United Forever

year in review

Amid a year full of unpredictability, the community focused on embracing mutual beliefs, hopes and respect for one another. When division seemed to be at the forefront of the world, Gator’s never failed to integrate new approaches to assist the university’s uncertainty. The year’s climate caused the world’s lens to appear dismal and grey. However, the nation found a solution to remedy the adversities: unity. During the unprecedented times, coming together to establish an appreciation for every person and every effort was the only way to ensure a better tomorrow. With masks on, students were able to unite virtually, socially distanced or any other ways they could to promote positive change in their society. From spitting down tubes biweekly to on-campus vaccine distributions, health was a top priority throughout the pandemic. Mental health check-ins became encouraged not only at the Counseling and Wellness Center but within personal relationships too. Unification allowed people to open up their arms for one another, and human-rights movements were no exception to that regard. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives were, admiringly, broadcast across campus, being a source of inspiration for all backgrounds.

Navigating through the unknown was risky for many, but in the end, the University of Florida community recognized that the only way to persist was by reaching out to those around them, leaning on each other for strength and remaining United Forever.

for growth

UNITED communities

we fight

UNITED

to celebrate

forever UNITED

STUDENT LIFE

by

topping the charts & breaking records

The U.S. News and World Report’s 2021 College Rankings named UF as the sixth-best public university in the country, marking the fourth consecutive year UF rose in the rankings. Tied with the University of California, Santa Barbara, both schools improved their ranks from seventh place in the previous year. The university was close to their top-five goal and marked significant progress from its position as No. 14 in 2017.

Instructor and PhD student, Amanda Lewis, understood the significance of this rise. “It feels like I have more opportunity moving forward, being a PhD student and looking for potential jobs,” Lewis said. “Having that high rank definitely sets me apart from other professors and graduate students.” In addition to public university rankings, UF moved from No. 34 to 30 on the U.S. News National Universities list, a combination of public and private universities. Three undergraduate programs were also on the rise, according to U.S. News. The Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering rose from No. 34 to 32, the Warrington College of Business advanced from No. 28 to 24 and UF ranked No. 48 on the list for computer science.

The rankings are based on many factors, including student excellence, faculty resources, financial resources and expert opinion. One of the many reasons for UF’s rise was the small student to faculty ratio, which decreased significantly to 17:1 compared to 21:1 only four years ago. This allowed more than 50 percent of undergraduate classes to consist of fewer than 20 students. “The University of Florida has expanded and progressed so much during the time I’ve been here,” Adriana Laine, thirdyear undergraduate student, said. “From academics, to sports, to student resources and even studying abroad, I have learned to appreciate how hard our staff and administration truly work to make the Gator Nation so great.”

Writing by Sofia Simon Photography by Emma Troyer

black lives matter

The Black Lives Matter movement was initiated in 2013 by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer, George Zimmerman. The social movement sought to fight racism and police brutality. The deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, among others, sparked a new wave of the movement in 2020. Across the country, communities came together and united behind a common cause.

The Black Lives Matter movement was prominent in the news and social media across the country and around the world. The country broke out into protest. The people wanted to be heard.

The students at the University of Florida experienced the strength of the movement. Derek Wingo, first-year undergraduate student, said, “The Black Lives Matter movement has impacted me because I am able to see other people’s perspectives and to be more cautious with my word choice and actions. I think it is a very positive thing when communities stand together through performing marches and peaceful protests. I think the change that will be made through this movement is that the topic will now be brought up in seriousness and not pushed aside. I do believe it has united the UF community.”

A Black Lives Matter march took place on campus August 28, 2020. Angelique Mustell, first-year undergraduate student, experienced it and said “The Black Lives Matter movement has brought my attention to big issues I never personally focused on and how beautiful it is when the community stands together. This movement has definitely united the community which was visible through the march on campus. There were hundreds of students and members of the community, and a shrine on campus.”

The movement raised many student’s awareness. Italia Bollo, first-year undergraduate student, said, “It has made me more aware of injustices and that people have a right to stand up for what they believe in. There needs to be more love than division. That is something I think everyone can agree on.”

Writing by Kate McCrory Photography Compliments from Only in Gainesville

a letter from home

COVID-19 and its accompanying complications led to a rather unprecedented fall semester. With many courses online, some students chose to stay home. These students’ semesters were unconventional compared to previous ones as they navigated online classrooms, Zoom rush experiences, and virtual club meetings. Adjusting was not easy, but these Gators tackled the challenge with grace and made the most out of the strange semester.

Fernanda Altamarino, second-year undergraduate student, felt like her summer vacation was extended. “It’s very weird not being on campus,” Altamarino said. “I miss seeing my friends on my walks around campus and noticing the temperature change as the semester would end.” Sydney Starling, first-year undergraduate student, wished she had the opportunity to attend home football games. “One thing that I feel I am missing out on is Saturdays in the Swamp. I feel that if I was in Gainesville, then the majority of my Saturdays would take place watching football games with friends in the stadium,” Starling said.

Campus life was definitely missed, but students understood the need for safety measures and made the most out of their time at home. Rayon Uddin, second-year undergraduate student, managed to stay involved while being away from campus during the fall. “Despite the pandemic, I’ve still managed to get involved in varying organizations at UF and in the broader Gainesville community,” Uddin said. “This semester I’ve continued my involvement as an undergraduate researcher at UF Health, a volunteer at Rahma Mercy Clinic, the secretary for Junia Pediatrics and a member of the school’s neuroscience and psychology clubs. Meetings take place remotely through Zoom and it has been very successful, all things considered. There were a couple of other research labs I was accepted to this semester, but they required in-person attendance, so I’ll have to wait until next semester to join.”

O ther students, like Riley Hackworth, first-year undergraduate student, felt they missed out on the opportunity to get involved on campus during their first semester. Hackworth said, “I have not been able to stay as active as I would have liked to in other clubs on campus because of COVID-19 restrictions.”

Students utilized a variety of methods to stay safe and enjoy each other’s company. Hackworth managed to meet new people and become involved through the wakeboarding club. “I joined the UF wakeboarding club and have been driving to meet some of the members at various places to go wakeboarding,” Hackworth said.

In the face of many adjustments, students that stayed home during the fall semester still enjoyed their time away and were ready to come back when the time was right. Starling said, “I know that my time to be on campus will come in the future, but I view it as a blessing that I could be home and learn from a distance during the fall semester.”

Writing by Madisen Malone and Caitlin Fitzgerald

Photography by Emma Troyer

gators guide to escaping covid-19

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the college experience. Socializing, staying involved and destressing was often difficult. However, for these gators, it was crucial to find an escape from months of fearing a pandemic, an election and school grades.

Muntaha Islam, first-year undergraduate student, thought that taking time away from school was necessary for her personal development. “I think we need to recognize that we are more than just a student and explore those other parts of ourselves that have nothing to do with UF,” Islam said. “It brings a sort of fulfillment.” When Islam wished to forget about school responsibilities, she said she spent time in a hammock in her garden. For her, the fall semester was especially difficult because of the stress of school and experiencing loss. “COVID-19 has constructed a wall of anxiety around me as I have had relations pass away from the virus,” Islam said.

Despite the hardships, Islam said she still found ways to keep herself happy. She dedicated time to painting, learning about her religion, reading and spending time with her siblings. She said COVID-19 even allowed her more time to do things she enjoys. “Going for long bike rides has definitely been a quarantine highlight,” Islam said. “I was not able to do that before COVID-19. I have been polishing my interests, and I like how I have the time to really understand what I like and why I like them.”

Mikaela De Gracia, second-year undergraduate student, made sure to prioritize taking time away from school. “Detaching from typical college life once in a while allows me to relieve stress,” De Gracia said. Before COVID-19, De Gracia said her favorite place to go in Gainesville was Paynes Prairie.“It’s a great escape from campus and I love looking at how beautiful the stars are,” De Gracia said. Due to COVID-19, De Gracia remained in her hometown for the fall semester. She escaped from school by creating art on her iPad and seeing friends through Zoom.

Kasey Park, first-year undergraduate student, said the fall semester felt monotonous. “It was important to break away from routine once in a while. Detaching from that and taking some time to do something in a different environment can maybe help you relax a little and destress,” Park said. Park’s escape from school stress was exploring Gainesville. “I really like going to Lake Alice or to go biking around downtown and exploring the different restaurants and things there,” Park said. “They are great places to forget about schoolwork and the other stresses.”

Another struggle for Kasey Park involved meeting new people, especially as an out-of-state student. She said she was able to meet people within her residence hall, but with many student organizations canceling in-person meetings she said she felt somewhat isolated. “I’ve realized how much I took for granted I think,” Park said. “Being social wasn’t something I enjoyed necessarily but I honestly really miss it.”

Writing by Lucy Lannigan Photography Submitted

lost figures

The year threw the world many curveballs including event cancellations, campus shutdowns, election results and more. One curveball that affected people worldwide was the sudden passing of important figures such as Kobe Bryant, Naya Rivera, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Chadwick Boseman. Jordan Kahn, third-year undergraduate student, felt the impact of these beloved celebrities passing away. “2020 has been hard overall,” Kahn said, “so the death of these iconic celebrities definitely made it worse.”

As these icons passed away mere months apart, fans all over the world personally mourned the losses while appreciating what these icons did for society. While Ruth Bader Ginsburg was opening doors and breaking ceilings for women, Kobe Bryant was breaking records and stunning crowds all over the nation. Naya Rivera gave LGBTQ+ representation on television screens and Chadwick Boseman had the strength to carry on filming intense movies while hiding his struggles with colon cancer from fans.

Whether these losses were shocking or anticipated, the internet spread the news like wildfire. Big franchises like the Los Angeles Lakers and the Marvel Cinematic Universe were quick to honor those lost. “RBG was a very upsetting loss to me, especially with the political climate right now,” Ansley Diaz, first-year undergraduate student, said. “We can’t afford to lose someone so pivotal to human rights, but it was nice seeing so many different people honor her.”

While the subject of loss is always a somber one, it was important for many to consider what these losses taught them and how they can grow from those lessons. Martin Vivas, fourth-year undergraduate student, said, “Kobe Bryant’s death taught me to enjoy life as best you can.”

Writing by Kassandra Rodriguez Photography Compliments from Jose Otero via Shutterstock

animal encounters

Located at the south-western corner of the University of Florida campus lies the Florida Museum of Natural History, home to the little known Butterfly Rainforest. The 6,400 square-foot exhibit houses not only dozens of butterflies from every corner of the world but also birds, fish, turtles, flowering plants, and exotic trees. The exhibit’s renowned beauty to visitors, however, has not gotten it much of a standing among the University of Florida’s student population. First and second year undergraduate students especially, are always surprised to hear that such an exhibit exists on campus, and are then even more surprised to hear that it’s admission free to everyone with a Gator 1 Card. As Jacqueline McCloseky, second year undergraduate student, said, “This exhibit is a welcome change of scenery that made me feel like I was miles away in a forest”. McCloseky had been blown away by the natural life and peacefulness she felt at the exhibit, and plans to visit again whenever the stress of her classes becomes a little too much.

Another little slice of unknown pride for the gator nation can be found at the The University of Florida Bat Houses. The houses consist of three similarly shaped buildings overlooking Lake Alice. The first building of the three to be made was the bat house, constructed in March of 1991, followed years later by the adjacent bat barns in 2010 and 2017, respectively. As unlikely as it may seem, more than 450,000 bats are housed in the bat barns, with the actual bat house itself having deteriorated and now due for removal after more than 26 years. This astonishing number is what makes the University of Florida Bat Houses the largest occupied bat houses in the world. Yet, despite its title, the Bat Houses do not attract many students. As Amanda Lorenzo, second year undergraduate student, said, “I had no idea what these houses were, and I’ve biked by them so many times. I can imagine I’m not the only one who doesn’t know the history of these bat houses, or that every sunset so many thousands of bats emerge from them”. And indeed, not many know that every night, these colonies of bats emerge and eat up to 2.5 billion insects before the sun rises, an amazing feat of nature.

A staple to the University of Florida, campus squirrels are students’ friends on the ground, their peers alongside early morning or late night walks to class, and nature’s very own gardeners. It’s hard not to notice the ever-increasing population of squirrels around campus, and as Shannon McCloskey, third year undergraduate student, said, “You can find squirrels in just about any corner of campus, from atop trees to inside trash cans”. As friendly as these fellow squirrels may be, it’s our domesticated pets that really bring comfort into our lives. Many of the University of Florida’s off-campus students reside with their furry friends, and have their own animal encounters behind closed doors. Uma Raja, a third year undergraduate student, remarks that her pet rabbit Cocoa has helped cheer her up various times throughout her years at UF.

The University of Florida is a vast and animal filled swamp. Sometimes, however, it’s hard not to get lost among the brick buildings and live oak trees, and forget about what lies in those trees. Curious and beautiful animals are waiting to be discovered in every corner of campus, all one has to do is go out there and explore.

Writing and Photography by Emily Ponce De Leon

night life during a pandemic

Early March 2020 it became clear that nothing will be the same, but who knew for how long. It began with a two-week quarantine that continued for months. For students, maintaining a social life remained a challenge. With that, nightlife in college has changed tremendously. From wearing masks to a smaller capacity, longer lines, and the fear of catching COVID-19, going was seemingly not ideal. However, amidst the chaos, students still found ways to enjoy the nightlife in Gainesville.

In a college community, nightlife is one of the main elements that bring students together. Despite COVID-19, bars and restaurants began reopening once Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis, granted approval for full functioning bar capacity in September of 2020. “I only started engaging in nightlife after getting out of quarantine since I had immunity. I think the bar’s reopening has been fun. I like having a nighttime social life,” Jake Pugh, first year undergraduate student, said. “I think having a thriving nightlife scene makes our school a far more relaxed and fun environment. It helps distract people from the issues plaguing our nation and local communities,” he said.

With social distancing restrictions implemented into campus lifestyles, for some, leaving their dorms to party seemed like the easiest way to meet new people and have a good time. “Going out allows students to make new friends and meet people they may never have encountered on a Zoom. Although some see it as a risk, there are a variety of benefits that come with a lively nightlife to the economy, city, and overall student body,” Rachael Carr, first year undergraduate student, said. While many students overcame COVID-19, that did not mean they were entirely safe from the virus. Students who went home or visited family could not take as much of a chance as those who were staying on campus for the entire fall 2020 semester. “I would love to go out with everyone, but I am trying to have my own and my family’s best interests at heart. I don’t think any bars should open in this current climate, but it’s not surprising that bars in Florida are open,” Brendan Kilgerman, first year undergraduate student, said.

Nightlife was important for some of the 2020-2021 academic year students who yearned for social interaction during the pandemic. Face-to-face events had been limited for quite a while and, for many, were a part of gaining the typical full college experience. Even though there were risks of getting COVID-19, students still sought to return to a somewhat normal lifestyle, and going to bars was their break from reality.

Writing and Photography by Natalie Tajeddine 21+ Adult Photographed

elections and equity

The 2020 general election between Democratic candidate, Joseph Biden, and Republican candidate Donald Trump, took place on November 3 and caused an uproar throughout the nation. There was a major turnout of new, eligible voters with a mindset similar to that of Mary Ketcherside, third-year undergraduate student: “There were a lot of big decisions to be made, and I knew that I needed to be a part of it,” Ketcherside said. Newly educated voters made the choice to exercise their right as American citizens to cast their votes toward the candidate whom they believed would best lead the country during the uncertain times of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Coronavirus pandemic altered how voting was done this year, with the majority of eligible voters requesting mail-in-ballots rather than going to their precinct to vote. There was early voting at the Reitz Union, which was physically distanced and available to those who registered to vote in Alachua County. The many avenues available for voters to cast their ballots resulted in a major influx of votes which was remarkably greater than in previous years.

The new rising generation of America, Generation Z, was eligible to vote during the election and held a major influence in the final results of the election. The election was a new experience for many young adults, who finally had a say in their future leaders, and were equally represented in the polls. When asked about how it felt to vote, Taylor McKinney, first-year undergraduate student said, “It felt surreal. It was strange that during the midst of this year we had to stop and all come together to decide the next four years for our nation. I think it’s amazing that we have the freedom to do this, we are lucky.”

After the ballots from all fifty states were collected and counted, it was declared that Joseph Biden would be the next President of the United States. This was seen as a major win for America, and for women as his running mate Kamala Harris is the first woman Vice President of the United States. This is a major step toward equal representation in politics for women, and provides hope to the future children of America that no matter who you are you can achieve greatness. “It’s sad that it took until 2020 for this to happen, but I feel like it’s setting the precedent for it to happen again. In the future, I hope to see politics not be predominantly run by men, with an equal voice being held by women,” Arielle Saddick, third-year undergraduate student said.

Writing by Emma Troyer Photography Compliments from The Alligator

photo spots and candid opps

Instagram was all the rage this season, especially with the coronavirus pushing the community towards a more virtually inclined life. Luckily for students, the University of Florida had many Instagramworthy spots. Whether it was an alligator in Lake Alice or the blue and orange lights that illuminated Century Tower, there were many great places to strike a pose for your social media feed.

Right next to the Emerson Alumni Hall on University Avenue stood a statue of Albert and Alberta Gator holding hands. Behind them, a canopy of trees made for a wonderful backdrop. Lights in the trees twinkled as the sun went down, making it a perfect spot for a romantic Instagram picture with your sweetheart.

The stadium, which buzzed with life on game day, was a perfect place to take pictures even without the bustle of crowds. The Bull Gator statue, with a lovely flower bed behind it, was a popular photo spot for students and alumni alike. Located at the center of Stadium Road and Gale Lemerand Drive, you would see many people continuing the original ‘gator chomp’ pose in front of the statue. Lake Alice was a lovely place where students could go to enjoy their day in nature. If your social media had more of a natural vibe, this was the spot for you. Right across from the bat houses on Museum Drive, the lake offered beautiful scenery and perhaps even a live gator friend for your photograph. If anyone stayed until sundown, hundreds of bats would emerge from their dwellings and fly over the lake in search of food.

Another hidden gem by Lake Alice was a beautiful building with large, stained-glass windows. The chapel, also known as the Baughman Center, could be rented out for private events and was also open to the public on the weekdays for private contemplations—or a quick photoshoot. Its intricate architectural design with the lake in the background made for an elegant spot to take your next Instagram photo.

Century Tower was a popular landmark – if not the landmark – of the University of Florida. Perfect from any angle, trees and lovely architecture surrounded the tower on all sides. At night, it was lit up with the university’s signature colors orange and blue. Whether you visited it during sun-up or sundown, the 157-foot-tall tower never disappointed.

Near Newell Drive and Union Road, the Holiday Gator sat upon the lawn of the University Auditorium. This steel sculpture on a steel-barrel pedestal could be viewed yearly from mid-November until the end of December. This was a great place to take a picture with a gator and the iconic Century Tower in the background.

The University of Florida’s campus showcased some wonderful scenery and iconic landmarks, perfect for a quick photoshoot on students’ way to class.

Writing and Photography by Lillian Lawson

lucky number 11:59

Gone are the days of quickly finishing one’s homework right before class starts. Now, it’s a race to turn in assignments before 11:59 p.m. With the outbreak of COVID-19, computer screens became the new classrooms as an abrupt switch to e-learning was made.

For many students, the transition from in-person classes to online was difficult. Jenna Epledes, second-year undergraduate student, said, “Zoom learning has made school much less engaging and interactive for me as a student. It’s difficult to pay attention to a screen for very long and try to understand what’s going on sometimes.” Without being in a learning environment like a classroom, students like Epledes faced difficulty focusing on and understanding material. Technical challenges didn’t make this adjustment any easier as unstable Wi-Fi and computer glitches disrupted lessons and students’ focus.

The shift to e-learning affected some majors more than others. Chloe Cornett, first-year undergraduate architecture student, spent much of her time building models for her classes. “Studio life is a big part of architecture. It’s an isolated space where you can look at others’ work for inspiration while getting feedback for your own,” Cornett said. “Due to online classes, Discord has become our new studio, but it’s just not the same.” With a major as visual and design orientated as architecture, having these classes online was a significant disadvantage. There was only so much critique one could give to a 3D model through 2D pictures.

Zoom learning also impacted the social aspect of classes. “It’s hard to make friends when the only people you meet are ones you see in a breakout room for a few minutes,” Rachel Staple, first-year undergraduate student, said. Classes weren’t just a place for learning, but for networking and connecting with others too. Without this face-to-face connection, meeting new people was a challenging task for people like Staple.

The switch to Zoom classes proved to be a challenging transition for many students. The online format kept students less engaged than its in-person predecessor, while some majors faced additional difficulties by not being able to work in-person. E-learning also took a significant toll on classes’ social aspect as meeting new people and making connections became significantly more challenging than in previous years.

Writing by Madisen Malone Photography by Lillian Lawson

gators got spirit, what about you?

There’s nothing more eclectic than a game day in the Swamp. Fans rally together to celebrate, show off their pride and deck out in orange and blue. Jake Young and Casey Hegan, both first-year undergraduate students, embraced the energy at football games. “I was born and raised a gator,” Young Said. “I played all the way through high school. I love the standard our team has. I love seeing the energy the players play with. I love seeing what Coach Mullen is doing to get our program back to competing for national championships. I know we’re getting really close. I love being a part of gator nation. We have one of the best atmospheres in college football. I can’t wait for this season to see the swamp back at full capacity.” Young also represents the nation by wearing orange and blue on Saturdays. “I lways love repping the orange and blue and seeing all the fans decked out on game days. Standing and singing we are the boys and won’t back down are always the best just seeing the fans and players all come together for a moment during the game is always great to see,” he said.

Along with Young, even aspiring supporters, like 10-year-old, Dominic, soak in the spirit of game day. “ My dream is to one day play football for the Florida Gators,” Dominic said. “My favorite things about Gator Football are Gamedays in The Swamp, dressing up in my favorite Gator jersey to watch the Gators dominate and imagining myself on the field leading the team to victory. My favorite memory from this year was when my parents finally allowed me to play on our tackle football team. When I put my pads on for the first time, it made me feel even closer to my dream of being a Gator and then making it to the NFL,” said the aspiring Gator. “Orange and blue are my favorite colors. I was born to be a gator.”

Writing by Keila Hackebeil Photography Submitted

where’d all the time go?

gainesville tears down a beloved monumentThe Swamp Restaurant

June 30, 2020, was a day many Gators said farewell to their favorite spot to eat, drink and socialize. That was the day The Swamp Restaurant closed its doors. Due to contractual agreements with the property’s landlord, The Swamp had to not only shut its doors, but got completely torn down. Later that academic year, The Swamp would relocate. However, many students, alumni, and Gainesville residents felt that the spirit of The Swamp radiated through the history that resided in now torn-down building.

Writing by Keila Hackebeil Photography Compliments from Only in Gainesville

dancing with the SARS

With minimal in-person events, Homecoming events had an extreme shift from previous years. Moments like virtual showcasing and parading from home made it alright. From the Leadership Talent Show to the 2020 Soulfest Talent Night, students highlighted favorite moments.

Students adapted their homecoming celebration by spending time with their friends, and watching the talent shows and other events that took place during the Homecoming week, led by student organized programs, such as the Gator Growl Leadership Talent Show. Janelle Rolle, fourth-year undergraduate student, participated in the COVID-safe homecoming activity and found ways to make the best of it. Rolle said, “It was a lot of fun even though it was all socially distanced. I still got a lot of joy out of seeing everyone on stage and their personalities really shine. My favorite moment was VP Laure dan Official and his gator blow up suit, that really made my night.”

Rolle and others utilized technology to fill in for the typical experience. Rolle said, “There were only a handful of us in the Phillips Center at a time, so it limited me being able to interact with everyone in the pageant in person. But we had a group chat and got to talk in that and see people’s personalities there as well.”

Soulfest made sure to keep students safe while giving performers an opportunity to showcase their skills. Taylor Tarver, second-year undergraduate student, singer and one of the winners of the show- along with Sabor Latino dance- said, “Safety precautions were always taken considering COVID-19, yet the welcoming environment and community was unwavering.”

Virtual performances led to new challenges for those involved. Tarver said, “As a performer, I was able to think outside the box on how best to demonstrate my talent in lieu of a live performance, and the entire Soulfest team was supportive of my journey from the initial application to the winning announcements.”

While Soulfest took on a different form than usual, it still reflected positive values. “I am so thankful for having the opportunity to express myself artistically and be showcased in a way that spreads a positive message for the intended audiences of my performances,” Tarver said. “It is my hope that Soulfest continues to be a showcase of talents from all cultures and backgrounds, and an uplifting platform for performers to use to share stories and art to a wide range of people. The future of Soulfest lies in the hands of those who participate, and have the courage to speak their truth through art.” Soulfest showcased students’ talents and left a lasting impression. Tarver said, “Participating in Soulfest was an experience worth remembering.”

Writing by Llonique Jackson Photography by Kiana-Alizé Diaz

ATHLETICS

Southeastern Conference 42 - 83

Football 42 - 49 vs. South Carolina 42 vs. Texas A&M 43 vs. Georgia 44 - 45 vs. Vaderbilt 46 - 47 vs. Kentucy 48 vs. Louisiana State 49 Season Wrap Up 49

Spirit Squads 50 - 51 Dazzlers Dance Band Gatorettes Color Guard Cheerleading Albert & Alberta Cross Country 52 - 53 Track & Field 54 - 55 Soccer 56 - 57

Women’s Swim & Dive 58 - 59

Men’s Swim & Dive 60 - 61 Women’s Tennis 62 - 63 Men’s Tennis 64 - 65

Women’s Golf 66 - 67 Men’s Golf 68 - 69 Volleyball 70 - 71 Women’s Basketball 72 - 73

Men’s Basketball 74 - 75 Gymnastics 76 - 77 Softball 78 - 79 Baseball 8 0 - 81 Lacrosse 82 - 83

Recreational & Club Sports 84 - 91

Women’s Rugby 84 - 85 Surf Club 86 - 87 Wheelchair Basketball 88 - 89 Club Cheerleading 90 - 91

Photography by Courtney Culbreath,

Compliments from University Athletic Association’s Courtney Culbreath and Tim Casey

gators against south carolina and texas a&m

Fall semester was accompanied by everyone’s favorite season: football season. Despite a complicated and unprecedented semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 was no exception. Things might have looked a little different this year, but despite social distance protocols, carb board cut outs in place of spectators, and tons of masks, Florida fans showed their support and admiration for the Gators.

The Florida Gators started off their season strong, playing the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Stadium. At the time of the game, the Florida Gators were ranked number three competing against the unranked Gamecocks. The Florida Gators came out strong, with Kyle Trask and Dameon Pierce scoring the first two touchdowns of the first quarter compared to the Gamecock’s one touchdown. The Gators held momentum throughout the remainder of the game scoring 3 more touchdowns and one field goal, courtesy of Kyle Pitts, Trent Whittemore, Kadarius Toney, and Evan McPherson, respectively. The Gamecocks gave it their all but were still unable to keep up with the talent exhibited by the 2020 University of Florida football team. Danny Beeman, first-year undergraduate student, had some thoughts about the South Carolina game and the Gators’ performance. “Wide receiver Kyle Pitts and quarterback Kyle Trask both had a stellar game. They continued to show utter domination from the passing game. Wide receiver Kadarius Toney used South Carolina’s weak defense to his advantage and was able to find lots of room to make plays. I really enjoyed watching this game.”

The Florida Gators played a solid offensive game that ultimately led them to a 38-24 victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks. Summer Munnings, first-year undergraduate student, watched the game with some friends and shared her thoughts on the Gators and their early season win. “The Gators had a really great game and it got me very excited for the remainder of the 2020 football season. The team’s energy and excitement were evident and really showed off in their offensive performance. My friends and I can’t wait to cheer on the Gators for the rest of our time in college.”

Writing by Caitlin Fitzgerald

Photography by Courtney Culbreath, Evan Lepak and Isabella Marley, Courtesy from the University Athletic Association’s Tim Casey and Courtney Culbreath

The 41-38 loss to the Texas A&M Aggies on October 10 was the end of the Gators’ 2-0 undefeated streak. After wins against Ole Miss and South Carolina, the Gators were looking toward a top-ranking and a possible conference championship. For this game, the Gators traveled on the road to Kyle Field in College Station, Texas.

Kyle Trask had another impressive performance in a season of impressive performances. The senior quarterback proved yet again that he had earned his spot as QB1. He threw for 312 yards passing, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He finished the game with a completion rate of 23/32.

Trask had his choice of offensive weapons to rely on. Fourth-year undergraduate student, Kadarius Toney was Trask’s main target this game and he finished with 92 yards receiving and two touchdowns. Malik Davis and Kyle Pitts were the next two biggest receiver contributors with 73 yards for Davis and 47 yards and a touchdown for Pitts respectively. The Gators also utilized their running game through Nay’Quan Wright who had six carries for 31 yards and a rushing touchdown.

