Academic Excellence Archives | ��ֱ�� News

UCF Graduates 109 New Physician Knights

Wendy Sarubbi — Mon, 18 May 2026 16:14:44 +0000

Holly Moots ’17 ’24PhD spent 13 years at UCF, fulfilling her dream to become a physician-scientist who can advance medical care for Floridians. Jemual Shaylor ’21 is a U.S. Naval officer who will care for our nation’s heroes. Isabella Castellano ’22 and Paxton Threatt met during medical school, got engaged and are now going onto Johns Hopkins – one of the nation’s top hospitals – for residency training.

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 “the Good Doctors – a UCF tradition.”

This year’s M.D. program commencement was the medical school’s 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.

Deborah German oversees her last College of Medicine Commencement ceremony as vice president for health affairs and founding dean.

“Graduates, today you become alumni of an innovative medical school committed to improving health for all,” she said. “Through your time here, you learned, you grew, and you cared for patients with courage, dedication, and grace. I couldn’t be prouder of the work you have done.”

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

Holly Moots ’17 ’24PhD is the third Knight to earn an M.D. and Ph.D. since the College of Medicine opened in 2009.

Inspired by Her Research Mentor

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

“I’ve spent almost half my life at UCF,” she says. “Graduating is incredibly exciting, but it feels strange to close such a long and meaningful chapter.”

She said her medical training at UCF was most shaped by her research mentor, Otto Phanstiel, a College of Medicine cancer researcher. “He 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,” she says. “His influence has shaped how I hope to approach research, teamwork, and patient care throughout my career.”

Founding College of Medicine faculty member Jose Borrero pins his mentee, Jemual Shaylor ’21.

“Most Monumental Moment of My Life”

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’s 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 “the most monumental moment of my life.”

Paxton Threatt is an aspiring anesthesiologist and Isabella Castellano ’22 plans to become a pediatrician.

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 “couples matching” into residency – unsure if they would be selected to train at the same hospital or even city.

Today they’re simultaneously planning their move to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and their wedding. He’ll practice anesthesiology because it combines his love of chemistry and connecting with people.

“There’s 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,” he says. “That is a very special relationship to me.”

She’s training to be a pediatrician.

“My biggest dream and aspiration is to be an advocate for children and for families,” she says. “I 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.”

UCF Students Sweep Scholarships at Creative South Conference

Emmily Stufflet — Thu, 07 May 2026 15:33:48 +0000

When officials at the southeast’s premiere design conference needed to decide on where to invest their scholarship dollars, their choice was overwhelming UCF.

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

“We’ve built such a strong community that when one person succeeds, we all do,” says Vanessa Morán, a senior graphic design student and treasurer of UCF’s Graphic Design Student Association. “That’s something Associate Professor Victor Davila ’97 ’07MFA has always instilled in us.”

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

“It felt like a message that my work has potential, and that I need to start seeing it that way,” she says.

Building Industry Connections

The students’ 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.

“There’s no separation between attendees and speakers,” Sibul says. “They emphasize people first, titles second.”

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.

Josh Alonso ’25 now works for design and development agency Heyo after receiving a scholarship as a student and yearlong mentorship.

UCF emerging media alumnus Josh Alonso ’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.

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

“My career essentially got its ‘jumpstart’ from the people I met at Creative South.” — Josh Alonso ’25

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

“My career essentially got its ‘jumpstart’ from the people I met at Creative South,” 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.

That’s a Wrap on UCF Robotics Club’s Award-Winning Season

Marisa Ramiccio ’11 — Wed, 06 May 2026 18:31:27 +0000

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 — 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 ��ֱ�� Robotics Competition (VURC) 2025-26, besting teams from Georgia Tech, Purdue and Texas A&M.

In addition to competing, the robotics club volunteers and participates in outreach events, including the VEX IQ challenge for middle school and high school students on the UCF campus. (Photo credit: RCCF)

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

“Combined, the team has over 50 years of VEX robotics experience, with our most senior member competing since third grade,” Patel says. “We don’t just participate in this project for bullet points on our resumes — our team competes for the love of competition.”

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.

“Unlike 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,” says Kapri O’Brien, a mechanical engineering major and the project lead for RCCF. “This 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’s world championship.”

Two robots compete at Vaughn College in Queens, New York. (Photo credit: RCCF)

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’s 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’s most innovative universities and is responsible for one out of every four of Florida’s engineering and computer science graduates.

