Experts in drone technology took turns delivering informative presentations at the daylong Drone TETRA Conference at the University of South Florida’s Sarasota-Manatee campus on Friday.
While several of the presenters, including USF faculty and industry experts, gave intriguing lectures, the spotlight clearly belonged to a dozen students from Palm View Elementary School in Manatee County, who took turns relating their experiences as part of “WOZ ED,” a national program inspired by Apple Computer co-founder Steve Wozniak.
Neirda Thompson-Pemberton, executive director of FUNducation, Inc. – a Bradenton non-profit that designs programs to engage children in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics – facilitated the discussion, asking the students to describe a recent assignment that imagined how drone technology could solve certain societal problems.
The students focused on human trafficking and took turns at the microphone explaining to the more than 120 audience members how drones could help locate missing human-trafficking victims. The students said that GPS trackers could be attached to devices that people commonly wear — watches, bracelets or shoes — and that aerial drones could be deployed to follow the devices’ GPS signals.
When Thompson-Pemberton asked where drones would be stationed, a half-dozen hands shot up and a 10-year-old girl confidently explained that fast-food restaurants are everywhere and could serve as drone bases, so that if a drone flew beyond its range or lost power another could be activated.
The event also featured two competitions, including an opportunity for attendees to solve a societal problem of their own, as well as a competition for middle school and high school students to assemble drones to prepare them for flight.
Karen Holbrook, PhD, regional chancellor of the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus, was impressed by the presentations.
Ehsan Sheybani, PhD, USF Sarasota-Manatee associate professor of information systems and decision sciences, and Giti Javidi, PhD, USF Sarasota-Manatee associate professor of information technology and cybersecurity, organized the conference, which explored a multitude of topics, from air-traffic management to the use of military drones and the role of drones in disease control.
“This conference brought together leaders in drone technology, education, training, research and application to give the audience a comprehensive overview of the past, present and future of this fast-emerging field,” Sheybani said.
“Given the ever-increasing role of drones in agriculture, utility inspection, public safety, national defense and security, surveying, mapping, cinema, photography and other industry sectors, this meeting provided insight into the science, technology and engineering behind drones, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Internet of Things (IOT), and other emerging technologies,” he said. “The conference was a huge success thanks to the super-active members of the staff, faculty, and administrators at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus.”
‘Go for Gold’ registration info session set for March 23-24
Student Services will be on hand to answer students’ questions about course selection, summer and fall registration deadlines, financial aid and more at “Go for Gold,” a registration info session scheduled Monday, March 23, from 1 to 4 p.m., and Tuesday, March 24, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the FCCI Rotunda.
Go for Gold promises to take the guesswork out of registration and comes as registration for summer and fall classes is set to begin Monday, March 30.
“Our goal with this event is to help students prepare for when they are able to register for the upcoming semesters,” said Glenna Schubert, assistant director of records and registration at USF Sarasota-Manatee. “We highly encourage students to register as soon as their registration time allows to secure a seat in their preferred courses and remain on-track for graduation. Registration will be opening for both summer and fall 2020 at the same time, so planning ahead is very important.”
The event includes free refreshments. Go for Gold is co-sponsored by CraftaBull and USF Sarasota-Manatee’s Student Government Association.
Employers: Register now to recruit talent at 2020 CCA Reverse Career Fair
Employers, don’t miss an opportunity to be part of the first-ever Regional Reverse Career Fair for local college students from the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus, New College of Florida (NCF), the Ringling College of Art and Design and State College of Florida.
The fair is set for March 26, from 2 to 4:30 p.m., at New College’s Harry Sudakoff Conference Center, 5845 General Dougher Place, Sarasota.
USF Sarasota-Manatee held its first reverse career fair on Nov. 8, 2018. The event surpassed expectations. In a post-event survey, 17 of 22 students who responded said they were offered at least one job and/or internship, and 14 accepted.
As a result, organizers from USF Sarasota-Manatee are now partnering with nearby institutions to create a larger regional reverse career fair.
Employers interested in participating in this year’s Regional Reverse Career Fair can sign up at https://app.joinhandshake.com/career_fairs/12666 or send an email to: ceo@ncf.edu (the general mailbox for NCF’s Center for Engagement and Opportunity).
“Attending a traditional career fair can be an unsettling, high-pressure experience,” said Ben Hyland, co-organizer of the event and coordinator of internships and career readiness at USF Sarasota-Manatee. “Here, it’s the opposite: Students and employers are more relaxed and excited. They get to know one another without rushing the conversation.”
Attention Spring 2020 graduates: Commencement date has been changed to Tuesday, May 12
The USF Sarasota-Manatee campus will hold its Spring 2020 Commencement on Tuesday,
May 12, at the Bradenton Area Convention Center at 6:30 p.m.
More information on Commencement will be available at Grad Stampede, which will be
held March 25, from noon to 4 p.m., at the USF Sarasota-Manatee FCCI Rotunda.
At Grad Stampede, students may pick up their cap and gown if their regalia was pre-ordered,
order class rings and invitations, take free headshot photos, vote for Outstanding
Professor and learn more about USF Alumni Association membership.
For more information, visit the Commencement page.
