This past year, the USF College of Public Health celebrated 35 years of educating public health professionals with events and festivities honoring this historic milestone.

A jewel in the crown of the University of South Florida, the COPH was founded in statute by the Florida Legislature in 1984 as the first school of public health in the state.

Three decades of growth and innumerable success stories later, the college has provided excellence in public health education, leadership, advocacy, research and service.

Check out the following highlights from the yearlong celebration of all things public health.

From July 2019 through June 2020, the COPH hosted and partnered on more than 30 events. The year kicked off with the COPH Birthday Party in collaboration with the USF Faculty and Staff Campaign and featured  cake, punch, giveaways and complimentary massages!

Throughout the year the COPH co-branded and promoted several events with the 35^th Anniversary. Starting in August, the COPH hosted regional events for online students and alumni through the “In Your Neighborhood” series. COPHers gathered in St. Petersburg (Aug. 18), Atlanta (Sept. 7), and Annapolis, MD (Oct. 19).

The COPH Alumni Society partnered with the USF Student Alumni Association for the college’s first 7@7 Student Alumni Networking Dinner on Sept. 1. More than 70 coeds attended, the largest attendance for the series!

Some new events were also added, such as the COPH 7@5 Lecture Series that had a featured speaker come to the COPH each month to talk on a variety of topics.

One of the biggest events of the year was the COPH Talent Show. More than 200 COPH students, faculty, alumni, staff and friends of the college sung and swung the night away on Friday, Jan. 31, at Skipper’s Smokehouse, raising a total of $2582.50 for student scholarships. Twelve acts, performing everything from line and swing dancing to stand-up comedy to rock, jazz, classical and country music, took the stage. COPH alumnus and assistant professor Dr. Zachary Pruitt emceed the event.

In February, COPHers ran, walked and jogged their way across the finish line at the 2020 Gasparilla Classic on Feb. 22-23! More than 30 participants joined team #USFCOPHRocks with representatives in each race receiving limited edition 35^th anniversary moisture-wicking t-shirts.

Due to the unprecedented closure of the University of South Florida due to COVID-19 on March 13, many 35^th anniversary events, such as National Public Health Week, Community Jazz Night and the Science in Service: Paths to Health Equity symposium were canceled.

However, all activities did not come to a halt.

In April, Dr. Donna Petersen, dean of the COPH, recognized the hardworking students, faculty, alumni, staff and other professionals in the field with awards and accolades. This year’s annual National Public Health Week award ceremony entailed Petersen congratulating award winners in front of a camera instead of an audience.

In May, the COPH was able to honor Spring 2020 graduates with another virtual ceremony. The Class of 2020 included  145 undergraduates, 117 masters and 11 doctoral students graduated and entered the public health profession.

Wrapping up the anniversary year, the COPH just released the 35^th Anniversary cookbook, titled “Passion,” a play on the college’s tagline “Practice Your Passion.” The cookbook is a compilation of recipes, photos and stories from the COPH’s faculty, staff, students and friends of the college.

Read more about the founding of the COPH here.

Read all the news from the COPH’s 35^th anniversary here and view all event photos here.

Story by Caitlin Keough, USF College of Public Health