A future nurse adjusts their cap, preparing to enter a hospital where the need for care continues to grow.

An engineer looks out into the crowd, knowing the next step leads into an industry building what 麻豆精品 S檚 next.

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.

It means access. It means opportunity. It means students who arrive with ambition and leave with proof.

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

Additionally, about 37% of 产补肠丑别濒辞谤 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.

This is scale with purpose.

Where Talent Meets Demand

UCF graduates move directly into high-demand fields 麻豆精品 S� from hospitals and schools to tech firms, startups and public agencies.

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 产补肠丑别濒辞谤 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.

From day one, students connect with career counselors who help them build resumes, practice interviewing, find internships and connect with employers.

And when it 麻豆精品 S檚 time to take the next step, campus-wide career fairs open the door. They 麻豆精品 S檙e a gateway for students to explore a wide range of career paths, get real insight from industry professionals and stay ahead in a fast-moving job market.

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.

It builds industries. It strengthens economies. It accelerates growth.

More Than a Milestone

Commencement is what everyone sees.

The walk. The tassel. The celebration.

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.

For 25 years, members of have shared a powerful belief: investing in UCF is ultimately an investment in students and the lives they 麻豆精品 S檒l lead.

Through planned gifts such as bequests, estate plans and retirement assets, society members extend opportunity far beyond a single generation. Their support fuels scholarships, research and academic programs that prepare students to meet the evolving needs of industry and community.

In 2025 alone, planned gifts accounted for nearly one-third of all charitable support to UCF.

The society is named for UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 founding president, Charles Millican, a visionary who built the university with the future firmly in mind. During his tenure, Millican transformed 1,227 acres of Central Florida scrubland into an institution designed to support the space race and prepare students for careers in engineering and computer science. He championed what would become the Central Florida Research Park and helped shape UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 enduring ambition to reach for the stars.

Today, that vision lives on through more than 500 members of The Charles Millican Legacy Society 麻豆精品 S� and through the students whose futures are shaped by their generosity.

A World of Possibility

Thiago Maillo 麻豆精品 S檚 path to a 产补肠丑别濒辞谤 麻豆精品 S檚 degree wasn 麻豆精品 S檛 linear 麻豆精品 S� but it was driven by something unwavering: the pursuit of greater opportunity.

After his first year studying medicine at the Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Maillo realized he wanted a different future. He saw higher education in the United States as the place to build it. Just three months after applying to Valencia College, he moved to Florida and later .

“Scholarships have made all the difference. They 麻豆精品 S檝e made it possible for me to achieve my dreams.” 麻豆精品 S� Thiago Maillo, biomedical sciences major

Today, he 麻豆精品 S檚 a Burnett Honors Scholar and biomedical sciences major on the neuroscience track, with a minor in psychology. He 麻豆精品 S檚 conducted research at the Applied Cognition and Technology Lab, completed an internship with ThinkNeuro and serves as an undergraduate teaching assistant in Genetics and Embryology. He 麻豆精品 S檚 also found community as president of the Argentinian Student Association.

麻豆精品 S淏eing at UCF was my goal from the start, 麻豆精品 S� says Maillo, who plans to pursue a doctoral degree in cognitive neuroscience. 麻豆精品 S淚 love being a Knight. Scholarships have made all the difference. They 麻豆精品 S檝e made it possible for me to achieve my dreams 麻豆精品 S� and pave the way for my two siblings to follow in my footsteps. 麻豆精品 S�

Reimagining What 麻豆精品 S檚 Possible

Shannon Hankinson didn 麻豆精品 S檛 follow the traditional path to UCF 麻豆精品 S� she created her own.

A Tampa native and single mother of two, Hankinson spent years leading teams at Target before realizing that success and fulfillment aren 麻豆精品 S檛 always the same. Determined to change course, she saved money, left her job, earned an associate degree at Eastern Florida State College and transferred to UCF, becoming the first in her family to pursue a four-year degree.

“Donors made it possible for me to build a future that reflects my values and supports my family.” 麻豆精品 S� Shannon Hankinson, electrical engineering major

Now a senior electrical engineering major, she has seized several opportunities at UCF. She completed two semesters in the , joined the Society of Women Engineers and works as a research assistant in UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Radiation Effects Exploration Laboratory. There, she studies semiconductor reliability, hardware design and embedded systems under Assistant Professor Enxia Zhang. Through the Scalable Asymmetric Lifecycle Engagement program, she also gained hands-on experience with the U.S. defense sector.

This spring, Hankinson will graduate debt-free 麻豆精品 S� supported by scholarships, research funding and a fellowship that 麻豆精品 S檒l carry her directly into a UCF master 麻豆精品 S檚 program. A doctorate is next.

