Graduates of the Honors Program for the 2021/22 academic year.
(Note: Only students who submitted biographical sketches are included in this list.)
Emily Ackershoek
Emily Ackershoek is a communication major with a minor in journalism from Pawleys Island, S.C. While at Coastal Carolina, she was named to the President’s List and the Dean’s List and has been awarded the Ruby M Forsythe Memorial Scholarship. Ackershoek, is a member of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, Women’s Club Lacrosse and the Real Estate Club. She completed her honor thesis on Deciphering Reliable CoVid – 19 Information for College Students. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career as a physician assistant.
Joshua Altman
Joshua Altman is an intelligence and national security studies major with minors in German and geographic information systems from Richmond, Va. While at Coastal Carolina he has been named to both the President’s and the Dean’s Lists and was awarded the Intelligence Analysis Award in the Chanticleer Intelligence Brief. Altman’s honor thesis is entitled, Trends in Submarine and Anti-Submarine Warfare: Comparing United States and Russian Approaches. After graduation, he plans to pursue a career in the military or civil service.
Sandra Ataalla
Sandra Ataalla is an intelligence and national security studies major with a minor in cybersecurity from Myrtle Beach, S.C. While at Coastal Carolina, she was named to the Dean’s List and has been awarded the Teal Scholar. Ataalla’s honor thesis titled, Assessing Nile Politics and International Conflict Between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan was presented at the Honors Symposium. She was an Arabic Language Officer and an Executive for the Chanticleer Intelligence Brief (CIB). She plans to continue with Mercom Corporation where she has been interning as a United Nations Youth Corps after graduation.
Justin Barbato
Justin Barbato is a finance major, from Shelton, Conn., and attended Shelton High School. While at the university, he was named to both the President’s and the Dean’s Lists. Barbato played for four years for the Baseball Club and was the President of the team as a senior. He is a member of Phi Eta Sigma National Honors Society, and the Betta Gamma Sigma. After graduation, he will be working for Florida Financial Advisors in Jacksonville, Fla., and will be training to become a Financial Advisor.
Jacob Barndt
Jacob Barndt is an intelligence and national security studies major with geographic information studies (GIS) and criminology minors from Quakertown, Pa. While at Coastal Carolina, he was named to the Dean’s List and has been awarded the University Scholar Award. Barndt is a member of the Men’s Club Lacrosse Team and International Association for Intelligence Education (IAFIE) Club. After graduation, he plans to pursue a career in federal law enforcement.
Seth Bauer
Seth Bauer is a finance major from Frederick, Md. While at Coastal Carolina, he was named to the President’s List and the Dean’s List and the recipient of the Provost’s Scholar Award. After graduation, he plans to work as an actuarial student for Talcott Resolution based in Connecticut.
Erin Berzonski
Erin Berzonski is from Davidsville, Pa., a psychology major with military science on a pre-medical track minor. While at Coastal Carolina, she was named to the President’s and the Dean’s Lists and was awarded the University Scholar Award and the Presidential Scholarship. Berzonski completed her honors thesis research with Professor Andrew Terranova in the Psychology Department studying demographic characteristics in college students such as military affiliation, vaccination hesitancy, empathy, aggression, and adjustment to college. After graduation, Berzonski will serve in the Army Reserves and pursue medical school with the hopes of becoming a psychiatrist or family physician.
Jennifer Bien
Jennifer Bien is a BFA visual communications design major with a minor in marketing from Lynbrook, N.Y. While at Coastal Carolina she has been named to the President’s List and the Dean’s List. Bien is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society. Her logo design was chosen as the official logo for the 20th Anniversary of Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts. After graduation, Bien plans to move to New York and start her career in the graphic design field.
Tyqueashis Bridges
Tyqueashis Bridges is a communication major with a creative writing minor from Bennettsville, S.C. While at Coastal Carolina, he was named to the President’s List and the Dean’s List and has been inducted into the Order of Omega Honor Society. Bridges is a member of the Beta Beta Iota Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated and served as the Chapter President for 2022 school year. He has placed in the school’s strength competition, becoming a member of the 1000-pound club and written many poems, and some of his pieces are featured in the literary magazine, Archarios. After graduation, Bridges plans to become an entrepreneur and expand his career as a writer.
Morgan Burdette
Morgan Burdette from Honea Path, S.C., and is a hospitality, resort and tourism management major with a marketing minor. She is a member of Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society, and the Student Executive Leaders Program. Burdette was named to the President’s List every semester and was the recipient of the Dean’s Excellence Scholarship and the Women and Philanthropy and Leadership Scholarship. She worked as a tutor for the past three years, working alongside with business students in the Wall College of Business. She completed two internships in the area of hospitality and guest services in Myrtle Beach. After graduation, Burdette plans to pursue hotel administration.
Savannah Burdette
Savannah Burdette is an engineering science major with minors in applied mathematics and physics from Honea Path, S.C. She was named to both the President’s and the Dean’s Lists and is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma National Honors Society. While at Coastal Carolina she was a Research Assistant analyzing meteorological data for the Burroughs and Chapin Center for Marine and Wetland Studies and a tutor for the Math Learning Center. Burdette’s honors thesis examines vision-based computational methods applied to bolt-loosening detection. After graduation, she plans on pursuing a career in manufacturing engineering.
