“You have pursued your studies with passion and diligence, you have given generously of your time in service to others, and you have made a lasting impact on our campuses and in our community by upholding the qualities of the ideal Trojan,” said USC President C. L. Max Nikias during the May 17 ceremony in Bovard Auditorium.

The 2013 award winners include founding members of student organizations, captains of Trojan athletics teams and students who have maintained 4.0 grade point averages during their entire course of study.

Nine students received standing ovations after being presented with USC’s most prestigious academic awards and maintaining 4.0 grade point averages all four years of their undergraduate studies. The Emma Josephine Bradley Bovard Award was given to Shelby Bachman, Katherine Fu, Olivia Lassoff, Julia Mangione, Sara Meghji and Aadrita Mukerji. The University Trustees Award went to Alexander Fullman, Walker Hollrah and Jeffrey Sakamoto. The USC Provost’s Award, given to students who have attained the highest scholarship average of all undergraduate transfer students, was awarded to Andrew Alonzo and Paris Jami-Tehrani.

Marshall Scholar Alexander Fullman, Luce Scholar Tamara Shogaolu, Truman and Fulbright Scholar Travis Glynn, and Fullbright Scholars Jasneet Aulakh, Juan Espinoza, Andrew Ju, Ana Lee, Molly Levine, Megan Rilkoff, Joshua Rivkin and Jonathan Truong, have received nationally competitive fellowships to study internationally after graduating.

The Order of the Laurel and the Palm, the highest honor bestowed on graduating seniors for exemplary leadership and excellent scholarship, was awarded to 22 seniors: Alana Barden, Eric Burse, Juan Espinoza, Alexander Fullman, Travis Glynn, David Hernandez, Dana Horowitz, Lauren Jung, Megan Lambert, Janet Lee, Julia Mangione, Erica Patel, Rikiesha Pierce, Georg Ristock, Angela Ross, Gabrielle Sharaga, Abby Stork, Zach Timm, Jayme Tsutsuse, Tyler Tyburski, Monica Valencia and Steve Wolfshohn.

One-hundred and seventy-nine seniors received the Order of the Troy award for their extraordinary service and commitment to the campus community, and 72 graduate students received the Order of Areté, the highest honor for demonstrating significant depth and scope of responsibility in a campus or community leadership role.

In addition, 316 seniors were honored as USC Renaissance Scholars, students graduating in two or more widely separate fields of study with both a major and a minor, or a double major, or two baccalaureate degrees. Of these, the following 10 won $10,000 each for post-baccalaureate study: Christie Amrein, Marguerite Bowen, Karen Fang, Arielle Gillman, Janice Kitchen, William McGarey, Sara Meghji, Aadrita Mukerji, Robert Rosencrans and Brandon Wolfe.

Of the 57 Global Scholars, students who spent at least 10 weeks outside the U.S. as part of their undergraduate experience, the following 10 were selected to receive $10,000 each to pursue graduate studies: Sarah Choi, William (Scott) Fairbanks, Jenny Ham, Janet Lee, Myles Lock, Julia Mangione, Meaghan Pohl, Anu Ramachandran, Jayme Tsutsuse and Eve White.

Eighty-two students were named Discovery Scholars for producing original scholarship or creative work while compiling a distinguished overall academic record, and 10 won $10,000 prizes for post-baccalaureate studies: Troy Armstrong, Jasneet Aulakh, Alexander Fullman, Christopher Hanke, Devon Mott, Julian (Jules) Pegram, Roza Petrosyan, Abhinav Prem, Russell Stewart and Ka Ming (Margaret) To.

“This is one stop in your destination of accomplishment and achievement,” said Michael L. Jackson, vice president for Student Affairs, at the conclusion of the program. “There are so many complex problems in the world: eliminating poverty, promoting peace, engendering respect for all no matter their backgrounds or socioeconomic statuses, helping others who are less fortunate lead lives of purpose, and spreading love and hope in those corners of the world where freedom is a dream. Students, you are our present and our future, and the faculty, staff, the alumni and the trustees of the University of Southern California wish you all the best in your future endeavors. Thank you for choosing USC, and thank you for leaving lasting legacies that will carry on for decades to come.”

