We are America’s Space ����ֱ��. And we celebrate UCF Space Week to honor our origin as we dare to build what’s next.

Where Global Leaders Unite to Forge the Future of Space

What will astronauts eat on Mars? How have books and movies fueled our fascination with space? And how much space pride can we pack into Acrisure Bounce House?

There’s a whole week to explore the answers.

Beginning Oct. 25, the second annual UCF Space Week puts the university’s founding mission in the spotlight: advancing the United States’ space program and preparing the people who’ll take it further. Today, that work spans labs, classrooms and industries, driving discovery and supporting Florida’s growing space economy. UCF Space Week brings that industry connection to campus, welcoming global space leaders, researchers, students, partners and fans for a celebration of ideas and discovery.

Explore ideas for life beyond Earth, revisit the curiosity and bold determination behind historic achievements and join traditions that bring UCF’s space legacy to life, culminating in the UCF football team’s 10th annual Space Game.

Cue up the curated by UCF Libraries faculty, staff and students, then make room on your calendar to experience UCF Space Week 2026.

Space Industry Events

Sunday, Oct. 25

National Space Society Space Settlement Summit
Running through Monday, Oct. 26, this two-day summit explores the challenges and innovations shaping lunar settlement and exploration. Hosted in partnership with the National Space Society, it features technical panels, visionary talks and networking opportunities centered on the moon and cislunar space.

Monday, Oct. 26

UCF Innovate Day
The inaugural UCF Innovate Day showcases how UCF transforms research into real-world impact through entrepreneurship, technology commercialization and strategic partnerships. Explore breakthrough ideas, hear pitches from emerging innovators and connect with industry leaders helping shape the future of innovation in Central Florida and beyond.

Tuesday, Oct. 27

SpaceU Symposium
Leaders, researchers and students from across Florida will discuss the latest innovations and research driving the future of space science.

UCF SpaceU Awards Dinner
The university’s second annual SpaceU Awards Dinner will recognize excellence and innovation within the UCF space ecosystem, including key partners, industry leaders, and outstanding faculty and students.

The Economist’s 4th Annual Space Economy Summit
The fourth annual Space Economy Summit brings the space sector together with the industries it’s beginning to reshape. Over two days, senior leaders from business, government, and investment will examine how space-enabled tools can solve problems on Earth, what customers need before they adopt them, and how partnerships can move promising technologies from impressive pilots to everyday use.

Community Events

Monday, Oct. 26

Space in the Popular Imagination
John C. Hitt Library | 1–3 p.m.

Explore how literature and film have imagined the cosmos — and our place in it — during a panel spanning literature and film from the early 20th century to today.

Moderated by UCF Associate Librarian Michael Furlong ’22EdD, the discussion features Michael Taylor, writer and emeritus faculty member in UCF’s School of Data, Mathematical and Statistical Sciences; Barry Sandler, screenwriter, filmmaker and associate professor in UCF’s Nicholson School of Communication and Media; and Adrienne Dove, planetary scientist, professor and chair of UCF’s Department of Physics and co-host of the Walkabout the Galaxy podcast. Visit the for more information.

Knights Under the Stars: Full Moon Observation
Robinson Observatory | 7:30–9 p.m.

Whether you’re a space enthusiast or simply curious, join an evening of and share in the excitement of a fully illuminated moon.

Tuesday, Oct. 27

Movie Night: Starman (2025)
John C. Hitt Library | 5–7 p.m.

Are we alone in the universe? NASA robotics engineer and best-selling science fiction author Gentry Lee has spent a lifetime wondering. This documentary follows his search for answers and the conclusion he reaches at age 82. Learn more about the film and watch its trailer on the .

Wednesday, Oct. 28

Mars to Table: Feeding the Future of Human Space Exploration
John C. Hitt Library | 1:30–3 p.m.

Join UCF Associate Professor Amy Gregory ’11PhD and Chef Cesar Rivera-Cruzado from as they showcase the university’s Closed-Loop Culinary Ecosystem, a Mars food system that brings together food production, culinary experience, behavioral health and crew performance. Learn more on the .

Thursday, Oct. 29

Movie Night: Hidden Figures (2016)
John C. Hitt Library | 5–7 p.m.

Behind a milestone in American spaceflight were brilliant mathematicians. Hidden Figures tells the story of three Black women at NASA whose work played a pivotal role in sending astronaut John Glenn into orbit. Learn more about the film on the .

SpaceU Drone Show
Memory Mall | 7 p.m.

Gather on Memory Mall as synchronized drones illuminate the night in a display celebrating UCF’s space legacy and spirit of discovery. Presented by Pegasus Partner BNY, the show brings the campus community together for an evening of wonder and SpaceU pride.

Friday, Oct. 30

UCF Space Hospitality Student Challenge
UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management – Disney Dining Room | 9 a.m.–12 p.m.

What will dinner, sleep and an unforgettable guest experience look like in orbit? Discover how UCF students envision the answers at the ’s Final Pitch Day.

The event caps Rosen College’s inaugural eight-week competition challenging students across disciplines to make life in space more habitable. Hear a keynote address and industry panel, watch the top three teams pitch their concepts to industry judges and explore more student ideas at a poster showcase.

UCF Space Game: Knights vs. Baylor
Acrisure Bounce House | 7:30–11 p.m.

UCF Football takes on Baylor in the 10th annual Space Game, concluding Space Week with a tradition that turns our space legacy into a stadium-wide celebration. Since its debut in 2017, . Building the anticipation is the reveal of the 2026 UCF Space Game uniform, which honors NASA’s earliest missions and brings SpaceU’s legacy to life on the field. Cheer on our football team in the stadium or tune in on ESPN. For the latest updates, visit .

Explore All Week

These weeklong exhibits and activities offer more ways to connect with UCF’s space story.

From Orbit to Archives Exhibit
John C. Hitt Library | Fourth-Floor gallery

Visit the Special Collections & ����ֱ�� Archives exhibit for a look at UCF’s space heritage and history behind the SpaceU identity we celebrate today.

SpaceU: A Universe of Possibilities Exhibit
John C. Hitt Library | Second-Floor Gallery Wall

Check out the curiosity driving UCF forward. This exhibit highlights some of the many projects UCF faculty and students are working on, offering a glimpse of the ideas taking shape across America’s Space ����ֱ��.

Space Out in the Digital Exploration Center
John C. Hitt Library | Digital Exploration Center, Immersion Studio

Step into the Immersion Studio for space-themed meditative experiences designed to help students relax and recharge.

