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At UCF, these moments don 麻豆精品 S檛 happen one by one. They happen all at once 麻豆精品 S� thousands of stories, each with a different starting point, moving forward together.

Opportunity, Provided at Scale

At UCF, scale has always meant more than size.

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More than 10,000 Knights make up the Spring Class of 2026.

Additionally, about 37% of bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degree recipients are eligible for Pell Grants, and about 22% are the first in their families to earn a college degree 聽 麻豆精品 S� reflecting a university built to open doors and help students move through them.

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Where Talent Meets Demand

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This is a workforce built not just in classrooms, but for real-world impact.

Each year, the university awards nearly 19,000 degrees 麻豆精品 S� more than any other institution in Florida 麻豆精品 S� including leading the state in bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degrees in engineering and nursing. These two fields are essential to sustaining Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 economic growth and meeting the needs of an expanding population.

Turning Studies Into Real Skills

Before they graduate, Knights are already building career-ready experience.

That same hands-on approach extends into high-impact research across fields from computer vision to biotechnology to pediatric prosthetics.

Career Prep From the Start

Support starts early, and it 麻豆精品 S檚 designed to carry students all the way through.

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Retaining Talent Across Florida

The impact of a UCF education doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 leave with its graduates. In many cases, it stays 麻豆精品 S� and grows.

But where graduates go next tells an even bigger story.In and around聽Orlando聽 麻豆精品 S� the No. 2 Best City to Start a Career in America (WalletHub) and one of the fastest-growing hubs for innovation 麻豆精品 S� that talent doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 just fill jobs.

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More Than a Milestone

Commencement is what everyone sees.

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But at UCF, it 麻豆精品 S檚 also something more.

Before students cross the stage, they 麻豆精品 S檝e already built experience. By the time they graduate, they 麻豆精品 S檙e aligned with real-world demand. After they leave, they power the industries shaping Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 future and beyond.

Each commencement adds thousands more to that momentum. Each graduate strengthens the pipeline.

And across the state 麻豆精品 S� and far beyond it 麻豆精品 S� you can already see what they 麻豆精品 S檙e building.

Today, the 24-year-old is on the cusp of earning two graduate degrees simultaneously, having elevated UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 reputation as a community and society changemaker along the way with the AI for Nonprofits course she helped develop. These milestones aren 麻豆精品 S檛 just personal. They 麻豆精品 S檙e also serving her biggest passion: helping others.

That 麻豆精品 S檚 the thing about opportunity. Sometimes all you need is a chance, a dash of inspiration and someone who believes in you.

Charting Her Own Path

Dones, who was born in Cuba, was just 2 years old when her family immigrated to Miami. Growing up, she viewed attending college as a somewhat unattainable goal.

麻豆精品 S淚 remember discussions with my parents where they would say that college is for the wealthy, or that we’d cross that bridge when we get there, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 didn’t have anyone to rely on for mentorship because my parents didn’t know anyone that had been to college before, and all of our family was in Cuba. 麻豆精品 S�

In high school, she joined the International Baccalaureate program and learned about financial aid opportunities such as Bright Futures scholarships. A teacher encouraged her to seek out more scholarship opportunities from Miami-based nonprofits and foundations. That 麻豆精品 S檚 when she realized college was within her reach.

麻豆精品 S淚 thought, 麻豆精品 S業f everyone around me is doing this, what’s stopping me? 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� she says.

Dones connected with the Key Biscayne Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps students achieve their educational goals like the ones of her own. With assistance from the foundation and other nonprofits, Dones ended up receiving $20,000 in scholarships to attend UCF.

The support not only sparked her academic career; it also inspired a calling to give back to others.

She pulled up others with her along the way as an undergrad, serving as a mentor for local high school students and impressed upon them the importance of internships. She realized how much she loved positively impacting them.

That 麻豆精品 S檚 when her own mentor, Josefina Rosario 麻豆精品 S� assistant director for access and student support at 麻豆精品 S� suggested enrolling in the public administration and nonprofit management dual-degree graduate program next. It was a decision that would further fuel her passion for helping others.

Through the program, housed in , Dones has engaged in real-world experiences that simulate what it 麻豆精品 S檚 like to work in the nonprofit and public sectors. Through service-learning, she evaluated and helped develop a strategic fundraising plan for a local nonprofit. She 麻豆精品 S檚 also created budgets for the City of Orlando and analyzed how both the city and Orange County Sheriff 麻豆精品 S檚 Office use social media. She attended her first professional conference.

Perhaps some of the most invaluable experience she has gained involves the industry 麻豆精品 S檚 intersection with artificial intelligence.

Leveraging AI for Community Impact

Through the UCF Applied AI Innovation Initiative, Dones has been working with associate lecturer and initiative lead 麻豆精品 S�11笔丑顿 in using generative AI tools to find innovative solutions for challenges in educational and behavioral interventions. During her time as a student fellow for the initiative, Dones has learned to harness the power of AI to create apps, websites, data dashboards, chat bots, online courses and even a board game that enhances financial management skills 麻豆精品 S� all without having a technical background.

