USC Dornsife Scholars Recognized at Honors Convocation

USC President C. L. Max Nikias presented the Presidential Medallion, the university’s highest honor, to Distinguished Professor of English Percival Everett, who was most recently honored with a Guggenheim Fellowship for fiction. Also acknowledged were 2015 valedictorian Alexander Daniel Yuen and salutatorian Carrie Moore. Eighteen of USC’s valedictorians since 1992 have majored in USC Dornsife.

Ann Crigler, professor of of political science, presents Diana Arterian, a doctoral student in literature and creative writing, with her award.

Among the USC Dornsife award winners at the event at Town and Gown:

University Trustees Award

Manan P. Shah (neuroscience)


Alexander Daniel Yuen (biological sciences)

USC Provost’s Award

Sakura Kato (history)


Nicole Pearl Kleinman (human biology)


Phi Kappa Phi Student Recognition Award

Diana Arterian (literature and creative writing)

Phi Beta Kappa Undergraduate Award

Jackson Burgess (narrative studies)


Sara Worth (political science and English)

Rockwell Dennis Hunt Award

Katherine Fu ’13 (neuroscience and biological sciences)

University Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award

Jiun Bang (international relations)


Renée Bolinger (philosophy)


Phi Kappa Phi Faculty Recognition Award

Joseph Allen Boone (English)


Sri R. Narayan (chemistry)


John Pollini (art history)

USC Associates Award – Creativity in Research and Scholarship

Vanessa R. Schwartz (history)

Presidential Medallion

Percival Everett, Distinguished Professor of English

Special Recognition

Valedictorian: Alexander Daniel Yuen (biological sciences)


Salutatorian: Carrie Moore (creative writing)