“Our team provides a space for engineers to grow the skills you need outside of the classroom to be a skillful engineer in industry,” O’Brien says. “Support, whether it’s 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.”

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

How One Student Turned Tragedy and Self-Doubt into Success at UCF

Jenna Marina Lee — Tue, 05 May 2026 14:02:22 +0000

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 ��ֱ�� 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.

“I think all of us who were on that deployment understood you’re here and somebody else isn’t. What are you going to do with your life?” Strenth says.

“I think all of us who were on that deployment understood you’re here and somebody else isn’t. What are you going to do with your life?”

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.

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

As a member of the South Carolina National Guard, Preston Strenth connected with the Office of Military and Veteran Students Services at UCF and accessed their resources to land an internship with BNY, which he turned into a full-time job. (Photo by Daniel Schipper)

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 — his current contract ends in 2027 — as he pursued a degree in criminal justice from the ��ֱ�� 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’s reputation as one of the nation’s top military friendly schools, its strength in computer science and our many industry partnerships.

Learn more about Preston Stenth’s journey from his .

“Without a doubt, coming to UCF is the best thing I ever did,” he says.

His credits from the ��ֱ�� 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’t do this?

She encouraged him while leveling with him at the same time — he wasn’t 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.

“I think that is kind of the point — they will make you go to that line and ask yourself, ‘Do you want to be here?’ ” Strenth says. “Because it’s 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’ve got to work for them.”

Preston Strenth on his first day of a summer internship with BNY in 2025. (Photo courtesy of Preston Strenth)

Opportunity Calls with BNY

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

“I have offers that no one in my family has ever had in front of them before.”

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’s main campus — 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’t 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’s core values.

“I was trying to showcase that I wanted to be here, and I wanted this job offer more than anything,” 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’s career growth potential, military leave policy and proximity to his home were too good to pass up.

“BNY has a future leaders program that I’ve already expressed interest in even though I’m not eligible for another two years. But I’m already telling them, ‘This is something I want to do. How can I?’ ” he says.

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

“Now two years later, I’m like, ‘We won. We did it,’ ” he says. “Celebrating 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.”

One Stage, Thousands of Beginnings: How UCF Graduates Power Florida’s Workforce

Mon, 04 May 2026 19:14:05 +0000

A first-generation Knight crosses the stage — the first in their family to turn years of hard work and sacrifice into a moment that reshapes their life’s trajectory.

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’s next.

At UCF, these moments don’t happen one by one. They happen all at once — 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’s degree recipients are eligible for Pell Grants, and about 22% are the first in their families to earn a college degree — 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 — 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 — more than any other institution in Florida — including leading the state in bachelor’s degrees in engineering and nursing. These two fields are essential to sustaining Florida’s 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’s 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’s time to take the next step, campus-wide career fairs open the door. They’re 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’t leave with its graduates. In many cases, it stays — and grows.

But where graduates go next tells an even bigger story.In and around Orlando — the No. 2 Best City to Start a Career in America (WalletHub) and one of the fastest-growing hubs for innovation — that talent doesn’t 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’s also something more.

Before students cross the stage, they’ve already built experience. By the time they graduate, they’re aligned with real-world demand. After they leave, they power the industries shaping Florida’s future and beyond.

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

And across the state — and far beyond it — you can already see what they’re building.

UCF Collegiate Cybersecurity Competition Team Advances to Nationals After Outstanding Regional Win

Bel Huston — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:10:13 +0000

Under a high-stakes, simulated cyberattack and mounting pressure, the UCF Collegiate Cybersecurity Competition (C3) team proved it can defend, adapt and outperform — earning first place at the 2026 Southeast Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC).

The team rose above nine competitors, including Tennessee Tech ��ֱ��, Clemson ��ֱ��, the ��ֱ�� of South Florida and the ��ֱ�� of Florida. With the win, UCF advances to the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition, which will be held virtually next month.

Twelve students make up this year’s C3 team: sophomore information technology (IT) majors Gabriel Edwards and Maksim Shostak; junior IT majors Logan Autry, Anthony Donnelly, Joseph Durand, Adam Raczynski and Jonathan Styles; senior IT major Ardian Peach; sophomore computer science major Tyler Waddell; junior computer science major Benjamin Williams; cyber security and privacy master’s student Andy Pompura ’23; and senior prelaw major Noah Magill, who serves as team captain.

