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 UCF 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�

麻豆精品 S淚 saw how much fun my dad had. And while I didn 麻豆精品 S檛 know what I wanted to go into at the time, I knew it would be a creative field, 麻豆精品 S� says Beltran, who is currently completing a master 麻豆精品 S檚 in animation and visual effects at UCF.

Immigrants from Venezuela, Beltran 麻豆精品 S檚 family came to the United States to provide her with a better life and more opportunity. It 麻豆精品 S檚 something that keeps her grounded and motivates her to follow her dreams. She attributes many of her successes to her family 麻豆精品 S檚 unwavering support and her experiences at UCF 麻豆精品 S� home to some of the top digital arts and entertainment programs in the nation.

Most recently, Beltran helped turn visions into life for Walt Disney World 麻豆精品 S檚 50th anniversary celebration. And just shortly before the scheduled Oct. 1 celebration, she had another once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: working with her inspiration, her father. Javier Beltran was added as an animator on one of the projects she was part of to help with the show 麻豆精品 S檚 final touches.

麻豆精品 S淚t was such a sweet moment that I 麻豆精品 S檒l always cherish, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 watched him work on cool projects growing up, and now I had the opportunity to work with him on something so significant. It was very special and something I didn’t think I 麻豆精品 S檇 ever get to share with him. He 麻豆精品 S檚 been a big inspiration in my life. 麻豆精品 S�

Creating Magical Experiences

After graduating with her bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 of fine arts in experimental animation and bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in game design, Beltran packed up and headed to New York City where she got her start at ABC News. While broadcast television gave her first-hand industry experience, she remained focused on forging a path within animation. So, when an opportunity to create magical moments for Walt Disney World became available, she jumped at the chance to return home.

麻豆精品 S淚 believe it was the right opportunity at the right time, and I was so happy to be close to family again, 麻豆精品 S� she says.

In January 2020, she started one of her first big projects: Beacons of Magic for Walt Disney World 麻豆精品 S檚 50th anniversary. The beacons light up the four park icons 麻豆精品 S� three of which she worked on 麻豆精品 S� to welcome the magic that inspires guests. She helped Cinderella 麻豆精品 S檚 Castle, the Tree of Life and the Tower of Terror at Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, respectively, all come to life as the sun sets each day.

Creating the beacon for the castle was one of Beltran 麻豆精品 S檚 favorite memories. She was part of the previsualization process and modeled all the decor on the castle for the projection show purposes. And, today, the magic extends beyond just the parks. An image from the creative currently appears on McDonald 麻豆精品 S檚 Happy Meal boxes.

麻豆精品 S淚t was an unexpected bucket list item for me, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 never expected to have my work appear on a Happy Meals box, but it was very cool and surprising to see it. 麻豆精品 S�

Disney Enchantment was another project that Beltran was part of in preparations for the momentous celebration. The projection showcase adds touches of magic from Cinderella 麻豆精品 S檚 Castle all the way down Main Street USA 麻豆精品 S� the first time that lighting effects encompass more than just the castle.

She relished the chance to animate on the same surface that she once walked down as a little girl, captivated by the magic. It 麻豆精品 S檚 something that still provides a sense of nostalgia.

“Being on the other side and getting to create some of that magic is just incredible.”

麻豆精品 S淏eing on the other side and getting to create some of that magic is just incredible, 麻豆精品 S� she says.

The opportunity to work on new shows and experiences to kick off the festivities for Walt Disney World 麻豆精品 S檚 50th anniversary is a dream come true for Beltran. From visiting the parks with her family growing up to now creating some of that magic is something she never thought she would accomplish, especially at such a young age. Throughout each week, she still takes time to reflect on the impact of her work 麻豆精品 S� ensuring that she never loses sight of the magic that embraces families at the parks every day.

It was an incredible experience to be part of. And being able to celebrate that moment with my dad? It 麻豆精品 S檚 something I 麻豆精品 S檒l always treasure.

