For Ripp Laborde, college is about more than earning a degree. It’s an opportunity to make friends, become more independent and find a career and a place of his own. For his family, making that dream a reality meant months of research, countless phone calls and a willingness to look beyond their home in Shreveport, Louisiana, for the right opportunity. Their search ultimately led them more than 700 miles away to the University of South Carolina Aiken, where they enrolled Ripp in the USCA LIFE program, which provides students with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to experience college life in a supportive and inclusive environment. “Ripp is our first student to attend the USCA LIFE program so far away,” said Monica Martin, program manager of USCA LIFE. Now in its fourth year on campus, the program has grown to 37 students and is expanding into a four-year program, providing participants with even more opportunities to learn, grow and experience college life. “We are excited to see our program reach other states across the country,” Martin added. Finding the right college fit “When we toured, we were like, it really does feel like home,” said Fran Laborde, Ripp’s mother. “It was perfect. It truly was.” Ripp is part of a blended family with six children. He is the youngest, 13 years younger than his sister, Lizzy Plumlee, who played an important role in helping the family navigate the search for a college program for students with disabilities. Plumlee, who has a doctorate and a background in education, helped the family search for the right program from across the country. One of their primary resources was Think College, a national resource that lists college programs designed to support students with intellectual disabilities. The family quickly discovered that finding the right program would take more than simply finding a college nearby. “Not every program is one size that fits all,” Plumlee said. “They’re all very different. And so, it took a lot of searching to find the one program that was going to be the best fit for Ripp.” While a few schools offered programs similar to USCA LIFE, the family found that many provided academic and social support but did not offer residential assistance. “He needed somebody to guide him in the home setting to help implement it,” Fran said. That was one of the things that made the USCA LIFE program stand out. “Our program is unique because we are a high-support program. This allows students to take risks, learn new skills and explore college life knowing that their resident assistants, teachers and staff are there to back them up,” Martin said. “Our small campus size is appealing to students and families because it makes them feel safe. Students can get from their dorm room to class in less than 10 minutes.” A full support system The university’s comprehensive support system was another important factor for Ripp’s family, providing him with academic, social, and residential resources as he adjusts to college life. They believe the combination of structure and support will allow him to build confidence, develop greater independence, and make the most of his college experience. What stood out most, Fran said, was “the fact that everything is so structured and organized.” She added, “It really is such a multifaceted program in that he will have the supports that he needs for academic, for social, for residential, everything.” The family’s first visit to campus reinforced that feeling. While touring another university, they contacted USCA. Rather than waiting for a formal appointment, the family was welcomed to campus and given a tour. They saw the classrooms, met other students and experienced the campus community firsthand. “They found out that we were in town because we were touring a separate university, and they were like, ‘You’re down? Let us show you,’” Fran said. “It felt like home. It felt like a place where he could be comfortable and safe.” For Ripp, the decision was about more than finding the right support system. It was about having the opportunity to experience college. “I’m excited to make new friends,” Ripp said. “I’m also excited to be taking college classes.” He also brings some unique interests to campus. Challenge Ripp to a trivia game about geography, flags or cultures, and you may have a difficult time keeping up. “If you challenge him in trivia, you will not win,” his mother jokingly said. Ripp also has a fondness for video games, particularly those that allow him to explore new worlds and build creatively. Finding his own path As Ripp begins his college experience, his family hopes the skills he develops will help him reach one of his biggest goals: greater independence. He has often told his family that he wants to one day have an apartment of his own. His family hopes USCA LIFE will help him develop the work and independent-living skills necessary to make that goal possible. “We wanted to get work skills. We wanted to get independent skills,” Fran said. “He expresses to us often that it’s his goal to be able to have his own apartment. And so, we’re hoping that he can get the skills that he needs so that he can do that.” The four-year program will also give Ripp time to explore his interests and discover what he might want to pursue professionally. “I want to figure out what I want to do for a job and all that,” Ripp said. For his family, that opportunity to explore is part of what makes the college experience so meaningful. Social connection was another major factor in their decision. They wanted Ripp to have opportunities to make friends, participate in clubs and activities, and experience the same sense of belonging that other college students have. “We want him to have everything that everybody else does,” Fran said. “So why not college?” Preparing students for what’s next Ripp’s college experience also reflects a larger vision Martin has for the program and its students. As USCA LIFE continues to grow, she hopes that momentum among