About The Governing Board
The Norman Topping Student Aid Fund (NTSAF) is the only student initiated, student funded, primarily student administered scholarship in the nation. The Topping Fund is administered by a Governing Board composed of ten general student representatives, one each from USG and GSG, one current Topping Scholar, one current Topping Fellow, two USC alumni, one faculty member, and representatives from the offices of Admission and Financial Aid. The Governing Board selects the scholars every year and oversee the long-term policies and procedures of the NTSAF.
Governing Board selection takes place in the fall of each academic year. The number of appointments is dependent upon the number of open representative seats. Terms of appointments range based on representative status. Board members attend the annual Fall Governing Board Retreat, usually held in late September or early October, and monthly Governing Board meetings throughout the year. Board members should ideally also be available during the summer months for scholarship application reading, interviewing and scholar selection.
Students interested in serving on the Governing Board in should contact the NTSAF office. Benefits of being a student representative include:
- Service to the university and local community
- Interaction with incredible applicants and current Topping Scholars.
- Recruitment and outreach experience
- Networking with student leaders, faculty and staff
Message From the Chair
Dear Topping Family,
On behalf of the Governing Board, I am delighted to welcome back our new and returning Scholars and Fellows. For more than fifty years, this Fund has been guided by values that center community, opportunity, and support, and our work continues to reflect those principles today. Our mission remains focused on serving local communities, expanding access for students, and ensuring that those from underrepresented backgrounds have the resources and support they need to thrive in higher education.
We want every Scholar and Fellow to feel seen, valued, and empowered in all that we do. Your stories, identities, and experiences are the heart of this Fund, and by sharing them, you inspire others to do the same.
In the year ahead, I look forward to collaborating with the Board to amplify Topping’s impact on student success. I also hope to celebrate the message that our Scholars and Fellows embody every day: that higher education has the power not only to transform individual lives but also to strengthen entire communities.
Thank you to every member of the Topping Family for your dedication, energy, and passion. I am grateful and excited to continue this work alongside all of you.
Fight On!
Jesica Ramirez
2025-2026 NTSAF Governing Board Chair