As Preston Strenth prepares to cross the stage at commencement, he finds himself flashing back to the moment his journey to this milestone started in 2023 with the South Carolina National Guard.

Strenth was on deployment in Kuwait with his unit. Among his fellow infantrymen was 20-year-old Jayson Haven. Haven had been accepted to his dream school, the University of Michigan, and was fulfilling the final two months of his year-long assignment before shipping off to college. He was tragically killed in a non-combat vehicle rollover accident.

“I think all of us who were on that deployment understood you’re here and somebody else isn’t. What are you going to do with your life?” Strenth says.

“I think all of us who were on that deployment understood you’re here and somebody else isn’t. What are you going to do with your life?”

Seven months later, Strenth envisioned that life and voiced his goals to his wife, Kriselle. He proposed a two-year timeline to earn a college degree in computer science and start a new career path.

“I feel like everything in my life now is all clicking together,” says Strenth, who landed three job offers before graduating and is in the process of purchasing his first home. “I have achieved the American dream in a sense.”

The Right Place

A Central Florida native, Strenth moved to South Carolina at 17 and joined the National Guard two years later. He extended his contract twice — his current contract ends in 2027 — as he pursued a degree in criminal justice from the University of South Carolina.

He took advantage of the educational benefits the U.S. Army offers and obtained a certification in computer programming, which introduced him to coding software.

After that fateful deployment in Kuwait, he and his wife set their sights on Orlando and UCF, where Strenth knew of the university’s reputation as one of the nation’s top military friendly schools, its strength in computer science and our many industry partnerships.

Learn more about Preston Stenth’s journey from his .

“Without a doubt, coming to UCF is the best thing I ever did,” he says.

His credits from the University of South Carolina transferred over to help keep him on track for his two-year timeline. He thrived, in part, because of his willingness to take advantage of the many resources offered through the .

His experience here also tested him in ways that led to great growth and confidence.

In his second semester, while taking Computer Science I, he was stuck on his first programming assignment. Every time he willed the coding to work, he was met with the same result: fail.

His frustration turned to tears as he voiced his doubts to his wife. What if he just screwed up his life? What if he couldn’t do this?

She encouraged him while leveling with him at the same time — he wasn’t the first to attempt this class or this degree. If he wanted to be here, he was going to figure it out.

She was right.

“I think that is kind of the point — they will make you go to that line and ask yourself, ‘Do you want to be here?’ ” Strenth says. “Because it’s a program that can lead you to a financially stable future. I have offers that no one in my family has ever had in front of them before. But you’ve got to work for them.”

Opportunity Calls with BNY

He applied that same grindstone mentality to maximizing opportunities outside of the classroom — all the while driving to South Carolina once a month to fulfill his National Guard duties.

“I have offers that no one in my family has ever had in front of them before.”

In Spring 2024, he attended a lunch and learn with BNY, which was organized by the Office of Military and Veteran Student Success. The leading global financial services company announced a formal partnership with UCF that establishes a co-located educational innovation hub on UCF’s main campus — the first-of-its-kind in Florida.

Strenth turned the connection he made with the BNY recruiter into a summer internship as a software engineer and vowed to himself to secure a job offer.

He wasn’t deterred by the fact that many of his fellow interns had started programming as middle-schoolers while he, at 24, had just learned the basics a year prior.

He committed to being the first one in the door and one of the last to leave. He reached out to fellow veterans he found in an interdepartmental staff directory to seek advice about integrating into the company. He emailed a weekly recap to his supervisor that listed how his accomplishments that week aligned with BNY’s core values.

“I was trying to showcase that I wanted to be here, and I wanted this job offer more than anything,” Strenth says.

When the internship ended, he stayed connected, even as he lined up another software engineering internship with Hatalom Corporation, a service-disabled veteran-owned small business.

Strenth had three job offers lined up before graduation day with BNY, Hatalom and Northrop Grumman. BNY’s career growth potential, military leave policy and proximity to his home were too good to pass up.

