Tuesday, December 5, 2017---TGLA at the Town and Gown Holiday meeting
When Trojan Candy arrived at the Holiday meeting of the Town and Gown, there was much excitement in the air. Everyone was scurrying around in the lobby, outside and in the dining room.
![Valerie Sampson and Evelyn Wilson Valerie Sampson and Evelyn Wilson](2017/holiday01r.jpg)
I saw two friends in the lobby accepting any gifts that the members brought. Valerie Sampson and Evelyn Wilson greeted me with a smile.
![Jerry Ensom, Elliott Schwartz, Phil Montez and Rex Johnston Jerry Ensom, Elliott Schwartz, Phil Montez and Rex Johnston](2017/holiday02r.jpg)
Four "TGLA" men were sitting on the lobby couches. Jerry Ensom, Elliott Schwartz, Phil Montez and Rex Johnston looked comfortable.
![Sharon Schmidt and Lois Booth Sharon Schmidt and Lois Booth](2017/holiday03r.jpg)
Now, I saw my TGLA friends who were busy decorating, volunteering and visiting. At the check-in table, Sharon Schmidt and Lois Booth posed for me.
![Nikki Dana, Marilyn O'Driscoll and Jean Getchell Nikki Dana, Marilyn O'Driscoll and Jean Getchell](2017/holiday04r.jpg)
Nikki Dana, Marilyn O'Driscoll and Jean Getchell were also volunteering at the registration table.
![Kate Farlow Kate Farlow](2017/holiday05r.jpg)
Trojan Candy finally caught up with Kate Farlow, who is always on the move.
![Terri Boyle, Sandy Johnston, Marcia Montez and Carol Fox Terri Boyle, Sandy Johnston, Marcia Montez and Carol Fox](2017/holiday06r.jpg)
Inside the Town and Gown were Terri Boyle, Sandy Johnston, Marcia Montez and Carol Fox.
![Ann Palmer, Katherine Moore and Barbara Hance Ann Palmer, Katherine Moore and Barbara Hance](2017/holiday07r.jpg)
Ann Palmer, Katherine Moore and Barbara Hance smiled for my next picture.
![Patti Poon, Valerie Sampson and Eiko Bates Patti Poon, Valerie Sampson and Eiko Bates](2017/holiday08r.jpg)
I saw my sister Patti Poon with two friends, Valerie Sampson and Eiko Bates.
![Terri Boyle Terri Boyle](2017/holiday09r.jpg)
As I walked to Patti's table, I saw another TGLA member, Terri Boyle, at her beautifully decorated "Charles Dickens" table.
![Patricia Tucker, Mary Hall, Sandy Johnston, Jean Ann Holbrook and Marilyn O'Driscoll Patricia Tucker, Mary Hall, Sandy Johnston, Jean Ann Holbrook and Marilyn O'Driscoll](2017/holiday13r.jpg)
At a nearby table were more TGLA friends. Posing for me were Patricia Tucker, Mary Hall, Sandy Johnston, Jean Ann Holbrook and Marilyn O'Driscoll.
![Aarika Hughes and Mark Trakh Aarika Hughes and Mark Trakh](2017/holiday14r.jpg)
Trojan Candy walked out into the Town and Gown lobby looking for more TGLA members. Instead, I found two USC athletic friends. Women of Troy Basketball coaches
Aarika Hughes (3/6/2010) and Mark Trakh had just walked into the lobby.
![Jeanne Feybush and Carol Greenhalgh Jeanne Feybush and Carol Greenhalgh](2017/holiday15r.jpg)
Next, Trojan Candy walked outside looking for more TGLA members. I found Carol Greenhalgh and her friend Jeanne Feybush.
![Carol Mollette and Dorothy Conte Carol Mollette and Dorothy Conte](2017/holiday16r.jpg)
Two Town and Gown members, Carol Mollette and Dorothy Conte, posed for me next.
