The Jimmy Gauntt Memorial Award

The award is designed to recognize outstanding graduating seniors who have majored in English at USC and demonstrated an interest in the arts.  It was founded in 2009 by Professor David Román, a Professor in the Departments of English and American Studies & Ethnicity, in honor of his former student, Jimmy Gauntt, who majored in English and died tragically in 2008.   Please consider making a donation in support of USC’s multi-talented English majors.

News & Announcements

USC Dornsife College Professor Dana Johnson Featured in New York Times California Today

by Casey Gauntt News And Announcements

Dana Johnson, Associate Professor of English at USC’s Dornsife College, was recently featured  in this New York Times article for the story she wrote about Delilah Beasley. Pioneering Black Woman Who Was Almost Erased From History Ms. Beasley was an important, yet largely unsung, historian who studied and wrote extensively about blacks living in California […]

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STELLAR ENGLISH SENIORS HONORED AT THE 10TH ANNUAL JIMMY GAUNTT MEMORIAL AWARD DINNER

by The Jimmy Gauntt Award 2019 Recipients

Here is a link (followed by full text) to the wonderful article written by Susan Bell, Managing Editor of USC Dornsife Magazine Stellar English seniors honored at the 10th annual Jimmy Gauntt Memorial Award Six outstanding seniors nominated by faculty from USC Dornsife’s English Department are recognized for their commitment to the arts at an […]

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FRANCISCO JAUREGUI

by Casey Gauntt 2019 Recipients

Frank. Franklin. Francisco. Panch. Panchí. Jeremy. Frankie. Stepping onto USC’s campus during move-in week, I needed to decide which version of myself I wanted to present for the next 4 years. As a son of two immigrant, hardworking parents of color, I already had a predetermined narrative attached to my character. “I don’t belong here,” […]

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ZHARIA O’NEAL

by Casey Gauntt 2019 Recipients

  I moved to the United States from the British Virgin Islands when I still had all my baby teeth. Though I’d heard a lot about America, I was fairly certain that it wouldn’t be too eventful — nothing big, nothing life-changing, and certainly nothing to write about. I was wrong. I started writing stories […]

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ISABELLA PREISZ

by Casey Gauntt 2019 Recipients

My love for storytelling began at a young age. I grew up listening to my father, a Danish immigrant, read me Scandinavian folk stories every night. My Grandma, an Italian immigrant, put paint brushes in my hand as a little girl. I’ve always been drawn to the way that color and word come together to […]

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CATALINA ACEBAL-ACEVEDO

by Casey Gauntt 2019 Recipients

My name is Catalina (like the island). I was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and raised in Key Biscayne, Florida. When I was five years old, I told my mother six words that changed my life. As she was picking me up from school one day, I looked up and told her “I want […]

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CHRISTINA SIMILIEN

by Casey Gauntt 2019 Recipients

Hi! My name is Christina Similien, and I am a senior at the University of Southern California. I‘m graduating this May with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing, and I couldn’t be more grateful. Reading and writing are what sustain me, so to have spent the past four years submerged in stories and surrounded by […]

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The 2019 Jimmy Gauntt Memorial Award Recipients-The Tenth Year of the Jimmy!

by Casey Gauntt 2019 Recipients

  On Tuesday evening April 30, the six 2019 recipients of the Jimmy Gauntt Memorial Award, aka the “Jimmy,” were introduced by their nominating professors and feted at the charming Ostrich Farm restaurant in Echo Park Los Angeles.  This was the tenth year the Jimmies have been awarded and the significance of this milestone was […]

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The 2016 Jimmy Gauntt Memorial Award Recipients

by Casey Gauntt 2016 Recipients

Pictured L to R: Professor Dana Johnson, Georgia Soares, Yuki Jasmine Li, Professor David Roman, Cameron Plunkett, Veronica Syop, Jason Ketchum and Susi Lopera On Sunday evening May 1st, the six 2016 recipients of the Jimmy Gauntt Memorial Award, aka the “Jimmy,” were introduced by their nominating professors and celebrated at Jaime Turrey’s Ostrich Farm […]

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THE 2014 JIMMY GAUNTT MEMORIAL AWARD RECIPIENTS

by Casey Gauntt 2014 Recipients

Congratulations to the 2014 recipients of the Jimmy Gauntt Memorial Award and their nominating professors. Professor Bill Handley                     Brandon Martinez Professor Molly Bendall                   Maria Peltekova Professors Emily Anderson and Michelle Gordon           […]

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