High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2026

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  The Lifeboat Project Team 30: Introduction to Advertisement

  Holland H. Roedema, Kenna Carlson, and Jasmyne Iemnak

  Our project highlights the research we have completed about the Lifeboat Project and strategic recommendations that would benefit them as an organization in terms of audience engagement and reach. In this presentation, we cover Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats to the organization's social media content. We also include potential utilization of ad placement and budgeting the organization could use for Newspaper advertisement. And finally, we curated mock social media posts for the Lifeboat Project after our team conducted a public survey.The survey's results revealed common social media habits and preferences of individuals in our target audience. Our Service Learning Project this semester has taught us not only how important advertising is when gaining support and awareness for critical global issues, but how these strategies can educate and engage our local communities.

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  Advancing Resilient Biodiversity through Outreach, Repair, Education, Teamwork, Unity and Mentorship

  Isaiah Sawyer, Reginald Andre, Yotam Shanun, and Brendan Casal

  We partnered with the UCF Arboretum to support their mission of creating vibrant, educational spaces that protect our local environment. Our project took us across several unique campus areas: we spent time in the Cypress Dome clearing away invasive vines, worked in the community garden pulling weeds and remulching beds, and explored the nature preserve to document local biodiversity. To tie our physical labor back to our growth as leaders, we documented our service work by creating a culture audit which allowed us to analyze our project's impact and the specific leadership strategies we used to stay organized. These hands-on activities taught us a great deal about the effectiveness of independent teamwork. Since we were often given a broad objective and left to manage ourselves, we had to communicate clearly and divide into smaller groups to get the job done right. This experience was a great way to meet new people and feel a deeper sense of ownership over the natural beauty of our campus. By the end of the semester, we built upon our leadership skills and analytical tools that will assist us in our future academic and career ventures.

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  Predicting Vehicle Combat Effectiveness in Ukraine

  Griffin Seel, Cameron Cummins, John O'Toole, and Andrew Alexander

  The 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict has been a series of relentless tragedies for the people of Ukraine, as well as the ultimate test for NATO defense initiatives. Today, over 3000 Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFV’s) from across NATO member states have been contributed to the Ukrainian army, doubling the size of its armored divisions since 2021. With vehicles sent in from nations as far away as the United States and Sweden, many are asking which vehicles have proved their worth, what makes these vehicles fit to survive on a modern battlefield, and what lessons can we take from the last 4 years into future vehicle development programs.

  The goal of this project is to analyze the performance and armament characteristics of the Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV’s) and Tanks which have been sent to Ukraine to predict the effectiveness of other NATO vehicles.

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  Religion and Philosophy Through Film: Memento (2000), Self-Deception and Identity in Modernity

  Joshua G. Serrano

  This project was made for REL 3111, Religion and Philosophy Through Film. It was the Midterm project designed to present a film of our choice, and how it responds to the modern world. I used various readings, films, and lectures from the course to make this video and chose Memento (2000) by Christopher Nolan.

  The video essay quickly summarizes the film and then dives into the philosophical implications of it and its response to modernity. I highlight perception, memory, identity, and many philosophical areas of interest to formulate my argument. One thing I learned in the end…is the amount of sleep you will lose working on projects like these.

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  Helping The Whole Heart

  Aashna A. Shah

  My service-learning project, “Helping the Whole Heart,” focuses on my second semester volunteering with Shepherd’s Hope, a nonprofit organization that provides free healthcare to uninsured and underinsured adults in Central Florida. The purpose of my project was to support the clinic while learning more about healthcare access, service, and community responsibility. During my shifts, I helped greet patients, check them in, prepare charts, organize paperwork, and assist the clinic team wherever I was needed. Through this experience, I learned that healthcare is about more than just medical treatment. It is also about patience, communication, compassion, and making patients feel respected. I also learned that small tasks can still have a meaningful impact. Even helping at the front desk or keeping the clinic organized can make the experience less stressful for patients and help the clinic run more smoothly. This project reminded me that service means showing up, being present, and caring for the whole person.

