Dear Trojan Parents and Family Members,

Spring has sprung in Los Angeles and there are many upcoming events and important dates for parents and students throughout the semester. Access www.usc.edu/parent for up-to-date information, event calendar and registration information.

Our Twitter account is live! We are excited to announce the launch of an Office for Parent Programs Twitter account. Follow us（@TrojanFamilyUSC）or click the Twitter button on our website for immediate updates from departments all over campus, and to get an idea of what it's like to be a student living in Los Angeles, attending one of the top 25 universities in the country.

Mark October 24-27, 2013 on your calendar for this year’s Trojan Family Weekend! This is a great way for the entire family to share in your student’s USC journey and experience what it means to be part of the spirited Trojan Family. More information will be provided in upcoming Parent e-blasts. Also, follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the most up-to-date information. If you have any questions about Trojan Family Weekend, please call 213.740.2080 or email torkin@usc.edu.

The Parents Council Day of SCervice, in conjunction with the USC Alumni Day of SCervice will be on Saturday, March 23. The Parents Council Day will be at the Union Rescue Mission in Downtown Los Angeles from Noon – 2pm. Registration and more information will be posted soon on http://alumnigroups.usc.edu/scervice/.

Please have a conversation with your student about a USC faculty member that has made an impact on him/her. The 2013 Steven B. Sample Teaching and Mentoring Award nomination form is now available online. These awards, a signature program of the USC Parents Association, are the only faculty recognition awards initiated by Trojan parent nominations and comments by their students. Faculty recipients receive a $1,000 honorarium, recognition in the Trojan Parent Perspective newsletter and their name inscribed on a permanent plaque at the University Club. The 2012-2013 nomination deadline is Friday, March 29, 2013. Please access www.usc.edu/parent for more information and the nomination form.

Make Plans to Cheer at the Trojan Basketball Parent Event on March 2

Join fellow parents and family members at the annual Parents Association Basketball event on Saturday, March 2. Registration cost（$50 per person）will include a breakfast buffet, entertainment by the Trojan Marching Band, a silent auction/raffle and tickets to the men’s basketball game featuring the Arizona State Sun Devils against the USC Trojans. Register at http://sait.usc.edu/parent/UpcomingEvents.asp. If you already have basketball tickets, but would like to attend this event, please contact Maria Riley at 213.740.2080 to register.

Buy a Gayle Roski Scarf - Makes a Great Gift for Mother’s Day

The Gayle Roski scarf is available through the Office for Parent Programs and makes a beautiful gift. This one-of-a-kind, 36” x 36” silk scarf was designed by Gayle exclusively for the USC Parents Association to sell and raise money for its projects. Gayle is a USC alumna, a renowned artist and a strong supporter of the university. Her husband Edward Roski, Jr. is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and they have been major benefactors to the Roski School of Fine Arts. The cost is $65 per scarf and a limited supply is currently available. There is an additional $10 charge for shipping. Contact Beth Saul, Director for Parent Programs, at saul@usc.edu with any questions and/or to order your scarf today!

News from the Office for Parent Programs:

Mark Your Calendar--Important Spring Dates-to-Remember
President’s Day（no classes）：Monday, February 18
Parents Association Basketball Event：Saturday, March 2
Spring Recess：March 18-23
Alumni Day of SCervice：Saturday, March 23
Parents Council Meeting：Tuesday, April 9
Classes end：Friday, May 3
Study Days：May 4-7
Final Exams*：May 8-15
Commencement：Friday, May 17
*Students usually leave campus for the summer 24 hours after their last exam.

Parent Information:

Start planning for Your Family’s 2013 Graduation Events
It’s not too early to start planning for your student’s 2013 USC Commencement celebration on Friday, May 17. Many of the local hotels and restaurants have already started to book up, so start making your plans today. If you need assistance with your travel arrangements, visit STA Travel at www.statravel.com.

