By Sarah Sell, University Communications and Marketing
Fifty students from Pinellas County Schools were invited to spend a week at USF St. Petersburg, where they experienced college life while exploring marine science, digital marketing and entrepreneurship through a mix of field trips and classroom learning. The three fields of study play a vital role in the Tampa Bay area.
The first-ever Camp Bullseye was a collaboration between USF and the City of St. Petersburg, connecting middle school students with subject experts and educators from both USF and the local community.
“We wanted a camp that not only highlighted the city, but also the campus,” said Julian Maguregui, Associate Director of Operations for USF’s Office of Youth Experiences. “The whole idea behind this camp is to get kids to find a local marine issue with the entrepreneurial mindset.”
During their week-long visit, students toured the Florida Institute of Oceanography’s research vessels, learned about ongoing challenges for marine life and explored solutions using entrepreneurial thinking and digital storytelling.
“One of the things important to Mayor Ken Welch is his education and youth opportunities’ initiative, Pillars for Progress,” said Sheron Brown, Director of Education and Youth Opportunities for the City of St. Petersburg. “When I got the chance to present this idea of Camp Bullseye to Mayor Welch, he was all in.”
At the end of Camp Bullseye, students presented proposals during a pitch competition in front of a panel of judges who provided feedback on solutions developed throughout the thought-provoking week.