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
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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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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

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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

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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 workforceĀ andĀ humanĀ 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

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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.

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€

For 25 years, members of have shared a powerful belief: investing in UCF is ultimately an investment in students and the lives theyā€™ll lead.

Through planned gifts such as bequests, estate plans and retirement assets, society members extend opportunity far beyond a single generation. Their support fuels scholarships, research and academic programs that prepare students to meet the evolving needs of industry and community.

In 2025 alone, planned gifts accounted for nearly one-third of all charitable support to UCF.

The society is named for UCFā€™s founding president, Charles Millican, a visionary who built the university with the future firmly in mind. During his tenure, Millican transformed 1,227 acres of Central Florida scrubland into an institution designed to support the space race and prepare students for careers in engineering and computer science. He championed what would become the Central Florida Research Park and helped shape UCFā€™s enduring ambition to reach for the stars.

Today, that vision lives on through more than 500 members of The Charles Millican Legacy Society ā€” and through the students whose futures are shaped by their generosity.

A World of Possibility

Thiago Mailloā€™s path to a bachelorā€™s degree wasnā€™t linear ā€” but it was driven by something unwavering: the pursuit of greater opportunity.

After his first year studying medicine at the Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Maillo realized he wanted a different future. He saw higher education in the United States as the place to build it. Just three months after applying to Valencia College, he moved to Florida and later .

“Scholarships have made all the difference. Theyā€™ve made it possible for me to achieve my dreams.” ā€” Thiago Maillo, biomedical sciences major

Today, heā€™s a Burnett Honors Scholar and biomedical sciences major on the neuroscience track, with a minor in psychology. Heā€™s conducted research at the Applied Cognition and Technology Lab, completed an internship with ThinkNeuro and serves as an undergraduate teaching assistant in Genetics and Embryology. Heā€™s also found community as president of the Argentinian Student Association.

ā€œBeing at UCF was my goal from the start,ā€ says Maillo, who plans to pursue a doctoral degree in cognitive neuroscience. ā€œI love being a Knight. Scholarships have made all the difference. Theyā€™ve made it possible for me to achieve my dreams ā€” and pave the way for my two siblings to follow in my footsteps.ā€

Reimagining Whatā€™s Possible

Shannon Hankinson didnā€™t follow the traditional path to UCF ā€” she created her own.

A Tampa native and single mother of two, Hankinson spent years leading teams at Target before realizing that success and fulfillment arenā€™t always the same. Determined to change course, she saved money, left her job, earned an associate degree at Eastern Florida State College and transferred to UCF, becoming the first in her family to pursue a four-year degree.

“Donors made it possible for me to build a future that reflects my values and supports my family.” ā€” Shannon Hankinson, electrical engineering major

Now a senior electrical engineering major, she has seized several opportunities at UCF. She completed two semesters in the , joined the Society of Women Engineers and works as a research assistant in UCFā€™s Radiation Effects Exploration Laboratory. There, she studies semiconductor reliability, hardware design and embedded systems under Assistant Professor Enxia Zhang. Through the Scalable Asymmetric Lifecycle Engagement program, she also gained hands-on experience with the U.S. defense sector.

This spring, Hankinson will graduate debt-free ā€” supported by scholarships, research funding and a fellowship thatā€™ll carry her directly into a UCF masterā€™s program. A doctorate is next.

ā€œOne of my goals was to show my children that itā€™s never too late to do what you want to do with your life,ā€ Hankinson says. ā€œDonors made it possible for me to build a future that reflects my values and supports my family.ā€

A Lasting Legacy

On May 2, UCF celebrated the 25th anniversary of The Charles Millican Legacy Society. The milestone coincides with , which builds on the universityā€™s commitment to accelerating student success, advancing research and driving societal impact.

“… support from … our Charles Millican Legacy Society members [continues] to power our innovators, educators and researchers …” ā€” Rod Grabowski, senior vice president of Advancement and Partnerships

ā€œThis university was founded to serve the next great frontier ā€” Americaā€™s space race ā€” and itā€™s support from dedicated individuals like our Charles Millican Legacy Society members that continue to power our innovators, educators and researchers as they move that mission forward,ā€ says Rod Grabowski, senior vice president of Advancement and Partnerships and CEO of the UCF Foundation. ā€œFrom driving the latest advances in AI to creating next-level immersive experiences and sparking breakthrough medical research, UCF is building a future others have only imagined ā€” one that this societyā€™s namesake would be proud to see.ā€

Maillo is forging new frontiers for his family. Hankinson is showing her children whatā€™s possible when you start again.

