鈥淭his important collaboration between 麻豆原创, JPMorganChase and the Parramore community is a significant step toward expanding economic opportunity and building Central Florida鈥檚 next-generation workforce.鈥� 鈥� Betsheell 鈥淏illie鈥� Udofia, vice president and program officer for global philanthropy at JPMorganChase

An initiative driven by the 麻豆原创 College of Community Innovation and Education (CCIE), the newly funded Parramore Launch Pad initiative aims to reach K鈥�12 students in Orlando鈥檚 Parramore community earlier, helping prepare them for STEM-related higher education tracks and careers, while creating clearer pathways into these in-demand fields and improving long-term opportunity for students and their families.

Over the next three years, this funding will allow CCIE and 麻豆原创 Downtown, which borders the Parramore community, to implement a holistic educational approach that integrates academic enrichment with community-based support. This approach is intended to support student success in STEM in and out of the classroom while also addressing broader community needs that contribute to sustained achievement.

鈥淭his important collaboration between 麻豆原创, JPMorganChase and the Parramore community is a significant step toward expanding economic opportunity and building Central Florida鈥檚 next-generation workforce,鈥� says Betsheell 鈥淏illie鈥� Udofia, vice president and program officer for global philanthropy at JPMorganChase. 鈥淓fforts like this help ensure students at every level have the skills, tools and support they need to succeed and build futures they鈥檙e proud of. We鈥檙e committed to supporting strong STEM pathways and the resources students need to reach them.鈥�

Bolstering STEM Education

Expanding on an established relationship between 麻豆原创 and Orange County Public Schools (OCPS), CCIE’s School of Teacher Education (STE) and 麻豆原创鈥檚 College of Engineering and Computer Science will work with leaders and educators at the OCPS Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) and another school, a pre-K through eighth-grade community school located in the heart of Parramore, to engage students in innovative STEM instruction during the school year, as well as throughout the summer.

ECLIPSE Summer Camp launched in Summer 2026, offering a free week of STEM activities for third- through fifth-graders. Delivered through a partnership between 麻豆原创 STE, OCPS ACE, and the Boys and Girls Club Levy-Hughes branch, the program is open to all students in the Parramore community and includes a complimentary Boys and Girls Club membership to the Levy-Hughes branch for the academic year.

Going Beyond Academics, Prioritizing Well-Being

While academic rigor is important, well-being also influences success. Stressors outside of school can interfere with a student鈥檚 capacity for learning. Creating a safe space for them to work through life鈥檚 hurdles is key to improving student outcomes.

By integrating both the Healing Oasis for Peace and Empowerment (H.O.P.E.) Circle, a positive youth development afterschool program with the Central Florida Boys & Girls Clubs, and the complementary in-school H.O.P.E. Huddles program for Parramore youth at OCPS ACE, Jones High School, and Evans High School, 麻豆原创 hopes to help students build positive, emotionally safe bonds with their peers, as well as reliable relationships with caring adults and mentors outside of their families. Programming focuses on helping students build critical skills around research, leadership, conflict resolution, teamwork and more.

鈥淐entral to the youth development programs is a reciprocal approach that redistributes traditional power dynamics between adults, researchers and youth in the community. While this model is less conventional, it is this shared ownership and co-creation that will ultimately drive meaningful, sustainable impact in the lives of youth, their families, and the broader Parramore community,鈥� says L. Trenton S. Marsh, associate professor of urban education in the Department of Learning Sciences and Educational Research聽and founder of the H.O.P.E. Lab at 麻豆原创.

Growing Social and Civic Prosperity

Launch Pad will also provide support to the Parramore Community Engagement Council (PCEC). University researchers and community leaders will work together on research-informed solutions for PCEC鈥檚 pillars of education, affordable housing, employment and holistic health. Further, there is a collaborative partnership with 麻豆原创 and PCEC through a new university-community fellowship program. This summer an asynchronous open-source training with nine sequential modules was developed to support the fellowship.

Over the next two years, the program will award two fellowships per year to university-based researchers and two per year to community leaders active within the council. The program is intended to serve as a model that can be replicated in communities across the country.