Laura Busby
Laura Busby is a biochemistry major from Gilbert, S.C. While at Coastal Carolina, she was named to the Dean’s List. Busby completed her honors thesis research with Professor Brian Lee from the Department of Chemistry studying the contents of membrane vesicles produced by Lactic Acid Bacteria. She is a member of the Chemistry Club, Beta, Beta, Beta, and the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. After graduation, Busby plans to attend medical school to become a gastroenterologist.
Jayme Carlson
Jayme Carlson originally from Silt, Colo., and attended Socastee High School, is an art and history major with minor in psychology. While at the university, she was named to the President’s List and the Dean’s List and was awarded Outstanding Art History Junior by the Edwards College Visual Arts Department in 2021. Carlson is a member of Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society. Her honors thesis studies Rococo artist Watteau and how components of his piece La Perspective marks ideological shifts in the transitory period after the death of King Louis XIV. After graduation, she plans to work in the art education or pursue her education in history and writing.
Joy Carlson
Joy Carlson is an exercise and sport science major, she moved to Myrtle Beach where she attended Socastee High School originally from Silt, Colo. While at Coastal Carolina, she was named to both the President’s and the Dean’s Lists. Carlson completed her honors thesis research with Professor Marcos Daou, examining the role that practicing visualization has on a novice’s ability to learn a new motor skill, and whether visualization impacts any tendency to “choke” under pressure. She is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in exercise physiology in a cardiac rehabilitation setting.
Mackenzie Cherry
Mackenzie Cherry from Canton, Ga., and is a recreation and sport management major. While at Coastal Carolina, she was named to both the President’s and the Dean’s Lists. Cherry’s honors thesis titled, Organizational, Societal, and Cultural Barriers: Why Woman are Still a Minority in Leadership, was presented at the Undergraduate Research Competition. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in sport marketing.
Savannah Cody
Savannah Cody is dual major in communication and anthropology from Campobello, S.C. While at Coastal Carolina, she was named to the Dean’s List and has been awarded the Dean’s Excellence Scholarship. Cody’s honors thesis titled, A Seat at the Table: Examining Antisemitism and Underrepresentation at Coastal Carolina University’s Campus, was presented at the Undergraduate Research Competition. She is a member of Sigma, Sigma, Sigma, Order of Omega, Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, The National Society of Leadership and Success, Anthropology and Geography Club, Shalom CCU, and WCCU Radio. After graduation, Cody plans to pursue Jewish studies and archaeology in order to become a biblical archaeologist.
William Collins
William Collins is an intelligence and national security studies major from Summerville, S.C. While at the university, he was named to the President’s List and the Dean’s List and was able to learned to speak Russian, Arabic, and Spanish. He is a full-time member of the Chanticleer Intelligence Brief and conducted three years of research on Russian-Syrian relations and used this knowledge to write his capstone research on the impact of Russia in the Syrian Civil War. After graduation, Collins plans to pursue law school.
Kiley Cuba
Kiley Cuba is a psychology major from New Castle, Pa. She is a member of Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society. Her scholarships include the SC Life Scholarship and the Teal Scholar Award. Cuba’s honors thesis titled, The Effects of Coping on CoVid-19 and Family Experiences was presented at the Undergraduate Research Competition with research regarding the effects of sibling birth order and coping with CoVid-19 as well as how these two variables interact. After graduation, she plans to pursue her graduate studies in early childhood development psychology and art therapy.
Gianna D’Aconti
Gianna D’Aconti is from Hackettstown, N.J. and is a psychology major with a minor in criminology. While at Coastal Carolina, she was named to the Dean’s List each semester. D’Aconti’s honors thesis entitled, Birth Order, College Major, and Social Behavior was presented at the Undergraduate Research Competition. After graduation, D’Aconti plans to pursue her master’s degree in criminology.
Brandon Davis
Brandon Davis (He/She/They) is a communication major with minors in creative writing and women’s and gender studies, originally from Carmel, N.Y., now a resident of Conway, for nearly eight years. While at Coastal Carolina, they were named to the President’s List and the recipient of various scholarships such as the South Carolina Palmetto Fellows, Coastal Carolina Palmetto Scholarship, Presidential Scholarship, and the HCHEC Honors Excellence Scholarship. They were recently inducted to the Women’s & Gender Studies National Honor Society (III) and have served on the Edwards College Dean’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Student Advisory Committee. They were actively involved in the Peer Leader program for three years and their creative work has been published in both TEMPO and Archarios, and includes number poems, short fiction and dramatic works. After graduations, they plan to pursue graduate degrees in creative writing with the goal of one day returning to academia as a professor.
Ian DeLorenzo
Ian DeLorenzo is a political science major, who migrated 650 miles south to be a Chanticleer from the small town of Asbury, N.J. While at Coastal Carolina, he was named to the Dean’s List. He participated in the forum on Liberty and the American Founding: African American Political Thought. DeLorenzo is a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, The National Political Science Honor Society and the Floyd Family Mentoring Program, mentoring at-risk youth in the Horry County area. His honors thesis is titled, Economic Strategies of Authoritarian Regimes: The Cases of Russia and Venezuela. Following graduation, DeLorenzo plans to take a year gap before attending law school in the fall of 2023.
