Zaima Aline, Arlette Morcelo and Nicole Stevens, who all graduate with honors from 麻豆原创 on May 2, say support from 麻豆原创 faculty mentors and caring physicians inspired them to follow their dreams to improve healthcare for all.

鈥淭hese three undergraduate students each have a remarkable story of academic achievement, resilience and scientific curiosity that drove them during their undergraduate careers,鈥� says William Self, who leads undergraduate education at the Burnett School. 鈥淭hey benefited from outstanding faculty mentoring and an integrated student community to help them achieve their goals. We are so proud to support transfer students who help 麻豆原创 stand for academic excellence while offering opportunities to ensure access in our community.鈥�

Since 2006, 麻豆原创 has increased opportunities for student success through the DirectConnect program, which guarantees admission to students who complete an associate degree in the Florida College System. More than 8,200 students transfer to 麻豆原创 through this program each year. As of Fall 2024, the program has awarded 77,900 麻豆原创 degrees. DirectConnect students save more than $6,500 in tuition as they work toward their college degree.

Here鈥檚 a closer look at the graduating DirectConnect students and aspiring doctors鈥� stories:

Nicole Stevens

Stevens is the oldest daughter of 10 children in her family. Homeschooled, she finished high school, got married and had three children. She always loved science.

鈥淥ne day I was thinking about my future and asked, 鈥榃hat do I know about myself?鈥欌�� she says. 鈥淎nd it came to me that the science I loved could be used in medicine to alleviate suffering.鈥�

She was 26 when she enrolled at Valencia College. Two years later, she transferred to 麻豆原创 and pursued a major in biomedical sciences while maintaining a 4.0 grade point average. She volunteered at Nemours Children鈥檚 Health, where she was named Volunteer of the Month for being what she calls the 鈥淪anta Claus of the ER,鈥� helping children and parents seeking emergency care at the hospital.

At 麻豆原创, Stevens has conducted and presented research on improving care for children with asthma, including those whose families don鈥檛 have reliable access to internet, through which they could learn more about the condition. Stevens has won numerous 麻豆原创 research and academic awards, such as the Order of Pegasus 鈥� the university鈥檚 most prestigious student honor.

In August, she will join the 麻豆原创 College of Medicine鈥檚 Class of 2029. She is considering becoming a pediatrician but is open to other specialties.

鈥淎s the oldest daughter, I took care of a lot of boo-boos and I always wanted to learn more about how to do it better,鈥� she says. 鈥淎s a mother I think I have a unique perspective to see parents and children where they are.鈥�

Her children, who are 7, 10 and 11, accompanied Stevens to the Order of Pegasus celebration. Her husband is a store manager at Publix who says he is thrilled watching her fulfilling her dreams.

鈥淚鈥檓 not a traditional student at all,鈥� Stevens says. 鈥淏ut I want people to know they can do it. You just have to take that first step. Pursue your dreams and get the best out of life. I am living proof of the 麻豆原创 [spirit of] unleashing the possible and reaching for the stars.鈥�

Zaima Aline

Aline鈥檚 passion for medical research was sparked by a heartbreaking personal experience. During her senior year of high school, a cousin was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a rare type of cancer that attacks soft tissue.

鈥淏efore then I didn鈥檛 really study that much, I mainly played video games,鈥� she says. 鈥淲itnessing his diagnosis and treatment made me realize what truly mattered to me and I completely changed the direction of my life.鈥�

Before transferring to 麻豆原创, Aline began her studies at Valencia. The COVID-19 pandemic hit while she was at Valencia, and she saw the physical and mental health impacts that social distancing and isolation caused. So she conducted a research project, including a campus-wide survey to document the effects of the disease.

鈥淐OVID-19 took away a lot of what I had hoped to experience at Valencia,鈥� she says. 鈥淪o, when I got to 麻豆原创, I made a promise to myself 鈥� I wasn鈥檛 going to waste a single moment.鈥滱line immersed herself in opportunities at 麻豆原创, diving into research at the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences and quickly discovering a passion for scientific inquiry. Her honors undergraduate thesis explored the role of a protease (enzyme) called prostasin and its effects on angiogenesis 鈥� the process by which the body uses chemical signals to trigger the formation of new blood vessels.