students and families will help create even more opportunities for inclusion and connection throughout the community. “When our senior students graduate in May, we are excited for them to join the local workforce, get involved in their communities, and lead fulfilling lives. We continue to look for partnerships with local businesses and employers for student jobs during and after their time in the program.” Finding a new home with USCA LIFE Moving to Aiken has been a significant transition for Ripp and his family. Louisiana is home, and the distance means visits require planning. But the family believes the opportunity was well worth it. Their advice to other families considering college programs for students with intellectual disabilities is simple: focus on the student, not the distance. “Look and investigate and choose, not based on location, but what’s the perfect fit for your child,” Fran said. “Everything else will just fall into place.” For Ripp, that perfect fit is now USCA LIFE. As he begins this new chapter, he is ready for what comes next: new friends, new experiences, new skills and the chance to discover what his future might look like. “I’m excited,” he said.

Sixty-five years after the University of South Carolina Aiken began with a promise to provide educational opportunities that would serve students and strengthen the region, that promise is taking shape on a much larger scale. As USCA celebrates its 65th year, record enrollment, expanded academic programs, significant research investments, new campus facilities and increased community engagement are driving a period of strong growth and momentum. Chancellor Daniel Heimmermann highlighted those accomplishments and more during his annual State of the University Address on Sept. 9. “We are one of the fastest-growing universities in the southeast, a testament to USCA’s widening reputation as a premier regional university,” Heimmermann told the audience at the Etherredge Center on campus. For the third consecutive year, USCA has recorded historic enrollment. Fall 2026 enrollment will exceed 4,500 students, including 3,559 undergraduate and 970 graduate students. Overall enrollment has increased nearly 10% from the previous fall, with undergraduate enrollment growing 8% and graduate enrollment increasing 25%. The university also welcomed its largest freshman class in history, while applications from students outside USCA’s traditional service area increased significantly. Freshman applications increased 47% overall, while applications from students outside the university’s traditional service area increased 81%. USCA ultimately enrolled 43% more students from outside that traditional area this fall. Preparing Pacers for what comes next At the center of USCA’s continued growth is its academic mission. During the past academic year, faculty within the College of Sciences and Engineering developed new bachelor’s programs in cybersecurity and electrical engineering, along with an online master’s program in exercise and sports science with a concentration in strength and conditioning. The School of Business also expanded its offerings, with new MBA specializations in areas including artificial intelligence for business, corporate governance, healthcare operations, human resources operations and project leadership. The university’s bachelor’s programs in Process and Mechanical Engineering earned ABET accreditation, while the School of Business was reaccredited by AACSB, an organization representing the top 6% of business schools and programs. “USCA remains committed to delivering a flexible and relevant curriculum that prepares our graduates to meet South Carolina’s current and future workforce needs,” he said. USCA’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, which is celebrating 25 years of preparing graduates for the health care workforce, achieved a 100% pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination among its December graduates. USCA’s elementary education programs also received a grade of “A” from the National Council on Teacher Quality. More than 320 USCA students completed internships during the past year, with more than 150 employer sponsors. Students gained experience with organizations including Savannah River Site, Savannah River Mission Completion, Savannah River National Laboratory, school districts, health care organizations and other businesses and agencies. Students also gained hands-on experience through undergraduate research and campus-based opportunities. Thirty science and engineering students presented their summer research at the seventh annual Summer Scholar Institute Research Symposium, while biology majors Hayden Driver and Joseph Suazo spent the summer conducting research at Harvard Medical School under the direction of USCA alumna Dr. Connie Arthur. The university’s student-run Regional Security Operations Center also expanded its experiential learning opportunities to students from South Aiken and Aiken High School. These out-of-class learning experiences help students connect their academic preparation with the world beyond USCA, Heimmermann said. Growth that supports student success While more students are choosing USCA, the university is also focused on helping them stay, succeed and graduate. Student retention has increased 11% over the past five years, a result Heimmermann attributed in part to the university’s holistic approach to student support throughout campus, from academic advising and tutoring to coaching and faculty mentorship. The Student Success Center and Gregg-Graniteville Library have expanded collaborative efforts to connect students with the resources they need. Nearly 80% of academically at-risk students who participated in academic coaching improved their cumulative GPA. The Faculty Advisor Academy also continued to grow, offering 50 workshops during the past academic year with 298 attendees. More than 30 faculty members participated in the series. Those efforts are contributing to another