Chase was one of five candidates, including senior nursing student Elaine Gerlt, running for this prestigious title.

Prior to the announcement, Chase was honored simply for being selected as a representative on the Homecoming Royalty Court.

“I always saw members of the Homecoming Court as individuals that embodied UCF spirit and represented the student body,” says Chase. “I saw being named Homecoming Queen as a tremendous honor and would love the opportunity to achieve this title.”

Aside from earning this title, Chase’s other academic achievements include receiving the UCF Pegasus Gold Scholarship award in 2012 and most recently receiving the Marlie Kai Dodson Endowed UCF Oncology Nursing Scholarship.  She has also made the president’s list and the dean’s list.

As a UCF student, Chase is involved in a number of organizations such as the Student Nurses Association, the President’s Leadership Council, and the 4EVER KNIGHTS Student Alumni Association.  She is also a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Women’s Fraternity—the Greek chapter that nominated her for homecoming queen—and serves on the Morale Team for Knight-Thon, UCF’s largest student-run philanthropy.

For the next year, alongside Homecoming King, Jason Skidmore, Chase will represent the university by attending various events and embodying the UCF Creed. Chase will then have the honor of coming back and passing on her title to another student in fall 2016.

The homecoming board, made up of students, chooses applicants who meet the basic requirements which include having a 3.0 GPA and being of junior, senior or graduate student standing. Applicants must be nominated by an organization or group on campus and submit a resume with their application.

This is the first time they have been selected to be on the court.

“To be chosen along with other amazing candidates was such a great honor,” said Chase. “I am so excited to take part in all the homecoming festivities and grow friendships with all the other candidates.”

Chase is a member of the Student Nurses Association (SNA) and the prestigious President’s Leadership Council. She also serves on the Morale Team for Knight-Thon, UCF’s largest student-run philanthropy.

“To me, merely being considered for queen is amazing but I would love to be given the opportunity to represent my university,” said Chase. “UCF has given me so much and being the homecoming queen is one of the best ways to show my love for the school.”

Also a member of the President’s Leadership Council, Gerlt was excited to hear that she had been nominated by her Greek chapter. “I was so honored and humbled by the nomination that there was no way I could pass up on applying for homecoming court,” she said.

Gerlt has been a member of the SNA Breakthrough to Nursing Committee, and also serves as a panel board member on the UCF Conduct Board and event director of Sigma Alpha Pi.

“I am the ideal candidate for homecoming queen because I have a passion for UCF and the high standards this community holds dear,” said Gerlt. “UCF stands for opportunity and I embody that ideal.”

The homecoming board, made up of students, chooses applicants who meet the basic requirements which include having a 3.0 GPA and being of junior, senior or graduate student standing. Applicants must be nominated by an organization or group on campus and submit a resume with their application.

Students can vote for homecoming king and queen through their portal from Oct. 19 to Oct. 22. The two individuals who are named king and queen will be announced during the halftime show of the Homecoming game on Oct. 24.

The students achieved this by collecting online donations and by selling raffle tickets for a chance to win two Disney Park-Hopper tickets and a gift certificate for a dozen Sweet! mini cupcakes. The raffle prizes were won by students Becca Hisamato and Karen Rodriguez respectively. The group also sold cupcakes at the event to raise additional funds.

To decorate their tent for the ‘all-nighter’ event, the students asked faculty, staff and students to write a personal message on a foam star to a loved one affected by cancer. “We were able to hang 159 foam stars and hope to continue this tradition every year,” said Alexis Marano, the community health chairperson for the Student Nurses Association on UCF’s Orlando campus. “One person said our tent was the best decorated.”

The group hopes to garner even more support at next year’s event scheduled March 15-16 from 1 p.m. until 7 a.m.

This marks the second consecutive year SNA has participated in the FNA Lobby Days. Members of SNA proudly represented the field of nursing by actively lobbying for or against bills which affected nursing licenses and health care policies in the state. The students had the opportunity to witness the importance of policy and how the legislative process can impact their future as nurses.

“Lobby Days provides nursing students, registered nurses and nursing professionals an outlet and to our legislators. It’s important because it reminds legislators of their civil duty to the voters and the issues that their voters consider important,” said Allyson Weaver, a SNA Orlando board member. “I found it amazing that many of our congressmen and women were unaware about several pieces of nursing legislation brought before them by our lobbyists,” added Weaver.

SNA attended a luncheon that gave the nursing students direct contact with influential members in the government and in the nursing profession. The luncheon allowed SNA members to practice their networking skills with senators and representatives to understand the lawmaking process more clearly and to have any inquiries answered about specific bills.

Senior Laura Baker, a Student Government Association liaison at UCF, explained that when discussing issues with the legislators, SNA members had to be brief and present relative rationale behind why they were supporting certain legislation. Baker believes, “Effective communication is key to having a voice heard and we, as UCF nurses, portrayed a positive, active role as participants in the legislative process.”

Members of SNA who attended the FNA lobby days collectively expressed how beneficial their experience was at the conference. Many had limited understanding of the laws that affect their future as nurses and have now become aware of the importance in lobbying. SNA plans to participate in next year’s FNA Lobby Days to ensure their practice falls in the standard of care they want for nursing.

“Our experience at the conference made me realize how open and receptive our members of government are and how they actually read, listen and inquire further about the purpose of the bills in regards to the nursing profession,” said senior Carolyn Ward, president of the SNA Chapter at UCF Orlando. “I can’t wait to return to see the changes made from our involvement.”

Contributing writer: Kristin Soto, UCF College of Nursing communications intern

Fifteen Student Nurses Association (SNA) members set out to Make Strides Against Breast Cancer on October 24, 2009 in Brevard county. The SNA at UCF’s Cocoa campus organized a team to participate in the American Cancer Society’s 5K Walk to benefit breast cancer research. The team raised $2,090.

For some, this walk held special purpose. “There are actually a lot of SNA members who have friends or relatives who have fought breast cancer,” said Kelly Sullivan, the group’s president. “One student in particular, Danielle Simmons, raised over $1,000 on her own through family donations due to the fact that her entire family has been affected in some way by breast cancer.”

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (MSABC) events are non-competitive walks uniting people of all ages with a common goal – to fight breast cancer and save lives. In 2008, Making Strides events raised over $60 million nationwide for breast cancer research.

“There were over 4,000 people walking in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Viera that day, and you just couldn’t help but feel a part of something remarkable,” Sullivan added. “We were all there to support this one cause and to help provide funding to find a cure for breast cancer. This event just showed me how many people are truly affected by this disease.”

Participants customized shirts to wear during the walk. In order to personalize the experience, they were able dedicate a message to someone they know who has been affected by the disease. The nationwide event, created by the American Cancer Society, was held in several counties in every state across the nation. Thanks to the hard work of the participants and the generosity of the community members, the 5K walk in Brevard county raised $360,000.

Article by: Heather Robbins, communications intern