All right, everyone this is gonna be a lot of fun. This is one of the very few times the college tour gets to visit a horse barn. This one in fact has been here for over a hundred years and that’s where we’re gonna meet Gabby. She’s a freshmen majoring in animal science. And she’s gonna talk about her experience as a city girl in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Okay Gabby, you’re on.
– Hi everyone. So growing up I always knew that I wanted to work with animals. I had two cats, Casey and Rastki and my favorite book growing up was my Encyclopedia of Dog Breed. So during high school, I had the opportunity to shadow one of my local veterinarians for a couple months and I knew right away that that was what I wanted to do. So right now my dream is to attend the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, which by the way, is the number one ranked vet school in the world. And I wanna work with large predators and rehabilitative zoos. But as of right now, I am a first year animal science major in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. We offer 28 majors and 40 minors and a broad variety of topics that have everything to do with the sustainability and safety of our planet. We have stuff covering climate change, conserving habitats, making sure people have the food space and hope that they need. It also includes the science of brewing and wine-making. And of course the health of our lovely animals. Like I said, it covers a lot. Choosing Davis was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, even despite the pandemic, our professors have gone above and beyond to make sure that our classes are engaging and that we’re learning the material that they’re teaching. I knew I was at home when I started my first class, intro to animal science with professor Russ Hubby. For a class project we even conducted an experiment to see whether we could teach his old dog a new trick. And so we took his dog Sunny and we tried to see if we could teach her to jump through a hoop and she did it and it was the cutest thing ever. If I’m being completely honest, it was a bit of a culture shock moving from the Bay Area to Davis because I’m surrounded by farm animals, but I fell in love so fast. There are so many different ways for our students to get their hands dirty and get into some research and internship opportunities here on campus. We have internships and hands-on learning opportunities ranging from a student run student farm to landscape architecture in our vertical gardens. One of the ones that I’m actually really interested in is one that’s right here at our horse barn, where students get to work with our mares poles and stallions because fun fact, we are also a fully functional breeding facility here in addition to being a teaching barn. It has been truly a pleasure to spend my first year here at UC Davis and I cannot be more excited to see what my future holds. Back to you, Alex.
– Gabby, thank you for sharing what sounds like a memorable first year that gives new meaning to hands on learning and you wanna work with large predators at the zoo, I can’t wait to see that happen. Good luck on your journey to veterinary school and beyond. Thanks again, Gabby.
Now let’s head over to the Student Community Center and meet Alexander. They’re a junior with a multiplicity of cultures in their background and a double major ahead of them. That’s international relations and sociology, organizational studies. They’re also a UC Davis tour guide. So they definitely know this place backwards and forwards. They’re gonna talk to us about what it’s like to get involved and find your community at UC Davis. Okay Alexander, it’s all yours. Please take it away.
– Thanks Alex, who me, like this? Naturally, if you ask little ol’ me Alexander, what life is like on campus, well darling, you’re gonna make me reminisce and reminisce we shall. Coming from a big city, I thought to myself, I was at campus, no further cows going to allow me to live the dreams that I want to have. Soon enough though, I found places that I didn’t know I’d be calling home today in my journey to be involved, I went to the fantastic Involvement Fair in 2018. Table to table, my feet grew restless honey, but soon enough, I found the table in VSA, otherwise known as the Vietnamese Student Association. This club struck a chord because of the sense of culture and family this club brought. Coming from a multicultural background, being Cambodian, Vietnamese, Mexican and Cuban, I wanted to explore my multiple ethnic identities and this organization space and VSA affirmed that. Now I’m serving as the treasurer and former culture show director of VSA, where I got to build stories around Vietnamese-American lives. If that isn’t a full circle moment, I don’t know what is. Culture Show was the event that made me fall in love with VSA because of the way the entire club comes together to put on a production with a script, dance teams and performances, but ambitious Alexander did not stop there. I applied as a tour guide. Now I walk backwards with a bright smile and a bright personality telling people just like yourself, why Davis has become my home away from home. And of course it doesn’t stop there. When you have a face like this and a soul like mine, I paused my reminiscent journey at the Student Community Center, where I got to work this past year at the Cross-Cultural Center as a mixed heritage community coordinator, working alongside students scholars and staff on creating holistic programming, such as welcome week events, mixers, and workshops. It is with the Cross-Cultural Center that not only was my queerness, but my culture identities were both affirmed and celebrated. I often visited the LGBTQI Resource Center and the Student Recruitment Retention Center, where I was able to fall in love with this program known as Southeast Asians Furthering Education, otherwise known as SAFE. This group of lovely human beings cherish every single moment and love the fact that they get to serve the Southeast Asian community. Everyone always asks me, Alex, what is there to do on campus? And I recently learned the answer. While others may look for opportunities, Aggies create their own opportunities. And UC Davis has the potential to make any opportunity happen, back to you, Alex.
