As Preston Strenth prepares to cross the stage at commencement, he finds himself flashing back to the moment his journey to this milestone started in 2023 with the South Carolina National Guard.

Strenth was on deployment in Kuwait with his unit. Among his fellow infantrymen was 20-year-old Jayson Haven. Haven had been accepted to his dream school, the University of Michigan, and was fulfilling the final two months of his year-long assignment before shipping off to college. He was tragically killed in a non-combat vehicle rollover accident.

麻豆精品 S淚 think all of us who were on that deployment understood you 麻豆精品 S檙e here and somebody else isn 麻豆精品 S檛. What are you going to do with your life? 麻豆精品 S� Strenth says.

麻豆精品 S淚 think all of us who were on that deployment understood you 麻豆精品 S檙e here and somebody else isn 麻豆精品 S檛. What are you going to do with your life? 麻豆精品 S�

Seven months later, Strenth envisioned that life and voiced his goals to his wife, Kriselle. He proposed a two-year timeline to earn a college degree in computer science and start a new career path.

麻豆精品 S淚 feel like everything in my life now is all clicking together, 麻豆精品 S� says Strenth, who landed three job offers before graduating and is in the process of purchasing his first home. 麻豆精品 S淚 have achieved the American dream in a sense. 麻豆精品 S�

The Right Place

A Central Florida native, Strenth moved to South Carolina at 17 and joined the National Guard two years later. He extended his contract twice 麻豆精品 S� his current contract ends in 2027 麻豆精品 S� as he pursued a degree in criminal justice from the University of South Carolina.

He took advantage of the educational benefits the U.S. Army offers and obtained a certification in computer programming, which introduced him to coding software.

After that fateful deployment in Kuwait, he and his wife set their sights on Orlando and UCF, where Strenth knew of the university 麻豆精品 S檚 reputation as one of the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 top military friendly schools, its strength in computer science and our many industry partnerships.

麻豆精品 S淲ithout a doubt, coming to UCF is the best thing I ever did, 麻豆精品 S� he says.

His credits from the University of South Carolina transferred over to help keep him on track for his two-year timeline. He thrived, in part, because of his willingness to take advantage of the many resources offered through the .

His experience here also tested him in ways that led to great growth and confidence.

In his second semester, while taking Computer Science I, he was stuck on his first programming assignment. Every time he willed the coding to work, he was met with the same result: fail.

His frustration turned to tears as he voiced his doubts to his wife. What if he just screwed up his life? What if he couldn 麻豆精品 S檛 do this?

She encouraged him while leveling with him at the same time 麻豆精品 S� he wasn 麻豆精品 S檛 the first to attempt this class or this degree. If he wanted to be here, he was going to figure it out.

She was right.

麻豆精品 S淚 think that is kind of the point 麻豆精品 S� they will make you go to that line and ask yourself, 麻豆精品 S楧o you want to be here? 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Strenth says. 麻豆精品 S淏ecause it 麻豆精品 S檚 a program that can lead you to a financially stable future. I have offers that no one in my family has ever had in front of them before. But you 麻豆精品 S檝e got to work for them. 麻豆精品 S�

Opportunity Calls with BNY

He applied that same grindstone mentality to maximizing opportunities outside of the classroom 麻豆精品 S� all the while driving to South Carolina once a month to fulfill his National Guard duties.

麻豆精品 S淚 have offers that no one in my family has ever had in front of them before. 麻豆精品 S�

In Spring 2024, he attended a lunch and learn with BNY, which was organized by the Office of Military and Veteran Student Success. The leading global financial services company announced a formal partnership with UCF that establishes a co-located educational innovation hub on 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 main campus 麻豆精品 S� the first-of-its-kind in Florida.

Strenth turned the connection he made with the BNY recruiter into a summer internship as a software engineer and vowed to himself to secure a job offer.

He wasn 麻豆精品 S檛 deterred by the fact that many of his fellow interns had started programming as middle-schoolers while he, at 24, had just learned the basics a year prior.