UCF’s Legacy of Cybersecurity Success

Their stellar performance marks UCF’s ninth first-place finish at the Southeast CCDC regional since 2013. UCF earned runner-up finishes in 2017 and 2025, along with first-place titles in special at-large CCDC regionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

“UCF has historically maintained high service availability levels while under attack by the red team.” — Tom Nedorost ’02MS, senior instructor and C3 team coach

The team not only clinched the top spot but also swept all three categories, winning Best in Uptime Service, Best in Business and Best in Defense.

“UCF has historically maintained high service availability levels while under attack by the red team,” says Tom Nedorost ’02MS, C3 team coach and senior instructor of computer science and IT. “We lived up to that expectation again this year, which resulted in winning the Best in Uptime Service award.”

Nedorost adds that the team strengthened its ability to complete technical service requests while hardening systems against vulnerabilities to protect their network, key improvements that led to the two additional category wins.

Putting Cyber Defense Skills into Practice

At each competition, teams are tasked with defending a fictional company’s network against cyberattacks launched by red team members attempting to infiltrate it. All the while, competitors must maintain business operations and respond to customer service requests.

Each obstacle mimics real-world scenarios cybersecurity professionals face, allowing competitors to demonstrate their technical skills, business acumen and ability to collaborate.

It’s fun to go up against people [who, collectively,] would be a force to reckon with in the cyber world .” — Noah Magill, prelaw major and C3 team captain

Magill says the Southeast CCDC is among the most competitive, with red team members from leading companies such as Amazon Web Services and Cisco.

“All of them put together make up one of the scariest real-world life adversaries,” Magill says. “It’s fun to go up against people [who, collectively,] would be a force to reckon with in the cyber world — and a lot of [them] are [UCF] alumni.”

Next Up: Nationals

As the team sets its sights on the national competition, the work is far from over. Magill says a few more 100-hour weeks are likely ahead.

“Everyone on the team is incredibly adept at what they do and world-class [in] their specialty,” Magill says. “Leading this team [and relying] on such amazing teammates with such a diverse amount of skills has been really awesome.”

Best of the Southeast: UCF Conquers Civil Engineering Competition

Marisa Ramiccio — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 15:45:47 +0000

UCF civil engineering students sailed to the top of the Concrete Canoe Competition at this year’s American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Southeast Student Symposium. UCF’s ASCE student chapter clinched first place, defeating a field of 13 teams that included Georgia Tech and the ��ֱ�� of Florida, which has placed first for 13 of the past 14 years.

The victory qualifies UCF to compete at the ASCE Civil Engineering Student Championships in June in West Virginia where nearly 20 teams from North America will compete for the top crown.

“Many of the other schools were chanting ‘U-C-F’ with us when we won because of how significant the moment was.” — Edward Collazo Borges, UCF ASCE chapter president

“Winning first place in the Concrete Canoe Competition was exciting, but doing it in such a competitive region and against a program like UF — which has such a strong history in the event — made it even more meaningful,” says Edward Collazo Borges, the president of the UCF ASCE chapter. “From the outside, it may not seem like a lot, but this was huge — not just for UCF, but for every school in our region. During the awards ceremony, many of the other schools were chanting ‘U-C-F’ with us when we won because of how significant the moment was.”

UCF’s Concrete Canoe team conducts a dunk test on its structure ahead of competition.

History of the Competition

ASCE is recognized as America’s oldest national engineering society and sponsors student chapters in all 50 states and internationally. UCF’s chapter was established in 1972 and is the largest engineering organization on campus.

ASCE’s Concrete Canoe Competition was first officially held in 1988, but the history of Concrete Canoe goes back to the 1960s, when a small number of ASCE Student Chapters began holding intramural concrete canoe races.

This elite competition — known as The America’s Cup of Civil Engineering — combines engineering excellence, hydrodynamic design and racing technique as students are tasked with building a canoe from concrete and racing it against their competitors. Students are judged on the final product, race performance, technical design paper and oral presentation.

UCF’s ASCE chapter was established in 1972 and is the largest engineering organization on campus.

A Breakthrough Year

Jacob Quinones, the UCF ASCE vice president and project manager for the Concrete Canoe Competition, says the team’s performance at this year’s Southeast competition was a result of steady progress from lessons learned during previous races.

“Extra time was poured into every aspect of the project to maximize quality and performance,” Quinones says. “This would not have been possible without the entire team’s passion and dedication. It was apparent that everyone involved wanted to be there and contribute their absolute best.”