Space Movies Social Media Bracket Challenge
Which space movie deserves the top spot? Put your favorite films in the running in an interactive social media bracket challenge. Follow along as contenders compete for the title of best space movie and find out if your pick goes the distance.

Find the Hidden Citronaut
John C. Hitt Library

Set out on a self-paced scavenger hunt to find the hidden Citronaut as you explore library spaces and uncover fun SpaceU facts along the way.

Know Your Enrollment Window

You can view your enrollment window in . This information relays the earliest date and time you can register, so add it to your calendar. To find it, sign in to myUCF, open your Student Center, and look for your enrollment appointment under Manage Classes.

Get Guidance

Undergraduate students should connect with their Academic Success Coach if they have questions or would like guidance selecting classes. to make sure you’re fulfilling your degree requirements and staying on track.

Graduate students should and the Fall Registration Overview ahead of . For more assistance, reach out to the or the College of Graduate Studies.

Clear Holds

Check your in myUCF. A hold may keep you from registering until it’s resolved. If you need help, .

Plan Your Schedule

Use to preview and compare class schedules. To navigate to mySchedule Builder, open your Student Center in myUCF, locate the Manage Classes tile where you will find Planner Tools. This feature allows you to preview and compare every possible class schedule until you find the one that works for you.

Load Your Shopping Cart

Once you develop your game plan, you can start adding your selected classes to your Student Center shopping cart. Even if your assigned enrollment window has not opened, you can pre-load your shopping cart with your classes so that you can quickly enroll once your enrollment window opens. This saves you time and increases the chances of claiming a spot in your selected classes.

Get Familiar with Registration in myUCF

If you haven’t worked through Campus Solutions yet, to see how to search for courses, manage your schedule, and enroll.

Key Dates to Remember

• Sept. 28, 2026: Your registration window for Spring 2027 is available to view on myUCF. Your enrollment window cannot be changed.

• Oct. 1, 2026-Jan. 10, 2027: Registration open for Spring 2027.

• Jan. 8, 2027:
  • 1 p.m.: Registration for UCF employees, UCF employees’ spouses and dependents, state, non-degree, dual enrollment, transients and audits begins.
  • 3 p.m.: Registration for UCF Athletics Association employees begins.

• Jan. 11, 2027: Classes begin.

• Jan. 11-15, 2027: Late registration period.

• Jan. 15, 2027: Drop/swap and add deadline.

Need Help?

Undergraduates can contact their or for assistance.

Engineering students are constantly told that grueling workloads, sleepless nights and brutal exams will eventually pay off with lucrative careers. But Michael Ferrante ’15MSEM wants them to know something far more important: they are not alone.

“I’m providing evidence that somebody cares. That’s important to students — knowing that somebody is listening.” — Michael Ferrante ’15MSEM, CECS special instructor

“I’m providing evidence that somebody cares,” says Ferrante, an engineering management graduate and a special instructor in UCF’s College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) who has championed student success for over 50 years. “That’s important to students — knowing that somebody is listening.”

His peers at the Florida Engineering Society have tuned in as well, naming Ferrante their 2026 Engineering Faculty Member of the Year. The recognition came as a surprise to Ferrante, who does not teach full-time. Instead, he wears many other hats, all displaying an unwavering devotion to expanding engineering opportunities
at UCF.

“When a student comes back to me years later and says, ‘Hey, I got my Ph.D., I am working where I want to work and I’m enjoying life,’ that’s what matters,” Ferrante says. “I may have given them advice and steered them in the right direction, but they did the heavy lifting. They earned the grades and they put in the work.”

Tau Beta Pi Is In His DNA

Ferrante’s legacy began in the 1970s when he helped record UCF courses on Betamax tape for traveling engineers. Since then, he has been deeply embedded in campus engineering organizations. He is the chief advisor for Tau Beta Pi — the National Engineering Honor Society — and has served on numerous leadership committees, including the CECS Alumni Council, the Engineering Leadership and Innovation Institute (eli2) and the UCF student chapter of the Florida Engineering Society.

When he is not running between the engineering buildings, Ferrante is networking on behalf of students at national conferences, securing scholarships and bringing industry leaders to campus for recruitment events.

“The thing I’m most proud of involves Tau Beta Pi,” Ferrante says. “These students are the cream of the crop. When I began advising the UCF chapter 12 years ago, we had just three students. Today, our chapter has grown to more than 100 students and we regularly initiate dozens of new members each semester.”

Until Ferrante secured approval at a Tau Beta Pi national convention several years ago, computer science majors at UCF were ineligible to join the prestigious engineering honor society. Today, UCF stands as one of only an elite number of colleges nationwide permitted to induct computer science students into the organization.

“Mr. Ferrante is the kind of person who is always around and has his hands in everything. Nothing is too much for him. He’ll make the time for it.” — Julia Moras, computer science student

Computer science major Julia Moras is one of those select members. Since being initiated during her first year, Moras has spent the past two years leading the UCF chapter as its president.

“Mr. Ferrante is the kind of person who is always around and has his hands in everything,” says Moras, who has taken on the role of student advisor for the UCF chapter. “Nothing is too much for him. He’ll make the time for it.”

Next year, the Florida Delta chapter of Tau Beta Pi will celebrate its 50th anniversary at UCF. As the chapter prepares to host the District 5 conference for the third time, Ferrante will be busy organizing the landmark event. The numerous chapter awards lining his office walls stand as a testament to his impact — even if he is quick to deflect credit by insisting he is “just the advisor.” Yet, his influence extends far beyond the campus borders.

Alongside four decades of service to the Naval Air Warfare Center, where he worked on simulation and live system development projects, Ferrante served as a weapons expert and test sniper for the U.S. Army’s small arms development program. He also was vice president of a local chapter of the American Federation of Government Employees, volunteered for 40 years as a reserve captain with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and currently sits on the Zoning and Planning Board for the City of Winter Springs.

No Slowing Down

His wife and fellow UCF graduate, Pamela Ferrante ’85 MEd’95 EdS ’00, insists that retirement is out of the question. Even at 73, slowing down is simply not an option for her husband, a past recipient of the CECS Alumni Night Leadership and Service Award.

As a student advisor, Ferrante believes his job is to show up, listen and help. Sometimes that mentorship means writing letters of recommendation for scholarships or graduate schools, introducing students to prospective employers or providing them with advice. He and his wife also donate food, clothing and supplies to the UCF Knights Pantry, which provides for students’ immediate needs.

There is no telling how deep Ferrante’s campus footprint will grow. With his recent  appointment to College of Community Innovation and Education as courtesy professor of practice for engineering integration, Ferrante intends to leverage his five decades of engineering expertise to foster new strategic partnerships and collaborative initiatives across the university and beyond.

