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For most of her time as a President’s Leadership Fellow, Tahmina Emu ’26, an international studies major, served the Refugee and Migrant Women’s Initiative in Tampa.

She helped with a fundraising gala; assisted with educational weekly meetings where the women learned about a range of topics, from hurricane preparedness to financial literacy; and she attended the organization’s year-end celebration, where she drew henna art for the guests.

“It’s a beautiful community of people,” Emu said of RAMWI. “They’re so open to talking, and it’s just amazing to see how they all come together. It really warms your heart.”

Her commitment to the organization was part of the four-year PLF scholarship program dedicated to teaching UTampa students about leadership theory and practice.

Emu teamed with four other fellows to work with RAMWI. As part of their service this year, Emu and the other students held a silent auction, raising over $600. However, two weeks before the auction was held, they found out that RAMWI was dissolving as an organization, and they were asked if they would be interested in donating the funds to a similar organization that serves immigrants in Tampa Bay, called Project Prosper.

The group handled the pivot with ease.

While Emu is among the two dozen President’s Leadership Fellows who are wrapping up their service projects and getting ready to graduate, other fellows’ projects will continue.

Emily Manning ’27, a marketing major, is working to help pediatric oncology patients at Tampa General Hospital. Her group hosted in a toy drive this winter and was able to collect over 100 students’ donations for the hospital.

“We wanted to help bring them some extra magic and love during the holiday season,” she said.

Manning, like Emu, said she joined PLF because she wanted to continue serving her community, something she had always done growing up.

Similarly, Sara Kosovitz ’27, an economics major, applied for PLF to get involved with helping with community, something she said helped her feel more connected to it.

She is working with four team members on an end-of-semester move-out drive.

“During on-campus spring move-out, there is an incredible amount of waste. Our project aims to reduce waste by donating viable items,” she said.

The group is working with New Life Warehouse, Feeding Tampa Bay and The Breast Cancer Society to donate furniture, food and clothing from students who aren’t taking the items with them from their time in the residence halls.

“We also ran this drive last year and reduced waste by a significant amount. Just in furniture donations alone, we donated over four tons,” Kosovitz said.

Students interested in being part of PLF, which awards a $1,000 yearly scholarship, must apply prior to their first year. Once accepted, fellows can opt to work individually or with a group and decide which nonprofit they want to work with over the four years.

“You literally start off knowing a community of people,” Emu said of one of the program’s benefits. “We actually get to know each other personally. We learn about life stories. We volunteer together.

“I think it’s honestly a great program, and more people should know about it.”

Applications for the next cohort are open until April 12: https://bit.ly/4aSJKdB