Home / Winter 2011 / First Impressions
First Impressions
By Ross M. Levine
For freshmen about to enter USC, SCend Offs help ease the transition from high school to college.
USC Alumni Club of Northern Nevada. Photo by Pete Quenzer 
SUMMER IS SCend Off time for the Trojan Family, as USC alumni clubs worldwide host informal receptions welcoming new students to the university. Connecting the students and their families and friends to local alumni and alumni groups, SCend Offs are usually hosted by alums in their own homes and often attended by special guests, such as university faculty or administrators.
This past summer, more than 50 SCend Offs took place around the world from Southern California to Mumbai, India. Jenn Buckner ’81, host of this year’s USC Alumni Club of San Diego SCend Off, describes the gatherings as “a great way to experience the complete Trojan life cycle in one afternoon. You’re elbow to elbow with kids who have yet to experience a game day, current students and graduates from three months to over 50 years out. It’s the Trojan Family at its best!”
Providing an international perspective, Jen Ladwig ’99, president of the USC Alumni Club of London, explains that because many international families are unfamiliar with the American university system and alumni traditions, SCend Offs are an important way to introduce them to the Trojan Family and the lifelong USC experience, as well as to encourage them to join university activities. “This year, we held our SCend Off at a popular London cupcake shop owned by a Trojan!” she adds.
Capturing the point of view of new USC parents, Gary Stone ’90, president of the USC Alumni Club of Colorado, quotes a note he received from parents John and Elizabeth Armine: “What a great introduction to the USC family in Colorado! We successfully dropped Katie offat ’SC last week as she begins her five-year architecture program. Asthis is our first child in college, your SCend Off helped us, as well as Katie, with the transition.”
For new students and their families, SCend Offs are not only an enjoyable and instructive summer highlight, but also a powerful initiation into the Trojan Family.
