Our students are groundbreaking national and global scholarship winners, researchers, athletes, teaching assistants, residence assistants and leaders in campus organizations, including Student Government, LEAD Scholars and the President鈥檚 Leadership Council. The honorees include transfer students, those from first-generation and international backgrounds and members of the Burnett Honors College.

Aside from focusing on academics and campus causes, many of the student honorees volunteered at hospitals, schools, parks, food banks, shelters, clinics, youth clubs and with many community service organizations 鈥� at times as organizers and coordinators for support drives and campaigns.

鈥淲hen you look at this group, you see trajectory.鈥� 鈥� John Buckwalter, 麻豆原创’s provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs

鈥淭he students we recognize at our Founders鈥� Day Student Honors Celebration are extraordinary not just for what they鈥檝e achieved, but for how they鈥檝e shaped their time at 麻豆原创. They鈥檝e pursued opportunities, challenged themselves and lifted others along the way,鈥� says John Buckwalter, 麻豆原创’s provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. 鈥淲hen you look at this group, you see trajectory 鈥� students whose experiences here are opening doors in meaningful ways and changing the direction of their futures, the trajectories of their families and the communities they inhabit.鈥�

Student award categories highlight new inductees of the Order of Pegasus, 麻豆原创鈥檚 highest student honor; graduate awards for outstanding master鈥檚 thesis and outstanding dissertation; undergraduate awards for honors thesis; and individual college awardees as chosen by the respective college deans. All honorees earned financial awards.

This year鈥檚 37 inductees into the Order of Pegasus mark the 25^th anniversary class of top-achieving Knights. The average GPA of the 2026 class is 3.912.

The campus community is invited to attend the Student Honors Celebration on Wednesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Student Union鈥檚 Pegasus Ballroom. A brief reception will follow.

Here are the students to be recognized.

Order of Pegasus Inductees

• Fatima Alziyad, College of Health Professions and Sciences and Burnett Honors College
• Andy Ayup, College of Sciences
• Megan Bailey, College of Engineering and Computer Science and Burnett Honors College
• Stacie Becker 鈥�23, College of Arts and Humanities
• Akash Hari Bharath 鈥�25MS, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Swati Bhargava 鈥�25MS, College of Optics and Photonics
• Sanjana Bhatt, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
• Griffon Binkowski 鈥�24, College of Sciences and Burnett Honors College
• Ossyris Bury, College of Engineering and Computer Science and Burnett Honors College
• Nico Chen, College of Arts and Humanities and Burnett Honors College
• Kyle Coutray, College of Medicine, College of Engineering and Computer Science and Burnett Honors College
• Allyson Crighton, College of Nursing and Burnett Honors College
• Nyauni Crowelle-Feggins, College of Health Professions and Sciences and Burnett Honors College
• Cameron Cummins, College of Arts and Humanities and Burnett Honors College
• Andrew 鈥淒rew鈥� Hansen 鈥�25, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
• Andrea Hernandez Gomez, College of Sciences
• Lindsey Hildebrand, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Ariana Johnson, College of Medicine
• Sanjan Kumar 鈥�23, College of Medicine
• Kworweinski Lafontant, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Meera Lakshmanan, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
• Abrianna Lalle, College of Nursing
• Ilana Logvinov, College of Nursing
• Hannah Lovejoy, College of Business
• Taiel Lucile, College of Health Professions and Sciences and Burnett Honors College
• Robin Marquez, College of Sciences
• Shanel Moya Aguero, College of Community Innovation and Education and Burnett Honors College
• Gabrielle 鈥淕abby鈥� Murison, College of Sciences
• Varun Nannuri, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
• Natalie Otero, College of Business and Burnett Honors College
• Om Pathak, College of Medicine, College of Arts and Humanities and Burnett Honors College
• Pritha Sarkar 鈥�24, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Jacob Vierling, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Janapriya Vijayakumar, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
• Ornella Vintimilla, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
• Om Vishanagra, College of Medicine, College of Engineering and Computer Science and Burnett Honors College

