President Mary Hall called our first fall meeting to order and began the introduction of our guests. The first honored guests whom she invited to the podium were our 2018-2019 Senior Scholarship Recipients.
Senior Erica Wenger was introduced first. She majored in Business and will earn her Masters in Entrepreneurship. Erica has a twin sister who is attending UCLA and a cousin who is a Freshman at USC. In January 2019, Erica will again be Executive Director of the "USC Own It Women's Leadership" Conference that will be attended by a thousand students and have a hundred speakers. Erica is also the CEO and Founder of Mankana. What outstanding accomplishments! Congratulations and FIGHT ON, Erica!
Megan Henckel has come to USC after overcoming a nerve disorder. She was born in Los Angeles but grew up in Dallas. Megan majored in Critical Studies and wants to pursue a career in television and film. She is working at Trojan Vision now. For hobbies, Megan likes to play golf, play the guitar and watch old movies. Her favorite classic movie is "Rear Window." Congratulations and FIGHT ON, Megan!
Trojan Candy sat next to our third Senior Scholar. Sina Karachiani is from Iran and lives in Irvine. He majored in Computer Science and Music Composition. Sina started playing the piano in the third grade. He also plays the harmonica. Sina likes to draw architecture style gifts for his friends. He draws planes, buildings and nature scenes and incorporates his friend's names in the art. What a nice gift! Congratulations and FIGHT ON, Sina!
The fourth TGLA Senior Scholar whom I was able to interview this morning was Derek Pengkai Hong. Derek was born in Shantai, Guangdong. He is earning his B.S. in Accounting and Finance. He has been studying for nine years away from home. Derek does visit his parents and family as much as he can. At USC, Derek is President of a two hundred member Chinese Student's Organization. He also performs the male lead in theater shows. For one of his hobbies, Derek likes to fish in Newport Beach. He catches two lb. rubber lips fish there! Derek also loves to cook Chinese food and put his recipes on the internet. Congratulations and FIGHT ON, Derek!
Our fifth Senior Scholar is Henry Algert. Henry intended to be at our TGLA Meeting, but a job interview conflicted. Good luck with your interview, Henry! Trojan Candy sent Henry some interview questions which he answered, and he sent me his picture. Here are my interview questions with his reply.
Congratulations and FIGHT ON, Henry!
The four Seniors posed for a group picture with President Mary Hall, Vice-President Scholarship Elizabeth O'Connell, Sina Karachiani, Megan Henckel, Erica Wenger, Derek Hong and Vice-President Scholarship Lois Booth.
Next on the Business Agenda, Vice Presidents Membership Sandi Hamper and Ann Palmer introduced six of our new 2018 members. President Mary Hall joined the ladies in this picture. From left to right were Mary Hall, Cindy Wedegaertner, Betty Gross, Katherine Moore, Anna Liberovsky, Janyce Teasley, Patti Madden, Ann Palmer and Sandi Hamper. Welcome to all of our new TGLA members!
After some TGLA Board members presented their reports, our speaker Mr. Dennis Cornell, who is the USC Presidential Chief of Staff, started his presentation. Mr. Cornell started working at USC in 1991 for President Steve Sample and his "Campaign for Excellence." He was the Chief of Protocol for President C.L. Nikias. He spoke about the thirteen year success of Visions and Voices, the 7 Billion Dollar mark that was surpassed and the 150 Academic Initiative Chairs that were created by President Nikias.
Then he spoke about the frantic schedule of our Interim USC President Wanda Austin. He told us that Dr. Austin is a real rocket scientist and is an active engineer. She is a "morning person" and arrives at her office at 7:15 a.m. sharp every morning. Mr. Cornell schedules her planning calendar and her public appearances. He showed us his planning calendar for President Austin. It was jam packed. How interesting it was to have a glance into Dr. Austin's busy calendar. Thank you, Mr. Cornell!
Some of our TGLA members came to the podium to pose with Mr. Cornell. Namely, Lorna Reed, Carol Fox, Carol Thueson, and Mary Hall.
After the presentation, Trojan Candy took pictures of every TGLA member and her invited guest(s).
What an action packed first TGLA meeting.
Congratulations to our two USC Alumni Association Volunteer Recognition Award winners for 2018. They are D'Arcy McLeod and Sharon Wood. TGLA members Nikki Dana, Karen Schiffman, Cheryl Schwartz, Kate Farlow, Sheila Derrig, Sharon Schmidt, Jean Getchell, and Sandy Johnston came to the Awards Ceremony to support D'Arcy and Sharon.
Cheryl Schwartz's husband Elliott emailed me the two group pictures.
Congratulations, D'Arcy!
Congratulations, Sharon!
The Trojan Guild is always at the Town and Gown (T&G) Scholarship Luncheon to volunteer. The ladies handled the registration for the Town and Gown scholars and guests. Trojan Candy came to take pictures of our Trojan Guild Scholars who are also Town and Gown scholars. I looked for TGLA scholars Megan Henckel, Sina Karachiani, Henry Algert, Erica Wenger and Derek Hong.
I did take pictures of lots of Town and Gown scholars and volunteers in my search.
Trojan Candy met many Town and Gown Scholars today, but I never did find our TGLA/Town and Gown Scholars. I will have to wait to meet them at our first TGLA meeting on Thursday, October 4th.