important milestone: USCA produced 925 graduates during the past academic year across its certificate, bachelor’s and master’s programs. The university’s commitment to access also remains strong. Tuition rates have remained constant for eight years, while USCA awarded nearly $36 million in federal and state scholarships and more than $1.6 million in private awards to more than 1,000 students during 2025-26. Campus takes shape for the future The transformation happening at USCA is not limited to enrollment and academics. It can be seen across the campus itself. This fall, engineering classes moved into the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative, giving students access to a facility operated in partnership with SRNL. The Dr. Robert Alexander Student Activities Center received upgrades, including improvements to Starbucks, along with completion of the new Pacer Soccer Field. Construction is also underway on the South Carolina National Guard Readiness Center, which will provide training space for guardsmen as well as conference rooms, classrooms and other spaces for the university. Later this fall, construction is expected to begin on the South Carolina National Guard Cyber Integration Center next to the AMC. There, USCA students and staff will have opportunities to work and learn alongside National Guard personnel. Across campus, nearly $9.5 million was invested in maintenance and improvements during the past year. The university also committed more than $1.2 million to technology upgrades across 41 classrooms and meeting spaces. A new high-performance computing research cluster now gives USCA science and engineering faculty expanded access to computing resources for complex research. USCA’s Facilities Master Plan outlines a vision for a campus that increasingly transitions from a commuter school toward a more residential university, including improved gathering spaces, additional green space, a revitalized quad, new wayfinding signage, additional student housing and plans for an entertainment, restaurant and retail district. More than a university USCA’s influence extends well beyond the boundaries of campus. The university contributes more than $350 million annually to the regional economy and supports nearly 2,800 jobs. It also sits at the center of the emerging Aiken Innovation and STEM Corridor, connecting academic programs and applied research with initiatives such as the AMC and the future South Carolina National Guard Cyber Integration Center. The university’s role in developing the region’s future workforce begins early. The Ruth Patrick Science Education Center welcomes more than 75,000 K-12 students annually through educational events and programs, while the Aiken Scholars Academy continues to provide a pathway for high-achieving students into higher education. USCA also strengthened its regional partnerships this year through the inaugural AI & Cyber Innovation Week, which brought together industry, academia and government to focus on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, energy and defense. The university also established the USCA Innovation, Economic and Workforce Development Council to help align research, innovation and strategic initiatives with regional economic development priorities. And this summer, the Aiken Energy & Innovation Exchange opened downtown, providing students, educators, industry leaders and community members with access to USCA’s cybersecurity and innovation resources. The university’s impact is equally visible through its cultural and community programs. The Etherredge Center, celebrating its 40th anniversary, welcomed approximately 32,000 people during the past year, a 14% increase over the previous year. Cultural Series ticket sales increased 52%. USCA LIFE also continued to expand opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This year, the program has grown to 37 students and has expanded to include a four-year program. In March, USCA LIFE partnered with the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce to host its first employer summit, connecting students with organizations and agencies to explore employment opportunities. One of those students, third-year USCA LIFE student Breyden Anderson, represented Aiken at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minneapolis, where he earned a bronze medal in tennis. The program also expanded its reach this year by welcoming its first student from more than 700 miles away, Ripp LaBorde, who joined USCA LIFE from Shreveport, Louisiana. A stronger foundation for the future Behind the university’s growth is an equally important investment: the people and partnerships that make USCA possible. The university received $2.55 million in philanthropic support during fiscal year 2026, its strongest fundraising year in five years and a 15% increase over the previous year. More than $1.6 million of that support went toward scholarships for USCA students. USCA’s newest alumni also began a tradition of giving through the inaugural Reins of Legacy giving society, with more than 130 graduating seniors making their first philanthropic gift to the university. State support also played an important role. USCA received more than $1 million in tuition mitigation, $2.5 million for deferred maintenance and $5 million for the Penland Welcome Center renovation. Looking ahead Sixty-five years into its history, USCA is growing in ways its founders could hardly have imagined. What began as a university serving a much smaller student population has evolved into a growing regional institution with more than 4,500 students, expanding academic programs, nationally recognized research and an increasingly visible role in the Aiken community and beyond. “With your continued support, building upon our tremendous legacy and momentum, USCA will continue its responsive and impactful service to its students and our community in fulfillment of its original promise made six and a half decades ago,” Heimmermann said.