Undergraduate Student Awards

College Founders鈥� Award

• Liam Pivnichny, Burnett Honors College
• Antonella Bisbal Hernandez, College of Arts and Humanities
• Jordan Nell, College of Business
• Jude Hagan, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Ossyris Bury, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Timothy Horanic, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Sun Latt, College of Medicine
• Abrianna Lalle, College of Nursing
• Jacob Silver, College of Optics and Photonics
• Emily Willis, College of Sciences
• Fabian Rodriguez Gomez, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Outstanding Honors Undergraduate Thesis

• Edwin Garcia 鈥�25, College of Arts and Humanities, Outstanding Honors Thesis in Arts, Humanities and Creative Inquiry
• Eric Haseman 鈥�25, College of Sciences, Outstanding Honors Undergraduate Thesis in Social Sciences
• Shreya S. Pawar 鈥�25, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Outstanding Honors Undergraduate Thesis in Natural Sciences
• Andrea C. Molero Perez 鈥�25, College of Medicine, Outstanding Honors Undergraduate Thesis in Health Sciences
• Nicholas Rose 鈥�25, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Outstanding Honors Thesis in Engineering and Technology

Graduate Student Awards

Outstanding Dissertation

• Jessica Moon 鈥�25PhD, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Michael Pierro 鈥�20 鈥�23MS 鈥�25PhD, College of Engineering and Computer Science

鈥淐entral Florida is my home, and I鈥檇 like to be part of this community for as long as I鈥痗an,鈥� he says.

That plan fell into place when he landed鈥痑 job at Lockheed Martin, a 麻豆原创 Pegasus Partner, just weeks after graduating with his bachelor鈥檚 degree in May.鈥疕is鈥痭ew role鈥痑s an electro-optical engineer associate in Lockheed Martin鈥檚 Orlando Missiles and Fire Control division involves developing new imaging systems 鈥� a project that comes with its own challenges.

鈥淭hese systems make use of sensors specific to the mission,鈥� says Lopez-Zelaya, who is part of the 83% of career-ready 麻豆原创 alumni who help fuel Florida鈥檚 workforce. 鈥淲e鈥檙e concerned with how these sensors generate images, so we take the optics and other sources of noise into consideration.鈥�

That鈥檚聽exactly the skillset he honed during his time at聽the聽麻豆原创 College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL). In addition to engineering and physics concepts, CREOL students learn the hands-on methods necessary to build optical and electro-optical systems 鈥� allowing them to contribute to technological developments that benefit humanity. Lopez Zelaya says he now puts that training to use every day.

鈥淪omebody who doesn鈥檛 have an optics and photonics background can鈥檛 truly engage in these discussions,鈥� he says, 鈥淏ecause they don鈥檛 understand the basics of what is actually happening in these systems.鈥�

Lopez Zelaya鈥檚 early career success is a continuation of the legacy he built during his聽undergrad聽years. Between classes that taught him MATLAB, display technology, image聽processing聽and semiconductor devices, he got involved as an undergraduate student research assistant. He also volunteered at Grace Medical Home, served as president of the IEEE Photonics Society student聽chapter聽and served on 麻豆原创鈥檚 President鈥檚 Leadership Council. His dedication to both professional development and his fellow students led to his induction into Order of Pegasus, the most prestigious award 麻豆原创 bestows upon students.

Lopez Zelaya says聽麻豆原创鈥檚聽culture of creating lifelong learners prepared him well for his next steps at Lockheed Martin.

鈥淓verybody is willing to learn something new about optics,鈥� he says, adding that聽he鈥檚聽often a source of聽expertise聽for questions that arise in the field.

