January 2019

Gleanings from Gail & Inspired LIFEl: page 3 Charge On, a message from our President: page 4 Spring Schedule of Classes: page 5 LIFE Out Loud & Proud to be a Knight: page 6 A Wink at LIFE: page 7 UCF IN THE NEWS: page 8 spotLIFE: Mercia Mason-Fudim: page 9 LIFE's Collin & Did You Know?: page 11 Honors/LIFE Book Club & Deserving Students: page 12 Lunch with LIFE 02

LIFE at UCF and the are excited to announce a new partnership on a program called LUNCH with LIFE! 12 LIFE students and 12 Honor’s students will attend a 10:30 LIFE program and then go back to the Honor’s college for catered lunch followed by small group discussion. Our first program will be on Tuesday, February 5th, 2019 at 10:30am in the Ballroom. Reserved seating will be held for LIFE and Honor’s students to sit together. Following the program at 11:30, the group will go to the BHC for a catered lunch and discussion. Watch your Tuesday email blast on January 15th, 2019 for sign-up information. The second LUNCH with LIFE will be held on March 3rd.

Above: A beautiful camp for special children - Sharon Couture led the tour for LIFE members, sharing the beautiful campus, cabins, art and theater activities that help children enjoy their stay. 03 home each week, there is a life, past and present, never short survey about the fail to produce a chuckle (or speakers we just heard. Take a guffaw). Our first “spotLIFE” minute, (seriously, it won’t take participant, Sam Shutt, has longer than that) to fill it out. made searching for a “funny” This is valuable to the or "funnies” obsolete since he committee for future now is the provider for “LIFE scheduling. If you have a Out Loud, LOL” each month. suggestion for a speaker, let the This month he has also committee know by filling out a contributed our “Inspired green suggestion sheet that is LIFE.” If you want to give always available at the writing and/or contributing a Welcome table each week. shot, we’d love to add you to I cannot tell you how delighted the staff! I have been with the number of The last thing I’d like to share, members who have asked if we Alli and I are adding a LOT WOW! 2018 seemed to zoom by would be interested in their more color to LIFEtimes. The and now we have begun 2019! I story for “spotLIFE!” Don’t be only way to view this colorful hope every LIFE member and shy, let’s keep this popular new newsletter is to go online loved ones had a wonderful column going. We have 800 to www.life.ucf.edu and click holiday season and is now members, each with an on the newsletter tab. LIFE is prepared to enjoy the array of interesting tale to tell. If you ever so much more enjoyable classes that our Curriculum miss me at a LIFE meeting, in living color! Committee has prepared. As email me at always, there are several ways [email protected] and we to educate yourself on will add you to the queue of upcoming sessions. 1) You will fantastic stories for a future receive an email prior to the issue! next meeting; 2) check out our If you have a hankering to write website, www.life.ucf.edu; 3) a monthly column, bring it on! save the copy of the spring Diane Wink; “a Wink at LIFE,” schedule printed in this has become a contributor. Her month’s LIFEtimes. In your humorous stories about UCF email, by the time you get A 04 CHARGE WORD FROM OUR LIFE ON: PRESIDENT

Welcome back to the from Global to Jim Burr, who has Spring 2019 sessions Perspectives are very led the curriculum of Lifelong Learning educational and committee for over at Life@UCF! I hope thought provoking. two years with you all enjoyed a We also have four wisdom, patience, wonderful Holiday presentations related and extraordinary Season — Now back to our health from coordinating skills. We to class. As you may Medical School are very excited that see on our schedule updates, to culinary Dr. Jack McGuire has of class medicine, Genomics stepped up to the presentations we and Disability. position of curriculum have extraordinary As a special treat we chair and I am very variety in our class have a special confident that our sessions this Spring. session with Amanda presentations will be I always enjoy the Meyer (a former in great hands. three sessions from student assistant) on the music her experiences as a department as we Fulbright Scholar in Sincerely, view talented young Bulgaria. performers of I offer a special exceptional levels of Thank You Julian Meitin skill. The four President presentations 05 06 Proud to be a Knight