麻豆精品 S淚 never thought I would be able to build an app, but now we can with the help of AI, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淲hen I saw that I can do something like that or create a website with the help of AI, I wanted to continue doing it. Nonprofit organizations tend to get left behind when there’s new technology out there. I imagined how AI can help a nonprofit with time or resource constraints, and that 麻豆精品 S檚 how my passion for learning about it started. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淚 imagined how AI can help a nonprofit with time or resource constraints, and that 麻豆精品 S檚 how my passion for learning about it started. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Ketty Dones 麻豆精品 S�23

Dones has played a significant role for the Applied AI Innovation Initiative in helping local nonprofits leverage AI to boost creativity and efficiency in advancing their missions. She contributed to creating an AI Impact Hub, an app that serves as a one-stop shop to connect nonprofits with resources and engage with other nonprofit leaders through a discussion forum. She 麻豆精品 S檚 also assisted in hosting workshops that explore how AI can be used as a tool to assist nonprofits with social media, fundraising, compliance and evaluation.

Most notably, Dones helped the team develop an in partnership with that covers topics ranging from grant writing, evaluation, storytelling and prompting with AI to ethical guardrails, accountability and security when using the technology, as well as best practices for integrating AI tools in day-to-day operations. The course is also used in the Innovation and Technical Assistance Program, which provides hands-on assistance to local nonprofits engaging with AI-powered tools to help strengthen their organizational capacity.

In fact, 26 Orange County nonprofits graduated from the program last month with an AI for Nonprofits certificate.

Full Circle and Ever Upward

If it helps bridge the gap between AI and nonprofit organizations, count Dones in.

麻豆精品 S淚 always like to think of AI as a thought partner and ask how it can help elevate ideas, not create them, 麻豆精品 S� Dones says. 麻豆精品 S淭hat 麻豆精品 S檚 why I think it’s so important for the public and nonprofit sectors to leverage this technology. Continuing education in the nonprofit and public administration sectors is always important, but especially now with learning how to integrate AI tools. 麻豆精品 S�

Although AI has served as her assistant in creating innovative solutions for others, it 麻豆精品 S檚 the combination of her grit and determination to succeed along with a passion for serving others that assists her in unlocking the potential not just within herself but also in the community.

“Ketty has impressed me since day one, 麻豆精品 S� Concha says. 麻豆精品 S淏etween her contributions to the AI for Nonprofits course and developing impactful resources using AI and advanced prompting techniques, she is a prime example of a student without a technical background using AI for social good.”

For now, Dones will continue working with Concha and the Applied AI Innovation Initiative to further develop AI tools and solutions, working toward certifications and mentoring nonprofit partners along the way. Although she is considering pursuing a career in AI product management or sales down the road, it 麻豆精品 S檚 using her knowledge to set up nonprofits for success that she finds most rewarding.

After all, her accomplishments thus far and her bright future wouldn 麻豆精品 S檛 have been possible without some help from nonprofit organizations along the way.

麻豆精品 S淚 always think about the Key Biscayne Community Foundation and other nonprofit organizations that helped me receive funding to go to school, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 kind of full circle for me now. I feel that I can give back to my local community in understanding not just the challenges nonprofits face but also how I can help them in the future. 麻豆精品 S�

Van Dusen was born in Uruguay, the smallest Spanish-speaking country in South America with a population of 3.4 million.

When she was 20, she moved to Canada and, soon after, the United States in search of greater opportunities. She got married and became a mom, which changed the way she viewed the world and gave her a broader purpose, Van Dusen says.

麻豆精品 S淚 started looking at the world not only through a woman 麻豆精品 S檚 eyes, but also through a mom 麻豆精品 S檚 eyes, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 became passionate about raising a healthy little girl, not only physically but mentally too. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淚 also wanted to ensure she would have a better future with the inspiration she gave me that it is never too late to go after your dreams and set the example for her to follow, 麻豆精品 S� she says.

It sparked a calling in Van Dusen to follow her passion to become a pediatric nurse practitioner.

麻豆精品 S淚 wanted to wake up every day with a purpose, 麻豆精品 S� she says.

Finding the Support to Succeed

While Van Dusen was taking prerequisites and preparing to enroll in nursing school, the COVID-19 pandemic began and she went through a difficult divorce 麻豆精品 S� now primarily caring for her daughter with no other family support in the U.S.

麻豆精品 S淔or many years, I was in survival mode, 麻豆精品 S� she says. Throughout the challenges, she persevered for her daughter. 麻豆精品 S淢y daughter is watching and I remember how important it is for me to keep going. 麻豆精品 S�

She was admitted into the competitive associate in science in nursing program at Miami-Dade College and enrolled full-time, taking out loans, to graduate and begin working as soon as possible.

In Spring 2023, she successfully graduated with her A.S.N. with the honors of making the Dean 麻豆精品 S檚 List, joining Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and being a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success. Shortly after graduation, she passed the national registered nursing licensing exam (NCLEX-RN).

麻豆精品 S淚 work hard, and always strive for the best, 麻豆精品 S� she says.

She began working full-time as an registered nurse (RN), and began the application process at UCF to enroll in the online RN to B.S.N. program, geared exclusively for licensed registered nurses to earn a bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degree in nursing (B.S.N.).

麻豆精品 S淚 wanted to go a reputable school and UCF is a really good nursing school, 麻豆精品 S� she says of the program, which is .

