New student convocation welcomes two classes to the Trojan Family
The Trojan tradition takes on special meaning for first- and second-year students who are experiencing USC in person for the first time.
https://youtu.be/FPoWqpKt9uE
President Carol L. Folt and the Trojan Family welcomed new students Thursday as they begin their academic journey. Watch the video of the event, the transcript of which is below.
Please rise for the singing of the national anthem, performed by Madeline Lew, and please remain standing for the invocation.
National anthem is sung; voiceover introduces Varun Soni, vice provost for campus wellness and crisis intervention and dean of religious life.
New Trojans,
We gather here today at this auspicious time and this auspicious place for a quintessential academic rite of passage – new student convocation.
In so many ways, today is the day we’ve all been waiting for.
Not only do we commemorate your formal induction into the Trojan Family today, but we also celebrate our coming together again as a Trojan Family.
Since we last gathered on campus more than 500 days ago, we’ve all gone through trauma and tragedy, we’ve all encountered devastation and despair, and we’ve all wrestled with the emotional impact of doom-scrolling and the sheer exhaustion of Zoom fatigue.
Indeed, over the course of the pandemic, we’ve quite literally been left to our own devices, and as a result, we’ve spent more time speaking with our thumbs than talking with our tongues, more time holding our cell phones than holding our loved ones.
And that’s why gathering today in-person is so significant and means so much.
But the unfortunate reality is that long before COVID-19 cruelly took us away from each other, our cell phones took us away from each other.
Long before we put on our physical masks offline, we wore our virtual masks online. And long before we longed to be together, we far too often chose our screens instead of each other, and we far too quickly answered the call of our cell phones before the call of the ages.
And so, it is within this context and spirit that I ask everyone here today – students, faculty, staff, administrators, trustees, and family members – to join me in lifting up your cell phones and keeping them raised…
It is now my great privilege to offer this blessing of the cell phones:
May our cell phones and smart devices be sources of creativity and connection as opposed to outrage and anxiety.
May our devices enlighten us to new and different perspectives, worldviews, and realities instead of just amplifying and reinforcing what we might already think and believe.
May we resist the enduring temptation of constantly comparing our real lives and struggles to the curated, idealized, Instagram lives of others.
May we remember that we don’t need hundreds of friends online, we just need three real friends in real life who have our back no matter what.
And ultimately, may our cell phones and smart devices empower all of us to bring our gifts of love and service to the altar of humanity.
May we recognize once again that we are not isolated beings but deeply connected, in mystery and in miracle, to this university, to this community, and to each other.
And may we all say together AMEN…
And now the moment you’ve all been waiting for – please be seated…
[After delivering the invocation, SONI asks the audience to be seated, and returns to his seat. A voiceover introduces PRESIDENT CAROL L. FOLT, who approaches the podium]
FOLT :
Thank you, Dean Soni, for your beautiful words.
And thank you, Madeline Lew, for that amazing performance!
Good morning and welcome to the University of Southern California’s 2021 Convocation!
And a special shout out, to all our new Trojans!
It’s wonderful to be together, in person, after so long.
More than 20,000 students, faculty, staff and family members are here, for this important and special academic celebration, to welcome and celebrate students from three USC classes in 2021 and 2020.
They’re joined by more than 6000 students in graduate, masters, PhD, and professional programs from our 22 schools.
This is a really big group — and it’s exciting to begin our USC journey together.
—–
I thought about you as I woke up this morning.
I imagined you felt something very special when you came here – like I did on my first day.
You probably felt the spirit of the place, just walking across this beautiful campus – I always do.
Getting to this point, after 18 challenging months of shutdowns and restrictions, hasn’t been easy for any of us.
The pandemic caused enormous challenges, and you faced them with courage and compassion.
But now you’re here and officially Trojans – thanks to your hard-work, your incredible dedication, and the promise of what you’ll achieve ahead.
You are the fresh faces of tomorrow – you’ll take the first-rate education you receive here,
to become inspirational doers, thinkers and leaders across the world – just like legions of Trojans before you.
—–
Of course, no one gets here, even to this ceremony, alone — and I’d like to start with some words of gratitude.
We’re here today thanks to a lot of very special people, including: our dedicated landscapers, custodial and essential service colleagues – who prepared our gorgeous campus for your return; the amazing medical, healthcare, student services, and administrative staff, who helped us reopen, safely and securely; our extraordinary faculty, academic and technical staff – who have adapted almost daily, over these long months, and can’t wait to greet you; and of course, the family, friends, mentors, and others who helped each of you along the way.
In fact, there are many, many people who deserve our thanks today – I just wish we could recognize them all.
—–
Of course, even as we feel the joy of being together, we know the pandemic isn’t over.
We need to be vigilant and careful.
That’s why earlier this month, I announced rules on testing, vaccination and wearing face coverings – to keep ourselves, our fellow Trojans and our neighbors safe, and to comply with LA County public health mandates.