麻豆精品 S淥ne of my goals was to show my children that it 麻豆精品 S檚 never too late to do what you want to do with your life, 麻豆精品 S� Hankinson says. 麻豆精品 S淒onors made it possible for me to build a future that reflects my values and supports my family. 麻豆精品 S�

A Lasting Legacy

On May 2, UCF celebrated the 25th anniversary of The Charles Millican Legacy Society. The milestone coincides with , which builds on the university 麻豆精品 S檚 commitment to accelerating student success, advancing research and driving societal impact.

“… support from … our Charles Millican Legacy Society members [continues] to power our innovators, educators and researchers …” 麻豆精品 S� Rod Grabowski, senior vice president of Advancement and Partnerships

麻豆精品 S淭his university was founded to serve the next great frontier 麻豆精品 S� America 麻豆精品 S檚 space race 麻豆精品 S� and it 麻豆精品 S檚 support from dedicated individuals like our Charles Millican Legacy Society members that continue to power our innovators, educators and researchers as they move that mission forward, 麻豆精品 S� says Rod Grabowski, senior vice president of Advancement and Partnerships and CEO of the UCF Foundation. 麻豆精品 S淔rom driving the latest advances in AI to creating next-level immersive experiences and sparking breakthrough medical research, UCF is building a future others have only imagined 麻豆精品 S� one that this society 麻豆精品 S檚 namesake would be proud to see. 麻豆精品 S�

Maillo is forging new frontiers for his family. Hankinson is showing her children what 麻豆精品 S檚 possible when you start again.

They aren 麻豆精品 S檛 outliers. They 麻豆精品 S檙e what happens when students with extraordinary drive meet extraordinary support.

This is the true legacy of UCF, of Millican and of the society members: students with the confidence to go further, supported by those who believe they can.

Here are the highlights that shaped an unforgettable year.

Daring to Boldly Invent the Future: Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 Next-Generation Preeminent University

UCF met the 12 metrics required to earn the Preeminent State Research University designation from the Florida Board of Governors, the highest designation for state research universities. This landmark achievement highlights sustained progress in student success, research and more 麻豆精品 S� affirming UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 leadership in advancing opportunity and impact in Florida and beyond.

UCF Opens Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion in Lake Nona, Fueling a Talent Pipeline and Healthcare Innovation

UCF opened the 麻豆精品 S疍r. 麻豆精品 S疨hillips Nursing Pavilion 麻豆精品 S痮n the Academic Health Sciences Campus at Lake Nona 麻豆精品 S� a 90,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility dedicated to preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals. The pavilion expands immersive simulation technology and interdisciplinary learning spaces, enabling UCF to graduate more nurses ready to serve communities across the region.

Pegasus Partners Expand with BNY and Lockheed Martin

This year saw strategic growth of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 麻豆精品 S疨egasus Partners 麻豆精品 S痯rogram, with major collaborations forged with global financial services company BNY and aerospace and defense leader Lockheed Martin. The BNY co-located educational innovation hub on UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 main campus 麻豆精品 S� the first of its kind in Florida 麻豆精品 S� brings experiential learning and cybersecurity education directly to students. Additionally, the expanded Lockheed Martin partnership will grow the highly successful College Work Experience Program and expand research in vital areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics and hypersonic technologies.

Elevating Impact Across Space

As America 麻豆精品 S檚 Space University, UCF deepened its influence across the space sector this year, highlighted by the inaugural UCF Space Week that took place Nov. 3-7. The university-wide celebration showcased all the ways Knight Nation is advancing space research, supporting Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 fast-growing space economy, and preparing the next generation of explorers, engineers, and entrepreneurs. The observance also marked the debut of the SpaceU Awards, which celebrated eight honorees 麻豆精品 S� two students, three faculty, two organizations and a record-setting astronaut 麻豆精品 S� for pushing the boundaries of what 麻豆精品 S檚 possible in space development, discovery and exploration.

UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 impact also extended into human health in space. Two internationally known 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S痚xperts 麻豆精品 S� William Powers and Jennifer Fogarty 麻豆精品 S� joined the College of Medicine 麻豆精品 S檚 faculty as part of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 new Center for Aerospace and Extreme Environments Medicine that will lead 麻豆精品 S痳esearch and technology development for improving health in extreme environments such as space.

As the top talent provider to the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 aerospace and defense industries, UCF also launched a new online space MBA program to meet the expanding needs of the booming space industry on Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 Space Coast and around the world. The 24-month part-time graduate business program focuses on space commercialization, business strategy and innovation, preparing graduates to lead in high-impact roles across the commercial space, aerospace, government, startups and emerging tech industries.