Beyond the lab, she co-founded It Takes A Village, a student-led organization dedicated to helping transfer and nontraditional students build a stronger sense of community on campus. Aline also volunteered with Hearts for the Homeless, an initiative that offers health services, such as blood pressure screenings, to individuals receiving care at Orlando鈥檚 Christian Service Center.

Her academic and research accomplishments led to two Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. There, she studied the genetic mutations that drive brain cancer and contribute to its resistance against therapies. She says she was inspired by how Mayo physicians balanced cutting-edge research with a deep compassion for their patients.

鈥淲hat struck me most was that, at Mayo, the patient always came first, before anything else,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t made me realize that I don鈥檛 want to choose between science and people. I want to be the kind of physician-scientist who can do both 鈥� [one] who listens, who investigates and who shows up for their patients every step of the way.鈥�

Another Order of Pegasus honoree, Aline will take a gap year after graduation to conduct cancer research at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center before applying to medical school to pursue an M.D./Ph.D.

鈥淓verything I鈥檝e done so far has been building toward this,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 just want to study cancer 鈥� I want to find better ways to treat it. I just hope I can make a difference in my lifetime.鈥�

Arlette Morcelo

Morcelo became fascinated with science, especially genetics, at age 16 after learning she was conceived through IVF. After completing her associate degree at Valencia, she transferred to 麻豆原创, where she met Ken Teter, a professor at the Burnett School.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 even know what a Ph.D. was,鈥� she says, 鈥淏ut I went into the lab and said, 鈥極h, my God, I love听 this.鈥� 鈥�

Morcelo says Teter encouraged her to 鈥済o for it,鈥� when it came to scientific discovery and taught her that failure was just a learning experience.

She served on the board of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Undergraduate Research Council, working with students and faculty to increase research opportunities for students earlier in their college careers. Among her academic and research honors, she became a Ronald E. McNair Scholar, which is a prestigious federal program that prepares students for graduate school. She became a peer mentor to help other students achieve success and served on the executive board of Transfer Knights, which organizes programs for transfer students.

And through it all, she kept researching. In Teter鈥檚 lab, Morcelo focused on cholera, a potentially deadly disease caused by drinking contaminated water. The disease affects up to 4 million people a year worldwide. As she advanced in her undergraduate degree 鈥� with a major in biomedical sciences and a minor in genomics and bioinformatics 鈥� Morcelo says she became fascinated with the brain.

Morcelo leaves 麻豆原创 as the 2025 Founders鈥� Day student honoree for the College of Medicine and will do a two-year postbaccalaureate research experience at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Next year, she will apply to medical school to become an M.D./Ph.D.

鈥淢y aspiration to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. reflects my commitment to merging scientific inquiry with clinical practice,鈥� Morcelo says. 鈥淎s a future surgeon-scientist, I aim to lead advancements in treating听neurovascular malformations through pioneering surgical techniques and gene therapy. This path allows me to innovate treatments that directly enhance patient care and outcomes.鈥�

From reflecting on my own experience and asking other students, professionals and educators, here are 10 things I wish I knew before starting college.

1. It鈥檚 important to get involved.

I first came to 麻豆原创 in the spring of 2016 after receiving my associate degree at Valencia College. As an Orlando native, I always knew about 麻豆原创 but didn鈥檛 realize just how big the university is. I worried that since I was a junior upon arrival and didn鈥檛 live on campus, I wouldn鈥檛 be able to get involved in school without feeling like an outsider. Being a first-generation college student, I didn鈥檛 have a clue where to start. How was I supposed to find any friends if I couldn鈥檛 even find my classes?

Getting involved will be something that defines your college experience.

