PEGASUS

HOW UCF’S PROGRAMMING TEAM BECAME AND BEAT HARVARD, MIT AND STANFORD. SUMMER SCENE August heralds the start of classes, the return of students and dark, afternoon Florida storm clouds. They are rife with electricity but also heavy with raindrops that revive and offer cool respite — not unlike the feelings of trepidation and promise that come with a new semester. Inbox CHIEF OF STAFF AND Contents VOLUME 25 • ISSUE 1 • FALL 2018 VP FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING Grant J. Heston ’13MBA

AVP FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING 6 In Focus Patrick Burt ’08MA 12 Briefs University of Central Florida EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 14 On Campus Orlando, FL • 205,040+ Alumni • 270,460 Followers Laura J. Cole 16 Sea Change CREATIVE DIRECTOR What was your favorite part about the Student Union Ron Boucher ’92 18 The Imperfect Storm when you went to UCF? STAFF WRITERS 19 The Feed Bree (Adams) Watson ’04 20 All In Nicole Dudenhoefer ’17 Jenna Marina Lee 24 The Strategists

ART DIRECTORS 28 We Need to Talk Lauren (Haar) Waters ’06 32 Believe the Heup Steve Webb 34 Now Trending DESIGNER Mario Carrillo 36 Timeline Traveler

COPY EDITOR 38 Class Notes Peg Martin 42 Weddings & Births MULTIMEDIA 46 Why I Teach Journalism What the Student Union Will Look Like in Spring 2020 Katie Arcic I ALMOST DROPPED OUT OF UCF DUE TO FINANCES, bit.ly/ucf-student-union Thomas Bell ’08 but [former President] Hitt made it possible for me to stay. Nick Leyva ’15 437 Likes • 91 Comments Austin Warren It was 2015, and my mom was deep in the trenches of a cult. PRODUCTION MANAGER I wasn’t old enough to be independent, and I wasn’t able to Rob Hunter Sandy Pouliot complete [a new] FAFSA because my mom wouldn’t give me Wackadoo’s! I have fond memories of convincing professors ONLINE PRODUCER her information. I was also slowly coming up on the end of to hold class there! Roger Wolf ’07 how many loans a dependent student could take out. Corey Ford WEB PROGRAMMERS I remember 9/11. I watched the events unfold in the Student Jim Barnes I petitioned for my independence and was denied. They Union with all the other students. I’ll always remember where Cadie Brown said it wasn’t because of my situation, but because of my old I was. RJ Bruneel ’97 FAFSA still being in the system. I emailed Hitt, and someone Jayme Wright Jo Dickson ’11 got back to me the next day. The rest of the semester was a Same here. CONTRIBUTORS blur of tears and work, but in the end, my independence was Austin Dawson Jeffrey C. Billman ’01 ’10MA approved, and I graduated the summer of 2016. Same for me. I will never forget that day. Richard Brunson ’84

Ana Lucia C. Wells Collins Before that moment I never believed Hitt cared about each The Pegasus in the middle :) Edmon de Haro student, but he put stock into my badly worded, desperate Gene Kruckemyer ’73 cry for help and gave me hope. I was reading the recent Pashen Black Marcus Smith Pegasus issue and thought I should reach out to tell you When it first opened during my senior year. Before the union, Robert Stephens we gathered at the Wild Pizza. that I’m so thankful for him and what he’s done. PEGASUS ADVISORY BOARD » ALISSA SMITH ’16 Matt Randall Chad Binette ’06MPA Being there from the very beginning. You knew that UCF was Richard Brunson ’84 going to be special. Cristina Calvet-Harrold ’01 ’03MBA John Gill ’86 A MORE PERFECT I MUST COMMEND YOU ON YOUR LAST ISSUE. IT WAS Jasmine Checchi Michael Griffin ’84 UNION informative and entertaining. Can I say it? It was a Hitt! A place to not only sit down and eat but also reconnect with Mike Hinn ’92 I was a student at UCF when it was FTU. The campus was friends — that really helped us motivate each other. Gerald McGratty Jr. ’71 ’72MBA The Student Union may look pretty big but nothing like it is now. Michael O’Shaughnessy ’81 Scott Morrison different the next time you’re on Dan Ward ’92 » BRUCE EVERSON ’78 I used to love studying at the tables near the windows on the campus. A renovation is adding third floor. There was very little noise, great lighting and a an additional 15,000 square feet nice view. to the heart of campus, which I LIVE OUT OF STATE, AND PEGASUS MAGAZINE Richard J. Cross means more space to gather, allows me to keep up with what’s going on at UCF. Though The fact that every time you walked through, you almost INBOX SUBMISSIONS study, eat and find relief from I’ll always be connected, my connection to the university and always ran into someone you knew. the Florida heat. other alumni feels that much stronger after reading an issue. Emails to the editor should be sent with the » DOUGLAS LEE ’98 writer’s name, graduation year, address and daytime phone number to [email protected]. Letters may be edited for length and clarity, and may be published in any medium. Due Pegasus is published Email: [email protected] to volume, we regret that we cannot reply to by UCF Marketing in Mail: UCF Marketing every letter. partnership with the PEGASUS P.O. Box 160090 UCF Foundation, Inc. Orlando, FL ©2018 University of Central Florida. All MOVED RECENTLY? NEED and UCF Alumni. 32816-0090 rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or TO UPDATE YOUR INFO? Opinions expressed in Pegasus are Phone: 407.882.1238 in part without permission is prohibited. not necessarily those shared by the Pegasus is a registered trademark of UCF Update your contact information: University of Central Florida. Alumni. ucfalumni.com/contactupdates

4 | FALL 2018 In Focus

FIRST CLASS

Fifty years ago, Central Florida changed forever when UCF — then known as Florida Technological University — opened for classes on October 7, 1968. During a morning convocation and dedication ceremony, President Charles Millican welcomed 1,948 students who became responsible for upholding the university’s motto of “Reach for the Stars.” These students would pursue studies to fulfill the region’s high demand for scientists, engineers, business professionals and teachers. “As members of the charter class, you will help establish the traditions and the reputation of an entirely new university. An opportunity and a responsibility such as this comes to only a few, but by working together we can make this a great university, one of which we can be proud.”

— Charles Millican, founding president of UCF 1,227 Acres made up the campus 300 Seats in the auditorium 90 Instructors taught the first classes. Today, UCF has more than 12,500 faculty and staff members. 55 Degree programs offered. Today, students can select from more than 215 degree programs. 7 Buildings on campus: a library, a science building, an auditorium, a village center, a utility plant and two residence halls 5 Founding colleges: Business Administration, Education, Humanities & Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Engineering & Technology

PHOTOS COURTESY OF UCF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AND UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES

6 | FALL 2018 UCF.EDU/PEGASUS | 7 In Focus

EXPANDED VIEWS

UCF continues to “Reach for the Stars” with its new commitment to manage the second-largest single- dish radio telescope on the planet — the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. Featured in films like Contact and GoldenEye, AO has played a vital role in many significant scientific discoveries and is responsible for finding and tracking potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroids. Scientists from around the world will continue to use the telescope to conduct radio, planetary and atmospheric science research. Over the next five years, UCF will work to acquire more funding and partners for the observatory to advance the future of space exploration. “The kind of science we can conduct with this observatory is important, and we didn’t want to see it go dark.”

— Elizabeth Klonoff, vice president for research and dean of the College of Graduate Studies 1963 Year Arecibo Observatory opened 1,000 feet Diameter of the telescope’s reflective dish 18.3464° Distance north of the equator $15 million Awarded to UCF-led consortium by the National Science Foundation to help manage the observatory 2 Consortium partners with UCF, the Universidad Metropolitana and Yang Enterprises 1 Nobel Prize awarded to scientists working at the observatory

To view more photos of President Dale P Whittaker’s recent trip to Arecibo, visit ucf.edu/pegasus.

8 | FALL 2018 UCF.EDU/PEGASUS | 9 In Focus

CHARGED UP

Designed with purpose, UCF’s newest District Energy Plant debuted its color-coded piping system in May to help teach engineering students how to build a cleaner world. Located near the Arboretum, DEP IV joined three other energy plants in providing chilled water for air conditioning and cooling processes to 64 buildings on campus. The new facility is the first to also produce hot water, which is used for heating, air conditioning and ventilation processes in the Research I building. By using energy-efficient materials and processes, the plant helps to reduce the university’s impact on climate change.

“As UCF strives to become a preeminent research university, the need for a robust district energy system like DEP IV is integral. Energy is not optional at UCF but how we manage and use it is.”

— Curt Wade, director of UCF’s Utilities and Energy Services

33,000 kilowatt hours Energy DEP IV uses on a daily basis. The average homeowner uses 30 kilowatt hours per day. $121,000 Annual savings the new plant generates for the university compared to a base efficiency plant

25,500 tons Chilled water generated daily by UCF’s four energy plants at full capacity. Without this system, each building would need its own air-conditioning units. 143° Temperature of the hot water produced by DEP IV 30 Fans used in DEP IV’s cooling towers, providing more resiliency compared to a standard one-fan tower 1st Industrial building on campus to receive LEED Gold certification

To view more photos and watch a video about DEP IV, visit ucf.edu/pegasus.

10 | FALL 2018 UCF.EDU/PEGASUS | 11 PEGASUS MAGAZINE Briefs

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS GENEROUS KNIGHTS SUPPORT Julia and Jim Rosengren ’81 committed $6.6 million to support areas at UCF ranging from sea turtle research, veterans, language programs, science and ONE-STOP CANCER CENTER football. Combined with their previous donations, the ON TOP Rosengrens have committed $7.95 million to UCF — The new UCF Lake Nona Cancer Center will house cancer researchers, clinical the largest total from an alum in university history. trials and treatment all under one roof and will be located next to UCF’s new Wakeboarding hospital, which is set to open in 2021. team in the #1 nation “This center will provide state-of-the-art Student Molly Murtha won #Rowing team in care for patients and a team of researchers UCF's first the American1 equestrian Athletic dedicated to finding new and better national Conference treatments for cancer. Cancer patients championship for the fourth title consecutive year who need to be hospitalized will be able #1 to go right next door for their care.” Student Allison Fleming was named 2018 DEBORAH GERMAN University National Champion for weightlifting UCF vice president for health affairs and dean of the in the 63KG weight class College of Medicine #1 Kiteboarding A MODEL PROGRAM team for the third UCF recently launched a new School of Modeling, Simulation and Training. Even before consecutive year creating the school, modeling and simulation programs at UCF have been landing Knights # into top-level positions with major companies and government agencies for years. More 1 PROSTHETICS FOR THE PEOPLE than 500 master’s and doctoral degrees have been awarded from UCF in Goldwater Scholarship The Limbitless Solutions team at UCF is involved the fields of modeling and simulation since 2004. awarded to junior in the first U.S. clinical trial for 3D-printed $183 MILLION George Walters-Marrah bionic prosthetics for children. The trial will help Record amount UCF received in research funding for 2018, taking a determine whether the custom-designed devices big leap toward the university’s goal of increasing research funding 1 will be covered by health insurance, making the to $250 million by 2020 Video game graduate prosthetic arms more affordable and accessible school in the world for children nationwide. #3 (The Princeton Review) “We hope our work Fulbright scholarships TREATING PTSD awarded to UCF will ultimately students for 2018–19 UCF’s cutting-edge RESTORES allow us to clinic, which helps treat people 6 living with post-traumatic stress Emergency Management and provide disorder, has been awarded a Homeland Security graduate $10 million grant to expand its program in the nation prosthetic arms work with the U.S. Army, Navy # (U.S. News & World Report) and Marines. Director Deborah 6 to children at Beidel says the clinic’s early research results demonstrate Counselor of Education graduate little or no cost.” that the intensive treatment program in the nation has significantly improved (U.S. News & World Report) symptoms in most patients, # ALBERT MANERO 10 with about two-thirds no longer $404,809,828 ’12 ’14MS ’16PHD CEO and co-founder showing the clinical criteria for Total amount contributed as of August 23 by nearly 100,000 donors to the IGNITE fundraising Nonprofit Management and of Limbitless Solutions a PTSD diagnosis. campaign, which aims to raise $500 million by June 2019. Optics & Photonics graduate programs in the nation #12 (U.S. News & World Report) 12 | FALL 2018 UCF.EDU/PEGASUS | 13 JUNE 5 AUG. 18 Senior studio art major Defensive lineman Malcolm Jenna Chastain worked Williams went airborne with clay during a while practicing tackles pottery class in the during football camp. Visual Arts building.