They arenā€™t outliers. Theyā€™re what happens when students with extraordinary drive meet extraordinary support.

This is the true legacy of UCF, of Millican and of the society members: students with the confidence to go further, supported by those who believe they can.

As a 67-year-old retiree, Amy Lendian wants you to know itā€™s never too late. Never too late to start over; to go for your dream career; to earn your college degree.

When the UCF Online history student assumes her spot at the console at Kennedy Space Center to lead the facility systems engineers for the upcoming historic Artemis II launch, that affirmation will echo within her once more.

ā€œI always believed in myself and felt that I could do this,ā€ she says. ā€œIt really is never too late.ā€

Turning a Setback Into a Comeback

Lendian spent the majority of her adult life building her career as a fire protection engineer, helping design sprinkler systems and other fire safety infrastructure.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic happened. The construction industry came to a screeching halt. In her 60s, she suddenly faced unemployment.

ā€œI thought, ā€˜Who is going to want to hire me in my 60s?ā€™ ā€ she says. ā€œBut I made it my job to find a job. And not just any job. I set out for my dream job in the aerospace industry.ā€

She logged in every day on her home computer to research job listings, dressed as if she was headed to an office. She sought career counseling. She joined virtual seminars to learn new software and online tools she knew sheā€™d need to master if she wanted to break into the field. She learned how to rework her resume to leverage her relevant skills.

Her strategy and persistence paid off. She got a call back for a fire protection systems engineer position on base at Kennedy Space Center.

Finding Her Place in Space

On her first day at KSC, she attended a briefing where they discussed etiquette while serving on the console. She says it took her a moment to process what she was hearing.

ā€œI stayed up to watch Neil Armstrong walk on the moon. I have a photo of myself as a kid standing in front of an Apollo rocket. And youā€™re saying you want me to be on the console during a launch?!ā€ she says. ā€œI thought, ā€˜Iā€™m here. I arrived.ā€™ ā€

Lendian served on the console for the Artemis I launch in November 2022.

Although she has since retired from her formal position with KSC and moved to Chicago, she is still employed as a part-time consultant and will be there again for Artemis II managing the fire protection systems on the launchpad.

Finishing What She Started

Her late-stage career change inspired her to consider other dreams she had yet to realize. A big one has been nearly 50 years in the making.

Lendian was 19 years old when she attempted college the first time. She enrolled in the ŗ£½ĒÖ±²„ of South Floridaā€™s electrical engineering program in the late 1970s. But after three years, she stopped her studies because she got married and needed to support her new family.

In 2021, she decided to resuscitate her dream of a college degree. She transferred her old credits into the program at Eastern Florida State College, earned her associateā€™s degree and looked to enroll in one of UCF Onlineā€™s degree programs so she could manage school with her full-time job.

The history degree she is working toward is affiliated with one of the top online institutions. UCF ranks No. 6 for Online Bachelorā€™s Programs nationally according to the U.S. News & World Report.

ā€œI want that bachelorā€™s degree,ā€ Lendian says. ā€œI am doing this for me. I am going to do something that I love (history). And I am going to graduate.ā€

ā€œI didnā€™t apply to many schools because out-of-state or even dorm living just wasnā€™t an option for me,ā€ says Blanco, a civil engineering alum. ā€œI had to work, I had to stay close and I had to keep costs down.ā€

Blanco enrolled at Seminole State College in 2013. Like thousands of students before and after him, he discovered DirectConnect to UCF ā€” a guaranteed admission pathway to the university for students who earn their associate degrees at partner state colleges. For Blanco, it was nothing short of a lifeline.

ā€œDirectConnect to UCF gave me confidence,ā€ he says. ā€œI didnā€™t have to worry if my credits would transfer or if Iā€™d be accepted. I knew I had a guaranteed pathway, and that let me focus on finishing my degree while balancing school and work.ā€

A National Model with Proven Impact

This year marks the 20th anniversary of DirectConnect to UCF, which began in 2005 with four partner colleges and has since expanded into a nationally recognized model for student success. In Fall 2025, Indian River State College became the seventh partner to join the consortium, which now includes College of Central Florida, Daytona State College, Eastern Florida State College, Lake-Sumter State College, Seminole State College and Valencia College.

