Support students facing financial hardship, give to the ‘Stay the Course Scholarship’ fund at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus
As USF celebrates Giving Week, the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus is seeking support for a unique and special fund on behalf of students facing financial hardship, the Stay the Course Scholarship fund.
USF Giving Week, April 4-8, is a time when alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends of the university show their appreciation for USF’s many scholarships, academic programs and research efforts.
The Stay the Course Scholarship is one such fund, providing direct support to students to help them overcome unexpected financial hurdles that can hinder their ability to complete their education.
College of Education student Kenia Perez Torres knows all too well the difficulty juggling the demands of home and school life. A single mother caring for a special-needs child, Perez Torres works weekends and nights to pay the bills.
Earlier this year when those burdens threatened to overwhelm her and derail her educational future, she reached out to teachers and staff to identify funds to help her complete her education to become an elementary school teacher.
Within days, Perez Torres received a Stay the Course Scholarship and now she’s on track to graduate in May.
There are many such students as Perez Torres. Many are hard-working, striving to balance work, education and family life. And many come from Sarasota-Manatee and plan to remain in the area after graduation to contribute to the local economy.
“So many of our students are balancing full-time jobs with their education,” said Marrie Neumer, associate vice president of University Advancement. “The Stay the Course Scholarship gives us the flexibility to respond immediately to those facing financial adversity.”
To help students continue their education amidst financial hardship, visit usf.to/gwusfsm, then choose the dropdown box “Please choose a giving priority” and the option “USFSM Stay-The-Course Scholarship.”
To learn more about supporting the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus, visit sarasotamanatee.usf.edu/giving.
Come out to celebrate, enjoy USF Week
Just as USF celebrates Giving Week, another celebration is occurring this week: USF Week. The annual salute to the university offers students, faculty and staff an opportunity to enjoy a variety of festivities. Among them:
- Rocky’s Birthday: Come celebrate with food and live entertainment from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., today (Thursday), in the campus courtyard.
- USF Carnival: The carnival, which is open to the public, returns to the Sarasota-Manatee campus on Friday with rides, games, food and more offered at no charge. Music is sponsored by the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus Alumni Association.
For more about USF Week, visit Bulls Connect.
Ukraine: What’s Next? Speaker series provides insights on the global and local impacts of the war in Ukraine
The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus is jointly hosting a four-part virtual speaker series, "Ukraine: What’s Next?," bringing together leading experts across a range of topics to share insights on the global and local impacts from the war in Ukraine.
Retired Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove, former supreme allied commander for Europe,
is the keynote speaker for the first session, from 9 a.m. to noon, on April 13. He'll focus on military and intelligence insights
and answer audience questions.
Following Breedlove’s presentation, a panel of experts from the military and cyber
security, intelligence and security sectors will continue the discussion.
The panel will include:
- Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Scott Gray (moderator)
- Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. David Deptula
- Ron Sanders, staff director, Florida Center for Cyber Security
- Serge Jorgensen, founding partner and chief technical officer, Sylint
- Luke Bencie, managing director, Security Management International
Future sessions will include topics focused on financial and economic impacts (April
27), cyber security analysis (May 10) and diplomatic and humanitarian aspects (May
24).
The series is presented by the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus, the Air Force Association
Florida West Coast Chapter, Cyber Florida, the Global Interdependence Center, Security
Management International, the USF Institute for Public Policy and Leadership and USF
ResearchOne.
Undergraduate Research Conference returns to USF Sarasota-Manatee campus
USF Sarasota-Manatee campus students welcomed the return last Friday of the annual Undergraduate Research Conference after a pause in the popular on-campus program due to COVID-19.
“It’s nice to see the students and connect with the students about their work,” Regional Chancellor Karen A. Holbrook said as she perused the array of research posters in the campus’ Selby Auditorium. “The students have all done excellent work. I’m very impressed.”
The annual conference enables students to delve into a topic of their choosing for a semester or two under the tutelage of a faculty member, either individually or as part of a team of researchers. Lessons from the experience may be applied throughout their careers and can help as the students apply to graduate school.
“These students have been working all semester and they’re very excited to talk about what they’ve learned,” said conference organizer Associate Professor Jessica Grosholz, adding that, in addition to the subject matter, the students learned about discipline, focus, presentation skills and collaboration.
Last year’s forum was held virtually and involved all of the campuses together. Previous conferences were held separately on each campus.
Biology major Ryan Sampson, whose poster was titled, “Observation of Commensal Frequency of Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus Polyphemus) Burrows at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Campus,” was named the Audience Choice Winner.
Angela Perez Cruz, whose poster was titled, “How Poor Self-Perception Feeds in Harmful Self-Handicapping Behaviors,” received Honorable Mention.
Sampson will receive a certificate and both he and Perez Cruz will be invited to the Student Research Awards Luncheon in Tampa on April 25.
