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Socioeconomic Factors Affecting National Male Soccer Teams Performance
David Alvarado, Jasmine Czemerinski, and Guadalupe Molinari
The purpose of our project was to explore the relationship between socioeconomic factors and the performance of national male soccer teams, as reflected in FIFA rankings. We analyzed data from 211 countries, focusing on variables such as GDP, population size, and regional influences. Our dataset combined FIFA rankings with socioeconomic indicators, including GDP, population size, and unemployment rates, while also considering regional soccer conferences like UEFA, CONMEBOL.
Our analysis revealed that countries with higher GDPs tend to perform better in FIFA rankings, suggesting that wealthier nations can invest more in sports infrastructure and talent development. Population size showed a weaker correlation, indicating that effective training and youth programs are critical for success. Regional context also played a significant role, with European and South American countries leveraging their established soccer systems to achieve greater success.
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The Impact of Behavioral Modification Therapy on Addiction Recovery in Young Adults
Claire Belin
View Claire's project at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VuVRD6p-HkvcdQdb8_9KBbP7SNvDwDAx/view?usp=drive_link
In this presentation, I discuss my proposal for research addressing the impact of behavioral modification therapy on addiction recovery in young adults from ages 20 through 30. My PowerPoint presentation overviews background on the subject, gaps in the literature that demand further research, a study design, my proposed method of behavioral modification treatment, a potential sample and method, and an analysis to assess the data.
The purpose of my presentation is to address a real problem we experience in our communities that could affect even the people in our lives that we cherish most. With awareness of high relapse rates, I discuss a gap in the literature that, through research, can potentially lead to improvement in addiction recovery for many.
Throughout this project I have learned essential parts of the research process and evidence-based solutions. I also enriched my knowledge of various types of statistical analysis methods and study designs that fit the intention of what is being researched.
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The Coral Connection: How Today's Students Shape Tomorrow's Oceans
Timothy Biscay, Cairo Molina, Mako Rosario, and Nadia Vidal Difre
We live in a world in which the actions we take in our day-to-day life is constantly changing the future. From the time you get up from the time you go to bed, tomorrow is shaped based on the interactions we have with not only ourselves but those around us. In our case, we took this a step forward to ensure that we can properly equip the younger generation of students with the power to change the future. Over the last few weeks, we have prepared a presentation as well as multiple hands-on activities to allow a gifted class of 4th graders not only the insight as to what a coral reef is, but what dangers corals go through every day. As time goes on, the best question to ask ourselves as researchers is not just "what can corals do for us?" but rather, "what can we do for corals?"
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Providing Oral Healthcare Access for the Uninsured via American Muslim Community Clinics
Diego J. Bodden
American Muslim Community Clinic is a non-profit clinic responsible for providing the best healthcare care services at no cost to uninsured community members of Central Florida. They offer various health services, including primary care, dental care, and other specialist services. At AMCC, my responsibility was explicitly to the dental side of the clinic, where I was responsible for assisting the dentist with dental procedures, x-rays, and patient communication. My purpose is to impact the community positively and serve the underserved with authenticity and hardworking intentions to benefit the community. AMCC has taught me a lot about communication and ensuring people are heard and treated at the clinic.
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How Interaction Shapes a Zoo Visit
Myrah Bracero, Gianna Gagliardi, Carolina Cordero, Hannah Kuerbitz, and Nicolas Cohen
As a group, our team wanted to work with an organization that had ties to conservation and wildlife, as that is something we are very passionate about. Nowadays, animals are more prone to extinction due to habitat destruction, deforestation, urbanization, and climate change. It is important to raise awareness not only about the problem but also about potential solutions. This is also something that the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens is passionate about, given their mission statement to be a conservation resource providing experiences that excite and inspire children and adults to learn and act on behalf of wildlife. We were able to accomplish our goals by volunteering and promoting multiple events the zoo held, such as the Zoo Boo Bash or the Asian Lantern Festival. Engaging more with organizations like The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens is crucial, as these organizations heavily rely on volunteer work especially for their seasonal events. Through positive engagements with the guests, the events promote the zoo and will bring visitors back to the zoo again, supporting their conservation efforts. Guests reported that they sincerely enjoyed the events and we were personally asked by the volunteer coordinators to come back next year and for future events.
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Making a Storm for Special Needs
Brianna Castano
Unified sports bring together people with and without intellectual disabilities to play in sports. This was my third season with the organization, but first time playing with the masters age bracket. Through my time getting to know my teammates, I learned about life and what happens to people with intellectual disabilities after their finish school.
