As a gift from Dean Bay, graduates will receive one complimentary photo from the ceremony. GradImages will reach out and provide more information via email.
FLAG BEARER
Dylan Brashier, Bachelor of Arts, Journalism
BANNER BEARER
Alyssa Valdez, Master of Arts, Specialized Journalism
ACADEMIC PROGRAM DIRECTORS
Daniela Baroffio, Clinical Associate Professor & Director, Digital Social Media program; Melanie Cherry, Associate Professor of Professional Practice & Associate Director, Public Relations and Advertising (BA) program; David Craig, Associate Professor & Director, Global Media and Communication program; Hernan Galperin, Professor & Director, Doctoral Studies; Oscar Garza, Professor of Professional Practice & Director, Specialized Journalism (Arts and Culture) program; Rebecca Haggerty, Professor of Professional Practice & Associate Director, Journalism (BA) program; Lisa Pecot-Hébert, Professor of Professional Practice & Director, Journalism (MS) program; Joseph Itaya, Associate Professor of Professional Practice & Director, Digital Media Management program; Monica Koyama, Associate Professor of Professional Practice & CoDirector, Communication Management program; Ben Lee, Clinical Professor of Communication & Associate Director, Communication Management program; Freddy Tran Nager, Clinical Associate Professor & Associate Director, Digital Social Media program; Courtney Pade, Clinical Associate Professor & Co-Director, Communication Management program; Jillian Pierson, Clinical Professor & Director, Undergraduate Communication Studies; Brad Shipley, Clinical Professor & Associate Director, Digital Social Media program; Burghardt Tenderich, Professor of Professional Practice & Co-Director, Public Relations and Advertising program; Director, Public Relations, Strategy, Innovation and Management program; Sandy Tolan, Professor & Director, Specialized Journalism program; Jay Wang, Associate Professor & Director, Public Diplomacy program
Lindsey Vonn
Olympic Gold Medalist, Best-Selling Author, Philanthropist and Investor
One of the most decorated athletes in history, Lindsey Vonn is a master storyteller who has created a global media platform shaped by the lessons of sport, struggle and reinvention. Through books, documentaries, digital channels and business ventures, she has built a career defined by how athletes communicate and shape their own narratives
Across her career, Vonn has combined physical audacity with emotional openness a duality that has earned her worldwide admiration and lasting influence. With three Olympic medals, eight World Cup season titles, and four overall World Cup championships, she is widely regarded as one of the greatest ski racers of all time.
Across a nearly 25-year career, she returned from repeated injuries, including a torn ACL and critical nerve damage in her arm, to remain at the top of the sport. After retiring in 2019 and undergoing a partial knee replacement, Vonn returned to elite competition in 2024, marking a comeback that drew widespread international attention. In the 2025–26 season ahead of the Milan Cortina Olympics, she earned seven podium finishes in eight races, including two victories at St Moritz and Zauchensee
Beyond competition, her work extends across publishing, production, digital media, philanthropy and investment.
