The UCF Amy Zeh High-Impact Practices Course Designation Student Showcase honors the memory and dedication of Amy Zeh, who served as the Assistant Director of Service-Learning from 2006 to 2019. The HIP Course Designation Student Showcase is held during the fall and spring semesters and provides an opportunity for students to share individual or team HIP-designated course projects from Service-Learning, Research Intensive, Integrative-Learning Experience or Global Learning courses with the UCF community. Students can participate virtually, in person or in both formats.
The virtual showcase offers awards in four categories: Service-Learning (SL), Research Intensive (RI), Integrative-Learning Experience (IE) and Global Learning (GL). For the in-person showcase, presentations will not be formally judged. However, event attendees, including students, will vote on the presentations; those with the most votes receive a People’s Choice Award.
Award Winners
Judges’ Choice Winners from the Virtual Event
First Place
- Kyle Miller, Kyle Carter, Naddya Favela (Research Intensive), Analysis of Workplace Attributes on Annual Income in the Technology Sector
Second Place
- Tobey Smith (Service-Learning), Hope Walks Here: Raising Funds and Awareness for Suicide Prevention at UCF
Third Place
- Shayna Caddell, Lucia Hernandez, Correna Bartow, Jonathan Lungstrum, Kevin Wechsler (Service-Learning), Harvesting Hope in Central Florida with Second Harvest Food Bank
Honorable Mentions
- Nolan Ware, Jack Sosa, Chaz LaFlair, Anthony Sokolov, Aidan Hanratty (Service-Learning), Fun with Ferrofluid: Educating Youth Through Physics
- Jamie Snider, Cori McWilliams, Natalia Knapp-Seale, Deborah Faerman (Research Intensive), Drained Defenses: How Altered Hydrology Influences Invasive Plant Species Richness in Cypress Domes
- Gianna Marzullo, Haydn Bonner, Kristina Puscher, Anna Mullins, Gabriella Echeverria (Service-Learning), Small Acts, Big Impacts: Supporting Hearts for the Homeless
- Isabella Anderson, Jenny Tran, Mia Bukritsky, Kaito Powell, Madison Renda (Research Intensive), AI Usage and Student Performance
- Yara Elrebey, Keoni Tembrina (Integrative-Learning Experience), Diagnosing Understanding: A clinical approach to teaching general chemistry
Student Government Audience Awards
(In-Person Event on April 22)
Grand Prize
- Tara Haubrich, Giavanna Harrington, Jessie Shaffer, Maddison Magyar, Caroline Figueroa (Research Intensive), What the Shell? The Effects of Anthropogenic Wetland Modification on Freshwater Turtle Communities
First Place
- Danielle Haddox, Katherine Schofield, Ondraya Moore, Nicholas Delatour (Research Intensive), Generational exposure to social media in relation to world events
Second Place
- Madelyn Moyers, Isabela Rocha, Madison Figueiredo, Sophia Rivera (Service-Learnng), Jordon Smelski Foundation Pitch
Third Place
- Terry Dinh, Zhi Lin (Integrative-Learning Experience), Analysis of VO2 & Resting Metabolic Rate assessment for Patient Centered-Care
Honorable Mentions
- Avarey Johnson, Tai Powell, Rachel Flis, Rhees Henderson, Enno Turner (Research Intensive), Scute City: Impact of Urbanization on Body Condition of Kinosternon baurii in Central Florida
- Cami Dobson, Addyson Jones, Alexandra Boveil, Giovanni Gioia (Service-Learning), Battling Human Trafficking: How Social Media Advertising Influences Awareness
- Misty Zamora, Juan Sanchez, Geanluka Guedes de Souza, Leah Darby (Service-Learning), Advocating for Amoeba Awareness: The Jordan Smelski Foundation Media Project
- Christopher Mayol, Brian Nguyen, Kai Djuren (Global Learning), The Impact of Gaming on Youth
Judges’ Choice
Service Learning Winner
- Sophia de la Cruz, Jacob Decker, John Mcmahon, Nicolas Oksman, Ezekiel Ramirez Guzman, Funding the Future of Education – The Development of Innovative Options for Title I Schooling
- Lauren Fitzsimmons, Ann Reichle, Noshi Kapoor, Sara Wise, Robin O’Meallie, Greg Zboch, Bryce Fable, Change Through Social Media: Sparking Wildlife Conservation One Click at a Time
Service Learning Runner Up
- Cori McWilliams, Christopher Poulios, Lagoon Lessons: Where Science Meets Service-Learning
Service Learning Third Place
- Antonia Ferguson, The World Is My Oyster: Restoring Nature, Inspiring Minds
- Aashna Shah, Healing with Hope: Expanding Access to All
- Parker R Breeze, From Microplastics to Mangroves: My Journey Through Environmental Service
Service Learning Honorable Mentions
- Valerie Pompee, Thomas Blais, Wendy Davis, Lincoln Lynch, S.O.A.R.: Stomp-powered Orbital Air Rockets
- Jay Canino-Gol , U.N. Sustainability Goal 15: Supporting Wildlife Conservation Locally
Integrative Learning Experience Winners
- Sofia Lahsaini, Screening and Risk assessment of Cholesterol (HLD) in healthcare
- Nikko Zamora, Aisha Khurshid, Bailey McLain, Devrim Yalcindag, Michael Ortiz, Home-Based Exercise Program for Recovery After TAVR
Research-Intensive Winner
Student Government Audience Awards
(In-Person Event on November 20th)
First Place
- Nicholas Groves, Danielle Cora (Service Learning), Ocean Adventures: Exploring Stingrays with Young Learners
Runner Up
- Ann Mary Thomas (Research Intensive), East of Anacostia: A Tale of Systemic Inequities and Health Disparities in Washington D.C.