The Gators’ defense struggled to hold back the offensive duo of the Aggies’ senior quarterback Kellen Mond and running back Isaiah Spiller. Mond finished the game with 338 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Spiller was the main offensive weapon of the game on A&M’s side with 27 carries for 174 yards and two touchdowns.

Despite the large production from both teams’ offenses, both teams suffered offensive mishaps throughout the game. This matchup ended up with a total of three fumbles, two for the Aggies and one for the Gators.

In the end, the Gators’ offensive performance just wasn’t enough. A late-game fumble by Davis with 3:40 left in the game set the Aggies up for a last-minute scoring attempt. Texas A&M led by quarterback Mond made their way down the field with minutes left in the game. The final 3 minutes caused the Gators to fall short to the Aggies running game with starting running back Isaiah Spiller taking the ball for 22 yards. At the 0:02 second mark, a final timeout by the Aggies set them up for a 26yard field goal attempt by kicker Seth Small to win the game.

Writing by Caitlin LeDrew Photography by Courtney Culbreath and Kevin Camps, Courtesy from the University Athletic Association’s Tim Casey and Courtney Culbreath

florida football versus georgia

O ften cited as the best rivalry in the SouthEastern Conference, the Florida versus Georgia game is one that famously keeps fans on their toes. Held at the TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida, the football game had the number 8 Florida Gators competing against the number 5 Georgia Bulldogs in an effort to set the tone for who would win the SEC East and go onto the SEC Championship.

The normally packed Jacksonville stadium only held 28% capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions, but it didn’t stop both Georgia and Florida fanatics from showing up and showing out. Predictions for which team would win the game were all over the place, but many Gator fans had unwavering confidence in their ability to beat the Bulldogs.

The first half of the first quarter may have been frightening on the Florida side as Georgia put up 14 points in the first four minutes. By the end of the quarter, Kyle Trask and Dameon Pierce tied the score, promising an exciting game. “While Georgia was beating us 14-0 in the beginning, I still had hope,” Justin Docal, thirdyear undergraduate student, said. “I really liked how the team stayed resilient even after the rocky start.”

G eorgia started off the second quarter strong, but it wasn’t long until Florida was able to storm back and take the lead. The end of the first half of the rivalry game was a major success for the Gators, and the team was ready to end the game in a positive mood. The second half was not nearly as nail-biting. The Florida Gators won the game with a score of 44 as the Georgia Bulldogs seemingly ran out of gas with their 28-point score.

The victory was one that many believed was overdue. The Gator offense proved they were worthy, and the team rose to number 6 in the country’s college football rankings. Additionally, fans everywhere believe the Florida versus Georgia game to be the Gators’ best performance of the season.

Writing by Kassandra Rodriguez

Photography by Courtney Culbreath, Alder Garfield, Piper Hansen, Kelly Chase and Alex De La Osa, Courtesy from the University Athletic Association’s Tim Casey and Courtney Culbreath

touching down in nashville

Week after week, the South-Eastern Conference was being swept away by a certain Florida lineup. For the seventh game in the season, the number six Florida Gators football team went head-to-head with the unranked Vanderbilt Commodores in Nashville, Tennessee. Vanderbilt Stadium had a strict 3% attendance with only parents and families of student-athletes and a specified number of graduate and professional students able to attend. Even with the odds of a noon “away” game stacked against them, the Gators still brought their all. Sports analysts were expecting Florida to win, but it didn’t make the victory any less exciting. While the Commodores had a fairly strong first quarter, the team was unable to fully keep Florida at bay. Florida may have had their third slow start of the season, but by the time the second quarter came around, Kyle Trask was just getting started. Still, the Gators defense struggled to keep the score at a tie, and Vanderbilt was able to gain a 3-point lead.

The second quarter proved strong for the Florida team, which gained a 7-point lead after successful plays from Evan McPherson, Trevon Grimes, and Kyle Trask

The Gators’ 21-point second half firmly put Vandy away. While star tight end Kyle Pitts was still missing from the lineup due to an injury, the UF offense continued on with an impressive performance. The Nashville natives only scored once later in the third quarter, but were able to show that they still had some fight left in them. The fourth quarter also teased fans with the hopeful future that Florida football has by having second-string Quarterback Emory Jones come in and successfully pass to #88 Kemore Gamble for the final touchdown that ended the game.

Trask’s three touchdown passes led the Gators to victory. While he remained a possible Heisman Trophy contender, the Florida Gators remained possible SEC Championship contenders. In the end, Florida came out on top, 38-17, furthering their win streak in a COVID-struck season.

Writing by Kassandra Rodriguez

Photography by Tim Casey, Hunter Long, Courtesy from the University Athletic Association’s Tim Casey and Courtney Culbreath

southeastern showdowns against kentucky and louisiana state

“United We Stand, Divided We Fall” is the motto of The University of Kentucky. Well, on November 28, 2020, the Wildcats seemed to have stood divided. The University of Florida took the game with 34 points- truly showing their unity- to Kentucky’s mere 10. Florida started off strong in the first quarter with a 56-yard pass and touchdown from Trask to Pitts, ending the quarter with a 7 point lead. However, Kentucky caught up in the second quarter with a touchdown from tight end Keaton Upshaw. The Wildcats took the lead with a 22-yard field goal by placekicker Matt Roffolo, making the score 10-7. Florida came back with Kadarius Toney’s 50-yard punt return, ending the second quarter 14-10 with UF ahead by a mere 4 points. Florida continued their lead into the third quarter with two touchdowns from Pitts and a 34-yard field goal from Evan McPherson. The quarter ended 31-10 with Florida ahead. The Gators secured their victory in Quarter 4, extending their lead to 34-10 thanks to McPherson’s 40-yard field goal. Just like that, these Wildcats became gator bait. The game was a successful return for tight end Kyle Pitts as he was previously out for three weeks with a concussion and broken nose. The junior did not disappoint, scoring Florida’s every touchdown. “The Kyle to Kyle connection is unreal. Kyle Pitts is undoubtedly the best tight end in college football and is going to be a top-20 NFL pick,” Second-year student, Jeremy Sabol said. Quarterback Kyle Trask also scored the spotlight, breaking former UF quarterback Danny Wuerffel’s record by throwing three touchdown passes eight games in a row. First-year student, Brianna Ma said, “The game was so exciting to watch. I was scared in the second quarter when Kentucky was catching up, but my friends and I were celebrating after UF won.” While the second quarter was a struggle for the lead, the Gators dominated the game’s second half, leading to their victory.

Writing by Madisen Malone Photography by Isabella Marley and Alexis Greaves, Courtesy from the University Athletic Association’s Tim Casey and

SEASON SCORES OVERALL

Date Opponent W or L Score

September 26, 2020 Ole Miss W 51 - 35

October 3, 2020 South Carolina W 24 - 38

October 10, 2020 Texas A&M L 38 - 41

October 31, 2020 Missouri W 17 - 41

November 7, 2020 Georgia W 44 - 28

November 14, 2020 Arkansas W 35 - 63

November 21, 2020 Vanderbilt W 38 - 17

November 28, 2020 Kentucky W 10 - 34

December 5, 2020 Tennessee W 31 - 19

December 12, 2020 LSU L 37 - 34

December 19, 2020 Alabama L 52 - 46

December 30, 2020 Oklahoma L 20 - 55

As the Gators and LSU went head to head on December 12, a heavy fog laid itself across the stadium. The Gators led the game 31-27 until the fog began limiting visibility during the fourth quarter, and LSU came around, finishing the game with a 37-34 lead. This major SEC championship game altered the College Football Playoff track in the final week of the season. The fog wasn’t the only thing that deterred the Gators that night. Their tight end, Kyle Pitts, was out, and a shoe lodged itself between them and a win after Marco Wilson threw his opponent’s downfield. This warranted a 15yard penalty that gave the Tigers the opportunity to make a 57-yard field goal. The Gators’ loss was final after Evan Mcpherson missed a 51-yard field goal.

Garrett Atkinson, a second-year undergraduate student, attended the game after his roommate won the lottery for tickets. “I felt fortunate, you know, it was definitely a game that I’m probably never going to forget for years and years to come,” Atkinson said. Atkinson said he had gone to a few games throughout the season and had great experiences, despite the COVID-19 restrictions that were in place at the time. However, this game, he said wasn’t their best, and he was disappointed when they lost. “I was shell shocked,” Atkinson said. “I knew we were still going to go to the SEC championship game against Alabama, but I was more scared.”

This game was the first one that Ashlyn Brushwood, a second-year undergraduate student, was able to attend for the season. “The stadium was definitely more scarce than normal but still enough people and signs to make it fun,” Brushwood said. She said the frustration of fans could be felt all around as the Gators lost the game. Brushwood said she each time the Gators came back and scored she felt hope for a win. “I was honestly shocked the whole game that we were losing,” Brushwood said. “We were definitely a better team and should have beat LSU.” Brushwood said the Gators were expected to win and it was upsetting when they didn’t; however, she was still excited to attend.

Writing by Lucille Lannigan

spirit squads dazzlers dance band gatorettes color guard orange & blue cheerleading Albert & Alberta

Photography from the Spirit Squads’ Instagrams and by Hannah White and Alexis Greaves, Courtesy from the University Athletic Association’s Tim Casey and Courtney Culbreath

cross country racing for a reason

The University of Florida’s cross country team was yet another gator sport to be proud of during the academic year. Opening up the season, newcomers Ethan Geiger and Angel Vicioso placed 3rd and 8th respectively in the 8,000-meter race against Florida State, Georgia Tech, and Miami on September 18th, 2020. The men’s team finished third in this first race, which originally was not guaranteed to occur due to the Coronavirus pandemic. This positive tone helped set the mood for the rest of the season, which the cross country team dedicated to giving it their all.

On Friday, October 2, the cross country team competed once again against 10 other contestants at the FSU Cross Country Invitational. The UF men’s team finished at an impressive fourth place, while the women’s team took seventh in the 5k race. First-year student Vasileia Spyrou led the way for the women’s team with a spot in 8th place, actively meeting the gator standard.

For the Blazer Classic Meet on October 16th, the pressure was on. As the final match before the SEC championships, the Gators travelled to Alabama to place sixth in men’s. The women’s team placed ninth with team members Payton Capes-Davis, Emily Culley, Emily Jones, Cheyenne Young and Vasileia Spyrou competing vigorously.

The SEC championship was at the University Club of Baton Rouge on Friday, October 30th, 2020. Men’s placed 7th and women’s placed 9th against 30 other teams. Third-year student, Trevor Foley was named to the Men’s Second Team All-SEC after an impressive 13th place in the men’s 8,000-meter race. Additionally, Spyrou earned a place on the Women’s Freshman All-SEC Team. As the final race for the 2020 fall season, Florida’s cross country team made impressive numbers and great memories.

After a long break, the cross country team was back and ready for another meet on February 5, 2021, at the FSU Winter Cross Country Classic. First-year student, Stephanie Ormsby placed 21st in the women’s 6,000 meter race. Finishing third among all first-year students in the race, Ormsby proved to be a great asset to the Florida team. Overall, the men’s team finished in 20th and the women’s team finished in 15th. Amid the pandemic, the cross country teams still managed to stay consistent and performed well in the meets, and the team had continuea to be dominant in the SEC for the following season.

Writing by Kassandra Rodriguez Photography by Courtney Culbreath, Kelly Chase and Chloe Hyde, Courtesy from the University Athletic Association’s Tim Casey and Courtney Culbreath

track and field champions of the east

The Florida Gators’ track and field team has kicked off the first leg of their season, the indoor series, with a bang. After their run at both the conference and national indoor championships, they will start the second leg of their season, which is the outdoor series. Third-year student distance runner, Imogen Barrett said that the pandemic has given the team “a greater appreciation for the sport after going so long without it” and described the team philosophy for this season as “stronger together”. This year the team proved they are stronger together as they cleaned up at the SEC Conference Championship with a secondplace finish for the women’s team with 81 total team points and a fifth-place finish for the men with 57 total team points. First-year student Talitha Diggs won a conference title with her first-place finish in the 400 meters. She also earned a place in the record books with her 51.14-second run which elevated her to the second-fastest 400 meters in the nation this year and the third-fastest in school history. On the men’s side, second-year student, Joseph Fahnbulleh earned a second-place finish with his personal best 20.32 second 200 meters which won him the second-place time in the program, the NCAA, and the world. Senior Thomas Mardel also impressed and was crowned SEC Champion for his weight throwing performance which made him the fifth-best college thrower in history. After cleaning up at the SEC Championship, the Gators moved on to the NCAA Indoor Championship on March 13 with 22 combined entries; 10 for the men and 12 for the women. This was the second-most entries in the nation. First-year student, Ryan Willie set a personal best and became the fifth-fastest 400-meter runner in school history with a time of 45.40 seconds. Senior Thomas Mardel earned a spot as both the conference and national weight throwing champion. He threw a 24.46-meter shot that elevated him to the third-best weight throwing performer in college history all while also beating his own school record. First-year student Claire Bryant broke an 11-year old UF record with her incredible 6.70-meter long jump that also earned her second-place in the event. In the end, the men collected 34 team points across the competition earning them a fourth-place finish and the women collected 30 team points earning them a sixth-place finish.

Writing by Caitlin LeDrew

Photography by Courtney Culbreath, Alex De La Osa, Rick Hurtado and NCAA Images, Courtesy from the University Athletic Association’s Tim Casey and Courtney Culbreath

soccer defying the odds

Founded in 1995, the UF Women’s Soccer team is yet another sport that students and alumni alike love to support day in and day out. The 2020-2021 season began on Sunday, September 27, when Florida and No. 8 Georgia tied the game 1-1 in Florida’s very own Donald R. Disney Stadium. While the initial season-opener was postponed due to positive COVID-19 tests, the Gators were able to successfully show their fierceness and their love for the game.

The following week, when UF competed against an Alabama team that was also coming off of a tie, fears ran high as Alabama scored only five minutes into the game. With some extra-motivated players, UF was able to score in the 62nd minute to bring the game to a tie. While it just seemed like this game was about to end in another tie, sophomore forward Alivia Gonzalez was able to score the game-winning goal, and Florida claimed their first win of the season. Teammates and coaches were quick to celebrate the energizing victory. “It was just an exciting time,” said Alivia Gonzalez. “Knowing that there’s a minute left in the game and we had our first win in the SEC.”

After the Alabama game, the Gators seemed to have a rough stretch, losing six games in a row. These losses only pushed the team forward, and a major triumph came out of the Gators’ trip to the Southeastern Conference Tournament in Orange Beach, Alabama. An impressive score of 5-5 was on the board as the Florida Gators and the Kentucky Wildcats seemed to meet each other with the same level of ferocity. Gator second-year student, Cassidy Linley was able to score the game-winning goal in the 96th minute, where she was then met with cheers and hugs from fellow teammates, family, and friends. The team showed a surge of perseverance that they knew they always had.

The win carried the Gators to the second round of the SEC tournament against Missouri. Florida was unsuccessful in beating the Tigers, and their journey in the SEC tournament ended after a 1-2 loss.

The season continued on February 20th, where UF beat the College of Charleston with a score of 5-1. First-year student, Beata Olsson and Delaney Tauzel both made their first Gator goals in the game, giving the team multiple things to celebrate. The games versus USF and FSU that followed both ended in ties, and the game against Georgia Southern on March 11th left the Gators to celebrate a 3-1 win. The win against GSU also marked the last time Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh would be on the home sideline, as the end of the 2020-2021 season marked the beginning of her retirement.

The team’s season concluded with a 2-0 victory over the University of Miami on April 3rd. It was a significant and emotional moment for the team, as Coach Burleigh’s tenure ended on a victory in an away game. She had accomplished a multitude of milestones for the Gator Nation in her 26 seasons of coaching soccer, including an NCAA championship title in 1998. That next season would mark a new chapter for the team, but no matter the outcome, Coach Burleigh would always be cheering on the Gators, regardless if she was on the field or not.

Writing by Kassandra Rodriguez

Photography by Emma Bissell, Chris Kim, Anna Carrington, Tim Casey, Leslie White and Chris Haas, Courtesy from the University Athletic Association’s Tim Casey and Courtney Culbreath

women’s swimming & diving just add water

The University of Florida’s Women’s Swim and Dive Team dominated their 2020-2021 season, being 4-1 and scoring 2nd place at the SEC Championships. The Gators started their season at Athens, where they faced off against the University of Georgia. While UF led in events such as the 100 Yard Backstroke and three-meter Diving, the Bulldogs ultimately took the meet at 184 points to 116. However, Florida was quick to recover, winning 190-94 against The University of Miami just six days later. The Gators placed at the top in every swimming event, only giving up the one-meter springboard and three-meter springboard events. UF continued its winning streak into the Auburn Invitational, winning 508-421 in the three-day competition. These Lady Gators also took home their last two meets, winning by over 100 points against both UNF and Auburn. Due to Covid-19, this season consisted of fewer dual meets than usual. However, this did not stop these ladies from working hard. Second-year swimmer Katie Mack said, “Our coaches did a great job of giving us racing opportunities during the year outside of our real season with team intersquad meets and racing during practice.” With all the hard work and dedication these Gators and coaches put in, UF was able to win four out of their five meets despite being limited by Covid-19 protocols. This sent the Division 1 team to the 4-day SEC Championships. Florida started off strong on the first day of SECs, placing second in the 800 free relay with the team of Talia Bates, Katie Mack, Nikki Miller, and Kathleen Golding. Fourth year diver Ashley McCool took home gold in the 1-meter springboard, earning 334.35 points. The Gators continued to take medals on the second day of the championships. Second-year Katie Mack placed third in the 50-free, and third-year Vanessa Pearl took second in the 200-IM. McCool got her second medal of the meet, winning the bronze in the 3-meter springboard. On day three, second-year Swimmer Talia Bates finished fourth in the 200-free with a time of 1:44.05. This placed her at number five on UF’s all-time best list. Swimmers Kathleen Golding and Vanessa Pearl placed seventh and eighth in the 400-IM. On the fourth and final day, Pearl broke her own 200-Breast school record with a time of 2:07.85. She says, “Competing at SEC’s is always an honor, it’s such a high energy meet and extremely competitive. It’s a fight every session, it’s exhausting but such a rewarding experience.” The Gators placed second in the competition for the third year in a row, scoring 1071 points overall. Additionally, McCool was awarded Diver of the Meet for her performances on the 1-meter, 3-meter, and platform.

While that may have been the season’s end for some, 16 Lady Gators were headed to the NCAA Championships later that year in mid-March. The team finished in 17th place at the NCAA Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina, accumulating a collective score of 84.5 points. The team was proud of what everyone had accomplished that season regardless of the challenges caused by the pandemic, and the athletes were confident that they would only continue to grow.

Writing by Madisen Malone Photography by Courtney Culbreath, Courtesy from the University Athletic Association’s Tim Casey and Courtney Culbreath

men’s swimming & diving diving for a grand finish

The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t stop the Men’s Swimming and Diving team from diving headfirst into their season. Practices began in July 2020, with about 10 team members returning to campus to participate in spreadout drills with one person to a lane. Slowly the rest of the team came back in phases after being tested for COVID-19. The beginning of the competition season was shortened with only three meets in the fall season rather than the usual 15. They opened their new season in October with a 164.5-134.5 loss against Georgia but five individual victories. Robert Finke, Trey Freeman and Kieran Smith all posted the nation’s fastest time in their event. Trey Freeman, a second year undergraduate student, said it was great to compete against other teams after not racing for eight months.

“The swimming team is pretty small so we know a lot of other people on the team,” Freeman said. “It was good to see familiar faces again.” Brennan Gravley, a second year undergraduate student, said the dual meet with Georgia was one of his greatest memories of the season. He said their loss was rare for the Gators but helped them see how strong of a team Georgia was “Respecting their ability will help us develop in the long run,” Gravely said. “Because of this meet, I am excited for what’s to come at our championship meets.”

In November, they won overall at the US Open tournament. They then traveled to Auburn, Alabama, to compete in the Auburn Invitational where the Gators led for two days until winning on the final day.

Ranked number 5 in the nation and with an overall of 2-1, they prepared for the SEC championships. Gravely said they spent eight months training at a high level and he hoped to surprise people at the SECs.

Despite the challenges COVID-19 presented, the morale of the coaching staff and athletes was resilient, Gravely said. They learned to roll with the punches and he hoped the end-of-season results reflected that. “COVID-19 has been difficult, but being able to train and compete at such a high rate despite the pandemic is something I am immensely grateful for,” Gravely said. “I love this team with everything I have, so being able to spend time with them means everything to me.” Freeman said the team felt well-rested and excited for the SEC championship. Swimming is a training sport where you race but don’t always get to go your fastest, Freeman said. He and the team were looking forward to picking up speed.

Writing by Lucille Lannigan Photography by Courtney Culbreath, Courtesy from the University Athletic Association’s Tim Casey and Courtney Culbreath

women’s tennis standing out

The UF Women’s Tennis team had a positive win rate during their jam-packed semester, with a score of 7-6 overall. Compared to their overall stats from 2020, where the win rate was 5-4, it is apparent that the UF Tennis team was able to play significantly more games this semester and focus on their team growth. Similarly, the UF Tennis team is also experiencing a favorable season with their conference matches, winning 5 out of their 8 conference matches so far. Two of this season’s wins, with a score of 4-2, were at Louisiana State University and Texas A&M University. Both matches were home games that occurred late February. “When we played LSU or Texas A&M, I was one of the last people on. It’s just a really cool atmosphere, having the people in the stands cheering for you and your teammates standing by your side,” said line 3 and line 2 doubles player Ida Jarlskog Unfortunately, there were also a few losses this season for the UF Tennis team. One of the more challenging matches was against the University of Georgia, played in Athens, Georgia, with a loss of 1-4. The University of Georgia is ranked #3 in the country for college tennis, making it a formidable opponent. Nevertheless, the UF Women’s team refused to let that challenging match define their season. They persevered, winning their University of Missouri and University of Arkansas matches soon afterwards. The scores for these matches were both an overwhelming 4-0 in favor of the UF team.

With the 2020-2021 tennis season looking up for UF, one of the main factors that sets the UF Women’s tennis team apart from other schools is their hard work and dedication to the sport. “I remember my first college, we were hitting maybe 1 and a half hours a day and did physical workouts maybe 3 times a week. But here, we can sometimes play 3 hours a day, and then have physical workouts for 1 and a half hours,” said Jarlskog. “I think we actually stand out as a college team from that perspective, that everyone really tries to get better, and wants to develop their game.”

After finishing the regular season with a streak of victories, the team shifted focus to the SEC tournament and NCAA regionals. The Gators lost to the University of South Carolina in the tournament, but they sealed a victory against Siena College to advance to the regional finals, posting a score of 4-0. Unfortunately, our team lost to the University of Southern California, ending the overall team’s season. However, doubles duo McCartney Kessler and Marlee Zein secured a spot in the NCAA singles and doubles championship, but fell short of the round of 16. No matter what the outcome was, our team did well this season despite the challenges imposed on the team.

Writing by Allyssa Keller Photography by Jessica Seldner, Alexis Greaves and Hannah White, Courtesy from the University Athletic Association’s Tim Casey and Courtney Culbreath

men’s tennis an SEC & NCAA championship story

Practice for the Men’s Tennis Team was in fullswing by the first week of school in September after some teammates returned in August. It had been six months since their last season and since COVID-19 sent the players back home to their families. William Grant, a second year undergraduate student, said they were ecstatic to return to practice and play tournaments in the Fall semester. Grant said the team had to make changes to their practices and lifestyle to ensure the team’s safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The team created their own bubble and restricted who they saw on a day-to-day basis. “It was obviously challenging and at some times difficult, but the whole team was ready to sacrifice a couple aspects of our life to be able to compete and practice,” Grant said.

The gators were able to travel by bus during the Fall 2020 semester and play 3 mini tournaments at the Tiger Fall Invitational, the Gamecock Fall SEC Shootout and the Southern Intercollegiate Championships where they brought home wins and started off an impressive season. Grant said much of the 2020 Fall semester consisted of practice matches that helped them get back into competition. He also added that the team did really well in Fall 2020 and had a great Spring season as well. “Spring season has been nothing but business,” Grant said.

They have competed in their full spring schedule –playing 18 matches and placing #2 in the country, with a record of 15-3. Their biggest wins were against their rivals from the University of Georgia where they won 7-0 at home, and against the University of Tennessee, where they won 5-2, and Texas Christian University where they won 7-0, Grant said. Both UT and TCU were top 5 or 10 teams at the time. The gators were very excited to be completing their SEC season and are close to winning the SEC conference, which Grant said is one of their biggest goals every year.

After the SEC, the Gators were eager to start the NCAA championships in pursuit of winning the Gators first tennis national title. “Personally I am hoping my doubles partner and I make the All-American team and get the chance to play in the NCAA individual tournament,” Grant said.

Writing by Lucille Lannigan

Photography by Jessica Seldner, Courtney Culbreath and Emma Bissel, Courtesy from the University Athletic Association’s Tim Casey and Courtney Culbreath

women’s golf a force to be reckoned with

The University of Florida’s women’s golf team was quite a force to witness during their season. Since 1981 they have captured nine SEC Women’s Golf Championships, with their last title having been claimed in 2017. Every year since then, the Gators have clinched a spot into the SEC Championship, but ultimately caved to other teams. Despite golf being unlike other sports where teammates play alongside each other to score points and win, golf is still a team sport in that the combined total of every players individual scores determines who wins at the end. While it may seem like more of a solitary sport, it has that vital team aspect with every player being expected to do their best on their own, for the benefit of the entire team as a whole.

The team began their 2020-2021 season with the Blessings Collegiate Invitational at Fayetteville Arkansas, where they landed in 6th place. The highlight of the invitational was Marina Escobar Domingo’s stellar performance which saw her finish in 4th place overall. Fellow teammates Maisie Filler and Addie Baggarly also had their moment to shine with both shooting a 1-under par 71, further motivating their team to do their best. Following the Blessings Collegiate Invitational was The Ally at Old Waverly tournament in West Point, Mississippi, which saw our fellow Gators finish tied in 6th place once again after a similar performance to that of their previous game.

The Gators had a breakthrough, though, at the East Lake Cup prestigious tournament. All players had an amazing game with multiple wins that sealed their spot at 3rd place. More notably, Annabell Fuller was on fire and led the team by winning her match by a score of 4&3. The team’s next big win came in their very own backyard at the Gators Invitational presented by VyStar, where Florida claimed victory for the sixth year in a row. Similar to the last tournament, Annabell Fuller excelled in all her holes, managing to finish with a 5-under par 205 and claiming the individual title. The women’s gold team navigated through the year as high scorers and as a force to be reckoned with.

Writing by Emily Ponce De Leon Photography by Alex De La Osa, Courtney Culbreath, Chris Kim and Tim Casey, Courtesy from the University Athletic Association’s Tim Casey and Courtney Culbreath

topping national rankings men’s golf

Ranking fourth in the SEC and sixteenth nationally, the Florida Gators men’s golf team was destined to have a first-class 2020-2021 season. The team was full of stellar golfers, all ready to take on the rest of the SEC and other nationally ranked schools. First-year undergraduate student Tyler Wilkes said, “The moments after winning our home tournament is something I’ll never forget. It was a childhood dream to play for the Gators and to be in the starting lineup for my first Gators invitational was special itself. My dad and I had come up to watch the tournament the past couple years and it was a cool moment for him to be watching his son play in it. Having my whole family there to watch was pretty special for me because they’ve seen all of the work I’ve put in and now are able to see the rewards from it. I had struggled a bit in the fall, but my freshman year has started to turn around in the spring. The home crowd didn’t disappoint either, every time Florida did something big you could hear it from a couple holes away. Having everyone standing behind 18 green in the final round and watching us close the deal was something that I could only dream of as a kid,” about his time in the UF men’s golf program so far. Although sports looked a little different this season given the COVID-19 pandemic, the men’s golf athletes made no excuses and showed the country their bountiful skill sets.

The Gators men’s golf team started off their season at the Blessings Collegiate Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas. They placed ninth out of fourteen teams with an overall score of 300 on the first day. Joe Pagdin, first year undergraduate student, and Giovanni Manzoni, third-year undergraduate student, came in with the two lowest scores of the Florida men’s golfers with 73 points. Joe Pagdin said, “My time at UF so far has been amazing. Everything from the teammates to the training staff we have. The brotherhood on the golf team is unbelievable and I love every day with the boys. Our team has unbelievable talent and we are ready to make some history in this program. It’s great to be a Gator and I look forward to the next events to come and my future on the UF golf team,” about his time at the University of Florida so far. By the third day of the Blessings Collegiate Invitational the Gators came in at twelfth place with a score of 894. Later in the season the Gators men’s golf team competed at the Timuquana Collegiate coming in second place after the first round and first place after the second round of the tournament. Ricky Castillo, second-year undergraduate student, came in first among the Gators, tying for sixth overall with a total of 137 points. The other Gators competitors at the Timuquana Collegiate tournament had final scores of 141 and 143 points. They really stepped up their competitive drive at the Timuquana Collegiate tournament, solidifying their high ranking among the other SEC golf teams.