Madison Earl
Madison Earl is from Odenton, Md., and is majoring in political science with minors in international political economy, marketing, and women’s and gender studies. She was the recipient of the University Scholar Award, the Provost Scholarship, and awarded the Junior Political Science Student of the year 2019 and through HTC Honors College, Earl received two scholarships to study abroad in Tuscany, Italy, and Exeter, England. Her research at Coastal Carolina includes studying women’s political ambition as an HTC Honors College Research Fellow and paid parental leave as a Dryer Fellow with the Edgard Dryer Institute for Leadership and Public Policy. Earl served as the President and New Member Advisor of the Coastal Carolina University Chapter of the Phi Sigma Pi and as a Senator for two years in Student Government. She is a member of the Gamma Mu Chapter of Chi Omega, Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society, Triota Women and Gender Studies of Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society and the National Society of Leadership and Success. After graduation, she hopes to continue her education at a graduate school studying international relations or public policy.
Mackenzie Eramo
Mackenzie Eramo is a business management major from Haverhill, Mass. While at Coastal Carolina, she was named to the President’s List and the Dean’s List and awarded the Coastal Choice Waiver Award. Eramo’s honors thesis is titled Analysis of Business Capstone Consulting Company Report: Coty Incorporated, was presented at the Honors Symposium. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in business management and apply for graduate studies.
Hailey Frick
Hailey Frick is a biology major with a business administration minor from Gilbert, S.C. While at Coastal Carolina, she was named to the President’s List and the Dean’s List. She was nominated for the National Society of Leadership and Success and is a member of Beta Beta Beta, ASBMB, and Women in Stem. She completed her honors thesis with Professor Vlad Gulis in the Department of Biology studying acclimation in aquatic microorganisms. After graduation, Frick plans to pursue a career in microbiology.
Colin Gallagher
Colin Gallagher is an intelligence and national security studies major with minors in pre-law and Islamic studies from Waxhaw, N.C. While at Coastal Carolina, he was named to the Dean’s List. He was the recipient of the President’s Scholar Award and the South Carolina National Guard. Gallagher’s honors thesis is titled, National Responses to the Rise of Cryptocurrencies, was presented at the 2022 Coastal Carolina University Honors Symposium and is currently being peer-reviewed for publication. After graduation, he is commissioning into the United States Army as an Active Duty Field Artillery Officer and plans to pursue a law degree.
Lauren Gibson
Lauren Gibson is a public health major with a minor in Spanish from North Myrtle Beach, S.C. While in Coastal Carolina, she was named to the Dean’s List and a recipient of the Provost’s Scholarship. Gibson completed her thesis with Professor Jennifer Mokos examining the impacts of coastal flooding on public health. She is a member of the Women of Color and Eta Sigma Gamma. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in health education.
Zachary Green
Zachary Green is a musical theatre major from Charleston, S.C. While at the university, he was named to both the President’s and the Dean’s Lists and was awarded Edwards College Student of the Year in 2020. Green performed in five mainstage musicals, wrote and directed two short films, and co-founded CCU’s Speed Races Club. He plans on moving to New York City, after graduation to pursue his passion in musical theatre.
Caitlin Hallam
Caitlin Hallam originally from New Egypt, N.J. and now living in Myrtle Beach, S.C. to attend Coastal Carolina University and majoring in elementary education with a French minor. She was named to the President’s List and the Dean’s List. Hallam completed her honors thesis titled, Why do Shadows Change Throughout the Day? with Spadoni College if Education and Social Sciences Assistant Dean, Professor Catherine Scott. She was the President of CCU First, a student organization that advocates for first-generation students. Hallam is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society, Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education, National Society of Leadership and Success, and the Alpha Mu Gamma National Collegiate Foreign Language Honor Society. She is the recipient of the Teal Scholar Award and was awarded the Dean’s Excellence Scholarship and the Thomas D. and Janet L. Ward School of Education Endowment Scholarship. Following graduation, Hallam plans to teach in her own classroom and pursue graduate studies in educational leadership to achieve a higher goal of getting her doctorate.
Courtney Hallam
Courtney Hallam is a multi-categorical special education major with a French minor, she moved to Myrtle Beach from New Egypt, N.J. in 2018 with her family. While at Coastal Carolina, she was named to both the President’s and the Dean’s Lists and a recipient of the Coastal Scholar Award and the Dean’s Excellence Scholarship. Hallam is a member of Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education, Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society, Alpha Mu Gamma National Foreign Language Honor Society, the National Society of Leadership and Success, and the Council for Exceptional Children. Following graduation, Hallam plans to pursue graduate studies in education while teaching at a South Carolina public school.
Riley Harrell
Riley Harrell hails from Pasadena, Md., major in economics with dual minor in environmental studies and pre-law. While at Coastal Carolina, Harrell was a member of the Women’s Lacrosse Team and Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society and has been named to the Dean’s List. Her honors thesis focused on environmental justice. She plans on continuing her education in environmental law and policy field after graduation.
Carson Hebblethwaite
Carson Hebblethwaite is a BFA acting major with minors in marketing business administration from Atlanta, Ga. While at Coastal Carolina, she was named to the President’s List and the Dean’s List. She is an Edwards College Research Fellow where her area of study is focused on disability justice in theatre and was presented at the 2021 ABLE Assembly Conference. Hebblethwaite is the co-chair of the Inclusive Theatre Group and a member of the Intercultural Leadership Council. She performed in the Department of Theatre’s Senior Showcase in New York City for her honors thesis. After graduation, she plans to pursue her career in acting and applied theatre.