He committed to being the first one in the door and one of the last to leave. He reached out to fellow veterans he found in an interdepartmental staff directory to seek advice about integrating into the company. He emailed a weekly recap to his supervisor that listed how his accomplishments that week aligned with BNY 麻豆精品 S檚 core values.

麻豆精品 S淚 was trying to showcase that I wanted to be here, and I wanted this job offer more than anything, 麻豆精品 S� Strenth says.

When the internship ended, he stayed connected, even as he lined up another software engineering internship with Hatalom Corporation, a service-disabled veteran-owned small business.

Strenth had three job offers lined up before graduation day with BNY, Hatalom and Northrop Grumman. BNY 麻豆精品 S檚 career growth potential, military leave policy and proximity to his home were too good to pass up.

麻豆精品 S淏NY has a future leaders program that I 麻豆精品 S檝e already expressed interest in even though I 麻豆精品 S檓 not eligible for another two years. But I 麻豆精品 S檓 already telling them, 麻豆精品 S楾his is something I want to do. How can I? 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� he says.

He draws upon that memory of his conversation with his wife from years ago 麻豆精品 S� in his story, he refers to it as 麻豆精品 S渢he gamble 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� as he sits here today, once again, betting on himself.

麻豆精品 S淣ow two years later, I 麻豆精品 S檓 like, 麻豆精品 S榃e won. We did it, 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淐elebrating this moment at graduation is a testament to the sacrifices that my wife has made, my family has made, and the countless other people who have supported me to get to this point. 麻豆精品 S�

H

ome to UCF, Orlando has long been a global center for themed entertainment. As immersive attractions, museums and themed entertainment experiences continue to grow in scale, complexity and cultural impact, the industry faces a critical challenge: preparing the next generation of professionals with the real-world skills needed to bring immersive experiences to life.

Spanning storytelling, architecture, engineering, media, operations and production, today 麻豆精品 S檚 themed experiences and attractions demand skills that rarely live within a single academic discipline.

For many aspiring professionals, the pathway into themed entertainment remains unclear, with limited visibility into professional workflows, real-world timelines and the cross-functional dynamics that ultimately determine a project 麻豆精品 S檚 success.

A new partnership between UCF and AOA 麻豆精品 S� a leading immersive experience design, production and project management company 麻豆精品 S� aims to change that to better support the future of the industry.

Ideal Partnership

鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 themed experience graduate programs at the College of Arts and Humanities and AOA have launched the AOA Scholars Program, a hands-on practicum designed to give graduate students direct exposure to the real-world processes behind themed entertainment design and production.

UCF introduced a theatre Master of Fine Arts聽track in themed experience in 2018. In 2021, the university offered a stand-alone degree program in themed experience. Both programs are聽 the first of its kind at a public university.

The program 麻豆精品 S檚 focused curriculum in themed experience and attractions makes it an ideal partner for AOA.

The scholars initiative will address a common challenge in the field: while demand for immersive attractions, museums and experiences continues to grow, there is an expanding need for practical training and field work for emerging talent.

麻豆精品 S淔lorida is home to some of the most sophisticated themed entertainment work in the world, but the way people enter the industry hasn 麻豆精品 S檛 kept pace, 麻豆精品 S� says Tom Acomb, co-founder and chief creative officer of AOA. 麻豆精品 S淭his program is about opening the door earlier and giving students a clearer view of how these projects actually come together. 麻豆精品 S�

Each semester, a select cohort of students will participate in workshops led by AOA professionals, visit active project sites and production facilities, and learn how creative, technical and operational decisions intersect in real projects.

麻豆精品 S淎OA has always believed in investing in early-career talent, starting with a strong internship program that 麻豆精品 S檚 been part of our culture since the early days, 麻豆精品 S� says Mike Ostendorf, co-founder and CEO of AOA. 麻豆精品 S淭his partnership with UCF is an evolution of that long-standing commitment 麻豆精品 S� because seeing the full lifecycle of a project up close matters. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淭his partnership gives students access to professional workflows with one of the top firms in the themed entertainment industry. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Peter Weishar, UCF director of themed experience

What 麻豆精品 S檚 Next

UCF will oversee academic structure and accreditation, while AOA will contribute funding and industry expertise.

