A Summary of the Inaugural Helenes History Week!

Maria Laguna, Fall 2025 Blog Chair

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When our Executive Board discovered the rivalry game between USC and UCLA was scheduled during Thanksgiving break and Hecuba Watch (our conquest week tradition of guarding the statue of Hecuba, Queen of Troy, from any devious Bruins) would be shortened, they did what Helenes does best: rise to contemporary challenges.

Our sweet Co-Presidents Salma and Camila decided to invite a planning committee to help in the execution of a shortened Hecuba Watch while implementing a new tradition of Helenes History Week. Our organization does an incredible job of honoring past traditions while also molding them to be modern and fresh.

I worked alongside the amazing Troy and Yadamarias, with the support of our lovely Co-Presidents, to create events that we felt honored each of the Helenes pillars: DEI, Service, Spirit, and Family.

So, in summary, here’s what our first ever Helenes History Week looked like — I look forward to seeing what next year’s events look like and what this new tradition will blossom into!

To start off History Week, Troy led a study session (unfortunately the rain deterred attendees from the Helenes Bench and into Leavey Library) in the afternoon, then a spirited trivia night. The trivia questions were inspired by the Helenes Century Book, published on our hundred year anniversary of being an organization at USC that highlights our history and traditions.

On Tuesday afternoon, Yada collaborated with Madhatter Knits to give us a hands-on service opportunity in Viterbi. The organization focuses on knitting colorful hats — adorning some with pom-poms — for premature babies in Los Angeles. This event was the first time I’d ever knitted a hat, so I was a bit anxious that I was messing up for the first hour, but, luckily, I had a knitting professional to my right (a.k.a. Lindsay). My hat nearly didn’t make it because I — inevitably — messed up, but our incredible Director of Public Relations, Nyla, helped salvage my yarn creation, so my finished product still looked pretty!

On Wednesday, I got to lead Helene Zine for the third time! Fun fact about me, I used to work at my local library for three years and I ran a Zine Club every month. Now, I’ve brought my craft skills into Helenes to celebrate the family pillar. A “zine” is a small, self-published booklet that you can make about any topic — broad or nice — and decorate it with word cutouts from magazines. In our case, we cut up a Vogue and some copies of Daily Trojan; I brought all of my glitter gel pens as well as cute stickers. I love seeing what my crafty Helenes end up creating by the end of the event. Personally, I made one for my big and she made one for me (our little tradition). Post-Helene Zine, we made our way to our weekly Wednesday meeting with the rest

of the organization. This meeting was particularly fun because it was a dessert meeting! Our fabulous Director of Communications, Taylor, organized two sweet treats — a tiramisu cake and strawberry cream cake — from 85°C Bakery Cafe, a Taiwanese international pastry and drink chain.

On Thursday, Yada delivered a new DEI pillar event, Connecting with Cookies. Members got to decorate sugar cookies while discussing their different cultures as well as any favorite family traditions!

All in all, History Week was such a fun way to continue to connect with members of Helenes while honoring the bond this organization has given us throughout its history! Now all of our energy and excitement is going into Hecuba Watch — let’s beat the Bruins (or at least protect our statues from them)!