trojan scholars spotlight
2021-2022
MIKEY NULL
Mikey is a freshman studying Pharmacology and Drug Development and minoring in Business Law. In his free time, he enjoys baking bread from scratch and painting. Mikey plays trombone in the Spirit of Troy Marching Band and is a part of the Pre-Pharmacy Society, a pre-professional group aimed at preparing pre-pharmacy students like him for graduate school.
NICK HSU
Nick is a freshman studying Business Administration and minoring in Applied Analytics. Nick is a quick learner with a growth mindset and a strong work ethic. In his free time, Nick enjoys playing basketball, taking road trips, working out, reading, and riding all types of boards. Down the road, he hopes to make the best use of his restorative attitude and strength of individualization to unite people behind challenging projects and drive positive change in the world. Nick founded the start up Graffidia, which aims to partner with local artists to create high quality murals and prints for private firms to amplify their brand awareness and drive revenue growth.
DARIEN AHMADIZADEH
Darien is a freshman studying Data Science and Economics and minoring in Cognitive Science. On campus, Darian is on the Executive Board on the Persian Student Organization, the VP of Programming at Omega Psi, and the VP of External Affairs at Data Science Club. He also is involved in Shift SC, USC’s student-led platform for human-centered and socially responsible technology. One of Darian’s current initiatives for Shift SC is organizing the 2022 Tech4Good Student Symposium, USC’s first-ever annual student conference for technology and social good. Darian is currently collecting applications for USC students to give TED-style “Tech Talks” on issues related to socially responsible, human-centered and social good technology.
CHARLIE FEUERBORN
Charlie is a junior studying Computer Science & Game Design and minoring Entrepreneurship & Cybersecurity. Charlie has worked on Illumin, the Viterbi engineering magazine, founded Open Alpha (their very own game design club that builds a game from conception to an open alpha release each semester — their games have amassed positive reviews, YouTube playthroughs, and have thousands of downloads and hours played. Recently, he is working on a videoseries educational project called “Top 10 top 10” and performing standup at the GroundZero Open Mic nights. Interviewing top 10 students in each major about the top 10 things they’ve learned in their major, Charlie cut together in a “man on the street” style to capture answers in a crisp, entertaining way for highschoolers or other college students considering what to study or wishing to learn the most important things from all different fields.
JUSTIN ABE
Justin is a senior studying Human Biology and minoring in Health Care Studies and Psychology. Justin is on the Executive Board for Project Sunshine, which seeks to provide play opportunities to prevent social isolation among pediatric patients. They host weekly game nights of trivia and bingo and assemble toy kits that are distributed to hospitals across the nation.
MAYA NEUENSCHWANDER
Maya is a sophomore studying in Industrial and Systems Engineering. Maya is interested in studying the ethics of engineering and applying her technical skills to projects and careers promoting social justice and equity. During the past summer, she worked on a collaborative interdisciplinary research project through the School of Social Work and the School of Engineering. She studied the impact of COVID on various communities in Los Angeles and combined data and qualitative analysis for a super unique approach. Maya is also a host and editor for the Viterbi Conservations in Ethics podcast where she facilitates conversations on topics like predictive policing or cryptocurrency. She’s really loved the opportunity to supplement her engineering education with interesting projects that align with her passions. In addition to these projects, you can find her on campus working as a Viterbi Student Ambassador, Officer for the Society of Women Engineers, and member of Engineers Without Borders.
DYLAN PHUNG
Dylan is a sophomore majoring in Business of Cinematic Arts. Over the summer before senior year of high school, Dylan worked on an independent research project with UNLV’s International Gaming Institute’s Director of Research, Brett Aberbanel. By the end of the experience, they were able to publish their co-credited report on the relationship
TSUGUMI KITAYAMA
Tsugumi is a sophomore studying Creative Writing. She is currently writing a dark fantasy novel (with hints of suspense and mystery) under the publisher New Degree Press. Her story, The Servant of Death, is about a 19-year-old, battle-weary sorceress named Animula Ren Teya. The novel follows Animula’s battle to restore the balance of life and death and features themes of government, war and hope, and family and love.