![JoAnne Polite, Patricia Betts, and Juel Collins JoAnne Polite, Patricia Betts, and Juel Collins](2017/holiday17r.jpg)
Seeing no more TGLA members outside, Trojan Candy walked back inside. I found JoAnne Polite and Juel Collins. They posed with Juel's sister Patricia Betts for this picture.
![Jeanne Feybush, Christine Ofiesh, and Carol Greenhalgh Jeanne Feybush, Christine Ofiesh, and Carol Greenhalgh](2017/holiday18r.jpg)
Next, I found Christine Ofiesh with friends Jeanne Feybush and Carol Greenhalgh.
![Nancy Reed, Patti Poon and Marilyn O'Driscoll Nancy Reed, Patti Poon and Marilyn O'Driscoll](2017/holiday19r.jpg)
TGLA members Nancy Reed, Patti Poon and Marilyn O'Driscoll posed for me near Nancy's table.
![Ann Palmer and Barbara Hance Ann Palmer and Barbara Hance](2017/holiday20r.jpg)
Trojan Candy caught Ann Palmer and Barbara Hance together.
![Bob Leach, Sherry DeFriese, Janet Eddy and Carol Thueson Bob Leach, Sherry DeFriese, Janet Eddy and Carol Thueson](2017/holiday21r.jpg)
Bob Leach, Sherry DeFriese, Janet Eddy and Carol Thueson posed near their table.
![Ann Palmer, Janet Eddy, and D'Arcy McLeod Ann Palmer, Janet Eddy, and D'Arcy McLeod](2017/holiday25r.jpg)
TGLA friends Ann Palmer and Janet Eddy surely get around. They posed with D'Arcy McLeod.
![Lorraine Adler, Cathy Anderson, Nancy Sommers, Carrol Irwin, Terri Boyle, Christina Dowling, Lisa Sheedy, Patricia Dowling, and Jolene Irwin Lorraine Adler, Cathy Anderson, Nancy Sommers, Carrol Irwin, Terri Boyle, Christina Dowling, Lisa Sheedy, Patricia Dowling, and Jolene Irwin](2017/holiday26r.jpg)
Trojan Candy walked back to a TGLA table decorated by Terri Boyle. I took this picture of all the ladies at the table. Back row: Lorraine Adler, Cathy Anderson, Nancy Sommers, and Carrol Irwin. Front row: Terri Boyle, Christina Dowling, Lisa Sheedy, Patricia Dowling, and Jolene Irwin.
![Candy Duncan, Nikki Dana, and Laurie Molina Candy Duncan, Nikki Dana, and Laurie Molina](2017/holiday27r.jpg)
Next to the TGLA table, I saw TGLA past President Nikki Dana. She was standing between Candy Duncan and Laurie Molina.
The last picture was taken at Patti Poon's table by our table server. Our table was decorated by Valerie Sampson. Seated clockwise beginning at 6 o'clock were Valerie Sampson, Evelyn Wilson, Elizabeth Babchuck, Susan Babchuck, Rosalee Pechersky, Florence West, Maria Chavez, Patti Poon, Dudley Poon, Eiko Bates and Trojan Candy.
Our TGLA members enjoyed a wonderful Town and Gown afternoon!
Friday, November 17, 2017---ACC Scholarship Luncheon
Trojan Candy arrived early for the annual Alumnae Coordinating Council (ACC) Scholarship Luncheon at the Town and Gown, because I needed to interview one more TGLA 2017-2018 Scholar, Elyssia Widjaja. I took several pictures of TGLA members who volunteered for the lunch and who were ACC members.
![Carol Thueson and Barbara Hance Carol Thueson and Barbara Hance](2017/acc01r.jpg)
Carol Thueson and Barbara Hance smiled for my first picture.
![Chi and Caitlan Tran Chi and Caitlan Tran](2017/acc02r.jpg)
Trojan Candy saw our TGLA scholar
Caitlan Tran (10/5/2017) with her mom Chi.
![Caitlan and Phuc Tran Caitlan and Phuc Tran](2017/acc03r.jpg)
Here's Caitlan with her proud father Phuc.
