xavier attended the Medical Center of Excellence Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Sam Houston. Upon completion, he served as a Staff Nurse at Fort Lewis Madigan Army Medical Center's medical-surgical unit before moving to inpatient pediatrics. He then transitioned to Head Nurse of the Madigan Army Medical Center's Family Medicine Clinic at the Brigade level, covering 1,200 service members. During the pandemic, Xavier was part of Joint Task Force 51, providing Covid relief at Northern Navajo Medical Center.

Xavier won the Madigan Army Medical Center Registered Nurse of the Year in 2021.

Currently, he is attending Uniform Services University School of Medicine with the hope of specializing in Otorhinolaryngology.

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