DANIEL HE
Daniel is a freshman studying Computer Science with a passion for research and innovation in sustainability and vertical farming. He is actively working with USC Sustainability Administrators and the USC Graduate Student Government to secure funding through the Green Engagement Fund to support project “Stack: USC Smart Farming,” which aims to build an automated vertical farm and small-scale urban farming research institute on campus. Since 2018, he founded and ran a mini independent research effort from his garage that focused on developing prototypes and models for vertical farming and aeroponics. He created over a dozen proof-of-concept models that grew fresh produce using up to 99% less water than conventional methods all while producing far greater crop yields.
JESSICA GONZALEZ
Jessica is a freshman studying Cognitive Science and minoring in International Relations (Global Business). She is grateful to have been a part of Harvard’s Metamorphosis Mentorship Program. There, she was able to meet a mentor that served as a reliable friend, gave her advice, and helped her through the college application process. She is working on a passion project that would provide a place of comfort for those struggling through the application process and help first gen students thrive.
SAIHAJ GULATI
Saihaj is a freshman studying Computer Science & Business Administration. After George Floyd’s murder, Saihaj drafted an email to his school district proposing specific changes to how racial issues are taught, especially related to Black history. He shared the email with some friends, and two weeks later, 2,000 people had c-signed the email petition. Together they created Irvine Action Network, a bustling platform with over 700 members and 20 affiliated social justice efforts. Then, he led 30 Irvine Action Network members in working with three school district board members, the district’s Director o Literacy, the city council, and the mayor in drafting and helping pass both a district-wide and city-wide resolution creating changes to curriculum and anti-discrimination trainings.
2020-2021
shauli bar-on & harmon gill
Scholars Shauli Bar-On (Political Science, ’20) and Harmon Gill (Communication, ’21) went from learning the basics of moot court in October to placing 3rd in the country in January. They founded USC’s undergraduate moot court team, Southern California Moot Court (SCMC) in the fall of 2019. The students self-funded their efforts and defeated all odds in qualifying for the national competition, beating out experienced teams. They proceeded to take the moot court community by storm: placing 3rd in the nation, winning the 7th-best brief in the national brief-writing competition, and taking home 2 individual honors as the 11th and 29th best orators in the country. They look forward to continue building SCMC and representing USC on the national stage!
connie deng
Connie is a freshman studying Communications and hoping to double minor in Marketing and Film. This summer she volunteered in Costa Rica to bring awareness to the #SavetheTurtles movement. She will be demonstrating her 15 years of dance experience at part of the Freshman Dance-Off team here at USC. Academic wise, as an Annenberg media intern, she develops local stories into Instagram highlights such as “7 things to do this fall.”
jessica lu
Jessica is a freshman studying Business Administration Cinematic Arts. This summer she worked at Procter and Gamble, improving the employee self service platform, and since being on campus she has gotten involved with Freshmen Danceoff. She also looking to start her own sketch comedy group. A highlight from this semester was when she and a friend saw Danny Devito at a live taping of Jimmy Kimmel!
harry wang
Harry Wang is a sophomore studying Computer Engineering and Computer Science! This summer, Harry worked for Sandia, analyzing network traffic using commodity hardware, and this spring, he will be doing flight software testing for the Mars 2020 Rover for NASA! On campus, he is involved with the Rocket Propulsion Lab, the Information Sciences Institute, and plenty of random hackathons!
Sam frazer
Sam is a sophomore studying Business Administration and just spent two months living in Taipei through the Global Leadership Program! He interned for Acer and got to travel to Japan and Vietnam! Back on campus this semester, he is involved with the men's Ice Hockey Team, JEP, Trojan Investing Society, Trojan Real Estate Association, and Tau Kappa Epsilon.
If you have someone you'd like to nominate for our Scholar Spotlight, use the link in our bio and be entered for a chance to win a Baked Bear gift card!