Lopez Zelaya鈥檚 quick transition illustrates the value of the talent pipeline聽CREOL supplies to the Central Florida photonics industry.聽As a valued, longtime member of CREOL鈥檚 Industrial Affiliates Program, Lockheed Martin鈥檚 partnership has strengthened both the available opportunities for students and collaborative research efforts that aim to聽benefit聽the industry at large. And as a new聽Pegasus Partner聽with 麻豆原创, Lockheed Martin鈥檚 investment in the future will make impacts far beyond CREOL鈥檚 walls,聽building on聽a longstanding and pragmatic focus on talent pipeline.

With a 7-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, CREOL鈥檚 students are in a unique position to have a small-college experience at a big university. Lopez Zelaya says聽he鈥檚聽glad to have found a similar sense of community at鈥疞ockheed Martin.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a misconception that new technologies mostly emerge from startups, but a lot of them are being developed here,鈥� he says. 鈥淒evelopment is fun 鈥� taking鈥痑 concept and making it into a working product.鈥�

Lopez Zelaya says he鈥檚 proud to put those skills to use in his hometown, and for a company that鈥檚 leading the way in emerging optical technology 鈥� positively contributing to Central Florida鈥檚 economy along the way.

鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the best ways to make an impact here,鈥� he says.

This year鈥檚 inductees include seven LEAD Scholars, five President鈥檚 Leadership Council members, seven Student Government leaders, 11 Burnett Honors College scholars, three Greek members, two student-athletes and three transfer students, including one as a master鈥檚 degree student. Their collective GPA is 3.88.

Undergraduate students are selected based on academic achievement, university involvement, leadership and community service. Graduate students additionally are chosen based on publication or research experiences.

This year鈥檚 recipients will be honored at 5 p.m. April 6 at a ceremony in the Pegasus Ballroom.

The names and pictures of the recipients will be added to the wall showcasing past and present Order of Pegasus recipients in the Pegasus Lounge on the second floor of the Student Union. Inductees also receive commemorative medals and scholarships from Student Government.

This year鈥檚 recipients are:

• Yaser Ahmad, biomedical sciences (College of Medicine, Burnett Honors College)
• Karla Badillo-Urquiloa 鈥�14 鈥�15MS, modeling and simulation (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
• Kyle Benkel, biomedical sciences (College of Medicine, Burnett Honors College)
• Samantha Berg, (College of Sciences, Burnett Honors College)
• Giorgi Beruashvili, international and global studies (College of Sciences, Burnett Honors College)
• Safia Centner, 鈥� pre-clinical (College of Health Professions and Sciences, Burnett Honors College)
• Breon Clark, 鈥� pre-clinical (College of Health Professions and Sciences)
• Kristen Detz, elementary education (College of Community Innovation and Education, Burnett Honors College)
• Jenna Dovydaitis, political science/biology (College of Sciences, Burnett Honors College)
• Taylor Duffy, 鈥� pre-clinical (College of Health Professions and Sciences)
• Kyler Gray, (College of Community Innovation and Education)
• Timothy Hill ’18, /criminal justice (College of Community Innovation and Education)
• Stephanie Jarmak, physics/planetary science (College of Sciences)
• Samuel Mikhail, biomedical sciences (College of Medicine, Burnett Honors College)
• Victoria Millington, biomedical sciences (College of Medicine, Burnett Honors College)
• Madeline Mills, political science/pre-law (College of Sciences)
• Sharon Park 鈥�19, (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
• Taylor Pryor, English literature (College of Arts and Humanities, Burnett Honors College)
• Ryan Ridenbaugh 鈥�16, biology (College of Sciences)
• Allison Sabol, (College of Business)
• Rachel Sampson, (College of Optics and Photonics)
• Sirikanya Sellers, (College of Medicine)
• Sarah Swiersz, (College of Undergraduate Studies, Burnett Honors College)
• George Walters-Marrah, biomedical sciences (College of Medicine)

The students who were honored were:

Abigail Elizabeth Rosemeyer;聽College of Health Professions and Sciences,聽Masters of social work

