A family of USF Bulls - Evan, Rick and Jonathan Fueyo and Elizabeth Krystyn [Photo courtesy of Fueyo/Krystyn family]
By Paul Guzzo, University Communications and Marketing
With parents who met, fell in love, graduated from and later helped grow the University of South Florida, it could be said the writing was on the wall that brothers Evan and Jonathan Fueyo were destined to become Bulls.
In Evan鈥檚 case, however, the writing was on a piece of furniture 鈥 literally.
鈥淲hen Evan was around seven, he decorated his dresser with USF stickers,鈥 his mother, Elizabeth Krystyn, said, adding with a laugh, 鈥淚t did not please me. But years later, when I was excited that he wanted to go to USF, he said, 鈥楳om, I put all those stickers on my dresser. That鈥檚 where I was always going.鈥欌
Jonathan, his older brother, eventually followed the same path.
This May, both Fueyo brothers will graduate from USF鈥擡van from the Judy Genshaft Honors College with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in risk management and insurance and Jonathan with a bachelor鈥檚 in history.
What鈥檚 more, the brothers鈥 cousin, Sara Fueyo, is earning her bachelor鈥檚 degree in mass communications. And another cousin, Jessica Fueyo, also graduated from the Judy Genshaft Honors College with her bachelor鈥檚 degree in political science and government.
As USF celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, the family has become part of a growing tradition: multigenerational Bulls.
Evan Fueyo [Photo by Andres Faza, University Communications and Marketing]
Jonathan Fueyo [Photo by Andres Faza, University Communications and Marketing]
鈥淲e have friends who are big Florida State people or University of Florida people, or even alumni from elsewhere 鈥 places where there鈥檚 a long family history and legacy,鈥 said their father, Rick Fueyo. 鈥溩钚绿烀来 is still a fairly new institution, but it鈥檚 starting to build that tradition, too.鈥
Rick and Elizabeth met while attending USF together in the 1980s.
鈥淢y roommate was dating her roommate, so we were friends for a good while first,鈥 Rick said.
Elizabeth laughed as she added, 鈥淚t worked out for everyone. We have two kids and our roommates have five.鈥
Elizabeth Krystyn and Rick Fueyo
Elizabeth earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in finance in 1987. Rick earned his degree in 2004 in marketing, after taking a two-decade break to pursue a career as a financial advisor.
Through it all, the couple remained Bulls through and through 鈥 regularly attending USF sporting events with their children and sending them to USF summer camps. When Evan attended a USF soccer camp, he even stayed in the same residence hall where his mother once lived.
After Elizabeth went on to co-found The Baldwin Group, a national insurance advisory firm, she became a driving force behind the company鈥檚 decision to make a $5.2 million gift to establish The Baldwin Group School of Risk Management and Insurance. Part of the Muma College of Business, the school is dedicated to educating the next generation of insurance and risk management professionals.
鈥淢y parents鈥 connection to USF played a big role in my decision,鈥 Jonathan said. 鈥淕rowing up around campus, it always felt familiar鈥攁nd like the right place for me.鈥
Both brothers are now continuing to follow in their parents鈥 footsteps.
Evan is set to join The Baldwin Group as an associate advisor.
鈥淚 was initially going to pursue a career in finance, but after an internship, I realized it wasn鈥檛 for me,鈥 Evan said. 鈥淢y mother suggested I try risk management and insurance, and I really loved it. I enjoy working with people, and that field is extremely relationship-driven.鈥
As a little kid, Evan Fueyo attended soccer camp at USF and stayed in the dorm where his mom once resided
The USF Alumni Association named Elizabeth Krystyn a Fast 56 award winner in 2023
Jonathan, meanwhile, plans to return to USF to pursue a master鈥檚 degree in education, with the goal of becoming a history teacher like his father 鈥 who formerly served as an adjunct professor at the University of Tampa. That鈥檚 in addition to founding Spunky Fuel, a company that designs and produces school apparel and spirit merchandise.
As for that dresser, it was donated to charity a few years ago. But the stickers were still on it.
And while the Fueyos don鈥檛 know who owns it now, they hope it continues to do what it always did: Point someone toward becoming a Bull.
鈥淚 love that we鈥檙e a multigenerational USF family,鈥 Rick said. 鈥淭he fact that we can say we鈥檙e all Bulls 鈥攁nd that there鈥檚 the potential for my children鈥檚 children to be Bulls as well 鈥 it has a nice little ring to it.鈥