UCF Today Winter 2011

TODAY

F O R FA M I LY A N D F R I E N D S O F T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F C E N T R A L F L O R I DA

WINTER 2011

The

of Song GIFT GIVING IS MAGICAL. Gifts are a personal act of courage and something one human does to create change in another.

Gifts give someone a smile. They’re surprising, creative and optimistic.

Anyone can give, but not everyone does.

See inside for stories about remarkable gift givers and learn more about their motivations, interests and human connections.

Gabriella Otero, ‘12 future Opera star

University of Central Florida UCF Marketing P.O. Box 160090 Orlando, FL 32816-0090

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UCF TODAY

24,000 APPLICATIONS

11,000 ADMITS

3,700

Average SAT

1250

Average ACT

27 3.9

Average high school GPA

74

National Merit Scholars Ethnic minority enrollment

35%

Retention rate of freshman class

86%

Florida residents who received Bright Futures Awards

95%

Students who received AP, IB or college credit

40%

Students who received UCF merit scholarships

30%

Students whose intended major is undecided

25%

ENROLLED

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Florida New York Pennsylvania Illinois New Jersey Ohio Georgia Virginia Maryland Michigan

MAJORS

Biology Psychology Health Sciences Engineering Nursing Computer Science Business Biomedical Sciences Hospitality Management Forensic Science

-Projected Fall 2011

“I chose UCF because of my major. UCF is absolutely one of the best universities in the field of optics and photonics.”

-Xin Shen “My first year at UCF has pushed my capabilities into an entirely new level. UCF truly empowers the builders of tomorrow.”

-Jorge Rivera

DEGREE PROGRAMS

Bachelor’s

Master’s

Doctoral

Specialist

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UCF TODAY

The Doctors are In. THE UCF COLLEGE OF MEDICINE is now accepting patients at

UCF PEGASUS HEALTH SERVICES

UCF Pegasus Health. The college’s clinical faculty practice medicine

• Internal Medicine

• Infectious Disease

and improve health care for the Central Florida community in a

• Sports Medicine

• Nephrology

• Geriatrics

• Neurology

• Family Medicine

• Rheumatology

newly renovated medical facility.

P

egasus Health consists of physicians, other health care providers and patients. We take the time to get to know the patient—not just the disease. We work with you to render the right care at the right time, with an emphasis on prevention, wellness and care management.

Pegasus Health focuses on primary care for patients ages 16 and older and will be adding more specialists to meet community needs.

UCF physicians are taking their dedication to excellence from the classroom to the clinic. We invite you to make an appointment at UCF Pegasus Health and experience the difference.

In addition to our personalized approach to care, Pegasus Health doctors use evidencebased medicine, and the latest in innovation and technology to provide the highest standards of patient quality and safety.

Pegasus Health offers on-site lab and radiology services. Our fully accredited lab means you can take care of most ordered tests without leaving the building. The lab offers patients:

Soon, Pegasus Health’s radiology department will provide these diagnostic radiology services:

• Blood tests—such as complete blood count (CBC)

• Digital diagnostic radiology—X-rays of the chest, abdomen and extremities

• Clinical pathology services—such as Pap test analysis

• Bone density scans—measures bone content, mass and strength; usually used to diagnose osteoporosis

• Molecular diagnostic testing—such as analysis for human papillomavirus (HPV)

Dr. Abdo Asmar is a board-certified internist with specialty training in clinical nephrology. He specializes in caring for patients with kidney disease, high blood pressure, kidney stones, and disorders of electrolyte and mineral metabolism.

He received his fellowship training in clinical nephrology at the University of Florida.

UCF PEGASUS HEALTH LAB AND RADIOLOGY

• Surgical and molecular pathology—such as biopsies and fine needle aspirations

MEET DR. ABDO ASMAR, M.D.

