IMPACT T H E M A G A Z I N E O F T H E U C F F O U N D AT I O N
SP E ISS CIAL UE :
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ANN U TO AL REP DON OR ORS T
Every gift helps create an impact that can only be rivaled by our dreams of what we can achieve together
21 WINTER
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Inside Winter 2021–22 | Volume 5, Issue 1
Inclusive Excellence UCF was listed recently as the top college for LGBTQ+ students in Florida and as one of the top 25 in the nation by BestColleges.com in partnership with the Campus Pride Index. Among the reasons UCF was chosen was the university’s LGBTQ+ Services,
part of Student Development and Enrollment Services, which offer access to resources, mentorship programs and ally training — and other vital programs, many of which are supported by philanthropy. Several donor-funded scholarships
are available to UCF LGBTQ+ students to award academic excellence and ease financial stress, including the DivelyDupuis Scholarship established by Martin Dupuis, associate dean of the Burnett Honors College, and Michael Dively, community activist
2021 ANNUAL REPORT TO DONORS U C F F O U N D AT I O N , I N C .
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and philanthropist; Ferrante Family Scholarship established by Michael ’15MS and Pamela ’85 ’95MA ’00EdS Ferrante; and the SURF (LGBTQ+ Research) Scholarship.
2 FLASH POINTS Big 12 / professors honored / optics boost / General Dynamics / in-person graduation
4 10 MINUTES WITH… Karen Cochran, Interim VP for Advancment and Interim CEO, UCF Foundation
5 UCF CHALLENGE Philanthropy for Lasting Change 2021 Annual Report to Donors
6 YEAR IN REVIEW An illustrated list of some of the gifts, people, events and milestones that helped define 2021 for UCF and the foundation.
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TOGETHER Ongoing support from UCF’s friends, alumni, corporate partners and employees creates an impact that can only be rivaled by our dreams of what we can achieve together.
14 NEW ENDOWED FUNDS IN 2021 We salute the donors who established endowments this year to benefit UCF and its students.
16 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Fundraising results / endowment performance / financial position / university support
17 VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP Foundation Board of Directors / Alumni Board / Board of Trustees IMPACT is published three times a year by UCF Advancement for alumni, friends and partners of the university who have made philanthropic commitments. Please direct correspondence and address changes to foundation@ucf.edu or Impact Editor, 12424 Research Parkway, Suite 250, Orlando, FL 32826. INTERIM VP FOR ADVANCEMENT AND INTERIM CEO, UCF FOUNDATION Karen Cochran MANAGING EDITOR Susan Watkins
STAFF WRITER Charlene Eberly
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR COMMUNICATIONS Patrick Crowley ART DIRECTOR John Sizing | jspublicationdesign.com
U C F F O U N D AT I O N , I N C . 2021 ANNUAL REPORT TO DONORS
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General Dynamics Mission Systems Donates Mixed Reality Technology
Lumentum Gives Back Photonics Scholarship Opens New Learning Opportunities. A newly established scholarship by California-based photonics company Lumentum will benefit students pursuing a career in optics and photonics in the College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL). The scholarship is open to undergraduate and graduate students and prioritizes returning students or students with a gap in their education. The company has committed $30,000 — a blend of current-use scholarship funding, some of which can be awarded this year, and an endowed portion, which will be invested and benefit students for years to come. “We want to make sure we’re increasing the talent pipeline and creating opportunities, ” says Chuwanda Thigpen, Lumentum’s chief talent and diversity officer. Thigpen says that while Lumentum recognizes not every graduate will make their way to the company, he believes “it’s enough that the company can play a part in addressing a shortage in skilled workers in this niche area.” David Hagan, dean of CREOL, is thankful to Lumentum for investing in the future workforce of optics and photonics. “We are grateful for community partners who recognize the excellence of our instruction and choose to provide critical financial support to our students.”
THE COMPANY HAS COMMITTED $30,000 — WHICH WILL BENEFIT CURRENT AND FUTURE STUDENTS.
“THIS INVITATION TO THE BIG 12 IS A TESTAMENT TO OUR COLLECTIVE ACHIEVEMENTS AND THE OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR STUDENTATHLETES AND OUR COACHES OVER MANY YEARS AS WE BUILT OUR ATHLETIC PROGRAM. WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF THE YEARS OF HARD WORK AND ADVOCACY OF SO MANY PEOPLE.”
UCF has received 250 pairs of Microsoft® HoloLens® Commercial Suite mixed reality headsets for use by students and faculty from technology integrator and equipment manufacturer, General Dynamics Mission Systems. Valued at approximately $1.285 million, the donation enhances UCF’s already extensive technological resources. Mixed reality technology is perhaps best known for its use in gaming, and UCF is a leader in educating game designers through its Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy. However, the software has myriad uses in education, training, design and product prototyping. The headsets — which are fully self-contained computers that allow wearers to operate untethered in a hologram-enhanced physical environment — are being distributed to eight different colleges at UCF, from the College of Engineering and Computer Science to the Rosen College of Hospitality Management and the School of Modeling, Simulation and Training with its Institute for Simulation and Training. Planned usage includes big data visualization, target tracking through integration with sensor network testbeds, development of the sensing mode with robotics, simulated teaching environments for education majors, adding a gamification element to gait and balance training, theatrical set design and the creation of 3D interactive themed environments.
—UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright Microsoft® HoloLens® Commercial Suite mixed reality headset.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT TO DONORS U C F F O U N D AT I O N , I N C .
