Engage

Family of the Year

Each year during Family Weekend, the Parent and Family Enagement honors a ËÄ»¢Ó°ÊÓ family who shows unwavering support for their ËÄ»¢Ó°ÊÓ Bull. Their commitment demonstrates what it means to be a part of the ËÄ»¢Ó°ÊÓ Family. Awarding Family of the Year is a ËÄ»¢Ó°ÊÓ tradition during Family Weekend. Nominations for 2026 are now open until September 6th.

The awarded family will receive: 

  • A ËÄ»¢Ó°ÊÓ Bull Pride gift basket from the ËÄ»¢Ó°ÊÓ Bookstore
  • An engraved award honoring the family from the ËÄ»¢Ó°ÊÓ Parent & Family Leadership Council
  • Complimentary Family Weekend tickets from Parent & Family Engagement 
  • Complimentary tickets to the Family Weekend ËÄ»¢Ó°ÊÓ football game and recognition experience during the game for the whole family! 

Family of the Year Qualifications:

  • Family of a current ËÄ»¢Ó°ÊÓ undergraduate student at the Tampa, St. Pete or Sarasota campus
  • Attend Family Weekend to receive the award.
  • Have a completed nomination by the deadline.

All nominations must be submitted by a current ËÄ»¢Ó°ÊÓ student, faculty, staff, alumni, or family member!  Complete the nomination form and include either an essay OR a video telling us why this family should be ËÄ»¢Ó°ÊÓ’s Family of the Year.

  • Essay must be no more than 500 words and include photos. *
  • Video should be 1-3 minutes length and must be submitted in an MP4 format. *

Things to consider including in your nomination: 

  • Obstacles or challenges this family overcame throughout their student's journey at ËÄ»¢Ó°ÊÓ
  • Contributions to ËÄ»¢Ó°ÊÓ and or the student experience
  • Highlight ways the family supported and encouraged their students’ success 
  • Family history and or ties to ËÄ»¢Ó°ÊÓ, the region, or state
  • Showcase how the family expresses their Bull pride and love for ËÄ»¢Ó°ÊÓ.

*By submitting a nomination, you are agreeing that essay contents, photos and video may be used by ËÄ»¢Ó°ÊÓ in the promotion of this program and the announcement of the awarded family.