• U ltrasound—high-frequency ultrasonic sound waves produce computer-displayed images of tissue, blood vessels and organs without radiation

“Kidney diseases and hypertension are among the most common chronic medical problems. My emphasis is providing outstanding care while involving patients in their own health care decisions. I take pride in providing individualized care based on the patient’s unique needs.”

-Dr. Asmar

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Questions? Visit ucfpegasushealth.org or call 407.266.DOCS (3627).

FROM DOWNTOWN ORLANDO Travel east on 408 (6.0 miles) North on 417 (3.4 miles) Take exit 37 east to University Blvd. (2 miles) Turn left onto Quadrangle Blvd. and make a U-turn at High Tech Ave. (0.1 mile) Turn into the UCF Pegasus Health parking lot just past the Hampton Inn (0.1 mile) FROM UCF, ON UNIVERSITY BLVD. Turn right onto Quadrangle Blvd. and make a U-turn at High Tech Ave. (0.1 mile) Turn into the UCF Pegasus Health parking lot just past the Hampton Inn (0.1 mile) UCF PEGASUS HEALTH 3400 Quadrangle Boulevard Orlando, FL 32817

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UCF TODAY

REMEMBERING NANCY BURNETT

Nancy Burnett, a longtime supporter of UCF whose gift with her husband Al Burnett created the College of Medicine’s Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, passed away in October. The Burnetts have donated $15.5 million over more than 30 years to support UCF students and programs. In addition to the College of Medicine’s Burnett School, The Burnett Honors College and the Burnett House— the president’s on-campus home— are also named in their honor.

In 2004, when the Burnetts made their $10 million donation to create a new college of biomedical sciences, Mr. Burnett called the gift “a necessary step if we’re going to head in the direction of a full-fledged medical school, which is what I hope we can accomplish in the next five, 10 or 15 years.”

“Their gifts have benefited thousands of students in our classrooms, in our research labs and on our athletic fields, and their generosity will continue to benefit Central Floridians for many years to come,” UCF President John C. Hitt says.

Family and education were always

important to Nancy Burnett. She taught speech and drama in Ephrata, PA, where she met her future husband. The Burnetts moved to Winter Park in 1968 with their family, after acquiring Contemporary Cars. She received an honorary doctorate from UCF for her unfailing commitment to the university. She was also an active member of the Interlachen Country Club, a member of the Council of 101 and Town & Gown, and an active supporter of many Central Florida charitable organizations.

“Nancy Burnett was dedicated to family,

and that extended family included the UCF community,” says Dr. Deborah German, vice president for medical affairs and dean of the College of Medicine. “Every day at the medical school, we witness the Burnett family’s generous support as we train the next generation of scientists.

Love of a Lifetime

No longer watching from afar, Bert and Tillie Hood are now

profoundly connected to UCF and the generations of students whose lives will be transformed by the Hoods’ commitment to education.

After four decades of quietly admiring UCF’s progress, the

Hoods reached out to UCF and, without fanfare, announced their plan to name the university as the sole beneficiary of their estate.

“We believe in education. We believe in UCF. Although we

never had children, we always knew we wanted to support students at our local university,” says Bert Hood.

READING ISN’T

FUNDAMENTAL

John and Carrie Morgridge’s generosity and passion for reading education is the inspiration behind The Morgridge International Reading Center (MIRC), a one-of-a-kind information and learning hub that will advance literacy through partnership and shared research.

MIRC’s collection of research discoveries and best practices makes the center the premier resource for finding solutions to literacy issues.

“We’re growing, inventing and creating. We are thrilled about our investment in UCF,” says Carrie Morgridge.

The center’s Millennium Gallery—with its state-of-the-art videoconferencing screens—will enable teachers and scholars worldwide to collaborate virtually.

Editor’s note: Did you know that 42 million adult Americans and an estimated 774 million people worldwide can’t read?

With their planned gift, the Hoods have established an

endowed scholarship fund that will exist in perpetuity and be available to students pursuing any area of study at UCF.