I know we’re tired of these measures, but they are keeping us open, and safer – the benefits far outweigh the annoyances.
So, I thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding.
—–
Now, I’d like to talk a little bit about you, our new students.
You’re accomplished, motivated and passionate – with diverse experiences and backgrounds.
Some of you are joining us straight from high school, others are returning students, or graduates pursuing advanced degrees.
You include single parents, veterans,
transfer students, and staff members seeking advanced degrees.
More than a fifth of you are the first-in your family to attend college, and another 27% have family members who went to USC.
You come from every state, and from 70 countries around the world.
And you’re smart and determined as can be – the most diverse and academically talented entering classes in USC’s history. Congratulations!
All of this – and so much more — makes our university strong – and,
a very special place.
Someone once told me: “the kinetic energy here
is extraordinary, it bounces off the people, and grows from the diverse centers
of knowledge”.
I love that imagery – as a scientist, it makes me think of a beaker of water boiling like crazy on top of a Bunsen burner – fueled by energy and excitement.
You see that kinetic energy everywhere – you’ll be surrounded by people alive with purpose, smiling and busy, determined to be part of something grand and meaningful.
Take a minute and look around you at your classmates – meet them, know them, support them; they will be your inspiration, and even more importantly, your support in times of need.
Let me tell you about some of the amazing Trojans from all schools and fields, who are using that kinetic energy to make their mark on society.
There’s Allyson Felix, class of 2008 — the most decorated US track and field athlete in history.
She was part of USC’s amazing group of Olympians team, who won 21 medals in Tokyo, including more gold medals than any U.S. university. [APPLAUSE]
For Allyson, winning isn’t defined by medals.
It’s about grit, overcoming defeat, and not letting others impose their expectations on you.
It’s also about giving back – in her case, by speaking out on important issues like health inequities facing Black women.
Trojans help shape our culture as well. Seventy one alumni and faculty were recently nominated, for Emmy awards in dozens of categories, including hit shows, like Bridgerton, WandaVision, and The Queen’s Gambit, that are watched around the world.
For more than 140 years, the people of USC have been serving the public good – in fact, that’s part
of our mission.
For instance, over a period of just a few months, we distributed more than 230,000 COVID vaccines, saving countless lives right here in LA.
I’m sure you already know that Trojans share a passion for USC that is legendary. It’s the real deal and it unites the entire Trojan Family.
Being part of this family comes with great responsibility. Responsibility for integrity, for treating each other with respect; gratitude for all that is given to you,
and to the generations of Trojans who have done so much, so that you could thrive today.
We never shy away from grand challenges — such as addressing climate change, promoting social justice, reducing educational disparities,
and advancing equality and human rights.
Trojans are fighting cancer, creating new industries, and leading arts and culture in new directions.
I’m so proud that USC faculty, staff and students are right at the hub of vital discoveries and advances in all these areas, and many others.
My dream is for you,
to dive right in there, with them.
—–
Finally, I want to leave you with a few thoughts, as you embark on your USC journey:
First, believe me when
I say, that getting to know your professors, is the single most important step you can take. It’s rare to have access like this, to people doing groundbreaking work,
that is changing the world.
And even better, they’re ready and eager to help you, especially if you take the initiative to get to know them.
Second, I want you to reflect deeply on what it is means to be a good neighbor. Please be sensitive about the footprint you leave in the community. By thinking of your neighbors as friends, you can help build the kind of society we all want to be part of – one that values respect and diversity;
a community of good neighbors and kind, compassionate citizens.
Finally, I urge you to cultivate something called a beginner’s mind.
I learned this term recently, when I listened to a fascinating audiobook by world renowned musician, Yo-Yo Ma.
As he says, a beginner’s mind is open to questions, to new connections and explorations,
to unexpected answers.
It’s a mindset that allows us to start fresh in life, all the time.
Yo-Yo Ma approaches every concert as a new beginning, full of possibility.
Olympian Allyson Felix thinks about running, one race at a time, not the arc of her career. “I refocus, regroup, and get back out there,” she says.
“I just have to keep fighting.”
These are powerful words to remember, as you craft your life here at USC.
Approach each new experience with wonder and excitement; do what you need, to refocus, and get back out there when you hit a bump in the road.
Friends, family, mentors will all help you, but your own mindset will make all the difference.
The beginners mind will help you keep fighting – for the things you believe in and the world you want to create – a more just, equitable and sustainable world for all.
Where will your beginner’s mind take you?
What will you stand for, discover, create?
How will you stretch yourself and seek new answers to old questions? All that and more is ahead.
USC is a place of new beginnings and fresh starts – of big dreams and “kinetic energy bouncing off people” — a place where you belong, where you’re valued and where you’ll make your mark.
And I can’t wait, to see what that will be!
Thank you very much, and for the first time, officially, fight on!
[After her remarks, FOLT returns to her seat. A voiceover introduces WINSTON CRISP, vice president for student affairs, as he approaches the podium.]
CRISP:? Good morning, everyone!
