By Noah Bell
Staff Writer
As one of the most selective and exclusive programs at the University of Southern California, getting into the Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy is something to be proud of.
Two of such admittances are Matt Stern and Chris Caskey, two Mira Costa alumni who have recently joined the Iovine and Young Academy, and two of the few selected among the hundreds that apply. Both have done exceptional things in their lives, leading them to stand out among all who apply to the Academy.
“For someone to be qualified, I think they need to possess passions for art, technology and business and find ways to act upon them and incorporate them in all pursuits,” Caskey said.
That is exactly what has been done with the Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy at the University of Southern California. Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young, more commonly known as Dr. Dre, started up an academy for special students that promotes collaboration and innovative thinking.
“The Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy is a multidisciplinary program in arts, technology, and the business of innovation,” said Mira Costa alumnus, current USC junior and Academy student Matt Stern. “I am the a member of the inaugural class that began last year, and we now have been joined by a second class.”
The Academy does not revolve around one specific class type, but is more geared towards exploring different types of learning in arts, technology, and business. The program only has around 100 students, accepting just 25 individuals every year.
“The Iovine Young Academy is the intersection of design, technology, and business,” Chris Caskey, Mira Costa graduate, USC freshman, and current Academy student said. “It is a school at USC that combines these three fields and connects them through an end goal of disruptive innovation.”
Both students have found many jobs and hobbies to be interested in, while also gaining experience and recognition in the real world. For Caskey, these include music, woodworking, and creating his own companies. He also interned at a recording studio and Northrop Grumman. Stern focused more on entrepreneurship, the nonprofit world, and music, but now spends his time in virtual and augmented reality.
“As an academic and artist with interests in many different fields, it wasn’t easy to find a program that fuels my entrepreneurial spirit and creative drive,” Stern said. “When I heard of the new program, it was a no-brainer that it was the perfect opportunity for me.”
As one of the most selective schools at USC, the Academy has explored a new type of learning, one that doesn’t revolve around memorizing information without actually learning it, but instead promotes specific skills needed for success in today’s corporate world.
“The Academy has given me all the tools to follow my dream–starting my own company–as well as the network and connections to work with people who share my passion and drive. I am also really excited to start projects with my classmates who are all amazing and bring diverse skills to the table,” said Caskey.
With the special education received at the Academy, Stern and Caskey plan to use what they have learned through their outstanding experience with the school in the future, confident they have been given the right tools.
“I’m able to both learn about my passions in the Academy Garage and work professionally in Los Angeles on a daily basis. The Academy truly offers a place where I can expand my knowledge in subjects I’m passionate about and gain experience in the workplace,” Stern said.
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