UCF Launches Institute of Artificial Intelligence to Advance Research, Talent Development Across Disciplines

UCF launched the Institute of Artificial Intelligence, a new university-wide initiative bringing together top faculty, industry partnerships and cross-campus collaboration to position the university as a national leader in AI. The institute will also support UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 AI for All Initiative, which integrates AI into teaching and learning across disciplines, ensuring students graduate with the ability to use AI effectively in their careers.

Honoring Excellence on Founders 麻豆精品 S� Day

UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 annual Founders 麻豆精品 S� Day honored the outstanding achievements of the university 麻豆精品 S檚 employees, faculty and students. Hundreds of Knights were recognized for their 麻豆精品 S痚xcellence and impact 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� among them 麻豆精品 S�Pegasus Professors 麻豆精品 S疪oger Azevedo, Fevzi Okumus and Yan Solihin; Medal of Societal Impact honoree Mohamed Abdel-Aty; Reach for the Stars honorees 麻豆精品 S疉mrita Ghosh, Leland Nordin, Yogesh Rawat and Kelly Stevens; and 37 Order of Pegasus inductees 麻豆精品 S� the university 麻豆精品 S檚 highest student honor.

Epic Universe Launch Provides Immersive Learning Opportunities at UCF

Universal Orlando Resort 麻豆精品 S檚 highly anticipated new theme park, Epic Universe, opened its gates this spring, and Knights played a role in bringing it to life. Located less than a mile away, UCF’s 麻豆精品 S� ranked No. 1 in the world for hospitality education (CEOWORLD magazine) 麻豆精品 S� turned Epic Universe into a living case study for hands-on learning in hospitality, themed experience, engineering and beyond. While the park attracts millions of guests with its immersive worlds and attractions, it 麻豆精品 S檚 also transforming hospitality education for Rosen College students, building a direct talent pipeline into the park and developing a workforce ready to lead the industry.

Introducing John Buckwalter, UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Next Provost 麻豆精品 S�

Following a competitive national search, John Buckwalter was appointed UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 next provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. He and his wife, Amalia, officially joined Knight Nation on Aug. 1. Buckwalter brings more than 20 years of experience in academia to UCF. He most recently served as provost at Boise State University, where he led transformative interdisciplinary initiatives and championed student achievement. He succeeds Provost Michael D. Johnson, who retired this summer following 35 years of service to UCF.

Knights Shine in Athletics

UCF Athletics delivered unforgettable moments this year 麻豆精品 S� from the rowing team claiming its first Big 12 Championship in program history, to men’s soccer’s conference title, to men 麻豆精品 S檚 tennis clinching its , to 82-78 victory over Hofstra at Additional Financial Arena that sparked the best start (8-1) in head coach Johnny Dawkins’ tenure.

Together, We Unleashed Impact: Thank You, Knight Nation, for a Transformational Day of Giving 2025

Knights made a collective impact for another record-breaking celebration of all things Black & Gold. raised more than 麻豆精品 S�$14.8 麻豆精品 S�million 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� a 63% increase from last year and the most in university history. 麻豆精品 S疻ith 麻豆精品 S�10,472 麻豆精品 S�gifts, inspired donors across the globe rallied together for the community-driven effort 麻豆精品 S� fueling UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 academic programs, life-changing scholarships, groundbreaking research and more. These contributions were made across all 50 U.S. states, as well as globally, including Australia, France, Panama and the United Kingdom.

Through the UCF Lockheed Martin College Work Experience Program (CWEP), undergraduate and graduate students gain real-world skills related to their field of study. This year-round, paid opportunity offers hands-on learning experience while building a strong foundation in Lockheed Martin 麻豆精品 S檚 general operations and the daily routines of assigned programs. For many, CWEP sets the stage for a seamless transition into a full-time role at Lockheed Martin, allowing students to contribute immediately thanks to their prior CWEP experience.The program is mutually beneficial, providing Lockheed Martin with fresh perspectives and creative solutions to daily challenges from talented students.

Double aerospace engineering alum Tiana 麻豆精品 S檚 journey reflects the power of experience. She started as a CWEP intern before becoming a sustainment engineer associate at Lockheed Martin. While in the program she helped automate and streamline job processes, reducing process times and labor hours. In one project, Tiana worked on integrating a manually intensive daily operation into Lockheed Martin 麻豆精品 S檚 asset management system, allowing it to be fully automated and freeing up over 250 hours annually that could be redirected to other assignments.

麻豆精品 S淯CF 麻豆精品 S檚 partnership with Lockheed Martin is very much a pathway to success, 麻豆精品 S� Tiana says. 麻豆精品 S淭he CWEP program gave me the experience I needed to become successful in gaining knowledge and expertise in engineering. It is very important these days to have experience in order to apply for any job. The CWEP program led me to gain a summer internship with Lockheed Martin, which then led to them offering me a full-time position at the end of my internship. 麻豆精品 S�

Learn more about Tiana 麻豆精品 S檚 experience at UCF and as a CWEP intern.

