
Cindy McCain honored at Rossier event
Posted February 1, 2010 at 11:04 pm in Featured, News
President Steven B. Sample and Cindy McCain were recognized at the Rossier School of Educationâs Centennial Gala Monday night for their contributions to global education.

Maverick · Rossier alumna Cindy McCain was given an award Monday in honor of her humanitarian efforts and her work in education. Sen. John McCain presented the award. - Gary Fung | Daily Trojan
McCain, who attended USC for her undergraduate degree in education and graduate degree in special education, was awarded the Deanâs Alumni Achievement Award.
âIâm so touched and so honored because never did I ever think I would be here at this stage in my life receiving an honor from this school,â she said.
McCain has led several humanitarian trips to improve the educational opportunities of children worldwide. During her time at USC, she volunteered for local special education programs.
âIt was really a good time to be a part of it all,â she said of her experience and involvement in efforts to get federal funding for special needs children and provide them with proper educations.
âWhen youâre young, you donât realize how itâs shaping you, what itâs doing for you and really how much you have gained from the experience of being here. Being able to look back on it now, itâs shaped certainly my attitude toward global involvement and doing what I do around the world,â McCain said.
McCain, who taught children with disabilities at an Arizona high school after her graduation, said she plans to return to teaching when things settle down.
âI miss it actually,â she said. âIâll go back to teaching because I really enjoy it.â
The gala was part of the 100th anniversary celebration of the USC Rossier School of Education.
âIt is fitting that during our centennial year, we pay tribute to two such committed educators,â Rossier Dean Karen Symms Gallagher said in a statement. âBoth Mrs. McCainâs and President Sampleâs professional work and personal passion exemplify the USC Rossier Schoolâs mission to improve educational outcomes locally, nationally and globally.â
At the gala, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) presented the Deanâs Alumni Achievement Award to his wife, whose Global Educator Fellowship will enable aspiring teachers and school educators to contribute to the education of youth on a global level.
âSomeone will have the opportunity to do what I do,â Cindy McCain said. âThe one thing that I have learned from all of this is that people to people and educator to educator around the world, when they see a U.S. educator coming, in some way itâs like everything is going to be so much better. Weâre not the answer to everything, but we certainly are willing to give it our all and work hard for it.â
Sample was honored for transforming USC into a global university during his 19 years as its president and for his contributions to teaching and mentoring students throughout his career.
âIn some ways, it gives me more credit than I deserve,â Sample said. âWhat I like about it is the whole academic community here at USC has been behind this globalization, both in the ways we teach and in the ways we do research. Iâm honored, Iâm humbled, I probably donât deserve it, but Iâll take it.â
Sampleâs Global Educator Fellowship will be offered to Rossier doctoral candidates for international study in Latin America and the Pacific Rim, where he co-founded the Association of Pacific Rim Universities for the advancement of international collaborative research.
âWe get more international students now than any other American university, which I think is good for our domestic students,â Sample said. âIt exposes them to different cultures and different peoples in a way that nothing else really can.â
Sample said he feels the entire university is strengthened by the advancements of the Rossier School under Dean Karen Symms Gallagher and benefits the Trojan family.
Along with the awards presented to Sample and McCain, the proceeds from the gala will go toward fellowships established in honor of both the award recipients. The fellowships will benefit future Rossier students.
âThe gift of education is a gift of life,â McCain said.
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This article is tagged: cindy mccain, john mccain, rossier school of education, steven b. sample







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