Newnans Lake neighbors fear proposed development could muddy its future
The proposed development is under review from state officials
By Logan McBride Alligator Staff Writer
Paul Pritchard has been involved with wildlife conservation for decades. He served as deputy director for the U.S. Department of the Interior under former President Jimmy Carter and founded the National Park Trust.
Pritchard lives on Lakeshore Drive overlooking Newnans Lake. When he heard of a proposal to add 149 single-family homes to the area, he and other neighbors formed a group of about 60 members to defend the property.
The Local Planning Agency and Planning Commission voted 3-2 against the 82-acre rezoning in April. The development is being led by Adams Homes and Garden Street Communities.
When the issue reached the Alachua County Commission, the planning commission’s recommendation was overruled when the commission unanimously approved the development near Newnans Lake in late May.
Two months later, community members close to the property are still fighting the proposal.
“There was a pretty strong presence of Chamber of Commerce and other representatives who want more roofs on the ground, more houses, more construction,” Pritchard said. “They brought quite a few people who were not a part of the community, which was disappointing.”
The group, which Pritchard called “the East Side Greenway,”
GROW HUB
refers to a 2003 county report protecting the land from development, which consisted of wildlife photographers, a hydrologist and neighbors. Pritchard acts as the group's chairman.
Pritchard’s worried about drainage near the property, which could impact more than just Newnans Lake, he said.
“There are several drainage areas in this property that drain into Paynes Prairie,” Pritchard said.
“This is not just a Newnans Lake issue. It’s a regional issue.”
Pritchard felt the county commission was “intentionally deleting” any attention to Newnans Lake, he said. Community members near the property weren’t given advance notice about the development, he said, and the lack of involvement for Newnans Lake in the Forward Focus initiative seemed minimal compared to the attention given to the Hawthorne, Micanopy and Waldo areas.
Forward Focus is a three-year initiative aimed at boosting economic opportunities and infrastructure in Eastern Alachua County.
East Gainesville needs more development, Pritchard said, but he and the group “felt strongly” there are better landscapes to use.
Lesa Holder, a 64-year-old Gainesville resident, lives in Magnolia Estates, a neighborhood on the southwestern side of Newnans Lake. She is also a member of the Alachua Conservation Trust and the East Side Greenway group.
NEWNANS LAKE, PAGE 4
UF graduate campus set to transform downtown Jacksonville
$300 million investment expected to drive development and expand higher education in Northeast Florida
By Swasthi Maharaj Alligator Staff Writer
A new University of Florida graduate campus set to open in downtown Jacksonville could bring massive changes to the city’s economy, workforce and infrastructure.
The development follows the Jacksonville City Council’s unanimous vote in June approving the transfer of over 20 acres of cityowned land in the historic LaVilla neighborhood to UF alongside an additional $50 million in public funding.
Jacksonville City Council
member Jimmy Peluso, who represents much of the downtown area, said the city seized the opportunity after plans for a similar UF campus in Palm Beach County fell through.
“Jacksonville had an abundance of land right in our down-
Jordan Klucharich // Alligator Staff
Kate Yeung, a co-owner of Coterie Market, helps customers on Sunday, July 13, 2025. Read more in The Avenue on pg. 5.
SEE CAMPUS, PAGE 3
Today’s Weather
UFPD at an impasse over officers’ salaries
UFPD OFFICERS ARE PAID $50,000, THE LOWEST AMONG STATE PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES
By Maria Avlonitis Alligator Staff Writer
The University of Florida Police Department wants a raise, but UF isn’t ready to meet its demands.
UF and UFPD came to an impasse after negotiating for eight hours July 7. The Florida Police Benevolent Association represents UFPD, negotiating on the department’s behalf to raise officers’ base salaries.
However, the PBA and UF couldn’t agree on a final number.
George Corwine, the PBA’s negotiator, gave a final offer to increase UFPD officers’ base salary by $15,000 from the current $50,000.
Patrick Keegan, UF's chief labor negotiator, presented the university’s best offer of an $11,000 raise, but the parties couldn’t settle on a final salary.
Scott Bonafide, the president of North Central Florida PBA, said UFPD officers are paid the least out of Florida’s public university police departments. He’s disappointed UF is reluctant to increase officers’ starting salaries, he added.
“They’ve been in dire need of this raise for a while,” Bonafide said.
UFPD salaries haven’t been raised since 2023, he said, and it was by 3%, a contributing factor to the position’s vacancies.
The average starting pay for university police departments is $61,000, he said.
The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office starting salary is $55,000, and the Gainesville Police Department’s starting salary for certified police of-
ficers is $60,000.
A raise would help fill job vacancies and improve the department’s retention, Bonafide said. Only 69 of UFPD’s 89 positions are currently filled, he added.
“You're 20 officers down to protect almost 62,000 students at your university,” he said. “By getting a starting pay up, it's going to be more of a recruitment tool to bring good, qualified officers in to fill those vacancies.”
The department’s understaffing is a safety concern, especially if a critical incident happens. Having more officers is critical to responding to emergencies, he said.
Gainesville was named the most dangerous college city in a study released by Wasatch Defense Lawyers. The study’s ranks were based on the number of crimes per 10,000 people between May 2023 and 2025. Gainesville had a crime rate of 179 per 10,000 people.
The PBA sent a letter to UF proposing an increase in the department’s base salary by $15,000 on March 27, but UF didn’t respond until June 24, Bonafide said.
UFPD and the PBA’s collective bargaining agreement ended June 30. Every article in the contract is open for negotiations when it expires, Bonafide said, but the impasse only stems from UF and PBA’s failure to reach an agreement on the officers’ salaries.
He said both parties will go through the impasse, which includes a special magistrate. The Public Employees Relations Commission has been informed of the impasse.
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George Corwine, the PBA negotiator at the July 7 meeting, said it’s “disheartening” that UF can't find $1.1 million to fund the police department but can approve $3 million for a president.
Henry A. Moore // Alligator Staff
Negotiations between the UFPD and the University of Florida stall as both sides fail to reach an agreement on a potential increase in police officer salaries.
In an email statement, UF wrote its staff will diligently continue all efforts to reach an agreement as soon as possible.
“The University of Florida has been unequivocally clear about its commitment to the safety and security of the campus community,” the statement read. “While both parties may have differing viewpoints at the negotiating table, the university deeply values its officers and their role as guardians of this institution.”
Joan Stearns Johnsen, a master legal skills professor at the UF Levin College of Law, said negotiations are complex and detail-specific. While she’s not familiar with UF and UFPD’s negotiations, she said every negotiation varies.
There's no recipe,” Johnsen said. “It depends on the circumstances and the dynamic.”
UF and UFPD have an ongoing relationship, and it might be in their best interest to approach the negotiation in a collaborative way, she said.
Several factors are at play in the negotiation process, she said. Both parties can care deeply about what they're negotiating for, and emotions may impact how they negotiate.
