Communicating complex research in under 60 seconds demands precision and creativity. Graduate students at UCF met that challenge through Knights in Focus. This new video competition encourages participants to present their work and share their experiences in a clear, engaging format. Each submission offered a concise look at the ideas, questions, and impact driving graduate research across campus.
The College of Graduate Studies created Knights in Focus to highlight the graduate community and expand how research reaches broader audiences. The competition invited students to translate their academic and creative work into short-form video, making their projects more accessible to peers and the public.
As part of the 20th Annual Student Research Week, the inaugural event drew 45 talented participants representing a wide range of disciplines. Submissions reflected thoughtful storytelling, technical skill, and a commitment to making research meaningful beyond the classroom.
For this competitive group, several entries rose to the top for their clarity, creativity, and impact – including Jethro Raphael Suarez, a Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. with the Healthy Aging Lab, who earned first place.
Suarez earned top honors with a polished and engaging video that showcased his research in the Healthy Aging Lab at the College of Nursing. His work centers on developing wearable assistive devices that support mobility and physical activity among older adults. Suarez expertly communicated both the technical aspects of his research and its practical impact on quality of life.
Article by Mila Chial
Has the UCF College of Nursing Positively Impacted You?
The mission of the College of Nursing at the University of Central Florida is to prepare nurse leaders and patient advocates through excellence in education, research and service.
Find out how to give back to your college, today!