麻豆精品 S淯CF was also giving me the opportunity to succeed, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 didn 麻豆精品 S檛 know how I was going to be able to balance mom life, student life and work life. 麻豆精品 S�

Van Dusen says what sets UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 program apart is its flexibility and support from admissions counselors.

麻豆精品 S淯CF allowed me the ability to learn at my own pace, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淭hey allow students to add classes or reduce classes, depending upon how life is going. That was important to me. 麻豆精品 S�

Now a senior in the program, Van Dusen is currently taking an extra class both this fall and spring in order to graduate a semester early in Spring 2025. She is also the recipient of two nursing scholarships, which UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 College of Nursing awards more than .

麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 such a blessing as a single mom without any help, 麻豆精品 S� she says of the scholarships. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 not only the help, but it 麻豆精品 S檚 the fact that someone is reading your story and decides help you. They believe in you, and that means a lot. 麻豆精品 S�

Motherhood and Making a Difference

No doubt, Van Dusen has worked hard to achieve her goals and make a positive impact on the lives of patients 麻豆精品 S� and in the life of her biggest fan.

Her daughter, now 8, says that her mom likes to help people and is her hero.

麻豆精品 S淚 get emotional, 麻豆精品 S� says Van Dusen of her daughter. 麻豆精品 S淪he 麻豆精品 S檚 the reason why I went back to school, and that 麻豆精品 S檚 the reason why I became a nurse 麻豆精品 S� to make a difference in people 麻豆精品 S檚 lives. 麻豆精品 S�

While at UCF, she works full time in a reproductive endocrinology and infertility clinic in the Miami area. She works alongside doctors and providers to provide patient care, and also translates to Spanish-speaking patients.

麻豆精品 S淣urses have a holistic care approach to health, including mental health, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 important to learn how to talk to patients, to educate them. 麻豆精品 S�

Of continuing to pursue her education, she says there 麻豆精品 S檚 a saying in Spanish for that.

麻豆精品 S淣ow that I 麻豆精品 S檓 dancing, I 麻豆精品 S檒l keep dancing, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淣ow that I 麻豆精品 S檓 in school, I 麻豆精品 S檒l keep going. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淥nce I became a mom, I became passionate about kids and it is the reason I have decided to pursue my dream of becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner, 麻豆精品 S� Van Dusen says. 麻豆精品 S淚 want to help parents build a solid foundation of health and wellness so that children can develop into physically and emotionally healthy adults. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淧eople tend to get overwhelmed and think they can 麻豆精品 S檛 do it, 麻豆精品 S� she says. Her advice, 麻豆精品 S淒on 麻豆精品 S檛 overwhelm yourself with it. Just take one class at a time, and try. You never know. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淚t was kind of the first step in breaking that generational curse. …There is no greater feeling. It meant the past four years weren 麻豆精品 S檛 for nothing 麻豆精品 S� all that hard work, the late nights, finishing all my assignments during my breaks at work, 麻豆精品 S� says Kieu. 麻豆精品 S淚t was all worth it to see my parents watch me do something they 麻豆精品 S檇 never done. In that moment, I could see that it was about more than just myself 麻豆精品 S� it was about my entire family. It felt like a victory for all of us. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淚t was kind of the first step in breaking that generational curse. …There is no greater feeling. It meant the past four years weren 麻豆精品 S檛 for nothing. … It was all worth it to see my parents watch me do something they 麻豆精品 S檇 never done. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S�Theresa Kieu 麻豆精品 S�21

Both of Kieu 麻豆精品 S檚 parents immigrated to the United States from Vietnam as teenagers, her mom at 13 and her dad at 16. With large families in need of their support, college never felt like an option. Kieu 麻豆精品 S檚 mother graduated from high school. For her father, life got in the way of earning his diploma. They opened salons in Melbourne, instilling in Kieu the value of hard work.

As Kieu started school, she struggled to feel a sense of belonging. 麻豆精品 S淕rowing up was really difficult for me when it came to fitting in because English was not my first language. Vietnamese was, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚t was really difficult for me to make friends and go to school. I felt alone from the beginning. 麻豆精品 S�

Later, Kieu also often felt alone in her goals for the future. Her parents 麻豆精品 S� hopes for her included a stable job and a stable income, but not necessarily higher education.

麻豆精品 S淸My parents] wanted me to have a steady job because that 麻豆精品 S檚 how it was for them when they finished high school. They had to support themselves. They had large families and had to take care of their siblings and be their own parents essentially, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淲hen I got out of high school, my parents wanted me to get a job first and foremost. 麻豆精品 S�

But Kieu had other plans. She wanted to go to college, and her heart was set on UCF. She loved the Orlando area and the many professional development opportunities available through the university.

With little guidance, navigating the college application process was challenging. And although Kieu wanted to be at UCF, it wasn 麻豆精品 S檛 yet financially possible. She eventually heard about DirectConnect to UCF and attended Eastern Florida State College before transferring to UCF.

Kieu 麻豆精品 S檚 choice to major in hospitality management was inspired by memories of her parents 麻豆精品 S� hospitality growing up. Her parents 麻豆精品 S� house was 麻豆精品 S渢he ultimate entertainment destination, 麻豆精品 S� where everyone was welcomed and made to feel at home.

