Continuing the tradition of honoring graduating students from disciplines across the university, USC’s annual Student Recognition Awards ceremony and Academic Honors Convocation were held this spring. Outstanding members of USC Annenberg’s Class of 2023 were recognized with these top honors, showcasing their stellar academic achievements as well as their meaningful contributions that have significantly enriched the university and the wider community.
Student Recognition Awards
The Order of Troy
Recipients of the Order of Troy have distinguished themselves beyond their peers in at least one facet of university life and have made notable contributions to the university community as active leaders or critical contributors in service to peers, the university community or the world at large. These students have pursued academic excellence while devoting extensive time and energy in service outside the classroom.
- Eileen Chen
- Alex Coulolias
- Vincent Leo
- Arianne Ontiveros
- Rachel Roitman
- Ananya Shah
- Kacie Yamamoto
The Order of the Laurel and the Palm
The highest honor given to undergraduates completing their degrees, the Order of the Laurel and the Palm is awarded to students who display exceptional leadership and service that makes a lasting impact on the university community and/or the world at large. These students embody the university’s values and goals. Less than one percent of undergraduates earning their degrees are selected to receive the Order of the Laurel and the Palm.
- Emily Marroquin
- Hannah Woodworth
The Order of Arête
Arête, taken from the Greek, means virtue or excellence in attaining one’s utmost human potential. Members of the Order of Arête have distinguished themselves above their peers through campus or community leadership roles beyond those required for their programs of study, often making notable contributions to the university, academic discipline, community or world at large. In these leadership roles, members demonstrate significant depth and scope of responsibility, and they are recognized for upholding value and meaning over individual achievement. The award represents the highest honor accorded graduate students upon completion of their academic programs.
- Shreya Agrawal
- Stefan De La Guardia
- Brynne Sanderson Di Donato
- Cristal Gomez
- Nianci Huang
- Audrey Kono
- Kaite Papazian
- Aisha Patel
- Nicole Song
- Emma Weiner
Academic Honors
PhD Achievement Award
Awarded for doctoral student achievement.
USC Provost’s Award
The USC Provost’s Award is granted to graduating seniors who have attained the highest scholarship average of all undergraduate transfer students at the University. The recipients have attained a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
- Jing Lou
- Bita Tanavoli
University Trustees Award
The University Trustees Award is granted to graduating seniors who have attained the highest scholarship average since their first year at the university. The recipients of this award have attained a perfect 4.0 grade point average for their entire undergraduate course of study at USC.
- Emily Christine Chung
- Brynne Sanderson Di Donato
- Alexis Dugel
- Hunter Hinson
- Kevin Zheng Lu
- Celine Gamboa Mendiola
USC Steven and Kathryn Sample Renaissance Scholars
USC Steven and Kathryn Sample Renaissance Scholars are students who graduate in two or more widely separated fields of study with both a major and a minor, or two baccalaureate degrees. Renaissance Scholars must meet requirements for superior academic performance, including no less than a 3.5 overall grade point average, and no less than a 3.5 grade point average in their respective programs of study.
- Seeran Ajemian
- Olivia Alfano
- Emily Brooke Bornstein
- Caitlin Louise Calfo
- Eileen Chen*
- Emily Christine Chung
- Sarah Cortina
- Coco Fang
- Emilie Fu
- Jeffrey K. Lee
- Yuli Li
- Haoan Luo
- Ariana Gabrielle Martino
- Liza Diana Monasebian
- Lilia Pierce Muscarella
- Jamie Qiu
- Maya Catherine Robles
- Myrah Sarwar
- Bita Tanavoli
- Karla Michelle Torres
- Judy Shujie Wang
- Cara Lexington Westra
- Jingyan Wu
*denotes prize winner
Global Scholars
The USC Global Scholars program recognizes undergraduates who have excelled in their studies both at home and abroad, spending at least 10 weeks outside the U.S. as part of their undergraduate experience, and achieving no less than a 3.5 overall grade point average.
- Alexandria Susan Baiz
- Kevin Zheng Lu
Discovery Scholars
USC Discovery Scholars are students who have produced exceptional original scholarship or creative work at USC while compiling a distinguished overall academic record, including no less than a 3.5 overall grade point average.
- Hunter Hinson*
- Leo Chu
- Yuli Li
- Kevin Zheng Lu
- Myrah Sarwar
*denotes prize winner
External Academic Honors
Fulbright U.S. Student Program
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers research, study and teaching opportunities in over 140 countries to recent graduates and graduate students.
- Hunter Hinson
School of Communication Awards
USC Annenberg’s School of Communication announced the following recipients of their inaugural awards for graduating undergraduate students.
- Hunter Hinson and Jing Lou, Academic Achievement Award
- Bita Tanavoli, Innovation Award
- Alex Coulolias, Civic and Community Engagement Award
- Maile Lawson, Intellectual Generosity Award
- Emily Marroquin and Rachel Roitman, Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Access Award
- Spencer St Denis, Student Transformation Award
School of Journalism Awards
USC Annenberg’s School of Journalism announced the following recipients of their annual awards for graduating undergraduate and master’s students.
- Celine Mendiola, Outstanding BA in Journalism Scholar Award (GPA)
- Nataly Joseph, Outstanding BA in Journalism Scholar Award (recognition)
- Kevin Lu, Outstanding BA in Public Relations Scholar Award (GPA)
- Daphne Zhu, Outstanding BA in Public Relations Scholar Award (recognition)
- Andrea Valeria Diaz Tolivia, Director's Award for Excellence (undergraduate)
- Philip Salata, Outstanding MS in Journalism Scholar Award (top scholar)
- Shreya (Rhysea) Agrawal, Outstanding MS in Journalism Scholar Award (recognition)
- Maryssa Rillo, Outstanding MA in Specialized Journalism Scholar Award (top scholar)
- Andrew Dubbins, Outstanding MA in Specialized Journalism Scholar Award (recognition)
- Sofia Fernandez, Outstanding MA in Specialized Journalism (The Arts) Scholar Award (top scholar)
- Rajvinder Singh, Outstanding MA in Specialized Journalism (The Arts) Scholar Award (recognition)
- Michelle Eunice, Outstanding MA in Public Relations and Advertising Scholar Award (top scholar)
- Marcus Luther, Outstanding MA in Public Relations and Advertising Award (recognition)
- Dervla McNeice, Center for Public Relations Research Award
- Philip Salata, Director's Award for Excellence (graduate)
- Baoqi (Eileen) Chen, Norman Corwin Award for Service and Scholarship
- Yannick Peterhans, Penny Lernoux Award for International Reporting Award
- Eric Lambkins, Jack Langguth First Amendment Award
- Ngai Yeung, Bryce Nelson Award for Distinguished Journalism