The forum featured 10 posters and one oral presentation (and Q&A session) by biology major Maegan Durinzi.
In all, 21 students participated. The morning session highlighted the research posters followed, after lunch, by Durinzi’s presentation, titled, “Rationalized, Materialized, Institutionalized: Canada’s Discrimination of Immigrants with Disability.” Audience members used paper ballots to select their favorite.
Biology student and aspiring physician’s assistant Nicolette Kulcsar said she thoroughly enjoyed the project, which had her exploring demographic disparities among non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients.
“Research presentations and conferences in general give you an opportunity to push yourself and to be a part of a professional community,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to see what kind of research is being conducted in the area you’re exploring.”
Another student, senior Riffat Islam, who hopes to attend medical school, delivered three poster presentations, one focused on relaxation techniques to help doctors at Sarasota Memorial Hospital and two that explored issues related to fatty liver disease.
He said he enjoys learning and conducting research almost as much as sharing his findings and answering questions.
“I think that’s the best part, because I’m showing what I’ve done and what I’ve found out in my research,” he said.
‘HospitaBull’ features elegant dinner, auction to benefit USF hospitality program
The USF Sarasota-Manatee campus School of Hospitality and Tourism Management welcomed the return of its annual HospitaBull elegant evening, held at the Ritz Carlton on March 22.
Regional Chancellor Karen Holbrook and USF President Rhea Law
After a two-year hiatus, more than 250 guests, sponsors, faculty, staff and students — as well as the university’s new president, Rhea Law — enjoyed a sumptuous dinner prepared and presented in partnership by students from USF’s hospitality program and the Ritz-Carlton culinary staff.
“HospitaBull is special because it was created by students in 2012,” hospitality school Interim Dean Cihan Cobanoglu said. “Since then, it has served not only as an amazing opportunity for our students to gain real-world experience, but also as a significant source of scholarships and other funds for our school.”
Attendees also engaged in a spirited paddle-raise and live auction led by John Horne, owner and president of the Anna Maria Oyster Bar and Cafe L’Europe and a member of the school’s advisory board.
The prizes included a series of unique experiences, including a brewing session with chef and instructor Professor Joe Askren, a cooking demonstration with chef instructor Angad Singh, a whiskey tasting with Assistant Professor Adam Carmer, a VIP dean’s dinner and, finally, “an elegant evening as a maharaja and maharani,” courtesy of the Jain family.
Marrie Neumer, associate vice president of University Advancement, said, “We wanted our guests to receive unique, personal experiences that they’ll cherish for a long time while also enabling them to learn more about USF and our talented faculty.”
The event raised a record-setting $110,000 for scholarship and program support. Askren said many who came to support USF hadn’t seen each other since early 2020, so the event offered attendees a chance to rekindle old friendships.
“It was wonderful to reconnect with all of our industry leaders,” he said. “The energy in the ballroom from the very first minute was incredible. It was clear they couldn’t wait to reconnect.”
“Hospitality and tourism are leading industries in Florida, so having a strong program at USF is critical to our state,” Askren said. “I believe the community realizes this, which is why they support our hospitality program.”
To see a video of the event, click HospitaBull dinner.
DIAMOND
Harry Leopold and Audrey Robbins
EMERALD
- Anna Maria Oyster Bar
- Angie Brewer & Associates, Inc.
- Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA) — Suncoast Chapter
- Karen and Jim Holbrook
- Brett and Denise Kemker
- Donna and David Koffman
- Mainsail Lodging and Development
- Metz Culinary Management
- O’Brick’s Irish Pub & Martini Bar
- The Resort at Longboat Key Club
- The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota
- VeraCruz Advisory, LLC
- The Westin Sarasota
- Carr, Riggs & Ingram CPAs and Advisors
- Sylint Group Inc.
Critical Thinking program at USF draws participation from U.S. Marine Corps sergeants
The University of South Florida’s Critical and Creative Design Thinking workshop series is already popular among local businesses and nonprofit organizations, but now it’s attracting attention from a new and unique level of professionals: the U.S. Marine Corps.
The workshop was offered to about 130 Marines last month, led by three faculty members and Greg Smogard, assistant vice president of innovation and business development. Carlos Moreira, director of campus engagement for veteran success and alumni affairs, collaborated with Smogard to lead the outreach effort with the Marines.
Moreira, a Marine reservist, participated in the program last fall alongside Marine Sgt. Maj. Charles Bell, then director of the Marine Corps’ senior enlisted academies. Bell was impressed and requested that the program be offered to Marine sergeants on a trial basis. Depending on feedback from participants, the program may become a regular feature of the senior enlisted academies.
The workshop was presented over two half-day sessions on March 9-10. Participants learned key skills, including critical thinking, creativity and communication, to help them make and implement decisions. They also learned how to recognize and overcome bias and strategies for engaging empathy, which is essential for effective design innovation.
