Burnett Honors College Viewbook 2018

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

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OPPORTUNITIES IN 2017, OUR INCOMING FRESHMEN: CAME FROM

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The Burnett Honors College combines the intimacy of a small, liberal arts college with the benefits of a large, metropolitan research university. Honors students are welcomed into a diverse learning community that fosters the pursuit of excellence, promotes ethical, social and civic responsibility, and fuels a passion for personal growth and lifelong learning.

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

LANGUAGES

WERE BORN IN

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COUNTRIES

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

— Thomas Huang, Economics, Political Science and Business Administration triple major

DISTINGUISHED ACADEMIC COMMUNITY UNIVERSITY HONORS

SMALL CLASSES

University Honors is a four-year program

Honors courses offer the same curricula

involving Honors coursework in UCF’s General

as their non-Honors counterparts. However,

Education Program and upper-division courses,

most Honors classes are limited to approximately

which include core courses for specific majors

20 students to encourage more interaction

and interdisciplinary seminars. (Note: Only

between professors and students to ensure

incoming freshmen or transfer students who

a high level of student participation and

meet certain criteria are eligible to apply for

individual attention.

this program.)

As an Honors student, you will take a variety of Honors classes from freshman to senior year.

Each year you can choose from more than 200 Honors courses and classes.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: • Honors Symposium • Enriched versions of UCF courses in areas

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 and optics

such as computer science, molecular biology, modern physics and creative writing • Honors Interdisciplinary Seminars present

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 Burnett Honors College advisors will help students map their academic journey, from Honors requirements, to graduate and

innovative topics team-taught by UCF’s

professional school admission planning,

outstanding faculty, who combine two

to the pursuit of prestigious awards.

areas of study to shape new ways of understanding subjects (such as Law in Film, Religion and Medicine, and Sustainability in Engineering).

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

— Kevin Meehan, Ph.D., professor of English

HONORS IN THE MAJOR Interested in undertaking original and independent work in your discipline? Honors in the Major (HIM) is the oldest and most prestigious undergraduate research program at UCF. It encourages motivated and talented juniors and seniors to serve as principal investigators with the opportunity to write, defend and publish an original Honors thesis that serves as the capstone of their undergraduate career.

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 conducting original research. While research and thesis writing are

Students should consider this program if they have the desire to be creative, are curious and committed, and want a valuable mentorship experience with a faculty member.

not mandatory for all Honors students, many are

EXAMPLES OF THESES INCLUDE:

involved in research and creative projects at UCF,

“ The Thermodynamics of Planetary

across the United States and internationally.

The Office of Honors Research offers an array of information, support and mentoring to help students get involved in research and achieve career and professional goals.

Engineering on the Planet Mars” “ Multiple Aspects of Natural Killer Cell Expansion in Relevance to Immunotherapy for Hematologic Malignancies” “ Embezzlement: A Management Control Theory Perspective” “ Left Brain vs. Right Brain: An Analysis of Cervantes’ ‘Don Quixote’” “ Southern Honors: An Analysis of Stand Your Ground Law in Southern Jurisdictions”

Benefits and Resources SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Burnett Honors College offers more than $135,000 annually in scholarships and grants to help offset the costs associated with study abroad, research and the pursuit of creative projects.

OFFICE OF PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS OPA helps students identify national and international scholarships and fellowships that align with their academic and career goals. UCF has graduated Rhodes, Goldwater and Truman scholars, as well as recipients of the National Science Foundation Fellowship and Astronaut Scholarship.

The Office of Prestigious Awards worked tirelessly to make sure I am prepared to seize the opportunities that will catapult me to the next stage in my career.� — John Vastola, 2016 Rhodes Scholarship finalist and Astronaut Scholar

RECOGNITION At graduation, participants will receive recognition for University Honors, Honors in the Major or both programs on diplomas and transcripts. During the graduation banquet, graduates will receive the Honors Medallion.