Branden Allen Aebersold;聽College of Sciences, Actuarial science

Brooke Michele Campanile;聽College of Community Innovation and Education,聽Counselor education

Dennis C. Holland;聽Rosen College of Hospitality Management,聽Hospitality and tourism management

Erin G. Connell;聽College of Arts and Humanities,聽Religion and cultural studies

Gianfranco Giuseppe Apa;聽College of Business Administration,聽Accounting

Hailey Anne Hinson;聽College of Arts and Humanities,聽English language arts education

Jaclyn June Austin;聽College of Science,聽Psychology

Javish Rodriguez-Rivera;聽College of Engineering and Computer Science,聽Transportation engineering

Jeanelie Francois;聽College of Engineering and Computer Science,聽Information technology

Jeff Mentor;聽College of Business Administration,聽Accounting

Kate Lynn Marie Sullivan;聽College of Health Professions and Sciences,聽Pre-clinical health sciences

Michael John McDoniels Jr.; College of Undergraduate Studies,聽Interdisciplinary studies

Reuel E. Buchanan;聽College of Community Innovation and Education,聽Criminal justice

Richard Conner McPeak;聽College of Sciences, Psychology

Samuel Day Shaw;聽Rosen College of Hospitality Management;聽Entertainment management

Seth Anthony Beyrooti;聽College of Business Administration, Marketing

Thomas Edward Mundy;聽College of Community Innovation and Education,聽Health informatics and information management

William Weiler;聽College of Arts and Humanities,聽Film

Keyera Lyn, Miss 麻豆原创, led the beginning of the ceremony with a 38-second moment of silence (two seconds for each student being honored.) Vice President for Student Enrollment and Services聽Maribeth Ehasz gave an official welcome shortly before Interim President Thad Seymour Jr. provided opening remarks. The memorial also included poetry readings of聽鈥淚 Do Not Think My Song Will End鈥� and聽鈥淲e Will Remember鈥� by Lyn and聽Malachi Mullings, Mr. 麻豆原创 and musical performances.

“The students we are remembering today were on their way to reaching their academic goals, and we are honored that they chose 麻豆原创 for their journey,” says Provost Elizabeth A. Dooley before introducing the eulogist. “Each student contributed to our Knights family, and his or her academic work and impact will live on in our faculty, staff and fellow students.”

Carolyn Walker-Hopp, a retired faculty member from the聽College of聽Community Innovation and Education, gave eulogies for each student. As each individual’s name was said, members from the President’s Leadership Council placed a white rose in individual vases to honor them.

The recipients were selected from a pool of 79 nominations. The new class includes聽seven LEAD Scholars, five President鈥檚 Leadership Council members, one Student Government Association leader, 12 from The Burnett Honors College, four Greek members, and four student-athletes.

Undergraduate students are chosen based on their outstanding achievements in the areas of academics, university involvement, leadership and community service. Graduate students are selected based on the same merits as well as publication or research experiences. The average GPA of the 2018 Order of Pegasus class is 3.91, the highest in the Order of Pegasus history. Because of the breadth of accomplishments required for this award, the Order of Pegasus is the highest student award that can be attained at the university.

The winners will be honored at an April 2 ceremony.

The names and a picture of the inductees will be added to the wall showcasing past and current聽recipients in the Pegasus Lounge on the second floor of the Student Union. Inductees also receive commemorative medals and scholarships from the Student Government Association.

This year鈥檚 recipients are:

Undergraduate Students

Graduate Students

For more information, visit:聽.

As a single mother living in Guatemala with daughters 7 and 3 years old, Alison Batres earned just enough money working in a family-owned bakery to pay rent and feed her children.

Fed up and in search of a better life, she moved with her daughters to Miami, where her mother lived and worked as a housekeeper. Becoming a housekeeper herself, she saved enough money to get a place of her own five years later. Although still a modest lifestyle 鈥� a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in Miami鈥檚 predominantly Cuban neighborhood called Little Havana 鈥� the move positioned her daughters to attend a school that ultimately led to Kimberly Batres pursuing something no one else in her family had: a college degree.

