On May 12, 2022, the University held the Student Recognition Awards Ceremony in Bovard Auditorium to recognize the accomplishments of outstanding graduating students. Six Bovard College students were honored with the prestigious Order of Arête, an award to acknowledge their academic excellence, outstanding leadership, and significant contributions to the university and community. This award represents the highest honor accorded to graduate students upon completion of their academic programs.
Here are the exceptional Bovard College graduates who received this award:
Photo: Fadi Abdelhalim
Fadi Abdelhalim, MSPM, is an active-duty Marine Officer serving at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One as an Aviation Maintenance officer specializing in avionics mission systems. Fadi was designated as the Distinguished Graduate upon completion of graduate level Command and Staff College distance education program for his region during the academic year of 2020. Fadi has been awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and for his leadership achievements and contributions to mission readiness. In pursuing his graduate degree in project management, Fadi’s honest and effective communication methods demonstrated both his aptitude and his support for his peers.
Photo: Amber Brown
Amber Brown, MSPM, is both a Program Administrator for the Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies at Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences and the Administrator for the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement. With a 11-year tenure at the university, she is very involved in the USC community, serving as a member of the USC Staff Assembly and the Scholarships and Awards Committee. Beyond USC, Amber is invested in the well-being of her local community. After moving to the city of Compton and realizing the lack of access to healthy foods, she was an integral part to starting a delivery service of organic vegetables for bi-weekly pick up at a local farm in Compton. In pursuing her MSPM degree, Amber was commended by professors for her inquisitive nature and praised by classmates for being an extraordinary source of positive motivation.
Photo: Jon Glidewell
Jon Glidewell, MSHT, is a Regional Manager at Beachcomber Hotel Group. When the ongoing pandemic created inconsistent operating conditions for hotels, Jon co-founded the Mendocino County Lodging Operators Covid-19 Response Association with the goal of developing and communicating industry guidance. In addition, he is active in the Mendocino County Business Improvement District Advisory Board and the Mendocino County Visitor Services Committee. Jon embodies the Trojan Spirit, pursuing his graduate education with a full-time hospitality career while giving back to both his community at USC and his community at home.
Photo: Charli Gross
Charli Gross, MSHRM, is a Senior Human Resources Technology Associate at Mattel. Shortly after he began pursuing his Master’s in Human Resource Management, Charli was offered an internship at Mattel, his first formal role within the HR function. He was able to make significant contributions to the organization, including the creation of a transition plan for transgender employees and pitching a new toy category to the organization. Charli is involved in LGBTQ+ organizations locally and nationally and holds leadership positions in many of these organizations. In pursuing his MSHRM, Charli provided invaluable feedback for the program’s LGBTQ+ module, resulting in revisions to the course for future students.
Photo: Dan Laughlin
Dan Laughlin, MSCJ, is a Police Officer II for the Carlsbad Police Department where he is a K-9 handler, a field training officer, a SWAT team member, and a defensive tactics instructor. Along with his K9 partner, “Heavy,” Dan visits schools and community events to bridge the gap between youth and the police. He has also served on the Western Division Crime Suppression Team and as a Narcotics and Weapons expert. Dan’s contributions through his leadership, volunteer work, and community engagement demonstrate his incredible commitment to USC and his local community.
Photo: Drashti Patel
Drashti Patel, MSHT, works in hotel management for Motel 6 and Quality Inn. She pursued her Master of Science in Hospitality & Tourism while working full-time managing two franchise hotel properties. Drashti demonstrated leadership in the classroom, helping to simplify complex concepts for her classmates. In addition to her work in hospitality, Drashti is an advocate for bringing justice to the most vulnerable members of our society. She teaches and mentors children at underprivileged schools and community organizations like Operation SafeHouse. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Drashti and her family also created more than 3,500 hygiene kits that they distributed to code enforcement teams in their local community.