Media alert: Ceremony for USC college access program
For almost three decades, USC’s Neighborhood Academic Initiative has prepared the sons and daughters of South Los Angeles families for college success. NAI will celebrate its 21st graduation with students, their families, and the people who’ve made NAI a nationally recognized, free college preparatory program.
NAI’s class of 2018 includes 50 graduates. All are headed for college, and 19 will attend USC in the fall on full scholarships.
Media RSVP: Ron Mackovich, (213) 810-8583 or rmackovi@usc.edu
WHAT: Neighborhood Academic Initiative Gala
WHEN: Thursday, May 3, 5:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: USC University Park Campus; Town and Gown, 665 Exposition Blvd., L.A. 90089
WHO:
- NAI 2018 graduates and families
- Alysha Del Valle, NBC4 traffic anchor and reporter, emcee
- Marilou and Mark Hamill, sponsors
- USC and NAI representatives and alumni
HIGHLIGHTS AND VISUALS:
- NAI graduates waving pennants of their future alma mater
- Academic honors and scholarship awards ceremony
- Presentation of medals of completion
MORE ABOUT NAI:
USC’s Neighborhood Academic Initiative has graduated more than a thousand students, and 417 will have attended USC as freshmen as of fall 2018.
This year’s NAI graduates received an average of more than four college acceptance letters. Ten NAI graduates have accepted admittance to the University of California. Collectively, the students were admitted to 234 colleges.
More than 90 percent of NAI students are first in their family to graduate from high school and attend college. Most NAI students are from public schools in neighborhoods near USC.
NAI’s graduation rate is 100 percent, and 99 percent of NAI graduates attend college.
NAI students spend seven years attending early-morning tutorials on the USC University Park Campus, along with full-day Saturday sessions. Parents and advocates commit to monthly seminars covering child development, communication, home-learning environments, the college application process and financial aid.
Click here to learn more about NAI.
Photo: Rich Schmitt
# # #