The Power of a 24-Hour Mission

In a single day, 5,187 donors from across the country and around the globe gifted more than $14.9 million in support of 麻豆原创鈥檚 bold vision for the future, setting a new record in dollars raised during . With contributions spanning across all 12 colleges and 200 programs and initiatives, participants included both longtime supporters and first-time donors, reflecting a growing community united by a shared belief in the power of education, discovery and opportunity.

From the moment the campaign launched at midnight, momentum built quickly 鈥� across campuses, communities and time zones. Hour by hour, participation grew as alumni, students, faculty, staff, partners and friends added their support, each gift contributing to something larger than any single moment.

Momentum Across Knight Nation

By mid鈥憁orning, the energy of 麻豆原创 Day of Giving was unmistakable. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Student Union buzzed with celebration as everyone gathered for photobooths, coffee and conversations that turned into meaningful contributions.

The celebration extended beyond main campus, with similar moments unfolding at 麻豆原创 Downtown and the Health Sciences Campus, reinforcing 麻豆原创 Day of Giving as a university鈥憌ide movement.

鈥淓very gift helps expand opportunity for our students, fuels discovery and sparks innovations that move our communities forward.鈥� 鈥� President Alexander N. Cartwright

鈥溌槎乖� Day of Giving is a powerful reminder of what Knight Nation can accomplish together,鈥� says 麻豆原创 President Alexander N. Cartwright. 鈥淓very gift helps expand opportunity for our students, fuels discovery and sparks innovations that move our communities forward.鈥�

麻豆原创 Day of Giving is a key moment within Go for Launch: The Campaign for 麻豆原创鈥檚 Next Mission and the university鈥檚 most ambitious revenue-generating effort to date.

Powered by Knight Nation

Through the Go For Launch campaign, 麻豆原创 builds upon four priorities that will amplify our impact and create our future. They represent the pioneering spirit of 麻豆原创 and speak to the unique needs of our dynamic community: , , and. Together, these priorities accelerate 麻豆原创鈥檚 continued rise as Florida鈥檚 Technological University and create opportunities that extend far beyond campus.

This campaign shares the same collaborative spirit that鈥檚 fueled record-breaking results for 麻豆原创 Day of Giving year after year.

鈥淲e recognize the unique combination of philanthropy, partnership and collective drive needed to bring bold visions to life, and we鈥檙e proud to lean into that,鈥� says Rod Grabowski, senior vice president for advancement and partnerships at 麻豆原创 and CEO of the 麻豆原创 Foundation, Inc. 鈥淎t 麻豆原创, we鈥檙e building a future that others have only begun to imagine, and that pursuit is sustained not by any one individual or group, but by the power of many.鈥�

For students like Ervin Xhemali the impact of these efforts is both immediate and life鈥慶hanging. A first鈥慻eneration student funding his education independently, Xhemali initially thought the scholarship credit in his account was a mistake, until he realized it came from the Katherine Crock Memorial Fund, established by Raymond Smithberger 鈥�02MBA in honor of his mother.

The scholarship helps remove financial barriers so students can focus on learning and future goals. For Xhemali, an economics major balancing coursework with multiple jobs, the support was more than financial, it was a catalyst for what would come next.

Across campus and online, 麻豆原创 Day of Giving spotlighted stories of impact 鈥� students discovering new opportunities, faculty advancing breakthroughs and alumni carrying the Knight spirit into industries and communities worldwide.

Transformational investments fueled that momentum, including a $500,000 grant from Bank of America to support the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion on 麻豆原创鈥檚 Academic Health Sciences Campus in Lake Nona. The gift closed a more than $30 million private fundraising effort for the facility, bringing 麻豆原创鈥檚 vision for its College of Nursing to life alongside $43 million in state support.

Fuel for the Mission

Over the past four years, 24,411 individuals have invested more than $49.5 million through 麻豆原创 Day of Giving, strengthening the foundation for continued impact and growth.

Together, these moments reflect what has always defined 麻豆原创: a belief that bold ideas, supported by a committed community, create lasting change. In just 24 hours, Knights demonstrated how collective generosity can expand opportunity, accelerate innovation and move ideas forward.

Together, Knight Nation isn鈥檛 just imagining the future; through moments like 麻豆原创 Day of Giving, we鈥檙e creating it.

With more than 200 participating funds and so many opportunities for inspiration, activation and growth 鈥� we鈥檙e counting down to liftoff by highlighting unique areas to consider supporting with your gift this 麻豆原创 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鈥檚 all driven through moments like this and individuals like you.

Together,聽we鈥檙e聽launching Knights to new heights.

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

Your gift ensures that聽when聽life鈥檚聽trials聽test our聽Knights,聽they聽pass聽with flying colors,聽securing聽the education听补苍诲 future聽they聽deserve.

The 鈥痯rovides services, programming and resources for thousands of military-connected students currently enrolled at 麻豆原创.

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

麻豆原创 has been recognized聽with a聽Gold Award聽on the聽Military Friendly聽Schools list, as a Florida Collegiate Purple Star Campus, a Best Military-Friendly Online College and on the Military Times鈥� 聽2025聽Best for Vets Colleges List.聽Help us聽continue that legacy聽of聽serving those聽who鈥檝e聽served.

offers an intensive, comprehensive therapy program聽to those聽navigating Aphasia, a聽language聽disorder that can arise from聽health challenges such as聽stroke,聽brain聽cancer听补苍诲 brain injury,听补苍诲听affects聽an individual鈥檚 ability to聽read, write,聽speak听补苍诲听comprehend聽language.

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

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

Support 麻豆原创 College of Medicine researchers as they聽break聽into new realms of聽understanding聽around聽the聽country鈥檚聽second leading cause of death聽鈥� cancer.聽Through聽innovative science,聽they鈥檙e聽exploring key聽avenues of discovery聽including聽the role that聽genes play聽in聽determining聽a person鈥檚 cancer risk, what causes cancer to spread听补苍诲 how to harness the body鈥檚 immune system to kill cancer cells.