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Is America Free: Promoting Equity and Equality through Social and Economic Reform
Logan R. Chapman, Cathleen Smith, Elizabeth Uy, Benedetto Falin, and Bryce Williams
Our presentation explored freedom in America, focusing on social and economic reforms, government intervention, and the free market. We examined the complexities of achieving true freedom, especially in terms of equity and equality. Two opposing perspectives were discussed: one supporting increased government intervention to promote equity, and the other advocating for minimal government involvement and open markets.
We are part of The LEAD Scholars Academy at UCF, dedicated to leadership development, and our work aligns with the National Issues Forums Institute (NIFI), a nonprofit organization promoting public deliberation on societal issues. NIFI fosters collaboration and informed discussions through issue guides and local forums.
Our goal is to encourage deliberative dialogue on these complex issues, addressing the historical, social, and economic factors influencing Americans' views on freedom. We specifically examined the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on income inequality and discussed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 as a potential solution. Through this dialogue, we aim to present diverse perspectives and encourage thoughtful discussion on how to move forward as a nation.
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Living the Curse
cassidy E. chergi
Living the Curse, CCHS
By Cassidy Chergi
My service-learning project was an organization very near and dear to my heart I have worked with them most of my life. Imagine the simple act of going to sleep resulting in your death! This is my life, I have CCHS. This extremely rare genetic disorder effectively renders autonomic systems in the affected patience inoperable. The most notably sleep equals death!!!! Additional symptoms include reduced conception of pain, cardiac issues, learning disabilities and motility issues. Obviously, there is often additional collateral damage from repeated hypoxic events. People with CCHS will and are reliant on some sort of ventilation equipment for life.
We are a collectivist community. The organization works in multiple capacities including outreach, awareness, family support, self-funding research and family connections. As one could imagine, living with a diagnosis with less than 2000 cases ever reported worldwide can be isolating for the patient and the families. I have been fortunate to assist the organization in multiple capacities. I have worked on the family conference planning committee for quite some time. Despite insurmountable odds family members of this community have taken a stand for their loved ones. They volunteer there time, efforts and monies in the hope of better future outcomes for generations of CCHS patients for the future. Thru fundraising, education and awareness raising efforts they work tirelessly to support one another in this unexpected journey thru this rewarding journey into the unknown seeking answers for their loved ones.
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Taylor Davis - ePortfolio
Taylor Davis
The purpose of my ePortfolio project is to serve as a digital collection of the many and various experiences that I have had the privilege of accumulating throughout the last several years as an undergraduate student. Through the process of creating this ePortfolio, I was given the opportunity to reflect on a comprehensive recollection of all of these experiences, gaining a more insightful approach and examining how these events will influence my future endeavors. Key activities included compiling a variety of materials including photos, videos, proposal documents, certifications, and more to create an all-encompassing portfolio of experiences. This compilation helped me to gain a deeper understanding and clarification of my own goals academically, while also developing practical skills from a technological aspect in formulating digital elements vital to the ePortfolio. These digital elements include the formation of a website, digital story (video), and photo/link embedding which all help to enhance my technical literacy. Overall, this project allowed me to apply my academic and personal knowledge in a real-world setting but also deepened my understanding of the digital elements that are sitting unused, yet available to myself and other college students and beyond.
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The Power of Listening
Chandler K. Elias
The purpose of my project was to volunteer at in a healthcare setting which was required for the specific section of LDR 3215 that I took this semester. Key activities that I did were chatting through the online forum with people who needed someone to help them feel supported in challenging moments that they were facing. I learned how big of a difference chatting with someone even just for a few minutes can make in someone’s life. I also how important it is for our mental health to have someone who will listen to us. I am so grateful for the experiences that I had volunteering with 7 cups.
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Is America Really Free?
Derek Freitas, Orion Brown, Chand Higgins-Akhtar, Matthew Mccon, Fernando Perez, Josh Fernandez, and Haley Winston
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Serving with Salt Company
Lauralee Fuher
This past semester, I have focused on volunteering and serving in my local campus ministry Salt Company. As a leader within the organization, I spend my time leading a weekly Bible study with a small group of girls, serving on the serving team during our large gatherings on Wednesday, and meeting one-on-one with the girls in my small group to get to know them on a personal level. LDR 3215 has greatly improved my leadership abilities and knowledge, I share the things I have learned in the course with the other leaders on my team and I show the things I have learned through my behavior. Salt Company has made an impact on the community through its relentless pursuit in sharing the Gospel to those who are interested. As well as creating a community not only locally but nationally as well. I greatly enjoy being a leader in Salt Company and I cannot wait to see its growth in the coming years.