麻豆精品 S淚 don 麻豆精品 S檛 think the magnitude of what we were working on hit me until I was in the park on Oct. 1 and had the chance to see people 麻豆精品 S檚 reactions. I thought about how this will be a special memory for everyone 麻豆精品 S� especially the kids. Seeing their faces light up as they watched the show is something I 麻豆精品 S檒l never forget. 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚t was an incredible experience to be part of. And being able to celebrate that moment with my dad? It 麻豆精品 S檚 something I 麻豆精品 S檒l always treasure. 麻豆精品 S�

A Path to a Better Future

Beltran and her family came to Celebration, Florida, when she was 4. And while Beltran acclimated quickly, it took her parents some time to adjust to their new life.

麻豆精品 S淢y parents had to learn the language from scratch. They had to restart their careers, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚t was a sacrifice they were willing to take, though, to give me the best life possible. 麻豆精品 S�

Commitment to providing better opportunities for future generations is something that runs deep in Beltran 麻豆精品 S檚 family. Her grandparents moved from Spain to Venezuela to escape Francisco Franco 麻豆精品 S檚 rule during the Spanish Civil War.

麻豆精品 S淢y grandmother didn 麻豆精品 S檛 have much of a formal education. She didn 麻豆精品 S檛 grow up reading or writing, 麻豆精品 S� Beltran says. 麻豆精品 S淏ut she always instilled in me the value of education. She wanted to ensure I had the chance to accomplish my dreams. 麻豆精品 S�

With her grandmother 麻豆精品 S檚 advice in mind, Beltran was motivated to succeed inside and outside of the classroom. And when it came time to applying for college, she turned to a high school guidance counselor 麻豆精品 S� a UCF grad 麻豆精品 S� to help navigate the process. Beltran was in the top 10% of her high school graduating class, so attending a university with a good design and animation program聽was one of her priorities. After narrowing down her college list, it was time to start visiting each school. And it so happened that one of the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 top animation programs was right in her backyard: UCF.

麻豆精品 S淚 loved the idea of staying close to home, 麻豆精品 S� Beltran says. 麻豆精品 S淏ut it was during a campus tour with one of my friends who attended UCF that sealed the deal. 麻豆精品 S�

“UCF’s ties to space are ingrained in its core … I really enjoy stories that are so thought out and knew this was the school for me.”

While touring campus, Beltran 麻豆精品 S檚 friend told her the story of how UCF was founded 麻豆精品 S� the university 麻豆精品 S檚 roots in space exploration and its mission to support the growing space industry. The motto 麻豆精品 S淩each for the Stars 麻豆精品 S� also hit home for Beltran as it was the slogan of her elementary school.

麻豆精品 S淯CF 麻豆精品 S檚 ties to space are ingrained in its core. The entire campus was built with that idea in mind. The street names, the on-campus housing communities, the Pegasus 麻豆精品 S� it 麻豆精品 S檚 in every fiber, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 really enjoy stories that are so thought out and knew this was the school for me. 麻豆精品 S�

Pursuing a Creative Calling

From the moment Beltran was accepted to UCF and started her first day of classes, she was eager to get involved. Throughout her undergraduate career, she was part of LEAD scholars, President 麻豆精品 S檚 Leadership Council, GameDev Knights, among other clubs and organizations on campus. She credits UCF and the opportunities provided to students for her success.

麻豆精品 S淯CF helped shape my creative and hard skills, but also my soft skills. For instance, I had the chance to get hands-on experience with presenting to various panels and groups 麻豆精品 S� something that transferred to what I do today, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 remember the phrase 麻豆精品 S楿CF Stands for Opportunity 麻豆精品 S� and I truly believe that. Many of my opportunities started at the university and I 麻豆精品 S檓 so thankful for that. 麻豆精品 S�

She still looks back on the football team 麻豆精品 S檚 undefeated seasons, attaining the Order of Pegasus 麻豆精品 S� UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 highest student honor 麻豆精品 S� and her graduation day as some of her all-time favorite memories as a Knight. Beltran hopes that receiving the Order of Pegasus as someone in the arts inspires those that come after her.