On the weekend of February 12, the Gators men’s golf team competed in and hosted the Florida Gators Invitational. The team finished with a score of 811, coming in first place. Beating Georgia and Auburn who tied with one another for second place. Second year undergraduate Yuxin Lin finished with a point total of 202 after rounds one, two, and three, securing the spot of lowest point total on the Gators team.

The team as a whole went far that season to the point where it went to the national championship in Scottsdale, Arizona. However, the Gators fell short of placing in the top 15, with Castillo dominating to secure an advancing berth as an individual. It was a great run for the team, but Head Coach JC Deacon is already focused on next season, he believed that the team would be much prepared after that following summer.

Writing by Caitlin Fitzgerald Photography by Alex De La Osa and Isabella Marley, Courtesy from the University Athletic Association’s Tim Casey and Courtney Culbreath

volleyball bouncing back

The Gators volleyball team has started their season with a strong 11-2 record. After a conclusive three-set win in the opener against Auburn, the Gators never looked back. Despite playing only within the conference and having several games postponed due to COVID restrictions, the team is playing at their best and has earned an eighth-place national ranking.

On February 10 and 11, the Gators faced off against the LSU Tigers in two games that earned several UF players conference accolades. The first match was taken by the Gators in 3 sets, while the second took 4 to secure the win. These two games earned redshirt junior T’ara Ceasar the title of SEC Offensive Player of the Week and FIRST first-year undergraduate student, Elli McKissock the title of Defensive Player of the Week. Both had impressive games with Ceasar totaling 34 kills across the seven sets. In the February 11 game alone, Ceasar tallied a seasonhigh 20 kills and 15 digs, earning her third double-double of the year. McKissock averaged 6.57 digs per set which is almost double her previous season average. She produced a career-high 24 digs and earned a spot in the record books as the third-highest total for a three-match set in school history.

In one of their latest games that season, against Tennessee, on February 25, the Gators won decisively in three sets. The Gators took the first set 25-20, the second 25-18, and the third 25-21 to pull themselves to an 11-2 record. This win also gave the UF team their ninth three-set sweep of the season. T’ara Ceasar led the team both offensively and defensively with 19 kills, 2 aces, and 15 digs earning her fourth double-double this season. The other star of the offense was third-year undergraduate student, Marlie Moserez, who produced 34 assists. Fourth-year undergraduate student, Paige Hammons also added on to her stats with another ace to get her career tally to 109, which put her only 18 aces away from joining the top ten list for the program. Defensively the team showed strength as well with the leader in blocks for the SEC third-year undergraduate student, Lauren Dooley, leading the way with 8 blocks.

The Gators secured a spot in the NCAA Championship bracket to represent the SEC. During the team’s stay in Omaha, Nebraska, they came out victorious over Morehead State and Ohio State 3-0 and 3-1, respectively. Towards the end of their season, the team fell short to the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the regional finals with a score of 2-3. It was a heartbreaking loss for the team after overcoming so many challenges as a result of the onslaught from the pandemic, but the athletes had vowed to come back stronger and better than ever. The feeling of being so close to the title is what motivated the team to bounce back and stay persistent.

Writing by Caitlin LeDrew

Photography by Leslie White, Courtney Culbreath, Alex Rodriguez and Isabella Marley, Courtesy from the University Athletic Association’s Tim Casey and Courtney Culbreath

10/21/2020 at Auburn W 3-0 10/22/2020 at Auburn W 3-0 10/30/2020 ALABAMA W 3-0 10/31/2020 ALABAMA W 3-0 11/11/2020 at South Carolina W 3-0 11/12/2020 at South Carolina L 2-3 11/20/2020 GEORGIA L 1-3 11/21/2020 GEORGIA W 3-1 1/29/2021 at Ole Miss W 3-0 1/30/2021 at Ole Miss W 3-0

2/10/2021 LSU W 3-0

2/11/2021 LSU W 3-1 2/25/2021 at Tennessee W 3-0 2/26/2021 at Tennessee W 3-0

3/05/2021 ARKANSAS W 3-0 3/06/2021 ARKANSAS W 3-0 3/12/2021 MISSOURI W 3-2 3/13/2021 MISSOURI W 3-0 3/19/2021 KENTUCKY W 3/20/2021 KENTUCKY L 0-3 3/24/2021 at Texas A&M W 3/25/2021 at Texas A&M W 4/15/2021 vs Morehead St. W 4/18/2021 vs Ohio St. W 3-1 4/19/2021 vs Wisconsin L 2-3

women’s basketball maintaining perserverance & grit

The women’s basketball team had given their all on the court this year. With a total of 26 games played (for a final tally of 12 wins and 14 loses), these fellow Gators have endured everything from strenuous and down to the wire games, to some relatively easy meets. This season’s rosters consisted of a combination of some new skilled players and some old, seasoned ones, all of which gave 110% at all games to prove their talent on the court. The season started off with an at home win against Grambling State University, where the final score was a whopping 90-47. That, however, was followed by a postponement and later loss to rival Florida State University, by a mere 6 points for a score of 75-81. Not ones to let that bring them down, the team got their head in the game and followed the loss with a six consecutive game winning streak, where they averaged around 80 points each game. There were quite a few highlights throughout these games, some being the Gators 23-point win against University of Cincinnati, and a sweet victory to another foe, Florida Atlantic University.

As amazing as these games were, the Gators kept their energy up as much as they could. Following their six-win streak was a five-game losing streak. The rest of the season went by with the team managing to score some victorious wins, and other times, coming in just under their opponents. At the end of the regular season, the women’s basketball team had a 10-12 tally. The last games of the year were two games played in the SEC Tournament, and two more games played in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament. Although the Gators made it past the first round in both tournaments, they did not win during the second round in games against the University of Kentucky and Villanova University, respectively. However, their victories and team spirit made up for the season’s finale.

Fresh with the new players that they acquired that year, and those they acquired in the following year, it was certainly a possibility that the university would have seen an even stronger women’s basketball team emerge with more perseverance and grit than ever before.

Writing by Emily Ponce De Leon

Photography by Hannah White, Leslie White, Gunnar Rathbun and Matt Pendleton, Courtesy from the University Athletic Association’s Tim Casey and Courtney Culbreath

men’s basketball defining comeback season

The non-conference schedule for men’s basketball was confirmed in October 2020 after the Gators began to practice on October 14 after nearly 200 days without any sports. COVID-19 restrictions prohibited scrimmages or exhibition games until November 25. The SEC announced the conference schedule in early November 2020, laying out an 18-game schedule with an “open day” in March had a game needed to be rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keyontae Johnson, a third-year student at UF, was voted the Preseason Southeastern Conference Player of the Year by SEC league members and national media members in early November 2020. The Gators were also selected to finish fourth in the SEC during the same vote.

After their first three games of the season were canceled due to positive COVID-19 tests and contact tracing, the Gators prepared to travel to “Bubbleville” at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. The team started its season with two wins against Army West Point and Boston College. The game against the Army’s Black Knights saw first-game nerves and a seesaw-like back and forth with 10 lead changes in the second half. However, the Gators came out on top at the end 76-69. The game against Boston College was different, with UF leading from the opening. They had early shots and a strong defense from the start. They won 90-70.

The team bounced back after their loss to Florida State in December 2020, where Johnson, Preseason Player of the Year, collapsed early in the game and was taken to the hospital where he was in critical but stable condition. The Gators, excited to play again, bested Vanderbilt 91-72 with an exceptional performance from Colin Castleton, third-year student. Castleton had 23 points, a career-high, and five rebounds.

As March came along, the Gators kept in mind the goal of surviving and advancing. They beat Vanderbilt 69-63, at the SEC Tournament. Tre Mann, second-year student, was the best player of the night, scoring an impressive 22 points in total. However, the Gators were out of the SEC Tournament after a loss to Tennessee. This loss didn’t stop the team from entering the NCAA March Madness Tournament with high energy –drawing two charges and poking away a steal within the first two minutes of playing Virginia Tech. Castleton showed up ready to play his best. He entered the game with a high motor and desire to play up to his standards. The Gators, 15-9 at the time, advanced to Sunday’s Round after beating Virginia Tech 75-70, where they would play Oral Roberts. The victory was short-lived as the Gators were out of the NCAA Tournament after losing to ORU, who Coach Mike White said was one of the most difficult matchups for the team defensively all year.

The Gator’s season came to an end after a long year of COVID-19 restrictions, game cancelations, but more than anything, strong wins and demonstrative teamwork on the court. Even with the circumstances, the player came back stronger than ever, as new players. Then, seasoned players were hungry for victories and advancing further to achieve the NCAA championship later that year.

Writing by Lucille Lannigan Photography by Alex De La Osa, Hannah White and Tony Walsh, Courtesy from the University Athletic Association’s Tim Casey and Courtney Culbreath

Date

Dec

Dec

Dec

Dec

Dec

Dec

Dec

Jan

Jan

Jan 9 vs Kentucky L 76 - 58

Jan

Jan

Jan

Jan 23 vs Georgia W 92 - 84

Jan 27 vs Vanderbilt W 71 - 78

Jan 30 vs West Virginia W 85 - 80

Feb

Feb 6 vs LSU

Feb

Feb

Feb

Feb

Feb

Mar

Mar

Mar

Mar

Mar

Mar

gymnastics raising the bar

Photography by Michael Erdelyi, Tiffany Franco, Tim Casey, Isabella Marley and Walt Beazley, Courtesy from the University Athletic Association’s Tim Casey and Courtney Culbreath

Overall: 20-6 • SEC: 7-0 Time/Score

J8 at (14) Auburn [SEC Network+] W, 197.500-195.725

J15 (7) Georgia [SEC Network+] W, 197.250-196.075

J22 at (8) Arkansas [SEC Network+] W, 197.425-197.250

J29 (24) Missouri [SEC Network] W, 197.850-194.800

F12 at (2) LSU [SEC Network] W, 198.150-198.050

F19 (15) Kentucky [SEC Network] W, 197.500-196.875

F26 (18) Auburn [SEC Network] W, 198.275-197.025

M5 at Alabama [SEC Network] W, 197.425-197.225 M21 SEC Championship [SEC Network] 3rd, 196.975 A2 NCAA Second Round (Athens, Ga.) [ESPN3] 1st, 197.950 A2 NCAA Regional Final (Athens, Ga.) [ESPN3] 1st, 197.700 A16 NCAA Semifinal I (Fort Worth, Texas) [ESPN2] 2nd, 197.4375 A17 NCAA Final (Fort Worth, Texas) [ESPN2] 4th, 197.1375

softball beyond the sunflowers

Game date

Opposing team Score r-h-e/r-h-e Inns Overall SEC Pitcher of record Attend Time

Feb 13, 2021 at South Florida-1 W 6-3 6-11-1 / 3-4-1 7 1-0-0 0-0-0 Chronister (W 1-0) - 3:27

Feb 13, 2021 at South Florida-2 W 15-0 15-13-0 / 0-1-1 5 2-0-0 0-0-0 Hightower (W 1-0) - 1:58

Feb 17, 2021

Feb 19, 2021

Feb 20, 2021

Feb 20, 2021

Feb 21, 2021

Feb 21, 2021

Feb 25, 2021

Feb 27, 2021

Feb 28, 2021

Feb 28, 2021

JACKSONVILLE W 1-0 1-9-0 / 0-3-0 7 3-0-0 0-0-0 Chronister (W 2-0) 411 2:19

GEORGIA SOUTHERN W 8-3 8-10-1 / 3-5-0 7 4-0-0 0-0-0 Lugo (W 1-0) 378 2:17

GEORGIA SOUTHERN W 2-1 2-3-1 / 1-5-0 7 5-0-0 0-0-0 Chronister (W 3-0) 421 1:53

CHARLOTTE W 5-2 5-4-1 / 2-5-2 7 6-0-0 0-0-0 Hightower (W 2-0) 421 2:00

CHARLOTTE W 4-0 4-9-0 / 0-3-3 7 7-0-0 0-0-0 Chronister (W 4-0) 451 1:52

GEORGIA SOUTHERN W 11-0 11-14-0 / 0-1-2 5 8-0-0 0-0-0 Hightower (W 3-0) 451 1:40

NORTH FLORIDA W 8-0 8-11-0 / 0-2-2 5 9-0-0 0-0-0 Lugo (W 2-0) 409 1:36

LOUISVILLE W 5-1 5-7-0 / 1-2-1 7 10-0-0 0-0-0 Hightower (W 4-0) 440 1:56

LOUISVILLE W 2-0 2-3-0 / 0-3-0 7 11-0-0 0-0-0 Chronister (W 5-0) 0 1:40

MCNEESE ST. W 1-0 1-4-1 / 0-1-0 (8) 12-0-0 0-0-0 Hightower (W 5-0) 428 1:35

Mar 03, 2021 NM STATE W 6-2 6-6-1 / 2-5-0 7 13-0-0 0-0-0 Hightower (W 6-0) 336 2:02 Mar 05, 2021 #16 FLORIDA STATE W 5-0 5-5-0 / 0-1-0 7 14-0-0 0-0-0 Hightower (W 7-0) 452 2:04 Mar 06, 2021 at #16 Florida State 2-7 L 2-6-1 / 7-8-2 7 14-1-0 0-0-0 Chronister (L 5-1) 230 2:20 Mar 10, 2021 KENNESAW STATE W 10-2 10-10-0 / 2-3-0 6 15-1-0 0-0-0 Lugo (W 3-0) 330 2:06

* Mar 12, 2021 #9 KENTUCKY W 3-1 3-6-0 / 1-3-0 7 16-1-0 1-0-0 Hightower (W 8-0) 414 1:59

* Mar 13, 2021 #9 KENTUCKY W 3-1 3-7-2 / 1-3-3 7 17-1-0 2-0-0 Lugo (W 4-0) 443 2:00

* Mar 14, 2021 #9 KENTUCKY 2-4 L 2-5-2 / 4-8-0 (9) 17-2-0 2-1-0 Lugo (L 4-1) 378 3:00 Mar 17, 2021 NORTH DAKOTA W 7-1 7-6-1 / 1-5-1 7 18-2-0 2-1-0 Trlicek (W 1-0) 411 2:02

* Mar 19, 2021 at Mississippi State W 1-0 1-7-0 / 0-6-0 7 19-2-0 3-1-0 Hightower (W 9-0) 245 2:12

* Mar 20, 2021 at Mississippi State W 10-0 10-13-0 / 0-4-5 7 20-2-0 4-1-0 Lugo (W 5-1) 468 2:27

* Mar 21, 2021 at Mississippi State W 8-0 8-9-1 / 0-2-3 5 21-2-0 5-1-0 Hightower (W 10-0) 263 1:50

Mar 24, 2021 at #22 UCF 6-8 L 6-6-1 / 8-9-1 7 21-3-0 5-1-0 Hightower (L 10-1) 342 2:40

* Mar 26, 2021 #13 LSU W 5-0 5-7-0 / 0-3-0 7 22-3-0 6-1-0 Hightower (W 11-1) 652 2:10

* Mar 27, 2021 #13 LSU W 7-4 7-12-0 / 4-8-0 7 23-3-0 7-1-0 Lugo (W 6-1) 772 2:19

* Mar 28, 2021 #13 LSU W 9-3 9-12-0 / 3-5-0 7 24-3-0 8-1-0 Hightower (W 12-1) 653 2:09 Mar 31, 2021 at Jacksonville W 5-1 5-8-1 / 1-4-2 7 25-3-0 8-1-0 Lugo (W 7-1) 293 2:29

* Apr 03, 2021 at #20 Georgia 2-4 L 2-1-1 / 4-5-1 7 25-4-0 8-2-0 Hightower (L 12-2) 400 2:00

* Apr 04, 2021 at #20 Georgia W 17-1 17-12-0 / 1-3-0 5 26-4-0 9-2-0 Lugo (W 8-1) 400 2:13

* Apr 05, 2021 at #20 Georgia W 8-1 8-7-0 / 1-5-2 7 27-4-0 10-2-0 Chronister (W 6-1) 400 2:15

Apr 07, 2021 SOUTH FLORIDA-1 W 9-1 9-7-0 / 1-3-0 6 28-4-0 10-2-0 Hightower (W 13-2) 690 1:57

Apr 07, 2021 SOUTH FLORIDA-2 W 2-1 2-6-0 / 1-3-1 7 29-4-0 10-2-0 Lugo (W 9-1) 690 1:55 Apr 10, 2021 WESTERN KENTUCKY W 5-2 5-8-1 / 2-5-0 7 30-4-0 10-2-0 Hightower (W 14-2) 691 2:10 Apr 14, 2021 #23 UCF 0-7 L 0-3-0 / 7-10-1 7 30-5-0 10-2-0 Chronister (L 6-2) 649 2:19

* Apr 16, 2021 at #3 Alabama W 2-0 2-6-0 / 0-3-0 7 31-5-0 11-2-0 Hightower (W 15-2) 1529 2:13

* Apr 17, 2021 at #3 Alabama W 9-2 9-7-0 / 2-4-3 7 32-5-0 12-2-0 Lugo (W 10-1) 1631 2:34

* Apr 18, 2021 at #3 Alabama 2-4 L 2-4-3 / 4-4-0 7 32-6-0 12-3-0 Hightower (L 15-3) 1631 2:02 Apr 21, 2021 at Florida Gulf Coast W 3-0 3-7-0 / 0-3-0 7 33-6-0 12-3-0 Lugo (W 11-1) 278 1:59

* Apr 23, 2021 SOUTH CAROLINA 1-2 L 1-4-0 / 2-6-0 7 33-7-0 12-4-0 Hightower (L 15-4) 694 2:00

* Apr 24, 2021 SOUTH CAROLINA W 6-0 6-8-0 / 0-4-1 7 34-7-0 13-4-0 Lugo (W 12-1) 823 2:04

* Apr 25, 2021 SOUTH CAROLINA W 4-2 4-4-1 / 2-7-3 7 35-7-0 14-4-0 Lugo (W 13-1) 755 2:09

* Apr 30, 2021 at #15 Missouri W 5-2 5-4-0 / 2-5-0 7 36-7-0 15-4-0 Hightower (W 16-4) 550 2:15

* May 01, 2021 at #15 Missouri 2-10 L 2-5-2 / 10-13-0 5 36-8-0 15-5-0 Lugo (L 13-2) 550 2:05

* May 02, 2021 at #15 Missouri W 3-2 3-4-0 / 2-5-0 7 37-8-0 16-5-0 Chronister (W 7-2) 550 2:23

* May 07, 2021 TEX AS A&M W 5-3 5-5-1 / 3-7-0 7 38-8-0 17-5-0 Chronister (W 8-2) 775 2:04

* May 08, 2021 TEX AS A&M W 4-0 4-8-0 / 0-4-0 7 39-8-0 18-5-0 Lugo (W 14-2) 887 2:04

* May 09, 2021 TEX AS A&M W 6-5 6-5-0 / 5-8-0 7 40-8-0 19-5-0 Chronister (W 9-2) 748 2:14 May 13, 2021 vs Mississippi State W 6-2 6-9-0 / 2-4-0 7 41-8-0 19-5-0 Lugo (W 15-2) 0 1:57 May 14, 2021 vs #15 Missouri W 7-6 7-8-1 / 6-8-1 7 42-8-0 19-5-0 Lugo (W 16-2) 0 2:47 May 15, 2021 at #3 Alabama 0-4 L 0-3-1 / 4-7-0 7 42-9-0 19-5-0 Hightower (L 16-5) 1924 2:28 May 21, 2021 SOUTH FLORIDA W 1-0 1-7-1 / 0-1-1 7 43-9-0 19-5-0 Chronister (W 10-2) 1569 1:56 May 22, 2021 SOUTH ALABAMA W 10-0 10-11-0 / 0-2-0 7 44-9-0 19-5-0 Lugo (W 17-2) 0 2:29 May 23, 2021 at South Florida W 8-0 8-10-0 / 0-0-0 7 45-9-0 19-5-0 Hightower (W 17-5) 1639 2:36 May 28, 2021 GEORGIA 0-4 L 0-3-0 / 4-6-0 7 45-10-0 19-5-0 Lugo (L 17-3) 1821 2:00 May 29, 2021 at Georgia 0-6 L 0-4-1 / 6-8-0 7 45-11-0 19-5-0 Hightower (L 17-6) 1890 2:18

Photography by Tiffany Franco, Tim Casey, Leslie White, Hannah White and Emma Bissel, Courtesy from the University Athletic Association’s Tim Casey and Courtney Culbreath

baseball crushing the competition

With a score of 22-11 overall, the baseball team, to Gator many fans, had a stellar season during the less than normal year. Most of this season’s plays were home games, with 20-5 of their wins on campus. This score was consistent with the University of Florida’s previous seasons. For comparison, 2020 saw an overwhelming overall score of 16-1 for the Gators team.

Arguably one of their more drastic wins this season was the Gators April 7 game against Florida A&M University. Played in Gainesville, the Gators crushed the game with a 10-0. This particular game was also their fourth victory versus A&M this season. “Those midweek games, sometimes they’re hard to get,” second and third position player Colby Halter said. “Really, just every time we go on the field, we gotta just do our job and take care of business.”

Additionally, the Gators were able to save their series against the University of Tennessee during their memorable April 11th match. After two previous losses, UF finally prevailed with a narrow score of 7-6. “We lost the first two games of the weekend, so that was definitely a big win for us. It’d been hard playing on the road for us in SEC play, I mean, up to that point we hadn’t had a win yet,” Halter said. “I don’t think anyone was panicking too much, but it definitely wasn’t a good environment in the dugout and stuff. Just losing 6 straight would not have been a good thing.”

The Ole Miss University series marked two other notable wins for UF. Ole Miss is ranked #3 in the country, making these victories a big success for the Gators team. Similarly, another tough series for the UF baseball team were the matches against the University of South Carolina. These games were the University of Florida’s first series loss since their opening weekend versus the University of Miami. Nonetheless, although UF lost all three of their games against South Carolina, they did not allow this to discourage them. “We’ve just come out of a tough series with South Carolina, and we’ve just kept the course, played like we know we can and had confidence in each other,” Halter said.

Writing by Allyssa Keller

Photography by Chris Kim, Sydney Calle, Anissa Damilta, Hannah White, Alex Rodriguez and Isabella Marley, Courtesy from the University Athletic Association’s Tim Casey and Courtney Culbreath

Date Opponent W or L Score

Fri, Feb 15 vs Long Beach St W 8 - 2

Sat, Feb 16 vs Long Beach St W 5 - 2

Sun, Feb 17 vs Long Beach St W 3 - 1

Tue, Feb 19 @ South Florida L 1 - 6

Wed, Feb 20 vs Nor th Florida L 1 - 7

Fri, Feb 22 vs (21) Miami L 2 - 5

Sat, Feb 23 vs (21) Miami W 9 - 3

Sun, Feb 24 vs (21) Miami W 4 - 1

Tue, Feb 26 @ Jacksonville W 5 - 4

Wed, Feb 27 vs UCF L 9 - 12

Fri, Mar 1 vs Winthrop W 16 - 4

Sun, Mar 3 vs Winthrop W 28 - 5

Sun, Mar 3 vs Winthrop W 5 - 3

Tue, Mar 5 vs FGCU W 15 - 0

Wed, Mar 6 vs FGCU L 2 - 7

Fri, Mar 8 vs Yale W 6 - 5

Sat, Mar 9 vs Yale W 15 - 1

Sun, Mar 10 vs Yale W 4 - 3

Tue, Mar 12 vs (24) Florida State W 20 - 7

Fri, Mar 15 vs (7) Mississippi St L 5 - 6

Sat, Mar 16 vs (7) Mississippi St L 5 - 10

Sat, Mar 16 vs (7) Mississippi St W 4 - 2

Tue, Mar 19 vs Jacksonville W 13 - 8

Thu, Mar 21 @ (4) Vanderbilt L 0 - 5

Fri, Mar 22 @ (4) Vanderbilt L 2 - 15

Sat, Mar 23 @ (4) Vanderbilt L 4 - 14

Tue, Mar 26 @ (24) Florida State W 4 - 2

Fri, Mar 29 vs Alabama W 3 - 1

Sat, Mar 30 vs Alabama W 12 - 3

Sun, Mar 31 vs Alabama W 6 - 3

Tue, Apr 2 vs Florida A&M W 12 - 1

Fri, Apr 5 @ (6) Ole Miss L 4 - 12

Sat, Apr 6 @ (6) Ole Miss L 4 - 16

Sat, Apr 6 @ (6) Ole Miss L 10 - 12

Tue, Apr 9 @ (24) Florida State W 3 - 1

Thu, Apr 11 vs (18) South Carolina W 9 - 5

Fri, Apr 12 vs (18) South Carolina L 3 - 6

Sat, Apr 13 vs (18) South Carolina W 6 - 4

Tue, Apr 16 vs Jacksonville W 8 - 4

Thu, Apr 18 @ (12) LSU W 16 - 9

Fri, Apr 19 @ (12) LSU L 1 - 13

Sat, Apr 20 @ (12) LSU L 2 - 11

Tue, Apr 23 vs (21) FAU L 11 - 13

Fri, Apr 26 vs Kentucky W 10 - 8

Sat, Apr 27 vs Kentucky L 1 - 5

Sun, Apr 28 vs Kentucky W 12 - 8

Fri, May 3 @ Georgia L 4 - 6

Sun, May 5 @ Georgia L 1 - 9

Sun, May 5 @ Georgia L 1 - 4

Tue, May 7 vs South Florida W 7 - 3

Fri, May 10 vs (19) Tennessee W 10 - 9

Sat, May 11 vs (19) Tennessee L 7 - 8

Sun, May 12 vs (19) Tennessee L 4 - 5

Thu, May 16 @ Missouri W 5 - 4

Fri, May 17 @ Missouri W 2 - 0

Sat, May 18 @ Missouri W 4 - 3

Tue, May 21 @ Texas A&M L 7 - 8

@ Dallas Baptist L 8 - 11 vs Army W 13 - 5 vs Dallas Baptist L 8 - 9

lacrosse dominating the field

The University of Florida’s Women’s lacrosse team was n the midst of their season, with a 4-game win streak as of March 28. With seven wins and two losses, these lady gators had a promising season ahead of them.

The Gators started their season off at Louisville, beating the Cardinals 14-7. Seniors Kassidy Bresnahan and Shannon Kavanagh dominated the field, both scoring three goals each. Goalkeeper Sarah Reznick saved 11 shots, giving her a .611 save percentage. Florida faced its first loss, losing 5-11 to Chapel Hill’s Tarheels. Senior Grace Haus led the team with three goals, while Reznik tied the program record with 16 saves. After two postponed games with Kennesaw State and Loyola, the Gators redeemed themselves with a 20-7 win against Kennesaw State. These owls got their wings clipped by the gators, with nine Florida players scoring at least one goal. Second-year student, Paisley Eagan, saw four shots hit the back of the net, as Danielle Pavinelli, Shannon Kavanaugh, and Maggi Hall followed with three shots each.

The next stop for these lady gators was Deland, FL, as they faced off against Stetson. Taking home the win at 19 points to 7, UF placed themselves at 3-1. Kavanaugh made five goals, the season’s best so far. First-year student, Ashley Gonzalez wasn’t far behind, with her first hat trick of the season. With three assists from fourth-year student, Brianna Harris and 11 caused turnovers from the Gators, these ladies took out the Hatters. Florida played a close game against Jacksonville, ultimately losing by a mere point. The Dolphins took the game at 12-11, but the Gators came back, winning the following four games. UF won its first game in the American Athletic Conference, beating Temple 15-9. Kavanaugh dominated, scoring five goals and tying her season’s best. Haus scored her 100th career goal and gained her second hat trick of the season. Temple suffered another defeat to the Gators, losing 14-7 as Kavanaugh and Haus led their team in goals for a second time. Florida continued their winning streak, winning against Cincinnati twice. The Gators swept the field both times, winning 20-3 and 19-5. Currently, the Gators are on a four-game winning streak with their next match against East Carolina on April 1st. Freshman Club Lacrosse Player Cameron Gartner says, “The Women’s Lacrosse team is such an inspiration to me. They make me want to work harder and get better at the sport. I wish them the best of luck at AAC.” Only time will tell if these Gators continue their winning streak. With Florida facing East Carolina on April 1st, hopefully the Pirates are the only fools that day.

In May of that year, the Gators sailed through the NCAA first and second round games defeating Mercer University and Jacksonville University, respectively. The team’s high-caliber and strategic offense was key to these victories. Unfortunately, the Gators’ season was cut short at the culmination of the quarterfinals game against 3rd ranked Syracuse University, putting up 11 points against the Orange’s 17. Despite the conclusion of their season, the team has impressed the NCAA with a 18-3 record this season. There are clear high expectations for this team, as they prepare for the next season to deliver a cavalcade of skills and talent to secure the victories and climb up the ranks.

