Opportunity Scholars Program of USC Lancaster

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Opportunity Scholars Program of USC Lancaster

USC Lancaster's Opportunity Scholars Program (OSP) is designed to help first generation college students make the adjustment to college life.

The Opportunity Scholars Program (Student Support Services) is one of the eight federal TRiO grant projects funded by the United States Department of Education. Whether you have recently graduated from high school or you have been out of school for a while and just returning, OSP can help you make a smooth transition. OSP helps motivate students to obtain a four-year degree (and beyond) from the c

olleges of their choice. Through academic advisement and developmental support, the OSP staff will strive to provide students with a solid foundation on which to help them succeed in college.

08/24/2026

🌟🌟 OSP SPOTLIGHT: CONNOR ADAMS 🌟🌟

For Connor Adams, choosing USC Lancaster meant staying close to home while preparing for a career centered on helping others. A May 2026 graduate of Central High School Pageland, SC, Connor plans to major in Criminal Justice with the goal of joining the South Carolina Highway Patrol. 🚔🎓

Connor was drawn to Criminal Justice because he has always enjoyed helping people and believes law enforcement will give him the opportunity to do that in a meaningful way. He joined Early Start 2026 to learn his way around campus and meet new people before beginning the fall semester. 💛

Connor’s overall impression? “Great.” He especially valued the friendships he made, and his favorite Early Start experience was spending time with friends at the Frankie's Fun Parks arcade. 🎮😊

Connor recommends Early Start to other incoming students because it provides an opportunity to get connected on campus before classes begin. He also plans to remain involved at USCL by serving as a Lancer Ambassador. 🚀

We’re excited to see Connor continue building connections, pursuing his goals, and serving others as he begins his OSP journey!

08/22/2026

🌟🌟 OSP SPOTLIGHT: EMILY ESTRADA 🌟🌟

For Emily Estrada, USC Lancaster already feels like family. A 2026 graduate of Nation Ford High School and a member of Early Start 2026, Emily chose USCL because of the welcoming atmosphere she experienced from the beginning: “All staff [are] so nice and friendly — they feel like family.” 💛

Emily plans to pursue nursing, inspired in part by her desire to care for others and by her own family’s experiences with healthcare. She hopes to earn her BSN and eventually become a supervisor with Atrium Health. 🩺🎓

She joined Early Start for a sneak peek at college life, an opportunity to meet new people, and to become familiar with USCL before the semester began. The experience quickly became much more: “I personally loved Early Start so much. If I could, I would join it and be there every day.” 😊

Emily’s favorite experience came in Stevens Theatre, where students were challenged to dance on stage. Although being in front of others pushed her outside her comfort zone, she discovered that the experience wasn’t nearly as intimidating as she expected. 🎭💃

Emily enthusiastically recommends Early Start because of the connections, experiences, memories, and new friendships students can make. She also plans to become as involved as possible in USCL clubs and student life. 🚀

Perhaps Emily summed up the Early Start experience best herself: “Thank you TRiO for letting me be a part of Early Start 2026. I enjoyed it a lot, and all of the fun and happy memories will always be in my heart.” 💙💛

We’re excited to see what comes next for Emily as she begins her OSP journey!

08/21/2026

🎒💙 WELCOME WEEK ’26 IS UNDERWAY! 💛✏️

USCL Welcome Week ’26 commenced today with the USCL CARES BACK-TO-SCHOOL CAMPAIGN KICKOFF EVENT! Thanks to the generosity of , more than 600 school supply items were collected for children in need at A. R. Rucker Middle School, Brooklyn Springs Elementary School, Clinton Elementary School, McDonald Green Elementary, and Southside Early Childhood Center. 📚🖍️📓

A huge thank you to our friends at Pelican's Lancaster and Wilbur's Last Ride for helping make today’s kickoff such a success — and to everyone who donated supplies and helped us begin Welcome Week with a spirit of community service. 🍧🌭

The Back-to-School Campaign continues through Friday, September 18, 2026. Anyone wishing to contribute may bring new school supply items to the TRiO Learning Resource Center between now and September 18. Every donation helps equip local students for a successful school year! 💙💛

08/19/2026

🌟🌟 OSP SPOTLIGHT: PETER JOHNSON 🌟🌟

Meet Peter Johnson, a 2026 graduate of Lancaster High School SC and — through our partnership with Lancaster Promise Neighborhood — a member of Early Start 2026! Peter chose USC Lancaster because of our Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Collaborative Program with the University of South Carolina College of Nursing and plans to major in nursing, a field he values because it allows him to help people in a direct, hands-on way. His career goal is to become a pediatric nurse. 🩺👶

Peter joined Early Start to gain valuable knowledge about USCL and make his transition into the University as smooth as possible — all while understanding college expectations. Looking back on the experience, he especially appreciated the supportive environment: “The staff were very helpful and kind and my fellow students too, and I had a better time than I expected.” 💛

His favorite parts of Early Start were the UNIV 101 Scavenger Hunt and the visit to Stevens Theatre, and he would readily recommend the program to other incoming freshmen, describing it as both beneficial and helpful. He also hopes to become involved with the USCL Rotaract Club as he begins his journey. 🎭🧭

We’re excited to see Peter bring his ambition, compassion, and Early Start experience into his first semester as part of our ! 🚀