What first sparked your interest in aerospace engineering?
In my high school physics, class we had an assignment to watch Interstellar and write a paper on what was real physics versus fictional components of the movie. It inspired me to learn more about aerospace engineering and sparked my passion for the industry. Interstellar has been my favorite movie ever since.

Why did you choose UCF to pursue a 产补肠丑别濒辞谤 麻豆精品 S檚 and then a master 麻豆精品 S檚 in aerospace engineering?
UCF is known as SpaceU and has the best resources for me to pursue my career aspirations and goals. I knew that UCF would cater to my needs and lead me to have the most successful career. I was accepted into about eight or nine different universities and looked into every aerospace program. I saw that UCF offered anaccelerated B.S. to M.S. program in aerospace engineering, and I realized I could earn three degrees in five years, including my double major.

Can you talk about a defining moment or project during your time at UCF that shaped your career path?
In your senior year at UCF, you take a yearlong senior design class. I chose to do the Return to Launch Site Rocket Project, which helped me define what I wanted to research for my master’s program. Our project focused on creating a rocket that could reach an apogee of 2,200 feet, transmit first-person views and hit a target during its descent. I was able to create my own rocket and get my level one certification to help build our final rocket. I had such a great time building the rocket, as well as designing and painting it. Our first attempt was a success. I have the rocket in my room as decoration today! This led me to my master 麻豆精品 S檚 research topic of propulsion systems, where I worked to increase the efficiency of turbofan engines using ammonia cracking.

What resources at UCF contributed to your success?
UCF has many resources that can help contribute to any student 麻豆精品 S檚 success. The engineering building has a lab where you can laser print and 3D print objects, which was helpful in many different engineering projects over the years. I also utilized study rooms in the UCF Library frequently to help me stay focused.

Why do you think programs like CWEP are so important for students entering STEM fields?
Programs like CWEP are crucial for students entering any STEM field. It offers real experience in the corporate world and helps prepare students for what life will be like after graduation.

What skills or experiences from CWEP were most valuable to you in securing your full-time role at Lockheed Martin?
Everything I did as a CWEP intern prepared me for my full-time role at Lockheed Martin and taught me how to be successful in my career. I聽learned how to effectively manage my time while working 25 hours a week and taking five classes a semester.

How did your UCF coursework help you succeed in your sustainment engineer associate role at Lockheed Martin?
UCF helped prepare me for my role as a sustainment engineer associate through the skills I learned in my classes. Through my different labs and projects I conducted, I learned the ins and outs of Excel, which prepared me to sort through data on a daily basis in my current role. As an engineering student I learned how to read and write code, which has been valuable in my career.

Joined by Gov. Ron DeSantis, UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright and Lockheed Martin Chief Operating Officer Frank St. John ’87 ’91MS signed the Pegasus Partnership agreement in June at the Paris Air Show, the global aerospace industry 麻豆精品 S檚 premier meeting 麻豆精品 S� and a fitting venue for two organizations that are leaders in Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 robust and rapidly growing aerospace industry.

As part of the agreement:

• Lockheed Martin will expand investments in the highly successful , which since 1981 has provided unrivaled work experiences for more than 10,000 students in engineering, business and many other disciplines 麻豆精品 S� and led to many of those students earning full-time employment with Lockheed Martin.
• Lockheed Martin will significantly grow research with UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 world-class faculty in key areas such as autonomous systems, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, augmented and virtual reality, robotics, advanced manufacturing and hypersonic technologies.
• UCF will develop a new executive education program that would provide an opportunity for Lockheed Martin to upskill and train their leaders for the future.
• Both organizations will work together to pursue joint federal funding opportunities that will further strengthen their roles as leaders in cutting-edge research and development.

What This Means for Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 Future

The Pegasus Partnership supports many of Gov. Ron DeSantis 麻豆精品 S� goals, including maintaining Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 role as setting the national standard for economic growth, workforce development and innovation.

“This partnership between UCF and Lockheed Martin is an example of how Florida leads in workforce education,” DeSantis says. “Our state is proud to prioritize educational opportunities that produce practical knowledge and immediate job opportunities.”

UCF has provided much of the talent that has fueled Lockheed Martin 麻豆精品 S檚 growth and success. The university is the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 top provider of graduates to the aerospace and defense industry, according to Aviation Week Network.

麻豆精品 S淟ockheed Martin 麻豆精品 S檚 unwavering partnership empowers our students with real-world opportunities, drives innovation, and strengthens our shared commitment to building a brighter future, 麻豆精品 S� Cartwright says. 麻豆精品 S淭ogether, we will work even more closely to shape the next generation of leaders and advance industries and technologies that benefit Florida and the world. 麻豆精品 S�

The agreement builds on UCF and Lockheed Martin 麻豆精品 S檚 longstanding partnership and designates UCF as Lockheed Martin 麻豆精品 S檚 first university strategic partner in Florida. UCF joins 11 other prestigious universities in this designation, committed to supporting Lockheed Martin as the world 麻豆精品 S檚 largest Aerospace and Defense corporation.

