Christina Galardi earns annual title for service accomplishments
Christina Galardi was honored Tuesday night as the 2012 Outstanding Woman of the Year.
Galardi is a native of Lexington, S.C., and a fourth-year public relations student in the Honors College.
Her grandest achievement, as well as her personal favorite, was her organization and direction of USC’s first Beautiful Lengths event. Partnering with Campus Wellness and Changing Carolina, Galardi garnered 43 students, faculty and staff members to donate their hair to the production of wigs for cancer patients. A five-time donor herself, Galardi expertly planned the event with local volunteer stylists and a keynote speaker from the American Cancer Society.
While maintaining a 4.0 GPA, Galardi is also a National Merit Scholar, a Carolina Scholar, a Lieber Scholar, a Palmetto Fellow and a recipient of the Robert C. Byrd Scholarship. She is also a member of three honors societies, including Omicron Delta Kappa, Mortar Board, Inc. and Alpha Lambda Delta.
Galardi is esteemed and recognized by the review and interview committees for her outstanding academic and extracurricular achievement, namely her contribution to the service sector of the university.
She began her years of service in high school with church mission trips for Habitat for Humanity in John's Island and Hurricane Katrina relief to Alabama. She became involved with the Carolina Service Council during her first year and has served in many leadership positions for the organization. Now a senior, she is president of the service organization and recruited volunteers for the 2011 MLK Day of Service, in which 515 students, faculty and staff contributed more than 2,000 hours of service at 27 sites.
On top of all that, Galardi was also crowned Homecoming Queen of 2011.
As the keynote speaker, Valinda Littlefield, an associate professor of the history department said, “The purpose [of this event] is to honor exemplary academic and extracurricular achievement,” both of which Galardi masters and makes her own with her passion and humbleness.
“It’s so humbling for me to be chosen of all these equally wonderful women who inspire me as well,” said Galardi upon receiving her award. “I am so honored to stand among them, who have done great things.”
Now in its 17th year, USC and Women’s Student Services award fantastic female undergraduate students who have gone above and beyond in their academic achievements and leadership initiatives with a commitment to service.
“I do a lot of awards and accolades, but I am always overwhelmed by this event,” said Jerry Brewer, associate vice president of student affairs. “Every year, the women get better and better.”