Explore community. Build connections. Launch your career.
Providing unique career exploration and experiential learning opportunities for incoming first-year students
About the Program
The Launch PAD (Pathways for Academic Discovery) Career Exploration Program (formerly known as Innovation Scholars) provides unique experiential learning opportunities for incoming first-year students at USF St. Petersburg by partnering them with companies and professionals in and around St. Petersburg. This program will provide students an introduction to one or more industries or job fields as they shadow mentors and test career options to help solidify major choices and academic paths early in their university experience. Participants will also have the opportunity to take a course for credit and engage in experiential learning through field trips, panel discussions, case studies, and peer projects.
By shadowing experienced mentors, participants not only gain valuable insights into various careers but also have the opportunity to test different paths. This hands-on experience assists students in making well-informed decisions about majors and academic paths early in their university journey, giving them a head start in shaping their future careers.
Mentors are recruited from companies in a variety of sectors, including Financial Services, Arts, Engineering, Law, Information Technology, Accounting, Education, Non Profits, Healthcare, Insurance and others. Businesses will predominantly be within walking or trolley distance from the USF St. Petersburg campus.
Questions? Please contact Dr. Harris Ambush
Student Testimonies:
“Before the this program, I was unsure of which industry I’d like to apply my marketing degree towards. After getting to see what my mentor’s daily tasks were and her outlook on her work lifestyle, my interest in real estate marketing began.”
“Jay’s connection with a lab manager at the College of Marine Science led to a research internship in Dr. Breitbart’s lab investigating parasites connected to sea urchin extinction. He’s excited to see how this foundation can lead to more opportunities over the next three years.”
Apply to the LaunchPAD Experience!
Engaging in hands-on experiences is more than just a practical step for students in their career exploration process; it’s an exciting journey that helps students transform their career dreams into reality. Both students and their families share a common outcome from a college education: finding a job that aligns with their passions. To make this a reality, the adventure of career exploration should kick off early. By doing so, students can lay the foundation for a fulfilling educational journey that seamlessly transitions into meaningful and rewarding career opportunities.
- Hands-on experience that can help define career goals
- Insight into interesting careers and industries
- Chance to test career and major choices that help inform academic paths
- One-on-one access to senior community leaders
- Potential for future internships or other roles within the company
- First-time-in-college students attending USF St. Petersburg in Summer or Fall should apply by the program deadline, specifying their career focus and job preferences.
- Applicants will have a brief meeting (in-person or virtual) chat with the program coordinator before the fall semester begins to discuss their interests. The coordinator will review applications, match qualified students with mentors, and aim to align interests, offering alternative options if needed.
- A program orientation and meet & greet reception will be held for mentors and students. This is a mandatory event and students must attend to be eligible for mentor matching.
- Throughout the semester, mentors and students will meet at least three times for two hours each session, including industry overviews, company tours, meetings, and sessions with senior leadership. Coaching and skill-building group sessions will be provided during the fall semester.
- IDS 3315: Global Issues & Perspectives is offered as a supplemental course for credit alongside the mentorship experience. There are 25 open seats for the Fall 2026 semester available on a first-come basis. Accepted students will be permitted into the course. Watch this video for info on how to add/drop courses.
- To apply for the LaunchPAD, students must:
- Be an incoming first-year (FTIC) student with a St. Petersburg home campus
- Have an interest in career exploration and some ideas for potential areas of interest
- Minimum 3.5 GPA
- Be enrolled full‑time at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg with St. Petersburg as your home campus
- Attend the mandatory Orientation & Kickoff in September (no make‑up sessions)
- Complete a goal‑setting worksheet at program start, plus mid‑ and end‑of‑semester surveys
- Respond to mentor or program communications within 24 hours
- Meet with your assigned mentor at least three times per semester (minimum 6 total hours in the fall)
- Notify the program coordinator promptly if you experience difficulty connecting with your mentor
- Additional responsibilities for student taking the aligned course
Applications for the Fall 2026 cohort are now closed.
Applications submitted by 11:59pm on June 28, 2026 will be given priority.
We look forward to welcoming new members to our program!
Mentors
USF St. Petersburg is collaborating with the St. Petersburg Partners to identify professional mentors from organizations, non-profits and businesses of all industries. Mentoring organizations will interact with incoming students, introducing them to professional topics, and assessing possibilities for future internships and roles within their organizations.
- Opportunities to mentor motivated and enthusiastic student
- Helping students towards future employment
- Publicity on USF St. Petersburg’s website, in public meetings, and in news releases
- Opportunity to speak to a class of mentees about your industry or field
- Opportunity to host a field trip to your organization for the class of mentees
- Download the Mentor Handbook
- Attend a meet-and-greet reception.
- Meet with mentee(s) 3 times for at least 2 hours per semester, during which time the mentor:
- Assesses student interests and abilities
- Provides an overview of the industry, company and key positions
- Provides a tour of the organization, introductions to other staff
- Invites mentee to shadowing opportunities during company meetings or events
- Facilitates meetings with company leadership/executive(s)
- Complete a short (five minute) monthly survey about the student’s participation in mentorship activity
- Communicate at any time with USF St. Petersburg program coordinator or Center for Career & Professional Development regarding any issues or concerns with the student throughout semester
- First-time-in-college students coming to USF St. Petersburg in Summer or Fall semester apply to program indicating job sectors of interest.
- The program coordinator will review applications, determine availability and pair qualified students with an appropriate mentor match. The program coordinator will aim to meet the interests of qualified students but may offer alternative options when necessary.
- Students and mentors attend a meet-and-greet reception in early September.
- Mentors and students meet a minimum of three times throughout a semester for at least two hours. During these meetings, mentors provide students an overview of the industry, a tour of the company, attendance at company meetings or events, and at least one meeting with senior company leadership.
- Students who participate in the Fall have the possibility of continuing with a mentor into the Spring semester, or exploring another mentor opportunity.
- We are now launching a transfer cohort in the spring semester, which provides an opportunity to work with older students.
- Where interests and needs align, these shadowing opportunities set the stage for an internship experience during the students’ second year.
Please complete the application to be included in our mentor pool. Application does not guarantee a mentor match. Matches are made based on student and mentor interests and career paths.