Office of Student Involvement
Involvement and Leadership Development
When you attend USC Upstate, you are making an investment in yourself. During your time here, we want you to maximize the potential return on that investment so that, upon graduation, you are fully prepared for the next step in your career path. The classroom experience and your academic work are at the core of that preparation but you are able to do so much more while attending Upstate.
The Office of Student Involvement exists to provide and support a plethora of student engagement opportunities. In other words, we help get you connected to the University, to other students and to the community while providing opportunities to have fun, build relationships, gain marketable experience and develop the soft skills that employers are searching for.
So, what are you waiting on, a formal invitation? Well, here you go, we invite you to look around and find out how you are going to GET INVOLVED here at USC Upstate.
 Get Involved!Browse our over 70 student organizations to find something that matches your interests. |
 What’s Going On?Check out some of the great upcoming events on and off campus to attend. |
 Add a Chapter to your Story…Explore our nationally affiliated Fraternities and Sororities. |
 Diversity is a Fact, Inclusion is an Act!Celebrate and explore cultural diversity or connect with similar students through Intercultural Education and Engagement (IEE). |
 Lead and ServeDiscover ways to build your leadership skills and find opportunities to give back through community service. Visit Leadership Programs. |
As you explore the possibilities that we currently offer at Upstate, please feel free to reach out if you have questions or need additional information. If by chance, you don’t see what you are looking for in terms of a club, organization, or other engagement opportunity, just send us an email. We would love to talk with you about starting a new student organizations or connecting you with one of our amazing colleagues across campus.
The Office of Student Involvement has three main goals. We exist to ensure that:
- Students will experience a sense of belonging and connection to the University; being more likely to persist and graduate.
- Students will engage in experiential learning opportunities that facilitate the cultivation of a more complex and accurate understanding of their own intersectional identity development.
- Students will develop professional and interpersonal skills through involvement in student organizations, leadership experiences, service opportunities, workshops, and other experiences.
Student Involvement Awards — Celebrating our Students, Organizations and Advisors
Each year, at the annual Student Affairs Awards banquet, the Office of Student Involvement recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of the many Upstate registered student organizations, their leaders and advisors.
Nominations for Student Involvement Awards open in early Spring. Registered Student Organization (RSO) officers that are listed on the organization's Agora (Presence) roster page will receive an email announcing that nominations are being accepted.
Below are the winners of the the various awards sponsored by the Office of Student Involvement.
2021 Student Involvement Awards
|
Award |
Winner |
Award Description |
|
Organization Officer |
Jakiyra Hambright |
This award is intended to recognize an officer in a registered student organization who exemplifies service, commitment, and strong leadership qualities while supporting their organization. The student recognized will have made significant contributions to their student organization, by way of enriching the strengths of their student members through integrity and enthusiasm while taking initiative towards carrying their organization to new heights. |
|
Emerging Leader |
Scout Hoffmeier |
This award is intended to recognize a member of a registered student organization who has established themselves as an invaluable member. This student will have served their organization with intense passion and infectious enthusiasm while supporting their organization to excel and create a positive impact on USC Upstate’s campus community. |
|
Organization Advisor |
Victoria Lockhart |
The Advisor of the Year Award is designed to recognize an advisor who has made a significant contribution to both the student members and the organization as a whole. The Advisor of the Year Award will recognize an individual for their service, dedication, mentorship, compassion, consistency, and wisdom. |
|
Outstanding University Program |
Service Saturday: Sock Puppet Event |
This award recognizes a USC Upstate student organization‐sponsored program or event that demonstrated excellence in planning and implementation, a commitment to the organization’s purpose, innovation, and dedication to enhancing the quality of student programs at USC Upstate. |
|
Spirit of Fraternal |
O.W.L.S. in C.U.S. |
The Spirit of Fraternal Excellence Award recognizes the social fraternal organization that rises to the top. The winner lives up to the values and purposes of fraternal organizations by excelling in all categories of the USC Upstate Standards of Fraternal Excellence program during the previous calendar year. |
|
Spartan Spirit |
Phi Beta Sigma |
The Spartan Spirit of Service Award is designed to recognize student organizations that have demonstrated excellence in serving the greater community through the performance of volunteer hours or giving of donations. |
|
Leon E. Wiles |
N/A |
The Leon E. Wiles Humanitarian Award is awarded to the Upstate student who advocates for diversity and inclusion through participation in campus activities or organizations, community groups, volunteer work or other forms of involvement or action. |
|
Intercultural Program |
Diversity and Inclusion |
The Intercultural Program of the Year Award is presented to the Upstate office, department or student organization that engages its members and the campus community in educational activities that promote awareness, understanding and the appreciation of diversity of people, cultures, and backgrounds that this campus holds. In the spirit of Interculturalism, priority given to a group that hosted programming that featured awareness of more than one culture in a single program. |
|
John C. Stockwell |
|
This award recognizes a registered student organization that has demonstrated consistent activity, creativity, and initiative; has made meaningful contributions to the campus community; and has had a significant impact on the quality of the student experience at USC Upstate throughout the academic year. |
