1980s
1989
"My Carolina is long nights and mornings at the Journalism school, which paid off for me luckily; walking through the Horseshoe and smelling the beautiful flowers in the spring--those images will stay with me forever."
- Rita Cosby, '89
"My Carolina is a part of who I am as a person as I became the first child to in my family finish college at the place at which my mom matriculated some 23 years earlier. Moreover, it is a place that taught me nothing is Impossible, and gave me friends and memories that I cherish to this very day."
- Joseph Cumbie, '89
"My Carolina is all the fun times with my dad when I was little going to football games, and going crazy when I got an autograph from Jeff Grantz... hanging by the radio listening to Bob Fulton when I couldn't make it to the games... Law School Graduation and walking across the stage on the Horseshoe with a picture of my deceased father in my pocket, 35 years after he received the same degree in the same place... too many late nights at Group Therapy and not enough at Thomas Cooper... the cockroach collection a friend in Towers had stuck to his dorm wall with peanut butter... making lifetime friends and memories."
- Brad Cunningham, '89, '00 JD
"My Carolina is the diplomas on my wall, running out to '2001,'personal growth, jogging on the Horseshoe, 'Touchdown, Carolina!,' trying to, make an 8 a.m. class, and one of my longest loves!"
- Todd Ellis, ‘89
"My Carolina means growing up, keeping a family tradition, football forever and making friends."
- Denise Hunt, '89
"My Carolina is making life long friends; a deep love for SEC football; memories of our JD Sticky's days and nights; and most importantly, instilling in me a love of learning in the arts that I now share with my students on a daily basis! Thank you Carolina!"
-Debi Dunavant West, '89
1987
"My Carolina means football coach Joe Morrison and the theme 'Good Guys Wear Black,' the unstoppable Fire Ant Defense in 1983, the world's best pre-game anthem ("2001: A Space Odyssey") and of course, the world's best mascot, Cocky."
- Angela Haigler, '87
"My Carolina means many things to me; however, to sum it all up, it means: My Family, My Foundation and My Future."
- Major Ted Hart, '87
"My Carolina is great times, good friends, playing rugby, and a two-piece all-white meat basket at the Big Bird."
- Howard Hunt, '87
"My Carolina still amazes me 20 years later. (Has it been 20 years since this Carolina Girl became an alumna?!) My memories are mainly of the great connections of friends at every turn, whether it be in the liberal arts building, jogging the Horseshoe with my Tri Delta sisters or my first Shakespeare class, naively asking my professor (my UNC Tar Heel mother's cousin) the definition of ‘deflowering.’ Or ‘My Carolina’ that gave me the privilege to study under life-changing professors like Dr. Carolyn Matalene and James Dickey. I love My Carolina.”
- Malise Mercer Terrell, '87
"My Carolina is the beauty of the Horseshoe on a warm Spring afternoon. It is the Autumn excitement of hearing '2001' following an afternoon of tailgating with friends and family. It is the crack of an aluminum bat at 'The Sarge.' It is knowing that Pope John Paul II was so right when he said on the Horseshoe, 'It is great to be young and a student at the University of South Carolina!' That is My Carolina!"
-Scott Smith, '87
“My Carolina is being a proud graduate of the flagship institution of South Carolina, business excellence, the place where I met my wife, and seeing so many of my fellow classmates excel, particularly African Americans.”
- Darrin Thomas, ‘87
1986
"My Carolina is about networking; it's about synergy; it's about communicating and sharing information, which--next to our people--is our most valuable asset."
- Rex Galloway, '86
"My Carolina is Sims and Columbia Hall, Dr. Richard Conant and Carolina Alive, AFRO, Student Christian Fellowship and A Touch of Faith Gospel Choir with Sunday services and concerts in Rutledge Chapel. It's the place to build a legacy. My Children: Adrienne M. White (Carolina'10) and Bryant K. White (Carolina '12)."
- Melissa Kirk, '86
"My Carolina is standing in the middle of the field at Williams-Brice Stadium in my band uniform before my first performance. Lou Green from WIS-TV interviewed me, asking what Cocky meant to me as a freshman. I love it and have called Carolina home since that day in September, 1982! My Carolina is twirling a flag in the Carolina Band, getting married in Rutledge Chapel, and naming my first-born son Preston (his dad proposed after two weeks when he lived in Preston College)."