“BNY has a future leaders program that I’ve already expressed interest in even though I’m not eligible for another two years. But I’m already telling them, ‘This is something I want to do. How can I?’ ” he says.

He draws upon that memory of his conversation with his wife from years ago — in his story, he refers to it as “the gamble” — as he sits here today, once again, betting on himself.

“Now two years later, I’m like, ‘We won. We did it,’ ” he says. “Celebrating this moment at graduation is a testament to the sacrifices that my wife has made, my family has made, and the countless other people who have supported me to get to this point.”

We could start 33 years ago to when Castro Tapler first visited UCF and dreamed of becoming a Knight.

Or jump to when she lost sight of that dream in the whirlwind of life after enlisting in the U.S. Marines, completing an overseas deployment, getting married and raising a family.

Or here, in present day, as the 49-year-old graduates alongside her oldest, each with degree choices influenced by Johnny’s struggle with neurological hearing loss — hers, early childhood development and education and his, communication sciences and disorders. And don’t forget her other son, Michael, an emergency management major, close behind and husband, John, graduating later this year from Valencia College, a partner.

Their story is one of many subplots and selfless acts, and so much love for family — a family that pulled strength from each other on the road to this long-awaited, triumphant moment.

“People doubted us for moving here from Long Island to become Knights,” Castro Tapler says. “We said, ‘Just watch.’ “We’re proving that you can do anything you put your mind to doing by adapting and overcoming.”

A Dream Put on Hold, But Never Forgotten

Castro Tapler’s mind first fixed on UCF in 1993 when the family of her friend, David Konits ’01, paid for her to visit them in Orlando to thank her for saving their son’s life after a serious injury. Putting others first had already become ingrained for Castro Tapler, then 16, despite a childhood without means. She lived with her mother in another friend’s basement and had never traveled beyond New York.

“They brought me to the UCF campus and I was blown away,” she says. “I’d never seen such nice kids studying together in such a beautiful environment. If I could ever afford college, I wanted it to be here.”

Castro Tapler went back home, finished high school and joined the U.S. Marines. Shortly after 9/11, she was deployed to Kuwait. The idea of college continued to dim as she fulfilled her military duty, returned to Long Island, went to work and raised a family.

“The goal was always out there,” she says, “but I just couldn’t get to it.”

She wanted a more streamlined path for her sons, Johnny and Michael, so she and her husband always included tours of universities during family trips.

“When we came to UCF, the boys and John fell in love,” Castro Tapler says, “and to me, that feeling of belonging was still there after so many years.”

On the day of Johnny’s high school graduation, they loaded up the car and moved to Orlando — placing her within reach of the dream she never gave up on.

Planting Roots on Campus

As a U.S. Marine veteran, Castro Tapler has chilling stories about how she calmly put out oil fires in open combat zones. On her first day of classes at UCF, she — like a good Marine — arrived 30 minutes early with food and hydration. An emotion consumed her: Fear.

Here she was, surrounded by students half her age using tablets and carrying backpacks while she pulled around a wagon and used a spiral notebook. She would need to relearn how to learn. Three encounters quickly made her feel at ease.

“The sound of a piano in the lobby soothed my nerves. Then a group of girls in my first class invited me to work with them. And I found the ,” she says. “A college campus is a different world from what veterans are used to. The people in that office helped me understand aid, tutoring and the culture. They’re veterans, too, so they know how difficult the transition can be.”

Her fear turned to joy and a genuine belief she belonged. She felt even more connected knowing Johnny and Michael were on the same campus feeling the same pride.

The Start of a New Future

We come to the most surreal moment: mom and son graduating together. She points out this is a goal achieved, but not the goal.

“Our degrees open doors to serve others,” Castro Tapler says.

She’ll teach first grade, knowing each child is unique, perhaps with a challenge that hasn’t yet been identified. Johnny intends to use his communications and sciences disorders degree as the first step toward a medical degree in audiology. He visualizes being the first person parents see when their babies are diagnosed with a complication. He already knows what he’ll say:

“It’s going to be OK. Look at me. I have a hearing disorder, too, and now I’m a doctor,” Johnny says.