UCF ASCE took home a total of 12 awards from the symposium, including two additional first-place wins in the Concrete Cornhole and Temporary Traffic Control competitions. The group says they last won the concrete canoe competition in 1995.

In addition to the competitions, the symposium offers professional and personal development opportunities and networking.

“I learned just how much it takes to manage a project through the different ways that it tests you and pushes you past your limits,” Quinones says. “I feel that I grew as a leader and gained so much respect for those in similar positions across the entire industry.”

For Borges, this victory represents a historic win for the university and sets an example for other ASCE student chapters.

“You always have the opportunity to achieve something great,” Borges says. “I think this experience shows if you keep pushing, keep learning and keep striving to improve, you can surprise yourself with what is possible.”

UCF Celebrates Order of Pegasus, Student Awardees During Founders Day 2026

Joe Adams — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:45:01 +0000

UCF will honor 56 exceptional students at Founders’ Day on Wednesday for excellence in scholarship, leadership and service across various disciplines.

Our students are groundbreaking national and global scholarship winners, researchers, athletes, teaching assistants, residence assistants and leaders in campus organizations, including Student Government, LEAD Scholars and the President’s Leadership Council. The honorees include transfer students, those from first-generation and international backgrounds and members of the Burnett Honors College.

Aside from focusing on academics and campus causes, many of the student honorees volunteered at hospitals, schools, parks, food banks, shelters, clinics, youth clubs and with many community service organizations — at times as organizers and coordinators for support drives and campaigns.

“When you look at this group, you see trajectory.” — John Buckwalter, UCF’s provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs

“The students we recognize at our Founders’ Day Student Honors Celebration are extraordinary not just for what they’ve achieved, but for how they’ve shaped their time at UCF. They’ve pursued opportunities, challenged themselves and lifted others along the way,” says John Buckwalter, UCF’s provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “When you look at this group, you see trajectory — students whose experiences here are opening doors in meaningful ways and changing the direction of their futures, the trajectories of their families and the communities they inhabit.”

Student award categories highlight new inductees of the Order of Pegasus, UCF’s highest student honor; graduate awards for outstanding master’s thesis and outstanding dissertation; undergraduate awards for honors thesis; and individual college awardees as chosen by the respective college deans. All honorees earned financial awards.

This year’s 37 inductees into the Order of Pegasus mark the 25^th anniversary class of top-achieving Knights. The average GPA of the 2026 class is 3.912.

The campus community is invited to attend the Student Honors Celebration on Wednesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Student Union’s Pegasus Ballroom. A brief reception will follow.

Here are the students to be recognized.

Order of Pegasus Inductees

Fatima Alziyad, College of Health Professions and Sciences and Burnett Honors College
Andy Ayup, College of Sciences
Megan Bailey, College of Engineering and Computer Science and Burnett Honors College
Stacie Becker ’23, College of Arts and Humanities
Akash Hari Bharath ’25MS, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Swati Bhargava ’25MS, College of Optics and Photonics
Sanjana Bhatt, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
Griffon Binkowski ’24, College of Sciences and Burnett Honors College
Ossyris Bury, College of Engineering and Computer Science and Burnett Honors College
Nico Chen, College of Arts and Humanities and Burnett Honors College
Kyle Coutray, College of Medicine, College of Engineering and Computer Science and Burnett Honors College
Allyson Crighton, College of Nursing and Burnett Honors College
Nyauni Crowelle-Feggins, College of Health Professions and Sciences and Burnett Honors College
Cameron Cummins, College of Arts and Humanities and Burnett Honors College
Andrew “Drew” Hansen ’25, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
Andrea Hernandez Gomez, College of Sciences
Lindsey Hildebrand, College of Health Professions and Sciences
Ariana Johnson, College of Medicine
Sanjan Kumar ’23, College of Medicine
Kworweinski Lafontant, College of Health Professions and Sciences
Meera Lakshmanan, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
Abrianna Lalle, College of Nursing
Ilana Logvinov, College of Nursing
Hannah Lovejoy, College of Business
Taiel Lucile, College of Health Professions and Sciences and Burnett Honors College
Robin Marquez, College of Sciences
Shanel Moya Aguero, College of Community Innovation and Education and Burnett Honors College
Gabrielle “Gabby” Murison, College of Sciences
Varun Nannuri, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
Natalie Otero, College of Business and Burnett Honors College
Om Pathak, College of Medicine, College of Arts and Humanities and Burnett Honors College
Pritha Sarkar ’24, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Jacob Vierling, College of Community Innovation and Education
Janapriya Vijayakumar, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
Ornella Vintimilla, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
Om Vishanagra, College of Medicine, College of Engineering and Computer Science and Burnett Honors College

