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Coaches
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Meet the Academy Coaches!
Fall 2008
Ahmet Tanner
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Major: Electrical Engineering
Hometown: Izmir, Turkey
High School: Phillips Academy, Boston, MA
Student Involvement: Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity
Hobbies/Interests: Tennis, sailing, guitar
Favorite memories from freshman year:
> Football games
> Exploring LA
> Weekend trips
Advice for freshmen:
> Try everthing!
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Alix Rex
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Major: Biomedical Engineering
Minor: Organizational Management
Hometown: San Diego, CA
High School: Westview High School
Student Involvement: Alpha Phi Sorority, Merit Research Scholar
Hobbies/Interests: The beach, hanging out with friends, exploring LA, board games, shopping, surfing, basketball, USC football
Favorite memories from freshman year:
> Road trip to San Francisco for Weekender
> Living in New/North
> The Fray concert in McCarthy Quad
> Football games
Advice for freshmen:
> Be adventurous
> Introduce yourself to new people
> Keep an open mind
> Study hard and play hard
> Go to sporting events
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Ann Jun
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Major: Biomedical Engineering
Hometown: La Crescenta, CA
High School: Clark Magnet High School
Student Organizations: Society of Women Engineers-President, USC Students Teaching Art-Co-founder, Viterbi Student Ambassador, Korean Student Organization
Hobbies/Interests: USC FOOTBALL!, swimming, water polo, watching Korean dramas, sleep
Favorite memories from freshman year:
> Staying up all night talking to friends
> Grey's Anatomy parties
> Movie nights
> Floor dinners
Advice for freshmen:
> Get involved early with anything and everything you're interested in. It's a great way to meet people and to give back to the school and the community. But don't join organizations purely for resume building - Make sure you enjoy what you study
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Benjamin Vatterott
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Major: Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Inver Grove Heights, MN
High School: St. Thomas Military Academy
Student Involvment: Academy Coaching, Supplemental Instruction, VARC, What Matters to Me and Why, Tau Beta Pi, Global Fellows (Taipei), Viterbi Overseas (Paris), Pi Tau Sigma, Alpha Lambda Delta
Hobbies/Interests: Baseball, Broomball, Running, Traveling and Road Trips, Camping and the Outdoors, Fishing, Minnesota Baseball and Hockey, Trojan Football and Basketball
Favorite memories from freshman year:
> The USC vs. ND football game - I was there!
> Going to San Francisco
Advice for freshmen:
> Be open-minded and try new things, especially if you like the other people who are participating - you may be surprised what you can have doing
> Learn and utilize proper time management - USE YOUR PLANNER!
> Make an effort to meet plenty of new people, even if they are someone that wouldn't have hung out with in high school. Your first couple months at SC are the best for getting to know people you normally wouldn't.
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Bharat Reddy
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Major: Biomedical Engineering
Hometown: Cupertino, CA
High School: Harker High School
Student Involvement: SCIA, IPI Lab
Hobbies/Interests: Running, watching movies, hyphy
Favorite memories from freshman year:
> Going to the football games and watching Reggie Bush take apart the other team
> Meeting all my new friends
> Pulling my first of many Leavey Library all-nighters
Advice for freshmen:
> Try everything! There are a lot of things you can do at USC you won't be able to do after you graduate, like participating in the Indian Culture Show. There is something for everyone, you just have to go out an find it.
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Dan Orr
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Major: Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Seal Beach, CA
High School: Servite High School
Student Involvement:: Aerodesign Team, Viterbi Student Ambassadors, Surf Club, Directed Research
Hobbies: Surfing, Sailing, Fishing, Diving, Spear Fishing,Table Tennis, Camping
Favorite memories from freshman year:
> Traveling with the marching band to the USC vs Notre Dame game
>Fountain hopping at in the middle of the night
Advice for freshmen:
> Go to the beach, then go to the library
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David Bailey
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Major: Electrical Engineering
Minor: Gender Studies
Hometown: Albuquerque, NM
High School: La Cueva High School
Student Involvement: SWE,JEP, Cantebury USC, USC Equestrian Team Hobbies/Interests: Albuquerque, Los Angeles, Disneyland, beaches, oceans, photography, baseball, football, college basketball, volleyball, cars, trucks, trains, planes, sleeping, horses
Favorite memories from freshman year:
> Meeting awesome people
> Getting my Disneyland Annual Passport
> Going to the beach on my birthday in Februrary
> Trips to Washington, Mississippi and Oceanside with student groups
Advice for freshmen:
> Find some way to keep track of important dates (planner, iCal, etc.)