If UFPD is paid less than other public universities’ police departments, Johnsen said, that’s pretty important to them. It can affect how they put food on the table, get kids through college and pay mortgages, she added.
There’s also another side to it, she said. UF might have financial constraints or other factors impacting its ability to give officers raises, though she doesn’t know the financial situation the university is currently in.
“It's more complicated than just throwing numbers around,” she said.
Both sides may need to “take a breath and reevaluate,” Johnsen said. The impasse gives them a break, but while it’s in their best interest to come to a resolution, she said, there’s no clear recipe to break one.
“At the end of the day, this is a situation with a relationship where both sides need one another,” Johnsen said.
Bonafide said UFPD and PBA will meet at 12:30 p.m. July 14 at the police department.
@MariaAvlonitis mavlonitis@alligator.org
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UF to open graduate campus in downtown Jacksonville
town available that we were open to having UF take a look at,” Peluso said. “The stars aligned, and the legislature started putting more funding into us possibly getting the campus.”
A June 25 UF press release said the project marks a record public investment in higher education in Northeast Florida. The combined investment from state contributions and private philanthropy in the campus and its development reached $300 million.
The campus will offer graduate-level degrees tailored to the city’s workforce needs, including fields like business, health science, engineering, law and architecture. It will house the Florida Semiconductor Institute, a research arm expected to support Jacksonville’s technology and defense sectors.
The project will have both immediate and long-term effects, Peluso said.
“The short-term effects are we’re going to see some real development,” he said. “It’s real capital coming in from the state of Florida because it’s where a lot of the money is coming from. Within five years, we’re going to start seeing that kind of more substantial number [of students].”
Peluso expects the campus to bring an influx of young professionals into the city’s urban core. Enrollment is projected to reach approximately 500 to 1,000 students within the next five to seven years, he said.
“Folks who want to see downtown grow — they’re incredibly excited about it,” he said.
LaVilla, the campus neighborhood, is rich with cultural history, once known as Jacksonville’s “Black Wall Street,” Peluso said.
“As we see more UF folks coming in to do development, we need to make sure LaVilla residents are heard and listened to,” he said.
The campus’ location is near Jacksonville’s former terminal station, which may also provide a chance to revive the city’s longdormant train infrastructure.
“There’s a real opportunity to bring that back online,” Peluso said.
Ashley Emans, an administrator at UF Health Jacksonville, said she expects the partnership between UF and Jacksonville to benefit both institutions and their communities.
“Gainesville and Jacksonville have long had complementary strengths,” Emans said.
and robust industries.”
Emans is excited about how the campus could enhance medical training in the city, she said. It would expose future healthcare students to a broader range of patient populations and help meet Jacksonville’s growing demand for healthcare professionals, she said.
The campus also has the potential to revitalize the downtown area, she added.
“An ideal downtown should have a live-work-play feel, and I think this project moves us closer to that,” she said.
She pointed to efforts like the Emerald Trail, which aim to enhance downtown Jacksonville by developing sidewalks, public art and green spaces. Recent funding cuts have slowed progress, she said.
“If the university could help accomplish that same mission, I think everyone would support that,” she said.
Breana Kinchen, a 23-year-old Jacksonville resident and UF psychology and linguistics alumna, is optimistic about the project.
key to reshaping the region’s economic future.
In a June 24 press release, Deegan said the campus will serve as a “linchpin in our work to ignite downtown Jacksonville and develop the industries and workforce of the future.”
“Gainesville is rooted in research and education, while Jacksonville has a more diverse population
“I can’t imagine people being unhappy with it,” Kinchen said. “It gives people more of the opportunity to try and get a graduate degree.”
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said the campus will be
Site preparation is already underway, according to UF’s June 25 press release, and the university aims to launch degree programs
in existing downtown buildings by 2026. Design and construction of the new campus buildings will begin later that year.
“This is a moment we will look back on and never forget,” Deegan said.
Avery Parker contributed to this report.
@s_maharaj1611 smaharaj@alligator.org CAMPUS, from pg. 1
Henry A. Moore // Alligator Staff
The University of Florida expands into Jacksonville with a brand new graduate campus in the heart of the city.
Local nonprofit teaches gardening skills to adults with disabilities
GROW HUB PLANT NURSERY CELEBRATES JULY’S DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH
By Alanna Robbert Alligator Staff Writer
Driving past the animated streets of downtown Gainesville toward the far east side, telephone poles turn into trees. Longleaf pines replace electricity lines. Paved roads ease into dirt roads.
Bordering the Morningside Nature Center sits a nursery with a brightly painted sign welcoming onlookers to GROW HUB.
GROW HUB, or Growing Real Opportunities for Work –Harvest of Urban Business, is a nonprofit nursery selling plants ranging from perennial flowers to native Florida vines and shrubs. The organization also operates a gift shop selling art and merchandise.
2025 marks the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, signed in 1990. The act protects people with disabilities from discrimination in the workplace and in everyday activities.
July was named Disability Pride Month in 2015, commemorating the signing of the ADA and celebrating the history, challenges and successes of people with disabilities. About 12% of people in Alachua County have a disability, according to data gathered by the American Community Survey.
People primarily visit GROW HUB for its nursery, but through its business model and events, the nonprofit sells more than just plants. Many of GROW HUB’s part-time employees are adults with disabilities, providing them with community and employment opportunities.
Gardening for growth
David Banes, a 66-year-old Gainesville resident, is the director of GROW HUB. He worked for Alachua County Public Schools for 37 years, including teaching in an isolated Exceptional Student Education classroom. There, he discovered how agriculture, specifically growing plants, could motivate and satisfy his students.
Vocational education focuses on building students’ confidence through skill-building. ACPS’ Growing Education Transition Training and the Farm to School to Work Hub programs are located before the entrance to the GROW HUB plant nursery.
In Florida, students can allow their school district to keep their diplomas to continue receiving special education and transition services until they decide to leave the public school system. Students with disabilities may defer their diplomas to continue gaining skills to prepare themselves for life after K-12 school.
Both ACPS programs are for high school graduates ages 18 to 22 who choose to defer their diplomas.
GROW HUB began in 2016 as an extension of Alachua County’s education programs, offering work opportunities to people with disabilities and allowing students 22 and older.
The first plants weren’t grown until 2018, Banes said. Horticultural projects helped his students by showing the process from start to finish. In any kind of work, it’s rare for someone to see a product from its inception to completion, Banes said.
“When they produce a plant, and the customer comes and they rave about the quality of it and how good it is,” Banes said, “You get the same thing that you got with a pet, selfsatisfaction and empowerment of taking care of something.”
The nursery has seen constant growth in its revenue since 2020 despite renovations to the property, he said. It recently
registered with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, helping the organization assist people with disabilities with future employment.