JUNE 20 Two students raced to the top of the Climbing Tower located in the Recreation and Wellness Center.

JUNE 20 Students enjoyed some gourmet popsicles at alumni-owned Pop Parlor in Knights Plaza.

JUNE 29 Construction on the new UCF Downtown campus is underway and on schedule to open in Fall 2019.

MAY 4 AUG. 21 More than 8,100 Students gathered to take selfies Knights graduated with Knightro during Pegasus this spring during Palooza’s concert night at CFE Arena. six commencement ceremonies. STRONGER TOGETHER How rising oceans will When it comes to Wahl’s research, he’s the first to impact communities admit he’s only one piece of the puzzle. “I know a lot about sea level and storm surges, and I know my way around and coastlines. CHALLENGE statistics,” he says. “But at SCANDINAVIA BY LAURA J. COLE Land is rising near the Baltic Sea as a result of ice some point, we need to know melting from the last ice age and reducing the what we can do with this n your next trip to the beach, tide gauges around the world to CHALLENGE load. “At least for now, people in Sweden can lean research. We have to take the you most likely won’t notice examine the occurrence of these GULF COAST back and enjoy sea-level rise,” Wahl says. next step. We need to answer: the change in sea level. It’s events, often referred to as 100-year Sinking land, such as along SOLUTION How many people will be rising globally by only about storm surges. Presently believed to the Gulf of Mexico, is a result affected, and how much will of pumping gas and extracting ADVANCE THE LINE: DUBAI 3 millimeters per year, which have only a 1 percent chance of hitting Man-made islands, such as the Palm Islands it cost us?” fluids out of the ground. may seem insignificant to in a given year, these storms are SOLUTION and The World, are built by dredging sand That’s where UCF’s new the average beachgoer. But according very dangerous and cause the most RETREAT: NEW YORK from the Persian and Arabian gulfs’ floors to National Center for Integrated O “Buyouts have started,” Wahl says, “in places create resort destinations. to Thomas Wahl, a coastal engineer at damage to homes and communities. like New York after Superstorm Sandy, where SOLUTION Coastal Research comes in. UCF, those small changes over time And Wahl’s research has found that the government will buy property so owners SOLUTION JAPAN It places coastal engineers After decades of groundwater can have a big impact on our coasts, in some areas, they could occur as can move away from the coast.” BUILD UP: and oceanographers in extraction was causing Tokyo especially in terms of storm surges often as every year or two and be GERMANY AND conversation with geographers, THE NETHERLANDS to sink, the government and flooding. more severe. The Dutch and Germans passed laws limiting the who can produce maps to “What’s dangerous are hurricanes, When asked what advice he’s given have “built dikes, dunes and amount of water that could be used by stakeholders and storms and nor’easters pushing water to friends as a result of his research, barriers that can be closed to be pumped, which has helped policymakers; with economists, toward the coast,” Wahl says. he says, “Maybe don’t buy beach protect coastal communities, slow the retreat significantly. who can look at the impact He explains it in terms of giving property, at least not on the ground ports, harbors and marinas,” to costs of goods and services EQUATOR Wahl says. toddlers baths. Fill two tubs halfway floor or without other measures around the globe; with with water. One child likes to play in place to prevent your home biologists, who can say how calmly with his toys, maybe pushing from being flooded. And get flood CHALLENGE much natural solutions such as a boat around in between shampoo insurance.” EQUATOR wetlands and oyster reefs can rinses, and another has full-on sea Sea levels are rising the fastest along the offset potential damages; and battles with hers. The rowdier child “Changes in sea-level rise may be equator. There are a few reasons for this, such with political scientists, who is more likely to splash water onto as ice sheets and glaciers melting, causing the can determine what regulations the floor. Now, fill both tubs higher, water to head toward the equator while the sea are needed to help coastal imperceptible to the naked eye, but those level near the polar ice caps drops. and the likelihood of water spilling communities be more resilient. over onto the floor increases for both changes over time, amplified by storm “Rather than just looking scenarios. at water levels like I do, “As the bathtub fills up, the base surges and flooding, lead to considerable together, we’re able water level gets higher and higher, ESTIMATED FREQUENCY IN YEARS OF 100-YEAR FLOODS BY 2050 to look at the entire meaning smaller storms (or calmer system almost as an loss of life and billions of dollars of 1–2 2–5 5–10 10–20 20–50 50–100 100–10,000 toddlers) have a higher likelihood to organism that has to produce the same water level, which Data was collected from existing tide gauges. Locations without dots be protected and has to damage each year globally.” indicate either a lack of tide gauge data for that area or not enough data can lead to flooding,” Wahl says. over an extended period of time to be reliable. become more resilient if it Wahl’s research, which was recently — THOMAS WAHL, assistant professor of engineering wants to survive,” Wahl says. published in Nature, uses data from

16 | FALL 2018 UCF.EDU/PEGASUS | 17 The Feed Find more @ ucf.edu/today @UCF @University of Central Florida STORM SPEED Category 1 storms start at Nobel Recognition Storm Survivor BUILDERS 74 mph and can increase to Jaha Dukureh ’18MNM was From the peak of a mountain to a UCF a Category 5 once winds reach nominated for a Nobel Peace dorm, one Puerto Rican student shares 157 mph or more. On average, Prize for her work to end female her journey after Hurricane Maria. TIME OF THE YEAR a hurricane’s forward speed is about 15 to 20 mph, which can genital mutilation. bit.ly/ucf-storm-survivor While the Atlantic hurricane bring heavy rain when stalled. bit.ly/ucf-nobel-recognition season starts in June, more Storms with a forward speed than 80 percent of hurricanes accelerating more than 60 mph form mid-August through result in less rainfall. mid-October. This is because hurricanes develop in the THE Caribbean earlier in the season, while later-season SIZE storms form off the African A hurricane’s eye is usually coast and grow as they cross 20 to 40 miles across, the Atlantic. with winds for a small Smart Toy storm extending 25 miles Using a toy, UCF Assistant IMPERFECT INTENSITY out and winds for a large Professor Fernando storm extending 150 Uribe-Romo has developed A storm’s intensity is influenced miles or more out. While by ocean temperature. An ocean larger storms cover more a way to create a new temperature of more than 79 area, smaller storms, like air-cleaning energy known degrees Fahrenheit is needed Hurricane Charley (which as artificial photosynthesis. for a hurricane to begin forming. was 37 miles wide at bit.ly/ucf-smart-toy As the storm moves across landfall), are still able warm water, it strengthens. to cause major damage.

PHOTO OF CARPENTER ANT BY DANNY GOODDING DANNY OF CARPENTER ANT BY PHOTO Attack of the Zombie Ants STORMBY NICOLE DUDENHOEFER ’17 UCF Assistant Professor Charissa de Bekker is What a game is teaching studying how fungus is able to manipulate and kill South Florida families about hurricane carpenter ants. bit.ly/ucf-zombie-ants Pondering Potter preparation in real time. UCF Professor Tison Pugh explains why Harry Potter belongs nspired by the board game Battleship, a simulator among the literary greats. developed by researchers in UCF’s E2i Creative WHAT’S TRENDING ON... bit.ly/ucf-pondering-potter Studio is helping families in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, HOME BUILDERS learn how to prepare for hurricanes. Funded by UCF TODAY TWITTER FACEBOOK the National Science Foundation and located in June 28 @UCFPD LOCATION ’Block Ban University of Central Florida the Museum of Discovery and Science, the Hawaii banned sunblock containing Carl Metzger, a 29-year law enforcement veteran, If you live in a beach area be has been selected as the next chief of the UCF July 6, 2018 oxybenzone after a UCF professor’s sure to protect your home with Hurricane Simulator challenges players to either Police Department. sandbags. Urban dwellers should I research showed its impact on coral Can The Rock Make the Jump? build the perfect storm or the perfect home for secure outdoor items — such reefs. bit.ly/ucf-block-ban Despite what skeptics on social media are saying about Dwayne “The Rock” survival within 2.5 minutes. July 9 @FYAEUCF as furniture and toys — inside, Welcome new #UCF22 Knights and guests Johnson’s jump in the Skyscraper movie, UCF physics Associate Professor and make sure their neighbors to your freshman orientation session! We Costas Efthimiou determined whether or not it is actually possible. have as well. Rural homeowners Through repeated rounds, users learn how their virtual HOME look forward to helping you begin your new Full story at bit.ly/ucf-skyscraper should collect natural debris and decisions can keep them safe when practiced in the adventure at UCF! secure it in a garage or sealed PROTECTION real world. structure. Storm shutters and garage braces Aug 2 @annemariekaz are the best way to secure your When I was a kid, I remember visiting my dad windows and doors; however “In understanding how not to do it right, [users] BUILDING MATERIALS at @UCF as he installed this #pegasus in the plywood is cheaper and can understand exactly how to do it right,” says Union. Three degrees later I finally got my photo AND DESIGN provide protection when installed Eileen Smith, director of E2i Creative Studio, with it. I couldn’t think of a better way to honor While wood frame homes are properly. While tape is most easily his memory and celebrate being a #tripleknight cheaper, concrete homes are available, it is ineffective for a research lab within UCF’s Institute for Potential Power #ucfalumni #phdlife protection. much stronger to resisting storm Simulation and Training. “We know A smart solar energy revolution is impact. Homes with hip, or upon us, and UCF Professor Issa pyramid-shaped, roofs are more from learning theory we learn SUPPLIES Batarseh explains how it can happen. stable for wind resistance than almost more from our mistakes bit.ly/ucf-potential-power flat and gable, or triangular, Generators can help with power than we do from our successes 19K Views 82 comments roofs. Hurricanes classified as outages for days or weeks, but Erika Adams Thank you for such cool teaching moments. I was never Category 2 and above are able they require a consistent gas because they make us think. Cool Mom a physics student, but I would totally take this class now. July 6 to completely destroy older supply. Purchase plenty of They make us reflect.” UCF Associate Instructor Joan mobile homes. batteries to keep radios and McCain shares what it’s like to have Vijay Andy Boodoo Of course it’s possible. It’s The Rock! July 6 flashlights powered. Be sure to her daughter move back in after Natalie Rivera I took his class! Made physics fun July 6 stock up on enough water for at graduation. bit.ly/ucf-cool-mom least three days with a minimum of one gallon per day per person.

