Fun and Games
UCF partnered with community organizations and Electronic Arts to provide a game day experience for children in the Orlando Kidz Zone program.
In recent years more than ever 麻豆精品 S� among high schoolers and parents most of all 麻豆精品 S� there 麻豆精品 S檚 been a national debate: Is college really worth it?
As young people across the country contemplate their futures, and you think back on becoming a Knight, you can confidently answer 麻豆精品 S渁bsolutely! 麻豆精品 S� Because on top of aiding your individual growth, a UCF degree is valuable for so many reasons. And that value continues to rise.
Studies have shown that securing a degree means higher earnings over your career. It also contributes to upward mobility 麻豆精品 S� socially, economically and professionally. It leads to more opportunities, a better quality of life, and a stronger sense of fulfillment and personal success.
Your achievements impact your family and fellow Knights, too. Here are some of our many alumni whose positive recognition and powerful trajectories are steadily increasing the value of your own UCF degree.
Tiffaney Miller Alexander 麻豆精品 S�99 麻豆精品 S�05MS 麻豆精品 S�16PHD
With a bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in electrical engineering and a master 麻豆精品 S檚 and doctorate in industrial engineering from UCF, Alexander realized her childhood dream of working for NASA by landing at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) 24 years ago 麻豆精品 S� first as a contractor, then a NASA civil servant.
麻豆精品 S淎s the Medical and Environmental Services Division chief, I lead an amazing team of medical and environmental professionals ensuring the protection and wellness of our KSC workforce, workplace and environment, which are essential to the Artemis missions, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淢y hope is that our younger generation, especially young women, are encouraged and inspired to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering or math, and perhaps, even desire to work for NASA someday. 麻豆精品 S�
George Tunaya 麻豆精品 S�03
After serving 26 years in the U.S. Navy, Tunaya started a new chapter at age 47: pursuing a degree alongside his sons at UCF. He already had real-life industry experience.
麻豆精品 S淏ut I wanted to make sure my sons would know that this is how they should do it, 麻豆精品 S� he says.
Tunaya 麻豆精品 S檚 extra work paid off. He earned a bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in electrical engineering with a computer systems track, then continued working as a defense contractor supporting the Naval Air Warfare Training Systems Division and later started his own company.
75% higher earnings (Median)
For bachelor’s degree-holders during their lifetime, compared to workers with only a high school diploma
麻豆精品 S� Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce
Jacyln Fraser 麻豆精品 S�09
A bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in event management launched a dream business for Fraser: making others 麻豆精品 S� dreams come true.
麻豆精品 S淚n high school, I knew I wanted to eventually run my own wedding planning company and, being in Orlando, it was important to me that I attend UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Rosen College of Hospitality Management to get my education and kick that dream into action, 麻豆精品 S� she says.
麻豆精品 S淲hile in school, I worked for various wedding venues and a wedding planning company. Upon graduation, I created At Last Wedding + Event Design and we 麻豆精品 S檝e been in business for over 13 years. 麻豆精品 S�
Veronica Sampayo 麻豆精品 S�13
A transfer student, Sampayo earned her bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in nursing (BSN) through UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 online RN to BSN program before going on to get a master 麻豆精品 S檚 and Doctor of Nursing Practice. She created a career-coaching business, The Clinician Life, and credential-tracking software, NurseRep 麻豆精品 S� as well as a scholarship for UCF College of Nursing students.
麻豆精品 S淭he scholarship support I received was invaluable, and I 麻豆精品 S檓 excited to be able to pay it forward to help make the journey easier for other … nurses seeking to advance their career and become the leaders our patients need, 麻豆精品 S� she says.
98% employment rate
For bachelor’s degree-holders, which signals those with at least a four-year degree are in demand with employers
麻豆精品 S� U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Teresa Falcone 麻豆精品 S�14 and Christopher Sanchez 麻豆精品 S�14
From Sony Pictures Imageworks 麻豆精品 S� Smallfoot and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse to Pixar 麻豆精品 S檚 Toy Story 4 and Turning Red, the collective work of Falcone and Sanchez is awe-inspiring and award-winning. Both alumni got their start by earning their bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in emerging media with a character animation track from UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 School of Visual Arts and Design.
麻豆精品 S淯CF gave me a really solid foundation for my career, 麻豆精品 S� Falcone says. 麻豆精品 S淚t was great getting to learn different aspects of the pipeline like modeling and texturing as well because those skills have been helpful in getting jobs after school. Studios always like to see that you 麻豆精品 S檙e a team player and work well with others, and [UCF 麻豆精品 S檚] program definitely prepares you for that. 麻豆精品 S�
Matthew St. Hubin 麻豆精品 S�19
As team captain of the world-renowned UCF Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition Team and vice president of the Hack@UCF club, St. Hubin had standout skills from the beginning. He and his teams often bested students 麻豆精品 S� even professionals from leading tech companies 麻豆精品 S� in competitions across the country and around the globe.
St. Hubin has continued to make a name for himself and the level of cyber defense talent coming from UCF since graduating with his bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in information technology. After a couple impressive internships, he became a security engineer tackling incident response at Amazon.