麻豆精品 S淭his agreement is a celebration of more than four decades of partnership between Lockheed Martin and UCF, built on innovation, shared values, and a commitment to developing the next generation of STEM talent, 麻豆精品 S� says St. John, who earned 产补肠丑别濒辞谤 麻豆精品 S檚 and master 麻豆精品 S檚 degrees in electrical engineering from UCF and began at Lockheed Martin through the CWEP. 麻豆精品 S淎s an alum, I 麻豆精品 S檓 incredibly proud of the role UCF plays in shaping the future of aerospace and defense. 麻豆精品 S�

About UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Partnership with Lockheed Martin
Thanks to UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 partnership with Lockheed Martin, UCF students for decades have gained invaluable hands-on experience through internships and cooperative education programs, which strongly enhance their practical skills and employability. Lockheed Martin also provides scholarships and mentorship opportunities that help students excel in fields such as engineering, cybersecurity and technology.

The two organizations have worked closely on cybersecurity initiatives 麻豆精品 S� including the Cyber Innovation Lab, where UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 national champion collegiate cyber defense team trains 麻豆精品 S� and educating K-12 STEM teachers who are inspiring Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 future workforce to become interested in science, math and engineering fields.

About the Pegasus Partners Program
UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Pegasus Partners program offers opportunities for select partners to engage across the university in ways that create meaningful value for both organizations. That engagement includes talent development and recruitment, shared research projects, joint ventures and collaborations, strategic philanthropy and co-location at UCF. The university is proud to also include Addition Financial, AdventHealth, Nemours Children 麻豆精品 S檚 Health, Orlando Health and Siemens Energy among its Pegasus Partners.

麻豆精品 S淯CF 麻豆精品 S檚 rise in prominence as one of the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 most innovative universities is a reflection of the collective boldness, creativity and excellence of our people. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Alexander N. Cartwright, UCF president

UCF is also recognized as the most innovative university in Florida for the seventh consecutive year, according to the 2025 Best Colleges rankings released today by U.S. News & World Report.

麻豆精品 S淭ogether, our students, faculty, staff, and partners are making an incredible impact as we transform lives, solve societal challenges, elevate our community and state, and invent the future, 麻豆精品 S� says UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright.

UCF stands tall alongside other top public schools in innovation, including the Georgia Institute of Technology, MIT and Purdue University 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� and ahead of UC Berkley, Harvard and Virginia Tech. 麻豆精品 S�

UCF continues to advance toward becoming a top 50 public research university overall and earned recognitions in several other categories:

• 

  Top 20 public university nationally for best undergraduate teaching.

• 

  Top 25 public university nationally for student outcome measures, including graduation and retention rates.

• 

  Top 30 public university nationally for social mobility, best value and nursing.

• 

  Top 50 public university nationally for engineering and computer science.

Last year, UCF students completed over 28,000 internships, co-ops and service-learning experiences, while the university produced nearly 18,000 graduates, fueling Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 talent pipeline in key industries such as engineering and computer science, digital media, aerospace and defense, business and healthcare.

In all of those industries, students at America 麻豆精品 S檚 Partnership University benefit from the strong connections the university and its talented faculty have developed with leading innovative companies such as Lockheed Martin, Siemens, Northrop Grumman, L3 Harris, Duke Energy and NASA in engineering and computer science; AdventHealth, Orlando Health and Nemours Children 麻豆精品 S檚 Health in healthcare; Electronic Arts in digital media; and many others.

Elevating Student Success and Well-being

UCF is deeply committed to helping all students unleash their potential and succeed at UCF and beyond 麻豆精品 S� and Student Success and Well-Being division staff are always seeking new and innovative approaches to accomplish that goal.

One of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 newest initiatives is known as BEAM 麻豆精品 S� Belonging, Engaging, Achieving and Meaning. It provides a framework to transform student aspirations into achievements and empower every student to thrive.

BEAM encourages students to explore opportunities to connect intentionally, actively and meaningfully with others, both inside and outside of the classroom; discover and utilize campus resources to support them on their journey to success; and develop, nurture, deploy and hone passions and interests to catapult their career preparation and success into the future.

UCF is also transforming student success in other ways. Every undergraduate student can connect with an academic success coach to ensure they have the support to succeed throughout their journey. 麻豆精品 S� The university 麻豆精品 S檚 academic success coaching blends traditional academic advising with coaching and innovative technologies to set goals, create realistic success strategies, and monitor success over the course of a student 麻豆精品 S檚 UCF career.

