On Friday, Aug. 22, the 色色研究所鈥檚 Judy Genshaft Honors College
welcomed 2,780 new and returning Honors students with a celebratory Welcome Back Event
in the Judy Genshaft Honors College building on the Tampa campus.
Music filled the building as nearly 300 students joined a mini scavenger hunt, exploring
spaces throughout the college while learning about university resources such as the USF Office of National Scholars and Honors-specific opportunities like the Student Council and academic advising.
Grouped into small teams, students met new friends, posed for photos, collected Honors
merch including stickers, pens and postcards, and picked up sweet treats along the
way.
Unstoppable Momentum
Thanks to a 77% increase in applications last year, admission into the college was
more competitive than ever in 2025. The incoming class of 761 Honors students 鈥� including
62 National Merit Scholars 鈥� boasts an average high school GPA of 4.33 and an average ACT score of 30.
鈥淪tudents from across Florida and the nation are excited to be a part of the Judy
Genshaft Honors College,鈥� said Judy Genshaft Endowed Dean Charles Adams. 鈥淲ith USF鈥檚
nearly 5% overall increase in applications and the college鈥檚 tremendous resources,
students and families are noticing the incredible opportunities here and choosing
the Tampa Bay area for their undergraduate experience.鈥�
Welcome Back
Honors students pose for a group photo on the first floor of the Judy Genshaft Honors College building before receiving a clue leading them to their next stop on the Honors scavenger hunt.
Honors students travel through all five floors of the building in groups of five to seven, exploring opportunities and services offered to them.
Honors Peer Mentors share tips on first-year student success and support in the third-floor student lounge.
Led by the scent of fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies, Honors students check out the fifth-floor Leona Genshaft Food and Culture Studio and are greeted by Dean Charles Adams and Associate Dean Reginald Lucien in USF-branded baking attire.
To conclude the tour, Honors students gather in the first-floor caf茅 area to enjoy sweet treats, take home Honors merchandise, and connect with new friends.
For more information about the Judy Genshaft Honors College admissions process or first-year student programs, visit the Honors College website.