As the winner of the Kennedy Academic Recognition Award at USC-Union, Rachel Gilchrist received $1,000 to spend any way she chooses.

What she has decided to do is something practical. She plans to use the money to pay for her books when she transfers to Winthrop University this fall.

Miss Gilchrist attained a perfect 4.0 grade point average in two years of studies — all A’s — and received the award for having the highest academic average in her graduating class at USC-Union. She said she appreciates the award, which was established by B.F. Kennedy Jr. and his late wife, Myrna, to publicly recognize and reward the top USC-Union graduate each year.

“I was really surprised,” said Miss Gilchrist, who plans to major in biology and attend dental school.

Miss Gilchrist is the daughter of Tim and Debbie Gilchrist and grew up on the family farm outside of Lockhart. She is a 2007 graduate of Lockhart High School. Miss Gilchrist was the recipient of a $5,000 Commencement Speaker’s Scholarship to attend USC-Union, which covered her first year of tuition. She followed in the footsteps of her sister, Rebecca, a 2003 graduate of Lockhart High who attended USC-Union and achieved a 3.985 GPA. Rebecca, now 23, also transferred to Winthrop, where she earned a degree in psychology. The Gilchrists also have a brother, Jimmy, who lives with his wife, Carla, in Charlotte.

“Beck had gone to USC-Union and I knew it was a really good school to get my start,” Miss Gilchrist said

Her college activities include being a tutor in the Opportunity Scholars Program and working with the Dean’s Host Program. Miss Gilchrist and four other students are the original student participants in the program, where they greet potential students and other campus visitors.

Miss Gilchrist said she would highly recommend USC-Union to any person wanting to take college courses.

“It is a really good school,” she said. “You make friends not only with other students but also with the faculty and teachers. It’s down to earth and it’s easy to get along with everybody.”

USC-Union Dean Dr. Hugh Rowland said Miss Gilchrist has been an asset to the school.

“From a faculty member’s perspective, Rachel is the kind of student who sets the mark for all other students’ strivings,” he said.