Writing by Madisen Malone Photography by Leslie White, Sydney Calle, Courtney Culbreath, Hannah White and Isabella Marley, Courtesy from the University Athletic Association’s Tim Casey and Courtney Culbreath

women’s rugby tackling differences

“RUGBY IS THE EPITOME OF ACCEPTANCE”

KRISEHLLE BROWN

3rd Year, She/Her

“This year of rugby has definitely been different. COVID has impacted the way we practice rugby and required us to forfeit our season. Nonetheless, we did not let that stop us from recruiting new girls, developing our basic skills and spending time together as a team. We did not have any games this season, or been able to do contact practices (no tackling… sadly). Instead, we tried to make practices as fun as possible to keep up our spirits. These contactless practices helped us to come up with a variety of fun things we could do, like having a show and tell or making our own version of ultimate frisbee-style rugby. It also allowed us to develop our basic skills such

Our accomplishments have been shown not in the form of winning this season, but can be seen by the smiles we have during practice and the improvements of skills we’ve made individually and as a team. We’ve worked to revise our strategy of play and strengthen our communication so that we are best prepared when we get back to competitions. As tough as it is to go without games, we have really made the best of this season. If anything, this season has brought out the best in our team and has shown us that we have a team who is committed to one another and the club itself. There is no downside to this season because we never stopped playing rugby and definitely never stopped being a

All Writing Submitted by Women’s Rugby

“I love the culture around rugby. When I joined the sport during my freshman year, I knew nothing about it. liked learning it, but what made me stay was the people. Rugby is the kind of sport that welcomes everyone, regardless of physique, background, or skilllevel. Similarly, the people on the team are welcoming to every kind of person and when I joined, they were eager to take me in and incorporate me into the team and culture. Now, three years later, I find myself in a similar position to the vets who first took me in and aspire to create that same sort of environment for the incoming rookies. I think my favorite part was seeing just how adaptable our team was. To see so many girls, especially rookies, stay dedicated to the sport and continue to show up, even when there was seemingly no point, was really inspiring and a testament to the kinds of bonds created in the team.”

ChiChi Nwaubani, 3rd year, She/ Her

“Rugby forces me to get out of my comfort zone. I love it because I’m challenging myself every time I practice and play. In a game, it never stops and has taught me to recover quickly. One of my favorite memories of playing this past year is when we started a new warm up stretch and everyone came up with witty comments for each move.” -Joceline Rodriguez-Saucedo, 3rd Year, She/Her

“As you can imagine, COVID restrictions took away a lot of what defines Rugby. As a high contact sport, Rugby practice was filled with physical training and passing drills. Despite this, we were able to recruit so many new girls who are enthusiastic about the upcoming season. When motivation and morale were low, our president kept us active and involved. I believe this is a large reason why we still have so many new and returning members. My favorite memory this year was Rugby Show and Tell. Doing activities like this gives us the opportunity to become closer than teammates. This is what makes UFWRC more like a family. We learn so much about each other and create bonds that are everlasting. These girls are people I can always rely on and share the best and worst of times with. I love that Rugby is built for every body type. Slim thick, slim slim, or thick thick you have a place and role on the field. Rugby is the epitome of acceptance, receptivity, and understanding and the players reflect this in every way.”

Krishelle Brown, 3rd Year, She/Her

surf club making their mark

“Florida has a surf club? That’s right, we’ve been surfing the state since ‘78. And we’re ranked #1 in the SEC (we are the only surf club in the SEC.) Usually, we travel across Florida to participate in Surf contests, and each year we fly out to Dana Point California to surf in the National Scholastic Surfing Association’s national collegiate surfing championship. Unfortunately this year, due to COVID, we were not allowed to participate in contests. We still made the best out of nature’s own naturally socially distant sport and made plenty of surf trips to the coast on the weekends, and during the week thanks to online classes. This year we made the most out of what we had and look forward to the year ahead where we can get back to full scale sending operations.”

wheelchair basketball triumphant over anything

“In the last year, UF Wheelchair Basketball has faced challenges, grown, and triumphed in the wake of COVID-19. Just before the pandemic altered our world, our team was returning from a collegiate tournament in Tuscaloosa at the University of Alabama. We were so thankful for the opportunity to meet and play against such incredible teams from around the Southeast US. While learning a ton about high-level gameplay, our team bonded and had a blast! Upon returning to Gainesville, we held one practice after our tournament before we were all sent home due to the pandemic.

Practices resumed in the fall with the beginning of a new semester, noticeably missing our senior members who had graduated and the remaining members donning masks and socially distancing from one another. Though practices looked a bit different, our enthusiasm and devotion to the sport never wavered! We honed our skills by practicing ball and chair control, passing drills, and worked on our shooting. Between old members and new additions to the team, wheelchair basketball practices became one of the few in-person events that we could look forward to each week.

With new COVID guidelines, this spring semester has allowed us to resume scrimmaging among teammates, which has given us the opportunity to learn new offensive and defensive plays. We are so thankful for our incredible coaches and support from the local Gainesville community. Despite our struggles in recruiting members and our small numbers, our team remains committed to providing adapted athletics at the University of Florida. Our dedication to inclusivity and sportsmanship makes UF Wheelchair Basketball a team we are proud to represent.”

All Writing and Photography Submitted by Wheelchair Basketball

“Ever since my amputation, I’ve never wanted to exercise. It always made me feel bad because I couldn’t do things exactly the way I wanted to. When I joined wheelchair basketball, I finally felt like I was performing at my best. It wasn’t a question of whether I could keep up with everyone else; sometimes it was can they keep up with me. We’re all on the same playing field and I feel so happy getting to just enjoy a sport with good friends, without wondering whether my disability is going to get in the way.”

–Cheyenne Heflin, 4th year, She/Her

“In one of the practices this semester we did a new drill where we were all holding onto each other’s chairs with the person in front pulling the whole line. The drill reminded me of the computer game Snake, and it was so much fun. The energy and the teamwork that we showed during that practice was just so great. I think that’s the first time this whole year that I’ve laughed so hard I started to cry.” –Jieli Wegerif, 2nd year, She/Her

“This year, especially in the Fall when even more classes were remote, we’ve had to play with less people than we were used to. Between players staying home for the semester and graduating seniors, our team was cut in half going into Fall 2020. Because of this and social distancing concerns, we had to shift our focus from live scrimmages to a drill-focused approach. However, a positive aspect of the changes we made is that the team has grew closer together than before in the small group environment. What we may have missed out on regarding live reps, we hopefully gained back in synergy and knowledge of the game.” –Rainer Rodriguez, 4th year, He/Him

club cheerleading the road to NCA nationals

“The University of Florida Club Cheerleading Team has had a successful year despite many challenges that have arisen due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. We hosted Team Selections virtually and safely grew our program despite uncertain plans for the season. Both of our teams focused on skills and technique this season, which helped us all become better athletes. As a program, we launched our annual eTeam Sponsor fundraiser and raised over $10,000. We enjoyed keeping things fun with themed practices, big and little reveal, and attending football games with our teammates. During the Spring semester, both of our teams participated in Stunt Clinics to help us practice for the upcoming competitions. We also introduced new leadership positions to our club in order to promote wellness and inclusivity in and outside of cheerleading. UF Club Cheer was selected as the first ever RecSports Club of the Month, and we participated in a Twitter takeover where we documented a practice with our Blue team.

We recently hosted our annual Gator Brawl competition on Zoom, and while we missed having a live audience and competing with other schools, we were so grateful to have our friends and family safely supporting us from anywhere in the world! Our Blue team is preparing to compete in the NCA College Nationals competition on April 8th and 9th, and our Orange team completed their season by attending our Virtual showcase. We are so proud of our members for their hard work this season and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for UF Club Cheerleading.”

Q&A WITH CLUB CHEER

How has this year been different from previous years?

“This year there has been less focus on bonding with teammates and more focus on safety, which is more important than ever. Unfortunately, there have been less opportunities to perform and compete, which is what competitive cheerleading is all about.” -JillyAnne Kent 3rd year, She/her

NCA CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITORS

What do you love about cheerleading?

“I love cheerleading because it pushes me to be a better athlete and person every day. There’s no better feeling than hitting a routine at Nationals with your teammates because it reminds us that the countless hours of hard work and dedication is worth it.” -Hailey Buchta, 2nd year, She/her

What has been your favorite cheer memory this past year? My favorite memory has been helping other athletes learn new skills, and seeing the look of triumph on their face and their newfound confidence.” -Nicole Weissman, 4th year, She/her

Interfraternity Council

Alpha Gamma Rho 94 - 95

Beta Theta Pi 96 - 97

Chi Phi 98 - 99

Delta Tau Delta 100 - 101

Kappa Sigma 102 - 103

Lambda Chi Alpha 104 - 105

Phi Kappa Tau 106 - 107

Pi Kappa Phi 108 - 109

Pi Lambda Phi 110 - 111

Theta Chi 112 - 113

Zeta Beta Tau 114 - 115

Multicultural Greek Council

Alpha Kappa Delta Phi 116-117

Delta Epsilon Psi 118 - 119

Delta Phi Omega 120 - 121

Gamma Eta 122 - 123

Kappa Phi Lambda 124 - 125

Lambda Theta Alpha 126 - 127

Lambda Theta Phi 128 - 129

Pi Delta Psi 130 - 131

Sigma Lambda Beta 132 - 133

Theta Nu Xi 134 - 135

National Pan-Hellenic Council

Alpha Kappa Alpha 136 - 137

Alpha Phi Alpha 138 - 139

Delta Sigma Theta 140 - 141

Omega Psi Phi 142 - 143

Panhellenic Council

Alpha Chi Omega 144 - 145

Alpha Epsilon Phi 146 - 147

Alpha Omicron Pi 148 - 149

Alpha Phi 150 - 151

Chi Omega 152 - 153

Delta Delta Delta 154 - 155

Delta Gamma 156 - 157

Delta Phi Epsilon 158 - 159

Delta Zeta 160 - 161

Kappa Alpha Theta 162 - 163

Kappa Delta 164 - 165

Kappa Kappa Gamma 166-167

Phi Mu 168 - 169

Pi Beta Phi 170 - 171

Sigma Kappa 172 - 173

Zeta Tau Alpha 174 - 175

Symbols:

Flower:

Founded at UF: 1924

TO MAKE BETTER MEN

“Growing up I always heard the old stories of AGR. The good times, values, and connections that my dad created and still carries with him today really opened my eyes to what opportunities laid before me, and I knew then I would do whatever it took to be experience mad and take part in that,” Quin Johnson said.

“As a transfer from a school on the West Coast, I had a conception about Greek life that was founded in personal interactions with fraternities and sororities that countered my beliefs, ethics, and lifestyle. However, upon relocating across the contiguous United States, I found a fraternity that aligned with the things most important to me- Alpha Gamma Rho. The members of this fraternity are not only members, but brothers that actually have a vested interest in the lives of each other. The selflessness of the brotherhood forms a stronger bond that will withstand the test of time. I am and will continue to become a better man because of Alpha Gamma Rho,” Shea Booster said.

“Prior to rushing AGR, I had been a student at the University of Florida for two years. Throughout that time, I had been encouraged by friends to explore the brotherhood of Alpha Gamma Rho on numerous occasions, but rarely took the opportunity. On a whim, I chose to accept an invitation to come and get to know more of the brothers earlier this spring during rush week, and it is undoubtedly one of the best decisions I have ever made. AGR has provided me with a home away from home that is rare to discover in today’s world,” Josh Jantz said.

Philanthropy: St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital

Colors: Emerald Green & Harvest Gold

Sickle & Sheaf of Wheat

Pink Rose

alpha gamma rho AΓP alpha gamma

“Our brothers continue to be a shining light when it comes to on-campus involvement. Brothers of our chapter are officers in Collegiate Farm Bureau, ALSCC, and The Gator Party fall campaign. Currently, we have 7 brothers serving as CALS Ambassadors, 6 of our brothers are active members in 2 different cohorts of the CALS Leadership Institute and 4 of our brothers are current active members of Florida Blue Key. During the last semester, the Alpha Gamma Chapter made quite a showing in both the AGR National Awards and the Florida Greek awards. At the Annual UF Greek awards, the chapter was recognized for the Outstanding Virtual Program, Outstanding Community Service Program, and the outstanding anti-hazing initiative. At the same time, our Academic advisor, Dr. Charlotte Emerson was awarded Advisor of the Year, Brother Kyle Garner was awarded the William E. Rion University Involvement award, and Brother Cameron Stake was named the Buddy McKay Greek Person of the Year. In the Alpha Gamma Rho national awards, Alpha Gamma was recognized for academic excellence, Outstanding community service and philanthropic efforts, Living the Promise and Values, as well as Gold Chapter. None of these accolades would have been possible without the hard work of all of the active brothers as well as our advisors and supporters. However, a special thanks must be given to the 2020 executive team, most notably our immediate past Noble ruler Cameron Stake whose leadership throughout the pandemic and the transition between houses has been an inspiration to us all.

Despite the current obstacles we face in the world around us, our chapter’s annual philanthropic efforts carried on. As you may remember from the announcement at Founder’s Day, the 2020 AGR Buck Off raised $17,200 to benefit the American Cancer Society.

Buck Off is a proud tradition of our chapter that truly shows the dedication of our organization to helping those in need. I can say for certain that the new executive team is just as committed to upholding all of our chapter’s time honored traditions as we move forward.

One of the biggest challenges we have faced during the ongoing pandemic is maintaining our brotherhood given the inability to gather together on a daily basis. However, I know that our bond of brotherhood is one of the few on campus that could withstand such obstacles, and still find ways to improve, excel, and live out our purpose of Making Better Men.

In closing, I must note that as the new era in our chapter’s history quickly approaches with the completion of our new chapter home, it is a time for excitement, anticipation, but also reflection. Now is the time to reflect on our past, look deep within ourselves and decide what kind of organization we are going to be as we take these tremendous strides. I know that I can say on behalf of my executive team and the rest of the active chapter that if all of us, if we come together, we can and will continue to foster the culture of excellence that has come to define the Alpha Gamma Chapter of our great fraternity, Alpha Gamma Rho.”

“2020 was an incredibly challenging yet rewarding year for the Gamma Xi Chapter of Beta Theta Pi. When we were sent home early last March, our brotherhood began to understand that in order to maintain our unique friendship during this unprecedented time, we were going to have to adjust how we regularly interacted with each other.

Bec ause of our highly motivated brothers, we slowly began to adjust to our newfound circumstances. We started our efforts to stay connected in a remote setting in early April. Each week, we would all join a Zoom call to catch up and check on one another’s wellbeing. Our creativity to remain in contact with one another carried over into this fall semester. We began to segment our lunch and dinner at the house so that brothers could continue to interact with each other while still adhering to social distancing guidelines. Furthermore, we frequently organized brotherhood events, but we always put each other’s safety first.

D espite the struggles of adjusting to the pandemic, we had an incredibly successful year regarding philanthropy and academic achievement. This year, we were determined not to let the pandemic disrupt our lost-standing tradition of supporting the Alzheimer’s Association through our annual Beta Bring It On philanthropy. In an effort to keep our brothers and participating sororities safe, each respective team filmed their cheer routine instead of performing live, and we held a live stream to announce the winners. Although our philanthropy was anything but traditional, we still raised over $10,000. Furthermore, our brothers continued to excel in the classroom despite the remote environment. Last semester, we achieved the highest cumulative GPA among all other fraternities, a distinction we are very proud of.

2 020 gave us its fair share of tribulations. Still, our committed brotherhood helped push our chapter to become both more unified and better prepared for the future, whatever it may hold.”

Submitted by Beta Theta Pi

beta theta pi BΘΠ gamma xi TO DEVELOP MEN OF PRINCIPLE

Philanthropy: Sexual Assault Center of East Center

Charity: Beta Bring it On

Colors: Shades of Blue & Pink

Mascot: Dragon

Flower: Rose

Founded at UF: 1930

“My first semester as President of Beta Theta Pi has been very challenging, yet even more rewarding. This school year has been difficult and unpredictable for everyone, but I am very proud of my chapter for getting through it and continuing our success as an organization. We have achieved several milestones, including awards from our national organization and achieving the top interfraternity council GPA out of all 24 chapters. I am very excited for what is to come in the fall. Go Greek and go Gators,” Jack Lewis said.

“What I love most about our chapter is the camaraderie between all of us. It extends not only between our respective pledge classes but among all of the brothers within our chapter and beyond. We keep close connections with our alumni, who give us great advice, share their own accounts of their time as an active Beta, and serve as role models for all of our current members. This goes hand in hand with why I chose this Gamma Xi chapter. From the moment I first entered this house, I could see the connections amongst our brothers and knew this was the culture I wanted to be a part of,” Ben Hall said.

“I chose the Gamma Xi chapter because from the first day of rush, I couldn’t seem to pinpoint any true stereotype within the fraternity. I remember talking with at least ten brothers during rush, all with different backgrounds, interests, and experiences at UF. I appreciated how it seemed that Beta was accepting of anyone with a genuine interest in the fraternity. Since initiation, I am happy to say that my initial thoughts proved true. Every brother has impacted me differently, and I can confidently say that without Beta, I would not be the person I am today,” Ross Perry said.

This past year has thrown a lot of challenges our way, but our men have risen to the occasion and worked harder than ever to have a successful year. With transitioning communication and meetings to an online format, we’ve learned so much bout working together efficiently even when some of us couldn’t be in-person together. We worked with UF Health making sure our members were regularly tested so when we did meet up, we were able to be safe and do our part in preventing the spread of the Covid-19 virus. This spring we initiated 6 new members into the Theta Delta chapter, and we are looking forward to a big recruitment class this upcoming fall. O ne of the highlights of this semester was putting on our new philanthropy “Chi Phi Capture The Flag” to raise money for the Boys and Girls Club of America. We had 8 teams participate in a Capture the Flag tournament, with our Brothers working as referees and coaches. We complied with Covid-19 protocols, and everyone who participated had a blast. We also had many of our members participate in the UF Big Event, a day of service to give back to the Gainesville community. We had 13 of our members on staff, including four on the executive board. We are excited to continue showing all of the great things our chapter does for the UF and Gainesville community.”

“I was looking for a new start that could offer me a lot of opportunities to make connections and memories. I didn’t want to have any regrets before graduating. After getting to meet and speak to its members for the first time, I knew I made the right decision to rush. Every member adds something that makes the whole experience feel like a big family,” Dan Mazzo said.

“Joining Chi Phi was one of the best decisions I’ve made during my time at the University of Florida. The friendships I’ve made along the way have been so critical to my success here, and if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing,” Jack Webber said.

All Writing & Photography Submitted by Chi Phi

chi phi ΧΦ theta delta

LABOR FOR THE BEAUTIFUL AND FOR THE GOOD

Philanthropy: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Colors: Purple & Gold

Flower: Purple Iris

Founded at UF: 1925

delta tau delta ΔTΔ delta zeta

“This past year has been an undeniably unique and unforgettable learning experience for us all. The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way we interpret the world around us. Instead of seeing the dynamics imposed by Covid-19 as a setback, our brotherhood took steps to see these dynamics as opportunities to define and navigate a new world of abundance. In the midst of this new environment, we remained persistent. We adapted proper safety guidelines to keep us in check with Covid-19 regulations in a way that promoted safety but did not hinder our abilities to actively make a difference in our communities. With this mindset, we started the new year strong with a fresh wave of service. Our MLK food drive collected food from our brothers as well as from many sororities, which we donated to the UF Field and Fork pantry. Additionally, we banded together as a brotherhood to donate over 350 pounds of sandwiches to the local food bank Bread of the Mighty. Our greatest achievement from this year has been our signature philanthropy event known as Miss Greek. Our dedicated brothers selflessly devoted their time to organize and run the event and ensure that it went safely and smoothly. Thanks to them and the Phillips center, we were able to raise over $25,000 for the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation. From the food donations to raising money for diabetes research, we found the resilience it took to successfully excel in strengthening our community. The unique circumstances we have endured have highlighted the everlasting strength of brotherhood. We are grateful for these challenges we have been presented with, and we embrace the lifelong learning and growth that follows.”

“Delta

Tau Delta has shown great growth this year despite the difficult hand that we were dealt and brotherhood has never been stronger,” Jake Hagan said

All Writing & Photography Submitted by Delta Tau Delta

Kappa Sigma gave me the leadership skills necessary to lead a chapter of 120 members and the ability to be a leader on campus. From the moment I accepted my bid from Kappa Sigma I knew that I made a decision that would benefit me for decades to come,” Trey Banco said.

Kappa Sigma has brought me endless friends and opportunities to grow, lead, and mentor others. The lessons and stories I’ve gathered from my time in this chapter are things I’ll cherish forever. Go Gators,” Christian Holland said.

“The Delta-Delta chapter of Kappa Sigma is one of the largest Fraternities at the University of Florida. The best part about Kappa Sigma is that it is a place where people of so many different walks of life can come together as one and will always be there for each other, through good and bad times.”

All Writing & Photography Submitted by Kappa Sigma

kappa sigmaKΣ delta delta BONONIA DOCET

Philanthropy: Feeding America

Colors: Purple, Green & Gold

Symbols: Cross & Crescent

Flower: White Rose

Founded at UF: 1933

PER CRUCEM CRESCENS

Andrew Reimer – “To me Lambda Chi means growth, learning, and fun. Going into my senior year, I have had my best times in college with Lambda Chi and they have helped me grow and learn about all aspects of life. I chose Lambda Chi because of the brothers I met rushing. They were invested in me from the get-go, and it was obvious they were not just putting on a show to get new members.”

Jack Gretschel – “My favorite thing about Lambda Chi is our brotherhood. I’ve met my roommates and closest friends through Lambda Chi and I know that every one of my brothers would have my back.”

Chris Skibicki – “Lambda chi has helped me to find a tight knit group of friends and helped me to grow as a person. I have grown into who I am today and that in a large part due to lambda chi. I have been able to grow as a leader and as a person. I chose to join Lambda Chi because I felt the most genuine connection with the other brothers here.

lambda chi alpha ΛXA epsilon mu

“2020-2021 has been a challenging year for everyone, but the Epsilon Mu chapter of Lambda Chi has overall come out on top. COVID has turned the world upside down for the past year, however, we have seen our brotherhood grow closer over this period. We initiated two successful, new member classes in both fall and spring, we are looking forward to what the future has in store for our chapter.”

Submitted by Lambda Chi Alpha

“Despite the uncertainty and abruptness that COVID-19 brought everyone last spring, the brothers of Phi Kappa Tau were dedicated to finding their new sense of normal for this upcoming year. During these unprecedented times, our Alpha Eta chapter was able to become more involved on campus than ever before by helping our student body, community, and brothers.

Despite the limited involvement opportunities available, our chapter was able to step up to the plate and was dedicated to making a difference. Our brothers were selected to hold the highest positions in Engineering Weekly and Student Government, where they continue to lead the next wave of Florida Gators and improve our campus. Additionally, as a chapter, we proudly raised almost $10,000 for Children’s Miracle Network through our heavy involvement with Dance Marathon.

While following all COVID-19 safety guidelines, we hosted a Phi Tau classic Chicken ‘n’ Waffles philanthropy event in the Fall, and debuted a new philanthropy event in the spring–The Tau Bowl. Through our dedication to giving back to the community, we were able to spend safe, quality time outdoors while fundraising for SeriousFun Children’s Network. Our Spring ‘21 New Member Class also embodied our values of helping others by initiating a roadside trash pickup on University Avenue, helping keep up the beauty of our home away from home in Gainesville.

Most importantly, despite all the hardship this past year has brought, our brotherhood grew stronger than ever. Our boys took advantage of school sanctioned events, competing in sorority philanthropy competitions, and playing intramural sports whenever possible. We made new memories in old, familiar places through visiting each other’s hometowns and taking up small group activities outdoors like biking, hiking, and skiing. As this school year is coming to a close, we’re excited to continue our motto of ‘going far’ through our involvement and expanding our brotherhood next fall. We can’t wait to see all of our fellow students at the Swamp for the full-fledged Florida Gator Experience. Go Gators!”

Philanthropy: SeriousFun Children’s Network

Colors: Harvard Red & Old Gold

Flower: Red Carnation

Symbol: Unicorn

Founded at UF: 1926

“I chose Phi Tau because the diversity of brothers, along with the opportunity for greater involvement both on-campus and in-house drew me in. Finding like-minded individuals where every person was unique reminded me of my time spent living abroad. This fostered an environment where I knew that I could grow as a person and enjoy my time doing it, providing a true home away from home,” Phi Kappa Tau member said.

“My favorite part of Phi Tau is our strong, cohesive brotherhood. We are all focused and careerdriven, but still know how to have a good time,” Phi Kappa Tau member said.

“Every day, Phi Tau amazes me with the work and accomplishments of my fellow brothers. I know that no matter what my interests may be on-campus, there will be brothers who excel in it that can guide me towards success. It’s something that was clear to me the moment I stepped inside this house, and it’s why choosing Phi Kappa Tau has been the greatest decision of my life,” Phi Kappa Tau member said.

phi kappa tau ΦKT alpha eta SPIRIT OF BROTHERHOOD

Philanthropy: The Ability Experience

Symbols: The Star and Lamp

Flower: Red Rose

National Founding: 1904

piphikappaΠKΦ alpha epsilon

All Photography Submitted by Pi Kappa Phi Alumni, Jose Otero

Philanthropy: The Elimination of Prejudice

Colors: Purple & Gold

Flower: Common Honeysuckle

Symbol: Lion

Founded at UF: 1925

“The year 2020 was filled with unexpected and wild events that impacted our collegiate lives incredibly. Although 2020 was a challenging and frustrating time in history, the men of Pi Lambda Phi continued to work hard in ensuring a healthy and successful school year. The Florida Delta chapter of Pi Lambda Phi relied heavily on the cooperation of its brotherhood to wear masks, sanitize frequently, and practice other healthy habits in order to keep each other and the rest of the University of Florida student body safe. Pi Lambda Phi was able to recreate some of its yearly traditions while obtaining a high standard of safety protocols. “Pi Lam Royal Fam” is Florida Delta’s largest philanthropy event of the year, in which proceeds from the event are donated to The Elimination of Prejudice Foundation. This event was able to be broadcasted through Zoom to over 300 students and donors. Eliminating prejudice is one of Pi Lambda Phi’s main creeds and missions that has been implemented in the minds of new members at the Florida Delta chapter since 1925. As well as its philanthropy, Florida Delta was able to host online recruitment events in order to ensure the safety of our prospective new members. New members were able to introduce themselves and meet the entire brotherhood while following Covid-19 guidelines. No matter how difficult Covid-19 made this past year, Florida Delta’s brotherhood worked tirelessly together to defy the odds and make this past year a huge success.”

pi lambda phi ΠΛΦ florida delta

“Pi Lambda Phi’s brotherhood is the embodiment of the phrase ‘Not Four Years, But a Lifetime,” Dylan Brandes, second year undergraduate student, said.

“Pi Lambda Phi Florida Delta has given me the opportunity to succeed in every aspect during my collegiate career,” Justin Sheir, second year undergraduate student, said.

“The older brotherhood welcomed me into a close-knit family that I am excited to be a part of for the rest of my life,” Ben Udine, first year undergraduate student, said.

NOSTROS AMEMUS

Colors: Military Red & White

Flower: Red Carnation Symbol: Rattlesnake

Founded at UF: 1916

“I came to college with a couple of friends and didn’t plan on rushing a fraternity but what I learned about Theta Chi is it is a bunch of intelligent like-minded individuals who are hard working and driven with high aspirations. My brothers have helped me reach my full potential and I have had the opportunity to help them as well,” Kyler Johns said.

“While rushing I saw Theta Chi as a diverse brotherhood with people from all over. Everyone has everyones back no matter what and that made the decision a no-doubter. My brothers and I have a bond like no other and I know they will have my back if I ever need as I will always be there for them,” Ben Holderman said.

“When joining college I wanted to become a leader and get involved in the community and Theta Chi is one of the most involved fraternities on campus. I have had the opportunity to get involved in clubs, sports and philanthropies all due to my involvement within Theta Chi,” James Hazlett said.

AN ASSISTING HAND

theta chi ΘX tau

“2020 was one of the craziest years any of us have ever witnessed. Theta Chi took this year as an opportunity to reflect and grow from these experiences, and we have come out of this year better than before. We grew as both individuals and together as a group.

Members of Tau chapter have earned leadership roles all across campus. Some of these organizations include Student Government Productions, Gator Growl, Dance Marathon and many more. Two members of our chapter were inducted into Florida Blue Key and many of our brothers helped to found ThriveIFC, the new mental health initiative within greek life. We were able to celebrate with the sixty young men that have joined our brotherhood in the past year.

As a chapter we still had the opportunity to help out the community whenever possible. We ran multiple food drives to the local hospitals providing food for the health care workers who were spending tireless hours every day taking care of those in need. We also held our annual Sandbox fundraiser, a volleyball tournament for organizations to compete in. All of the money raised from this event went to the United Service Organization. We also started a pen pal program with a local middle school and over one hundred of our brothers are taking part in helping to mentor the youth in our community.