- Beth Prendergast Hendrix, '86
"My Carolina is the best memories of youth, fun, education and best friends."
- Deborah H. Stikeleather, '86
1985
"My Carolina is my home base, the place I got my start and my credentials."
- Don Hall, '85
"My Carolina means pizza parties at Burney Hall, late nights at the Darla Moore School of Business with my fraternity brothers of Delta Sigma Chi, and tailgate parties at Williams-Brice Stadium. My Carolina means being able to speak in front of any audience and proudly proclaim that I am a Carolina graduate."
- Angela Lewis, '85
"My Carolina is the 1984 Black Magic Football season, especially 22-21 at Clemson; the great student seats at all athletic events; mass transfer with Dr. Van Brunt and fluid dynamics with Dr. Meadows; living in the old Preston (#314); eating at The Bird and South Building; and long nights in Thomas Cooper studying. Now, it is also proudly going back to campus and supporting the many wonderful students making their own Carolina every year."
- Chip Morgan, '85
"My Carolina means the start of a legacy of excellence as a first generation college student. My Carolina was visits with friends at the Wade Hampton Hotel and the Honeycombs! My Carolina meant enjoying the mentorship of a feisty Hungarian, Dr. Uray (rest in peace, good doctor). My Carolina means the joy of seeing my children earning their degrees at USC, and my Carolina will always be with me."
-Dr. Vanessa Nelson-Reed, '85
"My Carolina provided me with one of the best doctoral educations in business avilable; my doctorate enabled me to realize my dream and passion to teach accounting at the college level. So I thank you, My Carolina, for the quality education that is respected worldwide! By the way, the mountains, beaches, and mustard-based barbeque were great, too!"
- Dr. Kenneth Snead, '85, '88
1984
"My Carolina is the many hours spent in the Thomas Cooper Library, trying to complete work to obtain my MLS through Davis College. Hoping and wishing the reference librarians would give you a clue!"
- Carolyn Burr-Bittle, '84
"My Carolina... is being born a Carolina fan in 1961. My Carolina... is watching football games at Williams-Brice Stadium, is watching basketball games at the Carolina Coliseum/Frank McGuire Arena, is watching baseball games at Sarge Frye Field. My Carolina... is graduating in 1984. My Carolina... is priceless!"
- Robert Casey, '84
"My Carolina is remembering how happy I was after the last time through Packet Registration at the Coliseum."
- Tom Cranmer, '84, '85
"My Carolina is pledge week and trying to be an Alpha Phi Alpha man. Wow! It was the toughest thing I ever accomplished, but boy, was it worth it!"
- Tommy Hickman, '84
"My Carolina is great friends forever, an outstanding education in Pharmacy, and meeting my husband of 21 years. I love My Carolina!"
- Toni Odom, '84 Pharmacy
"Our Carolina means graduating together in the Carolina Coliseum in the morning and getting married in the Rutledge Chapel on the Horseshoe that same afternoon."
- John A. and Lisa Chadwick Tjaarda, '84
"My Carolina is the foundation of my professional and personal development."
- Geoffrey Williams, '84
1983
“My Carolina comes deep from within my spirit, by way of my fellow Kindred Spirits of 1801. A humble yet proud spirit, rich in Southern communion, who wears regal colors not for show or trivial pursuits but as affirmation of his unity to his Engineering class of ’83; and to proclaim forever to his great university - A Hail To Thee Carolina!”
- Wrenn Barrett, '83 Engineering
"My Carolina is playing bid-whist in the Russell House; pledging Omega Psi Phi fraternity in 1973; studying at McKissick Library; getting parking tickets; learning from the best professors in journalism, Dr. Richard Uray and Dr. Lee J. Duckett (who really got on my case in class one day); meeting lifelong friends and learning much from a great institution."
- Donald Frierson, '83
"My Carolina is more than just my Alma Mater; it's family. It is feeling connected even 25 years after graduation. It's the thrill of meeting people from all over the country who still call the University of South Carolina home. I will forever be proud of my Carolina."
