UCF Today Spring 2011

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I N T E R N A T I O N A L

FACULTY PROFILE Rick Hall’s 10 Greatest Geniuses

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COMMUNITY Doing Work That Matters

REGIONAL CAMPUSES

What’s New

UCF TODAY f o r F a m i l y a n d f ri e n d s o f t h e U ni v e rsi t y o f C e n t r a l F l o ri d a

SPRING 2011

UCF a Best Value University

UCF snapshots

The Princeton Review has joined Kiplinger in selecting UCF as a “Best Value” college.

The Princeton Review rated UCF in its top 100 schools, and Kiplinger rated UCF as 33rd in the nation.

UCF faculty have accrued $1.05 billion in research-related funding since 2000.

Cornell Honors Trustee Harris Rosen Harris Rosen, a UCF trustee and the benefactor of UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, has been named Cornell Entrepreneur of the Year 2011.

The award is given annually to a Cornell graduate who best exemplifies entrepreneurial achievement, community service and high ethical standards.

Huntington’s Disease Breakthrough New hope is on the horizon for sufferers of Huntington’s disease.

A UCF research team led by Professor Ella Bossy-Wetzel have made a leap in understanding the disease, a discovery that may lead to a cure.

Huntington’s is an inherited, incurable neurodegenerative disease affecting 35,000 people every year. The disease gradually kills nerve cells in the brain, stripping away a person’s physical abilities and causing hallucinations, antisocial behavior and paranoia. People diagnosed with the disease usually die 15 to 20 years from the onset of symptoms, and there is an increased rate of suicide among those struggling with the disease.

Until now, little has been known about how Huntington’s works.

Scientists knew that people with the mutant Huntington gene develop the disease. They also knew that a cell’s powerhouse– mitochondria, which turn food into energy—was somehow involved. But until BossyWetzel’s team completed its work, little else was known.

The team discovered that an overactive protein, known as DPR1, triggers the onset of the disease. If the activity of the protein is calmed, the chain reaction kept the cells alive.

“It is an outstanding piece of work, which further implicates mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of Huntington’s disease,” said Flint Beal, a professor of neurology and neuroscience at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University who specializes in the disease and is a practicing physician. “It opens new therapeutic targets for therapies aimed at disease modification.”

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UCF is presenting a challenge to its community: get healthier.

And do it together by 2020.

Healthy Knights 2020 addresses students’ physical, emotional and social well-being through education, treatment and support.

The program allows students to address concerns such as the f lu, depression, stress, sexual wellness, drugs and alcohol by connecting them to places that can help, such as the Health Center, Counseling Center and Recreation and Wellness Center.

“This is a collaborative effort among departments from across the university to help students establish patterns of healthy behaviors,” said Bob Wirag, director of UCF Health Services.

The Healthy Knights program includes a website that gives students access to information ab out how to pre vent a nd recognize illnesses, campus services, community resources and more.

To learn more about Healthy Knights, visit the website at healthyknights.ucf.edu.

A Knight’s Return to Space UCF alumna Nicole P. Stott journeyed into space for a second time aboard Space Shuttle Discovery. Stott was one of six astronauts to fly on Discovery’s final mission. Discovery delivered Robonaut 2, which is the first human-like robot in space.

Lapchick Honored Twice for Contributions Richard Lapchick, director of the UCF DeVos Sports Business Management Program, was inducted into the Multi-Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame.

Also, the Institute for International Sport honored Lapchick for his contributions to sportsmanship and ethical conduct.

Other honorees included recordbreaking baseball player Cal Ripken, Jr.; baseball Hall of Famer Stan Musial; and Tony Dungy, the first African-American coach to win a Super Bowl.

Increasing College Access

Regional academic leaders gathered at the fifth-annual College Access Summit to develop a strategy to expand college access for local students.

More than 150 leaders from Central Florida K-12 schools, community and state colleges and UCF came together to generate ideas and share information.

Leaders called for increased student and teacher proficiency in science, technolog y, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Emphasis on STEM education in Central Florida is considered integral to bolstering the region’s economy.

UCF Police Officer a Hero

USC, UCF Nos. 1, 2 in U.S. The Princeton Review ranked graduate-level video game development schools for the first time, and UCF’s Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA) placed second behind the University of Southern California.

