UCF Honors and Remembers Martin Luther King, Jr.

Over 200 faculty, staff and students participated in the MLK Day 2006: UCF Celebrates the Dream, an event held in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. on January 18. The MLK event was planned as a way to relive the march in Washington that culminated with King’s historic speech, “I Have A Dream.”

The procession began at Memory Mall, continued through the Student Union and John T. Washington Center, and came to rest at the Reflection Pond. The march inspired others to join the procession as it made its way to the final destination.

The UCF Gospel Choir led the procession singing “Order My Steps,” followed by members of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. carrying a black, draped coffin in memory of King. Participants held white fans depicting King’s photo and his quote, “Darkness cannot drive out our darkness; only light can do that.Hate cannot drive out our hate; only love can do that.”

The National Pan-Hellenic Council, along with other Greek organizations, wore letters from their various organizations and carried signs with quotes about peace from King and other notable speakers, such as Maya Angelou.

Once the group reached the Reflection Pond, Alpha Phi Alpha member CJ Nixon reenacted King’s Dream speech as it was broadcast in its entirety. Then, senior Astrid Prudent sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and was followed by Student Body President Willie Bentley’s speech, which concluded the ceremony.

“As a member of the Jewish Community at UCF, it is important to recognize a man like Martin Luther King, who was not merely fighting for African-American rights, but fighting against bigotry and racism in general,” said senior Ben Sack, when asked of his thoughts of the event.

The Multicultural Student Center (MSC), Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Student Government Association sponsored the MLK Day 2006: UCF Celebrates the Dream. King was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

“I want to thank all who came out to support the event,” said Adretta Williams, co-chair for the MSC advisory board and student assistant. “I believe it made an impact.”

“For a moment in time, we were all one voice,” says Carter. MSC student director Melissa Crespo adds, “This event achieved our goal of uniting different UCF communities in celebration of this great leader that has touched all of our lives.” MSC advisor Chantel Carter hopes that it will become an annual event.

SGA President Willie Bentley Speaks at the MLK Celebration

“This is a very momentous day in the lives of our students. To see our students march together and celebrate together is a direct result of Dr. King’s Dream. There was a time in our country’s history when this celebration would not be possible. There was a time in our country’s history when minorities where second class citizens and inalienable rights were a pipe dream.

But, I am standing before you today in this celebration, as your student body president and a Trustee of this university. This country has overcome so much. As a society we have overcome obstacles that seemed insurmountable.

The work of us all must always be used to remind the world about the words of the greatest civil rights leader of our time. Dr. King once said, ‘Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys man’s sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true.’

We must never forget the importance of love and community between each other. We must never forget the unchecked hate that was rampant in our society. Together we have all overcome it and we will continue to overcome it.

The task of keeping the bonds between every race, religion and ethnicity is the task of us all. Dr. King reminded us, ‘We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.’ Thank you all for your attendance today. Let’s keep Dr. King’s dream alive and God Bless.”

 

New Health Center Dedication

The cold, windy afternoon of January 6 ceased to hinder the presence of 150 individuals who crowded in front of the Health Center to witness the UCF Health Center Dedication.

President John C. Hitt; Maribeth Ehasz, vice president, SDES; Bob Faust, director, Health Services; and Willie Bentley, president, Student Government Association, were speakers at this memorable event. After the dedication and the official ribbon-cutting ceremony, attendees were welcomed to come inside to tour the Health Center facility.

In attendance were executives from the Hunton Brady Architectural firm, Skanska USA Construction Co., and Cognoscenti Health Institute (UCF Health Center’s laboratory service providers).Also attending were former Health Services directors Dr. John Langdon and Dr. William Brown. Nadine Weeks, who opened the first UCF Student Health Center as head nurse, was also in attendance as well as long time staff physician, now retired Dr. John Royer.



UCF named All-American Official at National Championship

Intramural supervisor Marissa Dienstag became UCF’s 6th All-American official in five years after she was rated among the elite officials at this year’s Flag Football National Championship in Pensacola. Dienstag is UCF’s first female All-American. In addition, she was the only female given that honor at this year’s tournament.



Athletic Training Services Offered to Students

This fall, the Recreation and Wellness Center (RWC) and UCF Athletics Association partnered with Jewett Orthopaedic to provide athletic training services to students who participated in RWC programs.

During the semester, the Athletic Training program treated over 115 students with injuries. The program currently services Intramural Sports, Sport Clubs and the RWC on a daily basis. Additionally, rehabilitation services are offered to students through appointments.