08/16/2026

🌟🌟 OSP SPOTLIGHT: NATALIA HERNANDEZ 🌟🌟

Meet Natalia Hernandez, a 2026 graduate of Catawba Ridge High School and a member of Early Start 2026! Natalia chose USC Lancaster for its affordability and strong connections with the Lancaster community. She plans to pursue engineering or science, earn her associate degree at USCL, and continue toward a bachelor’s degree at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Her long-term goal is to remain in the Carolinas — particularly the Charlotte area — and make a meaningful impact through urban development. 🏗️🎓

Natalia joined Early Start because she wanted to learn her way around campus, know where to find academic support, and begin building friendships before the semester started. The experience exceeded her expectations: “Early Start was more than just a class to prepare us students for University life — it was like a family visit, like I am reuniting with a family I have not seen in years, yet only just met.” 💛

Her favorite activity was the campus scavenger hunt, which challenged students to put what they had learned about USCL into action. Would she recommend Early Start to future students? Natalia’s answer was emphatic: “Yes, 1,000%!” 🚀

Natalia is also looking forward to becoming involved in clubs, exploring employment on campus, and participating in student-led events as she begins her journey. We’re excited to watch her take everything she gained through Early Start and carry that ambition, confidence, and connection into her first semester as part of our ! ⭐

08/14/2026

🎉💙 USCL LANCER ENHANCE 💙🎉

Last night, incoming freshmen had another opportunity to connect, explore, and get plugged into campus life during the Lancer Enhance Resource Fair at USC Lancaster! From learning more about campus resources and student organizations to meeting the people who help make such a welcoming community, the evening was all about helping students discover the opportunities and support available to them.

Our OSP project was excited to be part of an event designed to help students ask questions and make connections. College success is about more than what happens in the classroom — and opportunities like Lancer Enhance help students build the awareness and relationships that can make all the difference. ⭐🚀

08/13/2026

🌟🌟 OSP SPOTLIGHT: MARY DEBBY KARIMI 🌟🌟

Meet Mary Debby Karimi, a 2026 graduate of Lancaster High School SC and, through our partnership with Lancaster Promise Neighborhood, a member of Early Start 2026!

Mary Debby chose USC Lancaster because of its strong nursing pathway and proximity to home. She plans to major in nursing with the goal of becoming a pediatric nurse, a career that reflects her desire to help patients feel comfortable during circumstances that may be anything but comfortable. 🩺💙

Mary Debby joined Early Start because she wanted to prepare herself mentally for college, and she credits the program’s classes, supportive staff, and welcoming environment with helping her make that transition. Her favorite experience was the campus scavenger hunt, which helped her become more familiar with while having fun along the way. 🧭

Mary Debby enthusiastically recommends Early Start to other incoming students and also plans to become involved with the Student Nursing Association. We are so excited to have her as part of our and look forward to watching her pursue her academic and career goals! ⭐

08/12/2026

🎓💙 What promised to be a melancholy and somber farewell for OSP graduate and megastar Greysen Lowery instead became a joyous celebration of some of OSP’s best and brightest.

🌮 We gathered at Tottos Mexican restaurant this afternoon to celebrate Greysen and the tremendous impact he has made during his time at USC Lancaster. We were also fortunate to be joined by fellow OSP standouts Joaquin Espinoza, Michael Faulkner, Sergio Gonzalez-Eulogio, Katie Morrison, and Pete Roth — current students, graduates, and transfer students whose individual journeys reflect the community, determination, and talent that make OSP so special. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Moments like this are powerful reminders of why Federal TRiO Programs like OSP matter. They create communities of connection, encouragement, opportunity, and support that continue shaping students long after any single semester ends. 🚀

08/09/2026

☀️🎓 Through our partnership with Lancaster Promise Neighborhood, our Early Start 2026 students have officially completed the three-week summer component of the program — and what a three weeks it has been.

They stepped onto campus as incoming Lancers and spent the summer learning how to navigate college before the semester ever began. Along the way, they built relationships, explored campus resources, heard from alumni and community leaders, strengthened academic and professional skills, took part in hands-on experiences, and learned what it means to become part of .

We have watched them grow more comfortable, more confident, and more connected with each passing day. That growth is exactly why programs like Early Start matter. We’re pleased to celebrate what they have already accomplished and the community they have built together.

To our Early Start 2026 students: We are incredibly proud of you — and we can’t wait to see what comes next. Each of you are proof that at USC Lancaster!!! ⭐⭐⭐

08/06/2026

🎓🧭 In partnership with Lancaster Promise Neighborhood, yesterday brought another full day of exploration, leadership, and learning for our Early Start 2026 students!

OSP alumna Ashleigh Weatherly, a member of Early Start 2024, returned to campus to present on Graduation with Leadership Distinction (GLD) alongside Zoe Byrd and Dr. Liz Easley. Together, they introduced students to opportunities for connecting their academic work, campus involvement, and personal development through GLD.

The learning then moved across campus as students in Mrs. Campbell’s UNIV 101 class completed a USCL-themed scavenger hunt — building familiarity with campus resources, preparing for the semester ahead, and strengthening their connections.

Students concluded the day with a photo shoot for University publications led by Shana Dry of the Office of Advancement and Public Information.

From returning alumni to hands-on exploration, the day reflected what our summer bridge program is all about: Helping students begin college informed, involved, and ready to succeed. Just further proof that at USC Lancaster!!! ⭐

Address

476 Hubbard Drive
Lancaster, SC
29720

Telephone

+18033137461

Website

https://www.sc.edu/about/system_and_campuses/lancaster/study/student_opportunities/trio/opportunity_scholars_program/ind

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