Undergraduate Student Awards

College Founders’ Award

Liam Pivnichny, Burnett Honors College
Antonella Bisbal Hernandez, College of Arts and Humanities
Jordan Nell, College of Business
Jude Hagan, College of Community Innovation and Education
Ossyris Bury, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Timothy Horanic, College of Health Professions and Sciences
Sun Latt, College of Medicine
Abrianna Lalle, College of Nursing
Jacob Silver, College of Optics and Photonics
Emily Willis, College of Sciences
Fabian Rodriguez Gomez, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Outstanding Honors Undergraduate Thesis

Edwin Garcia ’25, College of Arts and Humanities, Outstanding Honors Thesis in Arts, Humanities and Creative Inquiry
Eric Haseman ’25, College of Sciences, Outstanding Honors Undergraduate Thesis in Social Sciences
Shreya Pawar ’25, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Outstanding Honors Undergraduate Thesis in Natural Sciences
Andrea Molero Perez ’25, College of Medicine, Outstanding Honors Undergraduate Thesis in Health Sciences
Nicholas Rose ’25, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Outstanding Honors Thesis in Engineering and Technology

Graduate Student Awards

Outstanding Dissertation

Jessica Moon ’25PhD, College of Health Professions and Sciences
Michael Pierro ’20 ’23MS ’25PhD, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Joshua Colwell Leads UCF’s College of Sciences as Dean

Ana Hidalgo — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:21:14 +0000

The search for a new dean for the UCF College of Sciences has concluded with the appointment of Joshua Colwell, a Pegasus Professor of physics who has been at UCF for 20 years.

Following a competitive national search and rigorous interview process, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs John Buckwalter selected Colwell on March 13, citing his steady leadership during his nine-month tenure as interim dean.

“Under his leadership, the college fostered an environment where students, faculty and staff can thrive, while strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration and expanding research and community impact,” Buckwalter says.

The UCF College of Sciences is the university’s largest college, comprising three schools, six departments and nine research centers, and serving more than 16,000 students.

As interim dean, and now as dean, Colwell oversees the university’s largest college, serving more than 16,000 students across a wide range of disciplines, including the physical, biological, social, behavioral and computational sciences. The College of Sciences plays a central role in advancing UCF’s research enterprise and preparing graduates to address complex global challenges through scientific discovery and innovation.

Colwell’s bold vision for the College of Sciences builds on UCF’s reputation as Florida’s Technological ��ֱ��.

“We have cutting-edge research ranging from human-machine communication and interaction to new materials for clean energy, as well as the societal and political aspects of space exploration,” Colwell says. “We are uniquely positioned to prepare students for a rapidly evolving technological landscape and the economy of the 21st century.”

Among his key focuses are improving student preparedness after graduation, ensuring students have the knowledge and skills to thrive in an increasingly competitive job market shaped by advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence.

“It’s a top priority to make sure our researchers understand the rapidly changing technological landscape so they can carry out transformative work.” — Joshua Colwell, COS dean

“It’s a top priority to make sure our researchers understand the rapidly changing technological landscape so they can carry out transformative work,” Colwell says. “We also want to ensure our faculty have the support needed to deliver a world-class education.”

Colwell emphasizes the importance of keeping key stakeholders informed and including them in decision-making when appropriate.

“I’ve found that transparency and strong communication among all parties go a long way toward building trust and commitment to a shared vision,” Colwell says. “I want to make sure my team and I are available and actively engaging with faculty, students, staff and the community to discuss challenges, opportunities, and how to navigate them.”

Colwell joined UCF as an assistant professor in the Department of Physics in 2006. He later served as chair of the Department of Physics and associate dean for research for the college. In these roles, he was instrumental in advancing academic planning, supporting research growth and leading initiatives that strengthen student success. His leadership contributed to expanding faculty capacity, modernizing instructional laboratories and enhancing research opportunities across the college — experience that has shaped his approach as a leader.

“The breadth of those experiences has given me valuable insight into the challenges our faculty and staff face and how administration at the college level can support their work,” Colwell says. “I’ve also taught both large and small classes and supervised undergraduate and graduate students, so I feel very connected to the UCF student experience.”