John Hobbs
John Hobbs is an intelligence and national security studies major and dual minor in geographic information systems and computer science from Doylestown, Pa. While at Coastal Carolina, he was named to the President’s List and the Dean’s List and was the recipient of the University Scholar Award. Hobbs is an executive member of Phi Sigma Pi National Honors Society and executive member of Omicron Sigma Sigma National Honor Society. After graduation, he plans on becoming an officer in the United States Air Force.
Lindsay Hoffpauir
Lindsay Hoffpauir is a BFA music theatre major with film and production studies minor from Yorktown, Va. She is the senior class President of the Theatre Department, Vice President of the Speed Racer Club, a CINO Quest Leader, an Honor Orientation Leader, and a Building Manager at the Student Union. Hoffpauir was named to both the President’s and the Dean’s Lists, and was awarded the Provost Scholarship, while she was in Coastal Carolina. After graduation, she plans to move to New York City to pursue musical theatre.
Morgan-McKay Hoppman
Morgan-McKay Hoppmann is an intelligence and national security studies major with a minor in language and intercultural studies with a Russian focus from Dalzell, S.C. Hoppmann participated in the international student conference in Norway, Belgium and Pakistan. She is an Edwards Research Fellow, a recipient of the Dean’s Excellence Scholarship and a writing and a logic tutor. She is a member of the Chanticleer Intelligence Brief, focusing on current development in Asia. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a graduate degree in either international relations or philosophy of science.
Klea Hoxha
Klea Hoxha is a biochemistry major from Albania, she moved to the United States six years ago and attended Myrtle Beach High School. While at Coastal Carolina, she was named to the President’s List every semester and has served as the President of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Club and the Vice President of Beta Beta Beta. Hoxha’s honors thesis is titled, Identification and Characterization of Small Regulatory RNA in Streptococcus was presented at the 2021 Southeast Regional IDeA Conference in Puerto Rico. After graduation, she will be working to get her doctorate degree in medical physics.
Makenna Hughes
Makenna Hughes is a BFA musical theatre major from Rochester, N.Y. While at Coastal Carolina, she was named to both the President’s and the Dean’s Lists. She is the recipient of the President’s Scholar Award and the University Scholar Award. Her honors thesis is her March NYC Showcase for industry agents. After graduation, Hughes is moving to New York City to pursue motion capture, voice over and stage performance.
Selena Hughes
Selena Hughes is a management major with a concentration in human resources from Elloree, S.C. While at Coastal Carolina, she was named to both the President’s and the Dean’s Lists and was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma. Her honors thesis was a project where she acted as a consultant for Big Lots and made recommendations on what they could do to increase their profit margins. Following graduation, Hughes plans to attain her real estate license and focus on residential and investment properties.
Brooklyn Johnson
Brooklyn Johnson is a marine science major from Greeley, Colo. She is an Honor Research Fellow, and a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society. While at the university, she was named to the both the President’s and the Dean’s Lists. Johnson competed in the 500 pounds club powerlifting competition three times and completed multiple levels of scuba diving training up to rescue scuba divers during her time at Coastal Carolina University. After graduation, she plans to complete her dive master training and travel over the summer and move to Australia to attend graduate school and pursue her dream of researching coral reef ecology on the Great Barrier Reef.
Madison Jones
Madison Jones is an intelligence and national security studies major with a minor in language and intercultural studies from Plainfield, N.J. While at Coastal Carolina she was named to the President’s List and the Dean’s List and a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship. Jones is a student athlete for the Coastal Carolina Track and Field team, served as Senator and Chief of Staff of the Student Government Association and worked as both Academic tutor and Live-in Success Coach in the Coastal Carolina University LIFE Program. She is a member of Coastal Activities Board (CAB) and the Women of Color (WOC) initiative. After graduation, she plans on teaching Spanish at a preparatory high school while preparing to enter the United States Intelligence Community in the future.
Aaron Kanagy
Aaron Kanagy is an intelligence and national security studies major with a minor in military science and a geospatial technologies certificate from Reedsville, Pa. While at Coastal Carolina, he was named to both the President’s and the Dean’s Lists and proud to serve as the ROTC Cadet Company Commander. He is the recipient of the Reserve Officer Training Corps National Scholarship and the University Scholar Award. Kanagy’s honors thesis is entitled, The Cold Ward and Nuclear Equilibrium, was presented at the 2022 Coastal Carolina University Honors Symposium. After graduation, he is commissioning to the United States Army as an Armor Officer.
Benjamin Lieb
Benjamin Lieb from Mason, Ohio is an intelligence and national security studies major with dual minor in anthropology and criminology. While at Coastal Carolina, he has been named to the Dean’s List. Lieb has served two years as Vice President of the Zeta Chapter of the International Association for Intelligence Education, on year as the President of the Ultimate Frisbee Clun and two years as a member of Phi Sigma Pi Zeta Xi. After graduation, Lieb plans on accepting an offer with TSA to start his career in the intelligence community.
Sydney Madden
Sydney Madden from Glen Burnie, Md., is dual degree in marine science and biology with a minor in environmental science and a sustainability certificate. While at Coastal Carolina she received the Presidential Scholarship, MM & P Scholarship, NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship and the HTC College Global Engagement Award. Madden studied the abundance and presence of epifaunal organisms on artificial reefs off the coast of South Carolina with Professor Ryan Rezek and Professor Paul Gayes both from the School of Coastal Environment and presented her honors thesis at Coastal Carolina’s undergraduate research competition. She attended two national conferences, Ocean Sciences Meeting and Benthic Ecology Meeting Society, and presented a poster regarding research completed in the summer of 2021, as a Hollings Scholar. Madden was a resident advisor for two years, a National Resident’s Hall Honorary member, a mentor for Hollings applicants, a marine science tutor, a national qualifying member of the swim team, a lifeguard and lifeguard instructor for University Recreation and obtained her scientific diver certification. She participated in the Field Methods in Oceanographic Data Analysis program in Scotland, and will be participating for the Ecology Coral Reefs study abroad in Jamaica this May 2022. After graduation, she plans to work in coral reef restoration and eventually pursue graduate school.
