Receiving paid tuition, annual stipends, an internship and guaranteed employment after graduation sounds like a dream come true to any college student. But for several UCF students, that dream is about to become a reality.
Ten Knights were selected for the 2024 Department of Defense (DoD) Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship, an educational and workforce opportunity available to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing STEM degrees. The program covers the cost of tuition and education related expenses, provides an annual stipend of at least $30,000 a year, provides a mentored internship experience during the summer and offers employment at a DoD facility upon degree completion. The goal of the program is to build a workforce of leaders in the STEM disciplines.
The recipients are:
- Brandon Allen
- Matthew Hadad
- Emily Kinkead
- Joseph Lee
- Thomas Nguyen
- Conner Parsay
- Jordyn Sitson
- Jeffery Smith
- Enilda Velazquez 麻豆精品 S�20
- Louis Vest
Brandon Allen
Master 麻豆精品 S檚 in electrical engineering student
As a gifted math and science student, Allen says he always wanted to be an engineer, something his mom encouraged during his childhood. He chose electrical engineering for its novelty compared to other more well-known disciplines.
麻豆精品 S淚 chose electrical engineering because it deals with concepts that are so unknown to most people, almost as if it were a form of magic, 麻豆精品 S� Allen says.
He was drawn to UCF for two reasons: his family in close proximity, and for its optics programs, which are ranked in the top 30 worldwide according to U.S. News & World Report.
麻豆精品 S淚 chose UCF because of its optics program. In my line of work, I deal with infrared cameras and other electro-optical devices, 麻豆精品 S� Allen says. 麻豆精品 S淎lso, I have family members in the area that will help make UCF feel like a home away from home. 麻豆精品 S�
Allen adds that he applied to the SMART scholarship program for the financial opportunity to attend school full time.
麻豆精品 S淚 plan on using my education to help foster innovation within the Air Force, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淎lso, I have hopes that an M.S. degree will help me obtain promotions and take on more of a leadership role. 麻豆精品 S�
Matthew Hadad
Bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in electrical engineering student
Electrical engineering major Hadad knew he had a penchant for electrical engineering from his interest in circuit math from a high school course, AP Physics I. His pursuit of the field is also an homage to his mom, who had planned on studying electrical engineering herself.
麻豆精品 S淢y mother was going to be an electrical engineering major, but she could not finish because she had given birth to me, and I was a bigger priority for her than her major, 麻豆精品 S� Hadad says.
UCF wasn 麻豆精品 S檛 the school he dreamed of growing up, but a high school friend convinced him to become a Knight and he hasn 麻豆精品 S檛 looked back since. When he learned of the opportunity to pursue the SMART scholarship, its military ties were a natural fit for him. Hadad says he was always fascinated with naval history, particularly of navies during World War II.
麻豆精品 S淚 am very grateful for the SMART Scholar program. After I receive my M.S. degree, I plan to work for the U.S. Department of Defense for as long as possible, 麻豆精品 S� Hadad says. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 something I have wanted to do and could see myself doing in the future. 麻豆精品 S�
Emily Kinkead
Bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in photonics science and engineering student
As a transfer student, Kinkead has yet to step foot on the UCF campus, but she 麻豆精品 S檚 already made quite the impact. The photonics science and engineering major spent the summer at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center at the Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey, where she 麻豆精品 S檚 already participated in several STEM outreach programs. She says she 麻豆精品 S檚 excited for the opportunity to intern there and looks forward to learning as much as she can from the experience.
麻豆精品 S淭here is so much to learn and experience, 麻豆精品 S� Kinkead says. 麻豆精品 S淗aving the ability to do so with the support of SMART means that I will be pushed and challenged as I pursue my degree, which I hope one day will make me an invaluable member of the DoD family. 麻豆精品 S�
Joseph Lee
Doctorate in chemistry student
After serving on the front line for the U.S. Army, Lee aims to make a difference in military labs to advance nuclear security research. As a chemist, his doctoral research, which is conducted under the guidance of Assistant Professor Vasileios Anagnostopoulos, focuses on understanding the interactions of radioactive elements, such as actinides, with molecules found in nature. Applications for this work can range from radioactive waste management 麻豆精品 S� including response to events such as Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011 麻豆精品 S� to efficient use of nuclear fuel and even recycling.
