A Trojan Family Tradition: How USC Pre-College Programs Shaped Two Siblings’ Paths

People often describe the Trojan community as a family — one in which students, alumni and staff readily support one another. For Mari and Vernon Edler, however, that sense of family is both figurative and literal. The siblings each found their way to USC through its residential summer program for high schoolers, and they are now pursuing bachelor’s degrees at the university.

Mari’s USC journey began in 2022, before her senior year of high school, when she enrolled in the “Exploring Entrepreneurship” pre-college program. The course offered a preview of business studies and, unexpectedly, a new direction.

“Coming from a big family full of Trojans, I was actually pretty anti-USC. I really wanted to go to art school,” she told USC Pre-College Programs.

Mari began to realize, however, that she wanted to broaden her path beyond art alone. With encouragement from her father, a proud USC alum, she explored several options — including architecture — before deciding that business might offer a more versatile foundation.

The USC Summer Programs course appealed to her because it promised to teach practical skills like branding and self-promotion, tools she recognized would be invaluable for her future as an artist.

Throughout the course, Mari built strong peer connections and explored subjects ranging from marketing and human resources to ethics and professional networking. She earned both the “Class All-Star” and “Best Team Synergy” awards for her final project. One of her most memorable experiences took place off campus, reflecting the program’s integration with the broader Los Angeles community.

“We visited 686, a clothing brand, and we got to speak with the founder, the operations executive and the designers. Getting the opportunity to see behind the scenes on such a successful business was an incredible experience,” she said.

The program ultimately introduced Mari to the major she now pursues: the Bachelor of Science in Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation at the USC Iovine and Young Academy, blending creative practice with business strategy.

Mari, who will graduate in 2027, was not the first in her family to attend USC — but she was thrilled when her younger brother chose to follow a similar path.

“I was so excited that he decided to enroll at USC. It was important to me that it was his decision and that no one was pressuring him, but I was the first person he told,” she said. “I remember getting the call and bawling in my dorm. I’m really grateful he’s here.”

Like his sister, Vernon first tested his interest in USC through a summer programs course, inspired by her experience. He enrolled in “Analytics: The Power of Data for Businesses,” combining his interests in computer science and business.

The program brought together both of Vernon’s core interests: computer science and business. While he was already drawn to the technical side, he wanted to explore whether business was the right complement. Through the experience, he not only engaged both disciplines, but also learned how to meaningfully integrate them.

Hands-on learning also proved especially impactful to him. Recalling one standout assignment, he shared that, as an avid golfer, he especially enjoyed a visit to Topgolf. There, students collected data points — including club selection, shot distance and player experience level — before returning to analyze the results, identify patterns and explore real-world applications of their findings.

Ultimately, the experience clarified his academic direction. Now pursuing a Bachelor of Science in AI for Business at the USC Marshall School of Business, Vernon will graduate in 2029, two years after Mari.

“It’s so nice knowing she’s here and that I have a friendly face here… I have someone I can always go to for advice,” Vernon enthused. “I’m the 20th Trojan in my family to go to USC, which is such a privilege and a blessing. …It’s really special.”

Despite their deep Trojan roots, both siblings credit USC Pre-College Programs with shaping their academic paths and strengthening their connection to the university.

“USC Summer Programs was such a great opportunity to explore campus, meet new people and experience what college is like —  all condensed into one month. I grew so much as a person and a student, and I was able to come into my own by being away from home. I’m grateful for it,” Mari concluded.

Explore USC Pre-College Programs today.