UCF.EDU/PEGASUS | 19

PEGASUS

THE DEAL

ON DALE ale Whittaker may surprise you. battle. Everyone here is positioned and What I mean by that is the future of them were going dancing that night, UCF’s president and former provost and executive vice president has ready to move — not only the institution Central Florida will depend on talent. and they invited me. I said, “If I finish Kewanee, Illinois an unbounded curiosity about the world and unbridled optimism about in some abstract, reputational sense, And it will depend on talent at a very, all of my calculus, then maybe I’ll Hometown: people’s potential. but in terms of the students who are very high level in terms of new ideas, come out.” I hadn’t really intended to Wife: Mary Maybe that comes from growing up in rural Middle America, working with here right now and their future children goods and services. That’s what UCF go out, but she was so intriguing that Children: Dane and Erin farmers and witnessing hardworking people who toiled the earth regardless and grandchildren. provides. The future of UCF will I finished my calculus early and of whether that year brought famine or feast. Or from studying engineering, depend on the growing population. went dancing. Birthday: August 13, 1961 where he learned that every problem has many possible solutions. Or from What made you switch careers What is your personal ethos? It’ll depend on growing partnerships. Hidden talent: Plays the pushing his own physical boundaries through marathons and adventure travel. from agriculture to education, It’ll depend on philanthropy, and that I’ve seen from Instagram that harmonica He has all the credentials of a president: degrees from Texas A&M and can only come when this community specifically higher education? My ethos is one of service. One of you like to travel quite a bit. What Band names: The Skillet Lickers Purdue, a litany of published work and teaching awards, and a lengthy tai chi, by which I mean innovating industries in engineering, technology, rises. So UCF and Central Florida sparked your love of traveling, (bluegrass), Moonshine Mason curriculum vitae detailing his experience and successful programs. I grew up working in a family business around the rocks sitting in your way power systems and simulation here. are totally dependent and in a very and where are you going next? and the Rot Gut Gang (vintage But what you’ll find when you meet Whittaker is someone who’s genuinely where we served farmers. I knew that rather than trying to push them out Central Florida is on a trajectory exciting way. Both engines are revving country) interested in what it means to grow and expand as a person. Someone who, as college was a key to opening doors of the way. One of bringing other to expand its economy. It’ll still right now. When I was 12, I started traveling Best advice he’s been given: a kid, was given a harmonica and taught himself to play by ear. Someone who that would take me beyond what I saw people along. And one that always keep agriculture, entertainment from Texas to Illinois on Amtrak Assume that people do what believes in traveling to new places and setting personal challenges for himself, such and the role models that I met, but I looks way out into the future. When and hospitality as part of its main What do you think is the every summer to work on the farm. they believe is right. as walking 150 miles across northern England this summer with his wife, Mary. grew up with the question of whether I wake up at night, I think about two economic drivers, but we’re in the biggest challenge facing higher I also spent a summer in Berlin when Worst advice he’s been given: When asked what he loves about UCF, Whittaker says it’s the dreamers, the I really wanted to go or not. I went generations out. What are we doing midst of adding a technology- and education today? I was in college. Both really sparked Don’t focus too much on students until you get tenure. strivers and the undaunted believers. He respects our students, faculty and because it was an expectation of my right now that will impact them? It knowledge-based economy. UCF is my love of traveling. staff who take chances every day to better themselves, to do more than they family — my dad was the first in his sounds like a long way off, but there’s uniquely positioned again to be a We live in a culture that often feels What continues my love of traveling Most unusual job: Truck driver thought they could, to leave the world better than they found it. family and his town to go to college — a tremendous urgency right now. fresh driver of all those economies. that higher education is disconnected, is how time slows down when you What’s on his TV: UCF sports As one of only a few people in his high school class to graduate from college, and because I was really hungry for Being an engineer doesn’t bias irrelevant and maybe not necessary. have new experiences, and the world or WUCF TV Whittaker went on to become the president of a university. So perhaps the a wider world. me toward engineering (although There’s this incredible need for an gets a little more colorful and a little “ Biggest personal potential he sees in UCF and its people is a reflection of himself. And perhaps I’VE ALWAYS LIKED educated and trained workforce, At the time, I thought I wanted it’s fun). What I would say is it gives brighter and a little more interesting. accomplishment: Running the it’s not so surprising that UCF would attract someone like him to lead its next to be an engineer and fix problems. and yet we’re not telling our story TO GO ABOUT me a systems-level perspective and I get a rush out of that. Where are Chicago Marathon barefoot generation of big thinkers and doers. Namely, I wanted to figure out how approach to a very complex system. as higher education in a way that is we going next? I don’t think we’ve Preferred ways to relax: Making to feed as many people as possible. 20 PERCENT BEYOND UCF is a very complex system, and it connected to help people understand decided yet but probably India. music. Making art. Walking. As an undergrad, I was invited to do requires a methodological approach the urgency of that need. I think that Anything but sitting still. research, which drew me in through WHAT I THOUGHT both for advancing it and the way our the greatest need in higher education You’ve run marathons, and you Local recommendation: Black intellectual curiosity and led me to system interacts with the social and today is clarity of vision and then and Mary recently walked across WAS POSSIBLE AND Bear Wilderness Area near graduate school. As I was finishing cultural ecosystems of our region. responsiveness and adaptation to England. What inspired you Sanford graduate school, I had this draw to Where do arts and humanities deliver a relevant higher education to do both? SET MY GOALS THERE.” Favorite places in Orlando: stay engaged in the creative enterprise play a part? As we continue to that is going to get us where we need Thornton Park, Orlando Brewing, and to teach other people. There was develop economies that are based to be as a country. In both cases, it was the belief that Audubon Park Community a tremendous amount of satisfaction in You’re an engineer. UCF was on knowledge and technology, I couldn’t. I’ve always liked to go Market on Mondays, Tasty Takeover in the Milk District seeing other people reach their dreams. founded as a technological the importance of understanding Which possibility at UCF are you about 20 percent beyond what I university. How do you plan creativity, self-analysis and the most passionate about as you begin thought was possible and set my Recent reads: Interviews with Why this job? Why be president to expand upon engineering human condition becomes higher. your presidency? goals there. Francis Bacon by David Sylvester, The Shepherd’s Life: Modern of UCF? and technology, and what role An institution that can provide all of The other thing is, especially Dispatches from an Ancient do you see the arts and those opportunities to students is an Social mobility. Lifting lives and during walks, the world — ideas, Landscape by James Rebanks This is a position where there’s no humanities playing? institution of the 21st century. And livelihoods for multiple generations. conversations — moves at a human “they” above you. You know: “They” that’s really what UCF is. We will have Period. pace. You’re walking on trails that may say you can’t do this. “They” say you Engineering, technology and science just as many artists and physicists as we have been walked on for a thousand should do that. When there is no more have always been part of the DNA of will businesspeople and social workers. How did you and your wife, Mary, years, and the trail hasn’t changed. “they,” then you’re in a position to really UCF. This institution was founded They’re all vital to the breadth, meet? Where did you go on your And there’s something inspiring have leverage and broad-scale impact on technological challenges — like the complexity and richness of life. first date? about remembering who we are and in a way that can be very profound and space race — that opened windows into where we come from as a civilization. positive. And there’s no place to have humanity, into who we really are in the What is UCF’s role in the future Mary’s twin sister was interested in more impact in the world than as a broader sense. of Central Florida? a guy who lived across the hall from president of a university. This is a university that has always me. I was studying with my door open “Why UCF?” is because it was built partnered well with the industries Critical, co-dependent, ultimately when we met. (She will tell you that based on that promise. It’s not an uphill around it, and we have very strong linked destinies. No question. I was always studying.) The three of

1983: B.S. IN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY • 1984: M.S. IN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING, PURDUE UNIVERSITY • 1987: PH.D. IN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING, PURDUE • 1987–2002: PROFESSOR, TEXAS A&M • 1996–99: DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR FOOD

PROCESSING, TEXAS A&M • 1999–2002: ASSOCIATE HEAD FOR RESEARCH AND GRADUATE EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ENGIN EERING, TEXAS A&M • 2002–14: PROFESSOR, PURDUE • 2002–10: ASSOCIATE DEAN AND DIRECTOR OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, COLLEGE OF

AGRICULTURE, PURDUE • 2010–14: VICE PROVOST FOR UNDERGRADUATE ACADEMIC AFFAIRS, PURDUE • 2012–14: ACTING VICE PRESI DENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS, PURDUE • 2014–18: PROVOST AND EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, UCF • 2018–CURRENT: PRESIDENT, UCF

