On most days, DeAscanis is focused on something many people never think about: the invisible systems that keep modern life running.

Hospitals must power critical equipment. Cities endure record-breaking heat. Data centers aim to hum without interruption. Behind those moments are gas turbines the size of buildings, and a team of engineers determined to make them Ā smarter, faster and more reliable.

At Siemens Energy, DeAscanis helps lead that charge.

Rising to Energy Design Challenges

His bold goal is ambitious: transform how turbines are tested, inspected and manufactured so they can be delivered at the speed and scale global demand now requires. As electricity needs surge worldwide, efficiency is no longer optional.

ā€œIf the turbines donā€™t work, the power doesnā€™t exist,ā€ he says.

After earning his aerospace engineering degree from UCF, DeAscanis joined Siemens Energy located just steps from campus. He began on a small team of three engineers developing custom tools to test next-generation engines. The work was intensely hands-on and involved long days refining inspection systems, improving automation and solving problems in real time.

Colleagues describe DeAscanis as calm under pressure and relentlessly curious. He sees constraints not as roadblocks but as design challenges.

That perspective proved essential during lean years in the energy sector, when fluctuating demand forced teams to justify every investment. Rather than scale back, DeAscanis and his colleagues innovated their way forward ā€” streamlining inspection processes, reducing testing time and building automation systems that improved both speed and precision.

Those efforts produced measurable results. DeAscanis now holds 11 patents, with dozens more innovations developed across his team. Some advances are patented; others remain proprietary trade secrets that strengthen Siemens Energyā€™s competitive position in a global marketplace.

Enhancing Expertise to Deliver Impact

Over the past decade, he has also helped grow his organization from fewer than five engineers to nearly 100. His role expanded from technical contributor to strategic leader, overseeing budgets, setting research priorities and securing U.S. Department of Defense contracts to accelerate development. Recognizing the importance of business fluency, he returned to UCF to earn his MBA.

ā€œI knew how to build technology,ā€ he says. ā€œI wanted to understand how to scale it.ā€

His journey traces back to his UCF senior design project, where he and three classmates developed a system to manufacture thin carbon nanofiber sheets designed to reinforce aircraft structures against lightning strikes. The project demanded technical rigor, collaboration and applied problem-solving ā€” the same qualities Siemens Energy looks for in its engineers. It also helped open the door to his first role at Siemens Energy, proving that classroom innovation can translate directly into industry impact.

Fueling the Energy Industry

Learn more about how are accelerating innovation, fueling workforce development and strengthening the future of energy infrastructure.

Today, more than half of the engineers in his facility are UCF graduates. Through the Pegasus Partnership, Siemens Energy and UCF are not simply recruiting talent ā€” they are co-developing it. Students gain exposure to real-world challenges long before graduation. Industry gains engineers who are ready to lead from day one.

For DeAscanis, that cycle feels deeply personal.

ā€œUCF gave me the foundation to solve complex problems and the confidence to think bigger,ā€ he says. ā€œNow I get to help build the systems ā€” and the teams ā€” that will power what comes next.ā€

As global energy demand accelerates and infrastructure grows more sophisticated, the stakes are rising. The partnership between Siemens Energy and UCF reflects a shared belief: that bold thinking, applied research and prepared graduates can shape not just an industry, but the future of how the world runs.

This yearā€™s tournament will be the first FIFA World Cup to be hosted by three nations ā€” United States, Canada and Mexico ā€” and the first to include an expanded field of 48 teams from across the globe. Eleven U.S. cities will host 78 matches June 11 ā€“ July 19, including the championship match in New York and third place playoff in Miami.

This historic event coincides with the United Statesā€™ 250th anniversaryĀ and marks the first time since 1994 the country has hosted the menā€™s World Cup.

Hereā€™sĀ a look at some of the Knights bringing this event to life.

Izzy Angel ā€™23

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Role:Ģż²Ń±š»å¾±²¹Ģż“Ē±č±š°ł²¹³Ł¾±“Ē²Ō²õĢż²¹²Ō»åĢż²õ±š°ł±¹¾±³¦±š²õ
FIFA location: Atlanta

I will be supporting media logistics, guiding photographers and press to designated areas, and facilitating press conferences and interviews. One of the biggest ways UCF prepared me for this opportunity was through its emphasis on networking, collaboration and real-world experience. That mindset opened doors to internships, jobs and experiences that helped me gain confidence in putting myself out there and connecting with people.

Itā€™s been really fulfilling to meet people with completely different backgrounds and life experiences who are all coming together over a shared passion. Being part of something on such a global scale and feeling that sense of community has been incredibly special.

