“Once I realized it wasn’t a mistake, I was thrilled,” says Xhemali, one of the inaugural recipients of the Katherine Crock Memorial Scholarship. “I’m financing this entire experience on my own, so every bit helps. That’s money I can now put toward my future.”

For Xhemali, an aspiring lawyer, college once felt like a distant world reserved for others. Between traveling back-and-forth across the Atlantic Ocean to live with his parents in Albania and relatives in Chicago and Jacksonville, Florida, he constantly balanced family expectations with his own ambitions. Ultimately, Xhemali faced a difficult choice: work to support his family or focus solely on his studies. He chose both, supplementing his scholarship by working as a produce clerk at Publix and a warehouse shipper.

College of Business alum Raymond Smithberger ’02MBA understands that drive. Growing up on a 100-acre farm in Southeast Ohio, Smithberger learned the value of hard work and family obligation early on. The oldest of five, with a father who worked in a factory and a mother who was a receptionist, Smithberger was aware of the financial hurdles facing a first-generation student when he left home to pursue his undergraduate degree and later an MBA at UCF.

Now the chief operating officer at Help at Home, a national home care provider, Smithberger credits his late mother, Katherine Crock, for pushing him to blaze his own trail.

“She was the one who really encouraged me to do things differently,” Smithberger says.

Following his mother’s passing, Smithberger honored her legacy by creating the Katherine Crock Memorial Fund. The endowment ensures students like himself, and Xhemali, have the support they need to define their own futures — and pays tribute to someone who valued education more than anything else.

UCF Day of Giving is Thursday, April 9. Join us during Knight Nation’s single largest day of impact as we support our favorite colleges, programs, student services, research endeavors and more. .

“[My mother] wanted to pursue further education but never had the chance,” Smithberger says. “I feel honored to support other first-generation students in her memory.”

Strategically launched last year on to maximize impact, visibility, and matching opportunities, the Katherine Crock Memorial Fund helps to expand student access, reduce financial barriers,and accelerate academic success. By funding both established and new scholarship initiatives, donors directly enable UCF students to focus on their studies and career-shaping experiences, such as internships and campus involvement, rather than financial stressors.

While the finer points of UCF Day of Giving are still new to Xhemali, he understands the significance ofSmithberger’s generosity.

“I’m still fresh, but I’m figuring out this stuff,” Xhemali says. “What I do know is that I want to use this scholarship to put me in a position where I can help someone like Mr. Smithberger has helped me.”

The National Leader in Emergency and Crisis Management

UCF earned the No. 1 Homeland/National Security and Emergency Management Graduate Program ranking in the nation for the  third consecutive year.

At the forefront of this year’s ranking is the College of Community Innovation and Education (CCIE)’s online emergency and crisis management program, signaling UCF’s long-standing leadership in programs that keep people safe from disasters of all kinds.

“To maintain the U.S. News No. 1 ranking of graduate programs in homeland security and emergency management is truly a team endeavor,” Associate Professor of Public Administration Yue ‘Gurt’ Ge says. “It reflects our nationally and internationally renowned faculty in education and research, our stellar students and alumni — who have become the backbone of the emergency management profession in Florida and beyond — and our signature staff members and advisory board representing government, nonprofit, and business sectors across Central Florida.”

That strong connection to practice is central to the program’s success. Faculty research influences policy nationwide, while students gain real-world insight through close partnerships with emergency managers at the local, state and federal levels. Graduates leave prepared to respond to complex crises, from natural disasters to public health emergencies, at a time when the need for highly trained professionals continues to grow.

A Top-10 School Preparing Student Counselors

UCF’s College of Community Innovation and Education also earned the No. 9 ranking for Student Counseling and Personnel Services Graduate Programs in the nation.

Recognition for CCIE’s student counseling  graduate program reflects UCF’s high-touch faculty mentorship model and its emphasis on integrating research, service, and professional preparation.

For Benoit Aubin, a first-year doctoral student in counselor education, that support has been transformative. A former firefighter and medic, Aubin now works as a mental health clinician for his former fire station while serving as a graduate research assistant with UCF’s Marriage and Family Research Institute (MFRI).