> Find what you're passionate about and do it
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Elea Grotter
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Major: Biomedical (Biochemical) Engineering
Minor: German
Hometown: Camas, WA
High School: Camas High School
Student Involvment: Alpha Chi Omega, Society of Women Engineers, Tau Beta Pi, Alpha Epsilon Delta (pre-med honor society), ASBME, Spirits in Action, Relay for Life, JEP, ATPS, Alpha Lambda Delta, Research at Cedars Sinai, Research in the Cardiorespiratory Sleep Lab
Hobbies/Interests: Traveling, especially to Europe, piano, anything German, movies, music, SC football games, watching soccer, exploring LA
Favorite memories from freshman year:
> Meeting all the new people and making really strong friendships
> Late night chats with the roomie and my Birnkrant buds
> The football games!!
Advice for freshmen:
> Explore LA and all the different clubs and activities on campus. Once you find something you're interested in, look into it. It's a great way to meet new people and expand your horizons. Get involved!
> Don't be afraid to ask professors, TAs and other students for help if you need it. They want you to succeed.
> You're going to face new challenges, whether it's doing your laundry for the first time, managing your budget, or living with a roommate. It will take time to adjust. Don't get overwhelmed or worry too much about it beforehand. It will work out!
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Harry McCoy
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Major: Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
High School: Academy of Math, Science & Applied Technology (AMSAT) - Clark High School
Student Involvement:: NSBE, CED
Hobbies/Interests: Golf, Cards, Sports, ESPN, Sleep
Favorite memories from freshman year:
> Game Day
> Meeting new people from tons of places
Advice for freshmen:
> Remember you probably came to USC to get your education.
> Try to set a sleeping schedule that ensures you don’t oversleep important deadlines.
> Don’t be overwhelmed by being in a new environment.
> Learn to enjoy the laid back nature of college campus.
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Jeni Takasumi
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Major: Chemical Engineering
Minor: East Asian Languages and Cultures
Hometown: Portland, OR
High School: Tigard High School
Student Involvment: USC Nikkei, Japanese American Organization-Internal VP, Alpha Phi Omega-Fellowship VP, Tau Beta Pi-Historian, SWE, AIChE, ATPS, Merit Research
Hobbies/Interests: Dancing, baking, hanging out with friends, movies, laughing!
Favorite memories from freshman year:
> Spending time iwth my amazing friends
> USC Football
> Staying up late at boba places talking and laughing
Advice for freshmen:
> Get involved with something; it's a great way to meet people. USC has endless opportunities
> Meet and work with people in your classes; it's a lot more fun and makies it so much easier to get through your homework
> Don't skip classes
> Work hard, but enjoy college!
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Kathleen Ward
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Major: Industrial & Systems Engineering
Minor: French
Hometown: Portland, OR
High School: Grant High School
Student Involvement: Women in Engineering (WIE)
Hobbies/Interests: Crossword puzzles, lacrosse, constitutional law, skiing, guitar, USC football and basketball
Favorite memories from freshman year:
> Waking up to a mass of people in McCarthy Quad on game days
> Making some amazing friends on my floor
Advice for freshmen:
> Go to office hours and SI sessions! You'll be surprised how much they help
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Kazuma Kitagaito
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Major: Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Torrance, CA
High School: North High School
Student Organizations: APASA, Viterbi Overseas Program Paris 2007, Nikkei, JSA
Hobbies/Interests: Kendo, Watching soccer, Snowboarding, eating scones at RTH cafe!
Favorite memories from freshman year:
> Meeting new students
> Having late classes
Advice for freshmen:
> Try to go to all your classes even though it's tough!
> Look into studying abroad early!
> Have fun!
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Kimi Wong
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Major: Biomedical Engineering
Hometown: Aiea, HI
High School: Punahou High School
Student Organizations: Society of Women Engineers, Nikkei
Hobbies/Interests: Cleaning, cooking, Disneyland, dramas, eating, friends, music, and shopping
Favorite memories from freshman year:
> Meeting the cast of Gilmore Girls
> My friends and I spending the entire weekend before the Math 126 final in VKC trying to learn Taylor Series
> Being front row for The Fray at Conquest!
