Every year since 1932, the USC Alumni Association has honored a select group of prestigious alumni for their professional achievements and outstanding service to the University and community at the Alumni Awards gala.
On Saturday, April 18, 2026, we welcomed alumni, family, and friends to the 92nd Annual USC Alumni Awards to once again celebrate the best of our Trojan Family. Stay tuned for photos, tributes and more from an incredible night!
This year’s Alumni Awards continues to serve as a collective investment in the Trojan community. Together, we are working toward our $1 million goal to support alumni programs that build lifelong connection and fund student scholarships that open doors for future Trojans. Your support honors alumni who lead and serve, while helping shape the future of Trojan excellence.
2026 Honorees
Congratulations to our extraordinary Alumni Award honorees:
Asa V. Call Alumni Achievement Award
Kris Popovich ’65, MBA ’70
Chairman, Hoffman and Associates Trustee, Hoffman Foundation USC Life Trustee
Alumni Merit Awards
Eric Holoman ’83
President and CEO EquiTrust Life Insurance Company
The Honorable Albert C. Zapanta ’66, MPA ’73
President and CEO United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce
Young Alumni Merit Award
Alex Valenti ’18
Co-Founder Key Partners Group
Alumni Service Award
Cynthia van Eck ’86
Chair, USC Marshall School of Business Board of Leaders Member, USC Marshall School of Business Board of Councilors Philanthropist
Fred B. Olds Award
Linda K. Sharp
Former Head Coach USC Women’s Basketball
USC Alumni Awards Dinner Co-Chairs
Ruth Benton ’08
Peter Brejcha JD ’09
Thank you to our 2026 sponsors for their generous support!
PRESENTING
Hoffman Foundation
PLATINUM
Eric Holoman ’83
The Silk Family
The van Eck Family
GOLD
The Suzanne Nora Johnson and David G. Johnson Foundation
Daniel Prince ’00, MA ’02 & Peter T. Brejcha, JD ’09
CARDINAL
Ruth Benton ’08 & AJ Benton
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
East West Bank
Justin & Zeina Gaynor | Gaynor Law
Jessica Lall ’06 & Luke O’Dea | CBRE
Sanders Roberts LLP
Town & Gown of USC
USC Asian Pacific Alumni Association
USC Athletics
USC Black Alumni Association
USC Lambda LGBTQ+ Alumni Association
USC Latino Alumni Association
USC Marshall School of Business
Verizon
SUPPORTER
Foti ’85, Andrea, Archer ’23 & Eleanna Defterios
FRIENDS OF TROY
Erick Diaz ’95 & Candela Diaz
Robert Suzuki ’07 & Morgan Suzuki
John Wong ’89 & Adriana Wong
USC Annenberg School for Communications and Journalism
Each year since 1932, the USC Alumni Awards has celebrated some of the most impactful and dedicated members of our Trojan Family. Past honorees include Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong ’70, world-renowned architect Frank O. Gehry ’54, opera great Marilyn Horne ’53, and Academy Award-winning filmmaker Robert Zemeckis ’73. A few of our most recent honorees include: social work pioneer Suzanne Dworak-Peck ’65, MSW ’67, actress and activist America Ferrera ’13, and real estate developer and civic leader Rick Caruso ’80.
