Computer & Information Science (MCIS)

Hundreds of graduates officially became alumni after the University of South Carolina Aiken held its annual spring commencement ceremony on May 6.  “To the Class of 2026, this is your moment, and it’s one you’ve truly earned. Some of you will step into new careers, taking everything you’ve learned into communities near and far,” said Dr. Daniel Heimmermann, chancellor of USCA. “Each of you came to USCA with your own story, strengths, and goals. Along the way, you’ve grown through long nights, challenging classes, and the encouragement of faculty who believed in you.”  The ceremony featured several notable moments, including the commissioning of graduating seniors Elenora Gazzelli, Sairielys Hernandez-Cruz, Irvon T. Malcolm, Tyrell D. Robinson and Ali Samaha into the United States Army. According to Robert Murphy, director of military affairs and external studies at USCA, this is the largest commissioning of students in the school's history.   Another highlight included the awarding of an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree to Dr. Elizabeth Stewart, president of the Aiken Partnership Board. Stewart is chair emerita of Stewart and Associates, a national management training and survey consulting firm celebrating 40 years. She holds undergraduate degrees in French, Spanish and education, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees in psychology and economics and a law degree, all from the University of Florida.  During her remarks, Stewart shared that she had been a competitive surfer for nearly 60 years and offered graduates three life lessons she learned from surfing. “First, know that the first wave you ride will probably not end up being the last wave. Second, most really good surfers become good surfers because they find better surfers to learn from. And third, success is not how many trophies you have won or how much you have.”  The university also recognized Ainhoa Colino as its May Outstanding Senior Student. Originally from Spain, Colino graduated with a 4.0 GPA and degrees in psychology and exercise and sports science. During her time at USCA, she presented at four research conferences, earned recognition as a Magellan Scholar, and became a member of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology.  Beyond the classroom, Colino was a member of the cross-country team and an All-American race walker, served as a resident mentor in student housing, and worked as a global ambassador for the university’s International Program. She is also fluent in five languages.  Colino delivered remarks during the rehearsal session prior to commencement. “USCA has given me friendships and memories I will carry with me forever, and I will never be grateful enough for them,” Colino said. “This university has seen me grow not only as a student, but as a person, and it is because of those experiences and opportunities that I am standing here today.”  Other noteworthy moments included USCA LIFE (Learning Is For Everyone) celebrating the graduation of its second cohort of students with intellectual disabilities. Among the graduates were best friends Julianna Gray and Ava Shahabhrami, who gained national attention after enrolling in the program together in fall 2024.  Gray said she plans to return to USCA LIFE’s Leadership & Civic Engagement program, an extension of the USCA LIFE initiative. Shahabhrami said she will work at the Lantern Hotel in Columbia, South Carolina, while also serving as a coordinator at Joy in the Journey Pediatric and Speech Therapy Services. In both roles, she will help prepare rooms and welcome clients.   Local media outlets also covered USCA’s commencement ceremony:  USCA celebrates May commencement - FOX54 News Now  USCA celebrates spring commencement with more than 400 graduates - WRDW News 12  ‘Give your best from the very beginning’: USCA’s newest grads are ready to take on the world  - Aiken Standard  USCA graduates celebrate 2026 commencement - Augusta Chronicle 

