The 2023-2024 school year is officially underway, and USC Iovine and Young Academy students are more than ready to jump into the next chapter on their academic journeys. 

New beginnings bring new innovation, creativity, and perspectives, as IYA welcomes 53 new undergraduate students and 35 new graduate students this year. With “limitless” possibilities and original endeavors ahead, creativity abounds and the enthusiasm is palpable. (Just ask some of the freshmen commencing their IYA experiences).

This year, I’m excited to infuse my mind with the limitlessness of IYA culture and curriculum. This is the time for mastery, training, and dedication! Deepening the legacy of the

Academy with my cohort-mates is a great honor,” says cohort 10’s Mei Higashi. 

Inspired by the uniqueness of the community and the immense opportunity to work with her classmates, Higashi is eager to make IYA magic. 

“We have set aside the fears and the doubts to bring our ideas, philosophies, and characters to light, and we’re learning to combine our individual qualities into something unimaginably exciting. We’re ready to cut our teeth,” she adds. 

Cohort 10’s Teddy Warner says he’s motivated by collaboration and the passions of his peers, as well as the resources offered at the Creator Studio. 

“I'm super excited to begin working in IYA's creator studio this year! I tend to find the passions of others to be quite inspiring, and passion is definitely something IYA is full of. I'm particularly looking forward to collaborating in the creator studio, learning tools and working on projects,” he says. 

Cohort 10’s Stan Loosmore is also encouraged by the wisdom of his classmates.  

He shares, “I am most inspired by our diverse and crazy smart student body. There is so much to learn from everyone and their journeys. I can’t wait to see what the [cohort 10] students create and become!”

This collective Academy spirit was on display at August 25th’s welcome BBQ, where students, faculty, and staff came together to celebrate the start of the semester. Each cohort showed up to represent – plus grad students! – making the event a memorable semester kickoff to remember. Check out everyone in action. 

New beginnings bring new innovation, creativity, and perspectives, as IYA welcomes 53 new undergraduate students and 35 new graduate students this year. With “limitless” possibilities and original endeavors ahead, creativity abounds and the enthusiasm is palpable.

‘Ready to Cut Our Teeth’: Students Express Excitement for the New Year Ahead