The 2000s
2009
"My Carolina is walking into the Russell House and knowing half of the people I see, being an R.A. in Patterson/South Tower and watching other girls fall in love with USC, being with my sorority sisters as often as possible, Carolina Athletics and hearing '2001' play for the first time in the fall...it's looking forward to every day as a Gamecock and dreading the time when I will be finished."
- Kathryn Baxter, '09
"My Carolina is great fans, great professors, and the best International Business program in the nation!”
– Brionna Dickerson, ‘09
“My Carolina is being where my parents have been, sharing their alma mater, yet making my own, individual, new future.”
- Molly Boiter, ‘09
"My Carolina is a great experience for all USC students and helps get people involved and feel welcome whatever their place in life."
- Kelly Dow, '09
"My Carolina is late-night study sessions at the Thomas Cooper LIbrary, movie nights with my sorority sisters and tubing down the Saluda River after exams."
- Katie Edge, '09
“My Carolina is spending the day in the Moore School, the night in Thomas Cooper Library, Saturday at Williams Brice.”
- Kelly Jewell, '09
"My Carolina is being a member of Garnet Circle, having fun with my Tri Delta sisters, and having wonderful days out on the Horseshoe."
- Regan Root, '09
"My Carolina is free movies at the Russell House, Dr. Rocco's on Thursday nights, Carolina baseball games at two stadiums - Sarge Frye Field & the new stadium by the Congaree, tailgating on Saturdays for Gamecock football, our freshman year road trip to Nashville for White Castle, studying late at night in the Thomas Cooper Library, hanging with our 'Party Crew', and being involved in four student organizations during my time at USC. However, nothing compares to the awesome friendships I've made while being a Gamecock student! My Carolina will last a lifetime!"
- Kyle R. Via, '09
"My Carolina is cheering for the football team no matter what happened in the game, all the crazy nights with my fraternity brothers, hanging out in the Grand Market Place almost everyday, Bates brunch on the weekends, all night study sessions, IFC meetings, being President of Alpha Phi Alpha, three-hour labs, the horrible parking, McBryde G 3rd floor, accomplishment, memories, the best time of my life!"
- Justin Warren, '09
“My Carolina is tailgating in a Cock-a-boose, adTeam, and many late nights in the J-School.”
- Stephanie Warren, ‘09
“My Carolina is hearing the bells ring on the Horseshoe while studying or hanging out, and being where some of the greatest minds in Carolina history have been.”
- Laura Ybarra, ‘09
"My Carolina is proudly carrying on our family tradition of becoming USC graduate and alumnus, and the sky is the limit being a Gamecock!"
- Zarona Young, '09
2008
"My Carolina is the Saturday walk to the 80,0000 screaming football fans; late nights in Thomas Cooper; being a part of the greatest fraternity, Omega Psi Phi; being taught by some of the best professors there are; and meeting a group of friends that will always be a part of my life. My Carolina is great!"
- Prince Blackmon, '08
"My Carolina is the sound of the late night trains near the dorms, Chicken Finger Wednesday at the GMP, finally seeing the Honeycombs come down, being a Carolina Caller, and knowing that my university prepared me well for all my future endeavors. Go Cocks!"
- Michael Carlton, '08
"My Carolina is a nice cool fall football Saturday, throwing a huge tailgate with all of my family and college friends. And of course winning the game, GO COCKS!"
- John Paul Gillis, '08
"My Carolina is change, growth, and progress. It is being my best today, and constantly striving to be better tomorrow. My Carolina is long, hot walks through the Horseshoe. It is Gibbes Green, my favorite part of campus. My Carolina is the old and the new. It is the Carolina Coliseum and the Colonial Center. It is the Sarge and the new baseball field. It is the Blatt and the Strom. My Carolina is Gamecock sports. It is Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier. It is Dave Odom and Darrin Horn. It is Ray Tanner, Curtis Frye, and Dawn Staley. My Carolina is the Innovista. It is becoming the heart of the Capital City. It is spurring the renaissance of Columbia. My Carolina is advancing the state of South Carolina. It is contributing over $4 billion annually to the state economy. My Carolina is Engineering School. It is late nights in 300 Main, and Swearingen. It is dinner at the Kangaroo and Midnight snacks at Sonic. My Carolina is family. It is being a part of something much greater than myself. My Carolina is being a part of over one quarter of a million living alumni. Most of all, My Carolina is the first true love of my life."
- Steve Kelley, '08
"My Carolina is about accomplishment!"