Brendon Boseja ā€™25

Bachelorā€™s inĀ integratedĀ business

Role:Ā SeniorĀ coordinator,Ā Client Group ManagementĀ Accreditation
FIFA site: Miami

At UCF, I learned to network and make many connections in the industry and to continue these relationships. This has especially helped me throughout FIFA, especially since my main job is to communicate with every stadium involved in the tournament. Working for a sports organization as big as FIFA has been a dream of mine, and to be involved with an event like the World Cup is surreal to think about.

Taylor Culver ā€™23 ā€™26MSBM ā€™26MBA

Bachelorā€™s in kinesiology
²Ń²¹²õ³Ł±š°łā€™sĢż¾±²ŌĢż²õ±č“Ē°ł³ŁĢż²ś³Ü²õ¾±²Ō±š²õ²õĢż³¾²¹²Ō²¹²µ±š³¾±š²Ō³Ł
Masterā€™s in business administration

Role:Ā EventĀ executive, FIFA Fan Festival
FIFA site: Houston

ā€œBecause of the connections, mentorship and opportunities I gained through UCF, these experiences expanded my confidence and showed me that I truly belong in this industry.ā€

My role is to help create and execute large-scale fan experiences that bring the energy of the World Cup to life outside of the stadium. Being able to contribute to an event of this magnitude is both humbling and motivating, and I know it will be one of the most impactful experiences of my career. UCF prepared me for this opportunity by putting me in real-world sports environments early and constantly challenging me to grow as a leader. Through the program and my experience as a recruiting assistant for UCF Athletics with the football team, I learned how to operate in fast-paced environments where organization, communication and adaptability are critical. Because of the connections, mentorship and opportunities I gained through UCF, these experiences expanded my confidence and showed me that I truly belong in this industry.

Daniel Garzon ā€™23 ā€™24MSBM ā€™24MBA

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²Ń²¹²õ³Ł±š°łā€™sĢż¾±²ŌĢż²õ±č“Ē°ł³ŁĢż²ś³Ü²õ¾±²Ō±š²õ²õĢż³¾²¹²Ō²¹²µ±š³¾±š²Ō³Ł
Masterā€™s in businessĀ administration

Role:Ā WorkforceĀ integrationĀ seniorĀ coordinator,Ā Tournament Operation Center Services
FIFA site:Ā Miami

I started my journey at FIFA as an intern with the volunteer management team shortly after graduating from the DeVos Sport Business Management program in 2024. As a recruitment coordinator, I spearheaded communications and recruitment strategy while sourcing and scheduling thousands of candidates. Now in my new role, I will be in the heartbeat of the headquarters of the tournament, fulfilling operational needs for all departments while manipulating data to make informed decisions for all the venues during the World Cup.

William Mendez ā€™26MSBM ā€™26MBA

²Ń²¹²õ³Ł±š°łā€™sĢż¾±²ŌĢż²õ±č“Ē°ł³ŁĢż²ś³Ü²õ¾±²Ō±š²õ²õĢż³¾²¹²Ō²¹²µ±š³¾±š²Ō³Ł
Masterā€™s in businessĀ administration

Role: Team protocol liaison officer
FIFA site:Ā Miami

I will provide operational support as a main point of contact for the teamsā€™ protocol representatives, managing VIP/VVIP seating, ticket distribution and logistics. Iā€™m truly excited to be part of an event of this magnitude because FIFA ā€™26 goes beyond sports by bringing people together across cultures from all over the world.ā€ÆThe DeVos Sport Business Management program at UCF has played a major role in preparing me for this moment, giving me the hands-on experience and confidence I need to contribute to an event of this scale.

Colin Oā€™Toole ā€™26MSBM ā€™26MBA

²Ń²¹²õ³Ł±š°łā€™sĢż¾±²ŌĢż²õ±č“Ē°ł³ŁĢż²ś³Ü²õ¾±²Ō±š²õ²õĢż³¾²¹²Ō²¹²µ±š³¾±š²Ō³Ł
Masterā€™sĀ in businessĀ administration

Role: Accreditation center coordinator
FIFA site:Ā Boston

I grew up watching the World Cup and always dreamed of being part of the most watched sporting event in the world. My experience in the soccer industry through both professional and volunteer roles gave me a strong foundation, and the DeVos program broadened my perspective. It exposed me to the business side of the industry, while simultaneously connecting me with incredible mentors and peers, ultimately giving me the confidence and network to land this opportunity with FIFA.