We have had to make many changes to the way we normally live our life to ensure a safe environment for our brothers to hangout, eat, study and have fun. We have implemented multiple safety precautions including wearing masks, social distancing, and more frequent cleanings. This has allowed our chapter to still bond and have fun with each other while staying healthy.

This year was not easy for any of us but in the end it made us stronger. It also made us appreciate the things we took for granted in the past. This year has helped our brothers create closer relationships with each other and we are all prepared to use what we have learned to continue to improve in the future.”

BROTHERHOO FOR A LIFETIME

“Although this year was a tough year for every member of Zeta Beta Tau, the Alpha Zeta chapter continuously found a way to make the best out of a bad situation. From our consistent philanthropic impact to our efforts to maintain a strong brotherhood, this year was certainly one we will remember forever.

During the Spring 2021 semester, our chapter was able to host our first annual ZBTahiti Get on the Ball Philanthropy. This event allowed us to use a competitive Volleyball tournament to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network. In addition, through various other fundraising events, we were able to raise our chapter’s highest total for Dance Marathon since coming back to campus in 2017.

During the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters, we were honored to welcome 15 new members to our chapter. Furthermore, we were able to maintain our strong academic status, continuously ranking in the top five IFC fraternities in GPA.

Although Covid-19 forced us to spend this school year at a distance, we are excited to know that our chapter is returning to fraternity row in the fall. With many of the tough times largely behind us, we are happy with the memories we made this year and are even more optimistic about the big year we have ahead.”

“The best thing about ZBT is our networking and presence around campus. From Dance Marathon to Florida Blue Key, we have brothers in leadership positions all around campus,” Coby Farhi said.

“My favorite ZBT memory from this year was definitely ZBTahiti. It was so fun to help run an event that helped such an important cause. I can’t wait to see how we build upon it next year,” Max Winton said.

All Writing & Photography Submitted by Zeta Beta Tau

ZBT alpha zeta zeta beta tau

alpha kappaalphadelta phi aKΔΦ alpha delta

“The year of 2020 to 2021 has been a difficult year to say the least. Much of our traditional programming and plans for the entire school year were led astray. In the beginning, the uncertainty of the pandemic and chapter functioning incited panic and chaos across our chapter. However, once discussing our chapter goals, our chapter looked to take this opportunity to grow internally and still continue to remain supportive of external organizations, all while making our mark on the University of Florida campus. Regardless of the lack of face to face interaction that our chapter had with one another, our sisters looked to make the best out of the circumstances. Through small sisterhood events, philanthropies, and socials here and there, our chapter continued to build relationships and promote growth throughout our chapter and the Greek community. Throughout the school year, with all things being communicated through social media and technological platforms, it was not uncommon that many individuals felt disconnected and isolated. Zoom fatigue was affecting our chapter and the semesterly burn out started to creep up. Given the burnout and isolation many individuals felt, our chapter made a point to capitalize on the opened opportunities of virtual platforms to connect with out of town sisters and even alumnae to foster a sense of sisterhood even through a computer screen! Overall, despite all of the circumstances that our chapter was faced with, we would like to believe that we persevered and completed a successful school year of activities and involvement.“

TIMELESS FRIENDSHIP THROUGH SITERHOOD

WHY ALPHA KAPPA DELTA PHI?

“Coming in as a freshman and now being a fifth year, the reason why I chose aKDPhi and still do constantly changes. However, what has always remained the same was the genuine sisterhood that has helped me along with everyone else grow in all sorts of ways whether it be as students, as leaders in the community, or as people. aKDPhi quickly became my family, and as such, allowed me to become a more genuine version of myself. My chapter has been there for me during my successes, but more importantly, during my failures when I needed them most. As I graduate this semester, I feel heartbroken to leave a place that has been my home for so long, but I know that no matter the time and distance, my chapter and all of aKDPhi will be with me. After all, wherever I go, they will always have a place in my heart,” said Alpha Kappa Delta Phi member, Kay

“Never before had I seen such an inspiring group of driven and talented women. Their leadership and the way they give to their community made me feel valued and capable of growth,” said Alpha Kappa Delta Phi member, Hailey

I chose Alpha Delta because of the inspiring women I met and wanted to have the same impact on campus that they did. Everyone is strong and well-rounded, and we push each other to go above and beyond in anything. The support system is unconditional, and I’ve grown in so many ways through aKDPhi,” said Alpha Kappa Delta Phi member, Anne

ΔEΨ delta epsilon psi rho

“I chose Delta Epsilon Psi looking for home away from home, and that’s exactly what I found. This really is a family and then a fraternity,” said Russel “R.O.M.E.O” Randall

“Here was one of the first places at UF that felt like home to me. I found people that understood me and my background while also challenging me to do more. It was truly one of the best choices I ever made,” said Sagar “VIRTUS” Patel

“I joined the Rho Chapter of Delta Epsilon Psi because I saw a bond and brotherhood between all of the brothers that I wanted to have. Like our motto says, “In Brotherhood Lies Our Strength,” said Harsh “MASHAL” Patel

“The past 2020-2021 school year has been a difficult and unprecedented time within our fraternity, university, country, and world. Despite the changes in lifestyle necessitated between the pandemic, our chapter has done its absolute best to succeed amid the “new normal” in which we find ourselves.

Our chapter’s highlights this past year primarily included the successful recruitment of two new classes in our brotherhood. It was a challenge educating new members about our chapter’s history, pillars, and tools necessary to be a brother of our fraternity. However, we are so proud to have successfully undergone this process; we were able to welcome our newest brothers of the Chamπon Pi class and the No Rhole Models Rho class. We cannot wait to see what our newest brothers can accomplish as we navigate through the present times.

Navigating this new normal has caused our chapter to make significant changes on how we operate and interact with our community. Internally, we have been holding chapter meetings virtually to accommodate our brothers in different locations. Externally, we have continued engaging with other organizations through means such as virtual game nights, public service forums hosted online, and online game tournaments. To hit our usual fraternal standards we hold ourselves too, we have had to get creative by hosting and communicating events through virtual means, often prompting us to create new events ourselves. Taking time to reflect has caused me to appreciate the organization for what it stands for. Our organization was founded on three pillars: brotherhood, discipline, and commitment. Personally, I crossed this fraternity last semester, and the values of what was taught to me and what this organization stands for has been able to provide support during these new times. I found a community of hardworking brothers, and together we can put in the due diligence necessary to meet the high standards we set for ourselves. Although we may be in different locations, use different means of communication, and execute events that we have never done before due to the times, I am glad to have found a chapter of likeminded individuals and cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with them as we navigate through these unprecedented times.”

delta phi omega ΔΦΩ sigma

WE DREAMT, WE SAW, WE CONQUERED

“COVID-19 has impacted the entire world in ways nobody would have ever expected. This obviously includes university life and extracurricular involvement. With the circumstances our chapter faces in 2020-2021, we learned how to adapt in high-stress and uncertain environments. To ensure the safety of our members and everyone in our communities, we transitioned to completely virtual events, meetings, and programming. While this adjustment was difficult at first, with the support of our other charters nationwide, as well as other organizations in our council and on our campus, we learned so much. While we did not get to see each other in “normal” settings, our sxsterhood has gotten even stronger. We learned so much about each other, we had important discussions about social issues, and we made a special effort to lean on each other. COVID-19 took the world by storm, but it also brought communities together in times of need. We have still continued to participate in multiple monthly service events to engage in direct action and community engagement. We raised more money this year for our philanthropy than we ever have before, with over $1000 raised for the international nonprofit organization CARE. This pandemic has made our chapter more flexible, encouraged us to become better leaders, and allowed us to evolve and grow into a stronger organization. We are more ready than ever to take on the next academic year and translate what we’ve learned in this pandemic as we transition back to “regular” life.”

SXSTERS

“I chose my chapter because I wanted to become a stronger leader and a better member of the community. As a South Asian womxn passionate about social justice, solidarity has always been a priority of mine in all aspects of my life. The Sigma Chapter of Delta Phi Omega allowed me to meet a group of thousands of strong-willed, extremely kind womxn who would always push me to be my best. This chapter has made me a strong leader and a better member of society,” Nuzhat Zaman said.

Being a person of color at a predominantly white institution is not easy. The Sigma Chapter of Delta Phi Omega has given me a home away from home, and has allowed me to become a member and a leader of the Multicultural Greek Council here at UF. I am surrounded by individuals from different backgrounds who understand my worldviews and experiences, and who also challenge me to think about new perspectives,” Tashfaa Kasmim said.

gamma eta ΓΗ alpha

“Gamma Eta Sorority, Inc. finds its origins as a student organization at the University of Florida in 1995 where it was first known as Gamma Eta Society. In the fall of 1995, under the leadership of our founding mother Ilena Camilo, she and 17 other ladies came together to create the sisterhood that exists today. These women saw the need to form an organization that would offer a support system to women of diverse backgrounds. Although they faced numerous barriers in becoming formally recognized as an official sorority, our founding mothers persevered and initiated the founding class in the spring of 1996. Gamma Eta was finally chartered and incorporated as an official sorority on August 2, 1999 and achieved recognition as a Greek Letter organization. In 2006, Gamma Eta was admitted as a full member of the National Multicultural Greek Council. Today Gamma Etas are involved in various philanthropic efforts from breast cancer awareness to improving diabetes research. Sisters also work to serve underprivileged communities in multiple states, as well as enhance sisters’ academic and professional endeavors. Sisters of Gamma Eta have led their respective universities in various capacities, both as students and staff, and held prestigious positions all around the world in their professional careers supporting one another to achieve their goals. At the University of Florida specifically, the Alpha Chapter of Gamma Eta Sorority, Inc. strives to bring awareness to the Lupus Foundation of America, hosting events each year to educate and raise funds for the cause.”

HOY Y SIEMPRE

“Within the few last years of my life I have encountered a variety of unknowns. Unknowns in my career, in my life, and in the world. These unknown moments have often left me anxious and unaware on how to tackle them. However, if it weren’t for the support and love that was and is given to me by Gamma Eta, I can confidently say I wouldn’t be the same woman I am today. Gamma Eta is home. It is a home of love, of grace, of growth, and of support. In my triumph she is joyful with me, in my sadness she sits next to me, and in my growth she gives me the space to becomewhat a beautiful thing to be a part of. Gamma Eta is Hoy Y Siempre and I am so thankful to be surrounded by empowered women who empower women,” Valentina Nunez said.

“Gamma Eta gave me a chance to surround myself with people that have helped me grow into a better person. I was able to be surrounded with love and such a good energy that only helped me grow as a leader as well. I was able to believe in myself more because all the confidence surrounded by me. I am thankful I am able to have a support system whenever I need it and even when I don’t know I need it. I am thankful for my sisters and everything they have taught me,” Pia Quiroga Carrizo said.

“Gamma Eta is my home. The place where I can embrace who I am and be confident of the person I am today. Gamma Eta gave me some of my closest friends who I can always count on. The sisterhood is always there for me, no matter what. I am so grateful I have Gamma Eta in my life and found the sisterhood when I needed it the most. Gamma Eta makes me happy,” Briana Flores said.

kappa philambdaKΦΛ

rho

“Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. was chartered at the University of Florida on April 3, 2004 as the first Pan-Asian interest sorority on campus. We are a culturally-based sorority in which their founding mothers aimed to unite young women of differing heritages and encouraged them to make use of their strong voices and thoughts. Since the establishment of our sorority, we have been open to women of all nationalities and backgrounds who want to learn about, actively speak for, and represent Pan-Asian culture.

T he sisters of Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. strive to strengthen Sisterhood amongst women by providing Service and promoting Cultural Diversity to our members and our community, thus securing the bond of kinship for posterity. Kappa Phi Lambda exists to further educate individuals about PanAsian culture, while keeping our own identities. We aim for academic excellence, keeping in mind the importance of education and learning as the key to strength, awareness, and fulfillment.

Through our pillars of Sisterhood, Service, and Cultural Diversity, we have flourished into a strong and respectable organization that is recognized by many Asian American organizations, our peers, and Greek organizations from all over. Each Chapter & Associate Chapter of Kappa Phi Lambda continues the mission set forth by our founding mothers; however, each school is also unique in its own right, adding to our respect for diversity.

O ur national philanthropy, the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE), is a leading international humanitarian organization working to fight global poverty. They place a special focus on working alongside women because, equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty.”

by Kappa Phi Lambda

lambda theta alpha ΛΘA chi

LATIN BY TRADITION, NOT BY DEFINITION

lambda theta phi ΛΘΦ phi

“Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. has faced unprecedented hardship in this past year, as have we all. The same week that we celebrated the 25th Anniversary of our Chapter Charter, our country and campus came to a sudden halt as the lockdown we’ve all experienced became our new reality. With this sudden change, we’ve had to innovate new ways to continue our lasting campus presence, uphold our standards of community service, and find new and socially distant ways of connecting with and serving the Latinx community. Riding on the coattails of years of hard work by pioneering brothers and Latinx leaders who came before us, we successfully innovated new and creative forms of service and philanthropy while maintaining the strong interpersonal relationships that our chapter centers: our brotherhood.

Through the year 2020, we upheld our tradition of advocacy by standing in solidarity with Black lives, our Black peers, and our Black brothers. We sought out action beyond the performative posts on social media by changing our chapter philanthropy to the Bail Bonds Project as well as encouraging brothers to engage in peaceful protests. We honored the legacy of Vanessa Guillen, an outstanding young Latina whose death shook our community. We hosted events on voter rights, mental health and children’s advocacy. All while maintaining our dedication to community service with Keep Alachua County Beautiful and Haven Hospice.

Throughout the pandemic, our brothers stood out as leaders of the Hispanic campus community, pre-professional honor societies, Cicerones, advocacy groups, Student Government, and Greek Life as we always have. We built each other up as leaders as well as young professionals in ways that only brothers could. And as our graduating brothers move into graduate schools, fellowships, and the workforce, we know that we have each other to thank above all. Most importantly, we are in good health and the brotherhood is good. Not only have we assured that not one undergraduate brother has contracted COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, but quarantine has served as an opportunity to lean on each other as the chosen family that we pledged to be.

Our accomplishments, such as inducting our newest members, through this year of national social unrest, economic strife and health crisis have not gone unnoticed as we were named Chapter of the Year by our Fraternal Leadership, as well as having one of our own UF brothers recognized as Brother of the Year. As members of the first and largest Latino Fraternity in the nation, this is an outstanding accomplishment which we have not failed to appreciate.

As our campus and country reopen and the pandemic comes to close, we hope to continue this legacy in person in what will surely be a successful 27th year at the University of Florida.

CHILVARY ABOVE SELF

“I chose my chapter because the level of brotherhood was noticeably different from other fraternities on campus, and I wanted to put my love and work into something bigger than myself at UF,”Anthony “Lightheart” Portugués third-year undergraduate student, said.

“I chose my chapter because I needed a group of people that had similar backgrounds and struggles. There were not a lot of people in Gainesville who understood me, and I think being part of this brotherhood gave me the support I needed to thrive in this institution,” Alessandro “Remedy” Pereira, third-year undergraduate student, said.

“I chose my chapter because I could feel the support system built between the brothers, and how they each made sure to support each other to be better,” Luis “Aurelio” Murillo, firstyear undergraduate student, said.

Colors: Brown & White

Charter Date at UF: March 5th, 1995

Flower: White Carnation

Philosophy: “En La Unión Está La Fuerza”

pi delta psi ΠΔΨ sigma

“The years 2020-2021 have been the most unconventional times that our Brotherhood has experienced. Indeed, change is a choice, and we chose to adapt to these unprecedented times to foster stronger bonds between our brothers and continue being leaders of our community. Many timely and relevant social issues resurfaced, including but not limited to the Black Lives Matter Movement, #MeToo, and ‘Stop AAPI Hate.’ Brothers across the nation joined together to not only advocate for our own people but also stand in solidarity with various marginalized groups. We searched within and beyond our respective organizations to improve and educate ourselves and the communities we are a part of. Through difficult yet productive conversations, we shed light on the issues that were previously underdiscussed. In the grand scheme of things, we wished to create a safe space for our communities to vocalize their experiences and struggles and celebrate our roots, history, and people. We also continued our efforts to fundraise for causes that we are passionate about, such as Dance Marathon, which goes towards the kids at UF Health Children’s Hospital. As a part of the amazing Multicultural Greek Council at the University of Florida, we were also given the opportunity to cultivate meaningful relationships with the other fraternities and sororities that make up the council and enrich the campus as a whole. Instead of succumbing to silence, complacency, and the oppressive systems that confine us, our brothers chose to be the change we wish to see at the Gator Nation and beyond.”

“I joined PDPsi because I wanted to make close connections with people I can trust throughout my years here at UF as well as in the future. Joining PDPsi has allowed me to build confidence in myself, find a sense of Brotherhood, and develop myself as a leader within the community,” Hanz “Imperator” Jung said.

“My favorite aspect of the Brotherhood is the brothers’ drive for success. When you surround yourself with people who are motivated and are trying to further themselves in their career, you want to do the same. In this fraternity, you’re acting as role models for the community and future brothers, and that’s what keeps me motivated,” Quan “PRELUDE” Trinh said.

“PDPsi and Greek Life have really cemented my leadership skills, communication abilities, and soft skills. More than that, the friendships I’ve maintained with brothers and the larger Greek community overall throughout the years have brought immeasurable support and memories throughout my 20s,” Jonathan “JIVE” Tanawan said.

Colors: Red, Sliver, & Black

Founded at UF: 2004

Symbol: The Dragon

sigma lambda beta ΣΛB zeta beta

“The past year has brought many challenges to this organization and all Greek organizations at UF. The health of our brothers and community was the main priority, which led to almost two semesters of virtual programs and events. The Zeta Beta Chapter of Sigma Lambda Beta overcame these challenges by revolutionizing intentional programming. Virtual burnout occurred early in the Fall semester so as an organization we owed engagement and a real learning experience to those attending our events. This was accomplished by tackling sensitive issues and allowing meaningful conversations aimed at providing new perspectives. We successfully maintained our social media presence securing communication with our communities as well as joined forces with many student organizations to better serve the needs and wants of our people. Although our Fraternity being historically Hispanic/ Latino, our chapter is composed of brothers from different ethnic and racial backgrounds. In the most tragic moments of the past year we took it upon ourselves to speak up for those groups and individuals that have been victims of prejudice and violence. Brothers shared wins and losses throughout this time and always had the support and guidance to push beyond their perceived limits. Together we were able to not only adapt to harsh circumstances but also learn and improve from them. Greek life often comes with negative connotations, however the work of our brothers to enhance equality, tolerance for the views of others, and justice serve as testament to the quality and character of the gentlemen that I have the honor of calling my brothers,” Sebastian “Yagüara” Magaña wrote.

OPPORTUNITY FOR WISDOM, WISDOM FOR CULTURE

“Never before had I seen such an inspiring group of driven and talented “I chose the ZB chapter of SLB, because I felt encouraged and motivated by brothers to succeed and challenge myself. The brotherhood in this chapter has been a support system that has allowed me to grow personally and professionally in my career. More importantly, I have built genuine friendships and I am excited to continue making memories with them,” Tito “Sargento” Ruiz said.

“Joining SLB has been one of the best decisions I have made during my time at UF. From long-lasting friendships to personal growth, the organization has pushed me to be a better version of myself everyday,” Huy “Hydra” Buy said.

Charity: Victor Correa CPR Awareness Day

Colors: Royal Purple & Pure White

Flower: Red Carnation

Symbol: White Stallion Mustang

Founded at UF: 1999

theta nu xi ΘNΞ alpha alpha

“I wanted to find a family on campus. Theta Nu Xi surrounded me with a group of great women, who challenged and pushed me to exceed. I found a great support system and family at UF,” Diane Hernandez said.

“Theta Nu Xi consists of women with different perspectives, ideas, and cultures that come together to develop an unbreakable bond. I wanted to be surrounded by strong-minded women who aspire to empower one another and would push me to reach my fullest potential,” Daniella Andre said.

“I joined TNX because I wanted to create long lasting relationships with women I share the UF campus with. I also wanted to gain new perspectives and insights on cultures outside of my own. I wanted to find an everlasting support group of a diverse set of individuals and I hit the jackpot,” Perizhana Wood said.

Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. founded on April 11, 1997, is the first and only historically multicultural sorority at UF. While all Greek organizations are and continue to grow more diverse, our Sorority explicitly seeks members with multicultural ideals and interests. We seek to use our Sorority as a vehicle to educate the surrounding campus and community on issues of diversity. We recognize that diversity is not limited to race, and we are proud to have achieved a sisterhood that is not only diverse with

BY CULTURE AND BY MERIT

iota lambda alphaalphakappa

“This year the Illustrious Iota Lambda Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated was greatly impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Having been used to doing our service events and other activities in person, we had to adjust to doing virtual events using Zoom and other virtual formats. Despite the challenges in adjusting to COVID-19, we have been able to execute wonderful service events as well as other activities. For instance, during our Spring Week called Skee Week we were able to fundraise over $750 to donate to the Refugees in America Assistance Program. Additionally, as part of our fundraiser and Skee Week, we created an informational video using the interactive educational platform EdPuzzle to educate participants about the refugee crisis in the United States.

Due to the pandemic, we realized as an organization that we have to work towards making our content and events more accessible. Therefore, we decided to close caption all of our videos released during our Spring Week as well as make the content available on our official Instagram page and Youtube Channel. Additionally, we have conducted events that discuss the importance of inclusion. For instance, our Klosed Kaptioning during our Skee week focused on discussing the issues that the Black death community faces when it comes to the way they sign using Black American Sign Language versus American Sign Language. Overall, despite the negative impacts of COVID-19, the Iota Lambda chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated has managed to adapt to these circumstances and still serve the UF community, Gainesville community, and greater global community through our events, activities, and initiatives. We hope that with the dissemination of the vaccine that we are able to transition back into in-person programming.”

WHY IOTA LAMBDA?

“I decided to become a member of the Iota Lambda chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated because I desired to be around excellent women. Women who make a difference not only on their campus community but in the greater community. I decided to join my chapter because I knew it would be a home for me,” Sarah Louis said.

“I chose my chapter because the women that were in it were confident leaders making a difference on campus and I wanted to surround myself with like minded individuals,” Lauren Ferguson said.

“I chose this chapter because of how strong of a unit they were. People are always cheering you on, helping you find opportunities, picking you up. Iota Lambda women always had each other’s backs and I wanted to be part of that,” Jania Lowe said.

“As I entered my senior year, my mindset was to impact those around me like my mentors. Although, there were many challenges that we had to face. This past year has taught me that anything is possible when you maximize your energy. Think smarter, not harder. A quote I live by is, “Do not fear failure but rather fear not trying.” Ever since I was a child, I had a passion for business and technology. Thus, after graduation, I will be starting my professional career as a System Engineer for Lockheed Martin and also looking to start an online business in the future centered around sneaker design. This past year has shown me that I have to adapt in my career as it will adapt over time. This year has limited a lot of students in their involvement as we adjusted to the current conditions. This year, I was able to serve as the chapter president for my fraternity. Also, I have served on the Greek Policy Advisory Committee that creates, evaluates and revises policies and guidelines established by the Division of Student Affairs and administered by Sorority and Fraternity Affairs. I learned that effort could take you a long way during these involvements. When you face a problem, the amount of effort can always solve a problem. I pushed my chapter to be “servants of all” with innovative programming as we go through these troubling times. Our chapter understood that our past stapled programming would not meet the standards of the current climate on this campus. We had to brainstorm efficiently to create and execute exciting virtual events that were engaging/informative for the U.F. community. My chapter raised over $5000 for local charities and was awarded the Outstanding Chapter of the Year for the Florida Federation of Alpha Chapters,” Pankenley Pierre wrote.

AΦA

theta sigmaalpha phialpha

FIRST OF ALL, SERVANTS OF ALL, WE SHALL TRANSCEND ALL.

“I wanted to be a part of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. because of the brotherhood that was going to surround myself in and the networking opportunities. One of my most impactful mentors that I had when was at Santa Fe College helped me professionally, academically, and most importantly mentally preparing me for the rigors of University. He was also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and he fueled my dreams/passions into becoming a doctor. I knew if I wanted to become a doctor Alpha Phi Alpha was going to help me achieve that dream,” Christopher Thevenot, FA20 #5, said.

“Whether it be on campus or out in the general public, Alpha men always exemplify great values and do great work in whatever field they are in. These men inspired me to strive for greatness and fulfill my potential. This is why I joined Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, and it was one of the greatest decisions I have ever made,” Michael Toppin FA20 #1, said.

“Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. is more than just a nationally recognized fraternity to me. This organization has provided me with life long friends that I can call family. It has provided me with a vast network of brothers that are willing and able to lend a helping hand when needed. It is more than just letters, it goes deeper than that. This is why I decided to join. I wanted to be surrounded by people that were not only like minded but also genuine, hardworking, and familial. I am thankful everyday for this opportunity and grateful to be a member of this great fraternity,” Rhiguens Fortune, FA20 #6, said.

INTELLIGENCE IS THE TORCH OF WISDOM

Founded: January 13, 1913

Incorporated: January 20, 1930

Founded at UF: 1975

Mascot: Ekephant Symbol: Pyramid Flower: African Violet Colors: Crimson & Cream

“Sisterhood is not a DeSTination, but a journey,” Ashlee Perkin said.

“The Lambda Psi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. consists of a membership of Black women who lead well and serve well. As an award winning chapter, Lambda Psi strives to make a positive impact in the community through service initiatives,” Nia Close said.

“The highest of DiSTinctions is service to others. -King George VI,” Keanna Nembhard said.

deltathetasigmalambda psi

“

The 2020-2021 academic school year has been an exciting and extremely fulfilling year for the Lambda Psi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Despite the challenges faced due to COVID-19, we have prevailed, nonetheless, in maintaining academic achievement, providing conscious service and programming, and showcasing our dynamic leadership on the University of Florida’s campus.

All of our programs are tailored toward educating and making a positive impact on the students here at the University of Florida and the greater Gainesville community. A new community service initiative, Delta Fresh, which was inspired by the popular food subscription, Hello Fresh, provides meal kits to residents in East Gainesville to reduce food insecurities present within the community. This initiative launched February 2021 and we have successfully created and delivered approximately 20 meal kits. During our Spring week, we continued our service by raising over $300 to donate to a Global Health Alliance in Haiti and organizations that uplift the Transgender community.

To begin our programming year, we hosted our annual Freshman Wellness Week where we provided on and off-campus resources to incoming freshmen to facilitate their transition to college and campus life. Although this programming week took on an untraditional platform, we were still able to reach over 900 individuals through our social media. In the wake of the 2020 elections, we kicked off our To the Polls mini week. This week allowed us to educate students about the general election, how to vote via mail-in ballots, and the voter suppression of formerly incarcerated people. This shows that we are not only passionate about service but also care to promote civic engagement.

In November, we held our Fall Week, themed The Delta Agency. At our agency, we were able to inform participants through engaging activities about the current gender wage gap, the relationship between mental health and racial trauma, as well as provide information on the exploitation of collegiate athletes. To refresh during the new year, we held our 7th annual Mind, Body and Soul Conference, Fearless. The twoday conference empowered participants through intentional mental and physical activities. Additionally, this semester we were able to have our first annual F.I.L.M (Fulfillment, Inspiration, and Liberation in Motion) Festival. Through this event we created a platform for Black students to spotlight their art and creativity. This festival was not limited to those only in Florida, expanding our reach. To conclude this event, we granted scholarships to our winners to further develop their craft.

We pride ourselves on serving not only our community through programming but working towards continuous development of ourselves as individuals. The current chapter members are serving the campus community in various ways, including but not limited to: President and External Vice President of the Black Student Union, 2020-2021 PAACT Coordinator, President of the National Society of Black Engineers, MAPS Historian, Gatorship Director, Campus Diplomats, Florida Cicerones, Florida Blue Key, Reitz Scholar Lead Facilitator, MFOS Ambassador, and Soulfest Assistant Director of Productions. Our ongoing efforts demonstrate our dedication to our founding principles and exemplifies our commitment to servant leadership.”

alpha

“Because

could walk in and know that I wasn’t being changed and I was loved for who I am,” Elizabeth Gluck said.

felt that

“I chose Alpha Chi because I saw a group of strong, kind women building a very welcoming environment. These girls have hearts of gold and I wouldn’t have chosen any other way,” Mackenzie Craft said.

“I chose Alpha Chi because it was where I was my most true self and felt so welcomed. Alpha Chi is home to some of the most down to earth, genuine, loving girls you’ll ever meet,” Alexis Castillo said.

“Although 2020-2021 was no easy feat for anyone, Alpha Chi Omega has remained steadfast and resilient by fixating ourselves on our sisterhood and doing our part to serve our community.