Starting on Monday, February 11, parents can purchase tickets to the 2013 Baccalaureate Dinner at 6:30pm on Thursday, May 16. This dinner hosts 1,200 students and families under an enormous canopy on Pardee Way near the Widney Alumni House. The cost for dinner is $40 per person, which includes tax, gratuity, and wine or other beverage. There is no limit to the number of tickets families can buy, but tables will be seated in groups of ten（i.e. if you buy eleven tickets, your party will be split among two adjacent tables）. Please note this event will sell out. For more information, access
http://www.usc.edu/dept/pubrel/specialevents/commencement/baccalaureate.php.

Finally, the 2013 El Rodeo yearbook may also be purchased online for $70. Reserve your student’s copy at www.uscelrodeo.com. The yearbook is a great present to remind students of their time spent at USC.

2013 Grad Fair to be held February 12-14 at the Tutor Center Grand Ballroom
The 2013 Grad Fair will be held on February 12, 13（from 10am - 4pm）, and 14（10am - 6pm）in the Tutor Campus Center Grand Ballroom. This is your one-stop shop for all commencement-related items. Last year, approximately 5,000 students and parents attended this three day event. Although parents are highly encouraged to attend, you can shop online and order the commencement packages which will be at a discounted rate ONLY for the three days of the Grad Fair.

At the Grad Fair, students can rent caps and gowns, purchase class rings, announcements, sashes, diploma frames and leis. A new option at this year’s Grad Fair includes a photo studio so that parents and/or friends can take a picture with their student in caps and gowns. There will also be commencement packages available for advanced degree graduates.

Also in attendance at Grad Fair this year will be the El Rodeo Yearbook, USC Alumni Association, Dornsife, Annenberg, Marshall and Viterbi representatives, the USC Credit Union and more.

For more information about Commencement, visit the commencement website at http://www.usc.edu/dept/pubrel/specialevents/commencement/. Please email gradfair@usc.edu for any questions regarding the 2013 Grad Fair.

Information on Trojan Athletic Fund and 2013 USC Football Season Tickets
USC home football games are a wonderful time for families to come together and see their student on campus while taking in the exciting action of a USC football game. Many parents ask for information on how to get priority seating for the season and the additional benefits associated with an athletic membership. Please contact the USC Ticket Office for season tickets and for those wishing to discuss opportunities to upgrade seats, please contact USC Athletics at 213.740.4155 or visit us at www.trojanathleticfund.com.

Registration Available for the 2013 USC Women’s Conference
The fifth annual USC Women’s Conference will be held from 8am - 5pm on Thursday, March 7 at the USC University Park campus. Join USC alumnae and friends to network and hear thought-provoking presentations and panel discussions featuring luminaries in the fields of medicine, business, public service and the arts. Register at https://secure.www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/SCA/event/showEventForm.jsp?form_id=140725 or call the USC Alumni Association at 213.740.5734.

Is your company or business seeking qualified and talented summer interns?
Exclusive to USC Dornsife students, the unique summer Gateway Program combines a paid internship with a USC academic program and mentorship. Each student is paired with a distinguished professional or USC Dornsife faculty member and enrolled in a customized Multi-Disciplinary Activities（one unit summer course with USC Dornsife Faculty）course to enhance the internship experience through guest speakers, collaborations with fellow students and personal reflection. We are seeking paid internships for this summer's Gateway Program scholars. For information on the program or how you can partner with the Gateway Program, please visit：http://dornsife.usc.edu/gatewayinternships.

USC Song Girls to Host a Cheer and Dance Clinic for Girls 4-17
The USC Song Girls will host a cheer and dance clinic for girls 4-17 followed by a performance at the USC Men’s Basketball game on Saturday, March 2. The clinic will be from 9am – 11am at the USC Lyon Center. Participants will perform at the ASU Sun Devils and USC Trojans basketball game during halftime at the Galen Center. The fee is $100 per student（must be pre-registered）and includes clinic instruction, a “USC Jr. Song Girls” t-shirt, one participant and one adult basketball game ticket. Additional game tickets are also available for purchase. Space is limited. Contact 213.740.8120 or www.usc.edu/recsports/spirit/song for more information.