by Ann Gardepe

[This piece was originally Central in 1978, to published in the Orlando earn a master's degree. So, I whose vision and guidance Sentinel on June 29, 2018.] have degrees from FTU and have led to impressive The retirement this week of UCF; the same school! heights in technology, Dr. John C. Hitt, after 26 years My husband, John, medicine, sports, the arts and as UCF's illustrious president, attended classes to attain his community involvement. We has me thinking about my Florida teaching certificate Knights are supremely own long-time connection to and later we celebrated our grateful! We wish Dr. Dale the university. I became a daughter's graduation from Whittaker the best as he takes student in January, 1969, UCF. the helm and to you, Dr. Hitt, when it was Florida John and I are now 5th year thank you and Godspeed! Technological University and members of the Learning Charge on, UCF! Once a graduated in the charter class Institute for Elders known as Knight, always a Knight! of 1970. There were 3 LIFE at UCF---still students buildings on campus and and still very proud of our none were parking garages! knighthood. Looking back, it With my degree in education I is amazing to see how far the taught in Orange County university has come since its Public Schools for 37 years, founding in 1963, thanks to during which time I returned the leadership of Dr. Charles to the school, renamed the Millican, Dr. Trevor Colburn University of and especially, Dr. John C. Hitt rain, snow, sleet, or hail: 07 UCF Football's history of delivering wins by Diane regardless of weather conditions Wink

regulations which allowed their (e.g. Kevin Smith, Leger Douzable, UCF football has achieved a omission. The only way to get water Joe Burnett, and Michael Buscemi) wonderful record of wins, losses, and was to hold your container under a neither UCF or Mississippi State could comebacks including conference restroom sink faucet which was move the ball and there were 13 championships and major bowl game angled to allow only half the bottle punts in just the first half and only 419 wins, our blowout 2017 and 2018 to fill. Luckily, the weather TOTAL yards in the game. The only seasons and a 25-game win streak. remained typically Floridian and a scores were field goals by each team Just this year our football team won truly life-saving rain began and in the second quarter and a the War on I-4, AAC Eastern Division continued long enough to cool Mississippi State Touchdown and and AAC Conference Championships everyone off. Sadly, Texas did win extra point right before the game and, for the second time, played in the the game 35 to 32. The other ended. Regardless, there was also Fiesta Bowl which, sadly, we lost 40- outcome was the installation of repeated ear splitting ringing of cow water fountains throughout the bells at even the smallest Mississippi 32 to LSU. stadium concourse by game two the Other than asking about wins and next weekend, at which time State accomplishment - maybe to losses, a good way to get fans talking administrators from President Hitt keep warm. about football is to bring up the down, manned entrance gates to There was a much colder FB game impact of weather, significant ever give a bottle of water to every fan December 7, 2013 when UCF defeated since UCF FB played its first Div III attending. SMU 49-20 in a literally frozen (24 °F) game September 9, 1979 at St. Leo’s in Move forward to December 27, stadium in Dallas. Was not a big pre-hurricane