The Rotary Club of Aiken named USCA’s Chelce Dicks as its Student of the Month for September.    After she earns her degree in public health, Dicks plans to pursue a master's degree in health administration, followed by a doctorate.   “I can use my education and leadership skills to improve health care operations and help create better outcomes for patients and communities.” Dicks said.  The USCA public health program is relatively new, but it’s laying a foundation for Dicks, who aspires to be a hospital administrator and open her own hospital someday.  “I want to build a health care environment where dedicated professionals can serve others and where every patient is treated with compassion, respect and equality,” Dicks said.   “I do not expect everything to be perfect, but I want to be on a path that challenges me, allows me to grow and gives me a career and life I am truly content with.”  She said her experience with USCA is the groundwork upon which she will meet her personal and professional goals.  “I chose USCA because I wanted to stay close to home while also learning how to become my own person,” Dicks said.    “USCA has given me the opportunity to develop my independence, find my individuality, grow as a leader and make a positive impact in someone’s life every day, even through something as simple as a smile.”  When she’s opened her own hospital, Dicks will lead a team of medical professionals. She’s taking steps now to prepare for those responsibilities, sharpening her leadership skills through involvement in several USCA student organizations.   She serves as the vice president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Mu Lambda Chapter. She also serves as a Chancellor Ambassador, resident mentor, vice president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council and student assistant to the executive director of campus well-being. In addition, she is a student assistant to the executive director of Fraternity and Sorority Life and student coordinator for Advance, Inspire Motivate, a peer-mentoring program.  “My most meaningful leadership experience has been serving as a resident mentor,” Dicks said.   “As someone who has one brother, I have learned through this experience how much young men need someone to believe in them, support them, and encourage them to grow emotionally and personally.” 

