From helping a fallen moped rider to preventing a friend’s suicide, many USC students and faculty have committed actions worthy of a Stand Up Carolina Hero Award.
Within the Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention and Prevention office, Stand Up Carolina is USC’s bystander accountability program. It is an initiative that serves to encourage people in the USC community to be active bystanders who intervene to help those who are in need. A Hero Award ceremony was held Wednesday morning in the Russell House Ballroom to recognize students, faculty and staff who were nominated for their heroic actions.
“It’s an opportunity for us to highlight the good that’s going on on campus, and to see that there are a lot of people that are impacting that maybe the rest of campus doesn’t see,” said Holly Lovern, graduate assistant for SAVIP. “But there are a group of people that are recognizing this.”
Lovern explained that the award nomination process is not limited to students.
“Anybody can nominate anybody in our Carolina community. Students and faculty and staff are all nominated today as heroes,” Lovern said.
Gene Luna, associate vice president for Student Affairs, was in attendance at the event and gave the welcome.
“This is one of my favorite events at the university,” Luna said, “where the entire community has the opportunity to recognize people who have done extraordinary things that may seem small at the time but have lifelong impacts on people that they’ve helped.”
The keynote speaker of the ceremony was fourth-year athletic training student Tim Bryson.
Bryson has served in leadership positions across campus, including as an intramural sports supervisor and fraternity council president. He has also worked with USC’s sexual assault prevention task force.
During his speech, Bryson recounted the story of a friend who was graciously helped through traumatic experiences such as depression, an eating disorder, alcoholism and financial insecurity by the compassion and support of his surrounding community. He ended the anecdote by revealing himself to be the friend.
“Your impact on our community is priceless. In fact, your impact has no limits,” Bryson said to the audience and nominees.
He said this event was "a ceremony to highlight those who have chosen to be the change they seek and make a difference in the lives of others."
Following Bryson’s speech, plaques were awarded to all of the nominated students, faculty and staff in attendance.
One particular Hero Award winner was fourth-year athletic training student Becca Bryant. She was nominated for her selfless actions for her friends and for others, including preventing a friend from committing suicide.
“I never would have expected an award for anything like this,” Bryant said. “You don’t think in those moments or those late nights … that anyone will recognize it aside from the one person you’re impacting.”
Bryant, along with 41 other students, faculty and staff, were deemed heroes for their efforts in standing up for fellow human beings.