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

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

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

It鈥檚聽time for launch, Knight Nation! Join us聽as聽we rally around聽our favorite causes, and聽maybe even聽uncover some聽new聽ones, during 麻豆原创 Day of Giving.聽Find聽more areas of support聽by聽别虫辫濒辞谤颈苍驳听迟丑别听,鈥痑nd聽save the date to聽聽on Thursday, April 9.聽聽

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) selected the Florida Small Business Development Center at 麻豆原创 (FSBDC at 麻豆原创) as the National Small Business Development Center of the Year 鈥� recognizing its outstanding performance, innovative programming, and leadership in supporting Central Florida鈥檚 entrepreneurs and small businesses. The 麻豆原创 center was selected from a pool of 1,000 applicants nationwide.

鈥淭his award reflects our consistent ability to exceed SBA milestones and outperform our own high expectations within the Florida SBDC Network.鈥� 鈥� Eunice Choi, regional director of the FSBDC at 麻豆原创

鈥淲e are humbled yet immensely gratified to be honored as the SBDC of the Year by the SBA,鈥� says Eunice Choi, regional director of the FSBDC at 麻豆原创. 鈥淥ur team takes great pride in its unwavering commitment to serving the small business community and advancing SBA鈥檚 mission. This award reflects our consistent ability to exceed SBA milestones and outperform our own high expectations within the Florida SBDC Network.鈥�

The FSBDC at 麻豆原创 is located in the National Entrepreneur Center inside the Orlando Fashion Square Mall near downtown. It serves serves eight counties including Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia. At the Orlando main office, as well as six service center offices, small business owners have access to seminars and no-cost one-on-one consulting with experts who can assist across the following areas:

• Accounting: asset management, record keeping systems and procedures
• Finance: ratio analysis, breakeven analysis, financial projections and business valuation
• Marketing: pricing, advertising and promotion, marketing planning, market research and exporting
• Operations: production and inventory control, project management, risk management and energy conservation
• New Venture Planning: start-up information, feasibility analysis, business planning and general business consulting
• Technical Assistance: preliminary patent searches, patent, copyright and trademark, and technology transfer and SBIR/STTR

Each year, the SBA celebrates National Small Business Week (May 3-9 this year) by recognizing exceptional small business owners, entrepreneurs and resource partners from across the country. This year鈥檚 winners have been invited to Washington, D.C., May 3鈥�4, where they will be honored during national ceremonies.

鈥淭his year鈥檚 NSBW celebration is particularly historic as our nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, when our Founding Fathers laid the groundwork for the liberty that powers the engine of free enterprise. The result is our nation鈥檚 prosperity and entrepreneurial spirit 鈥� the very spirit your leadership exemplifies,鈥� SBA Administrator Kelley Loeffler stated in a letter congratulating to the FSBDC at 麻豆原创.

麻豆原创 has earned a 聽signaling the university鈥檚 growing support for military and veteran students. This is the first year 麻豆原创 has earned the聽Gold聽designation, following聽many聽years聽as a聽Silver聽awardee.

鈥淭his recognition reflects years of intentional work across the university to better support military-connected students,鈥� says Andrea Guzm谩n, 麻豆原创 vice president for access and community engagement. 鈥淲e鈥檝e focused on building stronger support systems, removing barriers, and ensuring students have clear pathways from enrollment through career.鈥�

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

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

Holistic Programming

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

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

• Collaboration with 聽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聽鈥� including聽Amazon, JE Technology and Disney 鈥斅爐hat provide opportunity and engagement through mentorships,聽internships听补苍诲 career fairs

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

Access to Financial Support聽

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

• Potential for 鈥渕eal plan鈥� 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鈥� Yellow Ribbon Program, a tuition assistance initiative for veterans and eligible dependents

Additionally, MVSS聽empowers 麻豆原创鈥檚 faculty and staff through professional development opportunities with strategies and tips on how to best serve and engage with聽military-connected聽students.

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

鈥淭he support the office provides is some of the most efficient and effective support I have encountered at 麻豆原创,鈥� says聽蹿颈苍补苍肠别听尘补箩辞谤聽Abigail Kost. 鈥淚 have scored interviews from career fairs and connections from lunch and聽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鈥檚 resources.鈥�

麻豆原创: Committed to Serving Veterans

麻豆原创鈥檚 commitment to serving veterans is not singularly confined to聽our聽Office of Military and Veteran Student Success.

In January,鈥�U.S. News & World Report鈥痳补苍办别诲听麻豆原创 No. 6 for online bachelor鈥檚 programs for veterans.

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

Led by 麻豆原创 Trustee Chair and Pegasus Professor Deborah Beidel, who is currently聽, 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,聽麻豆原创 became one of 12 universities nationwide聽鈥� and the only school in Florida and the southeast 鈥斅爐o participate聽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 麻豆原创 College of Medicine and Orlando VA Medical Center聽聽鈥斅爈ocated聽next door to each other in Lake Nona鈥檚 Medical City 鈥斅爀nsures every medical student聽receives training in specialties including surgery, internal medicine,聽neurology听补苍诲 psychiatry at the Orlando VA Medical Center.

麻豆原创鈥檚 history department has been documenting veterans鈥� stories聽as part of the Library of Congress鈥櫬燰eterans History Project聽since聽2010.聽麻豆原创鈥檚 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鈥檚 nine national cemeteries.

About Military Friendly

Founded in 2003, Military Friendly is an organization that measures organizations鈥� 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鈥檚 final ratings for its Schools list were determined by combining each institution鈥檚 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.

麻豆原创 is the first medical school in Florida offering Spanish language certification through the national Physician Oral Language Observation鈥疢atrix exam.

The exam establishes the physician has demonstrated comprehension, vocabulary and pronunciation skills in Spanish to provide care to patients without an interpreter.