“What really makes me feel good is when students make the effort and get the job of their dreams. All I do is try to direct them.” — Michael Ferrante ’15MSEM, CECS special instructor

“Mike has an extraordinary gift for making people feel supported,” says CCIE Interim Dean and Professor Ross Wolf ’88 ’91MPA ’98EdD, who volunteered with Ferrante in the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. “Over three decades, I watched him dedicate countless hours to mentoring and encouraging others. Whether in law enforcement, engineering or community service, Mike’s true passion has always been helping people reach their goals.”

One thing is for sure. Ferrante’s goal remains the same: to pay forward the education and opportunities that UCF provided him and his four children — Matthew ’16, Aimee ’17, Deanna ’17 and Jennifer ’19.

“What really makes me feel good is when students make the effort and get the job of their dreams,” Ferrante says. “All I do is try to direct them.”

Every time a UCF student accepts a hug from Kelly Haskins ’91, the radio-TV grad pulls them in and asks the same question:

“When was the last time you saw your mom?”

When she first started Mom Hugs Day in 2022 as a tribute to her late son/former UCF student, Hunter, she was stunned by some of the answers.

“There were a few international kids who had not seen their moms in two years,” she recalls. “Those hugs meant a lot.”

Four years in, the fifth annual Mom Hugs Day — which will be held Thursday, Sept. 24, from noon until 2 p.m. at Ferrell Commons — has grown from two moms to 50. Some bring pre-packaged snacks and water to hand out. Some sense a student is really struggling and personally connect them to (CAPS) or to get the support they need. Chipper, the therapy dog, makes appearances.

Haskins looks forward to organizing the event every year on behalf of her nonprofit organization, Do It for Hunter, in partnership with .

“We get more out of it than we give. We walk away just filled with love, and we all say, we wish we could do this every day,” Haskins says. “We just want to do a little something to try to help especially some of the young people in our area because after losing Hunter, we didn’t want this to happen to another family.”

Remembering Hunter

Haskins, who has called Merritt Island, Florida, home since she moved from Michigan in the ninth grade, is from a family of Knights. Her husband, Andrew Haskins ’97, graduated with an electrical engineering degree. They sent their daughters Haley ’16 (psychology) and Hannah ’18 (nursing) here.

By the time her son Hunter enrolled in 2021, she was practiced at the college kid send-off.

“I think he seemed to be more prepared and more mature than kids his age because he grew up with two older sisters. He knew how to do his laundry. He knew how to cook for himself,” she says.

Five weeks into the semester, on Sept. 29, 2021, Hunter took his life. When he was found, his laptop was still open. He’d just failed a math test.

“He was just the most normal kid, and the last one you would think of for this to happen to. But Hunter wasn’t much of a talker. He wouldn’t talk about his feelings, and we will never know exactly why,” she says. “I think he had a panic attack, and he didn’t know how to handle it.”

Now she purposefully has conversations with teenagers about the inevitable ups and downs of life. She tells them it’s OK to fail a test because you’ll get another chance to take it again, just like she did in college algebra. She hosts an annual You Matter Day at Hunter’s high school and works to install suicide awareness benches in parks, schools and other community areas.

“I know I’m a different person now. There’s the ‘before’ me and the ‘now’ me,” she says. “It does give me a lot of purpose. When I get feedback from and hearing that somebody was helped, then it makes it all worth it.”

Simple Idea Leads to Meaningful Impact

Haskins got the idea for Mom Hugs Day when she saw an older, retired couple publicized for bringing lawn chairs to a now-forgotten campus to offer hugs to college students. She immediately got the wheels in motion.

Although she is now retired, she started the event while she was vice president of marketing at Launch Credit Union. She cashed in a PTO day every year for the couple of hours she spent on campus giving out hugs.

“Best PTO day ever — so worth it,” she says. “It’s my favorite day of the year.”

WHPS Director Stephanie Spies has helped coordinate the event since its inception, and she has witnessed first-hand the magic that happens from the simple act of connection.

“To see that many students who were so excited just to be able to get a hug from a mom, or [who] ended up calling their moms or grandmas afterward because they missed them or connecting with students who had been impacted by suicide — it’s just been an overwhelmingly positive experience,” Spies says.

It expanded to Florida Atlantic ����ֱ�� this year, and Haskins continues to get requests from non-UCF moms to bring it to other Florida campuses. She always replies with if someone can make a connection with the university on her behalf, she’s up for a road trip.

“Some of the most meaningful things that we can do don’t have to cost a lot of money,” she says.

Resources for UCF Students, Faculty and Staff

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call 988. Free, confidential counseling is available 24/7 for mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or simply available for anyone who needs someone to talk to.

It’s important to prioritize taking care of your mental health. Take advantage of these resources at UCF to help you:

Students

• UCF offers a wide range of free mental health services to currently registered undergraduate and graduate students. Students can access CAPS by visiting their offices by Student Health Services, between the Biology and Physical Sciences buildings, or by or by phone at 407-823-2811. During non-business hours, students can call 407-823-2811 and press 5 to be immediately connected to a licensed therapist.
• provides proactive programming and education for students to practice lifelong skills that improve quality of life on topics that include stress management, nutrition and social wellness.
• assists students facing personal hardships, academic concerns, well-being challenges, or unexpected crises. If you are need of support or are concerned about a UCF Knight, .
• connects students with peers around the world who may be going through similar experiences. It is a safe, judgment-free space to share your thoughts, receive encouragement and find support whenever you need it.

Faculty and Staff

• The offers a 24-hour emergency hotline and in-person, telephonic or video counseling with licensed professional counselors. It is confidential and free to all faculty and staff (excluding OPS student employees) as well as their eligible family members, including spouses, dependent children, parents and parents-in-law.

A double-barreled T-shirt launcher that can fire shirts higher than the 60-foot walls of Acrisure Bounce House.

A decked-out golf cart, rescued from its fate at the salvage yard and repurposed instead into Knightro’s preferred mode of transportation.

A 3D-printed, robotic Citronaut piloting a spaceship that blasts AC/DC’s Thunderstruck through surround-sound speakers.

And set to make its debut later this year, a powerful projection spotlight designed to summon Knightro onto the field — his own version of Batman’s iconic bat signal.

As the students explain the ins-and-outs of these custom innovations — all built in university labs with tools, technology and machines at their disposal — facility manager Pete Alfieris stands off to the side with a dash of pride on his face.