麻豆精品 S淭his partnership gives students access to professional workflows with one of the top firms in the themed entertainment industry with diverse project and a global reach 麻豆精品 S� says Peter Weishar, director of themed experience at UCF. 麻豆精品 S淚t strengthens Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 role as a global talent pipeline for themed entertainment. 麻豆精品 S�

The AOA Scholars Program is expected to begin Fall 2026, reinforcing Central Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 position as a training ground for the next generation of immersive experience professionals.

Since 2017, the KB Foundation has supported Philadelphia 麻豆精品 S檚 youth through educational experiences and mentorship. This immersive Orlando trip combined two of the organization 麻豆精品 S檚 programs to advance learning for its KB Foundation mentees, including youth from 20 high schools who have participated in college prep or lunch and learn programs since middle school. Founder and CEO Kirk Berry says that he wants the students who participate in the program to learn about careers through immersive experiences and make the right choices for their future.

麻豆精品 S淎t the KB Foundation Inc., our approach to career exploration activities is about exposing our youth to what it is like for a day in the life of any given career, 麻豆精品 S� Berry says. 麻豆精品 S淗earing about a career is one way to learn, but spending time doing a small part of the career is a more impactful way to learn about it. 麻豆精品 S�

College Possible, an organization working to broaden educational opportunities for youths, also attended this exploratory Orlando field trip for KB Foundation mentees.

Tyler Cholminski, a high school junior and mentee, says the KB Foundation and College Possible programs are helping him prepare for his future.

麻豆精品 S淚 just started with the program a month ago, 麻豆精品 S� Cholminski says. 麻豆精品 S淭hey have already taught me so much. More than just preparing for college, I’ve learned about life. 麻豆精品 S�

The KB Foundation recognizes 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 strong ties to the gaming industry through its successful FIEA alumni, which inspired them to visit the university.

麻豆精品 S淭his partnership came about because our vice president of operations and programming, Justin Fishman, 麻豆精品 S� Berry says. 麻豆精品 S淗e saw it as an opportunity to give our youth an opportunity to experience an extremely specialized career field. Since the University of Central Florida has a direct career path to the gaming industry, it will show our youth what is required to pursue such a skilled profession. 麻豆精品 S�

Berry says the trip will give students a fresh perspective on gaming, which already plays a significant part in many of their lives.

麻豆精品 S淭his trip will have a tremendous impact on our youth because many of them play games and only participate as consumers, 麻豆精品 S� Berry says.聽 麻豆精品 S淭he opportunity to learn about the pathway into this specific industry will be life-changing for the students. 麻豆精品 S�

During the students 麻豆精品 S� trip to FIEA, they had the opportunity to listen to executive director Ben Noel speak about what their future could look like with a career in gaming.

麻豆精品 S淔IEA has one of the top graduate programs in gaming for the past six years, 麻豆精品 S� Noel says. 麻豆精品 S淓lectronic Arts, Microsoft, and Iron Galaxy are all up the street from us. Twenty years ago, game development was not prevalent in Downtown Orlando. Today, there are 2,500 developers working in Orlando. Things like this happen in cities when they really focus on doing things. 麻豆精品 S�

After Noel finished his talk with the students, they had the opportunity to tour FIEA to immerse themselves in the technology utilized for game development and education.

Students learned about the technology and work that goes into creating virtual reality games and, through a demo, stepped onto the sets of popular shows, movies, and games such as Mario Kart, Harry Potter, and Stranger Things.

Students went behind the scenes to learn more about the magic behind motion capture and try it for themselves. They geared up in motion capture suits and showcased their basketball skills on the court and the big screen.

Rahim Gardner, a sophomore attending high school in South Philadelphia, shares why this trip means so much to him.

