Family Ties news from the usc alumni association
77th Annual USC Alumni Awards The USC Alumni Association’s premier event of the year honors brilliant stars of the Trojan Family. AMAX Information Technologies; and Melissa Ward ’86, the first African-American woman to serve as a flight instructor in the U.S. Air Force and as a captain for a commercial airline. Alumni Service Awards were presented to Gale Bensussen ’70; his wife, Jane Bensussen MA ’69; and Roger W. Rossier MS ’62, EdD ’72. The Bensussens are benefactors of the USC School of Pharmacy. Gale is a former USC trustee and past president of the USC Alumni Association, while Jane is a past president of the Trojan Guild of Los Angeles and a member of the USC Davis School of Gerontology Board of Councilors. Rossier, benefactor of the USC Rossier School of Education, is chair of the USC Orange County President’s Council and president of the Trojan Club of Orange County. In addition to the tribute to the Samples, the event included entertainment by students from the USC Thornton School of Music and a send-off by the USC Trojan Marching Band.
USC’s equine mascot, Traveler, makes his appearance as part of the alumni awards finale.
From left, Steven B. and Kathryn Sample with actress Helen Mirren and her husband, Asa V. Call Alumni Achievement recipient Taylor Hackford ’67
– Ross M. Levine
Scott M. Mory, USC Alumni Association CEO, flanked by alumni awards dinner committee co-chairs Mike MacGillivray ’02 and Susan J. McKeever ’61
From left, Alumni Merit and Service Award honorees Roger W. Rossier MS ’62, EdD ’72, Ming Hsieh ’83, MS ’84, Melissa Ward ’86, Janet Evans ’95, Jane Bensussen MA ’69, Gale Bensussen ’70, and USC Alumni Association president Robert Padgett ’68
photos by Steve Cohn
The Trojan Family was out in force on April 24 for the 77th annual USC Alumni Awards at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. In addition to honoring seven accomplished alumni, this year’s dinner featured a tribute to USC Emeritus President Steven B. Sample and his wife, Kathryn, for their 19 years of service to USC. The Asa V. Call Alumni Achievement Award, USC’s top alumni honor, was presented to Taylor Hackford ’67, Academy Award-winning director (Ray, An Officer and a Gentleman) and president of the Directors Guild of America. Describing his feelings about receiving the honor, Hackford said, “As a USC student, you’re just trying to survive – it’s not until you graduate that you become fully aware of what it means to belong to the Trojan Family.” Six other Trojans were recognized for their accomplishments and service. Alumni Merit Awards went to Janet Evans ’95, fivetime Olympic medalist in distance swimming; USC trustee Ming Hsieh ’83, MS ’84, cofounder of Cogent, Inc., and cofounder of