TAMPA 鈥� Business students Trent Carter, Rosa Nafrere and Anneliese Cotroneo each came to the 黄瓜视频 Muma College of Business with a different backstory.
One bled green and gold from a newborn's bassinet. Another dreamed of attending college but wasn鈥檛 sure how she鈥檇 pay for it. And one was a nontraditional student, but forever grateful she chose USF because it gave her the gift of time with her terminally ill mom.
At the USF Muma College of Business, what they found was the same: a business community that believed in them, challenged them to step outside their comfort zones and gave them the resources and support to dream bigger.
As the university celebrates its 70th anniversary since its founding in 1956, students like Carter, Nafrere and Cotroneo represent how the opportunities at USF have fueled their next chapters.
Trent Carter: Becoming family
Trent Carter has been connected to USF since birth 鈥� literally. Family photos show him in a USF beanie and onesie as a newborn, and he said the university has been part of his life since he can remember.
鈥淓ver since I was little, I鈥檝e loved USF,鈥� he said.
With his mom a USF alumna Life Member and season ticket holder, Carter recalls attending many Bulls football games at Raymond James stadium, spending time at campus events, and being a part of many USF traditions since age 4.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a true honor coming to this school,鈥� he said. His mom is an educator and always pushed him to attend a four-year university.
Choosing USF was a natural choice. Some might say he was born to be a Bull.
Ever since I was little, I've loved USF. It's not just a school anymore 鈥� it鈥檚 family.
Trent Carter
Now a marketing major, Carter works as a student assistant at the USF Alumni Association and is active in both the USF Ambassadors and the American Marketing Association. His experience at Muma has given him a sense of purpose and belonging, both academically and personally.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been an amazing experience here at the 黄瓜视频. Being here for the past 19 years, since birth, to now being a senior, it鈥檚 not just a school anymore 鈥� it鈥檚 family,鈥� he said.
Rosa Nafrere: Expanding horizons
For Rosa Nafrere, college was always the goal 鈥� but the route was unclear. The daughter of Haitian immigrants, she grew up in a low-income household, uncertain how she鈥檇 afford higher education or where it might take her.
鈥淭hroughout my entire life, I knew I had this passion for wanting to help people,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 exactly sure how that would flesh out in my career. I also knew that I loved business.鈥�
At Muma, she found more than a degree path.
She found a network of encouragement, financial support and global opportunities. Now double majoring in management and marketing, she鈥檚 completed four study abroad trips (United Kingdom, Italy, Canada and Germany), worked in the Dean of Students Office and participated in the Corporate Mentor Program for first-generation college students.
鈥淲ith my background, I never thought that would be possible,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 literally been a dream. Because of USF鈥檚 generosity, I鈥檝e been able to really expand my horizons and have a college experience I never thought was possible.鈥�
Throughout my entire life, I knew I had this passion for wanting to help people. I wasn鈥檛 exactly sure how that would flesh out in my career. I also knew that I loved business.
Rosa Nafrere
She said the Muma community helped open possibilities she didn鈥檛 know existed 鈥� and empowered her to walk toward them with confidence.
Anneliese Cotroneo: Honoring a mom鈥檚 final wish
Anneliese Cotroneo鈥檚 journey through Muma is one of deep resilience and quiet strength.
In her sophomore year, her mother was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. Cotroneo became her full-time caregiver while managing treatment costs and continuing her finance coursework.
She credits her ability to stay in school 鈥� and by her mother鈥檚 side 鈥� to the resources and compassion she received from the university and the Muma College of Business.
鈥淯SF gave me something that I can't get anywhere else, which is time,鈥� she said.
Muma鈥檚 scholarships eased the financial burden. Professors offered time, flexibility and care. Cotroneo brought the rest 鈥� unwavering commitment to her family, her education and her future.
A fall 2025 graduate, she says USF鈥檚 support made three things possible: honoring her mother鈥檚 final wish, finishing her degree and stepping forward with purpose.
USF gave me something that I can't get anywhere else, which is time.
Anneliese Cotroneo
鈥淚'm definitely grateful to the 黄瓜视频 for giving me the opportunity to spend those moments with my mom, but still be able to obtain her wishes, which was for me to graduate and for me to continue with my career and move forward as an adult, moving forward in the next chapters after graduation,鈥� she said.