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Life-Changing Professors Inspire Alumnae UCF alumnae Rebecca Gulick ’87 ’91MA, Nancy Naugle Haney ’91MA, and Rachel Cooey West ’91MA created the Beth Barnes and Katherine Keller award to support graduate study in English and honor their former UCF professors, who they say changed the trajectory of their lives. According to the donors, “we arrived in the graduate program at UCF with no defined plans for the future, and we left with more than a degree” thanks to the wisdom and guidance of Barnes and Keller, whose impact continues Barnes
to guide them in the years since. “Our degrees have led us to interesting and varied professional careers — none of which would have happened without the opportunities we received as students,” says West. Although English skills permeate all disciplines, they do not always seem to receive much support, the donors say. “When we looked at award and scholarship opportunities within the department, we learned that few existed,” says West, who hopes this award brings additional legitimacy to the program and draws attention that elevates the major. “Our professors infused us with an enthusiasm to pursue knowledge and make connections — in literature and in life,” she says. “We wish to help other English graduate students at UCF have the same enriching experience.”
Charge On! UCF Invited to Join Big 12 Conference. The UCF Board of Trustees voted unanimously to accept an invitation to join the Big 12 Conference, making UCF the youngest school among the Power 5 conferences. The move will raise the university’s national profile and expand opportunities for UCF’s student-athletes to compete at the highest level. UCF’s student-athletes have consistently excelled in competition and in the classroom. They have posted an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher for 27 consecutive semesters. UCF football has won 42 of its last 50 games, ranking fifth in the nation behind Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Notre Dame, and competed in three New Year’s Six bowl games during the past seven seasons. To celebrate this important moment in UCF’s history, several new philanthropic opportunities are available. The Shareholders Society — a community of friends who provide financial support beyond the cost of season tickets — has introduced an enhanced giving recognition level, known as the Big 12 level, which recognizes donors who give $12,000 annually over five years, and the Knight Nation Challenge encourages Knights to give $12 monthly for the next 12 months. Every gift, no matter the size, supports UCF Athletics and makes a difference in the lives of UCF’s 435 student-athletes.
THE MOVE WILL RAISE THE UNIVERSITY’S NATIONAL PROFILE AND EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR UCF’S STUDENTATHLETES TO COMPETE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.
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1,700 THE NUMBER OF KNIGHTS WHO RETURNED TO CAMPUS ON NOVEMBER 5 to experience the milestone of an in-person graduation. Spring, summer and fall 2020 graduates, representing each of UCF’s 13 colleges, participated in the ceremony which was held at the Addition Financial Arena and livestreamed on UCF’s YouTube channel. Darin Edwards ’97 ’10MS ’11PhD — who led the charge to create Moderna’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccine — served as the keynote speaker.
U C F F O U N D AT I O N , I N C . 2021 ANNUAL REPORT TO DONORS
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10 MINUTES WITH...
Karen Cochran Interim Vice President for University Advancement and Interim CEO, UCF Foundation
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aren Cochran leads the fundraising and alumni engagement enterprise at UCF which includes alumni; major, planned and annual giving; corporate and foundation relations; development operations and campaigns. She also manages a personal portfolio of influential donors and serves on the UCF President’s Cabinet, providing strategic guidance to university leadership. What’s your philosophy toward fundraising and giving? Most people think fundraising is about the dollars. But it’s really about what the dollars can do. That’s because our work centers on mission, impact and passion. We do not just show people how to give — we help them see why it matters. I did not grow up wanting to be a fundraiser, but I was
quickly hooked on the art of building relationships and the power of giving. In UCF Advancement, we have the privilege of building lasting and trusting relationships with donors who share a passion for the organization we serve and the philanthropy to make a difference. As I am fond of saying, if you like asking
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MOST PEOPLE THINK FUNDRAISING IS ABOUT DOLLARS. BUT IT’S REALLY ABOUT WHAT THE DOLLARS CAN DO.
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for the order, you go into sales. If you want to change the world, you become a fundraiser. What was one of your most gratifying professional moments in this field? It’s impossible to pick just one moment. At UCF, where social mobility is in our DNA, I see the impact of philanthropy every day. For every firstgeneration student we graduate, we not only change that individual’s life, but the lives of the generations who follow. So, it will come as no surprise that the opening of UCF Downtown is among my fondest memories.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT TO DONORS U C F F O U N D AT I O N , I N C .