Batres, now a junior at the 麻豆原创, is studying both anthropology and Latin American studies to work toward a career in archaeology. She plans to root her future research in Guatemala to discover its unmasked history and to further connect with her heritage.

鈥淥ne of the things I realized, through my minor in history, is a lot of research and resources accumulated for anthropology either go to Europe or the Middle East,鈥� Batres said. 鈥淭here isn鈥檛 much to document Latin America, and what there is, it鈥檚 information from an outsider. I want to bring the perspective of someone from that country.鈥�

Batres wants to help dig up undiscovered Mayan temples and precolonial sites and identify the history behind them.

鈥淲ith archaeology, we鈥檙e out there excavating, documenting everything we find and uncovering history. What people often don鈥檛 consider with archaeology is we include the local community people in our work. We also work to preserve cultural identity,鈥� said Amanda Groff, 麻豆原创 archaeology associate lecturer. 鈥淲hen we involve locals, it gives them a sense of ownership in what we uncover, which can lead to a greater desire to preserve it.鈥�

Batres鈥� Guatemalan heritage can assist in her archaeology efforts, Groff said. That鈥檚 because the locals may be more willing to interact and participate because Batres has an established connection with their community and culture.

Batres鈥� educational success, which spans from being part of LEAD Scholars, Volunteer 麻豆原创 and the President鈥檚 Leadership Council, began to blossom in 6th grade when an inspiring teacher helped her discover her love of history and opened her eyes to the possibility of attending college. A higher education was encouraged by Batres mother and grandmother but not often discussed, as neither of them had attended college.

Taking every advanced placement course she could in high school, often staying until 9 p.m. to study, plus joining clubs, sports teams and working part-time at Publix to pay for her college applications ultimately led to Batres鈥� acceptance at 麻豆原创. Now, a drive to one day help support her mom to thank her for her sacrifices pushes Batres to keep going.

鈥淢y mom worked from nothing to having her own apartment and to being comfortable enough to not be starving anymore,鈥� Batres said. 鈥淪eeing her hard work has motivated me to work hard, too, and return the favor to her one day.鈥�

Batres also wants to encourage others to pursue their dreams, as she鈥檚 seen firsthand how hard work pays off. As part of Volunteer 麻豆原创, Batres now is coordinating a trip to Charlotte, N.C., to help homeless families get back on their feet through an organization called Charlotte Family Housing. The volunteers also will work with Wings for Kids, an organization that helps low-income elementary and middle school students learn emotional and social intelligence through after-school programs.

Batres and nine other students will spend their spring break, March 12-18, volunteering with the organizations.

鈥淲e can give these kids the perspective of what they can accomplish if they continue in school,鈥� Batres said. 鈥淚 was sort of in their situation, too.鈥�

Cores聽has distinguished herself as an outstanding student and member of the 麻豆原创 community through diligence, compassion and dedication. Her outstanding credentials reflect superior achievement in academics, co-curricular activities, community involvement and upholding the tenants of the 麻豆原创 Creed.

Currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in mathematics education in the College of Education and Human Performance, Cores聽is a Gates Millennium Scholar, and has served聽on the Education Student College Council and as a judge for the Choices Learning Science Fair. She also was聽recently selected to serve on the 麻豆原创 President鈥檚 Leadership Council, for which she is excited to serve as a student ambassador and continue to grow as a young professional.

In spring 2013, she conducted an independent research project on how society has created a negative image of the teaching profession, and subsequently presented her work at the Knights Wrights Showcase, before being published in the 2014 Stylus Journal.

After graduation, she would like to teach abroad for a semester to develop her craft as a future teacher and learn about different educational systems across the world. Her dream is to attend Columbia or Vanderbilt University to complete a degree in education policy, and work for a state department of education. She also would聽like to teach mathematics in a Title I middle school, where she hopes to create positive change with her passion and dedication for teaching.

