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Two faculty members have been selected for this year's Pegasus Professor Award, UCF's highest faculty honor. Both honorees have been recognized nationally and internationally for excellence in their disciplines and are accomplished researchers, teachers and administrators. Honorees are selected by the president and provost and each receives $5,000.
The UCF community celebrated the accomplishments of 15 exceptional faculty members at its annual Luminary Awards Wednesday. UCF leadership lauded faculty members for being leaders in their fields and conducting work that has had a significant impact on the world. COVID-19 disrupted plans for the recognition ceremony in 2020 so UCF honored the 2020 and 2021 winners together.
Five UCF faculty members have been chosen for this year's Pegasus Professor award, the university's highest faculty honor. Professors who receive this distinction have well-established careers at UCF and beyond, with national and international recognition for their impact on their area of expertise.
Every March, Faculty Excellence honors 31 women for their impact on students and UCF's campus community. This year, as we continue to charge on during a pandemic, our women faculty have not wavered in their commitments as mentors, role models, friends, researchers and teachers. [email protected] generously sponsored this year's award.
This year's Pegasus Professors are world renowned researchers and respected teachers, certainly deserving of the university's top award for faculty. During an entire career at UCF, faculty who are exceptional in every area - teaching, research and service - are recognized for their work.
UCF is part of a new national cohort to increase the diversity of science, technology, engineering and math faculty through recruitment and retention. The National Science Foundation-funded project Aspire: The National Alliance for Inclusive & Diverse STEM Faculty aims to help reform teaching practices, increase the diversity of STEM faculty and promote inclusive teaching.
The UCF campus will become home to 29 new trees on April 18, in observance of the university's ninth annual Arbor Day, a holiday that encourages public tree planting and care. Over the past eight years, more than 130 trees have been added to the UCF campus in observance of the day.
UCF alumna Simona Ceriani today published a new study that finds sea turtles are what they eat - but where they eat may be even more important. Ceriani, who is a tenured research scientist with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, collaborated with three UCF Department of Biology researchers on the study, published in Scientific [...]
Although the opioid epidemic has been portrayed in the media as a largely "white" epidemic, a UCF study finds this drug doesn't discriminate. The abuse of opioids affects whites and black almost equally, according to a study led by sociology doctoral student Harvey Nicholson. His findings were recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Drug and [...]
Tatiana Fedotava-Molden, a first-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemistry, has already had her first research breakthrough and publication in one of the most prestigious international chemistry journals. Molden began working in Assistant Professor Dmitry Kolpashchikov's lab, where research is focused on biochemistry of nucleic acids, DNA and RNA.
by Allison Hurtado A group of international scientists, including a University of Central Florida biologist, recently discovered that a species of fish living in the north Atlantic Ocean has an ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions that are linked to the depth of its watery habitat.
When the University of Central Florida took the helm of the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico on April 1, the university entered a new era. "We are forging new ground for UCF," said Elizabeth Klonoff, vice president for research and dean of the College of Graduate Studies.
UCF Assistant Professor John Starbuck thought studying anthropology might lead him to a career in a museum, but it's done more than he could've imagined. His work is changing the lives of people with cleft lip with or without cleft palate, and his current research holds promise for helping some people with Down syndrome.
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There was a rumor that an Army general was attending pastor John Anderson's church in Shawano, Wisconsin. John wasn't familiar with the military, so he thought it was cool but didn't think much of it.
Loudonville, Ohio, is a quaint village of roughly 2300 people. It has two dollar stores, McDonald's, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, two family-run diners, a grocery store and 17 churches in about three square miles.
Cranston Street takes you through the West End of Providence, Rhode Island. There's a brick building a few miles down on the left, next to a check-cashing store. Across from it is a mammoth castle with no signage.
Kinsey Capaldo, a normal 13-year-old girl, played with her best friend Ella at the dinner table at Grille 26, whispering and making bracelets out of the cloth napkins. Grille 26 is the Capaldo family's favorite restaurant. Her mother, Kari, said no matter what you get to eat, it's going to be good.
We were hugged. Every two steps I took, I met a person in a green shirt, they gave an introduction, welcomed me to Genesis Church and gave me a big hug. I've been to a lot of churches, but none like Genesis.
Ed Dacio wanted to be a successful, wealthy veterinarian with his own practice. Born in the United States, when Ed was 13, his father retired from the U.S. Navy and moved the family back to the Philippines.
"Why would you plant in Yuma?" It's a question pastor Jason Taylor tends to get quite often. Arizonans see the town of 130,000 as the stopover between Phoenix and San Diego. It's where they take a break during the commute.