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Social mobility is one of many attributes that sets UCF apart from other major research universities. Since its founding, UCF has eliminated achievement gaps and reduced barriers for students of all backgrounds and incomes. Over the last 10 years, UCF has increased graduation and retention rates by making sure all students have the resources they need to succeed. Donor support has been vital in propelling the university forward in these critical areas. What is unique about UCF, and why are private dollars so important for this state university? We’ve seen that when private dollars are invested in the public good, great things can happen. Take, for example, UCF’s recent $40 million gift from MacKenzie Scott and Dan Jewett. These donors specifically cited UCF’s outstanding success in improving social mobility, knowing that this infusion of private dollars serves as an investment in the future and will allow UCF to make an even greater impact. We’ve been hearing a lot about endowments. Why are these types of gifts so important? An endowment provides a permanent source of funding for scholarships, research, faculty excellence and more. While the spendable amount generated each year may vary slightly, it remains more predictable than other funding sources. That makes the endowment a critical measure of a university’s financial strength. Recognizing the funding stability endowments provide to universities, UCF President Alexander Cartwright made a bold and transformative decision to invest the recent Scott/Jewett gift into the
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university endowment, ensuring its impact for years to come. To further encourage gifts to the endowment, we launched THE UCF CHALLENGE: Philanthropy for Lasting Change. Through this program, the university will co-invest with donors when they create an endowed fund focused on any of these three areas: student success, scholars’ programs and faculty excellence. The goal is to increase a donor’s impact and allow them to see the power of their philanthropy in months, not years. You’ve said that anyone can be a philanthropist. What do you mean and why does that matter? Certainly a large gift from one donor can make a singular impact. But we can’t forget that gifts of all sizes make an impact. We need to remember that cumulative gifts add up. Take, for example, individual gifts to the Student Emergency Fund, which helped students who lost jobs at the start of the COVID pandemic, or gifts to the Knights Pantry — particularly after natural disasters that left many short of food and other necessities. The culture of Knight
PHILANTHROPY FOR LASTING CHANGE
An Enduring Impact In a world that moves at lightning speed, the importance of an endowment may be overshadowed by gifts that offer immediate impact. Donors must wait for their endowed funds to produce spendable earnings before awards to the chosen academic or athletic programs or student scholarships can begin. Recognizing this, UCF launched THE UCF CHALLENGE: Philanthropy for Lasting Change. This program co-invests with donors to one of three critical areas: student success, scholars’ programs and faculty excellence. The challenge program increases gift impact and allows donors to see the effect of their philanthropy in months, not years. Donor support for student success helps Knights like Sabrina Rodriguez ’19, who received two donor-funded completion grants — the Hubbard-Pond Student Success Grant and Knights Success Grant — in her final semester and says, “graduation wouldn’t have happened without this help — I had absolutely no way of paying tuition and thought a lot about giving up.” If you’d like more information on THE UCF CHALLENGE, please visit ucfchallenge.com.
> Nation is strong regarding philanthropy, in that we have a tradition of giving back and helping others. We are an academic and research institution that is home to tens of thousands of students who are growing academically, professionally and personally. College is about more than the classes, and higher education
philanthropy isn’t just about academics or athletics. It’s really about ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to succeed and become their best self. All gifts — no matter their size — are important to UCF, and each is used to support our mission and ensure the greatest impact.
Notes of Gratitude In this space, we feature excerpts from thank-you letters the foundation receives from students and others whose lives have been changed by donors like you. This one came from Rebeka Belkin ’21, a recent health sciences graduate in the College of Health Professions and Sciences, who received the Milton A. & Louise C. Jentes Scholarship in her junior year.
This scholarship [allo wed] me to focus on school and follow my dreams of becom ing a medical doctor. Having a father with a disability has contri buted to my maturity and strong work ethic and is the reason I would like to pursue a career in the medical field. He insp ires me every day with his wisdom and positive outlook on lif e. One day, I hope to be able to give back too, for I am so thankf ul for the opportunity you have given me.
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YEAR IN REVIEW JULY
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People, gifts, events and milestones together defined Fiscal Year 2021 for UCF Advancement. Here are a few of the most memorable. Advancing Machine VisionLearning Technology Engineering Professor Mubarak Shah, director of UCF’s Center for Research in Computer Vision, is awarded a $1 million grant to advance his cutting-edge work in the area of artificial intelligence.
Top 5 for Transportation Science and Technology ShanghaiRanking Consultancy places the engineering programs at UCF above Georgia Tech, Purdue, Arizona State, Carnegie Mellon and the University of Florida. The rankings take into account six indicators, including the success of alumni, the quality of faculty and the amount of research published in the field’s top academic journals.
JULY
Planetary Scientist’s Research Takes Flight NASA selects research led by Adrienne Dove, a planetary scientist and an assistant professor in UCF’s Department of Physics, to fly on upcoming zero-gravity flights as part of the space agency’s Flight Opportunities funding program. Insights from the research will inform missions to land on the moon, asteroids and planets.
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
Top Workforce Supplier
Helping Students Socialize
Mask Fundraiser
UCF is named No. 1 aerospace and defense workforce supplier for sixth year in a row by Aviation Week Network, which also ranks the university as the No. 2 preferred supplier in the United States, just behind the Georgia Institute of Technology.
A $2.5 million grant aims to help students with autism spectrum disorder recognize nonverbal cues in social situations. During the next five years, a team of researchers from UCF will work with UCP of Central Florida, a nonprofit organization and charter school system, with the goal of creating a national model that can be replicated in urban, suburban and rural communities.
Sales of UCF face coverings, made by Orlando-based Rock ’Em, raise $50,000 for UCF’s student emergency fund, which helps students facing hardship or obstacles that make it difficult to continue their education.
Giving Tuesday Benefits Students Most Innovative UCF ranks among the nation’s most innovative universities in U.S. News & World Report. The category recognizes institutions that are making the most innovative enhancements to their institutions in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology or facilities.
Over the course of 24 hours on December 1, more than 600 donors from all over the nation contribute $164,000 toward student success at UCF on the global day of generosity, funding a wide range of vital scholarships and programs, including career services, academic support, athletics, Knights Pantry and much more.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT TO DONORS U C F F O U N D AT I O N , I N C .
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1, 2020 – JUNE 30, 2021
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Top 5 for Fifth Year
{CodeOrlando} Supports STEM Gordon Family Giving Foundation, founded by Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon, donates $300,000 and partners with UCF on an immersive STEM program for underserved and underrepresented Orlando high school students, held on the UCF Downtown campus each summer through 2025.
Record NFL Draft A program-record five UCF football student-athletes are selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, topping the previous school record of four, set in 2003 and 2018. UCF had more student-athletes drafted in 2021 than 100% of American Athletic Conference teams, 80% of Big 12 teams, 79% of Big Ten teams, 79% of ACC teams, 75% of Pac-12 teams and 57% of SEC teams.