麻豆精品 S淎ll of the things that UCF provides for me, through Career Services, academic success coaches, even my peers and professors, have fully prepared me to go into my career. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Daniel Bogle, UCF student

In addition, academic advocates provide targeted outreach and problem-solving to students to remove challenges adversely affecting their persistence and timely degree completion. Advocates and support students facing academic challenges and those assisted by high-touch support.

麻豆精品 S淲hen I met with my academic success coach, she guided me through my freshman, sophomore, junior and senior year, 麻豆精品 S� says Daniel Bogle, a UCF engineering student interning at Lockheed Martin. 麻豆精品 S淲e decided when I want to take internships and when I want to take extracurriculars, and how I could do all of those things and still graduate on time.”

The university has developed multiple pathways for students to succeed, including DirectConnect to UCF, a partnership program with six state colleges that graduates more than 4,400 transfer students annually.

For student-athletes, Vice President and Director of Athletics Terry Mohajir has achieved his bold goal of a 100% full-time job or graduate school placement rate for all graduating student-athletes.

40-Year Success: How Lockheed Martin Helps Students

Orlando 麻豆精品 S� a national hub of aerospace and defense innovation 麻豆精品 S� provides UCF students with opportunities to get real-world experience with many top industry partners.

The Lockheed Martin College Work Experience Program (CWEP) provides one of the world 麻豆精品 S檚 leading global security and aerospace companies with a vast talent pool of undergraduate and graduate students studying engineering, business, finance, communications, mathematics, computer science and other disciplines.

For more than 40 years, Lockheed Martin has helped thousands of UCF students build their careers. Many get full-time job offers from Lockheed Martin and other companies after participating.

麻豆精品 S淐WEP cemented my desire to work in engineering as a career, and it also gave me a perspective while I was getting an education of how that was going to be used in the future. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Frank St. John 麻豆精品 S�87 麻豆精品 S�91MS, Lockheed Martin COO

Among UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 CWEP alumni is Lockheed Martin Chief Operating Officer 麻豆精品 S�Frank St. John 麻豆精品 S�87 麻豆精品 S�91MS, who holds two electrical engineering degrees from UCF. His CWEP journey illustrates how transformational CWEP can be for students.

麻豆精品 S淐WEP cemented my desire to work in engineering as a career, and it also gave me a perspective while I was getting an education of how that was going to be used in the future, 麻豆精品 S� St. John says. 麻豆精品 S淚t was also beneficial for the company because they got to try me out as a part-time employee. 麻豆精品 S�

Dean of UCF’s College of Engineering and Computer Science Michael Georgiopoulos says over time, CWEP students become stronger in the classroom and exhibit more enthusiasm for their area of study when they begin to see how their academic learnings are applied in an industry setting.

麻豆精品 S淏y spending time with Lockheed Martin, they get to understand a little better what their profession is all about. They become more confident, more mature, more talkative about their discipline, 麻豆精品 S� says Georgiopoulos. 麻豆精品 S淭hey are able to understand why they are learning these important fundamentals in their coursework. 麻豆精品 S�

For almost all of the program 麻豆精品 S檚 40-year history, UCF was the only university in the nation with such a partnership with Lockheed Martin.

World-class Faculty as Leading Innovators

Many of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 world-class faculty members are leaders and top innovators in their fields, and their expertise and passion for helping students learn give students an edge as they graduate and pursue their careers.

A longtime innovator, Carolina Cruz-Neira is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and recent inductee into the Augmented World Expo XR Hall of Fame. She is a pioneer in the areas of virtual reality, interactive visualization and digital twins. Her work has translated to standard tools in industry, government and academia.

She is known world-wide for being the creator of the CAVE virtual reality (VR) system and for transferring research into practice by spearheading several open-source initiatives, such as VR Juggler, and by leading entrepreneurial initiatives to commercialize research. She has over 100 publications and has been awarded over $250 million in grants, contracts, and donations.

麻豆精品 S淚t is not well known that UCF has one of the, if not the, largest concentration of VR researchers in the U.S. There is a strong ecosystem that generates many demands for VR, as well as use cases. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Carolina Cruz-Neira, professor

Cruz-Neira joined UCF in 2020, drawn to the university for its strong programs and extensive network of partners and collaborators across a number of sectors, including space, defense, energy, entertainment and healthcare.

麻豆精品 S淥f course, the strong reputation of UCF as a leader in modeling and simulation ties very well with the ecosystem,” she says. “At this point in my career, the opportunity to have daily interactions, idea exchanges, and stimulating conversations with colleagues and students is the best environment for me to be in. 麻豆精品 S�

Many of her former students are now doing leading work in VR at places such as Unity Labs, Intel, Microsoft Research, Google, DreamWorks, EA, Deere & Company, Boeing, Sony Pictures Imageworks, and Argonne National Laboratory.