The premise is simple but powerful: earn your associate degree at one of the seven state colleges and you are guaranteed admission to UCF. Along the way, students benefit from cost savings by attending a state college ā€” about 25% on averageā€”as well as personalized guidance from the DirectConnect to UCF Success Team.

The impact is clear. Since its launch, more than 79,000 UCF degrees have been awarded to DirectConnect students. Each year, more than 5,000 more students take advantage of the program, improving access to higher education and fueling the regionā€™s workforce.

“Opportunity should be within reach. DirectConnect to UCF provides students a guided path, dedicated support and the momentum they need to thrive at UCF,ā€ says Kim Hardy, assistant vice provost for UCF Connect.

Kristina Lavallee ā€™13, a Valencia transfer who went on to build a thriving business with her husband, Kirby, puts it this way: ā€œDirectConnect makes college possible for students who might not otherwise see it within reach. It takes away the unknowns.ā€

Many Students, One Path

The experiences of DirectConnect students are as varied as Central Florida itself. For Blanco Gavillan, the smaller class sizes at Seminole State provided the breathing room he needed to adjust to college life. For others, like Merritt Island, Florida, native Trevor Rigby ā€™08, the program provided flexibility and options when his music career complicated his studies.

ā€œI donā€™t know if I ever would have graduated without DirectConnect,ā€ says Rigby, a music alum. ā€œWith DirectConnect you can create a tangible plan. Itā€™s a map to see where youā€™re going so youā€™re not just wandering in the dark.ā€

For alumna Doris Vega Baez ā€™09, DirectConnectā€™s affordability and smooth transfer process made the difference between stopping at an associate degree and moving on to a career at a global firm.

ā€œWithout it, I might have just done a certificate here or there,ā€ says Vega Baez, a management grad. ā€œInstead, I have UCF on my resume and a career I love.ā€

A Promise for the Future

As the program celebrates 20 years, UCF and its partners see the addition of Indian River State College as a sign of whatā€™s to come: expanding access and opportunity with transfer student success.

From first-generation students to working parents, from aspiring musicians to future business owners, DirectConnect to UCF has helped transform thousands of lives. And for students like Blanco, the message is simple.

ā€œIf you think college is out of reach, DirectConnect shows you itā€™s not,ā€ he says.

Reality, however, isnā€™t always so simple.

ā€œIt can be a real struggle when youā€™re in that gap,ā€ says Esteban Baez Sola, referring to the transfer process. The gap for him loomed large after heā€™d completed his associateā€™s degree from Valencia College in April 2023.

ā€œI found myself suddenly facing a lot of questions. … It was kind of overwhelming until I found .ā€ ā€” Esteban Baez Sola, transfer student

ā€œI found myself suddenly facing a lot of questions,ā€ says Baez Sola, an integrative general studies major. Where could I go from there and feel humanized and not like a number? Would my credits transfer? What would I major in? Where would I live? It was kind of overwhelming until I found DirectConnect to UCF.ā€

Baez Sola will soon become a UCF alumnus, joining graduates around the world who are grateful for the DirectConnect to UCF program and how it streamlined their transfer process, guiding them along the path to earning a UCF degree. The program, launched in 2006, guarantees admission to UCF for any student with an A.A. or A.S. from one of six partner state colleges, consistent with university policy. However, with approximately 4,200 degrees awarded each year to DirectConnect to UCF students say it’s much more than the guaranteed admission. Itā€™s the simplification of the life transition. Itā€™s the peace of mind knowing the journey to graduation will be more focused and less time-consuming. Perhaps most important of all are the academic success coaches who come alongside each student when they need it most.

Beth Ganz is one of those coaches in the UCF Transfer Center.