It’s my privilege to introduce two student leaders with special words for our incoming USC students.
First, we’ll hear from the president of our Undergraduate Student Government: Alexis Areias [uh-RAY-iss].
Alexis is a senior at Dornsife majoring in political science.
She cares deeply about building a better future for our planet, and she leads college students across
the country in sustainability outreach.
She and her student government colleagues continue to work hard at giving undergraduates a voice on our campuses.
Also joining us today is our Graduate Student Government president: K.J. Queen.
K.J. is working toward her Ph.D. in biostatistics at Keck.
Her research takes a closer look at the cells
that protect us against respiratory infections,
and deepens our understanding of the immune system.
K.J. brings this same dedication to her work on behalf of USC’s graduate and professional students.
Alexis and K.J. would both like to share their greetings with our new students – let’s hear what they have
to say!
[CRISP returns to his seat as AREIAS approaches the podium.]
USG PRESIDENT REMARKS – ALEXIS AREIAS
ALEXIS AREIAS:
Good morning Trojans,
and welcome to the University of Southern California
It is an honor to be here with you today, because today is not just any other day.
Today is the day that you will look back on years from now as a seminal moment in your life– one that changes the reference point of when your goals and aspirations went from being a fantasy,
to becoming a reality.
Today is the day that you join the Trojan family.
And what a unique time
to be taking that leap.
Right here, right now, we are all– in many ways– at the start of another beginning.
For the past 18 months, this pandemic has changed the way all businesses— including the business
of being a student— are conducted.
Virtual is the new normal, masks and social distancing have become second nature, and even something as universal as a handshake feels foreign.
We all have reasons to be concerned, but we have even more reasons to celebrate.
And now as I look out at Alumni Park, I see thousands of reasons to celebrate.
Every one of you brings your own unique set of experiences and perspectives.
With your acceptance into USC, you have surmounted
a tremendous hurdle–
Making it through the most selective admissions cycles USC has ever seen.
Together you have already achieved something great.
As you take your place here at the University
of Southern California, consider the following.
Though the path forward may seem unclear, together, we find ourselves at a pivotal juncture where we have been gifted the opportunity to start from scratch.
Where Behind us,
is a foundation that has been built on years and years of history and tradition.
But in front of us, lies a new, more unified Trojan spirit, waiting to be redefined.
So, while the future feels uncertain, your strength and resilience will guide you.
And I cannot think of a better group to help us take on this challenge, than you, the newest members of the Trojan Family.
Thank you.
[After delivering her remarks, AREIAS returns to her seat as QUEEN approaches the podium.]
GSG PRESIDENT REMARKS – K.J. QUEEN
K.J. QUEEN:
Three years ago,
I walked down San Pablo Street on HSC, slightly lost after picking up my ID and nervous about my first day of graduate school.
Three months prior, I was an undergrad, so what magical transformation did I go through in 90 days to prepare for getting a PhD?
Imposter syndrome reared its ugly head before I even stepped foot in a classroom.
We all know this isn’t a unique experience,
yet I felt so isolated and like I must be the only one feeling this way.
My classmates are incredibly intelligent, talented researchers who are also sincerely empathetic towards the populations we study.
Not to mention the fact that we are being taught by some of the world’s best professors.
How was I supposed to match up to that?…
What did USC see in me that let me be here?…
Three years later,
most of the time,
I feel competent.
I feel confident in my abilities to do research
and in my ability to communicate that research to others.
I feel confident in my ability to advocate for myself and my fellow graduate students.
But I didn’t get here alone, as people say, it took a village… That trepidation
I felt on my first day was met with constant reassurance by faculty that I didn’t need to have it all figured out.
They believed in me and that allowed me the space to believe in myself.
They encouraged me to not settle for the first opportunity that came around but to search out a mentor who would be the best for me, and that led to a mentoring committee that has shaped me into the scientist I am now.
As you start your USC journey, I want to remind you that things might not always be amazing and that is absolutely normal.
There will be tough times but those are the times for which the opportunity for growth is the largest.
Lean on the people around you, lean into the Trojan family, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Look out for yourself and look out for those around you. Plant your roots, and don’t be afraid to grow.
Thank you and fight on.
[After delivering her remarks, QUEEN returns to her seat as CRISP approaches the podium.]
CRISP:? Thank you, Alexis and K.J.!
Now, it’s my pleasure to introduce Michele Lu,
an incoming student at the USC Thornton School of Music.
Michele is a talented singer-songwriter who attended the Orange County School of the Arts.
Earlier this year, she was named among the finalists for the YoungArts Foundation’s voice awards, joining an accomplished group of vocalists from across the country.
At USC, she’ll be a part
of Thornton’s popular music performance program – and part of the wider community of incredible artists on our campuses.
Today, we’ll hear her version of “Friday I’m
In Love” by The Cure.
Please join me in welcoming Michele Lu.
[CRISP returns to his seat as LU performs]
[After LU completes her performance, a voiceover introduces Provost CHARLES ZUKOSKI as he approaches the podium.]