麻豆精品 S淗aving that acknowledgement especially as someone in the arts means so much to me, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 want to show other creatives that they can get there, too …. that it is possible. 麻豆精品 S�

When graduation day approached, Beltran 麻豆精品 S檚 family gathered together in the arena to watch her cross the stage. It was momentous for each of them as she became the first person in the family to achieve a college degree. She vividly remembers walking across the stage and looking up at her grandmother in the stands 麻豆精品 S� the tears rolling down her cheeks and the smile that lit up her face.

麻豆精品 S淎fter the ceremony, my grandmother gave me an orchid lei and said 麻豆精品 S榊ou have no idea how much I thought I 麻豆精品 S檇 never get to see this moment, 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淪eeing her smile and how happy my parents were met the world to me. I work so hard every day to live up to the sacrifices they made for me 麻豆精品 S� I want to make them proud. 麻豆精品 S�

Thinking About the Future

Beltran often thinks about the future and what 麻豆精品 S檚 next. She understands the competitiveness and challenges that arise in the world of animation and wants to ensure she stays current with the latest techniques 麻豆精品 S� which is why she enrolled in UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 master 麻豆精品 S檚 in animation and visual effects program, part of the .

麻豆精品 S淎t the time, the MFA in animation and visual effects program was just getting started but was already well-ranked. I think that 麻豆精品 S檚 a testament to the professors and people in the program at the time, 麻豆精品 S� she says.

“Being part of something so special every day is out of this world. I owe it all to my family who have been there to support me every step of the way.”

Along with taking graduate classes, she is currently working on her next big project. She can 麻豆精品 S檛 say what it is yet but is excited to see her next creation come to life.

麻豆精品 S淏eing part of something so special every day is out of this world. I owe it all to my family who have been there to support me every step of the way, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 excited for the future and for all the experiences still to come. 麻豆精品 S�

Students taking Introduction to Puppetry and Object Theatre this fall with Ayelet Golan, a visiting professor with the Israel Institute 麻豆精品 S檚 Visiting Artists Program, are doing just that.聽聽and聽Judaic Studies聽worked together to obtain the grant for the visiting artist. Only a few weeks into the semester, these students have already created stories using dolls, stuffed animals and their imaginations.

Golan is a story in and of herself. Successful in her field, her art has been displayed all over the world. As a teacher for the past 10 years, Golan employs a 麻豆精品 S渧ery curious eye 麻豆精品 S� to explore reality with her students. Her office hosts a display of these explorations and adventures: misplaced doll parts, foliage, trinkets and figurines adorn her walls and desk.

Golan聽is a theater director, puppeteer and performer whose work has been presented at festivals and venues across the globe, including Israel, Europe and the United States. She also has extensive experience as an acting coach, creative process facilitator and dramaturg.

Golan has a talent for finding the curious in the world around her.

As evidenced by her collections, Golan has a talent for finding the curious in the world around her. Orlando gives her time to explore, stare and think, she says. She 麻豆精品 S檚 amazed at the area 麻豆精品 S檚 juxtaposition between rows of organized, well-done houses and dynamic, unpredictable environments.

麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 very refreshing, very different from Israel, 麻豆精品 S� she says. Golan has also been impressed by her students 麻豆精品 S� thirst for knowledge. She 麻豆精品 S檚 felt welcomed by the kind people in the community.

As her students learn about contemporary puppetry, object theatre, visual languages and more, Golan hopes they see that the mistakes they make are the most important part in the creative process and in life.

麻豆精品 S淚 want to聽mistake聽with them, 麻豆精品 S� says Golan, 麻豆精品 S淭heatre is fun! If you want to find some good answers, first you need to celebrate your mistakes and acknowledge your stupidity. 麻豆精品 S�

What can other UCF students learn from Golan 麻豆精品 S檚 puppetry class? It 麻豆精品 S檚 not only the traditional methods of singing puppets and stuffed animals. It 麻豆精品 S檚 a point of view.

麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 a way to put something else in front of you, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淪ound can be a puppet; the text can be a puppet. You want to make it vivid; you want to bring it to life. You give the text life through you. 麻豆精品 S�

Highlights include:

UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Center for Emerging Media also will be showcased Wednesday, March 20, from 6 to 9 p.m. with 麻豆精品 S淎 Night at the UCF Center for Emerging Media. 麻豆精品 S� The center is located at 500 W. Livingston St. in downtown Orlando.

The event will feature demonstrations from the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy, student art sales, studio tours and other programs from the School of Visual Arts & Design. In addition, the event will highlight 麻豆精品 S淒esks of CAH, 麻豆精品 S� a documentary photography exhibit developed by UCF Professor E. Brady Robinson to commemorate UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 50th anniversary.

An ongoing exhibition that showcases the work of Emerging Media master 麻豆精品 S檚 students will be held in the Visual Arts Building 麻豆精品 S檚 art gallery, Room 140A, through Friday, March 29. The Six Trick Pony thesis exhibition showcases the work of six graduate students and features various forms of art, including life-scale installations that encourage public participation.

For a complete list of events hosted by the College of Arts & Humanities, visit .

Forty-seven artists were chosen to show a variety of original works, from plaster to painting to mixed media — even a bench made out of a tree.

麻豆精品 S淲e wanted to reach out into the community to let them know that we acknowledge and care for them, 麻豆精品 S� said Elise Frost, art gallery specialist. Works were submitted by 76 artists without an application fee, which is unusual for a juried exhibition.

麻豆精品 S淥ur theme 麻豆精品 S� Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 麻豆精品 S� is very open to interpretation, 麻豆精品 S� Frost said. 麻豆精品 S淲e wanted to be as open as possible. 麻豆精品 S�

Included in the show are works submitted by UCF students 麻豆精品 S渨ho certainly hold their own 麻豆精品 S� against the art submitted by others from around Central Florida, she said.

In addition to ribbons for the top three pieces of artwork selected by a judge, there will also be a $500 Provost Award and a $250 Director Award.

The free, opening-night reception will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday and will include food and beverages. Entertainment will be provided by musician Joseph Keebler and Gainesville 麻豆精品 S檚 Hemisphere Dance Company.

The exhibition will be open during the gallery 麻豆精品 S檚 regular hours Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., in Room 140 of the Visual Arts Building.

The gallery will accept original works that fit the theme 麻豆精品 S淵esterday, Today and Tomorrow, 麻豆精品 S� and all types of media are welcome. Artists are encouraged to show their individual interpretation of the theme in their artwork.聽 Submissions are due by Jan. 3, and there is no entry fee.

Three works will be selected and awarded first-, second- or third-place ribbon honors. All artists also have the chance to win a $250 Directors Purchase Prize Award or a $500 Provost Purchase Prize Award, both of which will be awarded by UCF Provost and Executive Vice President Tony Waldrop.

The exhibition will run from Jan. 26 through Feb. 26 at the gallery on campus in the Visual Arts Building.

The exhibition juror will be Tiffany Sanders, a UCF alumna with a master 麻豆精品 S檚 degree in Modern Art. She currently serves on the board for Orange County Arts and Cultural Affairs, the Orlando Downtown Arts District and the Rollins College Cornell Contemporaries.

The gallery is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.

For more information contact Diane Daugherty, UCF Art Gallery Coordinator, at Diane.Daugherty@ucf.edu.

All current UCF students are eligible to submit their art work to be judged by an impartial juror in the art field. Collaborative works or group projects are also acceptable as long as each artist involved is a UCF student. There are no restrictions as to discipline of study or major and all students are encouraged to participate.

The artwork was judged in four Student Government Association scholarship categories: 1st place: $1,000, 2nd place: $750, 3rd place: $500 and two honorable mentions: $125 each.