Holly McGrath
Holly McGrath is from Tolland, Conn., a dual degree major in psychology and intelligence and national security studies with a pre-law minor. She is the recipient of the President’s Scholar Award and the Dean’s Excellence Scholarship. She is a member of the Edgar Dryer Institute for Leadership and Public Policy Research Fellowship, Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honors Society, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, and the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society. McGrath has served two years as a Senator and as Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee in the Student Government Association, two years as the President of the Zeta Chapter of the International Association for Intelligence Education and a year as part of the Interpersonal Violence Prevention Task Force. She completed two internships with the Office of United States Senator Christopher S. Murphy and the Myrtle Beach Assistant City Attorney and studied abroad at the University of Limerick. After graduation, McGrath is pursuing a career in the United States intelligence.
Nicole McHugh
Nicole McHugh is a marine science major from Philadelphia, Pa. While at Coastal Carolina, she was named to the President’s List and the Dean’s List and she has been awarded the HTC Scholars Award. She is a Research Assistant in two projects in the Coastal Science Center and completed her honors research thesis with Professor Paul Gayes in the University’s Burroughs & Chapin Center for Marine Science and Wetlands. McHugh’s honors thesis focuses on the biochemical and geophysical influences from the ocean and the multiple rivers at a study site in Georgetown, S.C. She is a member of the campus lifeguard, the treasurer of One Earth, an Environmental Advocacy Club and a swimmer on CCU’s Swim Club Team. After graduation, McHugh will be attending the University of British Columbia (UBC) to obtain her master of science degree in oceanography in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences studying the fate of micro plastic using radiometric dating.
Julia Messenger
Julia Messenger is a BFA musical theatre major with a minor in film and production studies from Easton, Md. While at Coastal Carolina, she has been named to both the President’s and the Dean’s Lists. Messenger appeared in A Little Night Music as Mrs. Andersen, In My Dreams: A Dream Role Cabaret as Soloist and Honk as Ida, all three-theatrical production at the university. After graduation, she plans to move to New York City to pursue a career in theatre.
Timothy Mitten
Timothy Mitten is a graphic design major with art studio minor from Midlothian, Va. While at the university, he was named to the President’s List and the Dean’s List. He is a recipient of the President’s Scholar Award. For Mitten’s honors thesis he is working on designing and developing an app/website that plans out vacations and trips based on user’s preferences. He won 2nd place in a juried exhibition in the Rebecca Randall Bryan Art Gallery for his photography along with having several photos displayed in the Seacoast Artists Gallery. After graduation, Mitten plans to move to Washington D.C. and work as a graphic designer in the area.
Natalie Morris
Natalie Morris is a marketing major with a graphic design minor from Apex, N.C. While at Coastal Carolina, she was named to the President’s List each semester and was awarded the Visual Arts Performance Award, President’s Merit Award, Alpha Delta Pi Foundation Scholarship, Alpha Delta Pi Emerging Leader Award, and the Alpha Delta Pi Dorothy Shaw Leadership Award. Morris, is a member of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, Phi Sigma Pi Honors Fraternity, Cru, Beta Gamma Sigma Business Fraternity, Wall College of Business Student Executive Leaders and the American Marketing Association. She has served as Alpha Delta Pi Chair, Bid Day Chair, Vice President of Marketing, and Chaplain, the College Panhellenic Council’s Vice President of Recruitment and Fall 2021 President, Cru Student Leader and a 2020 Coastal Carolina Orientation Leader. Morris completed her honors thesis with Professor Dowd analyzing the business models of Southwest Airlines and Ryanair. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in nonprofit marketing.
Kaitlynn Muhlenkamp
Kaitlynn Muhlenkamp is a finance major and a minor in economics from Dayton, Ohio. While at Coastal Carolina, she was named to the Dean’s Lists and she is a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship, University Scholar Award and the E.C Wall Endowed Scholarship. Muhlenkamp is a member of Gamma Phi Beta and the Wall Fellows Program. After graduation, she will pursue her career in the finance department of Scotts Miracle Gro Company.
Lindsay Newton
Lindsay Newton is a biochemistry major with a minor in applied mathematics from Crystal Lake, Illinois. She completed her honors thesis titled, Synthesis of Phidianidine Analogues with the direction of Professor Bryan Wakefield and was presented at the Undergraduate Research Competition. Newton is a member of Chemistry Club and the National Residence Hall Honorary and was the recipient of the Trustee’s Award. After graduation, she plans to pursue her doctorate in chemistry.
Sara Nimmo
Sara Nimmo is a dual major in marketing and management from Farmville, N.C. While at Coastal Carolina, she was named to the President’s List and the Dean’s List and the recipient of the University Scholar Award and the President’s Scholar Award. Nimmo’s honors thesis is titled, Sustainability in Minor League Sports is presented at the Honors Symposium. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in sports marketing.
