Thursday, September 29, 2016---USC Volunteer Recognition Dinner
When Trojan Candy arrived at Town and Gown for the annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner, the patio was jam packed with honorees and guests. 
I saw Sandy Johnston, our TGLA winner of the Widney Alumni House Award for 2016. She posed with her husband Rex for this lovely picture.
Then Sandy and I maneuvered through the crowd looking for other fellow TGLA members. We found several members standing together. They were Jean Getchell, Sharon Schmidt, Rosalee Pechersky, Mary Hall, D'Arcy McLeod, Jolene Irwin, and Sandy Johnston.
Trojan Candy walked in further and found Patricia Dowling and Jane Bensussen.
Nearby, I saw Terri Boyle and our current TGLA President, Nikki Dana.
As I turned, Trojan Candy saw friends Carole and Tom Zide. Carole was a Widney Alumni House Award winner, just like Sandy.
Close by Carole's table, I saw two more TGLA members. Sheila Derrig posed with her daughter Karen Schiffman and Carol Thueson.
Sheila Derrig moved over to pose with Cheryl Schwartz, Dorothy Conte, Mo Bassity and Lois Booth.
I walked towards the patio stairs and saw two familiar faces. Both Danielle Harvey Stinson and friend Teresa Verbeck said hello and smiled for my camera.
Trojan Candy zig-zagged to the other side of the patio and walked by another familiar face. I first met Alex Chang at a reception in Honolulu in 2013. We were there for the USC-Hawaii football game. 
I went up to Alex and asked him if he remembered me. Smiling, he said that he did. Then I had his parents Henry and Penny, his wife Maggie, and friends Rod and Elsie Nakamoto get together for this picture.
Again zig-zagging, I spotted another TGLA Honoree. President's Award winner Kate Farlow posed with her friends and family. They were her daughter Nicole Farlow, friends Arianna and Sharon Wood, and son Christopher Farlow.
Now it was time to be seated inside. Trojan Candy was still looking for more TGLA members. At the Rossier School of Education table, I saw Matt DeGrushe, Dean Karen Gallagher and Rachel Beal.
At an adjacent table, TGLA members Christine Ofiesh and Carol Fox posed with Carla Wohl.
Trojan Candy finally made it to my table. Joe and Mary Indenbaum were already seated.
Joan Kaplanis and Gloria Phillips were also seated at my table.
Somehow, I missed taking a picture of Patricia Dowling and Rosalee Perchersky, who also sat at my table. Sorry, ladies! At least I took pictures of both of you earlier.
I took this picture of fellow TGLA members at an adjacent table. Sitting were Sharon Wood, Arianna Wood, Jean Getchell, Sharon Schmidt, and Judy Lieb. Standing were Mo Bassity, Sandi Gilbert, Mary Hall, Chris Fox, Sandy Johnston, and Terri Boyle.
Before dinner, the program started with Part 1. Sandy Johnston was honored in Part 1. I was able to take this video of Sandy.
Then, quickly I took a picture of Sandy holding her award. She is flanked by Associate Senior Vice-President for Alumni Affairs Patrick Auerbach and the President of the USC Alumni Association Board of Directors Rod Nakamoto.
Luckily, I was also able to catch the description of Sandy Johnston's Widney Award.
Right before dinner was served, Trojan Candy took more pictures.
By the lobby fireplace, all of the President's Awards Honorees---Heather Kline, Chuck Miwa, Meribeth Farmer, Kate Farlow, Richard Merkin, and Donald Dean---posed with Rod Nakamoto and Patrick Auerbach. Congratulations to all!
It was now very crowded in the Town and Gown dining area. I was able to walk slowly back to my table, taking pictures as I progressed. Here are former Town and Gown President Carol Mollett, Rod Nakamoto, Shawna Foster and Dann Angeloff.
Near my table Dr. Art Bartner posed with Louis Byrd who was a guest at my table.
Then Dr. Bartner posed with Jerry Ensom.
Standing nearby, Trojan Candy took this picture of Sandy Johnston with Tom Porras, her sister Bunny Stewart, her father Dr. Bill Stewart, her mother Rosalie Stewart, and her sister Rosemary O'Hara.
At nearby table 15, I saw some very familiar faces. Trojan Candy met many of these friends when my husband Jim and I volunteered at Heritage Hall. Jeremy Cherry, Julian Bonse, Adam Bart, and Jennifer Noriega.
On the other side of table 15, Jennifer joined Alexandra Bitterlin, Ron Orr, Tara Quarrie, Alina Arakelian and Jordan Bradley.
After dinner was served, Part 2 of the Program began. Kate Farlow was our TGLA member who was chosen for a President's Award. Trojan Candy was able to take a picture of Kate's screen description.
Then, here is Kate receiving her award from Rod Nakamoto and Patrick Auerbach.
Kate then delivered her acceptance speech in this video. Trojan Candy was kneeling on the floor when I took this video of Kate, so the angle is not perfect. Congratulations, Kate!
I finally made it back to my table. Luckily, I was able to interview a famous guest. USC football player Louis Byrd and his niece Maurine Lewis sat right next to me. Louis is a teammate of Sandy Johnston's husband Rex. Jess Hill was their coach. He played in the USC-University of Texas football game in 1956. At that time, Texas was still segregated. Louis told me that an exception was made for all of the USC players to stay together in a hotel. Later, Louis played for the Raiders in the NFL. Then, Louis was a Principal and Mayor in Lynwood. What a famous Trojan! FIGHT ON, Louis! I took this picture while the Spirit of Troy played.
My last picture was taken by a friend, Gaston Escamilla. Thank you, Gaston! Honorees Sandy and Kate posed with fellow TGLA members. Trojan Candy, Christine Ofiesh, Sandy Johnston, Nikki Dana, Kate Farlow and Carol Fox.
With that, Trojan Candy packed her camera up and said, "Good Night" to my friends.
What a memorable evening!
When Trojan Candy arrived at Town and Gown for the annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner, the patio was jam packed with honorees and guests. 
I saw Sandy Johnston, our TGLA winner of the Widney Alumni House Award for 2016. She posed with her husband Rex for this lovely picture. 
Trojan Candy zig-zagged to the other side of the patio and walked by another familiar face. I first met Alex Chang at a reception in Honolulu in 2013. We were there for the USC-Hawaii football game. 
I went up to Alex and asked him if he remembered me. Smiling, he said that he did. Then I had his parents Henry and Penny, his wife Maggie, and friends Rod and Elsie Nakamoto get together for this picture. 
I finally made it back to my table. Luckily, I was able to interview a famous guest. USC football player Louis Byrd and his niece Maurine Lewis sat right next to me. Louis is a teammate of Sandy Johnston's husband Rex. Jess Hill was their coach. He played in the USC-University of Texas football game in 1956. At that time, Texas was still segregated. Louis told me that an exception was made for all of the USC players to stay together in a hotel. Later, Louis played for the Raiders in the NFL. Then, Louis was a Principal and Mayor in Lynwood. What a famous Trojan! FIGHT ON, Louis! I took this picture while the Spirit of Troy played.
My last picture was taken by a friend, Gaston Escamilla. Thank you, Gaston! Honorees Sandy and Kate posed with fellow TGLA members. Trojan Candy, Christine Ofiesh, Sandy Johnston, Nikki Dana, Kate Farlow and Carol Fox.