Troy Camp kids return to forest years later — as USC students
They created unforgettable memories as children in USC’s mentorship program. Now these Trojans are helping the next generation of campers build confidence and make lifelong friends.
Stopping the spread of fake news, one class at a time
A USC Dornsife expert on climate change teaches mathematical and scientific fundamentals to help his students see through the growing cloud of misinformation.
When a USC Annenberg student struggled to pay the bills, the Trojan Family stepped in to help
Special donor-supported funds at the school became a financial lifeline for senior Savanna Mesch, keeping her on track for graduation.
Law student by day, news-breaking NBA insider by night
Meet Arye Abraham, the only student at the USC Gould School of Law with more than 38,000 Twitter followers and dozens of NBA contacts in his cellphone.
Want to help working-class students succeed in college? Embrace their values
Emphasizing teamwork and community can help low-income and first-generation college students feel like they belong, according to research by USC’s Sarah Townsend and colleagues.
Science enthusiast finds many outlets for her passions at USC
Rather than worrying about finding a career path right away, Bethany Chen is taking advantage of her time as an undergrad to explore her diverse interests.
Students can afford to go abroad thanks to USC Dornsife fellowship
International travel, field research and community service projects are accessible to first-generation students at USC through the Fisher Fellowship program.
Award-winning doctoral student plans to explore the molecular unknown
After graduating from USC Dornsife with a level of scholarly productivity that her faculty advisor called ‘breathtaking,’ Pragya Goel is ready to further transform neuroscience.
In her darkest hour, Eugenia Huang found a supportive new home at USC
Getting into USC was bittersweet after the death of her father. But thanks to her Trojan Family, this 2019 graduate bounced back and reaffirmed that this was where she was meant to be.
Driven to help the underserved, first-gen student graduates with dual degrees in health
Born in Vietnam to parents with fifth-grade educations, Amy Nham was taught that learning is the way out of poverty. As one of the first students to graduate from USC with the dual PharmD/MPH degree, she plans to use her skills to help those in real need.
USC grad looks to bring her journalism skillset to documentary filmmaking
Shushan Minasian came from her native Russia to L.A. believing in the Hollywood version of the city. Now that she’s seen the real thing, she plans to use her master’s degree from USC Annenberg to tell those stories and more through documentaries.
Trojans honor body donors who make realistic anatomy classes possible
USC’s Anatomical Gift Program gives students the opportunity to dissect real bodies. Spurred on by Professor Mikel Snow, the students also pause once a year to give back in their own way.
USC undergrad lab shatters world altitude record for student rockets
The USC Rocket Propulsion Laboratory says this is the first entirely student-designed-and-built rocket to pass the Kármán line into outer space.
Grateful for support that made college possible, USC grad pays it forward
Troy Camp co-director Marla Ross found her confidence at USC through financial assistance and guidance from mentors and friends. As a recent grad, she wants to help others do the same.
USC senior uses his past as a refugee to help others in the same situation
As an Afghan refugee who grew up in Pakistan, Omer Azizi understands the refugee experience. That’s why one of his first tasks as a USC graduate will be to launch an app for those in refugee camps.
Graduating medical student turns academic success into opportunity for Syrian Americans
For the Syrian-born Jamil Samaan, graduating Saturday from the Keck School of Medicine of USC, more Syrian Americans in science means better care within his community.
University awards its first degree in dance to 33 graduates of USC Kaufman
The first group of students to attend the USC Kaufman School of Dance was taking a risk. Friday, that risk was rewarded, as friends, family, faculty and Mikhail Baryshnikov sent them off into the world with degrees.
Jake Olson recalls his journey from confused freshman to history-making graduate
He lost his eyesight at 12, but made headlines as a USC football player. As he graduates, Olson knows his recent accomplishments wouldn’t have been possible without his Trojan Family.
Plan to recycle aircraft scrap wins USC Wrigley Sustainability Prize
This USC-grown research team has built a prize-winning chemical process to extract and resell in-demand carbon fibers from airplane carcasses.
Valedictorian Ivana Giang channels her refugee family story to combat global education inequality
As the proud child of Vietnamese refugees, Giang has spent her time at USC tackling education disparities at a local, national and international level.
Salutatorian Haochen Wang went from struggling in middle school to singing with the Rolling Stones
Growing up in China, Haochen Wang struggled with his studies. But after deciding to learn for fun, this USC 2019 salutatorian found his passions: math, science and even music.
Salutatorian Diviya Gupta wants to make medicine more accessible
Diviya Gupta became interested in medicine when her grandfather was diagnosed with an unfamiliar disease. With graduation right around the corner, she is looking forward to bringing her skills as a physician to underrepresented areas.
The rise of the white dress ritual at USC commencement
It’s become an unspoken rule at USC commencement that female students wear white dresses. But where did this tradition come from, and what does it say about this modern generation of graduates?
Hit-and-run survivor will make dreams come true by graduating from USC
In March 2018, Kimberly Cuellar was struck by a car and broke her nose; her concussion symptoms lasted for weeks. Now, after recovering and completing her studies without pause, she’s about to make history for her family.