Michael will apply his emergency management degree from UCF to help communities on a larger scale. And John, after finishing at Valencia College, will consider an online business master’s program at UCF, so he can provide financial planning and support for those facing their own challenges.

“He wants so badly to be a Knight like the rest of us,” Castro Tapler says.

It makes sense. Knights are known for their grit. And this family has plenty of it.

“I think back to people saying you’ll never afford college, you’re too old, and Johnny can’t become a doctor with hearing loss,” Castro Tapler says. “Now we’re going to walk to the stage together and hear our names called.”

With more than 200 participating funds and so many opportunities for inspiration, activation and growth — we’re counting down to liftoff by highlighting unique areas to consider supporting with your gift this UCF Day of Giving.

As Knights, we challenge status quo. We charge boldly ahead toward industry evolutions and technological advancements. We dare to build a future the world has only begun to imagine. And it’s all driven through moments like this and individuals like you.

Together, we’re launching Knights to new heights.

When the unexpected arises, help sometimes comes in the form of . Created to support Knights facing hardship that may hinder their education, this fund provides financial support for textbooks, fees�����Ի� other education-related expenses for qualifying students.

Your gift ensures that when life’s trials test our Knights, they pass with flying colors, securing the education�����Ի� future they deserve.

The  provides services, programming and resources for thousands of military-connected students currently enrolled at UCF.

helps ensure that those who have served and their connected students are fully supported as they pursue their educational and career goals.

UCF has been recognized with a Gold Award on the Military Friendly Schools list, as a Florida Collegiate Purple Star Campus, a Best Military-Friendly Online College and on the Military Times’  2025 Best for Vets Colleges List. Help us continue that legacy of serving those who’ve served.

offers an intensive, comprehensive therapy program to those navigating Aphasia, a language disorder that can arise from health challenges such as stroke, brain cancer�����Ի� brain injury,�����Ի���affects an individual’s ability to read, write, speak�����Ի���comprehend language.

Through the program, individuals are empowered to make progress on their long-held goals, like talking with their grandchildren or ordering their favorite restaurant meal.

 on UCF Day of Giving supports the continuation of this important service for our community, as well as the hands-on experience UCF student clinicians receive.

Support UCF College of Medicine researchers as they break into new realms of understanding around the country’s second leading cause of death — cancer. Through innovative science, they’re exploring key avenues of discovery including the role that genes play in determining a person’s cancer risk, what causes cancer to spread�����Ի� how to harness the body’s immune system to kill cancer cells.

The goal: to prevent cancer and find new therapies that improve quality of life for patients.  brings us one step closer to lives saved, families unburdened�����Ի� a cure realized.

Did you know that UCF has one of the top Moot Court teams in the nation, ranking among the top 15 overall by the American Moot Court Association? Supervised by the , these student advocates are challenged with arguing mock supreme court cases on constitutional amendments.

and national leadership��������making a gift on UCF Day of Giving. Help cover competition travel expenses, as well as the cost of the annual tournament hosted at UCF Downtown each fall.

It’s time for launch, Knight Nation! Join us as we rally around our favorite causes, and maybe even uncover some new ones, during UCF Day of Giving. Find more areas of support��������������ǰ����Բ����ٳ����, and save the date to  on Thursday, April 9.  

UCF has earned a  signaling the university’s growing support for military and veteran students. This is the first year UCF has earned the Gold designation, following many years as a Silver awardee.

“This recognition reflects years of intentional work across the university to better support military-connected students,” says Andrea Guzmán, UCF vice president for access and community engagement. “We’ve focused on building stronger support systems, removing barriers, and ensuring students have clear pathways from enrollment through career.”

In addition to our Gold Award and recognition as a Military Friendly Spouse School, UCF has been previously designated as a Purple Heart Institution, Florida Purple Star Campus, Best Military-Friendly Online College and Military Times’  2025 Best for Vets Colleges List.