“Remember what Pete stands for,” the longtime UCF staff member calls out. “Preparing engineers through e��ܳ����پ��Dz�.”

They collectively groan, but in a tone that clearly shows they cherish this man and his dad jokes.

“If you graduate from [UCF’s] engineering college without meeting Pete, you didn’t really go to the engineering college,” says Caden Peters ’26, a computer engineering alum who co-created the Knight signal. “He really shows that anyone can make an impact. You don’t have to be a professor. You don’t have to be an advisor. He’s the facilities manager of the engineering building. And he still has such a strong impact on the college and inspires so many students. There’s really no one like him.”

Alfieris oversees daily operations, lab safety and security for UCF’s College of Engineering and Computer Science buildings since he took the role in 2008. Nowhere in his job responsibilities does it list mentoring and collaborating with students.

Yet for the past five years, since the football season ticket holder was first inspired to introduce a T-shirt launcher at UCF football games, Alfieris has been the driving force behind the growing partnership between the college and UCF Athletics, pitching his ideas to elevate the game-day experience for fans.

The partnership reflects what UCF does best: connecting classroom learning with real-world experience. As SpaceU, UCF Athletics provides a fitting stage for students from the College of Engineering and Computer Science — the nation’s No. 1 supplier of talent to the aerospace and defense industries, according to Aviation Week Network — to apply their academics and flex their skills.

“For years I have seen the potential in these students,” Alfieris says. “A lot of them go on to work at SpaceX, NASA, Blue Origin, L3 Harris, Northrop Grumman. They’re so smart and talented.”

The students are always on board to oblige in bringing his visions to life because he believes in them; sometimes more than anyone.

“There are only a few people here that I would say even scratch the surface compared to Pete when it comes to their belief in students,” says recent mechanical engineering grad Ayden Jordan ’26, who also created Knightro’s signal. “Pete believed in us from day one.”

Peters interjects: “Day zero.”

That belief and hard work have led to some of the most engaging moments in UCF football’s game day experience today.

The Idea That Started it All: A T-Shirt Launcher

Austin Harkins ’24 ’26MS had listened through two weeks of senior design project ideas, waiting for one worth claiming. The year-long group projects require engineering students to design, build and present a functional prototype before graduation.

Then his professor said two words: T-shirt launcher.

“You could just see everyone’s ears kind of perk up around the room,” says Harkins on a call from Texas, where he’s currently working as a mechanical design engineer for L3 Harris. “I grew up in Oviedo, Florida. My parents went to UCF. I couldn’t tell you how many UCF football games I’ve been to. I thought, ‘Yeah, I’m doing this.’ ”

Harkins led one of the teams to score the project. Mechanical engineering graduate student Luciana Carreras ’25 led another.

Over the next several months, both teams designed launchers capable of firing dozens of shirts into the stands during the brief 30-second window they’d have on the field between plays.

When the prototypes were ready, Carreras and Harkins brought them to the football stadium in the summer for a test run in front of UCF Athletics’ game day operations staff.

“I think [UCF Athletics] had some hesitations, which I understand because they didn’t know who we were,” Alfieris says. “We were launching [T-shirts] all over the field — one even went out of the stadium — and [UCF Athletics staff] all looked at me and said, ‘Oh, we’re definitely doing this.’ ”

While the athletic department staff has worked hard to build and protect traditions that span generations of Knights fans, they always embrace trying new things.

“I think some of UCF’s best qualities have always been a spirit of collaboration and an attitude of, ‘what if we try…?’ Pete and the engineering students embody that completely,” says Alex Cesarano, associate athletics director for brand experience. “What they’ve delivered over the last few years is a testament to what’s possible when we have a strong partnership between the university and athletic department. We are immensely grateful for all they’ve added, and continue to add, in service of our fans and student-athletes’ experiences.”

Beyond practicality, the teams took design aesthetic into account.

Harkins’ launcher resembles a rocket, a nod to UCF’s SpaceU identity. Carreras’ team chose a double-barreled design that maximizes the number of shirts they could launch before leaving the field.

“I never went to a football game until I had to launch this thing,” Carreras says. “But seeing it out there on game day and seeing the excitement from everyone, it’s great to leave something behind, especially when it’s a place that you’ve gotten education from, and you’ve found your friends and a life around the campus.”

Knightro’s Wheels

Once word spread that Alfieris and the engineering students were behind the T-shirt launchers, the UCF spirit team wanted in.

Knightro head coach Michael Callahan ’05 ’09MBA ’17EdD, who also serves as director of knowledge management for UCF’s College of Medicine, invited Alfieris to tour the Kenneth G. Dixon Athletics Village and discuss future collaborations.

As they drove around in a standard golf cart with Knightro on board, Alfieris couldn’t help but notice the mascot clinging to the seat.

“Knightro was holding on for dear life, and I looked at Michael and said, ‘How come Knightro doesn’t have his own cart?’ ” Alfieris says. “He looked at me and said, ‘Good question.’ ”

Without a dedicated budget or funding, Alfieris has gotten good at being resourceful. He scoured the university’s surplus property system database, which offers discounted equipment and items in need of repair. One person’s trash is another’s treasure.

He found a cart in serious need of electrical work to run again. He turned to the looking for some talent.

Josh Alper, then a first-year mechanical engineering student, answered without knowing a single detail about what he was showing up for.

Alper, who is primarily self-taught, rewired the cart’s electrical system and fixed the battery charger. He installed LED lighting, four surround-sound speakers and a custom “Bounce Button” horn to the tune of Zombie Nation’s Kernkraft 400. He even rigged a “Knightro phone” that pauses the music for Team Knightro to interact with fans while tailgating. When the phone is placed back on the receiver, the music immediately resumes at maximum vibe levels.

“I was a new student who basically knew nothing about the school, and in my first few weeks, Pete was touring me around and introducing me to lab managers and faculty,” Alper says. “I was able to use 3D printers and tools in the . I’ve gone to football games and shot the T-shirt cannon, which was a really cool experience for my first football season. Working with Pete has opened so many doors.”

Here Comes Citronaut

Alfieris’ next big idea was a robot. Mechanical engineering student Andrew Anderson thought Citronaut seemed like a logical choice.

Anderson, who has completed professional internships with Pegasus Partner Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World Resort refurbishing high-profile rides, spent a year creating what the team affectionately refers to as “Citronaut’s Thunderstruck” — a 3D-printed Citronaut piloting a spaceship that rolls through campus blasting AC/DC’s hit song.

The project began as an oversized foam cube measuring roughly 5 feet on each side.