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  "Supporting Economic Stability Through Community Resources: A Service Learning Experience"

  Shermin Shajan Thomas

  This project focuses on the role of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), with a specific emphasis on economic stability and its impact on individuals and communities. As part of a service-learning course, I completed 15 hours of volunteer work at The Sharing Center, a nonprofit organization that provides essential services such as food assistance, housing support, and access to basic resources for individuals and families in need. During my experience, I assisted in sorting and preparing donations, supporting food distribution, and helping customers in the thrift and furniture stores. These activities allowed me to directly engage with individuals facing financial challenges and better understand the barriers they experience in meeting basic needs.

  One of the key things I learned is how strongly economic instability affects overall health and well-being, particularly through limited access to food, housing, and healthcare. I also learned the importance of treating individuals with respect and dignity while creating a supportive, judgment-free environment. This experience helped me connect classroom concepts to real-life situations and strengthened my commitment to serving underserved communities.

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  Trouble in Paradise: Tracking Tropicalization on Mosquito Lagoon Oyster Reefs

  Gabriel T. Silva, Maya Kurian, Katherine Manzelli, Kye Pollard, Johanne Hunt, Avarey Johnson, Kiara Cuevas-Gutierrez, Giavanna Harrington, Giles Cherkaoui, Anya Spara, Tai Powell, Jacob McLean, Ryan Chin, Kriztian Milanes, Nicholas Groves, Michael Theobald, Justin Moya, Melissa Vance, Logan Chapman, and Jordyn Delikat

  Climate change has caused average temperatures across the globe to increase and the frequency of freezing events in temperate climates to decrease, leading to tropical species moving polewards. This process, known as tropicalization, has been documented on the eastern coast of Florida as the tropical red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) encroaches into temperate communities once defined by the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica). Mosquito Lagoon, located within the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) system, is one community that has experienced an increase of 198% in mangrove coverage on intertidal oyster reefs between 1984 and 2017. Although the frequency of freezes has decreased in recent years due to increased global temperatures, Mosquito Lagoon experienced temperatures ≤ -4°C (the lowest threshold for R. mangle survivability) on 1 February 2026, potentially impacting mangrove population dynamics on these oyster reefs. Our research is part of an ongoing long-term project to monitor mangrove density, distribution, size, herbivory, and the rate of change of these characteristics compared to previous years. This study has been conducted annually each spring since 2023, collecting data across the same 10 reefs within Mosquito Lagoon. Previous results documented a 60% increase in mangrove stand coverage between March 2023 and 2024, following a 32% increase from 2024 to 2025. The historic annual rate of mangrove increase on oyster reefs was 6%, reported from 1984 to 2017. As climate change raises global temperatures, the importance of predicting future ecosystem shifts will grow. By understanding interactions between these foundational species, resource managers will be better equipped to protect the futures of these vital ecosystems.

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  Fostering Hope With Shepherd's Hope

  Matthew A. Siverio

  The purpose of my project to showcase the organization Shepherd's Hope. Shepherd's Hope seeks to help communities who live below the poverty line and those who lack health insurance. Key activites I performed was discharge, where I helped communicate to patients the next step of their treatment process; as well I volunteered in the nursing role where I gather patient vitals and history to provide to the doctor. Through this organization I have learned valuable communication skills as well as the ability to comfort others going through hardships.

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  Hope Walks Here: Raising Funds and Awareness for Suicide Prevention at UCF

  Tobey Smith

  Student organizations Active Minds UCF Chapter and HOPE at UCF teamed up with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to host an Out of the Darkness Campus Walk. These campus walks are AFSP’s signature student fundraising series which are designed to engage youth and young adults in the fight to prevent suicide, a leading cause of death. This event's purpose was to raise awareness, promote resources, and support those affected by saving lives and bringing hope. As a community, this walk raised over $20,000 for AFSP and reached over 400 participants. This student-led initiative brought the UCF campus together sparked meaningful discussion about mental health and suicide prevention.

