Knights in Focus Celebrates Graduate Student Endeavors

Communicating complex research in under 60 seconds demands precision and creativity. Graduate students at UCF met that challenge through Knights in Focus. This new video competition encourages participants to present their work and share their experiences in a clear, engaging format. Each submission offered a concise look at the ideas, questions, and impact driving graduate research across campus.

The College of Graduate Studies created Knights in Focus to highlight the graduate community and expand how research reaches broader audiences. The competition invited students to translate their academic and creative work into short-form video, making their projects more accessible to peers and the public. As part of the 20th Annual Student Research Week, the inaugural event drew 45 talented participants representing a wide range of disciplines.

A panel of judges evaluated submissions, including College of Graduate Studies Interim Dean John Weishampel, Director of Photography and Video for UCF Marketing Nick Leyva, and Student Government President Luci Blanco. The panel selected the top two winners and chose five finalists for the People’s Choice Award. Finalists’ videos were then posted on the college’s social media, where graduate students cast their votes.

The competition generated strong engagement and highlighted the depth of talent within UCF’s graduate community. Submissions reflected thoughtful storytelling, technical skill, and a commitment to making research meaningful beyond the classroom.

For this competitive group, several entries rose to the top for their clarity, creativity, and impact.

People’s Choice Award Finalists:

• Annalise Pforr, Archaeology PhD
• Jada Pierce, Master of Arts in Teaching, World Languages Education
• Kassadi Smith, Security Studies PhD
• Mary Boatman, Themed Experience MS

Winners:

People’s Choice Award — Mario Villavicencio, Feature Film Production MFA
Villavicencio earned the People’s Choice Award for his documentary on CCN-51, a disease-resistant and highly productive variety of cacao. His video combined strong visuals with a compelling narrative that highlighted the potential to protect the global chocolate supply. The project resonated with viewers and connected research to a familiar, everyday product.

Second Place — Andrew Williams, Teacher Education MAT, Mathematics Education
Williams captured attention with a video focused on mathematics education. His work examines how reading skills influence early mathematics learning among black boys in underserved communities. Through clear editing and engaging presentation, Williams explained how literacy development shapes students’ understanding of math concepts.

First Place — Jethro Raphael Suarez, Biomedical Sciences PhD
Suarez earned top honors with a polished and engaging video that showcased his research in the Healthy Aging Lab at the College of Nursing. His work centers on developing wearable assistive devices that support mobility and physical activity among older adults. Suarez expertly communicated both the technical aspects of his research and its practical impact on quality of life.

Knights in Focus demonstrated how graduate students can translate complex ideas into compelling stories that resonate with a wider audience. The competition strengthened connections across disciplines and underscored the importance of clear, effective research communication. All video submissions are available for viewing on the College of Graduate Studies YouTube channel.

As Student Research Week continues, Knights in Focus sets a strong foundation for future competitions and signals a growing emphasis on sharing graduate research in innovative ways that inform, engage, and inspire.