Advice for freshmen:
> Go to office hours; it's always good to get to know your professors. They don't bit, I promise.
> Don't let yourself be intimidated by other people -- you are just as worthy and capable. |
Leslie Koehn
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Major: Mechanical Engineering (Petroleum emphasis)
Minor: Economics
Hometown: Greenwood Village, CO
High School: Colorado Academy
Student Involvement: Society of Women Engineers-Community Affairs Committee Member, Research Assistant, Delta Delta Delta Sorority, Self Defense Teaching Assistant, Gamma Sigma Alpha Honor Society
Hobbies/Interests: USC football, running, diving, skiing, meeting new people, making new friends, having fun!
Favorite memories from freshman year:
> Meeting new people and staying up all night talking to them
> Waiting in line for hours with best friends to get into football games and having a blast
> Realizing how fabulous a simple home cooked meal and some air conditioning can be
Advice for freshmen:
> Enjoy it while it lasts!
> Try to meet as many people as you can and get involved
> Remember that when you feel overwhelmed or stressed there are tons of other people feeling it, too.
> Don't be afraid to ask for help from professors, TA's and your peers. Reach out to them.
> Enjoy yourself and make sure you study something you enjoy!
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Michael Webb
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Major: Electrical Engineering
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
High School: Jesuit High School
Student Involvement: EWB, Residential Advisor-Century, Helpdesk Assistant at Annenberg
Hobbies/Interests: Volleyball, soccer, guitar, snowboarding, drawing, South Park, cooking (the legitimate kind)
Favorite memories from freshman year:
> Playing Fifa with my friends and fighting over who was the best
> Going to EVK for their tater tots on Saturday mornings
> Intramural volleyball
Advice for freshmen:
> Take the initiative and meet people, including your professors
> Be yourself and do what you think is interesting
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Penny Ishizuka
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Major: Biomedical Electrical Engineering
Hometown: Aiea, HI
High School: Punahou School
Student Organizations: Society of Women Engineers, Southern California Nikkei Association
Hobbies/Interests: Chilling with friends, watching Family Guy, CSI, Food Network, Dramas, or Friends, Reading, Ukulele
Favorite memories from freshman year:
> Making new friends and meeting tons of new people during my first days at USC
> Going to football games and cheering for USC
> Seeing snow for the first time and learning how to snowboard!
Advice for freshmen:
> Get involved! It's a great way to meet new people!
> Go to class!
> Don't be afraid to ask for help, there are SO many people around willing to help you out! |
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Rebecca Sekar
Sophomore | rsekar@usc.edu |
Major: Biomedicall Engineering
Minor: Considering Marketing
Hometown: Fremont, CA
High School: Mission San Jose High School
Student Involvement: Helenes, Spirits in Action-Entertainment Co-Chair
Favorite memories from freshman year:
> Hanging out with friends, Facebooking, and drinking a Viterbi Chip in Tutor Cafe
> An intense game of Capture the Flag in the E-Quad at 10pm. My team hid our flag at the base of a statue in the middle of the fountain. We lost, but it was fun seeing the other team get wet.
Advice for freshmen:
> Get involved! I didn't do it until my second semester and realized how much more amazing it is when you do. You get to meet awesome people who share your interests, and you learn more about yourself.
> Try the Viterbi Chip! It makes my life go round, no joke.
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Rob Taft
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Major: Biomedical (Mechanical) Engineering
Hometown: Fallbrook, CA
High School: Fallbrook High School
Student Organizations: Campus Crusade for Christ, Adventures Ahead Reading Program, CALPIRG Volunteer, Viterbi Book Club, Bible Study Leader
Hobbies/Interests: Soccer, Football, Tennis, and pretty much any other athletic activity, Watching ESPN, Reading, Rooting for the Trojans!, Building stuff, Going to the beach
Favorite memories from freshman year:
> Spending a month on the USC football team
> Going to football games (duh)
> Intramural Soccer
> Campus Crusade Men's Retreat
> Chase Edler's Life (RIP),
> Building the ENGR 101 Robot
> USC Basketball Sweet Sixteen
Advice for freshmen:
> Have fun and take advantage of living in LA. There are so many opportunities here that can be found nowhere else. Get off campus every once in a while and enjoy the surrounding area.