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  Drained Defenses: How Altered Hydrology Influences Invasive Plant Species Richness in Cypress Domes

  Jamie M. Snider, Cori McWilliams, Natalia Knapp-Seale, and Deborah Faerman

  Cypress domes are unique wetland ecosystems distinct in species biodiversity and hydrologic patterns which have become increasingly degraded from alteration of hydrology. These changes are made with little understanding about how this may affect plant communities and weaken a wetland’s resistance to invasive species, shifting its plant regimes. This study investigates how altered hydrology affects the presence of invasive species and may cause plant communities to shift by studying two cypress domes on UCF campus. Three 30 meter transects were established per wetland in random cardinal directions, with 70 cm quadrats placed every 6 meters for a total of 18 per site. Plants were identified per quadrat to the species level, then classified into native and wetland indicator status as defined by the FDEP. In a previous study, no invasive species were found in the unaltered dome, however, in our study one invasive species was detected. During our study, two invasive species were detected in the altered dome compared to five invasive species found in the earlier study. Although differences in invasive species richness were not statistically significant, the absence of standing water and more species of facultative (FAC) and facultative wetland (FACW) plants than obligate (OBL) plants at the impacted quadrats may indicate that hydrology changes shift community, which could make the system more vulnerable to opportunistic invaders. Understanding these patterns can help scientists understand the effects of wetland alteration on ecosystem services, plant communities, and how that shifts the composition of the fauna within an ecosystem.

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  Ferrofluids: Magnetic Liquids in Motion

  Anthony Sokolov, Aidan Hanratty, Chaz LaFlair, Jack Sosa, and Nolan Ware

  This project consisted of designing and presenting a lesson on ferrofluids to elementary and middle school students during UCF STEM Day. We used hands-on demonstrations, engaging examples, and audience questions to help maximize audience retention and attention. Presenting to groups of younger students allowed us to develop skills in adapting information to a less familiar audience. We also gained insight into classroom management and adapting to sudden obstacles. By presenting the topic of ferrofluids, we were effectively able to teach students about an entertaining liquid that has many real-world applications and, therefore, help them engage with STEM. This engagement is intended to encourage the students to develop further interest in STEM fields as they continue their academic development.

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  Building Hope: A service-learning partnership with Hope Helps

  Katherine C. Soshnikova Ms, Owen Zaremby Mr, Emily O'brien Ms, Juliana Divincenzo Ms, and Ashlyn Miller Ms

  Our service-learning project focused on partnering with Hope Helps, a nonprofit organization in Oviedo, Florida, dedicated to preventing and reducing hunger and homelessness in Central Florida. Through the UCF LEAD Scholars program, we aimed to connect classroom learning with real community needs while strengthening our leadership skills. Hope Helps supports families in crisis through a food pantry, thrift store, and programs such as financial literacy workshops and rental assistance. During our 60+ hours of volunteering, we primarily worked in the thrift store by greeting customers, accepting and sorting donations, organizing merchandise, and assisting with fitting rooms and bagging. We also supported the food pantry by cleaning shelves and restocking items.

  Our contributions helped increase efficiency, allowing more donations to be processed and generating additional funding for community outreach programs. One key lesson we learned was the importance of servant leadership—putting the needs of others first and serving the community with empathy. We also saw how congruence, one of the 7 C’s of leadership, guided Hope Helps’ consistent mission and values. Overall, this experience showed us how civic engagement and small actions can create meaningful change while reshaping perceptions of hunger and homelessness in our community.

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  Republicans vs. Democrats: A Prediction of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy across Florida Counties

  Elli Ta, Shanelle Han, Lilly Fattizzi, and Josephine Schumacher

  COVID-19 vaccine uptake varied widely across U.S. communities, suggesting that hesitancy is shaped by broader social and contextual factors. This study examines whether political affiliation and structural vulnerability predict vaccine hesitancy in March 2021 across Florida’s 67 counties. Using data from the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and Florida voter registration records, we analyzed estimated hesitancy alongside political, structural, and demographic predictors. Exploratory analysis revealed strong relationships between political affiliation, social vulnerability, and hesitancy. A multiple linear regression framework was used to evaluate these effects. This study aims to identify key drivers of vaccine hesitancy and inform targeted public health strategies.