A National Leader in Preparing Nurses for Practice

UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 College of Nursing and the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion under construction at Lake Nona are ideal examples of both student success and an innovative portfolio of industry partnerships.

Through innovative technology and educational excellence both in and out of the classroom, UCF continues to lead in educating future nurses to build a talent pipeline and address the nursing shortage. UCF is ranked No. 39 among the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 Best Undergraduate Nursing Programs 麻豆精品 S� second in Florida and among a top 30 among public universities.

Beyond the classroom, UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 undergraduate nursing students receive valuable hands-on and real-world experiences to foster learning and skills development in order to graduate ready for clinical practice. Those student experiences includes innovative simulation-based experiences in UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 STIM Center, a global leader in healthcare simulation education, providing vital health education and screenings through service learning in economically disadvantaged Central Florida communities, and training alongside professional nurses in clinical experiences at area healthcare partners.

The amount of simulation space available for UCF nursing faculty and students will triple in the new .

“To be ranked, once again, among the nation’s best undergraduate nursing programs demonstrates UCF’s excellence in preparing future nurses for clinical practice and is a testament to our faculty and staff’s commitment to student success. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Mary Lou Sole, College of Nursing dean

With multiple 产补肠丑别濒辞谤 麻豆精品 S檚 in nursing degree tracks across three Central Florida campuses, UCF has educated more than 16,000 Knight nursing alumni to date 麻豆精品 S� 85% of whom live and work in Florida. Each year, UCF graduates more than 260 newly licensed nurses and its graduates continually exceed both state and national averages on the national licensing exam.

With the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion on UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Academic Health Sciences Campus in Lake Nona expected to open in Fall 2025, UCF also will be able to graduate an additional 150 new Knight nurses annually.

This effort would not come to fruition if not for UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 partnerships with many generous philanthropic donors who continue to invest in the success of UCF 麻豆精品 S� s nursing students: the Florida Legislature, Dr. Phillips Charities, AdventHealth, Orlando Health, Nemours Children 麻豆精品 S檚 Health, Martin Andersen-Gracia Andersen Foundation, the Helene Fuld Health Trust, the Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation, Addition Financial Credit Union, Roslyn and Jody Burttram, Parrish Medical Center and VNA Foundation.

麻豆精品 S淯CF will build upon these strengths to unleash potential in the new Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion, addressing the nursing shortage and providing increased access to a high-quality nursing education for more future Knight nurses,” says Mary Lou Sole, dean of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 College of Nursing.

Social Mobility and Economic Progress

A college degree from UCF brings innovative solutions to empower social mobility, paving the way to career and financial stability 麻豆精品 S痜or students, their families and the generations that follow them. Ensuring that every student has an opportunity to earn a high-quality, affordable education is a top priority at UCF. Higher education makes a positive impact by helping break the cycle of intergenerational hardship.

Many students face challenges and hurdles on their path to realizing their dream of a college education. Students of all backgrounds, including those who are first-generation or from disadvantaged families, must have access to the resources and tools needed to succeed. Eliminating achievement gaps and reducing barriers for students of all backgrounds and incomes has been a decade-long focus for UCF. This transforms the future for generations to come and creates a powerful ripple effect.

UCF is frequently praised for its social mobility efforts. Every year, the university graduates more than 3,200 first-generation students and 7,000 Pell Grant students. UCF produces the most Pell Grant graduates among public schools and the second most among all schools nationally. The university is also among the 麻豆精品 S痶op 8% most affordable universities 麻豆精品 S痜or families below $75,000 in income.

麻豆精品 S淯CF really does want you to succeed, and they set you up for success. You just have to have the courage to take the first step to reach out. From there, everything else will fall into place. 麻豆精品 S� 聽 麻豆精品 S� Aliyah Gonzalez 麻豆精品 S�21 麻豆精品 S�23, UCF alum

There 麻豆精品 S檚 a positive relationship between a student earning their degree and making social and economic progress. Higher education provides a path to achieving the life-changing benefits of upward mobility.

When Aliyah Gonzalez 麻豆精品 S�21 麻豆精品 S�23, a first-generation student, began her freshman year at UCF, it was a big change. She struggled to learn study skills and where to turn to for guidance.