22 | FALL 2018 UCF.EDU/PEGASUS | 23 hey’re behind. or students Timothy Buzzelli, They can see it on Alex Coleman and Eric Ly ’18, They were one of seven three- the scoreboard inside Beijing wasn’t the goal, but person teams comprising what’s Ta cavernous room at Florida Frather the expectation. The goal referred to as UCF’s varsity International University — abuzz was to medal — something no UCF program, the teams that go to with the low hum of murmuring team had done since Bill Clinton was regionals. Another four teams of conversation, the scribble of pencil president — “to show that we were three compete as junior varsity, on paper, the clack of keyboards — on the rise,” Coleman says. mostly freshmen and sophomores as 120 or so other teams, clustered Buzzelli and Coleman had been who expect to move up as the top at desks in groups of three, tick off to the world championships before, programmers age out. Even they are problems one by one. It isn’t just in 2017, though it was in the less among the elites; every year, about that they’re not solving problems exotic locale of Rapid City, South roughly 200 students compete for at the same clip as the others. They Dakota, where they’d finished better 33 slots. expect that to happen. Starting than any UCF team this century: tied But of the seven varsity squads, slow and playing catch-up is an So they expect to be behind. for 13th out of 133, the best in the there’s almost always one that element of their strategy, chiseled They expect to catch up toward the U.S. (beating teams from Columbia, stands out, one that’s supposed to from years of experience, honed end, having a healthy head start on Cornell, Harvard, MIT and Stanford, win the regional and show the world by all-day Saturday practices and the difficult problems that can take among others), second in North what UCF can do. From the outset, deep-into-the-night weekday hours to figure out. But they don’t America. expectations are high. trainings. expect things to simply not click. Their appetite was whetted. “We take the programming team That’s not the worrisome part. After all, they’re UCF’s best They wanted more. very seriously,” says Ali Orooji, A lot of teams try to solve the programming team, maybe its best Buzzelli was a natural. The son associate professor of computer easy problems first — insofar as ever. And UCF has perhaps the of a software engineer, he’d been science, who serves as the team’s any of these questions can be premier programming program in programming since the age of 9, faculty advisor. “They put so much called “easy” — then tackle the the entire country. It’s been that was gifted at geometry problems time and effort into it. How the harder ones later. That makes sense. way for decades, for as long as and was the ace the team turned to University of Alabama feels about If you solve the most problems competitive programming has for the toughest questions. Coleman football, that’s how we feel about within the designated five-hour been a real thing. UCF’s teams had been programming since the programming team.” window, you win the Southeast almost always go to the world middle school, and programming And like Alabama’s football team regional. You go to the world championships. They have every competitively since high school. — or, if you put more stock in actual championship, the ultimate Battle year since 2011. And for 36 straight Ly, the oldest of the bunch, was win-loss records than a computer of the Brains, the Super Bowl of years — the longest streak in the nonetheless a new addition to the algorithm, last season’s Knights — Smart People. country — UCF had placed in the unit, a latecomer to competitive these three programmers would go You go to Beijing. top three in the Southeast. programming who earned his spot on to prove themselves to be the But the UCF team went in They’d be damned if they were through grit and determination. best team in the United States. with a different ploy in mind. Two the team that failed. Stay calm, they teammates would crank through tell themselves. Stay focused. Don’t the easy problems, while the third, stare at the scoreboard. the ace, bore down on the hard And just like that, it comes ones. This way, they wouldn’t together, like it always does, like HOW THE UNIVERSITY rush at the end to solve the most it’s supposed to, their months of difficult questions; accuracy, practice paying off. In an hour, they OF ALABAMA FEELS ABOUT after all, is a primary tiebreaking solve more of the 11 problems than UCF’S PROGRAMMING TEAM criterion. At the same time, they most teams do all day, rocketing FOOTBALL, THAT’S HOW WE FEEL BECAME FIRST IN NORTH wouldn’t waste two hours on a up the scoreboard from 10th to ABOUT THE PROGRAMMING TEAM.” problem they discovered they first. They win. The second-place AMERICA BY FALLING BEHIND. couldn’t solve. team also comes from UCF, two problems behind them. But only one team goes to the world BY JEFFREY C. BILLMAN ’01 ’10MA championship. Only them. Beijing. “I didn’t want to give up,” he but we come back from them.” In recalls. “I trained on my own. I the contest’s second of five hours, learned to do all those problems. they were in 60th or 70th place, “I felt like my heart was going n the past 35 years, UCF has It’s a lot of thinking, learning with Buzzelli — per the team’s to jump out of my chest,” Ly says. finished better than 10th in techniques and algorithms and strategy — using the only computer And here they were, in a the world finals four times, how to apply them. When someone terminal to solve a difficult large gymnasium inside Peking capped by a second-place finish in starts out, a strategy is to do a lot geometry problem. They set a goal University, 139 teams of three (of 1987. But things were different then, of [past competition] problems of finishing no lower than 30th. which 23 were American), all facing Orooji points out. There was less and learn techniques from those Buzzelli finished, then Linge and a giant scoreboard, hundreds of competition, fewer programmers. problems.” Coleman unloaded their solutions students and teachers talking and The team, which had just a handful By spring, the coaches were so on the terminal. Soon enough, they milling about. I FELT of members, was mostly doing impressed by his dedication and were shooting up the scoreboard. “It was really intimidating,” things on its own. Orooji had come progress that they invited him to As returning members of the t the end of April, the Ly says. “These are really smart LIKE MY to UCF in ’85, but he didn’t become join the JV squad. The next fall, he top American team, Buzzelli three teammates along people.” the team’s faculty advisor for made varsity. At regionals that year, and Coleman came into 2017–18 with Orooji and six UCF’s strategy going in was HEART another four years. Back then the his team placed 10th, dead last out as UCF’s all-stars. They’d both coaches made the long flight to tightly focused. They doubted TIM BUZZELLI As the years went on and the A WAS GOING team was just a handful of students, of UCF’s entries. made varsity as freshmen in 2015, China. They arrived a week early, they’d be able to win it all. They’d its success an outgrowth of UCF’s program grew, the team became “That day put a stronger drive in something few do. They were both to allow them to see the sites done some scouting of the teams TO JUMP OUT computer science program and the something of a fraternity. Former me,” he says. “I trained even harder already good at programming, but and to adjust to the 12-hour time they were up against. The winners topflight talent it attracted. teammates returned as coaches, after losing.” needed to work on strategy and difference. — first place went to Moscow OF MY CHEST.” Computer programming, let helping develop younger players’ In 2016, paired with two new problem-solving techniques. There were a few short practices, State University, with the Moscow alone competitive programming, skills. The team had its own lab, teammates, Ly’s team placed “The analogy I have used is that just to keep them sharp, but most Institute of Physics & Technology a was in its infancy. The first where members could hang out second at regionals, just missing programming is like speaking a of the week was set aside for close second — weren’t a surprise. At contest’s end, they were programming course Orooji took and work on problems. There were a trip to the world championship language,” Coleman says. “It’s a tool relaxation and playing tourist. At But they wanted a medal, so that’s No. 10, good enough for a bronze was in grad school. Today, he says, Tuesday dinners at Fujiyama Sushi. — and behind only Buzzelli and you can use to do different things. first, Coleman says, Beijing looked where they set their sights. medal and to be No. 1 in North kids learn about computers in There was camaraderie. Coleman’s team. Competitive programming is like like any other big city, except There are three types of medals America, but tantalizingly close to grade school and programming “It’s definitely a very close-knit some type of speech competition. that everything was in Chinese in the world championships: gold something more. They’d correctly in high school. By the time they group,” says Buzzelli. “Most of us You have to be able to speak a instead of English. But the more to teams one through four, silver to answered seven of the 11 questions; get to college, they’re miles ahead live in that lab. We’re all there day language, but it’s so much more they looked — at places like the five through eight, and bronze to one more, and they would have ALEX COLEMAN of where their forebears were a in and day out. Everyone on the THAT DAY than that.” Forbidden City and Tiananmen nine through 12. “We were shooting placed at least fifth. generation ago. At the same time, programming team is like my best They practiced hard and Square, they realized how different for bronze,” Coleman says. “Our “In hindsight,” Coleman says, the questions are harder and the friend in college.” PUT A improved rapidly. By their it was from the U.S. Beijing is a strategy was set for that as well. We “it always feels like you could competition stiffer. There was also a lot of work. STRONGER sophomore year, they were part modern city whose ancient past is could have done more risky things.” have done better. At the end of Even so, UCF has maintained For Ly, that meant going above of UCF’s top team. Buzzelli ranked tangible and ever-present. “It’s a But they stuck to their game plan: the contest, there was one more its dominance. All seven of the and beyond the 20 hours a week DRIVE IN ME. first in tryouts at the beginning culture that’s so different than ours. Buzzelli took the hardest question, problem, and we didn’t quite get it. teams it sent to the Southeast the team expects. Unlike Buzzelli of the year, Coleman second. And We realized how alive all of that while Ly and Coleman worked I felt like if we had started it a little regional last November placed in and Coleman, he didn’t grow up I TRAINED EVEN in their junior year, they told their culture felt.” through the easy ones. earlier, we could’ve gotten it.” the top nine. In the past 15 years, programming. He grew up in the coaches that they wanted Ly to join As competition day neared, Ly They expected to start out behind, They flew home the next day. the school has won regionals small town of Leesburg, Florida, HARDER AFTER them. They’d seen his dedication was increasingly nervous. Buzzelli and they did. On the scoreboard they Ly began a summer internship with 10 times and gone to the world and started at UCF in 2010 with and work ethic, his long nights in and Coleman had been on this slipped to the middle of the pack. Google, and Buzzelli and Coleman finals 13 times. No school in the plans to be a doctor, like his family LOSING.” the lab and rapid improvement, his stage before, but he hadn’t. They But, as they always did, they began started internships with Facebook. Southeast, and very few schools wanted. Three years in, he decided willingness to teach new players. had fallen just short of their goal to climb, edging into the top 10, as Coleman and Buzzelli are supposed anywhere, can boast that level that wasn’t for him. The decision wasn’t entirely last year, and they were counting on high as fourth, then dropping, then to graduate this year, though ERIC LY ’18 of success. Considering that Trying to figure out what he theirs. Ly had to try out. His him to get them where they wanted picking up ground, then dropping, Coleman is thinking about sticking some 3,000 schools and 50,000 wanted to do with himself, he placement wasn’t just a matter of to be this time around. and so on. around for a master’s degree. students compete worldwide every tried his hand at several different how well he did in the competition, Ly has graduated and is entering year, that’s not an insignificant courses, including Introduction to y the time tryouts came but of how his skill set balanced out grad school. achievement. Programming. As he does with all around last fall, Buzzelli his teammates’ skills. In the same As with any competition, after “I love programming,” Orooji computer science courses, Orooji and Coleman knew way a basketball team might not a quick moment of basking in says. But when he started, “I was stopped by to encourage students Bwhom they wanted as their third want five point guards on the floor, glory, attention turns to the next not sure what was involved.” What to try out for the programming teammate. Joshua Linge ’14 ’16MS, a programming team wouldn’t want season. Ly will be on that team — was involved was a lot of time. team the next fall. their teammate for the 2016–17 three teammates whose specialties the school had to get him a waiver, A believer in leading by example, In the fall of 2014, Ly did. year, had graduated. (He’s now a overlap. since the competition is supposed Orooji showed up to Saturday He didn’t make it. Not even close. software engineer for Facebook.) “The competition for that last to be for undergrads only — but practices, something the team With him, they’d done well: They’d spot was a struggle,” Ly says. But Coleman and Buzzelli will not. The has continued to this day. won regionals, of course. They’d in the end, Ly joined Coleman and contest’s rules allow players to only also placed 13th in the world, if you COACH “I wasn’t planning to do it for Buzzelli’s team. Three months compete in the world finals twice. 30 years,” he says. “But I enjoyed counted the number of questions later, they were in South Florida, But that doesn’t mean they’re done ALI OROOJI it so much.” they answered. But they’d just characteristically falling behind and CHARGE with UCF’s programming team. No missed a medal. then catching up in the Southeast ON! one who comes through it is ever “We were super happy about regional. really done with it. that,” Coleman says. It wasn’t just “We want to win regionals every “Now that Timothy and I will where they ended up, but how they year,” Buzzelli says. “And all of be coaches, we’ll be able to help,” got there: “We have rough starts, UCF’s teams aim to finish ahead Coleman says. “Maybe we’ll set our of Georgia Tech.” sights on silver next year.” PEGASUS

