by Sean Manning – Trumpet Player in the Herd of Thunder Marching Band as a full-time student at St. Petersburg College

During the college football season, did you watch or attend a University of South Florida game at Raymond James Stadium? While watching that game, did you notice the 273 member Herd of Thunder Marching Band performing hits such as “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga, “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey, and “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks? What if I told you that out of the 273 members, 14 of them were fellow classmates of yours at St. Petersburg College? Thanks to the Non-Degree Seeking Program at the University of South Florida, community college students who were in high school marching band can participate in the University Marching Band.  The program also expands outside community colleges. The marching band also had a handful of students from the University of Tampa [4] and the International Academy of Design and Technology [1]. The Non-Degree Seeking Students span across the Central Florida Region. In total, 71 students were a part of the program. Now that Spring Semester is here, basketball season is in full swing meaning the USF Pep Band, “Rumble”, is pumping the crowd up and heckling the opposing team in the Big East Conference matchups at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. In the pep band, 2 St. Petersburg College students are participating thanks to the Non-Degree Seeking Program. For more information on the Herd of Thunder Marching Band and the Non-Degree Seeking Program, head over to http://herdofthunder.usf.edu/nds/ for more information.