With guidance from Department of Counselor Education and School Psychology Chair and MFRI Executive Director Sejal Barden, Aubin has conducted clinical research focused on trauma and relationship stress among first-responder couples. His work has already contributed to a funded grant, conference presentations, a published book and the development of a training program — achievements he credits to a highly supportive learning environment.

“UCF knows how to prepare us to compete professionally,” Aubin says.

A 34-Spot Rise in Advanced Nursing Education

UCF’s College of Nursing jumped  34 spots to No. 37 for Doctor of Nursing Practice Graduate Programs in the nation — the highest ranking in the college’s history.

UCF’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program (DNP) improved ranking reflects a continued investment in academic rigor, faculty expertise and hands-on clinical training designed to address the nation’s growing need for nurse practitioners.

Graduates from the DNP program consistently outperform national first-time pass rates on nurse practitioner certification exams. They also often receive job offers before they even complete their degrees, according to Christopher Blackwell ’00 ’01MSN ’05PhD, director of UCF’s adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner program. All full-time faculty hold at least one doctoral degree, more than half remain actively practicing clinicians and many are nationally recognized fellows. Through partnerships with healthcare organizations across Central Florida students gain applied experience alongside expert preceptors in varied clinical settings.

“The incredible amount of support I’ve received from UCF’s nursing professors and the opportunities to make an impact through my research and clinical practice solidified that I made the best choice in my graduate degree,” says Mimi Alliance ’21, a family nurse practitioner doctoral student who provides care and conducts research on the UCF Mobile Health Clinic.

Some of that training is anchored in the college’s Helene Fuld Health Trust STIM Center, an internationally recognized simulation facility that strengthens clinical skills and decision-making before students enter patient-care environments. The STIM Center, as well as UCF’s nursing programs, are housed in the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion, which opened in Lake Nona in Fall 2025 thanks to generous state and industry support — a proof point of UCF’s ability to solve real-world issues.

Building on a Legacy of Aerospace Engineering Excellence

As Florida’s Technological ����ֱ��, UCF continues to build on our strength in technology-driven fields by ranking No. 38 for Aerospace Engineering Graduate Programs in the nation.

The UCF College of Engineering and Computer Sciences‘ aerospace engineering graduate program ranking reinforces the university’s legacy in a field deeply tied to Florida’s Space Coast and NASA’s recent Artemis II launch.

“It is gratifying to see the hard work and exciting research of our faculty and students recognized by our peers,” says Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Jeffrey Kauffman, noting that since launching the aerospace engineering doctoral program in 2019, UCF has steadily climbed in rankings while program enrollment has grown to more than 100 doctoral students.

Fueling that growth are advances in hypersonic flight, space exploration and defense research, with UCF’s HyperSpace Center serving as a catalyst for interdisciplinary collaboration. Faculty success in securing competitive federal research funding has strengthened infrastructure and expanded opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students.

The result is a vibrant research environment where students engage directly in cutting-edge projects and build industry connections well before entering the workforce.

Across disciplines, UCF’s growth in the U.S. News & World Report’s graduate rankings reflects a shared commitment to student success — driven by faculty who mentor closely, curricula that align with real-world needs and an institutional culture focused on impact. As UCF’s graduate programs continue to climb, they reinforce the university’s role as a national leader preparing professionals to tackle society’s most urgent challenges.

That’s because every dollar ripples far beyond a single day. Every gift opens doors: for students to chase a dream, create unforgettable memories, boldly invent the future and be recognized for their hard work. And every donor does more than give — they ignite potential, spark inspiration and elevate Knights for generations.

With UCF Day of Giving 2026 right around the corner — Thursday, April 9 — we’re reflecting on the transformational effects and personal stories of triumph that emerged from last year’s show of support, knowing that shortly, our collective contributions will set another wave of Black & Gold breakthroughs, successes and discoveries into motion.

