Every Saturday during football season, Blake Bork dons his orange, white and blue uniform, harnesses his tenor drums to his body and marches with the Pride of the Sunshine.
But Bork won’t return to campus until marching band practice.
That’s because Bork is one of the 20 Santa Fe College students who are members of the marching band and drumline at UF.
Out of the 400 to 500 students who audition every year, usually 320 are chosen to be a part of the marching band and drumline.
About 20 of these students are from SFC.
Enrolled as non-degree seeking students, the SFC students take the university’s one credit hour Marching Band course, MUN1110.
The SFC students are given a Gator 1 carda and identification number, limited access to ISIS, uniforms, instruments and any other supplies needed by band members.
They are not permitted to sign up for any courses at UF other than Marching Band.
John M. Watkins Jr., director of The Pride of the Sunshine marching band, compared the process to students dual enrolling at UF.
To join the marching band, the SFC students have to go through the same annual audition as UF students, according to Watkins
The SFC students can only play in the marching band and drumline.
They are also not eligible for scholarships and stipends because those things are only offered to full-time students at UF.
Bork, a freshman at SFC, said he chose to go to SFC over other colleges so he could have a chance at joining The Pride of the Sunshine.
“As long as I’m part of University of Florida I’m happy,” Bork said. “I’ve always been a UF kid, ever since I was in elementary school.”
Bork said the UF students in the drumline get along with the students from Santa Fe, and the band works together well as a team.
“We all share a common interest,” Bork said. “And that’s drumming.”