Luckily, the major I chose turned out to be a great fit for me. The classes I took in the allowed me to interact with my peers on a personal level and it only took a few weeks of stressing out over papers together to realize a lot of us were in the same situation and looking for ways to get involved. I joined the student ambassador program for my department and started getting to know and hang out with the people who were in my major. It鈥檚 amazing what a few events with free pizza can do to develop lifelong friendships.

麻豆原创 is full of incredible resources, but it鈥檚 up to you to find them. Whether it鈥檚 finding a yoga meetup, taking care of your mental health, joining a campus club, or attending a resume workshop听with career services, getting involved will be something that defines your college experience.

2. Seek out scholarships and apply. No seriously, just apply.

Millions of dollars of scholarship money goes unclaimed each year, even as student loan debt has reached a collective $1.5 trillion in the United States. In other words, there鈥檚 no reason to not apply for free money. Even though 麻豆原创 is a best-value university with [more than 60%] of students graduating debt-free, there are a multitude of scholarships available to students depending on your degree programs, academic record and future goals.

Millions of dollars of scholarship money goes unclaimed each year.

Spending my first two years at a state college saved me a lot of money on tuition, but so did the decision to live at home until graduation. To help with car and travel expenses to campus, I held a part-time job or paid internship during each semester. It was hard working throughout all four years of college, but it taught me how to balance multiple responsibilities and be aware of my financial decisions.

In that balance, I鈥檝e found that grades really do matter if you want to curb college expenses. Financial aid has been available to me every semester, but doing well in my classes has increased the amount of additional grant money available to me. Even if you don鈥檛 think you qualify, it never hurts to fill out an application for Federal Student Aid. You can also fill out a general application and see your matched scholarships through .

3. Focus on your plan instead of worrying about how you compare to others.

When I graduated from high school, I never pictured myself getting a four-year degree. My plan was to get a vocational degree in theatre tech so I could string some lights up at one of the theme parks in Orlando. After realizing the 听was a good fit for me, I ended up at 麻豆原创 without any regret for the journey that got me here.

One the most important things about college is that you will interact with people from all walks of life 鈥攄ifferent cultures, abilities, races, nationalities, aspirations and socio-economic backgrounds. Remember that every person has their own path, including you. While it will be tempting to think about the internship or job offers someone in your class has already gotten or the schools they鈥檝e been accepted to, the important thing to remember is that you are doing things the way they best fit your learning experience. The world won鈥檛 stop revolving if you aren鈥檛 elected president of a club, change your major or stay an extra semester.

What matters is being prepared for the future you choose to create.

4. Take advantage of tutoring, advising and office hours.

Sometimes the semester comes at you fast. It can be tough to ask for help, but you鈥檙e never alone in the asking. Everyone has that one subject or class that鈥檚 a struggle. For me, it was statistical methods. It took going to tutoring every day after my class had ended to sit down and attempt to piece together what I had just learned. Even though math was never my strong suit, with tutoring I ended up passing my statistical methods course with one of the highest class averages.

Everyone has that one subject or class that鈥檚 a struggle.

There are reasons 麻豆原创 has resources such as 听that help you with assignments ranging from introductory composition assignments to full-length dissertations. Even if you鈥檙e a pro at viewing your degree audit and figuring out what classes to sign up for, advisors are here to make sure you鈥檙e taking the steps that will most benefit you. If a professor invites you to tutoring or open office hours, consider stopping by. Not only can you gain assistance or advice, but you鈥檒l build rapport with them that will be memorable for future help and recommendation letters.

5. Explore your city.

There鈥檚 hardly ever been a better time to be in Orlando as a college student. The city is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States and is quickly becoming a destination city beyond the lure of theme parks. One of my favorite weekend things to do in Central Florida is to spend a day out at Wekiva Island 鈥攁 lively riverfront spot about 30 minutes west of campus where you can rent kayaks, canoes and paddleboards. The best part? It鈥檚 dog friendly.

If you鈥檙e looking for local fun, try visiting one of Florida鈥檚 natural springs. Buy discount Disney tickets at the Student Union, eat at the delicious and creative , or feel the infectious energy coming from a wall of purple smoke at an Orlando City soccer game. The city has a lot to offer and there鈥檚 something for just about every interest.