Prioritizing Unique Opportunities

Area of Support: College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean’s Excellence Fund
Amount Raised: $67,421
Impact: Learning experiences

Growing up in rural Ohio, Jordan Hires, an aerospace engineering major and Burnett Honors College Scholar, often gazed at the boundless night sky, inspired by the astronauts from her home state of Ohio. Moving 1,000 miles away for college was daunting, but manageable. With her sights set on becoming a chief engineer for deep space flights, UCF offered two key benefits: a renowned aerospace engineering program and proximity to NASA.

“It’s the best decision I’ve made,” she says.

Since becoming a Knight, she’s done backstage tours at NASA, met with industry leaders from Mitsubishi, Siemens Energy and Lockheed Martin, and even talked to a former astronaut at an awards ceremony. This past summer, she worked alongside Professor Kareem Ahmed in the Propulsion and Energy Research Lab as a U.S. National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) fellow, testing a solution to remove heat from engines — research that could make hypersonic aircraft safer and cheaper. It was her second research experience as an undergrad.

“I don’t know if it’s every little girl’s dream to work on classified projects with military and civilian applications, but it definitely was this little girl’s dream,” she says. “Thanks to UCF, I’ve had experiences that most students don’t get until graduate school.”

Many of those opportunities are made possible by the College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean’s Excellence Fund, which supports hands-on learning, cutting-edge research equipment and innovative initiatives.

Supporting Lasting Memories

Area of Support: Marching Knights Scholarship Fund
Amount Raised: $14,067
Impact: Multiple scholarships for band members

For UCF Marching Knights President Zoie Taverna, two moments define her UCF experience: the rush of running onto the field for her first game and the bittersweet joy of singing the alma mater song alongside her best friend for their final game before graduation.

“For three whole years, we stood next to each other in the stands, screaming, feeding off each other’s energy,” Taverna says. “For her last game, we went all out. We couldn’t even talk by the end of it. We cried while singing the alma mater.”

Taverna is among the Marching Knights whose experiences at UCF are bolstered by the Branen Band Endowed Scholarship, which helps cover essentials like textbooks, meals and rent that her Bright Futures scholarship does not. As a mechanical engineering major, band leader and corresponding secretary for the national chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, she packs her days with coursework, practice and student engagement.

During the summers, she works full-time at a summer camp for kids, and she spends her weekends and evenings at Panera Bread to save up enough to cover the expenses to allow her to stay focused while in school.

“Without scholarships, I wouldn’t have the time to do extracurriculars, such as Marching Knights, where I get to represent UCF in Central Florida and around the world,” she says. “And I wouldn’t get to spend every Saturday in the Bounce House with all of my friends, immersed in the band life we love.”

Illuminating Pathways

Area of Support: College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL)
Amount Raised: $54,880
Impact: $4,880 Went Toward Supporting 19 scholarships for attendees

This summer, high school student Chloe Phung left the bright lights of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to spend a week immersed in the study of light on UCF’s campus. As part of the third Laser and Photonics Summer Camp hosted by CREOL, she joined more than 50 high school students from across Central Florida — and around the world.

“I had the chance to learn many things, to learn more about optics, lenses and lasers,” Phung says.

In addition to learning opportunities, the camp shines a light on the photonics industry, where more than 10,000 jobs open each year in the U.S., despite only 80 to 100 students in the nation graduating with bachelor’s degrees in photonics annually. A third of those graduates come from CREOL.

Paying it Forward

Area of Support: Dr. Michelle R. Dusseau Communication and Community Impact Endowed Scholarship Fund
Amount Raised: $1,780
Impact: $1,500 scholarship for one communication major, awarded annually

Beatrix Alerte transferred to UCF in Spring 2024 with a plan: build community on campus, explore a career in media, stay active in service and say yes to every opportunity.

The first three goals came naturally. She enrolled in classes, mentored two freshmen as part of the UCF chapter of Big Sister Little Sister mentoring program and served as a trip coordinator for the Alternative Spring Break Program. Alerte also gained work experience as a marketing ambassador for Project BEST, a Student Support Services project that supports first generation students, and as an intern with UCF Athletics.