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  Teaching Hebrew and Building Community

  Eitan N. Tangir

  My service-learning project took place at Temple Judea, where I assisted in teaching Hebrew to younger students. The purpose of my project was to support the learning environment by helping students build their language skills while also making lessons more engaging and approachable. Throughout my time there, I worked closely with students during lessons, helped them practice reading and pronunciation, and provided one-on-one support when they needed extra help. I also assisted the instructor in keeping the class organized and making sure students stayed focused and involved. One of the most important things I learned from this experience was how to communicate more effectively with younger students, especially when explaining concepts in a way that is simple and encouraging. I also learned the importance of patience, since every student learns at a different pace. Overall, this project helped me develop stronger leadership and communication skills while giving me the opportunity to make a positive impact in the classroom.

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  Providing Hope: Serving to Prevent

  Sanaya Thomas, Amrita Vaka, Krishna Patel, and Azaicha Jean-Baptiste

  The purpose of this project is to expand our view of our values of care and fairness; we exercised this by volunteering with HOPE helps, an organization fighting food insecurity and homelessness. We were able to learn about how this organization ensures that there is fairness and justice in our community. This includes giving people a pathway to a prosperous life when they would not have had the opportunity otherwise. Furthermore, we may learn new ways to cultivate community and friendships through serving. Overall, care and fairness is something that we will all develop further while learning new ways to implement these values through service.

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  Photogrammetry: Accuracy and Precision Analysis of Color and Rim Diameter Utilizing Various Cameras

  Christina Threlkeld

  The goal of this paper is to test whether photogrammetry is a viable/affordable way to generate 3-D data sets suitable for research applications. Utilizing a sample of 10 ceramic rim sherds randomly selected out of 40 viable rim samples from the Rio Verde assemblage, I will generate 3-D models for 3 different technologies. From there I will test measurements by calculating rim diameters and consistency of color through Munsell readings The data collected will help determine what type of data can be extracted from 3-D renderings. In order to ensure accuracy, rim sherd diameter and Munsell data will be directly compared to in-person examination and 3-D renderings garnered by an Artec Spider II Scanner. To account for differences in potential camera use, an iPhone 17 pro and an iPad air were chosen.

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  Coalition For The Homeless Of Central Florida Culture Audit

  Daniel S. Torres, Ayushi Goswami, Emannuele Louis Jean, Logan Thompson, and James Magdeburg

  The project we did was a culture audit that evaluated the strength of the organization that is the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida. We were able to learn about the way they lead and connect it to the leadership course we were taking. This whether it be through service or speaking to staff and the public, we were able to understand the way an organization could function. The coalition functions as an organization that prioritizes servitude to the public and relational ideals in between the staff. They also match what they say in both their mission and vission.

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  Musculoskeletal Stress Markers Caused by Occupational Stress and Its Relation to Sex

  Madison E. Torres and Sage Rohrer

  The excavation of the site of San Pedro, Belize, uncovered the skeletal human remains of 46 individuals that were naturally preserved well enough in sand to be studied. These remains belonged to ancient Maya, dating back to the Terminal Postclassic to Historic period (c. 1450–1700 CE), who had been buried under what is now the Sands Hotel. This population was part of a small fishing village. These people likely led a labor-intensive lifestyle, which would lead to the skeletal remains showing signs of Musculoskeletal Stress Markers (MSM). This stems from the theory that the males of this village would carry out harsher tasks such as hunting and engaging in warfare; causing musculoskeletal stress markers (Perego, 2007). Within this sample population, we hypothesize that each individual’s sex correlates with the absence or presence of occupational stress. The skeletal remains of males will have more MSM present, whereas the females will show fewer or no signs of trauma related to harsh labor.