“The plants are making the people positive, and the people are making the plants positive,” Banes said.
Meg Mackenzie is GROW HUB’s media and outreach coordinator. They lead a “disability committee,” where a group of team members gather in a town hall-style talk about the organization and its events.
Mackenzie said the organization’s goal is to provide a beautiful environment where individuals with and without disabilities can work and grow alongside each other.
“People can come to GROW HUB and see people with all kinds of abilities and disabilities working and contributing to a really great place,” Mackenzie said.
July’s monthlong celebration encourages more people to learn about disabilities, they said.
“It’s important for all people, whether you’re disabled or not. Young or old, to learn about disabilities, especially to listen to disabled people’s thoughts, perspectives,” they said.
A different business model
Alexa Heilman, a 27-year-old Gainesville resident, is the vocational program director and a supervisor at GROW HUB and has been with the organization since 2021.
Heilman studied at UF to be a horticultural therapist, someone who uses gardening activities to promote overall well-being. She uses what she learned to teach adults with disabilities how to work in a nursery, she said.
“We love to pay people to do work that they love,” Heilman said.
GROW HUB’s part-time employees are paid $13 an hour. For individuals on the Florida Medicaid waiver program, the annual earnings limit is approximately $20,000. More than one in three people with disabilities are on Medicaid in the U.S.
More work requirements have been added for Medicaid eligibility due to changes enacted through the One Bill Beautiful Bill Act, including a new 80-hours-per-month work requirement for able-bodied individuals between the ages of 19 and 64.
The earnings limits make it difficult for inclusive organizations and their employees. If an employee were to deposit a check over their earning limit, they could lose the services received through Medicaid, she said.
GROW HUB aims to provide a family-like environment for its staff, Heilman said. The plant nursery is run by employees who feel supported in the community, providing a space to learn transferable skills that can be applied to other areas of life.
“We’re not trying to be millionaires,” Heilman said. “We’re just trying to give meaningful work opportunities to a handful of adults on our staff.”
Recent cuts to the Department of Education have consolidated funding for special education grants given to states. The funding, as proposed in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, would only provide about 11% of national average per-pupil cost for special education and related services. Additional funding comes from other federal, state and local sources.
GROW HUB hasn’t received promised grants, Heilman said, including funding for environmental education from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The $6.2 billion hold on federal education funds affects statewide and local grant systems, limiting the nursery’s expansion.
GROW HUB collaborates with local businesses to attract visitors to its property. It hosts pop-up markets on the second Saturday of certain months.
Melissa Desa, a 46-year-old Gainesville resident, is a cofounder of Working Food, a nonprofit that teaches gardening skills through workshops. It services a commercial kitchen open for small food businesses to rent.
Desa’s also the director of Working Food’s Seed Program. Working Food has multiple gardens and a community seed bank on GROW HUB’s property. The organization saves the plants it grows for schools and community gardens.
“It’s a great space where everyone can support each other’s missions, even though it’s not our own mission,” Desa said.
The area fencing GROW HUB accommodates other organizations and projects. There are gardens for Working Food and Santa Fe College, along with a space for two donkeys, named Lewis and Clark.
Room for creativity
GROW HUB employees participate in an arts class every Tuesday, sponsored by UF Health’s Arts in Medicine program as part of their vocational training.
Kris Sullivan, a 49-year-old Gainesville resident, has run the class with her co-teacher Sarah Hinds since 2019.
AIM offers a variety of visual arts classes at GROW HUB, including papier-maché, clay sculptures, dancing and music. The nursery decorates its walls with a mural made of bottle caps employees collected themselves.
“It’s the only time every week that everyone’s all in the same room,” Sullivan said. “Everyone is generally in high spirits when we’re together.”
The class offers a communal space where employees can celebrate milestones together, including birthdays. Outside of the class, employees focus on their individual tasks, like working the cash register or helping in the garden, she said.
On the last Tuesday of every month, the workshop is open to anyone with a disability. The sessions, held free of charge, happen in the same location as usual classes at GROW HUB.
Crafts made by employees – like tie-dye creations, sun catchers and mugs – are sold in the gift shop. Painted gourds made to be hot-air balloons and baskets made of muscadine hang above.
Sarah Herkamp, a 48-year-old Melrose resident, is one of 23 part-time employees at GROW HUB. The 45-minute drive to work is worth it because GROW HUB is where she wants to be, she said.
“This is hands down the best place I’ve ever worked,” Herkamp said. “They get that your mind doesn’t quite work the same way as everybody else’s does, but they encourage [it].”
Herkamp works in the gardens, creating fertilizers made with worm casting for the nursery’s plants. She also grows a variety of gourds, including Tennessee Dancing Gourds, to use for creative projects. She calls herself the “Johnny Appleseed of gourds.”
She emptied a net of gourds on a couch, describing her uses for them. Among the trinkets in the gift shop, she grabbed a basket made with muscadine vine, unhooking it from the ceiling to show it off. At GROW HUB, Herkamp said she has the space to experiment.
“You can start these projects, and you see what happens,” Herkamp said. “Let’s try it. Let’s find out.”
@alannafitzr arobbert@alligator.org
Proposed development worries locals
from pg. 1
The group met with Green Street Realty and Adams Homes to discuss the development, she said.
The East Side Greenway group suggested adding dark sky lighting, she said, which reduces light pollution and supports wildlife health. The group also supported installing a stormwater drainage system to limit runoff to Newnans Lake.
The group plans to ask the commission to consider its proposals when the rezoning hearing takes place. It is unknown when the commission will receive a response from state officials and hold a rezoning hearing. The group already asked the commission to designate
Lakeshore Drive as an Alachua County scenic road, she said, which would protect the land next to it from further development that could harm nearby ecosystems.
Holder believes other developers have seen the approval of the development, potentially acting as an invitation for future developments near natural landmarks and inspiring similar proposals, such as the Maronda Homes proposal adjacent to Paynes Prairie.
“They want to build something that people will be attracted to specifically because of its natural beauty,” Holder said. “Unfortunately, I think building these developments is not necessarily an enhancement to the natural feature.”
Chris Dawson, the principal planner for the Alachua County Growth Management Depart-
ment, said the proposal aligned with the county’s comprehensive plan and its protections.
“They would be protecting resources on the property, given the protections in our comprehensive plan,” Dawson said. “We don’t think it’s a large change from what’s already allowed for the site.”
The developer offered to amend the comprehensive plan to reserve the eastern 200 feet of the property for a stormwater management facility or a natural buffer area without homes or roads, he said.
The development is within the county’s urban cluster boundaries, which were created to keep urbanization from seeping into natural areas, he added.
When prompted with potential flooding
issues, Dawson said Alachua County’s rules dictate new developments can’t allow more stormwater to run off their sites than what naturally occurred before construction. It also requires developments to install retention basins to capture and treat nutrient runoff.
