Taking a sip for scholarships: USF St. Petersburg holds first-ever Bulls and Brews by the Bay

Sarah Sell

More than 250 USF alumni, donors and friends donned lederhosen and dirndls for a good cause during the first-ever Bulls and Brews by the Bay.

Nearly $80,000 was raised during the inaugural “Okto-BULL-fest” event, which will allow the campus to provide ten times as many scholarships from the USF St. Petersburg Scholarship fund during the 2024–25 academic year compared to the previous year. The USF Federal Credit Union served as the title sponsor for the event.

“We are thrilled that our supporters responded so positively to our Bulls and Brews by the Bay event,” said Howard Rutherford, associate vice president of development for University Advancement. “We are excited to build on the success and create momentum for an annual USF St. Petersburg campus tradition. A huge thank you to everyone who helped create such a fun-filled and worthwhile event for our community.”

The waterfront event featured an array of craft beer selections from local breweries, as well as non-alcoholic options. There was also a traditional German menu curated by USF Dining, which included bratwurst, sauerkraut and pretzels. Owners and brewers from several St. Petersburg area breweries donated the craft beer in honor of USF’s Brewing Arts Program, which is based on the St. Petersburg campus.

Stephanie Hayes, the award-winning columnist from the Tampa Bay Times, was the evening’s celebrity emcee. Guests enjoyed live music and participated in chance drawings. There was also a stein-holding contest, where participants competed to see who could hold a stein filled with water the longest.

The event helps solve the increasing need for general scholarships on the St. Petersburg campus. The scholarship funds are available to full or part-time students at all academic levels pursuing any major on the USF St. Petersburg campus.

“Bulls and Brews by the Bay provides a tremendous opportunity for the USF St. Petersburg family to come together and raise support for critical student scholarships while having fun. It’s a win-win in so many ways,” said USF St. Petersburg Regional Chancellor Christian Hardigree. “Scholarships make a huge difference in our students’ lives.”