6. Surround yourself with people who reflect who you want to be and how you want to feel.

Even though there鈥檚 fun to be had, college still requires time management and work.

It鈥檚 easier to focus on your own goals if your friends are taking their goals seriously. I had a friend from high school that I really cared about, but as I made my way through each semester, I could feel a sense of bitterness growing in our friendship because I started to become more involved in extracurricular activities at 麻豆原创. It was difficult to admit, but I knew things were changing for me, and my friend didn鈥檛 want to celebrate the things I was passionate about.

Sometimes it takes meeting new people to realize the ones you鈥檝e kept around are no longer growing with you. You鈥檒l want to hang out with people who encourage you to be your best self. Your friends won鈥檛 resent you if you have to say 鈥渘o鈥� to going out in order to study for an upcoming exam. Those who understand you will support you, and those who don鈥檛 aren鈥檛 really your friends.

7. Seek out advice from professionals in your field.

Finding a mentor can be highly beneficial to your professional development. If you鈥檙e unsure of what steps you should take after graduation, try asking your friends, family or professors to connect you with someone who is doing the kind of things you want to be doing. Someone who is new in their field can offer advice on how they got their start, which may give you ideas on where to begin, as well as be a contact within your network.

It鈥檚 never too early to get connected to the resources and people that will help your future.

Since starting at 麻豆原创, I always had an interest in how the fields of writing and public policy work together. In the spring of my senior semester, I participated in the 听program that sent me to live and work in Florida鈥檚 capital. Besides the incredible professional experience the program gave me, I also made lifelong friends and mentors. It鈥檚 never too early to get connected to the resources and people that will help your future.

8. Maintain your grades at the beginning to create a safety net for yourself later on.

GPA may not always be the defining factor in one鈥檚 career, but there鈥檚 little debate that the ability to get good grades and perform well in school reflects a strong work ethic and drive to learn. It can also lead to scholarships providing more money for your expenses.

At the beginning of each semester, strategically plan your time management so you get ahead for the term. If the material becomes more difficult later on, you鈥檒l have some room to breathe. One of the things I always make sure to do during the first week is scout all the freebies being handed out on campus and look for the student planner. Getting into the habit of writing in a planner has done wonders for my ability to actually remember when I have quizzes due. Webcourses is usually reliable, but I鈥檝e found that keeping physical notes about when things are due helps your grade more than you might imagine.

9. Enroll in one class you never thought you would take.听

If your program permits you the opportunity, you should take a course that challenges your beliefs or perspective. I鈥檒l never forget the semester when I signed up for Ethics of Law. I needed to fill a requirement for my legal studies minor and ended up enrolled in a course on the death penalty. My professor was a defense attorney in Orlando and had incredible connections in the field. She brought in guest speakers that included a homicide detective and state prosecutor Jeff Ashton, who served on the Casey Anthony trial. I never imagined that simply enrolling in that course would introduce me to experts in the legal field, and an entire new way of looking at capital punishment.

Taking classes outside of your comfort zone will also make you think critically.

Taking classes outside of your comfort zone will also make you think critically, developing a valuable skill set for potential employers. Ask your advisors about interesting or new classes that would complement your curriculum. You may end up in a psychology course focusing on human-animal interaction or even a literature studies class on Harry Potter.

10. Find your interests and follow them.

If I had never chosen to pursue writing, you would probably have never read this.

When I first started at 麻豆原创, I ran into a former middle school teacher of mine who was taking students on a tour. He asked me what I was majoring in, and I told him a little about the writing department. He looked at me with sympathy and said, 鈥淕ood luck finding a job.鈥� Little did he know, I never needed luck. College isn鈥檛 about being lucky. It鈥檚 about building upon the knowledge you learn every day to get a little closer to your goals.

Life is too short to not do the things that interest and inspire you.