It was her parents 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S渉ospitable vibe 麻豆精品 S� that enabled them to build a community and a business so many miles from home. 麻豆精品 S淭hat inspired me to go into hospitality, 麻豆精品 S� says Kieu, 麻豆精品 S渂ecause hospitality is welcoming all. 麻豆精品 S�

As she pursued her degree in hospitality, Kieu also worked full-time, first as a Publix cashier and then as an in-park guest services coordinator at Universal, studying during breaks or late at night.

麻豆精品 S淲hen I started, I had no money for college, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 was really afraid of the road ahead, and I knew I had to work in order to make it work. I figured pursuing a degree was only going to be me, myself and I. 麻豆精品 S�

When Kieu received first-generation scholarship funding both her junior and senior year, she felt more supported and less alone. 麻豆精品 S淭hat money was a huge opportunity for me. Being a full-time student and a full-time employee, it really helped out with a lot of my stress, 麻豆精品 S� she says.

麻豆精品 S淭he scholarship was also a huge reassurance. It helped all my doubts about being in college melt away and reminded me that there are people out there who realize what a huge opportunity this is for me. It eased the mental burden of first-generation imposter syndrome. 麻豆精品 S�

Kieu describes imposter syndrome as 麻豆精品 S渇eeling you 麻豆精品 S檙e never going to be enough, do enough or fit in. 麻豆精品 S� It 麻豆精品 S檚 a common phenomenon for first-generation students, who are charting a new course for their families, often without the resources and support enjoyed by their peers.

For Kieu, receiving a first-generation scholarship affirmed that she belonged at UCF. And soon, her parents saw it too. 麻豆精品 S淭hey could see that I have a true passion for hospitality, and this is what I wanted to pursue, 麻豆精品 S� she says.

麻豆精品 S淭hey were surprised that I worked every single day nine to five while going to college. I think that 麻豆精品 S檚 when they realized how driven I was to complete my degree, and that 麻豆精品 S檚 when they started to be really supportive and help out with whatever I needed. It was honestly the best experience for me. 麻豆精品 S�

As Kieu crossed the stage in May during her graduation ceremony, she walked not just for herself, but for 麻豆精品 S渆veryone else that came before [her], 麻豆精品 S� and for those who will come after. She says, 麻豆精品 S淚 want to be a strong role model, not just for my family and everybody else, but for my little brother. I want to be that support, that backbone, and show him that it 麻豆精品 S檚 possible. 麻豆精品 S�

Now, Kieu is working as a senior coordinator for guest communications at Universal Orlando Resort. She has her sights set on graduate school at UCF, with aspirations to drive innovation within the hospitality industry.

Looking back on her time at UCF, Kieu says, 麻豆精品 S淚 had all the help I needed and more 麻豆精品 S� more than I could ever ask for. 麻豆精品 S� When she graduated, she was honored to donate to her class gift to fund scholarships for students like her.

麻豆精品 S淩egardless of how much you give, you 麻豆精品 S檙e giving students the motivation and reassurance that earning your degree is possible, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 not just financial support, but the overall message that 麻豆精品 S榳e are here for you. 麻豆精品 S� It 麻豆精品 S檚 a reminder that there 麻豆精品 S檚 someone out there who is willing to invest in you, so you should invest in yourself. 麻豆精品 S�

Paul, who is earning two degrees in psychology and criminal justice this semester, remembers much of that afternoon in January 2010 that changed her life. Then 12, she was at home with her grandmother, two sisters and cousins while her mother had gone out to call her father, a U.S. citizen who was living stateside at the time.

麻豆精品 S淚 was in the front of my house, and it started shaking. My grandma screamed, 麻豆精品 S業t 麻豆精品 S檚 an earthquake! 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� she recalls. 麻豆精品 S淲e stayed on the floor until everything stopped and my uncle ran in to help us get out. It was so foggy when we went outside from all the debris. When it started to clear, that 麻豆精品 S檚 when I noticed I had been walking on bodies. 麻豆精品 S�

She says the family nearly lost her aunt, who had become trapped under a building. Her relatives all worked to get her out and it took her months to recover. Her grandmother broke her arm from falling when the quake hit. Fortunately, everyone in her family survived.

Paul says that she hasn 麻豆精品 S檛 suffered from the trauma and shock of the experience, but there are scenes that stay with her 麻豆精品 S� the school near her house that collapsed and killed the children who were attending; the neighbor who ran back inside a house to save someone but died along with them 麻豆精品 S� and motivate her to make the most of her life.

麻豆精品 S淭hat could have happened to me, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淭he fact that I got to come the United States, I 麻豆精品 S檓 going to take advantage of all the opportunities I can. 麻豆精品 S�

Paul, along with her sisters and mother, eventually moved to Philadelphia with her father, where she started the ninth grade unable to read, speak or comprehend English. She made it a goal to learn it quickly and add to her repertoire of mastered languages: French, Creole and Spanish.

College was another goal. It always was.

麻豆精品 S淓ducation is a huge thing in Haitian culture, 麻豆精品 S� says Paul, who is the first in her family to attend college. 麻豆精品 S淥ur country believes that with education you can get really far, so it 麻豆精品 S檚 something they push hard from the time you 麻豆精品 S檙e young. Since I was little, I always wanted to become something big. 麻豆精品 S�

Her family eventually moved to Florida, where she started at Palm Beach State College before transferring to UCF. She has found ways to become involved in the campus culture, joining the Caribbean Students 麻豆精品 S� Association and a jujitsu club. She says her fellow jujitsu club members have become like family to her. She also made the dean 麻豆精品 S檚 list.

