About the Program
The Innovation Scholars Career Exploration Program provides unique job shadowing opportunities for incoming high-achieving first-year students at USF St. Petersburg by partnering them with companies and professionals in and around Downtown St. Petersburg and within the St. Petersburg Innovation District. This program will provide students an introduction to one or more industries or job fields as they shadow mentors and test career options to help solidify major choices and academic paths early in their university experience.
Mentors are recruited from companies in a variety of sectors, including Financial Services, Arts, Engineering, Law, Information Technology, Accounting, Education, Non Profits, Healthcare, Insurance and others. Businesses will predominantly be within walking or trolley distance from the USF St. Petersburg campus.
Questions? Please contact Rita Zwiefel.
Students

Participatory experience is one of the best ways for students to define their career goals and then to actualize those dreams into reality. The number one outcome students and their families desire from their university education is a job related to their areas of interest. Therefore, career exploration must begin early so students can identify those areas of interest.
- Hands-on experience that can help define career goals
- Insight into interesting careers and industries
- Chance to test career and major choices that help inform academic paths
- One-on-one access to senior community leaders
- Potential for future internships or other roles within the company
To apply for the Innovation Scholar Career Exploration Program, students must:
- Be an incoming first time in college student at USF. St. Petersburg in Summer or Fall
- Have an interest in career exploration and some ideas for potential areas of interest
- Minimum 3.75 GPA
We are currently accepting applications for the Fall 2023 program. Please note that the application requires a short statement (250 words maximum) about your career interests and a description of what you hope to gain from participation in the program. That statement must be uploaded to the application form.
- First-time-in-college students coming to USF St. Petersburg the Summer or Fall semester apply by the program deadline, indicating industries and job fields of interest.
- Before the start of the fall semester, applicants will meet briefly via phone or video with the program coordinator to discuss their interests.
- The program coordinator reviews applications, determines availability and pairs qualified students with an appropriate mentor match. The program coordinator aims to meet the interests of students but may offer alternative options when necessary.
- Students and mentors attend a meet-and-greet reception in early September.
- Mentors and students meet a minimum of three times throughout a semester for at least two hours. During these meetings, mentors provide students an overview of the industry, a tour of the company, attendance at company meetings or events, and at least one meeting with senior company leadership.
- Students will participate in coaching and skill-building group sessions during the fall semester.
- Students who participate in the Fall have the possibility of continuing with a mentor into the Spring semester, or exploring another mentor opportunity.
- Where interests and needs align, these shadowing opportunities set the stage for an internship experience during the students’ second year.
- Maintain full-time status at USF St. Petersburg
- Complete a goal-setting worksheet at the start of the program as well as mid-semester and end of semester surveys
- Seek advice or consultation from the program coordinator or the Career Center at any time
- Respond within 24 hours to communication from their mentor and the program coordinator
- Participate in all scheduled meetings with their mentor
- Notify the program coordinator promptly if unable to connect with their mentor
Mentors

USF St. Petersburg is partnering with the St. Petersburg Innovation District to identify professional mentors from organizations and downtown St.Petersburg. Mentoring organizations will interact with incoming students, introducing them to professional topics, and assessing possibilities for future internships and roles within their organizations.
- Opportunities to mentor motivated and enthusiastic student
- Grooming students for future employment
- Publicity on USF St. Petersburg’s website, in public meetings, and in news releases
- Download the Mentor Handbook
- Attend a meet-and-greet reception in early September.
- Meet with mentee(s) 3 times for at least 2 hours per semester, during which time the
mentor:
- Assesses student interests and abilities
- Provides an overview of the industry, company and key positions
- Provides a tour of the organization, introductions to other staff
- Invites mentee to shadowing opportunities during company meetings or events
- Facilitates meetings with company leadership/executive(s)
- Complete a short (five minute) monthly survey about the student's participation in mentorship activity
- Communicate at any time with USF St. Petersburg program coordinator or Career Services regarding any issues or concerns with the student throughout semester
- First-time-in-college students coming to USF St. Petersburg in Summer or Fall semester apply to program indicating job sectors of interest.