Alpha Chi Omega also raised money for our philanthropy, Domestic Violence Awareness, which directly benefits Peaceful Paths -- a local domestic violence shelter in Gainesville. We took part in Denim Day, which is one day where women wear denim in order to stand in solidarity with the survivors of domestic violence and abuse. Our sisters spoke out against racial injustice and in 24 hours, raised over $650 for Campaign Zero, an organization that uses researchbased policy to provide solutions on ending police brutality. Once we were able to return to campus, we created a campaign for Healthy Relationships Week. Healthy Relationships Weeks is a week where Alpha Chis stress the importance of healthy relationships in personal life, as well as at school. We are so proud of our sisters for remaining strong and dedicated towards what they believe in.

Throughout our time in quarantine, we remained bonded by hosting virtual events for sisters, like movie nights through “Netflix Party,” a browser extension that enables you to enjoy watching movies with your friends on different devices, and having virtual coffee dates. Once coffee shops started opening up, our 2019-2020 president, Jasmine Essa, created virtual coffee tabs through Starbucks for girls to enjoy no matter where they were. After girls safely grabbed their matcha lattes and cold brews, they could hop on Zoom with each other and share the latest scoop with their best friends.

In the Spring semester of 2021, we are so excited to have begun introducing events into our sorority schedule. Our sisters love bonding with one another in person -- safely, of course. We have reintroduced inperson philanthropy events, meals at the AXO house, and social events into our calendars -- all following UF and CDC COVID-19 guidelines. We are proud of our sisters for always staying diligent and aware of the COVID-19 pandemic, while also creating memories that they will remember for years to come.

As UF and the State of Florida begins to make vaccines accessible, we encourage our sisters to get vaccinated in order to keep ourselves, other students, and our families healthy. As members of Alpha Chi Omega, we are very excited to continue to be leaders in the Gainesville community and make the world a better place.”

alpha epsilonAEΦ

phi

alpha tau

“The circumstances of 2020 and 2021 have definitely introduced their challenges. We had to learn as a chapter how to adapt to a newly virtual environment, while still maintaining our incredible sisterhood and finding new and creative ways to connect our members. Our members have still maintained significant levels of involvement on campus in organizations such as Florida Blue Key, Cicerones, and Dance Marathon. We hosted a variety of fun and engaging sisterhood events this year, including Zoom study sessions and virtual painting classes. We continued to host our Fall philanthropy, adapting and finding ways to host our traditional philanthropy, AEPhi After Dark, virtually. Even during a pandemic, we were still able to raise money for one of our philanthropies, Sharsheret. As we began to approach 2021, we started to host COVID-safe sisterhood events outdoors to begin bringing our members together safely. From picnics at Depot Park, to tie dye events outside of our house, we came together to keep our sisterhood strong. During spring semester, we hosted a series of outdoor exercise classes to raise money for our second philanthropy, The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Although this year has presented its challenges, often leaving us reinventing the wheel, one thing is clear for sure. Our sisters are resilient and strong, truly embodying our motto: Many Hearts, One Purpose.”

Charity: Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and Sharsheret

“many hearts, one purpose ”

“I chose AEPhi because I felt like I could truly see myself in the house surrounded by all of the sisters. Since day one, AEPhi has been welcoming and a loving place where I truly felt like I fit in,” Hayley Landman, third year undergraduate student, said.

“I chose AEPhi because of the immediate sense of comfort and familiarity I felt during day one of recruitment,” Rebecca Michel, fourth year undergraduate student, said.

“I chose AEPhi because I grew up hearing all of the stories about sisterhood, living in house, and all the other amazing perks that come with being in this chapter from my mom, aunt, and cousins. I knew that I wanted to create these similar memories and couldn’t get it anywhere else other than here. AEPhi has always been mentioned in my home in South Florida, so I wanted to become part of that conversation and a part of what is now my home on row as well,” Jillian Melinek, second year undergraduate student, said.

alpha omicron pi AOΠ gamma omicron

“ With the Covid-19 pandemic, almost everything in our lives drastically changed overnight. After going home in March of 2020, no one knew what to expect when coming back to campus in the fall. Were we able to visit the house? What events could we do and not do—if any? What was going to happen if an outbreak occurred again? Covid-19 might have changed everything overnight, but what stayed the same was our love for one another. Meals at the house always brought us together so even if we had to socially distance or sit outside everything was worth it. It became the little things that we used to take for granted that meant the most. We may not have had our in person Strike Out Arthritis event, but to make up for it we pushed morale to raise as much as we can. With members of our chapter all around the globe, we still kept in touch and found new ways to stay connected over zooms and Facetime. Involvement on campus never changed, and if anything improved. We had girls participate in Florida Blue Key, Debate, Dance Marathon, Florida Cicerones, and becoming Pi Chis. These are just a few things that our members are a part of. At the end of day, what brings us closest together is our love for each other and everyone who has built Alpha Omicron Pi up to be who we are today. On bid-day, we all ran home to the same house on sorority row with the big red door.”

All Writing & Photography Submitted by Alpha Omicron Pi

Charity: Arthritis Foundation

Philanthropy: Strike Out Ar thritis

Colors: Cardinal Mascot: Panda Bear

Flower: Jacqueminot Rose

Symbol: Sheaf of Wheat

Founded at UF: 1948

WHY AO Π?

“I chose AOII because of the genuine people I met in this sorority. I saw the values that I look for in my peers in this chapter,” Sophia Arnold said.

Daniela Feijoo: I chose aoii because I knew I had found a home where I could authentically be myself and be proud of it too,” Daniela Feijoo said.

“During round one I found out AOII is filled with involved and ambitious women and I wanted to be involved in a space where I can grow as a person and leader,” Kerlin Lemus said.

INSPIRE AMBITION

alpha phi kappa eta AΦ

“I chose Alpha Phi because it was the first time in my life where I felt like I was in a community where each and every woman wanted to help one another achieve their goals and everyone has their own unique stories and backgrounds. My sisters have helped me at my low points, celebrated me at my high points, and will always find the time for a late night sonic run or fun adventures around Gainesville. I love each and every one of them so much and I couldn’t ask for a better sisterhood to be a part of,” Stephanie Odom said.

“As an out of state student coming from New Hampshire, I had no idea what to expect for in person rush of fall 2019. What I found when I entered Alpha Phi was a group of girls who were not only chill and funny but also strong and intelligent women that I could look up to. I soon found out when I became the New member education assistant my freshman year that aphi was also full of growth opportunities. Now as the VP of New Member Education and Member Experience I can say that I have been drastically changed by Alpha phi in so many positive ways and joining was the best decision I’ve ever made,” Jillian LaBrake said.

Charity: Alpha Phi Foundation supporting Research and Education for Women’s Heart Health

Philanthropy: Alpha Phifa

Colors: Silver & Bordeaux Mascot: “Alpha Phi Bear”

Flower: Fragrant Lily of the Valley and the Blue and Gold Forget-Me-Not

Symbol: Ivy Leaf

Founded at UF: 2018

UNION HAND IN HAND

“The many challenges that the 2020-2021 school year brought have fostered ideals of innovation and resistance within the chapter. From weekly chapter meetings to weekly meals to social events, our day-today practices needed to be adjusted. This past October, we hosted our first ever virtual philanthropy. Due to COVID, we were not able to host our annual Alpha Phifa bubble soccer tournament. However, our community relations team worked very hard to put together an Xbox One and PS4 bracket-style Fifa tournament to benefit the Alpha Phi Foundation. This February, we hosted our 3rd annual Mac ‘N’ Phis event benefiting the Alpha Phi Foundation. To ensure all CDC guidelines were followed, we shifted the event from an all you can eat mac and cheese bar to a to-go style mac and cheese bar. Over this school year, we have been able to raise over $4000 for the Alpha Phi Foundation which supports women’s heart health.

Across campus, the members of Alpha Phi continue to make a statement. This year our chapter’s support Dance Marathon at UF grew. We 7 girls take on Captain positions, 2 girls take on ELP positions, and 9 girls participate in the main event as dancers. We have also become very involved in Homecoming and Gator Growl. One of our sisters earned the Homecoming General Chair position for next year’s event. We also have 1 Assistant Producer, 2 Directors, and 4 Assistant Directors for Homecoming and Gator Growl 2021. Many of our members have also excelled in their clubs by earning various positions on their executive boards. This school year, we had the honor of having 4 of our sisters tapped into Florida Blue Key.

Even if we were not as physically close this school year, our sisterhood grew a much stronger bond. By utilizing virtual hangouts, we were able to stay very connected over the summer and throughout the school year. We were taught to take advantage of the time with each other because you never know when it will be cut short. We have learned to adjust as the circumstances change so frequently. We are very happy to be back to hosting in person sisterhood events, even if they may have to include shifts or have to be capped to a certain capacity.

Overall, this year has been a very memorable one for the Kappa Eta chapter. Throughout any hardship, we stick with each other Union Hand in Hand.”

chi omega eta delta XΩ SISTERS ON PURPOSE

“When I went through recruitment, I loved every conversation I had at Chi Omega. All of the chapter women were intentional and genuine. I could tell they all really cared about each other from the way they would tell stories about their friends. All of them had different interests and personalities but would support each other no matter what. It showcased how amazing the sisterhood is in Chi Omega,” Coryell Dreyer, third year undergraduate student said.

“When I walked into Chi Omega as a freshman, I had no idea what was in store. I went from an 18-year-old feeling tiny on a huge campus to a member of a sisterhood I wouldn’t trade for anything. The friendships I have made in Chi Omega are enough to last me a lifetime. I never have to question whether someone will be there to help me through difficult times or enjoy the times when everything seems to be going right. As I enter my final year at the University of Florida, I savor the fact that I will start having a lot of “Lasts” in that brick house on the corner. However, I know that the people inside will be with me long after my time in Gainesville,” Natalie Preston third-year undergraduate student said.

“As 2020 has brought challenges and changes, the women of Chi Omega are proud to celebrate the accomplishments that we still made possible! Not only do our experiences on University of Florida’s campus shape who we are but also taking the time to make sure our sisters around us are embracing what this last year has thrown our way. From experiencing a whole new recruitment format to maintaining involvement largely over virtual methods, we attempted to take each new step in stride. This year our chapter Eta Delta was recognized as a chapter of excellence by Chi Omega Nationals. Chi O is also proud to have 11 of our sisters serving as Pi Chis for recruitment next year, with one being on Pi Chi Exec as Publications Pi Chi.

One of the highlights of the year has been raising $37,000 for Make-A-Wish in their annual philanthropy, Sandblast! This year also came with the introduction of a Rocket League Championship to continue to raise money safely socially distanced through online gaming. Chi Omega has a passion for Dance Marathon it just being announced that our sister Alexis Pollack will be the Executive Director next year! Our sisters are involved in leadership roles all over campus including Project Makeover, Preview Staff, Florida Blue Key, Doulos, The Big Event, Green Greeks, Gator Growl, Undergraduate Research Scholars Program, Rec Sports, The Agency, Acts of Random Kindness, March of Dimes & SO many more. Our sister Alex Coffey killed it as a Preview Staffer in unforeseen circumstances that allowed for her to make new students’ transition easier even in the midst of a pandemic and Kristen Driver who served as the Chairman of The Big Event. The year even led to 5 sisters creating the Thrift Club at UF! Sisters are killing it everywhere with internships anywhere from Capitol Hill to companies like Cisco and the New York Federal Reserve.

This year has been one of overcoming and pushing forward to achieve. Even through each of these progressions, we knew that the sisters we had by our sides would be there no matter the circumstance, even if it had to be virtual.”

alpha psi delta delta delta

PERPETUAL BOND OF FRIENDSHIP.

“When I went into preferentials I was honestly not sure where I was going, but as soon as a sister shared a very deep and meaningful story, I was in tears. I felt so connected to these women already knowing that I went through and was currently going through the same exact thing she was. It was the first moment all of rush that didn’t feel surface level, it was so real and I knew that this is where I’m meant to be because that’s the kind of girls I needed in my life,” Kearsten Mortimer, first year undergraduate student, said.

“I had never met women I wanted to be like until I walked through the doors of Tri Delta first round. It was the first time in my life where I thought “wow these are girls I can look up to.” They were immediate role models for me and I knew they would push me to be my best,” Noel Fleig, fourth year undergraduate student, said.

“2020 was a year that brought many new challenges and adventures to the ladies of the Alpha Psi chapter of Tri Delta. After the early close of our spring semester, we had no idea how much our lives and friendships would have to adapt, and soon realized we would have to be able to grow and support each other through difficult times.

Over the past year, our sisterhood events and way we have bonded has changed a lot. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our sisters, we were able to uphold our values of truth, self-sacrifice, and friendship, while still prioritizing the safety of our members. This meant organizing sisterhood events such as yoga on our front lawn to maintain social distancing, and Netflix parties via Zoom instead of our usual movie nights all together. With the global impact of COVID-19, we found it more important than ever to continue supporting our philanthropy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Tri Delta was able to put on our outdoor softball tournament Triple Play through RecSports to fundraise for St. Jude. We also organized a social media campaign titled “St. Jude Dude” to continue our support. In response to recent and reoccurring social issues, our new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair put in place weekly diversity lessons, based on trainings from the Panhellenic organization “DiversiPhi”. Along with teaching our members about issues such as systemic racism and religious diversity, the DEI committee has introduced monthly firesides. These firesides aim to bolster sisterhood while our members learn how to become global citizens in an interactive way.

Moreover, within our campus community, our chapter has exemplified how we can work together to maintain our involvement, despite the challenges 2020-2021 have brought. Our very own Noel Fleig served as the chairwoman of the Youth Leadership Conference to put on the first ever virtual conference. Additionally, we are proud to say that we had several sisters who worked and volunteered as first responders serving on the frontlines during the pandemic. Keeping along with restrictions and social distancing guidelines, our sisters served as dancers, captains, emerging leaders, and ambassadors for the 26th annual Dance Marathon and helped raise money to support Children’s Miracle Network. In the face of trials and tribulations, Tri Delta has used the past year to further our sisterhood and lean on each other in order to continue our support for our community.”

gamma theta

“The year 2020 was a challenging time for everyone and changed every aspect of our lives, but the pandemic did not stop Delta Gamma. Rather, we came back stronger than ever. The Gamma Theta Chapter had a profound impact on the Panhellenic Council, university, and local communities this year. Learning to grow through these unprecedented times, Delta Gamma was sure to continue supporting our community through involvement and volunteering. In the spring, we celebrated our annual Spring Carnival for visually-impaired children, where we were able to create a safe, enjoyable environment with stimulating hands-on Easter baskets for the kids. Continuing to support the University of Florida community, we had a record total of 31 dancers and 42 overalls, assistant directors, captains, and ELPs involved in Dance Marathon 2021. We were able to win our seventh consecutive Dance Marathon Miracle Cup, raising over $70,000 for the children at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital.

In order to follow COVID-19 guidelines, we adapted new safety protocols throughout our sorority, sanitizing our house and providing a clean and safe place for chapter women to study, bond, do good, and have fun. We found personal, yet COVID-friendly ways of connecting with new members, hosting safe in-person events and establishing new approaches to fostering ideals of sisterhood between chapter women.

Although this year has been difficult for everyone, knowing that we have our sisters to rely on through thick and thin has strengthened our bonds and reinforced an unwavering sense of loyalty and friendship. We are so excited to take what we’ve learned this year to build on the creativity of our events next year. The best is yet to come in our Do Good Sisterhood.”

“I chose Delta Gamma because It was a place I felt safe to be myself and truly grow as an individual. Throughout my time as a DG, I have been encouraged to go outside of my comfort zone and get involved in other organizations outside of the sorority. Being in such a diverse chapter has allowed me to become friends with so many different types of women that have shaped my character and outlook on life in ways I never could have expected,” Annaleah Esp, third year undergraduate student, said.

“Coming to UF from out-of-state was definitely a nerve racking experience, I wanted to find a group of people that felt like home to me. As soon as I joined DG, I became surrounded by some of the most genuine, driven, and supportive girls I could ever ask for. Delta Gamma has truly inspired me to become a more confident and motivated person, and I’m forever lucky for this sisterhood,” Isabella Motti, second year undergraduate student, said.

“Delta Gamma stood out to me through their dedication in giving back to the community and sisterhood. The support I feel from my sisters has been unwavering and reinforced my decision to choose Delta Gamma. The group of people you associate with says a lot about your character. Being a Delta Gamma, I know I am surrounded by girls who value friendship, loyalty, and trust just as much as I do,”

Jordan Ashley, second year undergraduate student, said.

delta kappa delta phi epsilon e psilon ΔΦE

“The year 2020 was challenging to say the least. COVID-19 impacted every aspect of our lives and changed the trajectory of future generations. No matter how hard times got, Delta Phi Epsilon did not back down. The chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon continued to give back to the local community, the university, and the Panhellenic Council. Involvement is vital for the Delta Phi Epsilon Chapter to continue to grow. In the fall of 2020, Delta Phi Epsilon held a virtual “Deepher Dude” event in support and to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system in children and adults. The Delta Phi Epsilon chapter also held an event to raise awareness for ANAD, which stands for Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disordered. As for continuing to support the University of Florida, Delta Phi Epsilon held one of the top three donation spots, out of all the chapters at the University of Florida donating $49,506, as well as holding 66 dancer spots and 24 captain spots.

Following COVID-19 guidelines was essential to the Delta Phi Epsilon chapter. In order to follow these guidelines new protocols were put into place to make the women of the chapter feel safe. Wearing masks and staying six feet apart at in-person events were essential in creating a safe and welcoming space. Hand sanitizing stations were placed throughout the house, as well.

Even though this year was not what we expected, having our sisters to lean on during these difficult times is a privilege not many people get to experience. We cannot wait to see what is to come next for our chapter and we are very excited to see what the future may hold.”

“DPhiE will always have a special place in my heart. It has opened myself to new experiences and opportunities that I never would have been able to acquire before. Prior to living in-house, I did not know many people. Now, I am fortunate to say I have made so many more genuine, amazing friendships. I thank DPhiE for cracking open my shell and giving me people to be grateful for,” Sophia Schwartz said.

“DPhiE is the definition of true sisterhood and a home away from home. Ever since I stepped foot into the backyard on bid day, I knew I made the right decision by rushing DPhiE. This past year, I have met so many unfamiliar faces that turned into my life-long friends and sisters. I will forever be grateful for the memories, opportunities, and friendships this sorority has provided me,” Leetal Prezelmayer said.

“DPhiE has given me my friends who have become my sisters for life. These girls have my back no matter what and are always here to make me laugh on the hardest days. I couldn’t imagine my college experience any other way and am forever indebted to DPhiE for all it has done for me,” Danielle Amoils said.

ESSE QUAM VIDERI.

Charity: Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Philanthropy: Deepher Dude, Bowling for Body Positivity Colors: Royal Purple & Pure Gold Mascot: Unicorn Flower: Lovely Purple Iris Symbol: Equilateral Triangle

Founded at UF: 1958

delta zeta Z pi alpha

“Although the past year has been full of lots of change and unknowns, the one constant thing in our lives has been Delta Zeta and the presence of our chapter woman. We have truly been able to prove that our friendships are life long and that we can count on each other through the hardest times. Throughout the 20202021 school year, our sisterhood has not only grown, but flourished.

From our bonding movie and sunset nights, to channeling our energy and adventurous sides in paintball tournaments and trampoline parks, we have gotten through this year together and used each other to find comfort. Instead of letting virtual chapters make us feel disconnected, we have used it to our advantage by implementing sisterhood shoutouts every week, where the love and gratitude is absolutely overwhelming. Our executive board has bonded over how to face the obstacles that COVID-19 brings to all of our jobs, and our sisters have found new ways to spend time together, making communication between us much more constant. Adapting to online school has been challenging for all of us, yet we have thrived in our academics by looking to our sisters for advice and motivating one another. We have found that by staying positive and relying on each other, we can grow as both individuals and as a chapter.

This year we were able to establish our new philanthropy event, which reminded us of the good we can do for our community and showed us how strong we are as sisters. It is so uplifting to see how successful members of our chapter are and how proud we are of each other. From our members getting tapped into Florida Blue Key together or being intramural volleyball champions, we have supported each other through it all and done amazing things together.”

“I chose to join Delta Zeta because of the amazing women I talked to during recruitment week. I could see them as role models and women I wanted to be in the next few years. The level of comfort and kindness I felt when I was at Delta Zeta was unmatched, even before I became an initiated sister,” Erin Simon said.

“I knew since rush that DZ was the place for me. The genuine connections I’ve made through this chapter are what have made it worth it. I’ve met my best friends through Delta Zeta, as well as so many other amazing and hardworking girls. These girls celebrate my highs with me and support me during my lows. Everyone in this chapter is so welcoming and supportive. I’m so happy to call Delta Zeta home,” Madisen Malone said.

TRULY.

delta theta kappathetaalpha theta KAΘ

“The women of Kappa Alpha Theta are dedicated to leading women to personal excellence through a strong sisterhood, and 2020 was no exception. Dedicated to diversity and inclusion, Kappa Alpha Theta created a Diversity and Inclusion Chair on their executive board and updated their legacy policy to be more inclusive. As hard as it was to stay six feet apart, we still maintained our strong sisterhood. At the start of quarantine, we began a virtual book club where sisters met once a week on Zoom and discussed the book they assigned that week. When we got back to school in the fall, things looked a lot different. We hosted several events such as a virtual events including a Zoom Pilates Class and a “speed dating even” with the new member class to have the chance to get to know one another in a safe setting.

Due to COVID, our chapter was unable to participate in our previous philanthropy event that occurred indoors. Instead, we began our first-ever wiffleball tournament in support of CASA. CASA is a volunteer movement of advocacy for abused and neglected children in the foster care system. As a chapter, we raised over $25,000 becoming the second-highest fundraising Theta chapter in the country.

Kappa Alpha Theta is honored to have sisters in leadership roles all across campus in organizations such as Florida Cicerones, Dance Marathon, Strike Magazine, Florida Blue Key, Student Government, Global Medicine Club, Ad Society, Campus Voters Project, Chomp the Vote, CAP mentors, Real Estate Society, and so many more. Their sisters have also been able to land prestigious internships with companies such as Amazon, Morgan Stanley, Deloitte, P&G, and Wells Fargo. Others are off to top law and medical schools across the country on full academic scholarships. Although 2020 looked much different, our sisters are so grateful to be a part of such a strong chapter, and we cannot wait to see what 2021 has in store for them.”

Charity: Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation and Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)

Philanthropy: KATWalk

Colors: Black & Gold

Flower: Black & Gold Pansy

Symbol: Kite Founded at UF: 1962

“It’s cliche, but the second I walked into Theta I knew I was home. I was always told I would get a gut feeling during recruitment that would help give me direction and I definitely felt that at Theta. it seemed like I was friends with the girls I met in Theta for years when we spoke during rush, even though we only met that day, and that’s how I knew it was home for me,” Samantha Srebnick, fourth year undergraduate student. said.

“During Recruitment, Theta stuck out to me because I met so many amazing women, connected with them on a deeper level, and always felt good vibes here. From the first time I walked into the house, I felt home at Theta. Even after living here for almost two years, I still get the same feeling when I walk in the door. Theta has helped me grow into the person I want to be and has shaped my college experience in the best way possible,” Jillyane Kent, third year undergraduate student, said.

beta pi kappa delta KΔ

“In a year that presented many challenges to most of the world, the women in Kappa Delta maintained their reputation as leaders both on campus and in their communities. Beta Pi chapter successfully executed Fall recruitment, maintaining the highest retention rate of all chapters on campus. In the Gainesville community, members of Kappa Delta were able to continue their leadership in organizations they are passionate about. This includes leadership roles such as 3 Overall Directors, 1 Assistant Director, 22 Captains and 8 ELPs for Dance Marathon at UF, the Miss UF Pageant Director, the Strike Magazine External Affairs Director, and the Founder and President of One Love at UF. Kappa Delta also has members involved in Florida Blue Key, Florida Cicerones, Student Government, Senate Executive Board, Gator Growl, Pi Chi, Sister Support Ambassadors, and many more organizations. Each sister in Kappa Delta embraces the common idea of excelling academically, developing as a leader, and taking action and making change in our community. In the year 2020, we have learned many lessons, overcome many challenges, and watched as most of the world changed before our eyes; but one thing remained constant amidst the chaos, and that was our love for each other.”

“There’s just something about that little brick house on East Pan. Moreover, there is something about the steadfast, fearless women who fill it. I chose to join KD because I saw people I aspired to be and, now, who I get to call my very best friends,” Emma Theus, third year undergraduate student, said.

“Throughout recruitment they say trust the process and you’ll just know, I realized this was true at KD. I was so comfortable and knew I could just be myself. I wanted to join a community that empowered women and one where I knew I could reach my greatest potential,” Hope Ali second year undergraduate student, said.

“I chose to join KD because I was inspired by the sweet women that rushed me. I had genuine conversations and could tell that they truly cared about me and my experience,” Emily Klingenberg, first year undergraduate student, said.

BUILDING CONFIDENCE. INSPIRING ACTION.

kappa kappa gamma KKΓ epsilon phi

“In the midst of all of the challenges that this year has brought, the women of Kappa Kappa Gamma continued to remain positive, strive in their academics, take on leadership roles in various organizations, and work together to make the University of Florida a better place. In August, our sisters made the most of virtual spirit week and recruitment. We proudly welcomed over 75 new members to our sisterhood! This year we also celebrated 150 years of Kappa with a chapter-wide ceremony on Zoom. Our sisters are forever grateful to those who precede us, and to the values that we will continue to live by for years to come!

We held our 1st annual Kappa Cookout event in the spring semester - it was a huge success! We raised a total of $9,650 for End Distracted Driving or EndDD, a nonprofit that raises awareness and generates action against distracted driving. This cause is very close to our hearts, and we would like to thank all who donated and those who helped to make this event happen. This year was a year filled with accomplishments for many of our sisters. Our Philanthropy Director took 2nd place in the Delt Miss Greek Pageant, four sisters who were tapped into Florida Blue Key, twelve Kappas were chosen to be Pi Chis - including one who was selected onto the Recruitment Executive Board as Head Pi Chi, and two of our sisters became Assistant Directors on the Panhellenic Activities Board. In the fall, our Risk Manager earned Outstanding Chapter Risk Manager of the Year at Greek Awards. Kappa Kappa Gamma received an Outstanding Scholarship Program Award. Along with these outstanding accomplishments, the Kappa sisters have shined in their leadership roles and involvement in all of their other organizations including, Student Government, the Florida Blue Key Speech & Debate Tournament, Order of Omega, Florida’s Future Leadership Program, UF LitiGators, Florida Cicerones, Preview Staff, The Agency, PSO, Warrington Goes Green, Dance Marathon, and more.”.

ASPIRE TO BE.

Each year Kappa Kappa Gamma nominates a sister as the Sapphire Sister. The Sapphire Sister is someone who exemplifies our core values in everything she does. This year’s Sapphire Sister is senior Carly Voytecek. Here is a message from their Sapphire Sister sharing her experience at Kappa over the past four years: “I’m so honored to have been named Sapphire Sister. Over the past four years, being a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma has been such a highlight of my college experience. I’ve learned so much about responsibility and leadership from the women in Kappa, and even more about friendship as I navigated college with hundreds of my closest friends. My dearest hope is that others have learned from me too.”

“I chose Kappa Because of the strong sisterhood I noticed right from recruitment. I felt connected to the chapter right away and was overwhelmed by the kindness and authenticity of every member. Kappa motivates me everyday to be a better leader, sister, and individual and I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” Maya Fives, first year undergraduate student, said.

“I went Kappa because I loved the way I felt when I walked in the house during recruitment. Everyone was real and genuine which made me feel so welcome. I stayed because I met some amazing people who have become some of my best friends. It’s a place that makes me feel so grateful that I decided to go through recruitment,” Sophia Rossi, third year undergraduate student, said.

phi mu ΦM alpha nu

spite the challenges of the 2020-2021 school year, Panhellenic’s Chapter of the Year, Phi Mu had a year full of growth, success, and fraternity. To begin the year of adaptability and navigating COVID-19, Phi Mu welcomed home an incredible new member class through the first-ever virtual recruitment process. Throughout the year, Phi Mu has had women achieve remarkable achievements in their extracurriculars, such as members assuming leadership positions in organizations such as Florida Blue Key, Dance Marathon, Project Makeover, Student Government, and many others. In academia, many members have been accepted into Nursing, Law, and Medical schools, as well as our very own Gabriella Calixto, being inducted into the UF Hall of Fame. In the Spring, Phi Mu held their first annual Bonnamu philanthropy benefit concert, benefiting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. The event was a major success in both being the pilot event, and a COVID-19 conscious in-person concert. Despite the challenges of remote learning and social distancing, Phi Mu’s strong sisterhood has not wavered. By hosting both in-person and virtual sisterhood events such as fitness classes, to PowerPoint nights, sisters have been able to connect in a time of isolation and distance. With the challenges of this past year, moving forward Phi Mu stands more united, able to face whatever may come.”