Today about 4,000 military-connected students are enrolled at UCF, and there are a range of services coordinated through the Office of Military and Veteran Student Success (MVSS) to support them:

Holistic Programming

• An orientation dedicated for military-connected students and their families

• Expanded student engagement and social activities, which include families and military veterans within our community

• Collaboration with  affiliates, most notably Valencia College, to streamline transition for transfer students

Academic Resources

• Peer-to-peer tutoring in courses with high drop or fail rates

• VA Work Study and university academic coaching programs prepare and train military-connected students to provide academic coaching to their peers

Career Readiness

• Industry partnerships — including Amazon, JE Technology and Disney — that provide opportunity and engagement through mentorships, internships�����Ի� career fairs

• Range of workshops, lunch and learns and professional development opportunities

Access to Financial Support 

• Established an endowed scholarship to provide assistance to military-connected students

• Potential for “meal plan” grants, emergency relief funds, tuition and fee waivers, and housing subsidies as part of co-curricular and academic support programs

• Participates in the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ Yellow Ribbon Program, a tuition assistance initiative for veterans and eligible dependents

Additionally, MVSS empowers UCF’s faculty and staff through professional development opportunities with strategies and tips on how to best serve and engage with military-connected students.

A new liaison program has been piloted in the last year, placing an MVSS staff member with VA work study students at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management�����Ի���UCF Downtown to increase support services for military-connected students at those campus locations. In Fall 2026, the program is expected to expand to the College of Business, College of Sciences�����Ի� College of Arts and Humanities.

“The support the office provides is some of the most efficient and effective support I have encountered at UCF,” says �ھ��Բ��Գ�����������ǰ� Abigail Kost. “I have scored interviews from career fairs and connections from lunch and learns. The office is also a pillar of emotional wellbeing and has helped me navigate VA benefits and scholarship opportunities. I would not have come as far as I have without the office’s resources.”

UCF: Committed to Serving Veterans

UCF’s commitment to serving veterans is not singularly confined to our Office of Military and Veteran Student Success.

In January, U.S. News & World Report r���԰�����UCF No. 6 for online bachelor’s programs for veterans.

UCF is home to , a nonprofit clinical research center and treatment clinic established to change the way post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related concerns are understood, diagnosed, and treated.

Led by UCF Trustee Chair and Pegasus Professor Deborah Beidel, who is currently , the organization employs a unique and effective approach to treatment. A combination of exposure therapy, emerging technology and individual and group therapy sessions resulted in 66% of participants with combat-related trauma and 76% of first responders no longer meeting the diagnostic criteria for PTSD following three weeks of intensive treatment.

Last year, UCF became one of 12 universities nationwide — and the only school in Florida and the southeast — to participate in a new Service to Service initiative. The national pilot program is dedicated to connecting veterans and their families with graduate educational pathways in public service and helping them find impactful long-term careers in public leadership.

A partnership between UCF College of Medicine and Orlando VA Medical Center  — located next door to each other in Lake Nona’s Medical City — ensures every medical student receives training in specialties including surgery, internal medicine, neurology�����Ի� psychiatry at the Orlando VA Medical Center.

UCF’s history department has been documenting veterans’ stories as part of the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project since 2010. UCF’s Veterans Legacy Program, which was founded in 2017 as a partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration, focuses on documenting the lives of those buried in Florida’s nine national cemeteries.

About Military Friendly

Founded in 2003, Military Friendly is an organization that measures organizations’ commitment, effort, and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefit for the military community.

Military Friendly Schools strive toward and succeed in the areas that matter most in helping veterans make the transition from the military to school and, ultimately, satisfying careers in the civilian world. Earning the designation shows a school meets the minimum criteria.

Military Friendly’s final ratings for its Schools list were determined by combining each institution’s survey responses, government/agency public data sources, and measurements across retention, graduation, job placement, repayment, persistence, and loan default rates for all students and specifically, for student-veterans.

