Headline 1: Bulls and Brews by the Bay Raises Funds for Student Scholarships​ On Friday, March 14, the USF St. Petersburg community gathered for the annual Bulls and Brews by the Bay event. Held along the scenic waterfront, attendees enjoyed live music, Irish-inspired cuisine, and craft beers from local breweries, all in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. The event included more than 200 participants and with thanks to our Title. Sponsor USF Federal Credit union and a host of others -- the event successfully raised funds for the USF St. Petersburg general scholarship fund, offering much-needed financial support to students during the academic year. Read more: ​stpetersburg.usf.edu ________________

Headline 2: Historic $40 Million Gift Establishes Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Computing at USF​usf.edu In a transformative move, the University of South Florida announced a record-setting $40 million gift from Arnie and Lauren Bellini to establish the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Computing. This marks the largest donation in USF’s nearly 70-year history and positions Tampa as a leader in these rapidly evolving fields. The new college aims to address the nation's urgent cybersecurity workforce shortage and equip America's digital defenses against emerging threats. ​usforacle.comusf.edu Read more here: https://www.usf.edu/news/2025/historic-40-gift-establishes-bellini-college-of-artificial-intelligence-cybersecurity.aspx ________________

Headline 3: Judy Genshaft Student Life Center Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony​ Last week saw a special moment for our campus as we cut the ribbon on the newly named Judy Genshaft Student Life Center. This is a fitting tribute to President Emerita Judy Genshaft, a leader whose unwavering commitment to student success has shaped the trajectory of USF in countless ways. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces at the ceremony, including Campus Advisory Board members Lisa Brody, Debbie Sembler and our board chair, Melissa Seixas, who delivered heartfelt remarks on the importance of creating spaces where students can gather, collaborate and thrive. Student Mahika Kukday, from the Judy Genshaft Honors College gave a remarkable speech about the significance of the building for students as it’s where they serve as student leaders, get career advice, work out, seek out Wellness Center resources, and generally meet up. USF President Rhea Law and the guest of honor, President Emerita Genshaft also gave remarks. All in all, a great event and a big milestone for USF St. Petersburg.​ ________________

Headline 5: It’s Spring Break ​ This week USF is on Spring Break, and I hope our students are getting the opportunity to step away, recharge, and spend time with family, and friends. Whether traveling or just enjoying this gorgeous Florida weather, we all need time to breathe, relax, and unplug. ________________

Closing: As always, thank you for being part of our vibrant community. Stay tuned for USF updates every Monday, and have a wonderful week ahead. I'm Caryn Nesmith, and this has been your Bulls By the Bay Weekly News Update.​