Best Online Learning U.S. News & World Report ranks UCF among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs in the nation, coming in at No. 14. This is the fourth consecutive year that UCF has ranked among the top 20 in the nation.
JANUARY
For the fifth time, UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management ranks among the top five in the world by the CEOWorld magazine.
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
Graduate Programs Recognized
Patent Leader
U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 Best Graduate Schools ranks 30 UCF programs among the best in the nation. The ratings reflect the university’s excellence in emergency and crisis management, engineering, public administration and other disciplines.
The National Academy of Inventors and the Intellectual Property Owners Association ranks institutions every year based on the number of patents received and filed. UCF ranks 25th among public universities in the nation.
UCF Biologist 2021 Medalist The Florida Academy of Sciences recognizes UCF Professor Linda Walters for her contributions to science and outstanding efforts to share that knowledge with the public. For the past several decades, Walters has investigated a variety of problems impacting Florida’s coastal waterways, from runoff to microplastics, which affects everything from tourism to the fishing industry.
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Bortles and Murray Support Knights Former football Knights Blake Bortles and Latavius Murray’s $500K commitment will support UCF Athletics’ sports medicine department and other components of the Wayne Densch Center.
Transformational Investment Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott’s $40 million gift to UCF, the largest gift in the university’s history, will strengthen proven pathways to opportunity, fueling student success, academic excellence and faculty research for generations.
U C F F O U N D AT I O N , I N C . 2021 ANNUAL REPORT TO DONORS
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At the beginning of fiscal year 2021, in July 2020, we were still managing the transformational effects of the global pandemic, which was only four-months strong, striving to provide the best possible online student experience for our Knights. Students had the option of returning to campus in August 2020, with strict COVID protocols in place, or taking hybrid or remote classes, but most of the activities that are a hallmark of the college experience remained virtual. True to form, Knights charged on despite challenges and donors didn’t flag in their generosity in tackling some of those challenges — including providing relief for students who were housing- and food-insecure, or who needed emergency funding to continue their education at UCF. In June 2021, at the end of the fiscal year, UCF received the largest gift in the university’s history from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott and her husband Dan Jewett. Their $40 million transformational investment validated the work the university does to foster student success and social mobility. Since its founding, UCF has been committed to helping students earn a college degree by eliminating achievement gaps and reducing barriers for students of all backgrounds and incomes — and the world has taken notice. Despite the challenges of a fiscal year like no other, the UCF Foundation closed its books at the end of June with $78.3 million in gifts and commitments — exceeding the $70 million goal set by university leaders. This is thanks to the support of UCF’s friends, alumni, corporate partners and employees — 38,427 total donors this fiscal year — whose generosity creates an impact that can only be rivaled by our dreams of what we can achieve together. In this report, we highlight some of the donors whose gifts make a big impact on the university that has made a big impact on them.
ACHIEVE TOGETHER 2021 ANNUAL REPORT TO DONORS U C F F O U N D AT I O N , I N C .
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Aleena Kondek’s graduation was attended by UCF and Tarpon Springs police officers in honor of her father, a TSPO killed in the line of duty several years ago.
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Honoring Service
PHOTOGRAPH (BOTTOM RIGHT): CY CYR
Endowed Scholarship Supports Law Enforcement Families Leslee A. D’Amato-Kubiet ’13PhD, APRN, a longtime educator in the UCF Daytona Beach nursing program, strives to inspire her students on their path to becoming nurses. But it was a conversation with one of her clinical students earlier this year that inspired her. She learned that then student Aleena Kondek ’21, who graduated from the program in the spring and is now a neonatal nurse, lost her father — a Tarpon Springs police officer who died in the line of duty shortly before Christmas several years ago — when Aleena was a sophomore in high school. “Aleena’s story was my a-ha moment,” says D’Amato-Kubiet. As the daughter and granddaughter of police officers herself, D’AmatoKubiet realized that could easily have been her. “Aleena’s father put himself in harm’s way every day, just like my dad did,” she says, “and that could have been me growing up without a father.” D’Amato-Kubiet had been giving back to UCF for several years and knew she wanted to create a scholarship but was stuck on its focus until that moment. The endowed scholarship she created will support students in the College of Nursing whose family member
or parent is a member of law enforcement. D’Amato-Kubiet knew she had found the right fit. Her grandfather and father each spent 25 years in law enforcement, and her siblings are in law enforcement as well — sister Dina has been a paramedic/firefighter in Palm Beach County for 23 years, and brother Greg has spent 18 years in Orlando law enforcement. He and his K9 partner Recon keep us safe from incendiary devices at Orlando International Airport. D’Amato-Kubiet says that establishing the D’Amato-Kubiet Family Endowed Scholarship “makes her soul feel good,” and she considers it a joy and a privilege to give students the opportunity to become professional nurses. “Sharing the spirit of caring and the passion for being a lifelong learner is why I give back.” Although the scholarship was established too late to benefit Aleena, the inspiration she provided for D’Amato-Kubiet will impact Knight nurses for years to come. And the fact that she and her late father can somehow positively affect future nurses makes Aleena happy. “I can still hear [my father] in my head saying, ‘Keep going, don’t let this get to you,’” she says. “Everything I do, it’s for him.” I
Leslee D’Amato-Kubiet, her sister Dina Thompson and brother Greg D’Amato with K9 Recon, hold photos of their aunt, who was a registered nurse; father and grandfather, who were NJ law enforcement officers.