- Shelly Hoffmeyer, '83
"My Carolina is Rush Weeks on the Fraternity Quad."
- Kavin Lahn, '83
"My Carolina is living in and being on staff at Columbia Hall, serving in the Student Senate, being advised by Ms. Ada Thomas and Dean John Herin, and screaming for the Gamecocks at Williams-Brice, Carolina Coliseum, and Sarge Frye Field."
- Kyle D. Pruitt, '83
"My Carolina is the Tally Ho, Sunrise Mixers with my Kappa Sigma brothers on the quad, Carolina football, baseball at the Sarge on a spring afternoon and lunch at Andy's Deli (hello, my friend)."
- Ricky Werner, '83
1982
“My Carolina is about memories of fall football afternoons, the first warm days of spring on the fraternity quad, life-long friendships made inside and outside the class room, all now topped off with winning a national championship in baseball. It’s no longer 'My Carolina', it’s now 'Our Carolina.'”
- Lee Bussell, '82
"My Carolina is the place where I grew up and became a man. It's the place where I received my accounting degree that started me on my way to a career as an auditor in the healthcare industry. It's the place where I met lifelong friends while living in Preston dormitory. It's the place where I fell in love with Gamecock Baseball and got involved in the Gamecock Dugout Club 20+ years ago. It's the place where I learned to bleed Garnet and Black. It's the place that got inside of me like so many thousands of others before and after me. It's the place that I love more each and every time I sing the alma mater with great pride. My Carolina is me!"
- Darryl W. Cooper, '82, President, Gamecock Dugout Club
"My Carolina is living at the Wade Hampton Hotel, having the greatest roommate (now a lifelong friend whose children are my godchildren), watching the .38 Special go (George Rogers) and many hours riding the Shuttle Cock. Now, My Carolina is my livelihood! I am a product of USC's distance education program. The masters in Library Science I obtained at USC enabled me to secure the job I currently hold as assistant library director at USC's Beaufort campus where I also teach a section of University 101. I've been here for 16 years and I absolutely LOVE IT! I couldn't have done any of this without MY Carolina!"
- Geni (Mary) Flowers, '82, '95
"My Carolina is mixers and tailgating in the fall, lounge chairs outside the SAE house in the spring, and lifelong friendships."
- Harry Gregory, '82, '85
"My Carolina is the intoxicating scent of tea olive in the spring, the summer sun peeking out through the trees on the Horseshoe, and the autumn football games (George Rogers!). I often had lunch with my mother, Joan McCreary, who worked in Osborne when Admissions was located there. She died in 1996 and those memories of sitting with her in one of the many gardens tucked away in corners all over the campus are very precious."
- Jane Hebb-Siragusa, M.N. Nursing, '82
"My Carolina means lifetime friendships, Kappa Delta and fun parties."
- Liz McMillan, ‘82
"My Carolina is outstanding classes, lifelong friends, interesting speakers and lectures, fraternity parties, concerts, throwing frisbee in the Horseshoe, going to plays at Longstreet Theater, Piggy Park Barbeque, shagging in Five Points, and Gamecock Football!"
- Stuart M. Shalloway, '82
"My Carolina is saying thank you for making us a Gamecock family. I graduated from Journalism and my husband and son graduated from Engineering. Thank you for a great education and my job! Go Gamecocks!"
- Debbie Truluck, '82
1981
"My Carolina is pride."
- Karen Butterworth, '84
"My Carolina is a love and support for Carolina."
- Ken Corbett, '81
"My Carolina is where my mind wanders to celebrate warm spring nights under the Southern moon; the mingled scent of pine trees and warm red earth; the heavenly tastes of boiled peanuts, sweet tea and pulled pork with mustard sauce; and the intermingled joy and pain of everlasting friendships and youthful heartbreak. My Carolina is home."
- Ronda Templeton Davidson, '81
1980
"My Carolina is a great education, wonderful long-lasting friendships and a sense of responsibility."
- Sharon Eden, M.D., '80
"My Carolina is spring on the Horseshoe. Making friends for life. Struggles that have made me a better man. Carolina also molded my attitude of the underdog without quit!"
- Steven Gordon, '80, '85