Three students have passed the exam already, four are awaiting results and 11 more are on the path to complete it. Two of the certified students recently found out on Match Day they are staying in Florida for their medical residency programs.

鈥淭he exam represents a meaningful milestone because it validates that a student can provide safe, language-concordant care in clinical settings,鈥� says Analia Castiglioni, assistant dean and director of the Spanish language program.

Elevated Care for Florida鈥檚 Patients

Data shows that communications problems are the most frequent root cause of serious patient safety events such as mismanagement of medications. Patients with limited English language proficiency face higher levels of such risk.

The College of Medicine offers Spanish as its language focus to meet the state鈥檚 healthcare needs. Florida ranks as one of the top four states in the country for in Spanish speakers. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 22% of Floridians report speaking Spanish at home.

鈥淲hen the care team and the patient share a common language, something important happens,鈥� Castiglioni says. 鈥淭rust develops more quickly, patients share more complete information, and care becomes safer and more compassionate.鈥�

Not Your Average Spanish

Fourth-year medical student Rodolfo Rodriguez came to Florida from South America when he was young and spoke Spanish and English at home.聽While he is bilingual, he needed to learn medical Spanish to be a more effective physician.

鈥淗ousehold Spanish is much more casual and you鈥檙e not using terms that are prevalent in the medical field,鈥� Rodriguez says. 鈥淭here are also words that don鈥檛 directly translate the same, like 鈥榮troke.鈥� In Spanish, you wouldn鈥檛 say 鈥榮troke鈥� you鈥檇 say 鈥榓ccidente cerebrovascular鈥� which literally means 鈥榗erebrovascular accident.鈥欌��

He wanted to specialize in rehabilitative medicine after聽witnessing聽his father recover from a motorcycle accident. Last week, he聽matched into聽the University of Miami鈥檚 physical medicine and rehabilitation program.

鈥淚鈥檓 overjoyed, and I know my dad is too,鈥� he says. 鈥淢any people here in Florida don’t speak English as a first language, so being able to use my medical Spanish to help these patients feel comfortable through the rehab process is something I know will make a difference.鈥�

The training is equally as valuable to non-native speakers like fourth-year M.D. candidate鈥疎lizabeth鈥疍urkin. She鈥痵ays鈥槎乖粹�檚 structured program helped strengthen the Spanish鈥痵kills she studied throughout her education,鈥痑nd she wants to continue鈥痓uilding her proficiency. She passed the national鈥痗ertification,鈥痑nd this summer will begin her鈥痭eurology鈥痳esidency in neurology at鈥疕ealthONE鈥痠n鈥疎nglewood,鈥疌O.

鈥淏eing able to speak directly with鈥痭on-English speaking patients has鈥痓een a goal of mine for a long time,鈥� says Durkin, who used to translate doctor鈥檚 visits for her Russian-speaking grandparents. 鈥淚鈥檇 like to say I did this to honor my family and my grandparents.鈥�

Certification聽Program Details

Students聽are eligible to聽take the Medical Spanish electives in the summer before their second year of medical school, before they go into clerkships at hospitals and clinics, and/or in their fourth year.

In addition to formal Spanish language education, they practice obtaining patient histories and provide treatment plans in Spanish with standardized patients in the College of Medicine鈥檚 Clinical Skills and Simulation Center. Every patient encounter is taped and evaluated by Brenda Perez, who is a Certified Healthcare Interpreter in Spanish, the medical curriculum program manager at the College of Medicine and a casual Spanish interpreter at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Lake Nona.

The college hopes to expand the program to continue meeting the community鈥檚 needs.

鈥淢y vision is for the program to continue growing,鈥� Castiglioni says. 鈥淭hat means building strong partnerships with clinical sites that serve Spanish-speaking communities and creating opportunities for our students to rotate in those settings, where their language skills can directly enhance patient care.鈥�

College of Medicine students interested in learning more about the medical Spanish program may email commedspanish@ucf.edu.

With its numerous industries to sustain a career and vibrant culture to build a life, Orlando isn鈥檛 a hard sell. Still, when it comes to promoting all this city has to offer, you鈥檇 be hard pressed to find someone who loves it more than Andrea (Rodrigues) Sage 鈥�12.

The advertising-public relations grad spent the last decade in various sales-related positions with the Tampa Bay Rays, Orlando Magic and insulated beverageware company Corkcicle (headquartered in Orlando).

That experience along with the leadership and life skills she developed at 麻豆原创 and her beloved hobby as the mastermind behind 鈥� an immensely popular social media account that explores new activities, restaurants and happenings in Central Florida 鈥� gave her what she needed to land her dream gig as marketing manager for Visit Orlando.

鈥淚 get to marry my love for this community and something I鈥檓 passionate about doing 鈥� marketing this city. It鈥檚 perfect for me,鈥� Sage says. 鈥淭o find this opportunity with Visit Orlando, it truly has been a dream come true.鈥�

Tourism Shapes Orlando

Sage鈥檚 mission in her role at Visit Orlando as a marketing manager, specializing in domestic tourism, is to bring visitation to the destination, period.

Orlando is the most visited destination in the U.S. bringing more than 75 million visitors. According to Visit Orlando, tourism supports 37% of all jobs in the region.

Central Florida鈥檚 tourism industry generated an economic impact of $94.5 billion in 2024, a 2.2% increase over the previous year, according to a study by Tourism Economics, a division of Oxford Economics and a leader in industry research.

As 2025 numbers work on being finalized, all signs point to the continued momentum of the region鈥檚 tourism.

It鈥檚 not hard to see why Orlando is in demand:

• Standard-setting theme parks
• Marquee sporting events 鈥� earning Orlando the No. 1 spot for Sports Event Cities in the U.S., according to Sport Business Journal
• Vibrant arts scene
• Top-of-the-line hotels and resorts
• 58 Michelin-recognized restaurants
• Proximity to beautiful beaches and Port Canaveral鈥檚 cruise ships

Sage gives a glimpse into what goes into helping shape Orlando鈥檚 reputation as one of the world鈥檚 most desirable destinations.

