From staff reports
Caroline O’Neal, a 2020 graduate of Beaufort’s Holy Trinity Classical Christian School (HTCCS), has been named a Duckenfield Scholar at Clemson University.
The Duckenfield Scholars Program is designed to identify and enable one or two members of Clemson’s Honors College, who demonstrate extraordinary talent, motivation, commitment, and ability to attend St. Peter’s Summer School at Magdalen College, Oxford University, each summer. The five-week summer school program immerses students in an unparalleled and challenging educational experience provided by Oxford professors from St. Peter’s College in one of three areas: Environmental Studies, English, and Medieval Studies.
In a recent letter to Holy Trinity Guidance Counselor Tara Gaillard, O’Neal wrote, “I will be studying prison literature through firsthand accounts of incarceration including the works of Boethius (a revisit of Consolation of Philosophy from Humane Letters!), John Bunyan, Nelson Mandela, and more modern authors.”
“It is a joy to celebrate Caroline’s latest accomplishments. Her love of learning and work ethic are beautiful to see,” said Head Dean of the Upper School Josiah Tobin, who taught O’Neal during her years at Holy Trinity. “We are incredibly proud of Caroline and pray that she will continue to share the love of God in all the places that she will go!”
While at Holy Trinity, O’Neal served as editor-in-chief of the yearbook for four years, was chapter president for the Mu Alpha Theta National Math Honor Society, was a National Merit Scholar, and graduated Summa Cum Laude.
O’Neal entered Clemson’s Honors College in 2020 and has continued to build her academic excellence and leadership skills. Last year, Caroline was selected as a 2022 Clemson Dixon Global Policy Scholar and engaged in an intensive Maymester experience in France. This year, in addition to being named a Duckenfield Scholar, Caroline was elected to Student Government and serves in the Legislative Branch as a member of the Infrastructure and Operations Committee.
O’Neal is currently a junior majoring in Political Science and hopes to go on to law school and perhaps serve in public office. She is the daughter of Keith and Mary Ellen O’Neal of Beaufort.
Founded in 2012, Holy Trinity Classical Christian School provides students with a distinctly Christian and classical education in Beaufort. HTCCS serves more than 370 students in preschool through high school. For more information about the academic excellence offered at Holy Trinity, please see www.htccs.org.