CHANGING THE GAME Like a supersized f ield t r ip , A c h i e v e a C ol l e g e E ducat ion Day (ACE ) at UCF was memorable for the 10 - a nd 11-yea r-olds who became college students for a few hours.

“The ACE program plants the seed. If you set goals and work hard to achieve them, you too can have the opportunity to attend college,” UCF parent Sandra Jackson says.

AC E m a d e s u c h a n impression on the Jacksons that it moved them to create the George and Sandra Jackson Fund for Civic Engagement.

The Jacksons’ generosity w il l a l low 20 0 additiona l children to attend the ACE event each year and enable 50 more UCF students to serve as volunteers for the day.

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UCF TODAY

FROM FULLBACK TO FIGARO

“My wife taught me the value of supporting charities, especially those that directly impact less fortunate children,” said Ron Thow, (‘93).

Together, Carolyn and Ron established the Thow Family Opera for Young Audiences Endowment, which benefits UCF’s Opera outreach program and takes opera to schools in the Orlando community.

“Opera parallels athletics in that it demands hard work and dedication,” said Thow, UCF’s fullback during the 1989-92 seasons.

“Athletes may be more physical, but you still have to prepare and commit a great deal of time and effort. You can see it at a performance or at a game. If you’re not prepared, it shows.”

Lending their support to Bright House Networks Stadium was the first of many generous gifts the Thows have given. They’ve also donated to the Jay Bergman Field expansion project.

Honoring Sacrifices

In the heart of the UCF campus, an American flag rises up from the Veterans Commemorative Site. The project was originally proposed by then-student Evelyn Tonn (‘07). “It makes me truly proud not only to be a veteran, but even more so to be associated with a school that recognizes these contributions,” says UCF Vice President Al Harms, a retired Navy vice admiral.

Neil Euliano supported the memorial, but he insisted that the thanks go to his personal heroes, veterans like Lt. Col. Earle Denton, Brig. Gen. Bill Carlson, Navy Chaplain Dick Black, Col. Joe Kittinger and Sgt. Bill Coleman.

“All were distinguished members of the United States military.

All were wounded in combat. All were honored for their sacrifices for their country. All have been extremely active in the Central Florida community. And they are far more deserving than I,” Euliano says.

GENIUS NURSES

The late Hugh and Jeannette McKean were committed to enriching the lives of Central Floridians in enduring ways. The Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation, named in honor of Jeannette McKean’s mother, continues their charitable work.

The Hugh and Jeannette McKean Endowed Chair in Nursing has been established to support a national nursing leader committed to mentoring future nursing educators; and the Hugh and Jeannette McKean Endowed Scholarship is now available to nursing students who wish to become teachers.

Says Jean D’Meza Leuner, dean and professor of the College of Nursing, “The Genius Foundation’s foresight and passion for helping combat the nursing shortage has been an amazing tribute to the McKeans and an innovative approach to solving a community challenge through philanthropy.”

BP SCHOL ARSHIPS FOCUS ON SCIENCES

Thirty young scientists from the UCF College of Medicine received $1,000 scholarships in Spring 2011, thanks to a generous donation from BP and Florida Oil Holdings. The new BP Scholars Program, which began this year, supports undergraduates at the college’s Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences.

“We reached out to UCF’s biomedical program specifically because we’re into institutions that focus on the sciences and those that want to help build the future of sustainable energy,” said Denitra Baldwin, a marketing director at BP, and Florida Oil Holdings.

BP executives attended a luncheon to honor the students. Attendees included Johnny Thompson, regional marketing representative for BP, and Eric Hood, district manager for Florida Oil Holdings.

Dr. Deborah German, vice president of medical affairs and dean of the College of Medicine, presented the BP team with a bound book containing essays written by scholarship

applicants on why they wanted to pursue a career in science.

Dr. German shared that while she had

received a college scholarship, it was from a family bequest and she was never able to thank her donor in person. She told the Burnett School students they had the special honor of being able to actually thank donors for “the hard-earned money they have invested in your future.”

