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!

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 same curiosity that once led Jeonghyun Song to shape clay with his hands now drives him to engineer materials at an atomic level, combining chemistry and creativity.

He began his college journey in the arts, drawn to pottery. But as he worked with ceramics, his attention shifted beneath the surface 鈥� to the chemistry of the materials and the possibilities within them. That shift in perspective pushed him from the art studio into the lab 鈥� and now to a national fellowship.

A materials science and engineering major, Song will join the 海角直播 of Notre Dame this summer as a recipient of its Nanoscience and Technology Undergraduate Research Fellowship, hosted from May 18 through July 24.

“I chose to attend UCF because of the opportunities it offers 鈥� especially in research 鈥� along with its strong engineering program.”

The opportunity marks a turning point in his journey from an arts major to an engineering major, which he began when he transferred to UCF in Fall 2025.

鈥淚 chose to attend UCF because of the opportunities it offers 鈥� especially in research 鈥� along with its strong engineering program,鈥� Song says. 鈥淭he MSE (Materials Science and Engineering) Program is relatively new and rapidly growing, which gives students more chances to get involved and grow.鈥�

He didn鈥檛 waste time getting started.

As a new Knight and burgeoning materials researcher, Song set his sights on working with Assistant Professor Kausik Mukhopadhyay, whose research bridges materials, chemistry, biology and engineering to develop solutions for surfaces, coatings, electrochemistry and more.

Now in Mukhopadhyay鈥檚 , Song studies clay-based anodes for lithium-ion batteries.

鈥淎s a student who comes from a ceramics background, Dr. Mukhopadhyay鈥檚 research was the most interesting to me,鈥� Song says. 鈥淏ased on his work in chemistry and materials science, I knew his lab would be a place where I could grow and actively engage in research.鈥�

The lab quickly became more than a workspace 鈥� it became a launchpad, which Song says he鈥檚 grateful for.

鈥淚 would like to thank Dr. Mukhopadhyay and the people in our group for their support,鈥� he says. 鈥淚f it wasn鈥檛 for them, I would have had a hard time blending into the UCF community.鈥�

His perspective as a researcher is evolving, too.

“I find it more interesting to study how common … materials can be engineered to achieve similar or even more useful properties.”

Once drawn to examining rare and expensive materials for their unique characteristics, Song is now focused on factors in materials costs and environmental impact.

鈥淲hile studying rare materials is interesting due to their distinct properties, I find it more interesting to study how common and inexpensive materials can be engineered to achieve similar or even more useful properties,鈥� he says.

That mindset will guide his work at Notre Dame.

His project, 鈥淧rototyping High-speed Synthesis of Gold Microplates,鈥� tackles a key challenge in nanotechnology: efficiently producing ultrathin gold coatings. These coatings are useful in technology like biosensors and electronics, but current synthesis methods are slow, and controlling their size, shape and placement is challenging.

Song will help explore faster synthesis methods using a reaction chamber to study the process through three activation approaches: light, temperature and merging chemical streams.

As he prepares to spend the summer in Indiana, Song acknowledges some anxiety 鈥� the kind that comes with stepping into something bigger 鈥� as he looks ahead to what could be a pivotal moment in his journey as a researcher.

鈥淚 would like to meet new people, learn from them and also expand my vision for research,鈥� Song says. 鈥淚 think this summer will be the most important for me in terms of deciding my future.鈥�

UCF School of Visual Arts and Design students earned all four scholarships awarded at Creative South, a testament to the university鈥檚 growing reputation as a hub for emerging creative talent.

鈥淲e鈥檝e built such a strong community that when one person succeeds, we all do,鈥� says Vanessa Mor谩n, a senior graphic design student and treasurer of UCF鈥檚 Graphic Design Student Association. 鈥淭hat’s something Associate Professor Victor Davila 鈥�97 鈥�07MFA has always instilled in us.鈥�

For Brianna Rodriguez, a junior graphic design student who received a $1,000 grant, the scholarship is validation for where she鈥檚 heading.