Moreira, who urged Bell to try the course, said he hopes the series not only becomes a permanent feature of the academies, but also a prominent part of other training programs across the Armed Forces.
“The Critical and Creative Design Thinking workshop includes many elements that I think can help members of the military become more effective in their decision making,” Moreira said. “It can also help them to examine their biases, so they step back ask themselves if they are really making the right decisions.”
The workshop was offered virtually and led by a team of faculty and staff members from the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus. In addition to Smogard and Moreira, the team included:
- Helene Robinson, director of the campus’ Critical and Creative Design Thinking program and associate professor of instruction in the College of Education
- Lisa Penney, a professor of management in the USF Muma College of Business
- Michael A. Gillespie, an associate professor of psychology who specializes in industrial/organizational psychology, research methods and statistics.
- Jenny Post, administrator of the Critical and Creative Design Thinking program
- Kelly Busch, associate director of events management
Regional Chancellor Karen A. Holbrook provided opening remarks. Upon successful completion of the workshop, all of the participants received certificates and digital badges from USF Innovative Ed.
“Our training provides an innovative approach that introduces and integrates the critical and creative functions of the mind and focuses on personal and professional application through individual and group activities and scenarios,” Robinson said. “Our faculty deliver content on how stress, the environment, and self-beliefs impact our critical and creative abilities; how to identify their decision-making style and apply specific critical thinking practices for effective decision making; how to identify and mitigate unconscious biases through the application of critical thinking practices; and how to engage empathy to create innovative design solutions and products that are effective for targeted users.
“The expertise and teamwork of our faculty, presenters and support staff allow us to create and offer such an innovative approach,” she said. “We are excited to continue our collaborative creative design process to design and deliver additional trainings that will meet the specific needs of the military and other organizations.”
Smogard said he was delighted, as well, to see the workshop expanded to members of the military.
“I think this validates that the workshop series is effective not only in providing workforce skills that are highly prized and sought after by local businesses, nonprofit organizations and government agencies, but also by the military,” he said.
MOAS donates to support USF student veterans
The USF Office of Veteran Success has received an $8,000 donation from the Military Officers Association of Sarasota (MOAS).
The donation, which was made last Thursday in the Office of Veteran Success on the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus, will support the Sarasota Military Officers Foundation Scholarship for student veterans.
MOAS, which has supported student veterans for many years at the Sarasota-Manatee campus, increased its generosity this year from its usual $5,000 annual contribution.
On hand to receive the donation were Teeranai Ovathanasin, assistant regional chancellor for student success, and Carlos Moreria, director of campus engagement for veteran success and alumni affairs. Susan Warmington, a board member for MOAS, presented the donation.
Shadow Day returns Friday, students to meet local executives to discuss careers
Shadow Day, which matches USF Sarasota-Manatee campus students with local business executives, returns Friday with live, in-person visits after occurring virtually for the past two years.
The popular event, which was launched in 2018 by the Sarasota-Manatee campus and the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, offers students a glimpse into the working lives of local professionals.
Students spend two hours meeting with the professionals to ask questions, develop connections and assess their career options.
This Friday, the students and professionals are set to meet from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Afterward, they’ll attend a lunch at the Sarasota Chamber’s offices in downtown Sarasota and share their experiences.
The event is so popular, both for students and executives, that when many of the campus’ programs were put on hiatus due to COVID-19, the Shadow Day program continued through a virtual format. The program also occurs in partnership with the Manatee Chamber of Commerce.
Faizan Ali wins Best Paper award at hospitality conference
Associate Professor and Graduate Studies Coordinator Faizan Ali was recently honored for having the Best Paper at a hospitality conference.
Ali, of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management in the Muma College of Business, was awarded during the Managing Tourism Across Continents Conferenceheld March 24-26 in Antalya, Turkey.
His paper, “Antecedents and Outcomes of Guests’ Emotions and Satisfaction in the Malaysian Peer to Peer Accommodation Sector,” was recognized among 250 submissions.
"This was an amazing surprise to me,” Ali said. “Getting the best paper award ... at a major conference acknowledges the quality of my research. This means even more when considering the selection committee consists of the Who’s Who of hospitality and tourism research. I am grateful to my co-authors for working on this paper.
”Ali’s paper examined the drivers of guest behavioral intentions when choosing a Peer to Peer (P2P) accommodation. The authors surveyed 416 people to understand why they preferred to stay at P2P accommodations over hotels. Their findings pointed to the important role authenticity plays through the physical and social environment in the P2P context, as the main driver of guests’ positive behavior.
Also attending the conference was Cihan Cobanoglu, interim dean of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, McKibbon Endowed Chair and director ofM3 Center.
“I would like to congratulate Faizan on this success and thank him for continuing to make us proud,” Cobanoglu said. “In addition to this great success, he delivered two workshops during this conference, helping academics around the world.”