Category Archives: Awards & Kudos

The honor recognizes our outstanding highly skilled graduates who fuel innovation, service and economic impact in Florida and beyond. UCF Alumni is proud to unveil the exceptional members of the 2026 Class of 30 Under 30. These accomplished young alumni represent the very best of Knight Nation — innovators, leaders and change-makers whose talent, drive and purpose are shaping industries, strengthening communities and […]

As UCF celebrates decades of leading digital learning, we’re recognized for a sustainable model that increases access to education and raises standards at the same time. From our earliest mixed-mode courses to today’s expansive digital ecosystem, UCF has pursued a forward-thinking idea to prove that access and excellence can rise together at scale. That vision […]

At the 2025 Florida Nursing Students Association convention, UCF’s Student Nurses’ Association received the Diamond Chapter Award for the fifth year in a row while students earned scholarships and gained valuable insights.  “Being active in the Student Nurses’ Association truly elevates the student experience at UCF by giving nursing students opportunities they wouldn’t get anywhere else,” says senior Allyson Crighton. “Beyond professional […]

The honor recognizes some of UCF’s brightest stars who reflect the best of the university’s research and impact efforts. UCF honored seven faculty members as shining examples of excellence, dedication and inspiration during the 2025 Luminary Awards. Established in 2017, the annual awards recognize faculty whose achievements reflect the university’s highest standards in advancing knowledge, […]

By Julie Harper ’01 Tomorrow UCF will award 338 nursing degrees to directly impact the health of communities in Central Florida and beyond. On Saturday’s Summer 2025 commencement ceremony, UCF will award 338 nursing degrees, from the bachelor’s to the doctorate, in addition to graduate certificates. The graduates will join a community of more than […]

Newly appointed Dean Sharon Tucker sits down to share her journey to Central Florida and her vision to lead UCF’s College of Nursing into the future. On August 1, 2025, Sharon Tucker officially begins her appointment as dean of UCF’s College of Nursing and takes the helm at a time of growth and opportunity both […]

Endowed Professor Ladda Thiamwong is among 47 experts honored for their outstanding contributions and selected as 2025 fellows of the Gerontological Society of America. Florida Blue Endowed Professor for Healthy Communities Ladda Thiamwong has been selected as a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America, the nation’s oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization focused on aging. […]

The Simulation, Technology, Innovation and Modeling is the first and only program in Florida accredited by the Association of SP Educators — and is now among an elite group worldwide with three accolades from leading organizations in the field. A longstanding leader in healthcare simulation, UCF’s College of Nursing has been awarded its third global […]

By Julie Harper ’01 Rebecca Koszalinski and Joy Parchment ’15PhD are among the exceptional nurse leaders to be inducted in 2025 and honored for significant contributions to advance public health.  UCF nursing faculty members Rebecca Koszalinski and Joy Parchment ’15PhD have been selected to become fellows of the American Academy of Nursing, the most prestigious […]

By Julie Harper ’01 As she prepares to Charge On to retirement, Dean Mary Lou Sole reflects on more than three decades at UCF and shares words of wisdom for the future. Mary Lou Sole, dean of UCF’s College of Nursing, will retire this summer after 34 years of service to the University of Central […]