Her final goal was made easier this summer when Alerte was named the inaugural recipient of the Dr. Michelle R. Dusseau Communication and Community Impact Endowed Scholarship, created this past year by longtime the College of Science‘s Nicholson School of Communication and Media faculty member Michelle Dusseau.

“This scholarship has given me the freedom to say yes to career-building opportunities, many of which are unpaid, while worrying less about covering

personal living expenses,” Alerte says. “That support makes all the difference.”

This UCF Day of Giving, we’re launching Knights to new heights! Save the date to on Thursday, April 9, 2026. Check out the to maximize your impact. And get ready to join your Knight Nation family as we Bounce, Stomp, Splash and Cheer our way to more impact than ever before.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For twenty years, has highlighted the ambition, creativity and discovery that defines UCF, Florida’s Technological ����ֱ��.

What began as two modest research events has become a university-wide tradition. Now, Student Research Week brings together more than 1,000 student presenters and over 200 faculty mentors who serve as judges and contributors. It reflects how deeply exploration and innovation shape the student experience.

The week of activities also includes awards for student researchers, including the College of Business’ Yu-Shan Huang earning the 2025-26 Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching, and the College of Engineering and Computer Science’s Brent Pappas receiving the 2025-26 Award for Excellence by a Graduate Teaching Assistant.

A Commitment to Fostering Student Success

Student Research Week traces its roots to two early initiatives: the Graduate Research Forum, launched by the , and the Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence established by the . In the early 2000s, these events provided a welcoming environment for students to share their research and creative work.

“It was the first time I shared my early research in a public setting, and the encouragement I received made me realize that academia was the path I wanted to take.” — Reid Oetjen ’02MS ’04PhD, UCF alum and professor

In 2004, the inaugural Graduate Research Forum launched, featuring 76 student oral and poster presentations spanning disciplines across the university. The event created a campus-wide platform for graduate students to share their research and engage with faculty and peers.

Among them was Reid Oetjen ’02MS ’04PhD, then a public affairs graduate student defining his path. Today, he is a professor in UCF’s School of Global Health Management and Informatics and directs the master’s of health administration program. He has built a nationally recognized body of work on long-term care quality and advanced teaching in the field.

“Presenting my research at the first Graduate Research Forum was an important milestone. It was the first time I shared my early research in a public setting, and the encouragement I received made me realize that academia was the path I wanted to take,” Oetjen says. “It is special to know I was there at the beginning, and I am proud to see it grow into what is now Student Research Week.”

“When you’re given the space to explore a question deeply and share that work with others, it builds the skills and confidence that carry forward into graduate study and the kind of thoughtful problem-solving our world needs.” — Christine Dellert Mullon ’06 ’15MA, UCF alum

Undergraduates gained experience in the Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence, where they tested new ideas and strengthened their communication skills.

For Christine Dellert Mullon ’06 ’15MA, presenting in 2006 proved pivotal. The then journalism studentshared her work with faculty and peers, building confidence and sharpening her ability to explain complex ideas. The experience helped lay the foundation for her later success as the founder of a communications strategy firm.

“Early research opportunities can be a turning point for students,” she says. “When you’re given the space to explore a question deeply and share that work with others, it builds the skills and confidence that carry forward into graduate study and the kind of thoughtful problem-solving our world needs.”

����ֱ�� leaders later unified the events under one banner, launching Student Research Week, now planned through the Offices of and . The initiative expanded visibility for student research and creative scholarship while strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration among graduate and undergraduate students. Over time, the program grew in scale and participation. Today, every college contributes projects that explore pressing questions and new possibilities.

This Year’s Events

UCF launches the 20th anniversary of Student Research Week on Monday, March 23, celebrating two decades of student scholarship.

The week continues with the Research Impact Competition, presented in partnership with the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, where students explain the real-world significance of their work in five-minute presentations.

The Student Scholar Symposium scheduled March 25–26 in the Pegasus Ballroom, will include six sessions featuring hundreds of posters. Judges will evaluate presentations and award scholarships at the conclusion of each day.

The Creative Scholarship Symposium, introduced in 2023, returns March 25 with interactive projects in the arts and other creative disciplines.