Cores聽is motivated and enjoys being able to provide the best experience possible for students in her college who are preparing for what she calls 鈥渢he most beautiful profession.鈥�

One day, she hopes to create a nonprofit organization to help build schools in underprivileged countries. Her plans are ambitious, but, as she always says, 鈥淛ust one step at at time, Yudy.鈥�

Read more stories from the聽alumni association at ucfalumnitoday.com.

This is the first time they have been selected to be on the court.

鈥淭o be chosen along with other amazing candidates was such a great honor,鈥� said Chase. 鈥淚 am so excited to take part in all the homecoming festivities and grow friendships with all the other candidates.鈥�

Chase is a member of the Student Nurses Association (SNA) and the prestigious President鈥檚 Leadership Council. She also serves on the Morale Team for Knight-Thon, 麻豆原创鈥檚 largest student-run philanthropy.

鈥淭o me, merely being considered for queen is amazing but I would love to be given the opportunity to represent my university,鈥� said Chase. 鈥溌槎乖� has given me so much and being the homecoming queen is one of the best ways to show my love for the school.鈥�

Also a member of the President鈥檚 Leadership Council, Gerlt was excited to hear that she had been nominated by her Greek chapter. 鈥淚 was so honored and humbled by the nomination that there was no way I could pass up on applying for homecoming court,鈥� she said.

Gerlt has been a member of the SNA Breakthrough to Nursing Committee, and also serves as a panel board member on the 麻豆原创 Conduct Board and event director of Sigma Alpha Pi.

鈥淚 am the ideal candidate for homecoming queen because I have a passion for 麻豆原创 and the high standards this community holds dear,鈥� said Gerlt. 鈥溌槎乖� stands for opportunity and I embody that ideal.鈥�

The homecoming board, made up of students, chooses applicants who meet the basic requirements which include having a 3.0 GPA and being of junior, senior or graduate student standing. Applicants must be nominated by an organization or group on campus and submit a resume with their application.

Students can vote for homecoming king and queen through their portal from Oct. 19 to Oct. 22. The two individuals who are named king and queen will be announced during the halftime show of the Homecoming game on Oct. 24.

But, no matter which ones he tried, avid traveler Gaston Blanchet, 鈥�09, realized the perfect suitcase for his needs just didn鈥檛 exist 鈥� so he invented it.

Inspired by the roll-top doors for meal storage on airplanes, the Trunkster was born. It鈥檚 the world鈥檚 first and only zipperless, roll-top luggage that introduces a revolutionary industrial design. A durable and waterproof sliding door allows for quick access to belongings, even in the most constricted spaces. The bag also includes a removable power bank, built-in digital scale, and can be enabled with GPS.

Blanchet, who earned his 麻豆原创 bachelor鈥檚 degree in business management, and his business partner Jesse Potash, used Facebook and Twitter to help build awareness of their product, and targeted travel and tech bloggers, as well as business travelers. The buzz created a network that led to thousands of pledges and preorders on Trunkster鈥檚 Kickstarter page. The support and demand was so great, in fact, their $50,000 goal soon multiplied more than 27 times in 59 days, with 3,566 backers pledging $1,395,370 by the Jan. 16 deadline.

鈥淵ou can never take luck or good timing out of the equation,鈥� Blanchet says. 鈥淚 think we were fortunate to launch at a time when both smart products and crowdfunding became two of the year鈥檚 biggest trends. This, coupled with having a unique product in a stagnant industry, and months of media planning, let us claim the spot as the world鈥檚 most-crowdfunded travel campaign.鈥�

While the guys have another idea they鈥檇 also like to take to crowdfunding, for now, they鈥檙e focused on manufacturing and delivering more than 5,000 Trunksters to anxious travelers.