鈥淚t felt like a message that my work has potential, and that I need to start seeing it that way,鈥� she says.

Building Industry Connections

The students鈥� takeaways from Creative South went well beyond scholarship awards. Known for its welcoming environment, the conference gave students direct access to industry professionals, hands-on feedback, and real-world insight.

The access stood out to AJ Sibul, a senior graphic design student, who says Creative South made the industry feel more human.

鈥淭here鈥檚 no separation between attendees and speakers,鈥� Sibul says. 鈥淭hey emphasize people first, titles second.鈥�

From portfolio reviews to keynote presentations to late-night networking events, students built meaningful connections with working creatives, leading to mentorship, internships, and future job opportunities.

UCF emerging media alumnus Josh Alonso 鈥�25 understands that firsthand. Alonso first attended Creative South as a student, where he earned a scholarship from Heyo, a design and development agency, which included a yearlong mentorship with a professional from the company.

That experience led to his current full-time role, demonstrating how connections made at Creative South can translate directly into opportunities.

鈥淭hat mentorship really grew into a friendship, which led to a job offer later down the road,鈥� Alonso says. 鈥淭hey helped me understand the importance of being someone people wanted to work with, rather than just having the best-looking portfolio.鈥�

鈥淢y career essentially got its 鈥榡umpstart鈥� from the people I met at Creative South.鈥� 鈥� Josh Alonso 鈥�25

Alonso鈥檚 journey reflects what many UCF students are beginning to experience: real pathways into creative careers.

鈥淢y career essentially got its 鈥榡umpstart鈥� from the people I met at Creative South,鈥� he says.

As UCF continues to invest in the next generation of creatives, experiences like Creative South equip students with the connections and confidence needed to succeed in the industry after graduation.

Fueled by engineering ingenuity and months of testing, a team of UCF mechanical engineering students raced its human-powered vehicle past competitors from across the country to claim a national championship.

What began as a Spring 2026 Senior Design project ended with the e-HPVC Senior Design team earning three first-place trophies at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) e-Human Powered Vehicle (e-HPVC) Challenge.

Hosted on UCF鈥檚 main campus, the annual competition challenges university teams to design, fabricate and race human-powered vehicles, testing everything from vehicle design and safety to endurance and speed.

UCF鈥檚 team took first place in both the endurance and drag race events, second place in design and first place overall, earning four trophies and $2,500 in prize money.

鈥淏ecoming national champions while representing UCF feels surreal, says Estefano Cicci, a mechanical engineering major and member of the e-HPVC team. 鈥淚 hope these trophies remind future students that the goals that feel out of reach are exactly the ones worth chasing, and that a small, dedicated team from UCF can prove itself on a national stage.鈥�

Building a Better Ride

In previous years, UCF鈥檚 e-HPVC teams have placed well in the competition with recumbent tricycles, but each new group strives to improve upon the last. Eric Cruz-Hernandez, a mechanical engineering student and member of this year鈥檚 team, says the group closely studied past designs to determine what worked and what needed improvement.

This year鈥檚 vehicle featured a mid-drive motor with electronic shifting to improve speed and battery endurance. The team also redesigned the frame to make it lighter and more accessible for riders of varying heights.

Engineering Excellence Across the Board

The e-HPVC team wasn鈥檛 the only group of Knights to win their competition.

A second UCF team placed second in the ASME Innovative Additive Manufacturing 3D Challenge, which asks students to re-engineer an existing product or create a new design. Teams were judged on ingenuity, engineering design principles and their use of additive manufacturing.

A third UCF team also showcased a fully functioning robot in the Student Design Competition, but didn鈥檛 place.

The Teamwork Behind the Trophies

For Bryce Ballard, a mechanical engineering student and external outreach chair for ASME at UCF, hosting the 2026 EFx event on campus was just as meaningful as competing in it. It not only gave students the chance to represent the university, but also to create a welcoming and supportive environment for teams traveling from across the country.

