ACADEMIC HONORS
S P E C I A L A WA RD S
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 members, 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 Isabella Sarah Hauptman, Cognitive Science Salutatorians Thomas Jae Hyun Kim, International Relations
Gavin Thomas Kress, Biomedical Engineering
Emma Josephine Bradley Bovard Award Founded and sponsored by the Faculty Women’s Club of the University of Southern California, this honor is awarded to the graduating students who have attained the highest scholarship average of all women at the university for the four-year period of their undergraduate courses. Savannah Abbey Benz, International Relations Rose Francesca Bueno, Cinema and Media Studies Danielle Lynne Collins, English & Spanish
Isabella Sarah Hauptman, Cognitive Science Sarah Elizabeth Leitner, Law, History and Culture
University Trustees Award This honor is awarded to the graduating students who have attained the highest scholarship average of all men at the university for the four-year period of their undergraduate courses. Nihar Goel Agrawal, Computer Science Neelesh Bagrodia, Biomedical Engineering Rae Lan, Neuroscience
Michael James Wong, Health and Human Sciences Jingyun Yang, Computer Science
USC 137TH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT
192835.Text_2020.indd 277
277 4/23/21 12:34 PM
