Dudley Poon and Patti Poon ’65, James Yee MS ’66, PhD ’74 and Candy Yee ’68, MS ’69, and Genaro Carapia MS ’84 and Lai Tan Carapia are bonded by their Trojan pride, from football to giving back, with education being the cornerstone. All three families have supported student scholarships annually for over 40 years, each giving their first gift in 1983. To cement their legacies and continue supporting USC Rossier students for generations to come, each family has also established an endowed scholarship.
Sisters Candy and Patti always knew they wanted to attend USC. Candy began her career as an elementary school and special education teacher in Los Angeles Unified School District and ABC Unified School District in Cerritos, Calif. She went on to become a home teacher for 27 years at the Berenece Carlson Home Hospital School, where she taught everything from preschool to 10th grade. Candy recalls her time at Carlson fondly: “The most rewarding moments from my career were when my students recovered from surgeries or cancer and were well enough to attend school again.” James saw Candy and Patti, a fellow teacher, continuously instilling values into their students, which inspired his family to set up its scholarship. “Teachers are necessary for shaping our kids’ values and instilling character among students, showing what’s right and wrong. That’s why it’s so important for us to support teachers today,” James says.
Patti spent over 40 years teaching prekindergarten to third grade at schools throughout LAUSD. Specializing in math and science, she also taught workshops for the state kindergarten, math and science associations. Patti also taught elementary science and math classes at California State University, Northridge, for seven years. Patti feels grateful for the education and preparation she received at USC Rossier. “On my first day of teaching,” she says, “I was the most prepared teacher in the school, all thanks to USC Rossier.”
Patti met Genaro and Lai Tan at a Trojan Club event years ago, and all three families have been inseparable ever since. Genaro spent time as a teacher in urban schools across various economic levels before becoming a principal. One of Genaro’s fondest memories is from his time as principal of Sheridan Street Elementary School in Los Angeles. “President [C. L. Max] Nikias visited our school,” he says. “It brought hope to the students that college was in their future.”
The stark lack of equity Genaro witnessed between communities has impacted why he gives back today. “USC Rossier’s commitment to addressing issues facing struggling economic and isolated urban schools means a lot to me,” he says. Lai Tan emphasizes the importance of supporting scholarships so that teachers realize “there are caring people who do care about your well-being and welfare.”
Candy, Patti and Genaro share the experience of feeling personally supported while completing their degrees at USC Rossier. They were never treated as numbers. Faculty knew their names and provided them with the guidance and support to complete the program. Even after they graduated, their professors stayed in touch and checked up on the new teachers to provide support. It’s this sense of community that drives the three families to give back, ensuring that future teachers have the same experience they did.
To learn more about giving to USC Rossier, please visit rossier.usc.edu/giving or contact Rachel Beal, associate dean for advancement, at bealr@rossier.usc.edu.
