Each academic year, the students and faculty at UCF exhibit remarkable commitment to their endeavors. Many individuals demonstrate exceptional dedication to producing high-quality research and supporting others in achieving their full potential. The College of Graduate Studies annually acknowledges outstanding students and faculty for their commendable contributions to teaching, research, and service through the Graduate Awards for Excellence.
During the awards ceremony held as part of Student Research Week, numerous graduate students received recognition for their remarkable accomplishments in teaching and research. Furthermore, additional students and faculty members were honored for their academic excellence during Founders’ Day.
This year, the awards program was expanded to encompass a broader appreciation for the arts, a domain that may not always receive the recognition it merits. The introduction of the Award for Outstanding Graduate Creative Work, spearheaded by Tolulope Ogunrinde, a member of the Graduate Student Advisory Council (GSAC), aims to celebrate creative scholarship and the invaluable role of art in our community.
This accolade seeks to celebrate and spotlight the significant creative contributions made by graduate students across various disciplines, including film, visual arts, performing arts, literature, and digital media. Additionally, it offers a platform for graduate students to showcase their talents, garner recognition for their achievements, and receive support and encouragement as they pursue their creative endeavors.
Tolulope Ogunrinde expressed, “The creation of the Award for Outstanding Graduate Creative Work was inspired by my objective as a GSAC member to promote creative endeavors among university graduate students.” By highlighting the exceptional creative endeavors of graduate students, the aim is to inspire future generations of scholars and artists to push the boundaries of creativity and make meaningful contributions to their respective fields. Recognizing and honoring excellence in creative work is believed to cultivate a culture of innovation, collaboration, and artistic expression within the graduate community and beyond.
In addition to this, the Graduate Student Advisory Council also confers the Award for Excellence by a Graduate Student Researcher, a self-nominated accolade that acknowledges exceptional research and creative scholarship at UCF, providing students with a platform to share their research with the university community and receive recognition for their outstanding work.
The recipients of the awards include:
Award for Outstanding Graduate Creative Work – Njeri Kinuthia, College of Arts and Humanities
Njeri Kinuthia, a graduate student in Studio Art and Design, is recognized for her exceptional talent as an artist. Her multidimensional artworks reflect her Kenyan heritage and feminist principles, utilizing various mediums such as fabric, canvas, and everyday objects. Kinuthia’s art serves as a platform to raise awareness about gender and racial disparities, advocating for societal change while incorporating vibrant fabrics from her hometown and infusing important social messages into her creations.
Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching – Hannah Bevan, College of Sciences
Hannah Bevan, a graduate student in the Mammalogy Lab, excels as a graduate teaching associate by fostering a conducive learning environment for students to explore the theoretical and methodological aspects of modeling species distributions. Her dedication to imparting knowledge and passion for biology shines through in her course, which focuses on habitat suitability and connectivity analyses to inform conservation management decisions effectively.
Award for Excellence by a Graduate Teaching Assistant – Mousam Hossain, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Mousam Hossain, a doctoral student in Computer Engineering, demonstrates exemplary teaching abilities as a graduate teaching assistant for Computer Organization. Apart from guiding students in assembly language programming and Verilog coding, she conducts research in Computer Architecture, emphasizing reconfigurable and evolvable hardware. Hossain’s enthusiasm for computer engineering reflects in her teaching approach, aiding students in comprehending computer organization fundamentals and establishing a strong academic foundation.
Mousam Hossain, alongside Vice Provost and Dean of the College of Graduate Studies Elizabeth Klonoff, was presented with the Award for Excellence by a Graduate Teaching Assistant.
Award for Excellence by a Graduate Student Researcher (Doctoral – Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities) – James Rujimora, College of Community Innovation and Education
James Rujimora, a doctoral student in Community Innovation and Education, conducts research on the challenges faced by parents and guardians caring for children with chronic medical illnesses. His findings underscore the psychological strain experienced by caregivers in such situations, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions and support systems. Rujimora’s research aims to drive positive change by collaborating with local organizations, disseminating findings through peer-reviewed journals, and advocating for caregiver-centric policies at state and federal levels.
Additionally, the following recognitions were awarded:
- Runner Up (STEM) – Joseph Goode, Biomedical Sciences PhD, College of Medicine
- Honorable Mention (STEM) – Edwin Davidson, Chemistry PhD, College of Sciences
Award for Excellence by a Graduate Student Researcher (Master’s – Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities) – Melanie Cedeño-López, College of Sciences
Melanie Cedeño-López, a student in the Feature Film Production MFA program, produced a feature-length documentary titled “La Buena Cosecha,” exploring the impactful contributions of Latino business owners in the U.S. Her work sheds light on the economic significance of Latinos, highlighting their entrepreneurial endeavors, job creation, and contributions to capital formation. Cedeño-López aims to continue sharing positive narratives of Latinos making a meaningful difference in society.
Joint Runner Up – (ASSH) Njeri Kinuthia, Studio Art and Design MFA, College of Arts and Humanities
Joint Runner Up (STEM) – Manisha Thenuwara, Counselor Education MA, College of Community Innovation and Education
Co-Runner Up Award for Excellence by a Master’s Graduate Student Researcher, Njeri Kinuthia, was acknowledged alongside adviser Jason Burrell.