“Figuring out how to safely cut the foam and see it take that saucer shape, it felt like I was working at Disney,” says Anderson, who has dreamed of developing theme park rides since he was 9 years old.

The team equipped the spaceship with tilting and movement capabilities and an accelerometer to give it a sense of flight.

Meanwhile, computer science major Melanie Allen became Alfieris’ go-to team member for precision work. She designed, laser cut and 3D-printed the Citronaut figure to fit snuggly in his spaceship.

“I’ve taken advantage of our machine shop, our 3D printers, laser cutters [and] the 5-axis CNC machine to make aluminum parts. I didn’t think I would ever be good at painting, and now I know how to paint. So I think a lot of these experiences have given me skills that really make me stand out,” Allen says.

Citronaut’s Thunderstruck debuted at the 2025 Mission IX Space Game as part of the pregame march to the stadium and was an immediate hit.

“A lot of kids were really excited when they saw it, and fans wanted to take pictures with it. It was fun to be part of the march and know that I helped create something that looks cool and something that people want to interact with,” Allen says. “I didn’t feel like I was just another student commuting and taking classes. I felt like I was making a difference and actually contributing to the university.”

Coming Soon: Knightro’s Own ‘Bat’ Signal

One of Alfieris’ most theatrical, ambitious ideas yet is expected to debut this year thanks to Peters, Jordan and the other three engineers of their senior design project team.

Similar to Batman’s “bat signal,” the team designed a custom cylinder-shaped light projector capable of summoning Knightro into action to amp the crowd.

“We faced a lot of questions and doubt when we pitched this for senior design. Could the physics actually work out? Will [the light] actually project at that far of a distance?” Jordan says. “When you have a good team, anything is possible. And we believed we could make the impossible happen.”

The biggest hurdle came early.

The specialized lights required for the design cost $700, leaving Jordan unsure if the project would ever get off the ground.

A week later, his team got an email that the lights were in, purchased by the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering from the budget dedicated to supporting senior design projects.

“Pete worked his magic,” Peters says.

Engineering this from a concept drawing into an actual functioning contraption was no small feat.

The high-powered lights generated enough heat to require radiators and a water-cooling loop. The team also developed an innovative method to display the projected image by using a laser cutter to burn away the coating on mirror slides. And ensuring safety throughout their design, down to the emergency stop button, was paramount.

When their first successful test happened at 3 a.m. on the side of Engineering II, the first person they told was Alfieris.

“I remember walking up my apartment stairs that night thinking, I want this feeling for the rest of my life,” Peters says.

Funds and hours in a day are the only things holding back Alfieris and the students at this point. They have a few more ideas and projects in the works that they’re eager to share with Knight Nation when they’re ready.

Alfieris says he’s grateful to his supervisor, College of Engineering and Computer Science Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and NCAA faculty representative Manoj Chopra, for allowing him to engage with the students in these ventures. It’s been one of the greatest gifts of his career.

“All [the] stuff that I wanted to do is coming to life, and it’s so much fun,” Alfieris says. “I don’t have any kids, so they’re like my kids. I get that proud parent moment when they come to me and say, ‘Thank you.’ And I’m like, ‘What are you thanking me for?’ And they say, ‘You helped me. You were just always there.’ And it just makes me feel really good. It really does.”

Hosted by the twice a year in the fall and spring semesters, the largest job fair on campus features 250+ companies across a variety of industries from diverse fields including technology, finance, healthcare, engineering and more.

This career fair is open to all UCF students and alumni. It is your gateway to explore a wide range of career options, gain insider advice from industry experts, and stay ahead of the curve in today’s evolving job market.

It’s also a great opportunity to practice your networking skills and leave a lasting impression on potential employers.

This guide shares logistical information about the Internship and Career Expo itself, as well as tips and resources ahead of the event so you can make your best impression.

Internship and Career Expo

Date: Thursday, Oct 1, 2026

Time: 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

• Fast Pass Entry at 11:30 p.m. (more below on ways to score a fast pass)
• General Entrance begins at noon.
• Doors close at 3 p.m.

Location: Addition Financial Arena (12777 Gemini Blvd N, Orlando, FL 32816)

Attire: Business casual or professional attire encouraged; Pants or skirts paired with a dress shirt or blouse and dress shoes with socks or appropriate hosiery. Please avoid bringing large bags.

Security Check: The Addition Financial Arena is implementing enhanced security measures. Security procedures include, but are not limited to, performing body wand and bag checks at all arena entrances. before arriving. Guests should allow additional time to enter the gate, as these measures may delay entrance into the event.

Register: This career fair is open to all UCF students and alumni. .

Ways to Prepare and Resources

Virtual Career Guidance:

UCF partners with , a 24/7 virtual career assistant, to help students create a powerful resume and practice their interview skills. VMock leverages technologies like data science, machine learning and natural language processing to provide instant personalized feedback on resumes, cover letters, elevator pitches and interview responses based on criteria gathered from employers and global best practices.

Where to Print Your Resume:

Students seeking to print copies of their resume or cover letter can do so for a small charge on main campus at the or in the Visitor & Parking Information Center (4000 Central Florida Blvd.).

If you are printing your resume or cover letter for a job or career fair, we recommend having at least one copy for each job/employer you are interested in, plus additional copies for unexpected opportunities or to replace damaged or lost copies.

Professional Clothing Glow Up:

– In Person at the Florida Mall
Sept. 19, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

An exclusive in-store shopping event for career apparel with exclusive discounts not available to the public. Students and alumni will be required to swipe their ID cards or provide their PID and check in via Handshake at the JCPenney Florida Mall location in order to receive their coupon.

This event is eligible for an EXPO Fast Pass which will grant early entry to the Fall 2026 Internship & Career EXPO. Pick up your Fast Pass Voucher at the check-in table.

– In Person at Waterford Lakes
Sept. 20, noon – 2 p.m.

Students and alumni can enjoy a 15% discount on business and business casual attire during the shopping event. Students will be required to swipe their ID cards or provide their UCF ID and check in via Handshake at Style Encore Waterford Lakes location the day of the event.

This event is eligible for an EXPO Fast Pass which will grant early entry to the Fall 2026 Internship & Career EXPO. Pick up your Fast Pass Voucher at the check-in table.

– Main Campus
Drop in, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

A limited professional clothing section is available to all UCF students, with valid UCF ID, on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Career Prep Events (Virtual and In-Person):

– In Person
Sept. 22, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Registration via handshake is required to attend this event. Employer representatives will be on site to assist with one-on-one resume reviews and interview preparation sessions. Please bring an updated copy of your resume for recruiters to review. The session will be conducted on a first-come, first-served drop-in basis. As employer representatives become available, students will be paired one-to-one to conduct a 15-20-minute session of their choice and may leave after the session is complete.