ā€œI canā€™t tell you how many students every week tell me, ā€˜I donā€™t know what to do next,ā€™ ā€ Ganz says. ā€œYou never know what they might be going through. What they need most is a person to make the transition less intimidating so they can graduate in a timely manner.ā€

Ganz knows first-hand what itā€™s like. She prefaces conversations by saying, ā€œMy own path is different.ā€

ā€œA lot of universities try to emulate our DirectConnect program, but it works here because students and coaches see it as more than a process. Itā€™s also personal.ā€ ā€” Beth Ganz, academic success coach

After high school, she attended Palm Beach State College and then transferred once, twice, three times, eventually earning a bachelorā€™s degree from Florida Atlantic ŗ£½ĒÖ±²„. Ganz never forgot what it was like to be a transfer student. Itā€™s why she accepted a position as an academic success coach shortly after DirectConnect to UCF welcomed its first students. Since then, sheā€™s advised thousands of transfer students, including her own son.

ā€œI bring a ā€˜momā€™ element into this because itā€™s who I am,ā€ Ganz says. ā€œWith each transfer student, I think about how Iā€™d want my own children to be counseled through the obstacles theyā€™re facing.ā€

Thereā€™s a misperception that the obstacles are always related to academics when, in fact, theyā€™re often related to life. Ganz is among a handful coaches who help transfer students navigate housing, paperwork, language differences, selecting a major, even general fear. Theyā€™ve helped those same students thrive and go on to careers as doctors, nurses, executives in hospitality, engineers in the space program, business owners, and researchers and developers in the tech sector.

ā€œA lot of universities try to emulate our DirectConnect program,ā€ Ganz says, ā€œbut it works here because students and coaches see it as more than a process. Itā€™s also personal.ā€

Haileigh Galloway ā€™23 graduated from UCF with a degree in psychology before landing a position as a clinical research coordinator at Nationwide Childrenā€™s Hospital (NCH) in Ohio ā€” the same hospital where she and her brother and sister were treated for medical issues as kids. Galloway sees her research at NCH as a big step closer to medical school and part of ā€œGodā€™s plan for my life.ā€

Do not believe, however, that the steps have always been perfectly laid out for Galloway.

ā€œGrowing up, I thought my path would be more direct,ā€ she says, ā€œbut Iā€™ve learned that education doesnā€™t necessarily work that way.ā€

Galloway was homeschooled, earning an A.A. while dual enrolled at Eastern Florida. After accepting her high school diploma and her A.A., she entered a small private university to finish her bachelorā€™s degree.

ā€œIā€™d considered UCF my dream school for a long time,ā€ she says, ā€œbut my parents and I thought it might be too big for an introverted 17-year-old. As it turned out, the smaller college wasnā€™t for me, so after a lot of praying I took the leap and transferred to UCF.ā€

ā€œGrowing up, I thought my path would be more direct, but Iā€™ve learned that education doesnā€™t necessarily work that way.ā€ ā€” Haileigh Galloway ā€™23, alum and former DirectConnect student

Looking back at her steps, Galloway says it was easily the best decision because two things happened. First, she found a research opportunity at UCF. And second, she became a PeerKnight coach.

ā€œI knew from my own experience what itā€™s like to go from a smaller school to this physically imposing university,ā€ she says. ā€œBeing a coach made me a better listener and made me more empathetic because each situation is unique. Sometimes a student just needs to know they arenā€™t alone before theyā€™re offered solutions. I really believe being a PeerKnight will make me a better doctor.ā€

Gallowayā€™s story points to the core value propositions of DirectConnect to UCF beyond guaranteed enrollment. Transfer students are given a clear path to graduation and a relationship. Youā€™d never suspect today, for example, that Baez Sola ever wrestled with either of those. Truth is, he was filled with angst. Shortly after enrolling at UCF through DirectConnect, he started working for ConeXiones, a peer-support program within DirectConnect. HeĀ alsoĀ learned hands-on entrepreneurship through UCF’sĀ Blackstone LaunchpadĀ and business practices through theĀ universityā€™s Professional Selling Program. Heā€™s now interviewing for jobs well ahead of his projected graduation. He even has a new vision: to create a business and encourage people facing difficult questions on their own academic and life journeys.

ā€œI want to do for others what was done for me through DirectConnect,ā€ Baez Sola says. ā€œThe people in this program made me feel important when I needed that. They helped me find a network of friends and colleagues. They steered me onto a path of success. And Iā€™m sure I speak for thousands of others when I say they made me excited about my future.ā€

Launched in 2019, the Bachelor of Integrative General Studies (BIGS) program helps students from all fields of study complete their educational journey ā€” enabling them to design their own curriculum on their way to earning a life-changing college degree.