One of the things that makes college such a unique, transformational experience is that there are so many ways to discover your goals and discover the world. Life is too short to not do the things that interest and inspire you. Start a club that plays Super Smash Brothers in front of the Chick-fil-a on campus. Take a Zumba class at the rec center. Skip a party to watch movies with your roommate. Take your roommate to a party. Get politically involved. Win a national championship. Take cooking classes. Jump in the Reflecting Pond. Prove that Pluto actually is a planet.

Whatever you choose, the experience is yours. And 麻豆原创 is a great place to start.

Melissa Mitchum is a writing and rhetoric major and legal studies minor at 麻豆原创, and works as an intern for 麻豆原创 Downtown. When she鈥檚 not creating content for social media, she spends her time exploring Orlando with her French bulldog, Frank.

The award, which was announced during the 13^th College Access Summit on April 12, recognizes an individual, institution or team that exudes the spirit of collaboration in leading and serving others toward supporting transfer-student success. The award is in honor of听 Valencia’s Joyce Romano, who forged relationships to build the partnership program that includes working groups, data systems and communication plans that help sustain the DirectConnect to 麻豆原创 program.

Since 2013, Valencia’s Learning Support Division and 麻豆原创’s Transfer and Transition Services have worked together to create programs that provide students a seamless learning experience from the first day at Valencia to the last day at 麻豆原创. The first co-created program was SEE麻豆原创, a full-day immersion experience on the 麻豆原创 campus for first-year Valencia students. Since the program launched, more than 1,500 students have participated.

Recognizing the need to provide Valencia students with a more extensive orientation to 麻豆原创, the partnership developed curriculum delivered in a 16-week, three-credit course called 鈥淭ransitions,鈥� taught by Valencia and 麻豆原创 instructors. Class meetings are held on Valencia’s East Campus for the first two weeks听and then moved to 麻豆原创鈥檚 main campus for the remainder of the semester. The program piloted last fall. Assessment results indicate that 95 percent of students who completed the end-of-semester survey were satisfied with the course and understood the steps to transfer to 麻豆原创.

Many aspects of this initiative are noteworthy, staffers say. The idea that a student enrolled at a state college during their first term would take a course at the university they plan to transfer to is uncommon in higher education. In addition, transfer-partner institutions working together to develop curriculum around preparing students for successful transfer from a state college to a university represents an innovative approach to helping students overcome 鈥渢ransfer shock,鈥� a temporary drop in grade point average commonly associated with the transition to a new institution. Lastly, to run a course that is offered at both the initial and the transfer institution illustrates the commitment both institutions have displayed towards partnership, and a willingness to put student鈥檚 needs first.

Co-leads on the project are Chris Tuemer, Valencia College assistant director of Learning Support and Advising (Title V), and Jason Dodge, director of 麻豆原创 Transfer and Transition Services, and the committee includes Leonard Bass, Courtney Moore, Dina El Musa, Anna Saintil and Celicia Wallace from Valencia College and Jamil Johnson and Angie Smith from 麻豆原创.

DirectConnect to 麻豆原创 is a nationally recognized access program that guarantees admission to the 麻豆原创 for A.A. or articulated A.S. graduates from six partner state colleges across Central Florida, including College of Central Florida, Daytona State College, Eastern Florida State College, Lake-Sumter State College, Seminole State College and Valencia College. Details about DirectConnect to 麻豆原创 can be found at .

Thursday, the series focused on the DirectConnect to 麻豆原创 program. To see the video .

DirectConnect to 麻豆原创 is a nationally recognized program that guarantees admission into 麻豆原创 for students graduating from one of the four institutions. The state college partners 鈥� Eastern Florida State College, Lake Sumter State College, Seminole State College, Valencia College 鈥� prepared about 70 percent of the more than 10,000 students who transferred to 麻豆原创 in 2012-2013. Daytona State College has since joined as a fifth state college partner.

Tune in all this week at 7 p.m. to W麻豆原创 to see the following:

For Tyson, a degree was something she always wanted to attain, but for the stay-at-home mother going back to school didn鈥檛 always seem to fit into the plans she had for her family. Then in 2008, her family relocated to Florida and her dreams of obtaining a degree soon became a reality.