This event is eligible for an EXPO Fast Pass, which will grant early entry to the Fall 2026 Internship and Career EXPO. Pick up your voucher on the way out of the session. Limited quantities available.

Engineering and Technical Industry Day – In Person
Sept. 23, (9 a.m. – noon) and (1 – 4 p.m.)

Registration via handshake is required to attend this event. Employer representatives will be on site to assist with one-on-one resume reviews and interview preparation sessions. Please bring an updated copy of your resume for recruiters to review. The sessions will be conducted on a first-come, first-served drop-in basis. As employer representatives become available, students will be paired one-to-one to conduct a 15-20-minute session of their choice and may leave after the session is complete.

This event is eligible for an EXPO Fast Pass, which will grant early entry to the Fall 2026 Internship and Career EXPO. Pick up your voucher on the way out of the session. Limited quantities available.

– Virtual
Sept. 24, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Registration via handshake is required to attend this event. Employer representatives will be available to assist with one-on-one resume reviews and interview preparation sessions. Please bring an updated copy of your resume for recruiters to review. The session will be conducted on a first-come, first-served drop-in basis. As employer representatives become available, students will be paired one-to-one to conduct a 15-20-minute session of their choice and may leave after the session is complete.

This event is eligible for an EXPO Fast Pass, which will grant early entry to the Fall 2026 Internship and Career EXPO. Information regarding pick-up will be sent to attendees at the conclusion of the virtual session. Limited quantities available.

– Virtual
September 25, 1 – 3 p.m.

Join us this fall semester (Aug. 31–Nov. 20) on Fridays, any time between 1 and 3 p.m., via . Ask quick career questions, or we can critique your resume, LinkedIn/Handshake profile, cover letter and elevator pitch.

Whether you’re attending a job fair or trying to advance to the interview stage for a position you’re applying for, you can increase your chances of success by following some tried-and-true tips from UCF’s .

How can you make a strong impression on your job interview?

• Know your professional story/prepare your elevator pitch
• Offer a confident greeting, handshake and smile
• Think about two to three key selling points about your professional self. For UCF students, start with your major/expected graduation and talk about related skills/experience including student clubs and class projects
• Research employers and showcase your knowledge in conversation
• Give examples to back up your answers. Storytelling is a big part of the interview experience.

How can you craft an effective elevator pitch?

Your elevator pitch introduces you to recruiters in 30-60 seconds. Follow the present-past-future format:

• Present: What are you currently studying? What’s your major or program?
• Past: Highlight a recent relevant experience (e.g., internship, research project, volunteer work).
• Future: State your career goals and explain why you’re excited to connect with this employer.

What are some ways you can make your resume stand out in a pile?

• A resume should be concise, organized marketing document highlighting your education, experiences and achievements; its purpose is to secure an interview and evolve with your professional growth.
• Keep formatting clean and consistent: 1-inch margins, 1 page (up to 2 max), standard 10- to 12-point fonts, professional appearance and easy-to-scan layout.
• Focus content on relevance: tailor to the position, connect transferable skills, emphasize contributions and quantify results whenever possible.
• Use strong writing mechanics: start bullets with action verbs, maintain consistent verb tense (present for current roles, past for previous) and keep statements concise.
• Include core sections as appropriate: Heading, objective (optional but tailored), education (reverse chronological order), summary of qualifications (skills-focused) and experience (employment, internships, research, projects).
• Add optional sections when relevant: Activities, leadership, honors/awards, publications or research.

What software or AI tools can help build your resume?

• is a fantastic tool available to all students by logging in with their NID credentials
• VMock is a 24/7 virtual career assistant that utilizes technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning and sophisticated analytics engine to deliver instant, personalized, and smart career guidance to students and professionals.
• Do not rely only on AI to write content for your resume. Double check wonky spelling/grammar and word choices to make sure it is your voice.
• Be aware that employers are now reviewing resumes and running them through plagiarism detection software to check for AI.
• Utilize AI (VMock can do this) to make sure your resume matches the language in the job description closely enough so that it will pass through applicant tracking systems successfully.

What questions should job candidates ask the interviewer?

Typically, it’s best to focus on two to three questions to have prepared to ask at the end of the interview.

• Ask about the company culture. What is it like to work there?
• Ask about the position or opportunity in a way that helps you learn more than what you have already learned on your own research. In your opinion, what qualities/traits do you look for in an ideal candidate to be successful in the role?
• Ask about what to expect in the interview process. What are next steps?

Are there any best practices for following up after an interview?

Within 24 hours, send personalized thank-you emails to the recruiters you spoke with that include:

• A brief recap of your conversation
• An expression of gratitude
• A question or statement to keep the dialogue going

At a university serving nearly 70,000 students — one of the nation’s largest student bodies — student success can’t depend on chance or on students figuring out complex systems on their own.

UCF has built something different.

Over the past decade, the university increased its four-year graduation rate by 23.4 percentage points, from 40.4% for the 2011–15 cohort to 63.8% for the 2021–25 cohort. Preliminary projections for the 2022–26 cohort indicate the rate could surpass 68%.

That progress has transformed student outcomes and placed UCF among just three finalists for the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities’ (APLU) 2026 Excellence in Student Success Award.

The annual award recognizes institutions demonstrating a comprehensive, systemic commitment to advancing student success. Through innovative initiatives, honorees reduce barriers to educational attainment, increase graduation rates and improve outcomes such as time to degree, civic engagement and career readiness.

The award winner will be announced at the APLU’s Annual Meeting, Nov. 15–17 in San Antonio.

“We have listened to students, strengthened cross-functional collaboration, used evidence to guide timely support and embedded student success practices into the university’s daily operations.” — Alexander N. Cartwright, UCF president

The distinction reflects a fundamental shift in how UCF approaches student success: not as a collection of programs, but as a university-wide operating model designed to help more students thrive.

“What distinguishes UCF’s approach is the way our community has translated that belief into sustained action,” UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright says. “We have listened to students, strengthened cross-functional collaboration, used evidence to guide timely support and embedded student success practices into the university’s daily operations.”

And UCF has done it while operating with fewer resources than many of its peers. The university receives the lowest funding per full-time equivalent student among Florida’s 12 State ����ֱ�� System institutions and ranks in the 11th percentile nationally for expenditures per student among public universities.

UCF didn’t wait for permission or for more resources to improve outcomes. It transformed how the university works.