“I chose Phi Mu because it was a community of bright, resilient, and driven women who encouraged me to leave the world better than I found it. Each day, I learn the true meaning of our core values of Love, Honor, and Truth because I see these qualities in the women here at Phi Mu. They support me in all that I do, help me during my lowest of lows, and celebrate alongside me during my highest highs. I chose Phi Mu because it is a community that calls me to be unapologetically myself,” Sammy Ortega, second year undergraduate student, said.

“When I was talking to the sisters of Phi Mu during recruitment, it felt like I was talking to girls I’ve known my whole life. I made a connection with a stranger within a 30 minute time period and I had never felt more at home,” Ella Anderson, first year undergraduate student, said.

VIBRANT

florida delta pi beta phiΠBΦ

“This past year gave our chapter the opportunity to reconnect with our values, pushing us to focus on our academics, sisterhood, and philanthropic efforts. While the virus made us physically distanced, we were not socially distanced as phone calls, virtual events, and shared experiences brought us together.

In March of 2020, COVID-19 forced us to cancel our annual flag football philanthropy event, Down N’ Dirty, just two days before the date of the event. This March, after months of planning and with the assistance of dozens of people, our chapter put on a successful, socially distanced dodgeball philanthropy event. We also hosted a drive-thru chicken wing fundraiser at our chapter facilities. Our combined efforts raised over $18,000 for our national philanthropic effort, Read>Lead>Achieve, to support literacy efforts. Despite the pressures and restrictions associated with COVID-19, our chapter persevered to uphold one of our core values, Philanthropic Service to Others.

In the past year, our chapter engaged in Virtual Recruitment and welcomed over 80 new members to our chapter. Their charm and optimism despite unprecedented conditions serve as an inspiration for the chapter as a whole. In the past months, the chapter enjoyed socially distanced sisterhood events including a Pi Phi art show with a food truck and a Valentine’s Day game night. We look forward to the continued strengthening of our sisterhood based on the foundations we have made so far!

COVID-19 also gave our chapter the opportunity to reassess our diversity and inclusion efforts. In Fall of 2020, we were proud to introduce a new position to our leadership board: Director of Diversity of Inclusion. Throughout the semester, we participated in seminars addressing topics like microaggressions, historical bias, and cultural sensitivity. We also work every day to make our chapter a place where people of varying backgrounds, socioeconomic classes, races and ethnicities, and political affiliations can flourish. Ultimately, the events of the past year taught our chapter women resilience and caused a resurgence of appreciation for the simpler things in life. Within the simultaneous chaos and monotony of this year came a lesson: the moments that matter most are the ones spent with those you love. From this year on, every shared meal, group library trip, and movie night serves as a time to reflect on the strength of our sisterhood.”

“During recruitment, I chose Pi Phi because whenever I left the house, I was so excited to go back to meet someone else. This still rings true with our newest MC! Through Pi Phi, I have come to know the kindest, funniest, most passionate, and brightest people ever. Hours spent with each other feel like minutes. Why Pi Phi? Because there’s never a dull moment in the yellow house on frat row,” Alexis Rosa, third year undergraduate student, said.

“I chose Pi Phi because of the genuine connection I felt with the women I spoke to during recruitment, and the enthusiasm I could see everyone has towards the pursuit of Pi Phi goals and values. Each day during recruitment in Fall 2017, I was so excited to return to the big yellow house where I felt welcomed to be myself and inspired to achieve all of my dreams as a student at UF and sister in Pi Phi. Over my four years as a member, I have continued to see these qualities in all of my sisters and am so proud to have been a leader of a chapter with such dedicated, kind, and fearless women,” Molly Voytecek, fourth year undergraduate student said.

sigma kappaΣK

beta tau

“Coming from out of state and being the only one at UF from my high school, I was searching for my home away from home. I chose Sigma Kappa because it provided me with a wonderful group of women that exude support, confidence, passion, and happiness. Sigma Kappa has become my home away from home, and I couldn’t be happier with the choice that I made,” Maggie Murphy said.

“I chose to do spring recruitment in hopes to find a new home at UF. Walking around row and meeting so many new people was an amazing experience. But once I walked into the Sigma Kappa house I knew I was home. The overwhelming feeling of welcome and happiness, aling with so many friendly sisters eagerly waiting to meet me. As time went on I knew I chose the right sorority to be my forever home. I’ve made many amazing friends, have the best big I could ask for, and have so many memories that will last a lifetime,” Savannah Harris said.

“Loyalty is one of my strongest personal values and one of the reasons I was drawn to Sigma Kappa during recruitment! As sisters, we support and uplift each other in everything we pursue and I could see this from the very first day. I’ve made some incredible friends in this chapter and they’ve shown me unwavering support, love, and kindness. I’m thankful to be a Sigma Kappa because I know these women will always have my back,” Daniela Hernandez said.

“Friendship is what makes life exciting and what makes UF home away from home for me. I’ve met so many incredible sisters and as cheesy as it sounds, my bridesmaids. My perfect little fam has made my decision to join greek life the best thing since college so far. My sisters inspire and encourage me to be my best self and support me in everything I do. The love I’ve found in Sigma Kappa is truly for more than just four years, it’s for life,” Sara Yun said.

“

The women of Sigma Kappa have shown their passion, loyalty, and leadership this past year, not only on the University of Florida campus but within the community. 2020 and 2021 have brought many challenges, but the women of Sigma Kappa have stayed strong and committed to their chapter, community, academics, and philanthropy. Sigma Kappa has raised over $18,000 dollars for the Alzheimer’s Association and participated in a socially distanced Walk to End Alzheimer’s this past fall! These women also hosted their first ever virtual philanthropy event, Sigma Singo, and were able to raise $680 dollars! This spring the women of Sigma Kappa put on Sigma Kappa’s annual Pasta Buffet and were able to raise $3,920 dollars! The ladies of Sigma Kappa also packaged about 250 care packages for the staff at UF Health Shands Hospital as an appreciation for their hard work during the pandemic. The Sigma Kappa chapter also implemented a Diversity and Inclusion chairwoman this year, and stayed committed to implementing steps to foster positive growth and change within their chapter. The University of Florida Sigma Kappa Chapter was awarded the Three Star Standards of excellence award, which is the highest honor a Sigma Kappa chapter can receive! The sisters of Sigma Kappa are involved in various campus organizations such as the Student Government Senate, Florida Blue Key, Order of the Omega, Gator Growl, Danza, Sister Support Ambassadors, Preview Staffers, The Big Event, Project Makeover, March of Dimes, FYF Peer Leaders, Best Buddies, Pi Chi, and various positions in the Panhellenic Council Activities and Communication Director’s Board. Sigma Kappa overcame the many obstacles this past year brought, and still accomplished so much. The Sigma Kappa women can’t wait to see what the future holds for them.”

ZTA zeta tau alphagamma iota

“Since 1949, Zeta Tau Alpha has been home to some of the most empowered, ambitious, and extraordinary women at the University of Florida. Running home to Zeta Tau Alpha means running home to a group of women who you call family. It means finding life-long friends who will be there for you no matter what, who will inspire you, who will motivate you, and who will celebrate your successes as if it were their own. This group of women will make your college experience and the bond of sisterhood that we all share stay with you for long after these four years.

Our incredible sisterhood has become stronger than ever whether near or far; together or apart. For sisters, home is more than just 1142. Home is curling up on the couch for Bachelor nights, mattress surfing down the staircase, celebrating our girls on Galentines Day, With our beautiful home reopened, we have been able to host events like bouquet making, movie nights on the lawn, pajama parties, yoga classes, and more while adhering to CDC guidelines.

In our community, the Gamma Iota chapter raised over 45,000 dollars for breast cancer education and awareness despite adapting its philanthropy and fundraising events, Linedance and the Paint Me Pink 5k, to virtual alternatives.

From first steps on campus to adventures beyond our college walls, we are so proud of our sisters and their incredible accomplishments. Our sisters pave their own unique paths by investing their time into organizations that reflect their passions. As they take their passion beyond UF, we’re proud to see our alumnae sisters act as movers and shakers, trailblazers, and leaders in all that they do. Being a Zeta, our sisters learn values that not only carry them through college years, but carry them through life, embodying “love, the greatest of all things.”

THE NOBLEST

Charity: Breast Cancer Education and Awareness

Philanthropy: Paint Me Pink 5k, Linedance

Colors: Turquoise Blue & Steel Gray

Flower: White Violet

Symbol: Five-Pointed Crown

Founded at UF: 1949

ACADEMICS

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences 178

College of Dentistry 179

College of Design, Construction, and Planning 180

College of Education 181

College of Health and Human Performance 182

College of Journalism 183

Levin College of Law 184

Warrington College of Business 185

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 186

College of Medicine 187

College of Nursing 188

College of Pharmacy 189

College of Public Health and Health Professions 190

College of the Arts 191

College of Veterinary Science 192

Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering 193

Photography by Lillian Lawson

college of agricultural and life sciences

The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences was formed at the University of Florida in 1909 after the separation of research and instruction in 1906. It started off with four faculty members and was the first land-grant institution in the state. They had three departments: agronomy, horticulture and animal science. By 1940, nine departments were created and over 30 staff members worked at the college. Since then, CALS has grown to become one of the most prestigious agricultural colleges in the state.

CALS has been deemed the college with the most total USDA Teaching Awards and has over 50 areas of specialization for undergraduates. Over 80 of the college’s faculty members have earned NACTA Teaching Awards, making it a school worthy of studying at. Its faculty has also been named American Association for Advancement of Science Fellows. The college is ranked top five in the list of largest colleges of agricultural and natural resources in the country. Assistant professor of the CALS Animal Sciences department, Dr. Antonio Faciola, was named the 2020-2021 Undergraduate Faculty Advisor/Mentor of the Year by the University of Florida. He joined the college in 2017 and has since then mentored over 65 undergraduates at the college.

Their Instagram page highlights many CALS graduates and shares testimonies from them. The college is passionate about showcasing their amazing students and sharing their stories. They even chose and named their Top Ten Seniors from the college in April. There are over 40,000 University of Florida CALS alumni living around the world. Their mission is to “deliver unsurpassed educational programs that prepare students to address the world’s critical challenges” regarding agricultural, sustainable and natural issues. They strive to be the college students pursing agriculture want to seek out. Integrity, diversity, collaboration and service are the core values that CALS strives to pursue daily.

Writing by Lillian Lawson, Photography Compliments from the CALS on Instagram

college ofdentistry

The University of Florida’s College of Dentistry, established in 1972, is widely known as the only publicly funded dental school in the State of Florida. Highly coveted among students enrolling in dental programs, the college regularly gets upwards of 1,000 applicants (this year’s number totaling at 1,476) out of which they accept less than 100. Despite the challenges faced during this unusual year, the college was still able to provide all incoming and current students experience in dentistry through hospital rotations at Shands and in clinics around Florida, various research opportunities with current staff and other organizations, and service rotations among the most needed communities in and out of Florida. After all, it is through hands on work that dedicated and amazing dentists are molded. Students enrolled in the College of Dentistry get one on one help from a group of dedicated and committed faculty members, and can also benefit from the free tutoring, peer mentoring, and specialized counseling UF provides. It comes as no surprise then, that in the last five years, 97% of the schools Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D) students passed the National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) part 1 and part 2 on their first attempt. Similarly as noteworthy are the opportunities for research provided to students, of which there are many. One of the most highlighted of them being the University of Florida College of Dentistry Seed Grant Program, which provides as much as $20,000 in funding to research that will undoubtably enhance what we know of dentistry. Much more can be expected to come from the University of Florida’s College of Dentistry program, as new technological advancement and modernized treatments arise around the world.

Writing by Emily Ponce De Leon Photography Compliments from the College of Dentistry on Instagram

college of design, construction, and planning

Founded in 1925, the College of Design, Construction and Planning encompassed many layers of education, with departments and schools that teach topics in architecture, construction management, interior design, and even landscape architecture and planning. With so many educational paths, for many it was no surprise that the UF College of Design, Construction and Planning is the only college in the nation to house such an array of majors and focuses, under one single collective college.

This year, Design, Construction and Planning students at the college worked and studied at various locations on campus. In some cases, they worked remotely and virtually. Students took on dozens of research projects and community outreach programs that were conducted by faculty and other fellow students. They were able to take on new, hands-on tasks such as, flying drones. The goal of their endeavors is to provide new solutions to modern problems when it comes to planning, building, and designing their future communities.

Writing by Emily Ponce De Leon Photography Compliments from the College of Design, Construction and Planning on Instagram

college ofeducation

The College of Education at the University of Florida was founded in 1906 (making it one of the oldest colleges at UF) and held remarkable rankings among the nation, with it even being ranked as No. 1 among all online programs by the U.S. News & World Report. The college was formally divided into three schools: The School of Human Development and Organizational Studies in Education, the School of Special Education, School Psychology and Early Childhood Studies and finally, the School of Teaching and Learning. Students at the College of Education learned a wide array of topics from each and every school, which includes anything from bilingual/ESOL education to mathematics education and even teacher leadership skills. Interdisciplinary study among many topics is widely encouraged to make sure students find where they best fit in as a future educator.

One important aspect of teaching education at UF was research. New ideas, plans and agendas were always being discovered to increase inclusivity and knowledge among K-12 schools across the nation. All of that was possible through the many research proposals brought forth by the facult and students at the UF College of Education. In 2019, research funding per faculty member at the College of Education totaled an astounding $995,001! Students at the college took much advantage of these research projects this year, which will certainly result in new and exciting advances to schools in the future.

Writing by Emily Ponce De Leon Photography Compliments from the College of Education on Instagram

college of health and human performance

The College of Health & Human Performance, established in 1947, has a mission to “collaborate as an academic community to enrich lives, influence healthy living, and enhance human performance.” This is why it offers a curriculum that relates to almost every aspect of our daily lives. The college offers four departments of study: Applied Physiology & Kinesiology, Health Education & Behavior, Sports Management and Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management. The Florida Gymnasium, a famous University of Florida building, was opened in 1949 and is one of the college’s facilities. It now holds offices, two basketball courses, research laboratories, six lecture halls, classrooms and faculty locker rooms. The college’s facilities allow them to collect data that may help improve the quality of life of those struggling. Some issues they tackle are addiction, neurological and cardiovascular diseases, and cultural divides in tourism.

The college even has its own newsletter for all students enrolled in it called The Pulse. It gives students information they may need for events, academic opportunities, community opportunities and more. Anyone attending the college is able to submit a 200-words-or-less announcement to the newsletter for consideration. There is also an opportunity for students to get involved as an HHP Ambassador that represents the college at various events.

Writing by Lillian Lawson Photography Compliments from the College of Health and Human Performance’s Instagram

college ofjournalism

The College of Journalism and Communications was established at the University of Florida in 1925. They offer four departments: Advertising, Journalism, Public Relations and Telecommunication with multiple paths and sequences. They have around 2,500 students in their undergraduate programs and around 700 in their graduate programs. The college celebrated its 50th anniversary in October 2018.

Students at the college had the opportunity to work with PSB and NBC affiliates such as WUFT, WRUF and WLUF. They work on a variety of topics including radio, digital stories and television. Hands-on experience can also be gathered from organizations such as The Agency and the Innovation News Center. Both were student-run and it allowed students to gain real experience in reporting, broadcasting and more. Over 40 undergraduate and graduate students won awards on April 16, through the CJC’S virtual Annual Awards Ceremony.

The Knight Division for Scholarships and Student Inclusion, formally named as the Knight Division prior to July 2020, helps students become more involved with the college. It provides them with scholarship opportunities, career and campus resources and organization information. The organization also has a news section where students can find out about important things happening.

The College of Journalism and Communications have a commitment to “a diverse and inclusive environment, preeminent scholarship, cross-disciplinary education, superior skills development, and collaboration spanning the science and practice of communication to produce significant societal impact on a local, state, and global scale.” This was represented through their many real-life opportunities and support for students.

Writing by Lillian Lawson Photography Compliments from the College of Journalism Instagram

levin college of law

The Levin College of Law website describes their college history as, “The Center for Governmental Responsibility at the University of Florida College of Law began in 1972 as the result of a $66,000 grant from the McIntosh Foundation of South Florida to study the cutting by President Richard Nixon of housing and civil rights programs funding.”

Throughout their various programs and resources they also state their goals for the student body. “At UF Law, we’re committed to preparing our students to become future lawyers, leaders, and public servants. As a top 25 law school, we foster a dynamic, diverse, and professional learning environment led by internationally recognized full-time faculty and bolstered by robust academic programs. Our global alumni network stands ready to mentor, hire, and collaborate with future UF Law graduates.”

At the school, their curriculum road maps assisted each law student design a custom path for where they would take their education in the law field. Only few are so linear according to the school.

Their class of 2023 was prided on being a progressive and diverse group of students on campus. They had a median LSAT score of 165, a median GPA of 3.84 and 23% of that class were first-generation students.

Writing Information found on Levin College of Law Website, Put Together by Keila Hackebeil

Photography Compliments from Levin College of Law Website

warrington college of business

Warrington’s College of Business hosts a school filled with professional and persistent students that aspired to take over the world and make impacts in their societies. The business gators motto was slated on their website, “We see things differently. We view obstacles as opportunities, and face challenges with resolve. We bring the values of excellence, innovation and grit to whatever we choose to pursue. Because we have been built for significance. We’ve been made to perform.”

The business college housed the #5 online MBA program in the nation, which was a professional success for the school that year.

By implementing innovation, forward-thinking and entreprenuial tactics into their curriculum, the college of business was sure to mold cohorts of progressive experts.

The ‘about’ section on their website pinpoints their purpose, “We are the birthplace of forward-thinking business leaders, setting our eyes on innovation and results. This is where we produce difference makers that shape businesses, non-profits, government, and eventually the world. It’s what built Warrington into one of the most respected business schools in the country.”

Writing Information found on Warrington College of Business Website, Put Together by Keila Hackebeil Photography Compliments from Warrington College of Business Website

college of liberal arts and sciences

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences was one of the original colleges of the University of Florida. They had 21 departments and 35 centers and institutes. Established in 1910, the college prided itself on having the most international programs, as well as the highest number of volunteers at the university.

They had over 11,000 undergraduate students and offer over 40 majors and 49 minors. Their online Psychology program is ranked number 2 in the nation. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has a mission to “lead the academic quest to understand our place in the universe, and to help shape our society and environment.”

Beyond120 was a program the college offers that allowed students to go beyond their 120 credit hours at the college. It hosts events and provides resources for students to translate the knowledge and skills they learned into personal and professional development. Beyond120 covers topics such as global engagement, career readiness, internships, prehealth and research. Workshops and excursions relating to professional developments are regularly hosted.

The college had a focus on preparing students for real-life careers and development outside of the classroom. The majority of the University of Florida’s core curriculum is taught through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. They specialized in teaching humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and physical, natural and mathematical sciences. This means that their student population goes on to become almost anything in their lives.

Writing by Lillian Lawson Photography Compliments from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Instagram

college ofmedicine

During the academic year, the College of Medicine students had been united more than ever. With triumphs and also, alarming medical scares amid the pandemic, the students at the college banded together to represent their focus of study, passions, and beliefs.

“Members of the UF College of Medicine class of 2024 organized a moment of silence today to honor victims of antiAsian violence. Students, faculty and staff from across UF Health were invited to stand together against discrimination and violence against any group of people based on race, gender, or ethnic or religious identification.” Via their Instagram, the College of Medicine showcased their unity with not only eachother, but to support the Asian community at the university. While tragic hate crimes occured against the Asian community earlier that year, the College of Medicine stood in solidarity.

Writing Information found on College of Medicine Website, Put Together by Keila Hackebeil Photography Compliments from College of Medicine Instagram

college ofnursing

Our college is driven to transform health through innovative practice, preeminent research, and exceptional academic programs. We provide excellent personalized nursing care, generate research and scholarship that have an impact on practice, and prepare graduates who care, lead, and inspire. As part of the University of Florida, the College of Nursing has all the resources of the state’s flagship university at their fingertips. The nursing education programs offered at UF address gaps in the health care system, as do the college’s innovations in technological resources and initiatives linking students to diverse and international populations. The College of Nursing has a history of pioneering leadership in nursing education, having offered Florida’s first nurse practitioner programs and first PhD in Nursing Science program. Health care delivery networks associated with UF provide access to an integrated system of community hospitals and clinics, including statewide home health care, a major veterans’ health system and the UF Health Shands Hospital system. Faculty members set a standard for excellence when it comes to innovative education, dynamic research and quality patient care.”

Writing Information found on College of Nursing Website

Photography Compliments from College of Nursing Instagram

college ofpharmacy

“Founded in 1923, the University of Florida College of Pharmacy is the oldest college in the UF Health Science Center. It was the first co-educational college at the University of Florida, and the first Ph.D. awarded at UF went to a College of Pharmacy student studying pharmaceutical chemistry. Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 1 pharmacy college in Florida and in the Top 5 nationally, the University of Florida College of Pharmacy has been developing future leaders in pharmacy practice and science for nearly a century. At campuses in Gainesville, Jacksonville and Orlando, award-winning faculty aim to improve the health of Floridians and people across the world through pharmacy education, high-impact research and clinical innovation. As one of the Top 5, National Institutes of Health-funded pharmacy colleges nationally, the UF College of Pharmacy features preeminent researchers who are leading major medical breakthroughs in areas such as drug discovery and development, pharmacometrics and systems pharmacology, and precision medicine. The college’s online programs are among the largest and most successful in the world, having received multiple national awards for excellence in distance education.”

Writing Information found on College of Pharmacy Website

Photography Compliments from College of Pharmacy Instagram

college of public health and health professions

Motto for the College of Public Health and Health Professions: “Continuum of Care”

Preserving, promoting and improving the health and well-being of populations and individuals, from prevention and treatment to rehabilitation.

As stated in the academics section of the College of Public Health and Health Professions website, “The UF College of Public Health and Health Professions is focused on preserving, promoting and improving the health and well-being of populations and individuals. It is one of 63 colleges and schools in the U.S. that has achieved accreditation as a school of public health from the Council on Education for Public Health.”

“The college offers 20 degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels, as well as several professional certificates. Learn more about these programs and find the right fit for your educational and career goals.”

During the academic year, the college had made strides towards their efforts with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). In their message addressing their DEI efforts they said, “Over the past year, the U.S. has seen a dramatic rise in crimes against people of Asian heritage. The College of Public Health and Health Professions condemns all acts of racial violence and hate and we mourn the victims of these tragedies.”

“ We call on all members of our community to join in support of our Asian-American colleagues. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone is respected and valued. As current and future educators, researchers, and health providers, we must serve as advocates for change as we continue to strive toward a more just world,” the college wrote.

Writing Information found on College of Public Health and Health Professions Website, Put Together by Keila Hackebeil

Photography Compliments from College of Public Health and Health Professions Website

college of the arts

The University of Florida’s College of the Arts specializes in many different forms of art. With programs ranging from art history and theatre to graphic design and museum studies, the college is a go-to for those with creative minds. It was established in 1925 through the School of Architecture and became its own college in 1975. It offers baccalaureate, masters and doctoral degrees. Its mission is “to be a transformative community, responding to and generating paradigmatic shifts in the arts and beyond.” Students at the College of the Arts have won numerous awards for their prestigious work and research. Six students won awards in the 2015-2016 University Scholars Program, and over 20 from differing programs were recipients of the 2015 Student Creative Research Awards. Numerous faculty members have been chosen as Teacher/Advisor of the Year since 1975.

The University is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, the National Association of Schools of Dance, the National Association of Schools of Music and the National Association of Schools of Theatre. The college hosts an annual gala fundraiser for the School of Music and School of Theatre and Dance. This year, the theme was the Roaring Twenties. It was hosted virtually in April and partnered with designers and artists at the UF Digital Worlds Institute. This gala not only allows students to showcase their talents, but also raises money for scholarships, professional development and equipment needs.

The social media of the College of the Arts highlights the works of many of their students, posting sculptures, dances and artwork of their students. Their mission to empower students, faculty and staff is prevalent in the events they host and the work they do.

Writing by Lillian Lawson Photography Compliments from the College of the Arts on Instagram

college of veterinary medicine

The UF College of Veterinary Medicine, the state’s only veterinary medical college, is committed to advancing the health and welfare of animals, humans and the veterinary medical profession through worldclass education, innovative research and stateof-the-art clinical services. Following graduation of its first class in 1980, the college has built on the university’s reputation for excellence. Today we claim approximately 3,600 graduates of our professional (DVM) degree program. Our mission, as set forth in our Strategic Plan, is the advancement of the health and welfare of animals, humans and the veterinary medical profession through world-class education, innovative research, and state-of-the-art clinical services. The College of Veterinary Medicine is fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education.”

Throughout the year the college put together community events such as, open houses to show everyone the animals they have healed. With that, their goals were always to unify the general public with the understanding of why veterinary medicine is so important and of the impacts it had on every day life.

Writing Information found on College of Veterinary Medicine

Photography Compliments from College of Veterinary Medicine

herbert wertheim college of engineering

“Established in 1910, the college was named after Distinguished Alumnus Dr. Herbert Wertheim in 2015. Housing one of the largest and most dynamic engineering programs in the nation, its curriculum is offered across ten departments, 15 degree programs, and more than 20 centers and institutes that produce leaders and problem-solvers who take a multidisciplinary approach to innovative and human-centered solutions. It is also the cornerstone of UF’s most ambitious 21st century research, education and economic development vision – the AI University Initiative. The college produces inventions at twice the national average – and startups at five times the national average – for every research dollar spent. Students, faculty and alumni are hailed as New Engineers who aim to reimagine the future of our society.”

Like many other colleges on campus, the engineering college took the time to release a statement about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “The HWCOE values broad diversity within our community and is committed to individual and group empowerment, inclusion, and the elimination of discrimination. We aspire to educate students to become future leaders capable of creating diverse and inclusive work cultures wherever their careers may take them.”

Writing Information found on College of Engineering Website

Photography Compliments from College of Engineering Instagram

ORGANIZATIONS

#UNLITTER

196 - 197

Black Student Union 198 - 199

Caribbean Students Association 200 - 201

Children Beyond Our Borders 202 - 203 CURBS 204 - 205

Ethnoecology Garden 206 - 207

Florida Blue Key 208 - 209

Florida Blue Key Speech & Debate 210 - 211 Florida PIRG 212 - 213

Innogators 214 - 215

Mexican-American Student Association 216 - 217

One Health Student Association 218 - 219

Pre-Dental Society 220 - 221

Project Canis 222 - 223

Project Makeover 224 - 225

Public Relations Student Society 226 - 227

Sabor Latino 228 - 229

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers 230 - 231

Theta Alpha 232 - 233

Photography by Margaret Dotson

#unlitter

“#UNLITTER is movement with goals to inspire people to clean up their daily routines, habits, and mindsets. It started with group clean-ups, clothing swaps, and #UNLITTERYOURART. This year we were able to hold several clean-ups in Gainesville as well as the #UNLITTER seminar series. Check us out on Instagram @unlitteruf.”

black student union BSU

“The Black Student Union at the University of Florida was founded to serve as a home away from home for black students on campus. A pivotal time for BSU was June 2020, when the Black Student Union sent a list of demands to President Fuchs and Antonio Farías that aimed to reform the injustices of our campus domain. In the summer of 2020, BSU hosted a fundraiser for Juneteenth as we commemorated the emancipation of slaves in the United States. This past year, Black Student Union was able to provide scholarship opportunities through Black Student Assembly, and Leadership Development Institute. BSU’s cabinets also successfully hosted both in-person and virtual events. BSU provided remarkable programing nearly every day of Black History Month, celebrating each other, our history and achievements. During Women’s History Month, we had the honor of having the University of Florida’s Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. D’Andra Mull, speak at our UF’s Self Made event. In the virtual event BSU collaborated with multiple organizations, where we were able to recognize the accomplishments of black women. The Black Student Union has hosted multiple events that promote community, philanthropy, and activism throughout campus. At the University of Florida, the Black Student Union has, and will continue to provide programs that strive to create, cultivate, and challengeboth our students and the Gainesville community.”

caribbean students association

“The Caribbean Students Association (CaribSA) is a special interest group, founded in 1977 as a means to unite Caribbean students at the University of Florida. Being a student-run organization, CaribSA strives to further the cultural exchange between Caribbean students and the rest of campus and give back to our community. The members of CaribSA represent nations throughout the entire Caribbean, Central America, and South America. This year although operating in a new environment, we were able to accomplish more than we could imagine. We further fostered relationships with new members by consistently having events such as general body meetings, collaborations with other organizations (such as Club Creole, Lucha Latina, and ASU), and social media interactions. We also held in-person events (e.g. outdoor scavenger hunt), social events (e.g. virtual movie night), and fundraising events (our ‘pie an e-board member’ Instagram live). We were also able to collect donations to aid in relief for the island of St. Vincent, to further give back to the community. Although we always strive to do better, we are proud of what we accomplished this year.”