USC Dornsife Invites Families to the Catalina Island Campus this summer
The USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies —based in USC Dornsife—invites you and your family to embark on a journey of scientific discovery through our unique Family Science Program! Join USC faculty, staff and researchers at USC’s Catalina campus, the Philip K. Wrigley Marine Science Center for four days this summer. Snorkel in a marine life refuge with scientists, hike the trails of Catalina and spot animals while you kayak. For more information, please visit dornsife.usc.edu/wrigley/familyscience/, call 310.510.4090 or email famsci@usc.edu. To learn more about the Wrigley Institute, please visit http://dornsife.usc.edu/wrigley/home/.

USC Summer Programs for High School Students – Live the Trojan Experience!
USC Summer Programs offers 2-week and 4-week college immersion programs for high school students. Courses are taught by USC faculty and members of the academic community. Students engage in the university experience through a combination of lectures, hands-on workshops and labs, guest speakers and academic field trips to locations throughout Los Angeles. Students will also receive 3 units of USC elective credit upon successful completion of the 4-week course. For more information and to view our extensive selection of courses, please visit http://summer.usc.edu/parent.

A Reminder About Trojan Alerts
As a reminder from the Parents Council Safety Committee, please sign up for the TrojansAlert notification system. TrojansAlert is a free alert system that allows university officials to contact you during an emergency by sending messages to your email account, mobile/handheld devices or landline（text messages fees may apply from your wireless carrier）. To sign up, visit https://trojansalert.usc.edu/index.php?CCheck=1.

Information to pass on to your student:

USC Housing Renewal information available online
Although the online application deadline for USC Housing renewal was in January, there are several important dates for USC Housing for your student to follow-up on. Access http://housing.usc.edu/forms/12_Housing_Renewal_Brochure_Web.pdf for more information on 2013-2014 USC Housing Renewal process. Please contact USC Housing at 213.740.2546 with any questions.

Summer Immersion Program in Italy offered by Davis School of Gerontology
The USC Davis School of Gerontology offers students the opportunity to study the important role of nutrition and genes, and their impact on longevity and diseases through classroom activities and structured field trips. This month-long immersion course in Genoa, Italy will be led by one of the world’s most foremost experts in biogerontology, USC’s own Valter Longo, Ph.D. Besides the academic benefit of direct instruction from one of biogerontology’s best minds, students will also achieve a broad understanding of aging as a global phenomenon and sharpen their own real-life application of healthy aging techniques.

Interested students should attend the information session on Monday February 4 from Noon – 1pm in GER 230. Lunch will be included. Visit http://gero.usc.edu/genoa/ or email Patty Betancourt at（pbetanco@usc.edu）for more information.

Registration Opens For A Trip to Israel This Summer on February 13
Registration for Taglit Birthright Israel opens Wednesday, February 13. This FREE 10 day trip is available to Jewish students ages 18-22. Visit http://www.uschillel.org/uschillel/student-life/israel/taglit-birthright-israel/ or contact USC Hillel at Israel@uschille.org for more information.

Encourage Your Student to Attend a Trojan SCupper February 22-24
The USC Alumni Association and the USC Student Alumni Society invite your student to participate in the fifth annual Trojan SCuppers. This program, a series of alumni and friends-hosted dinners, provides a wonderful opportunity for students to network with peers, parents and alumni in a relaxed and fun Trojan Family environment. Students can attend one of three dinner dates during the spring semester：Friday, February 22, Saturday, February 23 or Sunday, February 24. All students who are interested are welcome to apply!

Registration for all students is open on the Student Alumni Society website http://alumni.usc.edu/sas. Students are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Please e-mail sas@alumnicenter.usc.edu with any questions.

Learning Enrichment Workshops Provided at the Center for Academic Support
Make sure your student knows about the Learning Enrichment Workshops available at the Center for Academic Support. The spring 2013 schedule includes “Notetaking：Are You Getting the Most Out of Each Lecture”（Wednesday, February 6）, “Power Reading”（Wednesday, February 13）and “Writing Papers”（Wednesday, February 20）. All workshops will be held from 3pm - 4pm in Student Union, Suite 311. For more information, contact the Center for Academic Support at 213.740.0776, tutoring@usc.edu or www.usc.edu/cas.

Remind Your Student About the Career Fair and Internship Week
The spring 2013 calendar at the Career Center is in full swing so please prepare your students for an eventful semester! Parents can encourage their students to start prepping for these events by doing research on companies and industries and by attending the events below so they know who to approach beforehand on http://careers.usc.edu.

