More than 4,830 donors. Over 10,470 gifts. About $14.8 million dollars. On the surface, those numbers tell a story of remarkable generosity 鈥� but they only hint at the true impact seen from 麻豆原创 Day of Giving 2025.
That鈥檚 because every dollar ripples far beyond a single day. Every gift opens doors: for students to chase a dream, create unforgettable memories, boldly invent the future and be recognized for their hard work. And every donor does more than give 鈥� they ignite potential, spark inspiration and elevate Knights for generations.
With 麻豆原创 Day of Giving 2026 right around the corner 鈥� Thursday, April 9 鈥� we鈥檙e reflecting on the transformational effects and personal stories of triumph that emerged from last year鈥檚 show of support, knowing that shortly, our collective contributions will set another wave of Black & Gold breakthroughs, successes and discoveries into motion.
Prioritizing Unique Opportunities
Area of Support: College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean鈥檚 Excellence Fund
Amount Raised: $67,421
Impact: Learning experiences
Growing up in rural Ohio, Jordan Hires, an aerospace engineering major and Burnett Honors College Scholar, often gazed at the boundless night sky, inspired by the astronauts from her home state of Ohio. Moving 1,000 miles away for college was daunting, but manageable. With her sights set on becoming a chief engineer for deep space flights, 麻豆原创 offered two key benefits: a renowned aerospace engineering program and proximity to NASA.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the best decision I鈥檝e made,鈥� she says.
Since becoming a Knight, she鈥檚 done backstage tours at NASA, met with industry leaders from Mitsubishi, Siemens Energy and Lockheed Martin, and even talked to a former astronaut at an awards ceremony. This past summer, she worked alongside Professor Kareem Ahmed in the Propulsion and Energy Research Lab as a U.S. National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) fellow, testing a solution to remove heat from engines 鈥� research that could make hypersonic aircraft safer and cheaper. It was her second research experience as an undergrad.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if it鈥檚 every little girl鈥檚 dream to work on classified projects with military and civilian applications, but it definitely was this little girl鈥檚 dream,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hanks to 麻豆原创, I鈥檝e had experiences that most students don鈥檛 get until graduate school.鈥�
Many of those opportunities are made possible by the College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean鈥檚 Excellence Fund, which supports hands-on learning, cutting-edge research equipment and innovative initiatives.
Supporting Lasting Memories
Area of Support: Marching Knights Scholarship Fund
Amount Raised: $14,067
Impact: Multiple scholarships for band members
For 麻豆原创 Marching Knights President Zoie Taverna, two moments define her 麻豆原创 experience: the rush of running onto the field for her first game and the bittersweet joy of singing the alma mater song alongside her best friend for their final game before graduation.
鈥淔or three whole years, we stood next to each other in the stands, screaming, feeding off each other鈥檚 energy,鈥� Taverna says. 鈥淔or her last game, we went all out. We couldn鈥檛 even talk by the end of it. We cried while singing the alma mater.鈥�
Taverna is among the Marching Knights whose experiences at 麻豆原创 are bolstered by the Branen Band Endowed Scholarship, which helps cover essentials like textbooks, meals and rent that her Bright Futures scholarship does not. As a mechanical engineering major, band leader and corresponding secretary for the national chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, she packs her days with coursework, practice and student engagement.
During the summers, she works full-time at a summer camp for kids, and she spends her weekends and evenings at Panera Bread to save up enough to cover the expenses to allow her to stay focused while in school.
鈥淲ithout scholarships, I wouldn鈥檛 have the time to do extracurriculars, such as Marching Knights, where I get to represent 麻豆原创 in Central Florida and around the world,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd I wouldn鈥檛 get to spend every Saturday in the Bounce House with all of my friends, immersed in the band life we love.鈥�
Illuminating Pathways
Area of Support: College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL)
Amount Raised: $54,880
Impact: $4,880 Went Toward Supporting 19 scholarships for attendees
This summer, high school student Chloe Phung left the bright lights of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to spend a week immersed in the study of light on 麻豆原创鈥檚 campus. As part of the third Laser and Photonics Summer Camp hosted by CREOL, she joined more than 50 high school students from across Central Florida 鈥� and around the world.
鈥淚 had the chance to learn many things, to learn more about optics, lenses and lasers,鈥� Phung says.
In addition to learning opportunities, the camp shines a light on the photonics industry, where more than 10,000 jobs open each year in the U.S., despite only 80 to 100 students in the nation graduating with bachelor鈥檚 degrees in photonics annually. A third of those graduates come from CREOL.
Paying it Forward
Area of Support: Dr. Michelle R. Dusseau Communication and Community Impact Endowed Scholarship Fund
Amount Raised: $1,780
Impact: $1,500 scholarship for one communication major, awarded annually
Beatrix Alerte transferred to 麻豆原创 in Spring 2024 with a plan: build community on campus, explore a career in media, stay active in service and say yes to every opportunity.
The first three goals came naturally. She enrolled in classes, mentored two freshmen as part of the 麻豆原创 chapter of Big Sister Little Sister mentoring program and served as a trip coordinator for the Alternative Spring Break Program. Alerte also gained work experience as a marketing ambassador for Project BEST, a Student Support Services project that supports first generation students, and as an intern with 麻豆原创 Athletics.
Her final goal was made easier this summer when Alerte was named the inaugural recipient of the Dr. Michelle R. Dusseau Communication and Community Impact Endowed Scholarship, created this past year by longtime the College of Science‘s Nicholson School of Communication and Media faculty member Michelle Dusseau.
鈥淭his scholarship has given me the freedom to say yes to career-building opportunities, many of which are unpaid, while worrying less about covering
personal living expenses,鈥� Alerte says. 鈥淭hat support makes all the difference.鈥�
This 麻豆原创 Day of Giving, we鈥檙e launching Knights to new heights! Save the date to on Thursday, April 9, 2026. Check out the to maximize your impact. And get ready to join your Knight Nation family as we Bounce, Stomp, Splash and Cheer our way to more impact than ever before.
