“Students, I’m telling you right now, this is your opportunity to shine. It’s your opportunity to show up, to be present, be on deck, get everything you can out of this experience,” Tadlock said to the crowd of students and mentors.” James Bennett III | The Crow’s Nest
By James Bennett III
Light chatter and anxious smiles filled the fourth floor ballroom in Lynn Pippenger Hall on Sept. 11. The 31 students were there for the Innovation Scholars reception and would soon meet mentors who worked in their field of interest.
Each of the students were incoming freshmen who were accepted to USF St. Petersburg in either the fall or summer semesters and had a 3.8 minimum GPA.
Just after 5 p.m., the professionals were introduced to the students who shared career interests. The chatter grew louder as the pairs introduced themselves and snacked on hors d’oeuvres.
Prior to meeting their assigned mentors, the students were given a brief crash course on how to conduct themselves around the mentors. The training included pointers on body language, suggested questions for the students to learn more about their mentors’ industries and a warning not to ask how much money their mentors make.
Bank OZK, Duke Energy, Poynter Institute and the Tampa Bay Rays are among the 31 organizations that sent mentors.
For students, the program aims to deliver insight into potential career paths, one-on-one access to senior community leaders and potential internship or job opportunities later on. In return, mentors will have the first pick among highly motivated students when they are ready to graduate.
Regional Chancellor Martin Tadlock addressed the crowd after the students and mentors were acquainted.
“If you know anything about USF St. Petersburg, we have what we call three pillars of the institution,” Tadlock said. “We also have goals that we set within those pillars, one of those is to get students engaged in the community as early as possible and as deeply engaged as possible.”
“Students, I’m telling you right now, this is your opportunity to shine. It’s your opportunity to show up, to be present, be on deck, get everything you can out of this experience,” he said. “Show them what a rockstar you are. And enjoy. Have fun with it.”
Tadlock said the program was inspired by the Chancellor’s Leadership Council, which was formed last year. However, he wanted this program to be more community-based. When he was unable to find another university that ran a similar program, he decided to start working on one.
Caryn Nesmith, who works for the regional chancellor’s office, and Alison Barlow, who works for the St. Pete Innovation District, helped Tadlock put the program together.
Erin Hays, a freshman who hasn’t declared her major yet, said she heard about the mentorship opportunities through the Honors Program and the Chancellor’s Leadership Council. Hays said she hopes to get a better understanding of what she would like to study.
Hays was paired with Craig Anderson, the director of innovation at BayCare. Although Anderson wasn’t able to meet with Hays on Sept. 11, the two have been in contact and will be meeting soon.
“My entire life, I’ve just been in school. And that’s mostly it.” Hays said. “So I’m really hoping that best case, this gives me a solid plan, or as solid as I can get of what sort of field I want to go into. And worst case scenario, if I find out, ‘Hey, this job isn’t great for me,’ it’s something to cross off the list.
This article was updated on Sept. 16, 2019 to correct Greg Anderson’s title. He is the director of innovation at BayCare, not Bayfront Health.
