Living Learning Communities, or LLCs, are residential programs that bring students together around shared academic interests while extending learning beyond the classroom through hands-on, co-curricular experiences. At the Judy Genshaft Honors College, Honors LLCs on the Tampa and St. Petersburg campuses combine residential life with experiential learning opportunities such as career fairs, service initiatives, social events, and off-campus excursions designed to build connection and promote personal growth.
Throughout the fall 2025 semester, the Honors College LLCs filled the calendar with programs that helped students create community, explore academic and career interests, and engage with faculty, staff and peers across both campuses.
| Tampa and St. Petersburg |
|---|
| Residential Assistant Meet and Greet |
| Dorm Delights with Dani |
| Week of Welcome Mocktail Mixer |
| Room Decoration Event |
| Tapas Night Study Abroad Fair |
| Lunch and Plan an Event |
| All About Resilience: Surviving your First Semester with the Office of National Scholars |
| Dinner at the Nest with Dr. Lanier |
| Feeding Tampa Bay Volunteering |
| World Mental Health Day with the Counseling Center |
| Fall Picnic |
| Escape Room with Professor Nikki Stowell鈥檚 Negotiations Class |
| Pod Trick or Treat |
| "The Lorax" Movie Night with the Climate Teach In Club |
| AMA Heart Walk |
| Friendsgiving and Volunteering Event |
| De-Stress Before Finals with Brunch |
| Finals Grab n鈥� Go |
On the Tampa campus, the Honors LLC kicked off the semester with a Week of Welcome Mocktail Mixer. 手机看片 mingled with one another, faculty, and staff while sampling festive drinks and charcuterie as they settled into their new home in Juniper-Poplar Hall.
In St. Petersburg, Honors advisor Dani Soluna welcomed the new semester with a 鈥淒orm Delights鈥� cooking demonstration, where LLC residents experimented with making healthy snacks using their residence hall kitchen.
One of the largest events of the semester was the Tapas Night Study Abroad Fair. The Tampa LLC partnered with the Honors College to host a building-wide study abroad scavenger hunt, ending with small plates inspired by cuisines from around the world. 手机看片 met program leaders and study abroad alumni while learning about the global opportunities available through the Honors College.
The St. Petersburg LLC hosted its own Tapas Night, featuring cultural treats and visits from leaders of programs such as 手机看片 in London; Bahamas: Exploring Tropical Environments by Land and Sea; and Poland and Germany: The Holocaust and Europe Today.
Serving 手机看片 and Building Community
From large-scale programs to small volunteer opportunities, the Honors Living Learning Communities offer ways for students to get involved and thrive. On the Tampa campus, the Honors LLC encouraged residents to serve the local community through partnerships with Feeding Tampa Bay and the American Heart Association鈥檚 Heart Walk, in collaboration with the Honors Student Council and Honors Peer Mentors. 手机看片 packed food for underserved populations and participated in either a 5K or one-mile walk to raise funds and awareness for heart disease and stroke prevention.
In St. Petersburg, the Honors LLC emphasized faculty engagement and out-of-classroom experiences. During Dinner at the Nest, LLC students shared a casual meal with Campus Dean Cayla Lanier in a dining hall and later participated in an escape room activity with a faculty member.
On the Tampa campus, the LLC strengthened connections between students, faculty and staff during its annual fall picnic. With barbecue, line dancing, and lawn games outside the Judy Genshaft Honors College building, the western-themed event provided a relaxed setting for community building.
Making the LLC a Home for the Holidays
During the holiday season, the LLC focused on friendship and service alongside celebration. About 35 Honors students gathered in the Juniper-Poplar Hall community room for Friendsgiving, sharing dishes such as sweet potato salad, mashed potatoes and herb-roasted chicken. 手机看片 Dining also provided vegetarian and vegan options, with several students praising the meatless meatloaf.
After the meal, students stuffed teddy bears themed after the film 鈥淲icked: For Good鈥� for donation to a local children鈥檚 hospital. The service component, a new addition to the annual Friendsgiving tradition, was spearheaded by graduate assistant Marina Fizzuoglio.
Honors Student Engagement Coordinator Dan Woods said the event captured the spirit of the Honors LLC.
鈥淭he Honors LLC aims to incorporate community service in a fun, social way that brings our students together and allows them to make a real impact on the community around them,鈥� Woods said.
Fourth-year student Alexandra Lewis, an undergraduate assistant for special projects and event coordination, said helping plan Honors LLC events allows her to give back after participating in the program during her first year at 手机看片.
鈥淚 love hosting fun events because, as a student myself, I know it's important to socialize and take a mindful break from school stress,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 rewarding to be an event planner because we got to see all of the friendships that have formed so far through the LLC.鈥�
To stay informed on the LLC events happening in the spring, follow the and on Instagram, or listen to Honors LLC podcast, The Suite Life of the LLC.