As a refugee and immigrant crisis leaves the world saddened, angry and confused, to residents of Moline, Illinois, immigrants and refugees are familiar. In 1851 Gustaf Palmquist emigrated to America from Sweden to pastor of a group of immigrants.
A prayer for an Arabic-speaking evangelist led to an incredible partnership that proves we are better together.
In the picturesque village of Wilmette, Illinois, you'll find Skokie Valley Baptist Church. Wilmette is a Northshore suburb of Chicago bordering Lake Michigan.
Several years ago Andre and Peggy Murphy moved to Montana to pastor an existing church. Commissioned and sent by Dr. Robin Holland's congregation at Living Hope Baptist Church in Aurora, Colorado, the Murphys felt supported in taking the lead.
Erik Lindeen updates his Facebook status multiple times a day, but not in the annoying-type-of way. And he's always at Starbucks. Every day, you'll find him at the same one in Maple Grove, Minnesota. All of the baristas know him by name.
In 2005 Tim Hvidsten was on his way back to Haiti to meet with 6-year-old Rudia Joseph, the girl he sponsored, and to do some construction at Melchizedek Baptist School. While on that trip he met a dozen of the top high school students.
Jonathan Autrey was 7 years old when his parents took a vacation to the Dominican Republic. At least that's what he thought it was. When they returned, his mother showed him pictures of their trip. He saw tin houses and poverty.
Woodridge Church, Medina, Minnesota, and the four other churches in its Aspen Grove Network have set a goal. It's not a typical church goal such as attendance growth or planting a multisite. It's much more personal.
Cindy Sorum was working at an all-girl's school in downtown Portland, Oregon, when a teen came to her for help. She was pregnant, and her parents had kicked her out. She had nowhere to go.
Paul Robinson was sitting in a classroom at Kansas State University, listening to a presentation by a Target executive. He and his classmates were confused.
Aaron Story never wanted to plant a church. He was a businessman - that was, until he was saved and God put a burden on his heart. Aaron Story and his wife Carrie were part of the team that launched Heartland Church, Indianapolis, Indiana, in 2001.
Heroin addiction is reaching epidemic proportions across the USA. Even in small towns. Here's an inside look at two former addicts breaking the cycle.
Planter Troy Gentz scoped out his new community for locations, with few to be found large enough to hold a church. He found an iconic two-story brick school building and asked the board if they would be willing to rent space to a new church. At first Gentz could not even get the school director to answer his calls.
By Allison Hurtado I planned to investigate The Exchange Church, having heard of its outreach into the difficult Lyndale neighborhood of North Minneapolis. From bagged lunches to backpacks for kids to cleaning up yards, pastor Eric Whitman and his team have done it all for their community.
You've escaped war and made it to a refugee camp. You wait two to five years for the United Nations to help you resettle in another country. It's finally your turn, and you board a plane to the United States.
He lost the fire to play. The Green Bay Packers wanted him, but he could barely bring himself to work out. Everyone told him he should be a preacher. His uncle said, "Just make sure God doesn't break your legs before you listen." Anthony Bass listened. He left the NFL.
Dan and Tina (center) visited the Orlando Converge Worldwide Office in January, after completing three months in Nigeria
College Park Wife
I got married at what I would consider young. I was 23, had already graduated with my college degree and had a full-time job. I was ready to marry my best friend, the man that I knew I was meant to be with. I was fully aware of what I was getting into.
Bungalower
Elliott's Public House, previously Brian's Restaurant, opened last Wednesday in Ivanhoe Village with a new pub-style menu and rustic decor. Elliott's Public House is located at 1409 N Orange Ave [GMap]. Owner and former executive chef for Rollins College Karl Elliott says in just five days there are already clear favorites on the menu.
Christo's Cafe reopened last Thursday after closing for almost four weeks for renovations. The biggest changes to the College Park diner are inside the restaurant. The kitchen was moved to the left to make room for additional tables. The countertop was upgraded with granite and expanded to add more bar stools.
Pig Floyd's Urban Barbakoa opens today in Mills 50. Pig Floyd's is located at 1326 N Mills Avenue [GMap]. They offers a smokehouse menu with an international twist. "We are smokehouse with tacos," owner Thomas Ward said. "What other barbecue place has pork belly tacos?" Ward picked an international menu with purpose.
A new neighborhood restaurant is opening in the current Dunkin' Donuts space in College Park. We told you back in January that the Dunkin' Donuts in College Park was moving into a new shopping plaza. College Park resident Julie Casey plans to open a new restaurant in that space at 2603 Edgewater Drive [GMap].
There's a new compost program available to families in the bungalow neighborhoods. Katie Shannon and Alex Stringfellow, two graduate students from Rollins College, have started Compost Orlando (Website | Facebook). Compost Orlando has two programs; a residential pickup program and a community drop-off program.