See how UCF academics and leaders intersect and collaborate with the community and others in making the world a better place.
Wed Apr 7
Ring ring! Your alarm goes off and you wake up, a brand-new day beginning around the world. Birds may be chirping outside your window and beams of sunlight may be streaming through your blinds. But if you’re like me, you try to sneak in a few more minutes of sleep — even though you know you…
Tue Apr 6
This has been an academic year unlike any other, and I know our community is looking forward to the repose of Spring Break and the deep breaths that come after the end of a semester. I recognize how difficult of a time it has been and continues to be for many of you. The stress…
Mon Apr 5
Starting today, the Pfizer vaccine is available to Florida residents age 16 and older, and the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available to those 18 and older. UCF has received enough vaccine from the Florida Department of Health in Orange County to provide both doses of the Pfizer vaccine to about 6,000 students…
Mon Apr 5
Being extremely grumpy may not seem like something to be proud of, but for Sage Tokach the themes explored in The Grumpiest Boy in the World serve important lessons for children. The theatre for young audiences (TYA) master’s student is the director for the play, which follows an average 7-year-old named Zachary, who goes on a quest to find…
Fri Apr 2
A $250,000 gift from Jessica Blume ’80 and her husband, Ken, will support a scholarship program for business students who are the first in their families to attend college. This commitment, which marks the largest single gift in the history of the UCF Day of Giving campaign, will provide greater opportunities for first-generation students to graduate from…
Thu Apr 1
The portal to apply for emergency funds is again open for eligible students experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The application for emergency grants will remain open through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, April 11. UCF received more than $25 million in relief funds through the federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF).…
Wed Mar 31
My fascination with flight — like that of many others — is simple: There is something about the way an aircraft dances gracefully with the wind to lift itself off the ground, seemingly defying the impossible, that has always intrigued me. One hundred and eighteen years have passed since the Wright brothers demonstrated the first,…
Tue Mar 30
UCF has offered spring graduates and their families the opportunity to choose one of two in-person options to celebrate their achievements. Recognitions of graduates will occur April 30 to May 8 Spring 2021 graduates had the option of either participating in UCF’s Grad Walk or their college’s in-person commencement, both of which will be held…
Tue Mar 30
Leandra Preston-Sidler, senior lecturer of Women’s and Gender Studies, spoke with Spectrum News about how the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected women. In this three-part series, Preston-Sidler, along with two other guests, discussed the increased burden of childcare and financial insecurity placed on women throughout the past year. During the onset of the pandemic, more…
Mon Mar 29
UCF Celebrates the Arts is harnessing the power of art — and the virtual world — to bring our community together. While many events at this year’s festival will be held at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts using strict health and safety protocols, a series of virtual events will also allow attendees to…
Mon Mar 29
The recent shootings at three spas in Atlanta that included eight victims — six of whom were Asian women — are an unfortunate reminder of the increased acts of violence against Asian American and Pacific Islander individuals over the past year. In 2020, hate crimes targeting Asian people rose by nearly 150%, according to a…
Fri Mar 26
Christian Ravela, associate professor of humanities and cultural studies, spoke to WFTV about the model minority myth in the wake of last week’s mass shooting at Asian-owned spas in Atlanta. As the country becomes more aware of long-standing violence against Asian Americans, many people are wondering about the sources of anti-Asian racism. “The history of…
Thu Mar 25
embers of the UCF community raised more than $835,000 in 24 hours to support UCF during this year’s Greatest Day of Giving, a 24-hour philanthropic challenge that took place March 25 to raise funds for everything from scholarships and academic programs to athletics and student support funds. UCF surpassed its goal of 2,021 donors for…
Wed Mar 24
It is March, and one year ago we were unexpectedly ushered into a global pandemic that shut down our favorite stores and restaurants, disrupted our working and living routines, and affected our physical and mental health. The year 2020 was a time warp for me — simultaneously the longest and shortest year of my life,…
Mon Mar 22
As a mark of respect for the 27 UCF students who died during recent academic terms, UCF President Alexander Cartwright, has ordered that the flag of the University of Central Florida be flown at half-staff on Thursday, March 25. The annual Eternal Knights program is an opportunity for families and friends to join the campus…
Mon Mar 22
“Pull yourself up with happyiness (sic). We are with you Arecibo, Come back strong. I’m so sorry it broke. Because it was beautiful.” These are the words of Orlando-area schoolchildren who recently wrote nearly 100 letters of support to the scientists at the National Science Foundation’s Arecibo Observatory, which is managed by UCF and is…
Mon Mar 22
Associate Professor of History Robert Cassanello tells a story from the â80s that is still having an impact on UCF women’s and gender studies classes today. In 1988, Shirley Leckie was the first woman in the department to be up for a promotion. At the time the University Personnel Committee judged her research on women’s history as…
Mon Mar 22
After much anticipation, a student-designed solar sculpture has been installed at Exploria Stadium, home of Orlando City Soccer and Orlando Pride. The sculpture was designed by 11 studio art and engineering students as part of a challenge posed by OUC for the Advanced Design Lab (AdLab) class in the spring of 2018. UCF students (now alumni) involved…
Sun Mar 21
When Jennifer Bellinger found out she was Principal of the Year for Orange County Public Schools, she was sitting with a small group of friends, family and staff at Oak Ridge High School, watching the Stellar Awards announcement ceremony via YouTube. Due to COVID-19 making the ceremony a virtual event, more people were able to…
Fri Mar 19
UCF-HCA Healthcare’s graduate medical education (GME) program gained 190 new residents on March 19’s National Match Day, including 11 graduating seniors from the UCF College of Medicine. The UCF students matched into specialties including emergency medicine, internal medicine, orthopedic surgery, surgery and psychiatry in HCA hospitals across the state. This summer, when residencies and fellowships begin, UCF-HCA will have 512 physicians in its training programs, including two new programs at West Florida…