The Alumni Association expands its international reach.

Making good on its promise of “serving the entire Trojan Family lifelong and worldwide,” the USC Alumni Association is spanning the globe through a growing network of international alumni clubs. According to Grace Shiba, the senior director of alumni relations overseeing international alumni programs, there are presently 20 chartered clubs in Asia, Europe and Latin America, with others taking shape everywhere from Dubai to Australia.

Of these 20 international alumni clubs, 17 are based in Southeast Asia – a testament to USC’s historically strong ties to the Pacific Rim. In 1997, USC President Steven B. Sample co-founded and served as the first president of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities, now a consortium of 42 leading research universities. Twelve years later, approximately 6,000 alumni across China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand regularly gather to network, cheer the Trojans on the football field (they watch the games on DVDs shipped by the alumni association) and assist with internship programs for USC students spending semesters, spring break or summers in Asia. Asian alumni also remain passionately devoted to their alma mater, as Shiba and Scott M. Mory, associate senior vice president for alumni relations, discovered when they met with club leaders in Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul and Shanghai last summer.

“The USC Alumni Club of Hong Kong partnered with the Hong Kong Parents Association to host a fundraiser, the ‘Bling Event,’ on July 12,” reports Shiba. “In one night, they raised nearly $130,000 for the Ronald Tutor Campus Center. There was no tax incentive for giving money; they did it purely out of love for USC.”

Through her work coordinating international alumni programs, Shiba has formed close relationships with the directors of USC’s international offices in Hong Kong, Mexico City, Taipei and Tokyo. Frequently, she receives requests to act as a liaison between international alumni and USC faculty and senior administrators traveling abroad. Over the years, Shiba has also traveled to Asia with USC Office of Admissions recruitment staff to speak with prospective students. These recruitment-themed events attract locally based alumni, who readily share advice for surviving the culture shock of living and studying in faraway Los Angeles.

Although USC’s international alumni programs are most visible in Southeast Asia, there are also active clubs in London, Paris and Mexico. As part of the alumni association’s outreach to international alumni, Mory visited the Paris and London clubs last summer. In France, he attended an alumni association-sponsored reception that introduced Drew Graham ’94, the newly installed USC Alumni Club of Paris president. Since taking office, Graham has set a membership goal of attracting “a broad representation of French nationals, Americans and other nationalities in France.” To that end, he launched a Facebook group last fall.

In Mexico City, the USC Alumni Club of Mexico president Carlos Castaneda MBA ’76 worked with executives of Mexico’s Fulbright Scholarships to establish a scholarship in memory of Rafael Osuna ’63, the only Mexican tennis player to win a Grand Slam event singles title (the 1963 U.S. Open).

The ongoing expansion of USC’s international alumni programs continues work begun in the mid-1970s by Jerry Wulk MA ’51, MS ’55, PhD ’56, the former executive director of USC’s Office of International Students and Scholars. At the request of then-USC president John Hubbard, Wulk established a string of international alumni clubs. Using his global Rolodex of alumni contacts, Wulk introduced Hubbard’s successor, USC President James H. Zumberge, to Queen Noor of Jordan, and took the USC trustees to Egypt for a meeting with Jehan Sadat, Anwar Sadat’s wife.

As Mory puts it, “No matter where they are, our international alumni embody Trojan traditions and values. They truly serve as USC’s ambassadors to the world.”

– Timothy O. Knight

FIFTY AND COUNTING

Record-setting Reunion Weekend

The Class of 1958 celebrates a golden milestone with lectures, a Q&A with students and an exceptional gift.

Nearly 500 alumni and friends returned to campus for the Class of 1958’s 50-Year Reunion Weekend on Nov. 7-8. According to Patrick Auerbach EdD ’08, senior director of alumni relations, attendance rose 25 percent this year, with the Class of ’58 setting a new class gift record of $165,000, more than quadruple the previous record.

Hosted by the USC Alumni Association, the two-day celebration was organized by the 50-Year Reunion Committee, led by co-chairs Dann V. Angeloff ’58, MBA ’63 and Lorna Young Reed ’58 (former and current USC trustees, respectively). Working closely with the alumni association’s Lifecycle Programs staff and an energetic team of volunteers, they put together an engaging slate of social activities and panel discussions, capped by a Saturday football tailgate.

