Caldwell Neighborhood Scholars – Emeriti Center

MEET OUR SCHOLARS

In December 1965, shortly after the Watts riots, the late Russell L. Caldwell, a specialist in Early American history, a human rights activist, and the president of the USC Faculty Association, challenged his colleagues to support a positive new kind of demonstration at USC — a commitment to create a USC-to-neighborhood

“We seek your aid,” he outlined in his initial plea to USC staff and faculty, “in establishing FacultyStaff supported scholarships for worthy students in USC’s neighborhood who could not otherwise ever hope to attend USC.” He challenged his colleagues to “donate $5 or more per month through payroll deductions in order to raise $2000 a year to aid students.” relationship by providing scholarships for students from high schools surrounding USC.

The USC Neighborhood Scholarship, as it was then called, officially launched in 1966. Although the $2000 goal was not reached immediately, the first Scholarship was awarded the next year to Preston Mike, Jr., a 17-year-old mid-year graduate of Manual Arts High School. Mike received $549 to help pay for books and tuition and was granted additional awards until his graduation in 1972.

Professor Caldwell died in 1979, and at his request, the USC Retired Faculty Association became a sponsor of the scholarship. The RFA then voted to change the name to the Russell L. Caldwell Neighborhood Scholarship Program.

This month's Caldwell Scholarship Spotlight:

We are thrilled to introduce our incoming freshmen scholars: Isaic Alonso, from Foshay Learning Center and Alondra Arieth Hernandez from Huntington Park High School.

Here are this year’s amazing scholars!

Leah Stevenson

Leah Stevenson grew up in Los Angeles with her older brother, sister and mother. She watched as her mother raised three kids while simultaneously attending...

Leah Stevenson

Leah Stevenson grew up in Los Angeles with her older brother, sister and mother. She watched as her mother raised three kids while simultaneously attending college to earn a degree… Read More »Leah Stevenson

Genesis Gonzalez

Genesis Gonzalez is entering USC in the Interdisciplinary Major Program in the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts & Sciences. She selected this major as it allows her to be able… Read More »Genesis Gonzalez

Alondra Hernandez

Alondra Hernandez will be pursuing a degree in neuroscience within USC’s Dornsife School of Letters, Arts & Science. In June 2023, she graduated from Huntington Park High School with Principal… Read More »Alondra Hernandez

Isaic Alonso

Isaic Alonso grew up in South Central Los Angeles. He and his older sister and brother were raised by a single immigrant mother who worked not only to provide for her children, but… Read More »Isaic Alonso

John Recendez

John Recendez is a Business Administration major in the Marshall School of Business with a minor in Philosophy. This past summer he had a corporate banking internship at Valley Bank… Read More »John Recendez

Natalia Carrillo

Natalia Carrillo is a junior studying International Relations whose future plan is to pursue a master’s degree and eventually transition into project management. This summer she served as a voting… Read More »Natalia Carrillo

Jose M Zarate-Diaz

Jose Zarate Diaz

Senior Jose Zarate Diaz has taken a leave of absence from his studies at USC for the Fall 2024 semester as he was recruited for a paid position at Abbott… Read More »Jose Zarate Diaz

Raul Torres, Jr.

Raul Torres, Jr.

Raul Torres, Jr. was inspired by his older brother, who worked on electronics and mechanical systems building robots. to become a Mechanical Engineering major in the USC Viterbi School of… Read More »Raul Torres, Jr.