She is the author of two New York Times bestsellers, Strong Is the New Beautiful (2016) and her memoir Rise: My Story (2022), which chronicles both her athletic career and personal journey. Her HBO documentary, Lindsey Vonn: The Final Season, traces her journey from her childhood in Minnesota to the World Championships in Åre, Sweden, in 2019 That same year, she founded Après Productions, a company focused on stories centered on sport, women and perseverance, including PICABO, a documentary she co-directed about Olympic champion Picabo Street
Vonn has also been an early and active user of social media to engage audiences and shape her public narrative. Across platforms, including Instagram and Facebook, she has documented her training, injuries and return to competition, while sharing personal perspectives and values. She has spoken about the role of digital platforms in allowing athletes to connect directly with fans and build long-term success beyond competition
Through the Lindsey Vonn Foundation, she supports girls through scholarships, education and athletics. She is an investor in the National Women’s Soccer League teams the Utah Royals and Angel City FC, and has spoken about taking a valuesdriven approach to partnerships and supporting the growth of women ’ s sports
Academic Honors Student Recognition
USC STEVEN AND KATHRYN
SAMPLE RENAISSANCE SCHOLARS
Julia Marie-Françoise Alexander
Donal Christopher Buckley
Francesca Angelici Capaldi
Aubrie Anne Cole
Indira Raquel Escobar
Ainsley Aidan Ferrell
Marissa Marie Hein
Mai Kaufman
Mallory Michelle North
Michelle Wee
Ziyan Zhou
DISCOVERY SCHOLARS
Mallory Michelle North
Ranay Vivek Sah
GLOBAL SCHOLARS
Julia Marie-Françoise Alexander*
ORDER OF TROY
Taylor Altman
Nathan Elias
Melissa Grimaldo
Ranay Sah
Sophie Sullivan
ORDER OF THE LAUREL AND THE PALM
Tiffany Wang
ORDER OF ARÊTE Maria del Carmen Leyva-Hernandez
USC MAIN STAGE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
STUDENT SPEAKER
Kash Amos
*Denotes prize winner
School of Journalism Awards
OUTSTANDING BA JOURNALISM
SCHOLAR AWARD (ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE)
Jasmine Kwok and Katherine Simons
OUTSTANDING BA JOURNALISM
SCHOLAR AWARD (RECOGNITION)
Stephen Knobel and Charlotte Calmes
OUTSTANDING BA PUBLIC RELATIONS SCHOLAR AWARD (ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE)
Stephanie Ofilada
OUTSTANDING BA PUBLIC RELATIONS
SCHOLAR AWARD (RECOGNITION)
Taylor Altman
DIRECTOR’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE (UNDERGRADUATE)
Tomoki Chien
OUTSTANDING GRADUATE
JOURNALISM SCHOLAR AWARD (ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE)
Marie-Anne Harrigan
OUTSTANDING GRADUATE
JOURNALISM SCHOLAR AWARD (RECOGNITION)
Alyssa Valdez
OUTSTANDING PUBLIC RELATIONS AND ADVERTISING SCHOLAR AWARD (ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE)
Sierra Sohn
OUTSTANDING PUBLIC RELATIONS AND ADVERTISING SCHOLAR AWARD (RECOGNITION)
Xiaolin Zhao
DIRECTOR’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE (GRADUATE)
Kristle Adler
CENTER FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS RESEARCH AWARD (GRADUATE)
India Starr
NORMAN CORWIN AWARD FOR SERVICE AND SCHOLARSHIP
Sophie Sullivan
PENNY LERNOUX AWARD FOR INTERNATIONAL REPORTING AWARD
Lizbeth Solorzano
JACK LANGGUTH FIRST AMENDMENT AWARD
Valeria Macias
BRYCE NELSON AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED JOURNALISM
Tomoki Chien
Academic Honors
COMMUNICATIONS DEPT. HONORS
Zaina Tamer Dabbous
Maya Natalia Din
Indira R Escobar
Shantala Muruganujan
Mallory Michelle North
Ben Andrew Robel
Diya Srivastava
Alice Shu
Emily Kathryn Vargas
JOURNALISM DEPT. HONORS
Kailee Bryant
Charlotte Calmes
Lily Coleman
Nick Corral
Zaina Tamer Dabbous
David Herrera
Stephen Knobel
Jasmine Kwok
Kim Ly
Alia Noll
Katie Simons
Kate Stuzin
Sophie Sullivan
Ana Susman
Robert Westermann
Aidan Williams
PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPT. HONORS
Taylor Alyene Minfang
Altman
Selena Angeles
Kasi Shamia Za'Rae Brown
Dorothy Paige Castanon
Shaan Dhaliwal
Marissa Marie Hein
Taylor Paige Kaplan
Van Luu
Stephanie Pegoraro Ofilada
Dahlia Nasser Tarazi
Welcome to the USC Annenberg alumni family!
You are now part of an incredible group of over 27,000 USC Annenberg alumni across the globe that are influencing and transforming the world every day
As alumni, you have access to USC Annenberg benefits, including events and activities designed for your needs. Whether it’s through networking, social or professional development opportunities, we are here to support you
Visit us at annenberg.usc.edu/alumni
Stay connected to the USC Annenberg family through our social media networks: ASCJAlumni
