University of South Florida, Sarasota-Manatee, celebrates 40th anniversary with 'All-Alumni reunion'

MANATEE -- The sun was shining Saturday afternoon as dozens of alumni, staff and community members gathered on the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus as part of ongoing 40th anniversary festivities.

The USF Sarasota-Manatee campus All-Alumni reunion celebrated 40 years of service to the community with live music, food, drinks and games.

Jeanie Smith, 63, of Bradenton, sat on a blanket enjoying live performances by the Jeff Evans Band and local favorite and "American Idol" finalist Sam Woolf.

"I brought my granddaughter to see Sam," Smith said. "I went to USF in Tampa a long, long time ago."

Smith motioned to her granddaughter and friends as she added: "They are all in high school so it's good for them to come out to these college things."

Manatee County School Board member Karen Carpenter said she decided to walk over to the campus from her home. USF has been involved in the Manatee County School District campaign for grade-

level reading.

"We are so grateful to them," Carpenter said. "They are so integrated with the community."

The 40th anniversary celebrations began Sept. 15 and will wrap up March 4 with the Hospitabull Gala.

New College in Sarasota joined Florida's state university system in 1974 as USF Sarasota.

On July 1, 1975, New College became part of USF and. In Sept. 5 of the same year USF began to offer classes after establishing a regional campus in Sarasota for the first time.

On Sept. 15, 2001, USF Sarasota-Manatee was established by state statute as independent from New College and gained its own budget separate from the Tampa campus.

On Aug. 28, 2006, it moved to its current campus.

Children weren't the only ones partaking in the games. Adults like Jean Lawson, who was tossing a football, joined in the fun.

"It's beautiful weather. It was in the paper and a friend told us about it, so we thought we'd check it out," Lawson said. "It's a very nice atmosphere. ... nice campus."

Kirt Schueler, professor in business and marketing, dropped by after class.

"I think it's great," Schueler said.

He added how important it is to engage with the community "to show the value we provide."

The music was reasonably good and there was a variety of food, he said.

"We can help the Bradenton-Sarasota area to grow," Schueler said. "So if this helps bring them in, it's great."

Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. You can follow her on Twitter @JDeLeon1012.

This story was originally published February 21, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "University of South Florida, Sarasota-Manatee, celebrates 40th anniversary with 'All-Alumni reunion' ."