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TURNING KNOWLEDGE INTO ACTION USF STUDENTS MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY
Carrie O’Brion
Steven Brown saw his government class as more than just an opportunity to earn a grade: it was a chance to change lives.
As a former E-4 fighter jet maintainer in the Navy, Brown frequently visited the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System in St. Petersburg, and always noted the number of veterans at the bus stop, either waiting for a ride or waiting to be picked up. Brown and his fellow students came up with a proposal: Why not allow disabled veterans in Pinellas County to ride public transit for free?
Team members presented their idea to the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) Board of Directors. The board was so impressed, they took the proposal a step further, passing a motion to allow all Pinellas County veterans to ride PSTA buses at no cost starting on November 10, 2023.
It was a powerful lesson for Brown and his classmates.
“This class really got me to think how you can affect real change in society if you have the tools and motivation at your disposal,” Brown said, who plans on advocating for veteran issues his entire life. “It’s been an honor to be able to make a positive change that improves the community welfare of veterans.”
Brown is just one of many students on the USF St. Petersburg campus making a difference in the lives of others and creating positive change in the community. From rescuing wildlife to illustrating a children’s book about the wonders of space, these students are learning valuable skills while pushing boundaries and advocating for a better future.
Helping An Overlooked Species
While most people do their best to avoid venomous snakes, Shiv Shukla spends a large portion of his time studying, handling and observing the slithery creatures.
Shukla, a graduate student in conservation biology, is studying the emerging pathogen Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, a fungal disease found in snakes. The skin condition has been found in Florida and can cause abnormal molting and cloudiness of the eyes, leading to higher death rates in certain species of snakes.
Most of Shukla’s research is performed in the USF St. Petersburg herpetology lab, which is home to a venomous cottonmouth, two diamondback rattlesnakes and several nonvenomous water snakes.
Shukla, who has been nicknamed “Snakeman” around campus because of his unique field of study, said he chose snake fungal disease as his master’s thesis because reptiles are understudied compared to other animals.
“Snakes are very important in terms of the food web,” Shukla said. “So, we’re studying this disease because we do think it has the potential to be a conservation concern.”
Taking Action To Save A Life
Marine Biology student Kierstyn Benjamin is also interested in helping wildlife. But her opportunity to assist an animal in distress occurred when she was doing homework in the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library.
Benjamin was gazing out the window at Bayboro Harbor when she saw a manatee head pop out of the water. She went outside to get a closer look and quickly determined the juvenile manatee wasn’t behaving normally.
So, Benjamin called the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert Hotline. The team responded quickly to campus and, after several tense hours trying to corral the distressed manatee into a boat and then on land, they were able to transport him to Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park.
The juvenile manatee was named Burro, short for Bayboro Harbor where he was rescued. He was diagnosed with cold stress and was lethargic, underweight and suffering from lesions from the cold.
Rescuers said Burro could have died if it weren’t for Benjamin’s quick action.
“It was really inspiring to know that just that little phone call and saying, ‘hey, I spotted something unusual,’ how big of an impact it can have,” Benjamin said.
Burro is expected to be released back into the wild after he reaches an optimal bodyweight, according to Zoo Tampa officials.
Applying Knowledge To Achieve Dreams
Graphic Arts student Andrea Coloma also got the opportunity to use the skills she learned at USF St. Petersburg. In her case, she’s helping to advance the future of space exploration.
A second-generation immigrant from Ecuador, Coloma grew up near Kennedy Space Station and dreamed of working for NASA one day - not as an engineer or astronaut –but as a graphic designer.
She has secured a total of five internships at the federal agency so far. During her most recent stint with NASA’s Space Communication and Navigation (SCaN) program, Coloma illustrated an educational children’s book that highlights the agency’s role in the recent Artemis I mission.
“This internship was a great challenge because I had not animated before,” Coloma said. “I used the two days before my interview for the position to learn how to animate and show that I had the potential to learn.”
Coloma earned praise from agency officials for her willingness to grow and evolve. She said she plans to continue to explore career options that will allow her to impact the world around her through design.
Umatter Students Succeed By Confronting Challenges
Some USF students made an impact on their community by overcoming obstacles and serving as an inspiration to others. That was the case for the six students who became the first cohort to graduate from the Eileen Hoffman Hafer UMatter program at the end of the Spring 2023 semester.
The innovative program provides young adults with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to experience higher education and campus life, including living in the residence halls and participating in university activities.
With support from professional staff and mentors from USF’s College of Education, participants take topical courses that teach social skills and independent living. Students learn how to do laundry, grocery shop, budget and make healthy lifestyle choices. In addition, students take college courses that align with their career path. At the end of the two-year program, the graduates are awarded a certificate of completion.
Like many of the UMatter students, Luke King never thought he would get the opportunity to attend college. But the 21-year-old Sarasota native flourished at USF St. Petersburg, joining the sailing team and obtaining an internship at Ceridian in St. Petersburg.
“I always wanted to come somewhere where I could make changes and be more confident to do other things in the world,” King said. “It’s not something that comes to you; it’s something that you have to work to get and hope that things work out.”