randon Marshall ’06 wants it known from the “College campuses can drive societal change,” says start: This story should not be about him. In Bryce Hagedorn ’00MA, associate professor of counselor fact, he’s reluctant to be interviewed. It would be too easy to get education. Hagedorn attended the first presentation from sidetracked and talk about football and numbers and media coverage Project 375 at UCF earlier this year, where Michi shared and … him. That’s what happens when you’re a legendary UCF player, a mental health first aid kit with 150 people. He says, “This a six-time Pro Bowl selection in the NFL, and the first receiver in is just as important as making sure everyone knows how NFL history with six 100-catch seasons. to perform CPR. We’re at the front end of a shift in how we And there we go, reviewing those types of statistics rather than think about mental health. We can thank the Marshalls. diving into the one that matters most to Brandon and his wife, They have a powerful story, and they’ve done us all a favor Michi (Nogami) Marshall ’06: According to the National Alliance by being open about it.” on Mental Illness, about 1 in 5 people in the U.S. live with a mental health disorder. Quietly. Alone. In class. At work. One in 5. WE HAVE TO TELL BRANDON’S STORY. BUT IT HAS It’s why Brandon and Michi founded Project 375 as a to be told with Michi because without her there might not springboard for people to discuss mental health as easily as be a redeeming theme about mental health and no impetus we discuss last weekend’s football games. (They named the for Project 375 — just football statistics and negative nonprofit after Pantone color 375, lime green, which is the color perceptions. for national mental health awareness.) “When Brandon and I look back at how everything has “It’s a myth to think mental health is too complex to talk about,” aligned, even through the darkest times,” says Michi, says Michi, who graduated from UCF with degrees in psychology “we both believe without a doubt that God has orchestrated and criminal justice. “Often, the only time we hear about mental it all.” health is in times of crisis or tragedy. Our goal is to make it part of Start with their contrasting childhoods. Brandon grew our daily interactions with our kids, our grandparents, our teachers, up in a volatile environment in Pittsburgh, surrounded by everyone. We all need to be involved.” alcoholism and crime and family stress. Michi was raised In 2017, UCF became the first university to officially partner with with the guidance of a mother with a doctorate in clinical Project 375, which trains educators and students in Youth Mental Health psychology, learning to understand the behavior of people The number of people privately First Aid Training so they can assist in identifying people with mental and how to peel back the veneer. health challenges and lead them to help. Imagine how many students “She always told us, ‘You never know what someone is dealing with mental health issues and teachers could learn to notice what’s really under the masks. going through,’” Michi says. In 2006, Brandon saw Michi across the UCF Student will stun you. It’s why alumni THE STATISTICS OF MENTAL ILLNESS ARE STAGGERING: Union and told a teammate, “That young lady will be Twenty percent of U.S. adults experience it in a given year. They aren’t my wife someday.” Michi wasn’t immediately interested Brandon and Michi Marshall necessarily living on the street or beating at the air with their fists. because if she had one preconception as an underclassman, It might be the woman at the coffee shop. The guy sitting next to you in it was about athletes “playing games.” Still, she and Brandon launched Project 375 — to make class. The people in your office. The family members in your home. Your became friends. best friend. It could also be her: that girl who sits alone. The look that Michi finds Brandon to be kindhearted, humble, mental health the most important may read as, “Everyone stay away from me,” could be her way of saying, hardworking — a man who adores his mother and treats “Someone please notice me.” Michi like a princess. “He modeled himself after the loving, topic of conversation you have today. How can we approach that girl and say, “I see you”? caring people he wanted to be. I knew he was genuine.” “The great thing we’re learning from Project 375 is how to get beyond They married in 2010. BY ROBERT STEPHENS the surface and talk about this,” says Pamela “Sissi” Carroll, dean of And then the tumult began. Brandon’s inner drive to be UCF’s College of Community Innovation and Education. “Most of us perfect turned into a sea of internal stress. “I know who he are aware of the signs related to those who live with disordered eating is to the core,” says Michi, “but environmental factors in his or who suffer from physical abuse. But what do you look for with upbringing started bubbling to the surface. Mental disorders mental illness? Brandon and Michi are saying, as caring human beings, can stem from a chemical imbalance or wiring or genetics. we shouldn’t leave people to handle it on their own.” For Brandon, the stress of performing at such a high level Flaky. Grumpy. Moody. We’ve all made judgments about people, triggered something. The Brandon I’d fallen in love with was which is why Project 375 targets schools, where assumptions are still disappearing.” being shaped. PHOTO BY MARCUS SMITH

28 | FALL 2018 UCF.EDU/PEGASUS | 29 PEGASUS

All of which describes Williams in college. He says, “On the outside, people thought I was fine. Looking back, there were signs — like losing interest in basketball. But I tried to cover it all up. I didn’t want to tell anyone, but down deep I hoped someone might notice.” One night, at his lowest and loneliest, Williams Googled “famous athletes with mental illness.” The first name to come up was Brandon Marshall. “I read his story and saw the lime green shoes. It humanized where I was, made me realize that I’m not alone, and that the worst thing to do is to push it off to the side,” says Williams. Often, doctors will give a blanket diagnosis like “anxiety” or “depression.” But a specialist can drill deeper to the root and possibly find something more specific, like BPD or, in Williams’ case, bipolar disorder II. “Bipolar disorder is one of the most stigmatized illnesses in our culture because it’s so misunderstood,” says Williams. “It doesn’t mean a person is necessarily unstable or short-fused. The ups and downs have varying levels of severity. That’s why I’m — MICHI (NOGAMI) MARSHALL ’06 so open about it. When someone says, ‘Oh, you’re crazy,’ or ‘Oh, you’re bipolar,’ I can say, ‘Yeah, actually, I am living with a bipolar disorder. Let me tell you about it.’ ” Last fall, Williams helped bring Project 375’s Youth Mental Health First Aid Training to his school district. PHOTO BY TASOS KATOPODIS/GETTY IMAGES FOR CHILD MIND INSTITUTE In addition to bringing Project 375 to campus, Michi and Brandon Marshall He told the captains of his basketball team why he wears donated $60,000 to UCF for The Project 375 Graduate Assistant Fellowship, a lime green hoodie. which will provide scholarships for graduate counseling students. Five years ago, Williams went alone to a fundraiser for mental illness. Last year, 30 people joined him, including The public scrutiny at that time only made matters worse. The media The Project 375 team says the only way we can make progress is if everyone the captains of his basketball team. “[It was] the high point used negative labels — erratic, sulking, unpredictable — to put Brandon is part of the conversation: the sister, the spouse, the teacher, the classmate, of my coaching,” he says. in a box. They attempted to rewrite his story. the roommate, the teammate. Everyone. For all those years, while he tried to shake free from his “It’s the same way we make assumptions about the people around us “It takes a lot for a person of Brandon’s stature, someone known for own thoughts, he just needed someone to come alongside and think we know everything about them,” Carroll says. When in toughness, to be so open about his challenges,” says Hagedorn. “But he and allow him to be authentic. reality, as Michi’s mom wisely advised, you never know what someone and Michi are taking the second important step with Project 375. They’re “I’ve never met Brandon Marshall,” says Williams, is going through. implementing an action plan. They’re paying it forward. You can sense their “but it’s fair to say that he saved my life.” Michi, who is certified in behavioral forensics and behavioral profiling, passion for this.” encouraged Brandon to talk openly about what he was going through As Brandon famously tweeted in October 2013 after the NFL fined him IMAGINE UCF STUDENTS AND FACULTY and seek counseling. After meeting with numerous professionals, he $10,500 for wearing lime green cleats during a game: “Football is my platform becoming more aware of mental health, taking a step finally got an answer at McLean Hospital in Massachusetts where he not my purpose.” closer, and asking, “How are you doing?” with a whole new was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD). While Michi says she would not change a single event from the past 12 years. “God meaning. there, Brandon met others facing similar challenges — doctors, lawyers, has always had a bigger purpose for us. He gave Brandon a message from his “The timing for Project 375 is right,” says Hagedorn. businesspeople, teachers and social workers. experience. He gave me the professional training. It’s serendipitous that we’re “I think students and faculty are more open to this than “You never would have known [they were suffering],” says Brandon. back at UCF, using Project 375 to touch lives.” we were 10 years ago. You take the scale of our student Meeting people from all walks of life who were living with mental illness body and the school’s mission to be forward-thinking, inspired Brandon to tell the world about his BPD. For a 6-foot-5-inch, LIVES ARE ALSO BEING TOUCHED MORE THAN 2,000 MILES it equals impact.” 230-pound athlete who combines the moves of a dragonfly with the from the UCF campus, in Buckeye, Arizona. There, basketball coach and When they crossed paths 12 years ago, Brandon and strength of a freight train, he considers going public about his mental teacher Chad Williams has opened a dialogue about mental health awareness Michi Marshall never would have guessed what they’d be health the biggest play of his life. Other athletes would follow his lead with his players, students and faculty. Thanks to Brandon and Project 375, he doing at UCF today. and open up about their own mental health issues, including Arian has chosen to be proactive rather than reactive. “They’re doing more than speaking out,” says Carroll. Foster, Kevin Love, Michael Phelps and Nate Robinson. “Everyone knows a person who’s going through some sort of mental health “Michi rolls up her sleeves when they have a Project 375 To keep the dialogue going and help eradicate the stigma associated crisis,” says Williams. “The thing is, those people want someone to come training. She makes sure the coffee is hot. She registers with mental health disorders, Brandon and Michi launched The Brandon alongside, but they don’t know how to ask.” people. You can see that she and Brandon are driven by a Marshall Foundation. But there was a problem. “People were making it A person in mental health distress might cover their anguish with occasional belief that this really is their purpose — helping people.” about him instead of about the cause,” Michi says. smiles. They may laugh when everyone else laughs. When they don’t feel like Helping people like a classmate and the girl who sits So they changed the name to Project 375, turned everything lime acting “normal,” they may go into isolation. They may quit a once-favorite alone. The basketball coach and the football player. Look green and added the perfect tagline: “The way people think about mental activity. They may hang out with new friends. They might lose or gain weight beneath the surface. health is crazy.” or cut themselves. They may sit alone, wondering why they feel this way. Do you notice them?

PHOTO BY MARCUS SMITH

30 | FALL 2018 UCF.EDU/PEGASUS | 31 Morning routine? I pound coffee. I drink it by the gallon — straight, black. I’m way more productive in the morning than I am late at night.