One of those grateful students is Jennifer

Mollica, a single mother who entered the Burnett School’s medical lab sciences program while raising three children. A Titusville resident, Mollica commuted to UCF to take full-time classes while caring for her children, who are now ages 16, 12 and nine. She recently graduated and has begun training for a full-time lab job. “The medical lab science program and the scholarship are the best things ever,” she says. “They mean so much to me and my family.”

Searching for Answers

Dr. Henry Daniell, a UCF professor, does more than dream about eradicating the world’s top 10 diseases.

Dr. Daniell has spent 20 years genetically splicing tobacco and lettuce plants to grow oral vaccines that are cheaper and easier to make than traditional vaccines.

His research led to the formation of the university’s first biotechnology company.

And he has published more than 200 academic research papers, speaks at conferences around the world and has received

many prestigious honors for his pioneering work.

This year, Dr. Daniell’s work has captured the attention of others who share his goals, like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which awarded him a grant to continue his groundbreaking research in needle-free vaccines.

BEDSIDE MANNER

Sarina Amin is one of 41 students who, thanks to the generosity of more than 100 donors, received a full, four-year scholarships—a first by any medical college in U.S. history.

“Words cannot express the gratitude I feel for my scholarship,” Amin says. “I have a great relationship with my donors, and I meet with them often to update them on my progress and experiences throughout medical school.”

Amin’s scholarship was donated by the Edyth Bush Foundation.

To learn more about giving to UCF, visit the UCF Foundation website at ucffoundation.org.

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UCF TODAY

WINTER 2011

UNIVERSI T Y OF CENTRAL FLORIDA

Helping Rural Communities

ENERGY STAR

UCF reduced its energy consumption by 63 percent and won first place in the national “Battle of the Buildings” contest sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The EPA’s ENERGY STAR National Building Competition challenged 245 commercial buildings to save energy, reduce costs and protect Americans’ health and the environment.

“A parking garage winning the competition shows that there are ways of using energy more efficiently in all types of facilities,” said David Norvell, UCF’s director of Sustainability and Energy Management.

All of the garage’s interior lights were replaced with T5 fluorescent bulbs that use less energy and improve light quality. New low-maintenance, energy-efficient LED lighting fixtures are anticipated to require little to no service for about 14 years.

“On our campus, all six parking structures now maintain the same lighting, resulting in a friendlier environment, reduction in pollution and longer-lasting bulbs,” said Kris Singh, director of UCF Parking and Transportation Services.

Together, this year’s Battle of the Buildings competitors saved more than $5.2 million on annual utility bills. They also prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to the electricity used by more than 3,600 homes per year.

UCF’s First Endowed Chair in Cardiovascular Sciences The UCF Col lege of Medicine has hired Professor Sampath Parthasarathy for its first endowed chair in cardiovascular sciences.

Dr. Parthasarathy is an internationally known cardiovascular sc ient ist who ha s held t he Klassen Chair at The Ohio State University for the past 15 years.

He also was a professor of internal medicine, cardiac surgery and human nutrition.

“It is a significant achievement for us to get someone like this,” said Dr. Pappachan Kolattukudy, director of the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences.

D r. Pa r t h a s a r at hy i s a recognized expert in lipids who

is credited with the co-discovery of a major cardiovascular concept —the fact that oxidized LDL cholesterol blocks arterial vessels in the heart.

His work is e x tensively funded by the National Institutes of Health, and he has received more than 23,000 citations of his research findings. He belongs to an elite group—consisting of t he top f r ac t ion of one percent—of the most highly cited authors worldwide in his f ield, as designated in Highly Cited Authors by ISI, the world authority in the analysis of impact of research.

The National Institutes of Health has awarded UCF a $1.6 million grant to assess health care provided by Rural Health Clinics—federally recognized clinics located in rural, medically underserved areas of the United States. There are more than 3,800 nationwide.

