麻豆精品

When Hector Blanco Gavillan 麻豆精品 S�18 麻豆精品 S�22MS first started thinking about college, he knew one thing for certain: he couldn 麻豆精品 S檛 afford to leave home.

麻豆精品 S淚 didn 麻豆精品 S檛 apply to many schools because out-of-state or even dorm living just wasn 麻豆精品 S檛 an option for me, 麻豆精品 S� says Blanco, a civil engineering alum. 麻豆精品 S淚 had to work, I had to stay close and I had to keep costs down. 麻豆精品 S�

Blanco enrolled at Seminole State College in 2013. Like thousands of students before and after him, he discovered DirectConnect to UCF 麻豆精品 S� 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.

麻豆精品 S淒irectConnect to UCF gave me confidence, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淚 didn 麻豆精品 S檛 have to worry if my credits would transfer or if I 麻豆精品 S檇 be accepted. I knew I had a guaranteed pathway, and that let me focus on finishing my degree while balancing school and work. 麻豆精品 S�

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 麻豆精品 S� about 25% on average 麻豆精品 S攁s 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 region 麻豆精品 S檚 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, 麻豆精品 S� says Kim Hardy, assistant vice provost for UCF Connect.

Kristina Lavallee 麻豆精品 S�13, a Valencia transfer who went on to build a thriving business with her husband, Kirby, puts it this way: 麻豆精品 S淒irectConnect makes college possible for students who might not otherwise see it within reach. It takes away the unknowns. 麻豆精品 S�

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 麻豆精品 S�08, the program provided flexibility and options when his music career complicated his studies.

麻豆精品 S淚 don 麻豆精品 S檛 know if I ever would have graduated without DirectConnect, 麻豆精品 S� says Rigby, a music alum. 麻豆精品 S淲ith DirectConnect you can create a tangible plan. It 麻豆精品 S檚 a map to see where you 麻豆精品 S檙e going so you 麻豆精品 S檙e not just wandering in the dark. 麻豆精品 S�

For alumna Doris Vega Baez 麻豆精品 S�09, DirectConnect 麻豆精品 S檚 affordability and smooth transfer process made the difference between stopping at an associate degree and moving on to a career at a global firm.

麻豆精品 S淲ithout it, I might have just done a certificate here or there, 麻豆精品 S� says Vega Baez, a management grad. 麻豆精品 S淚nstead, I have UCF on my resume and a career I love. 麻豆精品 S�

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 what 麻豆精品 S檚 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.

麻豆精品 S淚f you think college is out of reach, DirectConnect shows you it 麻豆精品 S檚 not, 麻豆精品 S� he says.