Community Is the Starting Line

In 2022, UCF made its highest strategic priority. Then it asked students a simple question: What does it mean to thrive?

Their answers helped create — Belonging, Engaging, Achieving and Meaning — a framework for success that gives students, faculty, and staff a shared way to describe connection, purpose, academic progress, and well-being.

Today, BEAM is embedded across the student experience. By Fall 2025, nearly 35,000 students had participated in orientation programming incorporating the framework. Thousands more engaged with BEAM-informed support across the university: 158 Academic Success Coaches and student success professionals use BEAM-guided conversations with students; 8,323 students engaged through Housing and Residential Life programming; 3,971 students engaged through Fraternity and Sorority Life; and more than 19,000 students engaged through the in the last year.

The idea is simple but powerful: Success starts with students feeling that they belong and knowing where to turn when they need help.

Building a Coordinated System of Care

UCF dared to rethink traditional academic guidance, replacing reactive advising with a holistic model in 2023 — one that reaches students before challenges become barriers.

“Our Academic Success Coaches are aligned with students as both advisors and coaches.” — Jennifer Sumner, assistant vice president of Academic Success Coaching

Academic Success Coaches combine BEAM-guided conversations with student-level analytics to identify needs — including academic planning, graduation requirements, registration issues and personal challenges — initiate outreach and connect students with support. Rather than waiting for students to ask for help, coaches use data to identify where support may be needed and reach out.

“Our Academic Success Coaches are aligned with students as both advisors and coaches,” says Jennifer Sumner, assistant vice president of Academic Success Coaching at UCF. “We’ve positioned [them] to be active and dynamic, and we expect students to do the same — to take an active role in their journey and work with us [to determine] how they can be successful at UCF.”

Behind that work is UCF’s Student Success Analytics platform, which brings real-time visibility into progression risk, retention patterns, graduation forecasts and intervention activity into one environment.

Every student in the graduating cohort is automatically evaluated nightly for indicators of completion status and progression risk. Those insights allow coaches, colleges and administrators to act while there is still time to make a difference.

The university’s Student Success Tiger Team takes that proactive approach further. Launched in 2024, the cross-functional team brings together analytics, coaching, enrollment management, academic affairs and college partners to resolve issues that individual advising can’t solve alone. Using data to pinpoint hindrances to graduation, the team helped prioritize graduating students for required courses, expand course capacity and improve graduation-related paperwork processes.

And this work now reaches students earlier in their academic journey, not just those nearing graduation. Progression checks for students in their first three years help identify challenges sooner, creating a continuum of support from entry to degree completion.

“[I can’t] express my gratitude enough for [my Academic Success Coach’s] support during my time at UCF, says psychology alum Jasmine Washington ’25. “I graduated with my bachelor’s degree, and I couldn’t have reached that milestone without [his] guidance. Navigating the requirements and staying on track wasn’t always easy, but [his] encouragement and insight truly made a difference in my journey.”

Advancing Timely Degree Completion

The impact is undeniable.

UCF’s four-year graduation rate has climbed to 63.8%, surpassing Florida’s 60% preeminence benchmark, with another increase projected for the 2022–26 cohort.

But the bigger accomplishment is what UCF built to get there.

Rather than layering temporary programs onto existing structures, UCF embedded student success into how it operates — from leadership priorities and analytics to coaching, academic planning and institutional decision-making. The sustained progress isn’t a result of a single program or initiative. It comes from making student success a shared responsibility.

Students helped define what thriving looks like. Faculty and staff bring that vision to life. Analytics reveal where action is needed. Coaches provide personalized support. UCF’s 12 colleges and administrative teams remove barriers. And university leaders keep student success at the center of decision-making.

Together, those efforts create an environment where more students can belong, move forward, overcome obstacles and graduate on time — prepared to thrive long after they leave campus.

That’s the difference between supporting student success and building a university around it.

What happens when graduate students go beyond the classroom to tackle real-world artificial intelligence (AI) challenges facing the financial industry?

At UCF’s , that experience comes to life in the FinTech-AI Lab.

The lab puts fintech master’s students to work on complex AI and machine learning problems alongside faculty researchers and industry mentors. Beyond technical expertise, the experience gives students a front-row seat to how AI is being used to solve business challenges and the opportunity to contribute to what comes next.

Established to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry innovation, the lab pairs selected students with leading industry organizations to develop solutions with the potential to influence products, improve decision-making and drive innovation across financial technology.

Each semester, just two to four students are selected through a competitive process based on academic performance and faculty interviews. Instead of completing a traditional capstone project, they join a faculty-led research team conducting applied AI research for industry partners.

Partnership Powering Innovation

One of the lab’s most impactful collaborations is with Equifax, a global leader in data, analytics and technology.

Together with Miller College of Business faculty, Equifax identifies high-impact business challenges, provides resources and mentors students throughout the research process. Fintech faculty members, Associate Professor Cuneyt Akcora and Assistant Professor Yafei Zhang, lead the lab’s research initiatives, meeting weekly with student teams and collaborating with Equifax to review progress and refine projects.

Students spend more than a year working on AI research, gaining an experience that closely resembles a part-time industry internship.

“The partnership shows what makes UCF’s master’s in fintech distinctive,” Zhang says. “Students not only learn finance, AI and data science in the classroom; they apply these tools to real industry problems with guidance from faculty and industry mentors. In the AI era, that kind of hands-on, corporate-partnered experience is essential.”

Turning AI Skills Into Industry Solutions

The impact of the FinTech-AI Lab comes to life through the work of its students, whose research tackles real challenges facing the financial industry.

Fintech graduate student Michael Azzi set out to help address synthetic identity fraud, the fastest-growing financial crime in the United States.

Azzi developed an address-intelligence framework that combines Google’s Gemini large language model, the Google Places API and a rule-based risk engine to identify high-risk addresses, including virtual offices and private mailbox services. The approach could help improve fraud detection within consumer credit files.

“Working on synthetic identity fraud detection at Equifax showed me how AI can be applied to real-world business challenges,” Azzi says. “Being able to combine large language models with live address intelligence to help protect consumers made this one of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on.”

Another fintech graduate student, Clare Anandra Eric Hamissi, investigated how government intervention programs, including stimulus payments and loan forbearance, influenced consumer default risk.

Her findings revealed that lower-income consumers and those with lower credit scores experienced the greatest reductions in default risk.

The projects don’t necessarily end when the research does. When a project demonstrates strong business potential, Equifax evaluates the results for possible productization or internal implementation, giving students the opportunity to contribute to solutions that could make a measurable impact across the financial industry.