麻豆精品 S淚 aspire to join the Airforce Technical Application Center (AFTAC) located on Patrick Space Force Base upon my graduation, 麻豆精品 S� Lee says. 麻豆精品 S淭here I will have the opportunity to contribute to the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 mission related to nuclear security and global monitoring of nuclear activities under the DoD. 麻豆精品 S�
With the SMART Scholarship, Lee is on the right path to his dream career as he 麻豆精品 S檒l be interning at AFTAC each summer until he graduates.
麻豆精品 S淭he DoD is offering opportunities for the next generation of subject matter experts in the field of nuclear science and technology, 麻豆精品 S� Lee says. 麻豆精品 S淎long with this, UCF is providing me the fundamental academic resources and training as a graduate student. These opportunities will provide me with a unique skillset in the future of scientific progression. 麻豆精品 S�
Thomas Nguyen
Doctorate in biomedical engineering student
Nguyen is no stranger to prestigious internships. The biomedical engineering doctoral student previously completed the Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program (NREIP), sponsored by the Office of Naval Research. Fittingly, Nguyen completed his DoD SMART internship with the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD). He says both his time at UCF and his experience with NREIP have prepared him for this opportunity.
麻豆精品 S淣otably, my involvement in projects like the T-45 Flight Simulator Development and the Dental Aerosol Reduction System (DARS) project during my NREIP internships has provided me with firsthand experience in applying engineering principles to defense-related simulations, 麻豆精品 S� Nguyen says. 麻豆精品 S淭hese experiences have prepared me to excel in a dynamic and challenging environment, where innovation and technical expertise are paramount. 麻豆精品 S�
Nguyen will work under the mentorship of senior research and development engineer Rocco Portoghese, assisting with projects that leverage simulation technologies to enhance the effectiveness of military training. Through his work, Nguyen hopes to enhance his knowledge of simulation technologies, develop technical skills in electrical circuitry and 3D design, and emerge from the internship as a leader ready for a career with a defense organization.
麻豆精品 S淭his opportunity represents a pivotal moment in my academic and professional journey, allowing me to contribute directly to defense technology while furthering my education, 麻豆精品 S� Nguyen says. 麻豆精品 S淚 am eager to immerse myself in challenging projects and collaborate with experts in the field, ultimately making meaningful contributions to the defense industry. 麻豆精品 S�
Jordyn Sitson
Bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in information technology student
After graduation, Jordyn Sitson plans to become a cyber analyst and researcher. Now in her senior year, she 麻豆精品 S檚 already lined up a job with the DoD.
麻豆精品 S淢y favorite part of the cybersecurity field has always been finding the clues that lead up to a cyber-attack, and by pursuing a career as an analyst and researcher I 麻豆精品 S檒l be able to search for these traces firsthand and stay up to date on any trends that may be related to the cause of potential cyberattacks, 麻豆精品 S� Sitson says.
The computer science major heard about the SMART Scholarship through a speaker at the Women in Cybersecurity Club at UCF. 麻豆精品 S淭he scholarship is still relatively unknown and easy to apply for, 麻豆精品 S� Sitson says. 麻豆精品 S淚 encourage anyone in STEM that is looking for a chance to get a head start working and gaining experience at a DoD facility to apply for this scholarship. 麻豆精品 S�
This summer, Sitson gained experience as a cybersecurity intern at NAVFAC, the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command in Jacksonville, Florida. There she worked with four cybersecurity teams, which helped her decide to work with the Operational Technology team for the following summers.
