JEP’s New College Access Day Partnership Highlights the Power of Peer Connection

As three high school boys stepped onto their bus to head home from USC, one sentiment echoed among them: “I miss Ben already.” Their tour guide, JEP student leader Ben Harris-Myers, had spent the day showing them around campus, sharing personal stories about his favorite study spots, and answering their questions about college life. In that moment, the importance of genuine connection and the purpose of College Access Day of having students experience college authentically – including making memories with new friends – became clear.

This spring marked JEP’s first partnership with USC Rossier’s College Access Day, an annual event that brings local high school students to campus for an immersive “day in the life” experience. When USC Rossier approached JEP to help staff the event, traditionally handled by USC ResEd, it felt like a natural fit for our community of engaged student volunteers.

“With our pool of students who are passionate about mentorship and community connection, we were excited to say yes,” reflects a JEP staff member. Leading the recruitment effort was Jade Almodovar, one of JEP’s most dedicated student leaders, who assembled an impressive team of performers, panelists, and volunteers.

The day welcomed 100 students and 15 chaperones from three local high schools: School of Visual Arts and Humanities, Alliance Gertz-Ressler High School, and Jordan High School. From the moment the yellow buses arrived, JEP volunteers were there to create welcoming connections.

Ben, along with fellow JEP leaders Sophia da Costa and Sharlize Clay, greeted arriving students at the bus stop, each taking responsibility for welcoming one school and guiding them to the Trojan Ballroom in TCC. There, more JEP volunteers distributed the signature red College Access Day t-shirts that would serve as meal tickets for the dining hall experience later.

The morning programming, led by John Pascarella, the mastermind behind College Access Day, featured two student performance groups that Jade had recruited: USC ADAA and USC’s Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity whose inspiring performances showcased the breadth of involvement opportunities USC offers. But it was the student panel that sparked the most engagement from visiting high schoolers.

Moderated by USC Annenberg student Nataly Lozano, the six panelists represented diverse backgrounds and experiences. The questions that followed revealed exactly why representation matters. Students asked panelist Scarlett Kamga about starting her Black Student Pre-Law Association. Others wanted to know about opportunities specifically for first-generation college students. One student asked how to find or start clubs based on personal interests. These weren’t generic college questions, they were deeply personal inquiries about finding community and belonging.

After the ballroom programming, the real magic happened during campus tours. JEP student leaders and volunteers split the group, with some starting tours while others headed to the dining hall – a carefully orchestrated plan to give everyone an authentic college experience without overwhelming the dining hall staff.

The tours went beyond pointing out buildings and landmarks. Ben, Sophia, Sharlize, and other tour guides shared personal anecdotes about why they loved specific places on campus and revealed hidden study spots. These personal touches transformed a standard campus tour into intimate conversations about college life. The dining hall experience, meanwhile, offered a taste of daily college life that the USC Rossier team considered essential to the authentic experience.

By 2 p.m., as students boarded their buses to leave campus, the impact was evident. Those three boys who declared they already missed Ben weren’t just being polite. “When I investigated further, they shared that they saw him as a really cool role model who they could identify with,” reflects the JEP staff member who overheard the comment. “Ultimately I think that was a great testament to this College Access Day truly working and students being able to see themselves as college students at USC.”