> Try not to do too many things at once. Start small and keep your grades up and then add more
> To get involved, join clubs and organizations - there's more than you could ever want!
> Remember that you're living your own life now, not your parents or anyone else's. Be yourself , do what you want to do, and have fun, but remember that you're also responsible for yourself and your actions.
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Robert Ward
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Major: Computer Science/Business Administration
Specialization: Web Development
Hometown: Santa Clarita, CA
High School: Canyon High School
Student Involvement: VARC Tutor, Freshmen Academy Coach, ATPS, Town & Gown, National Merit Scholar, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Dean's Honor Roll
Hobbies/Interests: Basketball, longboarding, listening to music, working out
Favorite memories from freshman year:
> Can't pick just a few. It was the happiest year of my life thus far.
Advice for freshmen:
> Make friends in the Freshmen Academy. It's probably the best chance you will ever have to meeting engineers from other majors.
> Find a release. Activities are a great way to help you refocus. There are a large amount of clubs/groups to join, so pick one that interests you. If you're athletic, the Lyon Center always has intramural sports happening.
> For on-campus residents, make a concerted effort to get to know everyone in your hall. Networking is as important (if not more so), than getting the grades.
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Robin Hartman
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Major: Biomedical Engineering
Hometown: Austin, TX
High School: Lyndon B. Johnson High School
Student Organizations: SWE, USC Hellions (ultimate frisbee), work at California Science Center
Hobbies/Interests: Ultimate frisbee, dance, music, genetics, biology
Favorite memories from freshman year:
> Spending 4 hours with my physics study group attempting to review the practice test our professor gave us, but we were really just drawing on the chalkboard and watching Youtube videos.
Advice for freshmen:
> Get out there and meet people. Meet them in your dorm, your classes, at work, and in the dining halls.
> Don't be afraid of what people think of you.
> Study hard, but don't get too caught up in grades!
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Sean Smith
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Major: Civill Engineering, Building Science
Hometown: Oak Park, CA
High School: Oak Park High School
Student Organizations: Lambda Chi Alpha, Raquetball Club, Viterbi Student Services
Hobbies/Interests: Surfing, snowboardking, camping, raquetball, football, Rachel McAdams, buildings, architecture
Favorite memories from freshman year:
> Meeting new people
> Kicking the bottom of the street light on the way to the Coliseum
> Late nights with friends
Advice for freshmen:
> GO TO CLASS. It's not really that hard.
> Get involved in clubs and other student organizations within Viterbi and throughout USC.
> Go to the beach.
> Don't take life for granted.
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Shefali Gupta
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Major: Industrial & Systems Engineering
Hometown: Tokyo, Japan
High School: Seisen International School, Tokyo
Student Involvement: SWE, JEP, Southern California Indo-Americans, Japanese Student Association, VARC Tutor, South Asia Rural Student Aid, Freshmen Academy Coach
Hobbies/Interests: Art, skiing, hanging out with friends, TV shows, music, singing, keyboard, traveling, riddles, Monopoly
Favorite memories from freshman year:
> Staying up all night just for fun, laughing with my amazing friends
> Going to Six Flags Magic Mountain with all my friends and going crazy
> Going to every dorm room in the building on the first day to introduce ourselves
Advice for freshmen:
> Don't let anything discourage you! College may be a big leap from high school, but it's just a different experience that teaches you more about independence and responsibility. As long as you try hard and manage your time, you can accomplish anything.
> Don't forget to have fun! Although it's important to learn, your freshmen year is really about having fun and meeting new people. Make an effort to talk to many different people and make as many friends as possible.
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Yakshita Desai
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Major: Biomedical (Mechanical) Engineering
Hometown: Simi Valley, CA
High School: Simi Valley High School
Student Involvement: SCIA, Fencing
Hobbies/Interests: Playing the flute, reading, traveling
Favorite memories from freshman year:
> Hanging out with friends
> Studying in the RTH lounge
> Making all sorts of new friends
Advice for freshmen:
> College is harder than high school, but that's why you also have more people to help you. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
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