To help the nearby ecosystem, Dawson said the developer proposed adding an invasive management control plan.
A homeowners association on the property would be responsible for removing invasive species from the ecosystem. The HOA would be monitored by the county, Dawson added. Florida Commerce and other state agencies are evaluating the proposal. If approved, it will return to the Alachua County Commissioners for a final vote. The next commission meeting is Aug. 12.
@logandmcbride lmcbride@alligator.org
MONDAY, JULY 14, 2025
www.alligator.org/section/the_avenue
FOOD & DRINK
Frenchmen Street Food’s guide to Cajun eats and community
Behind bright yellow doors sits Gainesville’s only vegan po’boy shop, where golden buns hold crisp lettuce, juicy tomato, creamy mayo and savory seitan meat. Frenchmen Street Food features familiar Southern, Cajun-inspired flavors with a twist: The entire menu is vegan.
The idea for the restaurant came from 41-year-old owner John Mamo and his 42-year-old business partner and co-owner, Timothy Hutchens.
“We wish that somebody else would have opened it, so we could have just eaten there instead,” Mamo said.
Mamo went vegan about 10 years ago. After realizing his diet was unhealthy, he started to cook more veg-
FOOD & DRINK
etables and step out of his comfort zone.
“We’re just trying to show people that you could eat Southern food that was vegan, and it could be good,” he said.
Growing up on Southern food, Mamo said starting Frenchmen was a way to preserve the familiar flavors in his vegan diet.
As one of only a few fully vegan restaurants in Gainesville, he said Frenchmen gets an even mix of regulars and out-of-towners.
Tourists stop by on road trips because it’s a good stopping point for people traveling through Gainesville, he said.
Frenchmen started as a food truck but has since added a brick-and-mortar location. The switch had a bit of a learning curve, Mamo said. He quickly had to adapt to new challenges.
When a customer asked for a high chair, Mamo said he was unprepared and promptly ordered some.
The restaurant features a collage wall filled with posters, pictures and patterns. The friendly atmosphere
law student, is a restaurant regular. She first visited Frenchmen at its food truck. When it moved to a fixed location, she had to check it out, she said.
Pavek was a vegetarian for 10 years and is currently vegan. Her favorite dish is the breakfast po’boy, which consists of vegan egg, ham, tomato and mayo inside a toasted hoagie.
“They do it better than a lot of other places,” Pavek said.
She chooses Frenchmen over Gainesville’s other vegan options, she said, and she feels certain the food is high-quality and fully vegan.
is filled with lots of light and chatty proprietors who engage with clients. Mamo said it’s something he likes about the restaurant.
“We’re not here as a challenge,” he said.
Brooke Pavek, a 23-year-old UF
“I like a personal thing,” he said. “We are doing the vegan thing, which is strange to some people, so we want to make everybody comfortable.” He tries to make the ambience inviting so everyone feels welcome, even those just starting out on their vegan journey, he said.
She enjoys the restaurant’s tightknit atmosphere and the owners’ involvement in the community, she added. Pavek is a member of a local roller derby team that often eats at Frenchmen.
Read the rest online at alligator. org/section/the_avenue.
@allisonrbonn abonnemaison@alligator.org
Curated for campus life, Coterie Market gears up for the fall
LOCAL CAFE AND ARTISAN SHOP RETURNS AHEAD OF A BUSY SEMESTER
By Isis Snow Avenue Staff Writer
Sunlight pours through the glass windows of Coterie Market, casting a warm glow on pastel decor and shelves stocked with locally made goods. The aroma of pastries and sugary drinks is a welcome invitation to stay there for as long as needed.
After closing its original location in May 2024 to take a break and gather inspiration, founders Kate Yeung and Braden Ramirez soft-reopened Coterie Market in April.
The new location is a larger space a short walk from campus at 1025 W. University Ave. The expanded venue blends cafe culture with an artisan shop showcasing small-batch, locally sourced products.
The French word “Coterie,” which means a small group of people united by shared interests or tastes, reflects the community the couple aim to build, Yeung said. With the fall semester approaching, Coterie Market is preparing to welcome a fresh wave of students and locals by prioritizing efficiency. The owners will hire employees to help with the incoming onslaught of foot traffic and to
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ensure they can keep up with demand while maintaining the shop’s welcoming atmosphere.
“Right now we have been working 24/7 on making the process more efficient and the workflow better, so when we hire employees, which is pretty soon, we have to train them in time for the huge influx of students,” Yeung said.
She wants orders prepared quickly because students don’t have time to wait for a snack between classes, she said. Since many of the shop’s drinks feature complex flavor combinations, they take a bit longer to make.
“We like to incorporate different flavor profiles or ingredients that I feel like you wouldn’t really see here as much, especially not in Gainesville,” she said.
New menu additions include cheddar chive corn scones served with miso honey butter, matcha and white chocolate cookies, and ube croissants drizzled with white chocolate. Yeung’s current favorite is the banana matcha drink, she said.
The demand for extra help stems not just from the cafe but also the curated selection of locally made goods. Customers can shop for art prints, handmade jewelry, clothes, stationery, cute collectables and specialty snacks.
Vendor applications are currently open. Many items come from small local businesses.
Jenn Maresca, the 32-year-old owner of Gainesville-based embroidery company Made
by Maresca, sells custom-embroidered clothing and “unhinged hats” at Coterie Market.
The hats are “a little bit like inside thoughts becoming outside thoughts,” she said.
Coterie Market feels more like a community hub than a retail space to Maresca.
“It definitely is one of the places that feels very safe and inclusive,” Maresca said. “I think, as a queer person in a conservative state, it’s nice to walk into a place and immediately be like, ‘This is a place where I don’t have to worry about negative perceptions or anything like that.’”
The market’s exposure brings in customers who may not have known about Maresca’s products.
“It’s amazing to have our stuff posted on a nice, big platform and have our stuff visible for students,” she said. “I think a lot of people have seen us that might not have seen us otherwise.”
The visibility is especially important in a college town, where many students discover local businesses for the first time, she said. For Maresca, Coterie is both a place to sell her work and a platform connecting small creators with conscious consumers.
“Personally, morally, ethically, small business is best,” she said.
The market is more than a convenient coffee stop. It’s a place for students to meet, study and connect with the Gainesville community
while they discover one-of-a-kind products they won’t find anywhere else.
Justin Fernandez, a 21-year-old UF psychology senior, is a regular at Coterie Market after learning about the shop his freshman year.
“I didn’t think there was a place like this in Gainesville,” he said. “It’s special in my heart, because it is a call back to my freshman year — and now into my senior year, I can see them again. That matters to me. It feels super, super full circle.”
He was drawn to the Asian-inspired beverages and snacks, feeling kinship with Yeung’s similar cultural background. Fernandez’s favorite items at Coterie are the calendars with snake designs sold by thanksxu, he said.