ZUKOSKI:
Good morning, everyone! And thank you, Michele for that terrific performance!
I’m thrilled to welcome you all to the Trojan community.
I’m sure I’ll get to meet many of you during your time at USC, and learn about all of the tremendous work you’re doing across our campuses.
We can’t wait to see what you accomplish – so dream big! Welcome to USC where you can accomplish those dreams.
Now, it is my pleasure to welcome back one of our recent USC graduates: Travis Chen.
Travis is one of our recent graduates that dreams big and accomplishes much.
He joins us to share his experiences and how they play out in the world after graduation.
Travis graduated from Dornsife just a few months ago, earning a B.A. in international relations with an emphasis on global business.
During his time at USC,
he co-founded SoundMind – a startup that uses music therapy to treat PTSD – and he explores how this technology can help even more people.
As his company continues to grow, we also see him helping other businesses collaborate through his work at Amazon Web Services.
Not too long ago, though, he was in your shoes.
He was starting his USC programs.
Now Travis is one of many remarkable Trojan alumni… and his story shows how the knowledge you gain here can guide you toward so many rewarding experiences
in life.
I hope his words this morning inspire you as you begin your own USC journey.
Ladies and gentlemen: Travis Chen.
[ZUKOSKI returns to his seat as CHEN approaches the podium.]
TRAVIS CHEN:
Good Morning Trojans!
My name is Travis Chen, class of 2021 — and a proud Trojan.
Thank you President Folt, the Board of Trustees,
and the USC Alumni Association for the incredible opportunity to represent USC alumni — recent ones and ones who’ve stomped these grounds some years ago
to the incoming Fall 2021 class of Trojans.
Just 17 months ago — around mid-March 2020,
I was thousands of miles away interning for U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, when the world shut down.
What felt like the beginning of an isolated, lonely time — turned out to be one of my favorite memories of being a Trojan.
You see, as Trojans, when challenging times dawns upon us, we bond together and unite as one.
Very quickly, my friends and I began daily FaceTime calls; organizations turned events online; and professors offered extended office hours just to chat — only because they cared about us, our wellbeing, and worried about the lost opportunities that COVID-19 would bring.
Despite graduating just in May of this year, I’m envious that all of you have the fortune — thanks to science — to be on USC’s beautiful campus here at University Park this semester.
I reminisce my daily strolls across these very grounds — Alumni Park, runs between classes from Fertitta to Seeley Mudd Hall in the midst of skateboards/bikes/floods of people, and oddly enough, my times in Leavey Library until the early hours of the morning cramming for a final.
And of course, not to mention, Game Days, times in the USC Village, and days spent exploring LA.
I know exactly the feeling that some of you are experiencing right now: some excited, ready to take on these college years; but for many of you, I’m sure there’s a mix of worry, imposter syndrome, and a sense of questioning: “am I doing enough?”
But what I can assure you is that: as long as you invest the time to meet those around you, you will build a support system that will guide you, lend you that helping hand, and show you how to get to where you want to be — and to tell you that you ARE doing enough.
The relationships that you will build here at USC will be pivotal for your success. Like one of my mentors said to me during my first semester at USC: “never underestimate the value of the network you’re building with your peers.”
But still, there might be some of you out there that feel like the only goal in college is to get that star internship, or to aim for a high paying salary.
But, truthfully, what really matters in life — especially right now, as you embark on your college career — is every single little moment that you’ll be experiencing as a Trojan living in Los Angeles.
Step out of your comfort zones, cherish experiences and make memories with people around you.
Value every single moment that you have with your roommates, classmates, T.A.’s, professors, friends near and far.
Because at the end of the day, these individuals will be your rock in life. They will be the ones who pick up that FaceTime call when you need it the most, those who will throw a surprise birthday party for you, and those who will visit you after heading off after college, just like many of my friends have for me in Seattle.
There might be some of you out there that fall into the easy trap that I often fell into: comparing yourself to others.
Coming to USC, there’s high expectations, fierce competition, and many times, a certain image of what your life should look like.
I will tell you this…. it’s alright to be different and it’s totally OK to take your time to figure out your own path — just like when I founded a mental health startup with my roommate.
So, Trojans, welcome to the University of Southern California. Enjoy this very moment. This is just the beginning of an exciting, thrilling, memory-filled experience that you will never forget.
Take care of yourself, your friends, your families, your mental health — socialize, exercise, find your interests in life, and invest into developing strong relationships with those around you.
Stay busy but manage your time well. And remember, be kind to those around you.
You deserve to be here. You are worthy of being a Trojan. You ARE a Trojan.
Very soon, if you haven’t already, you’ll be traveling the world and seeing USC around the world.
I’ve been lucky enough to see fellow USC Trojans at the Harrods Department Store in London; at the world’s largest mall in Dubai; and even at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Tainan, Taiwan, my grandparents’ hometown.