Advertising All of Orlando

Sage鈥檚 role with Visit Orlando oversees many facets. She might be placing a billboard in Baltimore, a well-timed ad on a streaming platform, or organize a tropical oasis in the middle of New York City on a 30-degree Fahrenheit day, enticing winter-weary New Yorkers to plan their next vacation.

She recently spent a week overseeing the production of an eco-tourism campaign video shoot at several locations to highlight the area鈥檚 natural beauty, hiking and springs.

鈥淐ulinary, arts, theme parks, nature, cultural experiences, whatever your travel bug is, this destination brings it all.鈥� 鈥� Andrea (Rodrigues) Sage 鈥�12

鈥淎dults with kids, adults without kids, this vacation has all your needs 鈥� culinary, arts, theme parks, nature, cultural experiences, whatever your travel bug is, this destination brings it all,鈥� Sage says.

Competing on the Global Stage

Orlando鈥檚 prime competitors in the tourism market depends on who you鈥檙e talking to.

It could be California (theme parks), Las Vegas (conferences), or Spain and Italy (international visitation). As cruise lines have come roaring back after the pandemic, the Caribbean is now in the mix, too. Orlando doesn鈥檛 just compete with other cities for tourists, but entire states and countries.

鈥淥ur destination is amazing, but every Jan. 1 the visitor tally resets, and there is a lot of work happening behind the scenes to make sure we remain top of mind,鈥� Sage says.

Success Fueled by 麻豆原创

A St. Petersburg, Florida, native, Rodrigues was recruited to 麻豆原创 to play for the women鈥檚 soccer team. From 2008-12, she helped lead the Knights to five NCAA postseason appearances, including the 2011 Elite 8, three conference championships and one of the program鈥檚 highest national rankings (No. 6) in school history.

During her collegiate career, she also joined the Portuguese National Team, which exposed her to places and cultures that would ultimately spark her interests in travel and exploration today.

As an elite scholar-athlete, she points to the intangible soft skills she gained 鈥� work ethic, goal-setting, communication, collaboration and time management all at an elevated standard of excellence 鈥� as formative to her life as a working parent.

鈥淏eing a 麻豆原创 student-athlete has made who I am.鈥�

鈥淏eing a 麻豆原创 student-athlete has made who I am,鈥� Sage says. 鈥淚 take interviews today as a 36-year-old and still talk about how it has positively shaped me. I would go from a 6 a.m. strength training to study hall to three classes to practice to a night class, still have homework and study and then travel to a road game the next day.

鈥淭he controlled chaos I lived in then, it is innate in me and still my normal today. I have two little kids, I鈥檓 married, I have a full-time job, I work out every day, I have a hobby. It just feels right. It is a controlled chaotic environment that I love.鈥�

Living Where the World Vacations

Rodrigues says what she appreciates most about living in Orlando is getting to explore new places in her own backyard. She started @cheatdayorlando in 2021 after becoming a mother. Since then, she has grown the account to nearly 100,000 followers and landed a regular gig on the 106.7 FM morning show Johnny鈥檚 House spreading the word about new experiences in the area.

鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 feel like you鈥檙e stagnant in Orlando 鈥� you can have a different experience just 10 minutes away,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 love that there鈥檚 something for everyone to feel like home because we have a melting pot of culture.鈥�

Spring Break Scene

Whether you鈥檙e a local enjoying a staycation or coming to Orlando for your Spring Break, Rodrigues shares her pro tips on some new experiences worth checking out:

• ICON Park will soon feature Ripley鈥檚 Crazy Golf, a glow-in-the-dark immersive indoor miniature golf course with many unconventional ways to putt.
• Harlow Grove Restaurant and Lounge, a new trendy restaurant in Winter Garden, opened this month and features a rooftop terrace and elevated menu.
• Maitland鈥檚 Enzian Theater is a single-screen independent cinema cafe that offers cozy, vintage decor and seating, with a full kitchen menu. For the parents out there with little Spring Breakers, consider the theater鈥檚 Peanut Butter Matinee Family Film Series, which offers free admission to kids 12 and under. Cars 2 will be featured at noon on March 22.

The realization hit him one day on the job. This project鈥檚 legacy and impact were going to outlive him.

鈥淲hen I think back on every cool thing I鈥檝e gotten to do so far in my career, it does all kind of lead back to Orlando Family Stage,鈥� Lowe says.

Lowe was 6 years old when his cub scout troop attended a show at the stage, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary 鈥� the last 25 of those years in partnership with 麻豆原创.

He eventually went through its Youth Academy, interned as a 麻豆原创 theatre student on site, made industry connections and now regularly contracts work at the stage as a full-time lighting designer for Clair Global, a tech company that specializes in live production services.

Lowe鈥檚 story is just one example of the countless ripple effects that have materialized from 麻豆原创鈥檚 longstanding, collaborative partnership with a nationally recognized leader in the theater industry.

鈥淚鈥檝e watched kids come in and they鈥檙e so shy and they can鈥檛 do anything. But by the time they leave, they鈥檙e not only signing up for the next show, they鈥檙e leading the next show,鈥� says Paul Lartonoix, assistant dean for the College of Arts and Humanities and longtime Orlando Family Stage board member. 鈥淪ometimes it鈥檚 amazing at what it does. There鈥檚 no reason to not be proud of it. It鈥檚 doing great things for families. It鈥檚 doing great things for kids. It鈥檚 doing great things for our students, and it鈥檚 awesome that it鈥檚 being run by Knights.鈥�

A Partnership That Builds Community

Orlando Family Stage, founded in 1926 as part of the City of Orlando鈥檚 Recreation Department, has evolved over the past 100 years while persevering through historic challenges including the Great Depression, World War II, the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic.

