Trojan Candy arrived at Galen Center an hour before the USC Student-Athlete Graduation ceremony started in order to get the "prime seat" for taking pictures. It is the seat at the end of the ramp where the athletic graduates exit the stage. I got it! I can quickly get up and take pictures of the graduates after they are honored.
Since the program was not starting for about an hour, Trojan Candy roamed around in the Galen Center lobby, looking for friends.
The first friend I saw was Josh Shaw (1/13/2012). Josh will be one of the Senior Speakers in the program. Trojan Candy will include pictures of the graduates, their parents, some speakers and award winners in my article. More pictures are in my Google Plus Album. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ALBUM.
All of the graduates entered in a procession to the music of Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance March." CLICK ON THE THUMBNAIL AT THE RIGHT to view the video that I recorded. After they were all seated, the program began.
Athletic Director Pat Haden welcomed all the athletes and guests. He introduced all of the coaches who were sitting on stage.
Then, President C.L. Max Nikias came to the podium. President Nikias advised the athletes to build good relationships, to get a good education and to build a good reputation. He said to live your life with passion everyday.
Then Helene Galen (Galen Center) introduced this year's "Legend of Troy" recipient Don Winston. Friend Don always stopped by the Heritage Hall desk to say, "Hello" when Trojan Candy was volunteering there. He is retiring after thirty-one years working at USC as one of the country's top collegiate fund raisers.
Don spoke next. He told the audience that students often asked him what it means to be a Trojan. To answer that question, he related the story of Trojan Great Louis Zamperini. Trojan Candy wrote about this first "Legend of Troy" recipient on 5/12/2011. Don said that Louis Zamperini is a True Trojan! Happy Retirement and FIGHT ON, Don!
The first Senior Speaker, Loudia Laarman (3/4/2011), is also a friend. Loudia told the audience how blessed she is to make it to the age of twenty-two. She almost didn't make it to three years old. As a two year living in Haiti, Loudia weighed fifteen pounds. She was suffering from starvation and malnutrition. Her skin was brittle and her hair was orange. Luckily Loudia survived to become an All-American sprinter on the Women of Troy Track Team! Concluding her speech, Loudia quoted her new coach, Caryl Gilbert, "Character is not defined by who we are on the field, but by who we are off it." FIGHT ON, Loudia!
Now it was time to honor each of the graduating student-athletes. Each coach announced his or her sport's graduates. I photographed almost all my Friends.
Now, it was time for Senior Speaker Josh Shaw to take the podium. Josh related that both his grandfather's and his father's illnesses prompted his transfer from Florida back to the Palmdale area and eventually to USC. When Trojan Candy first met Josh and interviewed him at Heritage Hall on 1/13/2012, he was commuting to Palmdale during the week and on weekends to run his father's landscaping business. Thank goodness his father has recovered. In closing, Josh gave two words of advice to his fellow graduates. The first was to "Never accept 'No' for an answer, for we are Trojans!" And the second was, "We belong to an amazing network called USC Alumni!" FIGHT ON, Josh!
The Senior Awards were announced by Pat Haden next. The winners of the awards are as follows:
After the Celebration ended, all of the athletes assembled at the stairs south of the Galen Center for a group picture. Naturally, Trojan Candy was one of the first people there with a camera. Real USC photographer and friend Pierson Clair took the group pictures. Here are mine:
Congratulations and FIGHT ON, USC Senior Athletes!
Walking back to Galen Center for the reception in the Centofante Hall of Fame, Trojan Candy took a picture of a Senior Athlete whom I had missed---Sophia Popov. Rachel Morris and she posed with J.K. McKay and Coach Andrea Gaston. Trojan Candy wished them luck in the upcoming NCAA Women's Golf Tournament. FIGHT ON, Rachel! FIGHT ON, Sophia!
Most of the athletes and their families had left, but Trojan Candy was still looking for friends and their families. I saw Jennifer Stiefel and her mom Diane standing nearby and walked over to take their picture. Diane sat next to us during the Celebration program, and I promised Diane that I would take a picture of Jennifer with her family. Trojan Candy keeps her promises! Here are mom Diane, Aunt Kim, Uncle Steve, dad Eric, Jeremy, Jenny, Don, Hanes, and brother Robbie. FIGHT ON, Jenny!
Last, but not least, Trojan Candy saw friend, rather looked up at friend, Omar Oraby. Omar's family flew in from Cairo, Egypt, for the graduation. Brother Mohomed, dad Tarek, Omar and Uncle Anthony posed for this picture. Congratulations and FIGHT ON, Omar!
What an exciting day! Trojan Candy got to see so many friends! Congratulations and FIGHT ON, to every Senior Student-Athlete!