A UCF police officer has been honored as Central Florida’s best in crisis intervention. Orange County named Corporal Adam Casebolt as Central Florida’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Officer of the Year 2010.

He was honored for using his CIT and CPR skills to save the life of a man in mental distress last fall. In addition, the UCF Police Department was honored as Central Florida’s CIT Police Department of the Year for 2010.

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Faculty Profile UCF TODAY

The 10 Greatest

Geniuses In History

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“Witch of Agnesi.” Perhaps her most lasting contribution came when, at age 9, she composed and delivered an hour long speech, in Latin, on the subject of women’s right to be educated. She set the stage for generations of women after her.

18-month period, he learned to be a shipwright, silversmith, and dentist. He changed the face of European politics for centuries to come.

Entertainment Academy. When not teaching,

8. Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)

Rick enjoys reading history books. Here he

American author, printer, political theorist, scientist, inventor, and diplomat. Franklin’s parents only had enough money to send him to school for two years, yet he somehow managed to learn enough on his own that he was able to invent everything from the lightning rod to bifocals, the Franklin Stove to the odometer. Over two hundred years later, we still feel the effects of Franklin’s genius.

German writer, philosopher, and scientist.

Although his writing profoundly influenced the literary world, Goethe was also heavily involved in the studies of natural science. He wrote several works on plant morphology, color theory, meteorology, and approaches to scientific methodology.

ick Hall is the production director at UCF’s graduate video game development program, the Florida Interactive

gives us his list of the 10 Greatest Geniuses in History.

This is going to be a subjective list, so I qualified it in two key ways. First, I decided that my list should only include geniuses who were “polymaths”—someone who is a genius in diverse fields and not just one.

My second criterion was that in order to be “great,” my list of geniuses had to make some game-changing contribution to mankind. Here’s what I came up with.

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10. Al-Kindi (801-873) Islamic philosopher, scientist, astrologer, a st ronomer, c hem ist , log ic ia n, mathematician, musician, physician, physicist, psychologist, and meteorologist.

There isn’t enough space to scratch the surface of Al-Kindi’s contributions, so I’ll choose at random that Al-Kindi gave the first known recorded explanation of cryptanalysis, and he was also the first known author to write on the subjects of environmentalism and pollution. If he’d been born a thousand years later, he could have gotten a job with either the CIA or Al Gore’s staff.

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9. Maria Agnesi (1718-1799) Italian linguist, mathematician, and philosopher. She could speak four languages by age 9, and she wrote several manuscripts interpreting highly complex math. She is best known for her curve equation, the

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7. Hypatia of Alexandria (370–415) Egyptian astronomer, astrologer, and mathematician. Her work on conic sections developed the ideas of hyperbolas, parabolas, and ellipses. Though simple sounding today, it made a profound impact on nearly all math thereafter. Much later, Descartes, Newton, and Leibniz all expanded on the work that she began.

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6. Peter the Great (1672–1725) Russian monarch, craftsman, and inventor.

The Russia that Peter inherited when he was 22 was xenophobic and technophobic.

Its economy was a barter system, it had no navy, and its army was so pathetic that Charles XII of Sweden used to bring his army into Russia for “practice,” beating up on Russians. By the time Peter died, Russia was one of the most powerful nations on earth. He dragged the nation kicking and screaming into the 18th century almost entirely alone, by sheer force of will. He is also credited with inventing the world’s first decimal currency. For fun, over an

UCF snapshots In 2011, The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching designated UCF as a university with “very high research activity.” UCF is now one of 40 public universities with The Carnegie Foundation’s highest designation in two categories: community engagement and research activity.

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5. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749– 1832)

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4. Trotula of Salerno (11th & 12th century) Italian physician, obstetrician, teacher, writer, experimenter, and health planner.

Trotula was responsible for major advances in fema le med icine, publ ic hea lt h, pharmacolog y, and medical training methods. She established the distinct field of women’s health, and her methodologies in obstetrics may possibly be credited with preventing millions of childbirthrelated deaths.

attacking ships out of the water and set them on fire from great distances using an array of mirrors. Although difficult to estimate, his IQ is believed to have been somewhere around 200.

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1. Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) Italian painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist, and writer.

