Whether you are taking a full class schedule, interning or enjoying a much-needed breather, staying engaged on campus is key to making the most of your summer semester. UCF offers a wide selection of resources specifically to help you keep the momentum.

Academic Support

Shorter summer sessions are fast paced and demanding, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Support services are available in person and virtually to keep your GPA on track.

• Private Coaching: The Student Academic Resource Center continues to provide for over 30 subjects. Visit the SARC office in Trevor Colbourn Hall Room 117 or the Engineering II atrium for assistance.
• Math Tutoring: Located in the Mathematical Science Building, the Math Success Center offers for students enrolled in undergraduate math courses, providing a focused environment to master challenging concepts.
• Writing Center: From complex research papers and resume polishes to creative writing hobbies, the 海角直播 Writing Center offers specialized to help you make tangible progress on all kinds of written projects.
• Study Spaces: Use the university鈥檚 to book a private study room in advance at the John C. Hitt and UCF Downtown libraries to ensure you have a safe, quiet place to study during finals.

Wellness Resources

Taking care of yourself is just as important during finals week as it is during a semester off. Fewer students on campus during the summer semester allows you more access to these wellness perks.

• Mental Health: Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides students with around-the-clock at no extra cost. Students also have free access to the anonymous peer-to-peer support community and teletherapy sessions throughout the entire summer.
• Physical Wellness: The gym remains open with full summer hours to help you maintain your fitness routine. For a brain break and an extra dose of sunshine, head over to the for free kayaking, canoeing and paddleboarding.
• Meeting Basic Needs: If your budget gets tight between semesters, you don’t have to worry. The Knights Helping Knights Pantry remains stocked and open during the summer to , toiletries and clothing to any Knight in need.

Professional Development

Summer is the perfect time to refine your professional brand. Career Services offers a series of Workshop Wednesdays and drop-in sessions to help you prepare for your next interview, internship or first day on the job.

• Career Readiness: Get quick, expert feedback on your resume, LinkedIn profile, practice interview or Handshake account with Critiques & Career Express. in-person or virtually throughout July 31.
• Workshop Wednesdays: throughout June and July to sharpen specific skills, including how to utilize AI in the job search, career exploration and the do鈥檚 and don鈥檛s of networking online.
• Free Headshots: Stop by the Headshot Booth located in the Student Government office of the Student Union for . The booth is open and free for all students and produces professional, high-quality headshots same day.

Summer Events Around Campus

Stay engaged with these social and cultural opportunities that span the entire term.

• Socialize with Grad Students: Head to the Graduate Student Center in Trevor Colbourn Hall, Room 213 on the first Wednesday of each summer month for First Wednesday Cafe. Hosted by Graduate Student Life, it鈥檚 a , meet fellow students, and grab free bagels and coffee.
• Interactive Play Festival: Pegasus PlayLab is a festival hosted every summer by the UCF School of Performing Arts and is dedicated to helping develop the work of emerging playwrights across the country. for the workshop showings of Offshoot (May 29 鈥� 30), Eight-Hand Jig (June 5 鈥� 6), Between Shadows and Lightness (June 12 鈥� 13), and the developmental production of Raccoon Play(June 11 鈥� 14).
• Art Exhibition: Take a quiet culture break at the UCF Art Gallery (located in the Visual Arts Building) to experience The Carlos Malamud Prize. Running all summer long, with Rollins Museum of Art features striking works from six emerging Florida artists competing for a $10,000 prize.
• Therapy Dogs: If you need a serious mood boost, head over to CAPS to spend some time with certified therapy dogs during the It鈥檚 a proven, relaxing way to take a mid-semester breather and destress between your Summer A and Summer B classes.

Transportation and Parking

Summer is the best time to find a “prime” parking spot, but shuttles are still a reliable way to get around.

• Summer Shuttle Schedules: UCF shuttles operate on a modified summer schedule. Be sure to check the UCF Mobile app or the website for the most current route times, as frequency may differ from the fall/spring semesters.

Whether you are catching a sunset by the Reflecting Pond or grinding through a summer lab, remember that the UCF community is here to support you. Take advantage of the shorter lines and the specialized attention available this term and keep charging on!

A newly published study听in听听is taking a broader look at how societies have organized power across history, combining archaeological and historical evidence to better understand governance over time.

Coauthor Sarah 鈥淪tacy鈥� Barber, professor and associate chair for UCF鈥檚 , says the project was driven in part by the growing availability of archaeological data and a need to think more expansively about human history.

鈥淎rchaeology has been a scientific area of study for about a century, so we now have 100 years of听aggregate听data about ancient societies,鈥� Barber says.