Tyson returned to the classroom after 30 years, initially enrolling as a business major at Seminole State College in Sanford. It wasn鈥檛 until she took an entry-level psychology class that she discovered a love for psychology and switched her major.

Sims also soon began studying at Seminole State.

鈥淚 showed her the ropes, how to get into the honor society, to select classes and professors because I had already taken those classes and professors,鈥� Tyson said. The two spent much of their time at school together, even enrolling in one of the same classes.

Sims said: 鈥淲e sat together, did homework together, and ate lunch together. I would bring my friends over to the house for lunch, and mom would make soup.鈥�

After graduating from Seminole State, Tyson went on to 麻豆原创 through , where she studied psychology. Once again, Sims followed in her mom鈥檚 footsteps.

鈥淚 believe it has been a sense of competition for her to excel, and maintain her GPA,鈥� said Tyson. 鈥淚t makes me feel like I have showed my children that you can excel.鈥�

To see more information about 麻豆原创鈥檚 commencement ceremonies click here.

Another daughter, Kirsten Sims, will graduate from Lake Mary High School at the end of this month.

After commencement, Tyson plans to continue higher education courses.

鈥淕oing to college, studying under well-known professors, and reading material for classes directed my education in many different ways,鈥� said Tyson. 鈥淚t opened up doors and helped me to realize different potential in myself.鈥�

As for Sims, she hopes to land a job with the Seminole County Public School district.

A fledgling 麻豆原创 program designed to ease that transition and ensure the success of transfer students has already earned national recognition.

麻豆原创 has had success with the DirectConnect to 麻豆原创 program, which guarantees admittance to students who earn an associate鈥檚 degree from one of four partner institutions: Eastern Florida State College, Lake Sumter State College, Seminole State College and Valencia College.

Now, nearly seven years after DirectConnect was established, it鈥檚 been enhanced by the 鈥淧athway,鈥� a support tool designed to work closely with students as they prepare to transfer to 麻豆原创. It provides students at two-year colleges with everything from online chats with specialized advisors to virtual campus tours.

鈥淭his is an attempt to engage students in the transitional process at an earlier stage,鈥� said Jeff Jones, 麻豆原创鈥檚 vice provost for regional campuses. 鈥淭he sooner a student can become engaged with an institution, the better their chance of success.鈥�

The Pathway program went live during a pilot phase just two weeks ago, and though there hasn鈥檛 been any official announcement or marketing, 33 students at two-year colleges have signed up already. It has also already earned a gold award from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, which Jones鈥� team will accept at a conference in New Orleans next month.

Among other things, the Pathway program provides:

At the center of the program is an online portal that provides 24/7 access to information and access to Pathway Team members. Students can use the portal to obtain advising through live chats, web-conferencing and hosted workshops. They鈥檒l also find videos and other resources.

DirectConnect students can take advantage of the program from the beginning of their college career. As they progress through the Pathway, they earn virtual badges and rank up, climbing from Page to Squire to Knight and, finally, Golden Knight.

The Platform has the potential to help a large number of students succeed. More than 10,000 students transferred to 麻豆原创 from other institutions in the 2014 academic year, and more than two-thirds of them came through DirectConnect.

It鈥檚 also good for 麻豆原创, because the university鈥檚 departments, including its 12 colleges, want transfer students to understand program and major requirements before they arrive.

鈥淭he more individual students we can help succeed, the better we are as a whole,鈥� Jones said.

Visit 听for more information about DirectConnect to 麻豆原创.

The event provided an opportunity for the hopeful future Knights to experience 麻豆原创, meet with academic advisers and learn about the different fields of study available to them. The event was hosted by 麻豆原创鈥檚 Transfer and Transition Services and Student Development and Enrollment Services in partnership with Valencia College.

鈥淲e decided to put together this program as a way to get students excited about coming to the university, getting involved, discovering what they can do to enhance their degree at 麻豆原创, learn about housing, and really get a look at the university experience they can look forward to,鈥� said Sharisse Kenney, coordinator for transfer advising at Valencia College East Campus.

