Innovation Scholars

• 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-year (FTIC) student with a St. Petersburg home campus
• Have an interest in career exploration and some ideas for potential areas of interest
• Minimum 3.75 GPA

Applications for the Fall 2025 cohort are now open! Apply here. 

Applications submitted by 11:59pm on June 8, 2025 will be given priority. 

• First-time-in-college students attending USF St. Petersburg in Summer or Fall should apply by the program deadline, specifying their industry and job preferences.
• Applicants will have a brief meeting (in-person or virtual) chat with the program coordinator before the fall semester begins to discuss their interests. The coordinator will review applications, match qualified students with mentors, and aim to align interests, offering alternative options if needed.
• A program orientation and meet & greet reception will be held for mentors and students. This is a mandatory event and students must attend to be eligible for mentor matching.
• Throughout the semester, mentors and students will meet at least three times for two hours each session, including industry overviews, company tours, meetings, and sessions with senior leadership. Coaching and skill-building group sessions will be provided during the fall semester.
  • Students participating in Fall may continue with a mentor in Spring or explore other opportunities. These shadowing experiences may lead to internship opportunities in the second year, if interests align.

• Maintain enrollment as a full-time student at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, and have a home campus of St. Petersburg.

• Attend the Orientation & Kickoff session on September 18, 2025.

  • This is a mandatory event, and there will be no makeup session. Attendance is required.

• Complete a comprehensive goal-setting worksheet at the commencement of the program, in addition to mid-semester and end-of-semester surveys.

• Demonstrate timely responsiveness by responding to any communication from the assigned mentor and/or the program coordinator within a 24-hour window.

• Meet with the assigned mentor for a minimum of three meetings per semester, with each meeting lasting at least two hours, for a total of six (6) hours throughout the fall semester.

• Promptly inform the program coordinator in the event of any challenges connecting with assigned mentors.

• Opportunities to mentor motivated and enthusiastic student
• Helping students towards 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.
• 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.
  • We are now launching a transfer cohort in the spring semester, which provides an opportunity to work with older students.
• 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.

Mentor Application