What’s Your Life Member Number? 

Manley Jaquiss, ’86, MA ’15, still remembers opening his USF Alumni Association Life Member kit, a green-and-gold box of exclusive swag: a Life Member pin, a gold coin embossed with the USF logo and a Bulls license plate stamped with “Proud.” Tucked beneath the keepsakes was his Life Member ID card marked No. 2178, a number that’s uniquely his and reminds him that he will always belong to something greater — a community of more than 11,000 Bulls committed to staying connected and investing in USF’s future. 

As the university celebrates 70 years, the signs of its upward trajectory continue to make headlines: It has welcomed new leadership, including ninth president Moez Limayem and the nation’s first CEO of Athletics, Rob Higgins. And our first on-campus stadium is set to open next year. Amid the progress, Life Members, some of USF’s most engaged fans, remain a steady force, ensuring that momentum continues to build.

Their collective belief has generated an $8 million (and growing!) endowment, strengthening the university and Alumni Association through scholarships, leadership programs, student mentorship opportunities and recognition of alumni achievements. Beyond philanthropy, Life Membership fosters programs that keep alumni connected and support the university’s growth over time.

“If you believe in USF, believe in higher education and believe in and support the activities that connect people throughout their lifetime, you understand why Life Membership matters,” says Bill McCausland, MBA ’96, Life Member, vice president and executive director of the USF Alumni Association.

Nearly 35 years ago, the Association began the Life Membership program with two founding members — Sen. John Grant, ’64, a 1978 USF Distinguished Alumnus, and Beverley Grant, ’66 — to encourage alumni involvement in the young university. As more graduates joined and committed to support USF’s future, the program expanded to include anyone interested in investing in the university’s success. 

“When I arrived at USF in February 2012, the program had reached 2,000 Life Members — a milestone that took 22 years to achieve,” says McCausland. “Over the next three years, we doubled that number to 4,000 by making Life Membership a strategic priority and focusing our efforts on growing the program.” 

Today, more than 11,000 individuals worldwide are proud Life Members.

Sen. Grant remembers when the entire student body was only 1,900, and the campus was home to only five buildings — and many more sandspurs. He says he has grown alongside USF, a sentiment shared by many Life Members as the university’s prestige and impact have increased over the decades.

“Under President Allen, we had some of the most outstanding faculty in the country!” he says. “There were people who said, ‘We’re never going to have football,’ but the university continued to grow and prove what was possible.”

Arthur Bullard Jr., ’74, MBA ’82, says that attending USF and becoming a Life Member were among the most meaningful decisions of his life. It’s also where he met his wife, Katherine, ’73, a former SunDoll.

“USF provided me with the opportunity to succeed because of its excellence in education, exposure to world-class leaders and meaningful connections,” Bullard says.

The Alumni Association fosters that culture of excellence by supporting 35 alumni groups across the country, providing opportunities for Life Members to collaborate with student government leadership, and sponsoring student organizations, including Student Ambassadors.

Each year, the Association hosts about 250 events, including the Life Member Appreciation Baseball Game and the Life Member Welcome Home Party during Homecoming, where members often take out their Life Member cards — some decades old — to compare numbers and reminisce. 

Dr. Anila Jain, ’81, a 1985 USF Distinguished Alumna and 2019 USF Donald A. Gifford Service Award recipient, was one of USF’s founding student Ambassadors. She became the first Ambassador elected chair of the Alumni Association Board of Directors and received her Life Membership as a gift from her parents — Dr. Mona Jain, PhD ’84, a 2001 Distinguished Alumna, and Kailash Jain, who were Life Members. She still has her original Life Membership card — No. 132.  

“Graduation is not the end of a student’s journey with their alma mater,” Jain says. “Becoming a Life Member allows you to give back and make a positive impact.”

“Alumni Association Life Members — past, present and future — elevate the university,” says McCausland.

“It’s not only about the benefits. Your gift of Life Membership works on behalf of USF and the Alumni Association, not only for the rest of your life, but forever.” 

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.