Scholarship Program

Purpose

Established in 2016, the USC Staff Assembly offers scholarships aimed to support those staff members who best represent the USC staff community while simultaneously dedicating themselves to earning a degree at USC.

The scholarship is coordinated by members of the USC Staff Assembly Scholarship and Awards Committee and includes several scholarships we are very proud to administer. The scholarship is not awarded on a financial need basis.

Starting Fall 2023, USC Staff Assembly and Head USC Football Coach Lincoln Riley are proud to announce the inaugural Lincoln Riley Staff Scholarship!  All Staff who submit a nomination will be considered for both scholarships.


2023 Winners

Amy Nguyen Barnes
Ani Gemalmazyan
Katherine Chan Guevarra
Adriana Serrano Gutierrez
Nora Sandoval
Cherisse Theriault
Karen Yang


Eligibility

The applicant must be:

1) A Tuition Assistance Benefit (TAB) Eligible Staff Employee – full-time, active, benefits-eligible staff employee, employed by the university

2) Currently enrolled in any degree-granting program at USC

3) A student in good academic standing or a newly accepted admission

4) Enrolled for the upcoming Fall 2023 semester

5) Able to demonstrate a strong commitment to the University in two areas, service and staff excellence

The applicant may not:
1) Have previously received a Staff Assembly Scholarship
2) Be a current Staff Assembly Member

Anticipated Number of Scholarships
The USC Staff Assembly will award six (7) scholarships for the academic year at the beginning of the Fall semester.

Scholarship Amounts 

Lincoln Riley Staff Scholarship (1) – $5,000
USC Staff Assembly Scholarship (6) – $1,000

Application Deadline
Applications for the upcoming academic year are accepted online from April 1st, 2024 to May 31st, 2024 at 11:45pm PDT – late submissions will not be considered.

Award Notification 
Applicants will be notified via email of the Award outcome in August, after verification and confirmation of enrollment.  Winners are required to attend the August Staff Assembly Meeting for presentation.

Application Criteria
The USC Staff Assembly Scholarship Selection Committee will review applications based on the criteria outlined below.  Financial need is not considered a review criterion.
1) The completed application form
2) An original 200-500 word essay describing your staff experience at USC including:

  • Long term objectives and career goals
  • Evidenced professional advancement
  • Service that has made a positive impact to USC and community
  • Leadership
  • Contributions to the USC and community
  • Used talents/initiative to engage/improve work environment
  • Championing change

3) Current resume

  • Thorough synopsis of employment history
  • Strengths are highlighted
  • Examples of significant achievement in job roles

4) Letter(s) of recommendation from supervisor and/or colleague

  • Minimum of one (1) letter required, no more than two (2) letters accepted
  • Acknowledged integrity of character or other redeeming qualities
  • Accentuated versatility and accomplishment
  • Endorsed work ethics and positive attitude

5) A photo to be used for promotion, if awarded a scholarship

Note: Please do not start the application until you are ready to submit all required documents. Late and/or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Begin your application here: USC Staff Assembly Scholarship Application

Questions?
Email staff.assembly@usc.edu

Past Recipients of Staff Assembly Scholarships:

2016
Julienne Jose-Chen
Jennifer Gerson
Chelsea Jones
Paul Lee
Leslie Ann Picazo
Jacqueline Villatoro

2017
Sally Behpoornia
Queena Hoang
Michelle Juarez
Melissa Miller
Carmela Montero
Amelia Spinrad

2018
Meseret Alamu
Ginny DeFrank
David Donovan
Emi Embler
Victoria Esquer
Juan Sepulveda

2019
Melvin Brown
Mina Ghabriall
Timothy Khuu
Apryl Lundsten
Alejandra Meza
Ella Salazar

2020
Sonia De Mesa
Jane Gollayan
Maria Mempin
Holly Nielsen
Jose Perez-Guerrero
Grace Shin

2021
Sabrina Espinoza
Julie Loppacher
Reyna Macias
Steve Pham
Lucy Rinard
Mallika Samtani

2022
Serina Bravo
Kohyun Choi
Andrea Escalante
Andrea Leal
Trenton Mendenhall
Katherine Rocha
Meng Susan Zhang

2023
Amy Nguyen Barnes
Ani Gemalmazyan
Katherine Chan Guevarra
Adriana Serrano Gutierrez
Nora Sandoval – Lincoln Riley Staff Scholarship Recipient
Cherisse Theriault
Karen Yang


If you have any questions, please email  staff.assembly@usc.edu