Student Research Week Turns 20 with Launch of First Dedicated Fund

UCF is marking the 20th Annual Student Research Week with the launch of the university’s inaugural fund dedicated to sustaining and expanding student research. The Student Research Week Fund will provide long-term support for student discovery, innovation, and scholarship.

In 2004, graduate and undergraduate students began sharing their research through two separate campus events, establishing the foundation for what would become one of UCF’s most celebrated academic traditions. By 2006, those events merged to form UCF Student Research Week, a university-wide celebration of student research and creative activity.

The Graduate Research Forum, launched by the College of Graduate Studies, and the Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence, established by the Office of Undergraduate Studies, created welcoming spaces for students to present work across disciplines. Through the ongoing collaboration between the Offices of Undergraduate Research and Graduate Student Life, the celebration has grown into one of UCF’s most cherished academic traditions.

The Student Research Week Fund is made possible through generous founding contributions from the Learning Institute for Elders at UCF (LIFE at UCF) and the Florida High Tech Corridor. The fund will expand direct support for student-driven research and professional development, while strengthening cornerstone programs like the university’s annual research celebration for generations to come. Their investment ensures that students will continue to have the resources, opportunities, and support they need to explore, innovate, and lead.

UCF is proud to recognize the following individuals and organizations whose gifts helped establish the Student Research Week Fund:

Founding Donors ($1,000+): Black Faculty and Staff Association, Charles Hinkle, Tamara Gabrus, Jennifer McKinley, Jade Laderwarg, Jennifer Parham and Delia M. Garcia, John Weishampel, Kimberly Schneider, Tyler Campbell, Natalia Toro, and Jennifer Wolf.

Friends of the Fund ($25+): Steven Clapp, Quynh Dang, David Penn, and Xiaoxiao Fu.

Student Research Week continues through March 27. For a full list of events, visit researchweek.ucf.edu. To learn more about supporting the Student Research Week Fund, contact Jennifer Wolf at Jennifer.wolf@ucf.edu.