Alexis Oldenburg
Alexis Oldenburg is an intelligence and national security studies major from Delano, Minn. While at Coastal Carolina, she was names to the Dean’s List all semester and was a recipient of the Provost Scholarship. Oldenburg completed her honor thesis with Professor Jordan Roberts on the usage of intelligence-led policing in human trafficking investigations. She is a member of Phi Sigma Sorority and interns with Horry County Department of Social Services. After graduation, she intends to pursue a career in human trafficking investigation.
Emma Oswald
Emma Oswald is a psychology major with dual minor in sociology and criminology, from Pottstown, Pa. While at Coastal Carolina University, she was named to the President’s List and the Dean’s List. She is a Degree and Three student. Oswald is a member of the Phi Sigma Pi Honors Fraternity, the Psychology club, Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society, and the Criminology and Sociology Club. Her honors thesis entitled Parental Relationships’ Association with Relationship Satisfaction and Marital Views of Young Adult Children was presented at the Undergraduate Research Competition. She plans to pursue graduate school after graduation for her masters in clinical mental health counseling and plans to begin working as a licensed therapist.
Briar Ownby-Connolly
Briar Ownby-Connolly is a marine science major with a minor in environmental science from Williamsburg, Va. She is the president and founder of One Earth and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society, Phi Sigma Pi, NSLS and the President’s Council on Sustainability and Coastal Resiliency. While at Coastal, Ownby-Connolly was named to the Presidents List and was a UN Youth Corps intern for Georgetown RISE. Her honors thesis is titled, The Use of Time-Lapse and Photography to Document the Effects of Seasonality on Dune Morphodynamic Evolution in Corolla, N.C. and her internship report titled, Caring for the Environment in Georgetown County, S.C.: Using SDGS, environmental ethics, and attitudes to highlight triadic socioeconomic barriers were both presented at the Undergraduate Research Competition. Ownby-Connolly plans on attending College of Charleston after graduation for their environmental and sustainability studies M.S. program.
Lina Perugini
Lina Perugini is a public health major from Bethlehem, Pa. While at Coastal Carolina, she has played for the Coastal Carolina Women’s Indoor Volleyball Team, where she has served as a captain for two years, while receiving the Sun Belt Conference honors. Perugini, is the Vice President of the Student Athlete Advisory Council and she thrives in leading all the Coastal student athletes. She was named to both the President’s and the Dean’s Lists and a recipient of the President’s Scholar Award and the University Scholar Award. Perugini plans in staying at Coastal Carolina after graduation to pursue her master degree in healthcare administration while continuing to play for the Women’s Volleyball Team.
Chesney Price
Chesney Price is from Taylorsville, N.C. and attended Alexander Central High School. She is a biology major with a chemistry minor with a CMBG concentration. Price completed her honors thesis research with Professor Megan Cevasco in the Department of Biology studying the neurotoxicity of Psuedo-nitzschia produced domoic acid which was presented at the Undergraduate Research Competition. She received a grant from IMBRE and HTC Scholars funding which help her complete the research. While at Coastal Carolina, she was named to both the President’s and the Dean’s Lists. Price is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, and the Coastal Carolina Cheerleading Team from 2018 to 2021. After graduation, she plans to attend a physician’s assistant program and pursue a career in obstetrics.
Cole Riggins
Cole Riggins is from Springfield, Va., and a marine science major with minor in geographic information systems. His love of water made him the President of the Club Swim Team. Riggins honor thesis is an examination of the surfing culture in the Grand Strand. While at Coastal Carolina, he was named to both the President’s and the Dean’s Lists and the recipient of the Presidential Scholarship. After graduation, Riggins plans on joining the US Air Force.
Darius Robinson
Darius Robinson is a political science major with a pre-law minor from Mullins, S.C. While at Coastal Carolina, he was named to the Dean’s List and a recipient of the Coastal Scholar Award. Robinson is a mentor for the Students Navigating and Advising Peers Mentoring Program (S.N.A.P.) and the Dalton and Linda Floyd Family Mentoring Program and a member of the African American Initiative for Males (AAIM). His honor thesis titled, Social and Economic Justice: An Examination of Equality and Political Thought Through the Lens of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., W.E.B Du Bios, Marcus Garvey, and Booker T. Washington. After graduation, he plans to attend law school.
Mya Roblee
Mya Roblee is a biochemistry major with medical humanities minor from Conway, S.C. She completed her honors thesis research with Professor Parker, from the Department of Biology, and Professor Yoder from the Department of Psychology, studying anatomy and histology of the developing leopard gecko brain in order to have a better understanding of functional specialization in different areas of the leopard gecko brain. Roblee is a member of Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, Sigma Kappa Sorority and Order of Omega Greek Leadership Honor Society. After graduation, she plans to attend medical school to pursue a career in either general surgery or neurology or psychiatry.
Bailey Rue
Bailey Rue is from Little River, S.C., and is an economics major with minors in statistics and applied mathematics. While in Coastal Carolina she has been named to both the President’s and the Dean’s Lists. Rue is a member and president of both Coastal Climbing Club and the Coastal Carolina Economics Club, member of the Beta Gamma Sigma International Honors Society. She is a Senior Associate of the CoBE Institute, a student-led consulting organization at Coastal Carolina and has worked on multitude of projects for both local and international firms where she led the projects on her own. After graduation, she plans to pursue graduate studies in economics and computer science.