“UCF has been building the future of online education for more than 30 years,” says UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright. “This recognition from U.S. News & World Report affirms the excellence of a people-first, technology-driven approach refined over decades. It reflects a university that has consistently led with innovation, delivered quality at scale and continues to set the standard for what online learning can be.”

This year, UCF also ranks:

• No. 3 nationally for Online Psychology Bachelor’s Programs
• No. 5 nationally for Online Master’s in Educational and Instructional Media Design
• No. 6 nationally for Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans
• No. 6 nationally for Online Business (Lodging and Restaurant Management) Bachelor’s Programs

Empowering Driven Non-Traditional Students

UCF is a leader in how to support learners who don’t fit the traditional academic mold, says Thomas Cavanagh ’06PhD, vice provost for digital learning. These students are parents, working professionals, people with disabilities, those caring for loved ones in need and many others with distinct life circumstances.

ɫ���� provides 9,000 students annually a path to a degree that may otherwise be impossible.

“Taking online classes was the best way for me to be efficient as a mom and a detective at the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office,” says Melissa Schuck ’25, a criminal justice alum and a Florida Army National Guard sergeant. “Being able to show my children that through two careers and being a full-time mom that I could still be a full-time student and be successful [makes all my hard work worth it].”

Shuck says she’s even considering the added challenge of pursuing an online graduate degree in criminal justice, which UCF ranks No. 17 for nationally and No. 10 among veterans.

How We Lead at Scale Without Compromise

Behind each online course is a deeply collaborative process. By investing in faculty development and support, ɫ���� offers an accessible path to degrees without comprising on quality.

Each semester up to 40 faculty members complete a rigorous, graduate-equivalent course to prepare them for how to best teach students in the unique environment of online learning while meeting academic standards.

“The same faculty who teach on campus , teach online, which is a hallmark of our quality,” Cavanagh says. “We partner with faculty to develop intentionally designed, media-rich courses for our students. We emphasize that the proven practices of consistent assignment schedules, engagement and responsiveness lead to a more engaging learning experience for students, as well as achieve better outcomes.”

More than 150 Center for Distributed Learning staff members work with 2,000 faculty across the university to develop and enhance UCF’s online programs.

That same intentionality extends to student success. ɫ����’s dedicated coaching staff supports prospective and current students with the application process, applying for financial aid, signing up for classes, connecting them to resources and more.

“We meet students where they are — and we walk with them,” says Tasha Williams ’12 ’17MNM, director of student coaching for ɫ����.

Redefining Online Education for Tomorrow’s Workforce

This year’s recognition reflects that ɫ���� continues to be at the forefront of digital learning. To lead this charge, instructional designer, multimedia specialists, assessment experts and other staff combine their insights with tools such as artificial intelligence to evolve academic offerings.

This includes exploring opportunities to redesign courses for disciplines like nursing — which UCF ranks No. 17 for online graduate programs nationally — from 16 weeks to eight weeks while meeting industry standards.

“We’re never finished,” Cavanagh says. “Continuous improvement is part of our culture — whether that’s refining how we support faculty, enhancing the student experience or rethinking how programs are structured to meet today’s workforce demands.”

This fall, these strengths will continue to benefit the graduating Knight as he begins his professional career with Northop Grumman.

“I’ll be looking to get into the field of engineering and robotics,” he says.

Before coming to UCF, Koopman was inspired by his father — who completed three tours in the Army Reserves after 9/11 — to enlist and make an impact through service. By joining the military he also knew he’d have an affordable path to an education that would in turn serve him for the rest of this life.“If I could get an education while serving my country, that would be a dream job,” says Koopman, an Iowa native who came to UCF after being encouraged by family who live in Florida.

During his time at UCF, Koopman took on leadership roles in the engineering program and completed two internships at Northrop Grumman. He’s also led research at the Wearable Engineering Assistive Robotics Lab, where he’s developed a robotic tendon-driven hand exoskeleton for simulation purposes. A novelty of this development is the base framework for the glove, he says.