The shop’s atmosphere keeps him coming back, he said, and he loves the space.
“The owners care about you being there,” he said.
The sense of connection to the people behind the counter and the artists on the shelves makes the experience feel personal for the customers.
“It’s nice to support local, because you won’t be able to support them anywhere else,” Fernandez said. “These are Gainesville people. If you’re proud to be a Gator, you should be proud to support your city, too.”
@snow_isisUF isnow@alligator.org
Kade Sowers // Alligator Staff
Co-owner, John Mamo, at his restaurant, Frenchmen Street Food, on South Main Street on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
El Caimán
www.alligator.org/section/elcaiman
El nuevo campus de posgrado de UF transformará el centro de Jacksonville
SE ESPERA QUE LA INVERSIÓN DE $300 MILLONES IMPULSE EL DESARROLLO Y EXPANDA LA EDUCACIÓN SUPERIOR EN EL NORESTE DE FLORIDA
Por Swasthi Maharaj Escritora de El Caimán
Traducido por Candy Fontana-Verde Escritora de El Caimán
Un nuevo campus de posgrado de la Universidad de Florida que abrirá en el centro de Jacksonville podría traer grandes cambios a la economía, la fuerza laboral y la infraestructura de la ciudad.
El desarrollo se produce tras el voto unánime del Concejo Municipal de Jacksonville en junio, que aprobó la transferencia de más de 20 acres de terrenos de propiedad municipal en el histórico vecindario de LaVilla a UF, junto con $50 millones adicionales en fondos
públicos.
Jimmy Peluso, miembro del Concejo Municipal de Jacksonville que representa gran parte del área del centro, dijo que la ciudad aprovechó la oportunidad después de que fracasaran los planes para un campus similar de UF en el condado de Palm Beach.
“Jacksonville tenía una gran cantidad de terreno disponible justo en nuestro centro, y estábamos abiertos a que UF lo evaluara”, dijo Peluso. “Las estrellas se alinearon y la legislatura comenzó a destinar más fondos para que posiblemente obtuviéramos el campus”.
Un comunicado de prensa de UF del 25 de junio señaló que el proyecto representa una inversión pública récord en educación superior en el noreste de Florida. La inversión combinada de contribuciones estatales y filantropía privada para el campus y su desarrollo alcanzó los $300 millones.
El campus ofrecerá títulos de posgrado adaptados a las necesidades laborales de la ciudad, en áreas como negocios, ciencias de la salud, ingeniería, derecho y arquitectura. También albergará el Instituto de Semiconductores de Florida, un brazo de
investigación que se espera apoye los sectores de tecnología y defensa de Jacksonville.
Peluso dijo que el proyecto tendrá efectos tanto inmediatos como a largo plazo.
“En el corto plazo veremos un verdadero desarrollo”, dijo. “Es capital real que viene del estado de Florida, porque de ahí proviene gran parte del dinero. Dentro de cinco años, comenzaremos a ver ese número más sustancial [de estudiantes]”.
Peluso espera que el campus atraiga a jóvenes profesionales al núcleo urbano de la ciudad. Se proyecta que la matrícula alcance entre 500 y 1,000 estudiantes en los próximos cinco a siete años, dijo.
“La gente que quiere ver crecer el centro, está increíblemente emocionada con esto", dijo.
LaVilla, el vecindario del campus, tiene una rica historia cultural y alguna vez fue conocida como el “Wall Street negro” de Jacksonville, dijo.
“A medida que más personas de UF lleguen a desarrollar el área, debemos asegurarnos de que los residentes de LaVilla sean escuchados”, dijo.
La ubicación del campus está cerca de la antigua estación terminal de Jacksonville, lo que también podría brindar la oportunidad de reactivar la infraestructura ferroviaria de la ciudad, dijo.
“Existe una oportunidad real de volver a poner eso en funcionamiento”, dijo.
Ashley Emans, administradora en UF Health Jacksonville, dijo que espera que la asociación entre UF y Jacksonville beneficie a ambas instituciones y sus comunidades.
“Gainesville y Jacksonville desde hace tiempo tienen fortalezas complementarias”, dijo Emans. “Gainesville está establecida en la investigación y la educación, mientras que Jacksonville tiene una población más diversa e industrias más robustas”.
Lea el resto en línea en alligator.org/section/elcaiman.
Avery Parker contribuyó a este reportaje. @s_maharaj1611 smaharaj@thealligator.org
Los vecinos de Lake Newnans temen que el desarrollo propuesto
nuble su futuro
Por Logan McBride
Escritor de El Caimán
Traducido por Sofia Bravo
Escritora de El Caimán
Paul Pritchard ha pasado décadas conservando la vida silvestre. Fue subdirector del Departamento del Interior de EE. UU. bajo el expresidente Jimmy Carter y fundó el National Park Trust.
Pritchard vive en Lakeshore Drive, con vistas al lago Newnans. Al conocer la propuesta de construir 149 viviendas unifamiliares en la zona, él y otros vecinos formaron un grupo cerca de 60 personas para defender el terreno.
La Agencia Local de Planeación y la Comisión de Planeación votaron 3-2 en contra del cambio de uso para 82 acres en abril. El desarrollo está siendo liderado por Adams Homes y Garden Street Communities.
Cuando el proyecto llegó ante la Comisión del Condado de Alachua, la recomendación del comité de planeación fue anulada y la comisión aprobó por unanimidad el desarrollo
cerca del lago Newnans a finales de mayo.
Dos meses después, miembros de la comunidad cercana a la propiedad aún luchan contra la propuesta.
“Hubo una presencia bastante fuerte de la Cámara de Comercio y otros representantes que quieren más techos en el suelo, más casas, más construcción”, dijo Pritchard. “Trajeron a varias personas que no formaban parte de la comunidad, lo cual fue decepcionante”.
El grupo, que Pritchard llamó “East Side Greenway”, hace referencia a un informe del condado de 2003 que protegía el terreno del desarrollo; el grupo incluye fotógrafos de vida silvestre, un hidrólogo y vecinos. Pritchard ejerce como presidente de este colectivo.
Pritchard está preocupado por el drenaje cerca de la propiedad, lo cual podría afectar más que solo al lago Newnans, dijo.
“Hay varias zonas de drenaje en esta propiedad que desembocan en Paynes Prairie”, dijo. “No es solo un problema del lago Newnans. Es un problema regional”.
Pritchard sintió que la comisión del condado “eliminó intencionalmente” cualquier atención al lago Newnans, añadió. Dijo que la comunidad cercana a la propiedad no recibió aviso previo sobre el desarrollo, y que la falta de involucramiento del lago Newnans en la iniciativa Forward
Focus fue mínima en comparación con la atención a las zonas de Hawthorne, Micanopy y Waldo.
Forward Focus es una iniciativa de tres años destinada a mejorar oportunidades económicas e infraestructura en el este del condado de Alachua.
