The Heritage Association Spotlight was created to profile USC student-athlete alumni who have given back to the university.
This month, we sat down with Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, whose incredible journey started as a walk-on swimmer at USC, to eventual team captain and now a generous supporter of USC Athletics. While at USC, he also majored in business administration with hopes of taking over the family business -- Alaska Milk Corporation -- in his home country of the Philippines one day.
His story at USC is one of passion, dedication, timing, and even love, as he married his college sweetheart. With his support of USC Swimming and Diving and naming the Uytengsu Aquatics Center, Fred has bettered the university that changed his life forever, and he was gracious enough to share some of those experiences with us.
Fernando Stepensky (FS): Why did you want to come to USC?WSU: Well, when I was coming out of high school and looking at where I wanted to go, I was looking at top swim programs in the country, even though I wasn't necessarily being recruited. I wanted to be at a school that had a top program, and of course USC was at the top of the list. When I visited USC and the Dungeon (the old indoor pool), I saw Coach Peter Daland working out the team of All-Americans -- and back then there was no Internet so these were just people you read about -- it was pretty awesome to see that group in the Dungeon.
At the same time, I would say that when I set foot on campus I just felt like I belonged. I connected with campus right away, but then the whole other issue was, 'Can I really be on this team?' because I knew the reputation of USC. So, I asked Coach Daland, "Would you allow me to walk on?" He said, "Well if you're prepared to do the work, and you commit, then we'll see." So that was it. That was the beginning.
FS: Once you did walk on, what was it like being on the team?
WSU: Well it was interesting because I had broken my leg in a car accident just before Junior Nationals in the spring, so I showed up to practice in a fiberglass cast, and I actually had to start the first six weeks of training with a pull boy and a fiberglass cast! So first of all I had that handicap on top of trying to keep up with these big guns, a lot of them Olympians and All-Americans. The team was really supportive. They said, you know, here's a guy who is really trying hard because he's got this handicap.
But after a while the guys got over it and there was a lot of smack talk, which I think is part of the norm at SC, so you learn to step it up or step out. I wouldn't call it pity, but there was this sentiment of 'We see you working hard, but you're going to have to continue to work hard,' and I think that's one thing great about USC Athletics. They push you to be your best no matter what the circumstances are. You don't fully appreciate that until you are there.
FS: How did you eventually become the team captain?
WSU: About four years later, I remember a couple guys said, "Hey, you've been chosen as team captain," and, you know, all the captains before me were Olympians, All-Americans, NCAA Champions, so I thought they were just pulling my leg. I went to Coach Daland and I said, "Peter, the guys have been pulling my leg," and he said, "No, they haven't." I said, "Coach, there's a lot of faster guys on the team," and he said, "We're not choosing a captain for necessarily being the fastest swimmer, we're choosing someone for leadership."
That was very special. I was very touched because that comes from your peer group, and it was my first taste of leadership at 21. To have that honor was very humbling.
I realized I wasn't going to be scoring the big points, so it became a mantra of 'How do I support the team? How do we as a team collectively do our best?' You know, little things. It was also about raising money for parkas for the team. I remember Cal looked better dressed than us at meets, so I said, "Why should they look better than us?" and we went on a fundraising campaign because we didn't have the budget.
FS: Was there anything you learned at USC that has transferred over into your business life?
WSU: I remember one time I said something and a couple guys reacted negatively and were like, "Who made you boss?" and I said, "I'm not the boss, I'm just here to galvanize the team, to collaborate, to be a better team as a whole."
When you're one of the guys -- and you still are as captain -- you have to be careful with how you lead, and not necessarily barking out orders or directions. Instead, you lead from behind. Then, later in life I also realized that just because you say something because you're CEO of a company, doesn't necessarily mean people will follow. You have to give people purpose, you have to motivate them, and when you achieve that kind of leadership, I think that's when you start to achieve greater results.
Work ethic is critical, especially with swimming. Anyone who spends four hours a day, six days a week, 50 days a year looking at a black line and punishing yourself, you have to have a very determined work ethic, and that's definitely carried over. I don't care how successful a product or service you have, if you don't back it up with a work ethic it's only a matter of time before you fail or someone catches where you are in market position.
FS: What were some of your favorite things about being at USC?
WSU: The spirit we have at USC is second to none, and that's something I loved when I set foot on campus, something I experienced as a student-athlete, and something I have continued to enjoy as an alum. It was also great to put on the SC swim cap or wear my SC sweats and know that I am part of the university in a special way. It was special to me to be able to participate at that level. Anyone who gets to be a student-athlete, it's a very special opportunity, which I tell the younger guys today when they're in school: "Cherish this moment because it's short, but it's very meaningful."
FS: What motivated you to then give back to USC?
WSU: I would say probably in the last 10 years of my father's lifetime, he became much more philanthropically-inclined and taught us, my brother and my sister, the importance of philanthropy. He went to Stanford and Indiana Tech. One of his first gifts was to the alumni house at Indiana Tech, which was a pre-Civil War building, and getting it to a green certified building. He was really excited about that prospect, and at 82 years old to be so enthusiastic, to me was really intriguing. Unfortunately, he passed away before they could commemorate the building, and I ended up giving the speech for that and talking to the alumni about what that gift meant to him.
Afterwards I talked to my wife and I said, "We really shouldn't wait until we aren't around to give back," and when we looked at what USC has meant to us, I think it would be important for us to take this opportunity now.
Ron Orr had spoken to me about opportunities to enhance the aquatics center, and I remember the first time he mentioned it I was like, "That's a big goal Ron, I don't know if you're going to get someone to do that." It took the example of my father, him not being able to appreciate that moment, to be the catalyst to do what we did for USC Aquatics. In the years since we've done it, just the feedback and the appreciation that I hear from coaches, swimmers, water polo players, and divers, it's really a fantastic experience. It makes me feel very proud to see how student-athletes appreciate the facilities they have. Even non-athletes tell me they love to hang out there. It's rewarding to be part of the university in this way now. To see our name alongside the university is very gratifying.
Giving back to the university, at any amount, helps to further strengthen the institution and make it even better in the years to come.
If you are a member of the USC student-athlete alumni community, or would like more information about the Heritage Association, please click here!