Reunion Weekend began with Friday’s Half Century Trojans luncheon, officially welcoming the 1958ers into the senior alumni group. After a meal in the USC Galen Center Founders Club, Half Century Trojans president Al Shonk ’54 introduced the keynote speaker, USC Board of Trustees chairman Edward P. Roski, Jr. ’62. The real estate developer and longtime USC philanthropist praised the Half Century Trojans for their lifelong dedication to USC.

Following Roski’s remarks, Larry Knudsen ’58 gave memories of canine mascot George Tirebiter, 25-cent parking and the Trojans’ “moral victory” over the Bruins. Then Gordon Gray ’48 and USC Annenberg School for Communication professor Joe Saltzman ’61 presented Distinguished Service and Hall of Fame Awards to Rita K. Holman ’50 and veteran KTLA/WB reporter Stan Chambers ’44, respectively.

One of the weekend’s most popular events focused on recent history. David Mars, professor emeritus of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, presented an in-depth statistical analysis of the 2008 presidential election.

Statistics also figured prominently in “USC Then & Now,” presented by Martha Harris, senior vice president for university relations. Fifty years ago, one of three USC applicants was admitted; today, it’s one of 13. Her presentation was followed by a lively Q&A with nine current USC students moderated by Denzil Suite PhD ’02, associate senior vice president for student affairs.

After the traditional football rally at Heritage Hall, Reunion Weekend attendees had their 50-year reunion dinner. Scott M. Mory, associate senior vice president for alumni relations, welcomed the group. John F. King ’58, USC trustee and Reunion Committee class gift chair, announced that the Class of ’58 had achieved its goal of raising $100,000 towards the President’s Dining Room patio in the new Ronald N. Tutor Campus Center ahead of schedule. He also reported that, by expanding the class gift initiative, the committee had raised an additional $65,000 to transform Widney Alumni House into a more visitor-friendly campus attraction.

The dinner closed with performances by the a cappella group Trojan Men and the USC Trojan Marching Band. The following day, nearly 200 Reunion Weekend participants showed their spirit at the Class of ’58 tailgate at Argue Plaza, before the Trojans’ victory over Cal.

On November 13-14, 2009, the alumni association’s expanded Reunion Weekend program will include the 50-Year Reunion, a reinstated 25-Year Reunion, and an all-new Young Alumni Reunion for undergraduate classes 1999-2009. Alumni from the classes of 1959 and 1984 interested in volunteering for their reunion committees should contact Patrick Auerbach at (213) 740-9490 or patrick@ alumnicenter.usc.edu.

– Timothy O. Knight

Young Leaders Council

›› Since its founding in July 2007, the USC Mexican American Alumni Association (MAAA) Young Leaders Council has embarked on an ambitious programming slate that runs the gamut from a Halloween-themed fundraiser to a pilot program for a career roundtable. The latter, comprising two workshops that prepped students for interviews with industry professionals, was the brainchild of the Young Leaders Council professional development committee, chaired by Eugene Santos MBA ’07.

“We wanted an event that would allow our students to have direct access to recruiters and companies in a fun and interactive manner,” he says. “Think of it as corporate speed dating.”

Although the career roundtable was open to USC’s general undergraduate student body, the council specifically created this pilot program to introduce companies to the high caliber of USC students of Hispanic descent. A select number of current MAAA scholars received coaching to improve their chances of securing an internship or job offer during the roundtable.

Funded by the MAAA, the career roundtable pilot program received further support from the USC Career Center, which provided the workshop venues and helped students with résumés.

Held September 9 and 16, 2008, the pilot program was an unqualified success. In fact, MAAA executive director Domenika Lynch ’98 is proud to report that a handful of the participating students will be hired as summer interns.

“In tough economic times, when the job hunt becomes an elusive goal for some, it’s important to better prepare our students to effectively transition from the classroom to the corporate world,” she explains. “We had 21 companies represented, whose executives shared professional success stories and coached students on becoming the ‘ideal recruit.’ Many of these execs were USC alumni whose advice and expertise were much appreciated.”