麻豆精品 S淭his experience means the world to me because I was granted the opportunity to come here, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 learning a lot, and I get to see what is outside of Philadelphia in the world. 麻豆精品 S�

Universal Creative is responsible for bringing to life the most relevant stories and popular characters through innovative attractions, immersive destinations and more at Universal Destinations & Experiences locations around the world.

Each semester, students join the Universal Creative team on-site at Universal Orlando Resort, where they learn first-hand what it takes to develop theme park rides and experiences, including the upcoming new Universal Epic Universe theme park.

Universal Creative Team Members also participate as speakers and as part of panel sessions where they share their areas of expertise. These focus areas include storytelling, design, engineering and safety, legal, budgeting, business analytics and other key skills needed when creating an attraction. Over 90 speakers from Universal Creative have participated since the program 麻豆精品 S檚 inception.

麻豆精品 S淯niversal has gone above and beyond what I had originally proposed for the class, 麻豆精品 S� says Peter Weishar, founding director of . 麻豆精品 S淭hey 麻豆精品 S檙e showing us projects in progress like Epic Universe. They 麻豆精品 S檙e talking to us transparently about challenges they had and things they would have done differently. That kind of access is invaluable. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淥ne of the benefits of the program being in Central Florida is that this is the epicenter for themed entertainment, 麻豆精品 S� says Chris Oliver, vice president of engineering and safety for Universal Creative. 麻豆精品 S淭he students are learning from those who are creating the future of this rapidly growing industry. We try and show them everything that 麻豆精品 S檚 involved in creating and building attractions, to get holistic exposure from ideation to completion. 麻豆精品 S�

At the end of each semester, students have the unique opportunity to present their original design concepts to a panel of Universal Creative leaders. The students receive productive critiques of their creative thinking, project design, management and presentation skills.

麻豆精品 S淚 have a better understanding of how rides are designed [and] how theme parks are created, 麻豆精品 S� says Christopher Harris, a current engineering student in the class. 麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檝e gained so much knowledge and connections. To be able to talk to Chris Oliver and all the other professionals 麻豆精品 S� I think that 麻豆精品 S檚 the best part of this class. 麻豆精品 S�

“[Universal Creative has] brought in 聽professionals [with] 30 years experience. The exposure to those professionals is incredible.” 麻豆精品 S� Karlyn Leander, themed experiences student and Universal Creative intern

Throughout the course, students meet with esteemed Universal Creative professionals from all different backgrounds and disciplines at Universal, such as engineering, operations, guest experience, ride design, finance and more. Many students 麻豆精品 S� including Karlyn Leander, a current themed experiences student and intern with Universal Creative 麻豆精品 S� say the networking opportunities are one of the top benefits of the class.

麻豆精品 S淯niversal is investing in this program 麻豆精品 S� training a new generation and finding a place for us, 麻豆精品 S� Leander says. 麻豆精品 S淭hey 麻豆精品 S檝e brought in professionals that have 30 years of experience creating theme parks all over the world. The exposure to those professionals is incredible. It 麻豆精品 S檚 an industry of mentorship. 麻豆精品 S�

Since UCF Creative Lab launched in Spring 2023, Universal has hired almost 40% of students who have participated in the class. Leander is one of those students. Through this program and partnership with UCF, Universal Creative strives to promote knowledge of careers in themed entertainment and inspire students who may not have originally considered it as a potential career path.

麻豆精品 S淲hen [students] start this program, they start to see it as an aspirational goal to work at [Universal Creative], 麻豆精品 S� Weishar says. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 one of those classes that really confirms your passion for what you want to do for the rest of your life. 麻豆精品 S�

The Creative Lab is offered through the themed experiences program in the UCF College of Arts and Humanities. Two courses are currently offered annually: a graduate-level spring course and a six-week summer course open to graduate and upper-level undergraduate students from any accredited college or university.

And there’s a plan to broaden the concept and expand the program into additional disciplines.