The world had never seen his equal before him, and has not since. He conceptualized everything from helicopters to tanks, from concentrated solar power to a calculator. He outlined a rudimentary theory of plate tectonics, made important discoveries in anatomy, civil engineering, optics and hydrodynamics. Along the way, he was also one of the most talented and influential artists to ever walk the face of the earth. His IQ is estimated to have been around 205–225.

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3. Isaac Newton (1643-1727) En gl ish phy sic ist , mat hemat ic ia n , astronomer, theologian, natural philosopher, and alchemist. There can be little doubt of the massive impact of Newton’s ideas on universal gravitation and his three laws of motion. His theories are still taught in universities even today. His IQ was probably in the neighborhood of 190.

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2. Archimedes of Syracuse (287 BC–212 BC) Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer. His work laid the foundation for hydrostatics, statics, and the principle of the lever. He invented the screw pump, siege engines, and reputedly constructed machines that could lift

As with all subjective lists there is room for debate. If you have enough coffee, count me in. -Rick Hall

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UCF TODAY International

UCF isn’t just a local powerhouse,

we’re worldwide.

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Every year, UCF generates a multi-billion-dollar economic impact and gives more than a million volunteer and servicelearning hours to the Central Florida community. Our impact on the local community is immense—we impact lives in many ways, from creating jobs to saving lives to preparing tomorrow’s leaders.

But did you know that students, faculty and alumni are doing this… everywhere?

Across the globe, UCF volunteers, conducts research and provides new opportunities to students. So, we’re not just growing in size—we’re now the second-largest university in the nation—but we’re also growing in national and global influence.

In these pages, see where in the world we’re working and making a difference—and how we’re doing it.

Want to learn more about UCF’s international efforts, including our departments, offices and programs? Check out the UCF International website at international.ucf.edu.

Our campus is international.

UCF has research, study abroad and experiential learning opportunities across the globe—but we also bring students and faculty from other countries to live, work and play on our campuses in Central Florida. In 2010, UCF enrolled more than 1,500 students from all over the world.

Where can student Knights study abroad?

UCF partners with universities worldwide, from France to Egypt to China. Here are just a few of the places our students go to study abroad.

Australia Austria Brazil China Colombia Costa Rica

Egypt France Germany Hong Kong Italy Japan

International

knights thrive when they arrive No matter where they’re coming from, our international students have a support network at UCF. It isn’t just about getting them here—it’s about helping them succeed.

Some student services include: • Translation services • Intensive English programs • Specialized library services • Employment services • Connections to international student organizations • Festivals, concerts and other events • Hosting international speakers

Luis Yamashita’s parents were looking for a new life when they moved from Sao Paolo, Brazil, to Miami, Florida—and for Luis, UCF is the right place to build just that. “UCF is like my home,” he said. “And being a student-athlete makes you more involved because you represent your university wherever you go.”

Luis Yamashita

Kenya Kuwait Puerto Rico South Africa Taiwan United Arab Emirates

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ILLUSTRATION: REGAN DUNNICK

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Volgograd, Russia

Criminal Justice Professor K. Michael Reynolds is creating centers to coordinate the Russian police and human rights efforts.

M are Brignol, Haiti

UCF’s Engineers Without Borders student group will deliver and install water cisterns to help prevent illnesses.

Washington, D.C.

UCF’s literary magazine, The Florida Review, webcasted a live reading at the Museum of the American Indian.

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South Africa

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Hong Kong

Drs. Bruce Janz and Rosalyn Howard traveled along the road from Johannesburg to Cape Town, and more than 100 students tuned-in to the professors’ on-location webcasts.

Assistant Professor Anthony Kong studied the ways Cantonese and English speakers process language to help discover ways to address speech problems after head trauma.

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San Juan, Puerto Rico

For “Alternative Spring Break,” UCF students volunteered and worked with Save A Sato to rescue homeless dogs and provide them with medical treatment, food and shelter while they awaited adoption.

K urdistan Region, Iraq

UCF’s Global Perspectives Office has worked with Qubad Talabani, representative of the Kurdish government to the U.S. and son of Iraq’s president, to help officals develop a strong government in Iraq. UCF’s Kurdish Studies Initiative was the first of its kind in the U.S.

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Queensland, Australia

The UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management has a well-established partnership with Griffith University.

India

UCF’s India Program works with partners and invites speakers from across India, including Meera Shankar, the Indian ambassador to the U.S., and former President Abdul Kalam.