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  Insight To Volunteer Experiences With LSA

  Rianna H. Vatel, Shelby Maynor, Gabrielle Scott, Savannah Vonrabenau, Carter Kittendorf, and Aatish Duddela

  The purpose of our project was to not only volunteer with in our institution but, to reflect on what we had learn collectively from the experience. We learned that leadership can be tied to values and action must be taken to create a social change. We learned in class about the Social Change Model which explains the values associated with leadership. Furthermore, the individual, societal, and community values that result in the betterment of our environments. We observed all these values during our time with Love Serving Autism and gave assistance where needed. Our key activities were understanding our personal leadership style. Then, coming together collaborative to volunteer while creating our video project. Lastly, to reflect on what we have learned and how we will apply it to the rest of our education.

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  Beyond The Visual

  Allison B. Wallner

  We are surrounded by language and design daily. With the age of technology and social media, we are interacting with it more than ever before. Social platforms such as Spotify, the interest of my research, rely on carefully crafted language and design on their platform in order to shape user behavior. Their goal being to keep user engagement. Throughout my study I explored three main sections: Easter eggs, the AI DJ, and comparing the algorithm of certain shuffle features in order to better understand how such apps bring attention to their features and maintain attention from their users. My results find that such crafted careful design heavily influences the user experience. The roles of targeted language, stereotyped speech, gamification, and customization all play a large roll in engagement. These different roles can also be presented in a variety of ways, especially in an audio-based app such as Spotify. My research is beneficial and plays a part in the larger conversation about the ways in which user experience impacts us on a daily basis.

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  Strength of Association Between High Blood Pressure and Dementia Mortality in Adults

  Ryan J. Wells

  Dementia refers to a number of conditions that lead to a decline in cognitive function, with several overlapping symptoms such as a disruptions in thinking, impairments of social abilities, and memory loss being a key indication, among many other signs. These factors may become more apparent as the aging population is at a significantly higher risk. With that being said, it remains important for dementia and its related conditions to receive the attention they deserve to promote the well-being of those affected.

  The objective behind the study was to dive into the potential relationship between high blood pressure (hypertension) and dementia-related mortality. I performed an ecological analysis to determine population-level data and compared it to the findings from three analytical epidemiological studies.

  Dementia is a particularly relevant disease for me, as both sides of my family have been impacted by the condition, and I wanted to learn more about it. Through my research, I have identified at least one modifiable risk factor that may have played a role in their diagnoses. In addition to this, my interpretation of statistical correlations has improved greatly which will allow me to seek future opportunities regarding public health conditions and their possible associations.

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  Youth Advocacy and Children's Rights

  Jessica Zeno, Alex Iglesias, Martina Cuarterola, and Philip Picciotti

  Our project is based on each of us doing different volunteer activities at different OCPS schools. Jessica volunteers at the Apopka Elementary and Apopka High School robotics programs, Alex volunteers at the Apopka Elementary Physical Education program, Martina volunteers at Colonial High School, and Philip Volunteers at East River High School. We all chose to volunteer at different OCPS schools so we can come together and find out the differences between the programs. We all find education to be a vital part of the growth of children, which is why we all chose to take part in education-related activities. We believe this will teach us leadership, responsibility, patience, and various other skills that will benefit our leadership capabilities.

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  Student Performance and Study Habits: A Multiple Regression Analysis

  Alyssa A. Zichichi and Zaineb Hedhili Razki

  The purpose of this project is to study which academic and lifestyle variables are related to a student's performance index. In this dataset, the response variable is Performance Index, and the predictors are Hours Studied, Previous Scores, Extracurricular Activities, Sleep Hours, and Sample Question Papers Practiced. The question is whether these variables help explain differences in student performance and which predictors appear to be the strongest.

  This study gave us the opportunity to learn how to approach analysis after real-world data collection, and what the expected relationships between our variables should be. We also learned how to find limitations in datasets, extrapolate necessary data, and perform critical analysis on results to create a more accurate model.