It was that kind of week for USF. No major groundbreaking. No paeans to the charter graduating class. No buzzer-beater basketball games. But there was this:
* An announcement that USF is now ranked 15th–tied with Johns Hopkins University–in the world in the number of U.S. patents granted to universities. It’s also tops in this state–by a lot. Further confirmation that USF is a major research force.
* In what seemed like an outtake from “October Sky,” members of USF’s 2-year-old science club, the USF Society of Aeronautics and Rocketry, garnered some major media attention when they successfully launched a 12-foot “BULListic” rocket. The hand-built rocket reached 8,000 feet. More SOAR launches–to ever-higher altitudes–are planned for upcoming semesters.
What was cool is that such an event was considered cool. An animated crowd had gathered at the Plant City pasture, cell-phone cameras at the ready. Loud cheers were elicited in recognition of success. And Dr. Manoug Manougian, SOAR’s faculty adviser, was beyond proud.
No, this wasn’t a pep rally for Coach Manougian and his star players. It was a different kind of team, but one that could still be rallied around. “It ain’t rocket science” was never less applicable.