The research team will focus on eight southern states—Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, which account for approximately 25 percent of all Rural Health Clinics in the nation.

“The study is timely,” said Thomas Wan, an associate dean for research for the UCF College of Health and Public Affairs and one of the lead researchers for the grant. “We lack information on standards and best practices in rural health. It’s critical to have this information as we design and implement ways to reform health care delivery.”

Rural environments present their own challenges, with higher percentages of the elderly and higher rates of chronic disease compared to urban areas and increased costs to deliver medicine in some truly remote environments.

“Our analysis should reveal the factors that contribute to a Rural Health Clinic’s ability to offer accessible, cost-effective, quality care to all rural populations,” Wan said.

During the four-year study, the researchers will collect and analyze data from approximately 800 southern Rural Health Clinics.

The researchers believe that without access to these networks of physicians and hospitals, rural populations could receive fewer health care services. That poses health risks and ultimately could cost taxpayers more when patients are forced to seek emergency care.

NASA VETERAN TO LEAD SPACE INSTITUTE A former NASA leader whose career has touched nearly every aspect of manned and unmanned space flight is the new director of the Florida Space Institute (FSI).

S. Alan Stern will help the institute develop projects that align UCF and Florida with the new emphasis in the space industry—unmanned and commercial flights, science missions and technology developments.

“UCF’s Florida Space Institute is in an excellent position to leverage Florida, UCF and the State University System into new research and education roles with NASA, with other space agencies and with the budding commercial space industry,” Stern said. “I’m excited to lead FSI into this new era.”

The institute, located at Kennedy Space Center, is a collaboration among 10 state universities that combine their educational programs, facilities, engineering support and grants to create a strong synergistic structure for space research and education. In his new role at UCF, Stern will lead the institute and coordinate industry, research and administrative efforts in space science, engineering and education.

“We are thrilled to have someone of Dr. Stern’s caliber,” said M.J. Soileau, vice president for research and commercialization. “He will help us more effectively develop projects to support the space industry in the state and the nation.”

For all things UCF

COLLABORATION IN CANCER RESEARCH Cancer patients may benefit from the research findings borne out of the first medical research collaborations bet ween UCF and Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute at Lake Nona. “ T he s e a re e x a c t ly t he kind of collaborations we knew the medical city would spark.

Combining our complementary expertise allowed us to accomplish what we could not have achieved independent ly,” sa id Ke v in Belfield, Ph.D., UCF chemistry professor.

The first breakthrough comes from Belf ield and Masanobu Komatsu, Ph.D., an associate professor and cancer researcher at Sanford-Burnham. Their research focuses on a noninvasive way to image tumors within deep tissue that one day might complement or replace traditional biopsies and perhaps even be used to treat breast, lung, ovarian, brain, kidney, colon and endometrial cancers.

T he second pa r tnership evolved from the research of Ranjan Perera, Ph.D., an associate professor at Sanford-Burnham.

He has been investigating the role of microRNAs—small pieces of genetic material—in melanoma.

“The collaboration between genomics and bioinformatics, two of the most advanced technologies in biomedical research, emp ow ere d t h is i mp or t a nt research,” Perera said.

For Shaojie Zhang, Ph.D., an assistant professor of engineering and computer science at UCF, the partnership has also meant an opportunity to give his graduate students real-world experience. “ The col laboration prov ides an interdisciplinary education opport unit y to the graduate students from the College of Eng ineer ing and Computer Science who are interested in applying their computational skills to biomedical research,” Zhang said.

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UCF TODAY BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Three distinguished a lumni were inducted into the College of Business Administration Hall of Fame at the annual awards banquet. Class of 2011 inductees include: Karen L. Hackett (‘82), chief executive officer, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; Mary S. Stone (‘74, ‘75), director and Hugh Culverhouse Chair of Accounting, Culverhouse School of Accountancy, University of Alabama; and Anthony Thornton (’94), president, Turbine Technology Services. With the addition of the latest class, 59 graduates have been inducted into the Hall of Fame since 1999.