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¡Vamos Knights! UCF Alum Partners with Accenture to Support HSI Initiatives A middle school visit from students in UCF’s Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers chapter was life changing for Gonzalo Sauri ’18, who was inspired not only when the students talked about the benefits of pursuing STEM fields, but also when he realized the students looked just like him. Sauri later went on to attend UCF, where he studied mechanical engineering and participated in many co-curricular and service activities. As a founding member of the Latino Leadership Council at UCF, he witnessed “how great the diversity is at UCF” and says he wanted to contribute to that educational experience after he graduated. “UCF provided me countless opportunities to grow as a young professional during my time as an undergraduate student and I wanted to ensure other minority students had the same chance.” He partnered with his employer, Accenture, a consulting and professional services company, to do just that. Sauri leads the company’s Hispanic-American
Employee Resource Group in Tampa and was instrumental in including UCF in Accenture’s annual giving campaign in support of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI). HSIs are colleges and universities where Latinos represent more than a quarter of the undergraduate student body. That investment and support contributed to the creation of UCF’s Vamos Knights Fund in May 2021, which will help the university develop scholarship and fellowship opportunities for students, as well as provide faculty and staff with resources to better serve students through research activity and other professional development programs. “The establishment of the Vamos Knights Fund is a significant step forward in
strengthening our capacity to better serve our students, and it is especially meaningful that this new outlet of support was initiated by one of our very own alums,” says Cyndia Muñiz ’13EdD, director of UCF’s HSI Culture and Partnerships. Sauri hopes the Vamos Knights Fund inspires other minority alumni to contribute to their alma mater, regardless of amount. “The financial support will help students focus on the ‘what’ of their professional careers rather than the financial ‘how’ — which can be discouraging,” he says. “The Vamos Knights Fund will help students with what I believe were my most valuable experiences at UCF — creating authentic relationships to expand my own knowledge, obtaining opportunities and helping others.” I Sauri
UCF was designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution in 2019.
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sites. Eventually, he began making the productions more theatric — dressing up as different characters and using varying dialects. “Not only are students having fun with the lessons,” says Hanson, “they’re retaining them better too, which sometimes was a struggle for them during in-person courses.” Department of History Chair Peter Larson praises Hanson’s approach and is excited about his future contributions to UCF and our community “[Hanson’s] attention to detail and culture, the blending of the past and present, embodies the spirit of the area studies programs — helping students understand a culture and its past.” Helping students understand the past is a goal of the professorship’s donors as well. Tess Wise ’72, a Holocaust survivor who as a teenager escaped from a concentration camp in Radom, Poland, has dedicated her life to Holocaust education. Thanks to Tess and late husband Abe Wise’s shared vision, leadership and philanthropic support, Holocaust education is now taught in Florida public schools, and the Holocaust Memorial Hanson Resource and Education Center in Maitland was founded. They funded the endowed position at UCF in 2003. “I cannot begin to express my gratitude to the Wise family and the many donors who have Lebanon in the midst of the Lebanese stepped forward Civil War before coming to UCF, where to support Judaic he has taught Judaic Studies since the Studies at UCF,” early 1990s. says Hanson. “It Hanson is a well-known expert on is no exaggeration the Dead Sea Scrolls — but he is also well to point out that known for his inspired approach to teaching the philanthropic online classes. contributions of the Tess and Abe Wise Wanting to better engage his students, community have Hanson worked with UCF’s Center for been instrumental from the outset of the Distributed Learning video team several Judaic Studies program and have continued years ago to repackage his lectures to be a major source of strength for our into short segments while placing him impact and our vision for the future.” I virtually at historic and archaeological
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Judaic Studies Professor Honored Helping Students Understand a Culture and Its Past Kenneth Hanson, professor and program director of Judaic Studies, was recently invested into the Tess and Abe Wise Endowed Professorship in Judaic Studies. The endowed faculty position, established thanks to generous gifts from Tess and Abe Wise and their family, recognizes Hanson’s accomplishments and will allow him to advance his work and research. After learning Hebrew and completing a master’s degree in television and intercultural communication and a doctorate in Judaic Studies, Hanson worked at an American TV station based in southern
U C F F O U N D AT I O N , I N C . 2021 ANNUAL REPORT TO DONORS
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Road Less Traveled Extended Journeys Scholarship Assists Nontraditional Students
DiNapoli
“Establishing a scholarship to help students is the most exciting thing I’ve done in my career.” Joseph DiNapoli, a senior instructor in the School of Communications Sciences and Disorders in the College of Health Professions and Sciences at UCF, and his scholarship — The Joe DiNapoli Extended Journeys Endowed Scholarship Fund — will assist those considered nontraditional students. “These students would often relate their early feelings of lack of belonging, inadequate support, and difficulty establishing connections with class peers,” says DiNapoli. “I felt that an award of some kind might help facilitate a greater sense of belonging and convey an appreciation from the college and faculty that could enhance their confidence in their academic pursuits and elsewhere.”
DiNapoli has taught online or at a distance for nearly his entire teaching career and believes the creation of this scholarship is long overdue. “I have long held great admiration for these students who have come to complete a college degree following life’s interruptions,” he says. “It is their unyielding persistence, strong work ethic, reverence for learning, and, quite frankly, the support and satisfaction they have repeatedly offered me that has provided much of my motivation to create this scholarship.” One special student story has stayed with him throughout the years. He recalls two older women who attended his remote class together — one of the women was especially engaged and always asked good questions. The woman graduated,
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Students like Selena Lopez ’18 (left), who experiences hearing loss, will benefit from The Hirapara Fund.
