USF Sarasota Manatee : Making a Difference in Students’ Lives

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

From all vantage points, USF Sarasota-Manatee’s Brunch on the Bay means a lot to the community

For the past 25 years, the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee’s Brunch on the Bay has been a signature community event that features terrific cuisine and brings together business and community leaders on USFSM’s picturesque bayside campus. Most importantly, the money raised through Brunch has translated into more than $5.8 million in scholarships, in-kind gifts and matching donations that have transformed the lives of hundreds of students and in many cases made the difference in a student’s ability to achieve their dream of earning a college degree.

This year’s Brunch on the Bay, which will be held on Nov. 3 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., has a title sponsor, Bank of America, for the first time.

Let’s take a look at what the 26th Brunch on the Bay means to four people from the USFSM community.

Dr. Karen A. Holbrook
USFSM Regional Chancellor

As regional chancellor of USF Sarasota-Manatee since January 2018, Dr. Holbrook recognizes what Brunch on the Bay means: more students receiving financial support to take advantage of the excellent academic programs and experiential learning opportunities that prepare them to lead lives of impact in the workforce and our community. 

Brunch on the Bay builds upon the ongoing relationship between USFSM and the community that Holbrook says “is valuably essential and synergistic.” She adds that, “our students come from the community, and the vast majority prepare to accept jobs in this community. It is impossible to even begin to think about how this campus could thrive without the community support, connections and interdependence.”

“Students express the desire to engage in high-impact practices that also include study abroad and service learning,” she explains. “Internships are highly valuable as a testing ground for a student to decide whether a potential career ‘fits’ and for employers to determine if the intern is a potential new hire.”

She also recognizes that none of this can happen if students simply can’t afford to attend college. “Eighty percent of our students qualify for financial aid, so it’s crucial that we are able to provide scholarship that allow students can fully engage in their college experience, earn their degrees and give back to the community.”

Mike McCoy
Market President, Bank of America Sarasota-Manatee Counties

Mike McCoy has a personal connection to USFSM, and his company, Bank of America, has a deep commitment to workforce development and enhancing the lives of people within the communities they serve. When USFSM sought a premier title sponsor for the event, Bank of America not only signed up, but also provided an additional scholarship.

McCoy explains that Bank of America is “committed to helping build stronger communities by connecting people to the workforce development and educational resources they need to achieve economic mobility. As an institution of higher learning, the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee embodies that philosophy by providing individuals opportunities to pursue their careers and drive the region’s long-term economic growth. We have proudly supported that mission for years, and we are doubling down on our partnership with the title sponsorship of Bank of America Brunch on the Bay 2019.”

McCoy is excited to think about how many students will benefit from scholarships funded by other sponsors this year, too.

“The school is my alma mater,” he says, “which means I also benefited from the wonderful education that we are helping others like Devon Sandoval attain at this year’s brunch.” This isn’t the first time McCoy has been involved with Brunch on the Bay. In 2002, he was honored to receive USFSM’s Distinguished Alumni Award, and he has served on the Brunch on the Bay committee for years, including a role as chair of its 10th anniversary event.

Pete Petersen
CEO Dealers United, Brunch on the Bay co-chair, and USFSM alumnus

Like so many others, Pete Petersen is part of the USFSM success story and a staunch supporter of Brunch on the Bay—so much so that he is co-chairing this year’s event along with alumna, Lauren Henry.

From his perspective as CEO and managing partner of Dealers United, Petersen says, “It’s an incredible opportunity to get exposure for your company with upwards of 1,000 local business and community leaders in attendance. Plus, participation is tax deductible!”

As someone who appreciates a high-quality catered event, he notes that the food is amazing. “We have over 25 of the area’s top restaurants providing their best brunch dishes! There will be lobster, crepes, cakes, and much more!”

As a USFSM graduate himself, Petersen knows that scholarships like these—and the education they provide—change the lives of local students. “I went back after I was in a senior leader position at my previous company, LexJet,” he explains. “I was one of the only people in most of the meetings that didn’t have a four-year degree. It was important for me to round out my real-world business experience with a solid academic curriculum. I was able to leverage the professors’ expertise and classwork to improve my work and my career while ensuring I was thinking more strategically as a leader. Now, I help build curriculum, teach classes, guest lecture, mentor, and gain access to amazing students who are ready to enter the workforce. It’s helped my career and personal life in so many ways.”

In short, Petersen knows that USFSM connects our students, businesses, and community. “We have an amazing opportunity as local business leaders to work on-campus with students, gain access to work-ready individuals and fill our companies with highly qualified candidates. Most of our team leads are USFSM graduates and they are smart, fun, and self-driven individuals.” In his mind, the USFSM candidate pipeline is one of the “secret sauces” of his company’s success.

Kayla Collins
USFSM senior and VP of Student Government

North Port resident Kayla Collins is on track to graduate in spring 2020 with a degree in criminal justice, and she hopes to add a master’s degree on her path to a career in law enforcement. She says that the most important thing people should know about the USF Sarasota-Manatee student experience is how incredibly personal and unique it is. “Each student has their own story regarding how they arrived at USFSM, yet each has a similar experience in terms of developing friendships that feel like family, a learning experience that provides direct relationships between professors and students, and opportunities to grow as leaders within the university and the community.”

Collins is not just a fulltime student, though—she also works 40 hours a week. Even with that, she needed a helping hand to afford her education. A Brunch on the Bay scholarship proved to be the solution to that financial dilemma. “Without it,” she admits, “I don’t have any idea how I’d pay for college.”

For Collins—a community leader coordinator, lead campus experience guide, and USFSM ambassador—and so many others, Brunch on the Bay helps them to lead lives of impact. As Collins herself says, “Brunch literally makes a difference in my life.”

For more info on Brunch on the Bay, other USFSM fundraising events, and ways you can make a difference in students’ lives, visit usfsm.edu or call the University Advancement office at 941.359.4603.