Connor Pank ā€™17

Bachelorā€™s inĀ management

Role:Ģż°Õ±š²¹³¾Ģż²õ±š°ł±¹¾±³¦±š²õĢż±¹±š²Ō³Ü±šĢż“Ē“Ś“Ś¾±³¦±š°ł
FIFA site: Tampa, Florida

The sport business management minor at UCF offered plenty of opportunities to gain practical experience in the industry. My junior year, I was fortunate enough to land a season-long internship at Orlando City Soccer Club in the game day operations department, which then turned into a full-time position with seven amazing seasons of constant growth and experiences that I am forever gratefulā€Æfor.

Being involved in a FIFA World Cup has been a personal goal of mine since my early days with Orlando City SC, when we hosted a U.S. Soccer vs.Ā Panama World Cup QualifierĀ ahead of theĀ 2018 FIFA World Cup.Ā Every teamĀ participatingĀ in the World Cup chooses a designated home base,Ā which includes the team hotel, trainingĀ siteĀ and other operational support facilities as needed. My role is centered around acting as FIFAā€™s primary operational lead on-site for Cabo Verdeā€™s home base in Tampa to ensure a seamless, world-class experience.

Annie Quaile ā€™06

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Role:Ā VenueĀ manager,Ā FIFA Fan Festival
FIFA site: Atlanta

I act as the bridge between FIFA, Atlanta and the commercial and operational partners delivering the Fan Festival experience. My role focuses on coordinating eventĀ logistics, operations, guest experience, VIP and talent management, and partner integration while ensuring FIFA brand standards are upheld throughout the event.

One of the biggest takeaways from my experience at UCF was learning how to balance creativity,Ā leadershipĀ and problem-solving under pressure, which isĀ essentially theĀ foundation of live event and operational management.Ā The FIFA World Cup is one of the few truly global experiences that brings together people from every background,Ā cultureĀ and country around a shared passion.Ā All ofĀ the planning, coordination and operational work happens behind the scenes for months, so finally seeing people from around the worldĀ gathering together, celebrating and creating memories is incredibly rewarding.

Andres Sifontes ā€™24

Bachelorā€™s in communication

Role:Ā Coordinator, Accreditation Documentation and Training Operations
FIFA site: Houston

I joined the FIFA team in September 2024, supporting preparations for both Club World Cup 2025 and FIFA World Cup 2026. In my role now, I oversee Accreditation Center operations in Houston, assist volunteers, and ensure that key stakeholders ā€” including partners like Coca-Cola, Adidas and Visa ā€” receive proper credentials. UCFā€™s communication program, and especially myĀ Communication Research MethodsĢż±Ź°ł“Ē“Ś±š²õ²õ“Ē°ł , equipped me with the tools I continue to apply every day in my role at FIFA by teaching me how to communicate effectively, carry myself professionally, and think strategically.

Since graduating, my goal has been to contribute to the growth of soccer in the United States. This passion has always been part of who I am, and UCF helped me build the foundation to pursue it professionally. After graduation, I worked with Inter Miami CF, and now with FIFA, Iā€™ve been fortunate to play a role in supporting the continued development of the sport. I truly believe we are about to witness unprecedented growth for the game in this country. I hope that at the end of my career, I can look back and say I contributed to that growth ā€” and that it all started at UCF.

Dennis Sprenkle ā€™01

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Role:Ā Director ofĀ workforceĢż²¹²Ō»åĢżhumanĀ resources
FIFA site:Ģż²Ń¾±²¹³¾¾±

My team oversees the employee journey from recruitment to offboarding across the three host countries (Canada, Mexico and the U.S.) and 16 host cities. We are responsible for everything from workforce planning, training, visa management, benefits, payroll, employee uniforms and just about every other aspect of human resources.

I have always had a keen interest in global political and business affairs, which is why I studied political science with an emphasis on international relations at UCF. Working for a governing body like FIFA in many respects is akin to working for the United Nations. ā€¦ In order to be a successful leader in a global organization like FIFA, it is critical to have an open mind to effectively collaborate, plan and execute the largest sporting event in human history. My education and experience at UCF as a leader in Student Government certainly laid the foundation and has helped prepare me for this opportunity.

Ryan Taheri ā€™24

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Role:Ģż°Ā“Ē°ł°ģ“Ś“Ē°ł³¦±šĢż“Ē±č±š°ł²¹³Ł¾±“Ē²Ō²õĢż³¾²¹²Ō²¹²µ±š°ł
FIFA site: Dallas

I grew up watching the World Cup with my family. Now, I occasionally stop for a second and realize how special it all is to be working behind the scenes on the operational side of the tournament. A big part of what I do in my role is coordinate with different functional areas like transportation, catering, accommodations, uniforms and venue operations to ensure the workforce is supported and operations run smoothly.