麻豆精品 S淟earning information and applying it are completely different so I hope that with this real-world experience I become a better cyber analyst that can help contribute to NAVFAC 麻豆精品 S檚 mission, 麻豆精品 S� Sitson says.
Jeffery Smith
Master 麻豆精品 S檚 in civil engineering student
UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 reputation for engineering education, its proximity to prominent engineering organizations and its partnerships with industry giants like the DoD persuaded Smith to become a Knight. That decision paid off for Smith, who will conveniently complete his internship at his current workplace, the Jacksonville District Office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Smith works under the mentorship of civil engineer Tony Ledford, learning how to apply the concepts he 麻豆精品 S檚 learned in the classroom to the real world.
麻豆精品 S淚 look forward to benefiting from Tony Ledford’s experience as a mentor and learning about creative engineering techniques, efficient project management techniques and problem-solving techniques, 麻豆精品 S� Smith says. 麻豆精品 S淚n addition, I’m excited to expand my professional networks and ties inside the DoD, which will be very helpful for my future job. 麻豆精品 S�
Smith says the opportunity to work for the DoD, and to receive financial support for his graduate students, were just a few benefits that drew him to the SMART Scholar program.
麻豆精品 S淕etting chosen as a SMART Scholar is a thrilling and incredibly fulfilling experience, 麻豆精品 S� Smith says. 麻豆精品 S淜nowing that my efforts and commitment have been acknowledged in a fiercely competitive sector is a great source of pride and achievement. 麻豆精品 S�
Enilda Velazquez 麻豆精品 S�20
Doctorate in human factors and cognitive psychology student, bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in psychology alum with minors in cognitive sciences, and international and national security
Inspired by her parents 麻豆精品 S� work in civilian defense through the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy, Velazquez aims to be a scientist contributing to U.S. national security. At UCF, Velazquez has engaged in several research experiences, including previous efforts with the Transportation Research Group Lab and current work with the Minds in Technology, Machines in Thought (MIT2) Lab.
麻豆精品 S淢y research is on visual performance, but specifically multi-target search, [which is] how we look at multiple things of interest in a scene that has other things that are not of interest, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淭he biggest impact of my work is safety. 麻豆精品 S�
While Velazquez says she 麻豆精品 S檚 had some valuable research experiences at UCF, she 麻豆精品 S檚 looking forward to taking her work to the next level with optics work at the C5ISR Center, which is one of eight science and technology domains within the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, known as DEVCOM. She also says she 麻豆精品 S檚 looking forward to serving as an apprentice to a mentor working in the field.
麻豆精品 S淚’m very excited just be on hands-on projects and kind of learn by doing. I love learning by doing. I feel like that’s most of my career has been learning by doing, 麻豆精品 S� Velazquez says. 麻豆精品 S淎nd so just to be on projects where I can see this kind of research be applied real time, I feel like that’s honestly the most invaluable part of this entire thing.”
Louis Vest
Doctorate in aerospace engineering student
Before Louis Vest decided a doctoral degree, he debated following in his father and grandfather 麻豆精品 S檚 steps to join the military. With the SMART Scholarship program, he 麻豆精品 S檚 able to serve his country in a different way.
麻豆精品 S淢y father instilled in me a very serious work ethic and a dedication to take advantage of opportunities that he did not have, in this case, being able to go to school, 麻豆精品 S� Vest says. 麻豆精品 S淚 think the biggest driving force for [why I applied to] SMART was 麻豆精品 S� having the opportunity to serve my country as a civilian contractor with the DoD. 麻豆精品 S�
Vest always knew he wanted to be an engineer, but his journey at UCF solidified his career would be in the aerospace industry. The doctoral student 麻豆精品 S檚 research focuses on fundamental fuel chemistry, and he is mentored by Professor Subith Vasu, who studies clean energy and hypersonic travel advancement.
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Next summer, he 麻豆精品 S檒l intern at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Indian Head, Maryland, gaining hands-on experience and industry insights that would normally take years to achieve, he says.
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