- Donald Wesson, '08
"My Carolina is the thrill of the opening note of '2001,' Jazzman's coffee with the Gamecock crossword, 'studying' for exams at the pool, the sea of arms raised high at the end of the alma mater and most of all, the smile that says it all when the question is posed, 'Where do you go to school?"
- Rebecca Whitton, '08
2007
"My Carolina is working on Saturday's next to Todd Ellis and Tommy Suggs calling the game for all of Gamecock Nation to hear. It's walking on the Horseshoe with my family in the spring. Its the friendships that I have made over the years and the opportunities that this University has given me. It's a place that I can call home."
- Douglas Adams, '07
"My Carolina is tailgates at Williams Brice and the Sarge, trivia nights at the Saucer for two years straight, Greek Life, my experiences while interning with the USC Media Relations department, life-changing professors like Tom Klipstine, Randy Covington and Paul Leiber who taught me a lot about PR but most importantly to think outside of the box, the pride I feel when I see my degree on the wall and knowing that there is nothing better than My Carolina."
- Jen Blackwell, '07
"To me, 'My Carolina' is an extension of my family. It's where my heart was for 4 years - in the College of Pharmacy. My Carolina is a place where I was allowed to grow and learn in the company of friends, with the excellent guidance of a faculty whose concern for every student could be felt each day."
- Christie Coggins, '07
"My Carolina is spending hours editing stories in the Coliseum, writing countless papers in my dorm room, hanging out in Bates House and the Towers, talking about anything and everything with friends in the GMP over some Burger King, Chick-fil-A, or Taco Bell, and the long talks I had with residents while working as a desk assistant, among many other memories. Most importantly, My Carolina is the place where a huge goal was accomplished... becoming the first person in my family to graduate from college. I will always and forever be grateful to My Carolina for providing me with a solid foundation to start my career off right. Go Cocks!"
- Kimberly Hallums, '07 Journalism
"My Carolina is SEC road trips decked in garnet and black, long nights at Williams-Brice, even longer nights at Jake's, collard greens at the Russell House, and gorgeous South Carolina weather on the Horseshoe."
- Andrew Johnson, '07
"My Carolina is being a charter member of Gamma Phi Beta, being one of the first residents to live in West Quad, spending hours in the J-School in the Coliseum, and of all things, Carolina Football."
- Chaunte McLean, '07
"My Carolina is having the honor of representing 27 thousand of my peers as their student body president, late nights studying at the Thomas Cooper Library, watching the Clemson Tigers be beat by our Gamecocks, taking courses by some of the most amazing professors, and working with my pal, Dr. Andrew Sorensen, in building a great university. My Carolina is being blessed to attend a university that has given me so much. I love my Carolina!"
- Tommy Preston, '07
2006
"My Carolina is in the depths of the Coliseum, making half-court shots backwards, and the curtain dropping to '2001' and 82,000 of my screaming fans!"
- Jamie Ballentine, '06, "Cocky"
“My Carolina is classes in the coliseum, tailgating in stilettos, garnet and black everything, events at the McCutcheon House, singing at HRSM graduations, meeting my husband in five points, and raising a glass to my alma mater!”
- Sarah Farra, '06
"My Carolina is walking through the Horseshoe listening to the fight song play on the bells at Rutledge Chapel. It is working at Lieber College after graduation and discovering my passion for student affairs. It is watching the University I love advance to new heights on a daily basis. My Carolina is a sense of community. It is football games at Williams-Brice, evenings watching basketball at the Colonial Center, and sunny days at Sarge Frye Field. It is the feeling I get every time 2001 is played. My Carolina is learning from great leaders and exceptional professors. It is the Innovista and always striving to be better. My Carolina is the dreams of today that will create a better tomorrow. It is the pride I have for my University. My Carolina is a life changing experience that has shaped who I am today and who I will be in the future!"
- Rachel Hartley, '06
"My Carolina is the greatest years of my life, learning about others as I learned more about myself. My Carolina is Sunday Night Alive, student government, and Gamecock Football. My Carolina is the unity of thousands as we sing the alma mater and raise our right hands. That's My Carolina."
- Ryan Holt, '06
"My Carolina is goosebumps during 2001, hanging with Thomas Cooper during finals week, and friendships that will last a lifetime."
- Adam Piper, '06
"My Carolina is long walks on the Horseshoe, late nights in the journalism school, tailgating at USC football, living in Wade Hampton my freshman year and making friends for life."
