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at USF St. Petersburg

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Author: Julia Birdsall

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Feature

Scenes from ‘Racing City’  

March 9, 2026March 9, 2026 Julia Birdsall

Many new figures stepped onto the racing scene, such as IndyCar rookies and former Formula series drivers Mick Schumacher and Dennis Hauger.  Photo by Irena Mesa | The Crow’s Nest 

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Feature

Winning races in braces: How Gulfport native Nikita Johnson became a racing prodigy 

March 9, 2026April 28, 2026 Julia Birdsall

​​Nikita Johnson was born on May 25, 2008, the same day as the Indy 500. One of his dreams, he said, is to win the Indy 500 on his birthday. 

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Feature

USFSP alumna’s anthology explores Florida’s history through fiction 

March 3, 2026March 3, 2026 Julia Birdsall

“The process of remembering is, by definition, an act of imagination and invention, and the hardest stories to tell have become the stories we need most,” wrote Megan O’Grady for

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Local Sports Sports

Álex Palou powers past field for dominant win in 2026 St. Petersburg Grand Prix 

March 2, 2026March 2, 2026 Julia Birdsall

Álex Palou started off his 2026 IndyCar season just like last year, with a win on the streets of St. Petersburg. Photo by Makenna Wozniak | The Crow’s Nest By

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Local Sports Sports

Local driver Nikita Johnson wins Indy NXT St. Petersburg Grand Prix  

March 2, 2026March 2, 2026 Julia Birdsall

Despite not being old enough to drink in the United States legally, Nikita Johnson, Max Taylor, and Tymek Kucharczyk were able to spray one another with champagne following their podium

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Sports

How the Firestone Grand Prix came to St. Pete 

February 28, 2026February 28, 2026 Julia Birdsall

Seasoned drivers and rookies have made their mark at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, including local drivers like Nikita Johnson and Florida natives like Kyle Kirkwood, Alessandro de

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Local Sports Sports

St. Pete fired up for Grand Prix  

February 28, 2026February 28, 2026 Julia Birdsall

Sting Ray Robb was among several drivers who appeared at the annual IndyCar Party in the Park. Photo by Irena Mesa | The Crow’s Nest By Julia Birdsall and Alisha

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Arts and Life

‘The Crow’s Nest’ goes to The Castle 

February 23, 2026February 24, 2026 Julia Birdsall

The Dungeon is the first floor of the building, known for more mainstream music. The patio, which is a patron-favorite, is a small courtyard where people can listen to goth

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Arts and Life

Roses are red, violets are blue, it’s Galentine’s Day, what will USFSP student do? 

February 14, 2026February 14, 2026 Julia Birdsall

“Galentine’s can be seen as a way to love more deeply on the day all about love,” said junior interdisciplinary social sciences and mass communications major Amelia Blackwell.  Photo by

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News

USFSP students and community activists on performative activism

February 10, 2026February 10, 2026 Julia Birdsall

Performative activism is caused by “the allure of popularity, of love, of people adoring you, it’s a siren’s call,” said senior English major William Thaxton.  Photo courtesy of Kaycee Carter

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Posts pagination

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Recent Posts

  • USFSP Marine Science Laboratory totaled after two-alarm fire 
  • USF alums create opportunities for students 
  • USF Women’s Sailing places second in SAISA Championship, secures National Championship bid 
  • Ahead of St. Pete mayoral primary, candidates talk resilience, Historic Gas Plant District, affordability  
  • USFSP students reflect on this spring’s rising temperatures  

usfcrowsnest

The race for the next St. Petersburg mayor is a pa The race for the next St. Petersburg mayor is a packed one, with six candidates in the running, including the sitting mayor, Kenneth T. Welch and former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who was the latest to file as of April 27. 

Other candidates include long-serving public administrator Maria Scruggs, District 2 Councilwoman Brandi Gabbard, retired St. Petersburg Fire Chief Jim Large and former Shore Acres Neighborhood Association President Kevin Batdorf. 

The Crow’s Nest spoke to four of the seven candidates, who expanded on their campaign ideals and spoke of what they want the future of the city to look like. 

🎨 Graphic by Olivia Young

📲 Click the link in our bio to read the entire story.

✍️ Story by Julia Birdsall and Alisha Durosier

#usfsp #stpetemayor #stpeteelection
Fire crews are actively responding to a fire at th Fire crews are actively responding to a fire at the Marine Science Laboratory (MSL). 

While the cause is unclear, The Crow’s Nest received reports of either a chemical fire or a lightning strike as the cause.

At approximately 5 p.m., USF St. Petersburg students were met with sirens and a scene of smoke billowing from the peninsula of the St. Petersburg campus. University faculty and staff working near the area are being evacuated. 