麻豆原创 entered the picture in 2000 when former Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood and 麻豆原创 President John C. Hitt formed a community coalition to bring the stage under 麻豆原创鈥檚 oversight. At the time, the theater needed a major overhaul 鈥� both to its physical home at Loch Haven Park and in programming 鈥� to ensure it could thrive in the new millennium.

鈥淚 know with great confidence we would not be sitting here today without 麻豆原创 on board. We wouldn鈥檛 have survived.鈥� 鈥� Chris Brown 鈥�05, Orlando Family Stage executive director and 麻豆原创 theatre alum

鈥淲e wanted it because we thought that space was an exceptional,聽it had tremendous potential, and 麻豆原创 should be a part of it.聽That聽really was the driving force,鈥� says Lartonoix, who served as executive director on-loan and was instrumental in leading the early years of the partnership. 鈥淎nd when things worked, it was fantastic.鈥�

The intervention proved to be a major catalyst for its impact in the community today, and for the world at large through the countless children and 麻豆原创 graduates who have been affiliated with its programming and education.

鈥淚 know with great confidence we would not be sitting here today without 麻豆原创 on board. We wouldn鈥檛 have survived,鈥� says Chris Brown 鈥�05, Orlando Family Stage executive director and 麻豆原创 theatre alum. 鈥淭o think that leaders came together and said, 鈥榃e don鈥檛 want to lose a vital theater organization in our town, and we want to create an active and engaged partnership with the university where we can collectively do good things to serve young people in the world.鈥� It鈥檚 very special.鈥�

Florida鈥檚 Only Professional Theatre for Young Audiences

A major part of that partnership is 麻豆原创鈥檚 MFA in theatre for young audiences program, which launched in 2004. The program has operated for the past two decades as Florida鈥檚 only professional theatre for young audiences and is one of the most distinctive programs in the country with its unique graduate-training residency.

In addition to learning from the university鈥檚 esteemed faculty, students gain practical experience with opportunities to work with professional artists and teach in Orlando Family Stage鈥檚 award-winning Youth Academy, which offers camps, classes and experiences for every age level from infancy through teens.

The MFA program has seen graduates go on to work at some of the most prestigious theaters in the country, become educators at universities as far as Dublin and help run community theaters across the United States.

In addition to his leadership role, Brown teaches theatre management courses on 麻豆原创鈥檚 campus. He says he believes an important part of his responsibility as an educator is to expand his students鈥� idea of where a career in the arts can take them.

鈥淲e鈥檙e helping them recognize that arts administration is creative work,鈥� he says. 鈥淲riting a grant narrative, crafting a brand voice, planning a touring route or stewarding a donor relationship all require the same storytelling skills they bring to performance and production roles.鈥�

Instilling Bravery in Children

The stage鈥檚 mission is to empower young people to be brave and empathetic.

Sure it sounds good, but more importantly, there鈥檚 truth to the claim. Recent research by the 麻豆原创 Department of Psychology provides evidence to support it.

The Orlando Family Stage鈥檚 education team collaborated with associate professor Valerie Sims and senior lecturer Matthew Chin and more than a dozen undergraduate students from the Applied Cognition and Technology Lab along with associate professor of musical theatre Tara Deady 鈥�07MFA on a study, which they are currently working on publishing. The study aimed to determine if the stage鈥檚 programming delivers on its promise to promote creative engagement and bravery in children ages 1-5.

Because of the young age of the participants, traditional survey tools and written questionnaires wouldn鈥檛 work. The team needed to get creative in a research approach that matched how children experience theatre.

The research team meticulously observed second by second footage of children and parent engagement during performances of Yo, Ho, Ho! Let鈥檚 Go! 鈥� an interactive, multi-sensory original production created by the stage鈥檚 senior director of education Jennifer Adams-Carrasquillo 鈥�11MFA.

鈥淲e have evidence that theater participation really is beneficial to these very young kids.鈥� 鈥� Matthew Chin, 麻豆原创 psychology senior lecturer

They logged and quantified data through body language and audience responses. Early on, Sims and Chin say, children needed to be prompted by their parents to participate. However, as the show progressed, you can clearly see children initiating the participation on their own and parental involvement decreasing.

鈥淲ith this study we are able to say that it isn鈥檛 just this thing that we think is true 鈥� we have evidence that theater participation really is beneficial to these very young kids,鈥� Chin says.

In 2024-25 alone, more than 4,770 audience members attended Theatre for the Very Young productions like Yo, Ho, Ho! Let鈥檚 Go!. Multiply those numbers year after year and the impact to the youth in our community is monumental.

The Next 100 Years

As the stage commemorates this special milestone in its history, it also acknowledges the scope of possibilities and impact ahead.

This year, when Gershwin Entertainment Group, who owns the theatrical rights for A Charlie Brown Christmas, needed a national touring partner to bring the show to life on stage around the country, they turned to the Orlando Family Stage to deliver. It became the highest revenue-generating show in the history of the organizatoin鈥檚 performances in Orlando 鈥攚ithout counting the 32 cities it visited from New York City to Vancouver, Canada.

A partnership with the 麻豆原创 Department of History is enabling the stage to create an archive of its materials from the last century as part of the RICHES Mosaic Interface, an online resource dedicated to collecting and sharing the stories of Central Florida.

Another is the inaugural Florida Children鈥檚 Book Festival in partnership with Writer鈥檚 Block Book Store and W麻豆原创, which they hosted in February and plan to host annually to celebrate literature and the link between books, storytelling and live theater.

鈥淲e all need to be aware of how special this place is. And we need to be so proud that our community has something like this.鈥� 鈥� Chris Brown 鈥�05, Orlando Family Stage executive director and 麻豆原创 theatre alum

They look to expand the reach of Mind Matters, a program the stage initiated with 麻豆原创鈥檚 psychology department and national playwrights to produce 10 original short plays about geared for teens about depression, anxiety, loneliness, isolation and other mental health challenges they face today. The plays serve as an educational resource for teachers to spark honest conversations on these topics with their students.

