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!
Alondra Hernandez
Last updated 12/27/2023 Alondra Hernandez will be pursuing a degree in neuroscience at USC’s Dornsife School of Letters, Arts & Science. This past June (2023) she graduated from Huntington Park...
Read MoreAlondra Hernandez
Last updated 12/27/2023 Alondra Hernandez will be pursuing a degree in neuroscience at USC’s Dornsife School of Letters, Arts & Science. This past June (2023) she graduated from Huntington Park High School with Principal Honors… Read More »Alondra Hernandez
Read MoreIsaic Alonso
Last updated 12/13/2023 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… Read More »Isaic Alonso
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John Recendez
Last updated 09/21/2023 John Recendez, a recent Dorsey High graduate, has declared a Business Administration major in the Marshall School of Business. He won a Honor Roll Award for maintaining… Read More »John Recendez
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Natalia Carrillo
Last updated 09/21/2023 Natalia Carrillo is a sophomore majoring in International Relations. Last year, she dedicated herself to mastering a third language and enrolled in French classes. Presently, she is… Read More »Natalia Carrillo
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Jose Zarate Diaz
Last updated 09/21/2023 Jose Zarate Diaz is majoring in Biomedical Engineering with a Cellular-Molecular Emphasis in USC’s Viterbi School of Engineering. He was part of the Leslie and William McMorrow… Read More »Jose Zarate Diaz
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Raul Torres, Jr.
Last updated 09/21/2023 Raul Torres, Jr. graduated from Huntington Park High School with honors from the Superintendent’s and Principal’s High Honor Rolls. He was a representative for the Academic Decathlon… Read More »Raul Torres, Jr.
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Michael Hernandez Garcia
Last updated 09/21/2023 Michael Hernandez Garcia is a Mechanical Engineering major in the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. During all four-years of high schoolhe was involved in the Mathematics Engineering… Read More »Michael Hernandez Garcia
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Kevin Gomez
Last updated 09/21/2023 Kevin Gomez is studying Public Policy, minoring in Social Work and Juvenile Justice, and Law and Migration Studies. His role in the Boyle Heights Youth Festival established… Read More »Kevin Gomez
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