Burnett Honors Viewbook 2016

THE BURNETT HONORS COLLEGE U N I V E R S I T Y O F C E N T R A L F LO R I DA • O R L A N D O, F LO R I DA

BELONG

ASPIRE “At UCF, we dream big. Our greatest limitations are those we place on ourselves.”

JOHN C. HITT, UCF PRESIDENT

Admission to The Burnett Honors College is an invitation to study, research, explore and achieve at the nation’s second-largest university.

The small class sizes, dedicated faculty and interdisciplinary class offerings engender an intimate environment where students can tailor their course of study to suit their interests and academic needs.”

MICHAEL SCIMECA BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES AND SPANISH DOUBLE MAJOR

STUDENTS WITH BIG DREAMS During my time as an Honors student, I traveled to more than 15 countries, studied four languages and graduated with degrees in economics, political science and business administration.”

The Burnett Honors College combines the intimacy of a small liberal arts college with the benefits of a large, metropolitan research university. We create a diverse learning community that fosters the pursuit of excellence. Ethical, social and civic responsibility fuel our passion for personal growth and lifelong learning.

In this environment, you will grow and develop as both an individual and a scholar. From the beginning of your experience as an Honors student through your graduation, you will be asked to participate in the learning experience — instead of merely observing it.

THOMAS HUANG ECONOMICS, POLITICAL SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION TRIPLE MAJOR

The Burnett Honors College’s diverse students: Speak

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DISTINGUISHED ACADEMIC COMMUNITY

The Honors community cultivates critical-thinking skills and creative processes.

UNIVERSITY HONORS •

• •

University Honors is a four-year program involving Honors coursework in UCF’s General Education Program and upper-division courses, which include core courses for specific majors and interdisciplinary seminars.

Only incoming freshmen are eligible to apply for this program.

As a University Honors student, you will take a variety of Honors classes, from your freshman to your senior year. You will choose from more than 200 courses per year.

Highlights include: • The Honors Symposium • Enriched versions of UCF courses, from computer science to molecular biology and modern physics to creative writing • Honors Interdisciplinary Seminars, unique to The Burnett Honors College, present innovative topics team-taught by UCF’s outstanding faculty, who combine two areas of study to shape new ways of understanding subjects (e.g., Law in Film, Sustainability in Engineering, and Religion and Medicine).

“The Honors College focuses on nurturing talented minds in an intimate setting that is challenging and humane.”

KEVIN MEEHAN, PH.D., PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH

SMALL CLASSES

Honors classes are limited to 20 students to encourage more interaction between professors and students and to ensure a high level of student participation and individual attention.

PRIORITY MULTIPLE-TERM REGISTRATION Honors students register before course registration begins for other UCF students. You can sign up for summer, fall and spring courses all at once.

PROFESSIONAL ADVISING AND SUPPORT

The Burnett Honors College advisors will help you map your academic journey, from Honors requirements, to graduate and professional school admission planning, to the pursuit of prestigious awards.

RESEARCH

Whether it’s the need to satisfy an intellectual curiosity or a desire for academic growth, students of all disciplines have the opportunity to enhance their education by becoming active participants in research.

While research and thesis writing are not mandatory for all Honors students, more than half are involved in research and creative projects at UCF, across the U.S. and internationally.

The Burnett Honors College Office of Research and Community Engagement offers an array of information, support and mentoring to help you get involved in research and achieve your career and professional goals.

HONORS IN THE MAJOR (HIM)

Interested in pursuing research and distinguishing yourself? Honors in the Major is the oldest and most prestigious research program at UCF. It encourages motivated and talented juniors and seniors to serve as principal investigators in innovative research with the opportunity to write, defend and publish an original Honors thesis that serves as the capstone of their undergraduate career. A thesis will guide your journey from “I want to conduct research” to “I know I can conduct research” to “I want to spend the rest of my life as a scientist.” Samples of HIM theses include: “The Thermodynamics of Planetary Engineering on the Planet Mars,” “Multiple Aspects of Natural Killer Cell Expansion in Relevance to Immunotherapy for Hematologic Malignancies,” “On Rights: A Defense and Analysis of Rights Through Natural Law,” “Embezzlement: A Management Control Theory Perspective” and “Predictors of Presence in Virtual Reality.”

RECOGNITION

At graduation you will receive the University Honors recognition on your diploma and transcript, and at the Honors graduation banquet you will receive the Honors medallion.

This structure enables students to benefit from the dynamic and intellectually invigorating exchange of ideas that is the cornerstone of a liberal arts education.”

STEPHEN KUEBLER, PH.D., ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY, OPTICS AND PHOTONICS

ENHANCED RESOURCES “The heart of The Burnett Honors College is a thoughtfully designed building that creates a sense of place.”

STEPHEN KUEBLER, PH.D., ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY, OPTICS AND PHOTONICS

I applied to the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates the summer after my sophomore year. It’s basically a paid internship to go do real science. I ended up spending the summer at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, where I got to do some significant research, including contributing to the discovery and description of a protist — a single-celled eukaryote — that is new to science and that I’ll get to help name.”

GRACE AVECILLA NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

The Office of Prestigious Awards works tirelessly to make sure I am prepared to seize the opportunities that will catapult me to the next stage in my career.”

OFFICE OF PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS (OPA)

JOHN VASTOLA, 2016 RHODES SCHOLARSHIP FINALIST AND ASTRONAUT SCHOLAR

The Burnett Honors College offers more than $200,000 annually in scholarships and grants to help offset the costs associated with study abroad, research and the pursuit of creative projects.