The following students were awarded:

1st Place = Masami Koshikawa: 麻豆精品 S淕randma 麻豆精品 S�

2nd Place = Jean Paul Gomez: 麻豆精品 S淓mancipated 4 麻豆精品 S�

3rd Place = Nannette Cherry: 麻豆精品 S淪elf Portrait 麻豆精品 S�

2 Honorable Mentions = Marshall Tindall: 麻豆精品 S淯ntitled, 麻豆精品 S� Christine Comple: 麻豆精品 S淐ena Trimalchioris 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淲e definitely hope to continue this scholarship opportunity as it not only showcases our students work, but it definitely creates a sense of community, 麻豆精品 S� said Willis Chico, community outreach coordinator for the Student Union.

Traditionally the exhibit has been held on the second floor at the Student Union but this year 麻豆精品 S渨e wanted to give it a different feel, 麻豆精品 S� said Chico. 麻豆精品 S淚t truly brings the entire space to life. It 麻豆精品 S檚 almost magnetic really. Whenever someone walking by the Pegasus Ballroom notices the art they almost can 麻豆精品 S檛 help stopping for a minute to look at it. 麻豆精品 S�

The Student Union is in the Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services. The next art exhibit hasn 麻豆精品 S檛 been scheduled but information will be available through the Student Union webstite at: .

This week, he and four other aspiring UCF student artists were awarded the J.R. Hopes Art Scholarship, named after the senior vice president of marketing at AOL-Time Warner during the height of the Internet boom.

The scholarship was established to encourage talented arts students with financial need to further their artistic careers. Each winner will receive a $2,000 scholarship for the 2011-12 school year for tuition, textbooks or other items for their art education.

This year 麻豆精品 S檚 winners are Lukas (3-D animation), Nicole Gayton (sculpture), Natasha Kinsley (painting and sculpture), Michael Ryan Reboyro (2-D animation) and Kwok Yin Mak (digital media).

To view the winners 麻豆精品 S� works and learn more about the award, visit the website.

Verge Art Brooklyn is a highly competitive national art fair juried by a panel of distinguished arts professionals, curators and critics.

Hammond, a first-year student in the MFA Studio Art & the Computer program, applied to the exhibition for a midterm project in The Professional Practice in Art, a class taught by Elizabeth Brady Robinson, an associate professor in the School of Visual Arts and Design.

Hammond 麻豆精品 S檚 work wasexhibited to a large audience of collectors, curators, critics and arts patronsat Armory Week, one of the largest art fairs in the nation.

The Verge Art Brooklyn exhibition featured 70 gallery exhibitors and 40participants from international galleries and independent artists.

Hammond 麻豆精品 S檚 next project will be to curate a national exhibition titled 麻豆精品 S淟ooking Back, Trudging Forward 麻豆精品 S� at B-Complex in Atlanta. The exhibition opens March 11.

Click here to view Hammond 麻豆精品 S檚 e-portfolio.

麻豆精品 S淚mpressions Orlando 麻豆精品 S� will offer the public a chance to peruse and buy high-quality, limited-edition works by emerging and established artists from New York City and elsewhere.

The fair will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 6, at UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Center for Emerging Media in downtown Orlando 麻豆精品 S� the home of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 fine arts press, Flying Horse Editions. Flying Horse Editions is a nonprofit publisher of limited-edition prints, books and art objects by internationally renowned artists.

Lectures and demonstrations about fine arts printing also will be scheduled during the weekend fair.

麻豆精品 S淚t will be a unique opportunity to learn about contemporary art and for collectors to purchase pieces at affordable prices, 麻豆精品 S� said Theo Lotz, Flying Horse 麻豆精品 S檚 studio director.

Print publishers scheduled to attend are: Forth Estate, One Eye Pug, David Krut Press, Michael Steinberg Editions, Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop and Flying Horse Editions.

麻豆精品 S淚mpressions Orlando 麻豆精品 S� will be hosted in partnership with the Orlando Museum of Art 麻豆精品 S檚 Acquisition Trust 麻豆精品 S� the museum 麻豆精品 S檚 contemporary collecting arm, which has been purchasing works for the permanent collection for more than 25 years.

The fair will be free and open to the public. UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Center for Emerging Media is located at 500 W. Livingston St. in downtown Orlando.

For more information about Flying Horse Editions, visit http://www.flyinghorse.cah.ucf.edu.