UKnighted Newsletter
August 2006

Opportunities for New Students to Connect to UCF

Freshman and transfer students will have the opportunity to be welcomed and introduced to UCF’s traditions, values, services, programs, organizations, and more. The following August events will connect new students to the UCF community that will assist them with personal and academic success.

August 19 @ 4 p.m., Arena: The New Student Convocation is a university event to introduce new students and their families to the traditions, values and expectations of the institution as they begin their academic career. President John C. Hitt, Provost Terry Hickey and Vice President Maribeth Ehasz, Student Development and Enrollment Services, will welcome students and their families to UCF. Mark White, Student Government Association (SGA) president, will introduce the UCF Creed. These are the values that comprise the guiding principles that direct the actions of the university, its students and its employees. Other highlights include: Keith Tribble, director for Athletics, will talk about getting involved at UCF; Trenton Scott, Order of Pegasus recipient, will comment on his time at UCF as a Golden Knight; and John Schell, vice provost and dean for Undergraduate Studies, will speak about “Connecting the UCF Community” series–The New America.

August 19 @ 6-9 p.m., Leisure Pool: The Learning and Interacting with New Knights (LINK) Luau is a fun event where students and their families can get together and enjoy hamburgers, hotdogs, cotton candy and snacks. Entertainment will include: roaming entertainers (jugglers, magicians and balloon animal artist), a caricature artist, DJ and inflatable games (jousting and obstacle course).

August 21-24: The Student Success Center (SSC) will be sponsoring a Week of Welcome activities that will lead up to the Welcome Expo, which is hosted by First Year Advising and Exploration:

•August 21-24 @ 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Front of the UCF Bookstore: SSC Questions and Answers table.
•August 23 @ 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., Howard Phillips Hall (PH) 102: Multicultural Academic and Support Services Open House.
•August 23 @ 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Recreation and Wellness Center (RWC): Transfer and Transition Services Get the Fall Started.
•August 24 @ 10 a.m.-2 p.m., PH 115: Welcome Back Snack Attack (Student Academic Resource Center Lab).

Students will benefit from SSC services specifically designed to enhance knowledge retention, and support the development of learning, decision making, and other skills necessary for a successful academic career and entrance into post-college life.

August 25 @ 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Student Union Pegasus Ballroom: The Welcome Expo, coordinated by First Year Advising and Exploration, is a UCF tradition to welcome new Knights to the university community. A new addition this year will be the presence of a limited group of local vendors who will join in the Knight spirit. Student organizations, academic departments, student services, and program information will be available offering students many opportunities to get involved on campus. SGA will provide pizza and refreshments. Capitalizing on this year’s theme “50 Ways to be a Knight,” this event will continue passing on the traditions and history that make UCF a great and exciting institution.

August 30 @ 6 p.m., Reflecting Pond: The Amazing Race is a timed hunt to learn about the various offerings/services at UCF. Students form their own teams of four (or if not part of a team, individual students will be assigned to teams at the start). Teams will be given clues to help identify various services. The first three teams that are able to find the services and return to the Reflecting Pond are the winners; prizes will be given to each of the players on the winning teams. In addition, all participants will receive 1,000 points in LINK Loot. Students receive points (LINK Loot) for every program that they attend. The points earned can be used to bid on free prizes at an auction at the end of each semester. Last year, approximately 200 students participated in the Amazing Race.

Examples of Ways to be a Knight:
• Wear black and gold on Fridays.
• Attend every class.
• Do not walk on the Pegasus in the Student Union.
• Demonstrate your school spirit at the pep rally “Spirit Splash” during Homecoming week.
• Cheer on UCF’s sports teams.
• See your academic advisor.
• Join a UCF club or organization.

UCF Intramural Official Works NBA Summer Games

Steve Anderson, Intramural Sports graduate assistant, was one of 15 officials invited by the NBA to officiate the Summer League in Las Vegas. Also joining Anderson among the invited officials were former UCF Intramural officials Brent Barnaky and Nick Buchert.

Anderson worked three games, including: the Houston Rockets vs. Portland Trailblazers, Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks, and Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers. Some of the notable players that he officiated were 2006 Lottery Picks: LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy and Patrick O’Bryant, as well as young NBA stars Steven Graham, Nate Robinson, Channing Frye and Shaun Livingston.