- The program coordinator will review applications, determine availability and pair qualified students with an appropriate mentor match. The program coordinator will aim to meet the interests of qualified students but may offer alternative options when necessary.
- Students and mentors attend a meet-and-greet reception in early September.
- Mentors and students meet a minimum of three times throughout a semester for at least two hours. During these meetings, mentors provide students an overview of the industry, a tour of the company, attendance at company meetings or events, and at least one meeting with senior company leadership.
- Students who participate in the Fall have the possibility of continuing with a mentor into the Spring semester, or exploring another mentor opportunity.
- Where interests and needs align, these shadowing opportunities set the stage for an internship experience during the students’ second year.
Please complete the application to be included in our mentor pool. Application does not guarantee a mentor match. Matches are made based on student and mentor interests and career paths.
ST. PETE INNOVATION DISTRICT
The Innovation District is a collaborative community in St. Petersburg, Florida that fosters growth, learning and inspiration by bringing innovative people and organizations together. It includes representatives from the health care, marine science, education and research communities.
News Buzz
WFTS ABC ACTION NEWS:
USF St. Pete job shadowing program connects incoming students with community professionals
ST. PETE CATALYST:
USF program gives first-year students real-world job experience
USF St. Petersburg launches first of its kind Innovation Scholars Program
CROW’S NEST:
Freshmen given mentorship opportunities through Innovation Scholars
TAMPA BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL:
St. Pete Innovation District wants to team up USF freshmen with businesses
USF ST. PETERSBURG NEWS:
Innovation Scholars program returns to help incoming students explore career paths
We thank the following participating St. Petersburg organizations and businesses:
AARP Florida
Andi Matheny Studios
Andrea Pawlisz
Bank OZK
BayCare
Bayfront Health St. Petersburg
Barkett Realty
Be Your Best Self & Thrive Counseling
Boys & Girls Club of the Suncoast
Bridges Across Borders
Caring Community Counseling
CASA (Community Action Stops Abuse)
City of St. Petersburg
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Cyberlicious
Doyle Wealth Management
Duke Energy
Empath Health
Fairgrounds St. Pete
Family Study Center
Federal Bureau of Investigations
Fish & Wildlife Commission
Florida Representative Ben Diamond
Florida CraftArt
Friends of Strays
Franklin Templeton
George F. Young, Inc
Gibbs High School
Grow Smarter
Guardian ad Litem Foundation of Tampa Bay
Guardian Eagle
HD Interactive
Homeless Leadership Alliance
Integrated Regional Laboratories
Indi-ED
InsideOut
Integrated Regional Laboratories
Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
John William Berger III
Ligon Dental Group
Lime Communications
Melissa Williams, Attorney
MityMo
Museum of Fine Arts St. Pete
My Spine and Joint
National Forensic Science Technology Ctr New Era Thinking Group, LLC
NOAA Fisheries Service
Pasco County Sheriff
Pilot Bank
Pinellas County Schools
Pinellas County Sheriff
Pinellas Medical Associates
Poynter Institute
Plasma Therm
Pyper, Inc.
Raymond James
RD Sea
Ronald McDonald House Charities
Soul Media
Smith & Associates Real Estate
St. Pete Arts Alliance
St. Petersburg Museum of History
St. Petersburg Parks & Rec
St. Petersburg Police Department
St. Petersburg City Council
St. Petersburg Free Clinic
St. Petersburg Group
Suncoast Developers Guild
Tampa Bay Estuary Program
Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Watch
Tucker Hall
The Disco Dolls
The Fairgrounds
The Florida Holocaust Museum
The Florida Orchestra
The Sewest Society
The Vinoy® Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort and Golf Club
The Dali Museum
The Well for Life
US Geological Survey
USFSP Police Department
Verizon