麻豆精品 S淲e been through so much in surviving the earthquake, but what amazed us the most is her courage and her determination to keep going and do well in life and think that no matter what everything is going to be alright, 麻豆精品 S� her parents, Jean and Yvonie, wrote in an email. 麻豆精品 S淲e feel proud and happy at the same time, and we will do everything in our power to make her earn a master 麻豆精品 S檚 degree also because she can and she will. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 not easy to get through college and get a degree. When I look at where I 麻豆精品 S檝e come from, I 麻豆精品 S檓 proud of the fact that I kept going. 麻豆精品 S�

As she achieves one of her dreams Aug. 7, she looks to her future where she hopes to earn a master 麻豆精品 S檚 degree in data science and eventually pursue a career as a criminal profiler. When she thinks about finally having her diploma in hand, she can 麻豆精品 S檛 help but think about her family.

麻豆精品 S淚 wanted to go to college and get my degree for my family 麻豆精品 S� to make my parents proud and everyone around me proud and be an example for my sisters to look up to, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 not easy to get through college and get a degree. When I look at where I 麻豆精品 S檝e come from, I 麻豆精品 S檓 proud of the fact that I kept going. 麻豆精品 S�

It 麻豆精品 S檚 taken the UCF student years to get to this point in his life; a place of acceptance for the abuse he suffered as a child and the disappointments he has had to endure. Now, as the 30-year-old is one semester away from becoming the first person in his family to earn a college degree, he 麻豆精品 S檚 grateful for the focus and drive that brought him to this point in his life.

麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檝e learned if you just persevere and have a clear goal and focus, 麻豆精品 S� he says, 麻豆精品 S測ou can get through anything. 麻豆精品 S�

Daniels was born in West Palm Beach and was in kindergarten, the oldest of three brothers, when his parents split up and his mother soon after began dating someone who was abusive. He says he went to school with bruises, sometimes a sprained limb, until child services eventually intervened.

He spent two years in foster care while the courts figured out what his fate would be. He didn 麻豆精品 S檛 realize it at the time, but the lawyers involved in his case made an impression on him and would play a role later in shaping his career aspirations.

麻豆精品 S淭hey seemed like they 麻豆精品 S檙e valued members of the community and people cared about what they had to say, 麻豆精品 S� says the legal studies major. 麻豆精品 S淭hey were kind of like modern-day heroes, saving children or people in need. They just had a very professional and commanding attitude and presence that I respected. 麻豆精品 S�

Once Daniels was deemed a ward of the court, he was placed with his grandmother, who he says welcomed and adored him. Daniels and his youngest brother, an infant at the time who went to live with an aunt and uncle in Massachusetts, kept in contact over the years and saw each other during the holidays. His middle brother stayed with his mother and moved to the western part of the country. Daniels rarely spoke to either of them.

When he graduated from high school, Daniels planned on enlisting in the Air Force to become a pilot. Just before he was set to head to boot camp, he found out he had a blue-red color vision deficiency, which meant no flying.

麻豆精品 S淚 was devastated, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淔or a little while I didn 麻豆精品 S檛 know what I wanted to do. I felt like I had let my whole family down because I felt like there was a lot of hype and when it didn 麻豆精品 S檛 happen, I was crushed. I ended up running away from home because I didn 麻豆精品 S檛 want to face it. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淲hen I was younger, I wished all the time, 麻豆精品 S榃hy can 麻豆精品 S檛 I just have a normal life? 麻豆精品 S� Now that I 麻豆精品 S檓 older and I 麻豆精品 S檝e learned a little bit more, I think it 麻豆精品 S檚 like the furnace for steel 麻豆精品 S� it hardened me and made me a stronger person. 麻豆精品 S�

For a while he did odd jobs. He worked at Panera Bread. He sold nuts and bolts for an industrial-supply company. He was a car salesman for a couple days.

麻豆精品 S淚 just felt a longing for something more, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淚 just knew I wanted to go to school and make something of myself. 麻豆精品 S�

He enrolled at St. Johns River State College and eventually transferred to UCF to major in computer science. When he quickly realized the required math classes weren 麻豆精品 S檛 for him, he took an aptitude and personality test he found online. Lawyer popped up among the list of professions he matched with, and he started to think about the lawyers from his childhood.

He switched his major to legal studies and nearly every facet of his life started pulling in the right direction, he says. He made the dean 麻豆精品 S檚 list. He started seeking counseling through to unpack his childhood trauma. He finally made lasting friendships he always wished for as a kid by playing his favorite game, Dungeons & Dragons. He became engaged in his classes, even when they challenged his weaknesses.

麻豆精品 S淲e have a mock courtroom on the downtown campus so we can get a feel of how it will be. I 麻豆精品 S檝e shied away from public speaking, but it 麻豆精品 S檚 been a really fun challenge to see myself progress, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淚 found that I like to command that room. 麻豆精品 S�

He says once he pays off his student loans, he would like to offer legal services pro bono to help children who are in the same position he was in as a child. Daniels is most proud of the work it took to get this far, and that his youngest brother has told him he wants to go back to school, just like Daniels did.

