Year: 2020

With safety measures in place to protect against COVID-19, the USC Heroes United campaign collected a goal-surpassing 192 units of blood over two days. The American Red Cross has made it clear: The blood supply in Los Angeles and across the nation is low. Collecting blood has become more challenging due to the COVID-19 pandemic and…Continue Reading USC blood drive collects enough donations to save hundreds of lives

USC’s college preparatory program helps high achievers avoid undermatching and get into the top schools they deserve. Osvaldo Cabrales starts his Yale education this fall. As the salutatorian of his graduating class at James A. Garfield High School in East Los Angeles and first in his family to attend college, he’s leading the way for…Continue Reading Bovard Scholars inspires low-income high school students to aim high

by Jacqueline Mazarella In March 2020, Los Angeles Councilmember Gil Cedillo asked Jose Ruiz, MSW ’17, if he could upscale his community garden to provide 300 Emergency Grab-n-Go food bags each week to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. Ruiz had just last year taken .16 acres of space in the Westlake neighborhood of Downtown Los…Continue Reading Cultivating Community in Downtown Los Angeles

This year’s graduates of USC Leslie and William McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative were recognized for their perseverance during uncertain times; all 94 scholars will be attending college in the fall. Even a pandemic couldn’t stop the 2020 graduates of the USC Leslie and William McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative program, who were celebrated in a virtual…Continue Reading Virtual gala celebrates 2020 grads of USC Neighborhood Academic Initiative

Through laptops, tablets and instruction from savvy teachers, the USC Leslie and William McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative strives to keep its local scholars engaged and educated during this unprecedented period. When Los Angeles Unified School District students reach their final day of classes on June 12, it will mark an end to one of the…Continue Reading USC’s college access program helps its students transition to distance learning

Emily Suarez decided in fourth grade that she wanted to attend USC. After seven years of hard work and sacrifice in the Neighborhood Academic Initiative program, her plan is becoming a reality. Though Emily Suarez has always had a plan, the COVID-19 pandemic further ignited her desire to make an impact in her community. “I…Continue Reading Long-aspiring USC student proves that dreams can come true

Nelson Henriquez Jr., who will graduate from the USC Leslie and William McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative this month, has medicine on his mind. The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed public health to the forefront. For Nelson Henriquez Jr., it also has provided a preview of the possibilities of his desired career path. As an upcoming graduating…Continue Reading Pandemic provides soon-to-be Trojan with career path possibilities

Even a global pandemic could not stop the USC Leslie and William McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative’s class of 2020 from gathering online to rejoice in their successes. On April 29 and May 1, the graduating high school seniors of the USC Leslie and William McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative gathered online to celebrate their college decisions. The…Continue Reading USC Neighborhood Academic Initiative’s 2020 grads celebrate on Zoom

USC’s public safety officers have teamed up with local police to distribute supplies to families in university-adjacent neighborhoods. The USC Department of Public Safety and USC University Relations are joining with the Los Angeles Police Department to distribute much-needed food, supplies and books to families in the neighborhoods surrounding the university. “These are trying times for…Continue Reading USC and LAPD deliver care packages to local communities