USC has welcomed its second cohort of Capstone Scholars--530 freshmen with SAT scores ranging from 1250 to 1510--with a full slate of activities for the 2006-07 academic year.

This year's class complements last year's 488 Capstone Scholars, and the class size reflects the enormous popularity of the program, which provides special housing assignments and an array of extra-curricular programs. The Capstone Scholars Program is considered a two-year commitment for participating students.

The 2006 Capstone Scholars are nearly evenly divided between men and women, and 56 percent are from out of state, representing 30 states and Washington, D.C.

"This year's Capstone Scholars make up about one-seventh of the entire freshman class, and there are 53 academic majors represented among them," said John Spurrier, a statistics professor and Capstone Scholars Progam principal.

"This program is about getting them to dream big--to realize how much potential they have and to spur them to do more than just get their tickets punched. We're here to serve these students and to challenge them."

To that end, Spurrier hopes to increase the number of Capstone Scholars participating in special programs this year.

"We have excellent programs in place for these students, but far too few students attended the lectures and films last year," Spurrier said.

This year, many of those presentations will be tied to University 101 classes, which should help to boost attendance and cultivate a greater appreciation for the programming, Spurrier said.

A study abroad opportunity exclusively for Capstone Scholars will be offered as a May Session course in China that will be taught by history professor Karl Gerth. Forty Capstone Scholars will receive half-scholarships to enroll in the course.

This fall, Capstone Scholar-only sections have been created for English 101 and 102, and Capstone Scholars will again be housed in Capstone House and Columbia Hall with some returning sophomores housed in South Quad.

A Capstone cinema series will be held once each month and Capstone Conversations will take place once per week; 16 are scheduled for the fall semester. The conversations feature University faculty and speakers from outside the University.

A social event, First Fridays, will be held at the beginning of every month, and Hot Cookie Friday will take place once per month. The Capstone Scholars' Study Shack, a refurbished former residence behind Capstone House, will be open for individual and group study. The Capstone Scholars Program will continue its partnership with Richland School District No. One, which pairs Capstone Scholars with public school students in tutoring sessions.

Capstone Scholars also are encouraged to participate in undergraduate research; two Capstone Scholars were among the 18 selected as Magellan Scholars in the first round of funding for that undergraduate research program.

8/06