– Wow, Alexander, your super power of making people smile is no joke, thank you. That’s an amazing story. I am so glad you found not just a campus, but a community. And I love your closing thought. Create your own opportunities. That is certainly words to live by. Thanks again, Alexander. Great job.
Okay, up next, we’re gonna introduce you to Yael, a senior majoring in political science and philosophy, with a minor in public health. Like many other students at Tulane, Yael has a passion for public service. So, she’s gonna tell you a bit about Tulane’s service learning requirement. Take it away.
– Thanks Alex. Hey everyone. I chose Tulane because of the outstanding academic programs, the mid-sized campus, and the magical city of New Orleans. My favorite part ended up being my amazing supportive peers who share my love for community engagement. Something unique about Tulane, is that we have service components tied into our classes. My first service learning class was called “Intro to Women’s Imprisonment”. We traveled to the Louisiana Correctional Facility for Women and we would work with the women there on their final English papers. Back at Tulane, we wrote policy reports that we later presented to a prison reform committee in Baton Rouge, made up of judges, police officers, and politicians. This class was one of the most challenging and demanding courses I’ve ever taken, but also the most rewarding. What’s awesome is that every Tulane student has a story like mine. Tulane was the first R1 university to include service as a graduation requirement. Students can take service learning classes, join service extracurriculars, or pursue internships through our Center for Public Service. I love that our projects are not just short volunteerism trips. CPS partners with over 600 service organizations in the New Orleans area. And last year our students put in over 225,000 hours of service. We are consistently ranked the number one school by “Princeton Review” for community engagement in the country. Tulane is a place that allows you to grow, change, and create everlasting memories. I have been able to create a family here at Tulane while also connecting with our amazing city. Well, that’s it from me. Back to you, Alex.
– Thanks so much for sharing your public service experience with us, Yael. I can’t believe the number of organizations the Center for Public Service partners with in the city. Wow, that is incredible. It sounds like students have a lot of service options to choose from, which is fantastic. Thanks again, Yael.
ow that we’ve met a couple students from right around the corner, it’s time to meet Jasmine, who comes from another corner of the world. A student in UC’s renowned college of design, architecture, art and planning, also known as DAAP. Jasmine has already found a warm welcome, and a super cool beginning. Jasmine, please take it away.
