‘Shattering Barriers and Constructing Connections’: USC McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative scholars excel at annual gala

For 95 local high school graduates, the USC Leslie and William McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative gala was an occasion to commemorate the end of a seven-year journey — and the start of a new chapter.

“Tonight is not merely a celebration of how far we’ve traveled, but it’s also an embodiment of the connections we’ve forged along the way to uplift others,” remarked student speaker Henoke Berhanu, alluding to the evening’s theme of “Shattering Barriers and Constructing Connections.”

The NAI program offers equitable chances for achievement in higher education and beyond for students residing in the areas adjacent to USC’s University Park and Health Sciences campuses.

Proud parents and other family members gathered with graduating NAI students last week for an open-air evening filled with motivational speeches and inspiring stories at Founders Park on USC’s University Park Campus.

Two distinguished NAI and USC alumni also contributed with music and poetry. Elise Lightburn and her backing vocalists energized the audience with their renditions of Chaka Khan’s “Ain’t Nobody” and Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing,” while poet Shandela Contreras delivered her impactful poem “To Whom the Palm Is Given.”

USC President Carol Folt was honored with the USC McMorrow NAI Champion Award by William McMorrow — who funds the initiative alongside his wife, Leslie — for her unwavering advocacy of the program during her six years at the helm of the university.

“You’re all champions, and it is a true honor to share this occasion with you,” Folt stated.

“Since my arrival at USC, this program has filled me with immense pride. This is the real deal, and it has continued to expand and thrive. It genuinely is a model for similar initiatives nationwide.”

All of the program’s seniors — hailing from Woodrow Wilson and Abraham Lincoln high schools in East Los Angeles and the James A. Foshay Learning Center in South L.A. — are set to attend college this fall. Among the 49 scholars destined for USC, an unprecedented 11 are entering the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, and a record four will enroll in the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Beyond USC, NAI scholars have ventured
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on to enroll in esteemed institutions like Harvard University; the University of California, Berkeley; UCLA; and Stanford University.

“Like the 28 years of NAI scholars who came before you, all of you have shown determination, and each of you has turned your aspirations into reality,” USC Senior Vice President of University Relations Samuel Garrison stated during his welcoming address. “You dedicated yourselves to NAI from the earliest days of middle school through all of high school, and throughout this journey, nothing could obstruct your path.”

Students brimming with aspirations

Nearly 1,700 seniors have successfully finished the NAI program and proceeded to college since its inception in 1997; 487 of these individuals are now USC alumni.

Starting this fall, the program will additionally include student participants from Crenshaw High School and Susan Miller Dorsey High School.

From the sixth grade onward, NAI provides academic assistance and resources to equip young scholars — including many who will be first-generation college attendees — for the academic challenges of college, as well as for admission and graduation. The program boasts a 100% high school graduation rate and a 99% college graduation rate.

Every other Saturday morning, USC’s campuses welcome nearly 90 students in over 50 classrooms where NAI staff and faculty conduct courses in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), language arts, and other pre-college subjects.

“Many of us entered NAI filled with aspirations and hopes but also doubt,” Berhanu shared in his address. “We questioned whether we truly belonged in environments like this. But year after year, Saturday after Saturday, we were reminded that our dreams are achievable and that we indeed belong in every space.”

‘We are the bridge now’

The entire NAI graduating cohort — adorned with gold medallions around their necks — surrounded Berhanu as he spoke.

Berhanu, who graduated from Foshay Learning Center, emphasized that the group’s achievements — college acceptances, internships, and scholarships — serve as bridges for younger siblings, future NAI scholars, and the communities they represent.

“We are the bridge now, and by stepping across this stage, we demonstrate what is achievable,” he declared. “When we rise, our entire community rises alongside us.”

Community Impact Award winner Vincent Womack, the longtime music director at Foshay Learning Center, captivated the audience during his remarks, which followed a video tribute from current and former students, parents, and colleagues.

“The NAI program has altered the lives of countless students and families,” stated Womack, who has been involved with the program since its beginning. “Thank you all for allowing me to apply my talents to contribute to that success.”

He congratulated the class of 2025 and encouraged the students, “You continuously resonate with me on a personal level. Pursue your dreams confidently. Live the life you envisioned.”

Already feels like home

Benjamin Santos, one of three students chosen to discuss this year’s gala theme, was accepted into 10 universities. He ultimately selected USC because it already felt like home.

“The individuals, the students, and the staff here are incredibly willing to guide me and offer advice on anything I need,” he explained. “I already have numerous friends here and seek to have even more experiences with them.”

Wilson High School student Alexis Jacquez, who spoke alongside Santos, is also joining USC and addressed the parents in the audience, referring to them as “the architects of the bridges we are building.”

“[This] is a tribute to your sacrifices and encouragement,” Jacquez remarked. “You are our primary teachers, our most passionate advocates, our strongest supporters. We shine not only for ourselves but for you as we advance.”

Kim R. Thomas-Barrios, the program’s long-serving executive director, characterized the group as “an abundance of talents.” She proudly announced each student’s name at the conclusion of the evening as they stood and their photo was displayed on large screens.

“Our scholars have performed exceptionally well,” said Thomas-Barrios, who also holds the position of associate senior vice president of USC educational partnerships, prior to dinner. “This truly illustrates that if children in any ZIP code receive the necessary support, academic rigor, and opportunities for access, college is undeniably within reach.”