Hearing Gain Audiology Support Removes Challenges
Undergraduate students over the age of 25 make up about 22% of UCF’s student population.
and DiNapoli learned that she passed away from brain cancer just six months later. Students like her intensified his desire to create a scholarship to honor students who are facing great life challenges on the road to degree completion. DiNapoli hesitated when it came to selfnaming the scholarship but hopes that doing so might encourage others to give one day soon — or to another generation down the road. “I’ve had thousands of students in my career, and if I could generate some excitement by putting my name on a scholarship, maybe they would be inspired to give as well,” he says. “I don’t want to wait until I’m retired or gone [to give back]. I will be able to see how students benefit, and that’s really exciting to me.” I
As a member of the UCF Alumni Board of Directors and CEO of PeakActivity, a fast-growing digital strategy and implementation company based in South Florida, Manish Hirapara ’98 says his career journey has taught him that the best leaders find ways to give back as much as they can. For Hirapara, that includes giving back to his alma mater. “I had such a positive, life-changing experience at UCF,” he says. “I have a fundamental belief that we should always be growing in every aspect of our lives, and UCF is such an embodiment of the kind of positive growth and change we want to see in the world.” Hirapara experienced genetic hearing loss and had to overcome stigmas and obstacles associated with challenges in communication from an early age. He gives back to the UCF Listening Center and UCF Audiology programs in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, where he recently created The Hirapara Fund to benefit students with hearing difficulties. As a UCF student, Hirapara recalled avoiding group settings where he knew he might not hear everything well. Yet, after receiving hearing aids, he could tell an immediate difference in the world around him — voices were clearer, music was richer. “I didn’t want students to have the same experience I did,” he says. “I wanted to help.” The fund Hirapara established will benefit students like Selena Lopez ’18, who first detected hearing loss as an undergrad. Her hearing challenges were confirmed when she was accepted into the Hirapara ’98 communication sciences and disorders master’s program at UCF. She worried she might not be able to pursue a career as a speech-language pathologist, especially since hearing aides are costly. Thanks to the fund, the cost of Lopez’s hearing aids are covered, which means she can focus on her future. “Now that my hearing is better, I know my patients are getting the best possible care,” she says. Hirapara believes there are many major problems in the world that we can progress past — but it takes money, time and focus. “Without philanthropy and giving back, we just delay the kind of progress we all want to see in the world,” he says. “I’m passionate about partnering with UCF to help the world progress past challenges.” I
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U C F F O U N D AT I O N , I N C . 2021 ANNUAL REPORT TO DONORS
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New Endowed Funds in 2021 Endowment gifts are vital to UCF’s pursuit of excellence, and growing the endowment pool is a key priority of UCF Advancement. Because they are invested in perpetuity, such gifts represent a relatively stable source of funding that is largely unaffected by fluctuations in state support, tuition revenue and non-endowment giving. We salute the donors who established endowed funds in Fiscal Year 2021 to benefit UCF and its students. Andrick Lewis Endowed Scholarship Fund Andrick Lewis ’10 was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. This fund provides scholarships to undergraduate students who demonstrate leadership through the Office of Student Involvement and Fraternity and Sorority Life. Bob and Jan Case Integrated Business Scholarship Fund The late Bob Case ’70 (left) was a member of the first graduating class in the College of Business and received the college’s Lifetime Achievement Award. This scholarship supports programs in strategic management. Bruce Ream Memorial Endowed Scholarship The family of Bruce Ream, a travel and hospitality leader, established the memorial scholarship to benefit Rosen College of Hospitality Management students. Charlie Lousignont Endowed Scholarship Fund The scholarship assists undergraduates in the Rosen College of Hospitality Management.
D’Amato-Kubiet Family Endowed Scholarship Fund Leslee D’Amato-Kubiet ’13PhD established this scholarship to support children of law enforcement officers. (see page 9)
Sole
Dr. Michael B. Butler Endowed Scholarship Dr. Michael B. Butler was a prominent community leader and surgeon. The scholarship supports College of Medicine students who plan to serve historically underserved communities. Dr. Mary Lou Sole Reach for the Stars Scholarship Fund Mary Lou Sole, dean of UCF College of Nursing, established the scholarship to assist doctoral students in the college.
Fernández
Dr. José B. Fernández Study Abroad Scholarship Fund The scholarship fund provides awards for students to study abroad. Fernández, former dean of the College of Arts and Humanities and Pegasus Professor, retired from UCF in 2018.
College of Business Faculty Excellence Endowed Fund The excellence fund supports faculty in the College of Business.
Dr. John C. and Dr. Martha H. Hitt COM Endowed Fund The endowed fund provides support to the UCF College of Medicine.
Collins/Pigman Family Endowed Scholarship Fund The scholarship fund supports students who are unlikely to receive merit-based scholarships.
Dr. Marie Smith-East Family Endowed Scholarship Fund This scholarship supports PhD or DNP students enrolled in the College of Nursing with interest in the mental health field.
Dr. K. Phillip Taylor Fellowship Fund Named for the late Professor Emeritus Kyle “Phil” Taylor, who retired from UCF in 2005, this scholarship supports one fulltime graduate student enrolled in the Nicholson School. Dwight C. Adams Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund Adams ’86 was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and a big UCF football fan. This scholarship was established by his family and friends to honor him.
Adams and wife, Christie
Electronic Arts Inclusion in Gaming Endowed Scholarship Fund Students in the Nicholson School of Communication and Media will benefit from the scholarship, which strives to empower students from diverse backgrounds to explore careers in art and technology.