Pritchard dijo que el este de Gainesville necesita más desarrollo, pero él y el grupo “sentían con firmeza” que hay mejores terrenos para aprovechar.
Lesa Holder, residente de 64 años de Gainesville, vive en Magnolia Estates, un vecindario al suroeste del lago Newnans. También es miembro del Alachua Conservation Trust y del grupo East Side Greenway.
Holder afirmó que el grupo se reunió con Green Street Realty y Adams Homes para hablar sobre el desarrollo. El grupo sugirió instalar iluminación de cielo oscuro, lo que reduce la contaminación lumínica y beneficia la salud de la fauna. También propusieron un sistema de drenaje pluvial para limitar la escorrentía hacia el lago Newnans.
Lea el resto en línea en alligator.org/section/elcaiman.
@logandmcbride lmcbride@alligator.org
IFAS assistant director builds a legacy in the soil UF’s Bob Hochmuth was inducted into Extension’s highest honor
By Swasthi Maharaj Alligator Staff Writer
Bob Hochmuth has spent more than four decades working sideby-side with farmers, mentoring young professionals and leading research-backed innovation across North Florida — a dedication that earned him the highest honor in his field.
Hochmuth, a UF/IFAS Specialized Extension Agent, acts as a bridge between science and everyday life by taking research and applying it in local communities. He helps farmers adopt new technologies and improve crop yields for vegetables and watermelons.
Hochmuth was inducted into the National Association of County Agricultural Agents Hall of Fame in July, a rare honor awarded to four individuals nationwide every year since 2006.
The NACAA Hall of Fame honors agents who demonstrate exceptional service, leadership and impact on both their profession and the communities they serve. While most inductees are retired, Hochmuth remains active.
According to Scott Jensen, the former NACAA president who helped lead the review process, Hochmuth stood out as a competitive candidate across the country.
“Bob was identified as one of the very best,” Jensen said.
Hochmuth is the fourth Floridian to receive this distinction.
“I love what I do, and I’ve just been so blessed and fortunate to have a career that [I get to] wake up every day and love going to work,” Hochmuth said.
Hochmuth, now the assistant director at UF/IFAS’ North Florida Research and Education Center, was raised on a 1,000acre vegetable farm in Maryland.
He learned two things early on: how to work and study hard. His father, who didn’t finish high school, taught him the former.
His mother, an alumna of Johns Hopkins University, taught him the latter, he said.
His upbringing shaped his dual mission, which is to respect farmers’ hard work and use research and science in his career as an agent.
One of Hochmuth’s earliest
inspirations came from watching Bob Miller, an extension agent, visit his family’s farm.
“My uncles and father that managed the farm were always busy,” he said. “But when this man came, they always stopped.”
Miller was inducted into the NACAA Hall of Fame in 2013.
“I’ve held that individual and other members of the current Hall of Fame in such high regard that it has been very, very humbling to be included in that group,” Hochmuth said.
The Hall of Fame evaluates nominees across three main categories: job performance and leadership, contributions to NACAA at state and national levels, and humanitarian service.
Hochmuth’s career stood out in all three categories, Jensen said.
Hochmuth’s efforts across Florida’s vegetable and watermelon industries included projects like developing a blue dye demonstration method that allows farmers to visually track how deeply water penetrates the soil during irrigation. The handson technique became one of his best-known tools.
1.3
Although he is known for his research, Hochmuth hopes his legacy will reflect his relationships, as he mentors young professionals entering the field.
“I really enjoy helping to nurture them and helping them develop and learn techniques and help them to foster that relationship with the farmers that they serve,” he said. “The thing that is most important in doing something like this is the relationships.”
Alachua County Extension Agent Tatiana Sanchez-Jones met Hochmuth when they were both graduate students. She credits him with leading agents through regionally impactful work. They worked together on different grants and multiple vegetables in the protected agriculture sector.
“One of the things that makes [Hochmuth] outstanding is his ability to communicate complex concepts in ways that are meaningful and practical to the clientele,” Sanchez-Jones said. “More than being able to just understand the science is to create those relationships, communicate and have that
impactful relationship with the stakeholders and with colleagues as well.”
Hochmuth’s dedication is what makes him stand out, she added.
“It’s incredible what he does,” she said. “He carries a lot of weight among the agricultural sector because he responds and he commits.”
Hochmuth said his focus will be on building long-term capacity and strengthening UF/ IFAS infrastructure so the field’s future generations can continue the work.
Hochmuth said the community was able to raise half a million dollars in addition to UF investments in a fund that will upgrade the North Florida Research and Education Center facilities.
“It’s been a humbling experience to know that there’s so much support in the community,” Hochmuth said. “I’ve been really fortunate and blessed to have a career that’s lasted so long and has been so rewarding.”
@s_maharaj1611 smaharaj@alligator.org
www.alligator.org/section/opinions
UF’s commitment to ‘institutional neutrality’ will be its downfall
Idistinctly remember opening my acceptance letter from the University of Florida in February 2023 and feeling proud. I achieved my goal of getting into the most prestigious school in the state, and I planned on attending a university that prided itself on its academics and diversity.
Yet as the years progress, I feel increasingly disenchanted with what UF stands for. A look into its recent news stories may illustrate the cause of its slow, painful descent in rankings.
While the stark political divide within this country existed long before this year, I want to first draw attention to the Israel-Palestine protests affecting college campuses since 2024.
UF was no different.
I recall passing protesters advocating for Palestine as I walked into Library West. I soon heard of their arrest, and the protests dispersed. I wasn’t surprised, because UF released a statement prohibiting encampments, and one was still formed. I assumed that was the end — until I discovered former university president Ben Sasse’s response to the protests.
He said the protesters said “ridiculously… ignorant things” and that many of them were “stupid and reductionistic.” He eventually resigned from his position, albeit for different reasons. Shortly after, it came to light he unnecessarily spent hundreds of thousands of university dollars.
Months later, what truly struck me was when a UF law school student’s class paper argued the Constitution only applied to white people.
In his paper, titled “National Constitutionalism,” Preston Damsky wrote all nonwhite persons should have their voting rights protections revoked, among other civil liberties. He received a book award for the paper from his professor, an honor given to the best student in the class.
When the university came under fire for the decision, Merrit McAlister, the dean of the law school, defended the professor’s actions, stating professors “must not engage in viewpoint discrimination.”
Universities should practice “institutional neutrality,” he said, when administrators don’t take positions on political issues.
The university’s lack of consistency is what stands out in this situation.
Damsky was allowed to espouse his white supremacist views, which advocated for eugenics and strong anti-immigration policies. He was rewarded with the class’s best student designation despite his outrageous, constitutionally indefensible positions.
Grace Barrett opinions@alligator.org
Meanwhile, pro-Palestine protesters — one of whom was charged with a felony for spitting on a police officer — were disbanded and called harsh names by UF’s former president.
