Nov. 17, 2003

USC's women's golf team visited the White House on Monday (Nov. 17), joining a handful of other national championship-winning university teams that met with President George W. Bush during a ceremony in the East Room.

Coach Andrea Gaston joined her team and some Trojan staff on the trip, USC's third in a row at what President Bush dubbed "Championship Day". USC's women's volleyball team visited the White House earlier this year and the Trojans' men's tennis team made the trip a year ago.

2003 NCAA individual champion Mikaela Parmlid presented President Bush with a gift during the ceremony (see attached photo).

Below is an excerpt from President Bush's remarks when discussing USC:

"The USC women's golf team is with us. Mikaela Parmlid was the national champ last year, the individual champion. The thing I like about her, she was more interested in helping her team win. And thanks to Andrea Gaston and the Trojans, they beat a difficult field and are national champs. I'll bet there are some men's football players, they'd like to be here, as well from your university."