rain on a muddy 2007, that season’s end, and UCF’s stressor for fans since less than 1000 puddle-filled field (not a stadium). Liberty Bowl game in Memphis braved the ice storm to watch in UCF FB has a storied history of playing against Mississippi State. The day person. With this win, UCF, led by in blistering heat, numbing cold, and dawned overcast and presented quarterback Blake Bortles, became monsoon like rain such as the games two major challenges. The first was co-winner of the AAC conference against Texas, Mississippi State, SMU clear during the pre-game tailgate championship and went on to win the and Marshall. held in a large shed near the Fiesta Bowl 52-42 over Baylor. September 15, 2007, the opening day stadium. As UCF fans arrived we But, no question, if you mention for Bright House (now Spectrum) were given a small plastic gold weather to any UCF FB fan, the thing colored clicker topped with a star they will ask is “Were you at the Stadium, dawned bright and warm. with UCF on it. UCF was announced Tailgaters filled the campus with a and we stood and cheered and our Marshall game?” On October 8, 2011 it sellout crowd of 45,622 UCF Knights clickers went “click, click, click”. was raining when fans work up, and Texas Longhorns. Fans jumped to Then Mississippi State was dressed for the game, ran to their cars Zombie Nation and gave the stadium announced and their fans stood and and drove to the stadium. The its moniker. cheered and they pulled out their monsoon like driving rain poured Everything, including a close score cow bells and proceeded to create a down for hours creating ponds on putting UCF ahead in the 4th quarter roar as deafening as it was Memory Mall and turning roads into was perfect, except it was HOT (91 F) annoying. The UCF clickers were not streams. The team took the field as which likely caused the brief game seen again. 24,750 fans donned their rain pause because of lightning. Second, it was beyond cold… a 42 F ponchos and headed to their seats. At Luckily, heat, lightning and sun are high. UCF fans layered their least one wore a swimming hat and nothing to Knights. We know to apply sweaters - few had a true winter goggles. But, if with a good rain sunscreen, wear a hat, seek cover coat. Luckily, the stadium was full poncho and if facing in the right from the lightning, which caused a with 63,816 fans huddled together. direction, you could remain brief game pause that day, use a fan, For those looking for additional amazingly dry. Luckily the FB team warmth, there were hot drinks but DID show up for the game and literally and drink lots and lots of water. Only only until the third quarter when problem was by the third quarter they ran out. (Maybe they learned ran on water. Quarterback Jeff vendors ran out of water. Still not an how to stock the stadium for Godfrey threw his first passing issue, since most everyone had a weather from UCF??) Most everyone touchdown of the season to lead UCF bottle of some kind which could be remained standing which was to a 16-6 win. The 7-plus inches of rain refilled. The question became - better than sitting still on the cold made it the wettest October day in where?? Turned out the stadium had seats.It did not help that there was Orlando in 61 years. It was also the NO water fountains because designers not a lot of FB being played. Despite day Coach George O'Leary had his used a loophole in building UCF having multiple award winning 100th career victory. and soon to be NLF players 08

