The 2000s
2012
“My Carolina is all the experiences molded together. The games, tailgating, Greene Street events, classes, and organizations add to the list of wonderful experiences. Plus, our love for the school as a whole and its beauty.”
- Rick Carver, '12
"My Carolina is the Moore School of Business, motivating professors, challenging curriculum, life-time friends and memories, and a place I will forever call home."
-Hope Jackson, '12
“My Carolina is Gamecock football, listening to the bells on the Horseshoe, and experiencing a small part of South Carolina history.”
- Nicki Priester, '12
“My Carolina is walking through the Horseshoe on a spring day seeing all the wonderful diverse people, meeting new people every day, and Gamecock football."
- Joe Wright, '12
2011
“My Carolina is studying on the Horseshoe, Saturdays at Williams Brice, and Gamecock Men’s Tennis.”
- Ross Alberghini, '11
“My Carolina is enjoying beautiful weather, basically living in the Coliseum for class and enjoying Gamecock sports.”
- Reilly Blackwelder, '11
“My Carolina is endless opportunities for leadership, friendship, and academic achievement!”
- Nichole Chao, '11
“My Carolina is hanging out on the Grassy Knoll, tailgating for football games, and spending time with my ADPi sisters!”
- Reid Cifrino, '11
“My Carolina is being a part of insightful class discussions, dancing to Sandstorm at football games, competing for team tennis titles, and being inspired by peers who are already making a difference in the world.”
- Caroline Clark '11
“My Carolina is a culmination of great tradition and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
- Greg Condon, '11
“My Carolina is tailgating for football games in the fall and baseball games in the spring, late nights in Thomas Cooper library and making memories with my Tri-Delta sisters.”
- Anna Dilworth, '11
"My Carolina is late-night study sessions in the Maxcy classroom, shagging on the Horseshoe, and helping to make the University a better place for its students."
- Jonathan E. Dusenbury, '11
“My Carolina is laying on the Horsheshoe, tailgating all day long, service with my ESA sisters, and Gamecock spirit anywhere, anytime.”
- Anna Hecksher, '11
“My Carolina is lounging on the Horseshoe, long days at Williams-Brice Stadium, and my Tri-Delta sisters.”
- Bolling Henderson, '11
“My Carolina is about tradition. It’s uniting as Gamecocks to create memories and leave a legacy.”
- Megan Kiley, '11
"My Carolina is Gamecock football, spending most of my time in the science building, and cherishing all the memories that come with being a University of South Carolina Gamecock!"
-Byron Mathis, '11
"My Carolina is watching the Gamecock-Tiger football game, meeting some of the most diverse and exciting people on the shuttle each day, touring through the rich history of Columbia, and participating in enriching academic opportunities."
- Tejas Mehta, '11
“My Carolina is the football games, meeting new people, enjoying gorgeous South Carolina weather, and making lasting memories.”
- Brynna Pink, '11
“My Carolina is baseball games at Carolina Stadium, studying at the Business School, and 2001 at Williams Brice.”
- Michael Ruiz, '11
"My Carolina is hanging out with friends on the horseshoe, football games, my Chi Omega sisters, and continuing the tradition of Gamecock pride."
- Brynna Pink, "11
"My Carolina is walking across the horseshoe in the sunshine, saturdays spent at Williams Brice, and long nights in Thomas Cooper."
- Anna Hecksher, '11
2010
“My Carolina is creating a new home away from home and making new friends by getting involved on campus, and of course, Carolina football.”
- Alex Bergmann, '10
“My Carolina is fall football games, the beautiful Horseshoe on a spring day, fun campus organizations, and my ADPi loves.”
- Megan Brown, '10
"My Carolina is the camaraderie between the students and the overall feeling of southern hospitality that we bring to the community as a whole."
- Ryan Burns, '10
“My Carolina is all Gamecock sports, the beautiful Southern weather, and my amazing sisters of ZTA.”
- Marti Concannon, '10
“My Carolina is living in the Lambda Chi Alpha house with 40 dudes, playing intramural sports, running around campus and experiencing leadership roles in my fraternity.”
- Michael Corso, '10
“My Carolina is a network of friends who feel more like family, sundresses at football games, and laying out on the Horseshoe.”
- Maria Culbertson, '10
“My Carolina is football games and sunny days on the Horseshoe, and long days in the PSC.”
- Ryan Griffith, '10
“My Carolina is long days in the lab, long nights at Williams Brice, and all the people I call friends there with me the whole way through.”
-Paul Miranda, '10
"My Carolina is all day tailgating for Carolina Football, permanently living in the BA, walking across the Horseshoe and tripping on bricks- and all the lasting memories you make as a Gamecock!"
- Ashley Oleszczuk, '10
"My Carolina is all the hard work I have put in the past few years to reach graduation day and graduate as a USC Gamecock."
-Celena Peters, '10
“My Carolina is running through campus in spring time, football games in the fall, heckling opposing teams from the Berm in our new baseball stadium, and all-nighters at Thomas Cooper!”
- Dan Solley, '10
“My Carolina is tailgating on Saturdays, late nights at Thomas Cooper, late nights in Five Points, and living in the Greek Village.”
- Seth Williams, '10
"My Carolina is a way to stay connected with my school. It gives me a feeling that I really am a Gamecock!"
- Sarah Wilson, '10
"My Carolina is staying until the end of all the football games to hear the alma mater, Carolina Productions, always having classes on the other end of campus, and some of my best friends."
- Sara Winn, '10
"My Carolina is watching the winning run at the last game at Sarge Frye, seeing the campus come together after the Ocean Isle Tragedy, and finding a group of amazing friends in Tri-Delta."
- Jogie Kistler, '10
"My Carolina is Bid Day on the horseshoe with my Alpha Delta Pi sisters, tailgating in front of the football stadium on Saturdays, and finally recieving my acceptance letter for medical school after four years of Excercise Science."
- Morgan Brown, '10
"My Carolina is leaving Columbia, leaving SC, or leaving the USA and feeling confident that my Carolina friends and alumni are in those places to support me."
- Melody Dawson, '10
"My Carolina is tanning on the horseshoe, walking across campus from PSC to humanities, and toasting during the alma mater."
- Erin Lowe Vickery, '10
"My Carolina is being at an institution that inspires me to make even more of a difference than I already have."
- Vessi Radieva, '10
"My Carolina is living in the Alpha Delta Pi house, studying in the coliseum, and making friends that last a lifetime."
- Crandall Richardson, '10
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 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 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 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.
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 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 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