She explains that many past societies are often excluded from research because they did not leave behind written records听the way most European, South听Asian听and East Asian听societies听did.听Incorporating听archaeological听evidence听ensures that the interpretation of ancient governance is not limited to societies听with written听history but听instead allows for the听reflection听of an array of human experience.

鈥淲hen we forget about huge swaths of our past, we are weakening our ability to make decisions in the present, so anything that broadens our knowledge of how people can be people is a good thing,鈥� Barber says. 鈥淚t opens paths to other options that may be more sustainable or more just in the future.鈥�

Challenging Assumptions About Power

One of the study鈥檚 key findings听challenges听the assumption听that听population size听determines听how power is organized.

Although very densely populated societies are more likely to align with听an autocracy 鈥斕齩ne person听ruling听with听absolute power听鈥斕鼴arber says the study found there are other options for managing large populations that do not require autocratic governance.

Instead, access to resources and funding play a听more听critical role in shaping governance structures.

鈥淲hen the governing entities are relying on funding that comes from taxation and the general population, the population is going to have more influence in governing decisions,听and leaders are constrained in how they can decide to use those resources,鈥� she says.

The study also points to a connection between governance and听potential for听imbalance.

鈥淭he听less听your governing regime has听to听answer to听the populace, the more your governing regime can amass wealth for its own interests as opposed to the interests of everyone,鈥澨鼴arber听says.

Expanding the Definition of Governance

The study approaches governance as a spectrum rather than a set of fixed categories, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of how societies function听and the wide range of ways that humans organize themselves.听To analyze governance across societies, the research team developed an index focused on two key factors: how concentrated power is and how听much of the population is involved in decision making.

“We听broke it down in terms of听how many individuals or entities were involved in making decisions for a general population, and what proportion of the population was involved or had a voice in governing decisions,鈥� Barber says.

Looking Ahead

Barber听says the team鈥檚 plans for future research听could听expand the number of cases studied to听determine听whether findings shift as more societies from听additional听world regions are included.

More broadly,听she听says the work creates space for scholars to revisit fundamental ideas about governance.

鈥淭his research offers opportunities for scholars across the social sciences to reconsider what we mean by 鈥榙emocracy鈥� and to try and refine our understanding of how听different aspects听of governance affect the well-being of everyday citizens,鈥� she says.听“We have the choice to reframe the way we live and redirect our futures, if we as a society deem it necessary. The future is not inevitable, and history shows us that.”

The funding for this project was provided to the project leads by The Coalition for Archaeological Synthesis, the Amerind Foundation, and the Field Museum of Natural History provided the funds to hold two workshops at the Amerind Foundation in Dragoon, Arizona. Publication support was provided to co-author David Stasavage by Arts & Science at New York 海角直播.

Now a global project manager for wire technology at Alleima Advanced Materials, the materials science and engineering alum has earned the company鈥檚 2026 Innovation Prize for her work advancing wires used in critical medical devices such as continuous glucose monitors, hearing implants and pacemakers. The annual award recognizes excellence in product development.

鈥淭he work I do is very rewarding. Every day, I get to contribute to advancing medical care and treatment,鈥� McDorman says. 鈥淚f it鈥檚 a medical device and it has a wire, Alleima is likely contributing to it somehow.鈥�

McDorman earned her doctoral degree from UCF under Associate Professor Swaminathan Rajaraman, who directs the , where researchers develop micro- and nanoscale solutions spanning biotechnology, pharmacology, plant sciences and medical devices.

鈥淚 chose UCF because the [materials science and engineering] program was highly rated … and had a wide variety of research areas …鈥�

Before coming to UCF, McDorman earned her master鈥檚 and bachelor鈥檚 degrees in physics, but discovered a passion for applied research that required a deeper focus on materials.

鈥淲hen I decided to pursue a Ph.D., materials science and engineering was a natural choice,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 chose UCF because the program was highly rated, small and had a wide variety of research areas that I was interested in.鈥�

Through her doctoral studies, McDorman found a more biology-focused side of materials science. Her work with biosensors in Rajaraman鈥檚 lab ultimately inspired her to pursue a career in the medical device industry.

She credits her research experience at UCF with preparing her for work at Alleima, where 90% of her unit鈥檚 business supports medical device manufacturing.

鈥淭he company has a rich history of materials innovation in steel and nickel-based alloys,鈥� McDorman says. 鈥淪ince we produce wire, I am constantly using base materials science knowledge to process the material in a way that achieves a specific set of properties in the end product.鈥�

She says she has always aimed for a position that would allow her to make a positive contribution to society, an opportunity she is grateful to have at Alleima.

For new graduates considering a similar path, McDorman encourages them to connect with UCF alumni on LinkedIn and to explore job opportunities in Florida鈥檚 growing manufacturing industry, particularly in Volusia and Flagler counties.

