2012 SPECIAL AWARDS
Special Awards Academic Honors Valedictorian Every university has its own set of traditions for selecting commencement speakers and honorees. The custom at the University of Southern California is to name one student as the valedictorian and one or more students as salutatorians. The valedictorian delivers the address on behalf of the graduating class at the university’s commencement ceremony. The selection process at USC differs considerably from that of most high schools, where recognition is based solely on cumulative grade point average. Under that system, the valedictorian and salutatorian are ranked first and second, respectively, in their class. USC’s process recognizes the highest levels of academic achievement, while taking a more holistic view of a student’s time at the university. All graduating students who have earned a cumulative USC grade point average of 3.98 or higher as of the conclusion of the fall semester are invited to apply to be named valedictorian. A panel of senior faculty, drawn from across the university, reviews all applications with the selection based on the following factors: Grade point average Number of course units completed at USC Breadth of academic program Challenge of academic program Contribution to university and community life Genevieve Hoffman, Economics & International Relations Salutatorians Jeffrey Ryan Hill, Biological Sciences & Kinesiology
Sonam Ghanshyam Kapadia, Biological Sciences & Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Studies
Emma Josephine Bradley Bovard Award Founded and sponsored by the Faculty Women’s Club of the University of Southern California. Awarded to the graduating students who have attained the highest scholarship averages of all women at the university for the four-year period of their undergraduate courses. Sonam Ghanshyam Kapadia, Biological Sciences & Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Studies
Ashley Michelson, Business Administration Jeannie Y. Zhang, Neuroscience
University Trustees Award Awarded to the graduating students who have attained the highest scholarship averages of all men at the university for the four-year period of their undergraduate courses. Jeffrey Ryan Hill, Biological Sciences & Kinesiology
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USC 129TH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT
Cody Shaw Nelson, Biochemistry & History