It’s these small connections that just remind you how small and close knit the Trojan family truly is.
I am honored to be one of the first to welcome you all to the lifelong and world-wide Trojan Family.
And as always, Fight On forever!
[After delivering his remarks, CHEN returns to his seat. A voiceover introduces ZUKOSKI as he approaches the podium.]
ZUKOSKI:?Thank you, for sharing your experiences Travis.
Your journey exemplar of what all our students have opportunities to imagine and achieve.
It’s now my honor to introduce an acclaimed member of USC’s faculty – Professor Anita Dashiell [da-sheel] Sparks.
Professor Dashiell-Sparks is a seasoned stage performer and theatrical director who joined our School of Dramatic Arts
in 2002.
She’s been a terrific role model and creative coach for students in her acting, movement, and critical studies courses.
Through her teaching, Professor Dashiell-Sparks helps students embrace empathy as artists – and as human beings.
She’s also helping the wider Dramatic Arts community take these lessons to heart as the school’s associate dean
of equity, diversity, and inclusion.
When you hear her speak, you’ll know why her students and colleagues consider her an inventive artist, a caring teacher,
and a wonderful mentor.
Everyone, please welcome Professor Anita Dashiell-Sparks.
[ZUKOSKI returns to his seat as DASHIELL-SPARKS approaches the podium.]
ANITA DASHIELL-SPARKS:
Good morning, Trojans!
It is a privilege to stand before you today and to be able to welcome each and every one of you who are present, in this time and space, and during this special moment in history, into the USC Trojan Family.
We are an esteemed community and network that not only spans the globe, but impacts the globe.
As a member of this dynamic USC faculty
I want to first say that it is a necessity and a privilege to see. And to be seen.
I want to say that WE SEE YOU.
I’d also like to offer, perhaps, a few words
of encouragement and inspiration, but more importantly—I want to offer a few words of action.
And in this case, they’re actually not my words. They are the words of one of my heroes and she-roes, the great poet, Nikki Giovanni.
In her 1943 poem “A Journey” she said, “I have heard from previous visitors… the road washes out sometimes… I am not afraid of rough spots… or lonely times… I don’t fear… the success of this endeavor…I am… in a space… not to be discovered… but invented…”
A convocation marks the opening of a new chapter, a new beginning or possibility in one’s life,
it is the action of calling people together, to assemble in celebration
of your entry or journey into higher education.
It is the beginning of your invention—and our re-invention. And clearly we need to be reinvented.
The simple action, ability, and freedom for us to assemble today is not lost on me, nor is it something any of us should take for granted.
The past 18 months have reminded us of that life lesson. After all we have endured, both personally and collectively, we are forever changed and transformed in a myriad of ways. We can’t unsee what we have seen nor un-know what we have come to know and understand.
Yet, here we stand as the very epitome of the Trojan: resilient and hopeful, looking forward to what is to come, while recognizing and honoring what was and what still remains to be done in the midst of global pandemic; in the midst of prioritizing safety, health, and collective wellness; in the midst of fighting for justice in wake of George Floyd’s murder and other lives gone too soon.
We stand at the precipice of possibility, reckonings, and reinvention. And it’s not the first time we have been tasked with such massive responsibility.
As I stand here, I am reminded of my ancestors, all who have come before me that sacrificed and persevered in midst of adversity and triumph, on my behalf, so we must not only exist and live, we must endeavor to thrive.
Not only as individuals but as community, with the shared commonality of humanity.
In the spirit of gratitude,
I invite each of you to breathe, take a moment, and reflect upon those in your life, past or present, that have allowed you to reach this moment of achievement and possibility.
I invite you to say their names either silently or out loud in recognition. Lest we forget….
Finally, I leave you with this. As the daughter of an Army General and proud military family, I am also reminded of the words etched on the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C. which reads “freedom is not free.”
These words tell me that freedom or the actions of liberation do not come without a cost or great responsibility.
As each of you embark upon your educational journey at USC, we ask you: How will you use your freedom, your education, your gained knowledge, passion, skills, and strengths to be agents of change making this world better than how you found it? As you begin your journey of infinite possibilities, How will you use your voice to speak truth to power?
How will you use your mind to think critically and solve problems?
How will you imagine and create art that will challenge, uplift, and heal?
How will you empathize, analyze, and debate in order to foster civil dissent and respectful academic discourse across difference?
How will you act or take action? What will you do?
USC and the world are waiting to find out and see who you are and what it is that you contribute that will be of value and significance to all.
We need your uniqueness and invite all of who you are into the process of becoming.
Class of 2024 and 2025, what will be your legacy of action and responsibility?
How will you use your breath, your life force, your spiritus (as they say in Latin) to be an inspiration to yourself and others?
We can’t wait to see who you are, who you will no doubt become, and what you will do to impact and change the world. We as USC faculty, staff, and administrators are here for you and will support your growth and development throughout your journey at USC. In this moment of convocation, I charge you to take your place here, own it, and remember you are here, as Nikki Giovani suggested, to invent yourself, invent the world you want to see, and to learn how to always, always, fight on!