ā€œUCF pushed me into leadership opportunities early and taught me how to work in fast-paced environments with a lot of moving parts.ā€

A lot of the role comes down to staying organized, communicating clearly and solving problems quickly. UCF pushed me into leadership opportunities early and taught me how to work in fast-paced environments with a lot of moving parts. Looking back now, I donā€™t think I realized at the time how much of my experience at UCF directly prepared me for working on something as large and complex as aā€ÆFIFA ā€™26.

Alejandro Tarazona ā€™22

Bachelorā€™s in integrated business

Role:Ģż²Ń²¹²Ō²¹²µ±š°ł,Ģż°Õ°ł²¹¾±²Ō¾±²Ō²µĢż³§¾±³Ł±šĢż³Õ±š²Ō³Ü±šĢż°Õ°ł²¹²Ō²õ±č“Ē°ł³Ł
FIFA site: Miami

Iā€Æoversee transportation operations andā€Ælogisticsā€Æat all 75 training sites across U.S., Canada and Mexico ā€” including shuttles, loading zones, team busses and their fleets, and parking lots for media, volunteers and guests. I grew up in Lake Nona and had an opportunity to play collegiate soccer at a Division II school in Florida, but financially, it just didnā€™t make sense for my family and me. Instead I enrolled at Valencia College and earned my degree through the .

UCF gave me the technical skills I needed for my managerial position now, like creating financial analysis for labor rates across 16 stadiums thatā€Æweā€™llā€Æbe using in U.S., Canada and Mexico. As a former soccer player and as someoneā€Æwho isā€Æobsessed with the sport, working for one of the biggest and best sports organization in the world has been a lifelong goal.ā€ÆThis experience has taught me to consider redefining whatā€™s possible and keep setting goals.

Tomas Upegui ā€™22

µž²¹³¦³ó±š±ō“Ē°łā€™sĢż¾±²ŌĢż¾±²Ō³Ł±š²µ°ł²¹³Ł±š»åĢż²ś³Ü²õ¾±²Ō±š²õ²õ

Role:Ģż¹ó±ō±š±š³ŁĢż“Ē±č±š°ł²¹³Ł¾±“Ē²Ō²õĢż²¹²Ō²¹±ō²ā²õ³Ł
FIFA site: Miami

Growing up playing soccer, being involved with FIFA in any capacity is something I never imagined would become reality, especially this early in my career. I am supporting transportation and depot operations across all 16 host cities, contributing to transportation operations involving VIPs and trophy movements. Studying business taught me how to work efficiently in fast-paced environments and quickly adapt while balancing multiple responsibilities at once, which directly translates to my role.

One of the most exciting parts of this experience has been realizing the true scale of the FIFA World Cup and seeing firsthand how much coordination happens behind the scenes to make an event of this magnitude successful.

±į±š°łĢżresearch, backed by a five-year $813,130 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases grant, found that an antimicrobial peptide naturally found in cows weakens the biofilm defenses of Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria and destroys it.

Now in their fourth year of research, Fleeman and her lab have discovered exactly how the peptide works in findings published in PLOS Pathogens.

ā€œOur research is very advantageous for healthcare because about 80% of bacterial infections being treated in the clinic are bacteria living in a biofilm state, which makes them resistant to virtually every antibiotic available,ā€ she says.

The resultsĀ representĀ a critical step to potentially applying this peptide as a therapy and eventually treating patients,Ā as the findingsĀ show they can and kill biofilm-embedded bacteria in animal models.

Parsing out the Peptide

K. pneumoniae is found in the intestines and is usually harmless, however, the bacterium develops resistance over a personā€™s lifetime as they are exposed to antibiotics. The bacteria also can spread from the intestine to other parts of the body in immunocompromised patients and those who have internal ruptures or exposure to contaminated medical devices. That exposure can lead to pneumonia, urinary tract or wound infections.

ā€œWhat happens is the bacteriaĀ infectsĀ the wound, proliferates, and then invades through the bloodstreamĀ where it travelsĀ to the liver, kidneys and spleen,ā€ FleemanĀ says. ā€œWeĀ foundĀ our peptideĀ was able to decrease the bacteriaĀ at the source while limitingĀ the bacteriaā€™sĀ ability to moveĀ through the blood.ā€

Fleeman and her labā€™s most recent study found that the peptide triggers a dual stress response that tricks the bacteria to break out of their protective biofilm.

They discovered the genetics of a specific protein in the bacterium when turned on in the germ causes it to break from its own protective biofilm. The peptide, in effect, damages the protection and then stresses the bacterium into shedding its protection, making the germ more sensitive to antibiotics and the bodyā€™s immune system.

ā€œByĀ hitting the membrane as well as protein synthesis at the same time, it’sĀ a double punch that triggers a geneticĀ changeĀ in the cell to make it think it needs to break out ofĀ the biofilm as a response to our peptide,ā€ FleemanĀ says.

