Premier auction event to be held May 18 at Raymond James Stadium
TAMPA, MARCH 27, 2019 – Lee Roy Selmon’s vision of preparing student-athletes well for life after sports is still going strong at USF and the community can help the program cultivate more bright futures for the Bulls.
USF Athletics proudly announces the return of BullsFest presented by R.R. Simmons, a premier auction event that will be held on Saturday, May 18 in the West Club at Raymond James Stadium. The event, set to begin at 6 p.m., will feature live and silent auctions with all proceeds benefiting the Selmon Mentoring Institute, a progressive program that provides one-on-one mentoring opportunities for USF’s nearly 500 student-athletes to develop as people and as professionals.
BullsFest presented by R.R. Simmons will honor Lee Roy Selmon’s life and legacy in a special way along with giving attendees a firsthand look at the impact the Selmon Mentoring Institute has made on current and former student-athletes.
“I am so very pleased that USF Athletics will be bringing back BullsFest, which was a huge success in the past and was well received by our community,” said Claybra Selmon, who has remained actively involved with USF Athletics since her late-husband’s passing and will be in attendance at the event with the Selmon family. “This effort proves their perpetual goal of enriching the lives of our student-athletes. I am very grateful for the commitment that USF is making to secure the future of the mentoring program that Lee Roy envisioned years ago.”
Seats are filling up fast with approximately 500 attendees expected for the first BullsFest since 2014. Individual event tickets ($150) and tables for up to eight people ($1,200) can be purchased at the official BullsFest presented by R.R. Simmons registration. Tickets include dinner, dessert and drinks while an open bar and valet service will be available. Attire for the event is Florida casual.
“We are very excited to return BullsFest to our annual calendar of events and to honor the tremendous legacy of Lee Roy Selmon while supporting the mission of the Selmon Mentoring Institute,” Vice President of Athletics Michael Kelly said. “I know our great Bulls supporters really enjoyed this event for many years and we are looking forward to a tremendous evening on May 18.”
Table sponsorship opportunities are available and the outpouring of sponsor support already includes: R.R. Simmons, Glory Days Grill, Shannon Edens and family, Taralon Homes, Oracle Insurance, Bob Mallett, Cristo Rey High School and Jason Kromolicki.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers play-by-play announcer Gene Deckerhoff is set to emcee the event that begins at 6 p.m. with a silent auction, music, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres along with other fun activities for attendees. Former Buccaneer players Jimmy Giles and Doug Williams are expected to attend along with several more of Selmon’s closest friends and former teammates.
The first 500 registrants will get to view a list of silent auction items two weeks in advance of BullsFest presented by R.R. Simmons. The live auction will take place during the second half of the three-hour event and will feature high-end items that will be announced at a later date.
BullsFest presented by R.R. Simmons will begin a new tradition of an annual event to support the Selmon Mentoring Institute, which has seen more than 100 student-athletes graduate from the program since its inaugural class in 2014.
The Selmon Mentoring Institute program begins with a two-credit development course for student-athletes that focuses on identity and career planning. That course leads into a one-credit practicum, giving student-athletes an opportunity to engage in a one-on-one mentorship with a professional in the Tampa Bay area. The mentor pool consists of more than 120 experts who will be recognized at BullsFest presented by R.R. Simmons from area companies that include the Tampa Bay Lightning and Rays, Disney, ESPN, Tampa Police Department, USF Health and many others.
“The success and growth of the mentoring program since its inception in 2014 has been so exciting to witness,” Claybra Selmon said. “This growth has been largely due to our community of professional mentors who volunteer their time and allow the students to experience their chosen career firsthand. The mentors are the heart of the program. It is my desire to see every student-athlete take part in the mentoring program in order to have the opportunity to plan for post-graduate life.”
About USF Athletics
USF Athletics sponsors 19 varsity men’s and women’s teams that compete in 11 different sports, 18 at the NCAA Division I level in the American Athletic Conference. The Bulls’ athletic program began in 1965 and is in its 53rd season in 2018-19. Nearly 500 student-athletes train and compete in the athletic district located on the east end of the campus in Tampa, Fla. The Bulls have claimed 16 American Athletic Conference team titles since joining the conference in 2013, including at least three in each of the last three seasons, and own 113 conference championships overall. Nine USF programs reached national post-season competition in the 2017-18 season and six were ranked in the Top 25 nationally. The Bulls posted a combined annual grade-point average over 3.0 for the third straight year in 2017-18 and have posted a program record eight straight semesters with a combined GPA over 3.0. USF has seen more than 200 student-athletes earn their degree in the last two years.
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– #GoBulls –
Brian Siegrist
Associate AD–Communications
University of South Florida