– Hello, I’m from Beirut, Lebanon, a small country off the coast of the Mediterranean. And I’ve been in Cincinnati for a year and a half now. The University of Cincinnati found me when I truly needed it. My home country was met with political and economic unrest that left my educational future and potential in a state of uncertainty. As a graphic design major, at the time, I was trying my best to find as many opportunities as I could. And that’s exactly how the University of Cincinnati and I crossed paths. At such a volatile time in my life, UC’s international office was a great support, they really paved the way for the application process and made it so much less stressful. I went from living with my parents, to living in a completely different country, all alone. And I’ve learned to harness that difference in identity and culture. It can help you develop a deeper appreciation for your connection to your home country, and the things that you love. You start to find what you love then in there, pop up where you are here and now. When I first arrived in spring 2020, I took as much time as I could to get acquainted with the city. And I did that by joining the Arabic student association here at UC, and other international student groups, where we all just bonded and supported each other. I started as an exploratory study student, where I was able to take many courses that helped me understand what I wanted to do after graduation in a better and more well-rounded sense. I officially start industrial design in fall 2021, and I’m so excited to see where UC and DAAP, and my creativity will take me. The opportunities are honestly never ending, and they keep growing. I hope to start a Lebanese student association by fall 2021, to help raise funds for struggling families in Lebanon, and UC truly gives me the opportunity to do that, and even more by letting students take initiative, and build communities that help foster a positive environment that encourages growth and self-development. Although I’ve done my best to capture UC in this little segment, I certainly can’t do it justice, so you’ll have to pop by and see it for yourself. It’s honestly so full of surprises. So what’s next, Alex?
– Jasmine, that was great. With more than 3,000 international students, UC ranks among the top public universities in the United States, for making students from all over the world feel right at home. And Jasmine we’re so glad you are here. Thank you.
Okay, everyone let’s meet Dr. Addy. She is a planetary scientist who knows firsthand how UCF is making an impact in space. Here she’ll share how UCF was founded as a space university and has grown its ties to major space agencies and companies to help students and alums break into the industry. Addy, over to you.
– Happy to be here, Alex. If you want to conduct research and be at the forefront of humankind’s exploration of space, then UCF is where you want to be. Here at UCF, we ask the big questions and explore our expansive universe. Everything from the possibility of finding and characterizing planets around other stars, building spacecraft instruments to explore space and other planets near and far, finding water and resources on the moon, simulating planetary soils and studying space dust, which is one of my specialties, and it’s a bigger problem than you might think. Our proximity to the Space Coast and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center has allowed us to cultivate and provide talent for Central Florida and the growing US-based program for decades. Nearly 30% of Kennedy Space Center employees graduated from UCF, which has long been the top supplier of aerospace and defense graduates in the nation. UCF’s reputation as SpaceU is one of the reasons I was drawn to work here at UCF. We’re at the forefront of science and technology development. You can see the distant galaxies and the rings of Saturn from right here at Robinson Observatory on campus. Two UCF grads have gone on to become astronauts. The 50 yard line at our football stadium lines up on the same latitude as NASA historical Launch Complex 39A by design. Many of our faculty and researchers are NASA veterans, work on contracts with NASA and have contributed to some of the biggest and most important programs throughout US space history. There are 18 asteroids named after UCF faculty and researchers, including yours truly, and UCF even has an exoplanet named after it. In addition to the faculty and staff in our various departments, the Florida Space Institute based at UCF is made up of researchers and educators and works in partnership with other Florida universities. Our faculty and researchers are involved number of NASA missions, including future lunar missions, the ongoing OSIRIS-Rex and New Horizons missions, and our alumni have gone on to take giant leaps in the space industry with companies such as NASA, Boeing, Lockheed, ULA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic. In addition, it’s not just our faculty and researchers who get this hands-on experience. Students are involved in many of these projects throughout their time here at UCF. As we look to further explore the moon, pioneer onto Mars and expand our place in the galaxy, one thing is for certain, UCF students, faculty and alumni will be a part of turning possibilities into realities. The gateway to the moon and stars starts here at UCF. This is Addy Dove, signing off.
– Addy, that was awesome. Thank you. Wow. It’s incredible to see just how invested UCF is in developing research and a talent pipeline for the space industry and advancing out of this world scientific discoveries. It’s easy to see how the campus connections benefit former and current students. That was awesome. Cheers, Addy.