鈥淲e put a lot into our work every day because we truly care about ensuring the best possible patient outcomes,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t is great that our efforts have been recognized by the business.鈥�

Dinender Singla, professor and head of the College of Medicine鈥檚 Division of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Sciences, developed a system that turns exosomes 鈥� vesicles that cells secrete to communicate with one another 鈥� into delivery vehicles for medical treatments.

This innovative technology, for which UCF is seeking patent protection, places therapeutics inside exosomes and coats them with cell-specific markers that direct them to an exact area of the body to deliver the drug.

鈥淚 call these smart tiny bubbles,鈥� Singla says. 鈥淢illions of people have heart disease, and they take multiple drugs in extremely high doses. But we have no way to be certain these drugs are getting to where they need to go. We need innovative technologies to get treatments exactly where they need to go to cure the problem.鈥�

How the Therapy Works

This discovery is part of Singla鈥檚 work to provide therapies to treat and prevent heart disease, including heart damage caused by cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and targeted radiation to the chest. That heart damage seems to be caused by inflammatory factors that treatments use to kill cancer cells. Technology developed by Singla encapsulates anti-inflammatory heart treatments in exosomes and then delivers the drug to the exact area of heart damage.

鈥淭hey can treat cancer and protect the heart.鈥� 鈥� UCF Professor Dinender Singla

As part of this research, Singla鈥檚 team also developed technologies to deliver cancer-killing drugs inside exosomes. They chose triple-negative breast cancer for their research, the deadliest form of the disease, with a 77%鈥�78% five-year survival rate. In the lab, the therapy showed significant promise in killing cancer cells 鈥� at much lower doses that are used in chemotherapy 鈥� while also protecting the heart. So the exosome therapy could help cancer patients without the severe side effects of chemotherapy.

鈥淭hese therapies can work hand-in-hand,鈥� Singla said. 鈥淭hey can treat cancer and protect the heart.鈥�

Financial Investment is Key for Drug Development

The next step will be manufacturing the therapy for clinical use and advancing into FDA clinical trials for heart disease and cancer treatment. To help accelerate that path, Singla partnered with Orlando investor and UCF donor Chakri Toleti, a healthcare technology entrepreneur focused on building category-defining businesses through AI and agentic platforms, biomedical innovation and ambient intelligence including most recently care.ai, which was acquired by Stryker in 2024.

Through his innovation fund, TCapital, Toleti backs transformative technologies designed to improve healthcare delivery and reduce human suffering at scale. Together, Singla and Toleti invested in and formed Exomic to fund continued research, clinical development, and commercialization of the technology.

鈥淭his was an opportunity to do something truly innovative in cancer and cardiovascular treatment.鈥� 鈥� Chakri Toleti, UCF donor

Toleti says his passion for advancing cancer research is deeply personal after losing his father to the disease.

鈥淭his was an opportunity to do something truly innovative in cancer and cardiovascular treatment,鈥� he says. 鈥淒r. Singla鈥檚 work represents a fundamental shift toward new biomedical platforms not only in how targeted therapies are delivered in the human body, but in how we think about treatment and healing itself.鈥�

Such public-private partnerships are one of the goals of , which drives innovation, enterprise, and collaboration across disciplines.

鈥淒r. Singla鈥檚 groundbreaking exosome delivery system perfectly exemplifies how university innovation translates into significant, life-saving benefits for society,鈥� says Winston V. Schoenfeld, vice president for research and innovation. 鈥淎s demonstrated by the creation of Exomic, industry partnership is essential for driving such pioneering technologies towards successful translation and real-world clinical use.鈥�

The effort is also providing exciting learning opportunities for College of Medicine graduate students. Jonatas De Mendonca Rolando 鈥�23MS 鈥�26PhD听earned his Ph.D. in biomedical sciences earlier this month. He is staying at UCF as a post-doctoral researcher to continue creating the exosome therapy.

He helped develop protocols and procedures for the delicate technology and saw its impact in the lab. He鈥檚 excited to have a financial supporter who can help take the therapy from lab to, he hopes, patients.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been amazing to part of a high-tech project and see leadership in science,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 am very excited for my future.鈥�

Researcher Background

Singla is the AdventHealth Endowed Chair of Cardiovascular Sciences at the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences and is a faculty fellow with the UCF Office of Research. He earned his bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees from Punjabi 海角直播, Patiala, India, and his Ph.D. from the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers and has continually been funded by the American Heart Association and/or the National Institutes of Health since 2004.

About TCapital

TCapital is an AI, Frontier Tech and Life Sciences innovation fund investing in category-defining platforms and infrastructure. Founded by healthcare technology entrepreneur Chakri Toleti, T-Capital invests in companies shaping the future of treatment, care, and biomedical innovation. For more information, visit TCapital.com.

