On Aug. 8, 2025, the University of South Florida Judy Genshaft Honors College celebrated
23 summer graduates during their Honors Graduate Celebration Ceremony on the Tampa
campus.
With an average GPA of 3.79 and seven King O’Neal Scholars among them, this summer’s
graduates exemplify the high level of academic excellence and dedication required
to complete the Honors program. King O'Neal Scholars are graduates who maintained
a perfect 4.0 GPA for the entirety of their undergraduate degree.
Each graduate was personally introduced by Judy Genshaft Endowed Honors Dean Charles
Adams, who shared their accomplishments, favorite Honors memories, and future plans
as they received their medallion from Honors faculty and staff.
“We couldn’t be more proud of this summer's graduates,” said Dean Adams. “Their commitment
to academic excellence, meaningful service, and purposeful careers continues to inspire
our work at the Judy Genshaft Honors College.”
The Honors medallion symbolizes graduates’ commitment to the core values of the Judy
Genshaft Honors College: healthy humanities, engaged citizenship and sustainable futures.
Through Honors coursework, study abroad experiences, and extracurricular service and
research, these students have earned a distinction that marks them as members of the
Honors community for life.
After donning their medallions, these graduates will go on to pursue even greater
success in medical school, graduate school, full-time positions, and beyond.
Student Spotlights
Although a small cohort, this summer’s Honors graduates exemplify the impact of making coursework their own and pursuing undergraduate research with purpose.
Sydney Mazzei
Sydney Mazzei, a biology graduate, dedicated her time at USF to hands-on research
and exploring the natural world. Through her involvement in the SEA-PHAGES program and a seagrass restoration project, she solidified her passion for environmental
conservation and advocacy.
Outside the lab, Mazzei was actively engaged on campus through joining the Marine Biology Club, rock climbing at the REC Center, and playing intramural volleyball. These activities
helped her build friendships and connect with peers who shared her interests.
For Mazzei, the Honors College was a source of both personal and academic growth.
Living in the Honors Living Learning Community for two years gave her a strong, supportive network of like-minded students, while
the coursework and faculty encouragement empowered her to pursue her goals with confidence.
She is currently working full-time at a native nursery and conservatory and plans
to gain additional experience before returning to USF to pursue a master’s degree.
Elizabeth Delp
Elizabeth Delp, a St. Petersburg Honors student and business major, embraced a wide
range of interests through her involvement in the Honors College and campus mentorship
programs. She valued how Honors coursework allowed her to explore topics beyond her
major and grow both academically and personally.
For two years, Delp served as a Peer Coach with New Student Connections, eventually becoming a Peer Coach Lead. Helping first-year students navigate college
life gave her a strong sense of purpose and fulfillment.
One of her proudest achievements was earning the opportunity to travel to Seville,
Spain for an eight-week research experience focused on indigenous populations in 16th-century
Florida. Her love of language learning and her commitment to excelling in her Spanish
Paleography course prepared her to make the most of this experience.
After graduation, Delp plans to pursue a full-time position in the Tampa Bay area
in management or business administration.
Aiden Jaskolka-Brown
Aiden Jaskolka-Brown, a student in the 7-Year B.S./M.D. Program at the Morsani College of Medicine and King O’ Neal scholar, made a lasting impact
during his time in the Honors College by combining academic excellence with personal
initiative. As a research assistant in Dr. Yu Chen’s lab in the Department of Molecular
Medicine, he contributed to research aimed at improving COVID-19 treatments — work
that resulted in two published studies.
Beyond the lab, Jaskolka-Brown served as president of the USF Table Tennis Club, representing the university at both regional and national competitions.
He also found meaningful ways to put his Honors coursework into practice. After studying
biomedical ethics in an Honors class, he made the extraordinary decision to become
a living liver donor, helping save the life of a 5-month-old baby — an act he considers his proudest achievement.
Looking ahead, Jaskolka-Brown will continue his medical education at the Morsani College
of Medicine, with the goal of becoming a physician and continuing to serve others
through science and compassion.
Staying Engaged with Honors
These new grads will have the opportunity to remain connected with their peers thanks to the new Judy Genshaft Honors College Alumni Society. With the launch of this society, Honors alumni will be able to stay more engaged with the college and its exciting opportunities — like mentorship, professional networking, career workshops, and service opportunities — than ever before.