What’s playing over your speakers? When I drive into the office, I’m listening to Christian contemporary, probably. Sturgill Simpson for country. My kids really like Imagine Dragons, so I’ll listen to that, and I get into Mumford & Sons and that genre. Josh Heupel may be in the midst of his first During football season, it goes in a different season as UCF head football coach, but his direction. We’ll do some old-school rap in the coaching career can be traced back as early offices. Biggie Smalls is a personal favorite of as age 5. mine. We call Mondays “Outkast Monday” “Little Heup” — pronounced Hype — as while we are putting our game plan together. he was known then, began changing out the cleats in the equipment room at Northern Your mom was your high school principal. State University’s football offices in Were you ever called into her office? Aberdeen, South Dakota, where his father, Only for good things. That’s what I’m going Ken Heupel, served as head coach. He ate to say in this magazine article anyway. If I at team meals and sat in on film sessions. ever did get in trouble, which was maybe “I just thought it was the coolest once, I tried to get to the assistant principal experience that you could have as a kid,” and not walk into my mom’s office. As far as says Heupel, who now brings his children, leadership style goes, my dad gets a lot of play Hannah, 10, and Jace, 8, to the office with because he’s in coaching and I spent a lot of him on occasion. time around him, but I’ve tried to take a lot of A former Heisman Trophy runner-up communication skills from my mom and learn and national champion at the University from how she interacted with others as a leader. of Oklahoma, Heupel has never lost his excitement for the sport that allows him If you never played football, you would to impact the lives of others. have played… “The greatest part of my job is our At one time, I was involved in hockey, players,” he says. “I love getting to interact basketball and wrestling all at the same time. with them. They have a great energy. There My mom was getting tired of it and said, is brotherhood here, and we are continuing “You’re going to quit one of them, and it’s to build on that culture.” going to be hockey.” And that was because of the outdoor practices. We only had one indoor How do you make a program better rink, and you only got it once a week. every day? We emphasize accountability, trust and How do you prepare for fans’ expectations attacking; and attacking is just another word going into this season? for working extremely hard. Those three I love their expectations, but I don’t really values are how we are going to interact in pay attention to them. At the end of the day, every area of our life. We talk about being great none of their expectations are going to be any with your faith, being great with your family, higher than I have for our football team and and being great academically, socially and for myself. We focus on our daily purpose and athletically. If you carry those values into those our daily actions, and we’re going to go into different areas and try to achieve greatness every Saturday understanding that we have in all of them, you are putting yourself in a an opportunity to win. position to be successful for your entire life. Why UCF? What is the key to motivating today’s As big as our university is with the number of student-athletes? students that we have, it still feels like a true Communication, more than anything, community. It’s not overwhelming for our is different with this generation. That student-athletes or our recruits when they doesn’t apply just to players; it’s my son come to campus. I think that’s a unique quality, and my daughter, too. Technology has and it’s a lot of fun when a university feels that dramatically changed the world. The amount way. I love that we’re situated right in Orlando. of information everyone has access to has When I want to get out with my wife and kids, changed their perspective and understanding. you have everything here you can imagine So for us as coaches, when we’re dealing within a 30-minute drive. At the same time, with our players, the thing we always have to you go out to the other side of campus, and you answer to me is ‘the why’ — why are we asking have the opportunity to go hunt, fish and be you to do something? If you answer the why, out in nature. The uniqueness of this university and players understand there’s a purpose in this city is that within an hour, you are behind something, they’re going to buy in. NEW HEAD FOOTBALL COACH JOSH HEUPEL IS AS REAL AS IT GETS. everywhere you want to be. BY JENNA MARINA LEE A

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AMSTERDAM THAILAND

While getting paid to travel is the ultimate dream job for many, it’s reality for Sarah Kim ’10 — and plenty of people are following her journeys. In 2015, the accounting major left behind a successful career working for Deloitte, one of the biggest professional services networks in the world, to move to Amsterdam and SPAIN run her travel blog, Lust ’Till Dawn. Since then, she’s grown her site into a resource for globe-trotters and has amassed more than 100,000 followers on Instagram. “Working hard at school brought me to a job where I worked hard, and that same work ethic extended into my blogging. When you have your own business, it’s very Sarah Kim ’10 went time-consuming,” Kim says. Although Kim has visited a new from being an accountant country every year since 2005, she KIM’S decided to pursue her passion full PRO TRAVEL TIPS to a full-time travel time because she was burned out from working a corporate job and blogger. The wanderlust developed fibromyalgia. For Kim, the 1. Be flexible. “You have to be flexible. Sign up for chronic pain condition can make it deal websites for airfare and see when the cheapest expert offers her tips for difficult to venture out into wildlife, flights are. You might not be able to go somewhere but that doesn’t stop her from the best week in the summer when everyone else is planning your next trip. exploring urban landscapes. going, but you’ll save a lot of money.” “I think it’s very important to keep by Nicole Dudenhoefer ’17 2. Do your research. “I see a lot of tourists just doing what you love even if you have walking into places or restaurants. We live in an age to modify it,” Kim says. “[It can be where you can pretty much see where you’ll get the difficult when] you don’t feel like most bang for your buck — research is key to me.” the same you. Instead of comparing 5. Indulge in downtime. “Don’t pack your schedule yourself to your past, focus on today 3. Explore lesser-known areas. “Don’t limit yourself too much. Give yourself time to explore if you discover and the future, and just keep doing to the top 10 activities in a city and only go places something you want to check out. My favorite way of what you love.” the average tourist does. I was with my husband traveling is going to a neighborhood I want to see and From the more than 20 countries Michael Chetrit ’10 in Greece this year, and everyone walking around to get a feel for it. I’ll have my meals Kim has visited, including Thailand, was telling us to visit this one spot for the best sunset, planned out and walk around in between, or I’ll plan to Spain and Canada, she’s developed but we just drove around and used Google Maps to eat at a restaurant near a site I want to see.” find a random spot on a side road that offered a expertise in travel practices and a better view and experience.” “You’re only going to get deeper appreciation for the cuisine, 6. Practice taking photos. better by actually doing it. For taking great photos, customs and culture of others. 4. Connect with locals. “If you want the local try to avoid centering subjects in the frame. Instead, “Travel reminds me that our world experience, I like using Reddit to ask people use the rule of thirds to create balance and tension. is so big and I’m so small, to be more questions or see what their recommendations are. And just take pictures of what you love.” respectful of people, [and] that my Ask locals what they do when their friends and family problems are not as big as they seem,” visit. Even ask for recommendations using Facebook.”

FRANCE Kim says. “It’s so interesting to me to

SARAH KIM ’10 AND MICHAEL CHETRIT SARAH BY PHOTOS see how other people live.”

UCF.EDU/PEGASUS | 37

SPAIN Class Notes PEGASUS

1990 Doug Parsons is the director of 2000 2006 America Adapts Media and the host Jackie (Coocen) Ramsey was named of the climate change podcast James Buell is the vice president of Nikki (Armstrong) Nate was Assistant Principal of the Year by the America Adapts. marketing for World of Beer. promoted to shareholder status at Florida Department of Education. Bryant Miller Olive, where she is part She is an assistant principal at Carver 1995 Shelby Robertson ’03MS ’08PhD of their state and local government Middle School and is credited with is a learning and development and litigation practice groups. helping the school boost its school Lindsey (Formosa) Phillips ’99MA facilitator for math and science at grade from F to C. is the director of external affairs at the Problem Solving/Response to Christine Dellert ’15MA was Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health. Intervention Project and an adjunct promoted to deputy chief of staff Doug Muldoon retired as chief of professor at UCF. for communications and operations the Palm Bay Police Department Steven Hronec is a co-owner and at UCF. and is now director of law DJ at KnightSounds. 2001 enforcement relations for ecoATM Jacqui Marin was named 2018 based in San Diego. 1996 Nicole Stalder is an associate vice Magnet Nurse of the Year at Baptist president for Dewberry’s Orlando Hospital in Miami. 1992 Denise (Lowe) Tabscott is a librarian office. at Harpeth Valley Elementary School Suzanne (Meyer) Ross is a human Mark Morrison and his brother in Nashville, TN. She and fellow 2002 resources specialist with FEMA. Michael Morrison ’14MFA’s film Knights Lisa (Castellano) Blake ’08, Florida Bush League Wrestling was Sara White ’08 and Ariana Thomas Wheaton is the founder and 2007 nominated for Most Outrageous Film Santiago ’09 ’17MA were selected CEO of Faded Spade, a new poker at the 2017 Orlando Film Festival. to participate in the American and playing card brand. Angela Byrd is an associate producer Library Association’s Emerging at WPTV in West Palm Beach, FL. Kristen Wiley ’14 and Dan Ward was named president and Leader Program at the ALA Annual 2003 Theresa Joseph ’17 launched owner of Orlando public relations firm Conference in Chicago. Chris Levine wrote, produced and Statusphere, a marketing Curley & Pynn, which he acquired Ryan Kelley ’11MBA is the principal starred in the film Anabolic Life and platform that connects social from co-founder Roger Pynn ’73. 1997 and chief operating officer of was named Best Actor at the 2017 media influencers with brands. Ward is a 22-year veteran of the firm. Atlas Financial Partners, a niche Orlando Film Festival. Wiley, an advertising and Samantha Neff ’12MS was a statewide investment bank. public relations major, is the 1993 2019 Teacher of the Year finalist Stephanie Lisa earned a J.D. from founder and CEO. Joseph, and was named Seminole County’s Derrick Sines, a senior software Jones School of Law in Alabama. a finance major, serves as Wade Gillingham was named vice Teacher of the Year. She is a adjunct engineer at Riptide Software in director of operations. president of electric and water professor at UCF and a math coach Oviedo, FL, was named to the Florida Melissa (Phelan) Owens founded production for OUC. at Idyllwilde Elementary School in High Tech Corridor’s 2018 Faces of Allied Search Partners, a medical Sanford, FL. Technology. staffing company, in 2008. The firm Kelly (Taliaferro) Hoban earned ranks No. 71 on the 2018 Forbes Best 1971 1976 1980 1986 a doctor of education in school 1998 2004 Professional Recruiting Firms list. improvement from the University Steve Bairstow practiced law in Texas Dennis Bennett is the director Paul Perreault, CEO and managing Jodi Glacer is the owner of Senior of West Georgia. Lori (Kifer) Johnson is the Orlando Richard Beary retired after 11 years Megan (Ries) Blanco is the associate and Florida until retiring in December. of nonprofit business systems director of CSL Limited, was named Care Authority – Palm Beach County, general manager for the Edelman as UCF’s police chief. Combined with director of U.S. operations for at Integrated Organizational Humanitarian Man of the Year by the which specializes in helping families Chris Tomasso, president of First communications marketing firm. his 15 years as chief of police for Lake Greenstaff Medical in Plano, TX. 1973 Development. Hemophilia Association of New Jersey. find the best long-term care options Watch Restaurants, was appointed Together with One Orlando Alliance, Mary, he was the most tenured law for their senior loved ones. as CEO. Edelman won the 2018 PRWeek enforcement executive in Central 2008 Kathryn (Barker) Stover retired 1977 1981 Best in a Crisis Award for their work Florida. after 21 years as a teacher in the Joseph Joyner ’96EdD was 1994 following the Pulse nightclub shooting. Rob Easton III is a fourth-year Central Florida area. Vincent Busche retired after 40 Gary Merideth is celebrating 40 years inducted into the Orange County Marc Chernoff runs Marc and Angel resident in anesthesiology at the years as a respiratory therapist and as a State Farm agent in Ocoee, FL. Public Schools Hall of Fame. He Jennifer (Adams) McKinley ’96MS Gregory Kuzma was promoted to Hack Life, which was recognized by University of Toledo Medical Center 1974 is currently a beekeeper. served 23 years as a teacher, coach is the business development manager colonel in the Air Force Reserve, with Forbes as “one of the most popular in Ohio. 1983 and eventually principal at Apopka for physical sciences at UCF. 19 years of total service. personal development blogs.” Daniel Friend is president and Catherine Wilkinson retired from High School. Rishi Immanni is an associate with military curator at the Memorial Seminole County Public Schools as Linda (Sykes) Howard ’89MBA Eric Basilo ’05MEd ’08EdD was 1999 Nathan Selikoff and David Moran ’14 Dewberry in their Atlanta office. Hospital and Veterans Museum in a special education teacher. served as the first African American 1987 named the 2018 Florida Assistant are co-founders of Omnimodal, an DeLand, FL. president of the Florida Government Principal of the Year by the Florida Jennifer (King) McVan is the Orlando-based transportation tech Jacob Merrifield is the admissions 1978 Finance Officers Association. She Scott Smith ’04MS ’12PhD was Association of School Administrators. executive director of strategic company that won $25,000 in Rally’s program manager at Humphrey Peter MacLauchlin retired from is a certified public accountant and named Distinguished Teacher of He also received an adjunct faculty communications and community Social Enterprise Accelerator Program School of Public Affairs at the Culligan Water after 14 years as a Michael Boone retired from the certified treasury professional. the Year by the University of South excellence award from Seminole State relations at Florida Hospital Tampa. and was featured in Forbes. University of Minnesota. water conditioning technician. He outdoor industry. Carolina’s College of Hospitality, Retail College. He is an assistant principal at currently works part time as a traffic 1984 and Sport Management. Sanford Middle School Magnet. Paul O’Meara is the owner of Jupiter 2005 2009 enforcement officer at Palm Springs 1979 Compass in Jupiter, FL. International Airport. Lawrence Russell has retired 1989 W. Glenn Jensen is a law firm partner Alexis (Senge) Johnson ’10MNM is Jennifer Brody, representing the U.S., Henry Lunsford is a construction after 17 years with the South Florida at Winderweedle, Haines, Ward & Jennifer Parkerson is the vice the foundation executive director at received the prestigious 2018 Young Kevin McNamara retired after more coordinator within the Florida United Water Management District. John Heinbockel ’92MS is an Woodman. He is also a former U.S. president of operations at Welsh USTA Florida Section Foundation. Leader Award at the International than 30 years with the Greater Methodist Church’s Hurricane Irma assistant professor of anesthesiology Marine corporal. Construction in Melbourne, FL. Les Clefs d’Or Congress in Seoul, Orlando Aviation Authority, the last Long-term Recovery project. at the UCF College of Medicine and South Korea. 25 as airport director of Orlando vice chief of staff for Ocala Health. Executive Airport.

