Student Affairs presented its annual student awards on Wednesday, April 29 during a divisionwide celebration of the 2025-26 academic year.
Almeda R. Jacks Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award
Presented in honor of Clemson’s former vice president for Student Affairs. It is given to the best “all around” junior or senior with a minimum GPA of 3.0 who upholds Clemson’s core values, maintains high scholarly achievement and demonstrates a cross section of involvement.
The 2026 Almeda R. Jacks Award recipient is Isabella Eckert.
Eckert is a psychology major from Florence, South Carolina. She has served as president of Clemson’s chapter of Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology, and as a UPIC intern with Counseling and Psychological Services. She also has served as a research assistant in the Department of Psychology and has presented her work at large annual conferences such as the Southeastern Psychological Association and Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. Ecker is expected to graduate in May.
R.C. Edwards Outstanding Graduate Student Award
Presented in memory of the longtime president best known for leading Clemson from an all-male military college to a major coeducational and integrated university. It is given to the best “all around” graduate student with a minimum 3.25 GPA who exhibits a high level of support for the mission, vision and goals of his/her department while going above and beyond expected duties.
The 2026 R.C. Edwards Award recipient is Payton Davis.
Davis ’20 M ’23 is a graduate teaching and research assistant in the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences. She will earn her Ph.D. next week at Clemson’s Doctoral Commencement. She is a WaterSoftHack Fellow — sponsored by the National Science Foundation — which aims to cultivate a workforce that creates, utilizes and supports advanced cyberinfrastructure workflows and tools to transform water science education and research. She has published three peer-reviewed articles and in 2025 was awarded the MDPI Soil Science Travel Award, enabling her to present cutting-edge laboratory findings at the EuroSoil Conference last fall in Spain.
Walter T. Cox Graduate Student Award
Presented in memory of the 10th university president and longtime vice president for Student Affairs. It is given to a first-year graduate student affiliated with the Division of Student Affairs. The recipient shows excellence as a contributing member of the Clemson community through their leadership, support of the holistic academic experience and commitment to diversity and acceptance.
The 2026 Walter T. Cox Award recipient is Emily Fisher.
Fisher is a graduate community director with Clemson Home, serving more than 800 students in the Bridge to Clemson program alongside full-time, graduate and undergraduate housing staff. She interned with the Center for Student Leadership and Engagement this spring, helping coordinate the annual Women in Leadership Conference and advising the newest Certified Student Leader cohort. Fisher, who was recently named director of internal affairs for Chi Sigma Alpha International Honors Society, is from Fort Myers, Florida.
Rising Star Award
Presented to a first- or second-year undergraduate who is currently involved in leadership or service activities and is actively pursuing future leadership roles at Clemson.
The 2026 Rising Star Award recipient is Fatima Berlanga Molina.
Molina is a double major in financial management and accounting from Fort Mill, South Carolina. She serves as a residential community mentor within Clemson Home, where she supports first-year students who live on campus. She is also treasurer of Latinos Unidos, a peer mentor with the Honors College and a Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL) leader in the Academic Success Center. Molina is a Rutland Institute for Ethics Scholar as well.
Matt Locke Leadership Award
Presented to a student who demonstrates outstanding leadership with regard to service and devotion to humankind and Clemson University.
The 2026 Matt Locke Leadership Award recipient is Katie Barfield.
Barfield is a genetics and biochemistry double major. She is a member of the Breakthrough Scholars Program and serves in Clemson Undergraduate Student Government and as technical director for Tigerama and trivia director for The Pursuit, both of which are coordinated by Blue Key Honor Society. Academically, she researches the translation of transposable elements alongside Miriam Konkel from the Department of Genetics and Biochemistry. She also works as experiential learning grant coordinator and student assistant in the College of Science.
Frank A. Burtner Scholarship
Presented to rising juniors and seniors who display exemplary leadership qualities and outstanding academic records. The 2026 Burtner scholarship recipients are Luther Bells, Ava McKee and Olivia Palmieri.
Bells is a wildlife and fisheries biology major and Spanish studies minor from Bishopville, South Carolina. He is actively engaged in several facets of the undergraduate student experience, including Clemson Gospel Choir, MANRRS and the Thomas F. Chapman Leadership Scholars Program. He has participated in Creative Inquiry courses and studied in Spain in Summer 2025 where he collaborated with scientists on soil health and sustainable agriculture. Additionally, he completed a Fall 2025 Co-op as a technician with the Nemours Wildlife Foundation in Yemassee, South Carolina.
McKee is a biochemistry major with minors in engineering and life sciences. She is a member of the College of Science Student Advisory Board and will serve as vice president of outreach during the 2026–27 academic year. She is also a member of the Honors College Student Advisory Board and currently works in the Larsen Lab, where she designs nanoparticles to deliver gene therapies in the central nervous system.
Palmieri is a biochemistry major with minors in psychology and life sciences. She is actively engaged in undergraduate research through Creative Inquiry. Her team’s research has been presented at the 20th Annual Focus on Creative Inquiry (FoCI), the Southeastern Psychological Association Conference, the Clemson University Honors College Fall 2025 Symposium, and at an internal conference in London this past spring. She serves on the College of Science Student Advisory Board, peer ambassador and mentor in the Honors College, vice president of Omicron Delta Kappa, vice president of membership within Order of Omega and event coordinator for the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA).
