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Community Engagement

See how UCF academics and leaders intersect and collaborate with the community and others in making the world a better place.

UCF to Host, Compete in 2023 ICPC North American Championship

Computer programming continues to grow exponentially in complexity. Our world relies on programming for so many things: scientific research, government services, eCommerce, business operations, artificial intelligence and strong cybersecurity to defend against online attacks. As programming becomes more sophisticated, it’s vital that America’s programmers keep pace. This year, UCF will host and compete in the ICPC…

PHOTOS: Reflecting on UCF Celebrates the Arts 2023

UCF Celebrates the Arts returned for its ninth year at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts to showcasethe creativity, innovation and collaboration of students, faculty, and staff. With more events than ever before, the festival had something for everyone — from inclusive concerts, lectures and discussions to interactive visual arts displays and kid-friendly events.…

UCF Celebrates the Arts Wins Golden Brick Award for Impact on Downtown Orlando

UCF Celebrates the Arts, UCF’s annual festival showcasing creativity, artistic innovation and partnerships, was awarded a 2022 Golden Brick award from the Downtown Orlando Partnership (DOP). Award recipients in 15 categories were recognized at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts’ Steinmetz Hall on May 2 for positively impacting downtown Orlando. UCF Celebrates the Arts…

From Outer Space to Garden Space

Literally speaking, the moon is 238,000 miles from every schoolyard in the United States. Mars is an average of 140 million miles away. Figuratively, however, slices of the moon and Mars are landing in classrooms across the country. They arrive inside an 11-inch by  8-inch box. When students open the box, they pull out ph…

UCF Ranks as a Top 25 U.S. Public University for Patents Granted

The University of Central Florida has moved into the ranks of the top 25 public universities in the nation for patents granted, according to the latest report from the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). UCF secured 63 patents in 2022, ranking it No. 52 in the world and No. 23 among public universities in the…

UCF Graduate Programs Climb in U.S. News Rankings, Highlighting Research Excellence and Community Impact

UCF, a top-tier public research university renowned for driving innovation and delivering broad-based prosperity, continues to distinguish itself in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings. In these influential 2023-24 rankings, nine College of Engineering & Computer Science graduate programs rank in the top 75 in the nation in their respective fields. A total of…

UCF Emergency Management Alumna Brings Local Experience to Capitol Hill

In emergency management, every disaster is considered a local disaster. It’s a perspective that underpins the foundation of the field –– even at the nation’s capital, where Lauren Gros ’22MECM brings her experience in local emergency management to the national stage. A native Floridian and Orlando resident during her teenage years, Gros is no stranger to extreme…

UCF Lake Nona Hospital Is LEED Gold Certified — A First In Florida

UCF Lake Nona Hospital announced Friday it received LEED Gold certification — the first and only hospital in Florida and only the 28th in the nation — to achieve this green building designation. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, (USGBC), is the most widely used green building rating…

Orlando Magic Youth Foundation Awards UCF $50,000 to Support Local Young Readers

The Orlando Magic Youth Foundation is gifting $50,000 to support UCF’s iREAD program, an intervention program for students who do not show reading proficiency. The funds will help bolster reading skills in schoolchildren who participate in iREAD (intensive Reading Enrichment for Academic Development). The iREAD program, within UCF’s Communication Disorders Clinic, is a four-week course that addresses…

Limbitless Solutions Selected for 2023 Unity for Humanity Grant

Limbitless Solutions — a nonprofit and direct support organization at UCF dedicated to increasing accessibility and empowering children and adults in the limb difference community — and two affiliated UCF faculty members have received $85,000 in philanthropic grant funding for their bionic arm training video game, Quantum’s Pursuit.  The project was selected as one of eight winners…

UCF’s Limbitless Solutions Receives Honors from Florida Governor and First Lady

Limbitless Solutions president and co-founder Albert Manero ’12 ’14MS ’16PhDwas recently honored by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis during the first annual Florida Heroes reception. The event welcomed heroes from across Florida to the Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee to honor them for exhibiting courage, perseverance, and self-sacrifice. This included police officers, first responders,…

UCF Supports Autism Community With Resources, Research

One Saturday morning at UCF, a shy, young girl began to learn the basics of judo practice — the proper stance, movements, how to hold opponents and how to safely fall to the mat. Autism spectrum disorder affects about one in 36 children nationally, according to  the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention She was…

New Scholarship Honors Late UCF Medicine Teacher, Advocate for Horse Therapy

Manette Monroe was a beloved UCF College of Medicine teacher and mentor, who used her passion for horsemanship to help combat-injured veterans regain their mental and physical health. Future medical students will be able to follow in her footsteps, thanks to a scholarship announced today in the late doctor’s honor. Monroe’s husband, Mike Gaither, donated…

The Sloan Foundation Awards $250K to Support Hispanic STEM Graduate Students

Thanks to a new partnership, UCF and its two partner schools in the Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Public Research Universities (the Consortium) ― Florida International University (FIU) and the University of South Florida (USF) ― will unleash the potential of Hispanic/Latina/o/x graduate students who seek to become leaders in the STEM workforce. The Alfred P.…

UCF’s Robinson Observatory Gets a Futuristic Facelift

Recent updates to one of UCF’s most groundbreaking research and education facilities brings the Robinson Observatory into the 21st century, including robotics for remote viewing and a state-of-the-art weather protection system. The refurbishment returns the observatory to full functionality after six years. Supply shortages and the large scope of the project contributed to a year-long process of…

Join UCF for Founders’ Day 2023 on April 5

Every year on the first Wednesday of April, UCF honors Founders’ Day by celebrating the outstanding accomplishments and contributions of our people. This year, on April 5, we will be hosting a day-long celebration to recognize our exceptional students, faculty, and employees for their pursuit of excellence and impact. We hope you will join us…