鈥淥ne of the most impactful parts of hosting was being able to support other teams when they encountered issues with their trikes,鈥� Ballard says. 鈥淲hether it was lending tools, helping troubleshoot problems or offering guidance, those interactions stood out the most. It reinforced that the competition is not only about performance, but also about collaboration, sportsmanship and building connections within the engineering community.鈥�

Johnston, who was born without arms, joined UCF鈥檚 program in Fall 2024 and is now graduating this May. IES, housed by the in the College of Community Innovation and Education, is a state-recognized, two-year certified transition program that immerses students with disabilities into campus life while helping them develop the independence necessary for long-term employment.

Johnston says she learned about IES online and became interested when she researched the program.

鈥淚 feel more outgoing since I started the program. I was homeschooled and used to hang out with only three or four friends, so I was really shy when I first came here.鈥� 鈥� Nina Johnston, IES student

鈥淭wo months after I graduated high school, my mom saw the application for IES on Facebook and asked if I wanted to apply,鈥� Johnston says. 鈥淚 wanted a college experience, but I didn鈥檛 want to go to college for four or six years. Two years sounded perfect, so I thought it would be a good idea. After looking into the program, I thought, 鈥楾his looks really fun.鈥� 鈥�

Program Director says Johnston made a strong first impression even before she arrived at UCF.

鈥淎s part of her application, Nina sent a video of herself cleaning, doing her daily routine and even horseback riding,鈥� Best says. 鈥淲e were amazed when we watched that video. When she came here, we saw firsthand how independent and determined she is.鈥�

Johnston started IES in August 2024, and it wasn鈥檛 long before she jumped right into various campus activities. While pursuing a major in hospitality, she joined Knights Exemplar and Best Buddies, two clubs that provide social and academic support to students with intellectual disabilities. In fact, she鈥檚 now a Buddy director with Best Buddies.

Her growing involvement even led to a part-time job at the information desk in the UCF Student Union. She says these experiences have greatly improved her confidence and social skills.

鈥淏ut having all these classes and opportunities made me realize, 鈥極K, I can do this. I can talk to people.鈥� IES helped me come out of my shell.鈥� 鈥� Nina Johnston, IES student

鈥淚 feel more outgoing since I started the program,鈥� Johnston says. 鈥淚 was homeschooled and used to hang out with only three or four friends, so I was really shy when I first came here. But having all these classes and opportunities made me realize, 鈥極K, I can do this. I can talk to people.鈥� IES helped me come out of my shell.鈥�

Best says she has blossomed into an inspiring and beloved member of the IES community.

鈥淣ina is a true leader,鈥� Best says. 鈥淢any students in the program go to her for advice even before they come to us. They look up to her because she thrives in her academics while holding down a job. She鈥檚 always looking to pick up extra hours, and she never falls behind on her assignments while she鈥檚 working. She is a committed and hardworking student.鈥�

In her newfound social circle, Johnston made a connection that developed into something deeper over time. Soon after starting in the program, she met fellow student Zackary Bruns. Their friendship grew into a relationship, and they are now engaged to be married in November 2026.

As she plans for her wedding, Johnston has also been working to prepare other logistical aspects of her future. One of these is a major personal and practical achievement: her driver鈥檚 license, which she earned after practicing with IES鈥檚 AI-powered driving simulation.

鈥淭he driving simulation at IES gave me a good idea of how traffic happens in real time,鈥� Johnston says. 鈥淎nd it worked perfectly: I got my license on the first try.鈥�

Students with disabilities often lack adequate opportunities to practice driving, so many never earn their licenses 鈥� something TJEEI Program Director says can be a barrier to employment.