麻豆精品 S淚 literally remember getting lost every day my first week, 麻豆精品 S� says the two-time alumna. 麻豆精品 S淎s a first-generation student, I didn 麻豆精品 S檛 have anyone to lean on for questions and to get that guidance. Navigating UCF, learning study skills, and learning how to be an efficient college student was a big learning curve. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淥nce I graduated with my first degree with UCF, I couldn 麻豆精品 S檛 imagine myself anywhere else truthfully, 麻豆精品 S� says Gonzalez, who earned her 产补肠丑别濒辞谤 麻豆精品 S檚 degree in health sciences and immediately returned to UCF in the accelerated second degree nursing program. 麻豆精品 S淚 had found my people, my comfort and so many opportunities. 麻豆精品 S�

For 40 years, Lockheed Martin has partnered with UCF to provide students with paid internship opportunities through CWEP. The part-time program has grown exponentially, with approximately 650 students participating each year. On average, 60% of them are offered full-time jobs.

By utilizing hybrid work schedules, Lockheed Martin provides flexibility for students to complete the program 麻豆精品 S檚 requirement of 15-25 hour of work weekly while they maintain other responsibilities. In the video above Hernandez shares what it 麻豆精品 S檚 like interning with Lockheed Martin through CWEP and below he shares advice for other students interested in the program.

Where are you from and why did you choose to attend UCF?
I am from Oswego, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago). I chose to attend UCF because UCF had everything I was looking for in a graduate school. I was drawn to the university because of its prestige and recognition in several areas. The research conducted in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems also closely aligns with my research interests.聽 In addition to all that, I was definitely drawn to the warmer weather.

How did you become interested in industrial engineering and what do you want to pursue in this field?
When I began applying for college as a high school senior, I was unsure of a major; however, I was certain about wanting a career that somehow focused on the human body. Undecided, I enrolled at Iowa State University as an 麻豆精品 S渦ndecided engineer. 麻豆精品 S� I was fortunate to start college early as I was accepted into Iowa State 麻豆精品 S檚 summer bridge program, Academic Program for Excellence, and that is where I had the opportunity to tour Dr. Richard Stone 麻豆精品 S檚 Augmentation and Training of Humans with Engineering in North America (ATHENA) Lab, a lab in the Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering department. I immediately fell in love with the research and decided to study industrial engineering with an emphasis on human factors and ergonomics.

My passion for this field has grown ever since enrolling and finishing my 产补肠丑别濒辞谤 麻豆精品 S檚 degree in industrial engineering (IE) at Iowa State. It has grown enough for me to continue onto graduate school at UCF in industrial engineering. Here at UCF, I have now obtained my master 麻豆精品 S檚 degree in IE, and I am on the road to obtaining a Ph.D. in IE. After obtaining my Ph.D., I would like to help work toward improving safety and enhancing human performance with engineering.

What advice would you give to another student who is applying to the program or starting the program?
I would say to take full advantage of this opportunity and make the most of it. As UCF students, we are very fortunate to have the opportunity to gain industry experience at a widely known and respected company while working to obtain a degree. Also, don 麻豆精品 S檛 be afraid to ask questions when you are stuck. We aren 麻豆精品 S檛 expected to know everything, and it is OK to ask questions when they arise.

What skills have you gained from being involved in CWEP?
This program has been a rewarding experience thus far. From the work I have completed to the incredible people I have met, this is an experience I am so glad I decided to be a part of. As a student that aspires to work in industry after finishing my degree, it is important to have these internships and work experiences to gain real-world experience before applying to full-time jobs. I have developed and further enhanced various skills such as my analytical skills, interpersonal skills, and presentation skills. Thus, being a part of this program will help develop the skills I will need to be ready for full-time work in industry.

How does CWEP help you connect with other students and network with industry professionals?
We develop many different personal and professional connections by working with professionals daily. In addition, CWEP has also created opportunities for CWEPs to meet each other. The past few events have been virtual because of the pandemic.

Students successfully complete this program while attending UCF full-time and can work up to 25 hours a week at one of Lockheed Martin 麻豆精品 S檚 two facilities in Orlando. The CWEP Program employs over 500 students annually and is recognized as the #1 Millionaire in the UCF Office of Research and Commercialization 麻豆精品 S檚 Millionaire 麻豆精品 S檚 club and generates over $8 million annually.

Students must be enrolled full-time, have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and two full semesters left prior to graduation to be eligible for CWEP. Salaries range from $10.25 an hour to $21.88 an hour based on the technical nature of the positions and student 麻豆精品 S檚 class standing.

麻豆精品 S淭his program is a remarkable opportunity that provides students with professional experience working with one of the leading engineering companies in the world, 麻豆精品 S� said Mark Greenwood, assistant director for UCF Career Services who oversees the CWEP Program. 麻豆精品 S淪tudents that participate in the program graduate with a competitive professional edge over their peers. 麻豆精品 S�

Lockheed Martin looks for a range of majors to complete this program including engineering, business and more. Within the last 10 years, student participation in the program has doubled and in 2014, 62.1 percent of students that graduated from the CWEP Program received full time employment offers from Lockheed Martin.

For more information, visit: career.ucf.edu/lockheed-martin.