By modifying the material at the atomic level, the researchers at , led by , significantly improved the reaction鈥檚 energy efficiency while maintaining industrial production rates.

The findings were recently published in Nature Communications.

Atomically Perfect Imperfections

The new material was created using a method known as defect modification.

At the nanoscale, carbon materials contain atomic-level imperfections, or 鈥渄efects,鈥� Yang says. Some of these defects help drive chemical reactions, while others reduce efficiency and create instability. Yang and his team focused on stabilizing the harmful defects while preserving the beneficial ones.

鈥淲e found that adding a small amount of fluorine 鈥� the same element found in toothpaste 鈥� can 鈥榟eal鈥� or stabilize the harmful defects while keeping the helpful ones active,鈥� Yang says.

Hydrogen peroxide (H鈧侽鈧�) plays a critical role across industries, including wastewater treatment, semiconductor manufacturing, and medical sterilization.

鈥淭oday, most hydrogen peroxide is produced in large, centralized factories using an energy-intensive process,鈥� Yang says. 鈥淚t then has to be transported, which adds cost and safety risks. Our work offers a simpler, cleaner, and more efficient way to produce hydrogen peroxide using electricity, potentially, wherever it is needed.鈥�

Engineered Efficiency

After stabilizing the atomic defects, the team observed minimal wasted reactions and high production rates. The material can withstand industrial-level electrical currents of 1 amp per square centimeter and maintain stable performance for more than 100 hours.

When paired with methanol oxidation, the system requires less energy than conventional approaches. The researchers鈥� economic modeling suggests a commercial version of the system could reduce environmental impact while remaining financially competitive.

Beyond hydrogen peroxide production, the research demonstrates a broader strategy for materials engineering.

鈥淚nstead of randomly modifying materials and hoping for improvement, we used computer modeling, statistical screening, and careful experimental validation to design the exact atomic structures that work best,鈥� Yang says.

UCF filed a patent application for this technology to cover its novelty and use, with the intent of commercializing the technology and expanding collaboration with industry partners.

There鈥檚 something undeniably powerful about becoming the person your younger self once needed.

For nonprofit management alum Britt Johnson 鈥�23 鈥�25MNM, that transformation came full circle.

Johnson, who experienced homelessness and a lack of resources growing up, was recently named executive director of Christian HELP, a local nonprofit dedicated to preventing homelessness by supporting at-risk households.

“I see myself in some of the children who come to us fighting hunger. … Now I lead an organization that [supports] and protects them.”

The organization primarily serves the ALICE population 鈥� Asset Limited, Income Constrained and Employed 鈥斕齱orking families who may be one car breakdown or missed paycheck away from crisis.

鈥淚 see myself in some of the children who come to us fighting hunger and [lacking] resources because I was once that child,鈥� Johnson says. 鈥淚n my own personal life, I experienced homelessness. I experienced a lack of basic necessities. Now I lead an organization that [supports] and protects them.鈥�

Establishing an Educational Foundation

Johnson’s path to leadership wasn’t linear.

After dropping out of high school to help support his family, he spent 17 years away from the classroom. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, he enrolled at Orange Technical College and earned his GED.

He later attended Seminole State College before transferring to UCF through the program. At UCF, he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science before enrolling in the 鈥檚 program.

That education changed more than his career trajectory 鈥� it introduced him to nonprofit Christian HELP. Its mission focuses on preventing homelessness by helping people find work, access resources and build stability.

In 2021, Johnson began volunteering there to fulfill a Seminole State honors program service requirement. But the moment he started working with clients, he recognized himself in them.

鈥淚t looked like my lived experience,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 got really connected to the mission.鈥�

Rising Through the Ranks

What began as 20 volunteer hours turned into years of service and leadership. Johnson rose through the organization as volunteer coordinator, resource manager, food distribution lead and care manager before being named executive director in November 2025 鈥� just before graduating with his master鈥檚 degree.

Today, he leads with a philosophy grounded in listening first and meeting people where they are to best provide the help they need.

鈥淲hen I walk into a neighborhood or a church or a city council meeting, I’m there to co-create with the community, not prescribe it,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e have to listen first before acting.鈥�

Christian HELP provides everything from one-on-one career coaching, resume clinics, financial literacy workshops and skill-building sessions. Through its Central Florida Employment Connections division, the nonprofit hosts six regional job fairs each year at the Central Florida Fairgrounds, connecting employers directly with job seekers. Its food pantry distributes more than 1 million pounds of food annually across Orange and Seminole counties.

“Our services help provide stability in times of uncertainty.”

For clients actively working toward employment, the organization also provides targeted financial assistance, helping cover expenses like gas, an oil change or a utility bill.

