At Burbank elementary school, students pick their sides in USC v. UCLA

McKinley Elementary students on Monday competed against each other as either USC or UCLA patriots during the school’s annual Rivalry Day, capping a month college-related activities.

At the start of November, students wore logos of any college they chose and made pennants of the campuses they want to attend.

This week, fifth-graders will visit UCLA on a field trip.

By the end of the year, McKinley administrators will award a college scholarship to a John Burroughs senior who attended the elementary school.

“If children start thinking about going to college in elementary school, they see it as a reality — as something they can actually do,” said parent Jenny Harris.

The college-bound student will then return to McKinley to accept the award and tell current elementary students about their college plans.

-- Kelly Corrigan, Times Community News

Follow Kelly Corrigan on Twitter: @kellymcorrigan