MEDIA ADVISORY: NAI Celebrates 25 Years of College Access and Success at Annual Gala and Awards Ceremony

• USC’s Neighborhood Academic Initiative sets local students on the path to college as early as sixth grade. 
• All graduates will be heading to college, 19 to USC on full-tuition scholarships. 
• To date, over 900 students have graduated from the program since 1997.
• Thirty-eight former NAI alum are also expected to graduate from USC in May marking the largest number to ever walk in a commencement ceremony.

Contact: Pamela Madrid 626-398-5033 (office), 626-297-7199 (cell) or uscnews@usc.edu

WHEN:  May 5 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

WHERE:  USC University Park Campus; Town and Gown
(665 Exposition Blvd., LA 90089)

VIDEO/PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES:

• NAI graduates waving pennants of their future alma mater
• Academic honors and scholarship awards ceremony
• Presentation of medals of completion
• Jeanie Buss; President and co-owner, Los Angeles Lakers and USC Trustee, special honoree
• Alysha Del Valle; Morning traffic reporter, ABC7- mistress of ceremonies
• USC and NAI representatives

MORE: To date, the University of Southern California’s Neighborhood Academic Initiative (NAI) program, has graduated 924 students since 1997.  All 56 graduates will enroll in college this fall or attend military academy.

Approximately 19 of this year’s graduates will enroll at USC in the fall on full-tuition scholarships.  Other students are bound for various prestigious universities including Harvard University, Wesleyan College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Cal Poly Pomona, University of California campuses, and California State schools.  Collectively, the students were admitted to a total of 51 schools.

First-generation college students, who are the first in their families to attend college, represent the majority of program participants.  Students hail from local public schools from the university’s neighborhoods.  Graduating students spent seven years attending early-morning tutoring during the week, and day-long Saturday classes, on the USC campus.

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STUDENT PROFILE: Mauricio Garcia

Mauricio Garcia is about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. He is Harvard bound.

The importance of a strong work ethic was modeled for Mauricio by his parents from an early age.  They also endured extraordinary conditions before immigrating to the United States to raise a family.  Both parents are originally from El Salvador.  His father, a cook, was kidnapped by recruiters several times as a child during the civil war in his homeland.  Mom, a child caregiver, didn’t own a pair of shoes until the age of 12.

As one of four children, Mauricio has worked hard to honor the opportunities his family has sacrificed to provide for him. Maurcio plans to major in molecular and cellular biology while at Harvard and hopes to become a cancer researcher.

*Expanded bio available.

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STUDENT PROFILE: Lilly Diaz

Lilly Diaz has been able to rise above the pressures of added responsibilities, and negative stereotypes, to emerge as a confident student.  Among her many accomplishments include recognition from Mayor Garcetti for her involvement in STEM activities at James A. Foshay Learning Center.  Lilly plans to attend USC in the fall as an English major, with a minor in information technology.

*Expanded bio available.

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STUDENT PROFILE: Stephanie Cuevas

Stephanie Cuevas was accepted to a total of 10 universities after overcoming personal adversity. She strongly believes in giving back to the community and has volunteered at the Fred Jordan Mission during Thanksgiving, Los Angeles Times Festival of Books and the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games among others. She plans to attend USC in the fall as a sociology major, and is excited to serve as a mentor to her three younger siblings who are also NAI program participants.

*Expanded bio available.

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ABOUT: NAI is a seven-year pre-college, comprehensive, rigorous educational program operated by USC Civic Engagement. NAI prepares low-income, first generation, under-represented, minority students living in the neighborhoods surrounding USC for access and success at a college or university. Those who complete the program, meet USC’s competitive admission requirements, and choose to attend USC, are awarded a full financial package minus loans. Many NAI students are the first in their family to graduate from high school and in most cases they are the first in their family to attend college. NAI boasts a 100% high school graduation rate and a 98% college attendance rate. NAI Scholars are accepted to and attend top prestigious universities and colleges across the country including USC, Harvard, Stanford and UCLA. The NAI program garnered national media attention and serves as a model program for college access and success.

Additional information regarding the USC Neighborhood Academic Initiative can be found at https://communities.usc.edu/college-access/nai/.