鈥淥ur driving simulator helps students get more comfortable behind the wheel, and Nina is a great example of that.鈥� 鈥� Christine Parsons, TJEEI Program Director

鈥淚f students can鈥檛 drive and don鈥檛 have a car, they can鈥檛 get to work without public transportation,鈥� Parsons says. 鈥淭hat can be a huge issue, especially here in Central Florida. Our driving simulator helps students get more comfortable behind the wheel, and Nina is a great example of that.鈥�

Equipped with her license, Johnston and Bruns are now focusing on two main goals: securing full-time employment and finding an apartment. They have decided to move to Ocala, Florida, where they plan to be close to Johnston鈥檚 parents as they begin the next stage of their lives.

Looking ahead, Johnston says she is excited for her next chapter and grateful for all her experiences at UCF.

鈥淲hen I was in my first semester of IES, it felt like it took forever,鈥� Johnston says. 鈥淏ut now that I鈥檓 here, it鈥檚 like, 鈥榃here did the time go?鈥� I鈥檓 sad to leave the program, but I鈥檓 happy I did it because I鈥檝e met so many wonderful people.鈥�

UCF has made a name for itself globally in programming and cybersecurity thanks to student-run clubs that deliver championships year after year. They now have company in another area of technology 鈥� robotics.

The Robotics Club of Central Florida (RCCF) witnessed two teams, Knightmare and Daydream, dominate with an impressive number of wins over this past academic year. The teams won a total of 83 head-to-head matches against more than 40 universities, and ranked No. 1 in the U.S. for individual robotic skills at the VEX 海角直播 Robotics Competition (VURC) 2025-26, besting teams from Georgia Tech, Purdue and Texas A&M.

Kushal Patel, an aerospace engineering major and a member of the Knightmare team, says the secret to the teams鈥� success this year has been their experience and passion for competitive robotics.

鈥淐ombined, the team has over 50 years of VEX robotics experience, with our most senior member competing since third grade,鈥� Patel says. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 just participate in this project for bullet points on our resumes 鈥� our team competes for the love of competition.鈥�

The team structure intentionally empowers all students to gain valuable experience during these robotics competitions. Daydream is a beginner friendly team focused on students without prior experience while Knightmare is suitable for more advanced students.

鈥淯nlike other design teams, where new members typically participate in internal competitions, those who join Daydream are able to hit the ground running and compete against other schools right away,鈥� says Kapri O鈥橞rien, a mechanical engineering major and the project lead for RCCF. 鈥淭his structure allowed for both project teams to naturally grow and strengthen, and created the unique opportunity for us to compete against each other for awards at times this season, leading to the fantastic achievement of both Knightmare and Daydream qualifying for this year鈥檚 world championship.鈥�

Both teams also participate in outreach events, volunteering at VEX competitions around the country. They also recently hosted the VEX IQ challenge for middle school and high school students on the UCF campus to great success. Patel also works for the Robotics Education and Competition Foundation, which logistically and operationally runs the VEX robotics competitions.

With Central Florida鈥檚 reputation as a leader in dynamic, high-tech fields, they envision the next phase of success and growth for their program in industry partnerships. UCF is known as one of the nation鈥檚 most innovative universities and is responsible for one out of every four of Florida鈥檚 engineering and computer science graduates.

鈥淥ur team provides a space for engineers to grow the skills you need outside of the classroom to be a skillful engineer in industry,鈥� O鈥橞rien says. 鈥淪upport, whether it鈥檚 through financial or material donations, allows that space to survive. We regularly prototype with computer vision and machine learning algorithms, gaining hands-on experience with the technology that will power our future.鈥�

Industry partners or students who are interested in learning more about RCCF and its competition teams can email outreach@rccf.club.

“The residency accelerates clinical reasoning by three to five years, making [residents] more competitive candidates for the best jobs.” 鈥� Meredith Chaput, research coordinator and liaison for the UCF and Orlando Health sports physical therapy聽 residency program

鈥淲e look for people who thrive on rigor,鈥� says Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy Meredith Chaput, the residency鈥檚 research coordinator and liaison. The payoff is priceless. 鈥淭he residency accelerates clinical reasoning by three to five years, making them more competitive candidates for the best jobs.鈥�

Chaput鈥檚 sport-specific expertise, along with that of four of her colleagues in the UCF Division of Physical Therapy who serve as didactic and clinical mentors, is an instant draw to the program. So, too, are UCF鈥檚 research labs, partnerships and the opportunity to teach students in the UCF doctor of physical therapy program.