Third Place
- Wade Cornell, Hudson Deppen, Connor Kazmierski, Gilberto Jimenez Perez (Integrative Learning Experience), Trade-off Between Surface Area and Aerodynamic Drag in Solar Electric Vehicle Design
- Sualba Alejandro, Victoria Drovilus, Valerie Block, Angelina Salort-Carrero, Dylan Fox, (Integrative Learning Experience), Intensity-Modulated Pelvic Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients in Endometrial Cancer
Honorable Mentions
- Emily Timotic (Service Learning), From Peers to Partners
- Angelina Fasolo, Mitchel Woodrow, Sarah Burbank, Thalia Dittman, Michael McKnight, Kayla Buchholz (Service Learning), Paws on Board: Transporting Dogs from Shelters to New Homes
- Chloe Lowman, Mia Sims (Service Learning), Diving Deep: Inspiring Young Scientists Through Ocean Exploration
- Artemis Zi (Research Intensive), The Strength of Association between Elevated Levels of Cholesterol and Mortality of Coronary Heart Disease
- Ryan Baxter, Samantha Maiorino, Leah Lascano (Service Learning), Preserving the Rights and Quality of National Parks Against the Commercialization of Natural Areas
Judges’ Choice
Best in Show Winner
- Research-Intensive: Andrea Silva, Jean Corraliza, Alejandro Mendiola and Sarah Velez-Osorio, / Linear Regression Analysis of the Impact of Lifestyle Factors on Academic Performance: A Study of Students in India and Southeast Asia
Service Learning Winner
- Eric Kallas, Gabriel Cordero Arrieche, Quinn Fitzgibbons, Julissa Medina, Karl Johnson, John McMahon, A Look at the Creative School for Children
- Angelina Fasolo, Kayla Buchholz, Bryanna Sparks, Mitchel Woodrow, Magdalina Goranova and Mariangie Sangiovanni, Pawsitively Making a Difference: A Cultural Audit of Save A Life Pet Rescue
- Sophia De La Cruz, Robert Spina, Avalyn Blakley, Amanda Nunez-Ferreira, Emily Silva, Nikhita Sridhar, Crafting Cards for Illness Warriors
Service Learning Third Place
- Beatrix Alerte, Shaping Future Leaders: Empowering Youth to Discover Strengths and Become Resourceful Changemakers
Integrative Learning Experience Winner
- Lillian Nguyen, Linda Canales, Caitlin Kelly, Effect of Cequa in Subjects with Dry Eye Disease
Research-Intensive Winner
- Griffin Seel, Mari Arroyave, Jack Griffin, James Murphy, The Relationship between the US Stock Market and Energy Commodities
Research-Intensive Runner-Up
- Ahmed Abdalla & Jemimah Olajide, GABA and Dopamine Dual Therapy: A Potential Treatment for A549 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Research-Intensive Third Place
- Autumn Johnson, The association between Alzheimer’s disease burden and hospitalization rates in older adults
- Steven Dimitrakakis, Correlation Between Physical Inactivity and Mortality due to Alzheimer’s Disease in ages 65 and up
Student Government Audience Awards
(In-Person Event on April 16th)
First Place
- Lindsay Dolan et al. (Research Intensive), Between a Rock and a Wet Place: analyzing Mangrove Expansion on Intertidal Oyster Reefs
Runners Up
- Leticia Pinheiro De Abreu & Ann Mary Thomas (Service-Learning), Guiding and Growing: An Analysis of the Dual Impact of Peer Mentorship on Campus
- Bradley Rouleau, Isabelle Fowler & Eryn Wioncek (Research Intensive), An Experimental Archaeological Approach to Pre-historic and Historic Recipes using Zamia sp.