All Writing & Photography Submitted by Caribbean Students Association

children beyond our borders

“Children Beyond Our Borders is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2003 by four students who attended the University of Florida and were of Colombian descent. Throughout the years, it has expanded into smaller student-run chapters at different universities, including the UF Chapter. Our mission is to create awareness, provide educational tools, and establish a relationship between students and their families that will warrant success in the realm of academia. Some of the programs offered by CBOB that aim towards the goal of expanding educational opportunities are volunteer opportunities, mentor-mentee programs, tutoring programs, service trips, scholarship programs, and health clinics for families within the nonprofit organization.

One of the major areas of focus this year has been advocating for First-Generation students by creating our own social media series that features testimonies of real First-Generation students. Moreover, we have ensured that our members stay active and engaged by hosting various virtual events such as socials and general body meetings. We have also collaborated with other student organizations at UF to learn about important topics such as medicine, femicide, and equal opportunity. Ultimately, UF CBOB believes that education deems empowerment and we ask that everyone take initiative in becoming part of this equation.”

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center undergraduate research board students of

“The Center of Undergraduate Research Board of Students, or CURBS, is an organization dedicated to promoting undergraduate research on UF’s campus. We offer 1 on 1 peer advising to help students both find and further their research. We also have an Educational Outreach committee that runs science club at local Gainesville elementary, middle, and high schools. Although COVID presented many challenges for this year, we were able to make some adjustments and have our science clubs and peer advising online! We also created a new committee called the Diversity and Inclusion committee that is focused on spotlighting diversity in research. We are excited to see what’s to come in the fall! Check out our website and Instagram to keep up with undergraduate research on campus. And, as always- Go Gators and Go Research!”

All Writing & Photography Submitted by Center of Undergraduate Research Board of Students

ethnoecology garden

“Ethnoecology is the study of the dynamic relationships between people and their natural environment. The Ethnoecology Garden is an interactive laboratory and forum for students to learn by exploring these relationships and interactions with a diverse community of UF students, faculty and staff, local experts and visitors. The garden began about 20 years ago after a visit by the eminent ethnobotanist, Dr. Richard Schultes (1). During his visit, Dr. Schultes found UF to be a favorable institution for ethnobotanical studies because of the composition of botany, anthropology, geography and agriculture faculty and students at UF with research interests all over the world. Dr. Hugh Poponoe of UF founded the garden and maintained it with the help of the Ethnoecology Society student group. Today the garden is a volunteer-based community that promotes diversity and inclusion of all people. This year, we partnered with the UF Russian Club, African Student Experience, and Corry Village. We hosted two edible weed walks, where we learned about foraging skills, a Manatee Tile Painting Party for an environmental project in Tallahassee, as well as an Earth day tree planting! We continued our work in the Kid’s Garden, a project we initiated with a kindergarten in China to cultivate the kids’ interest in gardening and share their experiences. We started an online series called, Humans of the Ethnoecology Garden, where we get to hear stories from our volunteers and learn about their relationship to nature. We are always seeking new members and volunteers, and offer internships through the Active Learning Program.”

florida blue key

FBK

“At Florida Blue Key, we focus on leadership and public service to the University of Florida. Florida Blue Key hosts and organizes the annual University of Florida Homecoming festivities including Gator Growl - the largest studentrun pep rally in the world! Even in the midst of a pandemic, Florida Blue Key has been able to continue to tap students into the University of Florida’s oldest and most distinguished leadership honorary and hold events virtually like Legal Professions Day and Stem + Health Professions Day. Florida Blue Key also developed Keystone Florida this past summer to bridge the gap that exists between the world of higher education and the world of industry and politics. Florida Blue Key is excited to announce its newest division’s directors team and celebrate the students from the Spring 2021 Tapping Class. Go Gators!”

All Writing & Photography Submitted by Florida Blue Key

florida blue key speech and debate

The Florida Blue Key Speech and Debate Tournament at the University of Florida is the largest student-run forensics competition in the southeast. It is one of the top high school tournaments in the nation. The first tournament was in 1983 and is held annually each fall. Last year we hosted our first ever virtual tournament using the software Classroom Cloud. This transition ran smoothly and led to an overall increase in revenue with less costs. We utilized an all-digital results/tabbing platform, Tabroom, that worked extremely well and will continue to be utilized for this year’s tournament. The tournament is student-run and our current Speech and Debate team includes 9 executive board members, 19 directors, and 40 assistant directors.”

All Writing & Photography Submitted by Florida Blue Key Speech and Debate

florida PIRG public interest research group

“Florida PIRG (Public Interest Research Group) Students at UF is a student action and training program that works with students in developing the skills they need to turn their passion into action. This past year we ran a number of different campaigns from advocating for a more affordable education to voter institutionalization and accessibility to environmental protection. Overall, throughout the year we had over 150 students attend our kickoff events, and 350 volunteers work to develop effective campaigns. With the election season in the fall, we worked on the Get Out the Vote initiative in collaboration with the Bob Graham Center, and we are proud to say we registered 940 UF students to vote in the 2020 election. We shifted gears in the spring to focus on one of the most pressing issues of our generation: climate change. We established campaigns working with UF on committing to 100% renewable energy by 2040 and on reducing the use of single-use plastics on campus. By the end of the spring semester, both campaigns gathered support from over 25 student groups and faculty and our 100% campaign obtained over 900 petition signatures, had a resolution passed in Student Government by unanimous consent, and worked with the Office of Sustainability on creating a greener future for UF. Next semester, we are planning a recyclethon with major organizations on campus such as Greek life and athletics. After a successful first semester as a registered organization, we are excited to foster a broader coalition in the coming years and work to make lasting change on our campus!”

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& Photography Submitted by Florida Public Interest Research Group

innogators

Innogators is a culturally diverse organization dedicated to innovation and developing young minds to the world of engineering. In the past year, we have increased our active membership from 15 to 25 during the pandemic and created a new section, “Business Operations,” to attract , include, and encourage student’s seeking a Business/ Accounting major to be a part of the engineering community. We have also worked with Access Trax ( a company devoted to help with restricted mobility to access the outdoors) and Autodesk to develop a new and improved design for their mats. Currently, we are nearing the completion of our 3D print filament recycler and are looking forward to new projects that will enhance the growth and creativity of our members while solving the technological needs of society.”

“To create a space of innovation and collaboration by inviting culturally diverse minds and talents to influence the engineering design experience.”

mexican american student association

“The Mexican-American Student Association (MASA) provides a network and support system for any student interested in Mexican culture. Through programming, events, and communications, MASA works to preserve and promote inclusivity, social awareness, and cultural celebration for all. This year MASA was recognized by the Hispanic Student Association (HSA) as the Affiliate Organization of the 2020-2021 Academic Year. MASA taps into the nostalgia and admiration students have of Mexico, making it a special and unique space for members. They can always look forward to celebrating Mexican American culture with annual events such as the Lotería fundraiser and Selena-themed party. Through panel discussions and social media campaigns, MASA also encourages social awareness within the Mexican and Latinx communities at large. Recently, MASA partnered with the Office of Political Affairs (OPA) to discuss femicide in Mexico and the Ni Una Menos movement. By fostering such conversations, in addition to cultural celebrations, MASA creates a meaningful and insightful experience for students at UF.”

All Writing & Photography

Submitted by Mexican American Student Association

one health student association

The One Health Student Association is a student-led organization dedicated to educating undergraduates on the topic and importance of the one health approach. We place an emphasis on interdisciplinarity and recognize the interconnections between humans, animals, and the environment. Our organization hit many milestones this year, from hosting our very first general body meeting to the creation of our social media pages and eventually adopting our street. In addition, we hosted a variety of seminars and panels, such as one on misinformation and vaccines and another on religion and COVID-19. Overall, we had a successful first year and look forward to the next one!”

pre-dentalsociety

“The UF Pre-Dental Society (UFPDS) is a registered student organization at the University of Florida. Our mission is to provide professional development to students interested in careers in dentistry through education, service, socialization and professional standards. UFPDS assists fellow students considering a future in dentistry by providing a platform to address questions and concerns regarding preparation for dental school as well as the field itself. We help our members to become the most competitive dental school applicants they can be through educational opportunities, conferences, group volunteering, socials, fundraisers, dental student Q & A sessions, and much more!

Despite the challenge this year, we have still been able to hold many great events. These events included making earrings and knitting hats for patients undergoing chemotherapy. Also, we held various socials that allowed our members to connect and form lifelong friendships. We are looking forward to getting back to fully serving the Gainesville community next year, and of course with a smile..”

All Writing & Photography Submitted by Pre-Dental Society

project canisnonprofit organization

“Project Canis is a new nonprofit organization started by students at the University of Florida to ensure that every shelter animal has a toy. Project Canis helps cats and dogs in Florida shelters by making and donating pet toys made from recycled materials. Many animal shelters struggle to get donations and are not financially able to provide toys, which are essential to animals’ emotional and physical well-being.

Anyone can participate in Project Canis by sending in toys they’ve made individually or as a service project with their organization. We have three toy designs (the braid, the plushie, and the crunch) that can be made easily with recycled materials such as old t-shirts and plastic water bottles. Making the toys is super easy and fun, and participating in Project Canis is a great way to give back to the community.

Last year Project Canis was just a startup in the Gator Hatchery, and now we are excited to be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with 7 staff and 5 board members. So far, Project Canis has donated over 1,500 toys to Florida animal shelters. We have received packages of toys made by people from all across the country, and we are continuing to expand our donations to reach all of Florida’s counties. You can support our mission by making homemade pet toys with the instructions on www.projectcanis.org or our social media @theprojectcanis.”

All Writing & Photography Submitted by Project Canis

projectmakeover

“Project Makeover is a student-run non-profit at UF that works year-round to create a dynamic learning environment for elementary school students. For 12 years and counting, Project Makeover has continued its mission to help schools spark wonder, joy, and creativity. The Marketing Team, Project Team, Finance Team, Operations Team, and Dream Team collaborate to transform schools into an imaginative learning space. The pandemic threw many challenges the organization’s way prior to Makeover Weekend 2021. Still, the Project Makeover team was able to turn Idylwild Elementary School into a space where students are now encouraged to dream, create, and explore. Project Makeover continues to impact elementary school students in Alachua County, and the team can’t wait for the upcoming year!”

All Writing & Photography Submitted by Project Makeover

public relations student society of America

“UF PRSSA is the pre-professional society for students interested in public relations and communications. Open to all majors, the University of Florida Chapter of PRSSA is a valuable resource for students, providing education, professional development and networking opportunities in the field of public relations.

This past year, through the navigation that is an online structure, PRSSA was able to hold biweekly GBMs that included guest speakers, panels and more. Many members took part in the mentorship program, social media squad and ambassador program, as well. From advocacy to education to bonding, PRSSA members found ways to stay connected with peers and further their public relations skills.”

All Writing & Photography Submitted by Public Relations Student Society of America

sabor latino dance team

“Sabor Latino is the official dance team for the Hispanic Student Association. Sabor is a group of hispanic and non-hispanic students that use dance to express and educate others on latinx culture. Throughout the year, we perform for organizations in UF and at various events around campus. In the fall this year we competed in the Soulfest competition, and earned a trophy for best group routine. We also showcased our culture through a music video using the song “Safaera” by Bad Bunny. In the Spring, we decided to do an homage to the country of Puerto Rico through our promo videos which we share throughout social media.”

All Writing & Photography Submitted by Sabor Latino

society of hispanic professional engineers

“The UF Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE-UF) is an organization, comprised of over 400 members, that works to empower the Hispanic community through STEM-related, professional, and social opportunities.

This year, although challenged by COVID-19, we provided our members with an abundance of opportunities for growth through hybrid and virtual platforms. Some of our main events included our bi-weekly GBM’s, where members mingled and were informed on upcoming events. We hosted our virtual career fair, Industry without BBQ, where students networked 1-on-1 with top company recruiters. We also held tech development workshops, where our members refined and improved their technical skills, and research workshops, where students learned about the potential paths available within academia. Additionally, we held our MentorSHPE and FYLP (First Year Leadership) programs in which we provide new members with the guidance necessary to grow within SHPE and their field of study with the help of our more experienced members. We also pride ourselves in our efforts to teach younger generations about the opportunities available within STEM. This year, this was done through several initiatives such as ShadowSHPE, where we had 80 seniors in attendance from 9 high schools to explore the different engineering majors available at UF and through MentorSHPE Jr., where we had our members mentor high school students as they prepare to transition from high school to college. Overall, despite the difficulties presented due to COVID-19, SHPE-UF had a highly successful and eventful year that proved very fulfilling to our members.”

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& Photography Submitted by Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers

theta alpha sisterhood organization

“Theta Alpha is at its very heart a sisterhood of women at UF with varying interests, perspectives, career goals, and dreams united by shared faith in Jesus Christ and His teachings. The mission of our organization is two pronged: glorify God on our campus and encourage our sisters to grow in their faith. We hold many events throughout the school year that help us to achieve our mission to connect with each other, the Lord, and our community. While we hold events that are traditional to any sorority like socials, sisterhoods, retreats, service days, and even big/little pairings, we have established a sisterhood that thrives on accountability, discipleship, and intentionality in faith. While this past year has been a little bit different due to COVID-19, our sisters have been so flexible to attend events taking every precaution while still maintaining the spirit of our sisterhood. We have seen just how very resilient in the face of change of sisterhood truly is and eagerly approach the upcoming year. We are so excited to welcome any potential new members to our rush events every fall!”

PEOPLE

Cooper Brown Highlight

Giovanna Mompremier Highlight

Ines Said Highlight

Tyson Freeman Highlight

Janelle Rolle Highlight

Daniel Gallup Highlight

Viviana Moreno Highlight

Dominic Galiana Highlight

Nicole Garcia Rivera Senior Highlight 236 Rolling With the Punches 237

Photography by Lillian Lawson

ROLLING WITH THE PUNCHES

How did Presidents, Cooper Brown & Kent Fuchs, adjust to an unexpected academic year?

With the unexpected circumstances of the academic year, the President of the university, Kent Fuchs, and Student Body President, Trevor Pope, had to step up in their leadership like never before. By rolling with the punches and setting new goals, both presidents were able to navigate through a successful year. In a report to the SouthEastern Conference Award Committee, Pope described his goals as Student Body President. “When I ran for Student Body President, I promised to do three things: 1) build for the future, 2) make UF more accessible and inclusive, and 3) improve the student experience. However, the day we were sworn in, everything was essentially shuttered due to the global pandemic that has changed all of our lives forever. Yet, reflecting on the last year in public office, I am honored to say that our administration has still been able to keep the three promises we made to students when we were candidates. Whether it be providing rent relief to students in need, creating robust discussion centered around diversity & inclusion, or simply hosting trivia nights for hundreds of students toattend, our administration has been one of leadership, resiliency, and creativity,” said Pope. Likewise, President Fuchs was reported to support Pope through all his endeavors in order to create a safe, inclusive, and enjoyable campus environment.

Writing by Keila Hackebeil

Photography Compliments from Trevor Pope and Kent Fuchs Principle Photography by Margarent Dotson

COOPER brown

“My time at the University of Florida has been very rewarding because of the people I have encountered. This is a special place, but it’s filled with even better people. I have been fortunate enough to be involved in many organizations including Student Government, Homecoming & Gator Growl, Florida Blue Key, Kappa Sigma, and Reitz Scholars. This past year has been very impactful because it gave each of us the opportunity to step back and reflect on what really matters. In times B.C (before Covid), I was very caught up on the hustle that was the everyday life of a student at UF, once everything turned virtual, it gave me the opportunity to slow down and spend time with loved ones.

I am super thrilled for this next year as Student Body President. I am excited for this new journey and this new challenge. The opportunity to represent all 50,000 Gators is something that I do not take lightly, and I want each and every student to be confident in their Student Body President.”

All Writing & Photography Submitted by Cooper Brown Principle Photography by Margaret Dotson

GIOVANNAmompremier

“The University of Florida has a wide variety of spaces to tap into. Upon stepping foot on this campus, there was an overwhelming feeling. This included trying to figure out how I can make this my new home. I was grateful to have found my closest friends, and even my family away from home, within the Black Student Union. I was eager to get involved, and multiple people rose to mentor me and guide me in taking this campus by storm. I was an Assistant Treasurer, and later became the Treasurer of the Black Student Union. I was awarded Outstanding Junior Female within BSU after my term. However, that was not the limitation of my involvement, as I was also a pre-health student wanting to achieve her goal of gaining a wide variety of experiences. I was able to serve as a chartering Secretary for the organization of HOPE Meals, which allowed me to immerse myself within the Gainesville community and provide packed lunches to the homeless individuals within this city. I also was a Health Fair Committee Planner within the Multicultural Association of Pre-health Students(MAPS), which allowed me to educate young individuals and families about lifestyle changes and initiatives to better their health. I volunteered at UF Health Shands for multiple consecutive semesters in different units and attended global medical mission trips to countries such as Peru and Costa Rica. A memory I will never forget would be participating as an Emerging Leader within Dance Marathon. I found sisterhood within Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. I have had the prestigious honors of being a member of Florida Blue Key, an AHEC Scholar, and an HCA Scholar. The community of UF has molded me to be who I am today. I am proud to be able to embark on this journey of being the Student Body Treasurer of the University of Florida for the 2021-2022 school year. My goal is to advocate for senior organizations, especially those underrepresented in marginalized communities. I want to be able to transform the process of how organizations can obtain funds to showcase their programming and connect with the students on campus. I hope that I’m able to build and gain many relationships and create memories within this position.”

All Writing & Photography

Submitted by Giovanna Mompremier

Principle Photography by Margaret Dotson

Inessaid

“My name is Ines said, I’m from Tunisia, a small country in north Africa. I came to the University of Florida to pursue an accelerated masters degree in Digital Arts and Science. While my time at UF was short (only 1 year), it was one of the most impactful years of my life. I got the chance to learn from amazing professors and engage in several impactful and innovative projects. I finally got the chance to work with augmented reality devices such as Hololens and MagicLeap, which is something that wanted to do for so long but was never able to afford the devices. During this year, I participated with my MiDAS team at 9 online hackathons and won at 7 of them. We also received the Google Cloud Covid-19 hackathon fund to continue working on one of our projects.

2020 was not an easy year. At the beginning of the pandemic, I found myself with no job, no classes, several cancelled interviews and no way to go back home to Tunisia. It was definitely a challenging time. But I’m glad that I was able to overcome it and get accepted into the masters in Digital Arts and Sciences, as well as get a graduate assistant position at the Digital Worlds Institute.

UF opened a whole new door of opportunities for me. I received a full time offer for a software engineer position all the way back in December. I will be starting my full time job soon and after that I hope to continue in academia and get my PHD.”

All Writing & Photography Submitted by Ines Said Principle Photography by Margaret Dotson

TYSON Freeman

Accomplishments

Project Manager - Marine Technology Society2016

Tasked with leading a group of engineers to create a robot that was capable of navigating an aquatic environment.

Chapter Development Chair - National Society of Black Engineers - 2017 Created events and programs that helped develop members’ knowledge. Successfully planned 3 panels and 2 technical workshops. Cconnected our members with resources from Intel Corporation in order to host the Discover AI Workshop, which introduced students to artificial intelligence.

Programs Chair - National Society of Black Engineers - 2018 Led 4 people to create programs for about 100 members. These programs pertained to academic excellence, technical skills, and professional development.

President - National Society of Black Engineers - 2019 Guide the direction of the chapter, work with faculty to create programs within the college of engineering, lead a 22-person executive board, and interact with about 100 chapter members. Most notably, I was able to give away a scholarship to a freshman and work with Dr. Angela Lindner to start a mentorship initiative between Recheirt House and the University of Florida.

Career Prep Fellow - Management Leadership for Tomorrow - 2018 I was selected out of 1000+ applications to be a part of a national professional development program for high achieving student leaders.

Vice President - Theta Sigma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. - 2020 In this position, I was able to work alongside the president to ensure that our chapter created meaningful programs, help with fraternity competitions, ensure that our brothers were getting any help they may need, and other responsibilities as well. I enjoyed my time in this position because it allowed me to impact other students and our chapter was able to win College Chapter of the Year out of all chapters in Florida!

Director of Golden Opportunity Scholarship - 2020 In 2020 and 2021, I was able to lead 2 scholarship initiatives for incoming college freshmen. In 2020, I helped give away 2 $500 scholarships to high school seniors in Gainesville.

UF Core Values Council Member - 2020

I was selected by Dr. D’andra Mull, Vice President of Student Affairs, to be a part of the UF Core Values Council which consisted of faculty and 1 other student. This council criqtiqued the wording of the UF Core Values. STEPUP Program - 2016

The summer bridge program focused on transitioning engineering students from high school to college. I was able to travel to different companies such as Procter & Gamble, conduct lab experiments pertaining to material science, design robots, and take college level courses such as calculus.

Poetry Performances

I’ve performed spoken word poetry 3 times during events while at UF. Most notably, I performed a spoken word piece during the Florida Invitational Step Show and I was able to meet Desi Banks, a famous comedian. Most Proud Moment

My most proud moment is when I realized that I stopped letting my Nystagmus hinder my confidence. Nystagmus causes my eyes to shake involuntarily and I’ve had it since I was born. Earlier in life it was something that hindered my confidence due to people staring or even saying things about it. Now, I use it as something to not only inspire others, but myself too. I’ve accomplished many things although I have it. This year has taught me to not worry about my flaws and embrace myself fully. Now, I use this to encourage others to embrace what makes them unique too! How 2020-2021 Has Impacted Me

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted me personally in many ways, both positively and negatively. First, the transition from being in-person to online impacted my ability to stay focused in school. It took a while to get used to being online, but I had to adapt. This time allowed me to create better habits in order to be successful and maintain my grades. I also focused on self development. I continued my passion for poetry and even picked up music as well. I read books and took the time to learn more about myself. Although this year was filled with negatives, I was still able to use this year as a way to learn new things, and become a better person.

JANELLE rolle

“My four years at UF have been some of the most rewarding years of my life. During my first year at UF I was involved in the Leadership Development Institute, a cohort of 40 bright young freshmen within the Black Student Union who were ready to make a positive impact on our university. Later I would find my home at New Student and Family Programs, where I became a 2018 Preview Staffer and a Nighttime Coordinator for 2019. After working at RecSports as an Operations Assistant I stepped into leadership as a Board of Directors member, setting the stage for me to take over as the budget chairman. Although I was involved in a number of organizations over the course of my time at UF, I poured most of my energy into The Illustrious Iota Lambda Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority Incorporated. I became a member of this amazing sisterhood in Spring 2018, and after years of laughs, tears and cheers, I became the chapter president in 2020. My involvement across campus led me to be tapped into Florida Blue Key, selected as a Reitz Scholar, awarded as the 5th black Homecoming Queen in UF history, and inducted into the UF Hall of Fame. UF gave me such a great four years, and I am excited to return for law school in the Fall of 2021. Thank you NSFP, thank you Recsports, thank you Iota Lambda, and thank you UF! All glory goes to God.”

All Writing & Photography Submitted by Janelle Rolle Principle Photography by Margaret Dotson

DANIELgallup

“Hey y’all, I’m Daniel James Gallup but the real ones call me DJ. The truth is I owe my very existence to the University of Florida as my parents fell in love on this campus. Therefore, it only feels right that I do everything in my power to give back to this community that gave me, you know, life. I’m a 2nd-year Political Science major hailing from Hollywood, Fl and very proud of it. I’m a Florida Cicerone, Preview Staffer, and Sophomore Class VP. In all these roles I’m able to feel so much fulfillment from making meaningful connections with and between people. I’m always most proud when I’m able to impact students directly whether that be touring prospective students and helping them to solidify their decision to go here, welcoming in UF ‘25 this summer and turning any nerves into excitement, and creating events and new traditions that unite not only our UF ‘23 class but our community as a whole. Creating the “Gatorade Toast” at the start of this semester bringing in leaders from across this campus as well as notable alumni is my proudest accomplishment of my time here so far. This has been a year of growth for many of us and I know it has been for me. I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunities I was able to take advantage of during this non-traditional time. I was continually grounded by the love I received from my family, friends, and our great Gator community. This year in particular, I couldn’t be prouder to close by saying:

All Writing & Photography

Submitted by Daniel Gallup

Principle Photography by Margaret Dotson

VIVIANA moreno

CLASS OF 2021

“The past four years have been full of incredible moments and individuals that I will look back on with a smile forever. Melded in with all of the good, there were times of struggle and lows, but through it all, I’ve had a circle of special individuals and organizations to lean back on, and I’m eternally grateful for that. My first home on campus was Her Campus at UFL, where I started as a writer my very first semester and eventually became the co-president for my last two years. The Women’s Student Association at UF also stole my heart and welcomed me with warmth and care. I learned and grew beyond comprehension, and along the way, was in the presence of such special and incredible people. In the end, this is what I hold most dearly—the individuals who showed me compassion and love and became some of the closest people to me. The person who arrived at UF in 2017 is a completely different person from the one graduating in 2021, in the best way possible. When I settled on a journalism major and women’s studies major, I knew I was in the right place, even when things didn’t feel like they were truly clicking. Then, we entered a new normal that never could have been expected, but it also gave me the chance to reflect and appreciate things more. It gave me the room to think about post-grad through a different lens—now, I’m pursuing the book publishing industry. Pretty fitting as books are what started my passion for most things in my life. I think what I will cherish the most from this time is the idea that we are always growing—there’s always room to learn, to change, to appreciate those around you. Cheers to growth and graduating!”

All Writing & Photography Submitted by Viviana Moreno Principle Photography by Margaret Dotson

All Writing & Photography Submitted by Jose Otero Principle Photography by Margaret Dotson

Fabrizia Wade She/Her Fourth Year

Prajan Tikayyolla He/Him Axun Kumar He/Him Fourth Years

TOWER

Photography by Margaret Dotson

tower yearbook meet the team EDITORIAL

STAFF

Richard Youschak Business Manager

Margaret Dotson Photography Editor

Caroline Lockwood Copy Editor

Ismael Contreras Athletics Section Editor

EDITOR IN CHIEF KEILA HACKEBEIL

Immediately after I got accepted into the University of Florida, in February 2020, I knew I wanted to bring a memory book to campus. Yearbooks to me have always been the greatest pieces of memorabilia. Looking back on documented moments is priceless. Our campus had to have one, especially after such a tumultuous year- and I was going to do whatever it took to bring a yearbook to the University of Florida.

D iscussions with my yearbook instructor and friend, Bill Mayes, turned into brainstorming sessions for the book that had yet to exist. Excitement overcame me as I planned out my ideal theme and cover, along with the other little details of my dream program. Before even researching or reaching out to any knowledgeable sources I instantly began planning. By April 2020 I had visions of every detail for a yearbook that would eventually be titled, “United Forever.” I became determined to create memory books for my future university. I knew this process would be more tedious because of printing contracts and legalities. Still, nothing could have prepared for what the next 17 months would have in store. Reviving Tower Yearbook had been a strenuous process, but all so worth it.

I started off learning the ins and outs of the previous Tower Yearbook program. Alumni, Jose Otero, told me it had dated back to 1910, went on multiple hiatuses, and seemed as if it had completely pulled the brakes in 2007. The history was rich and the people involved were remarkable. Admittingly, in the beginning, it seemed that getting support for Tower would be impossible. Determination and persistence were unequivocally necessary to bringing a yearbook to campus, and as an eager first-year student, I was ready to take on the job.

N early nine months went by with no actual home for our program or academic support. A team of writers and photographers was built, but we were mere free-lancers. Our team was unsure whether or not “United Forever,” would print. Some days it seemed like we were sitting on hard work. However, their confidence and work ethic reassured them, and me, that anything is possible. Some months after (which felt like an eternity) Tower Yearbook officially became an organization under the College of Journalism and Communications. All the team’s work was sure to publish. Everything I had been fighting for and working towards was about to come to life.

The nights I would stay up until 4 AM working on spreads or spend 45 minutes on a cutout were somehow relaxing for me. I felt so much peace knowing that “United Forever,” would be a reality in 2021.

N earing the end of creating this book, I have never felt so proud of a project. From designing 260 pages by myself to organizing a team to write, photograph and edit, this experience has been surreal. Honestly, I have never felt more like a girl-boss! The dedicated people on the Tower team have been so amazing during this time. Every moment I opened a story, text, photo or edit from any staff member, a smile naturally grew on my face.

While creating this book, I have strived to implement Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) onto every page. This humanitarian topic has always been the most important aspect in everything I involved myself in. So, for Tower Yearbook, DEI had to be the most imperative quality. Every picture and story is written meaningfully and coverage was intentionally planned out to incorporate DEI into “United Forever,” more than anything else. In the upcoming years for Tower, I will, without a doubt, continue to keep DEI at the forefront of every yearbook and only strive to make the next book more inclusive than the last.

Throughout this journey, I have been discouraged beyond belief. Being a first-year student in this process caused others to question or doubt my intentions. However, fighting for Tower prompted me to realize that anyone could do anything they set their mind to. My setbacks in this process only made me work harder for my dream. There are no limits to what we can do, and for me, “United Forever” is my testimony.

COVER & DESIGN