The USC Leslie and William McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative commemorates collaboration with local schools

In a gathering filled with elected representatives and leaders from Los Angeles’ public and private educational sectors, two middle school students captured the spotlight Monday morning at a celebratory function at the Amy King Dundon-Berchtold University Club of USC on the USC University Park Campus.

Clad in their white school polos, Aaliyah Gordon, a pupil at Audubon Middle School in the Leimert Park area, and R’yn Duncan, a student at Barack Obama Global Preparation Academy in South L.A., discussed the significance of the USC Leslie and William McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative — USC’s foremost college access initiative — in their educational journeys.

“For over 30 years, the USC NAI program, collaborating with the Los Angeles Unified School District, has fostered student academic achievement, demonstrating that with commitment and assistance, all our aspirations are attainable,” stated Duncan, who is set to transition to Crenshaw High School. “We are proud to be part of that heritage and eager for what lies ahead.”

Gordon, who will enroll in Susan Miller Dorsey Senior High School in the Baldwin Hills area of L.A., remarked that the agreement between USC NAI and the two middle schools is more than merely “ink on a paper.”

“It signifies a pledge, a dedication to supplying students with the backing, resources, and opportunities they require to reach college and beyond,” Gordon expressed.

Duncan and Gordon are included in the inaugural class to partake in the program at their respective schools, part of the USC NAI’s south and west L.A. expansion agreement established in 2023. The collaboration — which was celebrated at the Monday morning event — heralded a new chapter for the two schools and for educational opportunities in the southwest L.A. region.

“I feel immense pride in the efforts NAI undertakes, and when you witness [these students] graduate and learn about the illustrious schools they are all attending, it’s clear that this work is impactful,” expressed Pedro Noguera, dean of the USC Rossier School of Education. “These are demanding times that require all of us to remain composed and continue doing what is right, and this indeed is the right course. This type of initiative yields tangible outcomes that will serve generations in the future.”

A legacy of empowering students

Initiated in 1991, USC NAI offers college admission and graduation assistance to nearly 1,000 students in grades six through twelve from low-income families within neighboring communities annually. The initiative boasts a 100% high school graduation success rate and
“`a 99% graduation rate for college students. Alumni of the initiative — the vast majority of whom are first-generation scholars — enroll in esteemed institutions nationwide, with many selecting USC as their subsequent academic destination.

Samuel Garrison, the senior vice president for university relations at USC, stated that Monday’s gathering was the result of extensive planning over many years and further strengthens the university’s dedication to local learners.

“NAI has established itself as a national example for college achievement and accessibility,” Garrison remarked. “The mission is clear: for USC to embrace our role and duty as a higher education establishment in broadening access and opportunities for students right in our neighborhoods.”

L.A. Unified School District Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho noted that relying on initiatives like NAI during “uncertain times” is vital.

“This collaboration has truly advanced many from our community, who otherwise might not thrive, by helping them grasp what it takes to truly succeed,” Carvalho stated. “It is this kind of community effort that drives the success of our students in the current economy.”

Ongoing journey to higher education

An alumna of Susan Miller Dorsey Senior High School, LAUSD board member Sherlett Hendy Newbill expressed her pride in seeing additional schools joining NAI.

“As someone raised in this neighborhood, who would walk to USC to witness some of the opportunities here, it is a remarkable honor for our students to gain this firsthand experience,” Hendy Newbill stated. “As a representative of this board district and a product of this locale, I am incredibly thrilled and delighted that this is taking place.”

Hendy Newbill acknowledged that the education sector is undergoing unprecedented times but highlighted the significance of the “public” aspect of public education, asserting that progress can only be achieved collectively.

“We are a community, and we’re more robust together,” Hendy Newbill asserted. “Through this initiative, we will continue advancing and enhancing the achievements of this community’s members.”