For details on these and other USC Alumni Association programs, visit http://alumni.usc.edu

OVER HILL, OVER DALE

The Alumni SCene

Parties, pep rallies and trekking in Peru

1. Groovin’ at The Grove
On Sept. 11, 2008, in conjunction with the USC Alumni Association’s Alumni Leadership Conference, The Grove in Los Angeles’ Fairfax District staged a giant pep rally on behalf of the USC football team. The celebration featured the team’s equine mascot, Traveler, the USC Spirit of Troy Marching Band, the USC Song Girls and a host of Trojan sports celebrities including Olympic swimmers who had just won medals in Beijing. Pictured here from left are Arthur C. Bartner, the director of the band for the past 40 years, and Rick Caruso ’80, CEO of Caruso Affiliated, which built and manages The Grove.
Photo by Dan Avila

2. Volunteer Lineup
On Sept. 12, 2008, the USC Alumni Association held its annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner to celebrate the support and commitment of its many volunteers across the country and around the world. Pictured here from left, flanked by USC Alumni Association president Richard A. DeBeikes Jr. ’78 and associate senior vice president for alumni relations Scott M. Mory, are the winners of the 2008 President’s Awards: Lisa Denton Barkett ’81, Rob Ukropina ’76, Marcia Kreditor MS’ 69, Manuel Anguiano ’88, Susan McKeever ’61, USC Law associate dean Albert Brecht and Albert D. Shonk Jr. ’54.
Photo by Lee Salem

3. House Party
Approximately 300 alumni enjoyed sizzling barbecue, a DJ spinning Top 40 hits and the chance to unleash their Trojan Spirit at the alumni association’s first-ever home tailgate in September, right before USC routed Ohio State, 35-3. The tailgate took place in Argue Plaza, adjacent to Widney Alumni House, where USC’s Spirit Leaders staged an impromptu pep rally. For many attendees, the home tailgate was the culminating event of the alumni association’s three-day 2008 Alumni Leadership Conference.
Photo by Timothy O. Knight

4. Natural High
In September 2008, an intrepid group of young Trojans and friends traveled to Peru on a trip called “The Realm of the Incas,” which is part of Trojan Travel’s Young Alumni Travel Program. They visited colonial Cusco, explored the Sacred Valley of the Incas and trekked to the 550-year-old ruins of Machu Picchu. Here, members of the group gather for a portrait high in the Andes. The young alumni trip is part of Trojan Travel’s eSCapes: Specialty Travel for Trojans division.
Photo by Andy Nachman

A Conversation with Mitchell Lew

Moving Forward, Giving Back

Meet the 2009-10 president of the Asian Pacific Alumni Association.

During his eight years at USC from 1979 to 1987, Mitchell Lew ’83, MD ’87 was too busy earning his medical degree in obstetrics and helping deliver babies at Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center to think about what it means to be a dedicated member of the Trojan Family. But today, as president-elect of the Asian Pacific Alumni Association and a member of the USC Alumni Association Board of Governors, he frequently returns to campus, giving back to the university. He spoke with the USC Alumni Association’s Ross M. Levine.

What will be your focus when you assume the presidency? I would like to focus first on growing our alumni network. About 25 percent of our undergrads are Asian Pacific. We’ve done a lot in the past two years in terms of building our programs. We have an ongoing leadership speaker series, a great scholarship gala, a golf tournament – the association is doing more and more to give Asian Pacific alumni opportunities and reasons to come back. We need to continue to excite them about the great things at USC. I‘d also like to improve our development efforts – like raise funds to support our future suite in the new campus center. I want to grow our scholarship endowment, and also raise the association’s profile within the university.

Why should USC students maintain an affiliation with their ethnic background? One of USC’s greatest strengths is the diversity of the student body, which enriches all students. If Asian Pacific students lose their affiliation with their ethnic background, everybody loses.

Why did you choose to study obstetrics? When I was in school, 60 to 80 babies a day were being delivered at Los Angeles County Women’s Hospital, one of the country’s busiest hospitals in obstetrics. In my free time, I’d walk in, go to the fifth floor, put on some scrubs and help the residents deliver babies – patients were literally delivering in the hallways, that’s how busy it was. Obstetrics in general is a very happy field. The patients are usually fine, and a baby being born is a special moment in someone’s life. To be a part of that was extremely exciting.

