Neighborhood Academic Initiative – USC University Relations

Donation of more than 4,000 books aims to promote literacy in USC’s neighborhood

The books are earmarked for nine schools with K-5 programs within the USC Family of Schools and will be delivered via the USC Leslie and William McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative. As a follow-up to the 24th annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, the USC Leslie and William McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative will donate more than…Continue Reading Donation of more than 4,000 books aims to promote literacy in USC’s neighborhood

Promising young scholars honored as USC high-school initiative celebrates its latest graduates

More than 1,000 students have now gone through the USC McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative, a seven-year-long pre-college program that helps prepare local students for higher education. BY Saul Garcia and Chandrea Miller MAY 6, 2019 University leaders, fellow Trojans and friends of USC came together Thursday night to honor and celebrate the graduating high school seniors of the USC…Continue Reading Promising young scholars honored as USC high-school initiative celebrates its latest graduates

USC interim president offers encouraging words at Neighborhood Academic Initiative visit

Wanda M. Austin praises parents for their support and recalls the importance of academics in her own life Interim President Wanda M. Austin spoke to parents taking part in the Leslie and William McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative Program’s Saturday Academy on USC’s Health Sciences Campus. “Your love for your children shines through,” Austin told the…Continue Reading USC interim president offers encouraging words at Neighborhood Academic Initiative visit

Community Benefits from Collaboration

When the USC Kid Watch program was launched more than two decades ago, the area surrounding the six Family of Schools was a far cry from today’s bustling corridor (prior to the Galen Center, the USC Village, the Expo line, Banc of California Field) and the children walking to and from school on their own…Continue Reading Community Benefits from Collaboration

First Man screening, panel open world of opportunities for young scholars

The youngsters — participants in the signature USC Neighborhood Academic Initiative program — hang on every word from the panel of Trojan aerospace experts For Quetzalli Vergara, Friday’s screening of First Man and panel discussion with USC experts on aerospace was an opportunity to gain insight into her future ambitions. “I’m interested in the space and science…Continue Reading First Man screening, panel open world of opportunities for young scholars

L.A. sixth-graders start their path to college on a red carpet at USC

More than 100 sixth-graders — the 28th class of the USC Leslie and William McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative scholars — walked the red carpet in grand style, their first step as part of the seven-year college prep program at USC. Accompanied by cheers from previous NAI scholars, who will soon be their peers and mentors,…Continue Reading L.A. sixth-graders start their path to college on a red carpet at USC