The visit was an initiative of the DirectConnect to 麻豆原创 program, which offers graduates of state college 听partner institutions guaranteed admission to 麻豆原创 and comprehensive advising from state college and 麻豆原创 advisers to help make the transition a smooth one.

The day鈥檚 agenda included presentations and workshops to help students decide what academic track fits their career aspirations and a behind-the-scenes look at some of 麻豆原创鈥檚 facilities.

The students were welcomed to campus by Mr. and Miss 麻豆原创 and quickly jumped into a career exploration presentation. The students took brief tests to narrow their interests and provide guidance on what major to consider, and then students met with different colleges and advisers who could answer questions about majors and programs that might be a good fit.

鈥淎s they are going through the process of exploring careers and majors of interest, we are making a really intentional connection between the two institutions and helping the students make the connection and develop a pathway for success,鈥� said Leonard Bass, dean of learning support at Valencia College East Campus.

Students also received some information about being active at 麻豆原创 outside of the classroom. Leaders from the Student Government Association and the Office of Student Involvement shared information about the opportunities 麻豆原创 has for students to be involved on campus.

鈥淲e found that many of our students, despite living just down the street from 麻豆原创, have never been on campus,鈥� said Bass. 鈥淔or more than half the students here today, this is their first time being on campus. So they are really excited to learn more about the university.鈥�

After the presentations and tours, the students capped off their day with a surprise visit by members of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl-winning football team.

鈥淚鈥檓 just happy to be at this event because it opened my eyes to a lot of things about 麻豆原创 that I didn鈥檛 know before. I鈥檝e learned about housing, how the transfer process works and the lifestyle here at 麻豆原创,鈥� said Valencia College student Stephanie Albizu. 鈥淚鈥檓 really excited to join the 麻豆原创 family and create memories that will last forever.鈥�

Since DirectConnect to 麻豆原创 began in 2006, more than 31,000 students have been admitted to 麻豆原创 through the partnership with Eastern Florida State College, Lake Sumter State College, Seminole State College and Valencia College.

Thirty-six percent of new undergraduates in 2012-13 were DirectConnect to 麻豆原创 students, and the program is one of the least expensive ways in the country to earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree.

For more information, visit .

The new initiative, Top 10 Knights, was developed to recognize academic achievement in high school. Top 10 Knights also protects against budget uncertainty and potential legislative changes by providing Florida residents with guaranteed access to an affordable, quality college education.

The first class of Top 10 Knights will start at 麻豆原创 in summer 2014.

鈥淭his effort, among the few of its kind in the nation, rewards academic success, streamlines the university selection process and promises to attract more of Florida鈥檚 best and brightest students to 麻豆原创,鈥� said 麻豆原创 President John C. Hitt. 鈥淭op 10 Knights is a winner for high-achieving students, for their families and for 麻豆原创.鈥�

Top 10 Knights will have an impact upon Florida high schoolers like Rosa Elena Alcantar, who ranks second out of 430 seniors in her class at Evans High School in Orange County. Alcantar, a would-be first-generation college student, is a native of Mexico who grew up in Orlando and hopes to one day go on to 麻豆原创鈥檚 College of Medicine.

鈥淢ost people say that what you do in high school doesn鈥檛 have the same rigor as college,鈥� said Alcantar. 鈥淲hen I heard about Top 10 Knights, it shows that everything I鈥檝e done so far means something. I鈥檓 happy there鈥檚 an opportunity to be recognized for what I鈥檝e done in high school.鈥�

To become a Top 10 Knight, students must first apply for admission into 麻豆原创. To qualify for the program, applications must be completed by Dec. 31 of students鈥� senior years.

Students also must meet criteria such as a top 10 percent ranking in their high school class or a GPA of 3.9 or above if the high school does not rank; the completion of high-level math courses; and a minimum of 1010 (1500-3 score) on the SAT or 21 on the ACT.