The residents are equally drawn to the opportunity to advance their skills alongside a seasoned clinical team at Orlando Health. They take on a caseload of sports and orthopedic patients, providing specialized care ranging from post-surgical rehabilitation to elite-level performance optimization, tapping into advanced rehabilitation technology to improve athlete recovery. Nearly 2 million people every year suffer sports-related injuries and receive treatment in emergency departments, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

With all of this in place, professionals are being prepared, two at a time, through a specialized 12-month program, to join the select group of 169 board-certified sports clinical specialist physical therapists in Florida. It鈥檚 a coveted residency and one designed to develop healthcare providers to better aid athletes of all levels. Central Florida is a premier sports destination, featuring a mix of professional franchises, elite collegiate athletics, large high schools and massive amateur complexes.

鈥淲hen we started this program in 2020, our mission initially aimed to strengthen the rehabilitation services provided to the local sports-based community within Central Florida by producing highly trained and skilled sports physical therapists,鈥� says Philip Agostinelli, residency program coordinator and rehab clinical operations manager with Orlando Health Sports Medicine and Rehab Center.聽 鈥淣ow, currently, in our sixth cohort of residents, that mission evolved to encompass the needs of athletes on a national scale, with multiple past graduates working in professional or semi-professional sports across the country.鈥�

The Tireless Protege: Alvaro Zapata

Long days do not faze Alvaro Zapata, even as they turn into 60-hour weeks. To him, they鈥檙e part of the allure of the residency program.

鈥淚 ask myself, 鈥榃hen would I have this kind of opportunity again?鈥� and the answer is never,鈥� Zapata says. 鈥淭he program opens doors that would otherwise not be open.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 gaining all the knowledge I could possibly need to eventually be at the top of my profession.鈥� 鈥� Alvaro Zapata

Since entering the program last August, Zapata has stretched his aptitude alongside clinicians at Orlando Health and Jewett Orthopedic. He鈥檚 worked with athletes in high schools and at UCF and accessed the inner circles of Orlando鈥檚 two professional soccer teams.

As Zapata puts it, 鈥淚鈥檓 gaining all the knowledge I could possibly need to eventually be at the top of my profession.鈥�

Zapata was poised to climb the ladder with his Doctor of Physical Therapy from Boston 海角直播 when he heard about Chaput heading up the residency program at UCF. He knew of her published research and presentations to global audiences.

鈥淪he鈥檚 a big reason I wanted this residency so badly,鈥� Zapata says.

Here, he has had the opportunity to collaborate with Chaput and progress research on the 鈥渧isual-cognitive control-to-chaos continuum鈥� in rehab, a model for which Chaput is one of the original creators. After ACL reconstruction surgery, patients often develop inhibitions within the brain that limit the coordination of knee movement. Instead of movement in competition being instinctive, athletes are often consciously aware of deficiencies that were once automatic.

鈥淚f you can鈥檛 trust your knee, then you can鈥檛 get back to the top of your game,鈥� Zapata says. 鈥淩ehab is typically done in a controlled setting. The real sports environment is chaotic. We鈥檙e finding ways to challenge people the day after surgery, so inhibitions don鈥檛 set in.鈥�

This means 鈥渧isual-cognitive鈥� challenges are added to rehab in the very early stages. For example, the physical therapists might have the patient look for colored lights on a screen. Red means squeeze the right leg. Blue means squeeze the left leg. Yellow means squeeze both.

The visual-cognitive control-to-chaos continuum calls for therapists to gradually make exercises more complex for the patient, from simple, controlled movements to more unpredictable, game-like situations. The goal is to better prepare patients to safely return to sports by training both the body and the brain.