[After DASHIELL-SPARKS delivers her remarks, she returns to her seat.]
[A voiceover introduces the first academic dean.]
VOICEOVER:
Now, the dean of each academic unit will offer a special welcome to the scholars being inducted into their respective schools.
Please welcome Amber D. Miller, Dean of the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.
[MILLER approaches the podium.]
MILLER:
Will the inductees to the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences please rise.
President Folt and Provost Zukoski, I present to you a group of exceptionally talented students who have made the ambitious choice to follow their curiosity.
By integrating rich and diverse forms of knowledge, they will forge their own educational path, one that will prepare them to succeed – not just in a single career, but in every career.
Students, I bestow upon you all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges accorded with membership into the University of Southern California community of scholars.
Congratulations, and welcome to the Trojan Family!
[MILLER returns to seat while CATHLEEN QUINLAN, dean of USC Libraries, introduced by a voiceover, approaches the podium.]
QUINLAN:
President Folt and Provost Zukoski, on behalf of the faculty and staff of the USC Libraries, I am delighted to welcome all new students to our vibrant intellectual and creative community.
We look forward to helping you explore the world through our vast library collections of human knowledge and ingenuity.
I wish you many exciting discoveries to come.
Welcome to USC, and Fight On!
[QUINLAN returns to seat while HAVEN LIN-KIRK, dean of the USC Roski School of Art and Design, introduced by a voiceover, approaches the podium.]
LIN-KIRK:
Will the inductees to the USC Roski School of Art and Design please rise.
President Folt and Provost Zukoski, I present to you a gathering of students whose vision of the world we live in sets them apart.
With exceptional empathy and creativity, they will produce works of art and design that reflect the beauty and complexity of our world, and stand in tribute to a resilient human spirit.
Students, I bestow upon you all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges accorded with membership into the University of Southern California community of artist-scholars.
Welcome to the Trojan Family!
[LIN-KIRK returns to seat while ROBERT CUTIETTA, dean of the USC Thornton School of Music, introduced by a voiceover, approaches the podium.]
CUTIETTA:
Will the inductees to the USC Thornton School of Music please rise.
President Folt and Provost Zukoski, I present to you an ensemble of students who will journey into the depths of the human spirit, from prelude to postlude. Using the instruments of their talent and imagination, they will give us new meanings and melodies to enrich our world.
Students, I bestow upon you all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges accorded with membership into the University of Southern California community of artist-scholars.
Bravo, new students – and welcome to the Trojan Family!
[CUTIETTA remains at the podium.]
Please be seated.
Now, will the inductees to the USC Kaufman School of Dance please rise.
President Folt and Provost Zukoski, I present to you a company of students dedicated to expressing themselves in ways that words cannot, from the simplest of gestures to the most mesmerizing expressions of the human bod
In doing so, they will learn to transcend differences in language and culture, while capturing our imaginations with their athleticism and grace.
Students, I bestow upon you all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges accorded with membership into the University of Southern California community of artist-scholars.
Congratulations, and welcome to the Trojan Family.
[CUTIETTA returns to seat while SHAPIRO, introduced by a voiceover, approaches the podium.]
SHAPIRO:
Will the inductees to the Keck School of Medicine of USC please rise.
President Folt and Provost Zukoski, I present to you a class of students who will join a vibrant community—a place of dynamic activity in patient care, scientific innovation, medical and bioscience education,
and community service.
As we stand at the crossroads of new eras in health care and biomedical research, these students will strive to help others lead healthier, happier lives.
Students, I bestow upon you all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges accorded with membership into the University of Southern California community of scholars.
Welcome to the Trojan Family.
[SHAPIRO returns to seat while GUZMAN, introduced by a voiceover, approaches the podium.]
GUZMAN:
Will the inductees to the USC Gould School of Law please rise.
President Folt and Provost Zukoski, I present to you a group of students who will be instrumental in strengthening our law school as an institution that stands for justice.
Together, we will cultivate ethical values based on principles of equity and excellence, and support our communities through our commitment to fairness and equality for all people.
Students, I bestow upon you all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges accorded with membership into the University of Southern California community of scholars.
Welcome to USC, and Fight On!
[GUZMAN returns to seat while SADAN, introduced by a voiceover, approaches the podium.]
SADAN:
Will the inductees to the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC please rise.
President Folt and Provost Zukoski, I present to you a group of students who will provide patients with world-class care in the fields of oral and craniofacial health, occupational science and occupational therapy, and biokinesiology and physical therapy.
With extraordinary intellect and profound compassion, they will help us bolster the foundations of wellness in our communities.
Students, I bestow upon you all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges accorded with membership into the University of Southern California community of scholars.
Congratulations, and welcome to the Trojan Family!
[SADAN returns to seat while DAVIES, introduced by a voiceover, approaches the podium.]
