University Southern California Trojans
Trojan Outreach Holds Community Kickoff Event
October 15, 2019 | Trojan Outreach, Features
Alma Guerrero and Gladys McElhaney were in disbelief as they both received their $3,500 checks.
"It made me feel recognized, which is something unfortunately educators don't always get to feel," said Guerrero. "We do with our students but not with the outside community all the time. So to get that from such an amazing institution like USC was amazing."
Both teachers work tirelessly for their students at the Academy of Sciences Middle School and deserve to feel acknowledged for their outstanding work. McElhaney is in her first year with AES, the STEM certified middle school, and was overwhelmed with joy.
"It's truly amazing. I couldn't believe it," said McElhaney. "It was very unexpected because I was just doing things for the good of the school and was recognized for it."
Trojan Outreach partnered with the College Football Playoff Foundation to launch the Community Kickoff, an initiative to improve schools such as AES. The Extra Yard For Teachers was the first event of USC's Community Kickoff.
USC student-athletes from multiple teams came out to lend a helping hand with AES students to refurbish the school's gardens throughout their campus.
The students relished the opportunity to work so closely with Trojans that they have seen on television and look up to. USC student-athletes even participated in the occasional dance-off with the AES students whenever the opportunity presented itself.
Mecca McGlaston, a senior on the USC track & field team, spoke on her desire to impact the leaders of tomorrow.
"My number one priority is bringing up generations better than the generation I was raised in," said McGlaston. "It all starts with the kids and will always be about the kids. My 110% effort goes to making life better for kids."
What made this event even more meaningful was that it was AES Principal Judy Carrillo's first-ever principalship. Her ability to orchestrate an event of this magnitude in her first go-round is indicative of the success she plans to continue to bring to the middle school.
"I want to make sure that the community knows that my biggest goal is to bring us together," Carrillo said. "We will continue to reach out to outside organizations and have our students show their strengths to our community. We're going to continue to expand on a year to year basis."
The event could not have been made possible without the help of the Los Angeles Unified School District's Wellness Programs. They are an organization that actively seeks to advance the Greater Los Angeles community - one school at a time.
William Celestine, the Director of the Wellness Programs, was very passionate about his role in encouraging students to believe in themselves.
"This entire event is really inspiring to the students of the LAUSD," he said. "To be able to see these student-athletes who they think really highly of and watch on television is an awesome experience for them. USC is a world renowned institution, so seeing our students work hand in hand to beautify the campus is a great feeling."Gallery: (10/14/2019) 2019 Trojan Outreach Community Kickoff
"It made me feel recognized, which is something unfortunately educators don't always get to feel," said Guerrero. "We do with our students but not with the outside community all the time. So to get that from such an amazing institution like USC was amazing."
Both teachers work tirelessly for their students at the Academy of Sciences Middle School and deserve to feel acknowledged for their outstanding work. McElhaney is in her first year with AES, the STEM certified middle school, and was overwhelmed with joy.
"It's truly amazing. I couldn't believe it," said McElhaney. "It was very unexpected because I was just doing things for the good of the school and was recognized for it."
Trojan Outreach partnered with the College Football Playoff Foundation to launch the Community Kickoff, an initiative to improve schools such as AES. The Extra Yard For Teachers was the first event of USC's Community Kickoff.
USC student-athletes from multiple teams came out to lend a helping hand with AES students to refurbish the school's gardens throughout their campus.
The students relished the opportunity to work so closely with Trojans that they have seen on television and look up to. USC student-athletes even participated in the occasional dance-off with the AES students whenever the opportunity presented itself.
Mecca McGlaston, a senior on the USC track & field team, spoke on her desire to impact the leaders of tomorrow.
"My number one priority is bringing up generations better than the generation I was raised in," said McGlaston. "It all starts with the kids and will always be about the kids. My 110% effort goes to making life better for kids."
What made this event even more meaningful was that it was AES Principal Judy Carrillo's first-ever principalship. Her ability to orchestrate an event of this magnitude in her first go-round is indicative of the success she plans to continue to bring to the middle school.
"I want to make sure that the community knows that my biggest goal is to bring us together," Carrillo said. "We will continue to reach out to outside organizations and have our students show their strengths to our community. We're going to continue to expand on a year to year basis."
The event could not have been made possible without the help of the Los Angeles Unified School District's Wellness Programs. They are an organization that actively seeks to advance the Greater Los Angeles community - one school at a time.
William Celestine, the Director of the Wellness Programs, was very passionate about his role in encouraging students to believe in themselves.
"This entire event is really inspiring to the students of the LAUSD," he said. "To be able to see these student-athletes who they think really highly of and watch on television is an awesome experience for them. USC is a world renowned institution, so seeing our students work hand in hand to beautify the campus is a great feeling."
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