Building Skills and Community

Student Research Week plays a vital role in the academic and professional development of UCF students. Presenters gain valuable experience articulating ideas, explaining their methods and responding to questions. Judges provide feedback that strengthens projects before submission to conferences, publication of findings, or completion of theses and dissertations.

The event also connects students across disciplines, sparking new research directions and collaborations.

Community partners play an important role in supporting the week’s activities. This year’s sponsors include the Florida High Tech Corridor, Learning Institute for Elders at UCF (LIFE at UCF), the Parent and Family Fund, and Student Government. Many UCF colleges, schools and academic units also provide sponsorship and programmatic support, reflecting a shared commitment to student research across the university.

Forging the Future

As UCF continues to grow as a leading research university, Student Research Week reflects that momentum.

For many students, participation marks a turning point. They build confidence, establish professional networks, and discover pathways to careers in industry, government, education and entrepreneurship.

For more than two decades, Student Research Week has been a defining feature of the UCF experience. What began with poster boards filling campus ballrooms has evolved into a celebration of academic achievement, inspiring the next generation of scholars.

This year’s presenters continue that tradition of curiosity, rigor and opportunity, with even greater impact ahead.

Join UCF Libraries on Thursday, Feb. 26, for the (registration required) in the Digital Exploration Center.

Located on the fourth floor of the John C. Hitt Library, the DEC serves as a premier space for immersive technologies, digital scholarship and creative production at UCF, Florida’s Technological ����ֱ��. The DEC is the latest enhancement to the main campus library, which is serving more students, faculty and staff than ever.

“The 80% growth in library usage we have seen [since 2019] reflects the success of our strategic investments in technology, learning spaces and expert support,” UCF Library Dean Beau Case says. “It affirms that when we innovate with purpose, our community responds.”

What the Digital Exploration Center Offers

The DEC contains a comprehensive suite of resources, including immersive technologies, a fully equipped podcast studio, production workshops, collaboration spaces and high-performance computing. These resources are available to the full spectrum of the UCF community — from undergraduates creating their first podcast to faculty developing complex, data-driven research projects.

A centerpiece of the DEC is the Immersion Studio, which includes a three-wall, 270-degree projection experience with surround sound, and touch-enabled walls that allow users to interact with projected content, transporting people anywhere in the world, through time and space, all without ever leaving campus.

“The Digital Exploration Center represents UCF Libraries’ continued commitment to innovation, student success and academic excellence, creating a dynamic environment where technology, creativity and expertise converge,” Case says.

Supporting the Campus Community’s Creative and Scholarly Works

Through workshops, consultations, and collaborative opportunities, UCF Libraries staff at the center provides access to the tools and guidance needed to bring research, podcasts, and other creative ideas to life.

“This is a space [that] furthers the conversation about what ‘digital’ means at UCF and expands the role of the library as a genuine partner in research and education,” says Rachel Vacek, associate dean for digital strategies, impact and visibility at UCF Libraries. “Yes, we have cutting-edge technology, but what we really have is possibility — a team of experts ready to consult, collaborate and help turn ideas into impactful digital scholarship.”

The DEC builds upon the success of earlier digital initiatives that were housed on the second floor of the library, including the former Hitt Maker Podcast Studio, which opened in 2024 thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the late UCF President Emeritus John C. Hitt and his family. Alongside the podcast studio, the former second-floor production studio for video and photography at the library helped amplify voices across campus. Those early successes laid the foundation for the expanded vision now realized in the DEC, Case says.

For more information about the Digital Exploration Center, visit Join UCF Libraries on Thursday, Feb. 26, for the (registration required) in the Digital Exploration Center.

Spanning multiple years, Go For Launch is the most ambitious revenue-generating effort in UCF’s history. The campaign builds on decades of momentum and reflects a clear-eyed understanding of what it will take for a modern, metropolitan research university to deliver at the scale the future demands.

Founded to power America’s space race, UCF has always been an institution built for moments of possibility. Go For Launch draws directly from that legacy, reaffirming UCF’s role as Florida’s Technological ����ֱ�� and calling on Knights, partners and visionaries to help shape what comes next.