- Jacqulyne Pouncey, '06
2005
"My Carolina is getting propossed to on the Horseshoe, watching Cocky appear on the football field at the end of '2001,' and meeting alumni at the College of HRSM events."
- Erin Akin, '05 HRTM
"My Carolina is crisp autumn evenings on the Horseshoe, standing with shaker in hand on my seat in the student section, away games with my adopted family, the road that led me to my wife, and a golden ring raised high in toast to my alma mater."
- Michael P. Arthur, '05
"My Carolina is going to football and basketball games, walking through campus, the Horseshoe and the lifelong friendships that I have made."
- Paul Bubel, '05
"My Carolina is success, first college football expreience, where I fell in love."
- Mackenzie Hutchinson, '05
"My Carolina is a great education on a beautiful campus, tailgating before Gamecock football games, and working with a fantastic group of dedicated professionals!"
- Laurie Eichelberger Leiva, '05 M.Ed.
"My Carolina is a remarkable University that provides high-quality education and opens doors to life-changing opportunities. It is tailgating at Williams-Brice Stadium and attending football games, great times in Five Points and magnificent South Carolina weather on the Horseshoe."
- Kevin White, '05
2004
"My Carolina is the sound of '2001' on a crisp, fall Saturday at Williams-Brice... 'We hail thee, Carolina, forever to thee...'"
- Brandon Bookstaver, '04
"My Carolina is a great education. It's learning about your field--and yourself. It wasn't just about how you put together a news story; it's really about building character."
- Addie Bradshaw, '04
"My Carolina is cheerleading and running onto the field at the Outback Bowl in 2001 and teaching yoga at the Blatt and Strom Thurmond building at 7 a.m. Gamecock Athletics and education were always My Carolina."
- April James, '04, '06 masters
"My Carolina is enjoying Carolina football, basking down the halls of the College of Science and Math, and living on the Horseshoe. So much peace and time to reflect."
- Jenine Stevenson, '04
"My Carolina is football Saturdays in Williams-Brice, running out of the tunnel to '2001,' playing football in front of 80,000 plus screaming fans, after we win going over to the student section to celebrate. It's making life-long friends with teammates and fellow students."
- John Strickland, '04
"My Carolina is graduating knowing that I am second generation USC alumna as I look at my diploma hanging on the wall. My Carolina is marching onto the field at Williams-Brice during pregame to the Carolina fight song and bringing 80,000 fans to their feet. My Carolina is the lifelong friends I made and every laugh we shared since we met. My Carolina is a family tradition."
- Ann Waters, '04 Journalism
2003
"My Carolina is throwing football on The Horseshoe as the Rutledge Bells play the Fight Song, looking at the "USC Smokestack" rise above the old campus, and tailgating at Williams-Brice on Fall Saturdays."
- Albert Ard, '03
"My Carolina is gaining 10 pounds my freshman year from eating at the buffet in Patterson Hall, late-night studying, being on a campus where I always felt safe, and begin surrounded by fellow students destined for greatness as I was because of our Carolina foundation."
- Camillia Austin, '03
"My Carolina is a quality education, lifelong friends, and gameday weekends."
- David Bornemann, '03, '06 Law
"My Carolina is being outside on a nice fall or spring day and just enjoying the Southern skies, while studying or spending time with friends... moments that are shared and remembered for keeps, for life!"
- Aleks Moroz, '03
2002
"My Carolina is living in the same dorm as my dad my freshman year (Bates House), long walks to Williams-Brice for tailgating at Tally Ho, track practices in the hot sun, true lifelong friendships, cookouts and sand volleyball behind the Blatt and becoming part of the alumni family."
- Erica Gambrell, '02, '06
"My Carolina is a quality education, football in the fall, enjoying walks near the Horseshoe during the fall, and being thankful for all the connections I made during my time at The USC!"
- Chris Stockman, '02
2001
“My Carolina is a life-changing community filled with friends, mentors and my husband! It is living with Tri Delta sisters in South Tower, learning from amazing professors in the Coliseum, and falling in love with service through Homecoming and Dance Marathon."
- Tracy Bender,'01
"My Carolina is an exceptional university that gave me the opportunity to be who I am and what I will be."
- Scott Phillips, '01, '09 MPA
"My Carolina is International Business excellence and Southern hospitality combined with hot weather."
- Frank Fillman, '01
"My Carolina is sweet tea at the GMP."
- Jeanette Seagraves, '01
2000
"My Carolina is getting a great education and meeting my best friend and future husband."
- Rachel Card, '00
"My Carolina is the garnet and black reflection of me!"
- Regine Jacobs, '00