Why does UF’s concept of “neutrality” only apply to certain viewpoints? Is the university practicing neutrality at all?
In addition to his paper, Damsky published several antisemitic posts on social media, resulting in the university banning him from campus.
He previously detailed several anti-immigrant and anti-Black ideals in his paper. UF officials only took action once it was put on social media and targeted toward a specific demographic.
While the administration is inconsistent in the messages it’s willing to send, there comes a point in history when we must draw a line between what we deem politics and an indisputable violation of human rights.
The university encouraged a heinous call for the destruction of minorities’ human rights in an attempt to avoid taking a stand on controversial issues. It sent the message that racism and xenophobia will not only be allowed on campus but rewarded.
Despite claiming neutrality, the administration has taken a side that will foster fear and distrust on our campus.
As someone who used to be proud of attending UF, I hope we can move toward a brighter future that celebrates our differences instead of ignoring them under the guise of “neutrality.”
Maybe then it will be great to be a Florida Gator.
Grace Barrett is a UF zoology junior.
Can we break free of generational dismay?
Stress is a constant companion in our years as college students. Tomorrow always holds another item to cross off a list or task to worry about.
But it’s all going to be worth it once we graduate, right?
Uncertainty about what lies beyond the walls of a university is a daunting but shared feeling for students.
Generation Z suffers from high rates of anxiety and depression, especially surrounding the future, the National Institutes of Health found. What used to be a shining place filled with possibility became a narrow ridge overcast by limits.
What’s holding us back from moving forward?
The unemployment rate for recent college graduates is the highest it’s been in the past 10 years, according to AP News. Environmental stressors, like the Trump administration’s drastic step back from environmental conservation, don’t help in our ability to imagine our future.
With all this in mind, it can feel embarrassing or childish to think there’s something we can do. When the world turns its back on you, it’s easy to surrender control. Why try to swim away from currents everyone is facing?
Intense external pressures constrict our internal desires to push onward. We subject ourselves to a life where we live carelessly, looking down instead of looking forward.
But it’s never embarrassing to try.
The scariest thing is we can’t control a collective future. No one person can change the world by themselves. We only have power over ourselves and our futures.
Resilience is being able to successfully adapt to life’s challenges with behavioral and mental flexibility, as defined by the American Psychological Association. It’s crucial to living a meaningful life in an uncertain world. It instills a fire in you that motivates you to keep moving forward despite a harsh reality.
Being resilient means living your life with the purpose of continuing on. By doing so, you can help change what clouds the future.
Living becomes art through resilience. As you carve out your place in society with intentionality and well-realized ideals, you paint your presence on the canvas of the world. The greatest act of resistance against something that wants to keep you down is to keep moving.
We need to create. We need to speak, write and build experiences with each other. We need to live in a way that adds to our future rather than live to keep it in place.
Maybe we won’t find the solution to economic crises and environmental issues on our own, and that’s OK.
Resilience doesn’t mean forcing yourself to ignore the hardship of it all. It means being kind during times when you feel the most hopeless.
The only way we can reintroduce hope into our lives is if each of us starts doing so little by little. Our combined hope will light the way through the continuously flowing fog of despair.
Andres Arguello is a UF English and psychology senior.
The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Alligator.
The Alligator encourages comments from readers. Letters to the editor should not exceed 600 words (about one letter-sized page). They must be typed, double-spaced and must include the author’s name, classification and phone number. Names will be withheld if the writer shows just cause. We reserve the right to edit for length, grammar, style and libel. Send letters to opinions@alligator.org, bring them to 2700 SW 13th St., or send them to P.O. Box 14257, Gainesville, FL 32604-2257.Columns of about 450 words about original topics and editorial cartoons are also welcome. Questions? Call 352-376-4458.
Andres Arguello opinions@alligator.org
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1. TELEVISION: In the show "Ted Lasso," what does the sign over the locker room doorway say?
1. MEASUREMENTS: How many inches are in a mile?
2. ANIMAL KINGDOM: How many words are dogs believed to understand, on average?
3. U.S. STATES: Which two states don't observe Daylight Savings Time?
2. ASTRONOMY: What does the acronym SETI mean to the scientific community?
4. LITERATURE: In the "Harry Potter" book series, how many balls are used in a Quidditch match?
5. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which company owns car makers Porsche and Audi?
3. LANGUAGE: What does the Latin prefix “sub-” mean in English?
6. GEOGRAPHY: Which country is home to Lake Como?
7. MOVIES: What are the names of Cinderella's stepsisters?
4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Who was the only president to serve two nonconsecutive terms?
8. ACRONYMS: What does the computer acronym DOS stand for?
9. MEDICAL: What is the condition called solar erythema?
5. LITERATURE: Which 20th-century movie star penned the autobiography “Me: Stories of My Life”?
6. HISTORY: What was the first National Monument proclaimed in the United States?
7. GEOGRAPHY: Where is the island of Luzon located?
8. MOVIES: Which sci-fi movie has the tagline, “Reality is a thing of the past”?
1. Tommie Aaron, brother of Hank, hit how many home
1. What placekicker from Cyprus won two Super Bowls with the Miami Dolphins and was the last NFL player to play without a facemask?
2. If you're watching runners compete in the Bowerman Mile, where are you?
9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What was the name of the United States’ first nuclear-powered submarine?
3. Name the American golfer who was the first to play in two Presidents Cup tournaments (1994, 1998) without playing in a Ryder Cup. (Hint: He shares a name with a legendary filmmaker.)
4. Swimmer Trischa Zorn won a record 55 medals in the Paralympic Games from 1980 to 2004, competing with what disability?
10. GAMES: What are the four railroad properties in Monopoly?
Answers
5. In 2024, what wide receiver became the University of Miami Hurricanes' all-time leader in receiving yards (2,844), receptions (200) and touchdown receptions (21)?
1. 63,360 inches
2. Search for extraterrestrial intelligence
6. Kenneth Harkness and Arpad Elo are known for developing player ratings systems for what game?
7. Name the Hungarian-born American swimmer who won five Olympic gold medals and went on to star as Tarzan in the 1930s and 1940s and played Jungle Jim in a series of films in the 1950s.
3. Below or insufficient
4. Grover Cleveland
5. Katharine Hepburn 6. Devils Tower, 1906
7. The Philippines 8. “The Matrix”
Garo Yepremian.
Xavier Restrepo.
Sudoku solution
MONDAY, JULY 14, 2025
www.alligator.org/section/sports
A leader on and off the field: Celeste Forte’s impact at Florida
THE FLORIDA LACROSSE ALUM REFLECTS ON HER COLLEGIATE CAREER
By Nicole Lopez Sports Writer
When asked to describe Celeste Forte, Florida head coach Amanda O’Leary characterized her as a competitor, a hard worker and a great teammate and person.
