First look

The 2021-22 school year has been filled with “firsts” for more USF students than a typical year. Not only have freshmen experienced campus life for the first time, but so have thousands of returning students. The fall semester was the first for the Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee campuses to be fully operational since the start of the pandemic. With health and safety precautions still in place, the number of COVID-19 cases remained low and students welcomed the return to popular spots, such as the Marshall Center on the Tampa campus (pictured here), residence halls and in-person classes and events.

THE 45TH USF ALUMNI AWARDS made history Nov. 4 with an unprecedented celebration of award recipients from two years — 2020 and 2021 — due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Three graduates received the university’s highest alumni honor, the Distinguished Alumni Award, for outstanding professional achievements. Two were recognized for their deep devotion and dedicated service to USF and the Tampa Bay area, receiving Donald A. Gifford Service Awards. Two non-USF alumni were also honored for their selfless service, receiving Class of ’56 Awards.

Award recipients pictured are, from left:

2021 Donald A. Gifford Service Award recipient Stephanie Goforth, Business Management ’82, Life Member

2021 Distinguished Aluma Brig. Gen. (ret.) Carrie Williams Nero, Sociology ’75, MA Guidance and Counseling Education ’79, MS Nursing ’88

2020 Donald A. Gifford Service Award recipient Mike Griffin, Marketing ’03, Life Member

2020 Distinguished Alumna Tina P. Johnson, Accounting ’80, Life Member

2020 Class of ’56 Award recipient Steven Greenbaum, Life Member

Not pictured: 2020 Distinguished Alumnus Richard King, Art ’80, who attended virtually from California; and 2021 Class of ’56 Award recipient Jeff Vinik, who had to exit early due to work responsibilities.

Photo: JAY NOLAN