ā€œWeā€™ve had a bank vice president who wanted to finish his degree, retirees, individuals launching into education, business, computer science and even musicians come through our program,ā€ says Danielle Pratt, interim director of UCFā€™s interdisciplinary studies program, and associate lecturer. ā€œSo, really, the entire spectrum is represented; there are no limits.ā€

Chloe Gordon ā€™24 began her journey at UCF in 2001 as a liberal studies major, transferring from Valencia College. Gordonā€™s path took a different turn when she got married and started a family, prompting her to pause her education ā€” a decision that left her with a lingering sense of unfinished business.

ā€œI felt shame that I never finished my degree that I set out on, and I think education is really important,ā€ Gordon says.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 20 years later, Gordon resumed her education online. She integrated the courses she had taken back in 2001 with new ones she completed, culminating in her graduation with a BIGS degree in the spring of 2024.

ā€œI did this because I felt like I could and because I wanted to be an example for my children,ā€ Gordon says. ā€œI see myself continuing my education and staying at UCF to pursue a masterā€™s degree, possibly in social work, and eventually becoming a counselor. And who knows, maybe Iā€™ll even get a doctorate.ā€

Gordon works at Yoga 4 Change, a nonprofit organization that achieves meaningful change for veterans, incarcerated individuals, youth in need and others. She originally started with the program as a volunteer for her service-learning project required in the BIGS course Contemporary Issues in Leadership (LDR 3115), one of the two required courses for the degree. Volunteering for this program and applying the tools she learned as a student not only helped her secure her current position but also inspired her final thesis, which focused on studies examining the positive mental health effects of practicing yoga.

Karen Haslett, a lecturer in the College of Undergraduate Studies, instructs the Contemporary Issues in Leadership course and served as Gordonā€™s advisor while she was in her class. She says Gordonā€™s readiness to engage in the service-learning project and her abundance of ideas for what she wanted to accomplish is part of her success.

ā€œThe goal is for the students to find something that theyā€™re interested in and have a passion for, so this was a no-brainer for Chloe, and it was an eye-opening experience for her,ā€ Haslett says.

As part of the BIGS degree, students are also required to Senior Seminar (IDS 4939). Additionally, they must complete 42 credits from any discipline of their choice, provided it is approved by their advisor. Pratt mentioned that each semester, they customize these courses based on the needs of the students, collaborating as a faculty team to ensure they deliver the best version of the course.

For Senior Seminar, students are asked to integrate a multidisciplinary framework into a final project.

Pratt emphasizes that the opportunities for students in this degree program are endless. They can tailor the program to their specific needs or future goals.

ā€œThis program ensures that no students are ever left behind,ā€ Pratt says. ā€œThatā€™s one of the reasons I came to work for this institution. Even though itā€™s a large university, it truly values every student individually, and this program exemplifies that remarkably well.ā€

Pratt says the BIGS programs must also evolve with students, and the adaptability of the degree offering is an advantage.

ā€œThe faculty has to evolve with the students and their needs, so we are collaboratively working on effective ways to integrate AI into our teaching and how to utilize AI tools, especially in career searches,ā€ Pratt says.

Because of this, the faculty actively survey students to understand how theyā€™re utilizing artificial intelligence, learning from their experiences. Additionally, they have been participating in training sessions to become proficient users of AI.

Pratt notes that for some students, pursuing this degree can initially feel disappointing, as they may believe they didnā€™t achieve their original intentions. However, once immersed in the program, they often wish they had pursued it from the outset. This sentiment rings true for another recent graduate, Nicolas Barth ā€™24.

Barth joined Knight Nation as a music major after transferring from Eastern Florida State College through DirectConnect to UCF. He recalled switching majors multiple times before transferring. While at UCF, Barthā€™s advisor informed him that he would soon reach his excess credit hours limit due to the numerous courses he had taken.

ā€œBecause the BIGS degree is so flexible, it made sense,ā€ he says. ā€œIt took into account all of the music courses I had completed, and I was still able to take music courses and participate in ensembles I enjoyed, such as opera and choir.ā€

While most choose to complete a research paper, Barth decided to tailor his Senior Seminar project to his interests. Typically, music majors must perform a 30-minute to 45-minute senior recital to graduate. Although the BIGS degree did not require this, Barth wanted to retain the concept of a senior recital.