麻豆精品 S淎t risk of sounding clich茅, they say 麻豆精品 S榃hat doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 kill you makes you stronger. 麻豆精品 S� I definitely agree, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淲hen I was younger, I wished all the time, 麻豆精品 S榃hy can 麻豆精品 S檛 I just have a normal life? 麻豆精品 S� Now that I 麻豆精品 S檓 older and I 麻豆精品 S檝e learned a little bit more, I think it 麻豆精品 S檚 like the furnace for steel 麻豆精品 S� it hardened me and made me a stronger person. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淸Since] then, we basically had a very challenging life emotionally because my father was the breadwinner and glue of our family, 麻豆精品 S� says Eugene, who is studying communication and conflict. 麻豆精品 S淔or about a year, we had to travel an hour away to Lakeland Hospital to visit him. I remember my siblings and I often had to do our homework in the hospital. 麻豆精品 S�

Once her father was able to come home, he was still unable to function on his own, and her mother, who is from Dominica, had to become his primary caretaker, leaving Eugene and her two siblings to essentially take care of themselves, she says.

麻豆精品 S淎s a result, my mother went through depression, and my siblings and I had to grow up and mature really fast and basically raise ourselves, 麻豆精品 S� Eugene says. 麻豆精品 S淏ut I 麻豆精品 S檓 very close to my mom and despite these trying times, she always expressed the desire for her children to get an education because she did not have the opportunity to do it and taught us the importance of getting an education. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淚 hope with my degree I can help relieve financial burdens and help take care of them.” – Oneisha Eugene, UCF student

While recovering at home, her father, a former construction manager, has been able to relearn some skills, such as walking, talking and cooking. Now, Eugene enjoys seeing him garden and care for their home, going for ice cream with him, and listening to him sing along to the music on the radio. Her mom has also improved some and she says they remain close and are there for one another.

麻豆精品 S淢y father has gotten better but is still unable to work. Since my mom has dedicated her like to taking care of him, she 麻豆精品 S檚 unable to work as well, so I hope with my degree I can help relieve financial burdens and help take care of them, 麻豆精品 S� she says.

Strength Through Support

Using settlement money from the car accident, Eugene 麻豆精品 S檚 mother would always buy whatever learning materials the New Jersey native needed when she was younger and enrolled her in tutoring, she says. But when it came to covering costs for college, without aid 麻豆精品 S� such as the Black and Gold Grant, the UCF Scholars Award or the Derrick Sutton Endowed Scholarship 麻豆精品 S� it wouldn 麻豆精品 S檛 be possible for the DirectConnect to UCF student to complete her degree and go on to pursue her goal of becoming a teacher.

麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 studying communication and conflict because I 麻豆精品 S檝e had a lot of failed friendships and relationships due to lack of communication and I can see how being a better communicator can help me in professional and general life settings, 麻豆精品 S� says Eugene, who is also a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, which helps college students build career skills.

First-generation students are those whose parents have not earned a bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degree. Although her older brother, 27-year-old Greg Eugene 麻豆精品 S�18, earned a bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in computer engineering from UCF, she feels like she 麻豆精品 S檚 had to navigate her college journey on her own since their fields are so different from one another.

But their strong bond as siblings, including her older sister, 30, has helped her stay strong through their family struggles and whenever she 麻豆精品 S檚 felt overwhelmed with coursework.

麻豆精品 S淪trength in numbers definitely helped. We overcame a lot through laughter and jokes and our faith. Being close in age, we were able to relate to one another a lot, 麻豆精品 S� says the 26 year old.

Focused on a Positive Future

Given her family 麻豆精品 S檚 experiences, Eugene has learned the importance of mental health awareness and has made it a priority to maintain her well-being while juggling home life, work and school. She does so by journaling, setting boundaries and taking a step back when needed, while still pushing herself to the best of her ability. She hopes to emphasize mental wellness when she leads a classroom and has already begun preparing for the necessary certification exams for the field.

麻豆精品 S淚 hope to be a teacher who can revolutionize the field of teaching, 麻豆精品 S� Eugene says. 麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 not looking to be a teacher who only supports students 麻豆精品 S� success in the classroom. I 麻豆精品 S檓 looking to connect with students emotionally and mentally to guide them to reaching self-actualization and realize their potential, which will help make them better agents in society. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淚 can 麻豆精品 S檛 wait to finish [my degree] and make my family proud. 麻豆精品 S� – Oneisha Eugene, UCF student

Eugene has learned part of being your best self is allowing yourself time to process personal challenges to learn from them, grow and focus on the positive.

麻豆精品 S淐ompared with my parents 麻豆精品 S� experience, I 麻豆精品 S檓 very privileged to be going to school and to be close to completing my degree in Summer 2021, 麻豆精品 S� Eugene says. 麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 very appreciative of the opportunity to go to college and it 麻豆精品 S檚 changed my life. I 麻豆精品 S檝e really been able to overcome and evolve as an individual by being persistent with my studies. I can 麻豆精品 S檛 wait to finish and make my family proud. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淥nce I put my mind to something, I 麻豆精品 S檒l do whatever it takes to master it, 麻豆精品 S� he says.