Safi, Morocco

Physics Professor Abdelkader Kara organized the International Conference on Nanomaterials and Renewable Energies, drawing scientists from Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the U.S.

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Eastern Bolivia

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Plymouth, England

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KOSKUNA, PANAMA

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Aachen, Germany

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Santiago, Chile

Dr. John Walker directs the Archeaological GIS Project of the Beni—a collaboration with Bolivian universities—to understand how indigenous Amazonians engineered their environments.

Students from UCF’s Global Business Brigades chapter help impoverished villages in Panama by establishing small businesses.

Nursing professor Anne Norris gave the keynote presentation at a conference on HIV and AIDS, and also consulted with the local Universidad Catolica.

Dr. Gillian Eriksson established a study abroad experience at University College Plymouth St. Mark and St. John (UCP Marjon) for students in the UCF School of Teaching, Learning and Leadership.

The Townes Laser Institute at the UCF College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL) is collaborating with the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology at Aachen University to research laser technology and life sciences, among other areas.

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International UCF TODAY

Bringing the World to UCF

Turkish musicians perform at an on-campus diversity luncheon

UCF’s study abroad programs, i nter nat iona l resea rch a nd diverse student body all work to expand our reach and impact in the world—but we also bring the world to UCF by hosting conferences and inviting distinguished speakers. Forums, presentations and public lectures help keep the university community current. From the India Program to the Global Peace and Security Studies Program, UCF is bringing in some big names to talk about the big issues.

Prominent speakers, special progra ms and ot her ef for ts include:

StudyING Criminal Justice in the UK

GLOBAL JOB MARKET UCF believes in the power of educating its students about globalization, but the university is also focusing on way s for st udent s to apply their knowledge in the workforce internationally.

Career Ser v ices has an innovative way to open the job market to its students— assisting them in a global job search. UCF prepares students with the resources they need to make it overseas. This includes international academic and s t u d y a br o a d pr o g r a m s , including language programs, connections to international faculty and advisors, and help developing a n international resume.

But students don’t have to wa it to sta r t work i ng internationa lly. The UCF Of f ice of E x perient ia l Learning connects them to the sources they need to begin an international internship to gain hands-on experience.

How does riding along with English constables, cruising the River Thames and visiting the famed New Scotland Yard sound? That’s what 17 UCF criminal justice students and Associate Professor Ross Wolf did for Spring Break this year.

“The American criminal justice system is founded on the UK model,” Wolf said. “I hope students gain a better understanding of the American system and local governments by exploring another culture’s.”

Although the American policing system is rooted in UK traditions, the two are very different. The UK’s police system is comprised of fewer than 40 agencies, whereas the U.S. has a decentralized system with more than 18,000 different police and law enforcement agencies. Additionally, volunteer community policing is a major aspect of the UK’s criminal justice system, where many officers patrol unarmed.

“It’s great that I’ll already have an understanding of foreign law enforcement and that I’ve been to other parts of the world,” said Karla Amaya, who will graduate from the program in May. “It won’t be a complete culture shock if my job requires that I travel.”

F A C U LT Y

Diane Chase Unearthing Potential

c Abdul Kalam, former

c UCF’s Global Perspectives

c Pultizer Prize winner John

c Paul Rusesabagina, whose

president of India, argued for an increased involvement in science for India as it grows into a global superpower

Bersia and others publish monographs on world issues such as U.S. Foreign Policy, as well as lead conversations with international figures such as Desmond Tutu

c Abolitionist Francis

Bok from South Sudan spoke about his history as a child slave and the need for aid in Africa

Office, along with its partners, held a forum titled “America and the Rising Powers” to discuss foreign relations efforts were the basis of the film Hotel Rwanda, addressed issues of global peace

c Programs geared to

educate students about global issues, including the World Citizenship and the Diplomacy programs

For more, visit ucfglobalperspectives.org.

International Engineering Jason Delosrios and Jonathan Torres have something that makes them more competitive in the engineering job market—a minor in international engineering.

UCF’s minor in international eng i ne er i ng pa r t ner s w it h 18 universities worldwide. In turn, dozens of students from those countries visit the university to learn about A merica n culture and the American way of engineering.

Delosrios spent a semester studying in Brazil and then accepted a full-time internship as an electrical engineer at a utility company there. Torres earned a summer internship in Germany thanks to his 2009 engineering experience in Spain.

