UCF Honors Outstanding Graduate Students for 2025

Each year, the University of Central Florida recognizes exceptional graduate students who have demonstrated excellence in academics, leadership, research, creative scholarship, and service. These outstanding individuals are honored through UCF’s most esteemed awards: the Order of Pegasus and the Graduate Awards for Excellence.

The Order of Pegasus is UCF’s most prestigious student award, recognizing excellence in academics, leadership, professional or community service, and research. Recipients undergo a rigorous selection process and are honored during the UCF Founders’ Day Student Recognition. Their names are also on display in the Pegasus Lounge at the Student Union.

The 2025 Order of Pegasus Graduate Student Recipients are:

• Dave Austin ’22MS ’24PhD – Physics PhD, College of Sciences
• Tiffany Dawson – Integrative and Conservation Biology PhD, College of Sciences
• Teresa Faucette ’98 ’16MEd – Education PhD, Exceptional Education Track, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Sebastian Garcia ’23 – History MA, College of Arts and Humanities
• Juliana Hirn ’17 ’19MA – Education PhD, Exceptional Education Track, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Stephanie Lough ’21MS – Physics PhD, College of Sciences
• Justin Phelps ’19 ’22MS ’24PhD – Electrical Engineering PhD, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Sydney Weisman ’23 – Event Leadership MS, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

The UCF College of Graduate Studies proudly honors outstanding graduate students annually during Founders’ Day and Student Research Week. These awards recognize excellence in teaching, research, and service. The Graduate Council Program Review and Awards Committee carefully reviews competitive college nominations to select the students for the University Graduate Awards of Excellence. This year’s winners, listed below, were recognized for their exceptional achievements.

Outstanding Dissertation

• Furkan Luleci ’19MS ’24PhD – Civil Engineering PhD, College of Engineering and Computer Science
  Investigating Emerging Technologies in Civil Structural Health Investigating Emerging Technologies in Civil Structural Health Monitoring: Generative Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality

• Michael Johnstone ’17 ’19MS ’24PhD – Biomedical Sciences PhD, College of Medicine
  Exploring the Physiology of Clostridiodes difficile: Selenium-Dependent Catabolism of Host-Derived Nutrients

Outstanding Master’s Thesis

• Aaditya Bhatia ’24MS – Computer Science MS, College of Engineering and Computer Science
  Advancing Policy Insights: Opinion Data Analysis and Discourse Structuring Using LLMs

• Brandi Antonio ’24MS – Kinesiology MS, College of Health Professions and Sciences
  Examining Changes in Pain Perception Following 8 Minutes of Cycling at Varying Exercise Intensities

Outstanding Creative Work

• Sylvia McMillon ’22 ’24MA – Applied Sociology MA, College of Sciences
  Intersectional Echoes: Unveiling Black Maternal Health Disparities

Excellence in Teaching and Mentorship

• Graduate Student Teaching: Terrie Bradshaw ‘18, Curriculum and Instruction EdD, College of Community Innovation and Education

• Graduate Teaching Assistant: Serene Hasan, Education PhD, Counselor Education Track, College of Community Innovation and Education

Excellence in Graduate Student Research

Spring 2025 Awardees

Doctoral

• 1st Place: Brittany Stieferman, Chemistry PhD, College of Sciences
• 2nd Place: Nilver Tovar Ospina, Integrative Anthropological Sciences PhD, College of Sciences

Master’s

• 1st Place: Lily Annand ‘24, Emerging Media MFA , Animation and Visual Effects Track, College of Arts and Humanities
• 2nd Place: Carli Brent ‘22, Communication Sciences and Disorders MA, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Fall 2024 Awardees

Doctoral

• 1st Place: Juliana Hirn ’17 ‘19MA, Education PhD, Exceptional Education Track, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Runner-Up: Sanjay Gandham, Computer Engineering PhD, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Master’s

• 1st Place: Mario Villavicencio, Feature Film MFA, College of Sciences
• Runner-Up: Joseph Ciurca ‘19, Biomedical Sciences MS, College of Medicine

These awards celebrate the dedication, talent, and impact of UCF’s graduate students. Whether advancing research, excelling in teaching, or demonstrating leadership, these honorees exemplify the spirit of a Graduate Knight.

Congratulations to the 2025 award recipients! Your achievements inspire and shape the future of your fields and the university.