USCA celebrated students’ research during the 18th annual Scholar Showcase in April to kick off weeks of focus on student achievement just prior to commencement.  This year’s Scholar Showcase featured the research of approximately 100 students and 40 faculty. The day-long event highlighted the collaboration between students and faculty from all disciplines.  “The importance of scholarly activity, including undergraduate research, cannot be overstated,” said Dr. Bill Jackson, chair of the Department of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences and organizer of the event.   “Faculty-mentored research is an immersive experience in which a student focuses on a problem and uses the knowledge obtained in the classroom to problem solve, think creatively and critically, and better understand the nuances of their chosen field of study.”  He adds that the benefits of the collaboration are enduring, far beyond the publication of the research in academic journals.  “Student-faculty interactions are powerful and often create a lifelong connection to the university, the department, and most importantly, to the faculty member,” Jackson said.  Much of the students’ research efforts were funded through grants, such as the Magellan Scholars Program, National Institutes of Health’s INBRE program and numerous scholarships made possible by generous supporters of USCA. Others are supported by regional partners, which may include government agencies or private industries. Specifically, UCSA’s engineering capstone projects are industry sponsored, yearlong design projects. “Each project has an industry mentor that works directly with our student team. These mentors provide current projects from their respective companies with problem statements, constraints, and design goals,” said Dr. Bethany Fralick, engineering program coordinator.   “The students interact weekly and are often on site at the local industries. The mentor provides guidance and advice for the projects through real-life, professional experience. Without the industry-sponsored capstone projects, our students would not have as much professional exposure prior to graduation. The interactions with industry mentors give our students an advantage in the job market post-graduation.”  Students who participate in Scholar Showcase gain more than just experiences to highlight on a resume. They also learn soft skills, which will benefit them in the professional setting. These include teamwork, oral and written communication, working against deadlines and with prescribed parameters, translating complicated concepts, and presentation organization and delivery.   “These are benefits that cannot be obtained by sitting in a classroom,” Jackson said.  “Scholar Showcase is a low-stress environment within which our students can learn how to generate an impactful presentation.”  Caroline Wright, a history major, has conducted research related to the Graniteville Company, which shaped the economic growth in the university’s backyard and across the state. She explored labor relations and is currently transcribing the personal diaries and almanacs of William Gregg for the Gregg-Graniteville Archives. She made a couple of presentations during Scholar Showcase.  Some of the presenters are taking their research on the road. For example, Alexa Carnahan, a nursing student who graduated May 6, will present her research at the 37th International Nursing Research Congress for Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society this summer in Toronto. She and her co-authors collaborated with a professor in Germany when exploring people-pleasing tendencies among nursing students.  Several USCA students participated in the 10th annual Discover USC event, which celebrates and showcases students’ research, scholarship, creativity and leadership from across the USC system. More than 1,000 undergraduate and graduate, medical scholar and postdoc presenters shared their projects. Almost 30 USCA students participated in Discover USC.   As the semester winds down, students and faculty are already gearing up for the next phase of their research, as Magellan Scholar awards were recently announced. This program allows for up to $2,500 per recipient for salary, materials or travel for projects in collaboration with a faculty mentor. While many students will take a much-deserved break the next couple of months, several Pacers will continue conducting research. The USCA Center for Research Excellence recently announced members of the 2026 Summer Scholars Institute. As part of the program, students and their faculty advisors receive a $3,000 grant to support their research collaboration from May 25-July 31. The effort is funded by grants from the Department of Energy WORC program, National Institutes of Health INBRE awards, ADP and the USCA College of Sciences and Engineering.  “Undergraduate research projects are typically smaller portions of a faculty member’s overall research plan,” Jackson said.  “Our students are co-authors on faculty published research. This includes research publications and conference presentations.”  