Award for Outstanding Master’s Thesis (Engineering, Physical Science, Mathematical Sciences, and Life Sciences) – Tajnuba Hasan, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Tajnuba Hasan, under the mentorship of Dr. Tuhin Das, delved into the control of Spar-Buoy based wind turbine floating platforms through mooring line actuation. Her research addresses the stability challenges encountered by floating offshore wind turbine platforms in harsh oceanic conditions, proposing an innovative approach to stabilize these structures by integrating mooring system design with control strategies. Hasan’s work contributes significantly to the field of renewable energy by offering a holistic solution that enhances platform stability.
Award for Outstanding Master’s Thesis (Social Sciences, Humanities, Education, Business, Fine Arts, and Health Sciences) – Jason Pagan, College of Health Professions and Sciences
Jason Pagan, mentored by Dr. Matt Stock, explored resistance training adaptations in older adults, focusing on task specificity. His research investigates how exercise specificity influences strength and mobility improvements in aging individuals. By emphasizing the benefits of strength training in mitigating age-related muscle decline and enhancing mobility, Pagan’s work carries implications for designing effective exercise programs for senior communities. His research manuscript is currently undergoing peer review in a leading gerontology journal.
Honorable Mention – Cole Taylor, College of Arts and Humanities
Award for Outstanding Dissertation (Engineering, Physical Science, Mathematical Sciences, and Life Sciences) – Ce Zheng, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Ce Zheng, under the guidance of Dr. Chen Chen, presented a dissertation on “Reconstructing 3D Humans from Visual Data,” focusing on artificial intelligence-driven solutions for human pose estimation and mesh recovery. Zheng’s research pioneers efficient and cost-effective techniques for accurate 3D human pose estimation and mesh recovery from images and videos, eliminating the reliance on expensive motion capture systems. These advancements not only advance the field of human modeling but also have broad implications for various research domains.
Honorable Mention – Swarnadeep Seth, College of Sciences
Award for Outstanding Dissertation (Social Sciences, Humanities, Education, Business, Fine Arts, and Health Sciences) – Corey Seavey, College of Medicine
Corey Seavey, under the mentorship of Dr. Bradley Willenberg, explored innovative tools and platforms for studying mosquito behavior, control, and bite-site biology. His research focuses on leveraging technology to enhance the understanding of mosquito-borne diseases and develop effective control strategies. Seavey’s contributions include a unique flight chamber for studying spatial repellents and a model system (BITES) for analyzing mosquito bite sites, offering insights that can inform improved mosquito control measures and disease prevention strategies globally.
Honorable Mention – Ratna Okhai, College of Community Innovation and Education
Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching – Debbie Hahs-Vaughn, College of Community Innovation and Education
Debbie Hahs-Vaughn, a professor and academic program coordinator in the Department of Learning Sciences and Educational Research, excels in teaching quantitative statistics, a challenging subject for many. Her commitment to presenting complex material in diverse ways to cater to varied learning styles has earned her recognition as an outstanding instructor. Hahs-Vaughn’s passion for statistics, dedication to student success, and supportive teaching approach have enabled her students to excel under her mentorship.
The college recipients of the Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching are:
- College of Arts and Humanities – Julia Listengarten, Professor – School of Performing Arts
- College of Business Administration – Lealand Morin, Assistant Professor – Department of Economics
- College of Engineering and Computer Science – George Atia, Associate Professor – Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- College of Health Professions and Sciences – Morris Beato, Associate Professor – School of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences
- College of Nursing – Desiree Diaz, Professor – Department of Nursing Practice
- College of Optics and Photonics – Romain Gaume, Associate Professor – College of Optics and Photonics
- College of Sciences – Thomas Dolan, Associate Professor – School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs
- Rosen College of Hospitality Management – Juhee Kang, Associate Professor – Department of Hospitality Management Services
Award for Faculty Excellence in Mentoring Postdoctoral Scholars – Mubarak Shah, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Mubarak Shah, a trustee chair professor of computer science and director of the Center for Research in Computer Vision, has mentored numerous postdoctoral scholars, guiding them towards successful careers in academia and industry. Shah’s commitment to fostering their research skills, publication record, and career development has led many scholars to prestigious positions in universities and organizations globally. His dedication to mentoring and witnessing the success of his mentees remains a fulfilling aspect of his academic journey.
Two exceptional faculty members recognized for their mentorship of doctoral students are Ahmad Elshennawy and Robert Dvorak.
Award for Faculty Excellence in Mentoring Doctoral Students (Health Sciences, Engineering, Physical Sciences, and Life Sciences) – Ahmad Elshennawy, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Ahmad Elshennawy, a professor in Industrial Engineering and Management Systems, and Director of the UCF Quality Institute, brings over three decades of expertise in quality engineering and management to his mentorship role. Elshennawy’s guidance in quality systems, reliability engineering, and statistical process control has empowered doctoral students to excel in their research pursuits.
Award for Faculty Excellence in Mentoring Doctoral Students (Social Sciences, Humanities, Education, Business, and Fine Arts) – Robert Dvorak, College of Sciences
Robert Dvorak, a professor in the Clinical Psychology program and director of the REALE-TIME Lab, focuses on cognitive, affective, and behavioral self-regulation in health-related behaviors. Dvorak’s collaborative work with students on mobile interventions and behavioral research underscores his commitment to nurturing scholars in their academic and personal growth.
The 2024 Excellence Awardees exemplify a standard of excellence in research, mentorship, and academic scholarship that surpasses expectations. For further information on the Graduate Awards of Excellence, please visit the provided link.