The emergence of “41” as an offensive term dates back to 1901, when police in Mexico City arrested 41 men, some dressed as women, at a private party. Since then, calling people “41” in Spanish has been a derogatory way to label them as homosexual.

Alberto B. Mendoza wanted to put a new, positive spin on the number — to reclaim it as a label of respect. In March 2013, he established Honor 41 to highlight  prominent role models within the LGBT Latino community and increase visibility of LGBT people of color in the media.

“It was to take away the negative association with ‘41,’ to help heal people from that experience and — for those people who didn’t know anything about it — to provide a little education about that historical moment,” he said. “I wanted to demonstrate and celebrate 41 role models in our community as a response to that.”

Vincent Vigil was a prime candidate for the distinction. Nominated by anonymous peers, he earned the number seven spot among selected role models due to his outstanding work with the LGBT community at USC.

When Vigil came to USC as a graduate student at the USC Rossier School of Education in 2002, he noticed the lack of cohesion between LGBT organizations on campus. After completing in-depth research with the student population, and analyzing their needs and concerns, he successfully submitted a proposal to create an LGBT center. With the support of Student Affairs, Vigil became the new LGBT Resource Center’s founding director, a position he has held since 2005.

“When there was finally a home, that’s where we were able to work together and create a synergy and get participation to where it is now,” said Vigil, who also teaches at USC Rossier.

Indeed, the services available to LGBT students have expanded exponentially. By assisting with the Rainbow Floor residential community and overseeing peer mentoring programs, social events and programming, the LGBT Resource Center provides students with support and leadership opportunities.

In addition to recognizing Vigil’s achievements within the USC community, Mendoza acknowledged the personal journey that Vigil took to become the leader he is today.

“Here was this young man who was raised by a single mother, who really used education as his ticket out,” said Mendoza. “Through his own inquisitive nature and his desire to bring about change, he proposed an idea and had it become a reality. That was a story worth sharing.”

Vigil is delighted and humbled that the organization has selected him, and hopes that Honor 41′s honorees will inspire the next generation of LGBT leaders.

“It is very important that there are faces out there that are people of color and LGBT, so that a lot of young people can see that there are leaders out there like them,” he said. “So I hope that I can help other people, just by being me.”

Corliss Bennett-McBride, director for the Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs (CBCSA), explained the purpose of these special ceremonies.

“It gives you that cultural intimacy,” she said. “There’s a personal aspect. Separate — no. It’s ‘in addition to.’ It’s geared toward that community. We can celebrate the way we would like to do it.”

CBCSA will host the African-American Cultural Celebration (Black Grad), featuring African drummers, gospel singers, speeches from a valedictorian and salutatorian, and a spoken word performance by Nate Howard, who is graduating with a degree in communication.

Black Grad will take place on Thursday, May 16, at 8:30 p.m. in Bovard Auditorium. Graduating students must register online by Wednesday, May 15, and participation is free. Tickets for guests may be purchased online or at the door for $10. For more information, visit sait.usc.edu/cbcsa/black_graduation_info.asp

Similarly, Asian Pacific American Student Services (APASS) is co-sponsoring an evening with the Asian Pacific Alumni Association and the Asian Pacific American Student Assembly. Denzil Suite, associate vice president for Student Affairs, will give welcome remarks, followed by traditional Chinese dancing, speeches from students, and a keynote address by Phil Yu, the creator of the “Angry Asian Man” blog.

Mary Ho, director of APASS, called the evening “a celebration to honor students of Asian descent and an acknowledgement of their culture and heritage in this intimate graduate celebration.”

The event is scheduled for Thursday, May 16, at 8:30 p.m. in the Tutor Campus Center Ballroom. Participation is free, and graduating students and guests must register by Wednesday, May 15, at tinyurl.com/apgrad2013.

On the same evening, May 16, El Centro Chicano will host a bilingual graduate celebration, which kicks off with a procession of graduating students at 8 p.m. Led by Aztec dancers, the procession begins at El Centro Chicano (United University Church 300, 817 W. 34^th Street) and culminates at Howard Jones Field, which the Aztec dancers bless as the ceremony begins. Every participating graduate has the opportunity to speak for 20 seconds about anything they like. Many thank mentors, family and friends for their continued love and support.

