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Before the fall semester entered full swing, the Judy Genshaft Honors College gathered its first-year students for Convocation ceremonies designed to prepare them for the years ahead, introduce them to university leaders, and share a few of the many opportunities that will be available to them at the 最新天美传媒. 

The Honors College received a record level of interest in 2025-26, receiving over 4,350 applications 鈥� more than 1,000 more than the previous year. Through a holistic review process that considered academic scores, essay responses designed to help students understand the Honors curriculum, and extracurricular involvement and leadership experience, the college ultimately welcomed 672 new students. With an average high school GPA of 4.34 and average SAT scores in the 96th percentile nationally, 2026 marks the lowest acceptance rate in the college鈥檚 43-year history, making it the most selective class to date. 

Beyond their high school achievements, the cohort brings creative perspectives to the classroom and research labs, while showing the potential to become the next peer leaders at USF. 

A Grand Welcome in Tampa 

At Tampa Convocation on Sept. 4, 612 Honors students gathered in the Zimmerman Family Atrium to hear from speakers ranging from the founders of the college to current student leaders. 

Honors faculty, USF President Moez Limayem, USF Provost Prasant Mohapatra, and Judy Genshaft Endowed Dean Charles Adams processed from the second floor of the Judy Genshaft Honors College building to the atrium, accompanied by theme music from the Harry Potter film franchise, setting an energetic tone for the students' first official gathering as Honors students. 

At the podium, Adams reminded students that the word 鈥渃onvocation鈥� comes from the Latin root meaning 鈥渃alling together鈥� and traditionally marks the beginning of the academic year.  

Limayem opened his address by noting that he, too, is entering his first year in a new role. He encouraged the students to spend their time at USF not competing with each other but by building each other up and supporting one another to reach their full potential. 

鈥淢ore than 4,300 students applied for the seats you are sitting in today. This is the most selective Honors class in history. There are 672 of you out of 4,300. It reflects your discipline and determination,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou were not selected for what you have already; you are here because of your potential. You are here because we know you will do so well at the Honors College at USF.鈥�

Mohapatra, President Emerita Judy Genshaft, and Genshaft鈥檚 husband Steven Greenbaum encouraged students to explore research opportunities outside of their home colleges, take advantage of study abroad funding through the Honors College, and build a community inside the building that was designed for them.  

International trade attorney and Honors alumna Amber Pirson 鈥�20 shared how the Honors College and the USF Office of National Scholars helped her figure out who she was. She implored students not to rush through their education to start their careers but instead take the opportunity to investigate their own identities. 

鈥淣ow you鈥檙e offered the time to slow down, be quiet, figure out who you are,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n a world that profits over putting you on a linear path, please take full advantage of this gorgeous haven in South Florida that will help you find all the answers you鈥檙e looking for 鈥� because it will change your life.鈥� 

The ceremony concluded with an address from Tampa Student Council President Ava Tucker and a giveaway of the 2026 Honors College T-shirts. Tucker highlighted the importance of the Honors College community, drawing on her experience as a twin as an example of the closeness found among peers. 

鈥淚 am forever grateful I haven鈥檛 had to navigate life alone. I hope for each one of you that you find your 鈥楬onors twin,鈥欌�� she said. 

Celebrating in Style in St. Petersburg 

In St. Petersburg, first-year Honors students gathered in the courtyard of Snell House, a historic downtown mansion on 2nd Street South, where students gather for advising and other programming within the college. Students were given T-shirts and processional accessories, including kazoos and streamers, before beginning the celebratory march from Snell House to the University Student Center. 

At the ballroom inside the student center, Campus Director and Assistant Dean of the Honors College Cayla Lanier welcomed the students to the college. She presented the Honors medallion she received at her own Honors College graduation in 2003, sharing the impact her Honors education left on her life.  

Students also heard from Adams and St. Petersburg campus leaders Thomas Smith, interim regional chancellor and vice provost of academic affairs, and Frank Biafora, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. 

Guest speaker and community leader Maya Burke charged the students to thoughtfully engage with their environment and focus their education on building a better world for the next generation. Through her work with the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, Burke interacts with Florida's natural environment daily, working to preserve it for future generations. She encouraged students to find lessons in the natural world. 

"Be like an oyster. Take it all in, but learn to filter ... Pine flatwoods taught me that fire sustains growth. Find what lights a fire in you ... When life feels overwhelming, and you鈥檙e flooded with too much, too fast, channel the energy of a cypress dome wetland,鈥� she said. 

St. Petersburg Honors Student Council President Izabella Prange concluded the ceremony by opening up about the twists and turns of her undergraduate experience and how the Honors College helped her find her way. 

"You鈥檙e supposed to know your major. You鈥檙e supposed to know your career. You鈥檙e supposed to know what you want your college experience to look like. But I definitely didn鈥檛,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hat I did find, though, was the Honors College. And for me, the Honors College became the place where I started to feel like I belonged.鈥