At USC’s 129th Commencement on May 11, 2012, President C. L. Max Nikias recalled the Roman poet Virgil, telling the crowd that “to be a Trojan is to be an adventurer.” He said: “The Trojans always seized destiny. That is the adventure, the great journey that now calls you by name. But here is the key: You do not go forward alone. You go forward as a member of a global Trojan Family.”
The ceremony featured an address by Christiane Amanpour, global affairs anchor at ABC News and chief international correspondent for CNN International. Along with Amanpour, seven other global leaders received honorary degrees: Lt. Gen. Roméo Dallaire, Dana Dornsife, USC trustee David Dornsife ’65, Victoria Hale, Armas C. “Mike” Markkula ’64, MS ’66, Julie Mork, and USC trustee John Mork ’70.