“For a hand exoskeleton meant to be used in a virtual environment, complete hand dexterity needs to be kept,” Koopman says. “Not only can range of motion and degrees of freedom not be interfered with, but they also need to be replicating to provide opposing force against the user. This meant that I spent a lot of time researching and analyzing the biomechanics of the human in all its amazing complexity.”

Koopman also took advantage of the Engineering Leadership and Innovation Institute, eli2, at UCF.

“That included mentoring project leaders, managing technical resources and fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration,” he says.

He also worked with UCF’s Florida Space Institute to showcase an engineering Mars rover project using 3D printing. The final prototype served as a platform for virtual simulation, rehabilitation and robotics research, Koopman says.

Koopman says he hopes to use his education and experiences at UCF to achieve his goals of earning a master’s in robotics and leading a company one day.

“I have the vision of one day starting my own robotics company developing exoskeletons, which is related to my research,” he says.

“I came to realize during my time in academia that I love the problem-solving aspect of engineering.”

Koopman credits a large part of his personal and professional growth to involvement with various clubs on campus, including First Step, a mentorship program for transfer students.

“I really appreciate all the support and resources that have been provided to me,” Koopman says.

By supporting students, life-changing research and initiatives that mean the most to you, you’ll help launch Knights to new heights! Not sure where to make your gift this year? Here are some of the lesser-known, unique programs, departments and services available for support. Discover where you can be a force for the future.

One of the best-kept secrets on campus is the UCF Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD). As one of seven regional centers established in Florida, CARD offers resources and nonresidential services to individuals with autism and related disabilities, as well as their families. From educational seminars to support services, including phone consultations and school observations and recommendations, CARD address issues that impact individuals across the lifespan. Use your gift to support CARD and its important work in our community.

Meet PIXEL — a new, one-of-a-kind building planned for the heart ɫ����’s campus. Designed to defy the limits of traditional performance spaces, it will foster collaboration between the arts and other disciplines, including business, engineering, hospitality, sciences and more. The space will allow students to learn the latest in 3D projection and how to incorporate virtual and augmented reality into traditional art forms while also creating immersive experiences for audiences. PIXEL will be a space to create, collaborate and innovate.

Beyond putting smiles on the faces of everyone they meet, UCF’s Police K-9s play a critical role in keeping our campus and students safe. By making a gift to the UCF Police Department’s K-9 fund, you’ll help support the adoption, training and care of our four-legged officers. Who can resist those puppy-dog eyes?

Even those who dedicate their lives to saving others need support sometimes. Help UCF College of Medicine students and future health care leaders when they need it most. This fund assists Knights facing food insecurity, illness and natural disasters, helping them navigate challenging times and continue their education. It also supports UCF student and resident/fellow wellness programs.

Forty-eight percent of college students are affected by housing insecurity, and 14% are affected by homelessness, according to a recent Hope Center for College, Community and Justice survey. The Housing Insecurity Fund provides relief to students experiencing housing insecurity or facing homelessness, helping them continue their education and thrive.

Created to support students facing hardship that may hinder their education, the Student Emergency Fund provides financial support for textbooks, fees and other education-related expenses for qualifying students.

The Office of Military and Veteran Student Success (MVSS) was created to provide student veterans with the tools, resources and support needed to earn their degrees. By making a gift to the MVSS, you’ll help fund supplies, programs and events that benefit the center.

This year marks the 50th anniversary ɫ����’s Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), which is dedicated to preparing the next generation of energy leaders. Your gift to FSEC supports research, workforce development and education activities, including the annual EnergyWhiz competition for K-12 students, professional development for teachers and continuing education for energy practitioners. Help expand these efforts and more as we work toward a more resilient energy future.

The Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA) is UCF’s globally ranked graduate program, preparing students for careers in the game industry with expertise in areas such as the arts, programming, production, design and more. Support the next generation of industry leaders by ensuring they have access to cutting-edge technology and meaningful learning experiences.