Internship or externship, which is better? USCA’s experiential education program offers both options, giving students a lot of flexibility. Internships allow students an opportunity to work with area partners in ways that complement classroom instruction. An extern position provides Pacers the same opportunities and often leads to a guaranteed job as soon as they graduate. Honors nursing student Lily Boswell, USCA ’27, chose the externship option and is working as a nurse extern at Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center in Augusta until she graduates.  “I really enjoy being a float pool nurse,” Boswell said. “It just keeps me busy and being part of a float pool, they just send me wherever they are the most understaffed or need the most help at that point, so I get to see a lot of different things. I have been at almost every unit at the hospital.” During her first 18 shifts, she worked as a patient care technician and helped patients with numerous health conditions by collaborating with nurses to extend effective care. Boswell proactively sought opportunities to support the nursing team, anticipating patient needs, assisting with hands-on care, and observing experienced nurses to deepen her clinical knowledge and strengthen her ability to contribute to safe, compassionate patient care. “My externship helps me get experience and more comfortable speaking with patients and making clinical decisions with the help of the nurses I am working with,” Boswell said.  “It kind of helps me see how they interact and how she charts things that are different at hospitals that you don’t really get to see or do as a student.” This externship impacted Boswell’s professional and personal growth. She is now more comfortable talking to patients and their families and has trained other people because of her increase in skills, confidence, and knowledge. She has also built connections with many people at the hospital. “I am more empathetic toward certain things, and it also gave me more confidence in my skill-base and decision-making,” Boswell said. She says she gained valuable insight into the type of nurse and person she aspires to be. Because of her externship, Boswell says she discovered an interest in working in critical care as a possible career. While the externship gave her additional insight, she credits USCA with building a strong foundation and setting her up for success — in class, as part of her sorority, Alpha Omicron Pi, at Wellstar and beyond. Boswell said she chose to go to USCA because she had “always heard good things about the nursing program here.” She also met a few of the instructors at admissions events and had good interactions with them. She appreciates the rigor of the program and the high pass rate on professional exams for USCA nursing students. The information she learned in her classes helped solidify her future as a nurse. This externship has allowed her to see theoretical concepts first-hand, which helped her begin to apply everything she has learned. “You learn about so many things, but it’s different to actually do those things; as a nurse, you learn a lot of things working even more than you do in school,” Boswell said.  She says her clinical experience at USCA helped set up her success during her externship as well.  USCA offers a Bachelor of Science in nursing and an online RN-to-BSN option. Through a blend of classroom instruction, interactive labs, immersive simulations, and real-world clinical experiences, Pacers gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead in patient care, education and translation of research. The USCA School of Nursing boasts a 95 percent pass rate on the NCLEX-RN exam. Successful passage of the exam is necessary before nursing graduates can work in a clinical environment as a registered nurse. The school’s employment rate, or acceptance into graduate nursing schools, within six months of graduation and licensing is 100 percent. “Our NCLEX pass rate and job placement rate reflect the collective strength of our faculty, the rigor of our coursework, our commitment to high-impact teaching practices and meaningful clinical experiences,” said Dr. Katie Chargualaf, dean of the USCA School of Nursing. “We prepare students to do more than pass an exam; we prepare them to think critically, apply their knowledge in real-world settings and enter the nursing profession with confidence.” Boswell advises fellow Pacers take lessons learned in the classroom into the world and get practical, real-world experience through either an internship or an externship. She says it will help with resume prep and getting employed after graduation. “It makes you more desirable to be hired because you have something that other people might not have,” Boswell said.

Award-winning rapper Waka Flocka Flame will take the stage at the University of South Carolina Aiken Convocation Center on Sept. 10 for the university's USCA Unplugged Welcome Back Concert. Doors open at 6 p.m. Best known for his 2010 hit single "No Hands," Waka Flocka Flame has built a successful career in hip-hop with hits including "Grove St. Party" and "Round of Applause." The concert is open to the public, with tickets available for purchase online. Public seating is $20, plus applicable ticketing and handling fees. Local DJ Storm Cloud, Jasmine Preston '18, will open the concert before Waka Flocka Flame takes the stage. Media interested in attending the event should contact Angela Saxon to request media credentials. Event Details: What: USCA Unplugged Welcome Back Concert featuring Waka Flocka FlameWhen: Sept. 10Where: USCA Convocation CenterDoors open at: 6 p.m.Tickets: $20 for public seating, plus ticketing and handling fees

Each semester, the University of South Carolina Aiken recognizes students who achieved outstanding grades. USCA celebrates the achievements of these students with the release of its Spring 2026 President's and Dean's Lists. Undergraduate students named to the President's List achieved a perfect 4.0 grade point average while enrolled full-time at USCA. The Dean's List recognizes full-time undergraduate students who earned a 3.5 GPA or higher. "Students who make these lists should be proud of their accomplishments. We celebrate the excellence, dedication and hard work they invested in attaining their academic goals," said Dr. Philip Bridgmon, USCA provost. Students on the President's Honor List are automatically on the Dean's Honor List and will only appear on the President's Honor List.