USF Sarasota-Manatee campus among Unity Awards’ sponsors
The USF Sarasota-Manatee campus was a proud sponsor of the 10th Annual Sarasota Magazine Unity Awards, held Feb. 18 at Michael’s on East in Sarasota. The event promotes excellence in diversity, equity and inclusivity. Awardees received a $1,000 contribution for their respective nonprofit organizations. Representatives from UnidosNow, the Manatee Community Foundation and the Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center joined USF Sarasota-Manatee staff at the event. Pictured, left to right, are: Lou Murray, Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center board member; Clara Reynardus de Villanueva, associate director of development at USF Sarasota-Manatee; Corey Posey, diversity, equity and inclusion officer at USF Sarasota-Manatee; Corey Naeger, special projects coordinator, UnidosNow; and Darren Gambrell, coordinator of student services at USF Sarasota-Manatee.
Free rape defense classes offered
Students, alumni, staff and faculty from USF Sarasota-Manatee and New College of Florida are invited to attend Rape Aggression Defense (RAD), a basic self-defense class for women offered Saturday, March 28, and Sunday, March 29, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The training is free; participants must attend both sessions. The location of the RAD training will be shared later with class registrants.
To register, contact Sgt. Jennifer Coley, Campus Police Department, at jcoley@ncf.edu or call (941) 487-4210.
Science, environmental internships available this summer
Thirty-three paid internships are available this summer to students pursuing science and environmental studies or other majors where they can demonstrate a strong interest in environmental initiatives.
The internships, which pay $12 an hour, run from 20 to 40 hours per week for 4 to 12 weeks, from mid-May to mid-August. Among other requirements, applicants must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
The internships are available to students within the Cross College Alliance (CCA), which includes the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, New College of Florida, State College of Florida and the Ringling College of Art and Design.
The deadline to apply is March 2. Visit CCA 2020 EDAP Internship Application.
Among the employers seeking interns this summer are the Alta Vista and Gocio elementary schools (STEAM/environmental curriculums), the Mote Marine Laboratory, the Science and Environmental Council, Save our Seabirds, the Lemur Conservation Foundation, USF Sarasota-Manatee and New College of Florida.
The internships are available thanks to the CCA 2020 Environmental Discovery Awards Program (EDAP).
EDAP launched last spring after a contribution from an anonymous donor through the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. EDAP is intended to fund field experience internships for students pursuing degrees related to environmental studies.
For questions, send emails to JosephineCCA@gmail.com.
Online site ranks USF Sarasota-Manatee hospitality program at No. 3 in nation
USF Sarasota-Manatee’s College of Hospitality & Tourism Leadership is gaining national attention thanks to its highly rated hospitality management program.
Study.com this week released a top-50 rating – the 50 Best Hospitality & Tourism Schools for 2020 – that ranks the college’s hospitality management program at No. 3 in the nation.
“Students in the hospitality management program at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee gain practical experience in the college’s Culinary Innovation Lab where they help cater university events and take classes in areas including restaurant management, menu development, and wine tasting,” the study’s authors wrote.
Study.com, founded in 2002, is a privately-held company based in Mountain View, California, that produces online learning courses, short animated video lessons and study tools for students, teachers and working professionals. In addition, millions of visitors use Study.com each month to research potential schools, degrees and careers.
The website’s ranking is based on data from the U. S. Department of Education, including tuition costs, graduation rates, acceptance rates and student-to-faculty ratio. The study also considered features helpful to students in their future careers, like internship and networking opportunities and on-site facilities for hands-on learning.
“Realizing the value of hands-on learning, the university also maintains a teaching partnership with a local resort and offers summer study abroad opportunities for students,” the study said, noting that the college offers both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in hospitality management.
Four other Florida universities also made the list.
HospitaBull set for March 24 at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota
HospitaBull 2020, the elegant dining event organized, prepared and served by students from USF Sarasota-Manatee’s College of Hospitality & Tourism Leadership, is scheduled for March 24, at 6 p.m., at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, 1111 Ritz Carlton Drive.
Tickets start at $175 for individuals. Visit /giving/advancement-events.aspx for ticket information.
HospitaBull was created in spring 2011 as a way for students to gain hands-on experience while also raising funds for student scholarships, faculty development and equipment purchases.
Students work closely with USF Sarasota-Manatee faculty and Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota staff to plan and execute the elegant menu. As the event unfolds, students help prepare food and plate the dishes, while others in the dining room fill wine glasses and carry trays of appetizers and entrees to tables.
Next month’s event will be the tenth HospitaBull.
Bulls Bistro returns to Culinary Innovation Lab
The Bulls Bistro is back with a new menu and theme nights.
Led by USF Sarasota-Manatee’s College of Hospitality & Tourism Leadership, the popular dining event pairs students with faculty chefs in an exploration of world cuisine. Patrons receive two glasses of wine (red or white) or two glasses of domestic beer, along with a tasting of three hors d’oeuvres and one sweet tapas inspired by regional dishes. Tickets are $30 per person.
Unless otherwise indicated, the Bulls Bistro will be held on most Thursdays from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at USF Sarasota-Manatee’s Culinary Innovation Lab, 8130 Lakewood Ranch Main St., Suite D104, Lakewood Ranch.
To register, visit the following:
- February 27th: Soul food Tickets | Menu
- March 5th: Caribbean Tickets | Menu
- March 12th Tickets
- April 2nd Tickets
- April 9th at the Powel Crosley Estate: Taste of the Past, Flavors of Today Tickets
- April 16th Tickets
- April 23rd Tickets
The Bulls Bistro was created in October 2016 by Pat Moreo, PhD, dean of the CHTL. To learn more, visit /academics/college-of-hospitality-and-tourism-leadership/bulls-bistro.aspx.
For more information about USF Sarasota-Manatee, visit https://www.sarasotamanatee.usf.edu.