These are just a few of the many impactful funds that you can donate to during UCF Day of Giving on April 10. We encourage you to explore the and make a gift to the area that matters most to you.

UCF is one of 12 universities nationwide — and the only school in Florida and the southeast — that will participate in the new Service to Service initiative. The national pilot program is dedicated to connecting veterans and their families with graduate educational pathways in public service and helping them find impactful long-term careers in public leadership. By encouraging service members to pursue higher education in public administration affairs, this military-to-public-service pipeline is intended to help veterans leverage their military experience in rewarding new roles.

Participants can apply for scholarships and use their GI bill toward the program. Recruitment starts in Spring 2025, and the program’s launch is scheduled for Fall 2025.

Service to Service is a collaboration between two nonprofit organizations: The Volcker Alliance, which supports public service education, and We the Veterans, which aims to empower service members and their relatives. UCF joins Cornell University, Arizona State University and others in having been selected as a pilot site for this initiative.

, director of the and the school’s representative to The Volcker Alliance, says he believes Service to Service is an excellent opportunity for veterans who want to transition into a civil service career.

“The military is always an untapped resource,” Goodman says. “Many veterans leave the military with a lot of experience, and they want to continue that level of experience by serving their communities. We want to provide quality education that engages our veterans, and the Service to Service program can better connect us with that group of people.”

Students who join the initiative, known as Service to Service Fellows, can further their education through UCF’s graduate programs in public administration, emergency and crisis management, nonprofit management, public policy, and regional and urban planning. Goodman says the fellows will also enjoy various program benefits such as mentorship, community-building, professional development opportunities and even facilitated job placement.

“Students in the Service to Service program will have access to resources such as seminars, online workshops and trainings across the country,” Goodman says. “They’ll be able to network not just locally but nationally with cohorts at other participating universities.”

, a 23-year Army veteran and director ɫ����’s , adds that the program serves as an avenue for veterans seeking guidance in their next chapter.

“Veterans often leave the service feeling lost, not knowing who they want to be or what they want to do,” Kepner says. “Trying to become a civilian overnight can be very difficult, and finding work after military life can feel like trying to find your first ‘grown-up’ job. Service to Service is a fantastic way for veterans and their families to find their footing in local or state government roles where they can continue serving the community.”

Looking ahead, Kepner says he is excited about the Service to Service initiative and thinks it will have a highly positive impact on the service members and military families who decide to enroll.

“Florida is a great state for veterans,” Kepner says. “A lot of veterans and retirees come down to Florida, and as more veterans move here, Service to Service will allow them to explore new career options. I think it’s going to pay huge dividends for transitioning service members to discover who they want to be.”

In January, U.S. News & World Report ranked UCF No. 8 for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans. In 2024, UCF received the Collegiate Purple Star Campus designation, which recognizes the university for its efforts to support military and veteran students through 2027.

Those wanting to learn more about the Service to Service program should contact the School of Public Administration.

The tour included visits with key UCF research centers, such as (IST), , and the Center of Excellence in Hypersonic and Space Propulsion (HyperSpace Center).

While Grady toured UCF’s defense-related research, his wife, Christine Grady, visited UCF’s Office of Military and Veteran Student Success; , a clinic dedicated to treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and met with UCF Army and Air Force ROTC cadets.

“The visit from Admiral and Mrs. Grady underscores the vital role UCF plays in advancing national security and defense research, supporting critical DOD needs, and preparing the next generation of military leaders,” says Winston V. Schoenfeld, UCF’s vice president for research and innovation. “Over 30% ɫ����’s federal funding has come from the DOD for more than a decade, positioning UCF as a national leader in delivering key innovations to the DOD.”

The Tour

Grady began his visit with a meeting alongside UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright, where they discussed UCF’s longstanding commitment to supporting the nation’s defense through cutting-edge research and workforce development.

While with CREOL, Admiral Grady received a briefing on directed energy research and its applications for DOD missions, particularly the capabilities of the Townes Institute for Science and Technology Experimentation Facility. The institute, located at Kennedy Space Center, supports multidisciplinary research with a focus on space science, optics and other advanced technologies.