“It’s very inspirational; we have it very family-oriented,” said Billy Vela, director of El Centro Chicano. “It has all the elements of why graduation is special, and folks get to be recognized within their community.”

Guests of the celebration do not need to RSVP or purchase tickets. Guests should arrive at Howard Jones Field between 6 and 8 p.m.

Two other cultural celebrations took place slightly earlier on campus. On April 18 in the University Club, the Office of International Services had an end-of-year celebration, which included performances by USC Thornton School of Music students, USC Kazan Taiko drummers and Brazilian Samba dancers. Anne Kaufman, an international student adviser, said the event not only celebrated graduating students’ achievements, but also provided them with an opportunity to mingle cross-culturally.

A few weeks later on May 4, the LGBT Resource Center, in conjunction with the Lambda Alumni Association, put on the 19^th annual Lavender Commencement Celebration in Argue Plaza. Student graduates received a certificate, goody bag and rainbow tassel, and Lambda also awarded scholarships to distinguished graduates.

Vincent Vigil, director of the LGBT Resource Center, said that Lavender — along with all of the cultural graduation ceremonies — provides a personal, community-centered feeling for the graduating students.

“It’s to honor the graduates for all of their accomplishments, but then also to acknowledge their identities,” he said. “It shows that the university valued their experience.”

Hit the books in the Tutor Campus Center (TCC)’s lounges and large meeting rooms, which are open 24 hours a day during finals. There are also private meeting rooms that can be reserved for four hours using the Walk-in Request program.

Several libraries, computing centers and campus eateries also have extended hours during finals: Leavey Library, Salvatori Computer Science Center, Seeds and Trojan Grounds are open 24 hours; Doheny Library and the Science & Engineering Library are open till 2 a.m. Ground Zero Coffee House is hopping until midnight every night.

Study locations in the residence halls and apartments are open to residents, and most classrooms are available until 11 p.m when they are not being used for exams or scheduled events. The first floor of the Von KleinSmid Center (VKC) is available 24 hours during finals, unless it’s being used for exams.

Once you’ve earned a study break, head to TCC for the following free events and programs. Special prizes will be awarded for students who attend.

Sleepy and study time finals kits
Office for Wellness and Health Promotion (OWHP), SHC 206

You can’t ace your test without a good night’s sleep. Pick up free kits that include sleep masks, earplugs, Tylenol and much more!

Study break at the Lyon Center
Work out, play racquetball or take a swim at one of the USC Recreational Sports facilities. Check out their hours at usc.edu/recsports.

Tie-dye T-shirt making: Wednesday, May 8, from 7–9 p.m.
TCC International Plaza

Get the knot out of your stomach and tie knots in a T-shirt instead at this tie-die workshop. USC OWHP will supply both the colors and the threads.

Meditation and relaxation with free coffee: Thursday, May 9, from 5–6 p.m.
TCC 232

Stop by and let the USC Kortschak Center and the Center for Academic Support infuse you with equal doses of calm and caffeine.

Free coffee and game night: Friday, May 10, from 5–9 p.m.
TCC 232

Get your game on, courtesy of TCC Operations.

Yoga: Monday, May 13, from 7–8 p.m.
TCC 232

What’s more important than your grades? Your breathing, of course. Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth at this free yoga class, brought to you by USC Recreational Sports.

For more information, visit sait.usc.edu/campuscenter/page.asp?PageID=194.

Good news: the USC Department of Public Safety (DPS) is seeking student donations to enrich the lives of local community members at Norwood Street Elementary School.

Simply bring your donations — unwanted clothes, unopened food, furniture and electronic items — to the mall-way at Troy Hall (University Place and 30th Street) from Wednesday, May 8, through Saturday, May 11, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

For more information, visit capsw06.usc.edu/node/5303 or the DPS Facebook page at facebook.com/pages/USC-Department-of-Public-Safety/194126327268956. Students with questions may also call Officer Sabrina Brown at 213-740-6224.

On April 23, these simple words flashed across a movie screen in the USC Engemann Student Health Center, where students, faculty, staff and mental health professionals had gathered to watch and discuss the short film Crooked Beauty.

The screen flickered with black-and-white images of barren trees, rolling fog and wind whipping through tall grass. The narrator declared: “If I was determined to live my life in a city, and to work a really intensive, steady job in an office, I think I would have to take medication to do that. But I don’t think that fact means I have a disease.”