38 | FALL 2018 UCF.EDU/PEGASUS | 39 PEGASUS

Juliann (Muldoon) May is an event 2016 sales coordinator at the Biltmore ALUMNI AUTHORS Estate in Asheville, NC. Robert Ciabattoni received Universal Orlando Resort’s Raising the Bar Michelle Pavlovsky is a clinical leadership award. assistant nurse manager at Orlando Health. Kerri Fleming is attending the University of St. Augustine’s doctor of Cliff Smith founded SOL Rise physical therapy program. Entertainment, which provides music services for private events. Bailey Morris is a communications specialist at Curley & Pynn. Donatellio Williams was admitted to the Florida Bar in September. Cris O’Brien is a youth and children’s pastor at First Baptist Church in 2014 Charlestown, IN. Roderick Powell ’83 wrote Winning in Your Reality and Turn Your Trials into is a student records is the vice Erica Bass Lindsey Touchette Combat Sports: Strategies & Tactics. Triumphs. specialist at Florida State College president of development at the at Jacksonville. Community Foundation of Collier Marisa Moks-Unger ’85 wrote The Picture Vanessa Blakeslee ’05 wrote Perfect County. This Anthology: Poems from Pop Art, Fine Conditions. Mark Berrios-Ayala is an articles Art, and Photography. editor for the Puerto Rican John Traas is a background Melissa Diamond Nelson ’05 wrote Girl Professional Association of South investigator with Securitas. Paul Taylor ’86 wrote The Most Complete Surfs World. Estefania Bohorquez ’17 is having quite the year. Bohorquez, an aerial Florida’s website. Political Machine Ever Known: The North’s gymnast who is currently pursuing her master’s degree in mechanical 2017 Union Leagues in the American Civil War. Ryan Sleeper ’06 ’08MBA ’09MS wrote systems at UCF, received a 20 Twenties Award from Aviation Week and the Daniel Crowther is a brand Practical Tableau: 100 Tips, Tutorials, and American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and was also awarded professional at Creative Artists Jocelin Adona is a clinical II registered Suzan (Curth) Kurdak ’91 wrote Strategies from a Tableau Zen Master. a Fulbright research grant. Agency. nurse at the University of Colorado Overcoming the Underhanded: The True April Anderson ’07MA wrote Illinois State Hospital. Story of a Life Reclaimed. University: The Campus History Series. Carly McCarthy was promoted to Farideh Sabeti Fathi ’93EdS wrote Free performed as Johan is the senior art social media manager for UCF. received the INNOVATION Johan Coppers Adam Smajstrla Alex Dokuchaev Mountain: Odyssey of a Persian Immigrant. Sydney McBride ’07 wrote Building Belief. Danno at the Florida Music Festival in director at Hawkers Asian Street Fare. Certified Fraud Examiner designation downtown Orlando. Samantha Whidden was named 2019 from the Association of Certified Joseph Brazer ’95 wrote A Different Shade Ryan Mettling ’12 co-wrote three books for 2012 Teacher of the Year at Crystal Lake Fraud Examiners. of Travel (Home and Abroad). Performance Programs Company: Principles IN SENIOR Kristin (Leanza) Panella ’15MA is a Elementary School in Lake Mary, FL. of Real Estate Practice in Texas, Principles of vocational consultant. Shlermine Aupont is a general Nicole Dudenhoefer is a content Carolyn Hoffmann ’96MEd wrote Real Estate Practice in Massachusetts and surgery resident at Tallahassee Alexandra Youngman is an associate producer for UCF Marketing. Consuming Fire: An Alexa Silven Novel. Florida Real Estate License Exam Prep, 2nd Ricky Ly was appointed to the board Memorial healthcare. in the Miami office of Development Edition. LIVING of directors for Second Harvest Food Specialists. Paige Wilson is the community editor J. Bradley ’01 wrote Neil and Other Stories. Bank of Central Florida. Amanda Gonzalez is the owner of the Palm Coast Observer and Amber Kornegay ’13 wrote The Waiting co-wrote Getting Back Legacy Pointe at UCF, of Save A. Date, an event planning 2015 Ormond Beach Observer. Marc Chernoff ’04 Experience. to Happy: Change Your Thoughts, Change Phil Marchese is an executive vice company in Orlando. a forthcoming senior living community, president at Blanca Commercial Real Chelsea Daley is an email marketing 2018 Estate in Miami. Amanda Mollica is an associate associate at the Center for American will leverage high-quality programs attorney at Cole, Scott & Kissane. Progress in Washington, D.C. Lourdes Ramirez is a resident from across UCF to inform, entertain, Mike Panella is the owner of Panella physician at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Law Firm in Orlando. Caroline (Morris) Wolverton is a Jordan Halleck is a specialty sales Hospital in Hollywood, FL. educate, care for and advance the physician in the Methodist Physician representative with Liberty Mutual 2010 Group in Kentucky. Insurance. Zaida Rojas is an Early Head Start development of successful aging. home visitor for Children’s Home Presley Adamson is a producer of Amanda (Puttrich) Buongiorno Nick Leyva is a full-time photographer Society of Florida. creative services at the Monterey Bay ’14MSW is a licensed clinical social for UCF Marketing. To learn more, visit Aquarium in California. worker specializing in the treatment Daniel Stehli is a resident physician at legacypointeatucf.com of eating disorders, anxiety and Fuschia Miller is a senior area Vanderbilt University Medical Center Katherine (Liu) Bruce is the founder depression in Burbank, CA. revenue analyst for Kimpton in Nashville, TN. and pastor of Christian Arts Ministries: Hotel & Restaurant Group in Santa Biblical Precepts and Gospel Music. 2013 Barbara, CA. Brittany Urso is a resident physician at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Samantha Nemeroff passed the Jamy Barreau is an associate attorney Mackenzie Oaks is a talent Center in Spokane, WA. Certified Meeting Professional exam. at Apfelbaum Law in Port St. Lucie, FL. coordinator for Fullscreen Media David Boone ’75 died on March 13, 2018. Boone was initiative on human trafficking, leading to the in Los Angeles. a UCF Foundation board member and a member of creation of the Center for the Study of Human 2011 Garret Clarke is the owner of In Memoriam the investment committee. Boone partnered with Trafficking and Modern Slavery. John Moore ’72 ’78MEd died on August 30, 2017. Alpha Medical Solutions, a medical Andres Vargas received Northrop the Burnett Honors College, the Global Perspectives Jacob Galper is a senior manager diagnostics company in Jacksonville Grumman’s 2017 Quality is Personal Barbara Marie Laing ’73 died on January 21, 2018. Office and others to launch a community-focused Treva Briggs ’77 died on October 18, 2017. of servicing strategy at American Beach, FL. Award. Express.

40 | FALL 2018 UCF.EDU/PEGASUS | 41 Weddings & Births

7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 Gregory Kuzma ’98 and wife Anneliese Kaplinksi ’06 married 26 James Driscoll ’09 and wife Jordan welcomed Arwen Jean Fred Sandstrom ’04 on Brittany welcomed James Patrick on May 23, 2018. February 17, 2018. on March 12, 2018.

