Welcome

University of Central Florida

UCF Arena

Inspiring ExcellenceRYAN RUST:

Mechanical Engineering

Imagine 250,000 people (and growing) in

24 countries working together to send care

packages to soldiers in Iraq and

Afghanistan. Ryan Rust’s organization

“Adopt a Hero” connects the generous

with those far from home. I’ve always lived

by the saying: If not you, then who? As an

accomplished race car driver, he has won

90 races. For me, racing comes down to

fun, but it also the competition of it all.

Jay Bergman Field

College of Medicine

Inspiring ExcellenceJENNIFER RAYNOR:

Forensic Science

Jennifer Raynor is learning to collect and

analyze evidence from crime scenes – and to

catch criminals. But she is also using science

to make an impact in her community. She

has volunteered at the Orlando Science

Center and at Health Central Hospital. You

really have to want to help. You also have to

respect the science. UCF’s program has given

her confidence in her skills, too. It gave me

the confidence to apply to any grad school

or any lab job I want. I know I’m qualified.

Harris Engineering Center

Inspiring ExcellenceBRANDIE HOLLINGER:

Nursing

As UCF’s first female Student Government

Association president, Brandie Hollinger

knows a thing or two about being a

communicator and advocate. And as a

pediatric nurse at Arnold Palmer Hospital for

Children, she uses those skills to provide the

best care to her patients. The rigorous

academics and hours spent in the hospital

working directly with patients really prepared

me for the job. Already a leader of her peers,

she’s now taking on the greatest

responsibility of all: future generations.

Knightro’s Dining Hall

Office of Undergraduate Admissions

Inspiring ExcellenceDR. BILL FISHER:

Darden Eminent Scholar in Restaurant Management

The plan is simple. Build a state-of-the-art college

in the world’s most famous tourist destination for

the world’s largest industry. I’ve seen schools

across the U.S. and nothing compares to the Rosen

College of Hospitality Management. As a

professor, Bill is also past President of both the

National Restaurant Association and the American

Hotel and Lodging Association. Employers see it

too. Typically, each graduate receives several job

offers. Our industry partners know they have been

taught by the best faculty in the business.

Recreation and Wellness Center

UCF Arena

Inspiring ExcellenceLALITA BOOTH:

Accounting and Finance

As a Truman Scholar, Lalita Booth is an

example of hard work and dedication. But

as a former homeless mother, she is

something much greater – an example of

the resilience of the human spirit. Things

that are worth achieving are unreasonable.

Set unreasonable goals and pursue them

unreasonably. Her unreasonable goals have

led to a Harvard dream, a stable home for

her son, and the start of her nonprofit,

Lighthouse for Dreams.

UCF Health Center and Pharmacy

UCF Library

Inspiring ExcellenceDREW HAMPTON:

Burnett Honors College

A National Merit Scholar and psychology

major, Drew Hampton knows progress when

he sees it. The opportunities available in the

Burnett Honors College demonstrate the

university’s commitment to being a top-notch

research institution. Taking advantage of UCF’s

atmosphere of opportunity, Drew conducts

research on the interaction between humans

and machines. He’s also planning for his

future. It’s great how willing the professors are

to help prepare me for graduate school.

Rosen College of Hospitality Management

School of Performing Arts

Inspiring ExcellenceHYE JUNG KIM:

Mathematics Education

Being at UCF is exciting. There are so many

organizations to get involved with. But Hye

Jung Kim’s experiences aren’t just fun and

games. She volunteers for Give Kids the

World, an organization which helps

terminally ill children visit Orlando.

Looking ahead? Hye loves kids, mentors

students and wants to be a math teacher.

Math needs strong teachers to make it

fun. And knowing Hye, we’re sure she’s

perfect for the job.

Memory Mall

Morgridge International Reading Center

Inspiring ExcellenceDR. DIANE CHASE:

Pegasus Professor, Dept. of Anthropology

For more than 25 years, Dr. Diane Chase has

been bringing students to Caracol, Belize to

discover clues about the past. UCF is a place

where students can do fieldwork. They’re

part of a project. But archeology isn’t just

about digging up history; it’s also about

discovering student potential. For Dr. Chase,

a hands on education is they key. Learning

to problem-solve, to work in teams and how

to do interdisciplinary work are the skills of

the future.

Academic Village

Knight’s Plaza

College of Business Administration

Inspiring ExcellenceBLAKE VAN BRUNT:

Health Sciences Pre-Clinical

Blake Van Brunt expects the extraordinary.

I always knew I wanted to serve and lead.

A giver, not a taker, Blake leads a group of

fraternity brothers on a Habitat for

Humanity project one day and collects food

for Second Harvest the next. I have become

the best that I can be for all the right

reasons. Where does he go from here?

Well, Blake plans to enroll in medical

school where he will continue to serve and

lead.

Spirit Splash

Dance Studio

Inspiring ExcellenceJACQUELINE BOEHME:

Biomedical Sciences

Jacqueline Boehme has been a student of

many things, from physics to Kung Fu to

painting. But her first passion is helping

people in her community through

medicine. A doctor is not just somebody

who helps others at a hospital or practice.

You go out into the world and find those

who really need it. A fast starter, Jacqueline

has already engaged in cutting-edge

research. I started researching stem cells

my first semester at UCF.

Bright House Networks Stadium

Radio & Television Studio

Inspiring ExcellenceMIKE SIMS-WALKER: Alumnus, Class of 2002

Jacksonville Jaguar Mike Sims-Walker plays for

the big league, but hasn’t forgotten his UCF

roots. I remember working hard to make it out

of a rough neighborhood, attend college and

play football at the next level. And now he’s

giving back by starting the Michael A. Sims-

Walker Scholarship Foundation at UCF. My

father is a very influential person in my life.

Mike is one of UCF’s most successful players on

the field, and also a dedicated, lifetime Knight.

Towers at Knights Plaza

UCF Library

Inspiring ExcellenceDAVID TATE:

Theatre

David Tate has three national television

commercials under his belt, thanks to UCF’s

connections and the Central Florida

location. What can’t you do in Orlando?

There are so many different attractions you

can’t find anywhere else. And David hasn’t

just experienced the industry on the stage

or in front of the cameras. I’ve had the

chance to work backstage with costumes,

take a class on makeup, and work in the box

office, in addition to starring in productions.