鈥淥ur services help provide stability in times of uncertainty,鈥� Johnson says. 鈥淚f you’re not working, you’re going to tip over into a spiraling cycle of issues, and we want to prevent that.鈥�

Under Johnson’s leadership, Christian HELP is continuing to expand. This spring, the organization opened a second Orange County location through a partnership with Peace United Methodist Church, bringing employment services, grocery support and financial literacy programs directly into neighborhoods.

The Heart of the Mission

In 2025, Johnson was named an Emerging Leader Impact Award recipient by Heart of Florida United Way and recognized as an Alumni Excellence Honoree by Seminole State College. He was also recently accepted into Nova Southeastern 海角直播, where he鈥檒l pursue a Doctor of Education degree in human service administration.

Still, Johnson says many of the opportunities that made these recognitions and opportunities possible began at UCF. Coursework in volunteer management and cross-sector collaboration gave him practical tools he now uses every day. Just as important were the mentorship, networking and alumni community connections that helped open doors beyond graduation.

鈥淭he biggest lesson I carry from UCF to Christian HELP every day is very simple: Access is dignity,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hen you build systems that are welcoming, data-informed and relentlessly human, lives are transformed.鈥�

All were among 109 College of Medicine graduates who became Physician Knights on May 15 and promised to become what their dean calls one of 鈥渢he Good Doctors 鈥� a UCF tradition.鈥�

This year鈥檚 M.D. program commencement was the medical school鈥檚 14th and the last for Vice President for Health Affairs and founding Dean Deborah German, who announced earlier this year she will transition from the role she has held for 20 years.

鈥淕raduates, today you become alumni of an innovative medical school committed to improving health for all,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hrough your time here, you learned, you grew, and you cared for patients with courage, dedication, and grace. I couldn鈥檛 be prouder of the work you have done.鈥�

With this year鈥檚 commencement, UCF鈥檚 young medical school, which opened in 2009, has prepared 1,421 physicians to care for Floridians and the nation at large.

Inspired by Her Research Mentor

Moots is the third M.D./Ph.D. graduate in UCF鈥檚 history. She enrolled at the university in 2013 to pursue her bachelor鈥檚 degree in biomedical sciences and began her combined doctoral degree in 2018. Now she will go to Lakeland Regional Hospital for internal medicine training 鈥� her first choice for residency because of the hospital鈥檚 focus on innovation, research and clinical trials.

鈥淚鈥檝e spent almost half my life at UCF,鈥� she says. 鈥淕raduating is incredibly exciting, but it feels strange to close such a long and meaningful chapter.鈥�

She said her medical training at UCF was most shaped by her research mentor, Otto Phanstiel, a College of Medicine cancer researcher. 鈥淗e exemplifies the qualities I aspire to carry into medicine through the way he communicates, collaborates, and approaches every interaction with humility, curiosity, and a drive for excellence,鈥� she says. 鈥淗is influence has shaped how I hope to approach research, teamwork, and patient care throughout my career.鈥�

鈥淢ost Monumental Moment of My Life鈥�

Shaylor will do his . He hopes to become a hand surgeon. Medical school military officers are promoted when they receive their M.D. degree, and UCF鈥檚 tradition is to honor that promotion at commencement. After receiving their diplomas, military officers are pinned with their new rank by a faculty member of their choosing.

Shaylor was inspired to enter military service by Jose Borrero, a U.S. Air Force flight surgeon during Vietnam before becoming a founding faculty member at the College of Medicine. Now retired, Borrero continues to serve as a mentor to UCF medical students. He returned to commencement May 15, pinned Shaylor and proudly saluted the young military physician. Shaylor describes the pinning as 鈥渢he most monumental moment of my life.鈥�

Connecting with Others

Castellano and Threatt met playing volleyball during their first year of medical school, then started a band with other M.D. students. They went through the fear of 鈥渃ouples matching鈥� into residency 鈥� unsure if they would be selected to train at the same hospital or even city.

Today they鈥檙e simultaneously planning their move to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and their wedding. He鈥檒l practice anesthesiology because it combines his love of chemistry and connecting with people.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a small window that you have to talk to patients before surgery, but it is one of their most vulnerable moments in which you really have an ability to make this individual feel comfortable,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hat is a very special relationship to me.鈥�

She鈥檚 training to be a pediatrician.

鈥淢y biggest dream and aspiration is to be an advocate for children and for families,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 think that through Johns Hopkins there will be a lot of opportunities to do so and go into communities to be helping and educating children.鈥�

The Knights are heading to the NCAA Super Regional for the first time since 2022 and just the second time in program history thanks to a gutsy performance in the NCAA Tallahassee Regional.

With UCF’s 4-2 victory over No. 9-seeded Florida State on the Seminoles’ home field on Sunday, the Knights will now face UCLA for a chance to advance to the Women’s College World Series for the first time.