ā€œI came up with the idea of doing a senior recital, but I integrated a research paper into the program, and that research was the foundation for choosing all the repertoire,ā€ Barth says.

Barth says he got to do everything he wanted to do and more at UCF and is now ready to take on the professional field.

ā€œJust yesterday, I got my audition results from this season of Opera Orlando, and I will be featured in the chorus,ā€ Barth says. ā€œIā€™m also exploring some educational opportunities as a choral director and participating in the Orlando Choral Society.ā€

Both Pratt and Haslett agree that their greatest hope is for their students to discover themselves throughout the completion of this degree.

ā€œMy favorite aspect is seeing how students perceive themselves as a result of engaging with the coursework in the program,ā€ Pratt says. ā€œThey begin to view themselves as leaders, but they also exit feeling like valuable leaders who can share their research. They leave with an understanding of the importance of scholarly resources and the ability to apply that knowledge in the broader world.ā€

Led by the UCF/Valencia Improving Student Success Task Force, the new pilot program will provide additional support to students before and after their transfer from Valencia to UCF.

ā€œThe Helios grant presents a real opportunity for us to improve studentsā€™ readiness to transfer to UCF and shorten the amount of time needed to graduate with a bachelorā€™s degree,ā€ says Valencia College President Kathleen Plinske.

ā€œDirectConnect to UCF is an important pathway to help students earn life-changing bachelorā€™s degrees and become part of the talent pipeline that fuels Central Floridaā€™s industries,ā€ says UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright. ā€œThanks to the support of the Helios Foundation, more students will be well-prepared to launch or advance their careers faster, jump-starting innovation and serving our community.ā€

The new grant will support Valencia College DirectConnect transfer students in the Fall 2023,Ā Spring 2024 and Summer 2024 semesters, and provide them with Helios-funded incentives for the following:

• $500 toward the completion of up to three courses at Valencia to complete the common program prerequisites aligned with a studentā€™s degree pathway
• $250 for having completed an Associate in Arts degree and the common program prerequisites prior to transfer to UCF
• $500 financial aid award for part-time students to continue their studies at UCF part-time and supplement their financial aid in the transition from Valencia to UCF

Additionally, Valencia students will be encouraged to participate in a S.E.E. UCF tour, which stands for Students Early Exploration, with food and transportation provided. In addition to the financial incentives, the grant will cover program costs, staffing and data analysis for the length of the grant.

Using data from the Central Florida Educational Ecosystem Database (CFEED) and based on a Fall 2022 pilot which focused on students transferring to UCFā€™s College of Business, Valencia and UCF have identified multiple interventions to increase the success of transfer students between their institutions. The Helios grant will be used to expand the pilot and serve transfer students within all programs.

ā€œHelios Education Foundationā€™s investment in DirectConnect provides Central Florida students both on-campus and financial supports to ensure completion of their Valencia College degree as the first step toward completion of a bachelorā€™s degree at UCF,ā€ says Paul Luna, president and CEO of Helios Education Foundation.

The DirectConnect to UCF partnership is recognized as one of the leading transfer programs in the country. Since its inception in 2006, more than 42,000 UCF bachelorā€™s degrees have been awarded to Valencia College students, accounting Ā for nearly a quarter of UCFā€™s baccalaureate graduates.

ā€œEveryone should have access to a high-quality college degree,ā€ says Pam Cavanaugh, associate vice provost for . ā€œTogether with our partners, UCF has the opportunity to collaborate and discover ways to strengthen support for transfer students and help them identify the right pathway to earning a degree that will change their lives, and the lives of their families, for generations to come.ā€

Sixty-four percent of all transfer students completing an associate in arts degree at Floridaā€™s 28 state colleges enroll at FIU, UCF, or USF and each year, over 50,000 transfer students attend one of the three Consortium universities.

Already established leaders in transfer student success, UCF, FIU and USF will utilize the funds to identify and address the barriers to student success, reduce the time needed for students to complete a degree, and increase campus involvement. The Consortium will create solutions in three areas: increased coaching and advising to reduce ā€œtransfer shock;ā€ the development of a dashboard to help students with degree planning; and targeted retention strategies to ensure students are engaged and connected to each campus community.