Hayley Salsberry
Hayley Salsberry is from Fredericksburg, Va., is a hospitality, resort and tourism management with a dual minor in history and marketing. While at Coastal Carolina University, she was named to the President’s List and was the recipient of the Provost Scholarship, the Dean’s Excellence Scholarship and the Myrtle Beach Area Hospitality Association Resort Tourism Management Scholarship. She is a member of the Wall Fellows Program, Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honor Society, Eta Sigma Delta International Hospitality Management Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma National Honors Society, Phi Alpha Theta History Honors Society, Student Executive Leadership, and National Society of Leadership and Success. She served as the Vice President of the Chapter Operations for Delta Sigma Pi Professional Business Fraternity and on the executive team for Teal Goes Pink. She participated in the study abroad at the University of Exeter and completed over 800 internship hours. After graduation, Salsberry plans to work full time for Steele Magnolia Events and RSG Event Designs, both in the event industry.
Robert Schimony
Robert Schimony is a PGA Golf Management student majoring in marketing from Lansdale, Pa. While at Coastal Carolina University, he was named to both the President’s and the Dean’s Lists and is the recipient of the President’s Scholarship Award. Schimony plans on teaching as a golf professional at the Philadelphia Cricket Club after graduation.
Lily Shafer
Lily Shafer came to Coastal Carolina University from Portland, Ore., is an accounting major with a CPA concentration. While attending Coastal Carolina she was Co-chief of Staff for the Wall Fellows Program. Shafer is a member of Sigma Kappa and served the Panhellenic community on the 2021 Executive Council. She has had internships with the University’s Financial Services as well as Crowe LLP. After graduation Shafer has an internship with Ernst and Young, before attending graduate school for her master’s in accountancy and plans to sit for the CPA.
Olivia Shirley
Olivia Shirley is from Little River, S.C. and is a biochemistry major with dual minor in communication and pre-health professions. She is the President of the Women in STEM Club at Coastal Carolina University, a member of the Tri-Beta National Biological Honor Society and the CCU Chemistry and Biochemistry Club. While at Coastal Carolina, she was named to the President’s List and the Dean’s List and awarded the Chemistry Research Student of the Year 2019. Shirley is the recipient of the SC Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, the Palmetto Scholarship and the Presidential Scholarship. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in and a doctorate degree in chemistry and biochemistry.
Alyssa Simpson
Alyssa Simpson is a biology major from Charlotte Hall, Md. During her attendance at Coastal Carolina she was named to the Dean’s List and was the recipient of the University Scholar Award and the Presidential Scholarship and in Fall of 2020 she was awarded the Kenneth E. Swain Scholar. Simpson completed her honors thesis with Professor Sharon Thompson in the Department of Public Health, studying the impact of the COVID – 19 pandemic on intimate partner violence. She was a member of the Phi Sigma Pi Honor’s Fraternity and served as recruitment co-chair in the Fall of 2021. After graduation, she plans to attend PA school.
Devi Spletzer
Devi Spletzer is from Royersford, Pa., and is a psychology major with a dual minor in women’s and gender studies and music. She was named to both the President’s and the Dean’s Lists while at Coastal Carolina. Spletzer was awarded the 2022 Department of Psychology Outstanding Student of the Year Award. She completed her honors thesis under the independent direction of Professor Melissa Paiva-Salisbury studying how college students identifying as men define sexual consent and assault in hopes to reduce rates of sexual assault and was presented at the Undergraduate Research Competition and earned her a nomination as a Step Up Champion. Spletzer is a member of the Chi Omega Fraternity, String Chamber Ensemble, Bass Ensemble, Teal Trailblazers, and Triota Honor Society. After graduation, she plans to pursue her doctorate degree in clinical psychology specializing in the research of sexually related topics.
Kristina Strauss
Kristina Strauss is an exercise and sports science major from Doylestown, Pa. While at Coastal Carolina, she was named to the Presidents List and the Dean’s List. She is a member of the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority, and Exercise and Sports Science Club. She completed her honors thesis with Professor Johnson from the Kinesiology department studying resting metabolic rate changes following acute resistance exercise and she completed an additional research paper on bariatric surgery. After graduation, she plans to attend Charleston Southern University for her master’s in athletic training.
Olivia Springfield
Olivia Springfield is a marketing major and a French minor from Aiken, S.C. While attending Coastal Carolina she was named to the President’s List each semester and was selected as Marketing Student of the Year for 2022. Springfield is a member of the Wall Fellows Program where she served as the Co-chief of Staff, Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma National Honors Society, Alpha Xi Delta Sorority, the American Marketing Association and the Panhellenic Executive Council where she is serving as the Vice President. She conducted research for the Greenhouse Hotel in Hveragerði, Iceland and research and wrote an article about the science behind cyclical fashion trends which was published for Tempo Magazine. After graduation, Springfield plans to pursue opportunities in international real estate and international marketing in France.