The MSL is among the oldest buildings on the St. Petersburg campus, where the campus’s first classes were held in 1965. 

It was originally opened in 1939 as a maritime service training station. It currently houses research labs and faculty offices for the Marine Science Program.

This is a developing story.

🎥 Video courtesy of Joe Farías Alencar.

#usf #usfsp
As we approach the close of the Spring Semester of As we approach the close of the Spring Semester of 2026, we would like to recognize and say goodbye to our fellow senior staffers:

Online Editor – Julia Ferrara
News Editor – Jasmin Parrado
Arts & Life Editor – Matthew McGovern
Sports Editor – Dominic Feo
Opinions/Features Editor – Julia Birdsall
Staff Reporter – Irena Mesa
Marketing Manager – Marcella Copeland
Managing Editor - María José Solís

and our 

Editor in Chief – Alisha Durosier 

Congratulations to our seniors and we are wishing them the best as the fly away to a new chapter in their lives. 🐦‍⬛🎓

#usfsp #usf
After 12 years as the Dean of Students at the Univ After 12 years as the Dean of Students at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, Jacob Diaz is resigning. 

Diaz’s last day is on May 15; he will then serve as the inaugural assistant vice president and dean of Students at the University of Maryland. 

 Diaz described his time as dean of students as a “dream come true.” 

🎨 Graphic by Olivia Young

📲 Click the link in our bio to read the entire story.

✍️ Story by Secilia Ruiz 

#usfsp #usf
The thought of an early graduation is a harrowing The thought of an early graduation is a harrowing thought for third year digital communications and multimedia journalism major Sophia Lowrie, who said that she wishes they had more time to assimilate to life on a college campus before being thrust into adult life. 

She is not the only one. 

🎨 Graphic by Olivia Young

📲 Click the link in our bio to read the entire story.

✍️ Story by Julia Birdsall 

#usfsp #usf

Whether the next steps involve graduate school or entering the workforce, many of the seniors at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg are feeling similarly anxious and uncertain in the weeks leading up to their graduation dates.
Nico Gramatica did not grow up playing football. Nico Gramatica did not grow up playing football. 

The sophomore kicker for the University of South Florida played club soccer and only started kicking footballs in his sophomore year of high school. 

“My dad kicked, my uncle kicked and people were asking me, ‘Why don’t you come out, try it for a year and see if you like it. If you don’t like it, you can be done after one year,’” Gramatica said. “I went out, had a great time and got to make some really good friends.” 

🎨 Graphic by Olivia Young

📸 Photos by Irena Mesa 

📲 Click the link in our bio to read the entire story.

✍️ Story by Irena Mesa 

#usfsp #usf
College campuses are a place where a strong sense College campuses are a place where a strong sense of community can be formed among students, but many commuter students, like junior English major Zoey Earles, feel that they have fewer opportunities to form these connections. 

“Positives [of being a commuter], I have my own apartment,” Earles said. “Negatives, I don’t make as [many] friends, and I don’t necessarily know about all the things that are happening on campus.” 

Events hosted on campus are a great way to meet people and find that sense of community, but sustainability senior Estela Najera said that being aware of events is difficult. 

🎨 Graphic by Olivia Young

📲 Click the link in our bio to read the entire story.

✍️ Story by Julia Birdsall 

#usfsp #usf
In the familiar currents of St. Petersburg, the Un In the familiar currents of St. Petersburg, the University of South Florida Women’s sailing team placed second at the South Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association (SAISA) Women’s Team and Fleet Championship Races on April 12. 

The regatta secured USF a spot in the College Sailing Women’s Fleet National Championship, which USF St. Petersburg will also host from May 15-18. 

Before the competition, USF’s Division A Fleet Race starters Kailey Warrior and Madisen Hamai told The Crow’s Nest about the advantages of sailing in local waters. 

🎨 Graphic by Olivia Young

📸 Photos by Kendall Bulkiewicz | USF Athletics 

📲 Click the link in our bio to read the entire story.

✍️ Story by Dominic Feo 

#usfsp #usf
USF St. Petersburg Student Government Governor, El USF St. Petersburg Student Government Governor, Elise Prophete, is speaking out after not being able to give the speech she’d initially written for the annual Rocky's Leadership Award Ceremony.

“I am choosing to do what is right for me and provoke the thoughts that I hope are right for this campus. To shift the self-censoring, student-second attitudes back into a space where the stories we have are told and appreciated,” Prophete wrote.

📲 Click the link in our bio to read her entire column and her original speech.

✍️ Column by Elise Prophete.

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