“When I interviewed for an internship before being placed in the Germany program, I had some potential employers tell

me that it really set me apart,” Torres said.

“Engineering science doesn’t change across borders,” said Avelino Gonzalez, a professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science who is leading the International Engineering minor at UCF. “But the practice of engineering does.

How people communicate and how they approach a problem— that’s different in every country.

Knowing how to work with people and how to approach them, that’s something that studying abroad can really teach our students, and that’s golden for employers.”

“UCF’s minor in international engineering partners with 18 universities worldwide”

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or more than 25 years, Dr. Chase has been digging deep into ancient Maya ruins in Caracol, Belize, to discover clues about the past. UCF is

a place where students can do fieldwork. They’re part of a project.

But archaeology isn’t just about digging up history; it’s also about discovering student potential. For Dr. Chase, a hands-on education is the key. Learning to

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problem-solve, to work in teams and how to do interdisciplinary work are the skills of the future.

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UCF TODAY Community

Volunteering THREE-PEAT Ju n ior Ach ie vement of Central Florida chose UCF for the 2010 President’s Volunteer Service Award, which recognizes organizations that give 15,000 volunteer hours or more to their commu nit ies. The awa rd is presented on behalf of President Barack Obama.

T h i s wa s t he t h i rd t i me UCF had received this award, as the university consistently provides Central Florida with community service hours and programs. During the 2009-10 school year, more than 2,500 UCF students contributed 34,040

Keese Family Gives Back

Free Ride

UCF’s Student Government Association (SGA) and Lynx have partnered to provide a new transportation service for students looking to travel off campus, whether for shopping or to enjoy the area’s nightlife. And it’s free.

The service runs from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights, so it also serves as a designated

d river for students coming home late from a night out. The shuttle stops at several places across the UCF campus, as well as shopping plazas and apartment communities.

The service was an immediate success, with 368 students using the service in the first weekend, according to SGA.

In January of 2006, Central Floridians were shocked to learn that UCF alumna Jennifer Kesse was missing—and the case remains unsolved.

Recently, her parents and UCF teamed-up to create a scholarship in her name to support and promote future criminal justice professionals. The new scholarship is the first to solely support students in UCF’s master’s degree program in Criminal Justice.

The Kesse family learned a lot through their experiences working with law enforcement. “We learned that the first responders are the most important people in any crime,” said Drew Kesse, Jennifer’s father. “We want to turn out the best law enforcement officers who are first responders.”

Jennifer’s employer, Westgate Resorts, which is based in Central Florida, also contributed to the scholarship.

Thinking of contributing? Visit the UCF College of Health and Public Affairs website at cohpa.ucf.edu and click on “Give a Gift.” Under “Donation Information,” select “The Jennifer Kesse Criminal Justice Endowed Scholarship” and complete the remainder of the form.

volunteer hours to help implement JA’s economic curriculum in local schools.

“UCF boasts the largest service learning/university partnership in the country” “UCF boasts the largest service learning/university partnership in the country—and serves as an example of service-learning initiatives at its best,” said Fred Kittinger, associate vice president of university relations at UCF and JA board member.

RYA N R U ST S T U D E N T

As an accomplished race car driver, he has won 90 races

Jewish National Fund

Honors UCF Leaders UCF Board of Trustees Chair Rick Walsh and Trustee Judy Albertson have been awarded “Tree of Life” awards from the Jewish National Fund of Orlando for their contributions to the community. Judy’s husband, David, was also honored for his involvement.

“The three of them have done a tremendous amount not only for the JNF and UCF, but for so many different organizations,” said Bruce Gould, president of JNF Florida and a member of JNF’s national board. “We feel this is the perfect year to honor them.”

Inspiring Middle Schoolers Nineteen UCF students are dedicating nearly 6,300 hours to mentoring and inspiring local middle school students. In partnership with Florida Campus Compact and AmeriCorps, the UCF Burnett Honors College created a program to help at-risk youths prepare for college success.

“Our goal is to inspire that vision of going on to college, that it is a viable option if you work hard,” said Kelly Astro, director of Research and Civic Engagement at the college.

The program, launched in January 2011, and is focused on building character and strengthening self-esteem, as well as instilling the value of giving back. UCF students tutor and mentor the middle school students, as well as develop community service projects in which they can participate.