Nicholson School of Commuication and Media
Gregory Scott Cornell Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund The fund provides support for first-generation students enrolled in the College of Health Professions & Sciences or the College of Nursing. Hayden Trent Sockwell Memorial Scholarship Fund This scholarship supports gradu-
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ate students involved with the Community Counseling and Research Center or studying Counselor Education. Iron Galaxy Diversity in Gaming Endowed Scholarship The fund provides awards for graduate students in the Interactive Entertainment master’s program, with preference given to those who are working to advance causes impacting people marginalized by race, gender, ability, identity or orientation. Joe DiNapoli Extended Journeys Endowed Scholarship UCF educator Joseph DiNapoli created this scholarship, which assists undergraduate students previously enrolled in a university or college but who have not yet obtained their bachelor’s degree. (see page 12) Pulse mural at the Student Union
ate students enrolled in the College of Business. Kevin and Jane White Endowed Scholarship for First-Generation Students The scholarship provides support for first-generation students majoring in Kinesiology Sport and Athletic Coaching. Kim and Rob Strong Family Endowed Scholarship Fund Kim ’92 and Rob ’93 Strong created this scholarship for first-generation students in the Nicholson School of Communication and Media. Lumentum Endowed Scholarship Fund The endowed scholarship fund will benefit students pursuing a career in optics and photonics. (see page 2) Manglardi Family Scholarship Fund Michael Manglardi ’84, emeritus director of the UCF Foundation Board of Directors, inspired many family members to attend UCF. The scholarship, created by his family, will benefit firstgeneration students. Micarelli Endowed Scholarship for Students in Need Created by Scott Worrell ’85, the scholarship honors the late Charles N. Micarelli, a founding dean at UCF. Notarantonio Family Endowed Nursing Scholarship Endowment Rosemary Notarantonio ’81, a member of the College of Nursing’s first graduating class, established this scholarship to provide awards for first-generation undergraduate students.
Juan R. Guerrero Endowed Scholarship This scholarship, named in honor of Juan Guerrero, a UCF student who died in the Pulse nightclub shooting, supports undergradu-
Olivia Black Beets FirstGeneration Endowed Scholarship Fund The fund supports first-year first-generation students.
Providing Autism Links and Support (PALS) Scholarship Fund The PALS fund creates opportunities for individuals with autism spectrum disorders registered with the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. Ramey Family Endowed Scholarship Fund The fund provides scholarship awards to undergraduate students currently enrolled in one of UCF’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs. Richard D. Peppler, PhD Endowed MD Scholarship The scholarship was created by Dr. Wilhelmina Korevaar, a volunteer in the College of Medicine, to honor Dr. Richard Peppler, long-time associate dean, upon his retirement. Robert Snow First-Generation Endowed Scholarship Fund The fund supports first-year first-generation students. Sons of T3 Service Scholarship Created by Sean Bryant ’12 and friends, the scholarship supports students in one of the National Pan-Hellenic Council fraternities or sororities on UCF’s campus. Su-I Hou Global Health Management and Informatics Endowed Scholarship The scholarship provides support for full-time students at the School of Global Health Management and Informatics. The Burnett Honors College Giordano Family Scholarship Fund The fund provides awards to undergraduate students in the Burnett Honors College and is named for Paolo Giordano, Neil R. Euliano Professor emeritus and department chair.
The Dr. John C. Hitt and Dr. Martha H. Hitt Endowed Fund The fund provides professional development and other administrative support to the faculty librarians and other library staff. The Mangels Family Research Endowment Fund The endowment fund provides support for cancer research at the College of Medicine and/or the Lake Nona Cancer Center. The James Carson Robinson First-Generation Endowed Scholarship Betty Robinson, a member of one of UCF’s founding families, created this scholarship in honor of her husband, the late James “Jim” Robinson. UCF President’s Leadership Council Endowed Scholarship Fund Former President’s Leadership Council (PLC) member Kyle Simpson ’11 created this fund, which provides support for junior or senior undergraduate students currently serving on the PLC.
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Walker
Woody Walker Endowed Scholarship Fund Woody Walker ’92 ’94 created the fund to support College of Business students, with preference given to members of a UCF organization that focuses on women and minorities in business.
MAKE AN IMPACT To learn more about establishing an endowment at UCF, contact us at 407.882.1220 or foundation@ucf.edu.
U C F F O U N D AT I O N , I N C . 2021 ANNUAL REPORT TO DONORS
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2021 FISCAL YEAR FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021)
I M PACT
FUNDRAISING RESULTS
$78,324,613
157,182
Total gifts and commitments
38,427 Number of donors
Number of gifts
(Includes cash gifts, pledges, securities, gifts in kind and planned gifts)
Current Use
92%
Friends
71%
%
%
DONOR CLASSIFICATION Foundations
12%
DESIGNATED USE
Undetermined
Alumni
8%
1%* Corporations
Organizations
7%
2%
Buildings and Equipment
4%
Endowment
3%
2021 Audit Results This fall, the UCF Foundation received an unqualified audit opinion from independent, external auditors. The foundation has a long history of clean audit findings, but this year the achievement was particularly meaningful in light of the challenges presented by the COVID pandemic, an abrupt shift to remote work and a transition to a paperless process. The foundation takes pride in a deep commitment to proper internal controls and safeguards of financial assets, as well as effective stewardship of the gifts entrusted to us. *Actual numbers were less than one percent. All figures for both charts were rounded to nearest full number. .