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How to Keep Involved for the "Lazy" and the "Scared"
Malcolm D. Gambles II
This presentation is essentially a collection of my own experiences and the strategies that have helped me remain consistent in my service-learning journey. I had a lot of passion when coming up with this presentation because I now have the ability to talk about the struggles I faced when on my service-learning journey and way to maybe help others suffering from the same problems. As someone who has both been considered "lazy," and "scared," when it comes to handling my responsibilities in my early childhood and young adult life, I have picked up many techniques to help me stay involved. There are several struggles that I wish to address and how I have managed to circumvent these issues with a few tactics. To have them written down and expanded upon also gives me the ability to refer back to them whenever I find myself in similar experiences that I have difficulty navigating in the future. My service-learning journey has primarily been for my own personal growth more than a specific service.
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Love Our Service, Love Our Youth
Deince Garcia, Nicole Baez Espinosa, and Briahna Hill
When our group reflected upon our values, we found that we wanted to give back like those who once gave to us. This shared belief led us to volunteer with L.O.V.E Our Youth Inc., an organization dedicated to uplifting and empowering youth. We wanted to engage with teens directly and help spread the importance of having spaces just for teens. From this experience, we learned that these safe spaces can allow teens to be comfortable being themselves in front of a supportive community. We also discovered the significance of reflecting upon your values to produce a change around you.
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Mapping Spatial Theory with GIS
Gabriela Garrard
This presentation, Mapping Spatial Theory in GIS, explores spatial theories by using Geographic Information Systems to analyze the build environment and urban landscapes. From early map artifacts to contemporary mapping, different visual frameworks describe and influence our understanding of our world. Using GIS mapping, Marc Augé's "non-place" theory and Rowe and Koetter's figure-ground analyses were applied in case studies of Orlando, Florida, and Florence, Italy, revealing the impacts of transient spaces and historical patterns of our urban form and social world. Demonstrating how GIS-driven spatial analysis and spatial theories can help answer questions about our urban fabric and guide urban planning toward creating more connected, meaningful places.
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Slow Glycolysis Exercise Responses on the Body when Fueled by Short-Term Differing Carbohydrate Levels
Skylar Gayman
Dieting fads have been a fascination across America for many years. “Have you tried the keto diet?” “What about a low carb diet?” But what many people may not know, or consider, is the physiological effects that these may have on the body. Dieting faddists often find themselves in “bad moods” or “irritable”, lacking the energy necessary to maintain physical activity. Weight loss, although necessary for borderline obese and obese populations, has become a hyper fixation of our population. Often leading us to find “quick fixes” to the very simple, yet well-disciplined answer of a healthy diet and exercise to lose those “last 5 pounds”. To better understand the effects of these fads, the examination of the effects of a low and high carbohydrate (CHO) diet on the average American is necessary. There is a lack of information on the effects these caloric mutations have on the body of a person who does not perform vigorous activity daily. The population that partakes the most in these diets are left with little evidence of its effects on their own body. The purpose of this investigation is to close the gap on the effects of CHO intake and its effects on the average optimal healthy individual. Of course, it must be noted that Registered Dietitians are the only personal able to give sufficient advice and evidence to a change in diet.
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How does HOPE help?
Logan M. Green
I volunteered at HOPE Helps, Inc. in Oviedo, Florida, within various parts of their corporation. HOPE stands for Housing, Outreach, Prevention, and Education. HOPE Helps, Inc. has many ways to help the Oviedo community members in need. HOPE Helps, Inc. has a food pantry, an affordable thrift store/boutique, with a wide variety of merchandise, a resource center, where they regularly host various courses such as budgeting workshops and tenants’ rights workshops. This organization also has a kids enrichment program and a program to help home-bound individuals receive HOPE Helps, Inc. resources, by travelling to these individuals. I completed majority of my hours at the thrift store, helping to accept and sort various donations. I was also able to help clean the food pantry and resource center, after hours, to ensure the cleanest environment for the community members entering this space.
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From Music to Medicine: My Journey Toward Pediatrics
Charlotte May Greggs
The purpose of this project was to reflect on my journey from music to pediatrics and how my academic experiences, personal interests, and volunteer work have shaped my career path. Through my Health Sciences Seminar class, I explored how my background in music—particularly the communication and empathy skills I developed—has influenced my desire to work in healthcare, especially pediatrics. One key activity was reflecting on my aunt’s IVF journey, which sparked my interest in child development and compassionate care. I realized that my career aspirations are not only shaped by academic knowledge but also by personal experiences and a deep commitment to serving children and families. Through this project, I learned the importance of integrating real-world experience with career exploration and the value of self-reflection in guiding professional goals.
