Student Success
The University of Central Florida awards more than 18,000 degrees annually — the most among Florida public universities and among the most nationally — and strives to set the pace for advancing student success in higher education.
Thu Jan 4
UCF’s student-run free clinic celebrates a decade of service this year — providing primary and specialty care to Orlando’s uninsured while giving medical students hands-on experiences as clinicians and caretakers in their community. Founded in 2013 with Orlando’s Grace Medical Home, the KNIGHTS (Keeping Neighbors In Good Health Through Service) helps Grace care for 3,600…
Tue Jul 25
UCF will award more than 3,860 degrees during three commencement ceremonies at Addition Financial Arena Aug. 4-5, sending a talent pipeline of highly skilled graduates into careers that are vital for our region and our state. Of the degrees UCF expects to award, 2,986 are bachelor’s, 615 are master’s, 152 are doctoral and 6 are education specialist…
Wed Jul 19
More than 3 billion people are estimated to be active video game players, with the worldwide gaming market projected to be $347 billion. Behind the largest entertainment industry in the world are creators like Blake Battle ’12MS, who is anaccomplished producer at Bungie, which has developed popular games like Destiny and Halo. A UCF interactive entertainment alum, Battle’s…
Wed Jul 19
Electrical and computer engineering student Alexander Green is soaring to new heights thanks to a coveted scholarship that gives him the opportunity to work for the U.S. Air Force. Green, a computer engineering major, has been awarded the Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship. The competitive scholarship-for-service program, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense…
Mon Jul 17
There will be a significant UCF representation at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this summer, as three Knights are set to embark on the world’s biggest stage. Two former athletes, Kathellen Sousa (Brazil) and Konya Palmer ’20 (Jamaica) will make their second World Cup appearance, while freshman Genesis Perez-Watson (Costa Rica)…
Fri Jun 30
For UCF alumna and 2022 Miss Universe Jamaica title winner Toshami Calvin ’19, honoring her Caribbean heritage is fulfilled both on and off the performance stage. Here the Jamaican model and advocate for children explains how her Caribbean heritage has played a pivotal role in her upbringing, the values she exemplifies, the positive impact she aims…
Thu Jun 29
The newfound sense of independence, learning and opportunities for growth that attending college can provide are often among the draw of the experience for many young adults. For students enrolled in UCF’s Inclusive Education Services (IES) program, it can be a dream come true. The postsecondary transition program is designed for adults with intellectual disabilities who…
Thu Jun 29
Most college students would consider studying marine science at the Great Barrier Reef or even architecture in Europe to be the pinnacle of their college experience. However, studying beyond the four walls of their classroom is a goal only about 10% of undergraduate students nationwide get to accomplish. But with the support of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program,…
Wed Jun 28
Valencia College and UCF are embarking on a new strategic partnership to boost transfer student success, funded by a $1.3 million grant from the Helios Education Foundation. Led by the UCF/Valencia Improving Student Success Task Force, the new pilot program will provide additional support to students before and after their transfer from Valencia to UCF.…
Mon Jun 26
Taylor Hendricks has made history, becoming UCF men’s basketball’s first lottery pick in program history with his selection by the Utah Jazz with the No. 9 overall pick of the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft Thursday evening. Hendricks, the program’s first one-and-done is now a first-round pick, which is also a first for the…
Mon Jun 19
In southeast Orlando is Laureate Park by Lake Nona, where residents live in bungalows, townhomes, cottages or multi-story homes that are surrounded by community gardens. Resort-style pools are situated in the neighborhood, as well as big grass lawns for community yoga and movie nights. Restaurants, coffee shops, a daycare and more are available throughout the…
Fri Jun 16
Three years after Title IX legislation was passed in 1972 — opening doors for women and girls to compete in sports — UCF fielded its first women’s varsity program, volleyball. In three years’ time, the Knights won their first national title in 1978 as part of the now defunct Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women…
Wed Jun 14
If you were to parachute into the parking lots around Kennedy Space Center (KSC), you might believe you landed on an extension of UCF’s campus. Knights license plates and black-and-gold decals are everywhere. “You should see it here during football season,” says Wes Mosedale â07MS, senior test director for NASA. “That’s when the colors really come…
Wed Jun 7
Three UCF students have been selected as 2023 Boren Scholars, a distinguished national honor that recognizes highly motivated undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing a career in U.S. national security. This year’s recipients are Angelina Alonzo, a political science major; Flora Ngo, a criminal justice and psychology double major; and Sean Merkel, a computer sciencemajor. With support from the Office of Prestigious…
Tue Jun 6
Reina Castellanos ’16MFA wants you to wipe your dirty hands on their art. The School of Visual Arts and Design graduate has been tapped for a new partnership with Bounty Towels, in which their art is a featured design on the paper products. Bounty’s Inclusive Artist Project seeks to provide a platform for artists to showcase their work while…
Fri Jun 2
Through persistent efforts toward excellence and innovation, UCF is recognized for preparing students pursuing studies in art programs to be successful visual artists in the billion-dollar animation industry. Animation Career Review, which serves as a comprehensive database of universities and college art programs throughout the nation, has recognized the successes of several of the School of…
Thu Jun 1
Marley Albright ’23 will take her college career to new heights this fall through the NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunities (NSTGRO) award. She is one of approximately 60 U.S. college students who have been selected for this honor, which covers the tuition and fees for a graduate-level program and includes a fellowship at a NASA…
Wed May 31
Olivia Newton ’13 ’17MS ’22PhD is a second-generation Mexican American, a three-time graduate from the UCF and a woman excelling in a field significantly underrepresented by Latinas. Latin women hold less than 2% of STEM occupations, but Newton has always been a barrier breaker, according to a report by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, Google and the…
Tue May 30
Three UCF teammates competed in the 2023 (ICPC) North America Championshipon Monday against 150 of the best and brightest computer programming students in the U.S. and Canada. Out of 51 university teams, UCF ranked 17th — besting Ivy League institutions including Yale, Princeton and Brown and earning a spot in the 2023 ICPC World Finals later this…
Tue May 30
For the first time in nine years, a UCF student has been awarded a prestigious Udall Scholarship — the second-ever in UCF’s history. Udall Scholarships are awarded by the Udall Foundation to around 55 college sophomores and juniors each year for leadership, public service and a commitment to issues related to Native Americans or the environment. Recipients…