• Career Fair- February 7, 2013 on Trousdale Parkway from 10:00am - 2:30pm. Over 50 employers will be present and recruiting Trojans for full-time, part-time, and internship positions. Your student can view the attending employers online on connectSC.
• Internship Week- February 11-14, 2013 in the Career Center. Eight different industries will be featured with representatives looking to hire interns. Check here（http://careers.usc.edu/students/internships/internship-week）for a complete list of employers.

The Career Center team is ready to help Trojan students get the jobs and internships they want! In addition to cover letter and resume help, the Career Center has many programs to guide your student in their career path. Remind your student they can make an appointment to speak to an advisor on connectSC. The Career Center is open from 8:30am - 5pm Monday-Friday and is located in the Student Union（Suite #110）.

Solutions to Your Student’s New Year’s Resolutions - USC Recreational Sports
Spring break is just around the corner and most students have their class schedules settled. It’s about time to schedule that daily workout to maintain a healthy balance of mind, body and spirit. We have everything your student needs to get involved and stay in shape. Both the Lyon Recreation Center（UPC）and the Soto Recreation Center（SRC）provide free weights, cardiovascular equipment and more.

Trojan Fitness provides a wide variety of group exercise classes including muscle conditioning, SCycle, zumba, and yoga. Fitness includes personal trainers, group exercise classes, and massage therapy to increase your student’s fitness levels. Rec Sports can even bring a yoga class to a student’s residence hall or sorority – just email recsports@usc.edu to make the arrangements. Gift certificates（for USC Workout massage, and personal training sessions）are available online. USC BeFit.BeWell. Wellness offers programs that cover all aspects of wellness –social, physical and financial are just a few. Learn more at www.usc.edu/recsports or call 213.740.5127.

$1,000 student cash prize to be awarded for “I Am USC Dornside” Contest
Any student with a USC Dornsife major or minor is eligible to enter the “I Am USC Dornsife” contest. We want to hear USC Dornsife student stories, passions and learn about their quests to understanding pressing issues. An individual student or team of students may submit a video, written piece, song, photography or art that shows how they embody the spirit and mission of USC Dornsife for a chance to win up to $1,000. Submissions must be received by 5pm on Tuesday, February 19. Learn more at http://dornsife.usc.edu/iamuscdornsife.

Deadline to enter for the USC Libraries Wonderland Awards is March 20
Submissions are now being accepted for the 9th Annual USC Libraries Wonderland Awards. This is an annual multidisciplinary competition celebrating all that is “frumious and frabjous” about author Lewis Carroll. First prize is $2,500 and second prize is $1,500. The deadline to enter is Wednesday, March 20. Winners will be announced at an awards reception in Doheny Library on Friday, April 5. Visit http://www.usc.edu/libraries/news/wonderland/ for more information.

Applications now available for Summer 2013 SURF Program Funding
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fund（SURF）provides USC Dornsife undergraduates funding for on and off campus research activities that are executed under the direction of a USC Dornsife faculty member. Awards of up to $3,000 can be used to pay for travel or living expenses, equipment, fees or any other related costs. More than 200 students have received a total of nearly $500,000 in SURF awards in past years. Some students even chose to apply their stipend to tuition costs for a travel research course through USC Dornsife’s Problems Without Passports program. Applications for Summer 2013 SURF awards will be accepted mid-February - May 1, 2013. To learn more and share this opportunity with your student, please visit Dornsife.usc.edu/SURF.

Check out these upcoming events:

Support Women’s Athletics in February
There are several USC Women’s sports teams with games throughout the month of February. Support the Women of Troy and buy your tickets at http://www.usctrojans.com/tickets/usc-tickets.html. Also check out these two games with complimentary admission（no ticket needed）:

• Sunday, February 3- USC Women’s Basketball vs. the Colorado Buffaloes. Tip-off is at 10am at the Galen Center. Prior to the game, there will be a pancake buffet brunch starting at 8:30am in the Galen Founders’ room. The pancake brunch cost is $15 for adults, $7.50 for 6-12 years and free for those under six. Email uscgalenevents@gmail.com to rsvp for the brunch.
• Saturday, February 9- USC Women’s Lacrosse Inaugural season home opener vs. Northwestern（reigning National Champions）. The game will begin at 3pm at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The first 1,000 fans will receive a free “We Play for a New Era” t-shirt. Parking is $10 at the Coliseum. Visit www.usctrojans.com for more information.

