School is back in session… aND unfortunately FINANCIAL PRESSURE is too!
On Saturday, August 18, 2018 and for the past 18 years, the Black Alumni Association has hosted the Annual Trojan Family Pinning and Affirmation Ceremony, so alumni, student leaders, faculty and staff can welcome the newest members (undergraduate and graduate) to the Trojan family. Held at the USC Widney Alumni House on the Argue Plaza & Lawn, the ceremony was memorable. But along with that fact, so were the memories of college expenses.
The day was special. Smiles, conversations, drum beats, pouring of libations and welcoming from the staff, alumni and student leaders all played a beautiful part for guests and students to experience. The culmination of the ceremony was also very special. From wherever you stood on Argue Lawn, you were able to view alumni, parents, and friends pinning newly inspired Trojans with the symbols naming the attributes of the successful Trojan Scholar, Dr. Kilgore. Even Schirrell Walker, founder of The Walker Johnson & Nasia Legacy Foundation, happened to be standing in the right place, at the right time, to be asked to pin a newly inducted Trojan, who happened not to have anyone there joining her.
As memorable as that was though, the thought about students covering the cost of attendance to USC was unsettling. For the 2018-2019 year, tuition to USC is a staggering $55,320. And when you consider the additional expenses for room, board, cost of books, and miscellaneous fees, the full cost of USC attendance reaches $74,825. Can you say WOW!?
Fact: The National Student Financial Wellness Study states 7 out of 10 college students are stressed about finances, in turn making college even tougher.
Mental Wellness is a necessary component of student success while in college, and lack of finances could play against it. And, this is true for anyone today… mental wellness is affected by stress of finances.
To help students reduce their financial stress to pay for college expenses, from founding, The WJ&N Legacy Foundation has offered scholarships to improve the quality of life for individuals and communities globally in the areas of health, education, arts, and culture. Hence for the 2018-2019 year, the Legacy Foundation awarded a scholarship to an incoming USC black female undergraduate through the BAA, and made it in honor of Alumnae Members of the Upsilon Chapter of the sorority Schirrell joined while on USC’s campus, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Schirrell’s hope is that students have one less thought about whether they could afford to continue in college or not.
So, yes the day was awesome! The WJ&N Legacy Foundation is both grateful and inspired to award more USC student scholarships through the BAA’s scholarship program. By joining up with the Black Alumni Association, undergraduate USC students enjoy more funds for expenses than a basic donation could provide via a 2:1 match from the BAA. A $1,000.00 contribution becomes a $3,000.00 scholarship award, with the match available for the first $1,000 awarded per USC student.
Founded in 1976 by Rev. Dr. Thomas Kilgore Jr., (renowned civil rights activist) the USC Black Alumni Association (BAA) is a leadership network established to strengthen the legacy of educational attainment and excellence of USC’s Black students. The BAA provides scholarship assistance, career mentoring and cultural advocacy through alumni networking, volunteer involvement, philanthropy and social enterprise.
Dr. Kilgore founded the BAA because he was constantly approached by minority students for financial assistance.
Additional pictures and video from this ceremony are in the Gallery.
