SAILebration is held on Dec. 8 and reserved for fall 2021 graduates. Those interested in attending the new campus event must RSVP by Dec. 3.
Courtesy of USF
By Annalise Anderson
Though the days of quaint, velvet-lined graduation ceremonies at the Mahaffey Theatre are gone, USF St. Petersburg is bringing a new, seaworthy graduate tradition to the waterfront campus.
Announced on Nov. 12, SAILebration is a sunset dinner cruise on Tampa Bay’s Yacht StarShip reserved only for St. Petersburg fall 2021 graduates. Participants will celebrate with fellow soon-to-be grads, campus leaders and previous alumni during the free scenic dinner event.
Amberly Nelson, conference and event planner for the St. Petersburg Regional Chancellor’s Office, said campus leaders “saw the importance of something that was just for St. Petersburg campus graduates” post consolidation.
“Campus traditions are such an important part of the fabric of an institution,” Nelson said. “Traditions provide a common experience, promote community and build a legacy. When I arrived in 2019, I knew that this campus had many unique opportunities to celebrate our graduates.”
But the decision to launch SAILebration wasn’t Nelson’s alone. The event was created after gathering feedback from student meetings, graduate surveys, and faculty and staff who previously participated in the campus’s traditional commencement ceremony.
“During this process, it was clear that the water that surrounds the campus holds special meaning,” Nelson said. “It made perfect sense to celebrate our graduates with a sunset sail. It will be one final chapter in their journey as a USF St. Petersburg campus student and a final bon voyage as they embark on the adventures ahead.”
Nelson hopes the event serves as a fun, reflective moment for the campus’s graduates. Though the first SAILebration is only permitted for fall 2021 grads, the same event is scheduled for May 2022 to celebrate spring graduates.
“This year’s graduates will be the first. This means they are the inaugural class to experience something that we believe will become a tradition,” Nelson said.
“As we all know, USF St. Petersburg campus is a unique, intimate campus. Our goal is to provide the graduates the opportunity to celebrate with their peers as well as the faculty and staff who have supported them during their journey.
“During this experience, upon the water, we hope that when the graduates look back to shore, they see the campus that provided them with the skills and knowledge to take on their next endeavor.”
SAILebration will host professional photo opportunities from Grad Images and speeches from campus leaders like St. Petersburg Regional Chancellor Martin Tadlock and Student Government Campus Governor Veronica Jimenez.
Participants are not permitted to bring guests and alcohol will not be served during the event. COVID-19 protocols will be in place and face masks are expected to be worn. The dress code is “minimum of business casual.”
Attendees are asked to park in lots P5, P7, P8 and P12 or in the parking garage. The yacht will board at 5 p.m. from the St. Petersburg Port behind the Center for Ocean Technology. It will return to port at 8:30 p.m.
Participants must show their driver’s license or valid ID to board the yacht.
SAILebration is on Wednesday, Dec. 8. Graduates interested in attending SAILebration must RSVP by Friday, Dec. 3. Participants are asked to specify any dietary needs and their favorite song, which will be played during the event.
For questions about SAILebration, email Nelson at amberly2@usf.edu.