Free Monthly Tours of the USC Shoah Foundation
Discover how the life stories and memories of Holocaust survivors and witnesses are being used to overcome prejudice, intolerance, and bigotry through visual history and education programs all over the world. If you enjoyed the demonstration of the archive during Trojan Family Weekend, this tour will show you how testimonies are digitized and translated into the Shoah Foundation archived format for translation into ten languages, indexing and preservation. Tours are currently scheduled for 11am - 1pm on February 6, March 13 and April 17. Learn more at http://sfi.usc.edu/.

Safari of the Soul：The Quest for Water in Africa in La Jolla on February 12
As the keynote speakers for the Herbert G. Klein lecture on Civic and Community Leadership, USC Trustee David Dornsife and his wife Dana will present “Safari of the Soul：The Quest for Water in Africa” a discussion about their work to provide clean drinking water access in Africa. The event will begin at 5:30pm on Tuesday, February 12 at The Lodge at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, CA. There is no charge to attend this event. For additional information and to RSVP, visit https://secure.www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/SCA/event/showEventForm.jsp?form_id=142734.

Speaker Series Focuses on the Brain and Spine on February 21
Join fellow Trojans at the Indian Wells Country Club（Indian Wells, CA）Wellness Center Health Speaker Series for “Brain and Spine：Update in Treatments and Technology” starting with a special reception at 4:30pm on Thursday, February 21. The discussion features speakers Patrick Hsieh, M.D. and Nerses Sanossian, M.D. from the Departments of Neurology and Neurological Surgery of the Keck Hospital of USC. Tickets are complimentary. For RSVP information and other event information, visit https://secure.www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/SCA/event/showEventForm.jsp?form_id=132211.

Half Century Trojans Going Back to College Day on February 27
Visit your alma mater on a typical school day and experience the stimulating academic and cultural environment of today’s USC. Starting at 9:30am on Wednesday, February 27, the 5th Annual Half Century Trojans Going Back to College Day will provide a day of current USC student leaders, transformative faculty and administrator speakers, celebration of Trojan traditions and a tour of the beautiful USC campus. Cost is $60 per person. To RSVP, visit https://secure.www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/SCA/event/showEventForm.jsp?form_id=140232.

Annual USC Marshall Partners Leadership Summit on February 28
Join Marshall Partners, alumni, parents and friends for the 7th Annual USC Marshall Partners Leadership Summit on Thursday, February 28 at the Westin South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA. This year’s event will explore the topic “Strategies for Business in a Global Society” and feature a dynamic slate of distinguished Marshall faculty and C-Level leaders in global business. For more information and RSVP, access https://thenetwork.usc.edu/eventcalendar?cid=1&ceid=138&cerid=0&cdt=2%2f28%2f2013.

Ken Price Sculpture：A Retrospective in Dallas on February 28
Join fellow Trojan for a special viewing of a 50-year sculpture retrospective of Ken Price ’57, professor emeritus of the USC Roski School of Fine Arts starting at 6:30pm on Thursday, February 28 at the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas, Texas. The reception will feature remarks from Erica Muhl, dean of the USC Roski School of Fine Arts, followed by a tour of the exhibition. Cost is $20 per person. To RSVP, visit https://secure.www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/SCA/event/showEventForm.jsp?form_id=137580.

Taking Stock：How to Make Wall Street Work for You in New York on March 1
Join fellow Trojans for a discussion over breakfast about market efficiencies and the predictability of asset returns from 7:30am - 8:30am on Friday, March 1 at Morgan Stanley in New York City. Led by Dr. M. Hashem Pesaran, the John Elliott Chair in Economics at USC, this event will address market factors that have impacted recent bubbles and crashes. RSVP is required by Monday, February 25. Cost is $15. For additional information and to RSVP, visit http://alumni.usc.edu/stockmarket13.

