When officials at the southeast 麻豆精品 S檚 premiere design conference needed to decide on where to invest their scholarship dollars, their choice was overwhelming UCF.

UCF School of Visual Arts and Design students earned all four scholarships awarded at Creative South, a testament to the university 麻豆精品 S檚 growing reputation as a hub for emerging creative talent.

麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檝e built such a strong community that when one person succeeds, we all do, 麻豆精品 S says Vanessa Mor谩n, a senior graphic design student and treasurer of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Graphic Design Student Association. 麻豆精品 S淭hat’s something Associate Professor Victor Davila 麻豆精品 S97 麻豆精品 S07MFA has always instilled in us. 麻豆精品 S

For Brianna Rodriguez, a junior graphic design student who received a $1,000 grant, the scholarship is validation for where she 麻豆精品 S檚 heading.

麻豆精品 S淚t felt like a message that my work has potential, and that I need to start seeing it that way, 麻豆精品 S she says.

Building Industry Connections

The students 麻豆精品 S takeaways from Creative South went well beyond scholarship awards. Known for its welcoming environment, the conference gave students direct access to industry professionals, hands-on feedback, and real-world insight.

The access stood out to AJ Sibul, a senior graphic design student, who says Creative South made the industry feel more human.

麻豆精品 S淭here 麻豆精品 S檚 no separation between attendees and speakers, 麻豆精品 S Sibul says. 麻豆精品 S淭hey emphasize people first, titles second. 麻豆精品 S

From portfolio reviews to keynote presentations to late-night networking events, students built meaningful connections with working creatives, leading to mentorship, internships, and future job opportunities.

Man holds life size check on stage surrounded by a group of people.
Josh Alonso ’25 now works for design and development agency Heyo after receiving a scholarship as a student and yearlong mentorship.

UCF emerging media alumnus Josh Alonso 麻豆精品 S25 understands that firsthand. Alonso first attended Creative South as a student, where he earned a scholarship from Heyo, a design and development agency, which included a yearlong mentorship with a professional from the company.

That experience led to his current full-time role, demonstrating how connections made at Creative South can translate directly into opportunities.

麻豆精品 S淭hat mentorship really grew into a friendship, which led to a job offer later down the road, 麻豆精品 S Alonso says. 麻豆精品 S淭hey helped me understand the importance of being someone people wanted to work with, rather than just having the best-looking portfolio. 麻豆精品 S

麻豆精品 S淢y career essentially got its 麻豆精品 S榡umpstart 麻豆精品 S from the people I met at Creative South. 麻豆精品 S 麻豆精品 S Josh Alonso 麻豆精品 S25

Alonso 麻豆精品 S檚 journey reflects what many UCF students are beginning to experience: real pathways into creative careers.

麻豆精品 S淢y career essentially got its 麻豆精品 S榡umpstart 麻豆精品 S from the people I met at Creative South, 麻豆精品 S he says.

As UCF continues to invest in the next generation of creatives, experiences like Creative South equip students with the connections and confidence needed to succeed in the industry after graduation.