Keyera Lyn

Miramar, FL

College:

College of Sciences

Degree Program:

Communication MA

Research Focus:

Social media effects on the college recruitment process for student-athletes.

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Keyera Lyn was no stranger to the spotlight during her time as a graduate student at UCF. In 2019, she was named Miss UCF after being the only graduate student to compete for the title. Becoming Miss UCF opened opportunities for her to visit various K-12 students in South and Central Florida, sharing the importance of higher education and the determination to achieve their dreams. Her platform as Miss UCF is called GEM (Growing, Empowering, and Motivating), the inspiration for which Lyn says comes from the trials and tribulations she has had to overcome. Lyn is passionate about helping students, saying, “I always pray that the students walk away remembering that I want them to succeed.”

Lyn began her academic journey at UCF, earning both her bachelor’s degree in Human Communication and her certificate in Leadership Studies. She decided to stay at UCF to pursue her Communication MA because of the unique opportunities UCF has to offer. “UCF was the only graduate program I applied to that allowed me to get in-class experience as an instructor through my role as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. My college prides itself on students receiving hands-on learning. Since joining the program, I have been able to assist with the behind-the-scenes logistics of one of UCF’s annual research conferences and be a part of the move downtown.”

Lyn has also assisted professors with their research as well as conducting her own research with her peers, which focused on the social media effects on the college recruitment process for student-athletes at UCF. Lyn and her fellow researchers were able to present their research at the UCF Graduate Research Forum. In addition to research opportunities, Lyn says that her favorite part about her program is the friendly work and school environment, saying, “My cohort sustains the family atmosphere not just when we’re on campus, but also outside of campus. They were at my Miss UCF pageant cheering me on, weekly game nights, and assistance inside the classroom. It is a true honor to be a part of such a dynamic and growing program.”

During her time at UCF, Lyn also served as the pageant coordinator for UCF’s Xi Iota Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., which involved helping prepare undergraduate students to compete in the annual spring Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant. Along with this, she has also been awarded the 2019 Southeast Florida Knight Scholarship from the UCF Southeast Florida Alumni Association and the 2019 Rising Star Scholarship from the Miss Florida Organization for her performance in the 2019 Miss Florida Scholarship Competition, a preliminary to Miss America.

Lyn’s advice to current and future graduate students is to ignore the naysayers and chase your dreams, and to remember that it is easy to get caught up in life and forget to do what truly makes you happy. “Success does not come from your income or your status at work, it comes from being happy and doing what you love.”

Highlights:

• 2019 Miss UCF
• Platform is the importance of higher education.
• SE Florida Knight Scholarship Recipient
• 2019 Rising Star Scholarship Recipient from the Miss Florida Scholarship Competition.
• 2023 UCF Alumni 30 under 30 Awardee

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