麻豆原创 Undergraduate Admissions will determine which students qualify as Top 10 Knights, and students who meet the criteria will be notified by Feb. 15.

鈥淎s admission into Florida universities becomes more competitive, we鈥檙e responding to the students and families seeking a quality education by making admission to 麻豆原创 certain for the state鈥檚 top students,鈥� said Gordon Chavis, associate vice president for Undergraduate Admissions. 鈥淭he Top 10 Knights are among the best students at 麻豆原创, and we鈥檙e excited to see what they will contribute here.鈥�

Top 10 Knights is 麻豆原创鈥檚 latest effort to expand college access and opportunity. More than 31,000 students have been admitted to 麻豆原创 since 2006 through the DirectConnect partnership with regional state colleges, which helps students smoothly transition to 麻豆原创 to complete their bachelor鈥檚 degrees.

California and Texas offer similar initiatives to their highest-achieving high schoolers, but Top 10 Knights is among the first of its kind in Florida.

麻豆原创 hopes to announce scholarship opportunities for Top 10 Knights in the near future. Earlier this semester, representatives from Undergraduate Admissions met with high school counselors from across the state to explain Top 10 Knights and provide guidance on acceptance into 麻豆原创.

The Johnson Scholarship Foundation announced Thursday that it will offer a $1.5 million challenge grant to support need-based scholarships.

鈥淲e鈥檙e interested in students who have financial need who might not otherwise go to college. DirectConnect is a perfect fit for us,鈥� said foundation president Malcolm Macleod, adding that community and state colleges can offer a bridge out of poverty.

The foundation will provide $500,000 to benefit students who attend Brevard Community College, Lake-Sumter Community College, Seminole State College and Valencia College.听 The colleges will raise money to match the foundation鈥檚 contribution, increasing the value of that endowment to $1 million.

The other $1 million of the foundation鈥檚 matching funds will help build a $3 million scholarship endowment available to students once they make the transition to 麻豆原创. Every dollar given by the colleges to this fund will be matched by both 麻豆原创 and the Johnson Scholarship Foundation.

Once the endowments are fully funded, the investment proceeds from a total of $4 million will benefit students at the four colleges and 麻豆原创.

Recipients of the scholarship will be deemed 鈥淛ohnson Scholars.鈥� Throughout their college careers they will have special program requirements that emphasize leadership development.

DirectConnect to 麻豆原创 began in 2006 to increase local students鈥� access to the many opportunities that earning a college degree can provide. This partnership guarantees entrance and accelerated admission to 麻豆原创 after students complete their associate鈥檚 degrees from one of the four colleges.

Joint advisers from the colleges and 麻豆原创 are available to the students to help create a four-year plan. This makes the transfers as seamless as possible and better prepares students to complete bachelor鈥檚 degrees.

Macleod said DirectConnect to 麻豆原创 enables students to attend the partner colleges and continue to live at home for two years to save money.

During the 2010-2011 school year, 6,805 new students enrolled at 麻豆原创 from the program, and a little more than one third of 麻豆原创 graduates during that same year participated in DirectConnect to 麻豆原创.

The Johnson Scholarship Foundation is a private foundation with a mission to assist disadvantaged people. All scholarships and grants are made through selected institutions. The foundation believes that education can empower disadvantaged people to improve their economic circumstances and quality of life.

麻豆原创 President John Hitt and several trustees joined Seminole State leaders Friday at a dedication ceremony for the center, which includes 29 state-of-the-art classrooms and labs, a new library and office suites for faculty members from both institutions. The Partnership Center, which opened for classes in January, houses 麻豆原创 and Seminole State classes, along with 麻豆原创 student services offices.

“This new facility represents the latest achievement in what is one of the most successful higher education alliances anywhere,” Hitt said. “麻豆原创 is fortunate to have such a strong partner in Seminole State College. And students and families in our region are fortunate to have such high-quality, affordable options available to them right in their neighborhoods.”

To continue reading about the dedication ceremony and the DirectConnect to 麻豆原创 program, click here.