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.
Mon Nov 1
Every year, thousands of UCF grads walk off a stage with bulbs flashing and brimming with excitement as they begin the next chapter of their lives. Thanks to the global pandemic, the last few years have included mostly metaphorical walks for the graduates. But even though COVID-19 may have waylaid their commencement celebrations, it has…
Fri Oct 29
Excelencia in Education, the nation’s premier authority on efforts accelerating Latino student success in higher education, announced today the University of Central Florida has been certified with the Seal of Excelencia. Para la versión en Español, oprima aquÃ. The national announcement was made this morning by Excelencia in Education during a press conference in Washington, D.C., where UCF President Alexander N.…
Fri Oct 29
Justin Geraghty, a first-year M.D. candidate, was dining with classmates when he heard a commotion at a nearby table and saw an older woman drop to the floor. They could not feel a pulse and she wasn’t breathing, so he and another diner began CPR. When they were able to detect a pulse, they rolled…
Fri Oct 29
Since 2012, Amy Buford has been a staple in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders as an undergraduate academic advisor, working with undergraduate students to ensure they are on track to graduate, while also taking full advantage of all the opportunities available to them in the College of Health Professions and Sciences and the University of Central Florida. Learn more about…
Thu Oct 28
In their first in-person mediation tournament since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the UCF Mediation Team earned first place in both of the competition’s main categories. Nine members of the team – as well as team coach and visiting lecturer Christy Foley – traveled to Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia to participate in the…
Wed Oct 27
Like father, like daughter. Following in her father’s footsteps, Ana Beltran ’19 fell in love with the arts from a young age. Some of her earliest memories include watching her father bring concepts to life for his post-production company in Venezuela. The introduction to the world of animation, post-production, and broadcast television fostered her creative expression and…
Wed Oct 27
It’s no secret UCF loves space. From a space-themed football game to its “reach for the stars” motto, space is a part of the university’s fiber. The university was founded in part to support the space industry on the Space Coast. Since then, faculty and students have participated in more than 600 NASA research projects…
Tue Oct 26
In January, Jaden Chambers, a second-year UCF mechanical engineering student at the time, was accepted to NASA’s Pathways Intern Employment Program — an honor he didn’t think he could earn until he was encouraged by his friends and fellow Knights. The program provides eligible students opportunities to gain work experience and explore careers while they’re…
Mon Oct 25
Last summer, Alexis Rodriguez ’18 completed an internship with the LGBTQ History Museum of Central Florida. As a graduate student in UCF’s history master’s program, he saw it as an opportunity to support his studies while volunteering with an organization focused on collecting, observing and exhibiting the history of Central Florida’s LGBTQ community. However, over the course of his…
Fri Oct 22
Have you ever been on a blind date? Even if the answer to that question is no, it’s easy to understand the internal pressures that arise when faced with the prospect of a new relationship. Theatre UCF’s production of the 2013 Broadway musical First Date explores the rollercoaster of emotions that overwhelm individuals on their journey to find love. When…
Fri Oct 22
While LGBT History Month is a time to recognize and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, it’s an important time for allies to reflect on their efforts in support of these individuals. Being an ally is not a self-asserted identity, it is one that people within a community assign to others based on their efforts to combat and raise awareness for issues affected individuals face, says LGBTQ+ Services Director Michael Nunes ’16 ’18MA. Whether…
Wed Oct 20
Lana Gidusko, an Academic Support Coordinator for the School of Kinesiology and Physical Therapy, is the first staff member at UCF to complete all three levels of the Student Success and Advising (SSA) Certificate program. An initiative of UCF’s Advisor Training and Development team in the Division of Student Learning and Academic Success, the SSA certificate provides a structured professional development curriculum…
Tue Oct 12
Selena Lopez ’18, a graduate student in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, first detected difficulty with her hearing while she was an undergraduate student. “I noticed if I sat in the back of the classroom, that I was having a hard time hearing,” said Lopez. “Even if I sat in the front, I wished they could repeat it…
Mon Oct 11
UCF’s Programming Team again showed they are among the best on the planet, finishing 17th overall and among the top four teams from North America in the 2020 World Finals of the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC). The competition, held in Moscow on Oct. 5, was originally scheduled to take place in June 2020 but was…
Mon Oct 11
For Shawn Welcome ’17, serving as Orlando’s second Poet Laureate is the culmination of years of supporting poetic expression and storytelling in the city. From studying at UCF to working with a variety of area organizations, including the Orlando Boys & Girls Club and Hope CommUnity Center, he has deep roots in the Orlando community.…
Mon Oct 11
UCF was listed recently as the top college for LGBTQ+ students in Florida and as one of the top 25 in the nation by BestColleges.com in partnership with the Campus Pride Index. The list ranked higher-education institutions on their academics, affordability and LGBTQ+ services. Justin Andrade ’10, director of the university’s Social Justice and Advocacy, says the recognition was for…
Mon Oct 11
Hispanic Outlook magazine has ranked UCF the No. 5 university in the nation for conferring bachelor’s degrees to Hispanics, marking the second year in a row the university has been recognized for its impact. The ranking, which was released today and lists top-performing educational institutions, considers degrees awarded in the 2019-20 academic year. UCF was also…
Thu Oct 7
When Perla Latorre-Suarez ’21 was a child, she remembers holding her brother’s hand in the mountainous Orocovis region in Puerto Rico where she grew up and looking up on a clear night as the International Space Station flew overhead. “That day, my parents explained to me its purpose and all the experiments and investigations conducted;…
Thu Oct 7
In 2020, UCF launched the PeerKnights Coaching Program that enlists students to help fellow students by providing comprehensive support, engagement and resources to undergraduates both in-person and virtually. General and specialized peer coaching options meet the individual needs and interests of students. “We know that when students have academic support, they are more likely to complete their…
Thu Sep 30
If you had asked Luis Santana Garcia ’21MA if he wanted to join the Peace Corps a few years ago, the idea wouldn’t have even crossed his mind — until a conversation with a faculty member in UCF’s Department of History. “One day, I just happened to walk in and talk to Dr. [Richard] Crepeau about Ethiopia,” he…