And that explains how he came to UCF as a first-generation university student, how he discovered something once-mysterious to him called research and has become so enamored with it that he 麻豆精品 S檚 worked alongside Ivy Leaguers and world-respected scientists en route to a degree in molecular microbiology. This fall, he 麻豆精品 S檒l start work on his doctorate at Stanford.

麻豆精品 S淥nce I put my mind to something, I 麻豆精品 S檒l do whatever it takes to master it. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� George Walters-Marrah 麻豆精品 S�20

This is the same young man who didn 麻豆精品 S檛 even know what a GPA was until his senior year of high school.

麻豆精品 S淢y mother and grandmother stressed the importance of college, 麻豆精品 S� says Walters-Marrah, who grew up with an older sister, Rachel, and younger brother, Aaron, in Miami. 麻豆精品 S淢y mom just wasn 麻豆精品 S檛 sure where she 麻豆精品 S檇 get the resources to send us all to college. 麻豆精品 S�

Walters-Marrah had a scholarship offer to play soccer in the Northeast, but he didn 麻豆精品 S檛 sense a good fit. Then a PE teacher pointed out his GPA, explained what it meant, and said, 麻豆精品 S淵ou have opportunities, George. 麻豆精品 S�

That was all he needed to hear. Completing a four-year degree with limited debt became his new obsession.

One Day in a Dark Room

Walters-Marrah can 麻豆精品 S檛 tell you why he kept bothering his mother, Althea, for a microscope and telescope as a child. Despite limited finances, she gave in.

麻豆精品 S淒o what interests you, 麻豆精品 S� she would say.

Although young Walters-Marrah couldn 麻豆精品 S檛 see living cells or distant planets with the toy scopes, they did open his imagination. He also heard of these people called scientists.

麻豆精品 S淚 didn 麻豆精品 S檛 know where they worked or if they were even real. To me, scientists were myths. 麻豆精品 S� He might never have known the truth had he not visited UCF with a high-school friend. Walters-Marrah liked what he saw and heard.

麻豆精品 S淲hen he gets to that point there 麻豆精品 S檚 no denying him, 麻豆精品 S� says his mother. Some of Walters-Marrah 麻豆精品 S檚 drive comes from his mother, who grew up on a farm in Jamaica, became a track star, and was the first member of her family to move to the United States. She put her own college aspirations aside while raising three kids, but would not let them put theirs aside (Rachel earned an associate degree from Miami Dade College and Aaron is currently enrolled there).

麻豆精品 S淢om said I could go to UCF, but I 麻豆精品 S檇 have to find ways to fund it, 麻豆精品 S� Walters-Marrah says.

That 麻豆精品 S檚 all she had to say. First, Walters-Marrah earned a Silver Pegasus Scholarship as an incoming freshman. He had to grind through his first few weeks at UCF, listening intently to lectures and making note cards after class, whatever it took to keep his grades up. Then he walked into a lab for the first time. There, in the dark, he saw an object glowing and crawling under a microscope. Bacteria. He looked around and thought:

This is research. These are scientists. They aren 麻豆精品 S檛 myths. They 麻豆精品 S檙e real.

麻豆精品 S淚 decided right then, 麻豆精品 S楾his is what I want to do, 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� he says.

麻豆精品 S淔rom my first interactions with George, it was clear that he had ambitious goals. 麻豆精品 S� – Kyle Rohde, UCF associate professor

He didn 麻豆精品 S檛 have to wait long to discover research opportunities, thanks to mentors such as Kimberly Schneider, director of . 麻豆精品 S淕eorge applied for programs, scholarships and internships that eventually built out an incredible resume, 麻豆精品 S� says Schneider. 麻豆精品 S淗e became a role model. 麻豆精品 S�

The Learning Environment and Academic Research Network provided him exposure to research projects. He participated in the , summer work studies, and mentored other students from underserved communities. He heard about Associate Professor Kyle Rohde 麻豆精品 S檚 research on bacteria and diseases, so he emailed and called to ask if he could be a part of it.

麻豆精品 S淔rom my first interactions with George, it was clear that he had ambitious goals, 麻豆精品 S� says Rohde. 麻豆精品 S淩ather than passively hoping his dreams would come true, he used initiative and grit to take full advantage of opportunities. 麻豆精品 S�

Persistence Pays Off

There was this time when a scientist from MIT came to speak at UCF. She asked how many students in the room knew the cell cycle. How about what transcribes DNA? Walters-Marrah raised his hand to both questions.

麻豆精品 S淲ho knows how to code? 麻豆精品 S� she asked.

Walters-Marrah didn 麻豆精品 S檛 know coding. So he went back to his apartment and started teaching it to himself. Shortly after mastering it, he earned a prestigious Goldwater Scholarship. He used some of the money to do research at Cornell University, not for credit but simply to join a bacteria research project. During the research, he used his new coding knowledge to help his team analyze data more efficiently. The researchers at Cornell were impressed.

During his four years at UCF, he 麻豆精品 S檚 also conducted research at the University of Pennsylvania and, through the National Science Foundation, at the University of Chicago. The 40-hour weeks in the lab didn 麻豆精品 S檛 seem like work, so he went in on weekends, too.

