A 13 time sailing world champion. A Guinness world record holder. Several current and
former elected officials. A marine biologist renowned for her study of Florida’s red tide.
And a former marine, blinded in Iraq, who now works with guide dogs.
These are some of the many USF St. Petersburg alumni who went on to achieve success
after earning their degrees.
As the university celebrates its 50th anniversary, the alumni relations department
published a section on its website called the “Green and Golden” to recognize successful
alumni.
Philip “Ed” Baird, B.A., General Business Administration ’82
The sailing competitor and coach is a 13time world champion.
A sailing career was not something he imagined possible, according to the Quantum
Racing Team helmsman.
“When I was a kid the sport was amateur only. It wasn’t until after I got out of the
university that the sport changed its rules and allowed professionalism,” Baird said. “I’ve
always loved it.”
After completing his first two years of college, Baird took two years off to join an
Olympic campaign in sailing. He said USFSP was the right place for him to complete his
education.
“I would suggest to anybody who’s going to school at USF St. Pete to make sure to take
the opportunity to enjoy the waterfront that’s made available from the school,” he said.
“That makes that school very, very special. There aren’t a lot of universities in the world
that can provide you that unique opportunity.”
The sailor is competing with a 22man crew in Sardinia, an island off the Mediterranean,
in the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, a 12day world championship race for 72foot boats.
Baird isn’t the only bull whose passion is to be out at sea.
shipwreck hunter.
David Mearns, M.A, Marine Science, ’86
As director of Blue Waters Recoveries Ltd., an ultra deepsea operations company,
Mearns has led the discovery of more than two dozen major shipwrecks.
He and his company hold three Guinness World records for the discoveries. One was the
German World War II blockaderunner Rio Grande at 5,762 meters, the deepest
shipwreck located in history.
As a student, Mearns switched disciplines and worked several parttime jobs on and off
campus to pay his way through school. He played goalie on the school’s marine science
soccer team. But most of his time was spent at sea, collecting and analyzing geophysical
data.
The aspiring marine scientist sent about 80 resumes after earning his degree. Only three
companies showed interest in him. One was performing groundbreaking work, which
offered him opportunities to become an expert in his field, according to Mearns.
“There is no way I could have imagined what kind of career I would wind up having
when I graduated,” Mearns said. “I can only say what has worked for me and that is to
follow your interest and passion because by nature you’ll do far better in a field you truly
love.”
Alumni relations officer Heidi Hamlin has the opportunity to connect with some of the
university’s distinguished alumni.
“It is impressive to know what different folks have done with their degree since
graduating,” Hamlin said. “They’ve done some incredible things.”
Former students are encouraged to share their postgraduation stories on the USFSP
Alumni website.
“We want to have a place for their stories to culminate and live on,” Hamlin said.