鈥淲e want athletes to react instead of thinking first,鈥� Zapata says. 鈥淚t could be a game changer.鈥�

The Team Player: Tsianna Barnwell

At noon on a Monday, Tsianna Barnwell leaves Jewett Orthopedic Clinic, where she鈥檚 been broadening her skills since 7 a.m. She鈥檒l now drive to a local high school to work with athletes across a range of sports. Barnwell thrives in the residency program because no two days are the same. She might work with the Orlando Pride or Orlando City, provide expertise for USA Track or binge on insights at Orlando Health.

Some people call the program challenging. Barnwell calls it 鈥渋ncredible.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 getting the best of all worlds,鈥� she says. She even immerses herself in the world of Orlando Ballet, calling it 鈥渁nother unique experience to add to my toolbox.鈥�

Barnwell takes her toolbox into the Cognition, Neuroplasticity and Sarcopenia Lab, where she and Chaput are advancing research, which they recently presented in Athens, Greece, at the Isokinetic Conference. It started with a question Barnwell had from her days as a Division I soccer player: Why are female athletes two to six times more likely to suffer knee injuries than men? Through her sports residency, she鈥檚 discovered that females are more likely to be weaker in their hamstring muscles. Studying these anatomical and physiological differences can inform impactful changes in rehab, recovery and injury prevention, she notes.

“With this residency under my belt, my opportunities will be almost endless.” 鈥� Tsianna Barnwell

Barnwell knows firsthand what it鈥檚 like to suffer a torn ACL. She鈥檚 also known 鈥渢he team鈥� as her home away from home since leaving Qatar as an 18-year-old to study and play soccer at St. Bonaventure 海角直播. Ultimately, she wants to be part of a team again, perhaps as the director of rehabilitation for a professional women鈥檚 soccer team. That鈥檚 her preference, but when the residency ends, she鈥檒l be prepared to work with any team 鈥� even a ballet company, Cirque du Soleil or the rehab team at Orlando Health.

鈥淚鈥檓 fortunate to gain such a breadth of knowledge,鈥� Barnwell says. 鈥淲ith this residency under my belt, my opportunities will be almost endless.鈥�

The Empowered Graduate: Jeremy Wydra 鈥�18 鈥�22DPT

Jeremy Wydra 鈥�18 ’22DPT is where Zapata and Barnwell will soon be: residency complete, now pursuing a path to find more effective ways to help athletes and performers recover and raise the bar.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 the great outcome for me: variety,鈥� says Wydra, who finished the residency program in 2024 and is now practicing clinically, and working toward his doctorate in kinesiology at UCF, where he is collecting data on the recovery and return to performance after ACL reconstruction.

Wydra worked his way through UCF, first envisioning a career in mechanical engineering and ultimately earning a bachelor鈥檚 in health sciences. Along the way, he decided he wanted a people-facing profession and shadowed at a clinic, where he noticed physical therapists conversing with patients throughout treatment sessions, often for more than an hour. He saw it as personalized healthcare that he could optimize with physics and innovation.

After finishing his doctorate in physical therapy at UCF, Wydra landed in a dream situation in Maryland, practicing as both a strength and conditioning coach and a physical therapist within sports performance centers. It begs the question: Why return for the residency?

鈥淚 wanted to work with mentors who would push me to be better,鈥� says Wydra.

Unlike Zapata and Barnwell, Wydra had little soccer experience. Gaining it became part of the push he desired.

“… the value of the residency for me: having access to such diversified people and environments.” 鈥� Jeremy Wydra 鈥�18 鈥�22DPT

鈥淒uring my second week in the residency, I stepped into the Orlando City Academy training room to work with high-level athletes,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 also helped on the sidelines and talked with the medical staff about team-centered communication with coaches and players. That was the value of the residency for me: having access to such diversified people and environments.鈥�

Wydra sees himself taking full advantage of the variety still in front of him, perhaps as a physical therapist and sports scientist, reforming best practices and helping others be their best.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 what my mentors in the residency have done for me: made me a better person and professional,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 trade those 12 months for the world.鈥�

As Preston Strenth prepares to cross the stage at commencement, he finds himself flashing back to the moment his journey to this milestone started in 2023 with the South Carolina National Guard.