“I’ve also taught both large and small classes and supervised undergraduate and graduate students, so I feel very connected to the UCF student experience.” — Joshua Colwell, COS dean

Colwell says the multidisciplinary nature of the college’s work, which touches every part of the human experience, makes it an exciting place to be.

“From transforming energy production and human-computer interaction to shaping entertainment, managing information, and coexisting with our environment, our work is exciting, impactful, and innovative,” he says. “Above all, we are preparing our students to thrive and make a positive impact in the world.”

Colwell earned his doctoral degree in astrophysical, planetary and atmospheric sciences from the ��ֱ�� of Colorado Boulder and his bachelor’s degree in physics from Stetson ��ֱ��. In 2019, he was named a Pegasus Professor, UCF’s highest faculty honor. His research on planetary rings, comets and the evolution of planetary systems has supported experiments flown on the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. He also served as a co-investigator on Cassini–Huygens and has worked closely with students on spaceflight experiments in collaboration with commercial partners such as Blue Origin.

UCF to Compete in the International Collegiate Programming Contest’s 2026 World Finals After Top 5 Finish

Bel Huston — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 19:42:24 +0000

UCF student programmers are poised to showcase their formidable skills on a world stage after a top five finish at this weekend’s International Collegiate Programming Contest North America Championship (ICPC NAC).

Computer science students Brian Barak ’25, Thomas Meeks and Benjamin Prins competed as UCF Triangulate, one of the 52 university teams at the NAC who earned the chance to compete for a spot internationally from an original field of about 1,000 from the U.S. and Canada. UCF placed No. 5, earning the opportunity to head to Dubai in November to compete at the 50th annual ICPC World Finals.

The UCF Triangulate team accepts a bronze award at the ICPC North America Championship, joined by ICPC North America Director Toni Logar (far left) and Upsilon Honor Society Executive Director Orlando Madrigal (far right).

The trio placed ahead of the Georgia Institute of Technology and ��ֱ�� of Florida, the other two schools in the contest’s southeast region. They also beat Ivy League universities and colleges with notable computer science programs, including California Institute of Technology, Harvard ��ֱ�� and Carnegie Mellon ��ֱ��.

“The contest has grown from a few hundred students to almost 100,000 students. It’s getting harder and more challenging each year to outperform others,” says UCF programming team faculty advisor Ali Orooji. “We are very proud of our students and coaches who put in the time and effort to do well in the contest.”

ICPC student programmers are among the best in the world. At UCF, competitors are often recruited for their contest experience by companies such as Google and Microsoft, attracted by contestants’ proven ability to collaborate under pressure on advanced algorithms.

“The training offered by [our computer programming teams’] coaches is exceptional, and our competitors’ commendable work ethic and skills continue to draw the attention of the tech industry to our college.” — Michael Georgiopoulos, CECS dean

“Our programming team continues to make us proud with their latest accomplishment,” says College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean Michael Georgiopoulos. “They are establishing a legacy of excellence in programming for UCF. The training offered by their coaches is exceptional, and our competitors’ commendable work ethic and skills continue to draw the attention of the tech industry to our college.”

During the contest, the competitors have five hours to answer a series of logic problems that require developing algorithms to solve. The problems are based on real-world scenarios such as modeling air traffic flow, optimizing security for an art gallery, and tracking animals in a wildlife preserve. Teams of three collaborate on one computer to solve the most problems in the least amount of time.

Barak, Meeks and Prins solved nine out of the 13 problems, and were the first to solve problem K.

“I think we had several advantages over other North America teams going into the contest that played a part in our team’s performance: a phenomenal support structure with the dedicated coaches, especially our team’s coach Glenn Martin ’92 ’95MS ’12PhD; access to the programming team lab; and support from the rest of the team,” Meeks says.

He adds that frequent and consistent twice-weekly practice and training on challenging problems from ICPC training camp sets and the Universal Cup, a nonprofit organization that provides resources for competitive programmers, also contributed to their success.

“Several years of being on a team together helped us form a strong and efficient team dynamic,” he says.

Hosted by UCF for the past six years, the NAC attracts a number of sponsors who recognize the contest as an opportunity to meet the next generation of talented programmers. This year’s contest sponsors included Jane Street, OpenAI, JetBrains, Jump Trading, Citadel, the National Security Agency, Hudson River Trading and Upsilon Pi Epsilon Honor Society.

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