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Paws for a Cause
John M. Grouse, Willow Wambold, Jocelyn Candiloro, Marcello Zaffaroni, and Maia Leon
We worked with an organization called second chance animal rescue sanctuary, also known by the acronym scars. They provide care and love for animals who have been abused or neglected and take them in with warmth and love. They have many different kinds of animals. Some of the animals that they had were peacocks, dogs, birds, cats, and more. We had the honor to help volunteer there and provide a meaningful contribution to their organization. We helped clean dog crates, feed cats, feed the birds, and, most importantly, got to play with the cats and dogs in our off time while volunteering there. Overall, the opportunity was very nice and we all enjoyed the ability to make a greater cause on our community
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Servant Leadership - HOPE Helps INC
Matias G. Guillen and Joseph M. Scaldo
HOPE Helps INC was our group’s service-learning project that's main purpose was to assist but also gain insight into helping communities who aren’t as fortunate in their current situation. HOPE Helps from what we learned gave these individuals a platform where they can have easily accessible clothing, food and other essentials to living a safe and hunger-free life. In our service-learning experience, we primarily focused on the HOPE Helps Chest Store which is an additional aspect of the HOPE then their food pantry. We assisted the people at the chest store by accepting and sorting donations, organizing the donations and attending the fitting rooms and reorganizing the clothes that people tried on. Through our time of volunteering, we became more knowledgeable of the operations inside of HOPE helps in a greater way that showed us how impactful and motivated the workers are at the chest store. In addition, we also learned significantly about the aspects of servant leadership through our volunteering and using our strength and minds to assist all the individuals who came inside of the thrift store. In the end we were able to help HOPE multiple weeks spreading through Friday/Saturday shifts from 9/28 -10/19. Ultimately through our 2-3-hour shifts we were able to assist the store in providing help to an estimated 35 people per week with clothing and other essential items for the 4 weeks we volunteered.
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Can't Tear Us Down: Building Sustainability in Intabazwe, South Africa
Brianna Guinigundo
Service-learning study abroad trip to South Africa 2024.
My service project was to respond to our Intabazwe community partner's needs of replacing the original tin school that was crumbling down and construct a brand-new concrete school building from the ground up. This involved fundraising from January-March 2024 with my 8 other classmates to raise $7,000 to be used for the school building project. I researched the different required materials and created a budget accordingly. With this fundraising, we were able to partner with the community's locals so they could begin the physical construction in April before my classmates and I arrived in-country. When my classmates and I arrived in May, we primed and painted the entire new school building, both the interior and exterior, and decorated the finishing touches inside the classrooms. It was an honor to make a difference in the community's education and environment, and to grow as a leader and world citizen myself in turn.
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Serving Virtually: The Impact of Online Organizations
Sierra Hajek
Throughout this semester, I had the opportunity to work with Zooniverse, an online organization which helps researchers gather data and complete projects. I worked on one specific project, “Reading Emotions,” and helped complete multiple rounds of this project. By doing this, I was able to grow my leadership skills and revisit my reasoning of why I love to volunteer and serve different organizations. I analyzed my strengths and weaknesses and learned about my different leadership insights.
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Pathway to Purpose: College and Career Exploration for 11th Graders
Maranda L. Henderson
The purpose of my project was to help 11th grade student discover what they want to do as a future career and what steps they would need to take to get to where they want to be. I took students on college tours, brought in special speakers to talk about their career path, helped student apply for scholarships, helped student participate in career exploration, and so much more. One key thing I learned was that not all students are the same and not all of them have the same path to success.
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Examining Narrative for Consumer Culture Critiques
Stefanie Henriques
The purpose of synthesizing a compelling narrative for its salient elements, anticipated impacts, and subsequent interrelationship serves to educate students on cogent, persuasive narratives. While analyzing the components of a compelling narrative, I learned ways to successfully emulate persuasive salient elements within my own writings, such as the personal narrative I will soon have to prepare for graduate school. Moreover, this narrative synthesis educated classmates within the interdisciplinary seminar and myself about a particular film’s cautionary statement from the late 1990s warning against American society drifting towards materialism. This caution appears to have been largely ignored in modern times. In fact, I would argue that rampant consumerism has been exacerbated in modern times where individuals will continue to face an existential crisis where their identities are intertwined with consumerism.
