Alumnus Paul Krekorian recognized by USC Dornsife for exceptional service
Paul Krekorian receives the USC Dornsife Award for Exceptional Service from USC Dornsife Dean Amber D. Miller. Photo by Brian Morri.

Alumnus Paul Krekorian recognized by USC Dornsife for exceptional service

Los Angeles City Councilmember and Trojan Paul Krekorian receives honor from USC Dornsife’s Joint Educational Project for exemplifying the “spirit of service.”
BySusan Bell

Los Angeles City Councilmember and alumnus Paul Krekorian has been honored with the USC Dornsife Award for Exceptional Service. The award was presented to Krekorian by USC Dornsife Dean Amber D. Miller at the USC Joint Educational Project (JEP) 2017 Community Service Awards Dinner, held on April 4 at Town and Gown on USC’s University Park campus.

A former California assembly member, Krekorian, who earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at USC Dornsife in 1981, said he was delighted and humbled to receive the award.

“As someone whose worldview and life path were shaped as a young student on this campus, this incredible honor speaks to the quality of education and wealth of experiences USC provides to all of its students,” he said. “Dedication to public service is so critical at this time in American history, especially at the local level, where change is achieved more immediately and where leadership can make a noticeable difference in people’s lives. My great hope is that the work that I’m doing will inspire the next generation to take up this honorable mantle and serve their communities with the passion, vigor and dedication that residents deserve.”

The USC Dornsife Award for Exceptional Service was established in 2014 and since then has been presented annually by JEP to honor a special supporter, alumni, or advocate of the program who exemplifies the “spirit of service.”

“Councilman Krekorian represents the best of what we try to instill in our USC students,” Miller said as she introduced the councilmember before presenting him with the award. Miller paid tribute to his particular devotion to service, which she noted has been an integral part of his life since his days as an undergraduate, when he not only served on the USC Student Senate, and as president of the College Democrats and the Commuter Student Organization, but also participated in JEP, USC’s esteemed service learning institution, by teaching environmental science to elementary students.

“JEP is stronger because of alumni such as Paul Krekorian, who — during his undergraduate years — helped build the foundation for the work that this signature program continues to do,” Miller said. “He has remained an invested champion of JEP — in fact, on the occasion of the program’s 40th anniversary, he presented a City Council resolution recognizing four decades of service-learning at USC. He remarked that his own JEP experience was eye-opening and broadened his perspective on the world.” 

Noting that, as a die-hard USC football fan, Krekorian has shouted “Fight On!” time and again, Miller said she believes he adopts this idea at a larger level and uses it to guide his work.

“He knows that every touchdown is the result of careful strategy, rigorous training, and working as a team to break through obstacles,” Miller said. “He knows that creating change and impact requires the same ambition. And he works tirelessly not only to lead, but also involve the community in driving progress. ‘Fight On’ is not a response to success; it is an ongoing action.”

Tammara Anderson, executive director of JEP, said that hearing Krekorian speak from the heart at the dinner had been a moving and enlightening experience.

“Having Councilmember Krekorian present at our Community Service Dinner and 45th Anniversary celebration was an incredible gift,” she said. “Hearing him speak about the ways in which he learned about himself and developed a strong sense of civic engagement through his JEP experience validates everything we do.”