2 Leah Kahn ’99 and wife Becca 14 Krista (Peckyno) Thompson ’06 27 Tara (Hendrickson) ’09 and Andrew welcomed Samuel Reed on and husband Brandon welcomed Jackson ’08MNM Goldsmith ’11 10 January 1, 2018. welcomed Gabriella Lynn on Lucas on October 13, 2017. 8 9 108 11 12 February 13, 2018. 3 Dearles Rodriguez ’99 and wife 28 Stephanie Kumor ’09 married Ana welcomed Mathew Lee on 15 Dane Smith ’06 and wife March Christian Diaz ’08 ’12DPT on 14 16 February 26, 2018. welcomed Dane Michael III on October 21, 2017. November 13, 2017. 4 Henry Daviero ’01 and wife Anessa 29 Lindsey Stein ’09 married Adam welcomed Wolfie on July 23, 2016. 16 Elexis (Aluisio) Ritz ’07 ’13MA and Weinberg ’09 on February 10, 2018. husband Sean welcomed Owen 5 Eamonn Donlyn ’01 and wife Orla Frank on January 8, 2018. 30 Audrey (Turpening) ’09 ’11MS and welcomed Fionn Fitzgerald on Paul Wills ’13 welcomed Griffin October 24, 2017. 17 Stacey (Brannan) ’07 ’08MBA and James on April 11, 2018. Jason Schaitz ’07 ’09MBA 13 15 17 18 6 Katy McBride ’02 and Joel welcomed Sadie Beth on 31 Carly (Adkins) ’10 and Jonathan Reeves ’07 welcomed Aiden Robert January 26, 2018. Hart ’05 welcomed Cooper Joseph on September 29, 2017. on December 15, 2017. 18 Michael Harne ’07 married Whitney 7 Elizabeth Baranik ’04 married Luis Lane on February 3, 2018. 32 Ashley (Bossenberger) Kegel ’10 Pardillo ’04 on September 29, 2017. and husband Erich welcomed 19 Angela (Martinez-Giraldo) ’07 Emmett Timothy on 8 Laura (Creegan) Matthews ’10MBA and Javier Rivera ’07 ’10MS December 2, 2017. ’04 ’08MPA and husband Tyson ’16PhD welcomed Sergio Andres on welcomed Henry Patrick on December 12, 2017. 33 Christina Callaghan ’10 married January 18, 2018. Chris Ruck ’10 on October 7, 2017. 19 20 21 20 Ashley Squillante ’07 ’09MA 9 Julie (Meas) ’04 and Stephen married Patrick McDaniel ’07 on 34 Lauren Catenacci ’10 married Alex Alianiello ’06 welcomed Sophia March 18, 2018. Francois ’11 on December 1, 2017. Juliette in December 2017. 21 Kimberly Casale ’08 married 35 Angela Huston ’10 married Eric 10 Amy (Voss) ’04 and Daniel Matthias Justice on Miller on November 11, 2017. Rodenbrock ’06 welcomed Jonah November 4, 2017. Lee on February 17, 2018. 36 Natalie Kasper ’10 married 22 Nicole (Ferraro) ’08 ’09MS and Charles Maniatis Jr. ’04 on Page ’05MPA and John Nicholas Lucchesi ’04 welcomed December 9, 2017. Barningham ’05MPA welcomed Jaxon Cole on January 15, 2018. Aleah Rose in November 2017. 37 Kristina (Marklin) ’10 and Tim 22 23 24 25 26 27 23 Karen (Northey-Boquin) ’08 and Galligan ’09 welcomed Katherine 11 Josh Himes ’05 married Emma Stephen Ruff ’08 welcomed Sofia Elizabeth on December 15, 2017. Emmons on January 20, 2018. Isabela and Adrian Quinn on 28 January 25, 2018. 38 Charlotte Merritt ’10MPA married 12 Tiffany (Thew) Fisher ’05 and Thomas Leavitt ’12MBA on husband Clint welcomed Maverick 24 Allison (Piland) ’08 ’11MA and March 10, 2018. on February 28, 2018. Shane O’Connor ’11 welcomed Eila Gwen on February 26, 2018. 39 Carla Portilla ’10 married Steve 13 Heather (Erenstein) ’06 ’09MSM Craig ’12 on December 1, 2017. and James Cobb ’07 ’13MS 25 Samantha (Wells) ’08 ’14MEd and welcomed Aubrey on July 2, 2017. Tom Gaboian ’07 welcomed Ethan Samantha Steinemann ’10 married on October 17, 2017. Vance Cato on January 27, 2018. 29 30 31 32 33

42 | FALL 2018

34 35 36 37 38 39 Weddings & Births

40 41 42 43 44 40 Julz Cespedes ’11 ’12MS married 53 Morgan Lloyd ’13 married Kyle 66 Karen Kuzemchak ’15 married Wes Kavanaugh ’09 ’15MS on Horsley on February 10, 2018. Steven Lerner ’13 on October 27, 2017. December 31, 2017. 48 50 54 Katie (Martin) ’13PhD and Kevin Reema Desai ’11 married Jonathan Miller ’05 ’06MBA welcomed 67 Hannah Nooshin ’15 married Mark Bollhoefer on October 7, 2017. Charlotte Josephine on May 10, 2017. Merlino ’15 on March 11, 2018.

41 Emily Grant ’11 ’13MA married 55 Amber Perkins ’13 married Tim 68 Matt Reichenbach ’15 married Jeremy Glass ’10 on March 24, 2018. Kanak ’13MAT on February 10, 2018. Megan Lotze on December 29, 2017.

42 Shahzia Lakhani ’11 married 56 Andrea Portillo ’13 married Timothy 69 Michaela Robbins ’15MBA ’16MS Roberto Berrios ’11 on Medeiros ’12 on February 1, 2018. married Nathan Kourmoulis on 45 46 47 49 51 February 10, 2018. December 31, 2017. 57 Kelly Quintero ’13 married Edward 43 Tracy Regan ’11 married Andrew Johnstone ’12 on November 4, 2017. Andrea Acosta ’16 married Kevin Jui Albertson ’12 on February 4, 2017. on March 15, 2018. 58 Jessica Hicks ’14 married Tom 44 Ashlei Smith ’11 married Kristoffer Clemente ’14 on October 21, 2017. 70 Travis Borton ’16 and wife Dolen ’10 on February 17, 2018. Courtney welcomed Emma Cate 59 LaToya Holland ’14 married Modler on January 31, 2018. 45 Tamara (Brown) ’12 and Patrick Antoine on December 1, 2017. Donovan ’11 welcomed Peyton Mae 71 Lindsey Condoleo ’16 married on September 10, 2017. 60 Laura Ingersoll ’14 married Ryan Christian Baker on October 21, 2017. Loshin ’07 on July 15, 2017. 52 53 54 55 56 46 Lauren Henley ’12 married Justin 72 Rachael (Dunbar) Clark ’16 and Schmidt ’15 on November 17, 2017. 61 Lauren Moran ’14 married John husband Adam welcomed Benjamin Herbert ’12 on February 3, 2018. Ford on March 6, 2018. 47 Christiana Hires ’12 married Dennis Richardson on April 14, 2018. 62 Andrea Pulido ’14 ’16MA married 73 Jessica Jones ’16 married Matthew William Maddens ’14 on February Raynal on November 18, 2017. 48 Christina Lacerenza ’12 ’15MS 16, 2018. married John Jordan ’11 on 74 Stephanie (Rivera) ’16 and Matthew May 12, 2018. 63 Carla Sosa ’14 married Andres Forrester ’09 welcomed Dominic Vargas ’15 on December 9, 2017. Oliver on November 23, 2017. 49 Virginia Morrow ’12 married Travis 57 58 59 60 61 62 Thompson on November 18, 2017. 64 Kaitlyn Sweeney ’14 married David Amelia Gallo ’17 married Joseph Janosik ’05 on February 10, 2018. Bender on December 17, 2017. 50 Madeline Viera ’12 ’13MBA married Reniel De La Paz ’14 on May 6, 2018. Leah Williams ’14 married John Kathryn Baker ’18MD married 64 Dwyer III ’14 on September 15, 2017. Christopher Atkins ’18MD on 51 Katie (Clark) ’13 and Philippe May 20, 2018. Sabourault ’11 ’13MA welcomed Teresa Huff ’15 married Tyler Benjamin Daniel on February 25, Hansen ’13 on May 19, 2018. 2018. 65 Katelyn Johnson ’15 ’18MS married 52 Robert Greene ’13 married Cybelle Carl-Michael Noe ’14 ’18MS on Shuping on December 30, 2017. December 3, 2017. 63 65 66

70

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Send us your announcements and high-resolution Submissions are included as space permits. Class 67 68 69 photos (minimum 3 megapixels, 300 dpi). notes may be edited for length and clarity, and may be published in any medium. 71 72 73 74    WEB PHONE  EMAIL MAIL ucfalumni.com/classnotes 407.823.2586 [email protected] Pegasus Class Notes P.O. Box 160046 42 | SPRING 2018 Orlando, FL 32816-0046 Why I Teach Journalism by Rick Brunson ’84

They say teaching is more than a vocation; it’s a calling. We were covering how to write effective leads, the first My call came on a hot July night in 1999 in the and most important sentence in any news story, be it print, newsroom of the Orlando Sentinel. digital or broadcast. I was working as a desk editor at my hometown As I worked the room, something happened. In showing newspaper, up against a deadline, when a news clerk them how to rearrange their twisted syntax into a sentence yelled, “Rick, you’ve got a call. It’s Fred Fedler from UCF.’’ that would sing across the screen or over the air, I watched Here I was, 15 years into my professional career, in the their faces go from contorted confusion to smiles of middle of committing daily journalism, getting a call from delight. Learning was happening before my eyes. It was the esteemed professor who taught me the craft. I hustled like watching a comet streak across the sky. over to pick up the phone. Little did I realize in that It was the look every teacher knows and lives for. moment that a big bang was about to occur: My past was I had found a new calling. colliding with my present to sling me into my future. UCF kept inviting me back, until one day in 2003 the “Rick, we hear you’re back in town and that you have a faculty asked me to join them full time. master’s [degree],’’ Fedler said. “We have a section of News The last 15 years of my career have actually been better Reporting that needs a teacher. Would you like to come than the first 15. I have discovered that teaching is far back out to UCF and teach the class?’’ more than lecturing and grading papers. I’m in the people- Teaching. development business. As a teacher, I enjoy a sacred It was something that had never been far away. My relationship with my students in the most formative years mother was a longtime teacher for Orange County Public of their young adult lives. In addition to launching them Schools. I grew up watching her grade papers and draft into meaningful media careers at news organizations large lesson plans at our kitchen table night after night, long and small — from The Wall Street Journal to the Palatka after supper was eaten and the dishes put away. It was a Daily News and from WMFE here in Orlando to NPR in job that never seemed to end, with an amorphous goal Washington, D.C. — I continue to be part of their lives long — learning — that had no guarantee and resulted in no after graduation. I go to their weddings, their baby showers obvious product at the end of the day. At least with the and even the funerals of their loved ones. newspaper, I walked out every night with something As one of the more than 2,400 dedicated teaching faculty tangible under my arm that I, along with a dedicated team at UCF, we all share a common mission: “Lifting lives and of rabble-rousers, had spent an adrenaline-filled day to livelihoods.’’ produce. I made something. There’s no higher privilege. As an educator and a Teaching would be different. And like my mother’s job, journalist, I also share a mission that goes back to Thomas the pay would be meager. Jefferson and the founding of our republic: Only through By that August, I was standing before 17 young people educated and informed citizens can there be “security for who had plunked down their tuition to learn how to write the preservation of a due degree of liberty.” Tyranny loves and report news. the uneducated. Journalism education has never been more important and never more challenging. To fulfill their constitutionally mandated First Amendment role in our highly polarized “Journalism country, today and tomorrow’s journalists must be trained to be honest yet skeptical, compassionate yet brave. The education has never news media faces intense political and economic pressure — from those who would deem us “the enemy of the people’’ to technological disruption and falling profits that have been more important led to smaller staffs, diminished coverage and shallower reporting. But as Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South and never more Carolina said recently, “I think the press in America is a check and balance on power. ... Sometimes [the media] can challenging.” be a pain in the ass, but you’re not the enemy of the people. As a matter of fact, without a free press, I wouldn’t want to live in [this] country.’’ I honestly had no idea what I was doing in a classroom. My students, who stubbornly keep showing up to be People who have never had to teach like to blithely and trained to be the journalists of tomorrow, agree with him. contemptuously say, “Those who can, do, and those who can’t, And they keep teaching me the truth of what my mother teach.’’ Those people are full of male bovine fecal matter. already knew. As she toiled each night preparing for her next But as the semester progressed, I found my groove. day in the classroom, a plaque engraved with a Henry Adams The students were incredibly patient with me as I sought quote hung in our home: “A teacher affects eternity; he can to share with them what I knew. And by the end of never tell where his influence stops.” September, I experienced the moment that hooked me As a teacher, I make the future. on teaching.

Rick Brunson ’84 is an associate instructor of journalism at UCF. When he’s not teaching, he serves as the writing coach at WFTV Channel 9 Eyewitness News and works as a part-time sports production editor at the Orlando Sentinel. ILLUSTRATION BY EDMON DE HARO BY ILLUSTRATION

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