On April 18th, the University of South Carolina hosted the annual Student Awards Day on the Horseshoe lawn. This tradition is a celebration of the outstanding achievements of our remarkable students. The College of Nursing recognizes those who have demonstrated excellence in academics, research, service, clinical performance, leadership and community engagement. The awards given this year are as follows: 

Outstanding Research and Scholarship Award: Sydney Reichardt

This award is given to the student who consistently contributed to growing their knowledge of research and scholarship in nursing science.

Sydney Reichardt began working as the ACORN Center Undergraduate Research Scholar as a first-year student. Her contributions to the work are often related to having great insights from a younger generational perspective. She presented significant insights into smartwatch technology at several conferences and is co-author on a manuscript published in 2023 JMIR Formative Research. Reichardt conducted her own research on quality of life and depressive symptoms in people with POTS. She is building on that work for her honors thesis and received a South Carolina Honors College grant to support her efforts. Most recently, she presented a poster at the Southern Nurses Research Society conference.

Outstanding Service to the College of Nursing: Claire Powers

This award is given to the student who has consistently volunteered time for the improvement of the college, university, and the nursing profession. 

Claire Powers has played a crucial part as the Community Health Director to keep USC-SNA members active in the community by encouraging nursing professionalism through volunteer activities. Powers coordinated American Red Cross blood drives, Harvest Hope food drives, and Be The Match bone marrow registrations She also worked with the College of Nursing on events to support VA Hospital and Prisma’s Children’s Hospital patients. Throughout the semester Powers organized small groups to volunteer at other organizations such as Midlands Orphan Relief and Harvest Hope’s food pantry.  

 Outstanding Undergraduate Clinical Performance Award: Payton Evans

This award is presented to a student who has displayed evidence of a high level of critical thinking in the clinical area and/or extraordinary patient-centered care. 

Payton Evans’ dedication to the field is evident in her role as a nurse extern at MUSC Lancaster, where she excelled in their Emergency Department. Her peers in the ED recognized her as an exceptional Certified Nursing Assistant, highlighting her strong work ethic and compassionate approach to patient care. Furthermore, Evans received positive feedback from her instructors highlighting her exceptional clinical skills and commitment to excellence. 

Outstanding Undergraduate Community Service Award: Zoe Bowers  

This award is given for evidence of sustained community service either within a group or individually. 

Zoe Bowers was presented this award for her dedication to serving her community, both within and beyond the university. As a leader within the Student Nurses Association (SNA) at Lancaster, Bowers has held various positions, highlighting her commitment to fostering a supportive environment for her peers. Additionally, she has played a pivotal role as an incoming first-year BSN Good Samaritan Scholarship mentor, serving as a vital community liaison and offering invaluable guidance to incoming students. Bowers impact extends to academic support, where she served as an Academic Success Tutorplaying a key role in initiating the Health Science Studio approach for nursing students. Beyond her academic responsibilities, she generously volunteers her time to assist with recruitment events, including Junior Scholars, Open House events, and Simulation lab tours, highlighting her commitment to inspiring future generations of nurses.  

Outstanding Undergraduate Leadership Award: Natalie Trimble  

This award is given to the outstanding student who has consistently been recognized by peers, faculty, and organizations as an excellent leader.

Natalie Trimble has been active in student government holding multiple positions, including the College of Nursing’s Delegation Chair, Chair of the Health and Safety Committee and first nursing major in an executive position as Speaker of the Student Senate. Trimble served as secretary, vice president, and president of Cocky’s Canine PAALS, and vice president of membership for Omicron Delta Kappa. She also served as a guest speaker in the SCHC 279 course, where she shared tips for success with first-year Smart Start Honors Nursing students. Trimble also attended  the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)’s 2022 Student Policy Summit. 

The Undergraduate Nursing Impact Award: Kelsey Dailey

This award is given to the student who contributes to the development of nursing's mission of advocacy to support health equity and social justice, particularly for vulnerable populations. 

Kelsey Dailey participated in the Graduation with Leadership Distinction program engaging in an extrinsic experience at Women's Health Hopkins in Hopkins, SC. Her work with Preventative and Prophylactic Women’s Health, specifically providing mental health screenings, education, and resources for underinsured and uninsured pregnant patients during prenatal visits, was presented at Discover USC. This collaborative experience helped her to understand the impact one person can have on their community. 

Academic Excellence Award: Darby Killman

This award is given to a traditional senior student with the highest institutional GPA based on the highest institutional credit hours earned at USC. Along with Darby, six other students were recognized to graduate with an overall GPA of 4.0: Erin Carson, Claxton-Grace Caswell, Bailey Goldschmidt, Claire Powers, Claire Stone, and Sophia Young.