UCF Named a Top Supplier of Graduates to Aerospace, Defense Industries — Again BY GENE KRUCKEMYER ’73 | NOVEMBER 26, 2018

Aviation Week again recently one more time, the sustained companies such as Boeing, named UCF the No. 1 supplier partnership that UCF has Pratt & Whitney, Mitsubishi, of graduates to the U.S. established with the aerospace Harris and Disney. aerospace and defense and defense industry to educate UCF’s newest engineering industries – for the fourth the next generation of engineers program, a doctorate in consecutive year. and computer scientists that aerospace engineering, was More than 4,000 students are this industry needs to recently approved and is currently enrolled in the perpetuate its continued accepting applications for the university’s Department of dominance,” says Michael Fall 2019 semester. The Mechanical and Aerospace Georgiopoulos, dean of the department also offers a Engineering programs. There College of Engineering and doctorate in mechanical were 111 students who Computer Science. engineering, and master’s graduated last year with Rounding out the Top 5 degrees in aerospace bachelor’s and master’s universities that have provided engineering, biomedical degrees in aerospace the most graduates to the engineering and mechanical engineering, and more than industries are: University of engineering. 120 are expected to graduate Florida, University of Arizona, Aviation Week collaborated this year. Pennsylvania State University with the Aerospace Industries More than 550 students have and University of Washington. Association, American Institute graduated with an aerospace Yoav Peles, department chair, of Aeronautics and engineering degree during the says UCF’s graduates are Astronautics, and PwC on the past five years. working at some of the top annual study. UCF also has “Orlando is the epicenter of engineering sites in the nation, earned a Carnegie rapid economic growth as such as Lockheed Martin, Classification of Highest more engineering companies Siemens and the Kennedy Research Activity, and ranks begin calling it their home.” – Space Center. among the nation’s Top 25 U.S. Yoav Peles, UCF’s Mechanical “As one of the fastest-growing public universities for the and Aerospace Engineering cities in the United States, number of patents secured by chair Orlando is the epicenter of rapid the National Academy of “UCF’s ranking as the top economic growth as more Inventors. producer of talent for the engineering companies begin aerospace and defense calling it their home,” he says, industries showcases, including other 09 Around the world in one great LIFE: Mercia Mason-Fudim 15 years after Smyrna, Circa 1940 my father, who My elementary schooling which was also known by worked for the Socony took place at the Italian the name Gavur Izmir, a Vacuum Oil Co. was School of the Suore d'Ivrea beautiful, cosmopolitan transferred to Istanbul where Italian, Turkish and port on the Aegean Sea where we lived for two French were taught. My inhabited mostly by years; however, his Italian parents still spoke Greek Greeks, Armenians, Jews citizenship caused him to (fragoghiotika) at home. My and Levantines, was be laid off until the war secondary schooling was burned and changed into was over. Turkey had taught by a French nun, the new city of Izmir, remained neutral during Soeur André, who was also a Turkey; I was born. Gavur the 2nd World War and nurse at the French Hospital means infidel, another we were fortunate, of Izmir. I went to the word for foreigners. compared to the rest of University of Central Florida Smyrna became Infidel Europe, not to have for my BA and to the Izmir, due to its vast experienced the ordeal of University of Florida for my diversity of its peoples those difficult years. My Master of Arts. I feel that my who came to the area for family was all Catholic up biggest accomplishment was many and varied reasons. to the beginning of the passing the French The mood in our small 20th century, after which, Baccalaureates (the national corner of Turkey was quiet mixed marriages took French academic high school and reserved; the jasmine place. Now I have Greek tests) in Athens, Greece, after continued to bloom and Orthodox cousins in two years of studies by to perfume the air, Salonika, three Turkish correspondence with a especially in the afternoon nieces in Izmir and two school in Vanves, Paris. when we rode our bikes American sons with David Among my most enjoyable along the quay to see the Mason, a man from North memories of my adolescence sunsets. I lived in a Roman Carolina who was were trips I took to my Catholic community stationed in Izmir with the mother's cousin's home, where everybody was sort Air Force. I have six Matilda Nikiforaki, in Athens. of related. We lived grandchildren, four of Life was always so much peacefully with another them already in college. more exciting there. My minority, the Sephardim, My eldest son, Mark, is a beautiful home town was and a Muslim majority. I computer programmer quiet and peaceful, had a Turkish and my younger son, Linc, wonderful, in fact; however, in "beyaname;” sort of a a jeweler who is studying Athens there was stimulation green card that was to become a computer and enjoyment that eclipsed renewed every five years, man, too. the serenity of home and and an Italian passport. increased my spirit! h S k d f twenty-five years as a born in the Bronx, NYC. He see the falls before 10 foreign language teacher was a successful checking into the in Orange County Public businessman, and is an Cleveland Clinic. We both Schools, teaching mostly accomplished intellectual still strive to maintain that French and also, for a who reads profusely. He took fun lifestyle and are short time, Italian. During me to incredible locations energized to belong to an my teaching years at around the world, in the organization where Evans High School, four names of both work and American seniors have a students from UCF vacation. Together, we went positive outlook and interned with me. I have to San Francisco, Yosemite been retired since Park, New York City, Death endeavor to live life to its December 1998. At the end Valley, China, Venice, Canada, fullest. of the school year in 1997, and Tanglewood, MA. After We are both delighted to after a lunch with a friend, seven years we were married, be members of LIFE at I picked up and perused a and then we learned Bernard UCF! magazine she had left at needed open-heart surgery. our table; Orlando Weekly. After research of great I saw an ad from a surgeons, we decided on a gentleman who enjoyed hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. many of the same things I Always one to make the best did. Being the modern of every moment, Bernard woman, I was I gave his decided that since we were so number a call… and so close to Niagara Falls, we goes the story of how I met should take the opportunity my second husband to take a drive to Bernard, a man 11