The team says their sustained research aims to demonstrate that their peptide can work synergistically with existing antibiotics. They envision long-term applications could involve a topical cream that weakens the bacteriaā€™s defenses and allows standard antibiotics to work more effectively.

ā€œWeā€™re moving our researchĀ forwardĀ and weā€™re very hopeful,ā€ FleemanĀ says.

Preparing for the Post-Antibiotic Era

The first author of this new workĀ isĀ Robert BeckmanĀ ā€™23, who graduatedĀ from UCFĀ with aĀ bachelorā€™s degree in health sciences,Ā managedĀ Fleemanā€™s labĀ and is now on his way toĀ the ŗ£½ĒÖ±²„ of MichiganĀ for his Ph.D.

HisĀ previousĀ work as an EMT gave him firsthand exposure toĀ infectious diseases and their impact onĀ patients.Ā HeĀ saysĀ helping to lead the study andĀ working withĀ Fleeman helped prepare him for a career in medical research.

ā€œI have developed a strong foundation in research and gained insight into the many components that define an effective scientist,ā€ heĀ says. ā€œMy long-term goal is to remain in academia and eventually lead my own research lab.Ā I plan to continue focusing on bacteriology, with a particular emphasis on pathogenic bacteria and drug discovery applications.ā€

Funding and Disclosure:

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National InstituteĀ of AllergyĀ and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R00AI163295. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarilyĀ representĀ the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

At 16, he opened his first brokerage accountĀ in 2008, with his grandmotherā€™s help, during the Great Recession because he saw a market that had no place to go but up.

When cloud accounting platforms were just starting to become viable in the early 2010s, he was an early adopter, eventually building a firm that served clients remotely.

Now asĀ artificial intelligence (AI)Ā reshapesĀ the business landscape, Hubenthal decided to embrace thisĀ latest inflection point by enrolling in UCFā€™sĀ .

ā€œUCF is ready for every Knight who dares to lean in.ā€

ā€œUCFĀ doesnā€™tĀ just educate you. It finds you. It amplifies who you are and prepares you to make a difference,ā€ says Hubenthal, who is from Elon, North Carolina. ā€œSometimesĀ Iā€™mĀ amazed that this small-town kid has ended up consulting with business leaders in boardrooms across the globe. Somewhere out there, another teenager is watching the world shift and feeling that pull. UCF is ready for every Knight who dares to lean in.ā€

Leading With a Spirit of Innovation

Itā€™s Knights like Hubenthal who inspired Barry S. Miller ā€™95 to invest a transformational $50 million gift into the College of Business to further strengthen UCFā€™s reputation as a global leader in fintech, AI and business innovation.

A graduate of UCFā€™sĀ Ā program in theĀ ,Ā HubenthalĀ initially came to UCF to studyĀ Ģż²¹²Ō»åĢżengineering. ButĀ afterĀ witnessingĀ the impact of theĀ Great RecessionĀ onĀ families, including his own,Ā heĀ switchedĀ to business and finance.

ā€œIĀ made it my mission toĀ understand what happened, why it happened and how to help prevent it,ā€Ā Hubenthal says.

EarlyĀ in his career,Ā HubenthalĀ worked in corporateĀ finance,Ā gainingĀ hands-on experienceĢż²¹²Ō»åĢżlearningĀ how established organizations manage their financial infrastructure.

In 2015,Ā just two years afterĀ earning his bachelorā€™s degree,Ā heĀ co-foundedĀ a data analytics firm with fellow UCF graduates,Ā bringingĀ enterprise-gradeĀ bigĀ data andĀ analyticsĀ servicesĀ to local businesses at an accessible price point.Ā ThatĀ venture earned HubenthalĀ recognitionĀ as part ofĀ BusinessĀ North CarolinaĀ magazineā€™sĀ cover storyĀ onĀ innovationĀ inĀ 2016.

Building on Success

HeĀ has since founded firms rooted in data analytics, accounting and finance ā€” including his firm Bookscaping ā€” started a financial literacy podcast to share his expertise with small businesses, and published a book, The Simple Fiscal Method: 17 Financial Lessons for Every Small Business Owner to Succeed in Life.

In 2022, he signed on as vice president of finance for ryco.io, an educational startup where he built and still leads the companyā€™s financial strategy and operations.

He is currently betaĀ testingĀ an automated system for the company, which almost fully manages its payable function with safeguards, audit trails and authorizations built in. He envisions this empowering ryco.io to scale its financial operations.

Hubenthal wanted to fully immerse himself in this new era of business and tech, so he is turning to UCFā€™s fintech program to prepare him for whatā€™s ahead.