The screening was hosted by the nonprofit Art With Impact, which holds a monthly contest offering a $1,000 cash prize for short films about mental health. Funded by California Prop 63, the organization then screens the winning films and leads panel discussions on college campuses across the U.S.

After the film drew to a close, Cary McQueen, executive director of Art With Impact, invited the audience to break into groups of three to discuss their thoughts, feelings and reactions. Then she screened Rinse and Repeat, a film narrated by a man with obsessive-compulsive disorder; and Always Hope, the story of a stranger who intervenes in a near suicide.

“When you’re going through some of these feelings that we saw in these movies, it’s a very scary step to walk into someone’s office to get help,” said Ilene Rosenstein, director of USC Student Counseling Services. “The best way for us to reach out is by forming a connection with the person who is struggling and giving hope, which has been the message of these films. People do want to feel better, but they also don’t want to lose themselves in the process.”

Following the screenings, Monica Castaneda-Garcia, a student at California State University, Fullerton, shared her personal experience of major depression with psychosis.

“What helped me through the whole recovery process were all the people around me who supported me,” she said. “And so I just want to say to any of you in the room — who might be feeling hopeless or in pain — that there is hope.”

The audience received additional information about how to promote mental health from a distinguished panel of professionals.

“People feel like sometimes nobody wants to hear, and no one’s going to help me, but really, there are people who want to help,” said panelist Kathleen Piché, public affairs director for the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health.

And the Trojan Family always takes care of its own. Panelist Lynette Merriman, senior associate dean for USC Student Affairs, shared information about the resources available to students through departments including Student Counseling Services and Student Support and Advocacy.

Andrea Torres, director of Student Support and Advocacy, added that she and her department colleagues aren’t mental health professionals. “But we have a big heart; we care; we’re sensitive,” she said. “We’re certainly going to listen. So we can get students to the appropriate help that they need.”

Several panelists also mentioned Trojans Care for Trojans (TC4T), a USC Student Affairs Website that provides an anonymous online reporting form for students to express their concerns about other members of the Trojan Family.

“The counseling services as well as other folks here are doing a great job,” said Merriman, “and word is out there that we’re here to help and we do care.”

For more information, visit artwithimpact.org.

Scott has been in a wheelchair since he was seven years old, but that hasn’t stopped him from playing sports.

“I’m a transfer student, and at junior college, I played wheelchair basketball,” he said. “It’s important for everybody to have access to athletics, especially for people with disabilities. It’s not just about being competitive, it’s a matter of taking care of your body and staying active.”

When Scott arrived at USC, he learned that there wasn’t a wheelchair athletics program. So Edward Roth, assistant dean and director of Disability Services and Programs, put Scott in touch with Fitness Coordinator Daralisa Cheung. Together, they formed the adaptive recreation program, which was recognized as an official student club by Campus Activities in March.

Their goal – providing opportunities to be active for students with disabilities.

“A lot of people want to play basketball or tennis or wheelchair rugby or get involved in aquatics or kayaking or rock climbing,” said Roth. “There are all sorts of adaptive things we can set up, and a variety of universities have one level or another of adaptive recreational equipment.”

Adaptive recreation is not just for people in wheelchairs; it is for anyone who cannot participate in a traditional university athletic offering for reasons ranging from a lung problem to paralysis.

“It’s an enriching part of life and allows them to have similar experiences that all students would have in enjoying a sports team and competition,” said Roth.

Still in the growing stages, the club is planning its first trip, a post-finals kayaking adventure at the UCLA Marina Aquatics center. USC’s program will team up with the already established UCLA program, especially for water-related activities.

Short-term goals include getting more members and raising money to buy sports wheelchairs so participants don’t need to have their own. The club will be applying for grants and reaching out to alumni in an effort to hit its $10,000 goal by the fall. Long-term goals include creating a robust program complete with weekly activities, intramural leagues and intercollegiate teams.

“The program is really dynamic and flexible around the students and what they are interested in,” Cheung said. “We’re here to support the students.”

For more information on the adaptive recreation program contact Cheung at djcheung@saemail.usc.edu or Scott at robertes@usc.edu.