麻豆精品 S淭his is the start of something bigger. I look forward to seeing it grow and exposing more students to what we do, 麻豆精品 S� Oliver says. 麻豆精品 S淚t is important to all of us at Universal Creative who are involved in this program to teach the next generation what we do, and have what we built here continue on. 麻豆精品 S�

UCF launched the Center of Excellence in Hypersonic and Space Propulsion 麻豆精品 S� HyperSpace Center for short 麻豆精品 S� on Wednesday alongside leaders of the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research, one of the university 麻豆精品 S檚 main partners in hypersonic research.

The HyperSpace Center will advance the research and innovations of world-renowned faculty members like Kareem Ahmed, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, whose team has received multiple U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) grants to develop hypersonic technology.

麻豆精品 S淲hat we create here and across UCF will define the aerospace and defense industries for generations. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Alexander N. Cartwright, UCF president

UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright and Col. Janelle T.H. Jackson, deputy director of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and detachment 14 commander, spoke at the launch ceremony at the new center in the Central Florida Research Park adjacent to the UCF main campus. They were joined by U.S. Reps. Darren Soto and Daniel Webster and State Rep. Susan Plasencia.

麻豆精品 S淲hat we create here and across UCF will define the aerospace and defense industries for generations, 麻豆精品 S� Cartwright says. 麻豆精品 S淯CF has always been an institution for people who have dared to invent a better future. We are also an institution that recognizes no one builds the future alone.

It takes strong partnerships, shared vision, and a relentless commitment to be bold together. UCF and the Air Force have an incredible history of collaboration, and I am excited about our dedication to continuing to build, innovate, and lead together. 麻豆精品 S�

Col. Jackson celebrated the significance of the HyperSpace Center bringing together the DOD, UCF 聽and cutting-edge technology.

麻豆精品 S淭oday, the University of Central Florida is not only opening a new, top-notch facility where leading-edge research in hypersonics and space propulsion will take place, 麻豆精品 S� Col. Jackson says. 麻豆精品 S淵ou are also opening doors and opportunities to students from various backgrounds. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淭hey are gaining the opportunity to realize their dreams, to work towards expanding the scientific frontier and disciplines that are of great importance to the Department of Defense and also to the larger DoD ecosystem. The hyperspace hub is a place where these students can become the thought leaders and problem solvers of tomorrow. 麻豆精品 S�

Ahmed 麻豆精品 S檚 research team includes 40 graduate students and 25 undergraduates. The team 麻豆精品 S檚 research will transition from other labs on campus into the new facility and will benefit from a unique and upgraded testing environment for hypersonic materials, aerodynamics and propulsion. The Air Force Office of Scientific Research has supported Ahmed 麻豆精品 S檚 team through multiple research grants.

Hypersonic propulsion allows for air travel at speeds of Mach 6 to 17, meaning six to 17 times the speed of sound, or more than 4,600 to 13,000 mph.

Advanced hypersonic propulsion systems are a national priority and are essential to maintaining U.S. national defense as global technological advancements continue to evolve. High-speed propulsion research requires hypersonic facilities that can generate the representative flight Mach numbers.

For space travel, hypersonic technology holds promise for opening up the boundaries of space exploration as it fuels flights through the Earth 麻豆精品 S檚 atmosphere at very high speeds and allows for safe and efficient entries and exits through planetary atmospheres.

On Earth, flying at hypersonic speeds means going from New York to London in less than 15 minutes 麻豆精品 S� making it much more convenient to travel to close an important business deal, attend a best friend 麻豆精品 S檚 wedding or see a bucket-list sporting event.

Ahmed 麻豆精品 S檚 research holds promise in all of those areas 麻豆精品 S� and also is preparing students on his team to be innovators and leaders in the field after they graduate, demonstrating why UCF is both Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 premier engineering and technology university, and the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 No. 1 supplier of graduates to the aerospace and defense industry for six years in a row, according to Aviation Week Network.

麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 important that UCF lead this research, primarily because of the student talent that we have, 麻豆精品 S� Ahmed says. 麻豆精品 S淚ndustry is interested in our top talent. Once they graduate, they are already hired by industry, pretrained on the topics they would explore and they become the next generation of leaders in this technology. 麻豆精品 S�

The DoD is providing more than $20 million in funding to support Ahmed 麻豆精品 S檚 research, including for developing the聽first hypersonic rotating detonation rocket engine and creating a morphing hypersonic engine.

鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 longstanding partnership with the U.S. Air Force extends beyond hypersonics.

麻豆精品 S湵涔� 麻豆精品 S檚 history, and our commitment to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible, have helped to position us as Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 premier engineering and technology university. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Alexander N. Cartwright, UCF president

UCF and Air Force ROTC Detachment 159 were recipients of the DoD ROTC and Educational Institution Partnership Excellence Award in 2021-22, when the UCF Air Force ROTC program ranked first out of 145 nationwide.

The Air Force also has funded other UCF research projects outside of hypersonics, including how to make semiconductors immune to radiation from the sun and other celestial bodies and also how to ensure reliability and design consistency in semiconductors.

麻豆精品 S湵涔� 麻豆精品 S檚 history, and our commitment to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible, have helped to position us as Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 premier engineering and technology university, 麻豆精品 S� Cartwright says. 麻豆精品 S淥ur geographic location 麻豆精品 S� surrounded by industries eager to collaborate on research and workforce development 麻豆精品 S� puts UCF in a unique position to capitalize on emerging opportunities.

We are thinking beyond theory … we are establishing the foundation for revolutionary technology and innovation that will shape both the defense and civilian sectors. 麻豆精品 S�

What 麻豆精品 S檚 uncommon is for these students to pair with trained hospital nursing staff instead of 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 faculty instructors. That 麻豆精品 S檚 what happened recently for six weeks when a group of 30 undergraduate UCF students participated in a new kind of clinical rotation called dedication education units, or DEUs, at AdventHealth East Orlando and Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC).

The DEU model is gaining in popularity across the U.S. for its proven benefits to nursing schools and healthcare organizations 麻豆精品 S� and ultimately benefiting the community.

Research has found that DEUs provide nursing students with a more realistic preparation for clinical practice, leading to improved patient care. In hospitals, DEUs engage staff in educating the next generation of nurses, which has shown increased job satisfaction and reduced nurse burnout and turnover.

麻豆精品 S淚n order to capitalize on the benefits of a DEU initiative, it cannot be underestimated the importance of a true academic and healthcare organization collaboration, 麻豆精品 S� says Kate Dorminy 麻豆精品 S�06BSN 麻豆精品 S�10MSN, undergraduate clinical education coordinator at 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 College of Nursing.

For months before the DEU launch, UCF worked closely with AdventHealth and Orlando Health to identify units with higher levels of patient care to maximize learning opportunities for students. More than 25 nursing staff members in the identified units across both systems then received training to become a preceptor for undergraduate students.

麻豆精品 S淐ollaborative strategy, training, and communication are all required well before the students arrive onsite for their first day, 麻豆精品 S� Dorminy says. 麻豆精品 S淭he effort is worth the valuable outcome at the end, which is a positive long-lasting learning experience. 麻豆精品 S�

Progress in Patient Care

Senior nursing student Emilee Meeks can attest to that.

麻豆精品 S淭his clinical experience was much different than my previous clinicals in many ways, 麻豆精品 S� says the traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) student.

In DEUs, students work in the same unit alongside the same preceptor and colleagues for six weeks. Students take care of several patients as part of a team instead of taking care of one patient as a guest on a unit. In addition, students participate in rounds and communicate with all healthcare team members. As a result, they learn workflow on a unit, time management, communication and organizational skills, and the importance of interdisciplinary teamwork.

At AdventHealth East Orlando, Meeks paired with Jason McRoberts 麻豆精品 S�22BSN in the progressive care unit.