ā€œFor me, the real world is the lab. And thanks to UCF, Iā€™m just getting started.ā€

ā€œThe program put me in a room with nearly 30 students from four continents who felt like family within the first month,ā€Ā HubenthalĀ says. ā€œJust weeks ago,Ā I built a portfolio optimization tool for my own retirement account ā€”Ā 1Ā million simulated market daysĢż²¹²Ō»åĢżalmostĀ 4,000Ā years of data, solved by aĀ supercomputerĀ in under three seconds ā€” using what I learned in this program.

ā€œFor me,Ā the real world is the lab,ā€ he continues.Ā ā€œAnd thanks to UCF,Ā Iā€™mĀ just getting started.ā€

Last year,Ā SpencerĀ was promoted toĀ hisĀ first leadership role as a performance coordinator with the Entertainment Events team at Universal Orlando ResortĀ ā€” guiding performers,Ā maintainingĀ show quality,Ā and collaborating with creative and technical teamsĀ to deliverĀ live events andĀ immersiveĀ guest experiences. He credits UCF with helping him achieve a decades-long goal.

ThatĀ dreamĀ started duringĀ hisĀ childhood in Virginia, whenĀ hisĀ parents went through a difficult divorce, and heĀ foundĀ hisĀ happy place at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.Ā He went on to become a theater student, and in high school he took a jobĀ at the parkĀ as a performer.

Thatā€™sĀ when heĀ knewĀ heĀ could turn his passion into a career.

ā€œAs a kid,Ā I could immerse myself in a show and have a reprieve fromĀ difficult timesĀ at home.Ā I knew that someday I wanted to create that happiness for others,ā€Ā SpencerĀ says. ā€œOnce IĀ had the opportunityĀ to work there, I was fascinatedĀ by what it tookĀ behind the scenesĀ to bring a theme park experience to life.Ā IĀ wanted a career filled with days like those.ā€

To pursueĀ this path,Ā heĀ setĀ hisĀ sightsĀ on attendingĀ , where heĀ went on toĀ earnĀ his bachelorā€™s degree in entertainment managementĀ in 2023.Ā JustĀ this week,Ā UCFĀ welcomedĀ  as its first entertainment-sector Pegasus Partner and announced the creation of The Universal School of Experience Leadership and InnovationĀ at Rosen College.

ā€œWhen I found Rosen College, I knew it was the place for me,ā€ he says.Ā ā€œOn the first day of class, my professor talked about the joys of a career in the theme park industry. It was a dreamĀ Iā€™dĀ had for so long that it moved me to tears.ā€

He sent his mom a text that said,Ā ā€œThank you for everythingĀ youā€™veĀ done for me.Ā Iā€™mĀ exactly where I need to be.ā€

However,Ā asĀ an out-of-stateĀ student,Ā tuitionĀ was a challengeĀ for Spencer.Ā HisĀ mom did all she couldĀ to helpĀ him, butĀ heĀ has workedĀ hard to pay forĀ hisĀ education.Ā He becameĀ aĀ residentĀ assistantĀ on campusĀ and alsoĀ received a RosenĀ CollegeĀ scholarship.Ā Throughout school,Ā he hasĀ worked as a performer in all threeĀ majorĀ Central FloridaĀ theme parksĀ simultaneously.

He also became aĀ leaderĀ on campus and in the industry, servingĀ asĀ viceĀ presidentĀ of UCFā€™s Future Theme Park Leaders AssociationĀ while he was a Rosen College student.

He creditsĀ hisĀ professorsĀ withĀ believing in him and supporting him throughout his journey,Ā helping him to work towardĀ his goalĀ ofĀ becomingĀ a show directorĀ in one of the local world-class theme parks.

The same professor who inspired him on day one later encouraged him to pursue a masterā€™s degree inĀ themed experience, part ofĀ UCFā€™sĀ College of Arts and Humanities.Ā This programĀ is designedĀ forĀ theĀ next generation of creators, artists and leadersĀ whoĀ are redefining what it means to be entertained, and Spencer justĀ graduated in early May.

ā€œMy UCF journey has been the experience of a lifetime,ā€ he says.Ā ā€œAnd the best part is that Iā€™ll spend my career creating experiences that are just as life-changing for others.ā€

Last year, Spencer received aĀ Universal OrlandoĀ Impact AwardĀ recognizing his contributionsĀ toĀ theĀ grand opening celebration of Epic Universe, the resortā€™s newest theme park.

Ģż²¹³ŁĢż,Ā inspiring the UCF communityĢż²¹²Ō»åĢżdemonstratingĀ the power of a Knight education toĀ reshape what it means to be entertained and what the future of experiences holds for people everywhere.

