The University of Tampa

Over $25,000 was awarded to students and Spartan Incubator entrepreneurs at the New Venture Expo held Friday in the Lowth Entrepreneurship Center on campus. The New Venture Expo is an annual event that showcases ventures at various stages of development. This year, 73 businesses participated, and more than 700 people from the campus and community stopped in to learn about them.

On Friday, beneath the vaulted ceilings of the Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values, seven students became UTampa Diplomats, the University's ambassadors of goodwill, after taking an oath of service and responsibility. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor '81, the induction's keynote speaker, set the tone for the ceremony with a message that blended personal reflection and a challenge to embrace growth. "You will have failures. You will have disappointments," Castor told the new Diplomats.

Students in UTampa's Sports Business Networking Society lent a hand to several different pockets of the Luxe Fashion Fest last Saturday at Red Door No. 5, an eclectic event venue in Tampa Heights that used to be a fire station. The runway event was hosted by two-time Super Bowl champion and fashion designer Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who is from St. Petersburg and played football at University of South Florida.

Jim Ferman was 13 years old when he first met Dick Greco. It was at Wilson Junior High School in 1956, and Greco - a new graduate of the University of Tampa, was his civics teacher. "We've followed each other since I was 13, and he was 23," Ferman, chair emeritus of the UTampa Board of Trustees, said. "So it's been a wonderful and a rich experience for me knowing him. He's such a good guy. He's a lot of fun, and he's got a terrific personality. He has enjoyed life." The Honorable Richard "Dick" A.

After traveling the country last summer with Jake Paul on his creative team for his hygiene brand, W, Max Mattuchio '26 saw an opportunity to create his own brand. Mattuchio is the owner of Dirty Bastard, a line of cologne-infused laundry detergent sheets. "I began noticing the massive rise of masculine consumer brands; however, I realized that the laundry detergent industry has remained stagnant," he said, leading to the creation of the company.

Denis Rey, associate professor of political science and international studies, has been awarded a Fulbright-Garcia Robles U.S. Scholars Program to Mexico for 2026-2027. Rey's project proposal centers on developing and refining coursework in civic engagement, political participation and political efficacy. "Receiving the Fulbright award is a humbling experience," Rey said.

The University of Tampa announced today plans to construct its largest residence hall to date, a new 833-bed facility located one block south of campus. The project is part of a strategic effort to meet sustained student demand and expand access to high-quality housing in Tampa's increasingly competitive housing market. Rising 11 stories at the corner of S. Boulevard and Cleveland Street, the residence hall is scheduled to open in Fall 2028.

To wrap up National Criminal Justice Month in March, students in the Criminology and Criminal Justice Department got a visit from Splash, the country's first search and rescue otter. Splash, an Asian small-clawed otter, is employed by Peace River K9 Search and Rescue in Charlotte County. The organization works with law enforcement agencies and families in the recovery of lost, missing and abducted people.

Adam Goldberg wants to give shelter pets a chance to showcase their true personalities. His company, AGoldPhoto Pet Photography, a recent Spartan Incubator company, runs Second Shot, a program that helps shelter pets get a second chance. Think about the typical animal shelter intake process: Animals might be scared, confused and full of nervous energy.

Last month, Holly Rushing '26, a communication and speech studies major, earned a Top Four Paper Award at the Western States Communication Association annual convention in San Diego, alongside her co-author, Colter Ray, director of the communication and speech studies program and assistant professor of communication.