Next, we’ll meet Kiera. She’s a student athlete majoring in psychology and plays for UCF women’s basketball team. She’ll be sharing what it’s like to represent Knight Nation on the court while also having a chance to excel in the classroom so she can find success after graduation. Kiera, you are up.
– Thank you, Alex. Whether you’re cheering in the stands, playing on the fields or behind the scenes at stadium, there’s nothing like game day UCF. The Knights have skyrocketed into a powerhouse program known for winning championships, our undeniable style, loyal fan base, and a commitment to excellence in all aspects of the student athlete experience. We are the future of college athletics. Athletics at UCF expands beyond our dynamic football team, four time national champion cheerleading squad, Olympic gold medalist, FIFA World Cup champions, our alumni have gone on to succeed in the NBA, NFL, MLB, MLS and NWSL. As a student athlete, I’m so proud to put on the black and gold uniform everyday to represent Knight Nation because I know UCF has my back. I’m a prime example. I’ve torn both my meniscus and ACL all in the same knee and Knight Nation has never left my side. But it’s not just the fans in the stands, support services off the court help us excel in the classroom, and ensure that UCF lives up to a promise of guaranteeing jobs or graduate school admission for every student athlete who earns their diploma. If you dream about pursuing a career in the sports industry, UCF students have the opportunity to intern with some of the biggest names in the business, including the Orlando Magic, Orlando City Soccer, United States Tennis Association, and ESPN Wide World of Sports. You can also learn from the best in the UCF DeVos Sports Business Management graduate program, which is ranked as one of the top five programs in America. There’s really something special about this place and the bonds formed alongside the black and gold faithful. I can’t wait to see you guys on game day. Let’s go, Knights. Charge on. Thanks, Alex.
– Kiera, that was awesome. Thanks for giving us a sneak peek of what it’s like to be a student athlete at UCF. While it’s a big responsibility, it sounds like a fun and unique experience as a Knight that truly allows you to shine in the arena and in your studies. Cheers, Kiera.
Let’s head over and talk with Jillian. She’s a senior who’s working towards completing an Aerospace Engineering degree. You’ve already heard about UCF’s history in helping launch a booming space industry. And now Jillian will share all of the opportunities she’s had that are truly out of this world. Jillian, please tell us about it.
– Thanks, Alex. And hey, everyone. Growing up right here in Orlando provided me a unique vantage point of being able to watch the space shuttle skyrocket into orbit from my own backyard. It was this early exposure to engineering brilliancy, which fueled my passion for space exploration to this day. And it’s something very few get to experience in their lifetime. UCF has not only propelled my opportunities to participate in space-related research and internships, but they’ve supported me in my astronomical pursuits along the way. My experience at UCF has provided me with both the direction and skills necessary to pursue the career I’ve always dreamed of, becoming an astronaut. During my time here, I’ve also co-authored a paper that proves how water evolves on the surface of the moon due to solar radiation. And my most recent project was interning at the Florida Space Institute where I provided engineering support on spacecraft hardware for a sensor that launched on a real rocket. Through every part of my journey, UCF has helped me find the specific niche of space exploration that fits with my unique skillset. As an engineering student, you’ll develop industry sought out skills. This involves participating in projects like building and launching cube sets into space or even conducting research on a zero gravity flight. The Senior Design Capstone Project is also a great way to take what you learned in the classroom and apply it to real-world problems for entities, such as Boston Whaler, Coca-Cola, Mitsubishi, the Orlando Utilities Commission and Steelcase. There are even opportunities to participate in global programs like working with the German Aerospace Center to conduct advanced research on the next generation propulsion capabilities or hypersonic suborbital vehicles and reusable space vehicles, which I’m currently participating in. Right now, I’m tailoring my resume to fit the needs of a NASA astronaut program. Understanding how I can contribute to the mission is the first step in becoming an expert on it. Here at UCF, the opportunities are boundless and some might even say out of this world. That’s all for me, Alex, over and out.