Pacers who earned special recognition at Discover USC    First Place, “Developing mPing-based Constructs for Transposase Assisted Target Site Integration”   Madison Hamlin, biology, mentored by Dr. C. Nathan Hancock   First Place, “The Trophic Stage of Egg Development in Livestock Pests”   Isabella Cardenas, biology, mentored by Dr. Mary Mills   First Place, “The Association Between Childhood Emotional Maltreatment, Identity Disturbance and Sexual Functioning in Emerging Adults”   Sam Keats, psychology, mentored by Dr. Bridget Cho   First Place, “Moments that Matter: A Student Nurse Approach to Communication with Patients Living with Dementia”   Ja'Daiza Johnson and Laura Boquist, nursing, mentored by Dr. Lachean Kimbrough and Professor Sarah McDaniel from USC Sumter   Second Place, “A closer look into egg development within Culicoides sonorensis midges”   Lucero Rodriguez, biology, mentored by Dr. Mary Mills   Second Place, “Bluetooth Low Energy Communication Security in Wearable IoT Devices: A Fitbit Sense 2 Case Study”   Andrew Bishop and Adriel Sosa, applied computer science, mentored by Dr. Hala Strohmier   Second Place, “Regulation of egg development in the livestock”   Madelyn Smith, mentored by Dr. Mary Mills   Second Place, “Genetic Analysis of the ‘Dwarf’ Soybean Mutant”   James Burns, biology, mentored Dr. Nathan Hancock   USCA Magellan Scholar Awards for Summer and Fall 2026   Tamea Chappelle and Emma Trotter, mentored by Dr. Dakoda Trithara for “Developers Assemble”    Addisen Alvanos and Sophia Collins, mentored Dr. Todd Hagstette and Deborah Harmon for “William Gregg Digital Edition”    Cassidy Green, mentored by Dr. Adam Pazda for “Examining Causality Between Cultural Mindsets and Help-seeking in Young Adults"     August Beltran, mentored by Dr. Mary Moussa Rogers for “What is Keeping Immigrant Families Resilient?”     Chloe Elizabeth Grigsby, mentored by Dr. Macie Kerbs for “Write to Read: An Encoding-centered Approach for Teaching Students with Dyslexia”    Summer Scholars Institute participants   Daniel Holton, mentored by Dr. Michelle Harmon  Tully Perkins, mentored by Dr. Titan Paul  Silas Martin, mentored by Dr. Bryan Borders  Micah Woodsmall, mentored by Dr. Brian Parr  Kaydee Croom, mentored by Dr. Ken Roberts  Hayley Stack, mentored by Dr. Laura Swain  Harrison Durrant, mentored by Dr. Derek Zelmer  Elisha McCanick, mentored by Dr. Yilian Zhang  Clayton Isgett, mentored by Dr. Derek Zelmer  Alyssa Godfrey, mentored by Dr. Kristina Ramstad  Aharon Nesbitt, mentored by Dr. Teiling Chen  Valerie Ruvalcaba, mentored by Dr. Della Sirizi  Ronit Deepak Sawant, mentored by Dr. Eslam Hasan  Skye Ese Oduaran of North Augusta High School, mentored by Dr. Ken Roberts  Arnav Nikhil Patel of Lakeside High School, mentored by Dr. Ken Roberts  Ian Sarbin of Aiken Scholars Academy, mentored by Dr. Neil Miller  Penelope Carr of Aiken Scholars Academy, mentored by Dr. Laura Swain  Prisha Bhavsar of Aiken Scholars Academy, mentored by Dr. Nathan Hancock   Clark Orton of Aiken Scholars Academy, mentored by Dr. Yillian Zhang  Camille Walls of Aiken Scholars Academy, mentored by Dr. April Delaurier  Ella Kanitar of Lexington High School, mentored by Dr. Della Sirizi  Richard Knight of Aiken Scholars Academy, mentored by Dr. Titan Paul   

USCA is designated a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the National Security Agency, which means that when cyber majors graduated on May 6 in the Etherredge Center, they met NSA and Department of Homeland Security requirements. During the Cyber Student Association and Center for Cyber Initiatives, Awareness and Artificial Intelligence end-of-year program on May 5, 48 students received NSA/DHS CAE-CD certificates. Several other achievements were recognized during the event. Cyber accomplishments 2025-26 : The inaugural cohort of students in the Master of Computer and Information Sciences graduated this spring .  Cyber Pacers placed third in a Capture the Flag competition last fall .  Cyber Pacers placed 187th out of more than 8,700 teams in the picoCTF cybersecurity hacking competition hosted by Carnegie Mellon University.   Cyber students earned first place during Discover SC.  One undergraduate and two master’s program research teams were selected by the Fort Gordon Cyber Center from hundreds of highly competitive research posters competition to showcase their research at TechNet Augusta in August.   Students presented their cyber/AI research at numerous regional, national, and international conferences and symposia.   The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ Xplore published four cyber students’ research. 