The softball team is the eighth UCF program to compete at an NCAA postseason regional or championship event in 2025-26, joining 尘别苍鈥檚听补苍诲听wo尘别苍鈥檚 soccer, indoor track & field,听尘别苍鈥檚 basketball,听尘别苍鈥檚 and wo尘别苍鈥檚 tennis and women’s golf.

Resiliency in NCAA Regional

The Knights scored their sixth-consecutive berth to the NCAA Tournament and were tabbed as the No. 6 seed in the Tallahassee Regional, kicking off postseason play against Jacksonville State on Friday.

Down to the last out of the opening game and trailing 1-0, sophomore catcher and health sciences major Beth Damon came through with one of the biggest hits of her career, sending in the tying run to force extra innings where UCF ultimately prevailed for a 2-1 walk-off victory.

After a 10-1 win over Stetson on Saturday, the Knights advanced to championship Sunday against the Seminoles. UCF fell 2-1 to Florida State in the first game, forcing an immediate winner-take-all matchup in the double-elimination tournament.

After the Seminoles tied game 2 in the top of the fourth, sophomore utility player and pre-integrated business major Izzy Mertes responded for the Knights with a two-run home run to give UCF all it needed for the victory.

鈥淚t took every ounce of us to be able to get to this point, and I鈥檓 so proud of the fight that they had,鈥� says head coach Cindy Ball Malone. 鈥淚t is very difficult to play here, and I鈥檓 so proud of the resilience of our team to stay together and fight.鈥�

The win, UCF鈥檚 first over Florida State since April 6, 2011, represented the sixth over the Seminoles in program history, third over Florida State in Tallahassee, and the Knights鈥� first in NCAA Tournament play.

NCAA Super Regionals Info

UCF is one of two Florida schools remaining in the tournament. The Knights will travel to No. 8-seed UCLA from May 22-24.

The Bruins boast a 50-8 record this season and are coming off of back-to-back victories over South Carolina in which they outscored the Gamecocks 22-3.

Game 1 of the Best-of-3 series will take place on Friday, May 22, at 9 p.m. ET and will be televised on ESPNU. Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday, May 23, at 9 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN.

If necessary, game 3 would take place on Sunday, May 24 at a time to be determined.

UCF鈥檚 Road to the NCAA Tournament

This year marks UCF’s 13th all-time appearance in the premiere postseason tournament.

UCF is one of seven Big 12 Conference teams selected to the tournament after producing a dominant regular season with 38 wins. Along the way, the Knights notched three victories over opponents ranked among the top 15 in the nation and a program-record 14 wins in Big 12 Conference play.

UCF, ranked at No. 23 heading into the postseason, has climbed as high as No. 15 in the national rankings this year, just two spots shy of their program-best record achieved in 2015 and 2022.

The NCAA Wo尘别苍鈥檚 College World Series will be held from May 28-June 4/5 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.

Some of the nation鈥檚 most promising scientists can be found in Will Furiosi 鈥�13 鈥�14MAT鈥檚 Oviedo High School classroom.

Spend five minutes talking to Ankan Das, Angela Calvo-Chumbimuni and Moitri Santra about their research innovations in robotics, mental health and agriculture, and one truth becomes quite clear: These teens are the real deal.

Backed by UCF associate professors Ellen Kang (physics and NanoScience Technology Center) and Candice Bridge 鈥�07笔丑顿听(chemistry) and researcher Max Kuehn 鈥�22 (Exolith Lab), the Oviedo High trio recently earned recognition as the top three projects at Seminole County鈥檚 regional science fair.

With Oviedo鈥檚 proximity to main campus, the collaboration highlights UCF鈥檚 steadfast commitment to supporting STEM education across Central Florida.

They went on to represent the county admirably at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix, where they took home several prizes against more than 1,700 high schoolers from around the globe.

Most notably, Santra took home first place and $6,000 in the Plant Sciences category and received the EU Contest for Young Scientists Award. She will represent Regeneron ISEF at the EU Contest for Young Scientists to be held this September in Kiel, Germany.

鈥淲orking in Dr. Kang鈥檚 lab played pretty big role in choosing materials science and engineering as my major for college because I was exposed to just how many different things someone can do in the area I work with, nanotechnology,鈥� says Santra, a senior bound for Stanford who has worked with Kang since she was a freshman. 鈥淭he lab provided a lot of resources 鈥� not just the instruments, but also mentorship, advice and support.鈥�

A Will to Succeed

The hallway leading to Furiosi鈥檚 classroom is decorated with rows of blue, red, white, green, yellow and pink paper accomplishment ribbons. More ribbons, pennants and certificates adorn his walls, along with eight Science and Engineering Fair of Florida best-in-fair grand award senior division trophies 鈥� more than any other high school in the state.

