Saturday, April 25, 202633rd Annual Scholarship Benefit
Join Us for Lambda’s Annual Scholarship Benefit – Another Garden Affair
Join the USC Lambda LGBTQ+ Alumni Association on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at the iconic Maybourne Beverly Hills for our 33rd Scholarship Benefit: A Garden Affair. This incredible afternoon is dedicated to raising funds, recognizing outstanding alumni, and empowering our remarkable community of students and scholars.
Sponsorships and tickets are now available! All proceeds benefit the Lambda Scholarship Fund.
Since 2000, the USC Lambda LGBTQ+ Alumni Association has honored LGBTQ+ and allied Trojans for their service in advancing USC Lambda’s mission, serving as role models and heightening the visibility of the LGBTQ+ community at large.
Our 33rd Annual Scholarship Benefit will raise funds to award scholarships to deserving USC students who demonstrate a commitment to Lambda’s mission of strengthening the LGBTQ+ community. At the benefit, we will also recognize distinguished alumni for their extraordinary merit or service, as well as an exceptional scholar for their academic achievement and/or scholarly work.
Award Descriptions
Community Ally Award This award recognizes organizations or individuals for their longstanding support of the LGBTQ+ community. Through their service and advocacy, they have enabled the advancement of the USC Lambda LGBTQ+ Alumni Association.
Outstanding Student Scholar Award This award, presented to a current USC Lambda Scholar, celebrates students who have gone above and beyond to support USC Lambda’s mission and foster a culture of inclusivity and acceptance on the USC campus.
Trailblazer Award Dedicated to a member or ally of the LGBTQ+ community, this award recognizes individuals whose personal and professional advocacy has propelled the LGBTQ+ cause forward, paving the way for future activists and allies to succeed.
Visionary Leader Award Dedicated to exemplary leaders of the LGBTQ+ community or ally, whose vision and dedication have significantly advanced diversity, equity, and inclusion in their professional and community endeavors.
Equity Leadership Award Honoring outstanding leaders who exemplify exceptional leadership by inspiring progress and driving meaningful change within the LGBTQ+ community. Their unwavering dedication to advocacy, mentorship, and equality shines as a beacon of hope, fostering a world where everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, can thrive, feel empowered, and reach their full potential.
2026 Honorees
Visionary Leader Award
Dallas Dishman MA ’97, PhD ’03
Trailblazer Award
Remi Wolf ’18
Outstanding Student Scholar Award
Michael Amato ’26, MPA ’27
Equity Leadership Award
Tony Hoang ’11
Partner with Us!
Shape the future of the Trojan Family by partnering with USC Lambda in support of student scholarships and impactful alumni programming. Your support is pivotal in shaping the future of Trojan excellence.
Exclusive recognition as “Presented By [Sponsor Name]” on all event materials and communications including digital invitations, event website, and digital program book
Premier seating for up to (20) guests
Tableside champagne toast for you and your guests
One (1) complimentary hotel room on the night of the scholarship gala
One (1) valet parking space
On-stage verbal recognition
Featured story in USC Lambda communications
Promotion on USC Lambda social media platforms before, during, and after the event
Linked logo on USC Lambda website
Two-page, full-color spread inside digital program book
Name and/or logo recognition in on-screen event presentation
Opportunity for approved product placement
Four (4) USC Lambda scholar student tickets sponsored to attend the event
The deadline to confirm sponsorships is April 3, 2026. Please note that any sponsorships purchased after this date may not include tribute ads.
Recognition may include website, on-screen presentation, and printed or digital event materials as applicable.
Event sponsorships and tickets are tax-deductible, less the $200 value of benefits received per ticket used. Sponsors and/or guests may decline the value of benefits for any unused tickets.
Charitable contributions are fully tax deductible. USC Tax Identification #95-1642394
For questions event information and/or individuals who require ADA accommodations, please contact Peter Young at peter.young@usc.edu.
Thank You to Our 2026 Sponsors
BENEFACTOR SPONSORS
USC Alumni Association
PRIDE SPONSORS
The David Bohnett Foundation
GOLD SPONSORS
USC Asian Pacific Alumni Association USC Black Alumni Association USC Latino Alumni Association
CARDINAL SPONSORS
Haven Park Las Vegas
2026 Scholarship Benefit Co-Chairs
James “Jay” Prewitt EdD ’23
They | Them Director of Coaching and Facilitation | The Latimer Group
Dr. Jay Prewitt-Cruz ’23 (he/they) is an alumnus of the University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education, where they earned a Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership. Their doctoral dissertation delves into the critical yet under-explored subject of “Understanding Queer Leadership in Corporate America.” They received the Bachelor of Arts from Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA.
Jay is currently the Director of Coaching and Facilitation at The Latimer Group, a consulting firm renowned for its focus on persuasive communication. At The Latimer Group, Jay leads a distinguished faculty of coaches and facilitators while also directing the firm’s Diversity and Belonging initiatives. Jay is the architect behind their executive coaching program, working closely with leaders from a variety of sectors, including multinational corporations, start-ups, non-profits, and academia. Their work aims to not just improve communication, but to make it inclusive and belonging-centered, thereby redefining organizational landscapes.
Beyond his professional commitments, Jay has served on the Board of Directors for The LGBTQ Center of Orange County and was part of the Human Rights Campaign Orange County Steering Committee. Jay is currently active in the USC Lambda Alumni Association Student Engagement Committee.
Jay has ambitious future goals: they aim to expand his research on queer leadership, create new pathways for aspiring queer leaders, and improve the lives of human capital within corporations, thereby improving organizational performance and bottom line.
Residing in Long Beach, California, Jay shares his life with his partner, Kamil Prewitt-Cruz (she/her), and their rescue dog, Zeke. With such an extensive range of experience and service, Jay is not just a leader but a changemaker who is committed to transforming the narrative around leadership and diversity, inclusion, and belonging in today’s corporate environment.
Terrell M. Green MS ’23
He | Him | His Program Coordinator | State Bar of California
Terrell M. Green (MSDMM) is a Los Angeles–based theatre producer, writer, and digital strategist, and the founder of 267 Productions Co., a hybrid theatre-tech company developing bold, original work for contemporary audiences. His projects blend historical storytelling, media, and cultural commentary, including the rap-poetic stage production Harriet Tubman: Love Slave, which was recently featured on CNN’s First of All with Victor Blackwell.
Originally from Philadelphia, Terrell holds a B.A. in Theatre Performance from Marymount Manhattan College and an M.S. in Digital Media Management from USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. He also earned a Professional Certificate in Shakespeare Performance from the British American Drama Academy at Oxford University Magdalen College during the Midsummer in Oxford program. Professionally, he serves as a Program Analyst on the State Bar of California’s communications team, working at the intersection of media, strategy, and public engagement. In addition to this work, Terrell develops data-informed theatre that centers Black American history, LGBTQIA+ narratives, and public health issues through the arts.