Brown envisions one day expanding the footprint of the building with more theater space, new classrooms and offices to help alleviate their bursting-at-the-seems infrastructure, so they can keep delivering on all the dreams they want to turn into reality and continue creating meaningful experiences for children and the audiences of tomorrow.

鈥淚 can鈥檛 get past the energy and the faces of busloads of kids coming in here every day,鈥� Brown says. 鈥淲e all need to be aware of how special this place is. And we need to be so proud that our community has something like this.鈥�

Celebrates the Arts Programming

You can catch live performances from the Theatre for Young Audiences program during April鈥檚 麻豆原创 Celebrates the Arts festival at the Dr. Phillips Center in downtown Orlando.

Thursday, April 2 鈥� 7:30 p.m.
Hosted by Ashley Eckstein (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Her Universe, HypeFriend!), this concert features performances that span musical styles and theatrical traditions, reflecting the many creative paths that begin at Orlando Family Stage.

*Featuring Micheal James Scott (Disney鈥檚 Aladdin on Broadway), Leslie Carrera-Rudolph (Emmy Award-winning performer for Abby Cadabby, Sesame Street), Jack Griffo (Nickelodeon鈥檚 The Thundermans), Davis Gaines (Broadway鈥檚 longest running Phantom of the Opera), Michael Andrew (Composer and one of America鈥檚 greatest interpreters of the American Songbook), Paul Vogt (Broadway鈥檚 Hairspray and Chicago). Video appearances by Mandy Moore (This Is Us), Jasmine Forsberg (Broadway鈥檚 Six and Here Lies Love), Clayton and Bella Grimm (Blippi), Broadway legend Norm Lewis and more.

*Artist lineup is updating and is subject to change.

Tuesday, April 7 鈥� 10 a.m.
When best friends Squiggle and Square move away from each other, they must find creative ways to keep communicating! Told through clowning, puppetry and music, Pen Pals is a 30-minute interactive play designed for 5 to 10-year-olds.

Saturday, April 11 鈥� 10 a.m.
Yo, Ho, Ho! Let鈥檚 Go! is a 30-minute adventure designed especially for children ages 1 to 5 as a multi-sensory experience that invites them to help a pirate navigate the high seas. Together, they follow a treasure map, solve clues and chart the course forward.

Brian Creel, associate director for career planning at 麻豆原创 Career Services, leads the career planning team in providing career counseling and assessment, career education and employment readiness skills.

鈥淏e ready to talk about your professional self through storytelling, and overprepare through deep research on the employer.鈥� 鈥� Brian Creel, Associate Director at 麻豆原创 Career Services

鈥淒on鈥檛 forget that employers want to get to know the real you. Be authentic,鈥� Creel says. 鈥淏e ready to talk about your professional self through storytelling, and overprepare through deep research on the employer. Find your spots to showcase your knowledge.鈥�

Creel shares his advice on every stage of the job interview process as the 麻豆原创 community prepares for its spring semester Internship and Career Expo. The event, which will be held on March 10 at Addition Financial Arena, features more than 250 companies across a variety of industries from diverse fields including technology, finance, healthcare, engineering and more.

How can you make a strong impression on your job interview?

• Know your professional story/prepare your elevator pitch
• Offer a confident greeting, handshake and smile
• Think about two to three key selling points about your professional self. For 麻豆原创 students, start with your major/expected graduation and talk about related skills/experience including student clubs and class projects
• Research employers and showcase your knowledge in conversation
• Give examples to back up your answers. Storytelling is a big part of the interview experience.

You mentioned an elevator pitch. What is your method for crafting one?

Your elevator pitch introduces you to recruiters in 30-60 seconds. Follow the present-past-future format:

• Present: What are you currently studying? What鈥檚 your major or program?
• Past: Highlight a recent relevant experience (e.g., internship, research project, volunteer work).
• Future: State your career goals and explain why you鈥檙e excited to connect with this employer.

What are some ways you can make your resume stand out in a pile?

• A resume should be concise, organized marketing document highlighting your education, experiences and achievements; its purpose is to secure an interview and evolve with your professional growth.
• Keep formatting clean and consistent: 1-inch margins, 1 page (up to 2 max), standard 10- to 12-point fonts, professional appearance and easy-to-scan layout.
• Focus content on relevance: tailor to the position, connect transferable skills, emphasize contributions and quantify results whenever possible.
• Use strong writing mechanics: start bullets with action verbs, maintain consistent verb tense (present for current roles, past for previous) and keep statements concise.
• Include core sections as appropriate: Heading, objective (optional but tailored), education (reverse chronological order), summary of qualifications (skills-focused) and experience (employment, internships, research, projects).
• Add optional sections when relevant: Activities, leadership, honors/awards, publications or research.

What software or AI tools do you recommend in helping build your resume?

• is a fantastic tool available to all students by logging in with their NID credentials
• VMock is a 24/7 virtual career assistant that utilizes technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning and sophisticated analytics engine to deliver instant, personalized, and smart career guidance to students and professionals.
• Do not rely only on AI to write content for your resume. Double check wonky spelling/grammar and word choices to make sure it is your voice.
• Be aware that employers are now reviewing resumes and running them through plagiarism detection software to check for AI.
• Utilize AI (VMock can do this) to make sure your resume matches the language in the job description closely enough so that it will pass through applicant tracking systems successfully.

What are questions you recommend job candidates ask the interviewer?

Typically, it鈥檚 best to focus on two to three questions to have prepared to ask at the end of the interview.

• Ask about the company culture. What is it like to work there?
• Ask about the position or opportunity in a way that helps you learn more than what you have already learned on your own research. In your opinion, what qualities/traits do you look for in an ideal candidate to be successful in the role?
• Ask about what to expect in the interview process. What are next steps?