The staff consists of a full-time athletic trainer Eric Gunderson and graduate students: Cathy Palmer, Sarah Wilkin and Jennifer McKinney. All of the athletic trainers have been through an extensive certification process consisting of practical and written exams. As recreation programs continue to grow at UCF, the athletic trainers will play a vital role in ensuring students’ safety.

Heel, Toe, Doesy-Doe Back to Rosen College

The spring 2006 Welcome Back Yee-Haw event offered Rosen College of Hospitality Management’s students an opportunity to socialize and make new friends.

Rosen Campus Life and Housing teamed up once again, making this year better than last year. Students enjoyed bungee bull riding, kettle corn, line dancing lessons, food and a sampling of chili provided by students competing to have the best chili. Congratulations to Patrick Landers who won first place.

Academic Services for Student-Athletes Academic Progress Stats for Fall 2005

• 11 of 17 teams earned a semester team GPA above 3.0
This includes every NCAA sponsored women sports.
• Average team GPA 3.0
• 273 of 526 student-athletes earned 3.0 GPA or better (52%)
• 20 student-athletes earned 4.0 GPA
• Knight’s Education Enhancement Program (KEEP)
– 85 to 189 students earned 3.0 GPA or better (45%)
– 8 students earned 4.0 GPA
– 2.8 average GPA of all students enrolled

Foreign Language Proficiency Exam Offered to Students

The University Testing Center (UTC) is now offering the Foreign Language Proficiency Examination (FLPE) in over 50 languages. The FLPE presents undergraduate students the opportunity to demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language equivalent to one year of college instruction in order to satisfy the university’s foreign language requirement. Languages offered include Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Japanese, Spanish, Swedish and Portuguese. No credit is earned for this exam; the cost is $70.

For a list of languages offered and additional information, call 407.823.5109 or visit: www.sarc.sdes.ucf.edu.



Welcome Back Snack Attack

The Student Success Center (SSC) hosted the Welcome Back Snack Attack on January 11th, which provided over 118 First Time In College (FTIC) students placed on academic probation the opportunity to connect with their academic advisor and the Office of Student Financial Assistance (SFA).

Students that attended the event had an opportunity to meet with an academic advisor to discuss schedule changes, grade forgiveness and devise a plan of success for the spring semester. SFA provided students with vital information about GPA and credit hour requirements for scholarships and grants. SSC provided the snacks and “food for thought” for this event.



SGA Offers Students Scholarships

Student Government Association (SGA) has created 18 scholarships and will award over $138,000 to UCF students this fiscal year. SGA is asking faculty and staff to encourage students to apply.

Students must apply for these scholarships through the application found on SFA Web site: finaid.ucf.edu. Click Types of Aid, Scholarships, and Scholarship Listing, respectively.

For a complete list of SGA scholarships visit: www.sga.ucf.edu. Click Information and then, Forms and Scholarships.



Self-Discovery Knights Schedule

Self-Discovery Knights is a student outreach series that explores a variety of relationship issues and self-improvement topics. All presentations are held in the Student Union, Key West Room 218AB, 7-8:30 p.m.

• 2/6 – Loving Relationships
• 2/13 – Gender Talk: Improving Communication Between Men & Women
• 2/20 – He or She’s Not That Into You
• 2/27 – Long Distance Relationships: Does Absence Make the Heart Grow Fonder?

For more information, call Andrew Blair at 407.823.2811.



First-Year Students Benefit from Office Partnership

First Year Advising and Exploration (FYAE) has developed a variety of programs for the first-year students expected to make contact with their academic advisor. According to Amy Buford, who heads up programming efforts for FYAE, multiple term registration should lead to an increase in attendance at the planned outreach events.

One program in particular that students have shown more interest in each semester is the “Saving my Scholarship and Financial Aid” workshop, reports Buford. This workshop, to be held on March 1st in a collaborative effort between FYAE and the Office of Student Financial Assistance, instructs students on how to calculate their GPA and how withdrawing from classes can affect financial aid.

FYAE and the other offices of the Student Success Center have also planned a series of workshops and advising sessions for undeclared students where, at the end of the semester, a student will be chosen to win a free Apple iPod based on session attendance.

Spring 2006 will be an active semester for FYAE’s programming for firstyear students and the beginning of celebrations commemorating the office’s 10th anniversary. For more information, call 407.823.3789.



Students Offered Opportunity to Win Big Prizes with LINK Loot

Students who participate in the LINK program receive LINK Loot that can be used at a LINK Auction held at the end of each fall and spring semester. Students bid on prizes such as: $1,300 tuition scholarship, book voucher, computer, Xbox, television, DVD player and attraction tickets. Since its inception three years ago, LINK has awarded first-year students over 470 prizes including $7,800 in UCF tuition.