Patricia Still
Patricia Still from Barnwell, S.C., is a special education multi-categorical major with a certificate in instructional technology. She is a member of South Carolina Teaching Fellow, Spadoni Research Fellow, President of the Rho Chi Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi-Honor Society in Education, Vice President of the Engagement for Coastal Carolina University Teaching Fellows, and a member of the Council for Exceptional Children. She worked with the LIFE Program, volunteered with the Dalton and Linda Floyd Family Mentoring Program, and is a former Feature Twirler with the Chanticleer Regiment. While at Coastal Carolina, Still has been named the President’s List and the Dean’s List and is the recipient of the South Carolina Teaching Fellow Scholarship, Chanticleer Band Program Award, Teal Scholar Award, TEACH Grant, South Carolina LIFE Scholarship, Dean’s Excellence Scholarship, Coastal Carolina University Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship, and the Thomas D. and Janet L. Ward School of Education Endowed Scholarship. She completed her honors thesis with Professor Nicole Uphold titled, Video Modeling v. Video Prompting with Task Analysis: Which one do students with Intellectual Disabilities respond better to? which was presented at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research and the Honors Symposium. After graduation, Still will be teaching at Aynor High School and will pursue her master of science in speech-language pathology (MS-DE) at the University of South Carolina.
Grace Sutz
Grace Sutz is a psychology major with a forensic concentration from Myrtle Beach, S.C. She has received scholarships such as the Teal Scholar Award, The Ron & Judy Ingle Scholarship, Nancy & Cathcart Smith Scholarship, Pell Grant and South Carolina Life Scholarship. Sutz is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma and the National Society for Leadership and Success. Her honors thesis, titled The Relationship between Alexithymia, Callous Affect, and Aggressive Behaviors in Emerging Adulthood: Are Aggressive Acts Related to Not Feeling or Not Knowing How You Feel?, was presented at the Coastal Carolina University Undergraduate Research Competition and presented a joint project, Psychopathy, Emerging Adulthood, and Aggression, with Faculty Member and Department Chair of Psychology Professor Andrew Terranova at the South Eastern Psychological Association Annual Conference. After graduation, Sutz plans to purse graduate studies in forensic psychology and mental health counselling.
Natasha Terry
Natasha Terry is a marine science major with a minor in biology from Pikeville Ky. While at the university, she was named to the President’s List and the Dean’s List. Terry completed her honors thesis research on the ecology of species utilizing a man-made turtle garden and their relationship to the Diamondback Terrapin in Massachusetts. After graduation, Terry plans to pursue research opportunities and gain experience in the field of marine biology.
Derek Tompkins
Derek Tompkins is an intelligence and national security studies major with dual minor in computer science and applied mathematics from El Dorado, Ark. While at Coastal Carolina, he was named to the President’s List four times and the Dean’s List twice. He is a member of the Teal Trailblazers for three years, he is the current Presidential Ambassador, a member of Phi Sigma Pi, Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society, Omicron Sigma Sigma Honor Fraternities, and is heavily involved in the CINO Quest program. Tompkins presented his capstone research at the annual INTEL Day at Coastal Carolina University April 23, 2022. After graduation, he plans to pursue a career within the intelligence community.
Joshua Vincent
Joshua Vincent from Columbia, Mo., is a dual major in accounting and intelligence and national security studies. He is the President of the Residence Hall Association (RHA), a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honor Society and the Order of the Sword and Shield Honor Society. After graduation, Vincent plans on pursuing his master of science in accountancy in Wake Forest University and prepare for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam.
Tamaray White
Tamaray White is a marketing major from Greenville, S.C. While at Coastal Caroline, she was named to the President’s List for six semesters, and the Dean’s List for two semesters and was a Marketing Student 2022 nominee. She is a recipient of the E.C. Wall College Endowed Scholarship and the Wall Colle of Business Deans Excellence Scholarship. White is a member of the American Marketing Society, Honors Research Fellows, Prince Fellows, Student Executive Leaders, Phi Eta Sigma National Honors Society, Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, and the Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society. She completed her nine months international consulting project as part of the Wall Fellow Program and completed her internship with Michelin North American where she gained experiences in marketing, sales, business and supply chains. White was nominated and chosen as the judge of South Carolina’s State History Day for junior and junior high school and was selected as the senior speaker in the Wall Fellows Program Class of 2024 induction. After graduation, she plans to work and obtain her real estate license and pursue law school.
Emmaleigh Wilt
Emmaleigh Wilt is from Greenville, S.C. and is an intelligence and national security studies major with minors in French and geospatial information systems. While at Coastal Carolina, she was named to the Dean’s List all semesters. Wilt is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success. Her honors thesis is titled Effects of the US/Mexico Barrier on Human Smuggling, is being reviewed for publishing. After graduation, she plans to join the Coast Guard.
Dean Wrobel
Dean Wrobel is a marine science major with a minor in coastal geology from Murrells Inlet, S.C. His work on groundwater and hydrology in coastal environment completed his honors thesis titled Investigating Temporal Groundwater Interactions between a Barrier Island and High Marsh Environment. Wrobel has a passion in fishing and presided over the Coastal Carolina Saltwater Anglers Club and he also completed his fisheries research titled Comparison of Body Condition in Commonly Sampled Species Found in Oxbow Lakes and Main River Habitats along the Upper and Middle Waccamaw River which was presented at the 2022 Southeastern American Fisheries Society Meeting. After graduation, Wrobel plans to pursue graduate program for geophysical and geologic studies.
Adi Zacks
Adi Zacks is from Milltown, N.J., major in BFA Theatre Arts with a concentration in acting. While at Coastal Carolina she was consistently named on the President’s List while performing in theatrical productions and working as student photographer for the campus Photography Department. She is a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship. Zacks is a member of Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, Inclusive Theatre Group, the Intercultural Leadership Council, and she is the President of Shalom CCU, Coastal’s first and only Jewish student organization that is co-founded in 2020. After graduation she plans to move in New York City to pursue a career in acting as well as teaching the mindbody and meditation practices.