The Counseling Center invited Kerry Hope, psychologist for the Student Counseling Services at Texas A&M University and private consultant QPR (Question, Persuade and Refer) master trainer, to present a two-day comprehensive suicide prevention training workshop in July.

On the first day, Hope presented the QPR Gatekeeper Instructor Course. Attendees learned how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis, and how to question, persuade and refer someone to get help. Hope compared the QPR training to CPR training, which helps save thousands of lives each year. With this training, participants received a certificate of attendance and are now able to teach QPR classes to UCF faculty, staff, organizations, other universities, and more.

The following day, the QPRT Suicide Risk Assessment and Management Training Course was presented to trained professionals (healthcare professionals, counselors, psychologists, etc.). They were introduced to best practices to evaluate and treat suicidal persons.

Attendees received a certificate of completion of the course and after testing, a certificate of proficiency . According to Hope, “Suicide is the second leading cause of death of students. In the United States, for every two homicides, there are three suicide deaths.” According to Hope, the main sign of death by suicide is untreated clinical depression, and the percentage of suicides escalates to 90 percent with substance abuse.

Participants included SDES staff from the Counseling Center, Health Services, Student Conduct, Housing and Residence Life, Office of Student Involvement, and Fraternity and Sorority Life.

“We are all looking forward to UCF’s implementation of the QPR program and are excited to assist our students with this more proactive and preventative approach,” said Valeska Wilson, licensed mental health counselor for the Counseling Center and coordinator of this event.

LINK Gears up for Fall

This summer, the Learning and Interacting with New Knights (LINK) program, Office of Student Involvement, and the Recreation and Wellness Center sponsored the “Get In(volved)” Ice Cream Social for incoming freshmen on the first night of orientation.

Registered student organizations take advantage of this opportunity to showcase their association to students eager to get involved on campus. New Golden Knights ate ice cream while they browsed tables and signed up for clubs before they registered for fall classes.

According to Tyler Carraway, LINK representative, “With 370 student organizations at UCF, the ice cream social helps give first-year students a snapshot of what’s out there for them to be involved in.”

UCF Represented at the Miss Florida Pageant

Megan Clementi, Miss UCF 2006, was chosen as first runner-up at the Miss Florida Pageant on July 8. Clementi will receive a total of $7,300 in scholarship funds. She also won the preliminary competition in the evening wear category. As first runner-up, Clementi will travel to Illinois over Labor Day weekend to represent Florida in the National Sweetheart Pageant, an event running successfully since 1941.

Beautiful and talented young women from all over America come to Hoopeston, Illinois each year to represent their respective states and compete for the title of Miss National Sweetheart.

In all, seven UCF women competed in the Miss Florida Pageant this year and four placed in the top 15 semifinalists. Senior Rachel Potter and recent graduate Christine Cooper were in the top 15, and junior Denesha Jenkins placed in the top 10 along with Clementi.

Cooper also won an Academic Scholarship Award. Potter won the preliminary competition in swimsuit. Other UCF women who competed were Sheena Howell, Danielle Marino and Lauren Meyer.

SARC’s Peer Mentors are Ready to Assist

The Student Academic Resource Center (SARC) Peer Mentor Program, in its second year, primarily focuses on activities and outreach for students participating in the Pegasus Success and College Achievement Programs.

Throughout the year, the Peers will facilitate workshops and assist with advising/schedule planning and major exploration under the guidance of the SARC professional academic advising staff.

Workshops (Pizza and a Major, Campus Etiquette and more) are available to departments on campus. For more information or to schedule a workshop, e-mail SARC at: sarcpeer@mail.ucf.edu.

Freshmen Learn How to Master College Level Coursework

What does it take to master college level coursework? Over 65 new freshmen found out during a four-hour seminar facilitated by the Student Academic Resource Center (SARC). This is the 5th year such a pre-college seminar has been offered, but is the first one offered to Summer B students.

Students were introduced to strategies for managing a semester of coursework in six weeks, how to take effective notes and to relate to college professors. Additionally, they completed exercises in time management and goal setting. “We want students to leave these seminars with confidence and proper decision-making skills to make it through their first experience in college,” says Jennifer Wright, assistant director.

Students received advice from Matthew Thompson, instructor for Nicholson School of Communications, regarding faculty expectations of college students.

