The day Nick Fagnano received his acceptance to USC’s Sol Price School of Public Policy was the happiest day of his life, according to his parents, Mary and Jay Fagnano. While good grades didn’t come easy to Nick, he worked hard to fulfill his dream to attend USC Price. He spent long hours studying at Santa Barbara City College in hopes of getting the grades required to transfer to the USC Price School, where he planned on majoring in real estate and urban development.
After much anticipation, “The Envelope” arrived in the mail while Nick was on a camping trip. After peeking through the envelope to learn of Nick’s acceptance, Jay and Mary were beside themselves with excitement for Nick to arrive home and to see his reaction. During a stop to get gas on his drive home, Nick checked his email and saw a message from USC indicating that he’d been accepted. Nick called his parents breathless with excitement about his admission. “He was jumping around the gas station parking lot, yelling with his friends that he got into USC,” his mother said. “We knew how hard Nick had worked, and we were so proud that our family would be joining the USC Price Trojan Family and that Nick’s dream had come true.”
Nick Fagnano’s passion for urban revitalization and USC is what brought him to the Price School. Nick’s dream would have been fulfilled today, walking the stage as his name is announced, with his family cheering on. Unfortunately, the USC Price School and the Trojan family lost Nick during the summer of 2014 after he was tragically struck by lightning at Venice Beach, just days before his first day at USC.
Today, we are honored that Nick’s dream continues through the USC Price Nick Fagnano Memorial Scholarship and that each year a transfer student, just as Nick was, will have the financial support needed to realize his or her own dream of joining the USC Price family. The USC Price class of 2016 will always hold a special place in the Fagnano family’s hearts. Mary and Jay join us in congratulating this year’s graduates knowing that each time a member of the Price Class of 2016 makes an effort to improve the lives of people and their communities here and abroad, you will be honoring Nick.
To learn more about the scholarship, please contact:
Sylvia Dsouza
213.821.8179 or via email [email protected]
Jay and Mary Fagnano have requested donations be made to the Nick Fagnano Memorial Scholarship Fund. The scholarship provides financial support for transfer students based on character and merit.
Donations can be made by mailing a check to:
Kristen DesCombes
1150 S. Olive Street, Suite 1500
Los Angeles, CA 90015.
Please make checks payable to USC Price with Nick Fagnano Memorial Fund on the memo line.
Gifts can also be made online.
For any additional questions please contact:
Kristen DesCombes
(213) 821-0417
[email protected]