Campaign Goals and Timeline

The Go For Launch campaign seeks to generate $3.5 billion over a multi-year period through philanthropy, partnerships and aligned revenue strategies, advancing priorities that will shape UCF’s trajectory for decades. Funds will fuel innovation across the university, from breakthrough research and talent development to infrastructure and partnerships that extend UCF’s impact far beyond campus.

The campaign follows a successful pre-launch phase that quietly engaged donors, volunteers and community partners around a shared vision. As of Feb. 21, UCF has secured more than $2 billion in early commitments from individuals, families and partners who believe in the university’s bold future.

“This campaign is about matching UCF’s ambition with the resources required to deliver on it,” says UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright. “It is an investment in discovery, talent and solutions that will shape Florida’s future and improve lives far beyond our campus.”

Four Pillars Driving a Transformational Vision

Go For Launch is anchored by four integrated campaign pillars, each essential to UCF’s ability to deliver impact at scale.

Elevating Student Success
Elevating Student Success ensures every Knight has the support, resources and opportunities to thrive, from enrollment through graduation and beyond. Campaign investments will expand scholarships, strengthen proactive advising and success coaching, enhance career preparation and sustain innovative support systems that remove barriers before they derail progress. This pillar reflects UCF’s commitment to access and outcomes, preparing graduates who are confident, career-ready and equipped to lead in a rapidly changing world.

Fueling Discovery and Innovation
Fueling Discovery and Innovation accelerates UCF’s role as a driver of breakthrough research and real-world solutions. Support will advance faculty-led research, interdisciplinary collaboration and student-driven discovery across areas such as space, cybersecurity, health, energy and advanced technologies. With strong industry partnerships, a thriving research ecosystem and a culture of commercialization, UCF is poised to move ideas faster from lab to impact, creating jobs, improving lives and addressing the world’s most urgent challenges.

Advancing Future Frontiers
Advancing Future Frontiers positions UCF at the forefront of what’s next, including artificial intelligence, digital twins, space exploration, immersive technologies and aerospace medicine. Commitments will support research infrastructure, interdisciplinary institutes and bold experimentation that push beyond today’s limits and shape tomorrow’s industries. As technology and humanity converge, UCF is not waiting for the future to arrive. The university is actively inventing it, translating discovery into global impact and economic vitality.

Maximizing Competitive Excellence
Maximizing Competitive Excellence positions UCF to compete and win at the highest levels nationally. Campaign investments will strengthen faculty recruitment and retention, expand university-wide technology integration, enhance athletics and academic competitiveness, and continue building a destination campus that attracts top talent, industry partners and research opportunities. As Florida’s Next-Generation Preeminent Research ����ֱ��, UCF is focused on translating ambition into sustained performance, elevating our standing, sharpening our edges and ensuring excellence is not episodic but institutionalized.

Why This Campaign and Why Now

Go For Launch represents a clear evolution from UCF’s prior comprehensive campaigns, with specific focus on directly addressing the rising complexity and cost of delivering a world-class education and research enterprise. It recognizes that sustained excellence requires continued investment in people, ideas and infrastructure.

“Go For Launch will bring our university community together around our boldest aspirations,” says Rodney Grabowski, senior vice president for Advancement and Partnerships and CEO, UCF Foundation Inc.  “It will empower students, support faculty excellence, fuel innovation that strengthens our region and maximize competitive excellence. This campaign reflects our shared belief in what is possible and our commitment to creating a brighter future for generations to come.”

A Launch Worth Celebrating

The public phase of Go For Launch was unveiled at campuswide launch events that brought together thousands of alumni, donors, faculty, students and community leaders. The immersive experience reflected the campaign’s spirit, featuring interactive installations, storytelling and moments that highlighted UCF’s impact across research, innovation and student success.

Campaign volunteer leadership was celebrated during the event, underscoring the personal commitment many leaders feel toward UCF’s mission and future.

Impact in Action

Investments generated through Go For Launch will directly advance research with real-world consequences, from improving health outcomes to accelerating breakthroughs in assistive technologies.