Words of wisdom came from an 11 member upperclassmen panel comprised of SARC peer tutors, Supplemental Instruction leaders and peer mentors, who assisted students in understanding that they too experienced similar nervousness and anxiety when they were first time in college students.

According to DeLaine Priest, Student Success Center, “Through the expertise and resources that SARC and the Student Success Center can offer freshmen specifically, we feel we are assisting in bridging the transition from high school to college.”

¡Se Habla Español en UCF!

On July 10-11, Orientation Services offered the first-ever Bilingual Orientation in Spanish; over 25 parents and family members attended. The bilingual program was created to help family members feel welcomed and connected to the UCF campus community.

“The bilingual program is an excellent opportunity for the parents of Hispanic students to know that their son or daughter is becoming a part of a community that appreciates diversity,” said Joe Ritchie, director for Orientation Services.

A committee was formed by Ritchie based on a program session that he attended at the National Orientation Directors Association conference in Miami last fall. The committee met throughout the spring semester and included members of the UCF community who spoke Spanish or were associated with Orientation Services.

The committee translated the family handbook, schedule and made necessary changes to the Orientation Services Web site to meet the needs of the Spanish speaking audience.

Over 80 percent of the sessions were presented in Spanish. Committee members were on hand to answer questions during the sessions that were in English. “Parents and family members’ feedback was very positive,” said Dawn Wharram, committee member and graduate assistant in Assessment and Planning.

Parent Ángel Soto from Kissimmee said, “Yes, I am definitely going to recommend it; the orientation has helped clarify many things for us. Also, the atmosphere was inviting and the people in the sessions were very nice.”

Elizaveta Lekhnovich, Russian native who speaks Spanish and English, was hesitant with her son’s choice to attend UCF, as there are many universities and colleges near their home in Miami. “My son won in the end and I am happy and more comfortable with his choice after attending the bilingual orientation,” said Lekhnovich.

“The program was a huge success and we look forward to offering it again,” said Ritchie. Next year, he plans to offer two Orientations in Spanish–summer and fall for FTIC parents and family members.

Summer 2006 SOAR Encounter at UCF

Students from the Seizing Opportunities for Achievement and Retention (SOAR) program received a warm welcome at the SOAR Encounter on June 21. The students were introduced to the Multicultural Academic and Support Services (MASS) staff, tutors, peers, faculty and UCF administrators, and were presented the guidelines of the six week summer program.

Highlights of this event included a welcome address from DeLaine Priest, assistant vice president, Student Success Center, and Terry Exum, interim director, Academic Support Services. Students were given a reality check by guest speaker, Mariel “Maya” Alphonse, who challenged them to “disappoint those who don’t believe in them or their abilities.”

Emmanuel Buisson, a former SOAR student from the class of 2005, shared his SOAR experience. Students then participated in a pinning ceremony where they received a gold eagle pendant and were encouraged to soar academically, socially and personally during the Summer B term. SOAR is a program of the Office of Multicultural Academic and Support Services. For more information, visit: mass.sdes.ucf.edu.

SDES Awards and Recognition

• Jennifer Wright, Student Academic Resource Center, has been named the new UC Chapter Advisor of the Golden Key International Honour Society.

Presentations

• Laura Guilliams, Dispute Resolution Services, presented, “Calming Rough Waters: Tools for Conflict Resolution,” at the Spring Technical Assistance Conference in Orlando, April.
• Pat Pates, Assessment and Planning, along with Mia Alexander-Snow and Paula Krist, Operational Excellence and Assessment Support, presented a pre-conference workshop, “Developing Assessment Tools: Moving from Satisfaction to Assessing Student Learning and Development.” Also, Ron Atwell, Assessment and Planning, and Krist presented, “Assessment Toolkit for Academic, Student and Enrollment Services.” These workshops were presented at the National Association for Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) International Assessment Conference in Phoenix, June.
• Jennifer Wright, Student Academic Resource Center, presented two workshops on “Power Studying” and “Academic Success in the Classroom” at the Lambda Theta Alpha Conference in Orlando, June.