麻豆精品 S淚t was always so welcoming to walk on the unit and to be greeted with a smile from the same preceptor each morning. He was invested in my learning and pushing me to strive for excellence, 麻豆精品 S� Meeks says. 麻豆精品 S淔rom the first day, Jason helped guide me through multiple experiences such as medication administration and patient assessment. He also asked questions to ensure I understood the reasoning behind what we were doing. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淏eing a preceptor in the DEU model of learning allowed me more time to focus on developing my student 麻豆精品 S檚 hands-on clinical and critical thinking skills, which are required to be a successful nurse, 麻豆精品 S� says McRoberts, who previously has been a preceptor for nursing students in a traditional clinical model. 麻豆精品 S淚t is important to mentor future nurses, to introduce them to the profession, and to be a role model to exemplify how a nurse should conduct themselves. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淚 am proud to be a part of this new partnership, 麻豆精品 S� says instructor Sotos Djiovanis 麻豆精品 S�20MSN 麻豆精品 S�15BSN, who is the DEU liaison at AdventHealth East Orlando. 麻豆精品 S淭he students made incredible progress in patient care, and the team at AdventHealth 麻豆精品 S� the leadership, unit managers and educators 麻豆精品 S� all worked tirelessly to provide an engaging clinical learning experience for our students. 麻豆精品 S�

Immersive Clinical Learning

Taylor Floyd, an accelerated second degree BSN student, had a similar experience across town at Orlando Health ORMC.

麻豆精品 S淏y being able to work with the same nurse each week, we were able to develop a relationship and I truly gained an understanding of what a day in a nurse 麻豆精品 S檚 life is like, 麻豆精品 S� she says.

Floyd, like Meeks, was welcomed as part of the team at Orlando Health. In addition to providing patient care with her preceptor, Floyd participated in team huddles, morning reports, charting, and spoke with other healthcare providers about her patients 麻豆精品 S� care.

麻豆精品 S淚n the DEU, I truly felt like the nurse while taking care of my patients, 麻豆精品 S� Floyd says. 麻豆精品 S淚 was able to really thrive in the trust and relationship I had with my preceptor. 麻豆精品 S�

DEU preceptor Samantha Pearson 麻豆精品 S�21BSN, a nurse on the vascular step-down unit at Orlando Health ORMC, agrees. 麻豆精品 S淭he DEU model is active learning, and the students and preceptors get to rely on each for support for patient care. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淚 am very happy to see this model come to life from the ground up, 麻豆精品 S� says Sarah Rose Thornton 麻豆精品 S�18BSN 麻豆精品 S�21MSN, DEU instructor at Orlando Health. 麻豆精品 S淭his was an amazing opportunity for our students to become a part of a unit. 麻豆精品 S�

Collaborating for the Community

麻豆精品 S淭his first cycle of DEUs was overwhelmingly successful, 麻豆精品 S� says College of Nursing Dean Mary Lou Sole.

麻豆精品 S淲e are incredibly thankful to the teams at both AdventHealth and Orlando Health who invested time and energy to ensure its success, 麻豆精品 S� Sole says. 麻豆精品 S淚t is a true testament to how all of us, at UCF, AdventHealth and Orlando Health, are working together to ensure a brighter, healthier future for our Central Florida communities. 麻豆精品 S�

Orlando Health and AdventHealth have been longstanding supporters of UCF and the College of Nursing. The partnerships have continued to expand and evolve to innovate learning, meet the changing healthcare needs of the community, and help address the nursing shortage.

Most recently, the healthcare systems pledged a combined $10 million to support nursing education at UCF and the new building at Lake Nona. This investment, together with PIPELINE funding, supported the DEU initiative.

DEUs will replace one traditional clinical opportunity for nursing students at UCF Orlando. Based on the launch 麻豆精品 S檚 success, the college is exploring additional opportunities to expand the program in Orlando and at regional campuses.

麻豆精品 S淚 am beyond thankful for this amazing opportunity, 麻豆精品 S� says Meeks, who is expected to graduate in Summer 2024. 麻豆精品 S淚t has helped myself, and other students in this clinical rotation, become more confident, knowledgeable and optimistic for the future as we prepare for our nursing careers. 麻豆精品 S