Third Place
- Jocelyn Hernandez (Service-Learning), Cerrando la Brecha con el Español: Serving Orlando’s Uninsured at American Muslim Community Clinics
- Lily Cring et al. (Global Learning), Global Learning Project: Vietnam Women’s Academy
Judges’ Choice
Best in Show Winner
- Zephaniahn Torres (Service Learning), Love Serving Autism ($700)
Service-Learning First Place (3-way tie)
- Lauralee Fuher; Serving in Salt Company UCF
- Sierra Hajek; Serving Virtually: The Impact of Online Organizations
- Timothy Biscay, Cairo Molina, Mako Rosario, & Nadia Difre; The Coral Connection: How Today’s Children Shape Tomorrow’s Oceans
Service-Learning Second Place
- Ryan Kaufman, Nolan Loch, Kim Nguyen, Katie Weinstock, Parnika Chintapalli; Reforming Public Institutions to Ensure Fairness & Opportunity
Service-Learning Third Place (2-way tie)
- Piper Sunvold, Giving Grace through Goods and Grace
- Andrew Nazario, Jesse Cohen, Cameron Weeks, Ray Esteves, Kaitlin Stallings; Save a Life: Helping One Puppy at a Time!
Research-Intensive First Place
- Victoria Sulaman & Victoria Woodcock; HBA ½ mRNA Expression in UV Exposed Melanoma Cells
Research-Intensive Second Place
- Stefani Henriques; Examining Narrative for Consumer Culture Critiques
Research-Intensive Third place:
- Hector Mejia; How the Use of a YouTuber’s Rhetorical Choices Affect Their Brand Over Time
Integrative-Learning Experience/Global Learning First Place:
- Taylor Davis (Integrative Learning Experience), Taylor Davis’s ePortfolio ($500)
Integrative-Learning Experience/Global Learning Second Place:
- Megan Rhodes (Integrative Learning Experience), Pathways to Potential: Guiding Middle School Students Through Career Exploration ($300)
Integrative-Learning Experience/Global Learning Third Place:
- Kazi Salsabil (Global Learning), History of Injustices and the Current Interim Government Actions in Bangladesh
Student Government Audience Awards
First Place: Brianna Guinigundo, Study Abroad South Africa Sustainability ($700)
Second Place: Carolina Souza, Janelle Seefelt, Jordyn Delikat, Brianna Rendon, Beyond Fear: Inspiring Students to Appreciate Sharks and Understand their Role in the Ocean ($400)
Judges’ Choice
Service Learning Winner
- Myarisnette Vega Sepulpeda: Do General Chemistry Laboratory Really Matters?
Service Learning Runner-Up
- Grayson Spillman, Juliana Baez & Emily Davila.: What, like it’s hard? (It is if you don’t have the right foundation!)
Service Learning Leadership Winner
- Lucas M. Califano, Ericka Gordon, Jordyn Zawatsky, Luis Lecini & Robert Knight: Homelessness and Hunger: In Collaboration with Soldiers Angels and Free Rice
Integrative Learning Experience Winner
- Lily Cring, Olivia Skvarenina, Brianna Phillips, Rachel Blank & Joshua Carrizales: Social Media in Schools
Research-Intensive Winner
- Griffon G. Binkowski & Channing Cook: Comparative Analysis of Metric and Non-metric Ancestry Estimation Methods of Maya Individuals
Research-Intensive Runner-Up
- Haily Follese & Aishlin Belony: Effect of Grammatical Accuracy and Content Accuracy on Eyewitness Message Credibility
Student Government Audience Awards
(In-Person Event of April 16th)
Service Learning
- Benjamin F. Cherkasskiy, Kira Garvey & Abigail David: CHM2045C: The Hurdle
Research-Intensive (2 In-Person Projects)
- Amberson Rogerson et al: March of the Mangroves: Tropicalization Impacts on Mosquito Lagoon Oyerster Reefs. (20 students in project)
- Rachel Martella, Lucas Vivas, Dani Andrews, Heriberto Peña & Mumtahina Riza: Effect of Grammatical Accuracy and Content Accuracy on Eyewitness Message Credibility
Judges’ Choice
Service Learning Winners (tie)
- Esther F. Francom: Do You Detest Organic Chemistry? Experiences of an Organic Chemistry Learning Assistant
- Alissa Johnson: What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?
Service Learning Leadership Winners
- Rishi Nair and Nicholas Mistry: Combatting Social Isolation in Greater Orlando
Service Learning Leadership Runner-Up
- Divya Joshi: Improving Educational Access, Quality, and Environment in Rural Intabazwe, South Africa
Integrative Learning Experience Winner
- Madeline McNutt, Jordyn Oristano, Nardy Pena, Amelia Green, and Stephanie Leony: Dexmedetomidine VS. Propofol for Use in Intravenous Sedation during Third Molar Extractions
Research-Intensive Winner
Research-Intensive Runner-Up
- Elizabeth L. Barnum: The Opioid Epidemic and Florida’s Policies to Address It
Student Government Audience Awards
(In-Person Event of November 29th)
Service Learning
- Declan Ridgeway, Madeline Cox, Lauren Mettke, Brittany Shirley, and Morgan Vasser: Inspiring the Next Generation: A Classroom Visit Exploring Marine Ecosystem Invaders
Research-Intensive
- Ava Scemama, Anna Zhao and Daniel Roque: The Potential Therapeutic Concentration of Taxol on N2A cells when studying Axon Regeneration