Welcome to SDES

• Robert Campbell, counselor/advisor, Academic Services for Student-Athletes
• Joel Davila, senior accountant, Housing and Residence Life
• Maureen Hernandez, office assistant, Campus Life
• Lauren Heunis, senior clerk, Imaging, Registrar’s Office
• Daniel Meuninck, coordinator, Student Affairs, Orientation Services
• Nicholas Oleksy, coordinator, Student Conduct
• Manuel Rodriguez, maintenance mechanic, Housing and Residence Life
• Albertha Sheppard, senior secretary, Administrative Services
• Phyllis Wagner, Medical Records specialist, Health Services
• David L. Wallace, director, Counseling Center
• Jacqueline Withers, specialist, Social Work Services, Counseling Center
(Correction from July issue: India Asunto’s title is program specialist for the Recreation and Wellness Center and not Student Union specialist.)

Helpful Hurricane Resource

For hurricane preparedness, coping with a tragedy, resource links and helpful tips, visit the Counseling Center Web site: www.counseling.sdes.ucf.edu and click on Prehurricane Preparedness.

SDES Connects with the Community

The SDES Council completed its first community connection program with Bonneville Elementary School. The inaugural program, led by Betty Calton and Joanne McCully (both oversee the Council’s Community Connection program) helped local families by alleviating the high cost of school supplies.

With the help of other Council members, and support from SDES faculty and staff, the goal was exceeded with 52 backpacks containing school supplies.

As part of its mission, the SDES Council is reaching out to meet the needs of individuals in UCF’s surrounding community. A special thanks goes out to everyone who helped make this a successful endeavor, especially the diamond sponsor, Wal-Mart, for donating the backpacks. To view photos of the Bonneville connection, and for more information about the SDES Council and future events, visit: www.sdes.ucf.edu/Staff_News_Information.htm.

Enthusiast Students Seek Adventure

Ten students, three student staff and one professional had the opportunity to participate in the Recreation and Wellness Outdoor Adventure program in July. The participants travelled to New River Gorge in Fayetteville, West Virginia, where they experienced white water rafting, rock climbing and mountain biking. “Students gained a new perspective of the outdoors and the growth that can take place while exerting themselves,” said Celena Buskirk, coordinator for Outdoor Adventure. One participant commented, “I have new friends and an appreciation for three sports that are truly amazing. All three of which I would love to continue to do.”

Currently, the Outdoor Adventure is comprised of excursions, climbing tower, challenge course and Lake Claire activities. Upcoming events include:
• September 6: Canoeing at Wekiva (Central Florida)
• September 23: Open Climb–UCF Challenge Course
• October 13-15: White Water Rafting and Caving excursion (North Carolina and Tennessee).
This past academic year, the Outdoor Adventure served over 15,000 students; offered more than 10 trips; had over 500 users at Lake Claire; over 1,500 students came to the Challenge Course; and nearly 13,000 users at the rock climbing tower. For more information, call 407.823.2408.

SDES Division Changes

• David L. Wallace is the new director for the Counseling Center. Wallace comes to UCF from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, where he served as Counseling Center director for the past several years. Prior to that, he was assistant director with the University of Missouri-Columbia Counseling Center. His past experience has focused on team building, effective clinical services and outreach, training and supervision, space utilization and enhancement of technology.
“I am excited to lead this wonderful staff as we provide quality mental health services through assessment, counseling and referral, as well as through early detection and prevention efforts,” says Wallace. “We need and value solid relationships with colleagues and students across the university to do this well.” Wallace holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and is a licensed psychologist in Florida and Missouri. Wallace’s e-mail address is: dlwallac@mail.ucf.edu.

• Academic Services for Student-Athletes welcomes Robert Campbell to UCF. Campbell is the counselor/advisor for UCF student-athletes on the men’s basketball, men’s and women’s tennis, and spirit teams. He served as a graduate assistant for the football and men’s golf teams at the University of Louisville, where he also earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

SDES Council
Ideas, suggestions or comments? Contact a SDES Council member: sdescoun@mail.ucf.edu.

INTEGRITY
I will practice and defend academic and personal honesty.

SCHOLARSHIP
I will cherish and honor learning as a fundamental purpose of my membership in the UCF community.

COMMUNITY
I will promote an open and supportive campus environment by respecting the rights and contributions of every individual.

CREATIVITY
I will use my talents to enrich the human experience.

EXCELLENCE
I will strive toward the highest standards of performance in any endeavor I undertake.

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