Graduation Day is bittersweet for those of us that get to know the students and student-athletes over their four years.  John McGillen has been an invaluable member of the Rips It team since signing on as a sophomore photography student.

His work has grown immeasurably, and the good news is that he will continue to contribute to the athletic department as a professional photographer.  But to celebrate his final day of amateurism and to give thanks for all the hard work, here are his favorite 20 shots from his time as a USC student.

The 2012-13 USC athletics calendar will come to a close this weekend as baseball hosts UCLA for a three-game series.  Several Trojan teams are still alive for Pac-12 and NCAA Championships, but this is the final home event for the school year.

Click here for the series preview.

Lane Kiffin and his family will lead a group of USC football players in support of the 5th annual "Walk to Africa" event this Saturday in Santa Monica.  The organization raises money to send doctors and volunteers on short term medical relief trips, build schools, clean water projects and restore thousands of lives.

Click here for more.

(Photo by John McGillen)

The aquatic trio of men's water polo senior Matt Burton, senior swimmer Alex Lendrum and women's water polo junior Flora Bolonyai were named to CoSIDA's Capital One Academic All-District 8 at-large team.

Click here for the full story.

Lendrum, graduating today at USC, boasts a 3.76 GPA in bio-chemistry while Burton has a 3.69 as he pursues as master's degree in communication management. Bolonyai has a 3.39 GPA in economics and mathematics.

All three are now in the running for Academic All-American distinction.

While Burton won another national championship in the fall, Bolonyai took home her first NCAA title last weekend, and earned MVP honors in the process.  Check out her classic reaction to the game-winning goal via our GoPro...

From all of us here at the USC Athletic Department, a big thank you, good luck and Fight On to Andie Hagemann who is graduating today.  Here is her farewell column:

Written by Andie Hagemann, USC blog contributor

Over the past year, I have contributed to the Rips It Blog. Among my duties, I was fortunate enough to interview dozens of student-athletes, coaches, and alumni. After telling the remarkable stories of my fellow Trojans, I thought I would share one last story about another extraordinary Trojan.

Since I was four years old, I knew I wanted to attend USC. Though in preschool and without any conception of what college truly was, I had the strong desire to be a Trojan. This inclination was not random as I was spawned from a family of Trojans. My grandfather (James "Jim" Basso), uncle (Steven Basso, Class of 1979) and brother (Steven Hagemann, Class of 2009) all attended the university. Both my grandfather and uncle held positions on the board of the Ventura County Trojan Club.

My family has been season ticket holders for decades. In fact, you can find any combination of them in Section 21, Row 17. Fall Saturdays were split between AYSO soccer games and the Coliseum for those late kick-offs. When the Trojans were on the road, I watched the games intently with my family, playing a recording of "Fight On!" after each touchdown. During those rough seasons or the occasional tough game here and there, my grandfather would smack the chair after an incomplete pass or interception. He was the ultimate armchair quarterback.

I credit my love for USC and sports to my grandfather. It is difficult to fathom anyone loving USC more than him. He donned his cardinal and gold nearly every day and embodied everything that it means to be a Trojan. He was a friend to all and his altruism was apparent in his immense generosity.

My grandfather never missed a USC game. Once, he skipped a relative's wedding to watch the Trojans face Notre Dame. Along with my uncle, he traveled with the team on the road and visited the campus weekly for Monday Morning Quarterback. He maintained friendships with legendary former USC coaches John McKay, John Robinson, and Marv Goux. Whenever the Trojans lost a tough battle, my grandfather would always say, "I'd rather lose as a Trojan than win as anything else."

His military service during the Korean War prevented him from finishing his degree at USC. However, my grandfather did not let it keep him from supporting his beloved school. My grandfather embodied the meaning of "Fight On." He suffered through countless surgeries and medical treatments without a single complaint. He was a true soldier and inspiration. After a lengthy battle with cancer, I lost my best friend on May 31, 2007.

During my time at USC, I have been blessed with numerous opportunities. I was fortunate to solo-host a sports radio show on KXSC, broadcast football and basketball games, be a columnist for the Daily Trojan, and work for Rips It. I am living the dream. Though my future is still uncertain at the moment, I know that I will continue to chase my dream to be a sports broadcaster.

My grandfather taught me to never give up and his unbreakable spirit serves as an inspiration to me every day. After the Spring Game, I walked through the Coliseum tunnel for possibly the last time. As expected, it was an emotional moment. The Coliseum served as a second home to both my grandfather and I. I immediately thought about how proud my grandfather would be of my accomplishments thus far. I not only fulfilled my dream of graduating from USC but his as well. I know Friday morning as I walk across the stage at the Annenberg Commencement ceremony, he will be looking on from above. I am immensely proud to be a Trojan and I am ever thankful to everyone that helped me get here today. Fight On!

USC men's golf senior Sam Smith fired a loud opening salvo at the NCAA Regionals by shooting 62 to tie the school record en route to the first round lead.  The Trojans are in fourth place as a team, seven strokes off the lead after day one of three.

Click here for the complete recap.

Smith's round featured eight birdies, an eagle and no bogeys.  He tied the school record twice set by former All-American Rory Hie in 2008.

The Trojans need to finish in the top five as a team to advance to the NCAA Championships.

No. 1 USC women's rowing is headed up to Lake Natoma (Gold River, CA) this Sunday for the Pac-12 Championships after an undefeated regular season.

Here is a Pac-12.com preview with coxswain Jennah Blau:

The annual USC Student-Athlete Graduation Ceremony was held today inside Galen Center.

Football linebacker Frankie Telfort, who was forced to give up the game due to a heart ailment, and sand volleyball's Erin Kaupp, who battled cancer, were the featured student-athlete speakers.  Also, Legend of Troy awards were given to Gayle and Ed Roski as well as Director of Track and Field Ron Allice.

At this afternoon's Student-Athlete Graduation, USC and faculty representative Clare Pastore will be presented with a commemorative plaque and $5,000 by the National Football Foundation for promoting the scholar-athlete ideal as exemplified by NFF National Scholar-Athlete Matt Barkley.

Click the link for the complete release: USC NFF Fidelity Plaque and Check Release Release FINAL.pdf

"Clare Pastore has been a critical liaison between academics and athletics at USC," said NFF President and CEO Steve Hatchell. "We are proud to join with Fidelity Investments in highlighting her role in ensuring that student-athletes at USC have an educational experience that prepares them for success long after their playing days."

While Barkley walked at last spring's Student-Athlete Graduation, the three-year captain, three-time All-Pac-12 Academic honoree and four-year starter continues to serve as the embodiment of the scholar-athlete ideal that USC Athletics, Clare Pastore and Athletic Director Pat Haden work tirelessly to foster.

"The Faculty Athletics Representative position, fulfilled at USC by Clare Pastore, plays a critical role in ensuring the academic integrity of our athletics department.  Her efforts help protect the welfare of our student-athletes by monitoring the delicate balance of academics and athletics," said Haden. 

The annual Student-Athlete Graduation begins today at 2 p.m. PT inside Galen Center.  Click here to watch a live stream of the ceremony.

Watch list season has officially begun. USC senior OLB Devon Kennard is one of 42 defensive players that the Lott IMPACT Trophy has on its radar for the award given to the player that effects his team the most on and off the field.

Click here for the Lott website.