The UCF-UniversalĀ Pegasus PartnershipĀ is aĀ significant earlyĀ milestoneĀ ofĀ Ā ā€”Ā aĀ $3.5 billionĀ campaign to expandĀ opportunity, advanceĀ discoveryĀ and drive impact across the university.

Spencerā€™sĀ story shows whyĀ Ā isĀ so important: Investments in UCF help students ignite meaningful careers, discover newĀ frontiersĀ and create a bold tomorrow.Ā Students likeĀ himĀ are launching a new era of innovation and making their mark across every industry.

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

ā€œThe work I do is very rewarding. Every day, I get to contribute to advancing medical care and treatment,ā€ McDorman says. ā€œIf itā€™s a medical device and it has a wire, Alleima is likely contributing to it somehow.ā€

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

ā€œI chose UCF because the [materials science and engineering] program was highly rated … and had a wide variety of research areas …ā€

Before coming to UCF, McDorman earned her masterā€™s and bachelorā€™s degrees in physics, but discovered a passion for applied research that required a deeper focus on materials.

ā€œWhen I decided to pursue a Ph.D., materials science and engineering was a natural choice,ā€ she says. ā€œI chose UCF because the program was highly rated, small and had a wide variety of research areas that I was interested in.ā€

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

She credits her research experience at UCF with preparing her for work at Alleima, where 90% of her unitā€™s business supports medical device manufacturing.

ā€œThe company has a rich history of materials innovation in steel and nickel-based alloys,ā€ McDorman says. ā€œSince we produce wire, I am constantly using base materials science knowledge to process the material in a way that achieves a specific set of properties in the end product.ā€

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

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

ā€œWe put a lot into our work every day because we truly care about ensuring the best possible patient outcomes,ā€ she says. ā€œIt is great that our efforts have been recognized by the business.ā€

Thereā€™s something undeniably powerful about becoming the person your younger self once needed.

For nonprofit management alum Britt Johnson ā€™23 ā€™25MNM, that transformation came full circle.

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

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

The organization primarily serves the ALICE population ā€” Asset Limited, Income Constrained and Employed ā€”Ā working families who may be one car breakdown or missed paycheck away from crisis.

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

Establishing an Educational Foundation

Johnson’s path to leadership wasn’t linear.

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

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

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

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

ā€œIt looked like my lived experience,ā€ he says. ā€œI got really connected to the mission.ā€

Rising Through the Ranks

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

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

ā€œWhen I walk into a neighborhood or a church or a city council meeting, I’m there to co-create with the community, not prescribe it,ā€ he says. ā€œWe have to listen first before acting.ā€

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

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

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

ā€œOur services help provide stability in times of uncertainty,ā€ Johnson says. ā€œIf you’re not working, you’re going to tip over into a spiraling cycle of issues, and we want to prevent that.ā€

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

The Heart of the Mission

In 2025, Johnson was named an Emerging Leader Impact Award recipient by Heart of Florida United Way and recognized as an Alumni Excellence Honoree by Seminole State College. He was also recently accepted into Nova Southeastern ŗ£½ĒÖ±²„, where heā€™ll pursue a Doctor of Education degree in human service administration.

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

ā€œThe biggest lesson I carry from UCF to Christian HELP every day is very simple: Access is dignity,ā€ he says. ā€œWhen you build systems that are welcoming, data-informed and relentlessly human, lives are transformed.ā€

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 ā€œthe Good Doctors ā€“ a UCF tradition.ā€

This yearā€™s M.D. program commencement was the medical schoolā€™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.

ā€œGraduates, today you become alumni of an innovative medical school committed to improving health for all,ā€ she said. ā€œThrough your time here, you learned, you grew, and you cared for patients with courage, dedication, and grace. I couldnā€™t be prouder of the work you have done.ā€

With this yearā€™s commencement, UCFā€™s young medical school, which opened in 2009, has prepared 1,421 physicians to care for Floridians and the nation at large.

Inspired by Her Research Mentor

Moots is the third M.D./Ph.D. graduate in UCFā€™s history. She enrolled at the university in 2013 to pursue her bachelorā€™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 ā€“ her first choice for residency because of the hospitalā€™s focus on innovation, research and clinical trials.

ā€œIā€™ve spent almost half my life at UCF,ā€ she says. ā€œGraduating is incredibly exciting, but it feels strange to close such a long and meaningful chapter.ā€

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

ā€œMost Monumental Moment of My Lifeā€

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 UCFā€™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 ā€œthe most monumental moment of my life.ā€

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 ā€œcouples matchingā€ into residency ā€“ unsure if they would be selected to train at the same hospital or even city.

