Twin sisters give back to program that helped them succeed at USC
Two sisters came to USC with hopes of making a better life for themselves. If you hear them tell their stories, you might be amazed they made it to college at all.
Both had been in and out of juvenile hall and foster care. As teenagers, they became single moms.
And both left USC with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 2019.
Twin sisters Carmen and Lucero Noyola worked hard, but they credit much of their success to their supporters at Trojan Guardian Scholars at USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.
The initiative, known informally as TGS, has helped hundreds of college students who went through homelessness or foster care.
Now the two sisters are alumni, and they recently had the opportunity to donate money to a deserving organization as part of a fellowship in a national philanthropic network.
“We love TGS, and we’ve felt its love for us,” Lucero said. “We don’t want people to forget that this community with unique needs still exists.”
Trojan Guardian Scholars helps former foster youth thrive at USC
Growing up in South Gate, California, Lucero had been in trouble with the law as a young teen, then lived in a foster care group home. She got pregnant at 18 and had her daughter, Aurora. That gave her a new perspective — and the motivation to pursue education as a way to start anew. Lucero studied hard at East Los Angeles College and transferred to USC Dornsife.
But she had to commute two hours from transitional housing to get to campus. Aurora needed a babysitter while Lucero took classes and studied. She knew she qualified for government support and resources, but nobody knew how to help.
Then she heard about Jasmine Torres, another USC Dornsife student who also grew up in foster care. Torres had just started Trojan Guardian Scholars to support other undergraduates like her. Lucero attended the program’s first meeting and soon got assistance with child care, financial aid and other resources. She also found companionship and understanding.
Education becomes lifeline for twin sisters
As Lucero began to chart a new path for herself, her twin sister, Carmen, took notice. She also had brushes with the juvenile justice system, lived in foster care and got pregnant as a teenager. She finished high school and took a few community college classes as she tried to provide for her young son, Adam, as a street vendor and retail worker.
“I wanted to go to USC, too,” she said. “I had seen my sister do it, so I knew I could do it.”
Carmen also started at East Los Angeles College and jumped to USC Dornsife. Trojan Guardian Scholars helped her make an even bigger leap: TGS supporters figured out child care for Adam so his mom could travel for a summer fellowship in Taiwan.
Donation will help USC program support former foster youth
In 2019, Carmen completed her degree in nongovernmental organizations and social change at USC Dornsife and master’s in urban planning at the USC Price School of Public Policy. That same year, Lucero earned her master’s in social work from the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, adding to her 2016 psychology and sociology degrees from USC Dornsife.
Carmen and Lucero both landed three-year fellowships with the Youth Transition Funders Group. This national network brings together philanthropists, foundations and other funders to support vulnerable young people.
As part of their fellowship, the Noyolas helped lead the process of awarding a grant — from searching for deserving organizations to presenting their proposal to the group’s board of directors.
“We knew we wanted to support an organization that was small, grassroots and student-led,” Lucero said. “That’s how we picked TGS.”
The sisters got approval for their plan and recently sent the official donation announcement to TGS. The $6,000 gift will go a long way toward supporting other USC students with similar backgrounds as they pursue their degrees. But the Noyolas know their work must continue.
“We know TGS needs so much more,” Carmen said. “We want to leverage this gift as a way to highlight the program and get more support. This community is still at USC and still in need.”