PACK IT UP Q&A

Q. How were you involved as a student?

A. I think some 麻豆原创 staff thought I was probably over involved! When I begged my way into the Honors College and LEAD Scholars, I assumed that would largely be the extent of my involvement at 麻豆原创, but then I had the strange fortune of entering and winning the Mr. 麻豆原创 scholarship competition my freshman year, which opened the doors to a pretty unique 麻豆原创 experience! I had some of my best memories as a member of the President鈥檚 Leadership Council, where I was able to intimately partake in some unforgettable 麻豆原创 moments, including the groundbreaking of the new arena, stadium and College of Medicine.

Q. Favorite 麻豆原创 memory?

A. It was at Lake Nona while working on the President鈥檚 Leadership Council at the groundbreaking of College of Medicine 鈥� when the scheduled singer didn鈥檛 show up to sing the National Anthem for the opening ceremony, our PLC directors, Nancy Marshall and Ana Petkov, looked over at me and said, 鈥淥h, Gaston sings! He can do it.鈥� Well, it was about 6 a.m., and I never can remember the lyrics to that particular song. Ha! To everyone there that day, including President Hitt, I apologize to your ears.

Q. How has your 麻豆原创 degree helped you in your career?

A. I鈥檓 grateful to be working in the field I studied. The business classes were instrumental in giving me a well-rounded toolkit to tackle all of the unique challenges that come up when running your own business. The classes that most helped me while at 麻豆原创 were accounting, finance and business law, which exposed me early to everyday issues I deal with now.

Q. In what ways have you stayed connected to your alma mater since graduating?

A. I鈥檓 lucky my parents still live nearby and are involved with the Honors College as donors. And, of course, it鈥檚 been an amazing set of years as a 麻豆原创 football fan. I鈥檝e really cherished watching the team grow under Coach O鈥橪eary and produce stars like Bortles. My fondest memory by far was watching my Knights win the Fiesta Bowl in the middle of the night while in Asia!

Q. What advice would you give to current 麻豆原创 business students/aspiring entrepreneurs?

A. I鈥檓 not sure if all entrepreneurs say this, but I firmly believe there鈥檚 no better moment for aspiring entrepreneurs to take advantage of the incredible new tools available to our generation. To be specific, we鈥檙e entering a golden age of products. Crowdfunding lets you find the funds and create the community for your idea, while a fully globalized world has made component and manufacturing costs come way down. Furthermore, the Internet lets you easily find customers all over the world for your products and services. So, there鈥檚 really no deterrent but your will. The tools are out there. I encourage you to make the most of them, and take the steps to go through with the ideas you come up with. You鈥檒l fail at a couple until the timing is right, then one of your ideas will take off.

Q. What are three things you never travel without?

A. Bose in-ear, noise-cancelling headphones; Canon C100 documentary camera; and Kindle

Q. Last vacation?

A. Vietnam 鈥� motorcycling the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Q. Dream vacation destination/itinerary?

A. Exploring mountain temples of Bhutan.

Q. Favorite way to pass the time while traveling?

A. Filming local stories for our interactive travel documentary series, 鈥淗umanity,鈥� for iPad.

Q. What do you do for fun?

A. I鈥檓 a total adrenaline and adventure junkie. I love to sail, kitesurf, scuba, skydive, snowboard, any fun local excursions I can find 鈥�

Q. Pet peeve?

A. Delayed flights!

Q. Most embarrassing moment?

A. I left my $4,000 camera on top of a rental car and drove a mile before realizing. It miraculously stayed on!

Q. Hidden talent?

A. I can juggle.

Q. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

A. Hold my breath for five minutes.

Q. Best piece of advice you鈥檝e ever received?

A. There鈥檚 no good time to launch a bad product, and there鈥檚 no bad time to launch a good product.

MORE INFO

See the聽Trunkster聽in action. (Save 10 percent with code 鈥溌槎乖粹�� at checkout.)

Read more stories about alumni at ucfalumni.com.

Watch her , shown at the Black & Gold Gala, to learn more about Cynthia.