North Greenville University senior named 2024 SCICU Student of the Year

Karah Barry (center), a senior at North Greenville University, is the 2024 McLean-Smith SCICU Student of the Year. Barry was honored at SCICU’s Fall 2024 Board meeting held Oct. 10 at Columbia College. Accompanying Barry in the award presentation were Dr. Gene Fant (left), North Greenville University president and SCICU board vice chair, and Willis Cantey (right), SCICU board chair.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU) is pleased to announce Karah Barry, a North Greenville University (NGU) senior double-majoring in criminal justice and psychology, as the 2024 McLean-Smith SCICU Student of the Year. The award was presented to Barry at SCICU’s Board of Trustees meeting on Oct. 10 at Columbia College.

Honoring the combined legacies of leadership at SCICU and the S.C. Tuition Grants Commission, the award recognizes academic achievement and campus/community involvement of S.C. Tuition Grants recipients. The award includes a $3,000 scholarship.

“I am very thankful for my S.C. Tuition Grant,” said Karah. “The grant allows me to focus more on my education, extracurricular activities, and future plans, rather than worrying about finances.”

Along with maintaining a 4.0 GPA each semester at NGU, Karah, the daughter of Brendan and Francine Barry of Columbia, has demonstrated significant personal and professional leadership in the classroom, in student leadership roles, and in the community. Her leadership roles include president of the Criminal Justice and Legal Studies National Honor Society, first-year experience mentor, and tutor/member of the Writing Lab helping support students struggling with academics.

Karah’s extensive community support activities include volunteering with Wren Hospice in Greenville, helping elementary students grow in their faith at the Children of Mary Religion Camp, doing local litter pickups, and working with Friends of the Reedy River.

After graduation next spring, Karah plans to attend law school with the long-term goal of becoming an attorney and advocating for marginalized populations and promoting justice within the legal field.

“SCICU is proud to honor Karah with the Student of the Year scholarship,” said Emma Reabold, SCICU vice president for development and campus services. “Her academic achievements and leadership in the community are an inspiration to all of us and demonstrate the superior preparation students receive at North Greenville and all SCICU member institutions.”

Each year the McLean-Smith SCICU Student of the Year scholarship recipient is selected from rising junior or senior applicants attending one of SCICU’s 21 member colleges and universities. All applicants must also be S.C. Tuition Grant recipients. Applications are accepted by the Center for Scholarship Administration in Greenville, and an independent three-person panel annually selects the student who will receive the SCICU Student of the Year scholarship.

The scholarship program honors J. Lacy McLean and Sterling L. Smith. McLean served 34 as the first president of SCICU. Smith was executive vice president and staff lobbyist for SCICU over 29 years. Both leaders were primary architects behind the formation of the South Carolina Tuition Grants Program, the needs-based program funded by General Assembly appropriations that supports students who choose to attend one of South Carolina’s independent colleges and universities. This program is important to more than 12,000 students each year at SCICU’s 21 member institutions, representing approximately 40% of undergraduates.