This fall, 337 first-year students were in attendance. The highest bidder, David Zaret, won $1,300 in tuition for 22,000 LINK Loot points. LINK gave Loot for 477 programs during summer B and fall 2005 semesters. LINK reported 80 percent of the freshman class participated in these events. First-year students totaled 13,047,500 in LINK Loot points.

The LINK Loot Spring Auction will take place on April 18 at 7 p.m. in the Pegasus Ballroom. For more information, call Jaclyn Bayer at 407.822.7005 or visit: www.link.ucf.edu.
UCF student David Zaret was the highest bidder and won $1,300 in tuition.



Welcome to SDES

• Ana Abrams, custodial worker, Recreation and Wellness Center
• Marcy-Jo Baldanza, program assistant, Career Services and Experiential Learning
• Kevin Bates, program assistant, Recreation and Wellness Center
• Richard Berwanger, senior maintenance superintendent, Housing and Residence Life
• Nnenia Campbell, office assistant, Health Services
• Tina Davia, office manager, Academic Service for Student-Athletes
• Maria Morales, program assistant, Registrar’s Office
• Charles Mason, program assistant, Registrar’s Office
• Christine Mucha, office manager, First Year Advising and Exploration
• Maria Quintero, custodial worker, Student Union
• Amr Abdel-Wahab, computer specialist, Registrar’s Office



SDES Division Changes

• Terry Exum is the new interim director for Student Academic Resource Center (SARC) and Multicultural Academic Support Services (MASS). Exum comes to UCF from Allan Hancock Community College in California, where she served as an academic administrator. She is an accomplished grant writer and has been a leader in the development of streamlined enrollment processes, intensive counseling services, mid-term progress reviews, tutoring and work/study for at-risk students.

“I am looking forward to collaborating with students, faculty and staff to provide programs and services that improve student retention and success,” says Exum.

Exum holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from Louisiana Tech University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of the State of New York.



Awards and Recognition

• Five faculty members of the Creative School for Children were nominated for the 2006 Disney Teacher Awards. Suzanne Caffery, Diahn Escue, Susan Hipps, Marybeth Matta, and Sharon Scott are being recognized by a parent or colleague for their creativity and success in the classroom. They join an elite group of nominated teachers from across the country, who exemplify creativity in teaching and inspire a joy of learning in their young students. Winners will be announced in late spring.

• Jennifer Pazmino, Transfer and Transition Services Peer Mentor, was awarded the EEO [Equal Employment Opportunity] Minority Community College Transfer Scholarship for spring 2006.

• Transfer and Transition Services program, “Easing Transfer
Transitions: Committed Partnerships for Students with Disabilities,”
has been selected as the Bronze Award winner of the NASPA Excellence Awards. In collaboration with the Office of Student Disability Services and Valencia Community College, the TTS program provides potential transfer students information on the transfer process and university services available to students with disabilities.



Presentations

• Melanie Parker and Amy Kleeman (Career Services & Experiential Learning) and Ana Handshuh (UCF ‘98 and president of Aurisoph, Inc.) presented, “HOT Tips for Developing Employer Partnerships that Sizzle,” at the Southeastern Association of Colleges and Employers (SACE) Annual Conference in December, 2005 at Miami.

The session discussed how UCF has transformed it’s employer relations program in collaboration with a sales strategy consultant (Handshuh). Specific topics included: discovering the organizational value proposition, streamlining internal processes, separating a school from the competition and addressing student readiness for interviews.



Sherri Pilkington Selected as USPS Employee of the Month

Sherri Pilkington was selected as the university’s USPS Employee of the Month for December 2005. Pilkington is the office manager for Student Disability Services (SDS) and has been employed with the office since 1998. Prior to that, she worked three years in UCF’s Finance and Accounting Office.

“There are so many people here at UCF that work very hard every day to give their best to UCF,” said Pilkington. “I feel honored to have been chosen.”

According to her supervisor Phil Kalfin, “Sherri is the type of employee that every office wishes they could have. She is efficient and very effective in keeping office operations running smoothly, while still taking the time to assist students who have special needs. When working with students, she provides caring and genuine responses to their questions or concerns.”



SDES Council

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

Betty Calton
407.823.2094

Patty Farris
407.823.3477

Suzi Katz
407.823.3555

Carol Kraus
407.823.5783

Joanne McCully
407.823.2408

Pamela Rea
407.823.2371

Craig Wymer
407.882.5002

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.