Today theyā€™re simultaneously planning their move to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and their wedding. Heā€™ll practice anesthesiology because it combines his love of chemistry and connecting with people.

ā€œThereā€™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,ā€ he says. ā€œThat is a very special relationship to me.ā€

Sheā€™s training to be a pediatrician.

ā€œMy biggest dream and aspiration is to be an advocate for children and for families,ā€ she says. ā€œI 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.ā€

Some of the nationā€™s most promising scientists can be found in Will Furiosi ā€™13 ā€™14MATā€™s Oviedo High School classroom.

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

Backed by UCF associate professors Ellen Kang (physics and NanoScience Technology Center) and Candice Bridge ā€™07±Ź³ó¶ŁĀ (chemistry) and researcher Max Kuehn ā€™22 (Exolith Lab), the Oviedo High trio recently earned recognition as the top three projects at Seminole Countyā€™s regional science fair.

With Oviedoā€™s proximity to main campus, the collaboration highlights UCFā€™s steadfast commitment to supporting STEM education across Central Florida.

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

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

ā€œWorking in Dr. Kangā€™s lab played pretty big role in choosing materials science and engineering as my major for college because I was exposed to just how many different things someone can do in the area I work with, nanotechnology,ā€ says Santra, a senior bound for Stanford who has worked with Kang since she was a freshman. ā€œThe lab provided a lot of resources ā€” not just the instruments, but also mentorship, advice and support.ā€

A Will to Succeed

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

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

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

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

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

Infusing Life into Science

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

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

He cold called students in his AP Biology and Honors ChemistryĀ courses, begging anyone who had shown a glimmer of interest during class to sign up so they wouldnā€™t have to fold the program.

Today, heā€™s at 46 students, with some, like Calvo-Chumbimuni, interested in joining the program as soon as they arrive at Oviedo High.

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

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

Some of his students have earned thousands of dollars in prizes ā€” one alone pulled in $70,000 and is now studying at the ŗ£½ĒÖ±²„ of Glasgow ā€” at prestigious competitions sponsored by some of the tech industryā€™s biggest names, including Regeneron and Lockheed Martin, a UCF Pegasus Partner.

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

ā€œMr. Furiosi really pushes you toward excellence,ā€ says Das, a sophomore building a tensegrity robot with shape memory alloys that he tested at UCFā€™s Exolith Lab.

Supporting Excellence

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

ā€œI could clearly see that she had a firm understanding of the material and just thought, ā€˜Wow, she is really a force.ā€™ I actually wanted to have my undergrad students see her presentation because of how professional she was, even at that young age,ā€ Kang says. ā€œShe has this creativity, passion, persistence and resilience ā€” all the key elements that you need as a successful STEM field researcher.ā€

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

ā€œIā€™ve always appreciated her sense of humanity,ā€ Bridge says. ā€œI thought, ā€˜If you can foster someone who has this sort of compassion already, there are infinite possibilities for what they can do to benefit the community.ā€™ ā€

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

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

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

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

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

ā€œMax noticed that sometimes the motion was a little slow, so he gave some suggestions,ā€ Das says. ā€œWorking in the lunar regolith chamber was a very insightful and eye-opening experience. I know Iā€™m still in high school, but Iā€™ve learned I want to do research for as long as I can because I really find this interesting.ā€

Which, at the end of the day, has been Furiosiā€™s mission all along.

ā€œResearch is not just in science. It is in all disciplines. Thereā€™s a lot of cool things that need to be discovered in all fields,ā€ he says. ā€œUCFā€™s expertise has been so invaluable in preparing my students for the future. A lot of these kids have wonderful ideas, and I really hope we can continue growing more professional support for them in any capacity.ā€

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

ā€œWeā€™ve built such a strong community that when one person succeeds, we all do,ā€ says Vanessa MorĆ”n, a senior graphic design student and treasurer of UCFā€™s Graphic Design Student Association. ā€œThat’s something Associate Professor Victor Davila ā€™97 ā€™07MFA has always instilled in us.ā€

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

ā€œIt felt like a message that my work has potential, and that I need to start seeing it that way,ā€ she says.

Building Industry Connections

The studentsā€™ 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.

ā€œThereā€™s no separation between attendees and speakers,ā€ Sibul says. ā€œThey emphasize people first, titles second.ā€

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

UCF emerging media alumnus Josh Alonso ā€™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.

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

ā€œMy career essentially got its ā€˜jumpstartā€™ from the people I met at Creative South.ā€ ā€” Josh Alonso ā€™25

Alonsoā€™s journey reflects what many UCF students are beginning to experience: real pathways into creative careers.

ā€œMy career essentially got its ā€˜jumpstartā€™ from the people I met at Creative South,ā€ 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.