From April 15–19, both the University Park and Health Sciences campuses hosted numerous events promoting wellness of all kinds. Offerings ranged from free gym access to guided meditation to lectures on smoking cessation, nutrition and sexual health.

At the Stress Management Fair, the focus was on finding ways to alleviate the everyday pressures of being a student or employee. Various booths gave participants the chance to make their own relaxation tools, including stress balls (balloons filled with flour), neck pillows (tube socks filled with rice and scented oils) and homemade cards.

One of the most popular stations featured two furry friends — a golden retriever and Boston terrier — brought by Love On 4 Paws, an animal assisted therapy organization.

Dogs “can help bring people down from their anxiety,” said Patrick Wise, a volunteer with Love On 4 Paws. “It’s the unconditional nature of their attention and love. There are no bad days with them.”

Several of the other stations had free giveaways for participants. After entering a raffle, attendees could spin a wheel and win prizes such as LÄRABAR über snacks or coupons for Yogurtland, Cold Stone Creamery and other eateries.

For many of the students attending, the event came at the perfect time of year. Saemy Son, a senior majoring in social sciences (psychology), expressed her appreciation.

“It’s awesome because it’s around a stressful time in students’ lives,” she said. “We’re finishing up everything before finals. Something like this, even though it takes only five minutes, really helps.”

Son’s sentiment reflected the central purpose of Well U Week — to encourage taking small steps toward wellness, such as practicing deep breathing, preparing a balanced meal or cuddling with Fido.

“We’re highlighting choices,” said Jennifer Siu, associate director of Recreational Sports. “When we first did this, it was a Well U Challenge, but then we thought, ‘Wellness isn’t a competition! It’s just about being well.’ ”

On April 17, the Skull and Dagger honor society commemorated its 100^th anniversary at USC by giving the university “class markers” or plaques displaying the year of each graduating class. The markers are embedded in the brick wall lining Alumni Walk, located on the south side of the Tutor Campus Center.

The class marker tradition began in 1887, when USC’s first class immortalized its graduation year with a commemorative plaque on the exterior wall of the College of Liberal Arts building.

After the College of Liberal Arts building’s demolition in the 1940s, the university meticulously reinstalled the 1887–1936 markers in Founders Hall. Markers for the classes of 1937–1948 decorated the pavement in front of the Bovard Administration Building.

But dark days were ahead for the class markers. In 1949, the class marker tradition went on hiatus for the next half-century. In 1982, Founders Hall expanded to become the Taper Hall of Humanities, and all but one of the pre-1936 class markers were lost during the construction.

When Jerry Papazian, current president of USC Skull and Dagger, learned of the markers’ history, he decided it was time to restore the tradition. In 2000, Skull and Dagger commemorated the first graduating class of the new millennium by embedding a class marker made of cardinal-colored granite in the Bovard pavement, and subsequent classes have followed suit.

Skull and Dagger also wanted to honor the pre-1936 classes with markers that had been lost. So Shane Swerdlow, class of 2010, helped produce replicas based on the only surviving reference materials: the remaining class of 1925 marker and a black-and-white photograph.

“It’s really exciting to work on an important part of our Trojan heritage that went missing several decades ago,” he said.

Skull and Dagger has also been creating markers for the classes that graduated during the years when the tradition was on hiatus —1949–1999.

During the April 17 ceremony, Papazian unveiled USC’s collection of class markers — both replicas and newly relocated originals — on Alumni Walk.

“We wanted to do it right,” he said. “What better place than in the new Campus Center, in this beautiful walkway?”

Papazian revealed the marker-studded brick wall to delighted applause, and Vice President for Student Affairs Michael L. Jackson accepted the gift on behalf of the university.

Thanking Papazian, Jackson expressed what the commemoration meant to the Trojan community.

“When we were designing the Campus Center, we wanted to design a facility that fit into the tradition of USC,” he said. “We’re proud to have this new addition to the Campus Center. This project reflects history, modernity and the future.”

From Brazilian samba dancers to Japanese Taiko drummers, the celebration will feature live entertainment from around the world. Mingle with supporters of the Trojan international community and enjoy jazz performances, raffle prizes, food, drinks, dessert and more.

To RSVP, visit uscstudentaffairs.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_8eROGwzHYfyj8fH.