Are there any best practices you recommend for following up after an interview?

Within 24 hours, send personalized thank-you emails to the recruiters you spoke with that include:

• A brief recap of your conversation
• An expression of gratitude
• A question or statement to keep the dialogue going

This year, 麻豆原创 honored 84 faculty members during the fifth biennial Faculty Authors鈥� Celebration, held Feb. 17 in the Solarium Room at the John C. Hitt Library on the university鈥檚 main campus. The event celebrates faculty whose published books 鈥� from novels and poetry to textbooks and manuals 鈥� contribute to scholarly excellence and creativity in their respective fields.

The event, which is sponsored by the聽Office of Research听补苍诲听, drew many guests, including Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs John Buckwalter and Vice President for Research and Innovation Winston Schoenfeld.

Professor of English and Director of Graduate Programs Anastasia Salter delivered the keynote address. Salter is the author or co-author of 10 books on digital culture and electronic literature, including most recently Undertale: Can a Game Give Hope, which invites readers to rethink their relationship with gaming and game characters.

2026 Faculty Author Honorees

• Yara Asi 鈥�07MA 鈥�15PhD, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Jonathan Annand,
• Greg Autry, College of Business Administration
• William Ayers, College of Arts and Humanities
• James Bacchus, College of Sciences
• Morris Beato, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• James Beckman, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Martha Brenckle, College of Arts and Humanities
• Andrea Borowczak 鈥�92, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Wayne Bowen, College of Arts and Humanities
• Sarah Bush, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Jessica Campbell 鈥�12MA 鈥�20PhD, College of Arts and Humanities
• Shannon Carter, College of Sciences
• Robert Cassanello, College of Arts and Humanities
• Necati Catbas, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Thomas Cavanagh 鈥�06PhD, Center for Distributed Learning
• Karl Chai, College of Medicine
• Baiyun Chen 鈥�07PhD, Center for Distributed Learning
• Amy Cicchino, College of Arts and Humanities
• Brian Collins,
• Ilenia Col贸n Mendoza, College of Arts and Humanities
• Joshua Colwell, College of Sciences
• Aimee Denoyelles 鈥�00, Center for Distributed Learning
• Taseen Desin, College of Medicine
• Ahmad Elshennawy, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Katia Ferdowsi, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Julie Feuerstein, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Scot French, College of Arts and Humanities
• Martha Garcia 鈥�97 鈥�00MA, College of Arts and Humanities
• Amrita Ghosh, College of Arts and Humanities
• Carolyn Glasshoff 鈥�11MA 鈥�21PhD, College of Arts and Humanities
• Donita Grissom 鈥�14PhD, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Gulsah Hancerliogullari Koksalmis, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Kenneth Hanson, College of Arts and Humanities
• Duncan Hardy, College of Arts and Humanities
• David Head, College of Arts and Humanities
• Bari Hoffman 鈥�96 鈥�98MA, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Emily Johnson 鈥�15PhD, College of Arts and Humanities
• Naim Kapucu, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Lauren Kehoe,
• Haidar Khezri, College of Arts and Humanities
• Nolan Kline, College of Medicine
• Alla Kourova, College of Arts and Humanities
• Lanlan Kuang, College of Arts and Humanities
• David Lerner Schwartz, College of Arts and Humanities
• Hsiu-fen Lin, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Robert Littlefield, College of Sciences
• Ty Matejowsky, College of Sciences
• Stephen Masyada, College of Sciences
• Jonathan Matusitz, College of Sciences
• Kevin Meehan, College of Arts and Humanities
• Lisa Nalbone, College of Arts and Humanities
• Hakan 脰zo臒lu, College of Arts and Humanities
• Jason Phillips, 麻豆原创 Libraries
• Laurie Pinkert, College of Arts and Humanities
• Ghaith Rabadi 鈥�96MSIE 鈥�99PhD, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Luis Rabelo, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Sherry Rankins-Robertson, College of Arts and Humanities
• Jorge Ridderstaat, Rosen College of Hospitality Management
• Lee Ross, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Mary Rubin 鈥�12 鈥�19MA, 麻豆原创 Libraries
• Houman Sadri, College of Sciences
• Anastasia Salter, College of Arts and Humanities
• Scott Carter, College of Sciences
• Melina Sherman, College of Sciences
• Marwan Simaan, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Christopher Spinale 鈥�04MEd 鈥�24PhD, College of Sciences
• Mel Stanfill, College of Arts and Humanities
• Sandra Sousa, College of Arts and Humanities
• Bulent Soykan, Institute for Simulation and Training
• Sidney Turner, College of Arts and Humanities
• Jennie Wagner, College of Nursing
• Linda Walters, College of Sciences
• Chung Ching (Morgan) Wang, College of Sciences
• Keri Watson, College of Arts and Humanities
• Taylar Wenzel 鈥�11EdD, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Amanda Wilkerson 鈥�16EdD, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Florence Williams, Center for Distributed Learning
• Andrew Williams Jr., College of Community Innovation and Education
• Ross Wolf 鈥�88 鈥�91MPA 鈥�98EdD, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Sharon Woodill, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Kuppalapalle Vajravelu, College of Sciences
• Jill Viglione, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Staci Zavattaro, College of Community Innovation and Education

Over the past eight years, the awards have supported a wide range of projects across the arts, health, humanities and technology, reflecting the breadth of interdisciplinary work at 麻豆原创 and the program鈥檚 commitment to addressing real-world needs through creative research and community partnership.

Each winning team will receive $25,000 to support projects that meaningfully integrate technology, demonstrate potential for sustainability and measure outcomes using a logic model framework. This year鈥檚 theme, 鈥淭ech for the Human Good,鈥� emphasizes the power of arts, humanities, health and technology to create positive societal impact.

To qualify, teams must include at least one member from the College of Arts and Humanities, another 麻豆原创 unit and a community partner. Submissions are evaluated on potential impact, sustainability and measurable outcomes.

