Skip to main content

Student Success Stories

Spotlights

  • Young man with short brown hair wearing a black UCF polo shirt, smiling and standing against a plain light background.

    Aaron Riddle

    Aaron Riddle is a Mechanical Engineering major at the University of Central Florida.  He was drawn to UCF for its strong engineering program and the career opportunities available in the

    Learn more about Aaron Riddle
  • A woman in a black blazer and polka dot blouse stands smiling in front of a brick wall.

    Alexis Luka

    Alexis Luka is a Biomedical Sciences who graduated in Spring 2020. She has been apart of the EXCEL program since 2016, and she is grateful for all the opportunities EXCEL

    Learn more about Alexis Luka
  • A person stands smiling in front of a scientific research poster presented at a conference, wearing a conference badge and black lanyard.

    Alyssa Ryan

    Alyssa is a Biomedical Science major on the Pre-Medical track, with a minor in Health Sciences. While adjusting to the college life in a new city, Alyssa relied on the

    Learn more about Alyssa Ryan
  • A woman with straight, long black hair and a brown zip-up top stands smiling in front of a brick wall.

    Amber Lett

    Amber is a senior studying Computer Engineering with a minor in Intelligent Robotic Systems and Mathematics at the University of Central Florida. She is a fourth-year member of the GEMS

    Learn more about Amber Lett
  • Woman with long black hair, red lipstick, and dangling earrings wearing a black off-shoulder dress and a dragonfly necklace, standing outdoors with trees in the background.

    Amelia Marty

    Amelia Marty is an Aerospace Engineering major who chose to join the EXCEL Program for the opportunity to meet likeminded individuals.  Access to the EXCEL specific math courses and tutoring

    Learn more about Amelia Marty
  • A woman stands indoors holding a UCF balloon, with more balloons nearby, next to a table and a decorative wall piece in the background.

    Brianna Ruiz

        Brianna Ruiz is currently a sophomore majoring in Industrial Engineering. She has been apart of the EXCEL program since fall 2019 and very thankful for the opportunities she

    Learn more about Brianna Ruiz
  • Smiling man stands outdoors in front of a stone bridge. Text overlay reads: "Bryan Medina, University of Central Florida, Computer Science & Mathematics, Hispanic Heritage Scholarship.

    Bryan Medina

    Bryan Medina is a member of EXCEL, double majoring in computer science and mathematics at the University of Central Florida. Bryan hopes to one day become an auditory neuroscientist so

    Learn more about Bryan Medina
  • A young woman stands and smiles in front of a scientific research poster about DNA metabarcoding methods for studying sea turtle diets at an academic conference.

    Christine Sarkis

    Christine Sarkis is currently a senior majoring in Biology with a minor in Environmental Studies. Christine is in her fourth year being involved with EXCEL. This is her fourth semester

    Learn more about Christine Sarkis
  • A young woman with blond hair in a ponytail stands outside on a grassy area, smiling, wearing a dark UCF Broad Cancer Center t-shirt, with trees and a modern building in the background.

    Clara Poffenberger

    Clara Poffenberger is a fourth-year Mechanical Engineering Student. She credits COMPASS and EXCEL with her academic success, growing her math skills, and starting her research interest. Clara is always seeking

    Learn more about Clara Poffenberger
  • A woman with long wavy brown hair, wearing a black blazer and light-colored top, poses in front of a plain blue background.

    Cristobal Sepulveda

    Meet KnightHacks winner, Cristobal Sepulveda! Cris is currently in his third year with the EXCEL/COMPASS program, majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Statistics. Cris served as an EXCEL/COMPASS Living

    Learn more about Cristobal Sepulveda

  • Devin Burris

    Devin Burris is an EXCEL and GEMS member pursing a Biomedical Sciences Major with a Minor in Chemistry. Devin was recently selected as one of four UCF students to receive

    Learn more about Devin Burris

  • Gianna Fanelli

    Congratulations to Gianna Fanelli ’20 on her acceptance into graduate school at the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience! Gianna is an alumni of both the EXCEL program and

    Learn more about Gianna Fanelli

  • Jack Livingston

    Jack is a sophomore studying Computer Science. He entered UCF as a COMPASS student which allowed him to explore the field of STEM and decide what major to pursue. The

    Learn more about Jack Livingston

  • Johnathan Aponte

    Meet Johnathan Aponte! Throughout his time with COMPASS, Johnathan found a passion for Mechanical Engineering and has since been a dedicated member of the EXCEL program at UCF. Johnathan served

    Learn more about Johnathan Aponte

  • Jonathan Gitzendanner

    Jonathan is an Aerospace Engineering major.  Jonathan came to UCF because of it’s strong engineering program. He was impressed with the wealth of connections that the College of Engineering and

    Learn more about Jonathan Gitzendanner

  • Kayla Shepherd

    Kayla is currently a sophomore majoring in Biomedical Sciences. She is a member of EXCEL and is grateful for the friends and opportunities she has been provided with through the

    Learn more about Kayla Shepherd

  • Kevin Phillips

    Kevin is a sophomore studying Mechanical Engineering. He is a second year EXCEL student and had the opportunity to live in the LLC his freshman year. The EXCEL program has

    Learn more about Kevin Phillips

  • Lillian Holden

      Lillian is a sophomore double majoring in Biomedical Sciences and History. When coming into college Lillian was very nervous coming into such a large university since she is from

    Learn more about Lillian Holden

  • Loubensky Baine

    EXCEL has created a seamless transition for me from high school to college,” says Loubensky Baine, a second-year Aerospace Engineering student. “Joining the program my freshman year was a decision

    Learn more about Loubensky Baine

  • Madison Adams

    Madison is a sophomore studying Mechanical Engineering. This is her second year in the EXCEL program and she is appreciative of the research opportunities that the program has introduced her

    Learn more about Madison Adams

  • Marcus Francois

    Marcus Francois is an Electrical Engineering major who chose UCF for its renowned Intelligent Robotic Systems minor, which aligns perfectly with his career goals. He joined the EXCEL Program to

    Learn more about Marcus Francois

  • Maria Urdaneta

    Congratulations to Maria Urdaneta for winning 1st place in UCF CECS’s Virtual Fall 2020 Senior Design showcase in the MAE department! Maria and her team designed and built a CNC

    Learn more about Maria Urdaneta

  • Mariana Sorroza

    Mariana is double-majoring in Mechanical Engineering and International and Global Studies. She has expressed that Engineering has always been a huge interest of hers which is one of her biggest

    Learn more about Mariana Sorroza

  • Michael Freeland

    Michael Freeland is a Mechanical Engineering major who chose UCF because of the successful engineers he met who had graduated from the university.  He also liked the campus and area. 

    Learn more about Michael Freeland

  • Moses Hinrichsen

    Moses Hinrichsen is studying Aerospace Engineering. He is a second year EXCEL student, and lived in the LLC during his freshman year. He has been very happy to make new friends through the program, and

    Learn more about Moses Hinrichsen

  • Ornella Vintimilla

    Ornella Vintimilla is a Biomedical Sciences and Psychology major who chose UCF to help her achieve her goal of becoming a physician. She utilized the Direct Connect program to seamlessly

    Learn more about Ornella Vintimilla

  • Rebecca Vollmann

    Congratulations to the 2018-2019 Black Faculty and Staff Association 'Mentee of the Year' Award Winner, Rebecca Vollmann!

    Learn more about Rebecca Vollmann

  • Rhianna Ventura

    Rhianna is a Biomedical Sciences major at UCF.  As an incoming freshman to college, Rhianna was very nervous that she would not be able to adjust well to college courses.

    Learn more about Rhianna Ventura