DAVIES:
Will the inductees to the USC School of Pharmacy please rise.
President Folt and Provost Zukoski, I present to you a collection of students who will advance our efforts to redefine pharmacy practice, drug development, and pharmaceutical science.
In our rapidly changing health care environment, they will help redefine the role of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists in public health, and transform the lives of patients everywhere.
Students, I bestow upon you all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges accorded with membership into the University of Southern California community of scholars.
Welcome to the Trojan Family!
[DAVIES returns to seat while YORTSOS, introduced by a voiceover, approaches the podium.]
YORTSOS:
Will the inductees to the USC Viterbi School of Engineering please rise.
President Folt and Provost Zukoski, I present to you a group of students who will develop the skills, the knowledge, and the mindset to invent the future.
These students will produce new human-centric technologies as they design innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.
And in doing so, they will inspire others with their passion to engineer a better world.
Students, I bestow upon you all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges accorded with membership into the University of Southern California community
of scholars.
Welcome to the Trojan Family, and Fight On!
[YORTSOS returns to seat while NOGUERA, introduced by a voiceover, approaches the podium.]
NOGUERA:
Will the inductees to the USC Rossier School of Education please rise.
President Folt and Provost Zukoski, I present to you a class of students whose mission is to create learning environments where every student can be seen.
At USC, they’ll learn how to succeed as educators in any environment. They will prepare the next generation of student mentors while leading their classrooms and their communities with imagination and integrity.
Students, I bestow upon you all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges accorded with membership into the University of Southern California community of scholars.
Welcome to the Trojan Family!
[NOGUERA returns to seat while CURRY, introduced by a voiceover, approaches the podium.]
CURRY:
Will the inductees to the USC School of Architecture please rise.
President Folt and Provost Zukoski, I present to you a group of students who will conceive of spaces, structures, landscapes, and environments that are both empowering and inspiring.
Through rigorous study and practice, they will rise to meet the challenges of our time, while answering
a desire to conserve cultural histories and spaces for generations
to come.
Students, I bestow upon you all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges accorded with membership into the University of Southern California community of scholars.
Congratulations, students, and welcome to the Trojan Family.
[CURRY returns to seat while GARRETT, introduced by a voiceover, approaches the podium.]
GARRETT:
Will the inductees to the USC Marshall School of Business please rise.
President Folt and Provost Zukoski, I present to you a gathering of students who will redefine the fast-changing face of global business.
By harnessing the principles of healthy competition, teamwork, and creativity, these students will strengthen markets around the world, build more inclusive boardrooms, and forge new economic paths with integrity and resolve.
Students, I bestow upon you all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges accorded with membership into the University of Southern California community of scholars.
Welcome to USC, and welcome to the Trojan Family!
[GARRETT returns to seat while GEHLERT, introduced by a voiceover, approaches the podium.]
GEHLERT:
Will the inductees to the USC Dworak-Peck School of Social Work please rise.
President Folt and Provost Zukoski, I present to you a group of students dedicated to improving the well-being of others.
They will use science, relationship-building, and compassion to help individuals and communities, to advance social justice, and to eradicate societal problems. And as they do this, their hearts will open to new experiences and new opportunities to serve others.
Students, I bestow upon you all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges accorded with membership into the University of Southern California community of scholars.
Welcome to USC!
[GEHLERT returns to seat while DALEY, introduced by a voiceover, approaches the podium.]
DALEY:
Will the inductees to the USC School of Cinematic Arts please rise.
President Folt and Provost Zukoski, I present to you a collection of students with tremendous potential as media scholars and media creators.
These students will invite us into new worlds as artists, storytellers, game makers, and innovators of new forms of cultural expression and scholars. In bringing their unique perspectives to the screens of the world, they will inspire, enlighten, and – as always – entertain us all.
Students, I bestow upon you all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges accorded with membership into the University of Southern California community of artist-scholars.
Welcome to the Trojan Family. Congratulations!
[DALEY returns to seat while GOLDMAN, introduced by a voiceover, approaches the podium.]
GOLDMAN:
Will the inductees to the USC Price School of Public Policy please rise.
President Folt and Provost Zukoski, I present to you a collection of both Price School and ROTC students who are dedicated in service to all humankind.
They will provide compassionate, knowledgeable leadership as they reach across boundaries to design forward-thinking policies and discover innovative governance solutions, making a difference in communities worldwide.
Students, I bestow upon you all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges accorded with membership into the University of Southern California community of scholars.
We can’t to see what you will accomplish! Fight On!
[GOLDMAN returns to seat while ROXWORTHY, introduced by a voiceover, approaches the podium.]
ROXWORTHY:
Will the inductees to the USC School of Dramatic Arts please rise.
President Folt and Provost Zukoski, I present to you
a group of talented and courageous students who will create and perform the stories that show us the many faces of our shared humanity.
Through their work, they will allow us to consider our past, examine our present, and imagine our future.
Students, I bestow upon you all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges accorded with membership into the University of Southern California community of artist-scholars.