Opening the Door to Experiential Learning

The FinTech-AI Lab demonstrates the Miller College of Business’ commitment to experiential learning while providing students with a new way to prepare for and help shape an AI-driven future.

Students gain experience working with enterprise-scale data, collaborating with faculty researchers and industry professionals, and solving problems at the intersection of finance, AI and data science.

As the lab prepares to welcome its third cohort of fintech student researchers this fall, it continues to set UCF’s Master’s in FinTech program apart. Students don’t just learn about AI, machine learning and financial technology — they put that knowledge to work alongside faculty and industry experts, solving real business challenges with the potential to influence products and business decisions.

The UCF master’s in fintech is a STEM-designated graduate program that prepares the next generation of fintech leaders through AI, data analytics and emerging financial technologies. The first program of its kind in Florida, the program is offered each fall with in-person and online options.

 Applications are now open for Fall 2027.

“What I’m doing today is another full-circle moment,” she says about her current role as the assistant vice president of the Kenneth G. Dixon Career Development Center. “It fits my passion for preparing students for life. Many of them remind me of myself, with similar challenges that I faced.”

Given only a narrow perspective of today, you’d never suspect Torres faced such challenges. You’d only see that Torres has three degrees from UCF, including a doctoral degree in education in curriculum and instruction. She helped imagine the office of Student Success and Well-Being for UCF Downtown. She’s been asked to share her expertise on student development at state and national conferences, earned awards for her exemplary practices, and can so easily articulate how UCF advanced the idea of “student success” from theory to proof that it’s easy to miss how this full circle began for her.

Torres has never forgotten.

“My motivation comes from my own story,” says Torres, who also earned a bachelor’s in foreign language education and master’s in educational leadership from UCF.

“As big as UCF is, it became my home. This is where I found mentors and people who helped me grow into what I am today. It’s why I’m here, 20-some years later, to make sure students have the support they need to graduate on time and discover their own passion to be successful.”

Before she knew what success as a student or as a leader meant, Torres had to overcome doubts. She struggled with a learning disability, which affected her academically and socially. The label on Chanda Torres the teenager said “at-risk student” and “low-income family.” She gravitated into theater to find a sense of belonging. To pull her credentials up to speed after high school, she muscled through classes at Brevard Community College. A few years later, driven partly by a desire to prove doubters wrong, she came to UCF to find her own way — a transfer student dropped off in a very new, very big place.

“It was the best thing my parents could have done,” Torres says. “As big as UCF is, it became my home. This is where I found mentors and people who helped me grow into what I am today. It’s why I’m here, 20-some years later, to make sure students have the support they need to graduate on time and discover their own passion to be successful.”

All of this tells us why the College of Community Innovation and Education honored Torres in 2023 as a Distinguished Alumni. She is also a big reason UCF has achieved a 90% freshman retention rate and increased our four-year graduation rate to 68.1%, which is up 18.1 percentage points in five years.

“To have achieved success as a student despite my history,” she says, “and then to be honored for the work I’m doing for other students, and now to play a role in UCF’s [qualification for] designation as a preeminent university, it all represents another full circle.”

Driven by Personal Experience to Serve Students

At the Dixon Career Development Center, Torres oversees services and programs that support students through every stage of their journey — from discovering career and advanced-degree options and gaining meaningful experience to preparing for and launching their next step. Through career education, employer connections, internships and other experiential learning opportunities, Dixon Career Development Center helps students build a future with confidence and purpose.

Torres knows the greatest impact begins with one student and one conversation at a time.

“It’s crucial to understand where they’ve been and where they want to go,” she says. “There are people around us in everyday life who are intelligent and talented but haven’t heard someone tell them. Ironically, that’s exactly what turned everything around for me.”

“I knew deep down, despite my learning difficulties, that I was capable. The question was always, ‘Does anyone else believe it?’ ”

Torres’ parents never had a “someone.” Her mom had dropped out of high school. Her dad joined the military to escape poverty. They married young. Torres would be the second of their four children.

“I knew deep down, despite my learning difficulties, that I was capable. The question was always, ‘Does anyone else believe it?’ ” she says.

To this day, she points back to a high-school language arts teacher, Mr. Couch, who encouraged Torres to participate in theater and engage in public speaking. His confidence in her unlocked skills and pathways she didn’t know existed. Because of him, she pursued a degree in education, so she could also be a teacher. What happened during her master’s work at UCF turned her into a lifelong believer in learning opportunities outside the classroom.

“Ironically,” she says again, “while mentoring UCF students in the program now known as SOAR [Seizing Opportunities for Achievement and Retention], I helped some of them with public speaking. That’s what Mr. Couch told me was my strength before I knew it myself. I began to realize my calling into leadership, where I could scale my impact with students.”

After a 10-year run in student support at Valencia College, Torres was courted to return to UCF as the assistant vice president of student success. She would be among the first to create real structure for the concept of student success at her alma mater: advising, coaching, retention, and career and transfer services. To inspire her to map out the future, she could look at her own past.

Turns out, another inspiration was coming.

A Reinvigorated Purpose

Torres’ perspective changed dramatically in 2018. Early that year, she took a leave from UCF to give birth to her daughter. The questions she’d always heard from parents of students took root in her own mind. What will my little girl’s life be like? Will she find her own passion? What can I do to make sure she thrives?

Torres set up a scholarship fund. She paid attention to her daughter’s interests in animals and STEM, supporting her passion for animal rescues, attending SeaWorld camp and learning code. She would be a mother, mentor and encourager.

“I’ve learned from my own experiences how important it is to be engaged in her journey, so when the time comes, she can graduate on time, get the job she wants and be retained because of her valuable skills. Those are the same types of measures of success we have for each UCF student.”

“My purpose could not be more clear: to make sure every student, regardless of high school or background, whether they’re a freshman or transfer, is seen, supported, and feels capable.”

After her maternity leave, Torres went to UCF Downtown to mesh student affairs with the community and business sector. Then, in July 2025, she returned to the main campus that she says she remembers as home to lead the Dixon Career Development Center.

“It’s exciting to see students connecting with resources — like academic success coaches — and discovering a clear direction. They have research opportunities, clubs, community work, networking and people to listen.”

Maybe it isn’t so ironic that she’s here, where her own path to success started.

“My purpose could not be more clear: to make sure every student, regardless of high school or background, whether they’re a freshman or transfer, is seen, supported, and feels capable,” she says. “That’s what I needed to complete my journey. And now it’s my way of giving back to the university that has given me so much.”