USCA held its annual Academic Honors Ceremony on May 5 in the Etherredge Center, recognizing students from across the campus for their academic excellence.  “You have excelled in your studies, and we recognize your commitment to excellence,” Dr. Phillip Bridgmon, provost, told the students at the start of the ceremony.  Ainhoa Colino, originally from Spain, was chosen as the Outstanding Senior Student. She speaks five languages and graduated May 6 with a 4.0 GPA and a degree in psychology and exercise and sports science.   “It is an honor to be recognized as the 2026 Outstanding Senior Student,” she said. “USC Aiken has given me friendships and memories I will carry with me forever, and I will never be grateful enough for them. This university has seen me grow not only as a student, but as a person, and it is because of those experiences and opportunities that I am standing here today.  “Thank you again to everyone who has shaped my college experience in any way. I will carry everything this place has given me into whatever comes next.”  Multiple students were recognized by the deans of each college or school and for research conducted with faculty advisors.  “I’m extremely proud of each of you,” said Dr. Daniel Heimmermann, chancellor. “The journey does not end here. It’s the beginning.”  “Challenge yourselves, press on and embrace opportunities.”   Magellan Scholars   Emily Walker, “Syntheses and Analyses of Metal-Organic Frameworks for Separation of Water Isotopologues”   Austin Powell, “Is Tobacco Free Really Tobacco Free?”   Skylar Shirey, “Embracing LIFE: Examining the Attitudes about Individuals with Disabilities at a Comprehensive Institution to Promote Learning is For Everyone (LIFE)”   August Beltran, “What is Keeping Immigrant Families Resilient?”  Palmer McCay, “Vietnam Veterans Oral History Project: Wartime Expectations, Realities, and Reflections”   Samantha Keats, “Associations Among Childhood Emotional Maltreatment, Identity Disturbance, and Sexual Functioning”   Cassidy Green, “Examining Causality Between Cultural Mindsets and Help-seeking in Young Adults”  Winifred Branscum, “Examining Decision-Making and P300 Amplitudes in Individuals Exhibiting Successful Life Redirection Following Adverse Childhood Experiences”  Kamya Brooks, “Political Fandoms & Misinformation: Examining the Role of Fan Culture in Political Discourse”  Chloe Elizabeth Grigsby, “Write to Read: An Encoding-centered Approach for Teaching Students with Dyslexia”  William Garlick, “The Biological Carbon Pump in the Gulf of Mexico: Insights from Sediment Trap Fluxes”  Isabella Cardenas and Lucero Rodriguez Lopez, “Teasing apart egg development in Culicoides sonorensis midges.”   Tamea Chappelle and Emma Trotter, “Developers Assemble”  Addisen Alvanos and Laurie Collins, “William Gregg – Digital Edition”   Malia Tatyanna Patten, Allaina Rayne Szilveszter, and Ainhoa Colino, "Measuring mindfulness with electro-physiology: A pain perception study”  Samantha Owen, "Investigating the roles of rcor1 and rcor2 in zebrafish development"   Sanja Becnel, “The relationship between attachment anxiety and zero-sum thinking”     Honors Program Graduates     Emory Owens, biology  Alexa Carnahan, nursing  Andrew Towner, nursing  James Saxon, biology  Emily Walker, chemistry    Library Research Award  Caroline Wright, “The Graniteville Manufacturing Company’s Textile Worker Strike of October 1933”  Alexa Carnahan, “The Need to Please: People-Pleasing Tendencies in Prelicensure Nursing Students”     College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science  Imogen Veal, Mona L. Martin Prize in First-year Writing  Laurie Collins, Phebe Davidson Prize in Creative Writing  Laurie Collins, Virginia Kaplan Writing Award   Kirstie McElmurray, Outstanding Student in English  Kylie Michelle Burns, Ernestine B. Law Communication Student of the Year  Katie Carter, Outstanding Student of the Year in Emerging Media  Angela Grace Hayden, Outstanding Online Palmetto College   Sela Groomes, Albin Beyer Excellence in Art Award  Vivica Birt, Richard S. Maltz Excellence in Music Award  Beth Smith, Jack P. Benjamin Excellence in Theatre Award  Palmer McCay, Outstanding Student in History  Elenora Gazzelli, Outstanding Student in Political Science  Kylie Michelle Burns, Outstanding Student in Sociology     College of Sciences and Engineering  Lauren Strock, Outstanding Student in Biology  William Garlick, Outstanding Student in Geology  Emily Walker, Outstanding Student in Chemistry   Peri Rouillard, Outstanding Student in Physics  Savanna Spires, Outstanding Student in Exercise and Sports Science  Samantha Burns, Outstanding Student in Applied Mathematics  Denton Spivey, Outstanding Student in Applied Computer Science  Chadburn Wells Heath II, Outstanding Student in Cybersecurity  Aidan Clayton, Outstanding Student in Engineering  