Celebrating Spring 2025 Graduates

He credits staff members Audria Chandler, Yvonne Shaw and Joshua Gordon for giving him great advice and inspiring him with their hard work and dedication. Cameron will be pursuing his master’s degree in exercise science at USC Upstate in the fall. 

Kinsley is proud to have completed her degree and to have made the chancellor’s list in the process. “I am a first-generation student, and I took three years off after my freshman year, so it has been a lot of hard work and sacrifice to get to where I am today,” she says. She is grateful for the mentorship of associate professor Rebecca Mueller, who helped her become confident in her abilities and was always positive and encouraging of her. Kinsley will be teaching middle school social studies locally. 

“My proudest achievement from my college years is breaking the cycle and completing college as a first-gen student,” he says. “Tied with that is all of the growth, in all aspects of myself, that I’ve had over these years.” His many friends at Upstate, together with his professors, advisors and supervisors, have had a profound influence on him, as have the values the Upstate instills into everything and everyone on campus. He looks forward to seeing where life will take him next as he enters the real world with a college degree and the opportunities that brings.

“I will miss the incredible community of students and faculty who supported me both academically and personally,” Tessa says. “They have become more than just peers and mentors; they have become my second family.” She is passionate about her field and excited about starting the chemistry doctoral program at North Carolina State University in the fall.  

Juan Carlos treasures the friendships he’s made at the university and also cites four faculty members who have been influential to him: Shannon Polchow, who was his advisor and helped him many times; Araceli Hernández-Laroche, who taught him to fight for his dreams and introduced him to El Centro; Maria Francisco Montesó, who taught him helping others is always the best decision; and Gaby Drake, who always listened and provided good advice. Juan Carlos plans to continue his studies in graduate school with the goal of becoming a Spanish teacher. 

Reagan’s memorable experiences include traveling to Costa Rica on spring break with Hannah Terpack, director of Career Management; doing research with her advisor, assistant professor Justin Travis; and assisting Donette Stewart, vice chancellor for enrollment, at orientation. She has been accepted into MUSC’s residential occupational therapy doctoral program, which she will begin in the fall. 

She’s especially grateful for all the professors, preceptors and nurses who were her mentors, and for her family for their support and encouragement. “My proudest achievement is graduating from the nursing program on time and growing in compassion and skill with every class and clinical experience,” she says. Shyah will be starting out as an emergency room nurse at Piedmont Medical Center.

“My proudest achievement from my college years would be either getting to design for Studio Upstate or having the honor of being nominated for costume design in one of Upstate Theatre’s productions,” she says. Catherine will be looking for a job in the area.  

Morgan spent many hours making art and attending classes in the Kathryn Hicks Visual Arts Center, all of which grew her knowledge of new materials, techniques and ideas that helped make her who she is today. She also met new friends in the stacks at the library and developed a love of research. Morgan presented her work at the South Carolina Art Education Association conference and the National Art Education Association conference with her professor and co-researcher Derek Fenner. She is also proud to be a charter member of USC Upstate’s Network8 alongside her classmate Havva Dokmeci. Morgan will be teaching art at a high school in the Upstate. 

Every professor she had influenced, taught and supported her in special ways, and she is grateful to all of them for always being there for her. After graduating, Helena will be moving into a full-time role with the company where she is currently employed. 

In addition to the many friendships she’s made, she appreciates the many faculty who have played a role in her success. In particular, Brittany Shuller and Amanda Coates always supported her and made sure she had the resources she needed. Gabriella will be returning home to begin her nursing career in the emergency department. 

“I could brag all day on my professors, and I hope to keep in contact with them post-grad,” she says. Reygan is proud to be graduating with honors and debt-free after maintaining her scholarships throughout her program. She will continue working at the salon where she is currently employed while looking for new opportunities.

“This organization definitely helped me make connections and lifelong friends.” Her professors Maria Francisco Montesó and Bob Daly helped improve her skills within her major and minor and reach her career goals. She is proud to be finishing her degree in three years. Zuyen will be working with a local police agency.  

Choir director Alphaeus Anderson and instructor Dani Gainey have been important influences for her, recognizing her talent and pushing her to go beyond anything she’d imagined. Their belief in her, even when she doubted herself, helped her become the artist and person she is today. Ramona plans to sing professionally and hopes to start her own corporate band and perform at events all over the world. 

Though nursing school was tough, it also taught her resilience as she learned to adapt and handle the challenges. She feels her experiences have made her a stronger woman, and she is grateful for the support of nursing success coach Meghan Carter, who cheered her on when she felt lost; assistant professor Chavonne Good, who inspired her to become a labor and delivery nurse; and academic advisor Jade Lambert, who was always there to listen and offer encouragement. Jessi will be working as a labor and delivery nurse and hopes to become a nurse midwife in a few years. 

