Kenneth Gay, USF alumnus, is the 2023 recipient of the Messer Family Award, which provides a scholarship for a beekeeping class at the USF Botanical Gardens. (Photo by Corey Lepak)
The Messer Family Award provides a scholarship to pay for one year of beekeeping classes at the USF Botanical Gardens.
This year’s recipient is Kenneth Gay, who also happens to be a USF alumnus and former Hillsborough County teacher and administrator.
Gay is a USF alumnus, earning his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from USF. He also holds a master’s in administrative education and a doctorate in child and youth studies from Nova Southeastern University.
He transitioned out of retirement to work for Tampa Bay’s non-profit More Health, Inc., where he remains active in teaching health and safety presentations to elementary-aged children.
He’s also serving as a historical docent in the Florida Fair Authority’s Cracker Country, which is what he says drove him to consider taking the beekeeping course.
“I’ve always had an interest in bees,” he said. “But I thought I could add to my background so I can be a little more well-versed with working with kids out at Cracker Country. I thought this would be a great opportunity to do so.”
The beekeeping certification course, which began Nov. 4, will run through Oct. 2024 and students will meet the first Saturday of each month at the USF Botanical Gardens for instruction on topics ranging from setting up an apiary, swarm control, and honey extraction.
“The USF apiary has been a successful mentorship program for community beekeepers across the Tampa Bay area and we're proud to carry the torch as the programming continues to expand. Thanks to the Messer family, we're able to offer this award each year to an up and coming new(bee) to stewarding European honeybees (Apis mellifera),” said Nicole Brand, ECORE system director.
The USF Botanical Gardens is one part of the ECORE System, which also includes the USF Forest Preserve and USF Geopark.
The beekeeping course takes place on the USF Botanical Gardens. (Photo by Corey Lepak)
“The skills and knowledge gained by our students in the USF Botanical Gardens Beekeeping Course gives them all the tools they need to pursue a life-long hobby in keeping bees,” Dr. Craig Huegel, director of the USF Botanical Gardens said. “It excites me that our graduates will be equipped to pursue a fun and rewarding hobby.”
“I’m a fifth generation Floridian who grew up here in Hillsborough County, in the rural area of Hillsborough County,” Gay said. “I was one of those kids who was always outside. I believe in making sure that we are watching out for nature and the animals within it.”
He said that having the opportunity to take this beekeeping course at his alma mater is something he is thankful for.
“I always look forward to going back on campus, for whatever it may be,” he said.
Learn more about earning a beekeeping certification offered at the USF Botanical Gardens.