We wish you all the best, and welcome you to the Trojan Family!
[ROXWORTHY returns to seat while BAY approaches the podium.]
BAY:
Will the inductees to the USC Annenberg School
for Communication and Journalism please rise.
President Folt and Provost Zukoski, I present to you a spirited group of students whose passion for global communications will drive the continued transformation of our world. Through their expertise and dedication – and with great imagination and intellect – they will help keep us all informed, inspired, and connected.
Students, I bestow upon you all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges accorded with membership into the University of Southern California community of scholars.
Welcome to the Trojan Family!
[BAY returns to seat while COHEN, introduced by a voiceover, approaches the podium.]
COHEN:
Will the inductees to the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology please rise.
President Folt and Provost Zukoski, I present to you an assembly of students whose compassion and creativity will provide new approaches to successful aging.
These students will develop the foresight and the wisdom to understand how an aging population will affect virtually every aspect of our society, and deepen our understanding of human health across the lifespan.
Students, I bestow upon you all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges accorded with membership into the University of Southern California community of scholars.
Welcome to the Trojan Family, and Fight On!
[COHEN returns to seat while HOLDER, introduced by a voiceover, approaches the podium.]
HOLDER:
Will the inductees to the USC Leventhal School of Accounting please rise.
President Folt and Provost Zukoski, I present to you a collection of students who will work diligently to master the language of commerce.
Through careful analysis
of financial information, they will develop the skills essential to the functioning of our global economy, and help bring prosperity to people around the world.
Students, I bestow upon you all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges accorded with membership into the University of Southern California community
of scholars.
Welcome to the Trojan Family.
[HOLDER returns to seat while BAY, introduced by a voiceover, approaches the podium.]
BAY:
Will the inductees to the USC Iovine and Young Academy please rise.
President Folt and Provost Zukoski, I present to you
a cohort of students chosen for their ability to reexamine our present
and reimagine our future.
Together, these students will advance groundbreaking ideas, enterprises, and creative endeavors that embrace technology as informed
by culture, and invention
as guided by the heart.
Students, I bestow upon you all the rights, responsibilities,
and privileges accorded with membership into the University of Southern California community of scholars.
We can’t wait to see your dreams take flight. Welcome to the Trojan Family!
[BAY returns to seat while BAILEY, introduced by a voiceover, approaches the podium.]
BAILEY:
Will the inductees to the USC Bovard College please rise.
President Folt and Provost Zukoski, I am proud to present a diverse community of online learners – established professionals seeking career advancement who are ready to become influential leaders in their fields.
As we celebrate all of our incoming graduate students, we also give a special salute to the many Bovard Scholars joining us today. We wish you the best as you pursue your passions with a determined Trojan spirit.
Students, I bestow upon you all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges accorded with membership into the University of Southern California community of scholars.
Welcome to USC, and Fight On!
[BAILEY returns to seat. A voiceover announces FOLT as she returns to the podium.]
FOLT:
Thank you to all our deans for your warm welcomes.
You remind us of the terrific things that are taking place in our different schools.
And to our alumni and students – your words reflect your hopes and aspirations for the future. You inspire us
Now, students, it’s up to you. It’s time to set out on your exciting journey at USC. There’s a lot that will happen to you along the way – some setbacks and detours, for sure, but many successes and victories as well. They help shape the person you are today – and who and what you will become in the future.
So let me say one more time a special thanks to all the parents, teachers, mentors, faculty, staff, alumni and friends – everyone who has touched our students’ lives and been their bedrock of support. You have made an enormous difference – because you care.
Your Trojan family cares too. We’re here to guide you, inspire you, help you realize your full potential. Surrounding you is an enormous infrastructure of support – not just buildings and facilities, but people and spirit too. It’s up to you to make full use of them all.
This is a momentous day – a new beginning, a fresh start, as I said earlier. Take a deep breath and think about this: the next time you see so many of your classmates – it will likely be your graduation. As you celebrate your new journey ahead, I want you to think about your responsibilities as well – to yourself and your loved ones, to your fellow Trojans – and to the bigger world around us.
I hope you wake up every day, like I do, full of gratitude for the opportunities you’ve been given to learn and grow and serve — and excited about being part of a place like USC, at the hub of so much kinetic energy, passion, creativity and achievement.
We end our ceremony with our Alma Mater, performed by Armand Akbari [ack-BAR-ee], a junior studying musical theater at the School of Dramatic Arts.
He’ll be accompanied by our fabulous Trojan Marching Band. Everyone, please stand and sing along!
[AKBARI leads audience in song.]
ALMA MATER
“All hail to Alma Mater,
To thy glory we sing;
All hail to Southern California
Loud let our praises ring;
Where western sky meets western sea
Our college stands in majesty.
Sing our love to Alma Mater,
Hail, all hail, to thee.”
RECESSIONAL
[Following the Alma Mater, the platform party recesses back to BOVARD.]