Volunteers Needed Trojan Hoops for Justice Basketball
Tournament on March 2
Join in the fun for the second annual campus-wide 3-on-3 basketball tournament to benefit USC charities starting at 6pm on Saturday, March 2 at the Lyon Center Basketball Courts. Proceeds from Trojan Hoops for Justice will benefit Troy Camp, Trojan Kids Camp and the After School Sports Connection.

Prior to the event, please consider joining the planning committee, registering a team, promoting team registration or becoming a tournament sponsor. The event will also need volunteers before, on the day of and at the event. For more information, please contact trojanhoops@uschillel.org or visit http://www.uschillel.org/uschillel/student-life/religious-spiritual-programs/food-fun/hoops/.

Joint USC Interfraternity & Intersorority Parents Council Meeting on March 28
Pat Haden, USC Athletic Director, will be the featured speaker at the Interfraternity and Intersorority Parent Council meeting starting at 10:30am on Thursday, March 28 at the Pi Beta Phi sorority house on The Row（just north of campus）. Chapter updates will be provided by chapter presidents and additional updates will be provided by Beth Saul（Director for Fraternity and Sorority Leadership Development and Parent Programs）, USC Department of Public Safety and the USC Career Planning and Placement Center. For more information, please contact Sara Phirrmann, President, USC Interfraternity Parents Council at sarapf@aol.com.

Upcoming Save-The-Dates…

• Friday, March 1- USC Latino Alumni Association Scholarship Dinner http://sait.usc.edu/maaa/
• Saturday, March 2- USC Parents Association Basketball event
• Monday, March 18- Marv Goux Memorial Golf Tournament and Luncheon at The Classic Club Golf Course and Bellatrix Restaurant in Palm Desert, CA. Contact Linda Ward, President-Trojan Club of the Desert at Lingosc@dc.rr.com.
• Saturday, March 23- 2nd USC Alumni Day of SCervice/ USC Parents Council Day of SCervice http://alumnigroups.usc.edu/scervice/
• Monday, March 25- USC Asian Pacific Alumni Association Scholarship and Awards Gala http://alumnigroups.usc.edu/apaa/events.php
• Tuesday, April 9- USC Parents Council meeting featuring speaker Scott Mory, Associate Senior Vice President for Alumni Relations & Campaign Director
• Saturday, April 13- Swim with Mike http://swimwithmike.org/
• April 20-21- Los Angeles Times Festival of Books http://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/
• Friday, May 3- Songfest www.usc.edu/ca
• Saturday, May 4- 19th Annual Lavender Celebration http://sait.usc.edu/lgbt/lavender/index.html

Plan Your 2013 Weekend Calendar with USC Football
The 2013 USC Football schedule has been announced. Football renewal applications will be available on February 7, 2013. Make sure to order your tickets to watch the USC Trojans in their quest for a top spot in the BCS. Contact the USC Ticket Office for more information at 213.740.GOSC or visit http://www.usctrojans.com/tickets/usc-tickets.html for ticket information on all USC sports. FIGHT ON!!

*Conference Event

Visit USC Parent Website, Facebook page and Twitter for Event Information
All of USC’s upcoming parent event information（both on and off campus）can be found on www.usc.edu/parent. Check back often as this website is a great resource for new and up-to-date information. Also, please “like” the “USC Office for Parent Programs” Facebook page（https://www.facebook.com/USCOfficeforParentPrograms）or follow us on Twitter（@TrojanFamilyUSC）for additional information, pictures, campus events and more.

Feel free to contact our office if you need assistance or if you have any questions. Our phone number is 213.740.2080 or e-mail us at scparent@usc.edu.

Finally, as a reminder, if you change your personal information such as your mailing address, email and/or phone numbers, please make sure your student updates your information through OASIS. For more information, access http://fbs.usc.edu/depts/sfs/faq.aspx?faq_id=229.

We look forward to seeing you at the Parent Association Basketball event on March 2! Make sure to register today at http://sait.usc.edu/parent/UpcomingEvents.asp.

FIGHT ON!!
Beth Saul, Tina Orkin, Maria Riley and Lily Ball
Office for Parent Programs