“There were moments of doubt and exhaustion, but I kept pushing forward,” William says. “It’s not just about passing exams or checking off clinical hours; it’s about growing into someone who can truly make a difference in others’ lives.” The relationships he built with his classmates through study groups, clinicals and shared challenges made his experience meaningful. His professors went beyond just teaching material to sharing real-world experiences and encouraging him to think critically and grow, especially Chavonne Good, JT Smith and Cynthia Bryant. William will be taking a post-graduation trip with his wife to recharge before taking the NCLEX, and then will start his career as an ICU nurse. 

She’s grateful for the support of interim dean Sharda Jackson Smith, professor Greta Freeman and academic advisor Arian Peterson, who were always there for her. Khamaya will teaching third grade at an elementary school in Spartanburg District 6. 

Her professors and classmates were a valued part of her experience, and she enjoyed the many community-building events that made campus feel like home. April is especially grateful for instructors JT Smith and Brittany Shuller, who encouraged her and taught her she can achieve anything she sets her mind to. She will be working in the cardiac ICU at Spartanburg Regional. 

She says she did it not only for herself, but for her daughter. Her biggest influences on campus were Kirsten Meier and Star Jamison, both of whom played meaningful roles in her journey. What she’ll miss most about Upstate is the friendly environment, the many opportunities for growth, and the personalized attention that came from smaller class sizes. After graduation, she plans to obtain her license to become a private investigator. 

Patricia is proud to have successfully balanced her work, school and life and to have completed her degree in three years. She credits her accounting professors – Rebecca Goessel, Michael Wooten, and Elizabeth Cole – with not only providing strong guidance about the field but also crucial advice about life and career choices. Marley Bickley, her career counselor, also supported her throughout her journey, providing resume help and friendship. Patricia will be a tax intern this summer at GreerWalker before joining Clemson’s MPAcc program in the fall. 

She considers the biggest branch of her life to be Georgia McClintock in Career Services, who not only had the answers to every career question but many other questions as well. Havva helped set up the student group Network8, and she’s proud of how it has brought people together through art to collaborate on projects with a positive community impact. 

Lacy has enjoyed everything about her college experience. “I’ll miss the entire environment – the professors, the course material, the campus activities … all of it,” she says. Her biggest influences on campus were faculty members Calvin Odhiambo, Colby King, Lizabeth Zack and Lisa Johnson. Lacy will be working for a local nonprofit before going to graduate school.

“Being a part of these programs allowed me to meet new people and form both professional and personal connections that will last beyond my time at USC Upstate,” she says. She has also volunteered in the community and participated in service projects and experiences that have encouraged her passion.

She is proud of a project she worked on with assistant professor Victor Summers that explored a creative way to view modern algebra axioms. Together they created a comic strip that they displayed at a 2024 symposium. Cenya is planning to become a high school math teacher and eventually pursue a graduate degree. 

Associate professor Courtney McDonald was a big influence on Kaylee, who appreciated the care and support she showed students. McDonald made sure everyone understood the material, however difficult, and created a welcoming environment that encouraged students to reach their potential. Kaylee is looking forward to returning in the fall for the master’s program in criminal justice. 

Stembridge helped her with her resume and internship search and offered her a position as a marketing assistant. Land was her advisor and was a trusted resource about career plans. “She is the professor who knows things about me outside of school and a professor who cares about me and my future,” Sally says. “I could not have imagined my time at Upstate being as great as it was without her!” Sally will be joining Gallagher, a global insurance, risk management and consulting company, as a producer associate. 

Nursing school has strengthened Cameron’s perseverance and determination. “The sacrifice, hard work, and self-discipline it takes to earn a BSN degree has truly shaped me from a girl into a young lady,” she says. After taking the NCLEX, Cameron plans to work as a trauma nurse at Spartanburg Regional. 

It was that supportive environment that led her to choose Upstate in the first place, along with the smaller class sizes and opportunities for hands-on learning and career development. “I’ll miss the relationships I’ve built – with both classmates and professors – and the sense of community that made Upstate feel like home,” she says. “These wonderful connections made my college experience one of the best chapters of my life.” She will be working full time as a content writer, helping develop marketing content for digital platforms. 

She has been inspired by Georgia McClintock in Career Management, whose kindness and love have been a model for her, and by fellow student Kimberly Lanford, who is now a full-time staff member on the development team in the division of Information Technology at Upstate. Gabriella, who is currently a student developer in IT, will be working part time for the application development team while searching for full time software development work. 

Jimirah has been active in Tau Sigma, the honor society for transfer students, and will miss the many friends she’s made in the group. She’s especially grateful to Audria Chandler, the academic transfer coordinator and Tau Sigma advisor, for encouraging her and helping her feel connected and confident as a transfer student. Jimirah will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and serve in the adjutant general branch.