Sanja Becnel, Outstanding Student in Psychology  Jessica Ann Brannam, Outstanding Graduate Student in Psychology    School of Business Administration  Ian Dumas, Outstanding Student in Accounting  Logan Page, Outstanding Student in Management  Lindsey Greene, Outstanding Student in Marketing  Jenna Couch, Outstanding Student in Finance  Paula Gant, Outstanding MBA Student    School of Education   Skylar Davis, Outstanding Student in Early Childhood Education  Brenne Hoeven, Outstanding Student in Elementary Education  Bailey Davis, Outstanding Student in Middle Level Education   Kayla Cox, Outstanding Student in Secondary Education   Skylar Shirey, Outstanding Student in Special Education   Stephanie Bell, Outstanding Student in the Master of Education in Educator Leadership    School of Nursing  Alexa Carnahan, Outstanding Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing Student  Philip Joel Harris, Jr., Outstanding RN-BSN Student 

For most students, graduating from college marks a personal milestone that’s years in the making. However, for triplets Sydney, Alex and Zane Yongue, it’s a shared achievement, one they’ve been working toward side by side their entire lives. On May 6, all three siblings will cross the stage together, each earning a degree from USCA. Sydney will receive her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, while Alex and Zane will graduate with degrees in applied computer science, with minors in business. Originally from Gilbert, South Carolina, the trio didn’t always plan to attend the same college. Like many of their peers, they initially considered larger universities. But after visiting USCA, they quickly realized it offered exactly what they were looking for: a close-knit community, strong academic programs and the opportunity to get involved. “It was the right fit for all of us,” Zane said. “Even if we had chosen differently at first, we’d still pick here again.” Despite sharing the same campus, their college experiences have been shaped by different academic paths. Sydney says it’s been tough to get involved on campus due to the rigorous course load from the nursing program, but it will all be worth it as she prepares for a healthcare career. After graduation, she will begin a nurse residency at Prisma Health Richland in Columbia, where she plans to work as a cardiac nurse caring for post-surgical patients. “It’s exciting to finally take that next step,” Sydney said. “There’s still a lot to learn, but I feel prepared.” Alex and Zane, meanwhile, pursued careers in technology. Both studied Applied Computer Science, though each carved out a slightly different focus, one in software development and the other in cybersecurity. As they prepare to enter the workforce, they are navigating a competitive job market while remaining optimistic about their future. “Getting your foot in the door is the biggest challenge right now,” Alex said. “But we’ve learned a lot, and we’re ready to apply it.” Outside the classroom, Alex and Zane made the most of their college experience by getting involved across campus. From Greek life and Campus Outreach to working together as caddies at Old Barnwell, a private golf club in Aiken, they built connections and developed skills that extended beyond academics. “The opportunities here really push you to get involved,” they said. “You start out unsure, but then you realize how much there is to do and how easy it is to make an impact.” Even with busy schedules, the siblings found ways to stay connected. Whether it was catching up during the week, working out, a shared hobby they all enjoyed, or supporting one another through challenges, their bond remained constant. “We didn’t see each other every day,” Sydney said. “But that made the time we did spend together more meaningful.” One of the most defining influences on their journey, they say, has been their shared faith. Through the ups and downs of college life, it provided a foundation of support and resilience. “That’s something that’s been important to all three of us. It’s helped us grow and get through difficult moments together,” Sydney said. Their impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. Faculty and staff describe the Yongue siblings as highly engaged students who have made meaningful contributions to campus life. “It’s special to see all three of them graduating together,” said Eric Fulwider, campus director of Campus Outreach at USCA. “That’s not something you can take for granted. They’ve also been very active on campus, which makes it even more impressive.” As graduation approaches, the triplets are embracing the moment, a rare and remarkable milestone that reflects years of shared experiences, individual growth and support for one another. “I never thought I’d be ready to leave,” one of them admitted. “But now, I’m excited for what’s next.”