麻豆精品 S淚 couldn 麻豆精品 S檛 get enough of it, 麻豆精品 S� he says.

麻豆精品 S淚 want to help underserved students learn about the accessibility of higher education. 麻豆精品 S� – George Walters-Marrah 麻豆精品 S�20

His mom always told him: Do what you love. And so his research isn 麻豆精品 S檛 going to end any time soon. In September, he 麻豆精品 S檒l turn a new page at Stanford University, diving deep into the tricky relationship between bacteria and immune systems 麻豆精品 S� with barely any debt. After that he might become a research professor or do industry-based research.

麻豆精品 S淥ne thing is for sure, 麻豆精品 S� he says, 麻豆精品 S淚 want to help underserved students learn about the accessibility of higher education. 麻豆精品 S�

Michael Aldarondo-Jeffries, director of the McNair Scholars Program, has watched Walters-Marrah almost from Day 1. 麻豆精品 S淪ince his arrival at UCF, 麻豆精品 S� says Aldarondo-Jeffries, 麻豆精品 S淕eorge has made it his mission to make a difference for others. I cannot think of another student who better embodies UCF and its creed. 麻豆精品 S�

The incoming freshman who thought science resided next to fiction is leaving as a scientist. His message: If you want it badly enough, you can master anything. Even those concepts you might think are myths.

At the end of the Fall 2018 semester he accomplished just that by earning a bachelor’s of arts in graphic design with a minor in聽marketing.

麻豆精品 S淚 know my family is proud of me, 麻豆精品 S� Allen says. 麻豆精品 S淚 wanted to inspire them, too, to pursue college and finish and reach their goals. 麻豆精品 S�

In between all his hard work, Allen accumulated accomplishments that are enviable. He arrived at UCF with a Bright Futures Scholarship and several other academic scholarships. And while at the university he 麻豆精品 S檚 been on the President 麻豆精品 S檚 Honor Roll and Dean 麻豆精品 S檚 List, and has been the recipient of the Excellence in Action Award, Project Best Most Active聽Member and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars Award.

But Allen says he is most proud of having worked in the Office of Student Financial Assistance, helping brand and promote the聽垄ent$ible Knight$聽campaign, UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 campuswide program which encourages financial wellness among students.

Launched in 2015, the 垄ent$ible Knight$ program guides students to resources and webinars to stay on sound financial footing. It has a website, social media pages and marketing materials. The program offers webinars and seminars on everything from how to negotiate a salary to establishing strong personal budgets. By 2017, nearly 400 online financial aid tutorials have been completed by students at UCF and the average student score on the financial literacy assessments is 84 percent.

麻豆精品 S淲hen I first started working with the program, I didn 麻豆精品 S檛 even know it existed, 麻豆精品 S� Allen says . 麻豆精品 S淪o that was our goal, to create a campaign to drive more students to the website, give them great content there and through social media and just help them understand that there are tools to help them budget and pay for college. 麻豆精品 S�

He took to the work easily, says Karemah Manselle, associate director of the Office of Student Financial Assistance, who credits Allen with helping the program grow so quickly.

麻豆精品 S淎ndrew immediately began to come up with creative ways to reach the student body and developed phenomenal marketing pieces, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淗e has truly has been an integral part of the branding of the Cent$ible Knight$ program. 麻豆精品 S�

The program has been recognized by lend.edu as one of the top 50 financial-literacy programs on a college campus, she says.

麻豆精品 S淸Andrew] is a visionary and talented young man. Additionally, he is humble and well-rounded, 麻豆精品 S� Manselle says. 麻豆精品 S淗e managed to maintain a high GPA while working two jobs and being actively involved.聽He is a true embodiment of the聽.聽Andrew truly has all the requisite tools needed to chart his own path. 麻豆精品 S�

As part of his campus job, Allen says he learned a great deal about marketing on a college campus. 聽Along the way, he 麻豆精品 S檚 taken the very advice he helps promote and graduated without major debt.

麻豆精品 S淭he skills promote[d] there, they work, 麻豆精品 S� Allen says.

His freshman year, he struggled financially and took out a student loan.

麻豆精品 S淚 didn 麻豆精品 S檛 want my parents to sacrifice their resources for me, because it [was] hard for them, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淭hey helped me all they could, but I didn 麻豆精品 S檛 want that burden on them. 麻豆精品 S�

So he got some help from financial-aid advisors, made the most of scholarships and applied for financial aid early. He was on a budget, which he stuck to faithfully, although he admitted it was tough.

麻豆精品 S淚 really needed a car and I saved up for that, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淚 wanted to pay off the $1,200 in student loans I had [at the time too.] But I 麻豆精品 S檓 stuck to the budget. I needed that car first. 麻豆精品 S�

Allen has considered going back to school for another degree later because for him 麻豆精品 S渢he learning process never stops. 麻豆精品 S�

As for his family, they were worried when he left South Florida for Orlando, and 麻豆精品 S渢hey called every day, 麻豆精品 S� he says. But after a few years they got into 麻豆精品 S渢he groove of things, 麻豆精品 S� he says.

麻豆精品 S淢y family knew this was something I could achieve, to get my degree and reach the next level, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淚 got awards for academics. I took my education very seriously. They see I am focused and that I 麻豆精品 S檓 not worried about trivial things. 麻豆精品 S