During his own primary education, Furiosi attended eight schools over 12 years. As a seventh-grader at Stone Magnet Middle School in Brevard County, he was initially prohibited from participating in science fair because officials couldn鈥檛 verify Furiosi was capable of the coursework from his transfer transcripts. He would later go on to earn Order of Pegasus as a Burnett Honors Scholar majoring in biomedical sciences before earning his master鈥檚 degree in teacher education.

Every day, he saw a wall of ribbons, much like the ones in his classroom now. And every day he would tell himself, 鈥淚 want to be one of those kids.鈥�

That experience fundamentally shaped how the UCF grad runs his program today.

鈥淲hat keeps me motivated is knowing that I have the opportunity to get people to be really prepared, informed citizens who are good thinkers, and who, when faced with a problem, smile and tackle it instead of running away,鈥� Furosi says.

Infusing Life into Science

Furiosi began teaching at Oviedo High School in 2013 as he pursued his accelerated master鈥檚 degree, made possible by the College of Community Innovation and Education鈥檚 Resident Teacher Professional Preparation Program. The program, funded by a U.S. Department of Education grant, was created in response to the growing need for skilled workers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Four years later, he took over the school鈥檚 science fair program and was determined to breathe new life into it, which at the time involved just four kids.

He cold called students in his AP Biology and Honors Chemistry听courses, begging anyone who had shown a glimmer of interest during class to sign up so they wouldn鈥檛 have to fold the program.

Today, he鈥檚 at 46 students, with some, like Calvo-Chumbimuni, interested in joining the program as soon as they arrive at Oviedo High.

鈥淢y seventh grade science fair teacher knew Mr. Furiosi and spoke highly of him,鈥� says Calvo-Chumbimuni, who earned fourth place ISEF’s biochemistry category this year. 鈥淲hen I came to Oviedo High and met him, I immediately understood why. The research program stood out to me as a valuable opportunity.鈥�

Furiosi fosters a safe space to fail, learn and grow from the research. There are no barriers to entry; no project deemed too insignificant. And he stresses the merits of high-quality mentorship, like the ones Das, Santra, and Calvo-Chumbimuni formed with UCF faculty and STEM labs.

Some of his students have earned thousands of dollars in prizes 鈥� one alone pulled in $70,000 and is now studying at the 海角直播 of Glasgow 鈥� at prestigious competitions sponsored by some of the tech industry鈥檚 biggest names, including Regeneron and Lockheed Martin, a UCF Pegasus Partner.

His alums have gone on to top research institutions including Harvard, MIT, Columbia, Stanford, and of course, UCF. One of those Knights is aerospace engineering grad Daniel Dyson 鈥�21 鈥�22MS 鈥�25PhD, who studied in Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Subith Vasu鈥檚 lab and now works for Relativity Space at NASA鈥檚 Stennis Space Center, America鈥檚 largest rocket propulsion test site.

鈥淢r. Furiosi really pushes you toward excellence,鈥� says Das, a sophomore building a tensegrity robot with shape memory alloys that he tested at UCF鈥檚 Exolith Lab.

Supporting Excellence

An award-winning researcher who has been supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation, Kang is not easily impressed. Still, Santra made an immediate impression as an eighth grader when she first popped up Kang鈥檚 inbox, asking if she could present her idea on a nanoparticle treatment for citrus greening disease in Florida.

鈥淚 could clearly see that she had a firm understanding of the material and just thought, 鈥榃ow, she is really a force.鈥� I actually wanted to have my undergrad students see her presentation because of how professional she was, even at that young age,鈥� Kang says. 鈥淪he has this creativity, passion, persistence and resilience 鈥� all the key elements that you need as a successful STEM field researcher.鈥�

Similarly, Bridge immediately noticed Calvo-Chumbimuni鈥檚 persistence and go-getter attitude when she initially connected with her two years ago. Driven by her interest in the intersection of neuroscience, psychology and analytical chemistry, Calvo-Chumbimuni pitched her idea to develop an electrochemical sensor and biosensor to improve diagnostic methods for mental health disorders.

鈥淚鈥檝e always appreciated her sense of humanity,鈥� Bridge says. 鈥淚 thought, 鈥業f you can foster someone who has this sort of compassion already, there are infinite possibilities for what they can do to benefit the community.鈥� 鈥�

The two have been dedicated, active participants in their labs, regularly conducting research multiple days per week during the school year and, at times, daily over the summer.

The faculty and their doctoral students have mentored the high schoolers through instrumentation methods, analyzing data, the literature review process and their presentations.

Both presented continuations of their projects at ISEF 鈥� Calvo-Chumbimuni for her second-straight year, Santra for her third 鈥� while Das made his first time at the competition memorable with his fourth-place finish in the engineering technology: statics and dynamics category.