Despite being less than two years old, the public health program at USCA is already proving its strength through the accomplishments of its students.   Their recent recognition by the South Carolina Environmental Public Health Tracking Program (SC Tracking), underscores just how quickly the university has become competitive with more established programs across the state.   USCA students in Dr. Della Sirizi’s public health classes were recognized by the SC Tracking team for their efforts to highlight issues facing South Carolinians and how to mitigate unhealthy impacts. SC Tracking, part of the South Carolina Department of Public Health (SCDPH) holds a collegiate competition, known as the Data Dash, which challenges public health students across the state to highlight health conditions and interventions through engaging infographics.   “It’s incredibly rewarding to see the creativity and innovation students bring to their work,” said Emmanuelle Durant, education and outreach coordinator for the SC Tracking grant.  “The competition gives them hands-on experience using SC Tracking dashboards while fostering friendly competition among classmates and across institutions.”  USCA public health students Jeasmine Blyther, Tiffani Rowe, and Valerie Ruvalcaba entered the competition, highlighting the importance of breastfeeding, life expectancy as a key indicator of population health, and Lyme disease, respectively.  “I was heavily inspired by the classes I am currently taking while I was creating my work. I took in consideration everything I have learned in my community health, health communication and medical sociology courses while developing my infographic,” said Blyther, USCA ’26.  “Every fact and advice about audience engagement, presenting health information, and understanding the audience's needs really drove my motivation because I was able to apply all that I have learned. I am so happy to be able to use my public health degree for good.”  SC Tracking declared USCA the Spring 2026 “champion,” thanks to Blyther’s submission, titled “Every Ounce Counts” The design educates new mothers about the benefits of breastfeeding.   “This infographic stood out immediately. The color palette was nice and fresh, and I really liked the title. I also like the flow of information and the graphics that were used,” said Deanna Foster, an epidemiologist with SCDPH who judged the entries.   “Within the first few seconds of looking at the infographic, I could grasp the topic, purpose, and target audience. This is what good infographics do; they immediately capture your attention and make the reader want to read more.”   Rowe and Ruvalcaba also received accolades for their original work     “Over the past three years, I’ve had the privilege of watching this competition grow, and I’m truly impressed by the progress students have made. It’s especially meaningful when faculty incorporate the Data Dash into their coursework,” said Durant.   “With USC Aiken’s public health program still in its early stages, it’s clear that not only does Dr. Sirizi do an amazing job with her students, but her students take great pride in their work, and the first-place winner should be exceptionally proud of her outstanding achievement.”   A Bachelor of Science in Public Health from USCA is designed for students interested in health-related areas of study but not focused on clinical careers such as nursing or medicine. The overall intent is to create more public health and wellness professionals, which continue to be in great demand both in the state and nationally.   The curriculum focuses on public health principles, practices, and policies. From understanding the determinants of health and disease to promoting health equity, students engage in interdisciplinary coursework that spans environmental health, health behavior, and more. With a focus on real-world applications and experiential learning opportunities, graduates emerge equipped to address pressing public health challenges, promote wellness, and improve the quality of life for individuals and populations alike.   “One of the most important facets of public health is health literacy. A public health intervention cannot be effective if your messaging is not understood or well received,” said Foster.   “The Data Dash competition is a great opportunity for the students to learn how to interpret and visualize data to promote their message and effectively connect with their target audience.”   USCA’s public health program focuses on community health, environmental health, issues and trends in health care, disease prevention and control, and health care and public health policy.    “The program is well suited for students pursuing pre‑health pathways, those interested in making a meaningful impact on community health, students drawn to the intersection of public health and environmental health, and those considering graduate study in applied health sciences or research,” said Sirizi an assistant professor of public health.  The initial cohort began coursework in fall 2024.