鈥淲e鈥檝e already seen such positive impacts from 麻豆原创 Downtown and its proximity to our community. I鈥檓 thrilled for this evolution in our work with 麻豆原创,鈥� says the Rev. Robert M. Spooney, outgoing chair of the Parramore Community Engagement Council and pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. 鈥淲hat makes this next phase so meaningful is the university鈥檚 commitment to not only being present, but to ensuring our community is resourced, supported and positioned to benefit from this work.鈥�

A Shared Vision for a Thriving Parramore

In 2019, JPMorganChase, the Helios Education Foundation and the Kresge Foundation funded the Parramore Education and Innovation District, through which 麻豆原创 aimed to ensure residents of the Parramore community benefited from incoming economic growth and development and had access to the 麻豆原创 Downtown and Valencia College Downtown campuses. This latest support from JPMorganChase represents an evolution in this work, and a shared alignment in growing opportunity within the Parramore community.

鈥淎t 麻豆原创, we are building a future the world has only begun to imagine. A robust talent pipeline of STEM professionals is critical to that vision,鈥� says Rod Grabowski, senior vice president for 麻豆原创 Advancement and Partnerships, and CEO of the 麻豆原创 Foundation Inc. 鈥淭hese skillsets are already sought-after, but they鈥檒l be increasingly important with the evolution of AI, space, themed experience and more. By investing in students early and surrounding them with the support they need to succeed, we’re helping create pathways to higher education, meaningful careers and lifelong impact for our region. That commitment is at the heart of Go For Launch.鈥�

The top three finalists from the new program, organized by 麻豆原创 Alumni, are creating jobs, strengthening communities and introducing innovative approaches in industries ranging from health care and hospitality to technology, finance and motorsports.

Their origin stories are shaped by education, family, friendships, unexpected career turns and the ability to adapt. 麻豆原创 helped the Ever Upward honorees build the knowledge, relationships and confidence to turn their ideas into impact. Rodney M. Grabowski, 麻豆原创鈥檚 senior vice president for and CEO of the 麻豆原创 Foundation, connected the honorees鈥� work to the university鈥檚 founding mission.

鈥溌槎乖� was founded to support the space program … to launch humanity even further. And that spirit still defines us today,鈥� Grabowski says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e launching students into careers and leadership positions in every industry. We鈥檙e launching ideas from our classrooms and labs into the real world.鈥�

Recognizing Excellence

Ever Upward is 麻豆原创鈥檚 first program recognizing the fastest-growing Knight-owned and Knight-led businesses around the world. The 2026 rankings were based on cumulative percentage revenue growth over a consecutive three-year period, using calendar years 2022 through 2024.

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麻豆原创 Alumni accepted applications in January before announcing the top 25 finalists in June. Companies were ranked by percentage of cumulative annual growth in revenue. The final rankings were revealed at a special celebration in August.

Grabowski says, 鈥淭he success of Knight-led businesses is part of the momentum shaping 麻豆原创鈥檚 future. Through the university鈥檚 $3.5 billion campaign, 麻豆原创 is investing in people, ideas, research and partnerships that will help bring tomorrow within reach.鈥�

鈥淭hese companies demonstrate the transformational power of entrepreneurship,鈥� says Mike Harding, 麻豆原创 associate vice president for partnerships. 鈥淎s they grow, their success creates opportunities for employees, strengthens the industries and communities they serve and inspires other entrepreneurs to pursue their own ideas.鈥�

Learn more about this year鈥檚 top three finalists.聽

No. 3: Reception 24/7

Ryan Rapolti 鈥�11MBA, founder and CEO of Reception 24/7, traces his approach to leadership to experiences he had at home.

Rapolti watched his mother return to college while raising a family, which shaped his understanding of perseverance. His stepfather鈥檚 work in vocational rehabilitation also influenced his belief that business can be a vehicle for helping people.

Those influences became part of the foundation for Reception 24/7, which provides around-the-clock answering services for businesses. As artificial intelligence reshapes customer service, the company combines aspects of that technology with human support so clients can remain responsive and accessible. Rapolti applies the same people-first philosophy to the company鈥檚 workplace culture.

For Rapolti, innovation begins with understanding what both clients and employees need, then using technology to strengthen rather than replace human connection.

“You take away so many things from the 麻豆原创 experience 鈥� not just what you learn in a textbook or from the professor, but from the people sitting next to you,鈥� says Rapolti. 鈥淚 am so excited to have been in the top three. Being able to grow quickly is great. Hopefully it will allow us to hire more 麻豆原创 graduates and continue to do great things with the university.鈥�

No. 2: Sebring Driving Club

Four years ago, W. Paul Jones 鈥�94 had a choice to make: accept his fate or pivot.