– Copy that, Jillian. From your hands-on opportunities with local industry leaders, to taking part in innovative research projects, your story shows firsthand how UCF programs go above and beyond for its students. You are well on your way to achieving your dream of becoming an astronaut. That is so impressive. Cheers, Jillian.
. Last, but certainly not least, we’re going to hear from UFC’s President Alexander Cartwright. As a leader of a leading public metropolitan research university, he knows all that UCF has to offer. And someone who is a first-generation college student from The Bahamas, he knows the difference that an amazing university like UCF can make in its students’ lives. President Cartwright, please take it away.
– Thanks, Alex. As you can see, UCF is redefining what is possible in America’s public universities. At UCF, we get things done. It’s where students like you can excel. Faculty are renowned innovators and staff are committed to your success. And the resulting collective work improves our community, country and world. Higher education changes lives. I came to the US at 17 from The Bahamas, got my GED, and became the first in my family to attend college. The access to excellence that I had throughout my college enabled my success throughout my career. UCF is uniquely positioned to provide the same for you. Our world-class faculty shaped the future in our classrooms and laboratories and drive innovations in their disciplines to positively impact society. Technologies we couldn’t imagine a decade ago will soon become essential in our daily lives. And they’re being developed right here at UCF right now. Advances in healthcare, engineering, space exploration, photonics, theme park design, and performing arts are ongoing. And our students have a front row seat to it all. UCF students get the opportunities they need to earn success. We strive for excellence, both for and from our students, with our faculty and staff providing support to encourage every student to reach their full potential. Known for our partnerships with industry, UCF prepares students for their careers and for leadership. Our graduates provide the crucial talent for employers regionally and nationally. And many of our students start their careers as interns and then are hired by our industry partners when they graduate. Today, walking around UCF, you see the future of America. UCF celebrates our inclusive climate and diversity as the fuel for innovation, strength and resilience. We are a university for the future. The range of backgrounds, cultures, identities, and thought represented by our students, faculty and staff is incredible. Our diversity broadens our thinking and expands our horizons. And if that isn’t enough, UCF also has some of the best student life and traditions with over 650 student clubs and organizations and nationally recognized athletics. You will be able to pursue your passions here. There’s an African proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. “If you want to go far, go together.” I invite you to go far with us. UCF changes lives for the better. Join us on your college journey as we all reach for the stars together. Back to you, Alex.
– Dr. Cartwright, that was incredible. Thank you for being here with us, from opportunities to be immersed in a diverse community and engaged with cutting edge research to the chance to develop skills that can make you a leader in your chosen industry. UCF clearly offers the best for its students. Thanks again, Alex. Wow, I hope you had a great time like I did exploring the UCF campuses. As a top public metropolitan research university, UCF’s commitment to ensuring the success of students from all backgrounds and focusing on social impact truly shows in the work they do. UCF is a university for the future, an incredible place where you can live, learn, and achieve anything you set out to do. And the passionate faculty and staff are here to support your success. Thank you to the students, faculty, and alumni who shared their stories and gave us a glimpse of what life is like as a Knight. UCF is definitely a place where your college experience will be one to remember. Let me tell you, I’ve had a great time here in Orlando, Florida, checking out all the sites and things to do around UCF. And the best way to learn about campus is to visit. So come check it out for yourself. So as the Knights say here at UCF, “Go Knights and charge on!” Cheers, everybody.
Okay, everyone. We’re now heading over to UCF’s Rosen campus to meet Kathy Li. She’s in junior majoring in hospitality management. You are on, I’m excited about this one. Please take it away.