OPA helps students identify national and international scholarships and fellowships that align with their academic and career goals. We’ve graduated Rhodes, Goldwater and Truman scholars, as well as recipients of the National Science Foundation Fellowship and Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.

HONORS ABROAD PROGRAMS HONORS ABROAD SOUTH AFRICA

This monthlong study-abroad program focuses on sustainability conceived in its broadest sense, through which you’ll gain service-learning experiences that promote sustainable practices in South Africa in collaboration with academic and community organizations from that country.

• Projects include: Upgrading the sustainable energy platform for Intabazwe Township, working with the Intabazwe Township orphanage, teaching and upgrading facilities at the township preschool, and animal tracking and conservation at a Nambiti game preserve.

HONORS ABROAD NICARAGUA

This three-week program helps you cultivate an understanding and appreciation of Nicaraguan society and culture through service-learning projects that are developed in collaboration with our international friends and partners.

• Projects include: Developing sustainable tilapia ponds, installing water catchment and purification systems, and teaching sustainable farming.

HONORS EXCLUSIVES: READING ROOM

MEDITATION GARDEN

COMPUTER LAB

LIVING-LEARNING COMMUNITY

ENGAGE

Volunteer in the community with other Knights.

HONORS EDUCATIONAL REACH OUT (HERO)

Find your passion through committed, long-term service at a variety of community organizations focusing on education and youth development, the legal/dependency system, environmental preservation, homelessness and poverty, and health and wellness.

ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK (ASB)

Spend your spring break giving back to communities through volunteerism. ASB is a highly immersive week of service projects, leadership and relationship-building.

Help make an impact on communities around the U.S., and learn more about the challenges and opportunities facing our country.

HONORS SYMPOSIUM

The Honors Symposium is a first-year experience course consisting of informative lectures, small group discussions and service-learning, which: • Helps you adjust to college life and establish the foundation for a rewarding academic career • Creates the opportunity to meet prestigious faculty members and community leaders as they present their ideas on intriguing topics from film to archaeology to digital media • Provides more than 7,000 hours of service to 11,000 children in grades 1–5 in Orange County Public Schools by teaching hands-on lessons that focus on student success skills

Join any of UCF’s 600-plus student clubs and organizations.

HONORS COMMUNITY HONORS CONGRESS Catch a concert at the 10,000-seat CFE Arena.

UCF offers many things to do without leaving campus — all within walking distance of Honors housing.

Cheer for the Knights at the 45,000-seat Bright House Networks Stadium.

Ready to make the most of college? The Honors Congress is the official student organization of The Burnett Honors College and exists to strengthen the Honors community by providing academic, volunteer and social outlets. The wide variety of events will allow you to experience the best of what the college, UCF and Orlando have to offer.

DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER LUNCHEONS

Each semester, prominent leaders in the community are invited as distinguished Honors guest speakers to discuss their lives, careers and accomplishments. Honors students gain wonderful networking opportunities, learn about various career paths, enjoy a free lunch, meet other Honors students and sometimes even land internships or jobs.

HOW-TO WORKSHOPS Usher in spring at Symphony Under the Stars.

Designed with Honors students in mind, this series is organized around three main themes: academic, personal and career development. You may learn how to ace an interview, how to write a great résumé, how to take the GRE and even learn how to make paper airplanes.

The Honors College gave me the opportunity to be around other students who were motivated and goaloriented. I knew that kind of environment would push me to keep striving for excellence.”

REBECCA FATE, POLITICAL SCIENCE AND LEGAL STUDIES DOUBLE MAJOR

SUCCEED Honors graduates dream big and achieve great things.

More than half of our Honors students graduate with Latin honors.

More than 50 percent of our Honors students attend graduate and professional schools within one year of graduation.

Honors students have the opportunity to work with an Honors alumni mentor.

LUNCH WITH LEGENDS

The Honors alumni network stays engaged and serves as mentors for current students.

They come to share their savvy and experience during the Lunch with Legends events.

Albert Manero

HONORS ALUMNI

Chris Marlin ’94 (political science) earned his J.D. from Emory University School of Law. He is currently president of Lennar International, the third-largest homebuilder in the U.S. Dr. Sarah Kureshi ’01 (biology) earned her M.D. from Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and her M.P.H. in international health from the Harvard School of Public Health. She is currently a fellow at the Georgetown University Medical Center.

Tyler Fisher ’03 (English literature and Spanish) is the first student from UCF to attain the prestigious Rhodes scholarship, which enabled him to pursue graduate studies at Magdalen College, Oxford. After earning his Ph.D. he became a Queen Sofia research fellow and lecturer in Spanish at Exeter College, Oxford. He is currently a lecturer in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at University College London.

Albert Manero ’12 (aerospace engineering) is the executive director of Limbitless Solutions, a nonprofit organization devoted to bringing volunteers and technology to kids in need. He leads a team that develops and distributes affordable bionic arms, encouraging children to dream big in the field of engineering. He is a Fulbright scholar working toward his doctorate in mechanical engineering at UCF, and he mentors students learning design and manufacturing skills in the Texas Instruments Innovation Lab.

Andrew Papa

The Honors college enabled me to bridge the gap between my two majors, economics and legal studies, to solve real issues within society. The skills I developed helped me achieve my goal to attend the University of Virginia School of Law.” ANDREW PAPA, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA SCHOOL OF LAW

For more information, visit The Burnett Honors College online: honors.ucf.edu Tyler Fisher

facebook.com/TheBurnettHonorsCollege

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TH E B U R NE TT H O NO R S CO L L E G E UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA • ORLANDO, FLORIDA

honors.ucf.edu