went to a lifelong new programs can be As we enter a new learning conference found in this year, I hope you will over the summer and newsletter. This is just continue to let us had the opportunity to one of the new and know how we are learn from many exciting activities that doing and I encourage successful programs LIFE has planned for you to take advantage throughout the the spring. of the wonderful southeast. LIFE@UCF The board and staff of opportunities is unique in many LIFE@UCF is available for you on According to the ways, but especially committed to campus. website with our partnership providing our Happy New Year! selfgrowth.com, with UCF and the members with a “Lifelong learning is the ability of our members vibrant program continued educational to be a part of campus that addresses the sincerely, experience that utilizes life. I know that benefits of a lifelong non-credit academic parking is often a learning experience. courses, educational problem but the We try our best to Leslie Collin travel, and community benefits of being a part provide interesting service and of this vibrant campus programming and LIFE Program volunteerism to fully is what truly makes opportunities for engage the brain, LIFE@UCF unique. In travel and Coordinator heighten physical January, LIFE@UCF volunteerism. The activity, and maintain will begin a new input and involvement healthy social partnership with the from our membership relationships.” Burnett Honors is vital to our One of the unique College! Information continued success. aspects of LIFE@UCF is on two our partnership with the university. I

curriculum person then develops the e-blast and did you know? sends the Honorarium LIFE@UCF provides a amount of time and confirming the date, Request Form to the small honorarium of effort involved in time and room of the Treasurer. On the day of $100 for each securing a speaker. The presentation as well as the presentation the presentation. If there process starts in the the title of the curriculum person usually are multiple speakers for monthly curriculum presentation. The welcomes the speaker and a single presentation, committee when letter also informs the helps him/her get set-up the honorarium is still members of the future speaker, who the and introduces him/her to only $100. Often committee identify audience is, the format Steve Hall who assists individuals turn the topics and potential and the AV capabilities. with the audio visual for honorarium down or ask speakers. Then a Usually speakers are the presentation. The that the honorarium be Curriculum person given to a not for profit committee member lined up 4-6 months in agrees to contact the advance. The introduces the speaker agency, a charity, a and he/she gives the student scholarship speaker and line up a curriculum contact fund or returned to date. This can take stays in touch with the honorarium to the speaker LIFE@UCF. There are several emails and presenter to insure or insures that it is sent to some speakers phone calls. The he/she is still available. the appropriate agency or who cannot accept an LIFE@UCF curriculum When the date of the fund. The above process honorarium such as committee presentation is close, is followed and usually speakers representing member then checks the curriculum person runs smoothly unless the the military, the city of back with the completes the speaker cancels or there is Orlando, or county and Committee Chair to Honorarium Request an unforeseen emergency. state officials. Unless make sure the date is Form, asks for a resume Then the Curriculum you have been a still available and topic and some background contact works with the member of the Chair of the Curriculum Curriculum Committee, is appropriate. Once the on the presentation for speaker and topic are the e-blast. The LIFE Committee to identify one does not realize the approved, the another speaker. Curriculum person writes a letter to the potential speaker LIFE/Honors Book 12 Club Join some of the most conversation among Honors ambitious and creative students and LIFE members. undergraduates in the Dr. Tyler Fisher, who teaches Burnett Honors College for the course, graduated from reading and discussion of UCF in 2003 and spent the Ariel Sabar's memoir, My past 15 years studying and Father's Paradise: A Son's teaching at the University of Search for His Family's Past Oxford, England, before (2009), as part of the Honors returning to UCF as a College's "Windows to the professor of Modern World" course. Sabar Languages and Literatures in recounts his father's exile August 2018. He inherits lifelong learning. Dr. Fisher is from a Jewish enclave in Iraq "Windows to the World" from UCF’s first Rhodes Scholar. and his own journey to Dr. Alvin Wang, and hopes to Book club will meet Thursday rediscover his family's carry on the course's vital January 31st; Thursday, ancient, fragmentary links with LIFE as a means for March 21st and Thursday, heritage. The book's enhancing students' April 11th from 3:00 – 4:15 in intergenerational and perspectives and Trevor Colbourn Hall 108 international aspects make preparedness for active, (TCH 108). A sign-up sheet it ideal for a vibrant will be sent in early January.

5 students were presented a $400 Barnes and Noble gift card from LIFE Program Coordinator, Leslie Collin. From left to right Ricardo Lopez, Roberto Green, Melissa Hebel, me and Krishna Singh; missing Silva Vitale, and Kelly Vo.