Go For Launch is both a continuation of UCF’s founding mission and a declaration of where the university is headed next. It signals confidence in UCF’s people, our ideas and our ability to lead.

To learn more about Go For Launch or to get involved, visit

U.S. Department of Education (ED) Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent meets with Chanda Torres ’98 ’00MA ’08EdD, assistant vice president of the Dixon Career Development Center.

Torres shares an overview of the Kenneth G. Dixon Career Development Center, which empowers UCF students and recent graduates to successfully connect academic and career pathways — often through industry partnerships — that lead toward professional success and fulfillment.

Kent (center), ED Deputy Under Secretary James Bergeron (left) and ED Special Advisor Ethan Good (right) listen to an overview of the Lockheed Martin College Work Experience Program (CWEP).

Launched more than 40 years ago, CWEP provides paid internship experiences to about 500 UCF students annually — including about 60% of graduating Knights who are offered full-time jobs after completing the program.

ED and UCF staff in front of the Kenneth G. Dixon Career Development Center welcome sign.

Left to right: Assistant Secretary of Labor Henry Mack; Associate Vice Chancellor of Public Affairs for the State ����ֱ�� System Tony Lee; UCF Associate Vice President for Federal Relations Eric “Tubby” Shwedo; Torres; UCF Dixon Career Development Center Program Manager Erica Hutton; Director of Career Services at UCF Lynn Hansen; Director of Experiential Learning at UCF Quynh Dang; and UCF Director of Academic Advancement Programs Michael Aldarondo‑Jeffries.

UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright joins Kent, Harding, Senior Campus Recruiter for BNY Tatiana Manzanares and Shwedo as they tour BNY’s Next‑Gen Client Technology and Operations Center in the SPRK building on UCF’s main campus.

In Fall 2025, UCF and BNY, a leading global financial services company, launched a groundbreaking $5 million Pegasus Partnership that established a co-located educational innovation hub on UCF’s main campus — the first-of-its-kind in Florida.

Kent also had the opportunity to meet and interact with students in the current BNY cohort.

At the heart of this collaboration is the 8,400 square-foot Next-Gen Cybersecurity Technology and Operations Center Lab, which reimagines how universities and global enterprises can work together to prepare the workforce of the future.

ED and UCF staff at the BNY Next-Gen Cybersecurity Technology and Operations Center Lab.

Left to right: ED Special Assistant Cristian Clementi, Good, Associate Vice Chancellor of Public Affairs for the State ����ֱ�� System Tony Lee, Mack, Kent, Cartwright, Manzanares, Harding and Dang.

Vice President for Research and Innovation Winston Schoenfeld discusses UCF’s research enterprise and emphasizes the benefits of its adjacency to Central Florida Research Park, where defense‑focused organizations support research collaborations and workforce development.

Institute for Stimulation and Training (IST) Director Carolina Cruz‑Neira offers an in‑depth overview and demonstration of IST advanced technological capabilities, with lab visits that included the Virtual and Augmented Reality Lab (VARLab).

Kent explores the CAVE system — a technology Cruz-Neira pioneered in the 90s — at the VARLab, where IST demonstrates how it develops immersive simulation systems for industry, government and research collaborators.

Cruz‑Neira provides an in‑depth demonstration of IST’s VARLab and overview of how UCF is preparing the next generation through modeling, simulation and training.

“UCF has been building the future of online education for more than 30 years,” says UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright. “This recognition from U.S. News & World Report affirms the excellence of a people-first, technology-driven approach refined over decades. It reflects a university that has consistently led with innovation, delivered quality at scale and continues to set the standard for what online learning can be.”

This year, UCF also ranks:

• No. 3 nationally for Online Psychology Bachelor’s Programs
• No. 5 nationally for Online Master’s in Educational and Instructional Media Design
• No. 6 nationally for Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans
• No. 6 nationally for Online Business (Lodging and Restaurant Management) Bachelor’s Programs

Empowering Driven Non-Traditional Students

UCF is a leader in how to support learners who don’t fit the traditional academic mold, says Thomas Cavanagh ’06PhD, vice provost for digital learning. These students are parents, working professionals, people with disabilities, those caring for loved ones in need and many others with distinct life circumstances.