– Thanks for that, Alex. What’s up, everybody. When deciding on which colleges to apply to, I wanted to ensure that wherever I ended up would best prepare me for the industry that I’m so passionate about, while also including an inclusive and diverse community within the student body. In my search, I found the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at UCF, and I instantly fell in love with it. When my mom and I were participating in the college search process, she was actually the one who suggested we take a tour of UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management. All I said afterwards was, “As long as we get to go to Disney.” UFC’s hospitality students can easily access different internships, professional opportunities and networking experiences in one of the most popular tourism destinations in the world. As a hospitality student, I know that I’m getting the highest quality education I can at Rosen because the college has been consistently ranked among the best top five in fact, for years. We’re currently number one in the US and second in the world for hospitality and tourism studies. And with the colleges, 97% job placement rate after graduation, I will be able to immediately start my career with the confidence and skills I obtained from the incredible faculty with real world industry experience. Beyond Rosen, strong academics led by amazing faculty, unbeatable location and our community partnerships, I found that the people here have a strong commitment to celebrating culture of diversity, equity and inclusive excellence. What makes Rosen stand apart is its ability to deliver an education with a global perspective on every aspect of the hospitality industry. From event and entertainment management, to restaurant, food service and lodging. I can’t wait for the opportunity to apply everything that I’ve learned here in my experiences at the Rosen College and apply it to my professional career that I know I’ll be successful in. That’s all for me today. Back to you, Alex.
– What a story. So impressive. Great job. And thank you for taking part of the college tour. Take care.
Have you ever been to a student farm before? Well, get ready because that is where we’re gonna meet Karyn. She’s a senior majoring in environmental science and management with a minor in education. She’s gonna talk to us about something that makes UC Davis truly extraordinary. It’s unsurpassed efforts in sustainability, not just on campus but everywhere. Okay Karyn, tell us all about it.
– Thank you, Alex. During my college search in high school, one of the things that drew me into UC Davis was the university’s commitment to sustainability. I knew I wanted to go into the environmental sciences and I ultimately decided to attend UC Davis because they walk the talk. Pretty much anything you can win an award for in sustainability, UC Davis has got it. Award for academic programs, for green buildings and for public transportation. In fact, UC Davis has even won an award for multiple years in a row now for being the nation’s greenest university, we take a tremendous amount of pride in prioritizing natural resource and energy conservation, reducing our use of fossil fuels, shifting towards renewable energy sources and our ambitious zero waste goals. I feel at home at UC Davis because I’m surrounded by people who care deeply about the environment and enacting real world change. Our 23 acre student farm is a community where students can create, maintain and explore sustainable food systems. At the farm, students grow in many ways, learning from seasoned educators, from their peers and from themselves, they learn about sustainability through soils, crops, climate, and community. In the process, they gained systems-based thinking and doing skills needed to make a positive difference in today’s world. This program also addresses student food insecurity by connecting produce from the student farm to food access programs on campus. Through our campuses 5,000 plus acres, there are opportunities for students to gain real-world experience addressing the world’s most important environmental issues through an innovative program that’s near and dear to my heart called Learning by Leading, this internship program is run by the department that operates most of our outdoor spaces, the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden. It’s through this program that students across 12 different environmental restoration and education internships can engage with the community and transformer campuses landscapes into more beautiful and climate appropriate outdoor spaces. When I first joined Learning by Leading’s Waterway Stewardship internship as an intern, during my first year at UC Davis, I became familiar with land and water management concepts of sustainable environmental design, stormwater management, and native habitat restoration in an urban setting. Now as the coordinator for the Waterway Stewardship Internship, I have the opportunity to mentor budding environmental stewards and lead projects that promote sustainability on campus. Through the Green Initiative Fund, a campus program sponsored by UC Davis Sustainability, my staff mentor fellow coordinator and I were awarded a grant to purchase an electric gator. Our e-gator represents the initial transition to utility vehicle fleet that is not powered by fossil fuels. I’m proud to be a sustainable Aggie. Back to you, Alex.
– Wow, thank you, Karyn. You’ve definitely made the case for why UC Davis owns the title, greenest university in the country. Just incredible to see all the ways they’re changing the way we think about the world around us. Thanks again, Karyn, great job.