At IST, UCF showcased the latest advancements in digital twin technology, such as real-time 3D digital twins of structures and areas, and artificial intelligence for DOD-decision making tools.

Grady’s visit to the HyperSpace Center focused on the integration of students into the research process and the timeline for the hypersonic technology, which would allow air travel at speeds of up to 13,000 miles per hour (Mach 17).

Commitment to National Defense and Military Success

UCF is a national leader in supporting military and defense initiatives through education, research and industry partnerships.

UCF’s Office of Military and Veteran Student Success supports more than 3,200 military-connected students, including veterans, active-duty and dependents, by providing academic advising, transition assistance and tailored guidance.

UCF RESTORES offers innovative, no-cost PTSD treatment for veterans and first responders, with clinical trials achieving a 100% success rate in just 14 days for participants completing VR-assisted exposure therapy. The program has treated more than 500 veterans and 950 first responders, with the majority no longer meeting PTSD criteria.

UCF also boasts top-ranked ROTC programs, with the Army ROTC Fighting Knights Battalion and Air Force Detachment 159 preparing leaders for military and civilian careers. UCF’s AFROTC program, which has been developing officers for the Air Force and Space Force for more than 50 years, has earned the DOD’s ROTC and Educational Institutional Partnership Excellence Award for multiple areas of excellence.

In research, UCF’s close ties to the defense industry are amplified through Central Florida Research Park, a $7 billion hub for modeling and simulation adjacent to UCF’s main campus, which is also home to six DOD headquarters. UCF also ranks No. 1 in Florida for VA certifications, is leading the nation in the number of cybersecurity championships, and is the top supplier of graduates to the aerospace and defense industries.

The Collegiate Purple Star honors colleges that demonstrate a commitment to supporting military and veteran students and their families. Once awarded, the designation remains active for three academic years.

There are about 3,100 military and veteran students at UCF, and we provide a comprehensive array of services tailored to their needs.  This includes dedicated resources such as  the Office of Military and Veteran Student Success, and the Military and Veteran Success Center, aimed at supporting their academic, career and personal success.

In February, UCF ranked No. 5 for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans��������U.S. News & World Report. In the same month, Knight Nation ranked No. 11 on College Consensus’ 2024 Best Online Colleges for Veterans list.

Among the commitments UCF upholds that have received recognition from the Purple Star Campus honor are:

• A transition program to assist military and veteran students integrate into campus life, which includes veteran transfer orientation sessions.
• Professional development training opportunities, including Green Zone training for faculty, staff and students. The Office of Military and Veteran Student Success also offers tailored training packages to the Office of Financial Aid, Student Services, and other UCF departments to equip staff with the insights and knowledge necessary for working with military and veteran students utilizing veteran educational benefits.
• Priority course registration for military and veteran students.
• Hosting annual , including open houses, Flag Days, Military Appreciation Games, , veteran community resource fairs, veteran career and internship fairs, and Veterans Graduation Stole Ceremonies.
• Partnering with a college or career center liaison officer from a military installation. This includes the Military Student Career program, which provides resume critiques, networking and job search strategies, insight from military professionals who have transitioned to civilian careers and connecting with employers.
• Continuing their service through the Soldiers to Scholars (SLS) program. Through SLS, student-veterans serve as mentors and safely escort school children to and from the Metro Place apartment community to Eagle’s Nest Elementary School. Additionally, these mentors facilitate after-school programs aimed at enhancing academic performance and organize special events tailored to the needs of these young students.

In recent years, UCF has consistently received recognition for its commitment, effort, and success in creating holistic, sustainable and meaningful support for the military and veteran student community on campus. U.S. News & World Reportranked UCF among the nation’s Best Colleges for Veteran in its 2024 undergraduate list. In 2022, UCF received the Purple Heart Designation from the Military Order of the Purple Heart. The university also received the Silver Award on the 2022-23 Military Friendly Schools list.