New program welcomes USC transfer student veterans

USC this week welcomed a new group of 12 transfer student military students with its inaugural Veterans Transfer Students Welcome, a three-day program designed to support veteran students transitioning into the university.

The new program aims to integrate veteran students into USC in a welcoming, supportive environment with their fellow peers. It’s spearheaded by Janine Williams, project administrator for Military, Veterans and Academic Initiatives in the university’s Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

The cohort, made up of 10 military veterans, one active-duty Marine and one Vietnam War dependent, spent three days on the University Park Campus learning the ins and outs of USC ahead of their official enrollment this fall.

USC Veterans Transfer Students Welcome: A milestone

This program, which is free to these incoming students thanks to financial funding from the USC Military & Veterans Initiative, marks a milestone for USC and reflects the school’s commitment to welcoming and integrating veteran, ROTC students and active military members into the university community.

“One of the great things about this university is its breadth and depth. There’s nothing you can’t do,” Provost Andrew T. Guzman told the group as he kicked off the final day of the program, emphasizing the university’s commitment to diversity and community, as well as its long-standing history with military-affiliated students. “You’ve been selected to be here, which means we have a very high amount of confidence in you to succeed.”

To mark the occasion, Guzman presented each veteran student with a commemorative USC Veterans Challenge Coin. One side features the university seal, while the other displays the emblems of all military branches along with the inscription “Honoring Military Trojans.” Military challenge coins are highly coveted, traditionally serving as tokens of recognition or as commemorations of special events.

Monique S. Allard, USC vice president of student life who also addressed the incoming students, was a key figure in revamping the university’s Veterans Resource Center, providing essential resources and support to veteran students, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college.

“I was a first-gen student, so it is near and dear to my heart that we have these opportunities to welcome students,” she said.

Throughout the three-day program, the incoming students had the opportunity to participate in workshops and activities designed to help equip them with skills for the classroom.

Faculty members Alisa Sanchez and Daniel Pecchenino of the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences expressed their enthusiasm for working with these students.

“I’m really excited to work with students who are just starting here and have that focus on coming into the USC community,” Sanchez said.

Pecchenino added, “We’ve both worked with veterans on the four-year scholar programs across L.A.. Turning attention to just our USC community has been a really valuable move for our university.”

USC Veterans Transfer Students Welcome: Alumni share insight

A highlight of the event was a Q&A session with alumni who had successfully transitioned from military to academic life at USC.

“The transition is definitely difficult to go from military life to a formal classroom setting, but you should keep an open mind and stay confident,” said Brian Phan, a 2022 graduate now in his second year of graduate school at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He emphasized the importance of grit and a strong work ethic, traits honed during his military service, and stressed that those traits will set the new Trojan veterans up for success.

As the incoming students soaked up the advice from fellow veteran alums, some shared what they’re most excited about and why they chose USC.

Stone Halpern, who will enroll in the USC Marshall School of Business, shared his passion for climate activism and the ways USC offers opportunities around sustainability.

“I’m most excited to join the sustainability club,” he said, “and the energy transition summit. It’s the very first one in the fall. I can’t wait.”

Eugene Song discussed his excitement about moving to Los Angeles from Chicago and what USC has to offer him after leaving the Navy.

“I was really interested in the whole Trojan Family community,” he said. Camaraderie and a familial environment are meaningful values he took away from the military and hopes to carry with him.

Phan had one final piece of advice for the group: “Let go of the military identity. That will always be part of your identity, but your peers in the classroom have just as much to offer you.”