UCF has for years placed a priority on ensuring transfer students have access to resources and support. Last year, 87.5% of the 2019-2020 transfer student cohort returned to UCF to continue their studies, marking the highest one-year retention rate to date. UCF has the largest number of transfer students among all of Floridaā€™s public universities with more than 11,000 transfer students entering during the 2020-21 academic year.

UCF has the largest number of transfer students among all of Floridaā€™s public universities with more than 11,000 transfer students entering during the 2020-21 academic year.

UCF has more than 30 success coaches and peer coaches who assist transfer students from before they enroll at their state college through their graduation from UCF, providing personalized support and guidance along the way. The coaches help students overcome challenges and stay motivated to reach academic, career and personal goals. UCF will use its portion of the grant to enhance its Coaching Academy, which will serve as a training and resource center for other universities and amplify UCFā€™s model across the state. The Academy will provide customized training to individuals, teams and organizations to further develop a culture of coaching within an institution.

ā€œWe know how critical it is for students to have individual, tailored assistance,ā€ says Cavanaugh. ā€œOur coaching model gives every transfer student a ā€˜go toā€™ person who serves as a constant and consistent presence for them. Weā€™ve seen what a difference this makes for our students, and we look forward to working with our partners to scale this model across the state.ā€

More than 30% of new undergraduates enrolled each year at UCF come through the to UCF program, which guarantees admission to UCF for students with an associate degree or articulated degree from one of six partner state colleges. Since DirectConnect to UCF was established in 2006, UCF has conferred 61,924 degrees to students participating in the program. A national model, DirectConnect to UCF has significantly increased the number of minority, low-income and first-generation students who earn a college degree.

ā€œHelios believes a high-quality education should be within reach of every student. Ensuring students experience a smooth transition between Floridaā€™s state colleges and universities is essential to student success and degree completion,ā€ says Paul J. Luna, president and CEO, Helios Education Foundation.

The Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Research Universities and Helios Education Foundation have partnered since 2016 to elevate the success and degree completion of first-generation, minority and underserved students in the most populous metropolitan regions of South Florida, Central Florida, and Tampa Bay.

ā€œI really want to be an addiction counselor, thatā€™s my ambition.ā€ ā€” LeRoy Langston, UCF student

ā€œI really want to be an addiction counselor, thatā€™s my ambition,ā€ says Langston, who has earned a bachelorā€™s in integrative general studies with a focus in social work. ā€œI realize that is going to be another challenge because I can see how some people may not want to bring a 64-year-old intern into their organization. Iā€™m a learner and Iā€™m still learning how to trust and have faith in God in regard to what it looks like down the road, but I know God got me.ā€

Part of that faith and trust comes from Langstonā€™s focus on progress over perfection ā€” and knowing that no matter whatā€™s ahead, the future is much brighter than whatā€™s behind him.

Difficult Beginnings

Growing up in DeLand, Florida, Langston says his mother died before he even really knew what a mother was, leaving his father to care for him and his three siblings. Langstonā€™s father held small jobs from time to time, but more often he gambled.

ā€œMy dad is my hero. I love him, but he wasnā€™t educated and he had to go through a lot to keep us because in those times it was a different world then,ā€ Langston says. ā€œHe didnā€™t have much help and he was trying to raise four kids. Uneducated, no skills, he did what he could do. I spent a lot of time in the gambling joint with him to keep up with him and know where he was.ā€

When it came to school, Langston says he did well academically, usually finishing his homework before he went home, and he loved to play sports, especially basketball in high school.

ā€œI always excelled at sports because I didnā€™t have anything else to do and that was a way for me to validate myself,ā€ he says. ā€œI always wanted to be the best. None of that was even put on the table, and with my dad being uneducated I had no type of support whatsoever.ā€

But at the time, Langston felt good grades and athletic performances werenā€™t enough to compensate for the poverty he had lived with his whole life. Looking for a way out when he was a teenager, he joined his younger sisterā€™s boyfriend in robbing a bar in New Smyrna Beach and they were caught. At 17 years old, Langston was convicted as an adult with a 15-year sentence, before he could even finish the 10^³Ł³óĢżgrade.

ā€œAt the time it didnā€™t make sense why I was tried as an adult, and now through my classes Iā€™ve learned about the school-to-prison pipeline so I see how I may have been a part of that,ā€ Langston says.