Kuehn, who is an engineer at , is accustomed to working with a variety of researchers and scientists who test their experiments and equipment at the Highland Regolith Test Bin. He says he was quickly intrigued by Das鈥� project, a lightweight and nimble robot that can expand, contract and move through electric current.

Das wanted to test the robot in lunar regolith 鈥� simulated moon dirt 鈥� because he envisions the tech behind his robot one day being utilized in lunar missions or search and rescue efforts in unstable environments.

鈥淢ax noticed that sometimes the motion was a little slow, so he gave some suggestions,鈥� Das says. 鈥淲orking in the lunar regolith chamber was a very insightful and eye-opening experience. I know I鈥檓 still in high school, but I鈥檝e learned I want to do research for as long as I can because I really find this interesting.鈥�

Which, at the end of the day, has been Furiosi鈥檚 mission all along.

鈥淩esearch is not just in science. It is in all disciplines. There鈥檚 a lot of cool things that need to be discovered in all fields,鈥� he says. 鈥淯CF鈥檚 expertise has been so invaluable in preparing my students for the future. A lot of these kids have wonderful ideas, and I really hope we can continue growing more professional support for them in any capacity.鈥�

What was your vision for the College of Business听when you arrived in 2012?

When I arrived, UCF听had experienced听tremendous growth, particularly coming out of the recession. But that growth made the college feel transactional. Faculty were stretched听thin,听technology had replaced听in-person听interaction听and there听wasn鈥檛听a strong sense听of community.

What struck me most was that while we had excellent individual scholars, we听didn鈥檛听yet have a true community of scholars. People听didn鈥檛听know each other well, and without that,听it鈥檚听very difficult听to build a shared vision.

So,听I听started by听listening. I met one-on-one with every听faculty听and staff member and asked three simple questions: What do you think about UCF? What would you do if you were me? And what is your role here?

What听emerged听was powerful. Many of our faculty were first-generation college graduates, just like our students, just like Barry and just like me. They听are听here because they wanted to听help build something different. That became the foundation for our vision: creating a culture of engagement that would transform the听college听experience听for everyone.

Faculty,听students听and staff here are expected to interact with each other and with people in industry and the community at large.听This has helped make听us fiercely听practical. Faculty learn what is going on at the forefront of business. The college has a relevant curriculum with hands-on听experiences听for students.听This helps听students discover their path, develop听professionally听and fully engage with their future.

How would you describe the college鈥檚 culture today?

Today, that culture of engagement defines us.

There鈥檚听a quote听from听English听philosopher Herbert Spencer听we often reference:听鈥�The great aim of higher education isn鈥檛 knowledge, it鈥檚 action.鈥澨齀t鈥檚听not enough for students to learn concepts;听they need to know how to apply them.

You see that in the building itself.听It鈥檚听full. Students are here, working together, interacting with faculty, and engaging with corporate partners and alumni. That connection to the real world has become part of the fabric of the college, and听it鈥檚听what makes the experience more meaningful听and more transformative.

Changing culture is one of the hardest things a leader can do. It requires people to see a future they听haven鈥檛听experienced yet. But over time, our faculty,听staff听and students have seen the value of what听we鈥檝e听built together,听补苍诲听that鈥檚听what makes it sustainable.

How听does听the听Barry听Miller听investment听accelerate that future?

鈥淕reat universities win by attracting great people (faculty and students) and creating the conditions for them to succeed. This gift helps us do exactly that.鈥�

This investment allows us to recruit leading scholars at the intersection of business and technology听鈥斕齠aculty who are working on the most pressing challenges facing industry and society.

They鈥檒l help us tackle critical questions around trust in technology, cybersecurity, the concentration of power and how humans and intelligent systems interact. They鈥檒l also help prepare our students to lead in that environment.

At the end of the day, great universities win by attracting great people听(faculty and students)听and creating听the conditions听for them to succeed. This gift helps us do听exactly that.

What will听distinguish听the college over the next decade?

Our differentiation will come from听deepening our engagement with industry听and technology.

We want to be known as a place where innovation happens first,听where companies come for talent and insight, and where students gain access to real opportunities.

Ultimately, it鈥檚听about outcomes. If we do this right, our graduates will be exceptionally well-prepared for high-impact, high-growth careers. That return on investment will set us apart.

What gives you optimism about the future?

I grew up during the听Space听Race,听补苍诲听at the time, the race to the moon was a sign of hope for people.听Technology was seen as the path to a greater future. With the recent Artemis II launch, I would like听to see听us听instill in our students, and in our leaders, a return to that kind of optimism around what technology听can do. I think those flights are the definition of how technology can enhance the human experience, rather than replace it.