Strenth was on deployment in Kuwait with his unit. Among his fellow infantrymen was 20-year-old Jayson Haven. Haven had been accepted to his dream school, the 海角直播 of Michigan, and was fulfilling the final two months of his year-long assignment before shipping off to college. He was tragically killed in a non-combat vehicle rollover accident.

鈥淚 think all of us who were on that deployment understood you鈥檙e here and somebody else isn鈥檛. What are you going to do with your life?鈥� Strenth says.

鈥淚 think all of us who were on that deployment understood you鈥檙e here and somebody else isn鈥檛. What are you going to do with your life?鈥�

Seven months later, Strenth envisioned that life and voiced his goals to his wife, Kriselle. He proposed a two-year timeline to earn a college degree in computer science and start a new career path.

鈥淚 feel like everything in my life now is all clicking together,鈥� says Strenth, who landed three job offers before graduating and is in the process of purchasing his first home. 鈥淚 have achieved the American dream in a sense.鈥�

The Right Place

A Central Florida native, Strenth moved to South Carolina at 17 and joined the National Guard two years later. He extended his contract twice 鈥� his current contract ends in 2027 鈥� as he pursued a degree in criminal justice from the 海角直播 of South Carolina.

He took advantage of the educational benefits the U.S. Army offers and obtained a certification in computer programming, which introduced him to coding software.

After that fateful deployment in Kuwait, he and his wife set their sights on Orlando and UCF, where Strenth knew of the university鈥檚 reputation as one of the nation鈥檚 top military friendly schools, its strength in computer science and our many industry partnerships.

鈥淲ithout a doubt, coming to UCF is the best thing I ever did,鈥� he says.

His credits from the 海角直播 of South Carolina transferred over to help keep him on track for his two-year timeline. He thrived, in part, because of his willingness to take advantage of the many resources offered through the .

His experience here also tested him in ways that led to great growth and confidence.

In his second semester, while taking Computer Science I, he was stuck on his first programming assignment. Every time he willed the coding to work, he was met with the same result: fail.

His frustration turned to tears as he voiced his doubts to his wife. What if he just screwed up his life? What if he couldn鈥檛 do this?

She encouraged him while leveling with him at the same time 鈥� he wasn鈥檛 the first to attempt this class or this degree. If he wanted to be here, he was going to figure it out.

She was right.

鈥淚 think that is kind of the point 鈥� they will make you go to that line and ask yourself, 鈥楧o you want to be here?鈥� 鈥� Strenth says. 鈥淏ecause it鈥檚 a program that can lead you to a financially stable future. I have offers that no one in my family has ever had in front of them before. But you鈥檝e got to work for them.鈥�

Opportunity Calls with BNY

He applied that same grindstone mentality to maximizing opportunities outside of the classroom 鈥� all the while driving to South Carolina once a month to fulfill his National Guard duties.

鈥淚 have offers that no one in my family has ever had in front of them before.鈥�

In Spring 2024, he attended a lunch and learn with BNY, which was organized by the Office of Military and Veteran Student Success. The leading global financial services company announced a formal partnership with UCF that establishes a co-located educational innovation hub on UCF鈥檚 main campus 鈥� the first-of-its-kind in Florida.

Strenth turned the connection he made with the BNY recruiter into a summer internship as a software engineer and vowed to himself to secure a job offer.

He wasn鈥檛 deterred by the fact that many of his fellow interns had started programming as middle-schoolers while he, at 24, had just learned the basics a year prior.

He committed to being the first one in the door and one of the last to leave. He reached out to fellow veterans he found in an interdepartmental staff directory to seek advice about integrating into the company. He emailed a weekly recap to his supervisor that listed how his accomplishments that week aligned with BNY鈥檚 core values.