EDUCATION The Morgridge International Reading Center is now open. Outfitted with the latest in educational technology and communications systems, the center is a resource for the advancement of literacy and reading on a global scale. With a focus on research-based inquiry, collaboration and partnership, and built with a gift from the Morgridge Family Foundation, the center serves as an international hub for discovery and dissemination of instructional practices designed to eliminate illiteracy worldwide.

HEALTH AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS Two new federal grants will benefit underserved populations. With a $1.6 million grant the National Institutes of Health is supporting research on health care services provided to elderly and other vulnerable populations living in rural areas. The U.S. Department of Education will support the training of graduate students as speech-language pathologists specializing in listening and spoken language with a $1.2 million grant. These specialists will help young children who are deaf and hard of hearing and who come from culturally and linguistically diverse homes develop spoken language.

ROSEN COLLEGE OF HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT The Rosen College inducted four leaders into the Central Florida Hospitality Hall of Fame for their service and commitment to the industry: Jim D. Atchison, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment; Carolyn Fennell, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority; Mark McHugh, Gatorland; and Harris Rosen, Rosen Hotels & Resorts. Their photos appear on the Hall of Fame plaque at the Rosen College campus, and each was honored with a Steuben crystal pineapple award, the symbol of hospitality, during the Grand Tour Gala.

OPTICS AND PHOTONICS CREOL is a world leader in education, research and industrial partnership. Dr. Dennis Deppe recently invented a laser diode that emits more intense light than those currently available. The light is emitted at a single wavelength, making it ideal for high-speed data transmission. The new devices show almost no change in operation under stress conditions that normally cause rapid failure. The implications for the future are huge.

MEDICINE The college opened UCF Pegasus Health, where the college’s physicians practice medicine. The clinical practice, at 3400 Quadrangle Blvd. is blocks away from UCF’s Orlando campus. Pegasus Health treats patients 16 and older and has openings for primary care appointments, including internal, family and geriatric medicine. Additional services include sports medicine, rheumatology, neurology, nephrology and infectious disease. As a convenience to patients, the center offers on-site laboratory services and will soon offer on-site radiology.

NURSING T he C ol lege of Nu rsi ng A lu m n i Chapter hosted a Class of 1981 30-Year Reunion celebrating the college’s first-ever graduating class. The day began with a reunion breakfast at the college’s home in Research Park and included a college update from Dean Jean D’Meza Leuner, networking with alumni, faculty, staff and students, and tours of the college’s skills and simulation labs. Following the breakfast, a lu m n i at tended t he Homecom i ng parade, tailgate party and Homecoming football game.

University of Central Florida UCF Music’s Jeff Rupert understands that music is an art and a business—and so the department started its own record label.

Flying Horse Records has released two albums and they’re rising in the charts.

ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE World-class faculty translates to a world-class education for our 7,500+ students. For example, Dr. Challapalli Suryanarayana is ranked as the world’s 40th top researcher of the past decade out of 500,000 materials scientists. And Dr. Necati Catbas represented UCF at the National Academy of Engineering’s prestigious, invitation-only meeting of the 60 most accomplished engineers from the U.S. and Europe age 45 and younger. He was the only engineer from Florida to be invited.

“The goal is to give the students a voice, let them help make the record company.”

today.ucf.edu

SCIENCES Biology professor Linda Walters is the recipient of the 2011 William A. Niering Outstanding Educator Award. Dr. Walters has a highly regarded research program in oyster reef restoration in the Mosquito Lagoon and ecosystem restoration at the Canaveral National Seashore. The award, from the National Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation, recognizes Dr. Walters for creatively educating and engaging thousands of people, from preschoolers to graduate students to retirees, in her estuarine research and restoration.

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Focus UCF TODAY

Fun in the sun with thousands of fellow Knights.

One of the nation’s top collegiate traditions.

For more Spirit Splash photos, visit spiritsplash2011.com.