UCF Online provides 9,000 students annually a path to a degree that may otherwise be impossible.

“Taking online classes was the best way for me to be efficient as a mom and a detective at the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office,” says Melissa Schuck ’25, a criminal justice alum and a Florida Army National Guard sergeant. “Being able to show my children that through two careers and being a full-time mom that I could still be a full-time student and be successful [makes all my hard work worth it].”

Shuck says she’s even considering the added challenge of pursuing an online graduate degree in criminal justice, which UCF ranks No. 17 for nationally and No. 10 among veterans.

How We Lead at Scale Without Compromise

Behind each online course is a deeply collaborative process. By investing in faculty development and support, UCF Online offers an accessible path to degrees without comprising on quality.

Each semester up to 40 faculty members complete a rigorous, graduate-equivalent course to prepare them for how to best teach students in the unique environment of online learning while meeting academic standards.

“The same faculty who teach on campus , teach online, which is a hallmark of our quality,” Cavanagh says. “We partner with faculty to develop intentionally designed, media-rich courses for our students. We emphasize that the proven practices of consistent assignment schedules, engagement and responsiveness lead to a more engaging learning experience for students, as well as achieve better outcomes.”

More than 150 Center for Distributed Learning staff members work with 2,000 faculty across the university to develop and enhance UCF’s online programs.

That same intentionality extends to student success. UCF Online’s dedicated coaching staff supports prospective and current students with the application process, applying for financial aid, signing up for classes, connecting them to resources and more.

“We meet students where they are — and we walk with them,” says Tasha Williams ’12 ’17MNM, director of student coaching for UCF Online.

Redefining Online Education for Tomorrow’s Workforce

This year’s recognition reflects that UCF Online continues to be at the forefront of digital learning. To lead this charge, instructional designer, multimedia specialists, assessment experts and other staff combine their insights with tools such as artificial intelligence to evolve academic offerings.

This includes exploring opportunities to redesign courses for disciplines like nursing — which UCF ranks No. 17 for online graduate programs nationally — from 16 weeks to eight weeks while meeting industry standards.

“We’re never finished,” Cavanagh says. “Continuous improvement is part of our culture — whether that’s refining how we support faculty, enhancing the student experience or rethinking how programs are structured to meet today’s workforce demands.”

Since 2022, Florida has invested more than $485 million in nursing education through the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) and Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers, and Learners through Incentives for Nursing Education (PIPELINE) programs. These initiatives support scholarships for students, recruitment of additional faculty and preceptors, and investments in equipment and simulation based‑ learning environments across the state.

Today, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced more than $20 million in new LINE funding, including $6 million for State ����ֱ�� System institutions, continuing the state’s commitment to expanding nursing program capacity and addressing workforce shortages statewide. “Florida is investing at scale to expand nursing programs and strengthen the healthcare workforce,” DeSantis says.

Funding That Fuels Growth at UCF

UCF has been a state leader in leveraging LINE and PIPELINE funding to expand its College of Nursing. In the 2023–24 state budget, the university received more than $22 million to support nursing education, including $7.6 million in PIPELINE funding — the largest allocation among Florida’s public universities.

That investment allowed UCF to:

• Increase undergraduate nursing enrollment by more than 100 students across multiple campuses
• Hire additional faculty and staff to support growing enrollment
• Expand hands on training opportunities critical to student success

Strengthening Partnerships and Clinical Training

Through the LINE program, UCF partners with leading Central Florida healthcare systems, including Pegasus Partners AdventHealth, Nemours Children’s Health and Orlando Health to secure dollar-for-dollar matching funds. These partnerships support student scholarships and enhancements to simulation and laboratory equipment, helping the university expand access to high-quality education.

Pending LINE proposals would provide $737,500 in total matching funds, strengthening clinical training pipelines and reinforcing UCF’s role in preparing nurses for local and regional healthcare systems.