鈥淚 was trying to showcase that I wanted to be here, and I wanted this job offer more than anything,鈥� Strenth says.

When the internship ended, he stayed connected, even as he lined up another software engineering internship with Hatalom Corporation, a service-disabled veteran-owned small business.

Strenth had three job offers lined up before graduation day with BNY, Hatalom and Northrop Grumman. BNY鈥檚 career growth potential, military leave policy and proximity to his home were too good to pass up.

鈥淏NY has a future leaders program that I鈥檝e already expressed interest in even though I鈥檓 not eligible for another two years. But I鈥檓 already telling them, 鈥楾his is something I want to do. How can I?鈥� 鈥� he says.

He draws upon that memory of his conversation with his wife from years ago 鈥� in his story, he refers to it as 鈥渢he gamble鈥� 鈥� as he sits here today, once again, betting on himself.

鈥淣ow two years later, I鈥檓 like, 鈥榃e won. We did it,鈥� 鈥� he says. 鈥淐elebrating this moment at graduation is a testament to the sacrifices that my wife has made, my family has made, and the countless other people who have supported me to get to this point.鈥�

A future nurse adjusts their cap, preparing to enter a hospital where the need for care continues to grow.

An engineer looks out into the crowd, knowing the next step leads into an industry building what鈥檚 next.

At UCF, these moments don鈥檛 happen one by one. They happen all at once 鈥� thousands of stories, each with a different starting point, moving forward together.

Opportunity, Provided at Scale

At UCF, scale has always meant more than size.

It means access. It means opportunity. It means students who arrive with ambition and leave with proof.

More than 10,000 Knights make up the Spring Class of 2026.

Additionally, about 37% of bachelor鈥檚 degree recipients are eligible for Pell Grants, and about 22% are the first in their families to earn a college degree 聽鈥� reflecting a university built to open doors and help students move through them.

This is scale with purpose.

Where Talent Meets Demand

UCF graduates move directly into high-demand fields 鈥� from hospitals and schools to tech firms, startups and public agencies.

This is a workforce built not just in classrooms, but for real-world impact.

Each year, the university awards nearly 19,000 degrees 鈥� more than any other institution in Florida 鈥� including leading the state in bachelor鈥檚 degrees in engineering and nursing. These two fields are essential to sustaining Florida鈥檚 economic growth and meeting the needs of an expanding population.

Turning Studies Into Real Skills

Before they graduate, Knights are already building career-ready experience.

That same hands-on approach extends into high-impact research across fields from computer vision to biotechnology to pediatric prosthetics.

Career Prep From the Start

Support starts early, and it鈥檚 designed to carry students all the way through.

From day one, students connect with career counselors who help them build resumes, practice interviewing, find internships and connect with employers.

And when it鈥檚 time to take the next step, campus-wide career fairs open the door. They鈥檙e a gateway for students to explore a wide range of career paths, get real insight from industry professionals and stay ahead in a fast-moving job market.

Retaining Talent Across Florida

The impact of a UCF education doesn鈥檛 leave with its graduates. In many cases, it stays 鈥� and grows.

But where graduates go next tells an even bigger story.In and around聽Orlando聽鈥� the No. 2 Best City to Start a Career in America (WalletHub) and one of the fastest-growing hubs for innovation 鈥� that talent doesn鈥檛 just fill jobs.

It builds industries. It strengthens economies. It accelerates growth.

More Than a Milestone

Commencement is what everyone sees.

The walk. The tassel. The celebration.

But at UCF, it鈥檚 also something more.

Before students cross the stage, they鈥檝e already built experience. By the time they graduate, they鈥檙e aligned with real-world demand. After they leave, they power the industries shaping Florida鈥檚 future and beyond.

Each commencement adds thousands more to that momentum. Each graduate strengthens the pipeline.

And across the state 鈥� and far beyond it 鈥� you can already see what they鈥檙e building.