![Christine Ofiesh, Barbara Hance, Terri Boyle, Kate Farlow and Judy Lieb Christine Ofiesh, Barbara Hance, Terri Boyle, Kate Farlow and Judy Lieb](2017/acc04r.jpg)
Christine Ofiesh, Barbara Hance, Terri Boyle, Kate Farlow and Judy Lieb were busy at the TGLA booth.
![Jean Getchell and Mary Hall Jean Getchell and Mary Hall](2017/acc05r.jpg)
Our President Jean Getchell and President-Elect Mary Hall stopped by the booth.
![Sandy Johnston, Caitlan Tran, and Jean Getchell Sandy Johnston, Caitlan Tran, and Jean Getchell](2017/acc06r.jpg)
Caitlan Tran held her certificate and posed with Vice-President Scholarship Sandy Johnston and Jean Getchell.
![D'Arcy McLeod, Anne Peplow, Carol Thueson and Sharon Wood D'Arcy McLeod, Anne Peplow, Carol Thueson and Sharon Wood](2017/acc07r.jpg)
TGLA members D'Arcy McLeod, Anne Peplow, Carol Thueson and Sharon Wood came to the booth area.
![Lorna Reed, Lorna Brandt, and Sandy Johnston Lorna Reed, Lorna Brandt, and Sandy Johnston](2017/acc08r.jpg)
Two Lornas were in my next picture. Lorna Reed, our TGLA scholar
Lorna Brandt (10/5/2017), and Sandy Johnston posed for me.
![Cayla Yasukochi, Alexa Huerta, and Mahima Dutt Cayla Yasukochi, Alexa Huerta, and Mahima Dutt](2017/acc09r.jpg)
Trojan Candy met three Helenes who were checking in the scholars. They are Cayla Yasukochi, Alexa Huerta, and Mahima Dutt. As an undergrad at USC, I was a member of the Helenes. My second daughter Steffany was also a Helene.
![Karen Bowman Karen Bowman](2017/acc10r.jpg)
I finally walked inside Town and Gown and ran into an "old" friend. Karen Bowman, who works for USC, still commutes from San Diego.
![Greg and Lorna Brandt, Chuck Leimbach and Gretchen Brandt Greg and Lorna Brandt, Chuck Leimbach and Gretchen Brandt](2017/acc11r.jpg)
Now Trojan Candy stepped back outside. I saw Lorna Brandt with her family. They were her brother Greg, Lorna, her grandfather Chuck Leimbach and her mother Gretchen Brandt.
![Sandy Johnston; George, Jorge, and Natalie Castello; and Mary Hall Sandy Johnston; George, Jorge, and Natalie Castello; and Mary Hall](2017/acc12r.jpg)
Now, it was definitely time to go back inside. I saw our third TGLA Scholar
Jorge Castello (10/5/2017). Posing with Jorge were Sandy Johnston, his dad George, his mom Natalie and Mary Hall.
Our fourth TGLA Scholar was at the next table. Trojan Candy took Elyssia Widjaja's picture with Jean Getchell and Mary Hall.
Then I took a picture of Elyssia and interviewed her.
Elyssia chose USC "for the strong sense of internationality, opportunities to personalize my academic curriculum, the unmatched professors, and the unity of the Trojan Family." More personally, Elyssia's favorite food is Singaporean Hokkien Mee. She likes Hip Hop and Jazz music. Her favorite music artist is Alicia Keys. She enjoys the movie "The Pursuit of Happiness" the most. Elyssia has many hobbies. They are traveling, reading, eating, yoga, hiking, filming and writing. So many interesting hobbies! My final interview question was if she had any family members who attended USC. Elyssia told me that her mom, dad, older sister (who earned her Master's), brother-in-law (Med School), two cousins and uncle all attended USC. What a USC Family! FIGHT ON!
Our fifth TGLA Scholar could not attend the luncheon. Christine Nguyen (11/4/2017) had to work today.
My last picture at the luncheon was of our scholar Caitlan Tran, her certificate and her mom Chi.
Congratulations to all of our five 2017-2018 TGLA Scholars!