ENDOWMENT PERFORMANCE
Beginning market value Net cash flow Appreciation Ending market value Endowment pool investment return
FY 2021 (7/1/20 – 6/30/21)
LAST 3 YEARS (7/1/18 – 6/30/21)
LAST 5 YEARS (7/1/16 – 6/30/21)
$162,921,830 $7,775,567 $30,384,751 $201,082,148
$163,512,131 $5,856,361 $31,713,656 $201,082,148
$153,644,373 $6,213,145 $41,224,630 $201,082,148
26.8%
10.7%
9.7%
Net cash flow includes contributions to endowments, endowment fees and spending distributions. Appreciation includes net investment activity and all fees.
FINANCIAL POSITION
UNIVERSITY SUPPORT
(As of 6/30/21, in millions) 40
Cash and investments Property Receivables and other assets Total assets
$328.9 $130.2 $25.5 $484.6
Expenses incurred on behalf of the university, by fiscal year, in millions.
$26.3 20
Outstanding debt Payables and other liabilities Total liabilities
$69.2 $3.7 $72.9
Net assets
$411.7
$34.7
30
$28.0
$22.0
$25.7
$25.8
FY20
FY21
10
FY16
FY17
FY18
FY19
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VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP
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(Fiscal Year 2021)
I M PACT
UCF FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Members of the UCF Foundation Board of Directors give generously of their time, their expertise and their resources to advance the University of Central Florida. The following directors served through Fiscal Year 2021. A current board roaster is available at ucffoundation.org/board-of-directors. Officers John D. Euliano Sr. H’18 Chair Carrie Daanen ’92 Vice Chair Tony Moreno Jr. ’91 Vice Chair Alan Florez ’98 Treasurer Sara Bernard ’00 Secretary Directors Jessica L. Blume ’80 Clint Bullock ’95 Brian Butler Roslyn Smith Burttram P’20 Loretta Corey H’17 Catherine McCaw-Engelman Barry Forbes ’86 Gideon J. Lewis ’00 P.A. Diane Mahony ’96 ’01MEd ’14EdS Chris Marlin ’94 Marc McMurrin ’01 Thomas McNamara ’88 Kevin Miller Mary Beth Morgan Dianne Owen ’93 Dana Patton ’93 Mark Plaumann ’74 ’79MBA Christopher Tomasso ’93 Eva Tukdarian ’90 ’91MSA Kevin Wydra ’92 Joyce W. Virga ’98
Ex-Officio Directors Matt Assenmacher ’93 Alexander Cartwright Beverly J. Seay H’18 Directors Emeriti Judy Albertson HC’14 James T. Barnes Jr. R. Van Bogan Olga M. Calvet ’71 Peter Dagostino Alan G. Fickett ’71 Manuel A. Garcia III J. Charles Gray HC’16 Michael J. Grindstaff ’78 Gerald F. Hilbrich John C. Hitt H’17 Phyllis Klock HC’14 Deborah J. Komanski ’79 Rita A. Lowndes H’19 Michael Manglardi ’84 Gerald R. McGratty ’71 Anthony J. Nicholson HC’17 Richard A. Nunis HC’96 Margery Pabst Steinmetz Roger W. Pynn ’73 Al R. Weiss ’76 Nelson Ying Thomas Yochum Honorary Director Joan D. Ruffier
UCF BOARD OF TRUSTEES The UCF Board of Trustees sets policy and serves as the university’s legal owner and final authority responsible for efficient and effective use of resources. The following trustees served through Fiscal Year 2021. A current board roster is available at bot.ucf.edu. Beverly J. Seay H’18 Chair Harold F. Mills Tiffany A. Altizer ’90MS William J. Christy ’86 Jeffrey S. Condello Joseph D. Conte
Digvijay “Danny” Gaekwad Meg C. Hall Joseph Harrington Alexander J. Martins ’01MBA Caryl C. McAlpin ’77 John A. Miklos ’92 Michael A. Okaty ’96
UCF ALUMNI BOARD The Alumni Board formulates and executes strategies and programs that build a culture of service and philanthropy among UCF’s more than 334,000 alumni. The following members served through Fiscal Year 2021. A current board roster is available at ucfalumni.com. Officers Matt Assenmacher ’93 Chair Linh Dang ’93 Chair-Elect, Chair Directorship Committee Dan Ward ’92 Immediate Past Chair Kyle Simpson ’11 Treasurer Woody Walker ’92 ’94MBA Secretary Ex-Officio Corporate Officers Alexander Cartwright Chris Garcia ’12 ’13MBA Meg C. Hall Katie Maleta ’21 Ex-Officio Director John D. Euliano Sr. H’18
Directors Doug Anderson ’93 Drew Belani ’05 ’17MS Michelle Bilsky ’15 Todd Bryant ’07 Crystal Buit ’06 Michael Cantrell H’21 Trish Celano ’10MSN Angela Cohen ’98 Commander Paul Fermo ’92 Kristin Hahn ’94 Carol Hendren ’96 ’99MS Manish Hirapara ’98 Marley Hughes ’11 Kyle Israel ’08 Allen Lane ’97 JJ Mackle ’00MA Britt Massing ’93 Mason Moore ’97 Davia Moss ’93 ’09MPA Amy Rettig ’89 Al Sarabasa ’85 Alireza Shahnami ’81 ’95MSEE Melissa Tomasso ’94 Mish Tucker-Clark ’95 Ryan Vescio ’02 Christine Wydra ’93
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12424 Research Parkway, Suite 250 Orlando, Florida 32826-3208 407-882-1220 UCFFoundation.org
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UCF Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Reaching Higher Thank you to the alumni, friends and partners who showed remarkable resilience and generosity during a challenging year. You have helped UCF continue to reach new heights in academic, athletic and inclusive excellence.
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