The students help at Jackson Middle School in conjunction with the school’s Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program, which encourages them to stay in school and pursue higher education.

ETHICS CHAMPS UCF’s students understand t he i mpor t a nce of et h ic s — and won first place for it in the National Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl Competition, defeating 31 teams from schools such as t he United States Nava l Academy, Dartmouth College and Clemson University.

Topics such a s computer hacking, immigration, academic dishonesty and racial stereotypes were addressed in the competition.

Com mu nit ies a re i mpac ted positively when its members devote their time and energy to promoting ethics in these areas.

“This success brings national recognition to UCF” “This success brings national recognition to UCF in an academic area that is of great benefit to both individuals and communities that strive to deal reasonably with new and complex moral issues,” said Michael Strawser, an assistant professor of Philosophy and one of the team’s coaches.

UCF Book Festival M O R G R I D G E I N T E R N AT I O N A L REA DIN G CEN T ER

A pril 1 6 , 2 0 1 1 9:00 am–4:30 pm • UCF ARENA

Free Admission

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UCF Sanford/Lake Mary The Concurrent Nursing program, housed at the Seminole State College Altamonte Campus, is supported by faculty and staff from UCF Regional Campuses and Seminole State College. Students work on their Associate of Science in Nursing (A.S.N.) at Seminole State while concurrently working on their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) at UCF. For more information, please visit: ucfseminole. com or call 407-708-2471.

Regional Campuses UCF TODAY UCF Leesburg and UCF South Lake This spring, Elementary Education senior interns will hear from local principals and teachers during a Principals & First Year Teachers Panel hosted at the South Lake campus. The panelists will share insights about district expectations for teachers, interview tips and survival tips for the first year of teaching. The event also provides an opportunity for principals to meet those seniors who desire teaching assignments in Lake County. The UCF South Lake Campus, in conjunction with Lake Sumter Community College, recently brought UCF Recycles to its campus. This initiative was introduced by Ms. Diana “Dawn” Scott, the SGA Western Region representative.

The excitement of making the UCF South Lake campus more “green” also coincides with the upcoming National Earth Day set for April 22.

UCF Cocoa The Brevard Communit y College (BCC)-UCF Writing Center, a joint effort involving BCC, UCF Cocoa and the UCF University Writing Center, gave more than 1,000 consultations in 2010. Professional staff and peer consultants from both institutions provided services through UCF Valencia West Campus UCF, in conjunction with Valencia and the University of Florida, implemented a 2+2+2 program in architecture in the fall of 2010. Students graduating from Valencia’s Associate of Arts degree program in architecture are eligible to apply to the UCF bachelor’s degree program through a competitive admission process. Students graduating from the bachelor’s program will be eligible to apply for the UF master’s degree program.

UCF Ocala Administrators and faculty and staff members recently hosted the first UCF Ocala/Citrus County School District Education Advisory Council at the Citrus County school board. The group shared professional development updates, as well as ideas to enhance teacher preparation, and discussed ways to strengthen student readiness for job placement in the county. A partnership has also been established with the Marion County School District.

UCF Daytona Beach The Bachelor of Science in Photography is part of a joint 2 + 2 program between UCF Daytona Beach and Daytona State College. Photography majors who earn the Associate of Science in Photographic Technology are accepted into UCF’s program. Alumni work all over the world as photo and web editors, receiving photojournalism internships, embarking on freelance careers and earning entry into graduate programs at universities such as Pratt Institute and the Rochester Institute of Technology.

UCF Palm Bay The Psychology Research Team, led by Drs. Karen Mottarella and Shannon Whitten, displays a culture of scholarship and a commitment to undergraduate research. An alumnus said, “This program had a huge impact on me. I was guided through the undergraduate thesis research process and won first place at the Showcase of Undergraduate Research.” Numerous awards, presentations at national conferences and publications are a result of this program. Students have won or placed in the university-wide Showcase of Undergraduate Research program in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

this unique collaboration. In order to deepen the connection between writing and research through the use of librarian assistance, the BCC-UCF Writing Center is located in the BCC-UCF Joint-Use Library on the Cocoa campus. Virtual services began in the fall 2010 semester.

M ass e y

b r o o k s

architecture S T U D E N T

“The faculty are incredible.

They’re helping in any situation, every instance they can. And anything they can do to help, they do.”