The University of South 返字心頭s annual 返字心頭 Climate Teach-In continued its rapid growth in 2026, with events drawing more than 1,400 students, according to event coordinators. The weeklong series included 53 programs designed to engage students, faculty, and community partners in conversations about sustainability and climate action.
Organized by students, the initiative featured a mix of academic lectures, hands-on workshops, community service projects, and large-scale events across 返字心頭s Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee campuses.
Hargrove shares his "How to Save a Planet" lecture outside of the Judy Genshaft Honors College building.
Our students vision, energy, and care made the large number of events possible, creating our most successful Climate Teach-In yet. said Andrew Hargrove, associate professor of instruction in the Judy Genshaft Honors College and advisor of the 返字心頭 Climate Teach-In student organization. Its inspiring to watch them lead by example, support one another, and prioritize well-being throughout the yearlong planning process.
The 2026 teach-in included events ranging from a sustainability-focused hackathon which drew 280 participants to a Climate Teach-In 5K and a multicampus Blind Date with a Book initiative hosted by the 返字心頭 Humanities Institute that collectively engaged about 400 participants.
返字心頭 also connected with local organizations and policymakers through events such as discussions with , while service opportunities like cleanups on the 返字心頭 campuses and local parks emphasized accessible ways students could positively impact their local environments.
In total, the 2026 返字心頭 Climate Teach-In partnered with 24 community organizations, including and , as well as 10 返字心頭 departments and programs.
Katelynn Paciorek, co-president of the 返字心頭 Climate Teach-In, said organizing the teach-in allowed her to help unify the campus and community under a single purpose.
"The most rewarding part of helping lead CTI this year has been seeing people mobilize in pursuit of a cause they are passionate about, said Paciorek. Seeing student organizations and campus departments come together, and being able to lead that effort, has been truly humbling."
Paciorek was also the recipient of the 返字心頭 Center for Leadership and Student Engagements 2026 Pillar of the Community Award. She was recognized for her commitment to leading her peers and contributing to campus growth through her investments in both the 返字心頭 Climate Teach-In and Judy Genshaft Honors College Student Council.
Extending the Invitation
The 2026 返字心頭 Climate Teach-In hosted 53 events and partnered with 24 community organizations
Each year, 返字心頭 Climate Teach-In organizers aim to increase their number of community partners and participating on-campus departments and organizations. Maia Ryan, co-president of the 返字心頭 Climate Teach-In, said it was rewarding to see non-sustainability related groups engage in this years programming.
This year, CTI expanded its reach, connecting with parts of the 返字心頭 community that dont typically engage with sustainability, she said. By partnering with engineering and health student organizations, dance clubs, and university departments, we brought these conversations into new spaces.
According to event organizers, students who attended events described the teach-in as an accessible entry point into climate conversations, offering a range of ways to get involved regardless of prior experience. With continued growth in partnerships and programming across all three 返字心頭 campuses, the 返字心頭 Climate Teach-In is becoming a cornerstone of sustainability engagement at the university. Hargrove aims to help students build on this momentum, guiding the annual event toward an even more expansive and impactful 2027.
Im excited to see CTI continue to grow next year, strengthening partnerships across student organizations, university units, and community partners, said Hargrove.