UCF Announces 2024’s 30 Under 30 Alumni Award Recipients
UCF Alumni is pleased to announce its 30 Under 30 Alumni Award recipients for the Class of 2024. By virtue of their indomitable tenacity, unwavering dedication, and relentless pursuit of excellence, this year’s group of alumni will continue to impact and inspire those who are fortunate enough to transect their orbit.
“Each year, I look forward to honoring our newest class of 30 Under 30 Alumni,” says Heather Junod ’98, associate vice president of alumni engagement and annual giving. “And each year, I feel prouder than ever to celebrate these bold, scholarly, trailblazing, generous and resilient alumni. I invite Knight Nation to join me in commemorating these outstanding Knights not only for their individual achievements, but also for their commitment to lifting their communities and their alma mater.”
Hundreds of nominations for the awards were accepted online from Sept. 24, 2023, until Nov. 12, 2023. The submissions were reviewed and scored by previous award recipients, UCF Young Alumni Ambassadors, and UCF staff. The finalists were then confirmed by the UCF Alumni Board based on the following criteria:
- Must be a graduate of UCF (undergraduate or graduate degree)
- Must be age 29 or younger on June 1, 2024
- Must demonstrate a commitment to maintaining a lifelong relationship with UCF and strive to uphold UCF Young Alumni values
“Congratulations to the UCF Alumni 30 under 30 Class of 2024,” says Jessica Malberti ’16, chair of the UCF Young Alumni Community. “Knight Nation and the UCF Young Alumni Community are truly enriched through these individuals, their stellar accomplishments, and their continued support of UCF. What is especially amazing to me is that although these individuals, in most cases, don’t know each other, they all share a common thread of excellence through which they elevate their communities and their fellow Knights. Go Knights, Charge On!”
UCF Alumni will celebrate the 2024 award recipients at a special event on May 18. Below is a complete list of the winners, listed alphabetically by first name. Past recipients can be found on the UCF Alumni website.
Anna Allred ’19
B.S. Nursing
Joshua Boloña ’19
B.S. Industrial Engineering
Thomas Carpino ’16
B.S. Biology
Burnett Honors College
Aaron Evans ’16
B.S. Business Administration – Management
Caitlin Frawley ’23PhD
Ph.D. Counselor Education
Jada Grisby ’18
B.S. Legal Studies
Juliana Hirn ’17 ’19MA
B.S. Communication Sciences and Disorders
M.A. Communication Sciences and Disorders
Burnett Honors College
Joshua Holder ’19
B.S. Public Administration
Danielle Hoyer ’20
B.S. Secondary Education – English Language Arts Education
Burnett Honors College
Steven Jacques ’18
B.S. Health Sciences – Pre-Clinical Track
Brendon James ’21MS
M.S. Engineering Management
Abhinav Joshi ’20 ’23MPA ’23MNM
B.S. Psychology
Master of Public Administration
Master of Nonprofit Management
Sarah Kelliher ’19
B.S.B.A. Marketing
Daniel Khaytman ’17
B.S. Health Sciences – Pre-Clinical Track
Megan Koufogazos ’18 ’21MPA
B.S. Public Administration
Master of Public Administration
Linnette Martinez ’19
B.S. Computer Engineering – Comprehensive Track
Rachel Mattingly Thomas ’19 ’21MA
B.A. Advertising/Public Relations
M.A. Communication
Daniella Medina ’20
B.A. Journalism
Marly Mentor ’16
B.S. Business Administration – Finance
Burnett Honors College
Cody Nichoson ’21
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Michael Nunes ’16 ’18MA
B.S. Psychology
M.A. Counselor Education
Travers Oliver ’18
B.A. Religion and Cultural Studies
Rafael Ontiveros Navarro ’19
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Albert Persampiere ’17
B.S. Business Administration – Finance
Paola Rivera ’16 ’21MS
B.S. Exercise and Sport Physiology
M.S. Kinesiology – Human Performance Track
Naddav Rubina ’20 ’22MS
B.S. Hospitality Management
M.S. Hospitality and Tourism Management
Elizabeth Rutkovsky ’22
B.S. Hospitality Management
Burnett Honors College
Lauren Schmidt ’19
B.S. Environmental Engineering
Burnett Honors College
Steven Spielman ’19
B.S. Industrial Engineering
Jillian Trimbach ’19
B.S. Business Administration – Integrated Business
Latest Business
- CyberColosseum Solutions Takes First Place at UCF’s 2024 Joust New Venture CompetitionThree UCF cybersecurity enthusiasts won UCF’s 2024 Joust New Venture Competition on Thursday and earned $12,000 to grow their company, an immersive information security simulator that puts teams in realistic cyber warfare scenarios.
- UCF Students to Compete for $50,000 in 2024 Joust Business CompetitionThe Shark Tank-style competition celebrates student entrepreneurs, introduces them to community leaders and provides key resources to help launch their ventures.
- UCF Celebrates, Honors Faculty with 2024 Founders’ Day AwardsAlong with Pegasus Professor and Reach for the Stars honorees, more than 150 faculty were recognized for their commitment to excellence during the annual Founders’ Day celebration.
- UCF College of Business Honors Alums, Community Partners at 24th Hall of Fame CeremonyUCF business alums were honored at the Indiana Jones-themed gala while two legendary faculty members were remembered.
- Research in 60 Seconds: How to Handle Mistreatment in the WorkplaceProfessor of Management Shannon Taylor sheds light on the reality of workplace mistreatment and offers insights into fostering workplace well-being.
- UCF Economist: U.S. Economy’s ‘False Signals’ Muddy the WatersUCF Institute for Economic Forecasting Director Sean Snaith’s latest U.S. economic forecast looks at various factors in a potential economic slowdown.