You went from being an OB/GYN into the business side of medicine. How was that transition? There was a need for physicians to create a more organized and cost-efficient delivery system – that’s what the health plans were looking for. I never took a business class at USC, so I learned as I went. After 10 years of obstetrics and always being on call, I found working “only” five days a week and growing a business was a lot of fun. I’ve since sold my company, Genesis Healthcare, but with what’s going on in healthcare now, there are a lot of opportunities for entrepreneurs. The system is broken, and someone has to fix it, or it will really hurt our economy in the coming years. I’ll probably get involved in the medical business again within the next year.

What makes you and your wife (Deena Lew ’85) so committed to USC? I met my wife on the steps of Doheny Library in 1980. Our years at USC were some of the best: Our closest friends today we met back then, and the stories we tell our kids go back to when we were in college. Whenever I’m on campus for a meeting or function, I meet the greatest people. Plus, Deena and I both grew up in families where we were taught to serve the community and give back. We’ve been blessed and feel we can make a difference for today’s students, who are us 25 years ago.

In addition to you and your wife, your three sisters are Trojans. Why such a big USC family? My father was actually a Bruin. As he became more successful, he felt a private education might present opportunities he didn’t have, so he encouraged us to go to USC. My wife has two brothers and, with me and my sisters, all seven of us are ‘SC grads. It extends way beyond that, too – cousins, aunts, uncles – we’re quite the Trojan Family. And my dad was right, because USC turned out great for all of us. 

To learn more about the USC Alumni Association, visit http://alumni.usc.edu

CONFETTI CANNONADE

Homecoming 2008

In November, thousands of Trojans converged on campus for the annual Alumni Association bash.

Below, top right: USC Alumni Association President Richard A. DeBeikes Jr. ’78 and wife, Bryn ‘80 (left), greeted USC President Steven B. Sample and wife, Kathryn, at Widney Alumni House before the festivities began.

MODEL SOCIETY

Society 53 Takes a Bow

The Alumni Association creates a new active and influential student alumni association.

If you think “student alumni association” is an oxymoron, think again. After all, every alum was once a student, and the more a student is actively engaged by alumni, the more likely that student will be an active and engaged alum once he or she graduates. With this in mind, the USC Alumni Association has chartered Society 53, named for the 53 students who comprised USC’s first student body in 1880.

Society 53 will initially be limited to 53 members who will serve as a leadership board, working to enhance the alumni association’s outreach to the USC student community. Many may recall the Pepsters, a student service organization supported by the alumni association for approximately 25 years, and SCions, USC’s legacy student program, both of which assisted in various campus efforts over the years.

The Pepsters provided the student foundation upon which Society 53 was formed. Its members were given the opportunity to transition to the new organization, and 33 opted to do so. SCions were included in this process, including a SCions representative seated on the Society 53 executive board.

In order to fill the remaining open positions for the launch of Society 53, the alumni association’s Lifecycle Programs staff, in coordination with the members of the Pepsters executive board, conducted a rigorous recruitment campaign that included a written application, interviews and special rush sessions at Widney Alumni House. To be eligible for Society 53, students must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA. They must also be proven campus leaders with a demonstrated enthusiasm for promoting all things Trojan, bridging the student and alumni experience, and acting as stewards of USC traditions and as official ambassadors for the Trojan Family.

Others involved in the Society 53 selection process include the USC Alumni Association Board of Governors Student Outreach Committee, a student outreach representative from the Alumnae Coordinating Council, and members of the alumni association’s Young Alumni Council. Once accepted into Society 53, students will serve for the duration of their undergraduate careers at USC.

Members of Society 53 will be trained in campus life and history via weekly briefings from campus leaders and staff. In addition, they will assist in organizing “Trojan SCuppers,” meals that alumni will host at their homes or other venues. Based on successful programs at other schools, the SCuppers will give students the opportunity to interact socially with their peers as well as their alumni hosts.

Society 53 members also will plan, promote and run the alumni association’s Senior SCend Off and related programs geared to undergraduate seniors preparing to graduate each May.

– Ross M. Levine