Her sister, Mia Forte, described her as a leader.
Throughout her career, Celeste showcased her athletic and leadership abilities playing lacrosse for Florida.
Celeste had a lot of pent-up energy growing up in Manorville, New York. She got into sports in elementary school after discovering soccer. Soon after, her coach suggested she pick up a spring sport: lacrosse.
Celeste decided to give it a try.
“I did not like it at first, because I liked being good at what I was playing, and of course, being a new sport, I was like, ‘I'm not good at this,’” Celeste said. “But I continued to go, and I ended up really loving it.”
Celeste and Mia grew up playing lacrosse. They practiced together, joined travel teams
GYMNASTICS
and competed at the varsity level in high school.
Celeste constantly pushed herself and those around her to work hard and be the best versions of themselves. Her competitiveness propelled her to success, Mia said.
“I loved playing with her, and I've always trained with her, always played with her in the backyard,” Mia said. “Celeste is a very competitive person. She really wants to push not only herself but people around her.”
Her spirit drove her to pursue her dream of playing collegiate lacrosse, and the New York native found a new home in Gainesville.
“The minute that I sat down with her and her family, I just knew she was the perfect person to represent our program [and] university,” Amanda O’Leary said. “I just thought she would be a perfect fit for us.”
Celeste played 12 games her freshman year before suffering a knee injury that forced her to sit out the rest of the season.
She didn’t let the injury discourage her. Her recovery inspired her to work harder, O’Leary said.
“She used it as motivation and came back better, stronger,” O’Leary said. “Her journey was one that was filled with adversity, but she learned from that adversity. She embraced
that adversity and thrived in that.”
Celeste helped her teammates any way she could while benched, becoming a leader within the team, she said.
“When she sustained that injury and she wasn't able to play, she was still very much a huge part of our team and our success,” O’Leary said. “She was in that locker room encouraging people. She was on the practice field literally being a coach out there, and her teammates respect her. They love her.”
Celeste’s leadership shone throughout the rest of her collegiate career.
With 19 turnovers and 27 ground balls, she was a key player for the Gators’ defense in 2025. She received Big XII Defensive Player of the Week honors during the season.
Celeste attributed part of her success to her team. Having great teammates pushed her to improve, she said.
Celeste helped lead Florida to two consecutive Final Four appearances in 2024 and 2025. Reaching the Final Four and playing at Gillette Stadium is her favorite memory from her athletic career, she said.
“It was an insane experience,” Celeste said. “To be able to do it two years in a row, when nobody really thought we were going to make it there the first time, and then make it back the next time, it was surreal.”
After securing the Big XII championship, she graduated from UF alongside her senior teammates.
While her D1 lacrosse career has reached its end, Celeste said she hopes to keep the sport in her life in any way she can.
Mia plays lacrosse at Binghamton University, and Celeste is looking forward to rooting for her sister at her games.
“I'm excited to be able to watch her in her college games, because she's been able to watch my college games,” Celeste said.
Her sister is looking forward to it as well.
“I think that [with] her coming to my games, I'm going to be the happiest girl,” Mia said.
Celeste is now working as an account executive for a cognitive training company. Her experiences on and off the field will carry into the workforce and the rest of her life, she said.
“[I learned] to not take everything so serious and to know that obviously constructive criticism is the best thing that you can get, because it helps you grow as a person,” Celeste said.
@lopeznicole715 nlopez@alligator.org
Florida gymnasts take part in Gators Experience 2025
FOUR GATOR GYMNASTS JOINED OTHER STUDENT-ATHLETES IN COMMUNITY SERVICE AND EXPLORATION IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
By Ava DiCecca Sports Writer
As part of Gators Experience 2025, four Florida gymnasts shared their knowledge with children in the Dominican Republic and learnt something new themselves.
Juniors Kayla DiCello, Gabby Disidore and Skylar Draser and senior Selena Harris-Miranda joined eight other student-athletes in the Dominican Republic.
Through Gators Experience, student-athletes work to define and achieve their non-athletic life goals. The 10-day trip to Santo Domingo was one destination in the program.
Shandy Dawkins, assistant director of leadership development at Gators Experience and former University of Florida graduate student, is one of the many people who work alongside the athletes to help them achieve their aspirations.
“Our primary goal is to make sure student-athletes are prepared for life after their sport, whatever that looks like,” Dawkins said.
The trip was the third of its kind from Gators Experience, preceded by trips to Costa Rica and Spain. The group returned to the Caribbean because Dawkins and her team found the service meaningful. It allowed student-athletes to immerse themselves in a new culture where their work has an impact, Dawkins said.
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In the Dominican Republic, the student-athletes took walking and boat tours, visited museums and parks, hiked and paddle boarded.
Harris-Miranda said the most impactful part of the trip was meeting and playing sports with children at Club Deportivo Renacimiento, Boca Chica, a volleyball and basketball camp. The student-athletes spent time with the kids, fed them lunch and helped paint their gym.
“It definitely was what I was looking for,” Harris-Miranda said. “To connect more with my Hispanic heritage, as well as going down and helping kids and inspiring them and being inspired by them, I think the trip met all my expectations.”
The gymnasts weren’t heavily involved with Gators Experience before but were drawn to the trip because of the growth opportunities it provided. They were selected due to their prior dedication to community service, united in their desire to explore a new country and engage in impactful community service.
“I love anything that helps the community, and being able to go to another country and see what that is like was something that drew me to this,” DiCello said.
Working with the kids was her favorite part. DiCello was happy to see the children excited to play, get more comfortable together and interact despite a language barrier, she said.
As a health education and behavior major, Skylar Draser was also excited to bond with the children and her goal was to go in with an open mind and learn about a different culture.
“When we got there, the kids were just so happy to see us,” Draser said. “They wanted to show us what they do
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on a daily basis and how they express their sports and how their community is together.”
Harris-Miranda also connected with the children and appreciated the learning experience.
“I just wanted to be able to get a different perspective on how other kids enjoy sports,” Harris-Miranda said. “[To see] how connected we could be through sports and teaching them drills and meeting them but also switching cultures.”
As they spent days playing with the children, the student-athletes were able to get to know each other better.
The gymnasts traveled with the men’s and women’s track and field, softball and women’s swimming and diving athletes.
DiCello enjoyed bonding with other student-athletes.
“I didn’t really know some of the other athletes that were there,” DiCello said. “Just being able to be with them during the community service and outside of it and getting to know them a little better, I thought that was really great.”
They worked together to overcome the language barrier, Draser added, which brought them closer together.
They found the hindrance to be overwhelming at first but eventually found ways to connect with the children using hand signals and body language, Harris-Miranda said.
All three were grateful for the experience, which highlighted how fortunate they are for the education and competitive experience they have at UF.
“You can tell they really connected [with the children] and grew as people during the experience,” Dawkins said.
@avadicecca24 adicecca@alligator.org
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