HONORS EXCLUSIVES

LIVING LEARNING COMMUNITY IN TOWER III OF KNIGHTS PLAZA

READING ROOM

MEDITATION GARDEN

COMPUTER LABS

BIG IMPACT HONORS ABROAD Honors Abroad programs provide students with the opportunity to engage in meaningful community projects focused on public health, environmental sustainability, wildlife conservation and more. Students cultivate an understanding and appreciation for different societies and cultures around the world through immersive learning experiences. Through our international partnerships, Honors students have the opportunity to learn outside of the classroom on a global scale.

HONORS SYMPOSIUM The Honors Symposium is a first-year experience course consisting of informative lectures, small-group discussions and community engagement, which: • Helps students 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 intriguing topics, such as ethics, sports

HONORS CONGRESS Ready to make the most of college?

The Honors Congress is the official student organization of Burnett Honors College and exists to strengthen the Honors community by providing academic, volunteer and social outlets. The wide variety of events invites students to experience what the college, UCF and Orlando have to offer.

and social justice, and current events • Promotes involvement in campus organizations • Cultivates the Honors community through team leaders, who serve as mentors and helpful resources to new Honors students

Brilliant Community DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER LUNCHEONS

HOW-TO WORKSHOPS

ALUMNI MENTORING PROGRAM

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

Designed with Honors students’ academic, personal and career development in mind, these workshops may show students how to ace an interview, how to write a great resume, how to score well on the GRE, and even how to make the best paper airplanes.

The Burnett Honors College Alumni Mentoring Program creates a bridge between Honors students and alumni by matching mentors with mentees based on majors, interests, career aspirations and fields of expertise.

Working together, students and alumni create a more inclusive, interconnected network for the college while helping students progress professionally and academically.

Honors Students Doing Big Things

EMPLOYERS Amazon AT&T Cirque du Soleil Department of State DreamWorks Animation ESPN Facebook Google Harvard College IBM Intel LinkedIn Lockheed Martin Microsoft NASA

LAUREN NIEDERHISER ’12 The civil engineering and hospitality management double major fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming a Disney Imagineer.

MELISSA AMOI-BELINDA SMITH ’11PhD As a user-experience researcher for YouTube, the psychology major explores and develops new features for more than 1 billion users.

TYLER FISHER ’03 UCF’s first Rhodes Scholar, the educator returned to UCF as a faculty member after teaching Spanish, literature and history at universities in the United Kingdom.

The New York Times Northrop Grumman PricewaterhouseCoopers Siemens Westinghouse United Space Alliance Universal Studios The Walt Disney Company

The Walt Disney Company MEDICAL SCHOOLS,

LAW SCHOOLS AND GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Cambridge University Cornell University Duke University Georgia Institute of Technology Harvard University Johns Hopkins University London School of Economics

BRANDON NAIDUS ’12 The social media manager worked for the largest sports media company in the world, the Jacksonville Jaguars and is currently with the Arizona Cardinals.

JACQUELINE BOEHME ’11 Currently a resident at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, the molecular biology and microbiology major earned her medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 2016.

IDA ESKAMANI ’12 ’16MPA As chief of staff to Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith and board member of Organize Florida, the campus organizer advocates for marginalized communities throughout the state.

New York University Oxford University Stanford University University of Central Florida Yale University

Jacqueline Boehme photo by Joanne Smith.

Columbia University

ALBERT MANERO Hometown

Palm Harbor, FL Major

Aerospace Engineering

“Our bionic arms can change all that. They allow kids to be kids and understand that their opportunities are limitless.”  Albert Manero ’12 ’14MS ’16Ph.D. is the CEO and co-founder of Limbitless Solutions, a nonprofit organization that creates bionic arms for children and encourages kids to pursue their dreams in engineering. Manero, a Fulbright Scholar, received his doctoral degree in mechanical engineering at UCF and continues to mentor students learning design in the Limbitless Solutions lab on campus.

IMPORTANT DATES APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 15: Priority Deadline March 31: Final Deadline

GET CONNECTED honors.ucf.edu facebook.com/BurnettHonorsCollege Instagram: @ucfbhc

BURNETT HONORS COLLEGE P.O. Box 161800 Orlando, FL 32816 407.823.2076