2020 Student Involvement Awards
|
Award |
Winner |
Award Description |
|
Organization Officer |
Antonio Tanner |
This award is intended to recognize an officer in a registered student organization who exemplifies service, commitment, and strong leadership qualities while supporting their organization. The student recognized will have made significant contributions to their student organization, by way of enriching the strengths of their student members through integrity and enthusiasm while taking initiative towards carrying their organization to new heights. |
|
Emerging Leader |
N/A |
This award is intended to recognize a member of a registered student organization who has established themselves as an invaluable member. This student will have served their organization with intense passion and infectious enthusiasm while supporting their organization to excel and create a positive impact on USC Upstate’s campus community. |
|
Organization Advisor |
Ron Patane & Dr. Marilyn Izzard |
The Advisor of the Year Award is designed to recognize an advisor who has made a significant contribution to both the student members and the organization as a whole. The Advisor of the Year Award will recognize an individual for their service, dedication, mentorship, compassion, consistency, and wisdom. |
|
Outstanding University Program |
Black History |
This award recognizes a USC Upstate student organization‐sponsored program or event that demonstrated excellence in planning and implementation, a commitment to the organization’s purpose, innovation, and dedication to enhancing the quality of student programs at USC Upstate. |
|
Spirit of Fraternal |
Delta Sigma Theta |
The Spirit of Fraternal Excellence Award recognizes the social fraternal organization that rises to the top. The winner lives up to the values and purposes of fraternal organizations by excelling in all categories of the USC Upstate Standards of Fraternal Excellence program during the previous calendar year. |
|
Spartan Spirit |
Phi Beta Sigma |
The Spartan Spirit of Service Award is designed to recognize student organizations that have demonstrated excellence in serving the greater community through the performance of volunteer hours or giving of donations. |
|
Leon E. Wiles |
Antonio Tanner |
The Leon E. Wiles Humanitarian Award is awarded to the Upstate student who advocates for diversity and inclusion through participation in campus activities or organizations, community groups, volunteer work or other forms of involvement or action. |
|
Intercultural Program |
Intersectional |
The Intercultural Program of the Year Award is presented to the Upstate office, department or student organization that engages its members and the campus community in educational activities that promote awareness, understanding and the appreciation of diversity of people, cultures, and backgrounds that this campus holds. In the spirit of Interculturalism, priority given to a group that hosted programming that featured awareness of more than one culture in a single program. |
|
John C. Stockwell |
Alpha Phi Alpha
|
This award recognizes a registered student organization that has demonstrated consistent activity, creativity, and initiative; has made meaningful contributions to the campus community; and has had a significant impact on the quality of the student experience at USC Upstate throughout the academic year. |
2020 Student Involvement Awards
|
Award |
Winner |
Award Description |
|
Organization Officer |
TBA |
This award is intended to recognize an officer in a registered student organization who exemplifies service, commitment, and strong leadership qualities while supporting their organization. The student recognized will have made significant contributions to their student organization, by way of enriching the strengths of their student members through integrity and enthusiasm while taking initiative towards carrying their organization to new heights. |
|
Emerging Leader |
TBA |
This award is intended to recognize a member of a registered student organization who has established themselves as an invaluable member. This student will have served their organization with intense passion and infectious enthusiasm while supporting their organization to excel and create a positive impact on USC Upstate’s campus community. |
|
Organization Advisor |
TBA |
The Advisor of the Year Award is designed to recognize an advisor who has made a significant contribution to both the student members and the organization as a whole. The Advisor of the Year Award will recognize an individual for their service, dedication, mentorship, compassion, consistency, and wisdom. |
|
Outstanding University Program |
TBA |
This award recognizes a USC Upstate student organization‐sponsored program or event that demonstrated excellence in planning and implementation, a commitment to the organization’s purpose, innovation, and dedication to enhancing the quality of student programs at USC Upstate. |
|
Spirit of Fraternal |
TBA |
The Spirit of Fraternal Excellence Award recognizes the social fraternal organization that rises to the top. The winner lives up to the values and purposes of fraternal organizations by excelling in all categories of the USC Upstate Standards of Fraternal Excellence program during the previous calendar year. |
|
Spartan Spirit |
TBA |
The Spartan Spirit of Service Award is designed to recognize student organizations that have demonstrated excellence in serving the greater community through the performance of volunteer hours or giving of donations. |
|
Leon E. Wiles |
TBA |
The Leon E. Wiles Humanitarian Award is awarded to the Upstate student who advocates for diversity and inclusion through participation in campus activities or organizations, community groups, volunteer work or other forms of involvement or action. |
|
Intercultural Program |
TBA |
The Intercultural Program of the Year Award is presented to the Upstate office, department or student organization that engages its members and the campus community in educational activities that promote awareness, understanding and the appreciation of diversity of people, cultures, and backgrounds that this campus holds. In the spirit of Interculturalism, priority given to a group that hosted programming that featured awareness of more than one culture in a single program. |
|
John C. Stockwell |
TBA
|
This award recognizes a registered student organization that has demonstrated consistent activity, creativity, and initiative; has made meaningful contributions to the campus community; and has had a significant impact on the quality of the student experience at USC Upstate throughout the academic year. |