Jones was the longtime managing director of the Palm Beach Driving Club before the historic raceway shuttered its gates in 2022. When an opportunity to purchase the聽Sebring International Raceway appeared in front of him, Jones decided to take action.

Jones, who had extensive hospitality management experience, returned to his longtime interest when he founded the Sebring Driving Club, creating memorable experiences in the form of a private driving community. The club gives members access to Sebring International Raceway and a place to connect through a shared interest in motorsports.

By turning the traditional track experience into a year-round membership community, Jones found a new business model.

Jones challenges aspiring entrepreneurs to take the leap and dare to chart their own paths forward.

鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid to fail,鈥� says Jones. 鈥淪tart your company and keep on going. Go at it with passion.鈥�

No. 1: Coastal Investment Company

For Coastal Investment Company founders Keith Ahrens 鈥�08, Travis Barr 鈥�09, Tyler Bloechinger 鈥�09 and Carey Sobel 鈥�09, entrepreneurship was shaped by friendships that began at 麻豆原创.

The partners built a diversified investment company that acquires and grows businesses across multiple industries. Their model combines complementary expertise with a hands-on approach to identifying opportunities, supporting leadership teams and helping companies reach their next stage of growth.

They credit 麻豆原创 with providing the mentors, networks and entrepreneurial environment that gave them the confidence to take risks and ultimately launch Coastal together. Those connections remain central to the company鈥檚 culture, from hiring fellow Knights and drawing talent from their 麻豆原创 networks to mentoring students and young alumni.

“We met at 麻豆原创, continued on, kept in touch and pushed each other,鈥� says Bloechinger. 鈥淩elationships are so important. People are what will lead to your success.鈥�

Coastal鈥檚 approach shows how different perspectives and complementary strengths can create a more collaborative model for growth.

Celebrating the Top 25

Interested in Ever Upward? Details about the next application period, including eligibility for 2027 honorees, will be announced at .

See the final rankings below.

1. Coastal Investment Company

• Tyler Bloechinger 鈥�09聽

• Keith Ahrens 鈥�08聽

• Travis Barr 鈥�09聽

• Carey Sobel 鈥�09聽

2. Sebring Driving Club

• W. Paul Jones 鈥�94聽

3. Reception 24/7

• Ryan Rapolti 鈥�11MBA

4. Orange Tree Staffing

• Mardly Smith 鈥�95聽

• Craig Smith 鈥�94聽

5. Quadrant Engineering, P.C.

• Rafiqul Chowdhury 鈥�09 鈥�11MS聽

6. Island Direct Primary Care

• John Rothwell III 鈥�13 鈥�15MS 鈥�18DNP

7. Martin Aquatic Design and Engineering

• Josh Martin 鈥�07聽

8. Maymont Senior Care

• Nichole Blake-Little 鈥�15聽

9. Boys Electrical Contractors

• Kyle Nylander 鈥�02 鈥�09聽

10. Brewlando

• Shara Sooknarine Pathak 鈥�04

11. Qu5 Services, Inc.

• Zachary Quandt 鈥�84聽

12. I’m All Ears

• Shelby Roemer 鈥�08

13. Strategos Group

• Adam Giery 鈥�08 鈥�11MA聽

14. CJS Communications

• Christopher Slaven 鈥�13聽

• Alexander Fackler Sr. 鈥�11聽

15. Space Coast Pool School

• Lauren Broom 鈥�00聽

16. Buckalew Hospitality

• David “Skee” Buckalew 鈥�05

17. Knight Federal Solutions

• Chris Baeten 鈥�03聽

18. Boston Data Pro, LLC

• Rajeev Verma 鈥�04MS

19. McGinniss Himmel Insurance Agency

• Allen McGinniss 鈥�05

20. Threaded Marketing Group

• Kelly Jo Jefferis 鈥�04聽

21. Garney Construction

• Matthew Reaves 鈥�05聽

22. aVenue Event Group

• Sean Hughes Jr. 鈥�10聽

23. S Cook Productions, LLC

• Stacey Cook 鈥�99聽

24. Global Ktech

• Kannan Srinivasan 鈥�96MS聽

25. Kavaliro

• Mark Moore 鈥�99聽

• John Mahony 鈥�96

• Diane Mahony 鈥�96 鈥�01MEd聽

• Bill Peppler 鈥�96聽