Criminal Past

While in prison, Langston did his best to adapt to his new reality. Whenever there were athletic events, he would compete and win money prizes. Using that, he would use the gambling skills he learned through his father to sustain himself. He also began pursuing his GED, which sparked a new interest.

ā€œI got hooked on reading, novels by Smoke Jensen helped me get through that time,ā€ he says. ā€œI was able to escape through those mountain man stories.ā€

ā€œI was the description of an addict. You live to use and use to live, that was what I did.ā€ ā€” LeRoy Langston, UCF student

After three years in prison and while on a work assignment outside of the prison, Langston says he was approached by someone who told him he could make good money smuggling and selling marijuana inside. After a few months he got caught and faced his first drug charge, resulting in two years added to his sentence.

ā€œMy parole officer said that when looking at my situation that I probably shouldnā€™t have been in prison in the first place and he did what he needed to do to get me out after five years,ā€ he says.

By the early 1980s, Langston moved to Orlando and began working in a gambling establishment, and after a few years he began using cocaine. In 1989, Langston was caught selling the drug for the first time, but it wouldnā€™t be his last. During the next 15 years he would continue using and selling, resulting in more than five arrests and congestive heart failure, for which he is receiving disability benefits.

ā€œI was the description of an addict,ā€ Langston says. ā€œYou live to use and use to live, that was what I did. I sold to keep using. I was so twisted in the head [using and] selling drugs. [During my last arrest] Iā€™m looking at the undercover officer with a mustache falling off and I ignored that he was the police, thatā€™s how much that thing got to me.ā€

Making a Change

In 2013, Langston knew he needed to make a change after realizing how his lifestyle impacted his eldest son. He went to the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, located in Orlandoā€™s downtown Parramore neighborhood. After proving he stayed clean for his first three weeks, he enrolled in a rehabilitation program and eventually became a teaching aid for the GED program offered there. One day a representative from Orange Technical College came in and presented about a Pell Grant program that would pay for college. Langston qualified and even tested into accelerated courses at Valencia College.

ā€œNow that I can think clearly, I can recognize that it wasnā€™t my doing, it was God because there was no way I would have walked away from the situation I was in and do something different,ā€ he says. ā€œThat first semester they put me in flex classes, which were accelerated classes at the time, but after being out of school for 40 years and coming back my first semester I flunked every one of those classes. They wanted to know what was going on and I explained I had been out of school for 40 years and they allowed me to continue on.ā€

After a second failed semester, Langston lost his Pell Grant eligibility, but he says a school counselor recognized his strengths and potential and found a way for him to continue taking classes. During his second year, Langston began doing better in his courses and continued improving his GPA over the next five years until transferring through the program in 2018.

Once a Knight, Langston spent two hours commuting by bus to and from the main campus daily to attend class and to use the library computers to complete his coursework. Through his studies he completed volunteer work at an adult daycare facility in Winter Park, which Langston says was an eye-opening experience as to other ways people can receive support through social work. After the UCF Downtown campus opened two years ago, Langston, who lives in Orlando’s Parramore neighborhood, had easier access to the resources he needed to complete his courses, especially during the pandemic.

ā€œIā€™m going to help people regardless ā€” because I can show people kindness and do whatever I can to bring them a little joy ā€” but thatā€™s probably why I love social work, for the chance to help others.ā€ ā€” LeRoy Langston, UCF student

ā€œFor my final assignment, Iā€™m using things Iā€™ve experienced at the coalition, where I saw the positive impact of their focus on addiction treatment,ā€ he says. ā€œThrough my community-engagement course Iā€™ve learned the importance of listening to the community to address their needs. All of these social work classes have given a label to the things I have seen going on throughout my life. Iā€™m going to help people regardless ā€” because I can show people kindness and do whatever I can to bring them a little joy ā€” but thatā€™s probably why I love social work, for the chance to help others.ā€

As he prepares for job interviews, Langston is optimistic about his next steps. No matter where he lands heā€™s ready to pass on the life and educational lessons heā€™s learned to other ā€œscrappers.ā€

ā€œDonā€™t give up, keep pushing,ā€ he says. ā€œI learned it isnā€™t about perfection, itā€™s about progress. And I found out that progress for an addict is not using [drugs] because life can go one way and then another, but as long as you stay clean ā€” which is not an easy journey ā€” youā€™ll be able to think clearly and take life as it comes.ā€