USF Genshaft Honors College Grand Opening Celebration

The University of South Florida threw open the doors to the Judy Genshaft Honors College welcoming VIP guests to explore the five-story building named for the USF president emerita (2000-2019). Genshaft and husband Steven Greenbaum and current USF president Rhea Law ceremoniously cut a gold and green ribbon May 12. Hundreds of gold and white balloons cascaded from the soaring atrium ceiling as the crowd gazed up in amazement at 39 “learning lofts” that appear to be suspended in mid-air. Several of the 2,500 honor students gave tours of classrooms, conference rooms, faculty offices, student lounges, a cafe and a computer lab, as well as studio spaces dedicated to art, music, technology, multimedia creation and food and culture throughout the impressive 85,000-square-foot building. — Amy Scherzer, photos courtesy of the University of South Florida