SCholars Join the Trojan Family

By Ryan Furlong on October 19, 2009 1:35 PM

The USC SCholars Program, a grant-funded initiative created to increase the number of first-generation and low-income students transferring from community colleges to selective research universities in California, is breaking new ground.

The 23 students who are part of the program have set a series of firsts, including three acceptances to the USC School of Cinematic Arts and another three to the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.

USC is one of two California universities partnering with three neighboring community colleges — Los Angeles Community College, Los Angeles Trade-Technical College and East Los Angeles College — and working with students to help them transfer to a school in the University of California system, the California State Institute of Technology, Stanford University or USC.

“Our goal is not exclusively to have these students come to USC,” said Kenechukwu Mmeje, director of the SCholars Program. “If they come to USC, great - we’ll welcome them with open arms. If they go to Berkeley or UCLA, we’ll consider that a win as well.”

The program has three phases.

The initial phase is working with its community college partners to identify students with the potential to transfer to research institutions. The program provides workshops for about 100 such students on topics such as applying to different schools and securing financial aid.

For the students who apply and are accepted to USC, the second phase consists of a support system to help them succeed at the university. The program does this through a weeklong orientation, group activities and constant advisement and encouragement.

The third phase is working with students as they prepare to graduate and start searching for a job or pursuing graduate education.

Compared to previous years, this year’s students are more non-traditional, according to Mmeje, in that some are parents and many are older.

James Trent, a 40-year-old transfer student from Los Angeles City College, was accepted to the School of Cinematic Arts.

“Most go to college and then do life,” Trent said. “I did life and now I’m going to college.”

Trent was raised in southern Georgia and joined the Navy at 17 after graduating from high school. After his service, he started a computer business but realized what truly made him happy was film.

Trent, who never thought going to a four-year school was an option, credits the SCholars Program with helping make his dream come true.

“When I found out about this program, I realized it could help me transfer to a research or higher-level school that would normally not be attainable for someone like me,” he said.

Trent plans to apply to the Peter Stark Producing Program, a graduate program in the School of Cinematic Arts, when he graduates.

David Perera, another USC SCholar, is a 21-year-old single father who transferred from East Los Angeles College and is now majoring in civil engineering. In high school, he often got in trouble, and during his first year in junior college, he did not put much effort into his studies.

“I had no direction in my life at the time,” he said. “It wasn’t until I had my daughter that I realized I needed to get my act together.”

Perera said he came to USC thinking he was going to be alone but found that the program fosters a community. “You can always go there and have someone to talk to and help you out,” he said.

The SCholars Program, which began in 2006, had been funded by a one-time grant from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. That grant will run out next August, and program officials are seeking external funds to keep the project alive.

Judi Biggs Garbuio, associate dean of students and the Academic Recognition and Scholars Program, said that asking USC for funding would be a “last resort” since many other programs are vying for money from the university.

TAGS: community programs

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