Word from Widney


Dear Fellow Trojans,

On Friday, May 16, the Trojan Family will celebrate a day of tradition and transition, when the graduating members of USC's Class of 2014 say goodbye to their college days during the university's 131st Commencement exercises. It's one of those pivotal life moments, thrilling yet bittersweet, but one thing is certain - as the newest members of our alumni community, the Class of 2014 graduates will enjoy the many benefits and privileges of being USC alumni, including automatic membership in the USC Alumni Association. More...





Alumni Headlines
Michael Tilson Thomas Named Judge Widney Professor
Longtime San Francisco Symphony music director Michael Tilson Thomas '67, MM '76 has been named a Judge Widney Professor of Music at USC. The National Medal of Arts recipient and 11-time Grammy winner joins fellow Judge Widney Professors Gen. David Petraeus, architect Frank Gehry '54 and poet Dana Gioia.



81st Annual USC Alumni Awards
The USC Alumni Awards marked the start of its ninth decade by honoring eight exceptional Trojans on April 26. USC President C. L. Max Nikias presented the Asa V. Call Alumni Achievement Award, the university's highest alumni honor, to USC Trustee Daniel J. Epstein '62. View photos here.



Congratulations Class of 2014!
The USC Alumni Association welcomes Class of 2014 graduates and their families to Widney Alumni House on Commencement Day 2014 Friday, May 16. Relax, enjoy refreshments and learn about the lifelong benefits of your automatic USC Alumni Association membership.



Marshall Alum Endows Global Real Estate Program
William J. McMorrow '69, MBA '70, chairman and CEO of the real estate investment and services firm Kennedy Wilson, has made a substantial gift to establish and endow a global real estate program at the USC Marshall School of Business.



Reunion Weekend 2014
Calling all undergrads from the classes of 1964, 1974, 1984, 1989, 1994 and 2004: Reunion Weekend 2014 is October 17-18. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to reconnect with your classmates, the Trojan Family and 'SC! Registration begins early July. For more information, please email Laura Capo, director of reunions, or call her at (213) 821-6257.




5th Annual Tommy Awards
Trojan talent will be on full display in the Big Apple on June 23, when the 5th Annual Tommy Awards honors the extraordinary contributions of four alums to the cultural, philanthropic and business communities of New York. Click here for more information and to RSVP.



Trash Talk
Bits of greasy pizza boxes, Styrofoam peanuts, apple cores all churning into one, massive heap... think this is just garbage? Rubbish! Some is turned into electricity. Just ask Julia McGinnis '03, MPA '06 of Orange County Waste & Recycling.



Summer Reading
If you're a Trojan baseball fan, put Rod Dedeaux: Master of the Diamond at the top of your summer reading list. Written by David Rankin '53, MS '61, this portrait of the 'SC icon features dozens of photos and personal tributes. And check out other new titles by alumni authors!






Trojan Alum-inaries


Marc Benioff
Wayne Hughes
Shonda Rhimes

USC Trustee Marc Benioff '86, CEO and chairman of salesforce.com, will deliver the address and receive an honorary degree at USC's 131st Commencement on May 16. Two other alumni will also receive honorary degrees: USC Trustee B. Wayne Hughes '57, the founder of Public Storage, and Shonda Rhimes MFA '94, the creator/executive producer of such television series as Grey's Anatomy and Scandal.





Young Alumni Spotlight
Max Slavkin '09 is the co-founder and CEO of Creative Action Network, a marketplace for original, visual and meaningful work, crowdsourced from artists and designers. Recent projects include partnering with the National Parks Conservation Association to revive the legacy of New Deal art projects.





Alma Matters

USC breaks ground on USC Kaufman School of Dance
USC officially broke ground on the USC Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center on April 23, opening a new era for arts at the university.

USC's most selective admit group ever
The admitted group of 9,225 students was selected from a highly competitive and diverse pool of 51,800 applicants with broad geographic, ethnic and socioeconomic representation. This represents a 17.8 percent admission rate, the lowest in USC's history.

Spielberg joins USC leaders to announce genocide research center
The Center for Advanced Genocide Research, which aims to study how and why mass violence occurs, has been established at the USC Shoah Foundation – The Institute for Visual History and Education.

Hoey named Pac-12 Men's Golf Freshman of the Year
Rico Hoey leads the Trojans in stroke average and rounds in the 60s and is the fifth Trojan ever to earn the recognition.