Founded in 2018 by Chuck Steinmetz and Margery Pabst Steinmetz, the awards debuted as the Pabst Steinmetz Arts and Innovation Awards, becoming the first project supported by the couple鈥檚 joint foundation. Originally created to ignite research initiatives focused on arts and wellness, the scope of the awards has since broadened. Margery Pabst Steinmetz says the awards have the potential to drive innovation and lasting impact for both campus and community.

鈥淭his year鈥檚 applicant pool was especially strong and highly accomplished,鈥� Margery Pabst Steinmetz says. 鈥淥ver the last year, we made some changes to the award so more researchers and nonprofits could see how it applies to their work, but the mission remains the same: champion and grow interdisciplinary research that will have a lasting impact on our community and beyond.鈥�

Learn more about the winning projects.

Limbitless Adaptive Sports League: Power Soccer

This project, led by Matt Dombrowski鈥�05 鈥�08MFA, professor of emerging media in the , in collaboration with Peter Smith 鈥�05MS 鈥�12PhD, associate professor in the , aims to develop a multiplayer adaptive sports video game for individuals who use power wheelchairs.

In partnership with 麻豆原创-based nonprofit Limbitless Solutions, the Mayo Clinic, Central Florida Dreamplex and Orlando Magic Dreamers, the project transforms competitive adaptive sports like power soccer 鈥� a sport specifically designed for individuals who use power wheelchairs 鈥� into an accessible virtual gaming experience.

The game uses an electromyographic controller to translate muscle movements into game commands, allowing players to compete while building skills that support independence, collaboration and social engagement.

鈥淭he project empowers wheelchair athletes by giving them a platform to compete, connect and develop skills in ways that weren鈥檛 previously possible,鈥� Dombrowski says. “This award is deeply meaningful to me and to everyone at Limbitless, and we are sincerely grateful to the [Pabst Steinmetz Foundation] for recognizing and supporting this work.鈥�

Dombrowski says his inspiration comes from former students, neighbors and colleagues who live or have lived with degenerative conditions. He and Peter Smith recently lost a respected research collaborator who profoundly shaped the project and inspired the game’s development. The collaborator introduced them to the world of power soccer, and the team proudly dedicates the effort to his memory.

“This project is special because it … supports undergraduate student creatives, brings athletes of all abilities into true partnership, and provides training and independence …” 鈥� Matt Dombrowski鈥�05 鈥�08MFA, 麻豆原创 professor

鈥淭his project is special because it serves multiple communities at once. It supports undergraduate student creatives, brings athletes of all abilities into true partnership, and provides training and independence through Project Xavier, our hands-free power wheelchair control system,鈥� Dombrowski says. 鈥淎t its core, this work is about access, dignity and joy. Gaming and sport should be for everyone, across all abilities. No one should ever have to lose access to something they love.鈥�

The initiative will host an annual eSports tournament, establish a scalable framework for adaptive sports games and provide professional development opportunities for interdisciplinary 麻豆原创 students. Anticipated outcomes include increased social connection, physical activity engagement and overall well-being for participants, while advancing inclusive game design.

Collaborators:

• Paulette Belser, Orlando Magic Dreamers
• Matthew Dombrowski 鈥�05 鈥�08MFA, College of Arts and Humanities
• Cameron Gomes 鈥�08, Central Florida Dreamplex
• Albert Manero 鈥�12 鈥�14MS 鈥�16PhD, Limbitless Solutions
• Bj枚rn Oskarsson, ALS Center of Excellence at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville
• Peter Smith 鈥�05MS 鈥�12PhD, Nicholson School of Communication and Media, College of Sciences
• John Sparkman 鈥�13 鈥�15MS, Limbitless Solutions

More information about the project can be found .

Designing for Resilience: Integrating Art and Wearable Technology for Firefighter Health, Safety and Well-Being

Led by Kaitlyn Crawford, associate professor of materials science and engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, in collaboration with Ashley Taylor 鈥�12, assistant professor of emerging media and graphic design in the School of Visual Arts and Design, this project partners with the Sanford Fire Department to design wearable technology that monitors firefighter heat stress while incorporating artistic design and educational components.

The team is integrating wearable sensors 鈥� developed in collaboration with Northwestern University 鈥� that track physiological indicators to detect heat stress. Custom graphic design elements and informational infographics will be incorporated to encourage adoption within the fire service. A design feedback loop with the local fire service in Sanford ensures the wearable designs align with firefighter culture and identity, promoting usability and long-term adoption.

“Through [the Pabst Steinmetz Foundation’s] support, we will be able to collaborate across disciplines to create critical technological advances … that result in positive societal impact.” 鈥� Kaitlyn Crawford, 麻豆原创 associate professor

鈥淭he goal is to improve firefighter health and safety while respecting traditions and creating tools they鈥檙e excited to use,鈥� Crawford says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an incredible honor to engage with our fire service community in this meaningful way. We are sincerely grateful to the [Pabst Steinmetz Foundation] for supporting this work. Through this support, we will be able to collaborate across disciplines to create critical technological advances and meaningful connections with the community that result in positive societal impact.鈥�

The award will allow the team to scale the project across multiple regions and provide hands-on professional development opportunities for 麻豆原创 students in design, engineering and research. By helping prevent cardiac events and other heat-related health risks, the initiative addresses an urgent community need while modeling how art, engineering and public service can intersect to improve lives.

An infographic illustrating the wearable device and project logic model is available .

Collaborators:

• Carter Clingan, a materials science and engineering undergraduate student at 麻豆原创
• Kaitlyn Crawford, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• David Giordano, a biomedical engineering graduate student at 麻豆原创
• Ronnie McNeil Jr., Sanford Fire Department
• Ashley Taylor 鈥�12, College of Arts and Humanities
• Studio Pegasus students, College of Arts and Humanities